I collect cultural relics in the human world

Chapter 208: One Mirror, One Mirror (I)

"Oh, you value women over friendship." Fan Yu muttered, put the Han Dynasty lacquer plate back to its place, and then sent a message to Jiang Huai.

Today was his day off, and he had planned to have a drink with Jiang Huai, but now that could not happen, he was going to go look for Deng Yizhi. It was not because of Qin Jian stealing the 栻盘, but because of Qin Jian's performance in the Hall of Mirrors just now. For the first time, Fan Yu felt fear from Qin Jian, as if there was a third person in the Hall of Mirrors, a person who was in the Hall of Mirrors but not under his control, a person who made him want to kill but also lost his mind, it was really too abnormal. Ever since Xiao Shitou disappeared, Deng Yizhi had told Fan Yu to pay special attention to Qin Jian's every move, and to report any changes immediately. Fan Yu felt that this was probably the change that Deng Yizhi was referring to.

"Did you sense any external forces when you entered the Corridor of Mirrors?" Deng Yizhi asked after listening to Fan Yu's report and tapping the desk lightly.

"No," Fan Yu shook his head honestly, "but I'm not sure. Uncle Qin is the only one who has the final say in controlling the Mirror Corridor. It's a part of his body. He seems to be doubtful, but judging from his performance, there must have been a third person in the Mirror Corridor at that time. But there is one thing we can't ignore. To what extent has Uncle Qin's injury recovered? Even Doctor Guan is not sure. What if it gets worse again..."

"Yes." Deng Yizhi said, and began to gently shake the water in the teacup that was eight-tenths full. The water surface swayed in circles along the wall of the cup, licking the rim of the cup constantly. The tea leaves at the bottom of the cup were also vibrated, and the green buds rose and fell with the cup. This change seemed to have attracted all of Deng Yizhi's attention.

Fan Yu had been waiting for Deng Yizhi to think about what to say, but after waiting for a long time, there was only the tea sloshing around. He got anxious and snatched the cup and put it on the tea table behind him. He asked, "What do you mean by right? Just one word? Director Deng, is it time to taste the tea now? Can you explain it more clearly?"

"I said you are quite right."

"Which one is correct? Was there an accident in the Mirror Gallery or in Uncle Qin's? " Fan Yu supported himself on the desk in front of Deng Yizhi with both hands, trying to look him in the eye, but Deng Yizhi's gaze passed him and was still staring at the teacup he had placed on the coffee table - the tea surface had long stopped shaking, and the green buds at the bottom of the cup had also quietly laid down.

"Director Deng, wake up," Fan Yu raised his voice, "Who made this tea for you? Did they add poppy to the tea?"

"Give me back my cup."

"I'll give it back to you." After Fan Yu finished speaking, he stretched out his hand without looking back, grabbed the teacup and threw it casually without even looking at it. The teacup spun towards Deng Yizhi. It spun quickly but flew very slowly, as if it was held in someone's hand and moved forward steadily.

Deng Yizhi sighed, and was not in a hurry to take the cup. When the cup flew to his eyes, he stretched out his left hand to gently block it and stop the cup. Then he rubbed the cup wall against the direction of the cup's rotation with his left hand, and pushed the cup toward the table. When the cup stopped spinning, he stretched out his right hand to support it slightly. The teacup fell back onto the table. The water in the cup was still eight-tenths full, and the green buds were dormant at the bottom of the cup. Not a drop of water leaked out during the process.

"Okay, why are you practicing Tai Chi?"

"Didn't Director Deng call first?"

"The cup is broken."

"Oops, I wasn't paying attention." Fan Yu scratched his head. The water did not overflow, but a crack spread from the bottom of the cup upwards, forming a fine mesh pattern.

Deng Yizhi finally shifted his gaze from the tea to Fan Yu's face, expressionless, while Fan Yu was smiling as usual. He took off his coat and covered the gradually cracked glass with it. The two looked at each other, then quickly looked away, hiding the thoughts in their eyes.

"If I remember correctly, Director Deng used to use purple clay cups."

"Yes, I don't know who brought in this tea today."

"So, you have to make your own tea from now on."

"You really can't be lazy at all." Deng Yizhi leaned back in his chair and said leisurely, "Director Fan's vigilance has dropped a lot." "Hey, every time I come to Director Deng's office, it's like coming home, and I naturally relax." Fan Yu once again confirmed that there was no smooth and reflective object in the room before saying, "Director Deng, why don't you help Uncle Qin check his injuries? He always hides his condition. I think it will be helpful only if you come forward."

"It's not difficult, but..." Deng Yizhi hesitated.

"Do you still think someone else broke into the Hall of Mirrors?"

"Or rather, I think the two possibilities you mentioned are both true."

"What do you mean?" Fan Yu recalled what he had said, "There are people in the Mirror Hall, and Uncle Qin is also seriously ill?"

"Yes," Deng Yizhi finally said, "I think there is something wrong with the Mirror Gallery, which means there is something wrong with Qin Jian."

"You suspect Uncle Qin?" It took Fan Yu a long time to realize what was going on. He tried to find any trace of a joke on Deng Yizhi's face, but he only saw a look of worry. "You actually suspect Uncle Qin?"

"It blows red and purple away, and blows them away. It's the same east wind with two different hearts." Deng Yizhi said meaningfully while looking at Fan Yu, "You have doubted it too, right?"

"But the divine turtle is a creature of illusion. It's probably pointless to interpret his words."

"What about Deng Lin? You also told me that he told He Si to be careful of the people around her." Deng Yizhi couldn't help but lean forward. "During the whole incident of the tortoise-like divination, the only person Deng Lin knew about He Si was Qin Jian, besides you."

"That's not all. There's also your eldest nephew Deng Chensha."

Hearing this name, even Deng Yizhi's eyelids jumped, and then he sighed: "Are you angry with me or are you serious?"

"He's just being angry," Fan Yu also sighed, slumped on the reception chair with his arms and legs spread out, looking like he had given up on himself. "Director Deng, no matter what you say, I won't doubt Uncle Qin. Starting from the Susha Zenyi incident, a series of events were linked together, full of dangers. There must be a reason for setting up such a big scheme, but I've been with Uncle Qin for so long, and I've never seen him have any desires. Why would he do that?"

Before Deng Yizhi could answer, Fan Yu continued, "It's not that there are no options, except He Si. But this doesn't make sense. If he only wants He Si, why would he go through so much trouble? To be honest, although I don't know how experienced Uncle Qin is in love, the fledgling He Si is definitely not his match."

Deng Yizhi did not continue the topic, but asked Fan Yu again: "When you and Doctor Guan treated Qin Jian's injuries, what form did the thing you killed take?"

"You mean... the dragon?"

"I'm talking about the Panlong Mirror." Deng Yizhi restrained his expression. "The person I doubt is Qin Jian, and not Qin Jian. He himself has this doubt, right? A mirror is born, reality and illusion go hand in hand, light and darkness, good and evil. If there is anyone in this world that Qin Jian can't do anything about, I'm afraid it's only himself."

Fan Yu was stunned for a moment before explaining, "Then it's not Uncle Qin you suspect, he's his brother at most."

Deng Yizhi shook his head, his face solemn: "But how do you know which Qin Jian is fighting alongside you now?"