In such blatant double standards, she surprisingly became the favored one. Lu Qingwan could hardly believe she would ever experience such good fortune.
Liu Xunran, however, did not lie to her.
"Because you became her by chance after that girl Wan had already perished.
But she forcefully possessed your mother's body while she was weak. How can these be the same?"
Upon hearing Liu Xunran's words, Lu Qingwan displayed an expression of never having seen the world before.
"Possession?
Is there truly such an evil art in this world?"
Surrounded by cultivators, she had heard countless tales of possession, sacrifice, and dual souls, but she had never believed such things truly existed. Now, she had stumbled upon one herself.
"Originally, there wasn't, but she wields an ancient evil technique. With such an art, these wicked deeds naturally become possible."
Lu Qingwan nodded repeatedly. With this explanation, she could finally understand Liu Hanyan's series of abnormal behaviors.
"I investigated all of Liu Hanyan's movements after she descended the mountain. The year after she came down, she entrusted me to my adoptive parents in the Lu family.
Following that, her whereabouts for the next five years are blank, as if deliberately erased.
And her eldest daughter in Nan Qi, Princess Yicheng, is only two years younger than me. This means she was possessed between giving birth to me and before giving birth to Princess Yicheng.
The Reincarnation Hall has eyes and ears everywhere. Have you discovered where she was during those five missing years?"
From the moment Liu Xunran revealed that Liu Hanyan had been possessed, Lu Qingwan completely understood why Liu Xunran, Xue Hongyi, and the others had allowed her to commit so many unsavory acts without intervention.
It was because they dared not let the current Liu Hanyan know that they had discovered this Liu Hanyan was not the original Liu Hanyan.
Since the current Liu Hanyan possessed an ancient evil technique for possession, ordinary physical damage would be useless against her.
Even if the members of the Reincarnation Hall, with their superior strength, could easily kill this Liu Hanyan, they would only be killing the body of their loved one.
The one hiding within Liu Hanyan's body would remain unharmed and could still use her wicked arts to possess someone else and escape justice.
It was a case of being afraid to strike for fear of damaging the vessel.
Liu Xunran understood Lu Qingwan's words and said, "You mean you want to infer from her surroundings during those two years who this 'ghost' hiding in her body truly is?"
Lu Qingwan nodded. "I've heard a little about this evil art of possession.
Possession has its requirements; one's birth date and destiny must be compatible for the possession to succeed.
If we can ascertain her whereabouts during those missing years, we might be able to follow the clues and find the true identity of this imposter."
Everyone has a weakness, and Lu Qingwan believed that once the true identity of this fake Liu Hanyan was confirmed, finding a way to restrain her would not be difficult.
However, to her surprise, Liu Xunran shook his head with a somber expression.
"My disciples in the Hall used every means at their disposal, but we only discovered that after giving birth to Princess Yicheng, she stayed at the Nan Qi imperial city branch of the Wuan Palace for three years.
Subsequently, she used her identity as a legitimate daughter of the Nan Qi imperial family, Liu family, to become the Crown Prince's secondary consort, and later ascended the throne.
As for the previous two years, even the Reincarnation Hall could not ascertain where she went."
Lu Qingwan raised her eyebrows in surprise, not expecting her to be so adept at hiding that even the Reincarnation Hall could not deal with her.
However, she quickly regained her composure. Such matters as possession were inherently unnatural, and it was not the fault of the Reincarnation Hall's people for being unable to resolve it.
"I might have a way to uncover her true identity and find out the whereabouts of the real Liu Hanyan. Are you willing to lend me a hand?"
Liu Xunran raised an eyebrow. "Hypnosis, or a truth serum?
You won't cause her to explode like Feng Qingheng, will you?
She's using your mother's body."
Liu Xunran's words clearly indicated his complete knowledge of Lu Qingwan's movements.
Lu Qingwan smiled mysteriously. "Those conventional methods will likely be of no use against her. I'll use this."
Lu Qingwan beckoned Da Bai, bringing it level with Liu Xunran. "You only need to find a way to distract her so she has no time to pay attention to me.
It won't be too difficult, only taking about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea."
Liu Xunran looked at Da Bai with a complex expression and said with difficulty, "Is it, like Teng Snake, an ancient mythical beast?"
An ancient mythical beast was impossible. It was truly a product of advanced technology and ruthless innovation from thousands of years later.
However, these words could absolutely not be told to Liu Xunran. Although he already knew about her transmigration, it did not mean an old fogey like him could accept the bizarre and novel things from the Great Celestial Dynasty.
Thinking about it carefully, Da Bai's functions were not that different from an ancient mythical beast.
Lu Qingwan perfunctorily nodded. "Something like that.
After all, even if it fails, you won't lose anything, will you?"
Da Bai was the core of the spatial laboratory. Lu Qingwan knew it could help her deal with Liu Hanyan, but she had no reason to make Liu Xunran, who knew nothing, believe in Da Bai along with her.
Therefore, she only needed Liu Xunran to do as she said. Whether he believed it or not was unimportant.
Liu Xunran then nodded.
Just as the two reached an understanding, Cheng Yi arrived. "Master, the guest has arrived."
Lu Qingwan raised her eyebrows in surprise. "They're already coming in?"
She had specifically left Twelve Months, Ying Er, and a group of her dark guards outside to give Liu Hanyan a show of force.
Before any commotion could be heard, the person was already entering. Wouldn't that make her lose face?
Just as she was about to question whether Twelve Months and Ying Er's dark guards were competent, she heard Cheng Yi say, "They've entered the mountain, but they're still some distance away.
She and her entourage have been intercepted by your followers."
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingwan was satisfied. "Then it's fine. I'm not in a hurry. Let's wait until they're done fighting."
Cheng Yi looked towards Liu Xunran for instructions. The latter smiled indulgently. "Listen to the Saintess."
Cheng Yi then withdrew as instructed.
Lu Qingwan directly activated her clairvoyance, watching with her own eyes as her people engaged in a fight with Liu Hanyan's entourage. Liu Hanyan, who had maintained an elegant demeanor, was entangled and her composure completely ruined.
She then smiled with satisfaction.
She leisurely said, "How is Xiao Yuan'er?"
"Very good."
Liu Xunran mentioned his new disciple with evident pleasure.
"You've taught him very well. He's full of spirit, and grasps complex techniques with ease. He's a promising talent."
He then added regretfully, "It would be wonderful if he were your child. The Reincarnation Hall would have a successor."
"I already have a daughter reserved, and now you want a son? Isn't that going too far?"
Lu Qingwan said, taking out the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes, the True Dragon Token, and the Blood Dove, arranging them side-by-side on the table.
"This, the Reincarnation Hall's Sect Leader Token, needs no introduction.
These two, do you find them familiar?"