How Everything Came About

Even though Mingyu, the young master of Ling jiā, had been blessed with allure and intellect, if one were to get too close to him, he was bound to drag them straight down to hell, no matter that person's identity. This was due to one very regrettable fact: Ling Mingyu had been cursed on the day of his birth. Many people had not only heard about this fact but also, if they dared to engage with the young master, bared witness to it.

However, even though his infamy had spread through the ranks of society like a wildfire on a hot summer's day, few were actually familiar with how this great tragedy had come to be. One could even go as far as saying that less than three people that were alive today knew exactly what had happened on that fateful morning, and only two of those had been there to actually witness it. The others - and certainly there were many such people present at the time the curse had been cast - had all met less than fortunate endings. As a matter of course, Mingyu himself did not remember the day he was cursed. He had just been born a few hours ago after all! Nonetheless, he had heard the story plenty of times from his old but faithful butler Gui, as part of his great efforts in searching for clues in how to lift the blight.

It was the fifteenth of march, the sun had barely started peeking out from behind the green hills surrounding Ling family's estate, and small flower buds had started to form on the grand garden's many wisteria. Whenever old Gui had recounted this scene, Mingyu would always see his kind, wrinkly face show a sad, nostalgic smile. In a hoarse voice he would say:" Ah Yu, it was as if the heavens had shown its beauty just in time for your arrival into this world... that despicable woman just had to ruin it!" and he would shake his head in regret. 'That despicable woman' was none other than Ling Jingguo's, his father's, mistress.

Sadly, it was not uncommon for rich, accomplished men in powerful positions in Huáxià to cheat on their spouse with one or more other women. If there were no male heirs to take over the business by the time they chose to retire, or if their children had somehow disgraced themselves, they would even go as far as to bring their illegitimate sons into the household. On a few occasions, especially heartless men even dared to bring their mistresses and offspring into the main household without such reasons. The legitimate wife and children, who were under the care of such an immensely powerful person, could do nothing but angrily grit their teeth and silently endure. What else was there to be done? One would surely suffer even more gravely if one dared to make trouble for such an unscrupulous person, who had never ending rescources and connections! Hence, these uncaring and selfish men never recieved punishment for their immoral actions. In the case of real estate mogul Ling Jingguo though, it was different!

His mistress was as seductive as she was deadly, a toxic but fragrant flower that would poison you if you were to smell its sweet scent for too long: she was a practitioner of powerful taoist black magic. This woman was the kind of sorceress that could invoke evil spirits to do her bidding, poison her enemies, and command vile parasites known as gū. She was proud, fierce, and passionate, just the type of woman that made the Ling family patriarch unable to take his eyes off her. He relentlessly pursued her, sparing no effort to get her into his greedy hands. Unfortunately, she was not at all satisfied with being just another one of her man's playthings. Thus, In order to pacify her fiery temperament, he would promise to give her anything she desired. As a woman who felt that she deserved only the best, the thing she wanted most was, naturally, be his one and only, taking the place of his wife to reign over Ling jia! Status, power, and money. All of that would soon lay in the palms of her delicate hands! But, as everybody knows, disaster comes from careless talk. When she heard that not only had Ling Jingguo not talked to his wife about divorce whatsoever, but not even his closest friends or gossipy servants had ever even heard of her, she swore to make him suffer a life worse than death!

So it happened, that on Ling Mingyu's birthday, a furious beauty in a black, skin tight dress had stormed into Ling manor's grand banquet hall. Honestly, it had been quite a shocking sight! Many people clothed in expensive attire had gathered to celebrate the arrival of the Ling Patriarch's first son. Of course, an extravagant feast had also been prepared. Big boss Ling, who proudly beared the title 'tiger of real estate', had obviously put a lot of effort into this whole thing. The woman's anger and resentment had reached their peak just as one of Ling family's nurses had come down the stairs with a tiny baby peacefully sleeping in her arms. She had also not missed the look on Ling patriarch's face, who gazed at the newborn as if he was his most treasured posession.

With one swift motion, the sorceress had pulled something out of her purse. Though the onlookers had not been able to clearly see what it was, it seemed to be something akin to a small, black bead. Her face twisting into a viscous smile, she had accurately hurled that thing at the napping Ling Mingyu, who was still being held by the startled nurse. The moment it had made contact with the baby's skin, thick, obsidian mist had enveloped the small child and absorbed into its body. It had seemed like water being soaked up by a sponge. Before the nurse had even completely retreated a few steps and let out a startled "Eh?!", the whole thing had already happened. The banquet hall, apart from the woman' crazed laughter, had been dead silent.

"Ahaha! Ling Jingguo! This will be the downfall of your family! I will reduce you to nothingness, just you wait and see! The precious child you celebrate so much will turn into your worst nightmare... and when you come to me to beg for mercy, I will merrily sit and watch as you live a life worse than you could have ever imagined!" she cackled manically.

Mingyu's father had been the first out of the people present to return to god and had furiously shouted for his personal guards to drag the insane woman away. At that time, the most he had worried about was how he was going to explain that person's outburst without losing face. However, it soon became apparent that this would be the very least of his worries: the first person to fall victim to the influence of Ling Mingyu's curse had already taken her last breath.