Ting Yin was stunned. “These… these children all came out from that heart?”
“They were sealed inside,” Wen Ling explained, looking at the children. “That black heart used dark arts to seal the children’s souls. These children must have been brutally killed by having their hearts ripped out while still alive, experiencing immense suffering before death. The seal forced them to relive that pain repeatedly even after death, deepening their Resentment and resentment. I just broke the seal and erased the memories of their painful deaths, so they’ve returned to their original forms.”
“Oh heavens, what kind of heartless demon would do such things to so many children!” Ting Yin covered her mouth in horror. Looking at the children again, she no longer found them frightening but pitiful instead.
After a brief moment of confusion, the children instinctively turned toward Wen Ling, who naturally exuded an affinity.
As the last Word Spirit in the world, Wen Ling’s pure aura made the children feel comfortable. They instinctively crawled toward her, repeatedly calling out, “Mommy! Mommy!”
Wen Ling: “…”
Things were developing in a direction she couldn’t control!
Soon, she was covered in chubby toddlers. Fortunately, these chubby toddlers were soul bodies; otherwise, they would have overwhelmed and crushed her.
Wen Ling felt her ears were about to burst from the constant cries of “Mommy!”
With great effort, she peeled the chubby toddlers off her body and said sternly, “Line up and stand properly, or I’ll spank your bottoms!”
As she spoke, she pulled down a chubby toddler who was climbing toward her face and gave its bottom a crisp spank.
Only then did the group of children settle down, each covering their bottoms in a comical manner.
Wen Ling got straight to the point: “You can’t stay in the mortal realm any longer. I’ll open the Gate of Rebirth for you. Hurry up and go down to be reincarnated. You had bad luck this time, encountering such a tragedy. As compensation, your next life should allow you to be reborn into a better fate.”
With that, she waved her small hand again, and a simple wooden door appeared above the room—the Gate of Rebirth leading to the underworld.
These children were young and had died unjustly. Without guidance, it would be difficult for them to descend and be reincarnated on their own. If they wandered aimlessly in the mortal realm for too long, they would eventually be reduced to ashes.
Fortunately, they were young and died at an age when they understood little about the world, so they had no unfinished wishes.
Guided by Wen Ling, they all obediently lined up and descended.
Several toddlers, still babbling, hugged Wen Ling before leaving and said adorably with unclear speech, “Sister, you’re so kind. In my next life, I’ll be your child!”
According to rough estimates, about twenty to thirty children said something similar.
Wen Ling: “…That’s completely unnecessary!!”
She didn’t plan to have even one child, let alone twenty or thirty!
It took a full half-hour until all the children had left, except for one five-year-old girl who remained.
This little girl was exceptionally beautiful and delicate, with a red mole in the center of her forehead. Judging by her Physiognomy, she should have lived a life of wealth and honor, with longevity. However, at the age of five, she would face a hurdle. If she overcame it, her life would be smooth sailing.
But now she had become a wandering spirit, clearly with no past to return to.
The little girl had kept letting others go first while queuing, always moving to the back of the line.
Now everyone else had left, leaving only her behind.
Wen Ling watched it lingering before the Gate of Rebirth and took the initiative to ask, “What’s wrong? Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?”
The little girl was five years old, her speech only just beginning to clear.
Seeing Wen Ling was approachable, she gestured with her hands and feet, saying, “Sister, I miss my parents. When I ran out of the house, I didn’t tell them. If I leave now, will I never see them again?”
“Can you take me to find my parents? My parents have money.”
Money?!
Wen Ling caught the keyword and cleared her throat, saying, “Money isn’t really the point. It’s mainly that I’m kind-hearted and can’t bear to see child spirits like you with unfinished wishes.”
“Really?!” The little girl’s eyes lit up instantly.
She immediately began introducing herself: “I am the only daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang. Last month during the Lantern Festival, I sneaked out to see the lanterns and ended up encountering kidnappers. When I woke up again, I was locked in a pitch-black cellar. I don’t remember what happened after that.”
“Sister, my parents only have me as their daughter. If I disappear, they will definitely look for me. My body is already gone without a trace. If I leave without saying goodbye, they will keep searching forever. My mother isn’t in good health, so even if I have to go, I should at least let her be at peace.”
“Oh, right, my surname is Gao, my given name is Yueyuan, and my childhood name is Yuanyuan.”
Gao Yueyuan seemed to be a precocious child. Though only five years old and still stumbling over her words when speaking at length, her meaning and logic were clear.
Wen Ling nodded: “I understand. Your final wish is to meet your parents and say goodbye. After that, you’re willing to leave, right?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Gao Yueyuan nodded vigorously. “My family has money, plenty of it. I’ll tell my parents to reward you generously!”
Wen Ling said with a straight face, “I’ve already said, I’m simply helping out of kindness. This isn’t about money.”
Ting Yin beside her: “…”
Madam, if your eyes weren’t shining so brightly, I might have almost believed you!
Wen Ling casually picked up the wooden tea tray from the table, split it open, and fashioned it into a thin wooden plaque, allowing Gao Yueyuan’s soul body to attach to it and have a relatively comfortable place to reside.
By the time all this was done, the previously overcast, dark-as-night sky outside had cleared. The mist dispersed, and sunlight broke powerfully through the clouds, driving away the gloom and darkness.
Outside, the sound of Gao Zhi pounding on the door had gradually faded without notice, and by now, there was no more knocking.
Only then did Wen Ling open the room door.
Gao Zhi’s ghost was indeed standing outside.
Her ghostly form looked even more terrifying than her hanged corpse—her face was ghastly pale, her eyes rolled back with no pupils, only whites, and her long tongue hung out, dripping with saliva.
She was enveloped in thick Black Qi, identical to that emanating from the black heart, clearly having transformed into a vengeful spirit.
Earlier, it was because the formation’s core inside had attracted her, making her constantly knock to get in.
Now that the formation’s core had vanished, she had lost her target and simply lingered there, wandering aimlessly.
As soon as Wen Ling emerged, sensing the aura of a living person, she immediately extended her tongue and lunged forward.
Wen Ling merely extended a single finger, tracing a circle in the air toward her, and a glowing golden chain materialized, binding her tightly.
“Ah! You wretch!”
“Let me go! It’s all because of you, you wretch, that I died!”
“If you had died, I wouldn’t have! You’re the one who killed me!”
Bound by the golden ethereal chain, Gao Zhi struggled frantically, black qi sizzling and crackling around her.
It seemed as though she wanted to charge forward and perish together with Wen Ling.