The paper figure wrote crooked and twisted large characters on the dark green blackboard with a red chalk - "Village Rules Exam."

The bell for class had already rung, making people instinctively nervous and focused. The paper figure teacher floated down the aisle with a bright red eerie smile, maneuvering through the narrow space created by old wooden chairs.

"Squeak, squeak."

He placed an exam paper on each desk, getting closer and closer to us. I tightly gripped my pen, paying attention to his movements while frantically copying down the key points from Bai Zi's textbook.

"Here it comes!"

She snatched the village rules that I hadn't finished transcribing and left her hand-copying notebook for me.

"What will you do?"

"Don't worry, I remember the second half."

Is this what they call a top student?

We stared at each other, dumbfounded.

"May I ask, what kind of incense should be placed in the ancestral hall's incense burner?"

Incense? Sandalwood, pine resin, floral and fruity scents?

I frantically searched for similar words but could only see Bai Zi's delicate and messy handwriting -

"The incense burner in the ancestral hall needs to be ignited with the finger bones and human skin wax of the incense burner itself."

What does "incense burner itself" mean?

I didn't dare to think too much, but I could feel that these village rules were written in blood.

My muscles tensed, spasming, and I continued writing. The image of a girl's head with finger bones lit inside appeared in my mind like a branding iron, becoming redder, deeper, and more painful.

The sound of ping pong echoed in the classroom. When I looked up, it was the paper figure tossing a sleeping classmate into the ceiling. The mixture of white and red dripped onto the desk and exam papers. It was Zhang Xiao, the boy who had fallen.

But there was a more terrifying sound that drowned out the loud noise.

"Dang, dang."

The fair and slender fingertips kept tapping on my head as if trying to drill into the incense burner, inch by inch, wearing it down like water dripping on a stone.

I couldn't write anymore!

"Teacher! Can I turn in my paper early?"

The paper figure, soaked in pale white and red, floated in front of me. A chilly breath overflowed from his mouth and seeped into my clothes.

"Turn in your paper early? Oh... you already know everything?"

Laughable, I only managed to learn six points from the entire book.

"Teacher, I just started here and haven't received the textbooks provided by the school, but I've been studying hard."

I giggled, shivering, and deeply missed the times when I begged the teacher for a good grade.

After all, even if the teacher was stern, they wouldn't turn into a malevolent air conditioner.

"No textbooks?" The paper figure looked at me, then at Bai Zi, who was diligently writing, and drifted back a bit, his mouth curling slightly.

"Well, that does seem to be the teacher's oversight. It seems that the students are still making an effort to understand the study material."

My entire back felt soaked. Couldn't this wretched paper figure be burned to ashes?

"Put your paper on the podium and follow me."

I stared blankly as he neatly tore himself in half, with the torn edge smooth. The left half floated out the door.

The outline of a lighter in his pocket was still clearly visible, but at this point, what good would a fire do?

I looked at Bai Zi, who had a head like a pecking chick, and suddenly slammed the table, interrupting the voice in her head.

She startled, her big eyes looking at me in confusion, and I smiled, waving my hand as I left the classroom.

I originally wanted to lead him to the classroom to avoid harming the innocent students, but under the current circumstances, I could only hope to discover some other secrets.

The main school building was a dilapidated red brick and adobe house, and the surrounding buildings were even more pitiful, overgrown with weeds.

The office was a makeshift shack made of bundled thatch, with a simple plastic sheet as a barrier fastened to wooden stakes. As I entered, I saw the torn half of the paper figure standing at the front, waiting for me.

"Sit down," he said, pointing to a rickety wooden chair.

I cautiously sat down, my heart pounding in my chest. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, suffocating.

"So, you don't have the textbook?" he asked, his voice a low whisper.

"No, I haven't received it yet," I replied, trying to sound confident.

"Hmm," he mused, his eyes narrowing. "But you've been studying, haven't you?"

I nodded, my palms sweaty. "Yes, I've been studying on my own."

"Very well," he said, his voice dripping with an eerie satisfaction. "Let's see what you've learned."

He placed a blank sheet of paper in front of me and handed me a pen. I hesitated for a moment, then began writing down everything I could remember about the village rules.

As I wrote, the paper figure watched me intently, his expression unreadable. The air in the room grew colder, and I could feel a presence behind me, as if someone was breathing down my neck.

Finally, I finished writing and put down the pen. I looked up at the paper figure, awaiting his judgment.

He took the paper from me, his fingers grazing mine, sending a shiver down my spine. He scanned the page, his eyes moving rapidly across the words.

After what felt like an eternity, he looked up at me, his red smile widening. "Impressive," he said, his voice filled with an unsettling mix of admiration and malice. "You've learned more than I expected."

I let out a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived.

"However," he continued, his tone turning ominous, "there are still some things you don't know."

I felt a knot forming in my stomach. "What do you mean?"

He leaned closer, his breath cold against my ear. "There are hidden rules, secrets that have been passed down through generations. Knowledge that only a select few are privy to."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. What was he talking about? What secrets?

"If you truly want to prove yourself," he whispered, his voice sending chills down my spine, "you must uncover these secrets. You must delve deeper into the darkness of our village."

I looked into his eyes, their intensity unnerving. I knew I had no choice but to accept the challenge.

"Tell me," I said, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me. "How can I uncover these secrets?"

The paper figure grinned, his teeth sharp and menacing. "Follow the clues," he said cryptically. "They are scattered throughout the village, hidden in plain sight. Seek them out, and you will find the answers you seek."

With that, he handed me back my paper and gestured towards the door. "Go now," he said. "Embark on your journey."

I stood up, clutching the paper in my hand. The weight of the unknown pressed upon me, but I was determined to uncover the secrets of the village. As I walked out of the office, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me in the shadows.