Le retour de l'âme

Chapitre 8

Xu Zhifei said, "Yes, we've been conducting some investigations since the day you had the accident."

"Stop everything you're doing!" I said sternly, realizing that my tone was exactly the same as when Maeda Reiko had said those words to me.

"What's wrong?" Xu Zhifei asked.

"Because that's too dangerous, I don't want you to get involved."

Lin Duyu said, "If this is really dangerous, and you still consider us good friends, you shouldn't go and take the risk alone."

Xu Zhifei continued, "Yes, and besides, we also really want to know the answers, why that grove was sealed off, why that woman went mad, and why Hu Xiaoli fell into a coma."

Lin Duyu said, "Lin Yuan, even if you don't tell us, we will still investigate this matter."

I knew that Lin Duyu, though easygoing, was quite stubborn, so I said, "Alright, I won't hide anything from you anymore. However, you must be prepared that everything we're about to do is extremely dangerous and terrifying."

"Don't worry, we're prepared," Xu Zhifei patted his chest.

So I told them everything that happened in the Youth League Committee office that night.

"It seems things are indeed quite complicated," Xu Zhifei said, "but I still think it's unlikely."

"Before the truth is revealed, it's better for us to believe it. There are many phenomena in this world that cannot be explained by modern science," Lin Duyu said.

Xu Zhifei said, "Then how do you explain Lin Yuan's experiences? You can't just use theology, can you?"

Lin Duyu said, "Whether a soul exists after death, and whether the spirit can exist independently of the material body, are things that are unclear."

"Please don't make it sound so profound, I've always hated philosophy."

"But philosophy can be very useful sometimes. The spirit is the human soul, and the material entity upon which the spirit depends is our brain and sensory organs. It's certain that the spirit cannot exist independently of material entity, but is it possible to change the material entity upon which it depends for existence? I think it's quite possible."

"Just explain it clearly. You know I'm bad at philosophy, yet you've rambled on about things I can't understand at all."

I had some thoughts about what Lin Duyu had just said, and suddenly I slammed my hand on the table, "That's right, from a medical perspective, it's not impossible to use other auxiliary means to help the brain sense external things. That is to say, the soul's perception of the outside world does not necessarily have to be transmitted through our sensory organs. It can also be replaced by other objects. Similarly, it is possible that this spirit, that is, the soul, can leave the brain and be carried by other material carriers."

"Now I understand. So, it's possible that ghosts exist in this world, right?" Xu Zhifei asked.

"Well, that possibility can't be ruled out," Lin Duyu said.

"What are your thoughts on this matter? I'd like to hear your opinions. Where should we begin our investigation? The leads are too scattered, and I'm completely lost." I began to solicit their opinions.

Lin Duyu stood up from his bunk and slowly paced back and forth. "I think if we're going to investigate, we should start with the woods behind that iron gate. That place is so mysterious; I always feel like the female ghost you saw that night came from there."

"This... I'm afraid it's not a good idea, it's too dangerous," I stammered.

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub; you can't get a tiger cub without going into the tiger's den," Xu Zhifei said.

"I forgot to tell you earlier, many strange deaths have occurred in that grove of trees, which is why it's been sealed off. I think we'd better not go," I said.

Lin Duyu said, "Don't you want to find out the truth as soon as possible? The three of us going together should be fine."

I thought for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, let's act tonight. With the rain, no one will be around, and we won't be discovered."

Lin Duyu said, "Okay, let's go prepare now!"

The Woman in White (4) of "Fourth Campus"

"Wait, how do we get in?" I asked.

Xu Zhifei brandished the utility knife in his hand and said smugly, "Of course, I'll pick the lock. I'm confident I can handle those iron locks."

"Okay," I glanced at my watch, "it's 7 o'clock now. We'll leave in an hour."

PART 6.

The clock tower's bells tolled again, a deep, resonant sound, striking eight times exactly. I stood by the window, gazing at the "clock tower" in the dim light of the distance, my heart pounding. The mystery I so desperately wanted to know was about to be solved; that mysterious forbidden land was about to be revealed before us. I didn't know what I was feeling—fear, excitement? I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"Everything is ready, let's go." Xu Zhifei patted my shoulder and handed me a raincoat.

It was raining heavily, so we headed straight for the "Clock Tower".

Most of the rooms in the "clock tower" were still lit, so it seemed that quite a few people were studying tonight. Hopefully, our actions wouldn't be discovered.

We bypassed the "clock tower" and arrived at the restricted area about 50 meters away, before the heavy, old iron gate. I looked around to make sure we weren't being watched, then waved my hand. Xu Zhifei then took out a utility knife and began picking the lock. Lin Duyu and I stood on either side of him, keeping watch.

"So, how long will it take?" Lin Duyu asked.

"It's alright, but the lock is rusty, so it'll probably take a while, about fifteen minutes," Xu Zhifei replied.

The rain intensified, and the thick fog reduced visibility significantly. Suddenly, I vaguely saw two figures walking towards us from the direction of the "clock tower".

"Xu Zhifei, Xu Zhifei, stop for a moment," I said, patting Xu Zhifei on the back.

"What's wrong? I'm almost done," Xu Zhifei said.

"Someone's coming."

"Where?" Lin Duyu asked.

"There are two figures over there," I pointed in the direction of the "clock tower."

"Let's hide for a while," Lin Duyu said.

So the three of us ran toward the office building.

As usual, the office building was deserted at night, with only a few professors occasionally working overtime. But given the weather today, it was probably already empty. The corridor lights were still dim. We leaned against the wall on the first floor, panting.

"Who do you think those two people are?" Lin Duyu asked.

"I don't know, it's strange, why would they come out in such heavy rain?" Xu Zhifei said.

"What's so strange about that?" I said. "Didn't we escape just the same way? You can go to that forbidden area, but others can't?"

Lin Duyu said, "Could it be that someone else is investigating this? We should go back and see what they're up to."

Xu Zhifei said, "Yes, yes, maybe they want to go in too. That would save me trouble. We can just wait for them to open the door and then follow them in."

Lin Duyu said, "Lin Yuan, let's go back and take a look."

"The three of you don't need to go back." A man's voice rang out in the corridor.

"Who is it? Show yourself!" Xu Zhifei's reaction was strong.

Then a woman's voice came: "Hayahara-kun, it's me." Maeda Reiko walked out from around the corner, followed closely by Hayashi Mori.

"You are not allowed to enter that forbidden area," Lin Musen said in a commanding tone.

"Who are you people?" Xu Zhifei seemed a little agitated. "What we do is none of your business."

"Reiko, why are you stopping us from going in?" I asked.

Reiko Maeda said, "Because everyone who goes in dies, I don't want anyone else to have an accident in that forest."

"But if we don't go in, we'll never know the answer," I said.

"There are many ways to investigate. You don't have to go into that forbidden area. Not only will you not find the answers that way, you'll also lose your lives," Lin Musen said coldly.

"Hayahara-kun, you promised me today that we'd get through this together and find the answers. Give up. Don't even think about going to that place. At least right now, we don't have enough confidence," Maeda Reiko said.

Xu Zhifei said, "Maeda Reiko, you're the head of that so-called Séance Society, right? What do you think that lousy association is? What right do you have to interfere with us? Don't try to scare us. You probably have some shady secret behind those walls!"

"If you want to die, go ahead. We just don't want to see this tragedy repeat itself," Lin Musen said coldly.

"Alright, I want to see what kind of terrifying thing is inside." With that, Xu Zhifei strode towards the office building entrance.

"Xu Zhifei!" I called out.

Xu Zhifei didn't answer, nor did he turn his head; he just gave us an OK sign. When he walked over to Maeda Reiko and Lin Musen, he suddenly stopped. "Brothers, I'm coming over now. If you're so tough, don't follow me." Then he started walking again.

"We can't let him go," Maeda Reiko said to Hayashi Musen.

"Lizi, we've done our best. He's willing to die, so why bother?" Lin Musen said.

Reiko Maeda glanced at him. "That's an order."

Lin Musen seemed terrified of Maeda Reiko; upon hearing this, he immediately turned and shouted at Xu Zhifei, "Come back here!"

Xu Zhifei slowly turned around, a mocking expression on his face. "Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere anymore? I never expected a grown man to become a woman's puppet."

Lin Musen seemed to have been struck where it hurt, and he cursed at Xu Zhifei, "What the hell did you say? Say it again if you dare!"

Xu Zhifei said slowly, "I'm telling you, a grown man, actually becoming a woman's puppet, it's fucking shameful."

Lin Musen's face turned ashen. Without saying a word, he swung his fist and ran towards Xu Zhifei. The two quickly became entangled in a tangled mess.

"Stop fighting!" I shouted at them, and Lin Duyu and I ran towards them. Maeda Reiko seemed completely unconcerned about the fight, standing motionless and not even glancing at it.

Lin Duyu and I used a lot of effort to pull the two apart.

"Never mind, Xu Zhifei, Lizi is just looking out for us. Let's go back to the dorm," I said.

The Woman in White (5) of "Fourth Campus"

Lin Duyu said, "Forget it, let's talk about it later. You're injured, let's go back first."

Xu Zhifei didn't speak; blood was flowing from his nose.

I turned to Maeda Reiko and said, "I'm sorry, I have to take my leave now. I'll contact you if I need anything." After saying that, Lin Duyu and I helped Xu Zhifei out.

PART 7.

The next day at noon, I had just finished eating when Lin Duyu ran over to tell me that several policemen were looking for me. I knew it was Chen Yiming again, and I was very unhappy, but I couldn't refuse to see him.

When I arrived at the dormitory entrance, I saw a group of people gathered outside. I went inside, and Chen Yiming and several other police officers were sitting in our dormitory.

"Lin Yuan, there's something I need you to do to assist with an investigation," Chen Yiming said seriously. I reluctantly followed them out of the dormitory.

Apart from Xu Zhifei, Lin Duyu, and Zhao Jun, everyone else looked at me strangely, and then I heard a murmur of discussion:

"What happened?"

"I don't know, I heard he was stabbed by a crazy woman."

Why did the madwoman stab him?

"You don't know? I heard that night he was in the Youth League Committee office with two girls when he was stabbed. One girl went insane, and the other fainted from fright. God knows what happened."

"Could it be...?"

"It's possible..."

"They've got some nerve, daring to do it in the office..."

"What doesn't happen these days? Haven't you read the newspapers? A female student from XX University was dragged into the woods and raped by a guy from the same school on her way back from evening self-study."

"This society is in such a mess these days..."

Hearing these words, my mind went blank, and I mechanically followed the police officers into the police car.