Первая книга из серии «Мастер озорства» Кто я

Глава 27

"Hypnosis is a special, sleep-like yet not sleep-like, trance-like psychological state induced by human intervention (such as relaxation, monotonous stimulation, focused attention, imagination, etc.). Its characteristics include a weakening or loss of the hypnotized person's autonomous judgment and will, and distortion or loss of sensation and perception." Ye Min spoke the professional terminology clearly and explained it very thoroughly.

"So... what you mean is..." The old man and I were thinking the same thing.

“My mother was hypnotized by me to do these things; she was unaware of it,” Ye Min answered truthfully.

Now I understand. The "ghost woman's" identity has been revealed; her supernatural feats were accomplished through hypnosis. Do you know how much of the human brain we use under normal circumstances? And what about under abnormal circumstances? For example, under hypnosis or in the face of sudden danger? It's not hard to imagine that, under the conditions of psychological induction and suggestion, a person can unleash astonishing potential without even realizing it. An elderly woman, almost sixty years old, was able to muster such immense strength as to snap the neck of a middle-aged person!

As I recall the various actions of the "other mother," I can't help but feel a headache coming on again. If, as Ye Min said, the depth of hypnosis varies depending on the individual's hypnotic sensitivity, the hypnotist's authority and skills, etc... I never imagined that Ye Min could actually... could actually achieve that level.

but……

"Can you use hypnosis even without makeup?" I asked Ye Min.

She shook her head, rejecting my viewpoint.

"You don't know? That means you're hypnotizing me... But I've been with you the whole time!" Right, compared to Ye Min, Su Yan, who had been out of the public eye for a long time, had far more opportunities and time to perform hypnosis. Since she didn't know how, then...

Section 214: The Truth Behind the Truth (4)

"Wow, that's a very insightful analysis." Ye Min grinned. "Too bad you underestimate me."

Hearing her say that, I had a "what do you mean?" look on my face.

Ye Min calmly brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead and slowly said, "In the field of hypnosis, there are many branches, one of which we call 'post-hypnosis.' Post-hypnosis means that during the initial face-to-face hypnosis, the hypnotist does not immediately put the subject into a hypnotic state. Instead, something like a timer is planted in the subject's subconscious, like a time bomb. When that specific time comes, the hypnotist only needs to give a very simple suggestion, and the subject will immediately enter a hypnotic state, detonating the bomb. The instructions or commands left for the subject are what we call the bomb."

"Wh...what?" I was completely confused. "What post-hypnosis? What time bomb?"

“What I mean is… I had already hypnotized Mom a year ago.” Ye Min looked at me. “The only thing to do after that was to wait for the right time and, through suggestion, get Mom to carry out the command I gave her in her subconscious a year ago.”

"What...what is the order?" Could it be that they're chasing us all the way here, to eliminate us like they eliminated Fatty Lin? I wanted to know the order, but I found Ye Min looking at me coldly. Her silence suddenly reminded me of that thought I had back then in that sewer full of hair.

"Was it just to catch up with us? To let us get here smoothly? To this so-called Thirteen Grudge Pit?"

“Yes,” Ye Min replied calmly.

"When did your mother... come in here? I mean, when did she come in to wait for us..." I felt a little dizzy.

“We decided to travel three days before the company. I told my mother that we were going on a trip together and asked her to come here in advance,” Ye Min said frankly.

"She came alone?" I was highly skeptical.

Ye Min shook her head: "Of course not. This place is deserted and can't even be found on the map. I asked Su Yan to come with me, and she took care of all the food and lodging. After all that was done, Su Yan used the excuse of picking me up to rush back to the company."

I pondered for a moment and said, "Aren't you afraid of unexpected things happening? For example, what if it's me instead of Fatty Lin? If it's me, then your whole plan will fall apart?" Although Ye Min's plan seemed methodical, its actual implementation involved a great deal of risk. I'm naturally intolerant of others being smarter than me, let alone a woman. Since Ye Min hasn't succeeded yet, I'll try to find as many oversights as possible about her.

Section 215: The Truth Behind the Truth (5)

Ye Min listened to me without saying anything. She reached out to touch my neck but failed. After I dodged her, she whispered to me, "My plan also has A and B, little brother."

I retorted, half-convinced, "Is that so... But in the end, isn't it all the same?" Man proposes, God disposes. Aren't you tired?

Ye Min glanced at me quietly, without any particular expression or words.

"And what about without makeup?" I glanced at the "sister" behind Ye Min, recalling the horrified expression on Lü Fang's face when he described what he had encountered.

“That’s just an illusion,” Ye Min said. “It can be achieved with a special kind of incense.”

"Fragrance? You mean something like a hypnotic incense?" I never imagined that such a thing, which only exists in movies, actually existed in this world.

“Exactly. Actually, the effect of that stuff is similar to some medications used for mental illnesses. You know, it can suppress hallucinations or induce hallucinations.” Ye Min explained calmly.

"So the initial incident of Ma Lian and Lin Yong hanging themselves, and later Lu Fang's encounter with the 'resurrected' Fatty Lin, were also..."

"right."

"But if your target is only me, what does it have to do with the others?" Why make Su Yan target the others alone? I think that's very illogical.

Ye Min didn't say anything more. Su Yan thought for a moment, then pointed at me and said, "Isn't it all because of you?"

"What does this have to do with me?" I said, not understanding.

"How can you be someone's boyfriend? Don't you know that those men at the company often grope her?"

How could that be?

Believe it or not. They all deserve to die.

"Alright, that's enough." Ye Min stopped us just as I was about to delve deeper.

They explained these things so easily, yet it was all beyond our comprehension. Perhaps I underestimated them; to combine science and superstition is truly remarkable… Wait, science and superstition? That's right…

A thought suddenly struck me, and I asked Ye Min, "Actually, I'll be fine, right?" I believed the hypnosis, and I'd tested the power of the Gu technique, but that Siamese Soul-Binding Curse probably wasn't real. I initially thought "the other mother" was the first victim, and then it was my turn, but it turned out to be just a hypnotic trick. It seems that all the ghost-sealing and black magic was just Ye Min bluffing, wasn't it?

Section 216: The Truth Behind the Truth (6)

As soon as I finished speaking, Ye Min's previously calm emotions began to fluctuate noticeably.

"You doubt those black magic techniques that have been passed down for thousands of years?" she said, her eyes sharp.

She actually looked down on me?

"Feng'er, you're wrong." I thought about it carefully and was just about to say that these things were impossible, but before I could speak, I was interrupted.

The old man, who had been silent all along, walked up behind me with a furrowed brow.

"Never jump to conclusions about things you don't understand," the old man said, patting my shoulder.

2. The Mystery of His Origins

The old man's sudden interruption puzzled me. I had intended to investigate it further, but he stopped me.

"Some things aren't as they seem," the old man said quietly to his daughters.

"What do you mean?" Ye Min asked back, her tone slightly hostile.

"Sigh..." the old man sighed softly, "Let me tell you a story."

As the old man recounted his story, a long-forgotten past unfolded before us under the pale moonlight.

Time rewinds, stopping in the spring of 1973.

In 1973, I was just a naive and enthusiastic young man. Amidst the wave of the "Down to the Countryside Movement," I was assigned from my hometown in Henan to the remote frontier… specifically Yunnan. Your mother, Wan'er, shared the same fate; we were both sent-down youth. In those difficult times, many of us lived crammed into a large dormitory. I still remember that dormitory, because it was there that I met Wan'er.

Wan'er was a native of Yunnan, and her home in the county town wasn't far from the small village where we were sent to work. After we met, she often secretly took me back to her home in the county town, secretly giving me things from her house, such as food and old clothes. We were truly happy then. But as the saying goes, if you walk by the river long enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet. Finally, one day in early summer that year, Wan'er's father discovered our relationship.

Back in my hometown in Henan, the only family property I inherited was a small plot of land, a mud-brick and thatched house, and an almond tree. I owned nothing else. In comparison, Wan'er's family was far, far better off… Can you imagine how obsessed people were with the concept of "marrying someone of equal social standing" back then? Of course, my suffering was nothing compared to what happened to Wan'er. She was implicated and locked up at home by her father for a whole month! I begged her father to let us be together, but you can imagine the result… In the end, tormented by longing, we had no choice but to elope.

Section 217: The Truth Behind the Truth (7)

At that time, eloping would have meant facing immense pressure and consequences for Wan'er and me, two young people. However, we didn't actually go very far; there were policies in place, so we were constantly hiding and moving about within Yunnan. Until later…

Years later, taking advantage of the nationwide "Down to the Countryside Movement," we finally left Yunnan. I still vividly remember Wan'er saying "I'm willing" to me before we left. Actually, I didn't think much of it at the time. Since Wan'er's family in Yunnan disapproved of us and rejected us, we decided to go back to my hometown in Henan and settle down. Wan'er was willing; even if it meant toiling in the fields, I would give her happiness… But who knew that when we returned home, my family all turned against her: they thought it was all Wan'er's fault that I didn't experience hardship in the countryside.

Left with no other choice, I resolutely took Wan'er and we left. We left Henan and, after several transfers, arrived in Wuhan.

By then, Wuhan was already a bustling metropolis. We found a place to settle down in the suburbs, and our lives began to get back on track. I went out to work and learn a skill to support the family, while Wan'er stayed home to take care of the household chores. Although we lived a simple life, we were happy and harmonious.

I became pregnant with you a few years later.

When she became pregnant, our lives became even harder. I suffered repeated setbacks in my career, but in order to welcome this little life, I had no other thought but to work hard to earn money. The poverty we endured back then was unimaginable to you. Your mother never uttered a single complaint about living such a hard life with me.

But the mighty wheel of fate always has to crush something in your path before it will stop.

When Wan'er was three months pregnant with you, I took her to a night market in Wuhan. On the way, we met a fortune teller. Wan'er believed in these things and insisted on having her fortune told with me. I couldn't refuse her, so I agreed. The result… the fortune teller said my birth chart was in conflict, violating the Tian Sheng Palace star position, and that I was destined to bring misfortune to my wife. He said that within three years, if I had a wife, she would die; if I had a concubine, she would also be implicated. This was utter nonsense! Your mother Wan'er and I had been together for nearly ten years! But Wan'er believed it all, and was constantly in a daze, especially after the fortune teller's words: "Your wife's birth chart is indeed strong, but if you insist on staying together for life, even if you escape bloodshed, it will be a life of toil, poverty, and endless suffering."

Section 218: The Truth Behind the Truth (8)

People who grew up in our generation are not afraid of life and death, but what Wan'er was really worried about was that she would be a burden to me.

Later... Wan'er almost left me during childbirth due to complications. Fortunately, she survived, but because of this, her health gradually weakened, and she became plagued by various illnesses. I saw this and felt heartbroken. I searched everywhere for doctors and medicine, but I couldn't cure your mother. The little savings we had worked so hard to accumulate were all gone.

One day, while I was wandering around the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, I met a woman—yes, she was Yang Feng's mother. I had lived in Yunnan, so we were practically from the same hometown, and we got along very well. Later, I casually mentioned my family situation, and she said she could help Wan'er, but on one condition: I had to go back to Yunnan with her to get married.

She wants me to abandon the person I love most.

I had no choice. Although I didn't trust this girl, I agreed to her request to save Wan'er and took her home to treat your mother's illness. That was also the first time I came into contact with such an evil thing as Gu magic. Only then did I realize that the reason she wanted to take me away was simply because of my special birth date and time, in other words, she wanted me to be her accomplice.

You know what happened next... After Wan'er recovered, that girl became pregnant with Feng'er. She wanted me to go back to Yunnan with her. Although I knew Wan'er was also pregnant with Su Yan, I had to keep my promise to that girl. So I abandoned you and your daughter and was forced to go back to Yunnan with her. However, a few years later, because I was always worried about your safety, I secretly returned to Wuhan to find you. During the time I spent with you afterward, I knew I had wronged you and your daughter, but I didn't say anything.

I thought that if I kept Feng'er, his mother would let me go. But not long after, she came from Yunnan to Wuhan and stood in front of us. She... she used a curse on us.

I had no choice but to beg her to spare you and your daughter, to give you a way out, and to promise that I would never leave her again... And so, I abandoned the people I loved most once again, and abandoned you.

Back in Yunnan, when Feng'er was six years old, his mother died during a ritual due to a backlash. Even in her dying moments, she didn't forget to cast a curse on me. Because of this curse, I was unable to reunite with Wan'er afterward, but I didn't give up. From the time Feng'er was six, I took him with me on countless journeys, earning a living while searching for a way to break the curse. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Section 219: The Truth Behind the Truth (9)

Little did I know, the poison she inflicted with her last strength was beyond the help of many eminent monks and masters. I was old, half-buried in the earth, and the poison seemed insignificant to me. As long as I could be with Wan'er, nothing else mattered. However, when I returned to Wuhan years later, you were no longer there. Despite my extensive search, I found nothing. In my grief, I had no choice but to take Feng'er back to Yunnan and settle in Jingcheng.

You have always been a pain in my heart, constantly tormenting my conscience and keeping me living in unease. I have been tormented by this longing until you appeared a year ago. Liu'er, do you know how happy I was when I first saw you the moment you stepped through the door? But... even if you don't acknowledge me, even if you don't call me "Father," I won't blame you; I know it's my fault. But how could you ask me for half of the family fortune the moment we met?

Money isn't important, but your indifference hurt me. Fortunately, seeing your academic success and that Susu, whom I've never met, is about to graduate, fills me with joy. I think… perhaps you haven't been completely consumed by indifference and resentment, and I believe that's not the real you. So I've decided to try to change you—to change your attitude towards life, your worldview, and especially, your view of me. That's why I'm letting you stay with Feng'er, and after Susu graduates, she can be with you and your brother.

But you don't even know what you're doing! He's your brother, your family, do you even know that? I know you studied in Thailand for three years, but I never imagined you would find those evil teachers and monks there to learn these wicked things. Do you know how much your father hates these things?!

Fortunately, I found these things in your room in time. Outsiders wouldn't know what they are, but how could I, who suffered so much, forget them? I remembered that you mentioned many times that you wanted to go on a trip with Feng'er. I guessed that you might do something foolish, so I rushed here day and night, just to avoid seeing such a scene again.

The old man was already in tears as he spoke, and Ye Min and Su Yan were also moved to tears.

"No! That's not true! You're lying to me...you're lying to me!" Ye Min sobbed uncontrollably. "Was everything I did in vain? Was everything I insisted on really wrong? Why, why..."

Section 220: The Truth Behind the Truth (10)

The old man regained his usual coldness. "I understand you don't trust me, but this is the truth. I suppose you know that." He then knelt down in front of Ye Min, gently lifting her right eyelid, and then… Ye Min saw something—

Above the whites of the old man's eyes, a black line stood out starkly.

Upon seeing this, Ye Min finally couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears, crying uncontrollably and with extreme sorrow. I was also stunned, never imagining that the usually jovial old man had such a tragic past.

This burden should not fall on the shoulders of children, it should not...

"Since you've already explained, Wan'er is still alive. That's wonderful. That's wonderful..." The old man put his hand on his daughter's shoulder, his eyes shining with a light I had never seen before, and murmured to himself.

At this moment, the fog in the forest gradually thinned, and the surroundings were gradually becoming clearer, already showing signs of dawn. It seemed that before long, the warm sunlight would once again shine on this ancient and prosperous land.

3 Mysteries of Ancient Sites

Many things left me stunned. The reunion of my own flesh and blood wasn't the heartwarming scene depicted in TV dramas; instead, it was incredibly harrowing. I stood dumbfounded behind my family, who were huddled together, reeking of their body. A plethora of explanations seemed insufficient to fully account for everything that had transpired along the way. I realized that I was simply unsatisfied.

What's the deal with this building?

I couldn't help but break the scene of the old man and my sister weeping. Strange things can be explained, but what about this awful place? I wanted to ask about last night's thunderstorm as well, but after careful consideration, I concluded that it couldn't possibly have been orchestrated by Ye Min. If it were, what was the point of this "Super Girl" thing? She could have just killed me. So, ultimately, encountering the thunderstorm was just bad luck. As for the others—the eerie tunnels, the black sewage inside, the dead people's hair, the strange bridges with inconsistent layouts, and the insane snake-scorpion pillar mechanism—Ye Min was highly suspicious.

What building?

The two girls remained silent, while the old man asked me a question. He seemed not to have understood the point of my question, so I had no choice but to recount all the "scenic spots" we had passed through and the events that had occurred along the way.

After Ye Min and Su Yan stated that they only knew about the thirteen resentment pits, I completely couldn't accept it. Before entering the architecture field, Lü Fang's explanation was actually something Su Yan secretly taught him, and even Su Yan only had a superficial understanding. So what's going on? Could it be…?