After I stopped speaking, she put down the book in her hand.
"Don't think the Half-Yin Realm is isolated. Although news doesn't travel as fast as outside, we are not ignorant of what the outside world is like."
Seeing the amusement in her eyes, I truly felt like finding a hole to crawl into. To be teased by a female ghost who had died countless years ago.
"I don't think you invited me here just to play games, do you?" I said dejectedly, sitting on the chair.
"Naturally," Fifth Princess retracted the smile around her eyes and looked at me seriously. "I invited you this time because I want you to help me with something."
I looked at her without a word, thinking, with your immense abilities, what kind of help could you possibly need from me?
Seeing my silence, she continued, "As long as you help me, I'll give you my personal jade pendant, and I'll also help you leave Mo Lu Village. What do you say?"
My heart stirred. I had come with the intention of obtaining Fifth Princess's personal jade pendant, but things had taken an unexpected turn, which was why I hadn't handed over the seal to her. Now that she had brought it up, I was inclined to agree.
"But..."
I had only uttered "but" before I stopped. Although I had met her twice and she claimed to be Fifth Princess, how could she prove it?
Furthermore, our meetings had only occurred in dreams. Even if she genuinely wanted to give me the jade pendant, how would she manage it?
Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Fifth Princess added, "If you agree, you don't need to worry about how I'll give you the jade pendant. I can give it to you first, and then you can decide whether to help me or not."
Having reached this point, if I were to refuse again, it would seem rather petty.
So, I nodded and said, "I can help, but you know my abilities are not much. If it's a life-threatening task, then forget it!"
People only learn to grow after being tricked multiple times. I had been thoroughly deceived by the old ghost this time. It was almost a near-death experience. This time, I had to get everything clear, or I wouldn't help her no matter what.
"You can listen to me first. Whether you agree or not is your choice; I won't force you."
I thought about it and felt it was not impossible, so I nodded.
Fifth Princess pondered for a moment, a hint of sadness in her eyes, as if she were reluctant to speak of the past. Finally, she began her slow narration.
This happened twenty years ago. The Half-Yin Realm was not as it is now. Although living people occasionally entered, they did so by accident. My father, as the administrator of the Half-Yin Realm, always upheld the principle of free passage. Whether human or wandering ghost, as long as they did not violate the ten rules set by my father, they could move about freely.
Until one day, a group of people suddenly broke in. They not only injured the guards at the royal residence but also killed anyone they saw and annihilated any ghosts they encountered.
At that time, my father was away on important business and was not in the residence. Four of the seven personal guards were taken with him. When my father heard the news and rushed back, the entire royal residence had been almost annihilated by the intruders.
They were not satisfied even then. They searched everywhere for something. I happened to be out playing with my mother. Upon hearing this news, my mother immediately brought me here.
However, somehow they learned of our whereabouts. As we were rushing to Yin Zhu Forest, we were intercepted by them. At that moment, to save me, my mother fought against those people while leading me away. Just as we were about to enter Yin Zhu Forest, my mother handed me a jade pendant she was wearing and told me not to let it fall into the hands of outsiders. Then, she pushed me into Yin Zhu Forest with all her might.
Upon reaching this point, Fifth Princess paused, her eyes glistening with tears.
I knew the consequences of what happened next without her needing to say anything more. Since these people dared to break into the royal residence and kill, they certainly wouldn't show mercy to Fifth Princess's mother.
"Please accept my condolences!"
"It's alright. It's been so long since it happened. If I hadn't mentioned it today, I would have almost forgotten."
Fifth Princess subtly wiped the corner of her eye, and I pretended not to see it. Then she continued.
Fearing that those people would break into Yin Zhu Forest, I ran inside with what my mother had given me, not stopping until I reached the bamboo building.
This was because it was the safest place in the entire Half-Yin Realm, and it was where my Fifth Royal Residence controlled the Half-Yin Realm. Even if those people were like land immortals, it would not be easy for them to enter.
I stayed there for more than ten days until my father returned, and I was finally free.
When I met my father, his expression was grim. Seeing that I was safe, his demeanor eased slightly. I told my father about my mother.
My father said nothing. He simply told me to keep the jade pendant my mother had given me safe. After that, my father arranged for me to live here and forbade me from going out.
At first, my father would visit me from time to time, bringing me books or other toys. But later, he came less and less frequently, and eventually, he stopped coming altogether. I haven't seen my father for over ten years now.
I asked, "Didn't you think about going out, or sending someone out to gather information?"
"Of course, I thought about going out at first. But at that time, I simply couldn't get out. The entire Yin Zhu Forest was sealed by my father using a secret technique. It wasn't until ten years ago that the seal loosened, and I was able to get out."
I looked at her with some confusion, thinking to myself, why ten years ago again? What exactly happened ten years ago?
The first time I met her, she not only knew my specific background but also asked if I had come to fulfill a ten-year pact. Was it during that outing that she met my father?
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but swallow. I asked somewhat nervously, "Did you meet my father, or do you know my father?" I then described my father's appearance to her.
Fifth Princess first nodded after hearing me, then shook her head. "I don't know your father, nor have I met him."
Hearing this, I became anxious. "How is that possible? You could tell me my name and birthdate. If my father hadn't told you, how could you possibly know so much?"
"It's better if you don't ask. In any case, that person could not have been your father, and I cannot reveal that person's identity."
Seeing Fifth Princess look away, a strange feeling arose in my heart. If she didn't learn my birthdate from my father, then from whom did she learn it?
My birthdate is not a particularly special destiny, but my father, being a feng shui master, naturally understood the importance of birthdates. He would generally not reveal them to outsiders, fearing that someone with ulterior motives might use despicable means.
If my father were an ordinary person, he might have let it slip for some reason. But my father was a feng shui master, and a renowned one in the surrounding villages. How could he not know the importance of birthdates?
Looking at Fifth Princess, whose eyes held a hint of stubbornness, I knew that if I continued to press, she would definitely not say anything. I could only change the subject and let her continue telling me what happened to her.
Fifth Princess glanced at me and continued.
After leaving Yin Zhu Forest, I immediately went to find my father. I searched the entire royal residence but could not find him. Even his aura had disappeared. I questioned General Zuo, who had followed my father, but he told me my father had gone out and would return in a few days. Su Dan Novel Network.
A few days later, I did not see my father return. Instead, several people broke into the royal residence again, intending to abduct me. Fortunately, with the help of my father's former subordinates, I managed to escape and re-enter Yin Zhu Forest.
Upon returning to the bamboo forest, I felt that something was not quite right. These people had come too coincidentally. They didn't come earlier or later, but precisely when I left Yin Zhu Forest. Could all of this have been orchestrated by someone behind the scenes?
Once this thought entered my mind, I found the secret passage to Yin Zhu Forest that my father had told me about and secretly returned to the royal residence. When I entered the study, I overheard news that shocked me.