Return of the Mystic Ancestor: The Prince’s Savior - Chapter 2

Shen Mingshu clenched her fingers, itching to rush in and beat Liu Xingde to a pulp.

But she held back.

Just a little longer. Only when Yunniang truly feared Liu Xingde would she take her words to heart.

The small courtyard was thick with yin energy. After taking just a few steps inside, she sensed the traces of an array beneath her feet.

A Yin-Gathering Array.

No wonder the courtyard was teeming with little ghosts, chattering noisily like a flock of crows.

In her memories, Yunniang had always doted on her, and her kind face bore no malice—clearly, she wasn’t the one who had set up the array.

Someone was deliberately targeting her and Yunniang.

She had to earn Yunniang’s trust so they could work together to uncover the mastermind behind this.

Watching as Liu Xingde grabbed Yunniang’s sleeve, Yunniang pleaded in a low voice, “Dr. Liu, I’ll give you as much silver as you want—just let me go! My Shengsheng is still sick in the next room!”

“You little minx, I’ve had my eye on you since the first time I saw you. Now you’ve delivered yourself right to me!”

“Seeing you and your daughter struggling all these years without a man—how pitiful. Today, I’ll let you taste what a real man is like!”

“Once I’m done with you, I’ll have a go at that tender daughter of yours. Heh heh heh…”

Yunniang flew into a rage and slapped Liu Xingde across the face. “Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare mention my daughter! You beast!”

Struck, Liu Xingde’s fury erupted. Driven by malice, he grabbed Yunniang by the throat. “You dare hit me, you bitch? I’ll beat you to death!”

“Bang!” The door was kicked open. Shen Mingshu’s pale, delicate face was icy with rage. “Stop!”

In the next instant, a shadowy ghostly figure plunged into Liu Xingde’s body.

‘Liu Xingde’ shook his head and immediately released Yunniang’s throat.

Yunniang snatched up a nearby broom and swung it hard at ‘Liu Xingde.’ “Get out! Get out now!”

‘Liu Xingde’ ducked, shielding his head, his eyes fixed on Shen Mingshu, waiting for her command.

Shen Mingshu narrowed her phoenix eyes, her voice frosty. “Get back to the Liu house—now!”

With that order, ‘Liu Xingde’ bolted out of the courtyard.

Yunniang dropped the broom and pulled Shen Mingshu into a tight embrace, gently patting her back. “Shengsheng, don’t be afraid. Mother will protect you. I’ll always protect you…”

Wrapped in Yunniang’s warmth, Shen Mingshu’s lashes fluttered slightly.

An inexplicable warmth flowed from Yunniang into her heart, spreading through her entire body.

Yunniang truly loved her—yet she wasn’t even the original host’s birth mother.

The moment Shen Mingshu saw Yunniang, she could tell they shared no blood relation.

Gently patting Yunniang’s back, Shen Mingshu said softly, “Mother, do you believe me now?”

Yunniang finally caught on. “Shengsheng, how did you know what kind of man he was? Did that beast… lay hands on you before?”

Her expression darkened, eyes burning with hatred. “I’ll kill him!”

Shen Mingshu quickly reassured her. “No, he didn’t. I saw it.”

“Saw it?”

Guiding Yunniang to sit at the table, Shen Mingshu pointed to her own eyes. “After waking up from the water, I opened the Third Eye.”

Yunniang was stunned. “What’s the Third Eye?”

Shen Mingshu squeezed her hand. “If I tell you… will you be afraid of me?”

“Never! Your mother loves and cherishes you more than anything. No matter what you become, you’ll always be my most beloved daughter!” Yunniang reached out and gently ruffled her hair. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Mother, the Heavenly Eye allows me to see people’s past and future, perceive ghosts and spirits, and read fortunes effortlessly. No matter who passes before me, I can instantly discern whether they are good or evil.”

Upon hearing her words, Yunniang’s eyes filled with shock and horror.

Shen Mingshu continued, “Perhaps Heaven took pity on me, seeing how I was tormented day and night by ghosts. After I threw myself into the river, it granted me this Heavenly Eye so I could live more comfortably.”

Yunniang looked at her with heartache, tears welling up in her eyes. “Since you were little, you’ve always said something was haunting you. I couldn’t see or touch it, so I thought you were ill. Could it all have been true?”

Shen Mingshu nodded. “Mother, would you like to see this courtyard? It’s full of ghosts.”

“I…” Yunniang suddenly grew fearful. She swallowed hard and said, “I’ve never seen them before. I’m afraid I might faint from fright…”

“If you watch me deal with them firsthand, you won’t be afraid anymore.” Shen Mingshu took her hand and led her into the courtyard.

As soon as Shen Mingshu stepped out, the little ghosts floating in the courtyard trembled in terror.

These spirits had been drawn in by the Yin Gathering Array and, once inside, could never leave, forced to torment the original host day and night.

Why didn’t they haunt Yunniang instead?

Because the original host possessed an extreme Yin constitution. Under the influence of the Yin Gathering Array, her Yin energy grew purer, making her a potent source of nourishment for the ghosts.

But the original host lacked the Heavenly Eye. Her extreme Yin constitution only allowed her to sense the presence of ghosts, driving her to madness with constant paranoia.

Tonight, these malevolent spirits would meet their end!

Shen Mingshu swept her icy gaze over them, and the twisted ghostly faces instantly contorted in terror, each one dropping to their knees, begging for mercy.

“Mother, close your eyes.”

Yunniang nervously shut her eyes and felt two warm fingers press against her brow.

A surge of searing heat flowed into her forehead, spreading to her eyes.

“You can open them now.”

Yunniang slowly opened her eyes and was immediately horrified by the sight before her, clutching Shen Mingshu’s arm tightly. “S-so many spirits…!”

Shen Mingshu flicked her fingers lightly, sending several streaks of flame shooting forward.

The fire landed on the ghostly figures, igniting them instantly.

Yunniang stared in shock—she had never witnessed such a terrifying and bizarre scene before.

The wails of the ghosts pierced her ears, making them ache.

Shen Mingshu raised her hand and covered Yunniang’s ears. “Mother, ghostly cries are too sharp for ordinary people to bear.”

In moments, the courtyard was cleansed.

Yunniang panted heavily, her voice trembling. “Won’t they come back for revenge after what you did to them?”

“This is divine fire bestowed upon me by Heaven. Any ghost burned by it is utterly annihilated.”

Shen Mingshu curled her lips slightly and whispered, “Mother, there are still many things I want to ask you…”

“They’re back! They’re back again!” Yunniang suddenly pointed ahead, her finger shaking uncontrollably.

Shen Mingshu turned to look—it was the same little ghost she had controlled earlier, drifting back into view.

The little ghost had previously possessed Liu Xingde, which allowed it to leave the Yin Gathering Array. However, being under Shen Mingshu’s control, it had no choice but to drift back.

“Mother, don’t be afraid.” A flicker of flame ignited at Shen Mingshu’s fingertips, but just as she was about to act, the little ghost’s plea for mercy interrupted her.

“Great Master, spare me! I have urgent news to report!”

Shen Mingshu withdrew the flame. “What is it?”

“I took Liu Xingde home, only for his wife to grab him by the ear and start beating him. I left his body and watched from the side—he actually turned the tables and accused you of seducing him! Now that shrew is bringing people here to confront you!”

A gentle reminder to readers: The earlier parts involving ghosts and supernatural elements might be a bit eerie and frightening, but the plot after Mingshu returns to Shengjing is truly exciting—please keep reading!