"Taken away?" It took Xiao Tao quite a while to digest what was said before she found her voice again, murmuring like in a dream, "Fate can be stolen?"
"For ordinary people, naturally, it’s impossible." Wu Jue’s expression was one of pity, with a hint of anger, "But for mages who specialize in studying these things, they can steal someone else’s fate without them even noticing and make the victim feel grateful."
Xiao Tao couldn’t help but shiver.
That’s just how it was for her family.
Back then, when her mother fell ill with a strange disease, they almost went bankrupt trying to find a renowned doctor. Later, when her father disappeared, she dropped out of school and worked as hard as she could, but still couldn’t gather enough money for her mother’s treatment.
It was during that time that Mei Shuiqing appeared before her and her mother, swiftly controlling her mother’s rapid aging, naturally making the mother and daughter grateful.
Afterwards, Mei Shuiqing brought her to work as an assistant for Jiang Xiyu, giving her a legitimate job, something she didn’t have even though she hadn’t finished college.
At that time, she still felt full of gratitude towards Mei Shuiqing and Jiang Xiyu.
It wasn’t until they spent more time together, and those two began to drop all pretenses in front of her, that she realized some people’s beautiful exteriors concealed the souls of demons.
Understanding dawning upon her, Xiao Tao’s eyes reddened, angry and fearful, but she still controlled her trembling voice as she asked, "Master Wu Jue, was it also Mei Shuiqing who caused my mother to suddenly fall ill? Made my father disappear, used Jiang Xiyu to control me, and I was grateful to them for providing me with a job back then."
"That’s right," Wu Jue nodded, hardening his heart at the girl’s dismal expression, "As your friend, I went to the hospital to see your mother. I can tell you very responsibly, your mother’s illness is not an ordinary disease. A mage has used magic to draw away her vitality, which caused her rapid aging in a short period. No matter where you go for medical treatment, the only result shown would be multiple organ failures. The reason she’s still... is because the hospital used a certain medication."
"That medicine allows her to hang on to life because the good fortune lingering on you and your mother hasn’t completely dissipated. As long as you are alive, you still hold value to them."
Xiao Tao forced a laugh, "They really don’t waste anything, do they? They’d drain us dry and won’t stop until we’re completely used up!"
When Wu Jue made it clear to Xiao Tao that her family’s misfortune was not coincidental but premeditated, Shen Yunqing sat beside them, never saying a word, using that time to brew a pot of Heart Cleansing Tea with a set of teaware.
Once brewed, he placed a cup before Xiao Tao, "Miss Xiao Tao, soothe your throat."
"Thank you, Mr. Shen." Xiao Tao carefully sipped from the warm teacup; as the tea went down her throat, it lessened the urge to burn away everything she loathed inside her, regaining some calmness and clarity.
She decided to drink the entire cup in one go, "Mr. Shen, Master Wu Jue, just tell me what you want me to do?"
If it was just to undo a hypnosis, Master Wu Jue alone could achieve that. But among the two before her, Mr. Shen was clearly the one in charge.
She didn’t believe that both had come all this way just to help her lift a hypnosis.
"If Miss Xiao Tao is willing to cooperate with us, that would be for the best." Shen Yunqing refilled her teacup, "Also, can you remember where Mei Shuiqing took you? Or where have you been staying during this time?"
When Xiao Tao disembarked from the plane at the Imperial City airport, he immediately sent someone to investigate.
But as soon as they started digging, the leads cut off; the other party thoroughly erased their tracks.
Xiao Tao held the teacup in one hand and rubbed her temples with the other; she spoke slowly, "I only remember it was very far, like we changed different modes of transportation on the way. The place where I stayed seemed like a large estate, no, it looked more like an ancient castle. I was restricted from moving freely and couldn’t see anyone. Sometimes, I overheard people talking there, but I couldn’t understand."
Shen Yunqing exchanged a look with Wu Jue, who stood up and walked away, returning shortly with a piece of paper and a pencil.
"I checked your background; you studied sketching in high school. Can you draw the castle buildings you saw?"
Xiao Tao quickly put down the teacup and took the paper and pencil, "It’s been years since I last held a pencil; I’ll give it a try."
Shen Yunqing and Wu Jue looked at the simple pencil sketch on the paper, exchanged glances, and said in unison, "Country Y." The source of thɪs content is NoveI(F)ire.net
"What’s Country Y?" Xiao Tao, who was sketching, was stunned for a moment and then realized, "This castle is in Country Y?"
Shen Yunqing pointed at several places on the drawing, "These spots have very distinct characteristics of Country Y. Furthermore, castles are most common in Country Y."
Xiao Tao couldn’t help but open her mouth; she initially thought she had been taken to some remote place, not realizing she had been taken abroad, all the way to the distant Country Y.
However, does this imply that the organization Mei Shuiqing belongs to is even more powerful than she imagined?
Thinking of this, her face turned a little pale, but she forced herself to stay calm.
After all, her situation couldn’t get any worse. She might as well go all out!
What Xiao Tao could think of, Shen Yunqing and Wu Jue could only contemplate even more deeply and broadly.
Wu Jue’s expression was somewhat solemn, "Country Y’s history is quite old, and over the years, many dark forces have accumulated there."
If they were joined together...
Shen Yunqing’s expression was stern, "They’re just sewer rats, that’s all."
"Ha, indeed. Sneaky, just like those annoying rats." Wu Jue, seeing Shen Yunqing so calm and composed, also relaxed a bit, turning to Xiao Tao, "Miss Xiao Tao, tomorrow morning, I will accompany you to visit your mother. At that time, don’t call me Master Wu Jue, let’s refer to each other as friends."
Shen Yunqing stood up, instructing the two, "Finish this pot of tea and go back to your rooms for an early rest. I’m going upstairs."
Wu Jue knew he was going to report the current progress to Your Majesty, so he waved his hand cheerfully.
After Jiang Lingxi finished washing up, she leaned against the headboard reading a book, with her phone on the bedside table within her reach.
When the phone started vibrating, she lowered the book and turned to look at the phone screen. Seeing it was a video call request, she initially intended to answer it directly but paused, adjusting the collar of her robe before clicking to connect.
"It seems this hypnosis is indeed difficult to break."
"Moreover, it hasn’t been fully lifted successfully, but Xiao Tao did provide some critical information. After experiencing backlash, Mei Shuiqing fled all the way to Country Y. I suspect that Country Y is likely their headquarters or an important base."
Jiang Lingxi raised an eyebrow slightly, "Country Y?"
"Nothing, it’s just that a few days ago, someone introduced me to a job, and the location is Country Y."