Surprise! The Fake Heiress is Actually an Ancient Master of Metaphysics! - Chapter 6

Tan Lingyin quickly chewed and swallowed the dumplings in a few bites before speaking. “He’ll be here any minute—he’s looking for you.”

Huo Jingyan’s brow arched slightly as he regarded her with an amused look. “If you knew that, why did you start eating first?”

“I count as your guest now too,” Tan Lingyin replied with a smile, taking a sip of porridge. “Besides, I was really hungry.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Li Heng’s voice came from outside the courtyard.

“President Huo!”

He rushed in excitedly. “Master Xuanqing is here!”

Tan Lingyin turned toward the entrance and saw a man in a deep blue changshan walk in.

The elderly man was lean but not frail, his complexion ruddy and glowing. His thick, jet-black hair was secured atop his head with a wooden hairpin.

An unmistakable aura of a grandmaster radiated from him.

Beneath the table, Tan Lingyin’s fingers moved swiftly, silently performing calculations.

Turns out, he’s quite a talented descendant of the mystical arts—not only does he enjoy accumulating merit through good deeds, but he’s also blessed with good fortune himself.

As soon as Master Xuanqing entered, his gaze landed on the girl who was staring straight at him.

With delicate features, fair skin, and lively eyes, it was no wonder she caught his attention first.

Huo Jingyan stood and gave a slight nod. “Master Xuanqing, you must be tired from your journey. Please, have a seat.”

Master Xuanqing nodded in return and took a seat beside Huo Jingyan.

Li Heng promptly set out another bowl and chopsticks before pouring tea for him.

Master Xuanqing raised a hand, his voice weathered yet strong. “No need to rush the meal. Let’s discuss the important matter first.”

“Jingyan, is this the girl you mentioned?”

Huo Jingyan nodded slightly and glanced at Tan Lingyin, who was still engrossed in her meal. “Yes, and she’s also a practitioner of the mystical arts.”

Tan Lingyin continued eating without a word.

Master Xuanqing looked intrigued. “Oh? Such a young mystic…”

Finding her fascinating, he immediately studied her closely, scrutinizing her features and performing his own calculations.

His fingers moved rapidly over his lap, but his expression grew increasingly grave.

Huo Jingyan noticed beads of sweat forming at the elder’s temples and grew wary, though he refrained from interrupting.

Unless Master Xuanqing spoke first, he wouldn’t disturb him.

Meanwhile, Tan Lingyin sat leisurely sipping her porridge, occasionally savoring the food with evident delight.

Her demeanor was far too relaxed.

As a fellow mystic, shouldn’t she be the least bit curious while being analyzed by a senior?

“Wow! I’m so full!”

Tan Lingyin wiped her mouth with a napkin and smiled contentedly. “President Huo, thank you for the hospitality. This is the most delicious breakfast I’ve ever had in my life.”

Back in the Tan family, she’d usually be given a few slices of dry bread for breakfast before being sent off to school. Thankfully, the elite school provided lunch, or she would’ve been even more malnourished.

“Lies!” Master Xuanqing suddenly stood, his eyes locked onto Tan Lingyin. “You’re lying! You shouldn’t have lived to this age!”

He had figured it out!

From her physiognomy, he could tell that this girl had her lifespan stolen—she should have died at the age of five!

“Who exactly are you?”

Master Xuanqing’s gaze burned with intensity, as if trying to pierce through Tan Lingyin’s body and peer into her very soul.

Under normal circumstances, he would have pitied her for having her lifespan stolen.

But now, inexplicably alive and entangled with Huo Jingyan, he had no choice but to be on guard.

Tan Lingyin’s expression remained unchanged, still wearing that faint, gentle smile. “Master Xuanqing, no need to be agitated. Let’s sit and talk.”

Her voice was soft and laced with amusement, completely unfazed by Xuanqing’s intimidation.

Huo Jingyan’s eyes darkened as he spoke slowly, “Master Xuanqing, what have you divined?”

Master Xuanqing sat down, taking a deep breath before saying, “This girl had her fate altered since childhood—her lifespan was stolen. She should have died at the age of five, yet here she is, alive and well…”

He cautioned, “Given your unique destiny, I worry that she… might be deliberately approaching you!”

Tan Lingyin chuckled lightly and raised an eyebrow. “Master Xuanqing, your divination isn’t wrong. I did face a mortal crisis at five, but it was resolved by a master.”

“Moreover, I didn’t intentionally seek out Mr. Huo. Our meeting was purely coincidental.”

Master Xuanqing immediately pressed, “Who was that master?”

For this girl to survive a certain death at five—someone actually managed to reverse it!?

If they could find that master, perhaps Huo Jingyan’s own mortal crisis could also be resolved…

“It was my master,” Tan Lingyin lied without batting an eye.

This explanation was something she had prepared long ago. Since the Tan family had no ties to the mystical arts, she had to fabricate a master as cover.

Even if Huo Jingyan and the others investigated, they wouldn’t uncover anything from the Tan family—they had never cared about her, their adopted daughter.

“Then where is your master now? Could we meet him?”

Master Xuanqing looked at Tan Lingyin expectantly. Seeing her lower her gaze in thought, he added, “As long as we can meet your master, money is no object!”

Tan Lingyin lifted her eyes calmly, though they were now red-rimmed. “To be honest, my master passed away long ago…”

Xuanqing turned to Huo Jingyan, his eyes filled with disappointment. “Jingyan, what do we do now…”

“We finally encountered a true master, only for him to be gone…”

But Tan Lingyin’s next words reignited Xuanqing’s hope.

“However, before my master passed, he imparted all his knowledge to me.”

Her gaze rested lightly on Huo Jingyan. “As for the mortal crisis on Mr. Huo, I can resolve it.”

Xuanqing eyed her skeptically, frowning. “Even if you had a formidable master, at your age, it’s impossible for you to possess such ability.”

Unperturbed, Tan Lingyin simply smiled. “Believe it or not, at the very least, being with me can delay Mr. Huo’s crisis.”

Li Heng whispered from the side, “Master Xuanqing, Miss Tan’s fate is truly resilient!”

Xuanqing already knew about Tan Lingyin being hit by a car the previous night, but he wasn’t surprised.

After all, mystics usually carried protective talismans—remaining unharmed was normal.

Stroking his beard, he asked, “Miss Tan, what makes you say that?”

“Because I can draw away the aura of death from him, keeping him perpetually on the brink of life—never crossing into death.” Tan Lingyin lifted her chin slightly. “If you don’t believe me, take a look. The death aura around him has already weakened.”

Master Xuanqing immediately scrutinized Huo Jingyan’s face, his fingers rapidly counting the bone joints as he calculated.

“It really has weakened!” Xuanqing exclaimed in disbelief.

Before he could inquire further, a bodyguard walked in from outside.

“President Huo, there’s someone outside with gifts asking to see Master Xuanqing.”

Master Xuanqing frowned immediately. “What’s going on? I came to Nancheng in secret. How did these people find out?”