Zhuo Yichen, now chief investigator of the Gui Zhuyi Agency, was deep in thought as he sat in the office he shared with his coworker, assistant, best friend, and self-proclaimed aunt, Wen Xiao, gazing into the eerie distance beyond the glass windows. The sunset was supposed to be a beautiful thing that inspired awe and romance, but to him, that reddish mix of colors in the sky resembled a cloud of dark energy, alluring yet tainted with something malicious, that always left an icy feeling on his back and made his eyes glow a slightly lighter blue.
From birth, Zhuo Yichen was special, seeing things no one else in his family could and sensing things others missed. Not to mention his psychic abilities, which manifested from a young age, as he could move objects with his mind and communicate with the dead, seeing them as clearly as he saw the living.
In a world where the paranormal was something out of fantasy novels, movies, TV shows, or at most, pseudoscience, not entirely dismissed, but not entirely proven either, his abilities would have been problematic and a cause of great distress for him and the rest of his family.
However, having been born into a world where supernatural phenomena were now a legitimate science, and almost an everyday occurrence somewhere in the country, or rather, like in most parts of the world, his abilities, as well as the teachings his family had inherited for generations, make him valuable to perform the duties of a paranormal ghost hunter, and an essential member when going to places where some sort of disturbance has occurred, to conduct investigations, and ultimately deal with the problem, be it a simple bond spirit, to a summoned minor demon.
The list of paranormal beings who crossed realms or simply stayed out of spite or resentment was endless, but their Gui Zhuyi Agency specialized in cases that conventional ghost hunting agencies couldn't handle, as spirits or even monsters were too dangerous for humans without proper training or natural abilities, like theirs. Their impeccable work well done had earned them an enviable reputation that placed them at the top of an ever-growing business, alongside the Chongwu Agency, which was equally renowned, though not as popular, as strange things happened when they handled their cases, although they always ended up fulfilling their duty.
Therefore, their services were in high demand, making their company quite successful and prosperous. However, in cases where lives were at risk, their Gui Zhuyi Agency worked closely with a special police division to take on those cases pro bono. This was what made their business so coveted, as although the money was good, saving human lives was a priority. Thus, half of the cases they handled each year were brought by the police to protect citizens when no one else would accept them free of charge. This allowed their agency to expand its operations, and currently, his brother and father were working in a new office in Japan.
They had been there for half a year and were very well received in Tokyo, where paranormal activity was the more intense. Thus he was put in charge of their office in China along with Fan Ying, his maternal uncle, and Wen Xiao, his daughter, who called herself his aunt, when in fact she was his first cousin. They had also done quite well on their own with their team of experts, in addition to those from the police department.
Working directly with them was Ying Lei, a monk from Mount Kunlun, whose expertise in chanting spells and seals was second to none. He was also joined by his best friend, Bai Jiu, a healing specialist with an innate talent for channeling nature's energy and summoning its spirits to heal and aid them in difficult situations. Wen Xiao's mother was a priestess at a local temple before she and Fan Ying fell in love on one of the Gui Zhuyi Agency cases and she gave up her vocation to start a family with Fan Ying, becoming part of the Zhuo's in return.
Thus, Wen Xiao, who had learned about exorcisms from her mother and, being a natural medium, could also see spirits like him, although she could not exercise clairvoyance like him. On the other hand, he possessed more than just clairvoyance, but also psychokinesis at different levels, affecting not only stationary objects (PKST), but also moving ones (PKMT) and even living ones (PKLT), as he could throw someone into the air, stop objects thrown in his direction, and move objects at will.
Of course, all of that requires a lot of energy, but that was precisely why he had been trained in Tai Chi and Qigong on Mount Kunlun, to balance and harmonize his energy flow to the point where he could better control it and tire less. Still, using his psychokinesis always took its toll, so he tended to use it mostly in emergencies, while the rest of the time he used talismans imbued with his spiritual energy, which were equally effective in the long run. And finally, there was his sword, inherited from his ancestors, which helped him channel external energy and deal with demons or monsters much stronger than the common spirits.
Yichen sighed as he looked outside, feeling a little uneasy for some unknown reason and sensing a call coming in, he smiled fondly at his cell phone before it lit up with (Unintentional Big Dream) the sound of his favorite supernatural drama, called "Fangs of Fortune," performed by Gong Yuanzhi, the young handsome actor he admire. The reason he smiled was because the caller was his beloved Ge, whom he missed a lot.
"Ge, I miss you..." He answered, and from the other end, he could hear Yixuan's soft laughter.
"Xiao Chen, I know you usually answer me like that after I moved to Japan, but please, could you greet me properly for once? How about a polite way of saying 'Hello Ge, how are you?' Then I miss you..." He joked, and Yichen smiled.
"Hi, Ge, how are you? I miss you so much..."
"I miss you too, Xiao Chen. How are you over there? There's something in the air that's making me a little restless, so I thought it would be more intense for you, as you are so sensitive to energy fluctuations, so I called. It's a reddish sunset over here, what about over there?"
"In here, it's the same red that carries traces of dark energy as far as the eye can see, which means something bad is going to happen tonight. Tiandu City is becoming chaotic, with truly strange sightings all around. Just the other day, there was another case of fata morgana in the sky, but of course, even in this day and age, so tangled up with supernatural occurrences, the scientific community still insists that they're just rays of light bending as they pass through layers of air of different temperatures, a mere mirage. Come on... we all know better. So, how are things in Japan?"
"Let me tell you, the situation in Tokyo is just as crazy as the one in Tiandu, if not more so. To be honest, for both us and the local ghost hunters, this work is endless. We have so many cases to attend to that we're forced to delay our return home a little longer. The new branch is going quite well, obviously, but as you know, we value life more than money, and with so many things to attend to, it's still too soon for it to operate on its own, otherwise we'd be overworking our team to death."
"Should I go too? I miss you, Ge..." Yichen pouted, and Yixuan could almost imagine it, so he laughed again.
"We need you there, Didi, so please bear with us a little longer. As soon as things calm down, we'll book the first flight back to China. Now, let me ask you, how is Wen Xiao? Is she still glued to her desk, typing up case results and investigations that you're too lazy to write yourself?"
"Come on, Ge, paperwork is boring, and she's happy to file everything we do, so it's beneficial for both the Agency and me." Yixuan laughed again.
"I swear, Didi... sometimes you're just too much. Well, she loves writing and books, so it suits her. And what about Uncle Fan Ying?"
"He's bored too. Administrative work isn't his thing, he rather stay in the field handling cases like the rest of us."
"Sure, but with his sister doing most of the work, he's just like you. How's Mom?"
"The same, giving me headaches. She keeps telling me to retire from this position, even though I just got it and I'm barely twenty-four, so I have many years of work ahead of me."
"She's a mother, Didi. She will nag you about this or that until you're a hundred. That's how she cares for her beloved younger son."
"Yes, I know."
"So, any cases lately that may have give you some troubles?"
"Of course not! Just a minor one, nothing to worry about. It was solved in a day, the fastest so far." Yichen said with pride.
"Ah, I see you're already breaking records."
"Of course, I'm very good at my job." Yixuan laughed.
"Oh my... what a humble little brother I have..."
"Then come home and teach me better..."
"I'm sorry, Didi, but pouting won't work on me this time. I love you endlessly, Xiao Chen, but there are things beyond our control, and you're doing very well with Giu Zhuyi. I've heard nothing but praise from our colleagues in China, and it shows that you're destined for great things, in your own way. This will help you grow stronger, gain more experience, and learn about the great responsibilities we all carry on our shoulders. I've always been proud of your accomplishments, but I know this opportunity will make me even prouder. Take care, Xiao Chen... things get more complicated every day, but I know you can handle them."
"Thank you Ge, I love you too and I will do my best not to disappoint your trust and expectations. You have always been the best brother, tell father I miss him too." Yixuan smiled.
"We will see you soon. I have to go back now. Don't push yourself too hard on the cases. It's not good for your health. You may have been born with great powers, but you're still human. Remember that."
"Okay... be careful, Ge." He said just before his brother ended the call and looked back at that eerie red sky that seemed like a warning that something bad was brewing somewhere.
He hated red sunsets the most, and as if he'd mentally summoned it, his cell phone lit up again, but this time it didn't bring a smile to his beautiful face, but rather a tired sigh. The name, in bright red letters, shone like a traffic sign warning of danger. Captain Pei Sijing was calling, and he answered, hoping it would be resolved like their last case, quickly and safely. But he doubted it, since her calls always ended in dangerous, long-investigated cases.
"I knew tonight was going to be difficult. What do you have for me this time, Captain Pei Sijing?" Yichen asked the woman he had worked closely with on police cases, for the past five years. She was a strong and beautiful woman, but a bit stoic, sometimes bordering on being too strict with herself and others.
However, despite her cold personality, Yichen had to admit that he preferred working with her over other officers because she was quite good at her job and knew how to handle the paranormal well. It had been a bit difficult at first, but over the years, she had taught herself about the paranormal world and how to defend herself against spirits and the like, adapting her work to each situation.
Therefore, at this point, she no longer needed protection, as she was much better than other, less talented ghost hunters. Her quick learning was thanks to Wen Xiao, who had seriously instructed Pei Sijing, and as she did so, it was hard not to notice the sparks that flew whenever they were together, the glances, the discreet touch, the gentle smiles, Pei Sijing's protection of Wen Xiao, even when Wen Xiao can protect them both. Their growing attraction was so evident that sometimes he just wanted to tell them to just get together and stop pretending like no one noticed their feelings for each other.
"You have an annoying knack for answering the phone. Have anyone ever told you that?" She scolded him.
"Just now for my older brother." He replied.
"Good for him to be honest with a spoiled brat like you."
"Come on Captain Pei, aren't you going to ask for a favor from me? Don't be rude, I am just four years younger than you and I'm not a brat anymore."
"Alright, I got a case for you, but from what I've investigated so far, it's going to be a long and quite dangerous one. You'd better gather your entire team and take all your glowing talismans with you, along with your precious sword. There's a village in the mountainous region, quite isolated from almost everything, where many people have disappeared without a trace for centuries. The case is old, but back then, the disappearance of villagers was attributed to fleeing in search of a better life or human trafficking."
"Captain Pei, that's not within our jurisdiction. We deal exclusively with the paranormal, you know that."
"Of course, Zhuo Daren, and believe me, this is paranormal, and one of the most serious. Disappearances were occasional in the area, so the case was simply dismissed as strange occurrences or people lost in ancient mountains. That was a long time ago, but in these modern days, it's happening again. It turned out that the Chongwu Agency had opened its recruitment process for more ghost hunters, and someone had the brilliant idea of recording a video of a ghost hunting adventure to submit to the hiring committee in about a month. Of course, the amateurs who thought of that had to choose that mountain to make their video as terrifying as possible while demonstrating their talent, which were quite questionable in my opinion. They went camping and having an adventure in the forest surrounding an abandoned mansion. Then, they disappeared... only their belongings were found in the skirt of the forest and so the local police contact me." And then her voice broke for the first time since he had known her five years ago, which surprised him and make him alert instantly.
"Pei Daren, what is affecting you personally in this case?" Yichen asked, and he heard her almost sobbing, which set off an alarm in his instincts even further.
"I try to make this as professional as I could, but... my little brother... Pei Siheng..."
"Please don't tell me he went there with a group of amateurs into a real haunted forest..."
"Yes, he did. You know he was trying to prove he could do everything I could, and not joining the police force because he was sick at the worst possible time had made him desperate. I don't know how he contacted this group of ghost hunters, but he had been missing for four days. I was not aware that he had go out of the city, as you know he lives alone... I only know he was there because they find his backpack with his ID and they contact me as a procedure to missing people."
"That idiot... Pei Daren, it must be hard for you. Forget professionalism, you're a sister too, and you've been having a terrible time with a sick brother. Let your feelings out, it will only make it harder if you keep them locked away." She sobbed.
"Please, Zhuo Yichen, there's a local legend that says that in this forest, in that abandoned mansion, a powerful demon resides, and I've confirmed that something disturbing has been happening there for centuries. And if it's true..." She explained, while Yichen rubbed his forehead as he began to feel dizzy having a very bad feeling.
"There is something to this... I'm having a vision..." Yichen said as he pressed the speaker on his phone and placed it on his desk littered with papers and talismans.
"Zhuo Daren, are you okay? Is Wen Xiao nearby? You shouldn't be alone when you have visions." She said in a worried voice, but for Yichen it was like listening to her from afar, as his vision began to blur and a dark void claim him.
Having visions triggered by information alone was rare for him and that have only happened once when he was very young and unaware of the extents of his abilities, but since he knew Pei Siheng personally, even when they weren't close, he at least had a feeling of his energy that he could use to get a glimpse of what was happening to him and hopefully at least find out if he was still alive.
Then he close his yes and plunges into a realm where reality distorts like rippling water and darkness envelops him, heavy and suffocating. He feels pain, a sharp reminder echoing around him, and confusion morphing into familiar and strange shapes. His heart races as he perceives another presence lurking beyond his perception.
Suddenly, a crimson flash shines in the abyss, a pair of red eyes watches him intently. They gleam with danger, but also with allure, and Zhuo's instincts scream at him to remove himself from this presence, but he finds himself drawn deeper into this unsettling vision of despair and chaos.
"Pei Siheng!" He screams hoarsely into the dark void around him, feeling completely alone, yet deeply aware of being watched by something very powerful and ancient. The air around him thickens with terror as the shadows draw closer, whispering secrets he cannot decipher.
At that moment, an echo reverberated in his consciousness, a fleeting image of Pei Siheng's face appeared before him, weak and confused. Then fear seared itself like a scar over him, and panic gripped Yichen. He knew he must break free from that mental prison before it consumed him completely, or he could be lost to it forever.
"Find me..." The presence whispered softly, as if coming right behind him, threatening to trap him deeper into the darkness and coldness of a seal pulsing with an unknown, twisting energy, attempting to hold him there and expel him at the same time with a sudden wave of dark energy.
Opening his eyes abruptly, Zhuo Yichen found himself back in the office, drenched in sweat despite the cool air from the air conditioner that brushed against his skin. The vision of the mansion and its inhabitant loomed menacingly behind him, as if mocking his momentary plunge into darkness. He looked back at the reddish sky, now a little darker than before, like an invitation, or perhaps a warning? He no longer knew.
In that moment of hesitation, he felt a stabbing pain in his chest, perhaps from the surge of energy that had hit him during the vision, and a ribbon of blood trickled down the corner of his mouth. A sign that he had overdone it and used far more spiritual energy than he intended.
"Zhuo Daren! Zhuo Daren! Answer me! I'm calling Wen Xiao right now!" Yichen heard Pei Sijing's cry from his phone, concern etched in her voice, while the call remained connected. With a groan of pain, he picked up the phone and tried to focus on what he needed to do before fainting, something he knew was about to happen.
"I'll be fine... Gather your things and come here as soon as you finish. Your brother is still alive, but there's a high-level demon near him. We must hurry before it's too late... Call Wen Xiao and tell her to get me in our office, because I'm about to faint..." With that warning, he let the darkness take him once more and passed out on his desk, out cold.
AN:Warning, this is a test story, for a new concept I got in mind, but have not develop yet, so don't know when it will be update. If you still like it and want to wait for an update just put it on your library. Thanks for reading.
Paranormal Notes: Psychokinesis (PK) divides in three: PKST (stationary targets), PKMT (moving targets) PKLT (living targets). Telekinesis, was formerly used by researchers and Spiritualists. The modern term Psychokinesis or PK was proposed by psychologist J. B. Rhine, that founded parapsychology as a branch of psychology. As defined by the Parapsychological Association, parapsychology exclusively studies phenomena which fall into three categories: extrasensory perception (ESP), mind-matter interaction (PK), and survival after death (Ghost).