The breathing on the other end of the phone quickened, like a roar building in the throat of a wild beast before its final strike.
"Was that Master Qi, Qi Gu, speaking just now? Do you know something? If you know the truth, please, you must tell us! We can pay you. Whatever amount you want, we can raise it."
As though feeling that this was not enough to express their sincerity, another agitated male voice came over the phone. "Our family also has two apartments in the capital, three million in savings, and some cash and jewelry... Master, just tell us what you want."
Xu Xue's father was a forensic pathologist. He had encountered some strange things and maintained a neutral attitude toward the metaphysical.
Before calling Sha Chuan this time, he and his wife had done some homework on the show Sha Chuan was taking part in, gaining a general understanding of each guest's role.
Naturally, they also knew that Qi Gu was a metaphysics master.
That was why he had thrown caution to the wind and immediately offered up the family assets most likely to catch Qi Gu's eye.
"Add me later, and we can discuss the price. It won't cost nearly that much..." Even if they dared to offer that much, Qi Gu would not dare accept it.
Qi Gu paused, lowering his gaze to the black threads, his eyes cold as though he were looking at scum. "As for your question, I probably don't know the details as clearly as the person involved-"
[What does he mean? Is he trying to force Sha Chuan to speak up himself? That sounds a bit difficult. If Sha Chuan really had something to do with Xu Xue's death, he'd be going to prison.]
[Exactly. Anyone with half a brain wouldn't admit it, would they?]
[Qi Gu is actually pretty nice. If it were me... of course I'd take it all. He actually thinks it's too much money?]
[Qi Gu is finally starting to feel like a real master.]
[Silently adding my +1.]
Xu Xue's parents were also stunned by Qi Gu's words.
They knew many experts in psychology and interrogation, but even those experts would not dare boast that all they had to do was step in to bring a criminal to justice and make them confess to every crime.
What exactly did Master Qi mean?
Jiang Huaguo stared excitedly at the tablet in front of her. If... if what Qi Gu said was true, there was hope of clearing up the injustice Xuexue had suffered!
She had known that the girl who always wore such a bright, sunny smile would never choose to end her life just because she had failed the postgraduate entrance exam once!
Under everyone's curious, agonizingly expectant gazes, Qi Gu slowly finished his sentence. "What I mean is, why don't I summon the person involved from the Underworld and let her speak?"
"I just did a divination. Xu Xue is still in the Underworld and hasn't been reincarnated yet. Those who commit suicide ordinarily have to endure a hundred years of punishment in the Eighteen Levels of Hell before they can be reincarnated. But since her death also partly counts as a homicide, the Judge of the Underworld gave her special permission to avoid suffering in hell. She simply has to wait her turn for reincarnation... After all, with the birth rate falling these days, reincarnation slots are quite precious." After explaining this to the camera, Qi Gu ignored the shocked expressions his words had brought to everyone's faces and looked straight into the lens. "What do you two think? Have you decided?"
[???? Wait, he can actually summon someone up here???]
[Holy crap, if this really works, they could just have Qi Gu summon spirits to solve any case they can't crack.]
[Can Qi Gu summon my dad's spirit for me? It's been over ten years. I miss him so much.]
[I miss my grandma too. She doted on me. Whenever I went home for summer vacation, she'd fill the fridge with all sorts of treats ahead of time.]
Xu Xue's parents were so overwhelmed with excitement at these words that they could not speak for a moment.
Their agreement stuck in their throats. Too excited to think straight, they merely nodded vigorously on the other end of the phone.
Only after a long while did they find their voices again, choking out, "Yes. Of course we want to see Xuexue!"
They had dreamed of her countless times in the dead of night, yet Xuexue's figure was always so indistinct in their dreams. She would disappear as soon as her silhouette appeared, reminding them every time, in this fashion, that it was nothing but an illusory dream.
"Give me Xu Xue's birth date and time. I'll also need someone with a personal bond to her to volunteer to let her possess them. But her ghostly body is yin in nature, so the person she possesses will probably fall ill. Which of you is willing?" Qi Gu asked, his gaze betraying nothing as it swept lightly over the grief-stricken Sha Chuan before him.
At those unexpected words, Sha Chuan went deathly pale, as though he had seen a ghost, and instinctively blurted out, "I... I can't. My health is poor. If I let a ghost possess me, I might die!"
Jiang Huaguo's reaction was the complete opposite of his.
Seeing this turn of events in the Investigating the Strange livestream, Jiang Huaguo was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. Without hesitation, she said, "I can. I'm willing. As long as I can see Xuexue again and let her explain the injustice she suffered, never mind getting sick-I'd even give up years of my life!"
"Do any of you know how to contact the Explore the Supernatural Production Team?!" she asked anxiously, rubbing her fingers together and racking her brains for a way to contact Qi Gu.
Meanwhile, over the phone in the Investigating the Strange livestream, Xu Xue's parents also spoke without the slightest hesitation. "We're both willing. Master, do whatever is most convenient."
With one brief question, Qi Gu had made the differences between Xu Xue's friends and family involved here immediately apparent.
[Lol, Sha Chuan kept going on about how much he loved his girlfriend, but now he won't even lend her his body for a bit.]
[Earlier, he said he jumped into the stream because he saw his girlfriend. Looking at it now, he probably saw money instead. Heh.]
[Aaaaaah, I'm so pissed off! How can such a scumbag exist?]
[Jiang Huaguo agreed without any hesitation. She even said she'd give up years of her life.]
[Waaah, her best friend really is a true friend, and her parents are good parents too. It's just a shame Xu Xue was blind enough to get herself a trash boyfriend.]
[Maybe Sha Chuan doesn't dare because he has a guilty conscience. After all, Qi Gu already said he has a life debt hanging over him. If Xu Xue really comes up here, every last detail of his crimes will come spilling out.]
[Good point... I suggest a thorough investigation!]
[One person signing in blood to demand a thorough investigation!]
[Two people signing in blood...]
Sha Chuan dug his fingertips deep into his palms, his expression as ugly as a vengeful ghost's, forced into a dilemma.
If he refused to be possessed, his devoted-partner persona would collapse, and he would look like a guilty criminal. If he agreed, he would fall ill, and Xu Xue would return to the living world. There was no telling what she might say in front of so many viewers.
Sha Chuan wavered.
In the end, he chose to take a gamble-so what if he had psychologically manipulated Xu Xue? She did not know the truth anyway. He could still frame those remarks as "love," as something he had said for their future together.
After all, he was well practiced at this routine.
If those three wealthy girlfriends of his had not all been relatively difficult to control, he would have used the same routine on them long ago.
With that thought, Sha Chuan turned his face to the side and stepped forward. "Fine. So what if I get sick or lose a few years of my life? I'm willing to do it for Xuexue. I was just worried about what would happen to my parents and Xuexue's parents in the future if something happened to me."
In just a few sentences, he painted himself as noble and selfless, as though he were some kind of hero.
[That makes sense, but I don't believe him.]
[+1]
[Sha Chuan just seems so fake and pretentious.]
[But he's willing to let Xu Xue possess him now. Does that mean his conscience really is clear?]
Before you continue