778 A Million Times for You 140 (2/2)
Shi Qingzhou immediately recalled the book and the incidents related to her mother.
”Your grandmother was exceptionally gorgeous when she was younger. In that era, psychic individuals were deemed to be reincarnations of evil souls and were considered to be inauspicious beings. Thus, she dared not reveal her psychic abilities to anyone, for fear that she would bring unnecessary trouble and disaster upon herself. However, it still got leaked in the end by her mother-in-law, who was also my grandmother. Afterward, a lot of people were after her and tried to burn her alive. However, my mother managed to escape. According to what she told me, she fled to an ancient grave in which lay a night luminescent pearl. She then opened the coffin to find that there was a book beside the corpse. That was the very book that gave my mother the courage to return home. It's also the one that Shi Xiaoyu is desperately looking for.”
An Xiaoning and Tuoba Shuo listened quietly without interrupting.
Shi Qingzhou continued, ”The first thing my mother did when she returned was to kill those who tried to take her life, all except my father and grandmother. The two of them were the root cause of everything. In my memory, my mother was a person of strong character who had never once shed a tear in front of me. I witnessed her bawling and weeping for the very first time when your grandfather divorced her and chased her out of the house. Later on, more and more people tried to kill her, and they even tried to use me to threaten her. At last, she succumbed and allowed them to tie her limbs to firewood, after which they drenched her in kerosene and set her on fire. She was burned to death alive. Do you know who'd instigated your grandmother's death?”
Sobbing and tearing up uncontrollably, Shi Qingzhou added, ”It wasn't anyone else but your paternal grandparents, the president of that time and his wife. I then entered the Autumn Palace with the intention of seeking revenge for your grandmother. However, I had a slip-up and fell in love with Shuo, thus leading myself to the plight I'm in now.”
”How did Shi Xiaoyu know about that book?” An Xiaoning asked.
”Actually, it was all my fault. Back then, your grandfather and the Shi family made your grandmother out to be a demonic witch. In order to prove her innocence, young and foolish me had decided to spill the beans about the book. Your grandfather then interrogated me, but I didn't divulge any further. But of course, he found out later that I was psychic too, just like your grandmother. I heard from Shi Xiaoyu that when everyone thought I was dead, your grandfather constantly rejoiced about my death and said that it was a blessing since I would no longer be able to bring harm to the Shi family. I've long resented them to the core and I've also once thought of exacting revenge if I ever get to escape. However, I've changed my mind now, because there's someone I want to protect, and that person is you.”
”Mother,” An Xiaoning called, moved beyond tears.
”I've never taken care of you properly or given you a heartwarming family. I'm willing to give up the idea of revenge for your sake, so long as you'll be alive and well. That book has always been one of my greatest concerns. I'd like to hand it to you and have you keep it for me,” Shi Qingzhou said with a sigh.
”You want to hand it to me?”
”Yes, I've discussed it with your father when we were in M Nation. We were discussing if we should let you learn the techniques and skills taught in that book. Once you've mastered them, I'll no longer have to worry about anything happening to you. However, at the same time, I was also worried that things would go awry if you lose self-control. But after much thought, I decided to hand it to you. It's up to you to decide if you want to learn it.”
”Mother, just what… is that book about?”
”It's a book about witchcraft. It'll allow one to expand their capabilities in a short period of time. Your grandmother said that it'll allow you to attain immortality, allowing you to go for long periods without eating, drinking, or answering nature's call. I've never seen your grandmother kill anyone before, but word about her being responsible for a massacre had kept spreading. Shi Xiaoyu and your grandfather were desperately after it, but I'll never give it to them even when I'm dead.”
”You may hand it to me. Mother, give it to me,” said An Xiaoning, staring at her intently.
”Come closer, I'll tell you where it is.”
An Xiaoning leaned in closer, after which Shi Qingzhou whispered something into her ear.
——
Tuoba Gucheng and Shi Xiaoyu sat facing each other in the room.
”Mother, what did you want to say by calling me here?”
”I have something important to talk to you about, of course. I understand that you took away all my subordinates because you're afraid I would stir trouble again, but there's something I must tell you about clearly,” said Shi Xiaoyu, appearing pale and ghastly without makeup. In fact, she looked like she had aged ten years overnight.
”Speak.”
”Do you think I locked Shi Qingzhou up for so many years solely because I wanted to torture her? Son, it's because there's something of hers that I'm after,” said Shi Xiaoyu, staring at him.