Surprise! The Fake Heiress is Actually an Ancient Master of Metaphysics! - Chapter 34

Ming Zhao’s eyes flickered slightly as he deliberately feigned hesitation. “It’s not about the money. Resolving this matter will require a significant expenditure of my mystical energy…”

Tan Hongzheng immediately extended a finger. “Master Ming, as long as you’re willing to help me settle this, the reward will be no less than ten million!”

Ming Zhao’s eyes lit up, and he cleared his throat. “Mr. Tan, you’re too kind. Actually, I’ve accumulated quite a bit of mystical energy during my recent retreat. Helping you with this shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Resolving this issue will require a few magical artifacts. I’ll need to purchase some items first.” He rubbed his fingers together, thumb and forefinger sliding against each other. “But I’m a bit short on funds at the moment…”

Tan Hongzheng, a seasoned businessman, immediately understood his implication.

Though inwardly grumbling about how even a supposedly noble profession like mysticism was filled with greedy individuals, he still plastered on a smile and said, “Master Ming, don’t worry. I’ll transfer the money to you right now! How about five million as an advance?”

Ming Zhao’s expression shifted slightly, and he clicked his tongue lightly. “Well, that will do, but it might take a bit longer since I won’t be able to afford the more expensive artifacts.”

Tan Hongzheng grew anxious at once. “Ten million—it’ll be in your account immediately!”

Soon, Ming Zhao received the ten-million transfer and began planning how to resolve the Tan family’s troubles.

After all, he had a professional code of ethics—once paid, he would deliver.

But if he truly couldn’t solve it, then there was nothing to be done.

Tan Hongzheng cautiously asked, “Master Ming, when do you plan to resolve this matter?”

“I’ll come the day after tomorrow. The entire family must be present.”

Tan Hongzheng nodded eagerly. “I’ll prepare fine wine and delicacies for your arrival!”

Before leaving, Ming Zhao’s gaze lingered on Tan Yayue’s stomach for a few seconds, drawing an irritated glare from her.

Without a word, Ming Zhao turned and left, offering no warning.

The ghost fetus inside this girl would fully form in a few days. Since he had taken the Tan family’s money, he needed to find a way to deal with it.

Otherwise, if the ghost fetus caused havoc, his reputation in Nancheng would be ruined.

After Ming Zhao left, Tan Yayue complained resentfully to Liu Yun, “Mom! That old man was looking at me so weirdly—I think he’s a pervert!”

“Don’t say such things! Master Ming is your savior!” Liu Yun quickly admonished her. “He wasn’t staring at you the whole time. Don’t overthink it. From now on, you must show him respect whenever you see him, understand?”

Tan Yayue reluctantly muttered, “Fine, I get it.”

……

Tan Lingyin returned to her room and stared at the two boxes on the table.

One contained agate ashes, the other coffin wood ashes.

She pondered when she might find a suitable place to bury them.

In the end, she decided to wait until after the college entrance exams. Her studies took priority for now.

Over the next two days, she devoted herself to studying diligently. Seeing her so focused, Huo Jingyan even instructed the kitchen to prepare brain-boosting meals for her.

The two days passed in a blink, and Monday arrived once more.

Tan Lingyin arrived at school just in time—she no longer had to fear being late.

The first class of the day was the announcement of last Friday’s exam results.

Homeroom teacher Liu Cheng entered with a stack of test papers and rapped the desk. “This exam, our class performed exceptionally well. Everyone did a great job.”

“Special recognition goes to Tan Lingyin, who achieved perfect scores in all subjects, making her the undisputed top student of the senior year!”

When Liu Cheng uttered these words, even he had his doubts.

After all, Tan Lingyin had always been at the bottom of the class before. But this time, she suddenly aced the exam, making him wonder if she had somehow gotten hold of the answers.

Given the principal’s unusually warm attitude toward her, Liu Cheng even suspected that the principal might have leaked the test papers to her.

The class erupted in murmurs of surprise, and all eyes turned toward Tan Lingyin.

Tan Yayue clenched the corner of her textbook so hard that she tore the page.

Damn Tan Lingyin, stealing the spotlight again!

Where did that leave her, the true heiress of the Tan family?

Sure enough, some classmates glanced at Tan Yayue and asked, “Yayue, since when is your family’s adopted daughter so good at studying?”

Tan Yayue shot them an irritated glare. “None of your damn business!”

Li Lele quickly jumped in to flatter her, “Yayue, don’t mind them. Tan Lingyin must have cheated—she’s always been dead last in every exam before.”

Then, she added, “By the way, Yayue, how did you score?”

Oops. Flattery backfired.

Tan Yayue glared at her darkly. “Li Lele, mind your own business!”

Li Lele immediately shut her mouth, confused about what she had said wrong.

Under the gaze of her classmates, Tan Lingyin walked up to the podium and retrieved her set of exam papers.

Liu Cheng then began distributing the rest of the papers, saving Tan Yayue’s name for last.

“Tan Yayue was absent last Friday due to illness. Are you feeling better now?” Liu Cheng asked perfunctorily as he handed her the blank test sheet.

Tan Yayue lifted her chin haughtily. “Much better. If I hadn’t been sick, someone else wouldn’t have gotten the chance to show off, hmph!”

She snatched the blank paper and stomped back to her seat, her high heels clicking loudly against the floor.

Liu Cheng shook his head slightly in resignation. Compared to Tan Yayue, he much preferred Tan Lingyin as a student.

As the Chinese literature teacher, Liu Cheng spent the class going over the exam before the bell rang for dismissal.

Before leaving, he said earnestly, “This Friday is the last mock exam before the college entrance tests—your final chance to gauge your abilities. Do your best!”

With that, he gathered his things and left.

The moment he was gone, the students turned their attention back to Tan Lingyin, some sneering, “Hey, Tan Lingyin! Did you cheat or something?”

“Yeah, weren’t you always dead last?”

“Who knew gold-digging could get you exam answers too?”

“Hah! Let’s see if she can dig up the answers for the actual college exams—what a joke!”

Tan Lingyin couldn’t be bothered to argue with them. She quickly got up and left, catching up with Liu Cheng, who had already gone downstairs.

Seeing her approach, Liu Cheng asked, “Is something wrong?”

Tan Lingyin handed him a small talisman pouch. “Teacher Liu, don’t drive home tonight. Walk instead.”

“What?” Liu Cheng was baffled. “But my home is quite far from the school…”

Tan Lingyin spoke calmly, “I can see darkness between your brows and redness at the corners of your eyes—a sign of impending bloodshed tonight.”

“If you drive, you’ll be in a fatal accident.”

Liu Cheng swallowed hard, half-convinced. “So… if I walk home, I’ll be safe?”

“Even walking back won’t avoid the impending disaster, but if you keep this charm pouch close to you, it will protect you when the calamity strikes,” Tan Lingyin said as she extended the charm pouch forward.