Chapter 126: I Don't Want the "Deity of Beauty" to Become the Next Qingwan

The old man's casually uttered "big wife" phrase.

Yet it made the air in the side hall instantly heavy as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.

Ripples spread silently, yet clearly washing into the heart of everyone present.

Lu Yuan's entire body stiffened, his face blank with confusion as he opened his mouth, the words of rebuttal stuck in his throat.

After all, what the old man just said...

seemed...

to be true.

In the end, Lu Yuan's gaze drifted uncontrollably upward.

Drifted toward that "Deity of Beauty" whose expression was shifting uncertainly.

Even Gu Qingwan, who had been sitting quietly on the coffin, her clear, placid eyes, following Lu Yuan's gaze, swept over with a faint look.

In that instant.

All focus in the entire room converged precisely on the "Deity of Beauty" alone.

In the side hall, you could hear a pin drop.

A silence so subtle it was extreme was quietly fermenting.

Lu Yuan had thought the next second would bring a fierce rebuttal from the "Deity of Beauty."

She would use that ethereal, slightly teasing tone to mock the old man for "a fool's dream."

Or, at the very least, she should respond to the vulgar title "big wife" with the disdain of a deity.

However, there was nothing.

Suspended in mid-air, the "Deity of Beauty," after bearing these three completely different gazes.

Her long eyelashes trembled once, an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible tremor.

She did not refute a single word about the entanglement of their Fate Patterns.

She did not deny the nearly master-servant subordinate relationship of "main line and auxiliary line."

She did not even voice half a word of objection to the cruel shackle of "she cannot actively break it."

Even the old man's utterly absurd "big wife," she did not refute.

She just...

slowly, extremely naturally, turned that flawless face to the side.

Hiding her starry eyes and most of her expression in the shadowed side of the side hall, where the dim, oily lamplight could not reach.

Leaving only Lu Yuan and the old man with an impeccable, clear, cold, and silent profile.

The lines were still breathtakingly perfect, the curve of her jaw, the straight, delicate bridge of her nose, the shadow cast by her long, lowered lashes.

Every part seemed as if calculated with the utmost precision, the manifestation of the rule of "beauty."

Yet, precisely this deliberate "turning away" and "silence" betrayed the absolutely uncalm waves within her heart.

She seemed to be concentrating fully on "observing" this crude side hall.

The rough beams and pillars, the simple furnishings, and Gu Qingwan sitting on the old coffin, her aura unfathomable.

Her gaze seemed to carry an academic research-like seriousness, sweeping over inch by inch.

Trying to find some detail within these ordinary, even shabby, surroundings that could divert her attention and calm her emotions.

But the halo of clear, cold moonlight that naturally flowed around her had, without her noticing, dimmed somewhat.

Her suspended posture remained elegant, her bare feet three inches off the ground, her skirt moving without wind.

But within this elegance, there was an indescribable stiffness and awkwardness.

Like a jade puppet lifted by invisible strings, every movement not of her own volition.

The night wind crept in through the window crack, brushing against the glazed, dark hair at her shoulders.

The strands of hair shimmered.

Reflected in her starry eyes that looked elsewhere, the starlight within them swirled with unusual slowness.

No longer lively, no longer dancing.

Those stars seemed to bear an unspeakable weight, carrying a heavy confusion, slowly rising and falling, slowly sinking.

Inside the room, the silence remained terrifyingly profound.

The old man smacked his lips, tasting the wine, his gaze circling between the "Deity of Beauty" and Lu Yuan, then adding quietly,

"Let me remind you, kid, her current appearance is her true form."

"She has a physical body."

Lu Yuan was stunned, not understanding.

"What do you mean?"

The old man shrugged, his face full of matter-of-factness.

"She can bear children~"

Lu Yuan: "..."

Lu Yuan fell silent.

He lowered his head, pondering for a good while. No one knew what he was pondering.

Finally, he picked up the bowl and drank the last mouthful of noodle soup cleanly.

*Tap.*

The bowl and chopsticks were gently placed on the low table, making a crisp sound.

After putting down the bowl and chopsticks, Lu Yuan looked up and said,

"We'll talk about this matter later. I came back because I have something important."

"I suspect there's a Malevolent Seed the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family hammered into Qingwan's head."

The "Deity of Beauty" or not can wait.

Lu Yuan rushed back because of Gu Qingwan.

Immediately, Lu Yuan recounted everything that happened at Luo Yan Slope to the old man in meticulous, complete detail.

From Tan Jiji's appearance, to the description of the Malevolent Seed, to his own deepest, innermost suspicion.

The playful expression on the old man's face gradually faded. After listening, he looked up and gave Gu Qingwan, who remained expressionless, a deep look.

He nodded, his expression unprecedentedly serious.

"If what you say is true..."

"Then it really is possible... Given her entire experience, being chosen by the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family as a Malevolent Deity vessel is perfectly logical."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the old man suddenly pivoted.

"But I actually think the Liu Family's plan probably fell through in the end."

"That thing shouldn't be in her head."

People always want to believe what they wish to hear.

As soon as the old man said this, a sharp light instantly burst in Lu Yuan's eyes as he pressed urgently,

"Reason?"

The old man shook his wine gourd, analyzing unhurriedly,

"Think about it, for the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family to enshrine a Malevolent Deity, how big a deal is that?"

"They'd definitely have to choose a good place to nurture the Malevolent Deity, set up the enshrinement, get everything ready."

"Then, they'd carry out the most crucial step: hammering the Malevolent Seed into the head, right?"

"They can't just put the rice in the pot first and then go look for firewood and a stove, can they?"

Though the analogy was crude, the reasoning was spot on!

Lu Yuan's eyes instantly lit up, right!

Thinking about it carefully, that really seems to be the case!

Seeing he was listening, the old man continued,

"Then look at where she was originally buried, Ningyuan Town. Does that look like a place that could nurture a Malevolent Deity?"

"And, you dug her out with your own hands. Was there even the slightest hint of any strange arrangements around her?"

Lu Yuan nodded repeatedly. The old man's analysis struck a chord with him, word for word.

Finally, the old man took a swig of wine, delivering the final verdict.

"So, I guess the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family originally had their eyes on her, plans all made."

"But due to some accident, the plan was interrupted. Before they could transfer her to the real place for nurturing the Malevolent Deity, the whole thing fell through."

"Since she never went to the place, naturally, it's impossible for the Malevolent Seed to have been hammered in."

In a few sentences, the logic was clear, well-reasoned and supported.

The massive boulder in Lu Yuan's heart was instantly lifted away for the most part, and he felt much lighter.

Only...

Feeling lighter didn't mean being completely at ease.

As long as it wasn't one hundred percent certain, that thorn would remain stuck in his heart.

Lu Yuan's little thoughts couldn't possibly escape the old man's notice.

After all, as Lu Yuan's master, the old man knew exactly what kind of mess Lu Yuan was about to make the moment he twitched.

The old man shot him a glance, raising an eyebrow,

"What are you pondering again!"

"What else do you want?"

"That Tan kid said it, didn't he? Unless you crack her head open to look, no one can say for sure."

"Stop overthinking it. I guarantee you, it's definitely not there!"

As soon as the old man finished speaking.

Lu Yuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes blazing, his tone incredibly firm.

"Whether it's there or not..."

"Let's call the Patriarch down to take a look!"

As soon as Lu Yuan's words left his mouth.

The old man's tobacco pipe had already come down on him in furious exasperation.

*Thwack!* Right on the forehead.

"!!!"

The old man's beard bristled with anger, spittle practically spraying onto Lu Yuan's face.

"You think the Patriarch is your errand boy?!"

"At your beck and call all day long, serving you?!"

Lu Yuan clutched his head, grimacing in pain, but didn't retreat half a step, sticking his neck out stubbornly,

"So what!"

"Is this a small matter? There might be a bomb buried in Qingwan's head!"

"If it's there, let the Patriarch clear it out while he's at it! If not, we get peace of mind!"

He got more and more worked up as he spoke, even a gleam in his eyes.

"Besides, the Patriarch is so powerful. What if he's in a good mood and incidentally breaks the evil curse on Qingwan too?"

"Then we'd kill two birds with one stone, never have to steal that incense again!"

In Lu Yuan's opinion, calling the Patriarch down for this was the best.

Could solve a lot of trouble at once!

And inviting the deity wasn't troublesome at all. Just take the Patriarch's tablet, call out for the Patriarch directly.

The whole thing, back and forth, would only take about ten minutes.

What's the big deal?

Afraid the Patriarch won't come?

If he doesn't come, just keep calling!

If a call doesn't go through, dial a few more times!!

Give the Patriarch ninety-nine missed calls, still afraid he won't pick up?

Moreover, Lu Yuan felt those Patriarchs of his were quite fond of him. They wouldn't not come.

The old man trembled with anger at his shameless, self-righteous attitude.

"You don't understand a damn thing!"

"You think what you're inviting down is the Patriarch himself?!"

"The ancestors have long been buried for who knows how many years! Their souls have returned to heaven and earth!"

"What you're inviting is a sliver of their divine nature left in the world!"

"It's a mere thread of remembrance barely maintained by generations of disciples like us offering incense!"

The old man's voice suddenly turned grave, not a trace of jest left.

"That's not a living person. They can't bargain with you, can't listen to your explanations of causes and consequences!"

"You call them out, they see something, judge it as something, and they'll act accordingly!"

He stared fixedly at Lu Yuan, asking word by word,

"What if the Patriarch's divine nature judges Gu Qingwan to be a complete, utter, great Evil Entity?"

"Decides to uphold heavenly justice on the spot, directly shattering her soul to dust. What will you do?!"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Lu Yuan's head.

For a moment, Lu Yuan was speechless.

This...

He really hadn't thought of this before. Not that he hadn't thought about it...

It's just he really didn't understand these aspects before.

But thinking about it carefully, it makes sense it should be this way.

If the Patriarch could be called down casually, could communicate and discuss casually...

Wouldn't that be chaos.

And, it doesn't align with the cycle of life and death either.

They've been gone for a long time.

They won't listen to his explanations, won't discuss with him.

They'll only judge using their residual "rules."

And Qingwan, no matter how you look at it, fits the definition of a "great Evil Entity."

The entire side hall fell into deathly silence.

Seeing his despondent look, the old man sighed, his tone softening.

"Alright, stop overthinking. I said it's fine, so it's fine."

After saying this, the old man wobbled to his feet, stretched his arms, twisted his waist, and said,

"Get some rest early. Coming back so fast, you must be exhausted these past days. Your eyes were glazed over earlier."

Looking at the old man about to leave, Lu Yuan felt incredibly conflicted inside.

"So there's really no other way?"

"Feels wrong in my heart this way."

The old man shook his head, stating bluntly,

"No."

However, before Lu Yuan could say anything this time, the old man looked at him with a serious expression and said,

"Actually, you don't need to worry about this matter."

"This matter will soon cease to be a problem."

Lu Yuan was stunned, somewhat curious.

"Huh?"

"Why do you say that?"

The old man grinned a fierce smile, looking at Lu Yuan.

"Just kill the entire Commanding Ghosts Liu Family, won't that solve it?"

"Even if Gu Qingwan really has a Malevolent Seed in her head, if no one can control it, doesn't that mean it's as good as not having it?"

Lu Yuan blinked.

Hey!!

Is the old man a genius??!

Before Lu Yuan could say anything, the old man continued,

"Alright, alright, hurry up and wash up, go back to sleep."

After saying this, the old man was about to leave, but Lu Yuan grabbed him again, saying seriously,

"Wait, wait, there's one more thing."

Hmm?

The old man, grabbed by Lu Yuan, looked at him speechlessly for a moment.

"You have so many things going on every single day!"

"What else, spit it out!"

Lu Yuan's gaze swept over the silent "Deity of Beauty" to the side, then looked at the old man with utmost seriousness.

"That entanglement of Fate Patterns you mentioned earlier, why haven't I felt any entanglement or not of Fate Patterns?"

The old man frowned slightly.

"This thing is inherently invisible and intangible, just like fortune, destiny. Though unseen and intangible, it truly exists."

After hearing the old man's words, Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Then how can she perceive it?"

Lu Yuan pointed at the "Deity of Beauty" who had been quiet all along.

The old man glanced at the "Deity of Beauty," then naturally looked down at Lu Yuan.

"Can you compare with her? She's already a 'deity.' Naturally, she can perceive these ethereal, intangible things!"

Hearing the old man's words, Lu Yuan couldn't help but frown.

"Then since I can't perceive my own Fate Pattern, I also have no way to control my own Fate Pattern."

"Then as the main line of the Fate Pattern, how can I possibly unravel the Fate Patterns entangled between the two of us?"

After Lu Yuan said this, everyone in the room focused their gaze on him.

The old man looked at him with a bewildered and strange expression.

"You asking this..."

"What do you mean?"

Lu Yuan did not avoid the old man's gaze. He raised his head with utmost frankness, meeting the gazes of everyone in the room.

His voice was very calm, so calm there wasn't a single ripple.

"I want to unravel the entanglement of Fate Patterns between me and the 'Deity of Beauty.'"

"I thank the Patriarch for his good intentions."

"But I do not accept them."

Having said that, Lu Yuan's gaze turned toward that peerlessly beautiful figure suspended in the shadows.

"I don't want the 'Deity of Beauty' to become the next Qingwan."

Finally, Lu Yuan's gaze returned to his master, his eyes carrying a kind of unprecedented firmness and resolve.

"Even more... I don't want to become the kind of person I despise and look down on the most."

"Why should the fate of one living being be forcibly bound to another, treated as so-called 'guardian deity' and 'accessory'?"

"If I accept this with a clear conscience, how is it any different from Qingwan's so-called 'husband's family'?"