Chapter 076: I Suspect You're Hinting at Something.
In the midst of drawing talismans, Zhong Yi suddenly paused. His hand bore some bluish-purple marks, remnants of the ghostly aura that grazed him. He looked up in confusion at the paper doll.
Yuan Yi Ping also rose to his feet, his face a mask of astonishment.
The room's oppressive black miasma vanished abruptly. The paper doll's hand-drawn features shifted from calm to sorrowful, its papery limbs gently stirring.
Their arduous efforts had merely anchored the fragmented spirit to this paper doll to prevent its dispersal. They had summoned Chi Shen with hopes of simply communicating, to gather information about the spirit and confirm the deceased's identity. They hadn't expected Chi Shen to animate the paper doll!
"What is your wish?"
Both Yuan Yi Ping and Zhong Yi heard Chi Shen's words. The moment they resonated, the paper doll on the table curled up, resembling a child fearful of the dark, drawing its legs close and wrapping its arms around itself.
Over this petite paper figure, the silhouette of a young girl began to emerge. She appeared frail, and her spirit was marred with voids. These voids were not physical deformities from her life but spiritual damages, rendering some areas of her spirit particularly dim. She hugged herself tightly, burying her head between her knees.
Zhong Yi was so shocked that he couldn't react. He had seen this shattered spirit before and, based on his knowledge, believed it was impossible to communicate with it. It only exuded resentment. He even advised Yuan Yiping to pursue other options and abandon this route.
He never imagined that an ordinary man, with no formal training in the arts, could awaken and piece together this fragmented spirit.
What had just happened?
Zhong Yi pondered. All he had witnessed was Chi Shen greeting the broken spirit. At that moment, he had doubted Yuan Yiping's decision, but unexpectedly, that simple greeting worked wonders!
This surreal scene, beyond everything he had learned in his life, even made him question the worth of his lifelong knowledge.
Despite his deep shock, Zhong Yi's hand still held the brush soaked in cinnabar ink. Years of experience in drawing symbols allowed him to finish the last stroke without a second thought.
Suddenly, a bird's chirp echoed in the cramped room. The square formation he drew became active!
It was a formation to summon the four mythical beasts to suppress spirits, the most potent formation he had learned for swift results. But now was clearly not the right time. The spirit, which was painstakingly pieced together, was on the verge of being shattered again.
Four ethereal figures descended. The restless spirit within the formation trembled. As they moved to the center, just moments away from reaching the spirit, they hesitated—
Yuan Yiping kicked a stool at one of the cinnabar symbols. The stool leg scraped, splitting the symbol in half, and the four apparitions vanished. Yet, the trembling of the spirit in the center didn't cease.
"I'm sorry," murmured Zhong Yi, covering his hand, which bore bluish-purple marks, apologizing softly.
Yuan Yiping remained silent, and both of them looked at the spirit in the middle.
As the four mythical beasts appeared, Chi Shen didn't move. He simply reached out and gently patted the head of the girl curled up on the table, soothingly saying, "Don't be afraid. You're safe. I'll protect you."
To the other two, Chi Shen's reassurance seemed basic. Yet miraculously, the spirit's trembling noticeably subsided, appearing less frightened.
Zhong Yi wanted to warn Chi Shen against directly touching the spirit, fearing he might get harmed by its dark energy. But given the circumstances, he kept silent, merely looking concernedly at Chi Shen's hand.
With tremendous patience, Chi Shen waited for nearly ten minutes until the girl stopped shaking. Then he gently asked, "You seem to need help. Do you have a wish?"
Without lifting her head, the girl kept her face buried. Just when Zhong Yi and Yuan Yiping thought she wouldn't respond, a frail voice filled the room, "Can you make me disappear? As if I never existed? Everyone would be much happier."
Such a delicate voice lingered in the air, as if speaking any louder would earn her reprimands for being too noisy.
Everyone in the room, both spirits and humans, wore a puzzled expression. They had encountered spirits of various kinds, each with their unique obsessions. Most spirits sought revenge, desiring to harm those who had harmed them. Some were driven by unfulfilled desires from their lives. For instance, spirits who starved to death longed for a hearty meal; one spirit Chi Shen encountered wanted a beautiful face. Others wished for others to experience their pain.
But this girl was different. Her sole obsession was to erase her existence, to be wiped away as if by an eraser, eradicating every trace of her past.
Perhaps sensing the prolonged silence, that feeble voice spoke up once again:
"I'm sorry... I was just... just asking. I apologize..."
"There's no need to apologize," Chi Shen offered a comforting smile. "I can't erase your existence, and for that, I should be the one apologizing. But I can help you make those who wronged you disappear. Would you consider that?"
Zhong Yi instantly turned to Chi Shen. That single statement could get him on the watch list of the Special Security Bureau. Yet his puzzled gaze quickly took over.
When Chi Shen spoke those words, his eyes were kind and calm, and his smile felt as warm as a spring breeze in March. One would associate him with the beauty of nature: wildflowers swaying in springtime, koi fish swimming in a pond. Not someone who would casually discuss making someone vanish.
Was he joking? Is this a typical tactic when communicating with spirits, or is he genuinely the kind of person who can utter such words with a smile?
Doubts flooded Zhong Yi's mind, but he ultimately chose to remain silent.
The room quieted down for a moment. Just when Zhong Yi thought the girl wouldn't respond, the fragile voice spoke again: "Thank you... I don't wish for anyone to disappear. Only I should. Thank you for your offer."
"May I speak?" Zhong Yi couldn't hold back any longer. Seeing the girl like this, he felt an inexplicable anger and wanted to say something.
Chi Shen nodded. "Go ahead."
Zhong Yi looked at the girl, "Were you harmed by someone? Is that how you died?"
The girl paused for a moment; the damaged soul that had been huddled on the table gave a slight nod.
"Don't you wish for that person to die?" Zhong Yi pressed.
The girl nodded, then shook her head, "He should face his own punishment. If I wish for him to disappear, then others who also want him gone won't have their chance. It's not fair."
Before Zhong Yi could say more, Chi Shen raised his hand to stop him and addressed the girl, "He's currently under police investigation. There are others like you who don't even know how they died. Would you be willing to help the police?"
The girl suddenly looked up. Her face was gaunt, making her eyes seem unusually large. Those eyes sparkled for a moment as she looked at Chi Shen, "He's been caught?"
Yuan Yi Ping stepped forward, "Who is 'he'?"
"Bai Ran," she whispered.
As she uttered that name, a dark aura briefly emanated from her, signaling a possible frenzy. Zhong Yi and Yuan Yi Ping immediately grew tense. Yet, the dark energy dissipated as quickly as it appeared.
Chi Shen remained calm, "Before Bai Ran gets the punishment he deserves, you'll help these two officers and stay in control, right?"
"Yes." The girl controlled her haunting aura, looking up at them, her voice trembling slightly, yet without a hint of malevolence.
"Bairan has killed many; I know of some."
Immediately, Zhong Yi and Yuan Yiping began questioning. Afraid of interruptions halfway through, Chishen observed from the sidelines, waiting for them to finish before leaving.
By the time the documentation was done, night had fallen. Yuan Yiping offered to treat Chishen to dinner. Zhong Yi stood nearby, clearly eager to discuss something with Chishen.
Chishen declined, stating that it's a citizen's duty. Yuan Yiping had no choice but to escort him to the door.
Before departing, Chishen turned and inquired, "How will Bairan be judged?"
"For two lives, it's enough for a death sentence. Our line of work is strict, especially for those capable. With such severity in his actions, even one life could warrant capital punishment," Yuan Yiping sighed, "It's hard to believe that someone who seemed so decent could commit such acts."
"A death sentence, huh." Chishen chuckled as he left the security bureau.
Although the sentence has been pronounced, Chishen knows there's much work ahead for the security bureau. Most supernatural incidents are treated as accidents, but they owe it to the victims' families to uncover everything Bairan has done.
It'll be an immense workload.
Back in the security bureau, Yuan Yiping said to Zhong Yi, "See? He truly can communicate well with spirits."
Zhong Yi, puzzled, asked, "Is this some sort of unheard-of talent?"
"I'm not sure, I've never heard of such an ability," Yuan Yiping responded. "Perhaps he can help with the old man's case."
Rubbing his forehead in irritation, Zhong Yi replied, "We'll see."
Leisurely, Chishen began walking towards the subway station to head home. But within a few steps, he noticed a luxury car parked ahead.
Recently feeling like luxury cars were a bad omen for him, he decided to avoid it. However, as he turned away, someone stepped out of the vehicle—his biological mother, Xu Xiuyin.
"Chishen!" Seeing him trying to detour around, Xu Xiuyin quickly called out and approached, "They said you were here, and here you are. Did you come to visit Bairan?"
With a hint of resignation, Chishen turned and replied, "I came to assist with the investigation—oh, Bairan's case."
"Bairan truly wronged you, but there's nothing he can do now. Please forgive him. We should've realized sooner that he was targeting you," Xu Xiuyin sighed deeply. "I feel we've never really talked. You're my flesh and blood. It's windy out; can we talk inside the car?"
With a stoic face, Chishen replied, "I need to get home. If there's something, let's discuss it here."
Xu Xiuyin looked at Chishen with concern, "Are you returning to your rented place? There's no family there. It must be lonely. If you fall ill, there's no one to care for you. Why not come back to the Bairan house with me? It's good for family to be together."
"Family?" Chi Shen almost burst into laughter.
Before he could respond, a dark shadow solidified behind him. Ji Xingchen stepped out from his shadow, taking Chi Shen's hand and said to Xu Xiuyin, "He's not alone."
The sudden appearance of Ji Xingchen visibly startled Xu Xiuyin. Her pupils dilated, her voice trembling, "He's... not human?"
Chi Shen tightened his grip on Ji Xingchen's hand, smiling, "I don't mind."
Adjusting his glasses, Ji Xingchen remarked, "In death, I can be even closer to him, inseparable."
Chi Shen responded, "I did prefer when you were alive, but what can you do when you're already dead?"
The ghostly face lurking behind Chi Shen realized he should have also emerged to prove Chi Shen wasn't alone. But in this situation, another ghost might seem even stranger. Better to just observe.
As their conversation continued, Xu Xiuyin grew increasingly fearful. Backing away, she misstepped, her high heel caught in a crack. Chi Shen quickly reached out to steady her, smiling gently, "Be careful on your way home."
Xu Xiuyin tried to grasp Chi Shen's hand, but he withdrew swiftly, not allowing her the chance. With Xu Xiuyin watching, Ji Xingchen retreated into Chi Shen's shadow, and Chi Shen casually walked away.
The area near the Security Bureau wasn't bustling. As Chi Shen strolled towards the subway station, he suddenly remarked, "That was unexpected."
From the shadow came Ji Xingchen's voice, "I was trying to help you."
Hands in his pockets, Chi Shen mused, "I suspect you're hinting at something."
Ji Xingchen's voice echoed, "Don't misunderstand. That's not what I meant."
Chi Shen chuckled, "Which meaning are you referring to?"
Ji Xingchen remained silent.
Continuing his playful teasing, Chi Shen pressed, "We've shared a bed, and you've even used my body. Given our constant closeness, there's no need to be shy."
No further sound came from the shadow, as if it had truly become just an ordinary silhouette.
The ghostly face on Chi Shen's clothes tried to shrink into invisibility, not daring to speak, questioning his existence. Why had he left the house? Why was he here?
It was rush hour, but the subway station wasn't crowded. Chi Shen boarded smoothly. Instead of heading home as he mentioned earlier, he checked a location on his phone, "Hong'an Trade..."
Meanwhile, Xu Xiuyin's drive home was not so smooth; she was stuck in traffic.
The driver, glancing at the GPS, inquired, "Shall we take a detour? A side route might save us twenty minutes."
"Detour." Xu Xiuyin uttered, but then recalling Chi Shen's words, her initial dismissiveness turned to unease. "No, don't take the detour."
"Understood." The driver continued straight, bypassing the suggested detour on the navigation.
Chapter 076: I Suspect You're Hinting at Something.
In the midst of drawing talismans, Zhong Yi suddenly paused. His hand bore some bluish-purple marks, remnants of the ghostly aura that grazed him. He looked up in confusion at the paper doll.
Yuan Yi Ping also rose to his feet, his face a mask of astonishment.
The room's oppressive black miasma vanished abruptly. The paper doll's hand-drawn features shifted from calm to sorrowful, its papery limbs gently stirring.
Their arduous efforts had merely anchored the fragmented spirit to this paper doll to prevent its dispersal. They had summoned Chi Shen with hopes of simply communicating, to gather information about the spirit and confirm the deceased's identity. They hadn't expected Chi Shen to animate the paper doll!
"What is your wish?"
Both Yuan Yi Ping and Zhong Yi heard Chi Shen's words. The moment they resonated, the paper doll on the table curled up, resembling a child fearful of the dark, drawing its legs close and wrapping its arms around itself.
Over this petite paper figure, the silhouette of a young girl began to emerge. She appeared frail, and her spirit was marred with voids. These voids were not physical deformities from her life but spiritual damages, rendering some areas of her spirit particularly dim. She hugged herself tightly, burying her head between her knees.
Zhong Yi was so shocked that he couldn't react. He had seen this shattered spirit before and, based on his knowledge, believed it was impossible to communicate with it. It only exuded resentment. He even advised Yuan Yiping to pursue other options and abandon this route.
He never imagined that an ordinary man, with no formal training in the arts, could awaken and piece together this fragmented spirit.
What had just happened?
Zhong Yi pondered. All he had witnessed was Chi Shen greeting the broken spirit. At that moment, he had doubted Yuan Yiping's decision, but unexpectedly, that simple greeting worked wonders!
This surreal scene, beyond everything he had learned in his life, even made him question the worth of his lifelong knowledge.
Despite his deep shock, Zhong Yi's hand still held the brush soaked in cinnabar ink. Years of experience in drawing symbols allowed him to finish the last stroke without a second thought.
Suddenly, a bird's chirp echoed in the cramped room. The square formation he drew became active!
It was a formation to summon the four mythical beasts to suppress spirits, the most potent formation he had learned for swift results. But now was clearly not the right time. The spirit, which was painstakingly pieced together, was on the verge of being shattered again.
Four ethereal figures descended. The restless spirit within the formation trembled. As they moved to the center, just moments away from reaching the spirit, they hesitated—
Yuan Yiping kicked a stool at one of the cinnabar symbols. The stool leg scraped, splitting the symbol in half, and the four apparitions vanished. Yet, the trembling of the spirit in the center didn't cease.
"I'm sorry," murmured Zhong Yi, covering his hand, which bore bluish-purple marks, apologizing softly.
Yuan Yiping remained silent, and both of them looked at the spirit in the middle.
As the four mythical beasts appeared, Chi Shen didn't move. He simply reached out and gently patted the head of the girl curled up on the table, soothingly saying, "Don't be afraid. You're safe. I'll protect you."
To the other two, Chi Shen's reassurance seemed basic. Yet miraculously, the spirit's trembling noticeably subsided, appearing less frightened.
Zhong Yi wanted to warn Chi Shen against directly touching the spirit, fearing he might get harmed by its dark energy. But given the circumstances, he kept silent, merely looking concernedly at Chi Shen's hand.
With tremendous patience, Chi Shen waited for nearly ten minutes until the girl stopped shaking. Then he gently asked, "You seem to need help. Do you have a wish?"
Without lifting her head, the girl kept her face buried. Just when Zhong Yi and Yuan Yiping thought she wouldn't respond, a frail voice filled the room, "Can you make me disappear? As if I never existed? Everyone would be much happier."
Such a delicate voice lingered in the air, as if speaking any louder would earn her reprimands for being too noisy.
Everyone in the room, both spirits and humans, wore a puzzled expression. They had encountered spirits of various kinds, each with their unique obsessions. Most spirits sought revenge, desiring to harm those who had harmed them. Some were driven by unfulfilled desires from their lives. For instance, spirits who starved to death longed for a hearty meal; one spirit Chi Shen encountered wanted a beautiful face. Others wished for others to experience their pain.
But this girl was different. Her sole obsession was to erase her existence, to be wiped away as if by an eraser, eradicating every trace of her past.
Perhaps sensing the prolonged silence, that feeble voice spoke up once again:
"I'm sorry... I was just... just asking. I apologize..."
"There's no need to apologize," Chi Shen offered a comforting smile. "I can't erase your existence, and for that, I should be the one apologizing. But I can help you make those who wronged you disappear. Would you consider that?"
Zhong Yi instantly turned to Chi Shen. That single statement could get him on the watch list of the Special Security Bureau. Yet his puzzled gaze quickly took over.
When Chi Shen spoke those words, his eyes were kind and calm, and his smile felt as warm as a spring breeze in March. One would associate him with the beauty of nature: wildflowers swaying in springtime, koi fish swimming in a pond. Not someone who would casually discuss making someone vanish.
Was he joking? Is this a typical tactic when communicating with spirits, or is he genuinely the kind of person who can utter such words with a smile?
Doubts flooded Zhong Yi's mind, but he ultimately chose to remain silent.
The room quieted down for a moment. Just when Zhong Yi thought the girl wouldn't respond, the fragile voice spoke again: "Thank you... I don't wish for anyone to disappear. Only I should. Thank you for your offer."
"May I speak?" Zhong Yi couldn't hold back any longer. Seeing the girl like this, he felt an inexplicable anger and wanted to say something.
Chi Shen nodded. "Go ahead."
Zhong Yi looked at the girl, "Were you harmed by someone? Is that how you died?"
The girl paused for a moment; the damaged soul that had been huddled on the table gave a slight nod.
"Don't you wish for that person to die?" Zhong Yi pressed.
The girl nodded, then shook her head, "He should face his own punishment. If I wish for him to disappear, then others who also want him gone won't have their chance. It's not fair."
Before Zhong Yi could say more, Chi Shen raised his hand to stop him and addressed the girl, "He's currently under police investigation. There are others like you who don't even know how they died. Would you be willing to help the police?"
The girl suddenly looked up. Her face was gaunt, making her eyes seem unusually large. Those eyes sparkled for a moment as she looked at Chi Shen, "He's been caught?"
Yuan Yi Ping stepped forward, "Who is 'he'?"
"Bai Ran," she whispered.
As she uttered that name, a dark aura briefly emanated from her, signaling a possible frenzy. Zhong Yi and Yuan Yi Ping immediately grew tense. Yet, the dark energy dissipated as quickly as it appeared.
Chi Shen remained calm, "Before Bai Ran gets the punishment he deserves, you'll help these two officers and stay in control, right?"
"Yes." The girl controlled her haunting aura, looking up at them, her voice trembling slightly, yet without a hint of malevolence.
"Bairan has killed many; I know of some."
Immediately, Zhong Yi and Yuan Yiping began questioning. Afraid of interruptions halfway through, Chishen observed from the sidelines, waiting for them to finish before leaving.
By the time the documentation was done, night had fallen. Yuan Yiping offered to treat Chishen to dinner. Zhong Yi stood nearby, clearly eager to discuss something with Chishen.
Chishen declined, stating that it's a citizen's duty. Yuan Yiping had no choice but to escort him to the door.
Before departing, Chishen turned and inquired, "How will Bairan be judged?"
"For two lives, it's enough for a death sentence. Our line of work is strict, especially for those capable. With such severity in his actions, even one life could warrant capital punishment," Yuan Yiping sighed, "It's hard to believe that someone who seemed so decent could commit such acts."
"A death sentence, huh." Chishen chuckled as he left the security bureau.
Although the sentence has been pronounced, Chishen knows there's much work ahead for the security bureau. Most supernatural incidents are treated as accidents, but they owe it to the victims' families to uncover everything Bairan has done.
It'll be an immense workload.
Back in the security bureau, Yuan Yiping said to Zhong Yi, "See? He truly can communicate well with spirits."
Zhong Yi, puzzled, asked, "Is this some sort of unheard-of talent?"
"I'm not sure, I've never heard of such an ability," Yuan Yiping responded. "Perhaps he can help with the old man's case."
Rubbing his forehead in irritation, Zhong Yi replied, "We'll see."
Leisurely, Chishen began walking towards the subway station to head home. But within a few steps, he noticed a luxury car parked ahead.
Recently feeling like luxury cars were a bad omen for him, he decided to avoid it. However, as he turned away, someone stepped out of the vehicle—his biological mother, Xu Xiuyin.
"Chishen!" Seeing him trying to detour around, Xu Xiuyin quickly called out and approached, "They said you were here, and here you are. Did you come to visit Bairan?"
With a hint of resignation, Chishen turned and replied, "I came to assist with the investigation—oh, Bairan's case."
"Bairan truly wronged you, but there's nothing he can do now. Please forgive him. We should've realized sooner that he was targeting you," Xu Xiuyin sighed deeply. "I feel we've never really talked. You're my flesh and blood. It's windy out; can we talk inside the car?"
With a stoic face, Chishen replied, "I need to get home. If there's something, let's discuss it here."
Xu Xiuyin looked at Chishen with concern, "Are you returning to your rented place? There's no family there. It must be lonely. If you fall ill, there's no one to care for you. Why not come back to the Bairan house with me? It's good for family to be together."
"Family?" Chi Shen almost burst into laughter.
Before he could respond, a dark shadow solidified behind him. Ji Xingchen stepped out from his shadow, taking Chi Shen's hand and said to Xu Xiuyin, "He's not alone."
The sudden appearance of Ji Xingchen visibly startled Xu Xiuyin. Her pupils dilated, her voice trembling, "He's... not human?"
Chi Shen tightened his grip on Ji Xingchen's hand, smiling, "I don't mind."
Adjusting his glasses, Ji Xingchen remarked, "In death, I can be even closer to him, inseparable."
Chi Shen responded, "I did prefer when you were alive, but what can you do when you're already dead?"
The ghostly face lurking behind Chi Shen realized he should have also emerged to prove Chi Shen wasn't alone. But in this situation, another ghost might seem even stranger. Better to just observe.
As their conversation continued, Xu Xiuyin grew increasingly fearful. Backing away, she misstepped, her high heel caught in a crack. Chi Shen quickly reached out to steady her, smiling gently, "Be careful on your way home."
Xu Xiuyin tried to grasp Chi Shen's hand, but he withdrew swiftly, not allowing her the chance. With Xu Xiuyin watching, Ji Xingchen retreated into Chi Shen's shadow, and Chi Shen casually walked away.
The area near the Security Bureau wasn't bustling. As Chi Shen strolled towards the subway station, he suddenly remarked, "That was unexpected."
From the shadow came Ji Xingchen's voice, "I was trying to help you."
Hands in his pockets, Chi Shen mused, "I suspect you're hinting at something."
Ji Xingchen's voice echoed, "Don't misunderstand. That's not what I meant."
Chi Shen chuckled, "Which meaning are you referring to?"
Ji Xingchen remained silent.
Continuing his playful teasing, Chi Shen pressed, "We've shared a bed, and you've even used my body. Given our constant closeness, there's no need to be shy."
No further sound came from the shadow, as if it had truly become just an ordinary silhouette.
The ghostly face on Chi Shen's clothes tried to shrink into invisibility, not daring to speak, questioning his existence. Why had he left the house? Why was he here?
It was rush hour, but the subway station wasn't crowded. Chi Shen boarded smoothly. Instead of heading home as he mentioned earlier, he checked a location on his phone, "Hong'an Trade..."
Meanwhile, Xu Xiuyin's drive home was not so smooth; she was stuck in traffic.
The driver, glancing at the GPS, inquired, "Shall we take a detour? A side route might save us twenty minutes."
"Detour." Xu Xiuyin uttered, but then recalling Chi Shen's words, her initial dismissiveness turned to unease. "No, don't take the detour."
"Understood." The driver continued straight, bypassing the suggested detour on the navigation.
