Chapter 42: Midnight Mirror (Part 5)

After hearing Chen Jiu’s words, Xu Ting’s mind instantly flashed through the suspense novels, films, television shows, comics, and documentaries she had read over the years. Her eyes widened as she said: “Could it be, hypnosis?”

Chen Jiu’s interest was piqued upon hearing this, and she asked her to continue.

Xu Ting leaned in and said: “Look, you said not to make eye contact. That means after eye contact, he might use some method to plant a suggestion in people, right? Then carry out mental control, hypnosis. This kind of thing happens quite a lot. There have been many cases of mass mental hypnosis in history too. But the methods of planting suggestions aren’t limited to eye contact. They could also be hidden in singing, background music, lighting, projected patterns, and so on.”

After hearing her viewpoint, Chen Jiu was quite surprised. She nodded and said: “You know quite a lot.”

The methods Xu Ting described were already eighty or ninety percent correct. Only in the practitioner profession, this method was called Soul Capturing.

The eyes are the mirror of the soul. So usually when an evil spirit possesses someone, the eyes are the first to show abnormality. And when a person is on the verge of death, the soul also gradually dissipates from the eyes.

“So, Soul Capturing generally starts from the visual aspect, such as eye contact, or the projected screens and lighting you just mentioned.” Chen Jiu said.

“Soul Capturing!” Xu Ting was greatly shocked. The moment her voice fell, the singing on stage suddenly went silent for an instant.

Chen Jiu clearly felt Oliver’s gaze sweep over her. Xu Ting quickly covered her mouth and buried her head even lower.

The singing continued.

Xu Ting nervously said: “Did I just startle the snake by beating the grass?”

“Um… Not a big problem.” Chen Jiu said, drinking half the juice in her cup. The small paper figure hidden in her pocket rustled along the dark places where the lights couldn’t reach, sticking itself to the bottom of the stage, feeling Oliver’s aura up close.

After probing for a moment, she was surprised to discover this aura seemed familiar. Having found this somewhat useful clue, the paper figure self ignited on the spot.

Chen Jiu lowered her head and asked Zhou Danni about some information related to Oliver on her phone. But Zhou Danni only knew the general outline, and most of it was still hearsay.

Oliver’s original name was Jiang Sheng. He once had a girlfriend he had been in love with for many years, but his family didn’t quite accept her and refused to give their blessing, unwilling to let their son bring the girl home. The girlfriend suffered from severe depression. After graduation, the two lived together for a period. One day when Jiang Sheng came home, he couldn’t find his girlfriend anywhere. A few days later, he received a call from the police notifying him to come claim his girlfriend’s body.

They had raised a dog and a cat. They had stable work and income. They had a warm little nest where they could live long term. They thought their suffering had finally come to an end. But in the end, the girlfriend still couldn’t endure it and jumped into the river to end her life.

Jiang Sheng’s heart died along with her. For several years he couldn’t move on. He didn’t go home, nor did he continue working at his original unit. After resigning, he wandered everywhere, singing in whichever city he went to. It was only a few months ago that he started working here regularly as a resident singer.

Many fans developed pity and affection for Jiang Sheng because of this story. They praised his devotion, praised his loyalty, loved his melancholy and untamed nature, and immersed themselves in his sad past with him, unable to extricate themselves.

After reading this story, Xu Ting was somewhat moved. Two people in love who couldn’t end up together, separated by life and death. How bitter.

“Obsessive thoughts.” Chen Jiu evaluated, lightly tapping her glass with one hand.

It was just unknown what role Jiang Sheng played in the entire Soul Capturing incident. Medium? Or mastermind?

Zhou Danni: Boss sister, why do you suddenly want to hear Oliver’s story? Do you also think he’s very handsome and melancholic?

Chen Jiu: Mm. Do you have any friends who like him like you do?

Zhou Danni: There are a few classmates who probably like him too, but I’m not familiar with them. I’ve occasionally seen them here.

Chen Janni: I see. Would it be convenient to ask about their recent sleep conditions?

Zhou Danni’s side showed typing for a long time. Finally she sent three huge shocked emojis in a row.

Zhou Danni: You couldn’t be saying that listening to Oliver sing easily leads to declining sleep quality, right?! Is it that unpleasant to hear?!

Chen Jiu: “Pfft”

Xu Ting quickly helped pat her back: “What happened? What happened? Did you choke?”

Chen Jiu hurriedly said: “Nothing, nothing.”

The girl in front turned her head in panic, constantly looking at her own back. Fortunately, Chen Jiu controlled it precisely and didn’t harm any innocent bystanders. She could only awkwardly apologize twice.

Zhou Danni: I asked. There are some who haven’t been sleeping well recently. Uh… It’s not what I’m thinking, right?

Chen Jiu: Not a big problem. I just need to eliminate some options. You rest well.

Zhou Danni: Mm!

After the intermission, Jiang Sheng sang several more songs at the audience’s request until late into the night before finishing work.

Chen Jiu patted the drowsy Xu Ting and said: “If you’re too sleepy, go home first. Don’t force yourself.”

“Ah ah.” Xu Ting quickly sat up. Seeing that half the audience who came for Oliver had already dispersed, she finally woke up with a start, wiping the corner of her mouth and saying: “My goodness, it’s so late already.”

Chen Jiu raised an eyebrow.

Xu Ting: “I’m going home. Aren’t you going back? What are you doing? I’m not at ease with you alone.”

Chen Jiu smiled mysteriously, leaning close to her ear and saying two words: “Stalking.”

Xu Ting: “!”

After deliberating repeatedly, Xu Ting gave up on this tempting choice and instructed: “Then be careful. Stay safe.”

“Mm.” Chen Jiu patted her hand, turned around and blended into the departing crowd, keeping the corner of her eye on the direction Jiang Sheng left, continuing to send out small paper figures to scout ahead.

Based on the clues currently gathered, as well as Jiang Sheng’s reaction when he made eye contact with her just now, it could be roughly inferred that Jiang Sheng had come into contact with people or matters related to this. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have instinctively retreated because he couldn’t control her soul.

But in all other aspects he behaved like a normal person. He even had a shadow. He was neither haunted by evil spirits nor an evil spirit impersonating a living person. If he was the mastermind behind the entire incident, what was his purpose? Revenge on society?

Chen Jiu walked unhurriedly along the night road. The lone souls and wild ghosts along the street scattered in fear. Until Jiang Sheng entered a dilapidated low building. The paper figure followed him in, but its aura was quickly severed.

She stood in the distance for a moment, calculated with her fingers, and frowned.

In the dim room, three white candles were burning. Jiang Sheng put down his guitar, fed the cat and dog, then walked to the Buddha niche, bowing to that strange Buddha statue.

A hoarse voice said: “Someone followed you the whole way. You didn’t know?”

Jiang Sheng’s entire body stiffened. He stood up, turned his head to look at the window crack. A small paper figure was being choked by drifting black smoke, struggling to scream silently for a moment, then being burned to nothing by blue flames.

“It’s her.” Jiang Sheng clenched his fist, thinking of those eyes he had seen below the stage just now.

That gaze was too sharp, as if nothing could destroy it, and nothing could make it waver even slightly.

The hoarse voice circled around his ear, continuing: “That person has set her sights on you. She still hasn’t left yet… Avoid her. Change places and continue. With my current abilities, I still can’t confront her head on.”

Jiang Sheng frowned: “But I finally managed to establish myself here. So many new believers. You want to give them all up?”

“If you’re unwilling, I’ll just find someone else to fulfill the vow. No need to force it.” The voice laughed, chaotic and strange.

Jiang Sheng hurriedly said: “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then you should move quickly. I’ve dealt with that person before. She’s not easy to get rid of…”

The voice disappeared. The candle flames flickered for a moment. The corners of the Buddha statue’s mouth rose slightly in a strange arc.

What’s so hard to get rid of? Isn’t she just a young woman? What identity does she have to interfere with me?

The more Jiang Sheng thought about it, the more unconvinced he became. He simply opened the door, grabbed a baseball bat, and walked out.

Under the moonlight, Chen Jiu was indeed still standing there quietly, arms crossed, looking at him with perfect composure.

“Who are you? Why are you following me?” Jiang Sheng saw that she didn’t even try to hide, and his anger immediately flared up. He stepped forward to question her.

Chen Jiu raised an eyebrow: “Calm down, friend. I’m not your fan. I just wanted to find you for a private chat.”

Jiang Sheng pointed at her and said: “I have nothing to talk to you about. Get lost.”

“?” Chen Jiu stepped forward, her tone also turning unfriendly: “Since you’re so lacking in manners, then don’t blame me for being impolite.”

“…” Jiang Sheng held the baseball bat, but his momentum instinctively weakened: “Y, you, what do you want to do? If you come any closer I’ll really hit you. If you get beaten up and go around crying that I bully women.”

Chen Jiu found this amusing. In all her years, apart from being spanked a few times by her master when she was little, no one had dared to bully her.

She raised her right hand flat, flicked her fingers in reverse, and sent out a qi blade. Jiang Sheng felt a certain acupoint on his arm hurt fiercely, then both his hands went numb. The baseball bat clattered to the ground. His weapon was confiscated.

“Who’s hitting whom, comrade?” Chen Jiu picked up that baseball bat, testing its weight in her hand: “I tried to talk to you nicely but you wouldn’t listen. You came at me with such hostility right away. Guilty conscience, huh?”

Jiang Sheng was both shocked and furious. He shook his arms and retreated two steps, being pressed by Chen Jiu until he was almost against the door panel. His mouth was still shouting: “Do I know you? Do I have anything to say to you? You want to chat and I have to keep you company? I spit on that!”

Chen Jiu clicked her tongue, showing contempt: “I didn’t expect this, Oliver. You look so refined on stage, but in private you’re actually so crude.”

Jiang Sheng: “…”

Chen Jiu placed the baseball bat horizontally against his neck and said: “Alright, I’m not going to waste words with you. I’ll only warn you once. No matter what you’re plotting right now, stop it immediately. Otherwise the consequences will definitely be worse than any scenario you can imagine.”

Jiang Sheng was still defiant: “Why should I listen to you?”

“You think, if I wanted to go in right now, could you stop me?” Chen Jiu retorted.

Jiang Sheng’s eyes immediately went perfectly round: “Y, you, do you know this is illegal?”

Chen Jiu: “You have the face to talk to me about the law?”

Jiang Sheng finally had nothing to say. After being silent for a long while, he deflated and closed his eyes, saying: “I don’t care who you are or what your purpose is. I can’t agree to you. Give up on that idea. I absolutely can’t.”