Hidden Plot

A flickering candle flame lit up, illuminating a small patch of darkness.

The footage on the television began to move, playing from an overhead angle that overlooked the entire scene.

Ji Li toyed with the lighter in his hand and stepped a little closer to the television.

A shriveled, skeletal hand occupied the lower-right corner of the screen. Its long fingernails nudged the flame, making the light burn brighter.

Old Madam Hu had appeared.

She wore a red padded jacket, her gray-white hair braided into two plaits that hung over her shoulders. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she occupied only a small patch of shadow.

Ji Li seemed to move closer to examine her appearance, but the angle showed only as high as her chest.

The slender woman who served as the guide had not moved since finishing her earlier words.

Instead, the three men helped the frail man in the middle into the center of the Living Room.

"Sit."

Old Madam Hu remained in the shadows; only her voice could be heard, while her form could not be seen.

The frail man was helped onto a chair opposite Old Madam Hu, and his hunched body relaxed slightly.

Ji Li narrowed his eyes, but all he could see was the man's back trembling faintly. No further information was visible.

After helping him sit down, the other three men stood outside the circle of candlelight, lined up as though removed from the situation.

From the current circumstances, the identities of the six people onscreen had become clear.

Old Madam Hu was the shaman treating him.

The slender woman was the guide.

The frail man was the patient.

The three men were the patient's companions.

Ji Li lit a cigarette with interest and instinctively glanced at the Living Room where he stood.