When Li Xin lowered her head and stood in front of Li Shuning, she still felt a bit uneasy inside, as she had a guilty conscience. However, her face did not betray any trace of her feelings. The things she had experienced were so incredible that they had equipped her with a mask she wore whenever facing any situation.
"Sister Xin, have a seat."
Li Xin responded softly, "Yes, Miss."
"Sister Xin, tell me about what happened that day," Li Shuning looked at Li Xin with a calm expression.
Li Xin immediately raised her head, a hint of sorrow on her face, and her eyes slightly glistening with tears, making her appear delicate and pitiful, compelling a desire to console her.
"Miss, I was really frightened that day. I didn't expect your fiancé to be like that, and without any guards, I was petrified. Later, when you left, I tried to follow, but Nangong Yu stopped me. He thought I was on your side and wanted me to speak for him. I'm sorry, Miss, it's all my fault for failing in my duties."
Despite her young age, Li Xin had already reached the Third Layer in Body Refinement and was in charge of Li Shuning's safety. This lapse in security was indeed a failure on Li Xin's part as her shadow.
Suddenly, Li Shuning stood up and came in front of Li Xin. When Li Xin tried to rise, Li Shuning pressed her shoulders down to stop her. "Sister Xin, don't blame yourself. It's okay. Don't I believe you? That day, I left alone because, first, having just awakened my superpower, my mind was in turmoil. Also, seeing Nangong Yu's true colors was nauseating. Secondly, I had a gut feeling that it was dangerous. If you had followed me, you might have been implicated. Isn't it better like this?"
Seeing Li Shuning's familiar smile, Li Xin's heart felt a bit relieved. It seemed that the Miss was still the same timid, cowardly person she always was. Even after awakening her spiritual ability, she still hadn't "shown any promise." Thankfully, Li Xin had been so worried for a moment earlier.
Li Xin gradually relaxed and, in response to Li Shuning's invitation, even had a cup of tea and a piece of dessert.
Slowly, the two began chatting and laughing as if no barrier existed between them, as though nothing had ever happened.
However, what Li Xin did not know was that during the conversation with her, Li Shuning had already started using her spiritual ability within the dialogue and through her gaze.
Unknowingly, Li Xin's eyes began to grow vacant, and her speech became increasingly mechanical.
Li Shuning, however, breathed a sigh of relief. The hypnosis was successful.
Li Shuning trusted her instincts, believing that something was wrong with Li Xin. People from neither the collateral branches nor the Nangong Family mentioned Li Xin, and yet it was the esteemed Marshal who selected her. Nevertheless, she still felt something was off about Li Xin.
So, summoning Li Xin this time, she aimed to test her spiritual power ability, as the Jade Crystal left by her mother detailed methods to hypnotize people with weaker willpower and cultivation.
In her former world, hypnosis wasn't so simple. Spiritual Ability Users were genuinely terrifying.
However, Li Shuning did not immediately proceed with interrogation. Instead, she wrapped Li Xin with spiritual energy again to make her more relaxed.
"Who are you?"
"I am Li Xin, the shadow of the Li Family's first daughter." An empty sounding voice came through.
"Whose idea was it to take Miss out a few days ago?"
Li Xin's face revealed a strange smile, "It was my idea. I knew someone was targeting the Miss, so I quietly took her out, allowing those people to exploit a gap; otherwise, even with a plan, they would find no opportunity."
This Li Xin was indeed problematic.
"Why did you do that? You must know you are the Miss's shadow."
Li Xin's face twisted into a snarl, "Yes, I am her shadow, so I adhered to the duties of a shadow all this time. But what did I get? Dedicating myself wholeheartedly for her, she was good for nothing, yet happily alongside Yu, rising to the pinnacle of this planet and, because of Yu, becoming the Marshal's wife. And I, alone and in pain from ailments, overlooked by everyone, ultimately mistaken for her, abducted and tortured until they realized I wasn't the Miss. I died miserably. My past life, how tragic."
The more Li Shuning listened, the more puzzled she became. This woman's words seemed to deviate from the original context, yet she did not interrupt.
"Even heaven thought this world unfair, so it gave me another chance. How can I follow the old path? The Miss died; Nangong Yu no longer belonged to her. I then saw my opportunity."
"As her shadow, I still had chances to talk to Yu. I am not inferior, and believe that Yu would come to love me one day. Only I am worthy of him. My cultivation talent and strength can aid him. Thus, one day, I would become the new Marshal's wife."
Li Shuning was somewhat speechless. Could that Nangong Yu indeed become the Marshal? Yes, according to the data she received, the eventual outcome was Nangong Yu becoming the Marshal, but that was barely achieved with the vast resources provided by the Li Family. Without them, he'd face immense difficulties in advancing, let alone becoming the Marshal, despite being a budding genius.
Li Xin's words were full of jealousy, and she spoke of future events, identifying her as a reborn individual.
If she could become this world's Li Shuning, then Li Xin had the opportunity for rebirth too. Or did she have those tickets too?
Moreover, didn't Li Xin succeed too?
Had she not appeared, Li Shuning would have been dead.
Was the original world so off track that she ended up here?
But it doesn't seem right. Her appearance diverged this world's trajectory; the two originally together had now separated. Nangong Yu and she no longer had any connection.
If her mission failed, she would face eternal destruction, never to return. Given she's still alive here, it means her mission hasn't failed.
What exactly is the mission? To simply live on, or does she bear some responsibility? Li Shuning couldn't figure it out.
If she couldn't understand, she decided not to dwell on it further. Li Shuning then asked Li Xin several questions, about the future and the past too.
Once the questioning was done, under Li Shuning's control, Li Xin fell asleep.
When Li Xin awoke, she found herself half-lying on the sofa, with no one else around.
Li Shuning did not act against Li Xin. As the task was still unclear, she decided not to deviate too far from the track.
Despite having already strayed from the path, and knowing of Li Xin's ulterior motives, she chose to wait and see.
Feeling a bit panicked upon waking, Li Xin had a vague sensation that she had said something, yet had no recollection of it. She only remembered eating and chatting, but had no impression of what happened afterwards, and didn't even know how she fell asleep. Had she said something wrong?