Surprise! The Fake Heiress is Actually an Ancient Master of Metaphysics! - Chapter 33

Tan Lingyin recalled what she had divined and spoke softly, “Manao has a very tragic background…”

“When she was five years old, her parents sold her to a wealthy family to work as a maid. From a young age, she was bullied by the young masters and mistresses of the household, subjected to beatings and scoldings.”

“At fourteen, the young master of that family forcibly took her as a concubine maid. From then on, she became his plaything.”

“When she turned fifteen, the young master suddenly decided to marry her as his official wife—on the condition that she sever all ties with her parents. Manao’s parents, for the sake of money, coldly cut her off without hesitation.”

“On the day she was to marry the young master, Manao thought she was his true love. But instead of a bridal sedan, she was placed in a coffin carved with corpse-nurturing sigils.”

“She was buried alive. Her hands clawed desperately at the coffin until they were bloody, and in the end, she suffocated to death.”

Tan Lingyin’s voice was quiet, her tone calm and measured, carrying a faint trace of pity and sorrow. Listening to her, one couldn’t help but be drawn into the bleakness of the story.

Li Heng sighed loudly, “Ah! How heartbreaking!”

Master Xuanqing also shook his head slightly, lamenting, “I never imagined her life was so tragic. No wonder her resentment is so heavy.”

Tan Lingyin chuckled lightly and said plainly, “Now you understand why I chose to spare her. By helping her, I’m also accumulating merit for myself.”

Xuanqing nodded. “Indeed, whether we help the living or the dead, we cultivators can accumulate merit.”

“Still, I must remind you—she must not get close to Jingyan. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to turn against you.”

“Rest assured, Master Xuanqing. No one wishes for Mr. Huo’s well-being more than I do.” As Tan Lingyin spoke, she glanced at Huo Jingyan, who happened to be looking at her as well.

Their eyes met briefly before Huo Jingyan silently averted his gaze.

Tan Lingyin raised an eyebrow slightly, puzzled.

She noticed the tips of Huo Jingyan’s ears had turned faintly red.

Concerned, she asked, “Mr. Huo, are you feeling unwell?”

Huo Jingyan replied indifferently, “No.”

Master Xuanqing, however, studied Huo Jingyan’s face carefully. “The Peach Blossom Misfortune is gone. It seems you’ve escaped this calamity.”

“Speaking of the Peach Blossom Tribulation, it reminds me of something.” Tan Lingyin’s eyes suddenly turned cold as she spoke solemnly, “I suspect my adoptive parents and Tan Yayue are behind this recent misfortune.”

Master Xuanqing frowned. “How are they involved again?”

Tan Lingyin explained, “Tan Yayue has recently been haunted by a lustful ghost. She’s now consumed by desire—last time she saw Mr. Huo, her eyes were bloodshot. Clearly, she’s set her sights on him.”

“Coincidentally, Tan Yayue didn’t take her exams today. I suspect she was waiting for an opportunity to meet Mr. Huo.”

Master Xuanqing stroked his beard skeptically. “Are you sure it’s them? Do they even have the ability to summon a Peach Blossom Misfortune?”

Tan Lingyin replied, “In the past, it would’ve just been a Peach Blossom Tribulation. But Tan Yayue is different now—she’s carrying a ghost fetus. If Mr. Huo were entangled with her, he’d be lucky to escape with his life intact!”

Master Xuanqing’s expression changed drastically. “What?! A ghost fetus?! How long has she been pregnant?”

Tan Lingyin nodded. “Only a few days. I’ll deal with it later.”

Master Xuanqing said worriedly, “A ghost fetus develops at an alarming rate. The longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes.”

Tan Lingyin reassured him, “Master Xuanqing, don’t worry. I won’t let that ghost fetus harm anyone.”

Master Xuanqing sighed, “Alright then…”

Tan Lingyin stood up and said, “Everyone, let’s rest early. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” Only Huo Jingyan responded.

After she returned to her room, Master Xuanqing immediately pulled Huo Jingyan aside and said, “Jingyan, a ghost fetus is no trivial matter. Don’t go out these days—I’ll stay by your side!”

Huo Jingyan nodded, “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

He stood up. “I’ll go rest now. Master Xuanqing, you should rest early too.”

……

At the Tan residence.

Tan Yayue waited at home until nightfall, but Huo Jingyan never showed up. Furious, she smashed several cups.

“Mom, didn’t you say I’d definitely see him today? What’s going on?” Tan Yayue’s eyes were red with anger, her expression dark and twisted.

Liu Yun looked at her with pity, wiping her tears. “Oh, we were supposed to bring him back, but something happened at that place. Master Ming couldn’t intervene.”

“What kind of master is he? He can’t even bring back an ordinary person! And you and Dad paid him so much money! What’s the use of him? That damn Master Ming is useless!” Tan Yayue lashed out in rage.

Just then, Tan Hongzheng walked in with a middle-aged man and overheard her cursing.

Tan Hongzheng quickly cleared his throat and smiled apologetically at the man beside him. “Master Ming, thank you for your hard work today. Please, come in.”

Liu Yun hurriedly covered Tan Yayue’s mouth and greeted Ming Zhao with a forced smile. “Master Ming, welcome. Let me brew you some premium Pu’er tea.”

Ming Zhao’s lips curled into a faint smile, but his gaze toward Tan Yayue was icy.

He had heard her loud insults even before stepping inside.

Tan Hongzheng gestured for him to sit on the sofa and said to Tan Yayue, “Yueyue, come greet Master Ming.”

Tan Yayue wiped her tears and walked over. “Greetings, Master Ming.”

Ming Zhao studied her intently for a long moment, then fixed his eyes on her abdomen, his expression turning grave.

There was a strong, sinister energy inside this girl—something formidable.

Ming Zhao extended his hand. “Come here. Let me check your pulse.”

Tan Hongzheng shot Tan Yayue a meaningful look, and she reluctantly stepped forward.

After feeling her pulse for a while, Ming Zhao’s heart sank. This girl had a ghost fetus inside her!

Only then did he take the time to observe the state of the villa.

The sight shocked him.

It was nighttime, and the villa was filled with wisps of dark energy—it might as well have been a haunted house.

He remembered the last time he visited, everything had been normal. How had it turned into this ghastly state after just a short period of seclusion?

Seeing his furrowed brows, Tan Hongzheng asked nervously, “Master Ming, is there something wrong with my daughter’s health?”

“Nothing’s wrong. She’s perfectly fine,” Ming Zhao lied without batting an eye.

A ghost fetus was a tricky problem to solve—it was best not to get entangled with the Tan family.

Besides, tonight he had spotted Xuanqing, the abbot of Ziyun Temple, in Nancheng.

He had already decided to cut ties with the Tan family to avoid Xuanqing discovering his involvement in altering Tan Yayue’s fate against the natural order.

Tan Hongzheng then said, “Master Ming, to be honest, my wife and I have been plagued by nightmares lately, and it’s even affecting my financial luck. Could you check if there’s something unclean in our home?”

“Ah, I was just about to mention this earlier, but…” Ming Zhao adopted the demeanor of a master, “This matter is quite troublesome!”

Tan Hongzheng quickly responded, “Name your price—I can pay whatever amount!”