Surprise! The Fake Heiress is Actually an Ancient Master of Metaphysics! - Chapter 13

Tan Lingyin waved her hand in front of her nose and then stepped inside.

Zhao Deming followed behind, muttering, “Strange, they should have been up by this hour. Why is there no movement today…”

Tan Lingyin walked to the bedside and stared at the two figures lying there. “Prepare for their funerals.”

Zhao Deming hurried forward. “What? Funerals!?”

Tan Lingyin replied calmly, “These two have the look of death on their faces. They won’t last three more days.”

“The rotting smell in the room is coming from them—lingering between life and death.”

“Caw, caw, caw—”

Suddenly, the cries of crows echoed from outside the window.

Two pitch-black crows flew in through the open window, circling the room.

Zhao Deming frantically waved his hands to shoo them away. “Out! Get out!”

Tan Lingyin watched the crows and shook her head. “These two didn’t just harm your mother. They’ve also ruined others in business. They’ve done plenty of evil—their deaths will be a benefit to you.”

Zhao Deming’s face was filled with sorrow as he said heavily, “Even so, I’m still heartbroken. They’ve always been good to me since I was a child…”

“That’s your business. But to me, they are irredeemable villains.” Tan Lingyin spoke coldly before waving her hand. “Let’s go.”

The crows, which had stubbornly refused to leave earlier, flew out the window with just a casual flick of her wrist.

Zhao Deming quickly went to close the window.

Tan Lingyin said, “Let’s talk outside.”

The two returned to the first floor, where Madam Zhao greeted her with a warm smile. “Young Master Lingyin, have some hot water. You must be exhausted after all that.”

Tan Lingyin sat on the sofa and nodded in thanks. “Thank you, Madam Zhao.”

Madam Zhao pushed a plate of snacks toward her. “I didn’t know what you’d like, so I prepared a little of everything. Please try some.”

Tan Lingyin took a few sips of water and politely declined. “No need, I’m not hungry.”

She turned to Zhao Deming. “Mr. Zhao, let’s discuss payment.”

Zhao Deming nodded eagerly. “Name your price, Young Master. I won’t haggle!”

But Tan Lingyin smiled and shook her head. “I don’t want money.”

Her words stunned everyone in the room.

Master Xuanqing looked at her in surprise. “You went through so much effort, even fainting from exhaustion, and now you don’t want money? What do you want, then?”

Tan Lingyin grinned. “Mr. Zhao and I share a connection. Today, I help him. Tomorrow, he helps me. Consider that the payment.”

“You and I… share a connection?” Zhao Deming was puzzled.

Tan Lingyin chuckled. “You’ll understand tomorrow. There are a few more things I need to remind you of.”

“Please speak, Young Master!” Zhao Deming listened attentively, his expression serious.

“I’ll return in three days. I hope your son and daughter will be present. At that time, I’ll guide the souls of your father and stepmother onward and take a look at your family’s future fortunes.”

With that, she snapped her fingers. “But for the matters three days from now, I will charge.”

Zhao Deming nodded repeatedly. “Of course, of course! I’d be more than happy to pay you, Young Master!”

No mystic practitioner worked for free unless they had ulterior motives. He’d rather she named an exorbitant price than leave him owing a favor.

Tan Lingyin stood up. “Since everything here is settled, we’ll take our leave now.”

Zhao Deming also quickly stood up, looking at her eagerly. “May I ask for your name, young master? Should we come to the villa to invite you again in three days?”

“My name is Tan Lingyin. I’ll come on my own in three days,” Tan Lingyin replied with a gentle smile. After all, it was Huo Jingyan’s North Villa, and she didn’t want outsiders constantly disturbing him.

Zhao Deming noted down her name and thanked her profusely once more.

It wasn’t until they had seen off the group and watched their car disappear down the road that Zhao Deming and his wife finally turned back inside.

Zhao Deming mused, “I wonder what kind of fate the young master was referring to. Will we really see her again tomorrow?”

“You should call her Master Tan from now on, not ‘young master,'” Mrs. Zhao reminded him.

Zhao Deming quickly corrected himself, “Yes, yes, Master Tan. I can’t wait for tomorrow to come soon!”

Tan Lingyin and her companions returned to the villa. She sprawled casually on the sofa, as if she were in her own home.

Master Xuanqing studied her intently before finally asking, “Young girl, you can condense Xuan power?”

Tan Lingyin leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed, lazily replying, “Didn’t you already see it for yourself, Master Xuanqing?”

“Then I’d like to ask—how did you do it? You’re only… eighteen, right?” Xuan Qing glanced at Huo Jingyan for confirmation. “She’s eighteen?”

Huo Jingyan nodded and sat down across from Tan Lingyin, his gaze resting lightly on her.

Tan Lingyin opened her eyes and looked at Master Xuanqing, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Master Xuanqing, do you know why my master resolved my death calamity?”

Master Xuanqing paused, then quickly pieced together a possibility. “He discovered your extraordinary bone structure—you’re a rare talent suited for Xuan arts!”

“As expected of Master Xuanqing, you guessed it right away.” With that, Tan Lingyin stood up. “I’m a bit tired today. I’m going to wash up and sleep. Don’t call me for dinner.”

After she left, Master Xuanqing immediately sat down beside Huo Jingyan. “Jingyan, I think this girl really has some skills. She might not be deceiving us.”

Huo Jingyan lowered his eyes to his phone and gave a slight nod. “I don’t understand these things. You decide, Master Xuanqing.”

“What do you mean, I decide? This is your death calamity! Shouldn’t you take it seriously?” Master Xuanqing frowned and raised his voice.

Then, as if struck by a thought, he grinned. “Jingyan, don’t tell me you already believe her?”

Huo Jingyan glanced at him sideways. “What makes you say that?”

“Today, when you saw her faint, you ran faster than Zhao Deming himself, as if you were afraid she’d get hurt. What’s going on?”

Though Master Xuanqing spent most of his time in a Taoist temple, he was no stranger to matters of the heart. He had a vague sense that Huo Jingyan’s attitude toward Tan Lingyin was… unusual.

Huo Jingyan fell silent for a moment before recounting the incident from the previous night—how lightning had struck the tree in the courtyard.

Master Xuanqing stroked his beard, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

“Xuan masters who can predict the weather are common, but to calculate the exact moment lightning would strike… That girl is truly extraordinary!” His tone held skepticism, but there was also a hint of admiration.

Huo Jingyan said nothing more, instead staring absently at a small cat avatar on his phone screen.

Perhaps his death calamity really would be resolved by her.

……

Tan Lingyin slept straight through until the next morning.

Early in the day, she was rudely awakened by the growling of her own stomach.

She didn’t even bother with her usual tai chi routine first. After washing up, she rushed straight to the dining room.

Huo Jingyan glanced up as she appeared. “You’re awake. Breakfast is still warm.”

Tan Lingyin quickly took her seat and began devouring the meal with gusto.