"Last night at the guesthouse in Spring Wind Town, I suddenly felt a heavy weight in my belly."
Han Dai burst into tears as she spoke, sobbing as she told me, "I felt a child sitting on my stomach, and it frightened me into fainting."
"Now that you mention the child, are you... afraid or worried?" I handed Han Dai a tissue.
Han Dai was momentarily at a loss for words, "I... am I afraid, or am I worried... I don't know..."
"Do you find the child more terrifying, or are you worried that the fetus in your belly won't survive?" I looked anxiously into Han Dai's fearful eyes.
Han Dai blurted out, "I'm afraid, the child even smiled at me, like a demon child from Hell. How could I carry such a monstrosity, Miss Wan..."
"It seems you have no affection for this child. Listening carefully to your account, it appears you haven't told me what you initially went to Lin Wanyan for."
I believe that being a Mystic Arts Master requires not only proficiency in mysterious art but also insight into the human heart.
From Han Dai's responses, I managed to unravel some things she found difficult to speak of.
If I remember correctly, the first time Han Dai went to see Lin Wanyan, it happened to be when my grandfather took me to visit Lin Wanyan.
I pointedly asked, "Did you go to Lin Wanyan for an abortion?"
Since she feels no attachment to the fetus, it must seem like a hindrance to her career, so I could deduce that Han Dai was in the early stages of pregnancy when she sought an abortion from Lin Wanyan.
"I... initially wanted an abortion, but then I didn't," Han Dai looked dazed for a moment, then hurriedly added, "It's always been rumored in the circle that Lin Wanyan offers this service, which wouldn't hurt, bleed, require confinement, or create resentment, but I regretted it, I didn't go through with the abortion..."
"Regretted it, so the child harbors resentment and follows you?" I frowned, somewhat puzzled by Han Dai since it wasn't like her to lie to me at this point.
Han Dai pleaded earnestly, "Miss Wan, believe me, I am not lying, I did not kill my child."
"Let me feel your belly." I was skeptical about Han Dai's story but still needed to verify myself.
Han Dai came closer, "Okay."
I felt her belly.
Upon touching it, I indeed felt the fetal heartbeat, "Hmm, the child is very healthy."
Strange, this child is really just over a month old.
And it's growing very healthily, it couldn't possibly become a malevolent spirit endangering the mother.
Although Han Dai was incredibly unreasonable towards others, she ultimately still had a conscience and hadn't killed her child.
There was still something redeemable about her.
"I don't want to give up my career like Bai Yinman, nor kill a small life, so I opted for Lin Wanyan to temporarily halt the child's growth," Han Dai murmured distractedly.
Although Lin Wanyan had a questionable character, she was still notable in the practice of Mysterious Art.
What Han Dai spoke of was very profound mysterious art.
If Lin Wanyan were not skilled, my grandfather wouldn't seek her help to cleanse my marrow.
I said:
"I do know of this mysterious art, this spell goes against nature, and one can only use it once in a lifetime, effective for three months." In the Su Family's Yin Yang Life and Death Embroidery, there's an Age-Delaying Cloth with this effect.
Han Dai's emotions were slightly stirred, she clenched her fists, "Even one use is good; three months is enough for me to finish filming that TV series, but who would have thought..."
"Who would have thought that Lin Wanyan didn't halt the growth of the child in your belly, and the next day your belly suddenly got bigger?"
I saw Han Dai nod, her eyes fixed on her belly.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the child in Han Dai's belly; right now, it's only an embryo.
Han Dai looked downhearted, "Yes, could it be that I angered him just by pausing the child's development for just three months? Does he hate me that much?"