Shen Cuiyu fell silent for a moment, then relayed Song Yanling's words to Li Jinghuai word for word, even imitating her tone almost exactly.
What Li Jinghuai didn't know was that there was a time limit for ghosts to appear in dreams. If a ghost stayed in a dream for too long, it would do more harm than good to the living. So Song Yanling simply didn't have enough time to chat with her in the dream. She usually just rushed to urge Li Jinghuai to hold the religious service. That's why Li Jinghuai always felt that the Song Yanling in her dreams seemed a bit strange. She even suspected that it was some other lonely ghost pretending to be Yanling...
Now hearing this all - too - familiar tone, Li Jinghuai was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but break into a tearful smile.
How long had it been since she last heard Yanling talk to her like this? Although Yanling was fierce, somehow, she suddenly felt a bit more at ease.
She really wanted to tell Song Yanling that she had been very lonely during these long years without her.
"Yanling," Li Jinghuai nodded seriously. Although she wasn't very smart, she knew well that when one got into a dead - end alley, it was time to turn back. "Don't worry. I'll cheer up. You saved my life, and I must live well."
Only then did Song Yanling smile. Her voice was soft but extremely solemn:
"That's right. Don't be afraid... I'll always protect you."
Li Jinghuai wiped away her tears forcefully, took a deep breath, and asked Shen Cuiyu, "Master, is there a way to break this technique of borrowing a body to be reborn?"
"The ghost fetus is formed by absorbing the essence of the mother's body. Its 'growth' speed is different from that of an ordinary fetus, and it's not easy to show pregnancy." Shen Cuiyu's expression was extremely solemn. "But judging from your current state of weak yang energy, this technique has been going on for quite a while and is accelerating the erosion of your foundation."
She stretched out her hand, gathered gentle and pure spiritual power, and gently placed it on Li Jinghuai's abdomen. Then a warm current slowly flowed in, and Li Jinghuai's complexion obviously improved a lot.
"I've temporarily transferred some spiritual power to you, which can slightly slow down the speed at which the ghost fetus devours your yang energy and essence. But this is not a long - term solution." Shen Cuiyu withdrew her hand and said in a solemn tone. "The root of this evil technique lies in the ghost fetus, that is, the obsession of the red - clothed female ghost, as well as the situation of the Wen Mansion. As long as her obsession remains and the yin situation is not broken, the ghost fetus can continuously draw strength from your body and the yin energy of this mansion."
"So, the top priority is to thoroughly investigate the root cause and let the truth come to light. Only by figuring out the real identity of the red - clothed female ghost, her entanglement with Wen Zimo, and why she was imprisoned here can we find the key to resolve her obsession and cut off the connection with the ghost fetus, thus giving you a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, all efforts will be in vain."
"But the female ghost has been dead for a long time. By now... where should we start?" Li Jinghuai asked blankly.
Shen Cuiyu thought for a moment, and her eyes suddenly lit up. "Maybe there's still someone who knows the truth."
Early the next morning, Zhong Shengwan and Dongfang Xiao found an excuse of purchasing magic tools and sent Wen Zimo away.
Meanwhile, Shen and Pei, along with Song Yanling and Li Jinghuai, quietly came to the side courtyard.
This was where Wen's mother lived.
Before they even entered the door, they heard the old woman's hysterical cries and mutterings.
"Blood, so much blood! It's terrifying! It's terrifying!"
"What a sin! What a sin..."
Li Jinghuai had always been afraid of this crazy mother - in - law. Just standing outside the courtyard gate, she felt a cold air rushing towards her, and goosebumps rose all over her body.
Song Yanling was also very skeptical. She casually leaned her head on Shen Cuiyu's shoulder and curiously asked,
"Can we really get any useful information from this old woman who has been crazy for years?"
Shen Cuiyu gave a mysterious smile.
The maid outside the door was easily sent away by Pei Yu with a few words, and everyone smoothly entered the courtyard.
Shen Cuiyu looked around and found that the courtyard was quite tidy. Considering Wen's mother's previous expensive and luxurious clothes, Wen Zimo should not have treated his mother badly.
Li Jinghuai seemed to see what was on Shen Cuiyu's mind and whispered, "Wen Zimo has always been generous with food, clothing, and daily necessities. But they are not close, and mother - in - law... seems to be a bit afraid of Wen Zimo."
As they were talking, they had already come to the courtyard. The old woman was standing under the tree, crying and laughing.
As if she heard the approaching footsteps, she suddenly turned around. But the moment she saw Li Jinghuai, her eyes widened!
Then, just like that day in the front hall, the old woman ran straight towards Li Jinghuai, shouting "Get away quickly" at the same time!
Li Jinghuai was startled but had no time to dodge. She could only close her eyes fearfully!
But after a moment, the expected pain didn't come.
Li Jinghuai slowly opened her eyes and saw that Pei Yu had somehow blocked in front of them and was tightly holding the old woman's outstretched hand!
At the same time, Shen Cuiyu on the side began to chant in a low voice:
"The soul in the sky returns, and the soul in the earth comes back. The three souls and seven spirits enter the body and find peace..."
After a short chanting of the scripture, Shen Cuiyu made a magic hand gesture. Her movement was so fast that the two people and the ghost didn't even have time to see how she did it. Then she withdrew her hand, and with a normal expression, she called out "Return quickly".
The next moment, something amazing happened!
The old woman, whose eyes had been dull before, suddenly twitched, then slowly closed her eyes. The whole process was very long. But when she opened her eyes again, her expression gradually cleared up, and she looked no different from an ordinary person!
Li Jinghuai and Song Yanling were greatly shocked and almost asked in unison, "Why is this?"
Didn't Wen Zimo say that the old woman had injured her head many years ago, which was why she was crazy and talking nonsense?
Shen Cuiyu said calmly, "Her eyes are dull and there are blue shadows under her eyes. It's not because of a head injury at all. She must have seen something and was so frightened that she lost one of her souls. Now, I've just called that lost soul back."
Hearing this, Li Jinghuai was stunned, and a trace of desolation flashed in her eyes.
Even this was a lie...
Over the years... had Wen Zimo ever told her a single truth?
But Song Yanling looked at Shen Cuiyu with admiration and chattered like a sparrow, "Little Master, you're really amazing! Alas, if I were still alive, I would definitely worship you as my teacher..."
Shen Cuiyu seemed to think seriously for a moment, then looked at Song Yanling gently with soft eyes:
"Sure. I'll wait for your reincarnation."
This time, it was Song Yanling's turn to be stunned. She was silent for a moment and didn't continue this topic. After turning her face away, a trace of indescribable melancholy and gloom flashed in her eyes.
Li Jinghuai adjusted her mood and then tentatively called out to Wen's mother:
"... Mother - in - law, do you know who I am?"
The old woman turned her eyes and looked deeply at Li Jinghuai. The emotion in that look was very complex, which almost made Li Jinghuai frown slightly. But before she could understand the meaning of that look, the old woman turned her head away.
After a long time, the old woman heaved a heavy sigh. Her voice was hoarse but extremely clear:
"Do you know... why I didn't drink your new - bride tea on the day you entered our family?"
Li Jinghuai was first surprised that the old woman still remembered that incident, then she shook her head blankly.
And Wen's mother's eyes suddenly became deep. She said word by word, like a thunderbolt exploding in Li Jinghuai's ear:
"Because you're not the legal wife."