The Vanishing of Nie Feng: A Shadow in the Mirror

In the heart of a bustling city, where the past and present intertwined like the threads of a delicate tapestry, there was a house that stood as a silent sentinel to the secrets of the ages. The Nie Feng residence was a place of scholarly pursuits, a sanctuary for the mind, and a repository of ancient knowledge. It was here that the renowned scholar, Professor Nie Feng, had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a void that echoed through the corridors of academia and the corridors of his own home.

Detective Li Wei, a man whose keen intellect matched his unyielding resolve, found himself at the threshold of this enigma. The case was peculiar, almost mystical, and it seemed to beckon him into the depths of the unknown. The police had no leads, the scholars were in disarray, and the city was abuzz with theories and speculation. But Li Wei knew that the truth was out there, hidden in plain sight, waiting to be uncovered.

The morning of Professor Nie Feng's disappearance was as ordinary as the days that preceded it. The scholar had left his study, a place that was his sanctuary, to take a leisurely stroll in the garden. When he failed to return, his assistant, a young woman named Mei, discovered him missing. The study was untouched, the books still open to the pages of ancient texts, as if time itself had paused.

Li Wei arrived at the Nie Feng residence, his eyes scanning the scene for any clues. The garden was serene, the air thick with the scent of blooming flowers. But there was an eerie silence, a sense of something missing, something not quite right. He approached the study, the door creaking open as if to whisper secrets of the past.

Inside, the scene was frozen in time. Li Wei walked over to the desk, his fingers tracing the lines of the open book. "Professor Nie," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He turned to Mei, who was standing by the window, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Tell me what you saw," he commanded.

Mei's voice was a trembling whisper. "He was reading, then he just... stopped." She gestured to the window, her eyes fixed on a particular spot. Li Wei followed her gaze and saw a faint reflection, a shadow that seemed to move with the wind.

The detective's mind raced. A shadow? Could it be a trick of the light, or something more sinister? He moved closer to the window, his eyes narrowing. The shadow was there, unmistakable, and it seemed to follow his every move. He turned back to Mei, his voice steady despite the chaos churning within him. "Stay here," he said, and stepped outside.

The garden was vast, a labyrinth of trees and flowers. Li Wei's eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of the shadow. It was then that he noticed a peculiar pattern in the grass, a series of footprints that seemed to lead nowhere. He followed them, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination.

The footprints ended at a small, ornate mirror, set into the ground. Li Wei knelt down, his fingers brushing against the cool surface. The mirror was ancient, its frame carved with intricate designs that seemed to tell a story of their own. He looked into the mirror, and there, in the reflection, he saw a figure standing behind him.

Li Wei turned, his hand instinctively reaching for his gun. But the figure was not a threat; it was a young woman, her eyes filled with sorrow and a hint of madness. "He's trapped," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Trapped in the mirror."

Li Wei's mind raced. The mirror was a key, a piece of the puzzle that had been hidden in plain sight. He turned back to the mirror, his fingers tracing the designs once more. He found a small, hidden compartment, and inside, a note written in an ancient script.

Li Wei unfolded the note, his eyes scanning the words. It spoke of a ritual, a ceremony that had been performed here centuries ago, a ritual that bound the soul to the mirror. Professor Nie Feng had stumbled upon the mirror by accident, and now, his spirit was trapped within, a prisoner of the past.

Li Wei's heart sank. He had to free Professor Nie Feng's spirit, but how? The note provided no answers. He stood up, his mind racing, searching for a way to break the curse. He looked at the mirror, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light. He took a deep breath, and with all his might, he shattered the mirror.

The garden was silent once more, the air thick with the scent of blooming flowers. Li Wei stood by the broken mirror, his eyes reflecting the shattered pieces. He had freed Professor Nie Feng's spirit, but at what cost? The mirror had been a portal to the past, a connection to ancient secrets that could not be undone.

As he turned to leave, he saw Mei standing by the window, her eyes filled with a newfound understanding. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "For freeing him."

Li Wei nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of the secrets he had uncovered. He knew that the story of Professor Nie Feng's disappearance was just the beginning, a prologue to a much larger tale that lay hidden in the shadows of the city.

And so, the detective walked away from the Nie Feng residence, a place of scholarly pursuits and ancient secrets, leaving behind a legacy of mystery and intrigue that would echo through the ages.