Chapter 1: Sleep Paralysis and Possession

When the afternoon sunlight shone upon her, it made her feel as if the terrifying nightmare she had just experienced occurred in a distant century.

Today she finally understood why some people say that lawyers are those who deal with the devil

I did not kill anyone! It was him! It was him! It was that evil spirit! Help me! Help me!

Therefore, she has to withdraw

The case is quite simple, with clear facts and solid evidence; the key lies in the psychological state of the suspect at the time. However, this case is also very brutal and bloody, leaving her feeling an involuntary chill.

Those hands were twisted and cracked like dead tree branches, yet they were exceptionally heavy and hard, carrying a chilling coldness from hell, determined to pull Xia down onto the sofa

The timely knock on the door made her feel a bit more alert, and the person who entered next made her feel even more relaxed. It was Xiao Wang, the intern lawyer from the firm. She was scheduled to meet with the client of a newly taken case in the afternoon. As a female lawyer, she could not meet with the suspect in a criminal case alone; a male lawyer had to accompany her, so Xiao Wang would go with her.

She cannot see the owner of those hands, but she feels that the hands are brown, with a hint of faint red threads, resembling traces of blood.

Xia Xia lowered her head to look at her wrists, knowing that soon there would be bruises appearing on them. She believed they must be the marks of a ghost's claws, for she had just felt the chilling sense of pressure transmitted from Li Jingming's body.

During the interrogation, he refused to discuss any relevant issues and attempted suicide several times. After being rescued, he began to remain silent regarding the entire incident. Doubts about his mental health were dismissed following his calm and rational responses to assessments by relevant experts, leaving him with only the trial ahead.

The hands seemed to have been scalded by the intense heat, retracting sharply with a piercing moan. This allowed Xia Xia to catch her breath, but before she could rise, the tree-like hands that had not completely departed reached out again, hesitating yet resolute, painfully determined to drag her into the darkness. Xia Xia was startled and hurriedly recited a few lines loudly before she struggled to break free.

Typically, for such a gruesome criminal case, law firms would not assign a female lawyer to take it on, especially since she has never won a criminal case. However, the suspect in this case has not hired a lawyer and faces the possibility of a death sentence. Therefore, in accordance with the principle of legal aid, the court designated Chang Kong Law Firm to fulfill this obligation, and naturally, such a case with no economic benefit would be assigned to a junior member like her.

The road to the detention center is relatively long, so it is necessary to leave early to save time in the afternoon

He seemed completely oblivious to the intruder, entirely unaware of his surroundings, which allowed the police to subdue him with ease. Afterward, he began to struggle desperately, shouting: "No! It's not true! There are ghosts—there are ghosts!" His chilling wails sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the neighborhood

After his hoarse cries faded away, Xiao Wang, with a pale face, muttered to himself: "Heavens, this must be possession by a ghost!"

Later, Li Jingming suddenly stood up and reached out to grasp Xiaoxia's wrist

On the midnight of the incident, Li Jingming had another conflict with his wife. Subsequently, he brutally killed his wife, her sister who tried to intervene after being awakened, and his in-laws with a Cuban-style machete that he had prepared in advance. His biological son, after being severely injured, was forced to jump out of a sixth-floor window to escape and is currently in a deep coma, with the possibility of becoming a vegetative state

A pair of hands slowly climbed up Xia Xia's neck

Suddenly, she inexplicably shouted "Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva"!

How can this be!

According to the feedback from colleagues, friends, and neighbors, Li Jingming is usually taciturn, gentle, cautious, and non-confrontational, known as a good-natured person and a husband under his wife's control, especially in contrast to the assertiveness of his wife's family. However, more than a month before the incident, Li Jingming suddenly transformed, resembling a different person, frequently engaging in intense arguments with his family in various situations, and even experiencing severe physical confrontations, which was drastically different from his usual demeanor, as if possessed by a spirit. More than a month before the incident, Li Jingming suddenly transformed, resembling a different person, frequently engaging in intense arguments with his family in various situations, and even experiencing severe physical confrontations, which was drastically different from his usual demeanor, as if possessed by a spirit.

She knew that as long as she sat up, she would be fine, but those hands only tightened their grip. As soon as she tried to rise, she was pulled down again. She clearly "saw" herself on the sofa, swaying like a weeble, and this mockery stirred a trace of stubbornness deep within her weakness, prompting her to resist even more fiercely

In an instant, everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events. Then, the police present and those who rushed in afterward moved forward to subdue the already out-of-control Li Jingming. Before he was restrained, he shouted at the terrified Xia, who had been cornered against the wall, "There is a demon! Believe me, he has killed someone! It was him! There is a demon—"

"Mr. Li, my name is Yue Xiaoxia, and I am the defense attorney appointed to you by the court." Xiaoxia feigned calmness as she introduced herself, yet she still lacked the courage to meet the other person's gaze

It is said that among the rookie officers who were present at the scene, some fainted on the spot, while others remained tense for a long time. Even those seasoned officers who had witnessed many incidents could not maintain their composure. Moreover, even now, the neighbors of the Li family do not dare to go out after dark, which illustrates the terrifying situation at that time. In this regard, Xiaoxia finds it understandable. She has seen a few photos from the scene, and just a brief glance at those few images sent a chill deep into her bones, making her wish to have no further association with this matter.

However, despite her desire to stay away, and although she was terrified, she still had to put on a facade of calmness and shrewdness, forcing herself to bravely come to the detention center to meet the person involved in and responsible for this terrifying incident

When the police arrived, they heard a chilling, maniacal laughter, and the scene was drenched in blood, with almost no space to step in the living room. Four corpses were lined up, "sitting" on the sofa. One of the bodies had a head placed on its leg, the origin of which was uncertain; another body had its head drooping on its chest, connected only by a thin strip of skin, creating a grotesque angle; the head of the third body had simply rolled to the doorway, nearly tripping the police officers rushing in. Meanwhile, Li Jingming was seated on another sofa, cradling his wife's head and murmuring, "Is it—no—yes—no."

But it was of no use! The withered hand had already grasped her neck, tightening and tightening until she could hardly breathe

Has no one noticed? The angle at which his neck is twisted is peculiar, his gaze is clear yet full of meaning, and this person is abnormal in every way. How can he be considered capable of criminal responsibility and subjected to prosecution?

"I did not kill anyone," Li Jingming suddenly spoke without warning, as if the voice came from a distant place. "I did not kill anyone," he repeated softly, "There is a ghost, and it took on the appearance of my family. It lured me. It was it who killed. It was it! Not me! I did not kill anyone!"

He is very thin, almost like a bag of bones. Perhaps it is due to his natural constitution, or maybe it is a result of not seeing sunlight often after being imprisoned. His skin is abnormally pale, with a faint bluish tint, making one almost feel the veins writhing beneath the surface. He sits there motionless; although his exterior appears quiet and harmless, Xia Xia perceives a sinister aura emanating from him. It is as if his body is deeply buried in the large wooden chair, with even his shadow curled up in the darkness, as if lurking and watching something. He sits there motionless; although his exterior appears quiet and harmless, Xia Xia perceives a sinister aura emanating from him. It is as if his body is deeply buried in the large wooden chair, with even his shadow curled up in the darkness, as if lurking and watching something. If it were not for the presence of someone accompanying her, Xia Xia would almost doubt that she was facing a living person, but rather a wax figure from the movie "House of Wax".

As your defense attorney, it is my duty to uphold your legal rights, so I will do my utmost to assist you. Xia continued speaking while observing the situation. She noticed that Wang was sitting to her left with a book, and there was a sturdy table separating her from Li Jingming, with a police officer standing not far to her right, which provided her with some reassurance. However, she soon realized that she was speaking her opening remarks like a novice, explaining the rights and obligations that a suspect should have, but it was as if she were playing a lute to a cow, as the other party showed no reaction at all, only highlighting her own nervousness.

This is her first time carefully observing her client

"So, could you describe the situation of that day?" Xiao Xia swallowed hard and, feeling compelled, adopted a narrow approach to directly address the topic; otherwise, she knew she would end up talking to herself until nightfall.

At this noon hour, lawyer Yue Xiaoxia from Changkong Law Firm awoke from a state of false slumber, akin to being pressed down by a ghost. There were no signs of any fierce fighting around her; she was merely resting her head on her desk. Moreover, this experience of napping with her mouth open had embarrassingly caused her to drool onto the documents.

Li Jingming's eyes finally moved. Then, his neck turned, shifting from a focused gaze at the ground to a fixed stare at Xiaoxia. However, his reaction did not alleviate Xiaoxia's feelings; on the contrary, it made her hair stand on end.

After all, she is a lawyer who can practice independently. Although her professional abilities are lacking and her win rate is low, she cannot show weakness in front of a junior who is still in the internship period! Moreover, this is only the first meeting; logically, she should listen, understand, and simultaneously establish mutual trust with the client. So how can she be flustered and at a loss? No fear, no fear! With the police present, she needs to be a bit more assertive. Xiaoxiao thought this to herself, forcing herself to muster the shameful courage of a mouse, hoping to find a channel for communication. And this is only the first meeting; logically, she should listen, understand, and simultaneously establish mutual trust with the client. So how can she be flustered and at a loss? No fear, no fear! With the police present, she needs to be a bit more assertive. Xiaoxiao thought this to herself, forcing herself to muster the shameful courage of a mouse, hoping to find a channel for communication.

Regardless of whether it is a possession by a ghost or whether she will be ridiculed by her colleagues or reprimanded by Director Pan for not living up to expectations, she truly does not want to continue taking on this case. She wants to withdraw.

After graduating from law school, Yue Xiaoxia wandered for several years before reluctantly taking the national judicial examination. Upon passing, she became a professional lawyer. Others envy her good job, but each person has their own struggles, and only she understands that she is fundamentally unsuited for this field. Her personality is careless, soft-hearted, impulsive, and emotional, lacking the shrewdness, decisiveness, and professionalism required. Consequently, her disadvantages are unreservedly reflected in her performance; since she began practicing after her internship, she has consistently been the lawyer with the lowest win rate at the largest law firm in the city. If it weren't for the fact that the lead attorney was her professor from university, she might have been dismissed long ago. She knows that her colleagues talk behind her back, claiming she is only here due to connections and is wasting societal resources, but she can only endure.

This matter may not be as simple as it seems; it is not merely ordinary terror.

Li Jingming's eyes were fixed on the ground, and he remained silent

At this height, no sound could be heard other than the wind, and from her position, she could not see outside the window at all. Even if she could see and hear, such a procession would not pass through this busy thoroughfare. Therefore, although she was still deeply trapped in a nightmare, she was acutely aware that she was once again experiencing sleep paralysis

The crime scene was extremely bloody and unbearable to behold

The clock points to twelve forty-five

Outside the window, it is unclear whether it is the passing of stilt walkers or a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony taking place, with drums and music creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. Only around her is there silence, so quiet that she can almost hear her own heartbeat, as if the entire world is unaware of her struggles

The suspect is named Li Jingming, aged 42, a mathematics teacher at the city's key school, the Third Middle School. He lives with his wife, son, divorced aunt, and in-laws. This family is a household of educators; apart from their 15-year-old son who is still in high school, everyone else is engaged in the teaching profession. Li Jingming and his wife even teach at the same school.

The office is located on the nineteenth floor of the office building