The Mystery of the Inner Demon

Chapter 203 Exorcism
"Ha, is your fortune teller persona working again?" Qi Fei said with a wry smile. "It's impossible for me to believe that a living person can be possessed by a bird."

Zhong Kui turned around, her fingertips lightly brushing against the bed railing: "Of course it's not real possession. Su Jing's behavior is a kind of spontaneous psychological defense. I think she must have experienced something terrible, which has put enormous pressure on her psyche."

This pressure was something she couldn't cope with, which led to a strange phenomenon: her mental state regressed, and she suddenly reverted to her very young self.

During this process, she must have seen Xiao Hei. Xiao Hei became her shield against this terrible pressure. You can understand it as her subconsciously seeing herself as a bird. Since she was a bird, the harm Xi He inflicted on Su Jing wouldn't cause her any pressure.

Qi Fei seemed to understand but not quite: "So, you mean Su Jing now thinks she's a myna bird?"

Zhong Kui smiled and said, "You could say that."

"Damn it, how do we interrogate them?" Qi Fei scratched his head, feeling utterly helpless.

"Idiot..." Su Jing muttered to herself beside them, just like when Xiao Hei was there.

“At least you know that Xiao Hei was there when she was being abused, right?” Zhong Kui seemed optimistic. “And the good news is that Xiao Hei was probably not killed before Su Jing and Xiao Hei separated, because only a safe bird can be a safe haven for Su Jing’s identity.”

This dissociative identity disorder is itself a way of avoiding psychological trauma; she won't seek out a previously harmed person as a substitute identity.

Qi Fei looked at Su Jing, who was wearing a hospital gown and covered in bruises. Apart from her chubby figure, she was completely different from the flamboyant female boss they had seen in the airport surveillance footage.

"Is there any way to restore her? She is the key to investigating Chen Hao's death," Qi Fei said. "According to Ge Feng's confession, Su Jing herself admitted that she killed Chen Hao."

Zhong Kui glanced at Su Jing, fiddling with the silver pendant she carried with her: "I'm not sure, but we can try." Then she looked around, "I need some props."
-
"Did I hear that right? You police officers need my help?" Lu Ying, carrying her makeup case, followed Wu Shanqiu down the hospital corridor.

"Yes, I received a call asking you to come and help. We're almost there," Wu Shanqiu said as she walked briskly forward.

"What kind of busy work requires makeup?!" Lü Ying asked curiously and excitedly, having already asked many questions along the way.

“I don’t know either, ask our consultant.” Wu Shanqiu said, then quickened her pace and said to Qi Fei, who was waiting at the door of the ward, “Brother Fei, I brought Lü Ying over.”

However, Qi Fei also seemed somewhat at a loss, clearly unsure of what use it would be to call over Lü Ying, the beauty blogger.

Only Zhong Kui waved from inside the ward: "Come in."

"I heard you have a lot of Star Dust Radiant Powder?" Zhong Kui said as soon as he saw Lü Ying.

Lü Ying nodded, puzzled, "Yes, yes..."

Zhong Kui opened one palm: "You brought it, right? Give it to me."

"What do you need this for?" Lu Ying muttered as she placed the makeup case on the bedside table and took out the gorgeous loose powder box that everyone was familiar with.

However, for well-known reasons, the pink rhinestone on top of the box is no longer there.

However, just as the loose powder box was handed to Zhong Kui, Lu Ying's exclamation came from the ward: "What are you doing?!"

Without saying a word, Zhong Kui opened the box and scattered all the colorful powder around Su Jing's hospital bed.

The scent of roses mixed with peach powder instantly filled the entire ward. "Achoo!" Qi Fei's rhinitis flared up precisely, and he sneezed repeatedly.

"Are you crazy? This costs several hundred yuan!" Lü Ying yelled at Zhong Kui.

Zhong Kui, however, didn't seem to care and handed over the box with only a little powder left: "They'll compensate you later. Now I need you to do her makeup." She pointed at Su Jing as she spoke.

Her ethereal eyes stared directly into Lü Ying's eyes, creating an indescribable sense of pressure.

Lu Ying's anger vanished as if by magic, and she obediently took out her makeup tools and began to do basic cleansing on Su Jing's face.

Wu Shanqiu moved closer to Qi Fei and asked curiously in a low voice, "What is Zhong Kui doing? Is he performing a ritual?"

"Shh..." Qi Fei made a shushing gesture, his eyes fixed on Zhong Kui's arrangements.

At this moment, Su Jing was like a puppet, completely at Lü Ying's mercy, having her eyeshadow applied, eyebrows drawn, and lips red...

As expected of a beauty blogger, Lü Ying quickly transformed Su Jing's pale face with exquisite makeup, making her radiant. If it weren't for her blank stare, at first glance, she would be no different from the woman in the surveillance footage.

As is typical of beauty bloggers, Lü Ying didn't forget to use a makeup brush to check for any imperfections and touch up her makeup before putting away her tools.

"I did what you asked, and then what?" Lü Ying looked at Zhong Kui blankly and spread her hands.

Zhong Kui gently placed her hand on Lü Ying's shoulder and said with satisfaction, "Very good!" The silver pendant on her wrist swayed gently, and Lü Ying, like a student who had received great praise, smiled with delight.

Zhong Kui gestured for Lü Ying to step aside, then came to the bedside, tapping lightly on the iron railing with her fingers, and said to her as if teasing a bird, "Hello, say hello quickly!"

Su Jing seemed to understand Zhong Kui's words, slowly turned her head, and mechanically repeated: "Idiot."

Zhong Kui put on a stern look: "No! Say it again!"

A hint of anxiety appeared on Su Jing's blank face. Her lips trembled, but she still managed to utter the only two words: "Idiot."

Zhong Kui pressed aggressively: "If you can't do it, you'll be punished. You won't get to eat today."

Su Jing's eyes began to redden, and her emotions started to fluctuate, making Qi Fei nervous, afraid that she would start crying and making a fuss like when she was first admitted to the hospital.

Soon, Qi Fei realized that his worries were unnecessary. It wasn't because Su Jing didn't cry or make a fuss, but because Zhong Kui's provocations against her had intensified.

She grabbed the makeup mirror next to her and looked at Su Jing's face: "Look at this face and tell me you're a bird."

Su Jing seemed to be experiencing great pain, and her whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"You smell this? It's shimmering powder. Birds don't use cosmetics. Tell me, who are you!" Zhong Kui's voice was as fierce as a knife. Suddenly, a "smack" came from the ward, followed by Su Jing's heart-wrenching screams.

When Qi Fei and Wu Shanqiu reacted, they saw Zhong Kui heavily slamming Su Jing's bandaged hand against the railing.