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墨書 Inktalez
I stood at the entrance of City People's General Hospital's Inpatient Department with Jun Chong. The night was thick and dark, with the crescent moon's glow merely a decorative touch, quietly etched against the black curtain of the sky. The surrounding stars had hidden themselves, leaving only a few lackluster ones to flicker dimly.
"Let's go," I said, grabbing Jun Chong's hand and pulling him inside. However, he remained rooted to the spot, retracting his hand and pulling me back instead. I looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"When did you become so proactive about this kind of thing?"
"Proactive? Not at all." I shook my head. "Shizui told me before leaving that strange occurrences don’t happen repeatedly in the same place without reason. A couple of odd events might not mean much, but if they happen often, it’s definitely not a coincidence. Every strange incident we encountered before entering the underworld had some underlying conspiracy. During our time in the underworld, everything was peaceful, but now that we're back, strange things are happening again. I can't help but be suspicious, so taking the initiative is better than being reactive, don’t you think?"
"I think—" Jun Chong bent down, dragging out his words, then took my hand and pulled me closer. "I think as long as you stand behind me properly, that's all that matters. You have the ability to protect yourself, and I'm glad for that, but when I'm by your side, leave everything to me."
"You'll make others dislike me."
Jun Chong snorted softly. "Who dares to say they don't like you when I do?"
I smiled happily as Jun Chong bit his finger and smeared the blood on my forehead. A chill ran through my body, causing me to shiver. "What is this?"
"A way to make you invisible; there are cameras everywhere in the hospital. If they catch you on tape, it won't be good."
After saying that, he led me into the Inpatient Department lobby. It was particularly quiet at midnight; the dim yellow lights cast a gloomy atmosphere as only a few energy-saving bulbs were lit at the entrance and near the elevators to save power.
Hospitals usually have a heavy aura of negativity, but after returning from the underworld, I should have had some immunity to such energy. Yet as soon as I stepped inside, an unusual coldness enveloped me, as if Hades himself were standing beside me.
"The atmosphere here is a bit murky," Jun Chong frowned and tightened his grip on my hand. "Be careful; just stick close to me."
"Okay."
I grabbed Jun Chong's arm and followed him into the elevator, pressing the button for the seventh floor. "Shi Qingqing is from the same school as me, so I asked my Sister to find out about her hospital room. She's currently in the Intensive Care Unit."
When we reached the seventh floor in front of the Intensive Care Unit, Jun Chong said, "Go ring the doorbell."
I obediently walked over and pressed the doorbell. Soon, a nurse came to open the door. Jun Chong waved his hand in front of her eyes and then pulled me inside.
"Huh? There's nothing here?" The nurse rubbed her eyes and tugged at her ears. "Is there something wrong with my hearing?"
She returned to the Nurse Station to continue her work. Upon entering this hospital's Intensive Care Unit, there was a lobby with several small rooms behind it, and Shi Qingqing's room was arranged in the innermost one.
In the evening, there weren't many nurses on duty in the Intensive Care Unit; they were each busy at their posts. Jun Chong and I went to Shi Qingqing's room, where she was the only patient. A nurse had just checked her vital signs and left, leaving the surroundings very quiet except for the buzzing sounds of the equipment.
"That's her." I pointed at Shi Qingqing and wanted to walk over, but Jun Chong pulled me back again. He stood at the doorway, glanced at Shi Qingqing inside, and suddenly asked me, "Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?"
"No?" I shook my head. "Aside from the coldness of the hospital's yin energy, there's no feeling of dread."
"And her?" Jun Chong continued to ask. "Is there still that aura you sensed last time?"
I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying to feel the aura emanating from Shi Qingqing again. Suddenly, I jolted. "She has no aura at all!"
Jun Chong pursed his lips and nodded. I was astonished. "Living beings have life energy, ghosts have Eerie Aura, demons have Evil Energy. Although I can't distinguish much, I can feel that she has absolutely no aura right now—no life energy and no Eerie Aura—like a glass of plain water with no flavor. But why does the Monitor show heart rate and blood pressure? The news didn't say she died?"
"Because her soul is sealed in another world," Jun Chong paused before adding, "trapped in another version of herself."
"What do you mean?"
"Mirror."
"Mirror?" I was completely at a loss.
"Isn't it said online that she looks in the mirror every midnight?"
I nodded.
"From a scientific perspective, a mirror is just an ordinary object, but in reality, it is something quite sinister; it can reflect another self. People have both an inner and outer self, which are similar yet entirely different. For instance, some may appear rugged and fierce, but inside, they are gentle souls."
"Are you saying that the thing in the mirror has somehow trapped Shi Qingqing's soul inside?" Seeing Jun Chong nod, I continued, "I've read online that some people can have their souls sucked into mirrors if they look at them at specific times and places."
"That's pretty much it." Jun Chong gazed into the mirror at Shi Qingqing, still not taking a step forward, standing at the entrance like a guardian. "Mirrors are essentially demons; they are weak in the human world but incredibly powerful in the Mirror World. Their favorite pastime is to ensnare people's souls."
"What will happen to Shi Qingqing? Will she be stuck like this forever?"
"When a soul is consumed by a Mirror Demon, the body will also perish. She will only awaken if a new soul enters her body." Jun Chong took my hand and started to walk back. "It's just a Mirror Demon; we should leave."
"Huh? Is that really okay? Aren't we going to save her?"
"Some things are destined; no one can change them. Her lifespan has come to an end."
As soon as Jun Chong finished speaking, the monitor began to beep alarmingly. A nurse rushed in upon hearing the sound and immediately called for a doctor to perform emergency resuscitation.
Jun Chong pulled me away, and by the time we reached the first floor, the chilling atmosphere had long since vanished, and the hall felt much warmer.
Jun Chong tightened his grip on my hand and suddenly said, "The Demon Realm has grand ambitions and cruel methods. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. If the Deity comes after you, do your best to avoid them. If you encounter a presence that sends chills down your spine, flee immediately or seek protection from the Su Family. The Su Group has a significant presence in this city, and there are bound to be many from the Su Family around. Su Ziqian holds a considerable position within the Su Family; remember that."
"Is the Demon Realm really that dangerous?"
I had initially found it puzzling that he would bring this up out of nowhere, but seeing Jun Chong's serious expression and recalling the unsettling aura I had felt made it clear.
He despised the Su Family yet advised me to seek their protection. Was the Demon Realm and the Deity truly that terrifying? What kind of deep-seated hatred existed between him and Jun Chong?
"It is very dangerous."
Jun Chong emphasized those three words with immense weight. I suddenly realized I didn't like seeing him wear such a heavy expression. This version of Jun Chong wasn't exactly frightening, but it always left me feeling a lingering gloom.
I wanted him to be happy; at least when he was with me, he genuinely seemed happy. So, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed the corner of his lips, then wrapped my arms around him, resting my head against his chest. "Jun Chong, I will take good care of myself; you don't need to worry."
"Fool, I know you're brave. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters."
After our visit to the hospital that day, Jun Chong sent Tao Wu and Taotie to investigate both openly and covertly the next day. The Miasma that had crossed into the human realm through the Underworld Ghost Path had been missing ever since. I suspected it was likely related to the Deity, but we had no evidence whatsoever. Even if they stood against us, some things transcended races and could not be casually accused without proof—evidence has always been crucial throughout history.
A few days later, Su Ziqian called me upon learning I was back and wanted to arrange a meeting. Jun Chong suggested I put him off for a few days first.
Since he said so, I couldn't argue. During the day, I went grocery shopping with Taotie and learned how to cook from him. I must admit Taotie's culinary skills were impressive; someone who truly appreciates good food will always find their own creations delicious.
"Is that all for today? What else do we need to buy?"
"No more needed," Taotie shook his head. "The Lord mentioned that your appetite hasn't been great these past few days, so we should keep things light."
"Mm." My appetite is usually poor every summer, but this year I went to the Underworld during the hottest months of July and August, so I guess it was a way to escape the heat! However, September is still sweltering, and my appetite has continued to decline.
As I walked outside, I suddenly noticed a familiar woman approaching us. Curiously glancing over, I was taken aback and exclaimed, "Shi Qingqing?!"
She didn't die?!
"You know me?"
Upon hearing her name called, Shi Qingqing stopped in her tracks and looked over at me with a slight smile. "Is it you?"
The first time I met Shi Qingqing, she gave off a simple and rustic vibe, but now she was dressed fashionably, looking like a captivating young woman. Her long legs were on display, her slim waist accentuated by minimal clothing. Her straight hair was curled and dyed a striking red, catching the attention of the men passing by who couldn't hide their lecherous expressions.
"Yes." Since she had heard me, it wouldn't be polite to just walk away. After all, she was still my Sister, so I greeted her warmly. "I saw your report before and learned that you are my Sister."
"Oh, so it's Senior Sister!" Shi Qingqing said playfully, pouting her lips with a smile as she threw a flirtatious glance at Taotie before continuing, "It's truly an honor that Senior Sister recognizes me. Next time, I'll treat you to dinner! I have something to attend to now; see you later! Bye!"
There was an unsettling aura hidden beneath Shi Qingqing's cheerful demeanor, especially with the overwhelming fragrance that made my nose itch.
More importantly, she should have been dead—why was she still alive?
Taotie tugged at my sleeve and waited until Shi Qingqing had walked away before saying to me, "You should keep your distance from her; there's a strange aura about her."
I was shocked. "A strange aura?"
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