Flowers of the Departed Souls - Chapter 45

Chi Ziming woke from his dream, gasping for air. He had dreamed of the God of Death more times than he could count.

He increasingly felt that the person who claimed to be the God of Death could appear in any guise, changing unpredictably, or perhaps they were often near him, and it was very possible that it was someone he frequently interacted with. The thought sent shivers down his spine. However, as it stood, the person who called themselves the God of Death should be Luo Jialiang, the leader of the Divine Bird Cult, or someone else from the Divine Bird Cult.

He also didn’t know why he would have such a strange dream, dreaming of Xiao Yilian, Luoyang Village, and the legendary God of Death. And this “God of Death,” having not used the guise of the God of Death to harm people for a long time, coupled with the recent string of many incidents, had almost been overlooked. Now, he could quietly reflect on what had transpired lately.

Just then, his phone’s SMS notification sounded. Who would be sending me a text so late? He looked and saw it was Guangming: “It’s late, so I’m texting you. Luo Yifu called and said her father committed suicide. Let’s go see tomorrow.”

What? Luo Jialiang committed suicide? Does that mean all the nightmares are over? Yes, the leader of the Divine Bird Cult is dead, so everything should return to normal. Even if the members disperse, it’s fine. The villagers might return to their proper lives, and Xiao Yilian’s revenge would no longer be necessary?

However, this news came too suddenly. Had everything just concluded like that? And what about those Departed Soul Flowers? And Ke’er? This swift end made Chi Ziming’s heart feel very unsettled. Guangming felt the same, but he also hoped it was truly over. He didn’t want this nightmare to continue endlessly.

This time, Chi Ziming quickly slept until dawn, a dreamless night. He hadn’t slept so well in a long time until Guangming’s call woke him up.

Chi Ziming hurriedly washed up and rushed downstairs. Guangming’s car was already waiting for him. Guangming also looked to be in good spirits. It seemed the news yesterday was truly uplifting. There were two other people in the car: one was Xiao Zhao, Guangming’s subordinate, whom Chi Ziming had met before. The other, sitting in the passenger seat, was a man around thirty-five, dressed in a proper suit, his face cleanly shaven with no stubble, his eyes gentle yet sharp. Chi Ziming didn’t recognize him.

Guangming introduced them: “This is Gu Wancheng, a renowned psychologist in Wencheng. And this is Chi Ziming, a writer I mentioned to you before.”

Gu Wancheng turned and extended his hand. Chi Ziming politely responded. He noticed that Gu Wancheng had a pair of fair, long, and delicate hands, very beautiful. It was rare for a man of his age to have such beautiful hands. Then, he handed Chi Ziming a business card.

“I’ve read your book, The Curse of Sodom, and I still cherish your signed copy. I love it very much, especially the story that happened on that seaside island. And after reading that book, I’ve been looking forward to your next novel.” This statement greatly surprised Chi Ziming. He had only published one book, and that was five or six years ago. After so many years, someone actually remembered his book. More importantly, it was a famous psychologist, who personally told him he loved it.

Guangming laughed. “Ziming, see? Today I even brought you a fan. So, you should definitely keep writing.”

All four laughed. Perhaps because of this, Chi Ziming felt an immediate camaraderie with Gu Wancheng, feeling very close to him.

“Oh, right, has Kelou woken up yet?”

Guangming sighed and shook his head. Yes, ever since Kelou and Chi Ziming were dug out simultaneously last time, Kelou had been in a vegetative state, sustained by IV fluids and an oxygen mask. In this regard, Chi Ziming was much luckier than Kelou. Apart from some minor scars, he was completely normal. Sometimes, he couldn’t even believe that he had survived after so many near-death experiences. However, he increasingly felt that living was actually more difficult than dying. He had no reason to despise life, and no reason not to cherish it.

After walking for over an hour, the road started as an uneven, yellowish-gray dirt path. At the village entrance, they could only walk in; cars couldn’t enter. When Chi Ziming saw the rotten wooden sign, eroded by time and weather, carved with the words “Luoyang Village,” and the two large locust trees beside it, he couldn’t help but be filled with a myriad of thoughts. This was his third time in this village. The first was three years ago, with Xiao Yilian. Perhaps then, she had brought him here with a purpose, not just for fun. At that time, she might have secretly investigated this village, or perhaps she felt an unexplainable, innate connection to it, a pure coincidence related to destiny. The second time was recently, staying for over half a month, a heart-stopping, nearly fatal half-month, constantly filled with terrifying nightmares. And now, he didn’t know what he would face coming here this time. Perhaps, this village would return to its original peaceful state, just as he had seen it many years ago.

Guangming also felt a bit emotional. This was his third time in this village. Each time, the feeling was different. This time, his emotions were much calmer. Because Luo Jialiang was dead.

He led them into the village, winding left and right. The village still looked relatively large, but there weren’t many houses, scattered here and there, the kind of very primitive stone houses. Gu Wancheng couldn’t help but say, “It’s truly desolate.”

Yes, because they had walked through most of the village, not only had they not seen a single person, they hadn’t even seen a single livestock. Guangming stopped beside a pavilion. He looked around. “This spot is really good. It’s right in the center of the village. When this bell chimes, all the villagers can hear it. Quite ingenious.”

Gu Wancheng walked into the pavilion, carefully observing the grandfather clock. The clock looked very normal, its pendulum swinging back and forth, emitting a low ticking sound. He checked his own watch and found that its time was also very accurate. “Does it chime precisely on the hour?”

Guangming shook his head. “Every time it chimes, terrifying and bizarre incidents happen in the village.”

Gu Wancheng pondered for a moment. “I don’t understand clocks. I’m neither a clockmaker nor a clock merchant. However, firstly, its purpose is suspect. Normally, a large clock like this is for telling time, so everyone knows what time it is, especially in a backward village like this. Ordinary people work from sunrise to sunset and rest from sunset to sunrise. Their sense of time isn’t strong, and doesn’t need to be that strong. So, this clock has no necessary reason to exist. However, if it were to strengthen people’s sense of time, to give them a proactive spirit, it should chime precisely on the hour. Only then would it have meaning for its existence. But it doesn’t do that. So, we can dismiss its normal purpose.”

“Then, do you think it might be used as a hypnosis device?”

Gu Wancheng nodded. “That’s possible. When people see or hear repetitive images or rhythms, their willpower becomes weak, and they can easily enter a hypnotized state.”

“So, you mean whether it’s an individual or a group, they can all be hypnotized?”

“Yes, if it’s a group hypnosis, the difficulty is relatively higher, especially without specific conditions. Generally, only advanced hypnotists can achieve it.”

“Then, could it cause the hypnotized person to commit suicide?”

“If the hypnotized person is given suggestions by the hypnotist to commit suicide, and they successfully enter the state, they will comply. Of course, this is a criminal act.”

Guangming and Chi Ziming looked at each other. Chi Ziming said, “So, you’re saying a person can be completely hypnotized by the grandfather clock or something else, of course, the hypnotist must be very powerful, and then be given suggestions on how to commit suicide, and the time of suicide. And when that person returns to their room, at a specific time, or upon hearing a specific sound, they will commit suicide according to the hypnotist’s instructions? Or, are they directly given hypnotic suggestions in the room? But that doesn’t seem like a good way to suggest it; there are no telephones or other sound-emitting tools in the room, and there’s no second person at the scene.”

“Hmm, your analysis makes a lot of sense. So, the former possibility is higher.”

“Then, where did they go before the incident, and whom did they meet? That’s very important now. Let’s go to Luo Yifu’s house first.”

Xiao Zhao took some photos of the grandfather clock, and then the four walked towards Luo Yifu’s house. Luo Yifu’s house was relatively close to the inn and was the only Western-style house here, looking out of place in this quaint and secluded village, so it was easily recognizable from a distance.

When they reached the gate, the gate was locked. Guangming knocked on the door. Not long after, Luo Yifu came to open it. Luo Yifu looked much more mature than when Guangming first saw her, and her eyes held a depth they didn’t have before. Guangming thought, Perhaps, this is experience. These few people among them have experienced more in this period than in the first half of their lives combined. How could they not mature?

Chi Ziming saw Luo Xiaofeng and Luo Bozi with some surprise. “You’re back too?” They nodded.

Luo Jialiang’s body was in the living room, already placed in a coffin. His face showed no pain. Guangming lifted the blanket covering him. There was still a dagger plunged into his chest, and around it were bloodstains that had begun to coagulate. Guangming pulled out the dagger with force, then covered him again with the blanket.

“Did none of your dad’s subordinates come to see him?”

Luo Yifu shook her head. “No, not a single one appeared.”

“So they really did turn into birds and flew away.”

Chi Ziming interjected, “With no leader, they should have dispersed, right?”

“Not sure.”

Guangming thought the same. Since their leader was gone, they should disperse. Then the cult should automatically disband. With Luo Jialiang’s death, the bird-headed human tattoo case could be considered solved, and the deaths of Xiao Yilian’s family could also be considered accounted for. Oh, right, and the cases at the inn. If they were also Luo Jialiang’s doing, everything could come to an end. However, Guangming always felt many doubts remained unresolved. After thinking for a moment, he still called Luo Xiaofeng out for a private talk.

“Do you remember where Xia Yimin went and who he met before the incident?”

Luo Xiaofeng thought for a moment. “When he went out, he told me he was going to the seaside for a walk. He only came back in the evening. Not long after, he committed suicide. I don’t know who he met.”

“What about Zhong Dan?”

“That day, she seemed to have gone out alone. It seemed she had an argument with Ge Jianliang that day, and her expression looked a bit unhappy. Usually, they would go out and come back together, but that day was a bit strange. Ge Jianliang went out alone, wandering somewhere, and Zhong Dan also went out not long after. At that time, I was cleaning the corridor and saw the room was empty. Later, Zhong Dan and Ge Jianliang returned separately. And according to Ge Jianliang, he went downstairs to get hot water. Just as he went downstairs, Zhong Dan committed suicide.”

Guangming pondered for a moment. “It seems that before their accidents, they both went out. Xia Yimin went to the seaside, and Zhong Dan very likely also went to the seaside. At that time, besides them, were there any other people in the inn?”

Luo Xiaofeng shook her head. “No one else.”

Guangming suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right, I almost forgot about Chi Ziming, the survivor. Now, the only survivors present are you and Chi Ziming. You didn’t see anything, but maybe he did.”

So Guangming called Chi Ziming over. Chi Ziming recalled carefully. “I was also often by the sea. But that day when I went to the seaside, I ran into Luo Bozi. At that time—he told me a story about the God of Death.”

Luo Xiaofeng calmly asked, “What did the God of Death he spoke of look like?”

“He was a very handsome young man.”

“No, the legend about the God of Death in Luoyang Village has never had this version.”

“However, this version is quite similar to Thanatos. Thanatos is the son of Nyx, the goddess of night. He likes to wear a black cloak, wields a deadly sword, and walks among people’s residences at night. Although his appearance is a bit peculiar, he is ultimately a handsome man.”

“Oh, right, I saw Thanatos, no, his portrait, no, I think that person might be the one who calls himself the God of Death.” So Luo Xiaofeng told them about what happened that day in the mysterious place, and how she was placed in a glass coffin. “Although he wore a mask, I felt very familiar with him.”

Guangming pondered for a moment. “You’re saying, could it be Luo Bozi? Only he could most likely approach any of them, including you. He could hypnotize one of you and instill those suggestive things, things that would lead to suicide, and then use the bell chime to control behavior. When the bell chimes, the hypnotized person would act according to the instilled suggestions.”

Luo Xiaofeng and Chi Ziming simultaneously remembered Luo Bozi’s constant elusiveness, his sudden disappearance a while ago, his strange voice, and that perpetually expressionless, oddly smiling face. It was highly possible that, as Guangming speculated, he had hypnotized them. And Guangming once again remembered dreaming of the God of Death after returning from the seaside that day, but that day, he chose Xia Yimin, not him.

At this moment, the three of them simultaneously thought of something and rushed towards the living room. But the living room was empty, except for the coffin and Luo Jialiang’s body lying inside.

The other four people were gone.