Chapter 103: The Old Photograph
Chapter 103: The Old Photograph
At this moment, Chen Chuan remained calm as he glanced at his "second self," and as expected, the ethereal figure appeared, its influence even more pronounced than the day before.
He recalled the warning from the documents—never to look directly at the figure's face. Thus, he kept his gaze fixed on the screen, avoiding any temptation to look elsewhere.
However, the stimulation from the transmutation organs couldn't be ignored. To prevent their uncontrolled growth, he had to continue using the breath control technique to guide them.
Setting aside the unpredictable additional harm, this influence was actually more intense than the drug infiltration effect.
Chen Chuan completely ignored the external distractions and focused solely on his task, just as he would during training. After all, he had the defense of his second self, and as long as it existed, he didn't need to worry about anything else.
Time passed slowly, and in a fleeting moment, he suddenly realized that the ethereal signs of his second self had vanished. He took a deep breath, waited a moment, and then slowly turned his head to look sideways. The seat next to him was empty, with nothing there.
He slightly adjusted his breathing, stood up, and walked out of the theater seat. After leaving the corridor, he asked his assistant, who was waiting outside, to inform Manager Huang that he would be back tomorrow, and then he left the theater.
Outside, it was still the early hours of the morning, and the sky was a dull gray. As he waited for the cinema's car to take him home, he suddenly felt something was amiss.
He reached out and touched his clothes, noticing that some parts had come unstitched. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but under the light, they seemed to have faded slightly, leaving him thoughtful.
The information Cheng Zitong had given him didn't mention that the figure's position would change, nor did it provide any explanation or solution for this situation.
Chen Chuan considered the cause of this change. Could it be due to his guidance of the transmutation organs? It was a possibility. The only thing he had done differently was guiding the transmutation organs, something the ancients might not have attempted. But it was a necessary step; he couldn't let the transmutation organs grow unchecked; he had to control them.
He thought further, knowing that it would take three days to eliminate this urban legend, and on the second day, the figure had moved closer to him. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen on the third day. Would the figure merge with him, or move to another location?
If so, how should he respond?
He decided to seek Cheng Zitong's advice when he returned, as the teacher had extensive knowledge in this area.
After returning to the academy, Chen Chuan took a short nap. When he woke up at around eight in the morning, he got up, freshened up, and prepared to go out. He had intended to wear the same coat as the day before, but upon touching it, he noticed it had indeed become slightly worn. However, it seemed that only the outer garment was affected, as his inner layers, along with his watch, appeared untouched.
After some thought, he changed into a fresh set of clothes and went to a public telephone to make a call.
When the call connected, Cheng Zitong's voice came through, "Xiao Chuan, calling me at this hour, is there a problem?"
"Teacher, I do have a question," Chen Chuan said, proceeding to briefly describe the events from a few hours ago.
After listening, Cheng Zitong pondered for a moment and replied, "It's not convenient to discuss this over the phone. Don't worry, I'll come to see you at noon and think of a solution."
Chen Chuan agreed, and they ended the call.
He continued with his daily training, and when noon arrived, Cheng Zitong found him. "Let's go eat, and we can talk while we dine."
Chen Chuan, aware of his teacher's busy schedule, followed his lead. They entered the teacher's private room in the cafeteria, sat down, and ordered some dishes. Cheng Zitong inquired about the details and then said, "I haven't heard of the position changing before; your situation is quite unique. But it's possible that it's related to your guidance of the transmutation organs."
"From ancient texts of the old era to modern records, the most common encounters with urban legends are among us fighters. There seems to be a natural attraction between the two."
"Of course, ordinary people who encounter urban legends rarely survive, and those who do rarely leave their names behind. So, we can't make a definitive conclusion. Regarding your concern, you believe that the figure might move again, perhaps even appearing where you are?"
"I have indeed considered that possibility," Chen Chuan replied.
Cheng Zitong said, "The simplest solution is to abandon the commission. These cinema ghost legends are usually confined to a specific area. Once you leave, the danger is mostly gone, with the worst-case scenario being a brief illness or a period of poor mental health."
"Teacher, if I choose to leave, will the urban legend remain there?"
"Yes, and it might become even more dangerous."
Chen Chuan looked up and said, "I don't intend to abandon it. Please advise, is there another way?"
Cheng Zitong smiled, "I knew you wouldn't. The simplest solution is to close your eyes, as the most crucial precaution is to avoid seeing the face of the urban legend. By doing so, you can avoid most of the danger. However, considering the special circumstances, it's still not entirely foolproof. There is an item that might help you."
He reached for his briefcase, from which he retrieved an antiquated mirror, its surface almost entirely obscured by rust. "This mirror is a remnant from dealing with another urban legend. Tonight, take this with you and place it in the row behind you, but remember, it must be directly behind you."
Chen Chuan took the mirror and asked, "Master, is this all I need to do?"
Cheng Zitong replied, "This is all you need. Although I haven't encountered a situation like yours, after researching urban legends for so many years, I do have a few methods to deal with it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent you to take on this commission."
"But you should know that it's hard to say there won't be any problems with this. It's not that there are no other solutions. You can pay attention to it yourself. Urban legends are extremely harmful to ordinary people, often leading to fatal consequences. As fighters, we have a relatively better tolerance. The one here isn't even the most dangerous, so I believe you can handle it."
Chen Chuan nodded, "Thank you, Master."
Cheng Zitong smiled and said, "Let's eat first."
After the meal, Chen Chuan returned to his dormitory and once again immersed himself in training.
At 6 p.m., after preparing himself, he put on his shoulder bag and left with his sword.
The theater's car arrived on time and took him directly to the Orchid Fragrance Cinema. Now familiar with the route, he greeted Huang Manager's assistant and went straight to the designated seat.
Upon arrival, he took off his shoulder bag and hung it outside the door. Then, he took out the mirror and walked to the center of the seat, opening the wooden support frame behind the mirror and placing it upright behind the seat.
After setting everything up, he sat down in front and began watching the movie.
Indeed, this was the largest cinema in the south of the city, with a vast collection of films. Today, they were showing many movies he hadn't seen before, including foreign films that offered a glimpse into the world beyond.
As the movie played, time gradually approached midnight.
This time, Chen Chuan didn't wear his watch, so he couldn't observe the time accurately. He could only wait silently.
After what seemed like a long time, the large screen suddenly flickered, and he felt a chill. Almost simultaneously, the signs of virtualization on his second self abruptly appeared.
However, he didn't see that figure, and it didn't seem to be in the adjacent seat either. If the ancient mirror worked, the urban legend should be sitting behind him right now.
Chen Chuan looked at his second self, where the virtualization signs had already exceeded the range of the drug's effectiveness. Even without using the Qi Point Breathing Technique, he could feel the transmutation organs becoming unusually active. Under this intense stimulation, they were growing and spreading uncontrollably, even more vigorously than the last time.
He was mentally prepared for this, so he closed his eyes and used the breathing technique taught by Professor He Xiaoxing to guide the process, preventing the organs from expanding recklessly.
During this process, he noticed that not only did the signs of virtualization not weaken, but they were gradually intensifying. This indicated that the urban legend was getting closer to him and might even overlap with him at the end. However, he remained unmoved, immersing himself entirely in the guidance process.
This went on for a long time. At the moment time reached 4 a.m., suddenly, whether it was the signs of virtualization on his body or the chill, all the abnormalities vanished in an instant. It was unclear if it was a coincidence or a malfunction, but the movie playing on the big screen also abruptly stopped.
Chen Chuan waited for a while before slowly opening his eyes. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and felt around the adjacent seat. He found the flashlight he had placed there, turned it on, and flashed it twice. Then, he walked out to the back row and retrieved the ancient mirror.
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly felt something. He flashed the flashlight twice more and reached out to feel around. From the gap between the backrest and the cushion, he pulled out an old, dusty photograph covered in dust.
He shone the flashlight on the photo, which was about two inches in size. It seemed to depict a woman, but due to the photo's age and yellowing, her facial features were unclear. Only her slender figure could be vaguely seen, with her hair tightly bound and falling to her ankles. She appeared to be wearing an old-fashioned costume.
Chen Chuan thought for a moment, put the photo away, and walked out. He informed Huang Manager's assistant, who quickly ran out. Soon after, Huang Manager rushed over, panting and wiping sweat with a handkerchief. He said eagerly, "Mr. Chen?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Manager Huang, the issue has been resolved."
Huang Manager was overjoyed. He grabbed Chen Chuan's hand and shook it vigorously, "Thank you, Mr. Chen! You've done us a huge favor!"
Chen Chuan said, "Manager Huang, you're too kind. I came here specifically to handle this matter."
"Still, I must thank you. We've asked many people for help, but some declined, and others couldn't find a solution. It had to be you, Mr. Chen! You're indeed an expert, resolving a major problem with your expertise."
Huang Manager's face was filled with gratitude. "From now on, Mr. Chen, you're our honored guest at Orchid Fragrance Cinema. Whenever you come, we'll ensure you're well taken care of."
At this moment, Chen Chuan thought for a bit and took out the old photograph he had found. He showed it to Huang Manager and asked, "Manager Huang, I have a question. Do you recognize the person in this photo?"
Huang Manager took a look and shook his head. However, he seemed to remember something and said, "Mr. Chen, wait a moment. Perhaps someone else can identify her. May I borrow the photo?"
Chen Chuan handed over the photo.
Huang Manager asked his assistant to attend to Chen Chuan while he rushed out with the photo. After about ten minutes, he returned, panting heavily. Once he caught his breath, he said, "Mr. Chen, I found out. The person in the photo is wearing an old costume from our theater's past. She should be an actress from a former troupe."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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