Chapter 232: Don't You Regret It
The world went dark for Lin Chuyue, and she almost passed out.
Her voice trembled. "So Grandpa... Mom and Dad, and my sister... did they all disappear because of me?"
'If it wasn't for me, my parents wouldn't have sent my sister away. They wouldn't have left the Lin Family, and they wouldn't have disappeared!'
'I was the one born later, so I'm the one who caused the clash of fates. I brought this upon them!'
'If I were the older sister, maybe I could convince myself it wasn't my fault. Who could blame me if the younger sister was the one with the unfortunate fate?'
'But I'm the second child. That means the source of all this suffering... is me!'
Lin Aoshan quickly interjected, "How could this be because of you? You had just been born. It has nothing to do with you!"
"This was your parents' decision. You were just a baby—there was nothing you could do!"
The woman nearby scoffed. "Who says it isn't? In my view, it's all a matter of fate."
"Lin Chuyue's birth created a direct conflict with Lin Chuxing's, and as a result, their parents met with disaster."
"If it wasn't for her, none of this would have happened."
"She's lived a comfortable life for all these years, not even knowing she had a sister, and now she's trying to steal that sister's fiancé. It's despicable!"
Lin Chuyue heard these words but didn't retort.
'In her mind, everything the woman said was right.'
She was so lost in the devastating blow that she couldn't snap back to reality.
Xiao Ye immediately pulled her into his arms. "Chuyue, this isn't your fault."
"No, this is all my fault. I never thought... that my parents disappeared because of me!"
She had always thought it was an accident.
She also knew that her grandfather's hair had turned white overnight in the year her parents disappeared!
The moment she thought that she had caused all this, while she enjoyed a life others could not, shame and humiliation crept into her heart and gnawed at her relentlessly.
Lin Aoshan also held Lin Chuyue's hand. "Don't blame yourself. Grandpa has never blamed you!"
"Grandpa!"
Lin Chuyue threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
Lin Aoshan patted her back again and again. "This is fate, it's all fate!"
The woman, who apparently disliked such emotional displays, said abruptly, "Lin Chuxing is still alive. Stop crying as if you're at a funeral!"
"Everything should get back on the right track. What was stolen should be returned."
Xiao Ye looked at the woman, his eyes cold. "If you don't know how to speak properly, I can teach you!"
The woman stiffened. She knew who Xiao Ye was, so she didn't dare continue with her snide remarks.
"I'm just telling the truth! The thing I hate most is people who take what belongs to others!"
The woman once had a very auspicious fate herself, but a villain in her own family swapped it, causing her to nearly die in her youth. If her master hadn't saved her, she would have long been dead.
Seeing Lin Chuyue steal even Lin Chuxing's fiancé, she was naturally reminded of the scoundrel who had stolen her own fate!
The master that person had found was so powerful that even now, her fate had not been fully restored.
That person was now using her auspicious destiny and good fortune to live a life of luxury, and had even become seen as a brilliant young talent!
Hearing her words, Lin Aoshan snapped out of his daze and asked urgently, "You said Chuxing is still alive—is that true?"
"Do you know Chuxing? Tell me, where is she now!"
The woman then picked up a cloth pouch that was on the coffee table.
Inside was an oil lamp.
It was still radiating warmth and light. Something had been wrapped around it, preventing it from being extinguished despite any jolts.
"Lin Aoshan, the one who predicted that Lin Chuyue and Lin Chuxing's fates would clash, resulting in one's death and the other's injury, was my master!"
"When he learned that Lin Chuxing was to be sent away, he was filled with guilt, believing he was responsible for her future separation from her family."
"So my master lit this Everlasting Lamp for Lin Chuxing, using a special Magic from the Taoist School. As long as the person is not dead, the lamp will not go out."
"It is still burning brightly to this day. Lin Chuxing must still be alive!"
The woman handed the oil lamp to Lin Aoshan. "Take good care of it. My task is complete."
"My master passed on a few days ago. Before he departed, he specifically instructed me to return the Everlasting Lamp, because the mortal peril from the sisters' clashing fates has now passed."
"You can bring her back now."
The woman hadn't known Lin Chuxing was missing. That was why she had assumed Lin Chuyue was knowingly trying to steal her own sister's fiancé.
If she had known Lin Chuyue was unaware of anything, maybe she wouldn't have said those things at the ceremony.
But even so, it didn't change the fact that she disliked Lin Chuyue.
'Master always told me not to be ruled by my emotions, but I could never get over what happened to me. Whenever I encounter something similar, I can't help but feel revulsion!'
Lin Chuyue stared at the Everlasting Lamp. After one devastating blow after another, she couldn't take it anymore. "Grandpa... I'd like to be alone for a while."
Lin Aoshan nodded. "Alright. Don't overthink it. None of this is your fault."
Lin Chuyue didn't say anything and walked weakly up the stairs.
Xiao Ye started to follow, but she held up a hand to stop him. "Let me be alone for a while, please. Thank you."
Watching her slender figure retreat, Xiao Ye's heart ached for her.
But he also knew that no one's words could help with something like this. She had to find her own way out of it.
When Lin Chuyue reached the top of the stairs, she suddenly thought of something and looked back at Xiao Ye. "Don't give this young lady a hard time."
"If she hadn't come today, I still wouldn't know about any of this."
"I should be thanking her. Please, be a good host for me."
After saying that, she entered her bedroom and locked the door from the inside.
Xiao Ye's gaze fell upon the Everlasting Lamp. "Sir, let me have it."
"Alright!" Lin Aoshan didn't hesitate and immediately handed it over.
The Everlasting Lamp was real. It used the Taoist School's Destiny Calculation Technique. Just as the woman had said, as long as the person was alive, the lamp would not go out.
If the lamp went out but could be relit, it meant it was extinguished by an external force and had nothing to do with the person.
But if it could never be relit, it meant the person's soul had been extinguished along with their life.
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Xiao Ye, I know you, and I know your master, Lingxiao Daoist."
Saying this, she extended her hand. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Mu Xiang, and my master is the Nine Stars Daoist."
The Nine Stars Daoist, one of the Lingxiao Daoist's few friends.
More accurately, they were martial brothers.
But many years ago, after their Grand Master passed away, they went their separate ways.
The Nine Stars Daoist was the Lingxiao Daoist's junior martial brother. Although he was very skilled in Taoist arts, he was far inferior to the Lingxiao Daoist.
After they separated, the Lingxiao Daoist's fame skyrocketed due to his abilities.
The Nine Stars Daoist, on the other hand, chose to wander the world and was known by very few.
Xiao Ye ignored her outstretched hand. "I see. You've delivered the lamp. Is there anything else you wanted to say?"
Mu Xiang was stunned, then became angry. "What do you mean by that? Are you trying to kick me out?"
"That's right. Your mission is complete, so why are you still here?"
'Seeing her will only upset Chuyue more. I'd better get her out of here quickly.'
Mu Xiang opened her mouth, but was stunned into silence. After a long moment, she said, "Fine, I'll leave!"
"But don't you regret it! I know you're powerful too, but when it comes to finding people, I'm the expert!"