Hua Xiangyun had previously realized that the old ghost had no karmic debts and no intention to harm anyone. In addition, the Nine Lotus Cauldron secretly assisted her. Otherwise, even if she wanted to bring Hua Zhian down the mountain safely, it wouldn't have been so easy.
But given his situation, Hua Xiangyun was truly in a dilemma. "With my current cultivation level, it's very difficult to find out where you came from."
"Don't you know your place of origin and life story? You can explain it to those underworld officials."
Yuan Tianjing shook his head. "That's the problem. According to the records of the underworld officials, I have already entered the underworld and gone to be reincarnated, but I have not actually entered the underworld. How can I be reincarnated?"
Hua Xiangyun seemed to understand somewhat, "The underworld official asked you to inquire whether someone had used magic to impersonate you?"
The shadowy figure suddenly nodded excitedly, "That's the idea, but we don't know what method they used to trap me in this mountain?"
To be honest, Master, there's no tombstone on this grave, and I even doubt that the things buried with it are my main tomb.
"My Yuan family has been in business for generations, and as the head of the family, my burial goods were already prepared, but I haven't found a single one in this tomb."
This is interesting. "Do you still remember everything that happened before you died?"
Yuan Tianjing: "This is also what I find strange. I have clear memories of my life before death, but I have become a ghost and have been trapped on this mountain ever since."
I have seven sons and five daughters, but I have never seen them come to pay their respects.
I suspect this isn't my grave; that I was brought here after I died.
Hua Xiangyun shrugged. "Senior, I'm really sorry, but with my current cultivation level, I can't calculate it for you. As for you, the underworld official was probably right; you must have had your life switched."
The yin energy emanating from Yuan Tianjing grew stronger and stronger. "Who would trade their life for mine? Besides, I've lived a life of wealth and everything I've done has gone smoothly. With a fate like mine, what fool would trade their life for mine?"
Hua Xiangyun was afraid that he would become violent and she would have to exert a lot of effort to suppress him, so she said helplessly, "Let's talk things out first. I wonder if you can show your true face, senior? I know a little about physiognomy, so I can help you take a look."
Yuan Tianjing said, "...Then please wait a moment while I restore my appearance."
The shadowy figure, which was only human-shaped but had no facial features, turned around at that moment and kept changing its appearance where she couldn't see it.
"Do you want to see the young ones or the middle-aged ones? As for my old age, it's best not to look at me," Yuan Tianjing said without turning around. Although he was a soul, he still had to be mindful of his image.
Hua Xiangyun was speechless. Even being a ghost is particular. "Do whatever you want. As long as it's your face, it doesn't matter if you're old or young."
Yuan Tianjing breathed a sigh of relief. When he turned around again, a handsome young man appeared in front of Hua Xiangyun.
Hua Xiangyun was surprised that he not only revealed his facial features, but also changed her into a robe and was even holding a folding fan in his hand.
"I didn't expect you to be a scholar," Hua Xiangyun said casually, praising him for his scholarly appearance.
"Actually, I'm not a scholar. I just thought this appearance was quite good and was afraid of scaring the young master, so I borrowed it for a bit." Yuan Tianjing's exquisite features made Hua Xiangyun feel a little dazzled. If this appearance were on a girl, who knows how many bees and butterflies it would attract.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Yuan Tianjing said with a hint of pride. “Back then, many girls were fond of me.”
“You haven’t always looked like this, have you?” Hua Xiangyun interrupted his smugness. “You had a calamity when you were young, and it should be imprinted on your appearance.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Tianjing waved his fan and instantly changed his appearance, startling Hua Xiangyun into taking a half-step back.
At this moment, Yuan Tianjing's face was covered with burns, his face was pitted and scarred, and the corners of his mouth were deformed, which was quite frightening.
"Looks like you've got some skills after all. Tell me, what did you figure out?" Yuan Tianjing reverted to his ugliest form, his previous good mood vanished, and Hua Xiangyun felt even colder around her.
"Judging from your facial features alone, you should not only be rich, but also noble, beyond measure." Hua Xiangyun already had a guess in her heart. If that was the case, then it would make sense.
"I am but a merchant, how could I be so incredibly wealthy? It seems your physiognomy is inadequate."
Hua Xiangyun wasn't annoyed. "Senior, don't you ever read storybooks? You must have heard of stories like 'The Dragon Steals the Phoenix' and 'The Prince Replaced by a Civet Cat,' right?"
"So what? If I were a woman, I might have doubts, but I'm a man who's responsible for the family. Why would I go to such lengths?"
“For the sake of your status,” Hua Xiangyun continued, “Senior, the most important thing is your ears. Thick ears that reach your shoulders are a symbol of status. Secondly, your temples are prominent, your cheeks are full, your nose is straight, and your mouth is upright. You have an inner charm, a clear mind and an ancient appearance, and your spirit is strong and vigorous. Your face is full and your ears are upright. The three lines on your forehead are called ‘hidden rhinoceros,’ which is an extremely noble sign.”
Given your appearance, you are likely a merchant, so there must be a reason for this. Perhaps you should consider whether anything particularly strange has happened in the meantime?
Yuan Tianjing said, "...To be honest, there is one very strange thing. Usually, when I rest, I have maids serving me in the outer room, but the day my courtyard caught fire, they also perished in the courtyard."
Even if the fire is raging, it's impossible for everyone to escape.
When I regained consciousness, my parents had already dealt with all of them.
Later, in order to seek medical treatment, my parents moved with me to my hometown, Lancheng.
My father had a very successful business and was not short of money. Even though I was disfigured, he still gave me a wife and three concubines.
My life went smoothly after that, and I only left this world when I was surrounded by my children and grandchildren.
Hua Xiangyun, "Didn't you suspect at the time that someone was deliberately trying to disfigure you?"
"What's there to doubt? I'm my parents' only son. Even if they wanted to take my family's wealth, it would be much simpler to just take my life."
Hua Xiangyun understood. This must be a spoiled rich kid who had been raised to be useless. No wonder he had lived a muddled and aimless life.
"I told you before that you were destined for great wealth and high status, but there must have been a discrepancy here."
Do you remember what your parents looked like? Do you resemble them?
Yuan Tianjing said, "...My parents said I look like my deceased grandmother, so I'm much prettier than them."
Hearing the smugness in his tone, Hua Xiangyun breathed a sigh of relief. He was practically an ancient male version of a naive and innocent girl.
This is simply living in a daze, and even as a ghost, one wouldn't understand.
"You should know about your family's ancestral burial grounds, right?" Hua Xiangyun felt that since more than a thousand years had passed, many things could not be verified, so she could only start by investigating the Yuan family's ancestral land.
“Of course I know that. My parents are buried in Tianshui Mountain, Lancheng.” Yuan Tianjing suddenly said impatiently, “You’ve been asking all sorts of questions without telling me what really happened.”
"You wanted to tell my fortune, and I did, but now you need to give me a reason why."
Hua Xiangyun, “…” I’ve already said everything I should and shouldn’t have said, but you haven’t reacted at all. You’re being so disrespectful.
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