The top-floor exhibition hall of Yundian Club is a space that combines modern minimalism with eastern Zen. The high dome is made of special glass, reflecting the bright night scene and sparse stars of the city. The wall is warm light beige stone, and the ground is covered with dark solid wood floor. There are not too many partitions in the exhibition hall, only a few translucent silk screens, which cleverly divide different communication areas. The light has been carefully designed, soft and focused, focusing on a few exhibits-they are placed in bulletproof glass covers with independent light sources, like sacred objects.
The air is filled with faint and expensive incense, mixed with the sweet smell of champagne and exquisite snacks. Soothing classical music is like the background, and the volume is controlled to the extent that it can be covered by the conversation.
The number of people present is controlled at about 30, all of whom are well-dressed and elegant. Old-school collectors with gray hair and calm temperament; There are celebrities wearing custom dresses and exquisite makeup; There are also young professionals like Chen Mo (Lu Yuan) who look quite knowledgeable. People get together in twos and threes, talk in a low voice and occasionally give a restrained chuckle.
Chen Mo followed Lin Wenyuan's side, and, like all the younger generations supported by their predecessors, maintained a proper sense of respect and distance. Today, Lin Wenyuan is wearing a purple silk shirt, full of energy, and is exchanging pleasantries with a white-haired old man. His words are quoted from the classics, showing his elegance. He introduced Chen Mo as "a young talent who has a good knowledge of oriental secret art and has just returned from overseas", which attracted several polite echoes.
Chen Mo smiled and nodded, but his eyes swept the audience without trace. Ear studs maintain a first-class alert state, like an invisible and keen radar, filtering the "noise" in the environment.
Most people's "echo" is very weak, which is nothing more than commercial interests, social desires and arty emotions. But there are several, attracted the attention of Chen Mo.
In the southeast corner of the exhibition hall, a bald middle-aged man standing alone in front of a bronze statue with a strange shape exudes a strong feeling of coldness, calculation and greed, which is out of tune with the surrounding atmosphere of Wen Ya. His fingers unconsciously twisted a string of black rosaries, and each bead of the rosary gave the silence a greasy and unknown faint echo. This man is not simple.
On the other side, a pair of young men and women who seem to be lovers are discussing in a low voice in front of an oil painting depicting some strange sacrificial scene. The man is handsome and the woman is charming, but Chen Mo's earrings capture the flow between them, which is almost telepathic, extremely weak but with high synchronization rate. They may not be lovers, but some kind of partner with special connection, or even a contractor combination.
There are also several people who look like bodyguards or attendants, scattered on the edge of the exhibition hall. Their "echo" is more subtle, with well-trained vigilance and a hint of blood.
As Lin Wenyuan said, there is a mixture of good and evil people here.
Just then, there was a slight commotion at the entrance of the exhibition hall. The crowd naturally separated a passage, and a figure, surrounded by several people, slowly came in.
Zhou Wenyuan.
He looks younger than the photo, about forty years old, well-proportioned, wearing a well-made smoky gray collar Chinese coat and a pair of extremely thin rimless glasses. Gentle face, corners of the mouth with a proper smile, eyes calmly swept all present, as if a real master, patrolling his own territory.
But Chen Mo's left ear, at the moment of Zhou Wenyuan's appearance, there was a clear and alarming sting!
It is not an attack, but a strong early warning that is closely covered by a high-level "concept field" or "logical source"! Zhou Wenyuan, or something he carries with him, exudes a deep, restrained but enormous "logical echo"! This "echo" is not as twisted and crazy as "faceless woman", nor as greedy and cold as "shadow bite", but a more orderly, stable and even purposeful sense of oppression.
As if ... He is not a simple "person", but a walking, highly concentrated "logical node"!
"Sure enough ..." Chen Mo awe-inspiring. Lin Wenyuan's guess is probably correct. Zhou Wenyuan himself, or what he has been in contact with for a long time, has "impregnated" him to a very deep degree. He is more than just the owner of "The Other Side Gallery".
Zhou Wenyuan didn't seem to notice Chen Mo's abnormality (or he did, but quietly). He went straight to the center of the exhibition hall, picked up the champagne handed by the waiter and tapped the glass wall.
The crisp voice attracted everyone's attention.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." Zhou Wenyuan's voice is not high, but it clearly reaches every corner, with a convincing magnetism. "Welcome to Lingguang Weilan. Art, especially those marginal arts that touch spirituality and mystery, is the most intimate and precious echo in the depths of human soul. Tonight, we are gathered here, not for noise, but to share this silent resonance ... "
His opening remarks were brief and infectious, and then he announced the beginning of the exhibition and communication session. He didn't introduce himself too much, but all eyes were involuntarily focused on him.
Lin Wenyuan timely whispered to Chen Mo, "Go around and be natural. Take the opportunity yourself. " After that, he went to another familiar collector.
Chen Mo nodded, took champagne (he didn't drink it), and began to wander around the exhibition hall seemingly casually. His eyes first turned to those exhibits.
One is a gold mask said to come from a lost civilization, with a strange shape and two intersecting cracks in the eyes; One is an ancient scripture written in unknown materials, and the text is distorted like a bug; Another one is a rusty dagger with a dull red luster on the edge.
Chen Mo passed by in turn, and their "echoes" came from the earrings faithfully:
Golden mask: strong emotions of "sacrifice" and "fear", with faint cries.
Ancient Scripture: Confused "whisper" and "knowledge pollution" make people dizzy.
Rusted dagger: pure "desire to kill" and "sweetness of blood", freezing cold.
These are real antiques/relics with strong negative "concepts"! They are openly displayed here, which shows that the participants of "The Other Side Gallery" and this salon have long been accustomed to these things and even proud of them.
However, there is no "ghost eye" Yu Pei.
Chen Mo's heart sank slightly. Isn't the "ghost eye" here? Or was it hidden in a more secret place by Zhou Wenyuan?
He thought, while seemingly inadvertently, towards the direction of Zhou Wenyuan. Zhou Wenyuan is surrounded by several people, talking about the ancient scripture. He is witty and knowledgeable, and the allusions he quoted are handy, which soon became the center of the conversation.
Chen Mo didn't cut in rashly, but just stood on the periphery, pretending to be interested in an abstract painting next to him, but actually "listened" to Zhou Wenyuan with rapt attention.
Under the cover of the crowd and conversation, Zhou Wenyuan's huge "logical echo" seems to be slightly diluted, but Chen Mo still captures some broken information:
[… stable … anchor point … collection … progress … good …]
[… seeds … have been sown … waiting for … germination …]
[… The road to zero … requires … patience … guidance …]
[... be wary of ... observers ... eavesdroppers ... interesting ...]
The last sentence, let Chen Mo breathing almost stagnant!
Observer? Stealer? Is he talking about me? Or a general term? He knows what I can do? Even know I'm here?
Chen Mo suppressed the stormy waves in his heart and maintained the calm on the surface. Zhou Wenyuan doesn't seem to look at him in particular, and he is still calmly responding to other people's questions.
Just then, a waiter walked beside Zhou Wenyuan and whispered a few words. Zhou Wenyuan smiled apologetically and said to everyone, "Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, there are some small things that need to be dealt with. Excuse me for a moment." Say that finish, he followed the waiter, walked towards the back of the exhibition hall a humble, hanging "no admittance" brand side door.
Opportunity!
Chen Mo heart movement. Behind that door, it is likely to lead to a more core area of the "other shore gallery" or a place to store more precious collections. Yu Pei, the "ghost eye", may be in it.
But he can't just follow in. It's too obvious.
He glanced around and saw the woman in the couple who was suspected of being a contractor. She also seemed to be interested in Zhou Wenyuan's departure and was pretending to move in that direction inadvertently.
Chen Mo heart calculation quickly. He needs to create a reasonable and short-lived reason for "disappearing", and it is best to have a "companion" or "cover".
He looked at the bald middle-aged man not far away. The man has just finished talking with a lady and is walking alone to the long table where snacks are placed.
Chen Mo took the champagne, pretending that his feet were unstable, and a small amount of wine in the cup "just" spilled on the cuff of the bald man.
"oh! Sorry, sorry! I am really sorry! " Chen Mo quickly apologized, his face full of embarrassment and apologies, and said in a slightly bookish tone of "Lu Yuan" (he practiced many times), "I didn't pay attention to my feet ... I'm really sorry for soiling your clothes."
The bald man frowned and looked down at the dark wine stains on his cuffs. His face flashed a trace of displeasure, but because of the occasion, he didn't have an attack, just waved his hand: "Nothing, it's nothing." But his attention has been briefly attracted by Chen Mo.
"This how line, it's my fault. I know there is a lounge nearby, which should be equipped with cleaning supplies. Shall I take you to take care of it? It'll be fine soon, otherwise I'm really sorry. " Chen Mo sincere tone, eyes "helpless" to see each other.
The bald man looked at his cuffs and Chen Mo's "sincere" face. Probably thinking that it was not good to make trouble for this wine stain, he nodded: "Ok, please."
Chen Mo was delighted, and hurriedly led the bald man to ask a waiter about the location of the lounge (just on the side of the exhibition hall, in the same direction as Zhou Wenyuan's departure, but in a different way). Under the guidance of the waiter, the two left the main exhibition hall.
Walking into the relatively quiet corridor, Chen Mo apologized and observed the environment. He knows the specific location of the lounge, and he also knows that there is a fork in the road next to it, which seems to lead to the logistics area or a more internal room.
As he approached the door of the lounge, Chen Mo suddenly covered his stomach with a look of pain on his face: "Er ... sorry, sir, I ... I may feel a little sick and want to go to the bathroom. Cleaning supplies are in the lounge, you can help yourself ... I'm really sorry! " He pointed to the lounge door close at hand, and pointed to the sign of the bathroom at the other end of the corridor. His expression was full of "apology" and "discomfort".
The bald man looked at him and then at the lounge, probably thinking that this boy was really in trouble, and waved impatiently: "All right, go ahead, I'll do it myself."
"Thank you for understanding!" Chen Mo if amnesty, clutching his stomach, quickly walked in the direction of the bathroom. But after turning a corner and confirming that the bald man entered the lounge, he immediately straightened up, his eyes were sharp, his steps turned back silently, and he quickly flashed into the fork in the road that he had just noticed.
The fork in the road was darker and covered with a thick carpet, which absorbed all the footsteps. There are smooth walls on both sides and no windows. Chen Mo turned the perception of the earrings to the highest level, and at the same time activated the micro camera on the cuff links.
Not far ahead, there seems to be a door left unlocked, and the light in the door is brighter than the corridor. There is an inconspicuous electronic lock panel next to the door.
The silence breathed lightly and approached like a cat. He listened (though he couldn't hear, he felt the vibration of the air and the echo of the earrings).
The door was quiet, but the earrings captured the clear, huge logical echo that belonged to Zhou Wenyuan! He's in there! Moreover, apart from him, there seems to be a faint echo from two or three other people, one of whom … is obviously nervous and fearful.
Chen Mo gently put his eyes close to the door.
Inside the door is a relatively small room decorated like a private study or appreciation room. Zhou Wenyuan stood in front of a large mahogany desk with his back to the door. The desk is covered with black velvet, on which is the "ghost eye" Yu Pei, which Chen Mo has seen in the photo, with blue and black, strange lines and an eye-like depression in the center!
Under the special lighting, the lines on the surface of Yu Pei seem to flow slowly, and the "eyes" in the center seem to have a faint light flashing, emitting a disturbing attraction.
Besides Zhou Wenyuan, there are two people in the room. One is a young man in a waiter's uniform but with a cold temperament (the one who just led Zhou Wenyuan away), and he lowered his hand and stood by. The other is a middle-aged man with his hands tied behind his back, kneeling on the ground, full of fear and pleading, wearing an ordinary jacket. He doesn't look like a salon guest, but seems to have been brought by force?
Zhou Wenyuan is looking down at Yu Pei, the "ghost eye", with a gentle voice but an unquestionable coldness: "Boss Wang, where did you get this" stone "? Tell the truth. You should know that in my case, the price of lying. "
Boss Wang, kneeling on the ground, trembled and incoherent: "Boss Zhou, I really don't know! It was an old man who collected junk in the country and sold it to me, saying that it was fished from the river ... I just looked at it and thought about making a little money by changing hands ... I didn't know it was what you wanted! "
"From the river?" Zhou Wenyuan smiled, but the smile did not reach the fundus. He picked up Yu Pei, gently close to the boss wang's forehead. "'Ghost Eye' doesn't like people who lie. It will … see the truth. "
At the moment when Yu Pei came into contact with Wang Boss's skin, a sudden change happened!
Yu Pei center's "eyes" suddenly lit up with a dark, as if from the depths of the nine secluded green light! Kneeling on the ground, Boss Wang let out a short and piercing scream to the extreme, his eyes suddenly turned white, his body twitched violently, and there seemed to be countless tiny things wandering crazily under his skin! His mouth was open to the limit, but he couldn't make any sound, only the strange sound of "ho ho" in his throat.
After a few seconds, the green light went out. Boss Wang collapsed to the ground like a pool of mud, his eyes were wide and his pupils were scattered, and he had no breath. But his face was frozen with a strange expression of extreme fear and realization, as if he had seen something unbearable "truth" before he died.
Chen Mo at the door, through the crack of the door witnessed all this, cold!
This is not a simple interrogation or silence! This is using the "ghost eye" Yu Pei to extract or explore the memory! And the means are so cruel that it directly causes death!
Zhou Wenyuan's face doesn't change color, as if he had just finished an ordinary cleaning job. He took Yu Pei off the forehead of the corpse, gently wiped it with a handkerchief, and said flatly to the waiter next to him, "Get rid of it. Look up the' old country man' he said. Although it is probably false, don't let go of any clues. "
"yes." The waiter replied coldly, dragging the body of boss Wang to a small door on the other side of the room like a piece of garbage.
Zhou Wenyuan once again turned his attention to Yu Pei, the "ghost eye" in his hand. His eyes showed a kind of fanatical researcher-like concentration and whispered to himself: "It's not clear enough ... the image of the gap between life and death is too vague ... more samples are needed and stronger stimulation is needed ..."
As if he had sensed something, he suddenly raised his head and looked sharply and straight at the door left unlocked!
Chen Mo's heart almost jumped out of his chest! Was discovered? !
He instantly held his breath, glued his body to the shadow of the wall, and at the same time frantically urged the earrings, trying to simulate the false emotional echo of "extreme fear and panic escape" and "splashed" it out toward the other end of the corridor, creating the illusion that someone had just fled in a hurry!
Zhou Wenyuan's eyes stayed at the door for two seconds, and his eyebrows were slightly frowning. He seems to have sensed the "emotional echo" made by Chen Mo, but he doesn't seem to fully believe it. He said softly to the air, or to an invisible existence:
"Go and have a look."
The words sound just fell and Chen Mo found with horror that at the foot of Zhou Wenyuan, his own shadow-in the bright light of the room, the clear shadow-suddenly came alive! It "stands up" from the ground like a liquid, stretches and deforms, and quickly turns into a human figure with no facial features, composed solely of shadows and the same height as Zhou Wenyuan! Then, it silently glides across the ground, penetrates the door (as if the door doesn't exist), and makes a quick chase in the direction of Chen Mo's false echo!
Shadow bite? ! Can Zhou Wenyuan manipulate the power of "shadow bite"? Or is he a more advanced existence related to the concept of "shadow"?
Chen Mo had no time to consider the terrorist connection, while the shadow humanoid was away, he knew he had to leave at once! It's too dangerous here!
He pressed his pounding heart and almost screamed, and retreated wildly along the route with the fastest speed and lightest steps! We must go back to the main exhibition hall and the crowd before the shadow figure is found to be fooled, or before Zhou Wenyuan comes out to check it himself!
The corridor behind me, like a tunnel to hell, is suffocating quiet.