The origins of this monster had become all too clear.
She was Xiuzhu, filled with resentment, and she was also that Vengeful Spirit.
But the reason this monster had such a terrifying, indescribable appearance was precisely that part of her was made up of Xiuzhu.
This monster had not existed in her own right. It was Xiuzhu's young imagination that had created her appearance.
In Xiuzhu's short life, perhaps her warmest days had been when Seventh Concubine was still alive, but back then, she had been too young to understand the people and things in this world.
And after Seventh Concubine died, she had spent every day being beaten and berated. When she became able to perceive the people and things in this world, all she perceived was malice.
It was precisely this malice that had given the monster her appearance.
What this monster reflected was, in fact, the ugly side of the human heart.
"When disaster struck the Luo Residence, only one person survived, and that person was Ninth Concubine."
I said, "Why did this monster spare Ninth Concubine even after seeing her? Because Xiuzhu still retained her true nature, thanks to her young age."
"Children show their joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness on their faces. That's their innocent side, so that Vengeful Spirit couldn't influence her completely. Her thoughts were still guided by her true nature."
"She knew that Ninth Concubine was the only person in the entire Luo Residence who treated her well, so she didn't want to hurt her."
"She warned Seventh Master and me again and again because she liked us, too. She didn't want to see us hurt."
Having learned all this, I looked at the monster again. Her appearance had not changed, yet somehow, I felt she no longer seemed quite so terrifying.