Volume One, Chapter Six: Fifth Sister’s Face—A Sign of Many Children and Blessings

Huang Cheng was taken aback.

This... this wasn’t just a nickname—it was Yan Chu, known as “Ghost’s Bane”!

Back then, when the spirits of the underworld escaped due to lax supervision, she and her master, the Taoist Tian Heng, worked together to subdue the fleeing ghosts.

Despite her youth, this young woman’s strength was not to be underestimated.

Yan Chu smiled gently, dimples appearing on her cheeks. “Senior Huang, I came to ask you to escort this one back to the underworld.”

She handed over a demon containment bag.

Huang Cheng gauged its weight and immediately recognized the grade of the trapped spirit inside.

This ghost was skilled at attaching itself to humans, making it difficult for the underworld’s guards to detect.

Yet Yan Chu had managed to subdue it completely.

A look of respect softened Huang Cheng’s weathered face. “Miss Yan, you truly have a heart for doing good. I’ll take it back to the underworld for strict custody at once!”

Sweat dripped down Huang Cheng’s brow.

The escape of a demon was a grave failure on his part as an underworld officer. If this young lady reported it to the Underworld Emperor...

Yan Chu nodded. “I’ll catch more little demons to bring back. It will surely earn my master considerable merit. Please be sure to log it promptly.”

With that, Yan Chu turned and left.

Huang Cheng wiped his sweat.

Was this just to clear the account for Taoist Tian Heng?

He had overthought it; Yan Chu’s visit was simply to have the demon locked away, not to warn him.

What a scare...

Not long after Yan Chu left the villa complex, a luxury car pulled up before her.

The window rolled down, revealing Gu Chenxiao’s finely sculpted profile.

“Get in,” he said clearly, his voice calm and warm. “When we meet the elders later, don’t be too formal.”

Yan Chu nodded and got in.

The car sped off, and the two sat in silence.

Stepping out, Yan Chu immediately sensed a dense, malevolent aura.

Outside the lavish Gu family villa, a dark mist clung like a heavy cloud.

Yan Chu frowned.

It seemed this house harbored some evil presence!

Such overwhelming killing intent would have killed ordinary people long ago.

Fortunately, the Gu family was wealthy and noble; the home’s aura protected its occupants’ lives.

Seeing Yan Chu’s solemn expression, Gu Chenxiao thought she was just nervous and slowed his pace to walk beside her into the house.

—

As soon as Yan Chu entered, Grandmother Gu warmly greeted her, taking her hand with a bright smile.

“So this is Taoist’s little disciple Yan Chu? Truly beautiful!”

Yan Chu smiled gently, feeling a bit shy as she called out, “Mother...”

This delighted Grandmother Gu immensely.

Oh my, this girl was not only beautiful but sweet-natured—a perfect little darling!

“Oh, Yan Chu, quickly sit. Make yourself at home!” Grandmother Gu led her into the living room.

Eight women sat on the sofa, all smiling kindly at Yan Chu.

She politely greeted, “Hello, sisters,” her gaze briefly scanning them.

It settled finally on a woman dressed in purple.

“Hm? Sister, have you been crying?” Yan Chu asked, noticing her eyes were swollen like walnuts.

Grandmother Gu, fond of Yan Chu and feeling an instant kinship, spoke openly.

“Yan Chu, this is your fifth sister. She’s been married two years but hasn’t borne a child. Her husband plans to divorce her.”

“Mother!” Gu Xingyue protested, “Family troubles shouldn’t be aired publicly. What are you saying?”

“Yan Chu isn’t a stranger; she’s the little disciple of the famous Taoist soothsayer. Have Yan Chu help you; maybe she can bless you with a child.”

“A charlatan,” Gu Xingyue snapped, clearly displeased.

But Yan Chu’s next words stunned Gu Xingyue.

“Your fifth sister’s features show many children and blessings. Two years without pregnancy is likely due to a curse.”

Gu Xingyue’s previous sorrow vanished, replaced by fierce anger.

“A curse?! Sounds like you’re the one cursing me, you fraud!”

Yan Chu frowned, her youthful face showing a hint of helplessness.

Gu Chenxiao’s fifth sister had a sharp temper, but Yan Chu wasn’t speaking nonsense.

When she arrived, she clearly saw two heavenly child spirits guarding the door.

These celestial children were reincarnated heavenly beings or their soul fragments, yet they dared not enter.

Clearly, some evil presence inside repelled even them.

If any, it must be on the fifth sister!

Grandmother Gu patted Gu Xingyue’s back, signaling her to calm down.

The other seven sisters also gently advised her.

Still, Gu Xingyue glared at Yan Chu with resentment.

“Chenxiao, your new wife says such ominous things on her very first day here. With her manners, is she even fit to enter the Gu family?”

Gu Chenxiao recalled the first time he met Yan Chu—how he’d been struck by lightning after breaking off an engagement—and twitched his eyelid.

This woman really must be allowed in.

Suddenly, a furious voice approached from outside.

“Gu Xingyue, come out here!”

The man entered, dressed sharply in a suit, speaking as if fired up.

Seeing so many around Gu Xingyue, his tone softened immediately.

“Xingyue, divorce is our private matter. Why bring all your family here?”

A golden light flashed before Yan Chu’s eyes; she instantly recognized the man.

Gao Yuanxiang, the sole heir for generations, was upset that Gu Xingyue had no children. At thirty-seven, his family pressured him. If she couldn’t conceive by year’s end, divorce was mandatory.

Gu Xingyue, proud, planned to refuse the divorce, but before she could speak, Yan Chu cut in.

“You want a divorce because your fifth sister bore no children. But I see her fate promises twins—a boy and a girl—this year.”

She could tell the two heavenly child spirits were a boy and a girl.

Her words dropped like cold water into hot oil, stirring the atmosphere.

Gu Xingyue had sought world-renowned doctors for infertility, all unsuccessful. Gao Yuanxiang had undergone medical exams—everything normal.

If even experts couldn’t find a cause, how could Yan Chu pronounce such a judgment lightly?

Except for Gu Chenxiao, everyone doubted her, even Grandmother Gu found it hard to believe.

Yan Chu raised her hand, and a gossip detector suddenly appeared in her palm.

Its needle swung, settling on the necklace around Gu Xingyue’s neck.

“Fifth sister, who gave you this necklace?”

Gu Xingyue touched the pendant—a Childbearing Guanyin. “My husband got it at a temple. Why?”

Yan Chu was concise.

“The Childbearing Guanyin is a lucky charm, but this necklace is an imperial burial relic. Wearing it is inauspicious.”

Her words directly implicated Gao Yuanxiang.

He had given her the necklace, and Gu Xingyue’s infertility was undoubtedly tied to him.

Gu Chenxiao’s deep eyes flickered with fleeting interest.

This girl was becoming more and more intriguing.

Already thinking Yan Chu was spouting nonsense, and now accusing her husband, Gu Xingyue’s anger flared. She reached out to strike her.

Gu Chenxiao firmly grasped her wrist, his voice cold.

“Lashing out at your junior sister does not suit your status as fifth sister.”

Gu Xingyue struggled and pulled her hand free.

“Chenxiao, didn’t you hear what your wife said? She’s slandering your brother-in-law!”