[Vol. 6] Chapter 57: The Incredible Child of Heaven
After that, Hen gradually grew up under the care of the couple.
However, the process… was a bit quicker than usual.
From a very young age, Hen exhibited traits that set her apart from ordinary people.
When her parents found her, He Zhu was already nine years old. Yet, in just three or four years, Hen had not only caught up but surpassed her, growing into the appearance of a youthful maiden, no less vibrant than He Zhu herself.
Moreover, Hen’s intelligence was astonishing. Despite having received no formal education, she managed to teach herself how to read and write using only a few scattered, tattered books at ho. She even engaged in deep discussions with travelers passing through the village, conversations so profound that even He Zhu’s parents could not fully comprehend them.
Though the family had no intention of spreading the news, the legend of Xinghu Village’s prodigy began to spread far and wide after Hen blossod into a young maiden in just a few short years.
Soon, individuals of greater insight discovered sothing even more extraordinary than her talent, a revelation that shook them to their core.
[Innate Spiritual Body]
This girl was the new Spirit Maiden, bestowed upon the Western Origin Spirit Kingdom by the [Ancient Spirit Realm]. It had been 110 years since the last Spirit Maiden had appeared.
Although her circumstances differed sowhat from historical records, her descent from the stars added an air of mystery, the fact remained undeniable. Hen possessed an Innate Spiritual Body.
Not long after, the [Yin-Yang Division], having heard the news, ca to escort Hen to the capital, where she would receive more specialized education and guidance.
He Zhu, unwilling to leave her silent yet approachable younger sister, who was clearly different from ordinary people, temporarily bid farewell to her parents and accompanied Hen to the capital. There, she served as her lady-in-waiting, continuing to care for the new [Spirit Maiden of Western Origin.]
Though much younger in actual age, Hen’s rapid growth and mature appearance made sixteen-year-old He Zhu seem even more youthful in comparison. With no blood relation between them, only a handful of insiders knew that He Zhu was, in fact, the elder sister of the Spirit Maiden.
Hen beca the Spirit Maiden of Western Origin about three years ago. Over these three years, she displayed remarkable adaptability and learning ability, quickly mastering the responsibilities that ca with her role. She even built a loyal team of her own, actively engaging in her duties of repairing spiritual veins and eradicating demonic threats.
To be honest, while He Zhu often felt so envy toward her adoptive sister’s extraordinary talents, she never harbored jealousy.
Hen was the Child of Heaven, destined to bear the weighty responsibilities of a Spirit Maiden. She was a treasured gift from the [Ancient Spirit Realm] to the Western Origin Spirit Kingdom. He Zhu felt deeply honored to be the elder sister of such a noble being. Outside of official matters, their sisterly bond remained as close as ever.
Initially, He Zhu believed this harmony would continue until Hen beca the most outstanding Spirit Maiden in Western Origin’s history, leaving behind a legacy celebrated for generations.
However, one day, sothing changed in Hen.
He Zhu couldn’t quite pinpoint what had changed, but the once quiet yet warm Hen, who often showed thoughtful gestures that lted her sister’s heart, began to act differently. Slowly, and for reasons unknown, Hen started avoiding private interactions with He Zhu. She seed indifferent, distant, and increasingly pulled away from her.
On the surface, everything appeared normal, but He Zhu could sense the growing gap between them. Occasionally, she even felt an unfamiliar, oppressive aura of fear emanating from Hen. Sothing heavy and imposing that seed far beyond what a younger sister, only a few years old in actual age, should possess.
At the sa ti, Hen’s behavior beca increasingly mysterious. She frequently corresponded with unknown individuals and acted with an unusual sense of purpose.
Yet outwardly, Hen maintained her flawless deanor. She remained diligent in her duties involving spiritual veins, and no one except He Zhu, who knew her best, noticed anything amiss with the Spirit Maiden.
This left He Zhu feeling confused and uneasy. She tried asking Hen about it several tis, but her questions were always t with vague, evasive answers.
After all, she was just an ordinary village girl who had beco a maid. She had only recently turned 16 this year and naturally had no idea how to handle such incomprehensible situations. With no other options, she could only choose to wait and observe.
Before long, the year-end of the 999th year of the Four Saints Era approached.
As the Spirit Maiden of Western Origin, Hen voluntarily proposed to the Saint of Western Origin that she undertake a sacred tour across the land, inspect the various counties, and celebrate with the common people. Her suggestion was approved.
What followed was a series of unexpected events, leading up to the present mont.
“A subtle change in personality, you say…”
He Zhu’s explanation sounded unbelievable. The idea that Hen had been swapped with soone else seed too simplistic. However, Violet, with her broader perspective and experience as an isekai traveller, could understand such a situation. In fact, this explanation made it easier to make sense of the strange behavior of the Spirit Maiden.
The na [Hen] wasn’t sothing the priestess considered purely coincidental.
Though it was unlikely Hen was the person Violet once knew, it was also improbable that there was no connection at all between the two. There were many possible explanations, but until she found Hen herself, the priestess wasn’t ready to draw any conclusions.
“So, you think the Spirit Maiden knew about this attack beforehand? What’s your reasoning?”
He Zhu nodded, cautiously glancing at the group of Spirit Guards patrolling in the distance. She then leaned in and whispered softly,
“Actually… shortly before the stone bridge collapsed and we were ambushed, I distinctly saw the Spirit Maiden sitting opposite us. For a brief mont, she smiled slightly, as if talking to herself.”
“That’s a habit of Hen’s. Even though she didn’t make a sound, I know her too well. I could roughly guess what she said just by reading her lips…”
The girl’s expression turned serious as she spoke.
“She said sothing like this at the ti: [After waiting so long, it’s finally here?].”
“Oh…?”
Now this was getting interesting.
The habit He Zhu described was sothing Violet’s friend, Hen, also had.
Hen was soone who appeared cold and distant on the outside, quiet and reserved, rarely speaking more than a few words in a day. Yet her inner emotions were remarkably vivid. When her emotions beca too overwhelming to suppress, she would resort to this silent self-talk as a way to release so of the pressure.
Even Violet had only discovered this subtle trait after working closely with her for years.
Based on the current information, it seed clear that the current events were still unfolding within the Western Origin Spirit Maiden’s plans. At the very least, her safety likely wasn’t a concern.
In fact, Hen even had the presence of mind during the attack to ensure the survival of her adoptive elder sister, He Zhu. Perhaps even going beyond that…
“Oh, right, my lady! There’s one more thing… I think I should tell you.”
“Hm?”
The priestess paused her thoughts and turned to look at the maid, who she had initially thought was just a minor figure but had repeatedly revealed crucial information.
“What is it?”
Seemingly ready to spill everything, this ti He Zhu didn’t hesitate much and spoke directly:
“Although I don’t know where the Spirit Maiden is now, there was one thing… After she suddenly started acting strange, as if possessed, I once mustered the courage to sneak a peek at a letter she was writing. Though most of it was imdiately covered up, I managed to glimpse a few words addressed to the recipient. The words I saw were [Peach Blossom Peak, Cangyun Mountain.]”
“That place might hold so extraordinary clues. Perhaps it could help in your search…”
“Hmm, Peach Blossom Peak, Cangyun Mountain… Wait, did you just say [Cangyun Mountain]?”
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