Chapter 13: Entering the Soul to Discern Injustice

He Qing bit through his own tongue in the sports equipment room. The act itself had nothing to do with the equipment room, so after the ambulance took him away that morning, the school authorities simply sent someone to clean up the scene; they did not seal off the area.

Stepping into the equipment room, one was greeted by iron racks holding jump ropes, basketballs, soccer balls, and other sports gear. Beyond the racks, at the back, stood an office counter. On the countertop lay the equipment rental log; in the right-front corner, a stack of soft mats rested.

The mats were military green, each at least as long and wide as a person. They were typically used for students practicing sit-ups.

“What happened here before? Why did He Qing choose this place to honor Zhao Qingqing?”

Yan Yu took a cup of water from the dispenser and walked to the office counter.

He picked up the rental log and noticed that on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the same name appeared.

He Qing.

“He Qing is usually responsible for registering equipment rentals? So he frequents the sports equipment room.”

Muttering to himself, Yan Yu suddenly thought of something and flipped the log back a page.

A week ago, on the day Zhao Qingqing committed suicide, He Qing’s name indeed appeared on the log.

“Something must have happened here!”

Just then, Yan Yu felt a chill run down his spine. He didn’t turn around immediately, but carefully set the log down.

He plucked a willow leaf, dipped it in water from his cup, silently recited a secret incantation, and gently traced the leaf across his eyelids.

Droplets from the willow leaf covered his eyelids and vanished swiftly. Then he lowered his head, craned his neck, and glanced at his shoulder.

He saw, to his horror, a pale arm resting on his shoulder!

“Zhao Qingqing, I know you suffered injustice, but you must understand—if, after the seventh day, you haven’t followed the underworld official to report at the City God’s Temple, you become a ‘blacklisted soul’ in the netherworld. Unless you have a reason strong enough to convince the judge, you’ll never reincarnate—forever doomed to roam as a lonely ghost!”

“You… you’re alive… How do you know so much about death?” An ethereal voice echoed from every corner of the equipment room, chilling Yan Yu’s ears.

“That’s none of your concern,” Yan Yu replied. “A ghost lingering in the mortal world past the seventh day becomes a vengeful spirit. Unless you fulfill your wish, you’ll never find the entrance to the City God’s Temple. But if you end things cruelly, even after you enter the netherworld, you’ll suffer countless ordeals… You were already wronged—why burden yourself with unnecessary sin?”

Zhao Qingqing remained silent for a long time, yet Yan Yu felt the room grow colder and colder.

Truth be told, he wasn’t confident. Coming here empty-handed, he might not be a match for Zhao Qingqing. If he failed to persuade her, he could be in trouble himself.

“You… seem… eager to help me…” Zhao Qingqing asked in a cold, spectral voice.

Yan Yu breathed a sigh of relief—at least negotiation was still possible. “I help you because I need your help as well.”

“I can’t… help you… now…”

“I understand,” Yan Yu said. “Right now, all you have left is obsession; your fragmented memories are blurred. But if I can clear your name, you’ll remember everything.”

Zhao Qingqing asked softly, “Then… how will you help… me…”

“Tell me your grievance—how you died, who caused your death. Matters of the living should be handled by the living. I will restore your innocence!”

No sooner had Yan Yu finished speaking than the hand on his shoulder suddenly clenched his shirt—Zhao Qingqing’s emotions seemed to deteriorate sharply!

“It wasn’t my fault! It wasn’t my fault! Why won’t he let me go even after I’m dead? Why?!”

Her voice suddenly became shrill, as if knives were slicing through Yan Yu’s eardrums. He felt the world spin, then lost consciousness.

…

…

Darkness.

Endless darkness.

Yan Yu was certain his eyes were open, but he could see nothing. His body seemed beyond his control—no matter how hard he struggled, his limbs wouldn’t move at all.

Calming himself, Yan Yu sensed he was standing, holding a box in his hands.

“You’re here.” A clear voice rang in his ear, yet Yan Yu felt as if the words came from his own mouth.

It was a lovely sound, like an oriole singing in the woods.

Suddenly, Yan Yu realized—his consciousness had been pulled into Zhao Qingqing’s memories!

Soul-searching to discern injustice—his master Lin Xuan once spoke of this advanced Taoist technique, which could forcibly enter a vengeful spirit’s memories and probe their deepest obsessions.

But Yan Yu didn’t know this method, so it was more likely Zhao Qingqing herself had drawn him in, hoping to reveal the truth.

However, a ghost’s memories were often fragmented—sometimes missing images, sometimes sounds, sometimes both, rendered blurry and indistinct.

Yet he understood one thing: he was now inside Zhao Qingqing’s memory, playing her role.

“Qingqing, do you still not understand whether my feelings for you are genuine?” the voice said.

Yan Yu found it oddly familiar.

“I’m sorry, I can’t accept your kindness.” Zhao Qingqing’s body moved; she pushed the box away.

The other person was silent for a moment, then his tone turned icy. “Damn it, you don’t know what’s good for you, do you? Nothing I give gets returned. Zhao Qingqing, either you stay with me, or you’ll end up a school pariah!”

“What… what are you going to do?” Zhao Qingqing’s voice trembled with fear.

Suddenly, the other person grabbed Zhao Qingqing’s arm, so forcefully she couldn’t help but scream!

“You little bitch, pretending to be pure—aren’t you desperate for money? My family has more than enough. Just stick with me and you’ll never have to worry again!”

“Let go!” Zhao Qingqing shouted angrily. “I don’t want your filthy money! Let me go!”

“Go? Xu Jin, hold her down! If you want to walk out of here today, you’ll have to please me first!”

Xu Jin!

When the name was called, Yan Yu immediately knew who it was.

He felt Zhao Qingqing’s clothes being stripped away, her desperate struggle rewarded only with burning slaps. Fury ignited in Yan Yu’s heart!

Beast!

Beast!

Beast!!

Li Kang, you beast!