Ch 104: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The idea of exchanging fates was too bizarre for Shen Yunxuan to process. Unsure if Zhou Yunxuan had someone powerful working behind the scenes, she casually greeted her and returned to her room.

Sitting there, she couldn’t figure out what to do. In her previous life, the Xie family schemed against her to borrow her fortune. In this life, Zhou Yunxuan had directly taken her fate? That ruthless? That capable? But if such a thing was possible, why hadn’t the Xie family simply swapped fates with her?

Shen Yunxuan looked herself over, trying to sense any differences, and glanced around the room. Suddenly, she noticed the light overhead flickering abnormally. She quickly stepped aside, and the bulb exploded! A shard grazed her face, leaving a shallow cut that stung. “Ouch!” she hissed.

The room plunged into darkness, leaving her in silence. Shen Yunxuan gave a wry laugh. “This is just too unlucky. How am I supposed to sleep now?”

A childish giggle echoed in the room. “Hehe, the unlucky one changed today! Mommy, come look! The pretty lady is even unluckier than the mean woman!”

Shen Yunxuan froze and looked up, spotting a little girl with a bruised face, about three years old. Then, a blood-soaked woman floated into view and said to the girl, “Stop playing. Let’s keep our distance. If she absorbs our yin energy, she’ll be even unluckier.”

Shen Yunxuan stared in disbelief. She could see ghosts?

The mother and daughter noticed her gaze. The girl immediately hid behind the woman, who backed away nervously. “You… you can really see us?”

Shen Yunxuan was just as startled. Could it be that her extreme bad luck had brought her into contact with the supernatural? But she had already died once and considered this second chance at life a bonus. The shock wasn’t as overwhelming as it might have been otherwise.

She instinctively felt that the mother and daughter were not malevolent spirits. Tentatively, she asked, “I just started seeing you—I don’t know why. Have you always been here? Have you been watching me and Zhou Yunxuan?”

The woman quickly replied, “We don’t wander around often. We usually avoid people. I know it’s bad for humans to come into contact with yin energy, so I’ve been careful to stay in the corners with my daughter. She was just curious because you seemed so unlucky and came over to look. Please don’t blame her. I promise I’ll keep a closer eye on her from now on.”

The little girl, sensing her mother’s unease, peeked out tearfully. “I’ll be good from now on. Pretty lady, please don’t ask anyone to get rid of us. It hurts a lot. We can’t leave this house—it wasn’t on purpose to scare you.”

Shen Yunxuan had a sudden realization. “This house is your home? Are these your appearances from before you died? Did someone try to exorcise you after harming you?” She looked at the woman and ventured, “Was it your husband who killed you?”

The mother and daughter’s reactions confirmed her suspicion. The little girl shrank back in fear, and the woman’s face twisted in hatred.

“That scumbag Chen Songwei and his mother valued sons over daughters. After I gave birth to my daughter and suffered health complications that left me unable to have more children, he started abusing me. When I tried to divorce him, he refused because this house was my premarital property, worth over ten million yuan. If we divorced, he wouldn’t get a cent.

“He had his mother take my daughter to the countryside to hide her, threatening me to transfer the property to him. I refused. I tried to escape, seek help, and call the police, but I failed every time. He locked me up and beat me daily. Later, he brought my daughter back and started beating her too. I had no choice but to give in, hoping that once the transfer was complete, I could escape with my daughter.

But he didn’t let us go. He was afraid I would report him or expose him, so he and his mother imprisoned us in the cellar of their rural home. Using my phone, they told my friends I had gone abroad. In the end, they beat us to death. I thought we’d finally be free, but he was afraid we’d haunt him. He hired someone to exorcise us while we were still gravely injured, and our souls were suddenly pulled into this house.

“Maybe this house is my attachment. We’ve been trapped here ever since, unable to leave. Chen Songwei thought we were gone for good. He sold the house and never returned. I overheard him talking to his mother on the phone, saying he was getting married again. The woman he was with was pregnant—with a son.”

Shen Yunxuan wasn’t scared at all. She only felt a kindred rage. They had both been betrayed by men, imprisoned, beaten, killed, and had everything drained from them. The Xie family had planned to suppress her soul as well, but she was lucky enough to escape through rebirth. Seeing this pitiful mother and daughter trapped here stirred a desire to help.

She approached them and crouched down, trying to pat the little girl’s head, but her hand passed through the child. With a sigh, she asked, “Is there anything I can do for you? I know a kind-hearted Taoist. I could ask him if he can help you reincarnate. Would you like to move on, or… do you want revenge on that man?”

The woman lowered her head in thought before nodding. “We want to reincarnate. As much as I want revenge, I know that if I become a vengeful spirit, I’ll lose my sanity. I might end up losing my daughter and be destroyed alongside her. I’ve already failed to give her a happy life—I can’t make her suffer any more. All I want is for her to reincarnate and be a healthy, happy person in her next life.”

The little girl quickly hugged the woman’s leg and looked up, saying, “Mommy didn’t let me down. In my next life, I’ll still be your little girl! I love Mommy the most!”

The woman looked pained as she bent down to embrace her daughter. Watching them, Shen Yunxuan felt a heaviness in her heart. She said earnestly, “I’ll start looking for help tomorrow. Don’t worry, if there are truly capable masters in this world, someone will be able to help you reincarnate. I’ll find them. By the way, where are your bodies? From what you’ve said, it’s been two years since your deaths, but your friends think you went abroad and haven’t suspected anything. If I can find your bodies, I can report it to the police and ensure Chen Songwei and his mother are brought to justice.”

The woman was surprised that Shen Yunxuan was willing to go to such lengths for her and expressed her gratitude. “Thank you so much! Our bodies are buried in the cellar of Chen’s old house. They dug a deep pit in the northeast corner of the cellar and buried us there, then collapsed the cellar during a rainy night. Even though our souls ended up trapped in this house, I can feel that our bodies haven’t been moved.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded, committing this information to memory, and began thinking about how to handle the situation properly. She couldn’t just show up at someone’s old house and start digging in their cellar.

Sensing her thoughts, the woman added, “My name is Qi Yue. Miss Shen, if you’re willing to help us, I promise I’ll repay you.”

The little girl looked up with innocent eyes. “Pretty lady, my name is Qi Siya. I’ll repay you too!”

Shen Yunxuan smiled at them and told them to return to their usual hiding place. She then lay down to rest. The world had changed so much since her rebirth, and her mind was in chaos. However, after reflecting on the book of memories and the lives she had lived and remembered in other worlds, she felt a sense of calm.

As long as she stayed focused and worked hard to turn her life around, she could thrive in any environment. She would make sure to live a good life!

Moreover, she wasn’t alone. The book of memories represented countless versions of herself—strong, skilled, and capable in different ways. She wasn’t fighting alone; she was her own ally!

A sudden thought made her chuckle: If she kept living in thousands of different worlds, would the book of memories eventually become her “army of thousands”?

Amused by the idea, she felt a sense of peace in the quiet night. For the first time in a long while, she no longer felt lonely or unsettled. Gradually, she drifted off to sleep.

---

The next morning, Shen Yunxuan woke to warm sunlight streaming in. However, the moment she opened her eyes, the painting above her bed fell, forcing her to dodge and tumble onto the floor. Still, she felt the warmth of the sunlight and a newfound sense of freedom, leaving her in a good mood.

Stretching with a big smile, she thought, Even with bad luck, I’m so grateful for this second chance!

A knock on the door was followed by Zhou Yunxuan’s concerned voice. “Yunxuan? What was that noise? Can I come in? Are you alright?”

Glancing around the room, Shen Yunxuan walked over and opened the door, frowning. “The light exploded last night, and now the painting fell. Just my luck.” She pointed to the scratch on her face.

Seeing the bloodied mark, Zhou Yunxuan’s eyes flashed with a hint of amusement before she reached out to hold Shen Yunxuan’s hand. “It must be because the house is old. Let me take you to the hospital to get that treated, and I’ll call someone to inspect the house.”

“There’s no need,” Shen Yunxuan replied casually. “It’s just a small scratch. Besides, if anyone sees it, who knows what rumors might start.”

Zhou Yunxuan nodded. “Alright then. I’ll get someone to fix things. Why don’t you rest in my room and put some medicine on the wound? Since there’s no work for the next few days, it’s a good time to recover.”

Instead of replying, Shen Yunxuan pulled a bag from the closet and quickly packed a few essentials. “I’m heading out for some fresh air. I’ve had enough bad luck here and don’t want to stay.”

Zhou Yunxuan didn’t stop her. She simply called after her as she left, “Be safe!” Once Shen Yunxuan was gone, Zhou Yunxuan finally let out a laugh, reveling in the chaos of the room. This mess was proof that the fate-swapping ritual had worked!

She was overjoyed. Ever since swapping fates with Shen Yunxuan, her luck had been smooth. Not a single misfortune had occurred. Having spent her previous life cursed with bad luck for all of her 36 years, she had never experienced such good fortune. The ritual she learned in her final moments had been worth it. Her rebirth and the successful exchange of fates felt like divine compensation for her suffering.

Zhou Yunxuan sighed contentedly and, with a smug smile, spoke to the empty room. “From now on, you’ll bear the cursed fate of the ‘Lone Star of Calamity,’ plagued with bad luck and destined for a miserable end. I’m sorry, but you were the luckiest person I’d ever seen. Since you’ve already lived a life as a rich wife, it’s only fair for me to take this one. I wish you an early death and a quick reincarnation—don’t suffer too much.”

As if remembering something, she added mockingly, “Oh, maybe you’ll be even unluckier than me. Who knows, you might die out there today? Don’t blame me—I’ve never swapped fates before. If there are side effects, that’s on you for having such a lousy destiny.”

Satisfied, Zhou Yunxuan closed the door with a flourish, as if sealing Shen Yunxuan’s fate. She dressed up and left the house in high spirits. Free of misfortune, she was ready to enjoy life. Soon, she would be a wealthy wife. It was time to make a good impression on the Xie family.

After Zhou Yunxuan left, Qi Siya asked in confusion, “Mommy, what does ‘bad woman’ mean? Why did she say the pretty lady will die?”

Qi Yue frowned and drifted toward the edge of the house, but every time she tried to leave, an invisible force pushed her back. Anxiously, she said, “Zhou Yunxuan said she swapped her fate with Miss Shen! That means she stole Miss Shen’s good fortune and gave her all the bad luck. She’s hurting her!”

Qi Siya, shocked and angry, clenched her little fists. “Mommy! When she comes back, let’s stick to her and give her yin energy! That’ll hurt her!”

Qi Yue stood by the door without answering. Whether or not Zhou Yunxuan was affected by yin energy was secondary. What mattered most now was making sure Shen Yunxuan knew her fate had been swapped! Qi Yue knew Shen Yunxuan planned to help them find their bodies. If Shen went to such a remote place, especially burdened with misfortune, she might truly not survive the trip.

No matter how many times Qi Yue tried, she couldn’t leave the house. Left with no other option, she silently prayed for Shen Yunxuan, hoping the Taoist master she sought could uncover the truth and restore her fate.

---

Shen Yunxuan had indeed hailed a car to take her to the Idle Wanderer’s temple. If there was anyone she still cared about in this world, it was the kind master who had been like a teacher to her. She didn’t know the current state of his cancer but was determined to convince him to get a checkup at the hospital before discussing anything else.

The temple, located in the outskirts of the capital, took two hours to reach by car. After navigating a series of winding roads, they finally arrived. The driver hesitated as he looked at the dilapidated structure, which resembled an abandoned demolition site. “Are you sure you want to get out here? It doesn’t look safe—there’s no one around.”

Shen Yunxuan was equally stunned. Is this really a temple? Qi Yue’s burial site might be in better condition than this. But when she raised her head and saw the three characters for “Idle Cloud Temple” written in the same handwriting as the Idle Wanderer’s note from her past life, she took a deep breath and got out. “Don’t worry. My family’s expecting me. Thank you for the ride.”

The driver, though still skeptical, didn’t press further. He cautioned her to be careful and drove off.

Shen Yunxuan adjusted her clothes and knocked on the large gate. To her surprise, it creaked open on its own.

Inside, the courtyard was even more rundown, covered in dust and debris, as if it hadn’t been inhabited for years. She cautiously made her way to the main hall, where she saw a shrine to the Taoist ancestor. Three sticks of incense burned in the censer, indicating someone was present.

“Ah-hem,” came a series of coughs. “I cast a divination this morning and foresaw an auspicious guest arriving. That must be you, my young friend.”

The Idle Wanderer appeared, coughing as he walked out.

Shen Yunxuan froze when she saw his pale complexion. In her past life, they had met two years later and spent three years together. He had always seemed healthy, exuding a rosy complexion and high spirits, even though she later learned about his cancer. He had never shown signs of frailty like this.

And he had called her an “auspicious guest”? What kind of “auspicious” guest could she possibly be?

The Idle Wanderer studied her face, his expression growing more astonished. He quickly calculated something on his fingers and exclaimed, “A withered tree blooms again? How strange! You have a naturally smooth fate, but now it’s combined with the destiny of a ‘Lone Star of Calamity’? Unbelievable!”

Shen Yunxuan was shocked. “Lone Star of Calamity? Are you talking about me?” She thought back to her circumstances—how, in her past life, everyone around her had suffered misfortune. The Xie family had borrowed her fortune, so why hadn’t they borrowed this calamity? Then she remembered Zhou Yunxuan. “Could it be that someone swapped my fate with theirs? That person might originally have been the Lone Star of Calamity. Look, this is who I’m talking about.”

She pulled up an old photo of Zhou Yunxuan on her phone and showed it to the Idle Wanderer. He examined it and nodded. “Yes, this woman bears the fate of the Lone Star of Calamity, coupled with relentless bad luck. She swapped fates with you? Such a ritual exists?”

The Idle Wanderer frowned deeply. “This is a harmful practice… cough, cough…”

Shen Yunxuan helped him sit down and handed him a bottle of water from her bag. “Take a break. Are you sick? Have you seen a doctor?”

The Idle Wanderer instinctively replied, “It’s incurable. My fate has run its course.” After speaking, he paused and looked at her suspiciously. “Young friend, have we met before? You seem very familiar.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Maybe we’re just destined to meet. I’m down on my luck and have nowhere else to go. Can I stay at the temple for a while?”

The Idle Wanderer smiled warmly. “An auspicious guest is always welcome.”

“Why do you call me an ‘auspicious guest’? I’ve lost everything, had my fate swapped, and owe a huge debt. What’s so auspicious about that?” Shen Yunxuan chuckled, feeling unexpectedly at ease. Sitting here with the Idle Wanderer reminded her of the tranquil days they had spent in her past life, reading and drinking tea in her teahouse.

The temple’s air was crisp and clean, far removed from the noise of the world. It filled her with a rare sense of calm.

The Idle Wanderer replied cryptically, “The divination showed that today’s guest would revitalize this temple and is deeply connected to its destiny. Don’t worry. Let me cast another divination to investigate your fate-swapping situation…”

“No rush,” Shen Yunxuan interrupted. “Your health is more important. Let’s focus on that first. Also, I came here to ask for help. I met two benevolent spirits who are trapped and unable to move on. Do you know of any way to help them reincarnate?”

“Trapped, and benevolent spirits?” The Idle Wanderer stroked his graying beard thoughtfully. “If they truly are benevolent spirits, it’s likely that they have unresolved wishes and lingering resentment. To send them off for reincarnation, you’ll need to address their unfinished matters.”

Shen Yunxuan glanced around to ensure no one was nearby and whispered, “I know where their bodies are buried, but I don’t know how to convince the police without raising suspicion. Do you have any good ideas?”

The Idle Wanderer gave her a curious look and finally said, “Young friend, you trust me quite a lot to share so much. When dealing with people in the world, you must be cautious not to trust too easily. This is our first meeting, and you don’t know whether I’m a good or bad person. Why would you lay everything out for me?”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Like you said, it’s all about fate. Didn’t you foresee my arrival today? That suggests this is destined. I want to become your disciple, live at the temple, and study Taoist practices. What do you think?”

The Idle Wanderer had indeed divined that they shared a master-disciple connection. That was why he had referred to her both as an “auspicious guest” and a “young friend,” though he hadn’t had the chance to mention it. Hearing her proposal, he wondered if this truly was fate—a destined meeting in the face of his terminal illness and the looming disappearance of the Idle Cloud Temple.

Growing serious, the Idle Wanderer murmured, “It seems I must pay my respects to the Taoist ancestor and seek guidance to determine the future of this temple. For now, we can set that matter aside. Let’s first see those benevolent spirits you mentioned. And about the person who swapped your fate—this is a significant matter. We must uncover the truth behind it.”

Concerned that Shen Yunxuan might have been deceived by spirits, the Idle Wanderer felt obligated to protect her, especially since they were fated to become master and disciple.

Shen Yunxuan had originally planned to head straight to Chen Songwei’s old house but, seeing the Idle Wanderer’s concern, felt a warmth in her heart. Perhaps their connection truly was fated—she had felt a similar sense of comfort from him in her previous life. She didn’t object and instead helped him change out of his robes and into more inconspicuous attire to avoid raising Zhou Yunxuan’s suspicions.

As they approached her dormitory, Shen Yunxuan messaged Zhou Yunxuan and learned that she was out getting her hair done. Relieved, she brought the Idle Wanderer inside. She considered how to explain Zhou Yunxuan’s rebirth, knowing that if they met, Zhou might notice something. After all, there might be a powerful master backing her.

Before Shen Yunxuan could explain, Qi Siya suddenly rushed over, crying, “Pretty lady, you’re not dead? Mommy and I were so scared! I’m so glad you’re okay!”

Startled, Shen Yunxuan asked, “Why would I be dead? I’m perfectly fine.”

Qi Yue, noticing the Idle Wanderer’s presence, quickly pulled Qi Siya behind her and retreated. From a safe distance, she nervously recounted everything Zhou Yunxuan had said.

Shen Yunxuan was stunned. Zhou Yunxuan had personally swapped their fates? In her previous life, had Zhou studied metaphysics? She even mastered a fate-swapping technique? But if Zhou Yunxuan understood such things, how had she failed to see that Shen Yunxuan had been exploited for her fortune? Zhou had assumed her previous life as a wealthy wife was one of pure luxury?

The Idle Wanderer was equally astonished. After confirming that Qi Yue and Qi Siya were indeed benevolent spirits, he exclaimed, “There are people who can be reborn? Such a phenomenon is exceedingly rare. I recall seeing references to this in the Taoist Ancestor’s notes. When we return, I’ll study them carefully and find a way to reverse the fate swap and restore your fortune.”

Shen Yunxuan, however, thought of the Xie family and the masters Xuanyang and Xuanqing. She shook her head. “This isn’t urgent. Let’s help them first.”

The Idle Wanderer stepped forward to examine Qi Yue and Qi Siya, frowning. “You’ve both suffered severe injuries, and your souls are unstable. If you can’t enter the underworld soon, you’ll dissipate within six months.”

Qi Yue panicked. “Can you send Siya for reincarnation? I’ll do anything you ask.”

The Idle Wanderer reassured her. “Don’t worry. Let me cast a divination first.”

Studying the mother and daughter’s faces, he asked for Chen Songwei’s birthdate and time, then closed his eyes and calculated. Shen Yunxuan, standing nearby, inexplicably felt a hint of something mystical and instinctively tried to perform her own calculations.

When the Idle Wanderer opened his eyes and saw Shen Yunxuan calculating, he was surprised. “You’ve studied Taoist practices before?”

Shen Yunxuan found it strange as well. “I’ve read books, but I’ve never been able to calculate anything. Now, it feels like I can. I even figured out Chen Songwei’s situation!”

Her face lit up with astonishment and excitement. After years of fruitless effort, could her rebirth have granted her the ability to cultivate Taoist practices? If true, this was wonderful news!

The Idle Wanderer asked, “Tell me what you’ve calculated. Let’s see if it matches my findings.”

Shen Yunxuan looked at Qi Yue and began, “Chen Songwei lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother. He was sponsored through college by a benefactor and happened to save you, Qi Yue, which led to your marriage. Dissatisfied with his circumstances, he killed his wife and daughter to climb the social ladder, eventually aligning himself with the daughter of a company shareholder…”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆