Chapter 187 Using Objects to Find Clues
Wei Yingnan was born with a face that evokes pity.
On her left cheek, a dark red birthmark spread out like ink.
Fortunately, the Wei family was a wealthy household in the area, and her parents doted on her, which fostered a fiery personality in her.
Although the neighbors gossiped about the "ugly woman" behind her back, they dared not say anything to her face.
The year she came of age, Wei's father began to arrange for a son-in-law.
The list presented by the steward consisted entirely of orphans from families that had fallen on hard times, or impoverished scholars.
Wei Yingnan, however, took a liking to Yue Mingzhi, the boy who always wore a faded blue shirt at school.
His mother had just passed away, and they couldn't even afford the money for her coffin.
Even in coarse linen clothes, his jade-like appearance could not be concealed. What was even more remarkable was his profound knowledge. His teacher often praised him as having "exquisite writing skills and the talent of a top scholar."
"Nonsense!" Father Wei slammed the teacup down on the table. "How could such a talented and handsome young man be willing to marry into a wealthy family? Even if he's struggling now, what will you do if he passes the imperial examinations and kicks you to the curb?"
Wei Yingnan beamed, “But Father, he was the one who approached me first and said he was willing.”
Three days later, Yue Mingzhi was invited to the Wei family study.
The window lattice cuts the sunlight into diamond-shaped spots, which fall on the delicate white porcelain vase on the table.
Father Wei tapped the bottle lightly with his fingertips: "This is called 'Eternal Love.' After taking it, you must obey your daughter's every word and take the antidote every month. If you stop..."
A glint flashed in his eyes, "He died bleeding from all seven orifices."
Yue Mingzhi's pale fingers hovered above the porcelain vase.
The provincial examination will be held tomorrow.
Father Wei said calmly, "If you don't want to, just turn around and leave."
"good."
Knowing full well that he was gritting his teeth, his Adam's apple bobbing, the porcelain vase was already empty.
Five years of loving marriage, still going strong today.
Wei Yingnan followed behind Xiao Fuzi with his head down, trembling with fear.
The door opened silently, and the scent of sandalwood wafted out like mist.
Xiao Fuzi pushed open the door, and there sat the Imperial Preceptor Lu Yao, dressed in a black brocade robe, gently sipping tea.
"This humble woman pays her respects to the Imperial Preceptor." Wei Yingnan knelt on the ground, her voice barely audible.
"look up."
The voice was clear and cold, like a jade chime. Wei Yingnan raised her eyes cautiously, only to see the legendary Grand Preceptor, who was said to be able to communicate with the underworld, smiling at her.
"Miss Wei, is your father in good health?"
Wei Yingnan was struck dumb.
Five years ago, Lu Yaoyun traveled to Zizhou and set up a divination banner under an old sycamore tree in the west of the city.
Mr. Wei, looking worried, walked by, paced around the stall three times, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke: "I would like to have my fortune told."
Before Wei's father could explain, Lu Yao smiled and asked, "Are you asking about your precious daughter's marriage prospects?"
Mr. Wei's eyes lit up. "You really have skills."
"nature."
"I wonder if the man my daughter has taken a liking to is truly her ideal husband?"
Lu Yao tossed a copper coin in her hand and said, "The young master your daughter has chosen is destined for academic success and will become the top scholar in the imperial examination."
A look of joy appeared in Mr. Wei's eyes, but it was immediately followed by worry.
“If we really have to arrange a marriage…” Lu Yao suddenly leaned forward and lowered her voice, “we can exploit his weakness of being afraid of death and seeking fame.”
Father Wei stroked his beard thoughtfully, left a silver ingot, and departed.
Wei's father immediately devised a plan and ordered people to make a gilded and jade-inlaid brocade box overnight, and put the so-called "eternal love" antidote into it.
He stroked his daughter's hand and said meaningfully, "With this medicine, Yueming will never dare to betray you. He must take one pill every month, otherwise..."
He then made a gesture of blood flowing from all seven orifices.
"Father, is this method really effective?"
Father Wei stroked his beard and said, "The Taoist priest said it himself. Yue Ming knows that he is the most afraid of death and seeks fame and fortune."
Sure enough, under the influence of the promise of "staying together forever," Yue Mingzhi always fulfilled his duties as a good husband after marriage.
Mr. Wei also praised his son-in-law everywhere, saying that he was grateful and loved his wife, putting him on a pedestal. The more he knew that he was being flattered by everyone, the more he joined in the act.
Wei Yingnan was straightforward and considerate, and the two treated each other with respect and lived in harmony.
Mr. Wei often said that the Taoist priest was indeed powerful and regretted not having performed more divinations.
...It seems that Father didn't know that the Taoist priest was actually the current Imperial Preceptor!
Wei Yingnan realized that he was shaking violently.
The Imperial Advisor must have figured out the poisoning.
Will the Imperial Preceptor immediately hand them over to the authorities?
Lu Yao smiled slightly.
“Silly girl, what your father calls a long and happy life together is just two ounces of Polygonatum sibiricum, three mace of wolfberry, and honey for flavoring.”
Wei Yingnan's eyes widened. "That...that's not poison?"
“Your father is quite a man. He was afraid you couldn’t keep things to yourself, so he even kept it from his own daughter.”
"Father actually kept it from even his own daughter!" Wei Yingnan stomped her feet in anger, her face flushed red. She had been living in fear for so long!
Lu Yao couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle.
Knowing full well that she feared the poison of a long-term relationship, Yue Ming had been playing the role of the perfect husband for many years with trepidation.
The evil spirit that possessed the body was unaware of the mystery. Once it gained power, it revealed its true nature, which in turn exposed its weakness.
Wei Yingnan slammed his hand on the table. "No wonder! I was wondering why he didn't want to live anymore. The wandering ghost in that body had no idea of the power of eternal companionship, which is why he dared to act so recklessly..."
She suddenly knelt down and tightly gripped Lu Yao's sleeve: "Immortal Master! My husband values his life the most. Even if he were to change his mind, he would definitely hide it from me. He would never risk his life! Please save him!"
Lu Yao pondered for a moment, "The art of possession is a sinister and evil technique. It is said that it is recorded in the 'Book of Earthly Fiends and Heavenly Reversal,' but this evil book has been lost for a hundred years. Bring Yue Mingzhi's personal belongings, and I will perform a divination."
She took out a jade compass from her sleeve.
The compass was crystal clear and covered with ancient star runes.
She placed the mutton-fat jade pendant that Wei Yingnan hurriedly handed her in the center of the compass and began chanting incantations.
“Use objects to trace the origin, and use qi to trace the source.”
In an instant, the jade pendant floated three inches above the compass and began to rotate slowly.
As she chanted incantations in a low voice, the runes on the compass lit up one by one, emitting a ghostly blue light.
The light grew brighter and brighter, and suddenly, the jade pendant trembled violently.
A jet-black mist shot out from the jade pendant, emitting a piercing shriek, and suddenly rushed out the window!
Lu Yao flicked her sleeves and rose up. The black mist drew a gray trail in the air before disappearing into the high walls of the Grand Tutor's Mansion in the east of the city.
As midnight approached, the moonlight was swallowed up by dark clouds.
Lu Yao landed lightly on the eaves of the Grand Tutor's mansion.
She slipped into the study, where the room was as quiet as ever, yet there was an indescribable eeriness about it.
Lu Yao's fingertips traced the ancient books on the bookshelf, suddenly stopping in front of a copy of "Spring and Autumn Annals".
There was a dark red bloodstain on the spine of the book.
With a gentle push, the entire bookshelf silently rotated, revealing a deep passageway behind it.
Click—
The moment the mechanism was activated, thick, inky evil energy surged out.
Lu Yao frowned, held her breath, and stepped inside.
In the center of the secret room, on an ebony table, lay a blood-stained ancient book.
The cover is made of a mysterious black leather and is covered with eerie runes.
As Lu Yao took three steps closer, the book suddenly moved on its own without any wind, and dense scarlet characters appeared on the open pages, as if it were newly written in fresh blood.
"The Earthly Fiends' Reversed Heavenly Book?" Lu Yao's pupils shrank suddenly.
It was that forbidden and evil book known to everyone in the Xuanmen sect!
She tentatively reached out, but abruptly pulled back an inch from the book. Her fingertips were already covered in frost, and a piercing chill shot through her veins straight to her heart!
On the opened page, the record of the Yin-Yang Body-Seizing Technique was clearly visible, with annotations in tiny characters beside it: "One must find someone born in the same year, month, day, and hour, and seize their body..."
A sudden gust of cold wind arose.
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