"Save... save me..."
"Let me out... I... I've done nothing wrong..."
In the dark and gloomy cave on the steep cliff, the only exit was completely sealed. Darkness, like a cold and huge python, tightly coiled around Liu Huanqing, gradually suffocating her.
Pain, pain everywhere in her body.
Her once delicate fingers were already bloody and mangled, but they still couldn't move the boulder in front of her even a bit. Only a series of shocking bloodstains were left on the cold stone wall. Due to not eating for many days, her throat was burning, and every shout would bring a tearing pain. Her abdomen was constantly spasming because of hunger, gnawing away at her last bit of strength.
The moment she slumped to the ground powerlessly, several images flashed through Liu Huanqing's mind like a carousel. The voices of Liu Ruyan and Liu Jinyan seemed to ring in her ears again, extremely harsh.
【It's all because of your carelessness back then that Ruyan got lost! You made her suffer for so many years! Now you even swindle and deceive, disgracing our Liu family!】
【Brother, I heard that real cultivators of the Way are proficient in the art of fasting. They can go without eating or drinking for seven days without any harm. Instead, it can enhance their cultivation... Sister has always claimed to be a celestial master. Presumably, fasting should be easy for her.】
【Little sister is right! Since you like to act mysterious so much, just reflect on yourself here! Think about the evil things you've done to Ruyan!】
Tears suddenly welled up and flowed across her chapped lips. Liu Huanqing smiled silently.
Evil things? What evil things had she done?
She just had the ability to communicate with both the living and the dead, and was just earnestly fulfilling her duty as a celestial master!
It was clearly Liu Ruyan, her younger sister who claimed to be the reincarnation of the Goddess of the North Star. She had no spiritual power at all, but somehow managed to steal the results of Liu Huanqing's painstaking soul - searching in front of everyone time and time again. This made Liu Huanqing go from a highly respected spiritual medium to a sinner who talked nonsense and had ulterior motives step by step!
Her parents and elder brother didn't believe her. They unhesitatingly chose to protect Liu Ruyan, while Liu Huanqing, who was also of the same bloodline as them, became a disgrace to the family and a stain they were eager to get rid of!
Finally, her elder brother, whom she had respected since childhood, listened to Liu Ruyan's instigation and personally locked her in this cave. He didn't give her any food or water and sealed the entrance...
A noble young lady from a prominent family was about to starve to death in this cave.
"Wh... why..." Liu Huanqing's body was getting colder and colder. She barely squeezed out the last few words from her throat. Her consciousness was like a dying candle flickering in the wind, about to fade away, but her obsession lingered for a long time.
She was filled with hatred. She was not willing to die silently like this!
Her weak body could no longer bear this inhumane torture. Liu Huanqing stared wide - eyed and choked back her last breath. Then, everything around her began to become distant and blurred...
...
In the capital city.
Three days ago, Shen Cuiyu, the youngest daughter of Shen Zanghai, the supervisor of the Imperial Observatory, accidentally fell from the attic. She had been in a coma ever since, with a high fever that even the imperial doctors in the palace couldn't cure.
This news spread like wildfire. In just half a cup of tea time, several carriages and soft - curtained sedan chairs came one after another. Before long, the Shen Mansion was filled with a crowd of high - ranking officials and nobles in the capital, whispering about the closed door of the second young lady of the Shen family.
Shen Zanghai was born into a family of metaphysics. His ancestors had helped the founding emperor seize the world. By his generation, he was even more trusted by the emperor and had direct access to the emperor. It was no exaggeration to say that he was the most trusted person of the emperor. How noble he was in the capital! Later, he married Miss Zou, the daughter of the court historian, and had a son and a daughter. His eldest son was a dragon among men, but unfortunately, his youngest daughter was born with a deficiency and was a silly girl who couldn't even speak properly. Now that such a thing had happened to her, she was truly blessed with a short and ill - fated life...
Inside the room, the woman in the green - silk curtain had her eyes closed tightly. Her small face was flushed abnormally, clearly on the verge of death.
"My dear baby, wake up quickly! If anything happens to you, I won't live either!"
The noble - dressed woman lay on the couch, her eyes red. Her well - maintained face was now full of vicissitudes.
And Shen Zanghai, who was usually powerful and influential in the court, was now like a madman. He shook the soul - calling bell over and over again and tirelessly recited his daughter's birth date. However, his shoulders had quietly slumped a bit.
Shen Cuiyu had lost a soul since birth and was extremely prone to being frightened. Now that she had fallen from the attic, although there were no serious external injuries, she still had a high fever and was unconscious. She must have been severely frightened!
But after so many days, he had called her soul back and used all kinds of miraculous pills and medicines, yet his A Cui still showed no sign of waking up. Did God really want to take his daughter away?
Shen Zanghai, who had a smooth official career, felt helpless for the first time in his life.
The door was suddenly pushed open. A young man and a young woman walked in slowly. Liu Jinyan carefully observed Shen Zanghai's expression and bowed, saying, "I'm from the Liu family in Mulan Alley. I heard that your daughter has been unconscious for many days, so I brought my younger sister here. We're willing to help Prime Minister Shen solve his worries."
Liu Ruyan bowed and said politely, "I'm not very talented, but I know a little about the art of communicating with the dead."
Shen Zanghai didn't stop shaking the bell. He tilted his head slightly and sized up the young woman.
This Liu Ruyan had a great reputation in the capital recently. It was rumored that she was the reincarnation of the Goddess of the North Star and could communicate with ghosts. He had been a bit curious about this new figure in the metaphysical world before, but now that he saw her, he just wanted to sneer.
The young woman standing in front of him had no spiritual power at all. How could she possibly communicate with the dead? It was okay for her to deceive others on ordinary days, but today she actually dared to come and deceive him in his own mansion!
Shen Zanghai's face became even colder, and his attitude was unfriendly. "Mu'an, show them out!"
Shen Mu'an almost rushed in front of the two of them in one step. He grabbed Liu Jinyan's collar and was about to throw him out!
Liu Jinyan's face turned pale. He didn't understand what he had done wrong to offend this high - ranking official. Just as he was about to explain, a short scream suddenly came from the couch.
"Ah—"
The woman who had been lying with her eyes closed suddenly sat up on the couch!
"She's awake! She's awake! Little sister is awake!" Shen Mu'an suddenly pushed Liu Jinyan away and rushed forward in a hurry. Shen Zanghai and Mrs. Zou also quickly surrounded her, both happy and heart - broken.
Liu Huanqing gasped for breath, like a stranded fish. Every breath carried an incredulous feeling of surviving a disaster. Cold sweat soaked through her clothes, sticking to her body coldly and stickyly. Liu Huanqing didn't even have time to look around carefully. Only feeling that her throat was still dry and about to smoke, she barely let out a weak voice: "Water..."
"Water? Oh! Here comes the water!"
Shen Mu'an turned around clumsily. He didn't even care that he knocked over the shelf beside him. He quickly filled a bowl of water and carefully brought it over.
The cool water slid down her throat, instantly relieving the burning pain.
Liu Huanqing opened her eyes. In front of her was not the pitch - black cave, but... a couch? Some memories that didn't belong to her flooded into her mind. Liu Huanqing was a bit incredulous. Was she... reborn?
She was reborn half a year after her death.
"Daddy, Mommy... and Brother..." Looking at the nervous people in front of her, Liu Huanqing tentatively spoke. The noble woman in front of her directly reached out and pulled her into her arms, gently stroking her hair as if she were a precious treasure that had been lost and found.
"Hey! Brother is here..." Shen Mu'an had secretly cried many times these days. Now that he saw his sister wake up, he had the urge to tease her again. He reached out his hand to pinch her little face, but was mercilessly slapped away by Mrs. Zou.
Shen Zanghai also responded, but couldn't help but have red eyes. He murmured in a low voice, "It's good that you're awake. It's good that you're awake..."
God knew how afraid he was that he would never hear this "Daddy" again.
Liu Huanqing slowly blinked her eyes. How long had it been since she felt such family affection?
Once upon a time, she also had a happy family. Her father protected her, her mother loved her, and her three elder brothers doted on her. All of this changed until Liu Ruyan appeared... Now, finally, there were people who loved her so much. It made her feel a bit unreal...
Warm tears dripped on her hand, and her heart seemed to be burned.
From then on, there was no longer Liu Huanqing in the world. The one living in the world was Shen Cuiyu, the youngest direct descendant of the metaphysical Shen family.