88 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Chapter 88 "This matter is merely our speculations," he clarified with her. "The specifics might require you to investigate it yourself." She looked up, puzzled. "What?" He handed her a marked map. "Do you remember this map?" She hesitated, turning it over without speaking. He knew she didn't remember but didn't expose her. Instead, he followed the flow, saying, "It's no wonder if you don't recall it. It looks different than it did when you handed it to me." With a wave of his hand, the icy green map reverted to its original bronze color, revealing previously vanished markings. "This is how it originally looked. You insisted on giving me this map to thank me for saving your life. Frankly, if it weren't for this map, I might not have reached you in time to save you from Qiuqiao and those with him." Her attention was caught by the markings as her fingertip traced over them. "So, it's this." "While you rested, we learned from Qiuqiao that he harmed you for this map, which is related to a secret realm." He drew the map's marking, turning it over and imprinting it on the map, as if to unlock the secret realm. When the symbol of the Tearblood Devil Domain appeared, her breath caught, and she clenched the map, barely maintaining her composure. She forced herself to remain calm. "This mark..." He seemed oblivious to her reaction. "Is this the mark of the Tearblood Devil Domain? Have you seen it?" "No," she shook her head vigorously, eyes fixated on the mark. "No, I haven't." He pondered inwardly. "The mark seals the gate of the secret realm." He glanced at her partner, who then described their discovery of the Heavenly Heart Lotus in the secret realm to her. However, they did not divulge his experiences or the inheritance within. He reflected on her earlier reaction. To the system, he said, "What do you think?" "Huh?" The system was bewildered. Such a sudden question left it at a loss. It knew nothing. "Did you find anything new?" Its intelligence was limited, eagerly seeking knowledge! Internally, he rolled his eyes. "You know parallel worlds can develop differently, right?" "Hmm, yes." The heroine had undergone sudden death, crossed realms, and reincarnated; it's natural to think they're different. "I speculated before that she might be the deceased protagonist Shen Wanqing. So, if that's true, how exactly did she die 'unexpectedly'?" The system shook its head, much like a drum. "I don't know." An accident isn't an accident if it's anticipated. "Just now, her reaction to the Tearblood Devil Domain mark was intense, similar to realizing her link to him." That much was clear to the system as well. He, along with others, hadn't expressed suspicion towards her, so she assumed her facade was intact. But she truly couldn't hide her emotions; they were practically written on her face—fitting the character of Shen Wanqing. Naturally, she was tricked into seeking false spiritual roots. Without such an innocent heart, wouldn't her openness attract the male lead's attention? The system mulled it over. "She seems to recognize the mark." He replied, "You mentioned the marked domain differs from the portrayed version, possibly altered after his ascension." The system confirmed it. "Yes." "Then, continuing suspicion: if she's the late heroine, why does she know of him, why does she remember his era mark, why does she react so?" The system asked dumbly, "Why?" "Is it possible..." He proposed a theory, capturing the system's attention. This tone meant another mystery was unraveling. "In an alternate world, if he hadn't ascended, would he maintain control over the domain? And after she left the sect, might she have been captured and killed by him?" The system, startled, added, "Right. If he were her killer, discovering her rebirth as his daughter could evoke disgust... hence her reaction to the mark." "She may have been killed by the Tearblood Domain, leaving their mark—so it's possible she saw it when captured." "Indeed." He nodded. The system couldn't fault the theory. "Master, you're brilliant! That's likely it." His mind unmoved by praise, he shifted thoughts. "The main quest status?" The system checked, replying, "Exploring her mystery (Part Four) still shows incomplete." He raised a brow. "Strange. Does that mean I'm wrong about her being a reincarnated heroine?" The system scratched its head. "Probably not—the mission doesn't require her identity to be reported." "Oh?" he queried lightly. The system scratched its head again. "It means... your completion is ahead of the system's task. The system's unlock requires tasks to progress through." Like having quest strategies but needing to complete prerequisites first—the system sympathized. "You mean I must guess system quests and complete them to confirm my theory on her?" he asked. The system responded awkwardly, "Series tasks work like that; not independent... As you delve deeper, your task completion aligns with progressing step by step." "It seems your system is unnecessarily rigid." Pretending to play dead, the system couldn't argue beyond trivial task manipulations. He stopped engaging with the system. The room remained quiet after recounting the Heavenly Heart Lotus's story. She stayed silent, her thoughts unknown. After a while, she asked, "How did the former sect leader die?" He replied, "He was killed." She was shocked. "Weren't they... lovers?" Selecting the term with care. He revealed, "Based on what the former sect leader left, during the lotus's maturation, his perspective shifted." She contemplated. "Did he want them for himself?" They slightly nodded in agreement. Her partner continued, "We surmise during collection, he was discovered..." She suddenly scoffed. "My origin is laughable, isn't it? Born a monster, must leave parents for foster care, with a father driven by greed, a mother who is my father's killer." "And how did my adoptive family perish? Does it relate to that 'mother'?" A self-deprecating joke, yet their silence suggested she hit the mark. Her voice shook with fatigue. "What else do you know? Tell me everything." Yun Mixue glanced at him, who subtly shook his head. He then addressed her, "No, we are still unclear about how the Qiao family was exterminated. If you wish to find out, you might need to investigate it yourself." However, she noticed the subtle gesture exchanged between him and Yun Mixue. "No, you definitely know something more. Tell me!" Under her persistent questioning, he finally acquiesced, albeit reluctantly. "The information may not be reliable..." "Our intel suggests that the massacre of the Qiao family might be related to the Heavenly Slayer Demon Sect." Upon disclosing this, Yun Mixue shot him a knowing glance, questioning why he led her on only to provide half-truths. He communicated to Yun Mixue telepathically, "She will find out eventually. Our speculations are just that—speculation. Overexplaining might arouse her suspicions. It's better she uncovers the truth herself; then she will truly believe it." Her reaction to his words was indeed one of surprise. She had presumed he'd connect the matter to the Tearblood Devil Domain, not an unfamiliar sect. "What sect is this?" "It is a sect of demon cultivators opposed to the Tearblood Devil Domain," he explained. "As for why they targeted the Qiao family, we are unsure." She leaned back in her chair. "Enemies with the Tearblood Devil Domain, huh. It doesn’t mean it’s unrelated to them." Her casual comment matched his suspicions closely. She thought it was retaliation against the Tearblood Devil Domain, whereas his theory pointed to different shadowy influences. Seeing her dejection, he tentatively asked, "Are you...?" She collected herself, wiped her face, and forced a smile. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. I've been through a lot lately; this is nothing." "So, I just gained a pair of peculiar parents? It’s not a big deal. In my heart, the Qiao family division and my grandfather are my real family." "As for them, they're just another story I happened to hear." Taking a deep breath, she stood. "Have Elder Sister and you finished what you wanted to tell me? Let's go to the main Qiao household."