Metaphysics’ Public Enemy 13

Chapter 13:

The Ghost in the Mirror (Part 6):

Ghost Raising Ghost, Human Hurting Human

“Retribution?”

Wang’s wife couldn’t accept Chen Henian’s words. Her fear vanished, replaced by anger. “Since I married into this family, I haven’t done a single thing wrong! I brought a 500,000 yuan dowry to help him build his business! I’ve never harmed anyone! And now you’re talking about retribution?”

Her voice was sharp, her words rapid-fire. “Why would he seek revenge on me?! What is he, harming his own family?!”

She even dared to point at the corpse and curse. Wang Sr. admonished her, “Show some respect for the dead. Father is gone, what’s the point of saying these things now?”

“Why can’t I say it?!” Wang’s wife yelled back, her voice even louder. “The company is bankrupt! I have to count every penny! I told you to let go of the driver, but you wouldn’t listen! You insisted on keeping up appearances! Now look what’s happened! Can we even continue living like this?!”

“Then leave!” Wang Sr. exploded. “If you think I’ve wronged you, leave now!”

Wang’s wife glared at him, her eyes filled with hurt.

“Look at your feet,” Chen Henian’s voice cut through the argument, silencing them.

Blood began to seep from the feet of the three Wang brothers, like miniature fountains. Wang Sr.’s knees buckled, and he fell to the ground. “Little Master, save me! I don’t want to die!”

“Does it hurt?” Chen Henian watched him, his voice indifferent. “It’s not a real injury, just an illusion. What are you afraid of?”

His words seemed to snap Wang Sr. out of it. “Y-You’re right.”

He felt no pain. Wang Er and Wang San were pale with fright, but unharmed.

“Honey, help me up.” Wang Sr. wiped his brow, his voice weak. “My legs are numb.”

While the others averted their gaze, Chen Henian continued to watch the blood. Like before, it began to flow, forming words.

Guess how I did it?

Little Master.

The Wang family was terrified, the message adding to their confusion. Chen Henian looked up, a smile playing on his lips.

“Interesting.” He clapped his hands. “Interesting, truly interesting.” He laughed, his hair falling smoothly around his shoulders.

The mirror ghost was more intriguing than he had thought. He wasn’t surprised by what had happened. His excitement had grown considerably.

Wang’s wife hadn’t left yet, but Chen Henian was about to.

“Stop! Where are you going?” Wang San called out. “What are you doing? You haven’t solved the problem yet!”

He stepped in front of Chen Henian, blocking his path. But Chen Henian was just as tall, unimpressed by his attempt at intimidation.

He could easily push him aside, but he was in a good mood. He explained, “Your father’s corpse hasn’t transformed, and it’s not possessed, but it’s being controlled by something. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m very curious.” He continued, “So I’m going to examine the coffin again, just to be sure.”

“What about my father’s body?” Wang Sr. asked.

“Leave it,” Chen Henian said with a faint smile. “It’s not a threat. Just pretend it’s not there.”

“Bullshit! You’re stalling!” Wang Er yelled. “You haven’t done anything all day! Don’t touch anything else in my house! Get out!”

“You’re annoying,” Chen Henian said, not even glancing at him. “Ugly and bothersome.”

“You’re so eager for me to leave. Are you afraid I’ll capture the ghost in your room?” Chen Henian continued, “Who is that female ghost to you?”

“You’re keeping her. Aren’t you afraid?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!” Wang Er stammered, his reaction betraying him. “W-What ghost?! Don’t try to blame me!”

“You knew enough to get a fragrant cedar coffin,” Chen Henian said. “It’s not impossible that you’re raising a ghost.”

“Lies!” Wang Er retorted.

Seeing his denial, Chen Henian didn’t press further, walking towards a nearby room. Wang Er couldn’t stop him.

Chen Henian opened the door. “Your room is too obvious. It reeks of that ghost.”

“Look at your depleted yang energy. I wonder how much essence she’s sucked out of you. Are you even still a man?” Chen Henian continued bluntly, “How are you keeping her? Raising ghosts is dangerous. You’re a yang person, you’ll die.”

“Actually, you’re already as good as dead.”

Wang Er coughed, enraged. Chen Henian had already entered the room, surprised to see a figure lying on the bed.

He recognized the person instantly. But… what was Wang Sr.’s son doing here?

Before Chen Henian could react, a black shadow shot out of Wang Jr.’s body, vanishing into the ceiling.

Chen Henian turned on the light and approached the bed.

Wang Jr. seemed to have awakened. He looked up, his face paling as he saw Chen Henian, scrambling off the bed.

“What are you doing here?!” Wang’s wife rushed in, her voice frantic. “Little Master, my son…”

Wang Jr. stood up. He was still wearing women’s clothes, lipstick smeared on his mouth, his lips looking bitten and swollen. His appearance horrified his parents.

“So…” Chen Henian paused. “That female ghost used his body to sleep with you? You slept with him?”

Wang Er’s face paled, his head dropping.

“What?!” The rest of the Wang family was stunned, their jaws dropping.

“What does that mean?!” Wang Sr.’s voice boomed. “Second Brother, what is he talking about?!”

Wang Er hesitated, then confessed, “It’s not my fault! That night, my dead girlfriend climbed into my bed. I couldn’t resist. Even if she was a ghost, I wanted her. But afterward, she turned into him. How could I tell anyone? I didn’t understand. He came to my room every night. I missed her so much, Sister-in-law, Eldest Brother…”

“You… you did that to my son…” Wang’s wife gasped, struggling to breathe. “You animal! How could you do that to your nephew?! Are you crazy?! You—!”

“I’ll kill you, Wang Er! How dare you—!” She lunged at Wang Er, slapping him repeatedly. He didn’t resist, his body too weak, emaciated.

She was in a rage, ready to beat him to death. His frail body couldn’t withstand the blows.

No one intervened. Wang San frowned silently, Wang Sr.’s eyes red with anger. Wang Jr. ran over, shielding Wang Er, grabbing his mother’s hand.

“What are you doing…” Wang’s wife stopped, unable to strike her own son.

Wang Jr. said timidly, “Mother, I wanted it.”

“I wanted all of it. I felt it. He just helped me. I… I want to be a woman, I want to experience what it’s like.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!” Wang’s wife’s face twisted in disgust. She shoved him away, retreating, turning to Chen Henian for help. “Little Master, look at him! Can you cure him?!”

“The ghost is gone, he’s conscious.” Chen Henian stated. “These are his own words. If he was being influenced, his tongue would be blue. It’s not. He’s normal.”

“Impossible!” Wang’s wife refused to believe it.

“Mother…”

“Don’t call me Mother! Disgusting, you’re disgusting! I’m not your mother anymore!” Wang’s wife’s eyes were bloodshot, her voice cracking. “How could I have a son like you?!”

She clutched her chest. “What have I done to deserve this—!” She almost fainted. Wang Sr. supported her, leading her back to their room. This confrontation was going nowhere.

Chen Henian ignored the chaos behind him, searching Wang Er’s room, but finding no altar or ritualistic objects. Curious, he asked Wang Er, “How did you raise that ghost?”

“I didn’t,” Wang Er said sullenly, his face red and swollen. “I didn’t raise any ghosts! You just checked! If I knew how to raise ghosts, I wouldn’t need your help.”

He seemed resigned, not lying.

“Oh…” Chen Henian observed him, his expression neutral. “You didn’t raise it, then who did? Could it be…”

He paused deliberately. “The mirror?”

He looked at Wang Er’s expression. “It was the mirror.”

“But how? How did it create a ghost for you?”

Chen Henian stared at him, nodding slowly. “It really did create it. How?”

“Don’t look at me!” Wang Er snapped, turning away. “I don’t know anything! I was just blinded by the ghost, I made a mistake.”

Chen Henian ignored his confession, thinking. “It really is connected to the mirror. No wonder you wanted it back so badly. You were dying, you knew I could help, yet you still wanted me gone. What could make you so fearless even in the face of death?”

“You weren’t afraid of dying? Wrong. You thought the mirror could save you.”

“Why would the mirror save you?” Chen Henian murmured. “Because the ghost came from the mirror. You trusted it. But why would it help you? What did you do for it?”

Wang Er didn’t answer, avoiding Chen Henian’s gaze.

“It wasn’t just you.” Chen Henian looked at the others. “None of you wanted me to take the mirror. That means you all know something.”

He smiled, a sudden realization dawning on him. “Oh… you all know the mirror isn’t normal. You’re all connected to it.”

Seeing their silence, he didn’t press further. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t tell me. I’ll find out myself.”

“This is very interesting. A ghost that can control people. It’ll be fun to have it in my hands.”

He smiled, walking downstairs.