Chapter 14: The Avenger, the Daughter of an Enemy
I quickly turned and fled.
“Thud!” I collided with an unseen, ethereal barrier. No need to ask, having read numerous fantasy novels over the years, I recognized it as a mystical enchantment, akin to the gate of a city.
“Hahaha—do you think you can escape?” The woman’s voice, a jarring amalgamation of multiple female voices, pierced the air.
I couldn’t outrun her, so I had to find a hiding spot.
I spun around, facing the charred woman with unwavering resolve. “I, Xiaolan, am not afraid of you!”
“I want you dead—I want you dead—” Her words echoed, sharp and filled with rage, as she sprinted towards me. Swiftly, I retrieved a talisman and affixed it to my forehead. Instantly, the woman halted in her tracks, her gaze now clouded with bewilderment as she searched her surroundings.
Indeed, this talisman was effective.
“I’m right here~~~” I shouted from my position, and in a fit of fury, the woman lunged towards me. Casually, I sidestepped to the right, and with a resounding “thud,” she collided with the barrier, mirroring my fate. Simultaneously, the barrier crackled with electric energy, forcefully repelling the woman.
“Ah——” She crashed onto the ground. It dawned on me that it wasn’t solely the woman who couldn’t leave the house; even the garden was tethered to this mansion’s dominion.
Shaken by the divine power of the barrier, she convulsed on the ground.
Deliberately, I retrieved a hammer from behind and rhythmically tapped it against my hand, evoking the image of a deranged killer from a horror film.
“Why must it be this way? Subjecting yourself to such torment—burned and electrocuted—don’t you feel the anguish?” I circled her from a distance, emphasizing my words.
She convulsed on the ground, yet her gaze remained fierce as she relentlessly sought me out. “Hmm! Hmm!”
“What burdens you so heavily? Speak, and I shall lend an ear. Harmony and concord are paramount in today’s society. You were once a person—I wager a stunning beauty at that!”
Her gaze froze suddenly. I stole a glance at her, feeling a surge of pity. Coming to a halt, I looked upon her with sympathy. “Even in death, you could have retained your beauty had you passed on peacefully. But now, observe what you’ve become…”
Trembling, she raised her charred hands. I regarded her with remorse. “I apologize, but why did you choose to remain here? Seeking vengeance, perhaps? If revenge is what you seek, why not pursue those who have wronged you?”
“He left…”
“Indeed, was it truly another’s hand that ended your life? Who was it? Your boyfriend? Were you entangled in a love triangle?!” I hazarded a guess.
“I was his lawful wife!” The woman stood up, seething with anger, and bellowed into the empty air, “That wretch and his accursed mistress, even in death, he never returned to me—”
No wonder your resentment is so strong, resorting to “suicide.”
I sighed, “Which university did you attend?”
She hesitated, looking towards the direction of my voice. I quickly moved aside, and she continued to gaze at where I had originally stood. “QH University. What do you mean?!”
“Such a prestigious university, and yet you chose to ‘commit suicide’! Tut-tut.” I empathized, “Do you know? I didn’t even pass my college entrance exam. If I had felt as hopeless as you, should I have ‘committed suicide’ by now?”
The woman stared at me with her remaining eye, puzzled.
I continued, “But failing the exam didn’t determine my entire life. If I hadn’t come here, I could have repeated the year. If I didn’t want to do that, I could have gone to a vocational school. You know, skilled trades are in high demand now, with salaries even surpassing those of white-collar jobs. I could have even pursued an Australian visa. And if that didn’t suit me, I could have found work and attended night school. There’s always a way forward in life; it’s about how you choose to navigate it. Your husband and his mistress—why cling to them? Does he have any money as a ghost? Maybe you could hire someone to catch them in the act, ruin the mistress’s career, and make it impossible for her to stay here!”
“Yeah… Why didn’t I think of that?” The woman clenched her fists in anger.
I coughed, still holding my fists. “Ahem, I’m not suggesting you seek revenge in a tit-for-tat manner. But from what I see, you’re not cut out for playing the saint either. You have countless ways to retaliate. What’s the point of this ‘suicide’? Look at it this way—now that you’re dead, won’t your husband and his mistress be delighted? The best way to deal with enemies is to live a fulfilling life that surpasses theirs! Make them seethe with envy!”
The woman dropped to her knees, her gaze empty. “What should I do now? I can’t accept this! I refuse to accept it—”
“Look at you, staying here because you can’t accept it. Let me show you.” I removed the talisman and approached her, squatting down. She glared at me resentfully. I looked at her earnestly. “You see, destiny offers choices. It’s just that sometimes, your hatred blinds you and prevents you from seeing them. But I can help you see. I see two options for you…”
“What options?” The woman stared at me intently, pushing her remaining eye back into the empty socket. Apparently, she had been holding it all along.
Squatting in front of her, I tapped the hammer and said, “Option one: continue living here in discontent, becoming a vengeful ghost, growing uglier and more repulsive each day, eventually forgetting who you were and being annihilated, disappearing into thin air.”
The hatred in the woman’s eyes deepened, and a growl reminiscent of a fierce beast emanated from her throat. “Roar… Roar…”
“Option two.” I smiled mischievously, “Let go of your hatred and quickly reincarnate as your husband’s daughter. Spend his money, live in his house, sleep in his bed. Whenever he wants intimate moments with his wife, create a scene. Make his life a living hell! Exhaust him! Drive him to his death! How about that?” I raised an eyebrow playfully.
She stared at me for a long time, and suddenly, she laughed heartily within the radiant golden light. “Hahaha—wretched woman! Here I come!” As the golden glow gradually faded, her skin regained its flawless complexion, revealing a beautiful and determined face, devoid of any lingering resentment.
Can you believe she managed to get into the prestigious university I dreamt of? And she was willing to “commit suicide” over a mistress. How absurd and unworthy of such drastic measures.
As the golden light dissipated, she vanished completely before my eyes, leaving behind only the engulfed mansion and sporadic explosions.
“Boom!”
“Crack!”
The sounds echoed like celebratory fireworks. I raised an eyebrow, realizing I wasn’t ready to end the excitement just yet. But what should I do now? Burning down houses isn’t an everyday occurrence, and I find myself reluctant to stop after having so much fun. Ah, perhaps I should consider the neighboring house? Should I blow it up too?
I glanced towards the adjacent property, and suddenly, the familiar white light reappeared, swiftly enveloping my entire being. This time, it ascended rapidly, as if sensing my thoughts and eager to transport me away.
Maintaining a sense of composure, my feet planted firmly on the ground, and I found myself standing once again in front of the majestic Lingxiao Hall we had previously reported on.
