Chapter Thirteen: The Advanced Enchanted Mirror (Part One)

After registering his palm print, Luo Zhifu and Yang Zhijin led Wei Xiaoping further inside. They walked about twenty meters before reaching another grand entrance.

The doors stood open at an angle, each carved with the fierce visage of a beast-headed, human-bodied demon, radiating a sense of ominous power. Beyond the threshold, the room opened up in a bright, expansive manner. Hundreds of small rectangular tables and benches were arranged neatly within, and atop each table sat a peculiar box emitting alternating black and white light.

Nearly every bench was occupied by spirits—men and women of varying ages. Each ghost ceaselessly moved one hand across the tabletop, occasionally tapping their fingers up and down with both hands. As their hands glided, the box atop the table flashed, changing patterns or displaying silhouettes in black and white, figures wandering across the surface.

“What are they doing? Are they here to investigate their past lives too?” Wei Xiaoping asked.

Yang Zhijin replied, “Yes, they’re here to examine the records of their past and present lives, to see if they committed any acts contrary to morality, arson, murder, or other crimes while alive. This helps them judge their own guilt, or the degree thereof. Based on their sins, they estimate which world or space they might reincarnate into, and what sort of person or creature they’ll become. If their fate seems unfavorable, they’ll try every means to plead their case with the officials here.”

Wei Xiaoping’s face brimmed with curiosity and surprise. “Can you truly discover what you’ll become in your next life? That’s remarkable!”

Luo Zhifu said, “General Wei, if you don’t believe it, let me take you to ask one of the spirits yourself.”

Yang Zhijin chimed in, “It’s real. If you’re unconvinced, just point to any ghost, and we’ll ask them together.”

Wei Xiaoping, even more intrigued, surveyed the restless spirits around the tables, then pointed to one deeply absorbed in the glowing box. “Let’s try asking that one.”

Luo Zhifu and Yang Zhijin led Wei Xiaoping over to the spirit. Luo Zhifu gently tapped the ghost’s shoulder.

Startled, the spirit turned around, recognized Luo Zhifu, and spoke with a hint of panic, “Brother Luo, it’s you! Is something wrong? My query time hasn’t run out yet, has it? Do I owe you money again?”

Wei Xiaoping observed the spirit—a young man, handsome, likely not yet twenty.

Luo Zhifu flicked the spirit’s forehead, “What are you saying? Do you think I come to you just for money? Remind me, what’s your name?”

The young ghost answered, “I’m Li Xiaobai! Brother Luo, you’re so forgetful, haha. I’ve overstayed twice and paid both times, so I’ve contributed to you, right? And you still don’t remember my name! Hehe!”

Luo Zhifu flicked Li Xiaobai’s forehead twice more. “Nonsense! With so many coming here every day, how could I possibly remember everyone? I may not recall your name, but I recognize you—otherwise, I wouldn’t seek you out now.”

---

Li Xiaobai said, “Brother Luo, you really need something from me? It’s an honor to help you with anything!”

Luo Zhifu flicked Li Xiaobai again. “You always flatter people, but I like your character. Tell me, what did you find out about your past and present lives? What do you think you’ll become if you cross over or reincarnate?”

Li Xiaobai explained, “I discovered my previous life was in a certain continent, in a city on Earth, working as a laborer. When I was eighteen, one evening after leaving the factory, I passed a deserted stretch of road and saw a thief robbing a girl. She fiercely resisted, and the thief beat her to death. By the time I arrived, the thief had already fled, and the girl was lying wounded, blood pouring from her, unconscious, with a large bloodied stone pinning her body. I hurriedly moved the stone and picked her up to call the police. Unfortunately, she couldn’t be saved, and the investigators found my fingerprints on the stone, so I was falsely accused and sentenced to death. After my execution, my spirit drifted here.”

Luo Zhifu was surprised. “Is that true? Show us.”

Li Xiaobai grasped the semicircular object on the table, moving it, and the glowing box displayed scenes from his earthly life—his record in another world, and the moment he passed by the injured girl.

Wei Xiaoping was captivated by the mysterious box, amazed at its ability to reveal one’s past life.

“What is this artifact? It’s so powerful!” Wei Xiaoping asked.

“In our underworld, this is called the Phantom Mirror. In Li Xiaobai’s previous world, it was called a computer! Humans there invented these to record and search information, but when new products replaced them, they sold the old ones for scrap. The scrap dealers sold them to factories, and then…”

“And then the factories dismantled their parts, melted them down, and they died. Their souls drifted here…?” Wei Xiaoping interrupted.

Luo Zhifu burst out laughing. “General Wei, you’re quick-witted! You understood my meaning right away.”

Wei Xiaoping looked around. “Brother Luo, can you find a vacant spot for me? I’m immensely curious about this thing and eager to know my own past life.”

Luo Zhifu scanned the room and pointed to a corner. “There’s a Phantom Mirror free over there. Let’s go, General Wei. Li Xiaobai, you carry on—I’ll take General Wei to check his own past first.”

Li Xiaobai replied, “Alright! By the way, Brother Luo, what did you just call this newcomer—‘General’?”

Luo Zhifu said, “Yes, he’s a newly arrived spirit who was stabbed and killed with a magical weapon on the battlefield. Why?”

Li Xiaobai said, “Which world did he come from? Can he type? If he’s from another realm, he might not know how.”

Yang Zhijin, standing nearby, suddenly realized, “That’s right! Li Xiaobai’s era made these things, so he knows how to use them. If General Wei isn’t from the same world, he might not know how.”

Luo Zhifu was struck by the thought. “Exactly! General Wei, the world you died in didn’t have these things, so you probably don’t know how to type, do you?”

Wei Xiaoping asked, “Typing? What’s that?”

Luo Zhifu said, “It seems General Wei doesn’t know how to use this. What to do? Li Xiaobai, can you help him search?”

Li Xiaobai protested, “I can’t. If I help him, I’ll waste my query time—unless you extend my time for free and don’t charge extra!”

---

Luo Zhifu said, “That won’t work! There’s no rule for free extensions here.”

Just then, Yang Zhijin said, “Oh, I nearly forgot! There’s a place where you don’t need to type. You just touch it to search!”

Luo Zhifu was surprised. “Just touch—no typing? Oh, you mean the private room?”

“Yes, the private room!” Yang Zhijin replied. “The Phantom Mirror in those rooms is more advanced, designed for spirits who can’t type. But it’s more expensive—General Wei paid the standard fee, not the premium. I’m not sure…”

“Brother Luo, does that mean there’s another fee?” Wei Xiaoping asked.

Hearing the word ‘another,’ Luo Zhifu looked at Wei Xiaoping with embarrassment. “The Phantom Mirror in the private room is indeed more advanced and convenient. The room is comfortable, perfect for a spirit to search alone without distractions…”

Yang Zhijin added, “We don’t want to charge extra, but since you can’t type, only the private room suits you…”

“No other way? It has to be the private room?” Wei Xiaoping asked.

“For now, it’s the only option.” Luo Zhifu’s face showed helplessness.

“Alas! The rules are what they are. I hate these rules!” Yang Zhijin echoed.

Wei Xiaoping glanced at them, resigned. “How much is it? Can I write an IOU?”

Luo Zhifu and Yang Zhijin stood on either side of Wei Xiaoping. Luo Zhifu said, “Few spirits have ever paid for that, and I’ve never brought one to pay before. Yang Zhijin, I think you brought someone once, so you should remember the amount.”

As Wei Xiaoping looked to Yang Zhijin, Luo Zhifu discreetly signaled with three fingers, then four.

Yang Zhijin understood. “I recall the last spirit I brought to the private room said he paid thirty-four thousand. He paid directly to Li Jinluan.”

“Ah? Thirty-four thousand it is, as long as I can owe it. Yang, please go speak to Li Jinluan, and Brother Luo, take me to the private room and teach me how to search. I’ve wasted too much time! I fear if my body awakens, my soul will return and I’ll miss my chance!”

“Alright, Yang Zhijin, go tell Li Jinluan about the payment. I’ll take General Wei to the private room now,” said Luo Zhifu.