CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 99: I WON’T HURT ANYONE!

Hua Niang’s eyes showed reluctance, but it quickly vanished. She took a deep breath, grabbed Xiaoyou’s shoulders, and said, "Xiaoyou, didn’t you ask me before where your cousin is? He’s right here. Will you help auntie find him, okay?"

Xiaoyou sobbed, tears streaming down her face, filled with trust. "Brother is here? Auntie said she wants to bring brother home. How can Xiaoyou help auntie?"

Her wholehearted trust made Hua Niang’s heart ache intensely. Her nose was sore, and she choked out, "Xiaoyou, you’re amazing. I need your blood now."

Hua Niang lifted Xiaoyou’s hand and took a drop of blood from her fingertip.

Smelling the blood, the restless ghosts here became even more frenzied, scrambling to get closer to Xiaoyou.

Having prepared in advance, Hua Niang took out a talisman and placed it on herself and Xiaoyou, burning the wild ghosts that rushed forward. Their screams were both miserable and furious.

"Jun’er, mother is here. Hurry and come find mother!"

The scent of blood attracted most of the restless ghosts, including Jun’er’s soul, which drifted nearby.

His vacant eyes showed a ripple of emotion upon seeing Hua Niang. He tilted his head and asked, "Are you my mother?"

"Jun’er, I am your mother. You finally came out. I’ve been searching for you for so long. Come quickly; I want to take your soul away. Once you leave the Underworld, you can live again."

When Hua Niang saw Jun’er’s soul, her tears of excitement began to fall. She reached out to grab Jun’er’s hand but found her hand passed through his soul. She said sorrowfully, "Quickly, Jun’er, enter Xiaoyou’s body. I’ll use Zhao Yuanhang’s soul to stabilize yours, and you’ll be able to leave smoothly."

"Leave?" Jun’er looked at Hua Niang with confused eyes, then glanced at the trembling, frightened Xiaoyou. He hesitated greatly.

"Jun’er, hurry up. What are you waiting for? Our talismans won’t last long!" Hua Niang urged continuously.

"Boo hoo... Auntie, I’m scared!" Even with the support of talismans, there were too many restless ghosts. Xiaoyou shivered all over, staring at Jun’er before her, resisting his approach.

"Xiaoyou, this is your brother. You promised me you would help bring him back! Quickly let Jun’er enter!" Hua Niang was anxious, her eyes red as if possessed by a ghost, shouting fiercely at Xiaoyou.

Xiaoyou was frightened into a daze, large tears falling incessantly. She released Hua Niang’s hand and slowly moved backward.

"Boo hoo... You’re not a good auntie; you’re a bad auntie. What did you do to my brother? I want my brother; I want my mother!" Xiaoyou instinctively retreated, but behind her were ferocious ghosts, leaving her at a loss.

Jun’er took two steps forward, his hollow eyes revealing a clear brilliance. "Don’t be afraid; I won’t hurt you."

Xiaoyou continuously shook her head, "I don’t believe you anymore; you all want to kill me and my brother."

"No, sister. Jun’er is a good child and doesn’t harm others."

"Really? But aren’t you my brother?"

"Jun’er is only five years old; he’s your younger brother."

"Then will you really not harm me and my brother?"

"No, Jun’er just wants to find mother. This place is too cold and lonely!" Jun’er shook his head and gave her a brilliant smile.

Xiaoyou lowered her guard, and the talisman on her reached its limit. The talismans self-ignited, and the nearby restless ghosts, who had been eagerly anticipating, were ready to rush forward and tear Xiaoyou apart.

"Jun’er, what are you standing foolishly there for? Quickly go in! You don’t have to worry about the talisman affecting you; eat this soul."

Seeing time running out, Hua Niang crawled over to shove Zhao Yuanhang’s soul into Jun’er’s mouth.

"No, no, I don’t want it!" Jun’er resisted, pushing Hua Niang with a face full of grievance.

Hua Niang anxiously cried, "Why, Jun’er? Everything mother did was for you."

The talismans burned out, and the restless ghosts flew at them.

Xiaoyou screamed in terror, and the next moment, she fell into a warm embrace.

Yu Nianzhao held Xiaoyou, formed seals with one hand, and a golden talisman hovered above them, enveloping them in a safe zone. The restless ghosts could only glare at them from outside the golden light.

"Hua Niang, when your son died, he was only five years old. He had a kind heart. Do you think even as a ghost he would do the same harmful things as you?" Yu Nianzhao’s eyes showed coldness. "He wouldn’t harm these two children. All your careful planning over the years has ultimately come to naught; it’s simply futile."

"No, Jun’er wants to reunite with me, doesn’t he? Why won’t he return to the living world with mother?" Hua Niang cried out, refusing to accept this reality.

"Mother, although I’m young, you taught me from the start to be kind, to reciprocate goodness. You always said not to harm others." Jun’er was very sad. "Mother, I’ve been here for so long, thinking of you every day, wanting to be with you forever. But I don’t want to harm anyone. Sister isn’t a bad person. If I really occupy this body... wouldn’t I harm her and become a bad person?"

Hua Niang wept sorrowfully, kneeling on the ground. "Yes, what mother taught you was right; I’m so glad you listened. It’s really mother’s fault for trapping you here for so many years. This place is cold and unfamiliar, and you’ve never left mother’s side. Yet I left you alone here; it’s mother’s mistake, truly."

Thinking of Jun’er searching for her among the restless ghosts every day tore at Hua Niang’s heart.

"Auntie, don’t cry anymore; I don’t blame you." Xiaoyou looked at her for a long while, sighed lightly, and her small, soft hand held Hua Niang’s.

Hua Niang’s body trembled, and she cried even more fiercely afterward.

"Xiaoyou, it’s auntie’s fault. You should leave here with your brother’s soul."

Hua Niang’s eyes were swollen from crying, as if she’d made a decision, she placed Zhao Yuanhang’s soul into Xiaoyou’s hand and pushed her away.

"Miss, I don’t know who you are, but you seem very capable. Please take the children away from here. Tell Mrs. Zhao and Mr. Zhao it’s my fault, for causing unrest at the Zhao Mansion. I fear I can’t make amends in this lifetime; I’ll repay them in the next."

Hua Niang took a deep breath and bowed to Yu Nianzhao.

Yu Nianzhao’s eyes held a deep meaning. "Have you truly come to terms with it? No longer forcing against fate?"