Chapter 62

Possessed 2: The Provoked Murderer

In the afternoon, Anger, Mo Fei, and Os set off by car to investigate the infamous Devil's Bend.

Xia Qi, Xia Fan, and a leisurely Jiuyi, upon hearing about the investigation of a demonic case, eagerly joined the group. They frowned upon seeing Anger too lazy to even wear shoes, being wrapped up on the sofa by Mo Fei, snuggled in the back seat of the car, languidly leaning on Ais's belly, his pale, slender hand waving lightly, "Drive."

Os, seated in the passenger's seat, sighed and patted Mo Fei's shoulder, "Kid, you can't spoil him like this. One day he won't be able to fend for himself!"

Mo Fei's lips curled slightly, thinking to himself — he's been unable to take care of himself for a long time.

"Oss," Anger, while looking through the materials sent by Ais, asked, "Did these people have a history of mental illness?"

"Um... no, neither they nor their families have a history of mental illness, which is why it's strange," Oss replied.

"Hmm," Anger nodded slightly and asked, "What about their lives? Were they struggling?"

"No pattern," Oss said. "There are white-collar workers, business owners, and even those just passing by in taxis... It seems like all strata are represented, with no particular commonality."

"Oh," Anger nodded and said indifferently, "To believe in the existence of goodness is to acknowledge the existence of evil."

"Huh?" Oss was perplexed, but knowing that Anger's odd statements usually signified a lead or clue, he asked, "Anger, have you figured something out?"

Anger shrugged and said, "I'm just reflecting on how many people blame devils for their sins. Devils have unwittingly become spokespersons for all things evil."

"But devils are inherently evil, aren't they?" Oss said nonchalantly.

Rubbing against Ais, Anger replied, "Devils are merely a figment of the imagination."

"Sigh, but there are so many rumors about ghost sightings and various photos and reports," Oss said. "Anger, are you an atheist? It's better to believe in such things than not, to avoid any taboos!"

Anger smiled and shook his head, "Oss, have you ever noticed that ghosts in China are different from those in foreign countries?"

After thinking, Oss nodded, "That's true. Foreign ghosts are mostly vampires, Lucifers, etc., while Chinese ghosts are like fox spirits, painted skins, and so on..."

"Productivity shapes human imagination," Anger replied with a smile.

Mo Fei also laughed, and Oss asked, "What's so funny?"

"Devils were created a long time ago when different countries had varying levels of productivity and social environments. When something needs a specific background to exist, its credibility is questionable," Anger explained.

Leaning back in his seat, Oss said, "Anger, you can't confuse me this time. I've done my homework. You mean that back then, the West was controlled by the church and industrial consciousness was forming. People sought science, so their ghosts had Western characteristics. Whereas in China, it was still a feudal society with a self-sufficient economy, so the ghosts there had unique personal traits. In other words, the West had organized troops, while we were guerrillas, right?"

Anger frowned slightly, squinting at Oss, and asked, "Oss, have you hit your head recently?"

Oss twitched the corner of his mouth, "No."

"So, you're not Os, but someone who's undergone plastic surgery?" Angler continued to inquire.

Oss's mouth twitched again, "No."

Anger stared at him for a while and said, "Congratulations, Oss. You've evolved. From a mammal to a human, a transformation that takes millions of years, you've done it in just a few days. It's a miracle."

Sighing in resignation, Oss asked Mo Fei, "Can I shoot him?"

Mo Fei smiled and shook his head, "That wouldn't be right."

Oss turned to Mo Fei and said, "Can't you just humor me and make me happy for once?"

Mo Fei continued to laugh, "Except for him, you can shoot anyone else, I won't object."

Anger, wrapping his arm around Ais, began to laugh and said, "Oss, Mo Fei is my person."

Leaning against the car window in a dejected manner, Oss said, "Anger, this case really seems unreliable, you know?"

Seeing Os getting serious, Angler said, "Os, do you believe in ghosts and goblins?"

"You start to believe in some things after seeing them enough," Oss said, leaning back in his chair. "I've handled cases before that are hard to explain. Even when those damn experts tell me the killer has a mental disorder or multiple personalities, I don't buy it... Think about it, multiple personalities, how do you know it's not possession by a ghost?"

Anger listened and smiled, saying, "That's an interesting theory."

"Right?" Oss sighed and continued, "I once knew a young offender, a neighbor of mine since childhood. He was incredibly honest... and then suddenly he killed three people. If that's not possession, what is? He just snapped, losing his very nature. How do you know it's not a demon taking over you, and after it leaves, you remember nothing?"

Anger looked at Oss and said, "Oss, you should take a break for a while. Too much mental stress can cause a crisis of faith."

Oss glanced at Anger and replied, "That's what the psychologist I consulted said too."

Anger narrowed his eyes, seemingly displeased with his own views aligning too closely with those of a psychologist.

"That psychologist is top-notch, and since they work with the police, I have no qualms about consulting them," Oss said, propping his chin. "Being a cop is so dull. Maybe I should change careers. But the salary and benefits are good."

Anger twitched his mouth and said, "Oss, you should continue. Policing is a profession with societal responsibility, akin to doctors. Its contribution to society, like that of teachers, is of long-term significance."

Oss turned to look at Anger and after a long pause said, "The chief said the same thing... Did you guys conspire together?"

Anger continued to narrow his eyes, growing even more dissatisfied.

"We're approaching Devil's Curve," Mo Fei said, parking the car at the fork in the road. Everyone got out, and this time, Anger got out on his own, without Mo Fei's help.

"This curve is indeed very dangerous," Mo Fei observed, looking at the terrain. "It's easy to crash into the mountain if you're not paying attention."

"Look, there's a warning sign above, but still, many people foolishly crash into it. I don't know why."

Anger looked around and then asked, "Are there any videos or surveillance footage? Given the remote and accident-prone nature of this area, there must be some, right?"

"Yes," Oss nodded. "There are recordings of the accidents."

"Let's find a place to watch the footage," Anger suggested, walking towards the car. "Where should we go? We need a place with tea, a sofa, and a TV."

"Are we just leaving like this?" Jiu Yi, who had just gotten out of the car, was puzzled to see Anger glance around and then head back.

Oss, also exasperated, asked Anger, "Do we have any leads?"

Anger looked noncommittally at the sky without speaking and gestured to Mo Fei, "Mo Fei, come open the car door."

Everyone collectively felt the urge to give him a good thrashing, but Mo Fei still hurried forward to open the door for Anger. As Anger got into the car, he had to use his hand to shield his head to avoid accidentally bumping it on the car door.

The group exchanged glances, resigned, and returned to the car to start it. Oss asked Anger, "Shall we go back to the gallery?"

"Hmm... let's visit the psychiatric hospital and see those patients who are being treated," Anger mused, still leaning on Ais's stomach. "We might as well meet those murderers too."

Mo Fei looked at Oss, who thought for a moment, nodded, and signaled Mo Fei to drive. Oss didn't forget to remind, "Anger, they are suffering from severe mania, very unstable emotions, we can only observe from a distance."

Anger, slightly surprised, asked, "Were they overstimulated?"

"Yes," Oss nodded.

"Huh?" Anger asked, puzzled, "I can understand and sympathize with a mother who kills her child experiencing a mental breakdown. But that pianist you just mentioned, who got into trouble and then lost his lover... why would he be mentally disturbed?"

"He's been in that disturbed state for a long time," Oss explained, "living in chaos."

"Can someone in a chaotic state still create music?" Anger wondered. "I recall his latest piano album was quite exceptional."

"I asked his agent the same question," Oss said. "...Turns out it was ghostwritten."

Anger frowned deeply and said, "That's despicable. I used to admire him, but it turns out he's that kind of person."

"Anger, he is indeed conflicted and suffering," Oss replied. "I talked to him, and though he quickly becomes manic, he's quite normal when lucid. I also asked his agent; his earlier compositions were indeed his own, a person completely immersed in music. But in this past year, he suddenly changed, becoming debauched as if he was a different person, frequenting nightclubs and leading a very indiscreet private life, culminating in this tragedy."

"Oh?" Anger thought for a moment and asked, "Did his agent mention any particular stressor or trigger that led to his downfall?"

Oss shook his head and said, "His agent was very secretive... But it seemed there were some secrets he didn't reveal."

"Did he say anything when you talked to Mark?" Mo Fei asked.

"No," Oss replied. "I did ask him, but his thoughts were so scrambled, he couldn't make sense of anything."

"His thoughts and memory are jumbled?" Anger inquired.

"Yes, he even mixes up what he wore yesterday with the day before," Oss said.

"Hmm..." Anger suddenly smiled and nodded.

"Ah!" Oss pointed at Anger, startling him, and then said, "Anger, you must know something, right? You definitely know something, don't you?"

Anger, somewhat helpless, rolled his eyes at him, "Why are you so excited?"

"Every time you have that expression, it means you're confident!" Oss pressed, "Tell me, are you sure about something?"

Anger thought for a moment and replied, "I have some ideas, but let's discuss them later..." Rolling over, he added, "I'm going to take a nap first."