CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 72: THE TRUE CULPRIT BEHIND HER MISERY

"How could I not do it?"

"When I bought this talisman, I already knew that to truly burn away the illness-transfer talisman, one must use a Fire Talisman capable of summoning the Hellfire; otherwise, burning it is futile." Sui Meng laughed smugly.

Mrs. Ling was so angry that she almost spat blood, "Sui Meng, I never knew you could be so shameless."

Ling Shuhan also had a somber expression, "Sui Meng, I really misjudged you!"

"Even if you say this, so what? I’m just a lone soul, I fear nothing. After Xiangyun’s health completely merges within my spirit, let’s see if you dare to deal with me like this, hahaha..." Sui Meng laughed maniacally.

Soon, her laughter abruptly stopped.

She stared dumbfounded as Yu Nianzhao ignited a flame from thin air and without hesitation, set the talisman aflame.

As the warmth slowly receded from her body, the familiar yet alien cold illness returned, making her shiver uncontrollably. She stared in horror at the ashes fully burned away by Yu Nianzhao’s hand.

"No, impossible..." Despair filled her heart.

Yu Nianzhao gave her a taunting smile, "Tsk, what a coincidence! I do have Hellfire. Accept what you should have suffered honestly. Ling Xiangyun has endured pain for you for nearly ten years out of sheer kindness."

"No, I refuse!"

Sui Meng coughed painfully from the torment of the cold illness, "Years ago, the doctor told me living until my fifteenth birthday was a blessing, but I wasn’t willing to accept that. Why should someone insignificant have a shorter life than those with power and influence? My father died in battle saving the General, and my mother died of grief missing him. It was you who caused my family to be destroyed, shouldn’t the blood debts be paid?"

Her voice was filled with venom, extreme hatred making the Ling Family feel utterly estranged.

Mrs. Ling glared fiercely, rebuking, "Who told you your father died protecting the General? Battlefields are brutal, death and injury unavoidable. Your father was a deserter initially, deserved execution by the General; the General pitied him, gave him a chance, later he died on the front lines by enemy ambush - a fitting death. The General has been supporting the families of wounded soldiers, spending on them constantly. Seeing you orphaned, in his compassion, he took you in, yet raised a thankless creature."

Sui Meng paused, then angrily yelled, "Lies, all lies, you’re lying! My father died protecting the General, not as a deserter. Don’t think you can deceive me!"

Her body had already reached its limit, having forgotten the frailty of her original form after claiming others’ health for years.

"The Lady speaks truth; your mother had planned to remarry but mysteriously died. I’ve never found out how she truly died. Your father’s relatives were unreliable and abandoned you; death awaited if left there, so I brought you back to the manor, sought doctors to heal you." Mr Ling’s expression was bitter.

He hadn’t expected his kindness would almost cost his daughter’s life.

"I don’t believe it! You’re lying, your words contradict what he said. You’re definitely lying!" Sui Meng was shocked by their explanation, eyes showing madness.

"Was it your father telling you he heroically sacrificed for Mr Ling?" Yu Nianzhao mocked, "Only a fool believes what he says."

Yu Nianzhao’s words were like thunder from a clear sky, startling Mr Ling and Mrs Ling.

"Princess... Princess, you mentioned Sui Meng’s father? Isn’t he deceased?" Mrs. Ling increasingly felt the gloom of the manor.

"He is indeed dead!"

"Did he visit her in a dream?" Ling Shuhan foolishly guessed.

"The dead have souls; his grievances so deep, he refused to reincarnate. For years, he stayed by Sui Meng’s side. Most of the deathly aura around Sui Meng comes from his resentful ghost."

"What? Old Sui’s spirit is here?"

Yu Nianzhao’s eyes narrowed, "Trying to escape?"

She formed an incantation with one hand, a golden feline shadow swiftly darting towards the corner.

"Ahhh!"

Amidst eerie screams, sinister winds rose, a ghostly figure was forced to appear.

"A ghost, a real ghost!"

Ling Shuhan turned pale, hopping frightfully, instinctively hiding behind Dongfang Chenyuan.

He was, after all, from a prestigious mystical family; perhaps he could protect him somewhat.

"Father!" Sui Meng couldn’t help but call out, anxiously looking at the ghostly figure, "What have you done to my father?"

The ghostly face emerged, Mr Ling’s expression drastically changed, "Old Sui, it’s really you! You became a ghost, staying in the manor, teaching your child nonsense? Did I not speak the truth? I kindly sheltered her, yet you taught her to bite the hand?"

Sui Father, with grim ghostly aura, spoke, "General, as fathers, you should understand my efforts. My daughter is frail, while yours is healthy. I’m dead, you’re alive, shouldn’t you contribute something?"

"Absurd, utterly absurd!" Mr Ling almost laughed angrily, "Old Sui, your selfish nature never changed, even in death."

"Sui Meng’s frail body, thanks to your doing, truly you are a coward." Yu Nianzhao stepped forward, Sui Father’s ghost unconsciously recoiled from her.

"What are you babbling about? My illness has nothing to do with my father!" Sui Meng was full of confusion, her eyes still holding admiration for Sui Father.

"Your mother’s abrupt death was his doing." Yu Nianzhao dropped another bombshell, "His ghost returned with thousands of soldiers, discovered his wife planned remarriage, enraged, he killed her, compounding sin with sin. Probably avoided ghostly envoy by possessing you repeatedly, thus corrupting you with his ghostly Qi, causing your frailness. Originally, you might’ve survived but were doomed by your dear father; truly ironic."

"What? Impossible! How could this be?" Sui Meng was stunned; her lifelong grievances planted by Sui Father’s ghost.

But now told her frailty’s true source was her treasured father?

Her faith collapsed instantly...