Военный советник и принцесса

Глава 13

"Ya Chaolan has let you go, so you're safe now." Zheng Zhihao finished packing his things and walked towards the door. "Stay inside."

“Then…” Li Hong hugged her arms, struggling internally. She didn’t know why she was so afraid, whether it was going to that secluded cabin or staying alone in the house. Right now, she just hoped Zheng Zhihao would stay with her and they could deal with these things tomorrow.

But the situation has changed. The person troubled by the mark is no longer Li Hong, but Zheng Zhihao. He could have completely ignored it. If it weren't for the fact that she was about to be exposed, he probably wouldn't have been in such a hurry to make an agreement with Ya Chaolan.

"Okay, go and come back quickly, be careful." Li Hong said, taking off the amulet she was wearing on her chest. "You wear this, I don't need it anymore."

Zheng Zhihao silently accepted the amulet, smiled, revealing a set of white teeth, and then left the room. After the door closed, Li Hong couldn't hear his footsteps at all.

*************************

While waiting for Zheng Zhihao on the bed, Li Hong wasn't idle. Although it was already one o'clock in the morning, she wasn't sleepy at all. She carefully recalled anything noteworthy from her dream, while hastily sketching the forest scene she had seen in her notebook. Perhaps this would be helpful in finding the burial site. She complained about how uncomfortable it was to draw with a pen and vowed that next time she went out, she would definitely bring her drawing tools with her.

When she looked up again, she was startled to find someone standing in front of her, which made Li Hong jump out of bed. However, when she recognized the person in front of her as Li Li, she relaxed.

"What are you doing here? You haven't gone back to Beijing yet?" Li Hong looked at Li Li and asked in confusion, "You scared me to death."

Li Li, dressed only in a nightgown, stood silently in front of her bed, her left hand hanging down and her right hand behind her back. Her face was expressionless, her eyes fixed on Li Hong, a gaze completely different from her usual one, sending chills down one's spine.

"What's wrong with you?" Li Hong asked, walking towards Li Li. "How did you know I was here? Say something!"

Suddenly, Li Hong smelled a strong, metallic scent of blood, but it didn't seem to be actually floating in the air; it was as if it only existed in her mind. Li Hong stopped in shock, realizing that Li Li was no longer the usual Li Li. Something must have happened to her. Her silent, ghostly appearance before her in the dead of night couldn't be simply due to insomnia. She looked at Li Li again and suddenly noticed that Li Li's completely different demeanor stemmed from her eyes—her eyes had no whites; her entire pupils were black…

44. Diary (2)

Li Li's sudden appearance left Li Hong completely bewildered, but looking into her terrifying eyes, Li Hong sensed that this was no longer the usual Li Li. The words Zheng Zhihao had spoken in the darkness flashed through her mind: "It's over, it's too late." An unease made Li Hong tremble all over. Had Ya Chaolan done something to Li Li?

"What's wrong with you?" Li Hong calmed down and asked softly, "Are you Li Li?" Now she was certain that the Li Li in front of her was possessed by Ma Guiping's ghost and that such an action could not be Li Li's original intention.

Li Li, who seemed like a stranger, didn't answer. She remained silent until now. Li Hong didn't know what she wanted, but instinctively felt she had ill intentions. Li Hong observed and guarded intently, especially at the right hand hidden behind her back—perhaps holding a weapon. However, the lingering smell of blood in Li Hong's mind began to slowly fade. That scent must have come from Li Li.

The two faced each other for a while, then Li Li slowly collapsed as if she had lost her support, and with a "clatter," a fruit knife fell to the ground.

Li Hong quickly stepped forward to support her, kicking the fruit knife aside, and then helped her down onto the bed. She was now breathing evenly as if asleep, unconscious. Prying open her eyelids, Li Hong found her eyes had returned to normal. This made Li Hong breathe a long sigh of relief. She turned around and said to the room, "Are you Ma Guiping? Are you under Ya Chaolan's control? Don't linger here anymore, go where you belong, don't hurt her anymore."

Li Hong's voice echoed in the room, making her feel like she had gone mad, actually speaking into an empty room. She looked around anxiously, trying to make sure her words had worked. There was no response in the quiet room, which made Li Hong a little discouraged. She glanced at Li Li, who was fast asleep, seemingly unable to wake up anytime soon.

The sudden relaxation left Li Hong feeling utterly exhausted. She yawned, picked up her notebook, and prepared to write down what had just happened. Just as she was about to write, she saw a single, crookedly written word on the page: "Go."

This definitely wasn't written by Li Hong herself. Even standing on a swaying bus, she wouldn't write such illegible handwriting. She looked up sharply, glancing around again—was this Ma Guiping's response? So her words really had an effect. Li Hong picked up the notebook and examined it closely, realizing it didn't look like it was written with a pen—this information was too important; it could be analyzed back at work. Where did the handwriting come from? How was it left? In what way? Right, if she could feel the handwriting like she would feel an anonymous note, perhaps she could sense Ma Guiping's ghost.

The idea excited Li Hong instantly, and she also believed that she could see Ma Guiping leaving his handwriting. She slowly placed her hand on the notebook, thinking of the method Zheng Zhihao had taught her, imagining herself as those crooked and twisted words, and closed her eyes.

A blinding white light flashed through Li Hong's mind, almost making her move her hand to shield her eyes. But she immediately realized it was a powerful message left by the writing. Li Hong calmed down, and the images in her mind gradually became clearer. A deathly pale face appeared before her eyes—it was Ma Guiping. He didn't look much different from when he was alive, except for his pale complexion and his missing right hand, which looked different from usual. She couldn't see what he was doing, but from the edge of the image, she could see herself and Li Li in bed, and her own voice echoed in her ears: "Don't hurt her anymore..."

Suddenly, Ma Guiping's image disappeared, the screen trembled, and gradually went black until nothing could be seen.

**********************************

A dusty pink tote bag sat before Li Hong, exactly as she had seen it in her dream, only the dream version was more polished. It looked like the bag had been sitting in the storage room for a long time.

“It’s this bag,” Li Hong said. “Did you see the ghost on the bag?”

“Yes, I saw it. That’s Liu Huiquan’s ghost, the Shoe Monster. He gave you guidance during the day, and then became Ya Chaolan’s accomplice at night,” Zheng Zhihao said. “But this time it didn’t attack me; the deal worked.” He then pointed to Li Li lying on the bed. “Did she come up here by herself?”

“She’s possessed,” Li Hong said. “She even has a knife. Is she trying to attack me?”

“Before the deal, she was possessed by Ma Guiping and wanted to kill you. I was worried then. But it’s all over now,” Zheng Zhihao said with a relaxed expression.

"You know everything? Why didn't you tell me?" Li Hong was a little angry. "She's my best friend. If anything happens to her because of me, I won't forgive myself. You should have told me."

"Alright, you weren't even thinking about yourself back then. Besides, she was just possessed and there was no danger to her life. I didn't tell you because I was afraid it would distract you."

"Next time, no matter what, you must tell me," Li Hong said coldly.

Zheng Zhihao didn't say anything more, only waved his hand impatiently. He squatted down next to the briefcase, preparing to open it.

“Let me do it!” Li Hong stepped forward. “This might be used as evidence later, so I’ll do it. Give me the gloves.”

The bag was crammed with a jumble of things: clothes, towels, medicine, and other common travel essentials. Some of the clothes were already moldy. The clothing was all women's, worn by Ya Chaolan before her death, and consisted of simple, inexpensive garments. Finally, Li Hong discovered a thick, hardcover diary.

This is the diary. After all this effort, we've finally found the key to unlocking Ya Chaolan's heart. Li Hong turned to the first page, and delicate handwriting came into view: "Private diary, please do not read—Ya Chaolan-Yadang."

45. Before death (1)

The following is an excerpt from Li Hong's notebook diary, with the location of Ya Chaolan estimated by Li Hong in parentheses.

October 11, 2004, Sunny (Sichuan Province)

...I hate the old priest so much! I'm leaving this place.

Cloudy, December 2, 2004 (Chongqing)

...It's so cold. I'm so hungry! ...

December 21, 2004, Sunny (Xi'an City)

We're finally open... We only have 100 yuan, enough for us to eat for a month... I'm so happy that someone still believes in me, I wish her all the best.

Snowfall on February 8, 2005 (Xi'an City)

Today is Chinese New Year. I've been away for four months and have seen a lot... My family hasn't contacted me... There are still people who believe in me... Little Black has diarrhea...

March 7, 2005, Sunny (Xi'an City)

...Finally, I've saved enough for the trip. I'm going to Shanghai...

Sunny, March 11, 2005 (Shanghai)

...I curse him! He cheated me out of my money! ...What am I going to do tomorrow?...

April 21, 2005 (Shanghai)

...This isn't the right place for me...Nobody believes me...What will I do tomorrow?...

May 16, 2005 (Shanghai)

...Is he truly good to me? It saves me money on rent... Xiao Hei doesn't like him... and he doesn't like Xiao Hei either...

May 21, 2005 (Shanghai)

(It's all messy strokes, covering an entire page. There are words under the strokes, but they're illegible.)

May 30, 2005 (Nanjing)

...The internet is amazing...but I know he's not a good person...I'll stay here first and see what happens...

June 3, 2005 (Nanjing)

I've met a master! For two whole hours, I didn't gain any advantage... He must be a Taoist... Little Black suffered...

June 11, 2005 (Nanjing)

...I'm no match for him. I should lay low for a while... I love Xiao Hei... I can't bear to lose Xiao Hei... I can't let Xiao Hei die for me...

June 14, 2005 (Wuhu City)

...Finally settled down! So happy! Little Black is happy too...

January 28, 2006 (Wuhu City)

...New Year's Eve...we had a fight...he actually kicked me out...what am I going to do tomorrow?

February 14, 2006 (on the train to Jinan)

...Breakup on Valentine's Day... Luckily, I had saved some money...

February 26, 2006 (Jinan City)

...Got a big job...Off to buy supplies...List: cinnabar, peach wood boards, silk, writing brushes, incense, candles, paper money, tea, rice, meat, rooster, cloth shoes, bowls, knife...

February 28, 2006 (Jinan City)

It worked! I didn't expect it either... The old man was very excited... His son died so unjustly... This fulfilled his wish... Can I avenge him? I'm not very confident, and the opponent is tough to beat...

March 4, 2006 (Jinan City)

No, I can't do it... If I force it, something terrible will happen...

April 15, 2006 (Jinan City)

My mother is gone... I felt her... I can't go home...

May 8, 2006 (Rizhao City - Hotel)

Mr. Zhang is a very good friend; he gave me a thousand yuan for travel expenses. It's been a long time since I've received so much money... My opponent is very strong...

May 10, 2006 (Rizhao City - Hotel)

Mission accomplished! So exciting...

June 12, 2006 (Jinan City)

The police came and gave me a fright. Looks like I can't stay here any longer... It must have been that little Sun who tipped me off...

June 18, 2006 (Jinan City)

...The rent is so expensive! I won't be able to stay long...that guy noticed me again, what a loser...

June 21, 2006 (Rizhao City - Hotel)

Back again... The chef is so nice, the food is so delicious... Ready for a challenge tonight...

June 24, 2006 (Rizhao City - Hotel)

Little Black... I'm so sorry... I can't bear to part with you... The vow I made when I buried you will come true, pinky promise... I will avenge you...

July 3, 2006 (Jinan City)

I have nowhere to live... Little Sun, I'll never forgive you...

August 8, 2006 (Rizhao City - Hotel, last entry in my diary)

...Little Black, I've come to avenge you... But without your help, I still can't defeat it... I'm injured... My body feels so heavy...

46. Before death (2)

August 10, 2006

Before she regained consciousness, her eyes remained blankly fixed on the sky.

What she called the sky was actually just a black void, dotted with a few stars and a hazy moon. This void was completely obscured by strangely shaped black branches. At first, she couldn't figure out what she was seeing, nor did she know where she was.

It was as if she had woken from a nightmare, still immersed in that horrific scene. Her back was pressed against the grass, and her lower body felt the same cold, itchy sensation. The night sky above was round, and she felt as if she were at the bottom of a well. But the surrounding branches and the grass beneath her clearly told her that she was lying in a forest. A powerful caw came from afar, but it was invisible in the black void. After the caw faded, she gradually heard the chirping of insects all around her. The distinctive scent of leaves and the smell of rain in the forest stimulated her nostrils, and the heavy dew soaked her pajamas, clinging coldly and damply to her skin.

His shoulders and arms were completely immobile, and he lay stiffly on his back, unable to even turn over. There were several dry branches nearby, their broken ends as sharp as arrowheads, threatening to prick him with the slightest movement.

She really didn't want to think about why she was there; her memories were like shattered tiles, scattered everywhere. She could make out the man's face and the heavy breathing in her ear from the fragments. She also found her own name among the fragments and whispered it in her heart.