A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Li Lei looked at her with no intention to move.

Xia Ling mustered her courage and exchanged glares with him. Their line of sight was the source of tension in the atmosphere. They were negotiating.

She was defeated eventually and choked on her words. “Li Lei, don’t be such a bully!” All her grievances rose inside her, sincerely regretting getting involved with such a person.

That choke was a stab to his heart.

What was wrong with him? How could he force his beloved to a dead end like that? He wanted so much to protect her, to give her the best, but how did they end up in such a state?

Li Lei clenched his fist out of her sight. A while later, he released it and got off.

Xia Ling could not believe he let it go like that, but could not think further as she took the opportunity to change. He waited until she was done changing before getting into the car. He darted a glance at her and called the chauffeur back.

As the car traveled on the expressway, none of them spoke a word.

Xia Ling’s heart was beating rapidly, afraid of provoking him again.

Li Lei sat by the window in the back, like he did before, and looked at her side profile. With the makeup off, there was no way she could hide the haggardness on her face; it must have had been hard on her recently.

How he wished he could just reach out to her and embrace her in his arms.

But looking at her fearful expression, he resisted the urge.

Xia Ling looked out the window.

She thought that he was just taking her to a nearby temple. But after they arrived at the airport, they got on a flight and then proceeded on another car ride before finally reaching the depths of a mountain where a small, quiet temple stood.

“It’s more effective here.” He explained briefly when he saw the skepticism on her face.

Xia Ling did not ask anything and quietly followed him into the temple, knelt down, and said her silent prayers. What should she pray for? She hoped that the deities would bless her with a life of freedom, away from the authoritarians who forced things upon her…

She did not know whether it would come true, but there was nothing more she wanted besides this.

After placing her joss sticks, Li Lei took her to look for the curator.

The curator was an old man in a loose-fitting robe. His palms were together as they spoke, and he instructed a little novice monk to lead Xia Ling into a female-only room to rest.

He stayed with Li Lei and went to a private room to talk.

“So she’s the one?” He asked.

“Yes.” The worry in Li Lei’s eyes had replaced the nonchalance he displayed throughout the journey. “Abbot, what do you think about Xiao Ling? Does she really have the life of a widow like my grandfather said?”

That was the main reason he took Xia Ling there. He refused to believe his grandfather’s words about Xia Ling, and would not give up until he came to consult a higher monk. This abbot had had close relations with the Li family and often provided them with insights about fengshui. Moreover, Old Master Li had picked up his many skills from this abbot.

The abbot was in deep thought for a while before speaking, “From her look, she really does appear to have the life of a widow. I’ve told you that when you sent me a photo of her previously.” But Li Lei did not want to accept it, he thought that her look in the photo might be misleading, and insisted on taking her there in person. Why were the heavens playing such a trick on this ill-fated couple?

The abbot looked at Li Lei with sympathy.

Li Lei’s heart sank when he saw that expression, “Are there no other possibilities?”

“There are some areas, but they are hard to explain,” the abbot spoke slowly. That was also why he did not object to Li Lei bringing her in person — just like Old Master Li, just by examining her looks, there was no way this girl could make it to adulthood. But according to Li Lei, she was already 18.

“Did you bring along her birth date and her Eight Characters?” the abbot asked.

“I did.” Li Lei frantically handed over a slip of paper.

The abbot did a few calculations according to what was written on the paper. As he progressed, he looked increasingly somber.

“Is something wrong?” Li Lei asked apprehensively.

The abbot looked up. “My skills are limited, it seems like we need to consult a higher priest regarding her case.” Even with her Eight Characters taken into consideration, he had concluded that she still had the life of a widow. What exactly was wrong? Fortunately, he had specially invited a higher priest along to analyze the case with him when he found something amiss and complex beyond his understanding the very first time he saw her photo.

“Who’s this person?” Li Lei asked. As far as he knew, this abbot was already an expert in this field, who could be even better than him?

The abbot simply smiled but did not provide an answer.

He got Li Lei to sit in a room and wait while he took the slip of paper along with him.

Li Lei suggested. “I’ll go with you.” He was interested and dedicated in everything that concerned Xiao Ling.

The abbot stopped him. “He isn’t somebody to be trifled with. Even if your grandfather was the one asking, he might not agree to meet him. Young Master Lei, listen to me, please wait in the room. If he’s willing to meet you, he will, but if he isn’t… it’d be better not to offend him.”

There was bound to be some mystery and taboo in such fields.

Li Lei did not want to create trouble nor provoke the higher priest in question. Growing up with Old Master Li, he had heard countless stories of strange and seemingly supernatural tales, and definitely had some belief in their forces.

He forced himself to sit quietly and wait.

The abbot took the slip of paper containing her Eight Characters and followed a narrow path to the backyard, opening the door to a room.

It was not a big room, but was kept neat and tidy, and had nothing but a desk. By the table stood a man in a white shirt, clean-cut and looking younger than he was. He exuded an aura that made others respect him.

Even the abbot had to stop by the door and politely greet him. “Preceptor Xia.”

He addressed this man as “Preceptor.”

If there was any mysterious family in existence, the Xia family was definitely one of them, since eons ago. Nobody knew where they came from nor the strength of their influence. It was said that the Xia family understood the universe and all of nature and existence fully. Dynasties and generations of people had known them as Masters whom they could only respect but not offend. Only those who held the utmost power and authority, or were the very few forerunners of this field, had the privilege of meeting them in person.

This abbot was one of them.

As he now stood before the youngest and current Master of the Xia family, the abbot was subordinate to him in all manners.