The Young Madam, the Demon Pill First Appears The "Old Geezer" in the Madam's Mouth...

A Heaven-Cursed person, also known as one abandoned by Heaven.

The meaning is simple enough: they are people Heaven itself envies, people who should never have existed in the first place. They generally possess the following traits.

They have an extraordinary destiny and think differently from ordinary people. Once they reach a certain age, they will automatically die young. The most common way is through an accident.

If an accident fails to take them, they will suddenly fall ill for no apparent reason—an incurable illness that carries them away in one clean sweep.

To a certain extent, the very existence of such people disrupts the rules and balance of the world. It is like tossing a needle into a room full of balloons…

The Du family had been the absolute authority in the city of Dahai more than a century ago. Their glory in those days could hardly be described in words. During the most extraordinary of times, they had used the most unscrupulous methods to amass the greatest amount of resources.

In a sense, they had already overturned the balance of things. From that point onward, their family line gradually declined, especially the main branch. Sons became increasingly difficult to produce.

And when they did appear, they would die young in all sorts of bizarre accidents. The family had invited countless people to investigate, but in the end, nothing ever came of it.

Many influential figures from the underworld and wider society had left them with the same piece of advice: do more good deeds…

The Du family took that advice. From then on, they became considerably more restrained and began doing charitable work. Their situation did indeed improve, but…

It only delayed the inevitable to a certain extent.

The early deaths stopped occurring, but so did the births.

Their bloodline became harder and harder to continue. By the current generation, only Du Wanyi remained as the family’s sole descendant—and she had been born to her parents in their old age.

How could they not dote on her?

Even if she burned down the family’s ancestral home, they would simply turn a blind eye and comfort themselves with a few words. The house was still standing, wasn’t it? And besides, if it weren’t…

That might be for the best.

They could build a new house afterward.

Something grander, too.

Did you think they had come to terms with it?

In reality, they simply had no other choice.

There was nothing else they could do but think that way.

This only child had been incredibly difficult to come by. If anything happened to her, the Du family would gradually fall apart. None of the other branches would submit to the others; they recognized only members of the main branch as their leaders.

They were truly united when united, but just as truly divided when divided. The moment they lost their central pillar, the Du family would instantly split from one enormous behemoth into countless sizeable clans.

Having learned from what had happened in the past, the Du family patriarch had invited countless masters to examine the child when she was still very young. Every one of them said there was nothing wrong with her, only that her destiny was somewhat unusual.

But she had been born into the Du family, and she was their only child, born to them late in life. A special destiny was hardly surprising. No one thought much of it.

Instead, they all tried to reassure the Du family patriarch, telling him not to worry and that the child was perfectly healthy…

Old Master Du remained deeply concerned and dared not relax his vigilance. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, he continually hosted all kinds of capable people and unusual experts from across society at his home, inviting them to dinner and asking them to take a look at his daughter while they were there.

Among them were quite a few con artists. They all repeated the same tired lines, praising her as a noble young lady, refined and elegant, graceful and dignified, gentle in manner, and naturally possessed of an air of nobility…

They said whatever compliment came to mind. Once they had finished flattering the family, they waited for dinner and then collected their payment.

Did the Du family take them for fools?

Not at all.

They saw everything clearly and could tell at a glance that these people were only there to freeload. In the past, they would have been chopped into mincemeat on the spot… But killing people was against the law now. This was no longer the Dahai City of a century ago.

One had to be civilized.

Likewise, the Du family had received a certain measure of retribution. Their conduct, and even their general demeanor, had become far more restrained and amiable.

Besides, the Du family had vast wealth. They certainly did not begrudge the cost of a meal. For the sake of their future family head, what did this amount to?

And so, after eating and drinking their way through the years, when Du Wanyi was about five or six years old, her previously healthy body suddenly began to deteriorate.

She would often fall asleep and remain unconscious for several days at a time.

Old Master Du was terrified. Although he had anticipated this day in his heart long ago, when it truly arrived, he was still overwhelmed by a profound sense of helplessness.

Sin was still sin.

This was the Du family’s fate…

After half a year of seeking medical treatment, a miracle finally appeared. An old man with white hair, dressed so plainly that his clothes were almost ragged, appeared at the Du family’s gate.

There was even an inexplicable air of an immortal about him. The Du family members below saw his bearing and immediately scrambled to inform their patriarch.

Mm… That’s right.

Once again, television had deceived everyone.

There was no brain-dead plot development here.

Every person capable of sitting in a position of power was clearheaded. They had already anticipated every possible situation and had instructed those beneath them accordingly: every visitor was a guest and was to be treated well. Even if they knew the other person was a fraud, they were still to greet him with a smile and serve him properly.

If they treated known frauds that way, then naturally they would do even more for someone who clearly looked like a hidden grandmaster.

It was obvious that the white-haired old man before them was exactly that kind of hidden grandmaster!

“Please, have a seat, old sir!” Old Master Du hurried out of the main residence and gestured for him to sit.

The white-haired old man nodded. “You’re only a few years younger than I am, Mr. Du. Calling me ‘old sir’ is giving me rather too much credit.”

“Not at all, old sir. It is only right,” Old Master Du replied, his attitude still impeccable.

“Have you come today to save my daughter?”

There was a hint of excitement in Old Master Du’s voice. His eyes held both exhaustion and hope—the kind of hope wrapped in despair.

The white-haired old man shook his head. “No. I heard there was a fool here… Ahem, I heard that a good man like Mr. Du was hosting guests from all over, so I came to join the feast.”

That had been close. He had almost let it slip…

Old Master Du: “???”

At his words, the faces of the surrounding Du family members changed. Some of them even moved to fetch weapons. How dare he toy with their patriarch!

Old Master Du’s face stiffened and grew somewhat pale. The hope in his eyes faded as well. After standing there for a long while, he could only sigh.

“Of course. You’ve come from afar, and I should show you the proper hospitality. Someone…”

The white-haired old man was graciously received by the Du family outside. Old Master Du then returned to the house and sat beside his daughter, who had been lying in bed unconscious for nearly a week.

On the bed lay a little girl with her eyes tightly closed, as though she were merely asleep. She was five or six years old, with rosy cheeks and a delicate, perfectly carved face.

If only she had not been so troublesome.

In the past, everyone had thought she was a nuisance, forever wrecking things around the house—a little reincarnation of a demon child. They had even privately wished that, just once, she would settle down. How could someone like that ever take charge of the family?

Now she had truly “settled down,” and they regretted it beyond words.

They would rather she had kept causing trouble…

At worst, she would only have burned down the house. It was merely a century-old ancestral residence… If it were gone, they could always rebuild it.

“Old man, is there still no way?” the old woman beside him asked. Her eyes were nearly swollen shut from crying, and fear had already crept into her voice.

There's barely any time left. She's sleeping longer and longer each day, and her body is growing weaker by the minute...

If this keeps up, this year will be her last.

Old Master Du fell silent. "Maybe... this is fate. The fate of our Du family..."

"Waaah... my poor little Wanyi, waaah..."

The room echoed with the old woman's desperate, helpless sobs. They'd been on tenterhooks for years, guarding against every possible disaster, but never imagined this would still happen in the end.

Just like they were saying now — it was all fate.

"Mr. Du, can I come back for a free meal tomorrow?"

Outside the door, the white-haired old man rubbed his full belly as he wandered back in, only to be stopped by the Du family's men.

"Aww, what's the big deal? No need to be so serious. Fine, I won't go in, I'll just leave..."

The white-haired old man put on a disappointed act and turned to go. The Du family guards standing watch outside didn't stop him any further — but then he pulled a sneak attack!

"Gotcha, I'm already in!" The white-haired old man hopped nimbly right into the room.

Old Master Du: "..."

Where on earth did this loon come from?

"Are you wondering if I'm a lunatic?"

The white-haired old man looked straight at the silent Old Master Du.

Old Master Du: "???"

He shot to his feet so fast he nearly knocked his chair over, eyes wide with disbelief. A master! This is a real hidden master!

He nearly dropped to his knees right then and there.

"You guessed right, I am a lunatic." The white-haired old man nodded solemnly.

Old Master Du: "???"

What the actual hell...

"Sir, if you really have a way to save our Wanyi, name any price you want. You can come eat here whenever you like from now on, eat whatever catches your eye..."

"But if you have no way to help, please leave immediately."

The one who spoke was the old woman who'd been sobbing a moment before. Her voice still shook with leftover tears, but her last line carried a clear, sharp warning. It was obvious this old lady was not someone to mess with.

"Really?"

"Ahem, I mean... I'm not doing this for the food at all. I just sincerely want to save the child. After all, there's a saying from Buddhism that goes, 'Heaven loves all living things'."

Old Master Du: "..."

Wait a second, isn't that a Confucian saying?

"Doing good deeds is the duty of every right-minded person. I will do my absolute best!"

"Oh, by the way, about that free food you mentioned earlier..." The white-haired old man raised an eyebrow, circling right back to the topic.

Old Master Du: "..."

The old woman: "..."

After they gave him repeated promises to guarantee the deal, the white-haired old man finally got down to work. Old Master Du and his wife stood to the side, too nervous to disturb him, watching every move closely for fear of missing a single detail... meanwhile, countless figures had appeared silently in the room.

If this strange old man tried any funny business, they'd chop him into mincemeat on the spot.

When the white-haired old man stepped up to the sickbed, his eyes lit up. Perfect! Finally, I've found my successor!

Wake up, my dear apprentice!

He mumbled the words to himself, then a faint wisp of aura wrapped around his body — and *smack smack*, he landed two resounding slaps right across the Young Madam's little face!

Old Master Du and his wife: "???"

You damned old coot, today is going to be your funeral!!!

Three hundred axemen who'd been lying in ambush outside charged into the room all at once.

On the bed, the Young Madam who'd just gotten two hard slaps finally stirred. Her long, delicate eyelashes fluttered, and she suddenly snapped her eyes open.

"WHO THE HELL JUST HIT ME!!!" The first thing the little Du Wanyi did after waking up was hunt down the person who'd slapped her, ready to hack them to pieces.

The entire Du family: "???"

Wait, she actually woke up?!