The Book Of Life And Death

By Zulma Cisneros

In the subway tunnels of the capital, a man-eating demon dragon appears out of nowhere; in the ancient Greek temple, the archaeological team is missing for no apparent reason. When people are at their wits' end about these paranormal events, they often think of that woman - Reitei. In our side, there exists such a mysterious profession - psychic

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Esperon
• Release date: Nov 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781961145207

Book preview

Chapter 1 The Forbidden Phantom

1. the woman who called herself Reitei

    1. the woman who called herself Reitei

    When I walked into the apartment I rented on the top floor of a neighborhood in the North Fifth Ring, I didn't notice that my roommate was packing his bags in his room, but he saw me muffled and went to his room and shouted:

    Yo, you're back? How was the interview?

    I collapsed on the single bed, my eyes looked at the roof and seemed to look through the roof, all the way to see the black void.

    When I didn't say anything, he seemed to sigh and continued to sell the clothes stuffed into the large suitcase.

    I suddenly rolled up and shouted like a madman: When autumn comes September 8, I will kill a hundred flowers after they bloom!

    The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to its customers.

  Before it's too late what? I stood up and walked to his door ready to have a theory with him, but was surprised to find the black suitcase, which had long been filled to the brim with all his personal belongings in the room.

    You are.

    The roommate smiled, showing a despondent look: I thought better of it, or go home! Where to stay is not a home? Go back and then gnaw two years old, ask for connections, mix a civil servant even.

    I'm not waiting for me to speak, he has organized his luggage, pulled out the suitcase lever with a clatter, while a newspaper into my hand: "Tonight's train. I'm sorry, I'll go first. The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that.

    When he finished, he patted my shoulder, gave me a look, pulled up the box, walked out the door without looking back, and threw the door open with a clang.

    My brother and I graduated from the same third-rate university, but his major is communications, my major is law, because of the common rental housing we were able to meet. After graduation, we aspire to be a northern drifter, hoping to open up a new world under the root of the imperial city, but I did not expect that recently it was difficult to find a job, and we hit a wall everywhere. I originally thought he was a relatively strong person, but actually before I could not carry.

    Wouldn't that be.... I felt a drop of cold sweat trip down my forehead: Wouldn't I have to pay the rent alone in the future.

    I swallowed hard and looked at the calendar: today is the day the rent is due. So my mind whirled quickly, first I took the first step to lock the secret lock of the door, and then turned off my cell phone, in order not to let the landlord know my whereabouts. If you can't find me, you have to give me a few days' grace, right? The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have a good idea of what you are doing.

    Then, I sat down and started to read the only reminder left to me by my cruel roommate - a newspaper in which he kindly circled a job for me with a red pen in the Jobs section:

    Lintel Law Office

    We are looking for a clerk. Requirements: bold and careful, good physical coordination, not afraid of darkness and insects, like to explore the unknown. Interested candidates should attend an interview today and tomorrow at Room 1002, Dongyao Building, No. 22 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, no letters or emails will be accepted.

    Finished? I looked carefully at the context. Indeed, the conditions were written very simply, and there was not even a requirement for education. Is this really a job posting?

  Not afraid of darkness and insects and enjoy exploring the unknown. Was this a recruitment for clerks, or was it a recruitment for Boy Scouts? I put the paper down with a belly full of suspicion, thought about it, picked it up again, and carefully read it again, making sure I hadn't missed a word or read the serial.

    No matter what, you can't let go of any opportunity. The law firm is right on the money, so hopefully something will come of it. I made up my mind.

    Outside the 1002 room of the Dongyao Building, there was a stainless steel sign that read Reitei Law Office, and in the hallway I greeted the people waiting there one by one. Eleven, twelve... I silently counted the number of people, including myself, there were already fifteen people waiting in line, which meant that my chance of success was at most one in fifteen. At this time a young girl ran over and took our resumes in turn.

    Although the line was long, the interviews were surprisingly fast, and as I watched the people in front of me walk into the office one by one with a glowing smile and come out one by one with a sad frown, I became extremely curious about the interview process: What is it about the job that blows everyone away so completely?

    I just couldn't resist pulling in a tall boy who was just walking out the door and asked, Stay. What exactly were the questions?

    The man looked at me with a helpless expression: I prepared a lot of questions that must be asked in the interview, but I didn't expect to use any of them. The interviewer only asked me two questions: first, my birth date; second, whether I had any paranormal experiences. I'm going crazy, my birth date, that has to ask my mother to go, ask me this why? And supernatural experience, masturbation school girl to get a nosebleed on the spot is not considered? What kind of question is that? You say, is this interviewer crazy? Tell me! He raised his voice and pulled me.

    I had to change the subject: Uh.... Well, what kind of person is the interviewer?

    The man looked off into the distance, as if he were saying to himself, Oh, that's a real piece of euphoria.

    I didn't have to think much about it, the voice of the girl just now came out of the door: Next, Xie Tianshui!

    I straightened my tie and walked into the room, the girl who was collecting resumes brushed past me and was about to go out, I then took a good look at her and was instantly overwhelmed by her beauty, black shoulder-length hair, bright eyes, small cute nose and pink lips. I can't help but feel distracted: under the sky, how can there be such a stunningly beautiful girl?

    As soon as I entered the room I realized that I was completely wrong, if the girl just now is considered beautiful, the room, the woman sitting behind the large class table, is called beautiful and stunning. She has wavy curly hair, her hair is a nice chestnut color in the light, long eyelashes covering her eyelids, a straight nose like a stone sculpture, and mouth-watering red lips below. The black slim-fit suit is lined with a pure white shirt with dark flowers, and the curve of the chest is visible in the two open buttons. The lower half of the body is wrapped in a black professional overskirt, revealing slender thighs in black silk.

    Wait, shouldn't your thighs be blocked by the table? But this woman. I realized that she was lazily resting a pair of long beautiful legs on the writing desk.

    I just feel the blood rushing to the top of my head, my heart silently chanting: Don't get a nosebleed, don't get a nosebleed.. The company is also pretending to be calm and put on a very unnatural fake smile on its face.

    The woman smiled, Do you want to stand for the interview?

    I.... My throat tightened and I tugged desperately at the knot of my tie so I could get more air, Of course not.

    The woman suddenly changed her face and her slender eyebrows raised: Then don't hurry up and find a place to sit down!!!

    I was shocked by this sudden roar, I really did not expect this beautiful woman, actually voice so mid-air. I hurriedly pulled over a folding chair and sat honestly in front of the woman.

    I was sitting in a chair, and suddenly I was uncomfortable, I had a feeling like a man's back, I felt as if there were a pair of eyes staring at me from behind, so I slowly adjusted my sitting posture and said to myself in my mind: Calm down, calm down. The outside is like water, the inside is like a scorpion, I've seen a lot of these people. I interpreted that uncomfortable feeling as my lack of preparation for the interview situation.

    What's wrong with you? Did you attract lice? The woman asked again.

    Lice? I stared.

    Yes, lice from not bathing for a long time, especially from pets kept at home. The woman said leisurely, as if I really was an animal that could not take care of its own life.

    Honestly, you're the one who made this office so difficult for me! After being demoted to pet status, manly pride forced me to fight back.

    How can it be? Not everyone who came in just now is fine, just you fussing, and big girl-like, oh ho ho ho. The woman laughed unrestrainedly.

    I couldn't hold back the whoosh and stood up, she stared into my eyes, I stared into her eyes.

    Then I slowly turned around and swept my eyes across the row of bookshelves placed against the wall behind me. At the top of the shelves, I saw a bronze sculpture of an odd shape, placed in the central position, the bronze sculpture seemed to be a kind of beast, with its mouth open and fangs bared in the direction of exactly where we were sitting.

    I finally found the source of my unease, the monstrous sculpture that just looked so offensive. It stared at me and put me on pins and needles.

    My finger pointed to the top of the bookshelf: This thing, it's better if you take it down. Otherwise I am not in the mood for your interview.

    I was ready to hear Get out! when I said that. I was prepared to hear such words. Although I'm not a macho man, I still can't stand being played by a strange woman, albeit a beautiful woman with a beautiful face.

    Unexpectedly, she smiled instead, and seemed to be happy, the corners of her mouth rising to reveal her nice teeth. Here, come and sit here. She brought me to a pair of single sofas by the window and pointed to one of them: Sit here, and then, tell me your birth date.

    I just couldn't understand what was going on, her every move was always so unexpected.

    I reported the year, month, day and hour of birth in one piece.

    Without waiting for me to speak, she summoned, Xiaocheng! Then the innocent girl from earlier answered and entered, oh, so her name is Xiao Cheng.

    What is it, sis? Kojo asked.

    Go tell the people waiting outside the door that the interviews are closed today, and that they should listen to my notice as to whether there will be any more later.

    Small town and this woman sisterly, seems to have a very good relationship.

    The woman glanced at me and said: My work here, said simple and simple, said complex and complex. The simple thing is that there are no complicated things for you to deal with, my office is very small, in addition to me, the president, is the clerk recruited today, so there will not be any complicated interpersonal relationships. The company's office is very small, except for me, the president, the clerk recruited today. The company's main business is to provide a wide range of services and services to the public. As for the salary, in the same industry is okay. She told me a number.

    The moment I heard that number, I immediately forgot all my suspicions about this company and decided to surrender completely, because that amount of salary is simply more than 3 times my psychological price. It's okay to work hard, I can accept it! I grabbed the words, which turned out to be premature. But why did you say there were only two people in the office? That girl.... I was referring to Kojo.

    Oh huh huh. The woman laughed derisively once again, making me feel as if I had really done the dumbest thing under the sun. That's my cousin, I asked her to come over and help out on the spur of the moment today. You don't want to get her attention. She's already in a relationship! Her boyfriend is currently studying at the top seminary in Europe!

    As if she had guessed what was on my mind, my mouth became less sharp: You. What are you talking about? I didn't mean that. Seminary? You're the one who goes to that kind of place to study, right? I thought angrily as I was ridiculed.

    She smiled and waved her hand, becoming serious: Xie Tianshui, my work here seems easy, but in fact, it is incredibly dangerous, the hardships are not ordinary people can imagine, I ask you once more, can you really be competent?

    The reason why I chose the law profession, my initial purpose is to fight criminal activities to the end, before the danger I naturally will not retreat - at that time, I do not know what she said dangerous, in fact, contains another layer of meaning.

    Absolutely no problem! I looked her firmly in the eyes.

    Okay, you passed the interview, I want you to come to work as soon as possible. The woman stood up and stretched out a palm to me, her long, white fingers were painted with a ghostly blue nail polish.

    For a moment, I didn't even react to what she was saying. Work? Don't you need the written test, the retest, the finalist's PK? I'm going to work now?

    Seeing my hesitation, she took my hand and gave it a firm shake: My name is Rindy, welcome aboard!

    I then learned that the original Lintel is the name of the long-legged beauty in front of her, her name is Lintel - a native of the Apennines, long and agile hound, and its character is sensitive and emotional. The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to its customers.

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2. Eye-popping firm

    2. Eye-popping firm

    It took me a long time to figure out that a big piece of pie had indeed fallen from the sky - no, at least a year's worth of pie - I was simply ecstatic, but something even more unexpected then appeared in front of my eyes, as Renti drew back to her desk and took a thick stack of papers and placed them in front of me: Sign it, and you You're a member of our company, and the term of this contract is 10 years.

    10 years. I had a whole city of onion cheese ham pizza floating around in my head. 10 years meant what? I no longer have to run for a living, I can finally get a foothold in the capital and launch my own business? The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to the public:

    Once an employee joins, he or she is not allowed to quit before the contract deadline, unless the employee dies unexpectedly.

    Employees are automatically entitled to one million yuan of personal accident insurance from the date they officially join, with beneficiaries to be determined at their own discretion.

    Employees shall unconditionally accept the physical fitness as well as skills training provided to them by the company and shall not excuse themselves.

    Employees are expected to enforce confidentiality clauses that prohibit them from disclosing their work to any unrelated parties.

    ....

    When the entire book of contracts was read, I felt a possibility that I was about to become a brilliant spy like James Bond. I took a deep breath and organized my confused thoughts. Reintel brought the pen to my eyes, Sign? Or not?

    To be honest if I had to choose again today, it is likely that I would have walked away, but at that time, I made a decision that would affect my fate for the rest of my life. I lifted my pen and swish signed my name after the contract: Xie Tianyi.

    After signing, it was as if Reintel was relieved to see that the queenly temperament returned to her face again, that made me instantly a bit regretful, and almost had the urge to rush up to retrieve the contract, but a good man's word is out, a team of horses is hard to follow. The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to the market.

    A strange smile appeared on her ice sculpture-like face: Xie Tian Yi, you will come to work tomorrow, the strange journey is about to begin.

    I interpreted that statement as a boss's encouragement to the newcomer at hand and didn't think deeply about it, except that I thought about it and asked a follow-up question: Ms. Lingti, I would like to ask what made you decide to hire me, and furthermore, what do you mean by all those strange conditions for applying for a job? Why not be afraid of the darkness, dare to explore the unknown, why ask people's eight characters, and why ask if they have had supernatural experiences? I've never had any experience in this area.

    The corners of Rintel's mouth lifted slightly and seemed to smile, only very shallowly and briefly, as she said, Xie Tianshui, remember, in the future your job is to perform, not to ask questions, but I can answer your questions today. Not being afraid of the darkness as well as the spirit of exploration has to do with the nature of our future work, which is a prerequisite for everything; the eight characters determine one's character habits, and from your birth date, you are perfect for this position. As for the supernatural experience, it is related to your 'spirituality'. Although you haven't had any experience, the fact that you perceived a small organ I laid out in the room as soon as you entered - the Voodoo Fury formation - proves that you are very talented in this area. so. Don't be late for work oh. She gestured a please gesture.

    Until I walked out of the office, boarded the subway, returned home, ate dinner hastily, lay in bed, tossed and turned, fell asleep in confusion, woke up, and stood in front of the bathroom mirror, I didn't even figure out if I was dreaming or not. I didn't wake up until there was a bang on the front door and a voice calling my name.

    "Xie Tianshui, I know you're in there! Hurry up and pay the rent, or I'll call the police! The landlady's high-pitched voice was heard throughout the building.

    I quickly dressed, bit into a burrito and flew out the door: Aunt Zhou, another month of grace, I will soon be rich! You see what valuable things in the house to take away first use it!!!

    When I disappeared in a flash, Auntie Zhou was still frozen in place with her mouth wide open, looking at the cavernous door of the room, wondering what had happened.

    Once again, when I came to the office, a projector, a laptop, and a curtain had been set up inside the room. I hurriedly put my personal belongings on my desk and asked Lingti, out of breath, Boss, what all work needs to be arranged today?

    Lingti snapped open the projector switch, the screen showed a blurred image, she adjusted the projector focus, slowly, a strange humanoid face, a large belly spider appeared on the screen, the surrounding landscape is a primitive forest, the spider looks so huge, thin with furry feet almost two meters long.

    What is this, a photoshop explanation example?

    This is the insect I want to show you, the scientific name giant belly sphinx tarantula. Only, this is not a psychedelic image, this is a friend of mine in the Brazilian rainforest last year, the actual photo. He was found by the spider after the shooting and escaped from the danger only after nine deaths.

    I was silent, before this, I have seen the largest spider is only the size of a fist, that or from the animal world on TV.

    Reintel changed to the next picture, taken on the side of an ocean liner. Under the moonlight, a dark shadow could be vaguely seen coiled on a reef protruding from the sea not far away. Rintel dragged the mouse to zoom in on the shadow, and I found what appeared to be a man - a curly-haired, **topless, but with a fish tail of a strange man.

    Mermaid? The word popped out at me.

    The photo was taken in 1973 by sailors on the Norwegian whaling ship 'Green Island' in the waters off the Barents Strait. This photo was taken in 1973 by a sailor on the Norwegian whaling ship 'Green Island' in the waters off the Barents Strait. This suggests that this legendary creature does exist."

    Isn't there a possibility that it could be someone else in disguise?

    Ling Tee contemptuously smiled: Not to mention that there is a ship's crew can testify, just say the cold water of the Barents Sea bone-chilling sea wind, let you sit naked on the rocks, see if you can endure ten seconds?

    She came to the bookshelf, held down several thick books and placed them in front of me: This morning, your task is to familiarize yourself with all these monster files in the computer and to finish these books.

    I looked at the covers of the books: Exploration of Unknown Life, Illustrated Guide to 100 Monsters and Demons, Medieval Black Magic and Witchcraft Examinations, Mysterious Species and Mayan Culture in the Americas.

    I felt my head immediately rise twice as big: Wait, wait, wait. You said finish reading? I haven't read comics since high school.

    This is not a cartoon, this is reality. My dear lad. Renti picked up her coat and satchel from the coat rack, walked to my side, patted me and said, Reality, not what you think. It is because reality has so many strange life forms and countless paranormal phenomena that we paranormal detectives exist....

    Psychic.... Detective??! It was as if a small atomic bomb had exploded in my head.

    Then she walked lightly to the door, not forgetting to throw me a sentence: Watch it well and come back for my inspection. Don't forget that this is also part of the 'training'!

    I watched, mouth wide open, as her figure disappeared from behind the translucent glass doors. Yeah, training.... That damn contract clause.... Only then did I reluctantly turn up the foot-high pile of books in front of me.

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3. the only eyewitness

    3. the only eyewitness

    After a long time, I stood up from my desk, paced to the floor-to-ceiling windows, and looked at the constant flow of traffic on the street outside the building below me. If I had been convinced by those informative mysteries, I would say that I felt a sense of oppression in front of them like never before. If everything was true. I looked at the unfinished building wrapped in protective netting on the construction site in the distance, and it turned into a towering cliff in my eyes, with several griffins swooping down from the cliff, sweeping over a sea of burning earth.

    Boom, the door was rudely pushed open, I turned around to see who was so careless, only to find that my boss had winded up in front of me, and as soon as I entered she said to me, Quick, pack up and come with me, urgent matter!

    I can't imagine, only just the first day of work, actually have to put into the nature of the work, I panic packing the bag: Do you want to bring a general principles of civil law or criminal law books? I I have not read a book for so long, the law is a little rusty.

    All you have to do is bring your courage and sensitivity! Cut the crap and get going! Reintel ordered nonchalantly.

    In the elevator, I was still speculating about what exactly the mission was this time, when Rindy was the first to speak up, Xie.... Xie Tianxiao?

    My name is Xie Tianshui! I protested with discontent.

    SORRY, who let you call such an international face name. I want to tell you, from now on, don't call me anything like boss or spirit chief. My name is Lingti, Lingti is a code name, in this world, Lingti means me, I mean Lingti.

    Yes, spirit.... Rindy. I was also thinking that there was no way in the world that someone could be named Spirit.

    Since you have become my partner, I must also give you a code name that matches your identity, your original name, from now on in my place will not be allowed to use.

    I thought about it, it makes a bit of sense, as a detective must be a little mysterious to. Then I'd like to call 007 or.

    There! Reintel twirled her snapping fingers and interrupted me, Just call it Satsuma!

    "Sa, Satsuma? When the elevator dinged on the first floor and the doors opened, I think my eyes must have been rounder than eggs.

    Where the hell are we going?

    Get in the car and I'll tell you. Rindy stopped a cab.

    The two of us got into the back row and listened to Lingti tell the driver Xiaoying, metro dispatch center and the car sped up and went along the main road.

    Why do you want to go there? I asked, puzzled.

    I just received a call from the center's director, Cui, that another person has gone missing from the subway.

    Shouldn't the police be responsible for missing persons? We don't know how many people go missing in Beijing every year. You can't find them all. I looked at Lingti and saw her smiling and looking at me was nodding in triumph. Wait, could it be that this has something to do with 'psychic events.'. It was then that I connected the two together.

    That's smart, not bad for a rare samoyed.... Listen to her tone, close to stroking the mane on my neck, I guess most of it is sarcasm. But listen to her narrate: Since a month ago, passengers have been missing in several subway stations one after another. The confirmed ones have reached 17, but the number is still rising, and just this morning there was an additional case.

    But.... How is this number tallied? I mean, if a person is lost in the city, why is it concluded that he must be the one who disappeared in the subway station?

    Good question. As you know, the subway has camera probes at every entrance and exit, and the subway staff confirmed after looking at all the security footage that there were 17, now 18 people who walked into the subway and never came out.

    Could it be. These people simply simply live in the subway station? It's warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and there's water and a bathroom. I don't even think I can say this myself, but I guess there are always a few homeless people who use the subway as their home! I did have such thoughts myself when I was desperate.

    There is no such possibility. There are probes all over the subway station, so if they are still staying on the platform or in the passageway, it is impossible for them to go undetected. If they didn't disappear out of thin air, then it means that they might be wandering in that four-way underground tunnel.

    Hearing this I slightly sweating, the tunnel is dark, not to mention any living facilities, how can anyone survive there? Could it be that this ah 18 people have met with misfortune....

    I read a news story in the Metro Express this morning about two people who fell off the tracks on Line 2 earlier in the day, and someone was reportedly injured, is there any connection to this disappearance? I asked.

    The official story is that one person was killed and one person was injured, but in fact one person was injured and one person is missing. And that injured person is now in the subway dispatch center under investigation. That's why we're rushing over there now.

    In the middle of the conversation, the cab had already stopped steadily in front of the light gray building of the Capital Metro Dispatch Center located near Xiaoying. The two of us said hello to the receptionist and went straight up the elevator to the comprehensive dispatching room on the 5th floor, and before we could enter, a middle-aged, slightly fat man with his right hand outstretched greeted us: Lingti, you're finally here.

    However, Renti nonchalantly took off her coat and put it on his dangling arm. Then nodded at him, as a greeting. The middle-aged man stood there a bit awkwardly, which, however, provoked me to secretly enjoy in my heart: What an imposing boss. Where have these bureaucrats seen this kind of stance?

    The middle-aged man gave me a rather wary look and asked, Who is this?

    My assistant, Satsuma. Satsuma, this is Director Choi.

    Nice to meet you. I exchanged pleasantries, but my eyes rolled hard at Reintel: did I really become a Satsuma dog that people love?

    The middle-aged man seemed to take the fire of his encounter with Reintel's indifferent treatment out on me, and he ignored my courtesy, but walked directly to Reintel: Come, I'll take you to the witness. The police have already asked questions, and I purposely had him received here.

    In the director's room of the dispatch center, we met the person sitting at one end of the bench, with messy hair and pale face, and the only witness.

    It was a young man in his twenties, with a few scrapes still visible on his face as well as on his skin. When he saw us enter the room, he owed it to himself to stand up, but was stopped by Reintel.

    How are your physical injuries? Lingti sat next to him.

    Nothing serious, just some bruises, some bruises on my thighs, luckily I didn't fall directly onto the cable when I fell off the platform, otherwise. He cut off the topic, his expression obviously tense up, it seems to be still in the aftermath.

So, please give me a detailed account of what happened.

    The young man pondered for a long time before slowly saying: "At about 5:30 in the morning, my colleague Guang Sheng, the missing person, and I were waiting on the platform of the Hepingmen subway, ready to take Line 2 to Xuanwumen and from there take Line 4 to Zhongguancun. Because there is a company over there whose server we are responsible for maintaining, we had to rush over there as early as possible because of a temporary outage. At that time on the platform, I was flipping through the newspaper, and Guang Sheng was standing next to me. The company's server is in charge of maintenance, so it is necessary to go there as soon as possible.

    How do you know the subway is coming soon? Rintel interrupted him.

    Oh, this? Before the subway is about to enter the station, it will bring out the wind from the tunnel, and I am a person who is particularly sensitive to the wind. At that time I felt a weak to strong wind constantly blowing from the far side, which is how I felt the car was about to arrive.

    But it turns out there was no car coming into the station, otherwise you would have been dead long ago. Reintel reminded him.

    Yes! I also feel a little strange, but at that time, I only saw in the afterglow of my eyes that Guang Sheng swayed, and suddenly disappeared, as if he had fallen down to the deep platform, and I, too, suddenly felt a kind of head heavy feeling, and fell head first off the platform. What happened afterwards you will know, someone shouted up, shouted the duty officer, got me out, but the strange thing is that Guang Sheng actually disappeared on this.

    Could he have gone deeper into the tunnel?

    This is impossible, the whole thing from the beginning to the end, a total of no more than two minutes, and the tunnel is dark, Guang Sheng could not have gone there. Where did he go?

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4. The secrets in the subway line

    4. The secrets in the subway line

    Yes! Where did he go? So far, all I can say is that I still don't have a clue about the whole thing, the strange disappearances, the strange testimonies. I look at the haggard young man and even wonder if it was all a hallucination on his part.

    Lingti nodded and said to Director Cui, You can let him go, next I want to see the surveillance video of that time.

    In the hall of the oval-shaped subway dispatch center, a Beijing subway route map consisting of various colored indicators is displayed on the huge wall, just like the kind we usually see on maps, only much more complicated, and the dispatcher directs more than ten railways underground in this huge city with a console in his hand through the feedback from the indicators.

    Director Cui took us to a display screen and signaled the staff to pull up the video of the scene of the incident.

    What happened is just like what the witnesses said, it happened suddenly and briefly, we only saw the screen shake, then people have disappeared, followed by a finder ran to the side of the platform shouting up, then the staff rushed through, handy with the station under the platform to pull up a figure.

    How strange, nothing well, how did these two people fall. Director Cui scratched the top of his head that was almost falling out of hair.

    Please slow down a little bit, and a little bit more. Reintel kept prompting.

    Stop! She shouted. Satsuma, look here, is there something wrong?

    I moved closer to the screen and distinguished carefully, It looks like the shadows seem a little odd.

    Reintel nodded and turned to ask, Are there any other surveillance records of the missing persons? I remember you said there would be cameras on every station.

    Director Cui's forehead was slightly sweating, he whispered a few words to the operating staff, exchanged opinions and said, In addition to that, there are two other samples. As for the others, either the camera position did not capture them, or they were blocked from view, or the monitor was not in working condition.

    Not in working condition? Reintel's voice rose an octave. Tell me about it, you guys! What have you all been doing with taxpayer money? Millions of dollars to buy equipment and you let it not be in working condition?

    Director Cui, like a student who made a mistake, nodded in agreement, while pulling out a handkerchief and wiping sweat. So that I began to sympathize with this poor uncle. Although I don't know how high the administrative level of the director of the Beijing subway dispatch center, but to be able to govern the many public rail lines within the tang of the capital, I'm afraid it will not be a general public official. But he actually lowered himself so low in front of Lingti, then I the energy of the boss. I couldn't help but sneak a glance at Lingti and found that she was also looking at me.

    She said to me, Satsuma, copy these video files back. Also you, Director Choi- she turned to the sheikh-topped man, Please mark me the time and subway station of all the disappearances in the past month on a map.

    Director Cui seemed to have prepared for this, and took out a map with subway lines from a file folder, and carefully handed it to Reintel, who then stood up, Go, go back and analyze it. Director Cui, keep in touch!

    When she passed the large electronic screen, she stopped and looked at the interlaced lines and suddenly said, You say, if these lines are like a huge net, then in the middle of the net, what will be there?

    Without waiting for me to figure out what that meant, she had already left the room in stride.

    In the office, we watched the three videos over and over again, and what they all had in common was that without warning, the pedestrians standing on the edge of the platform suddenly disappeared without a trace. The three people had a backward movement towards the track before they disappeared, which is very appropriate if you imagine a bottomless pit in the middle of that dark track. As for the shadows in the tunnel I mentioned, it was too faint, even at the slowest frame rate, still could not see it, perhaps it was just a change in lighting.

    After staring at the screen for a long time, our eyes got dizzy and I stood up and walked to the window and stretched: Ugh! How nice it would have been if we hadn't even captured these three videos.

    Before the words were out of my mouth, a book flew past behind me long ago and hit me hard on the back.

    I let out an ouch, covering my back and twisting my head angrily, glaring at Reitei: What are you doing?

    The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to the market. You didn't read the contract properly, did you?"

    There are tens of thousands of items in that contract, how the hell was I supposed to know that there would be such a clause in it - would there really be a company that would include corporal punishment of employees in their employment agreement? Yes, at least in this woman's company. I had to grumble in a temperless whisper and return to my computer.

    Lingti passed the video through the network to a friend engaged in film editing, so that he used professional equipment to try to clarify the picture, taking advantage of this effort, she laid the subway line map on the table, holding a red and blue pencil to study it carefully. Seeing that it was going to be late, she lit the desk lamp.

    You see, the missing have such characteristics: most of the cases, are concentrated on these stations around line 2, totaling as many as 13 people. The others are distributed on lines 1, 4 and 5 respectively. What does this tell us.

    The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to the public. The woman, when she's not bossy, is still quite charming. The actual fact is that you can find a lot of people who are not able to get a good deal on a lot of things! Watch out for your coffee!!!"

    I hurriedly corrected the cup in my hand, however the coffee in the cup still spilled some on the map paper, and the brown liquid quickly seeped into the paper fibers. The end of the end, I knew I was in trouble, I hurriedly wiped the residual coffee on the drawing with the palm of my hand.

    Suddenly Reintel pulled my arm. What's wrong, boss. I lifted my head: A little work error is just, no need to make a big fuss about it.

    She didn't look at me at all, but stared motionlessly at the traces left by the coffee solution on the paper. No, look there.... She raised her pen and pointed to the center of the trace.

    Under the tip of the blue pencil, it points to a square walled city, and that, for centuries, was the Forbidden City, the former palace of two emperors.

    Lingti's trademark smile once again appeared on her lips, somewhat mischievous, somewhat smug, and somewhat mysterious: Speaking of the Forbidden City, I remembered an interesting legend.

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5. Phantom of the Tunnel

    5. Phantom of the Tunnel

    Legend? I moved closer.

    Yes, about a legend in Beijing that everyone knows, but no one can know its details.

    Would there be such a thing? That sounds like a bit of an inconsistency. Such a story is unheard of to me.

    At this moment, Lingti's cell phone rang, and after a few brief exchanges, she called me back to the computer. Opened the inbox, and sure enough, my friend had sent back the processed video.

    Reopen the video, apparently the picture is clearer than just now, at first we still can not see the clues, but unexpectedly in the video to the victim fell off the platform before the second of a few Zhen screen, the screen of the tunnel suddenly appeared in a long black shadow, only a flash of effort, then disappeared at the end of the screen. At the same time, Guang Sheng on the platform also suddenly lost sight of. Then, the second injured person fell into the tunnel immediately after.

    Lingti fixed the picture at the location where the shadow appeared, and after a long time of examination, she said quietly, Now can you guess what this is?

    The body is long and slender, and comes and goes without a trace. Not seen its shadow, only heard its wind.... The dragon is not seen.... Looking at the screen, I ghosted out the words.

    The word dragon, as if it jumped into my mind, when I put the slender figure on the screen with those who have only heard of in mythological stories, can call the wind and rain to ride the clouds of the image together, really can not describe the heart amazed.

    So I stared blankly at Reintel.

    She said to me, word for word, Now, I can tell you about that interesting legend.

    It was in the era when the construction of Beijing City had just begun. It is said that at that time, there were many sea eyes under the capital city that led to the sea. One time, an old dragon from the sea swam down the waterway to one of the underground sea eyes and was captured by Liu Bo-wen, who was responsible for supervising the construction of the Forbidden City. Liu Bo Wen, in order to prevent the old dragon from escaping to harm the four directions, and more to prove that the emperor is the true son of the dragon on earth, decided to confine the dragon forever in Beijing, so that it becomes the 'town treasure', so that this place becomes a real 'dragon prosperous place'. To this end, he ordered the creation of 'locked dragon wells' in various parts of the capital, through a thick and heavy chain in the well to bind the old dragon underground, and the 'prison' he chose for this dragon is located in a deep underground pool under the Forbidden City.

    I listened to the atmosphere did not dare to come out, Beijing city I also live for five or six years, how do not know that there is actually a living dragon deep below the ground? I don't dare to believe in this thing that could overturn my life's values, because at least I'm a new generation of social leaders in the post-80s who have been through the Mazhe course.

    That what.... I swallowed and asked rhetorically, If we're talking about dragons, how does that make sense in terms of paleontology, genetics, aerodynamics, etc.?

    Lingti helplessly shook his head: After all, it is Satsuma, brain dead. First of all, the legend may not be true, and secondly, even if it is true, there is not much to do with Liu Bo Wen. Because the construction of Beijing was started during the Yongle years, when the Duke of Wencheng had long been dead for decades. If someone had caught something during the construction of the city, it would not necessarily be a dragon - because no one had ever seen one. When Zheng He went to the West, the giraffe brought back from Africa was also attached to say that it was a unicorn. Due to the topographical coincidence, we just guess that there is no way to say that there is really some strange creature hiding under the Forbidden City, and the strange shadow in the tunnel must be inextricably linked to it. From now on, we'll just classify it as a 'snake-like monster'.

    The Great Sea Serpent. I recalled an allusion I had seen in a slide show that morning. On August 14, 1817, a very large sea serpent was seen in the area of Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts, U.S.A. According to sworn eyewitness testimony, 'It was a long, serpentine monster, with a head as large as a four-gallon barrel, a body as thick as a lute barrel, and at least forty feet in length '.... .

    If, indeed, the black shadow was a snake-like monster, the missing Guang Sheng, was it swallowed by it in a flash? Then the other 17 people.... I dare not continue to think about it. Now, I slowly began to believe that for this real world, we know really little and little. And how many bizarre unknown beings, balking at that dark black fog outside the window?

    Satsuma, early tomorrow morning, go to the Palace Museum. Rindy leaned thoughtfully into the soft reclining seat.

    The next day, I went straight from the subway crowd to the Dongyao Building, and after meeting up with Lingti, we drove to the Forbidden City together. Instead of following other tourists into the gates, we went straight to the Forbidden City Administration Office under the guidance of Lingti.

    A member of the management staff, who looked like a praying mantis, was so surprised by our behavior that he was at a loss for words for thirty seconds. Perhaps he had never seen that when he said the words no one is allowed in in a very dignified manner, the visitor actually responded with more energy: "I want to see your curator! As if he was just a small, insignificant player (although he was).

    After a brief moment of panic, the little clerk reorganized himself into a state enterprise waiter's pie, raised his greasy head, and said righteously, Don't be unreasonable!

    You're the one who's being unreasonable, aren't you? I have something important I need to talk to him about! Reintel shot back.

    Hmph, I've seen a lot of people like you, it's just a few cockamamie complaints. Don't think. The mantis man put on a look of disbelief, however, before his words fell, there was another card in front of the tip of his nose, so he swallowed back the last half of the sentence hard.

    With two fingers, Lingti handed the well-made business card to his eyes, almost to his face: Please get the curator Wu right away, I don't have time to explain too much.

    It is said that in nature, when animals go head-to-head: aura will play a decisive role, the party with a strong aura will win, and the party with a weak aura will only go home in defeat. The mantis clerk in front of this posture is completely defeated in the confrontation with the Queen of the Reiki. I only saw his lips twitching twice, then without saying a word obediently took the business card and turned into the office behind him. I guess he also realized in his heart that this woman must have come from a lot, or at least not a good one.

    I cast an approving glance at Reintel: that's how you treat a snob who bosses you around.

    But she raised her eyebrows and said to me nonchalantly, Don't just giggle! In the future, this kind of thing should be solved by you Satsuma, I have to save my mp to solve the big boss at the back!

    Although I didn't understand what she was referring to when she said big boss, what exactly was she describing? But it was clear to me that the mp referred to only one thing: magic points. I secretly sighed: Boss, you're really an extraordinary person.

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6. The stone wall of the deep palace

    6. The stone wall of the deep palace

    Not long after, in that mantis brother's guidance, a with black-framed glasses, forehead hair thinning forehead wide and shiny middle-aged man came running out in a panic. He wiped sweat with one hand, one hand far outstretched, straight towards us: Ling Ti, look at you ah come before why not give me a greeting in advance?

    A very familiar scene, right?

    Lingti did not leave him any chance to exchange pleasantries, but went forward and grabbed his arm (instead of shaking hands): Take me to the underground storage room of the Forbidden City!

    I I I don't have that permission.

    I know better than you what you can do and what you can't do.

    Don't make me do it, Reintel. I'll be disciplined for doing that.... Wu curator cried.

    Do you think that responsibility would be less if more people were put in danger by the delay?

    I saw Curator Wu's face shake unnaturally a few times, then as if crossed his heart, I heard him shout, Tang Lin! Go to the safe and get two 'special advisor' badges.

    It turns out that the Mantis dude's first name is Tanglin. The name is like the person.

    When we were ready, Director Wu took Lingti and me down a working passage never open to the public toward the underground of the Forbidden City, where we stopped in front of an open underground lobby with a desk where two staff members were staring at a multi-angle split surveillance screen behind the desk.

    The curator? One of them was obviously a little surprised to see his leader suddenly appear.

    Er.... These two are experts in cultural relics from abroad, we have to conduct a special cultural relic identification work, please give us a pass door card.

    Okay, how many levels of authorization do you need? One level or two levels?

    Three tiers, a three-tier authorization.

    A look of disbelief appeared on the staff member's face as he hesitated for a moment.

    Hurry up! Librarian Wu urged.

    The man then quickly handed us a red e-card and watched us walk through the security gate and punch in through a huge metal door at the end of the hall.

    Empty!!! The sound of the iron door closing echoed in the straight corridor, so empty and deep.

    I can't help but look at the clear gray and somewhat shabby concrete walls and say, It seems that the security of the Palace Museum is only so..

    A short syllable came out of Curator Wu's nose, and I think he finally found a chance to pull one back from Rindy as he said, But that's it? You know what? In this underground warehouse, the storage of how much you have never seen, never heard of antique treasures, including that rumored to have long been lost, seal with Qin Prime Minister Li Si 'commanded by heaven, both longevity and eternal prosperity' of the heirloom jade seal, I have played with it many times, I tell you, really with gold to make up a corner oh. In order to protect these national treasures, this place can be said to be full of organs, the entire room was controlled within the appropriate temperature and humidity, and infrared sensor devices were placed everywhere. He pointed in all directions on the walls.

    Anyway, I didn't see it, let's just assume he was telling the truth.

    Rather go to such lengths to keep these heirlooms enclosed here than allow them to return to the surface to see the light of day and allow more people to have access to them. I don't see how that's anything to brag about. I whispered.

    Hum, childish.... The day they stored the artifacts in, they weren't going to let them out again. Here, it's like a concentration camp for ancient artifacts, here, it's their Auschwitz! Wu curator's excited voice echoed in all directions.

    I think that, assuming this man is given a chance to take control of the current situation, he will definitely become a second Adolf Hitler.

    Solid as gold. What about the dragon? Reitei, who had been silent, suddenly asked.

    These words, like a hunter shotgun shot projectile, accurately hit like a small sparrow general chattering Wu curator. Only to see his face suddenly pale, immediately became silent as a chill.

    This further convinced me that this man must know something about the secrets hidden underground.

    Lingti is not anxious to pursue further, she just caught a mouse like a cat, and continue to tease some of their prey.

    Old Wu, there are three levels in the basement, right? What is the difference between the displays on the first and second floors? Lingti asked in a pretend naivety.

    Hearing the topic returned to his own line, Wu curator's forehead once again put light, he said smugly: Well, this involves scientific expertise in the classification of art, I will briefly talk about. Don't look at the difference of only one floor, but the environment of the two floors is very different.

    As we spoke, we had finished walking through the long tunnel and entered the huge storage room. The room was not very high, but the area was amazingly large, the size of a soccer field. Rows and rows of display shelves of varying sizes were filled with bronze and pottery of various shapes and sizes, and more than that, a crate that had not yet been opened, containing some kind of treasure. Above the head is the Forbidden City, the magnificent royal palace, here is the most comprehensive collection of art in China. I couldn't help but sigh in awe: the Forbidden City is a human treasure to be proud of. How about I take a few pieces out and let them see the light again? But the thought of those red, yellow and blue outer lines.... Or forget it....

    Wu, the curator, said, The -1 floor houses mainly bronze, jade and ceramic artworks. -The 2nd floor holds a variety of ancient books and paintings as well as wood and lacquerware. Due to the difference in the physical nature of the objects themselves, the temperature, humidity, light, and even microbiological conditions differ a lot between the two layers.

    Unbeknownst to us, we were led into the elevator by Curator Wu and slowly descended to the deeper -2nd floor storage room. The layout of the room is much the same as the previous floor, except that most of the exhibits here are kept in translucent glass cases.

    Here is a collection of celebrity paintings and calligraphy from all generations! Let's go, I'll show you Wang Xizhi's Lanting Preface, it's not a copy!

    At this time, Lingti suddenly turned her words and looked at an inconspicuous sealed door in the corner and said, Director Wu, it's better to tell us about the -3rd floor.

    Cold sweat once again surged on the face of curator Wu, perhaps he thought that a day trip to the underground palace would be enough to satisfy the curiosity of the two of us?

    He wiped his sweat and laughed helplessly: Lingti, I know why you are here, frankly speaking! I've also heard the legend about the so-called locked dragon well, not to mention this, the Forbidden City is so big, what bizarre story there is not? Frankly speaking, this underground palace is not newly built, but already existed in ancient times, and we have merely transformed it. So I have also speculated whether it is really related to the legend. But it's just a guess, I don't have any proof. You ask me what's in the third layer? Well, I'll tell you, there's nothing there, except a painting....

    Painting? Reitei and I repeated to in unison.

    You'd better go and see for yourselves. Curator Wu swiped his door card and pulled open the heavy door.

    The door is a winding down