Chapter 117 Beckoned Calamity
The three arrived at the center of the sports field. Officer Li lit a cigarette for himself and Qi Xia.
Han Yimo awkwardly smiled, then placed the cigarette in his mouth, asking, "How do you smoke this?"
Officer Li reached over, took the cigarette from his mouth, and put it back in the pack. "Like hell you’re learning! Do you know how much I envy non-smokers? This thing is all harm, no benefit. It's best if you never start."
"Huh?" Han Yimo was confused. "But Officer Li, you just said..."
Qi Xia waved his hand, cutting off Han Yimo's words. He then asked, "Han Yimo, what is the {Seven Evil Sword}?"
"Ah...?" Han Yimo froze. If Qi Xia hadn’t brought it up, he might have almost forgotten that strange event.
In his previous instance, Han Yimo had been pierced through the abdomen by the {Seven Evil Sword}.
He paced back and forth a few times before finally raising his head to speak to the two, "Sixty years ago, there was a notorious figure in the martial world, known far and wide as the {Punisher of Evil}, called {Chu Qi}. He wielded a heavy greatsword, and paired with his elusive qīnggōng[1], he would {reward the virtuous and punish evil} according to his whims. Those he deemed {virtuous} were rewarded with one and seven-tenth taels (85 grams) of fine silver, while those he deemed {evil} were pierced through the dantian[2]by his greatsword. For a time, the whole world was thrown into turmoil, with people uncertain whether they were considered virtuous or evil."
Officer Li, stunned by the story, took a step forward and knocked on Han Yimo's head.
"Hey!" Han Yimo jumped in surprise. "What are you doing, Officer Li? I was in the middle of explaining..."
"You think this is the first time I've interrogated someone?" Officer Li asked with a wry smile. "Rascal, from the way you're looking at me, I can tell you're just making all this up. Cut the crap and tell me the truth."
"This is what I made up!" Han Yimo said urgently. "I worked hard to come up with this story... I really put a lot of effort into it!"
"Is this your story?" Qi Xia suddenly asked, interrupting.
"Yes." Han Yimo nodded. "As my story goes, this chivalrous man, {Chu Qi}, was harmed by a treacherous villain. Everyone thought the martial world would return to peace, but unexpectedly, the {Seven Evil Sword} didn’t vanish. It kept mysteriously appearing and disappearing, administering {reward the virtuous and punish those evil}. But no one ever saw its wielder. It was as if the sword had gained a life of its own, and would, at the crack of dawn, pierce a person’s dantian…"
Officer Li tried to process the bizarre tale, then asked, "And what does this have to do with you being killed?"
"If there's anyone to blame, it's my overactive imagination..." Han Yimo lowered his head a bit awkwardly. "Have you ever felt like... the {inability to cork one’s imagination}?"
Qi Xia shook his head at the question. "Sounds a bit abstract."
"To put it simply," Han Yimo gestured toward his forehead, "I always feel like my mind is overflowing. It feels as if… if I can't find an outlet to release the torrent of thoughts within, I might just suffocate to death. So, I’ve experimented with various methods. At first, I tried drawing. But since I never had any formal training, my brush couldn't capture my imagination. So, I turned to writing."
Officer Li took a deep drag from his cigarette, then chuckled. "I've heard that many people spend their whole lives trying to be writers and fail, yet you ended up {forced into it}?"
"Pretty much." Han Yimo nodded. "There's a world in my mind, constantly waiting to pour out. I can't stay in a confined space, or else my mind spirals into uncontrollable, chaotic thoughts."
Qi Xia seemed to catch onto something and asked, "Are you saying... this sword is the product of your {chaotic thoughts}?"
"It can only be that way," Han Yimo turned back, his expression turning serious. "In that pitch-black dawn, I was trembling with fear. I’m terrified of dark environments, so I was scared I might die there. Then, my thoughts began to race, and I even started worrying that the {Seven Evil Sword} would, just like my story, pierce through my dantian."
Qi Xia paused for a moment, a faint realization crossing his mind. This situation felt oddly familiar.
Back in the interview room, Han Yimo had also worried that the harpoon would impale his body. If it weren't for Qiao Jiajin intervening, he would have {had his dream come true}.
"And in the end, I really was pierced..." Han Yimo gave a wry smile. "This place is something else. I recommend all writers come here for a visit. Spend just one day here, and you'll never run out of inspiration."
"No, that’s not the point, is it?" Officer Li thought for a moment, realizing just how absurd the situation was. "According to what you’re saying... the {Seven Evil Sword} shouldn’t even exist in reality. It’s just something you imagined. So why did it pierce you?"
"I don't know," Han Yimo shook his head. "The feeling was really strange... When I saw the {Seven Evil Sword}, I was both happy and scared. Every writer dreams of seeing their written world come to life, but when you actually see something from your story become real, who wouldn’t be scared?"
Yes, the feeling was truly bizarre.
Qi Xia rubbed his chin, trying to piece together the logic.
Han Yimo had sensed the harpoon would pierce him, so it was understandable that he’d tremble and be afraid. But what about the {Seven Evil Sword}?
How did that fit in? Did he somehow foresee that the {Seven Evil Sword} would pierce him, which was why he was so terrified all night?
But that sword, in theory, should never have appeared. What was he afraid of?
{Beckoned Calamity}...
Qi Xia's eyes slowly widened.
If Han Yimo could foresee danger, then this {Reverberation} shouldn't have been called {Beckoned Calamity}, but something like {Calamity Avoidance} or {Precognition}...
Why is it {Beckoned Calamity}?!
In an instant, Qi Xia felt as if he had been struck by five thunderbolts. All of his previous assumptions had been turned upside down.
The harpoon would have never pierced Han Yimo!
And the {Seven Evil Sword} would have never killed him!
All of this was because of Han Yimo's {summoning}! He believed the harpoon would pierce him, so no matter what obstacles stood in the way, it would inevitably strike him.
He believed he would die by the {Seven Evil Sword}, so even if the sword had to materialize out of thin air, it would pierce his dantian.
As long as Han Yimo believed the calamity would happen, it would indeed happen. This is what {Beckoned Calamity} truly meant!
Qi Xia took a slow step backward, the young writer before him now felt like an immense danger. He had initially thought keeping him close could help avoid disaster, but the very existence of Han Yimo was a walking calamity!
The second bell still hadn't rung; Han Yimo remained trapped within {Beckoned Calamity}.