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Kapitel 15

Some researchers speculate that many prophets were able to see the future because they retained the function of a third eye, which usually degenerates before birth.

After browsing through some theoretical speculations about the third eye, I found that these articles mostly mentioned "precognition" when discussing the function of the third eye, but did not mention any other functions. However, judging from Zhong Shutong's tone, it seems that there should be other functions.

Those abstract theories made no mention of analyzing any individual, suggesting that for these researchers, humans with a third eye only exist in legend, with no reliable historical records. Left with no other option, I pulled out the *Records of the Three Kingdoms* and *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* from my bookshelf and started reading. Of course, there are electronic versions online, but I still prefer reading physical books.

I took a blank sheet of paper and put it aside, intending to list the names of people I thought were possible on it, and then slowly analyze and filter them.

I had already prepared for a long-term war of resistance, but unexpectedly, after watching for only ten minutes, I exclaimed in surprise when I saw one of the names.

Zhang Jiao!

The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise! General Zhang Jiao, the Heavenly Lord!

This leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion raged across the Central Plains, single-handedly destroying the Han Dynasty's territory. Legend has it that he possessed the ability to summon wind and rain and turn beans into soldiers, an ability he obtained from a magical book called "The Book of Peace and Purity".

Leaving aside Zhang Jiao's various miraculous legends, isn't the book that made him rich, "Taiping Qingling Shu," secretly consistent with "that book" that Sun Yaozu recorded in his diary?

Looking at the unofficial histories of the Three Kingdoms period, Zhang Jiao wasn't the only one with extraordinary books. For example, Zuo Ci's *Dunjia Tianshu* (The Book of Dunjia) might have been able to summon wind and rain on the battlefield and create various miracles; but the only one that truly enabled someone to use it to contend for the world was Zhang Jiao's *Taiping Qingling Shu* (The Book of Peaceful Rule). Didn't Sun Yaozu say that obtaining that book was equivalent to obtaining the world?

If such a book truly existed, it might have fulfilled the Sun brothers' desire to revive and promote the Sun family lineage, and even rise to prominence amidst the chaos of war.

The tomb was quite large; it could not have been built by anyone but someone with immense power like Zhang Jiao. Even legendary figures like Zuo Ci and Yu Ji, who are often portrayed as almost supernatural beings in unofficial histories, did not possess such abilities.

Thinking about it this way, Zhang Jiao seems to be the closest answer. A divine being with a third eye would naturally find it much easier to establish the Way of Peace and become a revered Celestial Master than an ordinary person. But if he truly possessed such supernatural abilities, and his book, "The Book of Peace and Purity," could truly create miracles like summoning wind and rain, then how could he have ultimately failed and died?

Moreover, since he was defeated and killed, how could Zhang Jiao have built such a tomb? A tomb of this size could not have been built in a short time.

However, from another perspective, if the third eye possessed the ability to foresee the future, and Zhang Jiao could have foreseen his own fate, perhaps he could have built the tomb beforehand?

So this yellow flag was the battle flag of the Yellow Turban Army back then?

Throughout Chinese history, there have been many individuals who could wield immense power and influence. However, the prevailing view among scholars has been that this was merely a distortion of reality by later generations with rich imaginations, or a misunderstanding of certain phenomena due to uncivilized ignorance. I initially held this view as well, but now it seems that the situation is not so simple.

If the half of the flag that is currently on the table were intact, its condition would be enough to cause a huge uproar in the scientific community.

However, on second thought, that might not be the case. I have had many extraordinary experiences before and have dealt with China's X-organization many times. In the scientific community, there are probably many people who are already dedicated to the research of so-called "supernatural phenomena," but it is just that it is far from time to make it public.

If the tomb truly contains the "Taiping Qingling Book"... I couldn't help but start imagining what was recorded in the book; it was an uncontrollable curiosity, mixed with other emotions.

Then I thought of Wei Xian, who jumped down in front of me, and his gruesome corpse.

If it's the "Book of Peaceful Reigns," then it's anything but peaceful.

I went to bed early, but I still couldn't get a good night's sleep. I was in a very light sleep. If someone were watching me from the bedside, they would have noticed my eyeballs moving rapidly under my eyelids.

When I woke up the next day and looked in the mirror, I found that my complexion was even worse than the day before.

I used to sleep until noon, but now I can't feel sleepy at all. I'm surprised myself at how much pressure this is putting on me. I'm not someone who's never seen a dead person or experienced danger.

Death Curse (4)

Moreover, my grasp and decision-making abilities have clearly declined. I realized that yesterday, I was busy investigating the Three-Eyed Man and Zhang Jiao, but I completely ignored my own position in the whole incident.

In other words, what I plan to do next.

Wei Xian is dead, and there's no one left to explore the tomb with me. Even if I have some guesses about the tomb's occupant's identity, how can I continue?

If I go on like this, going alone, isn't that just courting death?

The current situation is that I can either pretend nothing happened and end the matter, but I've never tried giving up halfway before; or I can find another strong ally, such as—Organization X.

With the immense power of Organization X, they far surpass Wei Xian.

However, through Liang Yingwu's several dealings with the X organization, I also know that once the X organization officially gets involved, the whole matter will become a state secret. Perhaps Liang Yingwu can still find out some information afterward, but direct involvement is out of the question.

And to be honest, I don't like dealing with such secret organizations. Even Liang Yingwu becomes annoying whenever he appears as a researcher from Organization X.

Having learned from yesterday's experience, I was extra careful when crossing the street today, but all sorts of thoughts kept popping into my head, and I was really not in good spirits. When I went out to eat from the newspaper office at noon, I actually mistook the red light for a green light and stepped out, only to be pulled back by the police officer.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, it was my turn to attend today's topic selection meeting. I wrote down several important topics for my department on paper and brought them with me. In this state, I was really afraid that I would forget any of them when it came time to present the topics.

If I don't sleep well tonight, it will be terrible. I can finally understand the suffering of insomniacs.

After reporting their own department's topic, they couldn't leave yet. All departments had to report, and the head of the department had to ask around until everyone had no ideas. Only then was the formality considered complete.

The phone beeped. Huang Jun, who was in the Social Affairs Department for the meeting, glanced down at it. After the Literature and Art Department finished reporting their topics, he interjected, "Our department has another topic. A reporter from the hospital sector just posted a message that the famous historian Zhong Shutong committed suicide by jumping off a building this morning. His death has been confirmed. She is currently interviewing him."

My head buzzed, and everything went dark.

Zhong Shutong is dead too!

Another suicide!

I can't remember how the topic selection meeting ended, or how I walked out of the meeting room. I stood by the window, looking at the traffic below.

Wei Xian is dead, Zhong Shutong is dead, it's not as good as me...

Bang! My head slammed hard against the glass, and the pain brought me back to my senses.

What's wrong with me? If it weren't for the completely enclosed tempered glass in front of me... what was I doing just now?

I actually wanted to jump off here?

How could I have such a thought? No, my mind was completely blank just now, but my hands and feet were a bit out of control.

A few colleagues who looked in my direction forced smiles. I walked unsteadily to the restroom, turned on the tap, and the water gushed out violently. I scooped up the water with my hands and splashed it on my face.

That wasn't me, it definitely wasn't me!

No matter what, a normal person like me would never have suicidal thoughts. Even when I was in the cave surrounded by skeletons every night, I never gave up hope of survival. What just happened?

In that instant, I understood Wei Xian's expression at the very end. It wasn't that he saw me, or anything else that made him look terrified; it was that he had suddenly regained consciousness, just like I had just felt. If it weren't for the tempered glass, I would have only regained my senses during the rapid fall as well. I finally understood how desperate Wei Xian had been at that moment.

My hands, gripping the marble countertop, trembled uncontrollably. My face in the mirror was pale, and I couldn't even stop my teeth from chattering. This wasn't the first time I'd come so close to death, but I'd never felt so out of control, unable to even control my own actions.

Perhaps fear made me exceptionally sensitive; I immediately recalled my abnormal behavior after leaving the tomb—two near-accidents while crossing the street, which I initially thought were due to lack of sleep and mental fatigue. No, even my sudden sleep problems were related to this!

But why did Zhong Shutong also die? He didn't even go into the tomb.

A photo! It's a photo! I screamed inwardly!

I'm the one who killed Zhong Shutong!

Although he had never been inside, I showed him the photos, especially the five he kept for research.

Death Curse (5)

I finally understood the meaning of those symbols: death.

If that battle flag can instill fear, then all the symbols in the entire tomb passage serve the purpose of causing death, of sending people to their deaths!

My ominous intuition probably stemmed from this; looking back, the symbols on the tomb walls became denser the closer one got to the archway.

The archway was conspicuously covered with those symbols. Wei Buhui didn't get as close as I did back then, nor did Qian Liu; one lost the courage to continue tomb raiding, and the other went half-mad. Wei Xian walked all the way to the tomb entrance, so he committed suicide that very day. What kind of symbols were those, and why did they possess such power?

I walked into the deserted stairwell, took out my phone, and realized that only one person could save me now.

I should have made the call after I got home, but now I was terrified that I'd run into a car and get hit by it the moment I stepped out of the building. I was completely focused as I walked down the stairs.

Of all the people I know who have profound knowledge of the human spirit, there is only one: Lu Yun, the inheritor of an ancient Chinese profession.

"Hello, Na Duo." Lu Yun's alluring voice came from the phone. Normally, it would have made my heart flutter, but now...

“I’m terrible.” My voice was dry.

I quickly explained my situation in the simplest terms. Although everyone takes the elevator now and few people come into the stairwell, it's still not very safe; it would be troublesome if someone overheard. However, I didn't deliberately hide anything, since the young woman I was talking to was no ordinary person.

"It's a bit troublesome," Lu Yun said.

My heart sank. If she said that, then it would be really troublesome.

“Your situation is somewhat like being heavily hypnotized. It might not be that difficult to resolve, but the problem is that I am not in the country right now and cannot return for the time being.”

"Where are you?" I regretted asking the question as soon as it left my mouth. I was flustered and confused; otherwise, I shouldn't have asked it.

However, Lu Yun didn't seem to mind and immediately replied, "I'm in Nepal, attending a meeting."

What kind of meeting is it? I wondered to myself, but of course I didn't ask this time.

"Here's what we'll do: I'll give you the phone number of one of the top hypnotists. Just say I recommended him. If he doesn't work out, then call me."

I wrote down the name and phone number Lu Yun gave me, and my heart calmed down a little. I wiped my damp hands on my pants and started dialing the number of the hypnotist named Ou Mingde.

"Hello."

"Mr. Ou? Hello, a friend of mine recommended that I come to see you. I've encountered some problems..."

“Oh… but my schedule is completely full these days. If I want to make an appointment, it will probably be in three or four weeks…” Ou Mingde’s tone suddenly became hesitant. “Wait, can you tell me who recommended you?”

I called his mobile number. Maybe he just remembered that ordinary customers wouldn't know his mobile number.

"It's Lu Yun."

"Ah!" Ou Mingde was somewhat surprised. "But, as for Lu Yun, if she can't help, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to help you either."

"No, Lu Yun is not in the country right now. She recommended you to me."

“Okay, no problem. When do you plan to come?” Ou Mingde’s tone was completely different from before.

"My problem is a bit serious, and I hope it can be resolved as soon as possible."

"Let's do it tonight then. I'll cancel the original appointment."

"Thank you so much."

I wrote down the address of his clinic and arranged to meet him at 7 p.m.

Ou Mingde's psychological clinic is located in an old-style Shikumen alley near Yan'an Middle Road. A sign hangs at the entrance that reads, "Patients please go up to the second floor."

Although I took a taxi directly from the newspaper office, I was momentarily dazed when I was standing on the Bund boulevard hailing a ride and watching the cars passing by. Fortunately, I was very careful and quickly regained my senses.

Ou Mingde was a middle-aged man with a slightly balding forehead, but he looked very energetic. There was a circle of very comfortable leather sofas in the consultation room, and several lamps emitting a warm yellow light.

After expressing my gratitude briefly, I began to explain my situation.

Of course, I made considerable reservations. I didn't mention the deaths of Zhong Shutong and Wei Xian, and I also skipped over the tomb passage. I only said that I accidentally saw a few photos of mysterious symbols and developed an uncontrollable suicidal tendency.

"Could I see those photos?" Ou Mingde asked.

Death Curse (6)

“I didn’t bring it with me, or I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.” The clearest photos were given to Zhong Shutong, and the rest were all kept at home.

“Okay, I’m very interested in those symbols, and I believe they were the ones that gave you the hint.”

"hint?"

"Yes, in psychology, the power of suggestion is far greater than most people imagine. There was once an American movie that included repeated popcorn shots during its normal screening, but each shot was fleeting, and no one in the audience noticed them. However, after the movie ended, the popcorn business in the theater was several times better than usual. Everyone thought it was their own choice, but in reality, they had been influenced and did things they wouldn't normally do. Even this most rudimentary physical flashback technique can have a significant effect, and the symbols you saw are likely abstract suggestions specifically targeting the subconscious level. Those were originally just theoretical possibilities, but I never imagined someone would actually create them! My God!"