Book 1: Chapter 1: Sleep Paralysis and Ghostly Possession

Book 1: Chapter 1: Sleep Paralysis and Ghostly Possession

Translators notes:

Back from hiatus. Whether youre a new or returning reader, thank you for checking out my new translation project. This webnovel was released fifteen years ago and my mom suggested I check it out. It was a huge hit and is listed as a must-read. Its an interesting mix of horror and romance. For some reason, the official raws seem to have been scrubbed from the original publishers site, which makes me a little nervous. I found out a TV series of this novel is supposed to come out this year. Im enjoying it quite a bit so far so I will keep going until I finish, unless I get into trouble for being an unlicensed translator

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A pair of hands slowly crept up Xiao Xias neck.

They were knotted and cracked like the trunk of a withered tree, but they were also exceptionally firm. They brought with them sinister chills from hell and were determined to pull Xiao Xia down onto the sofa.

She couldnt see who the hands belonged to, but sensed that the hands were brown with faint red lines that looked like scratch marks.

Outside the window, it was unusually lively. It wasnt clear if people were walking by on stilts or whether there was a traditional wedding ceremony going on. Only her surroundings were quiet, so quiet it was like she could hear her own heartbeat. It was as though the whole world was unaware of her struggle.

The office was on the nineteenth floor of the building.

At this altitude, it shouldnt be possible to hear anything except for the wind blowing outside. Furthermore, it also wasnt possible to see outside the window from her position. Even if she could see and hear, such a procession couldnt be passing by on the busy streets. Therefore, despite still being immersed in this nightmare, she was also clearheaded enough to know she was suffering from sleep paralysis again.

She knew things would get better as long as she sat up. However, the hands wrapped themselves tighter and pulled her back down the moment she got up. She knew that her appearance on the sofa was like a tilting doll. This laughable situation evoked a trace of stubbornness in her feeble mind, and made her resist even more fiercely.

However, it was useless! The withered hands wrapped around her neck and tightened continuously until she was unable to breathe.

Suddenly, she randomly invoked the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas name!

The pair of hands shrunk back as though burned by fire and a sharp groan sounded out. This allowed Xiao Xia to gasp for breath. However, before she could get up, the withered hands that had yet to vanish completely stretched out for vengeance. Although they were hesitant, they were also determined. They were in a lot of pain but also seemed set on dragging her into the darkness. Xiao Xia suffered a fright and hurriedly called out a few more chants before managing to break free.

The clock displayed quarter to one.

It was the middle of the day. The Vast Sky Law Firms female lawyer Yue Xiao Xia awoke from her nap-induced sleep paralysis. There were no traces of the fierce struggle. She was merely prone on her office desk and her mouth was currently open. She had embarrassingly drooled on her files.

At this moment, the sound of knocking woke her up a little more. The person that appeared made her feel even more at ease. It was Xiao Wang, an interning lawyer at the firm. She was going to meet with the defendant of her new case. Since she was a female lawyer, she couldnt meet the suspect of a criminal case by herself. She had to be accompanied by a male lawyer. Therefore, Xiao Wang would go with her.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

As the lawyer for your defense, it is my responsibility to protect your legal rights. Therefore, I will do everything in my power to help you. Xiao Xia continued speaking while observing the situation. Seeing Xiao Wang sitting on her left while Li Jing Ming was separated by a sturdy table along with a police officer nearby on the right, she felt a little more at ease. However, she suddenly realized that she was spouting off her conventional opening statements like a rookie, explaining the rights of the suspect without any response from him at all. It was like she was playing the lute for a cow, which merely revealed her anxiety.

This wont do!

No matter what, she was still an established lawyer. Even if her abilities were lacking and her win rate was low, she couldnt make a fool of herself in front of a junior intern! Furthermore, this was the first meeting. In theory, she was supposed to listen and understand while establishing mutual trust with the defendant. How could she be anxious and helpless?! Dont be scared, dont be scared! Theres an officer present. Be more assertive. Xiao Xia thought this way and forced herself to toughen up, hoping to find some way of communication.

This was her first time observing the defendant in detail.

He was very frail, essentially all skin and bones. His skin was abnormally pale, perhaps due to being locked up without any daylight or perhaps it was his natural skin tone. His slightly green hue made it almost possible to discern his veins. His body seemed to be shrunken in his wooden seat, and even his shadow was curled up in the darkness, seemingly waiting for something. If he wasnt accompanied by someone, Xiao Xia would have mistaken him for a wax figure from the movie The Horrifying Wax Museum instead of a living person.

Then, can you talk about the situation that day? Xiao Xia took a sip of water and reluctantly broached the main topic with a direct question. Otherwise, she knew she would be talking to herself the entire day.

Li Jing Mings eyes finally moved. Then, his neck turned around and went from staring at the floor to staring at Xiao Xia. However, his reaction didnt make her feel any better. Instead, she got goosebumps.

Did no one notice it? The angle his neck turned was weird, and his eyes were clear yet filled with meaning. This person was abnormal all over. How was he judged mentally stable enough to be sentenced?

I didnt kill anyone. Li Jing Ming suddenly spoke, his voice seemingly distant. I didnt kill anyone. He repeated lightly. There was a ghost. He turned into my familys appearances. He coerced me. He killed them. It was him! It wasnt me! I didnt kill anyone!

As he spoke, Li Jing Ming suddenly stood up and grabbed Xiao Xias wrist.

I didnt kill anyone! It was him! It was him! It was that evil spirit! Help me! Help me!

Everyone was startled by the sudden turn of events. Then, the officer present along with others who barged in went to restrain the out-of-control Li Jing Ming. Prior to being restrained, he continued yelling at Xiao Xia who had squeezed herself into the corner in fear, Theres an evil spirit! Believe me, he killed them! It was him! Theres an evil spirit!

After the hysterical voice faded, Xiao Wang was pale as he muttered to himself: Dear god, he must be possessed!

Whether or not he was possessed, whether or not she would be mocked by her colleagues and whether or not Director Pan would hate iron for not turning into steel, she no longer wanted anything to do with this case. She wanted to withdraw.

Xiao Xia lowered her head and looked at her wrists. She knew that there would be bruising. She believed that they would be ghostly handprints. This was because she had truly felt an alarming and oppressive aura from Li Jing Mings body.

This case might not be as simple as it seemed. It wasnt only horrifying in the normal sense.

Therefore, she was going to withdraw!