114 lingering spirit

"Lamar, you didn't dream of Li Wei, did you?"

"Ha ha ha, haha..."

It was all in jest, of course, just a lighthearted taunt to ease the tension because Jackson had startled everyone by leaping up from sleep in an outburst, scaring all the students studying in the library. They needed a change of atmosphere, so someone cracked a joke.

The tall boy who spoke wore a satisfied grin, thoroughly pleased with his own wit, his face practically begging:

Come on, praise me; come on, praise me.

But when he looked up, he saw Jackson's furious gaze akin to a wrathful King Kong, the murderous aura in his eyes seemingly leaping out at him.

The laughter was snuffed out immediately.

Watching Jackson charge toward him with anger, one moment standing yards away and in the next face-to-face, eye-to-eye.

Belch.

So frightened was the boy that he didn't even have time to tremble; instead, he let out a burp and froze, unable to move.

Jackson was like a lion fixated on its prey.