Ch 107: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan walked into the room and immediately sensed something off about the wooden comb on the dressing table. Unlike the neutral energy emanating from the other items, the comb gave off a dark and oppressive aura. This was the spiritual sensitivity she had longed for in her past life but never attained. Without this sensitivity, even mastering all the incantations and theories couldn’t open the gates to the Tao. Yet, in this life, it came to her effortlessly.

Feeling a sense of joy, Shen Yunxuan picked up the wooden comb to examine it. “This must be something you acquired recently, right? A three-hundred-year-old antique—where did you get it?”

Fang Qianqian, startled, replied, “The comb has a problem? This… this was a gift from my dad. He knows I like these trinkets and said he carefully selected a beautiful one for me. I use it every night, brushing my hair a hundred strokes to improve circulation. Could it really be something my dad gave me that’s harming me?”

She turned to Xu Wei for comfort, who tightly held her hand and reassured her, “Don’t worry, the master will help you.”

Shen Yunxuan calmly explained, “This comb once belonged to a courtesan.” Then, she cleared off the dressing table, asked Fang Qianqian to bring a bowl of water, and lit an incense stick, placing it upright in the water. She covered the comb with a red cloth and set it in front of the incense, chanting softly.

The viewers in the livestream were astonished.

“Am I seeing things? How is the incense standing in water without falling?”
“Wow, this little celeb has some tricks up her sleeve. Impressive.”
“If you showed this on a variety show, you’d be famous by now.”
“Oh, please, a few stunts don’t erase being a bully and selfish.”
“Wait! The red cloth moved! Is there really a ghost?”

Under the watchful eyes of the livestream audience, the red cloth atop the comb began to rise, taking the shape of a hooded figure. It floated from the dressing table toward Shen Yunxuan, dipped briefly as if bowing, then rose again.

Shen Yunxuan spoke quickly, “No need for formalities, miss. I have summoned your spirit because this comb was gifted to my friend, and your presence has caused her misfortunes. Men and women alike have been troubling her recently. I wanted to ask if you are willing to move on to the afterlife.”

Fang Qianqian and Xu Wei turned pale. They stared at Shen Yunxuan and the eerie red cloth in utter disbelief, barely daring to breathe. It was their first time encountering a ghost.

But when Fang Qianqian glanced at the barrage of comments accusing Shen Yunxuan of trickery—suggesting strings were making the cloth move—she felt a surge of indignation. She grabbed a fruit knife from the table and slashed around the red cloth.

“See? No strings! There’s nothing here making it move!” she yelled.

The comment section paused momentarily, then exploded.

“Oh my God, if this is real, didn’t you just cut it?”
“You used that comb daily for a hundred strokes? Help, help, help!”
“So you’ve been sharing a room with it every night? What if it was watching you while you slept?”

Fang Qianqian froze, the realization dawning on her. The knife slipped from her hand and clattered to the ground. She quickly bowed toward the red cloth, repeatedly apologizing. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to offend you, miss. Please forgive me!”

Shen Yunxuan coughed lightly to redirect their attention. “Let’s hear what the young lady has to say.”

The spirit, a former courtesan, wasn’t angry but rather apologetic. “Thank you for your courtesy, dear lady. My name is Xianglan. Are you a Taoist master? And so young—how wonderful.” She looked around at their modern attire and surroundings, realization dawning. “Ah, the tides of time have shifted. The world has changed, hasn’t it? Everything seems so different, except for this comb.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded and briefly explained the changes over the past three hundred years. Upon hearing about modern equality and the freedoms women now enjoy, Xianglan’s face lit up with longing and admiration. “If I had been born in this era, perhaps I wouldn’t have been so powerless.”

But her expression dimmed, and she shook her head bitterly. “No… A monk once read my fortune and said I was destined to live ten lifetimes as a courtesan. You mentioned my comb affecting this young lady—men harass her, and women resent her. If I reincarnated in this age, I fear my fate would be the same.”

“Ten lifetimes as a courtesan?” Shen Yunxuan asked for Xianglan’s birth date and time, calculated her fortune, and examined her aura. She discovered the curse was real. Frowning, she said, “You were burdened by your parents’ sins. They were deceitful and malicious, committing countless evil deeds. A victim of theirs, consumed by rage and despair, cursed them before dying: ‘May your intestines rot, your life be worse than death. May your sons be slaves for generations, and your daughters courtesans for ten lifetimes.’”

Xianglan nodded faintly. “That’s true. They were plagued with illness and agony, suffering endlessly.”

“They were desperate for a son and treated you poorly, selling you to a wealthy family as a dowry maid at a young age. Your mistress, jealous of your beauty, sold you to a brothel.”

Xianglan sighed. “That was my fate. I knew my parents were wicked, so I tried to atone by doing good deeds, donating all I could to help others, hoping for peace of mind. But no matter what I did, men pursued me relentlessly, and the women in their lives hated me. In the brothel, I was admired and infamous, and I turned to praying to gods and buddhas, hoping for a way out.”

One day, I met a monk who foretold that I must live ten lives as a courtesan to achieve liberation. Overwhelmed by despair, I swallowed gold and ended my life. After death, my spirit attached to this comb, my favorite object when I was alive. I didn’t wish to reincarnate and unknowingly fell into a deep sleep, unaware of the passage of time or changes in the world.”

Shen Yunxuan could see that Xianglan’s soul was on the brink of disintegration. If she hadn’t been awakened, Xianglan’s spirit would have dissipated entirely within a year or two, and the comb would have reverted to being an ordinary item. However, during this time, anyone using the comb would still be affected. For Fang Qianqian, using the comb daily would inevitably lead to irreversible tragedy.

Xianglan, weighed down by the thought of repeating her tragic fate in every lifetime, had no desire to continue. She bowed again and said, “Master, if possible, please let me dissipate. I do not wish to endure such a life again.”

Despite her words, Shen Yunxuan could see the longing in Xianglan’s eyes as she spoke of the modern world. For someone like Xianglan, this era was a dream—one where women weren’t sold or oppressed, where they could see the world and control their own lives. Yet, if her soul dissipated, she would never get to experience it. The world might even continue to improve in the future, but she would no longer be a part of it.

Although Shen Yunxuan wasn’t the soft-hearted type, seeing Xianglan’s plight made her feel that this woman didn’t deserve so much suffering. If Xianglan’s parents were her calamity, then meeting Shen Yunxuan today was her chance at redemption.

Shen Yunxuan said gently, “Would you be willing to search for a solution? My senior brother and I will help you. You might still have the chance to see the world you long for.”

Xianglan’s heart trembled. “Could I really?”

“Of course. Fate isn’t set in stone. The heavens always leave a glimmer of hope. Whether or not you can change your destiny depends on your effort and determination.” Shen Yunxuan believed this deeply. During her imprisonment by the Xie family, she could have given in to despair and ended up with her soul suppressed, fueling the Xie family’s fortunes. Instead, she spent over a decade studying, learning, and persisting, ultimately outsmarting her captors and gaining a second chance at life.

Her mastery of Taoist texts allowed her to act decisively once she gained her spiritual sensitivity. She resolved others’ problems and earned karmic merits to mitigate her misfortunes. Without her determination, even a rebirth wouldn’t have led to a better life.

Xianglan locked eyes with Shen Yunxuan, sensing a trustworthy aura. A flicker of hope arose in her heart. Who truly wishes to dissipate if given the chance to live? Having never experienced a single good day since her birth, she wanted to try living as a normal person, even just once.

She nodded softly, returning to the comb. The red cloth settled back over it, and the incense stick burned down to its end.

Fang Qianqian whispered, “Master, has Miss Xianglan gone back?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded and quickly drew a soul-nourishing talisman with yellow paper, cinnabar, and a brush, pressing it onto the comb. The talisman stuck firmly, as though glued.

“I’ve sealed her energy with this talisman, so she won’t affect anyone nearby anymore. I’ll need to take the comb back to the Taoist temple to resolve her situation. Is that alright? If it’s inconvenient, I can find another container…”

“Of course, take it!” Fang Qianqian interrupted eagerly. “I don’t dare use it again. I haven’t saved much money, and this comb is an antique. Whether you keep it or sell it after resolving the issue, consider it part of your payment. I’ll also transfer you 100,000 yuan as a token of gratitude. Is that acceptable?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. “Alright, I’ll accept it.” She casually tucked the comb into her pocket, feeling a surge of karmic merit that delighted her. That was the most valuable reward.

In high spirits, Shen Yunxuan told Fang Qianqian and Xu Wei, “If you or anyone you know faces trouble, feel free to come to me.”

Both women nodded eagerly. After this experience, they firmly believed in her abilities and saw her as a powerful helper. Of course, they would recommend her to anyone in need.

Shen Yunxuan then brought up Fang Qianqian’s situation. “Now that we’ve pinpointed the source of your misfortune, it’s easier to analyze. Your father doesn’t love you enough, but he has no intention of harming you. However, your stepmother harbors ill intentions.”

Xu Wei chimed in, “Exactly, Qianqian. Your dad used to give you money to buy what you liked. Even if he gifted you something, it wouldn’t be a random wooden comb, right? It’s clear your stepmother used him as a middleman to give you that.”

Fang Qianqian thought for a moment, her expression shifting to realization and disgust. “That makes sense. She started as my dad’s mistress when my mom was battling cancer. My mom didn’t care about love anymore and ignored her. After my mom passed, she officially became my dad’s wife and had a daughter. But my grandparents always disapproved of her and her daughter, acknowledging only me as their granddaughter.

“Her daughter constantly compares herself to me and always falls short. The two of them often make snide, passive-aggressive remarks to upset me. Last month, I had a huge fight with her and called her a shameless mistress. She must have done this to get back at me—gave me that cursed comb so I’d be harassed by men, misunderstood by their wives, and ultimately be treated like a mistress myself!

How could there be such disgusting people? This is unacceptable! I’m going back right now to confront her. My dad already wronged my mom, and I only acknowledged him because he transferred all his properties to me. If he doesn’t transfer the rest of the assets today, I’ll cut ties with him!”

Fang Qianqian stormed out, fuming with rage. Netizens in the livestream laughed heartily: [“She’s so clear-headed—securing the money is what matters!”]

Xu Wei, looking embarrassed, said to Shen Yunxuan, “Master, Qianqian is just like that. Let me send you back.”

“No need. I’ll buy some things nearby. Just remind Fang Qianqian to get plenty of sunlight over the next month. Living with a ghost for so long, she needs to dispel the yin energy.”

“Got it, got it! I’ll move in with her and make sure she gets enough sun.”

After leaving Fang Qianqian’s home, Shen Yunxuan found a quiet bench in a nearby park and began scrolling through the comments.

---

“Shen Yunxuan, do you really know how to tell fortunes? Can you actually see ghosts? Do you have yin-yang eyes?”

“Did anyone notice the talisman earlier? How did it stick to the comb like that? It’s amazing!”

“And the floating red cloth? That was seriously eerie—doesn’t look fake at all.”

“Fang Qianqian’s dad cheated, and she still acknowledges him? Doesn’t that betray her mom? She deserved what she got.”

“That’s too harsh. Who cuts ties with their parents over an affair? Besides, wouldn’t that just hand everything over to the mistress? Go Qianqian—secure that inheritance!”

“Xianglan’s story is so tragic. Why should she bear the pain caused by her parents’ sins?”

“Her parents harmed others, so maybe she benefited. If so, she deserves the suffering. The real victims are the ones her parents hurt.”

“But she did good deeds her whole life and never harmed anyone. Isn’t one lifetime of suffering enough? Condemning her to ten lifetimes as a courtesan is way too harsh.”

“I hope Shen Yunxuan can lift her curse. Shen Yunxuan is her fated savior.”

“Ha! Are you all fools? You really believe this? Shen Yunxuan’s whitewashing campaign worked, huh? Pretending to be a mystic duped you all.”

“You swindled Fang Qianqian for an antique and 100,000 yuan. Reported. You’re welcome.”

“Come on, magic tricks aren’t new. You really believe in a curse that condemns someone to ten lifetimes as a courtesan? If curses were that easy, why don’t all murder victims curse their killers? There are still so many bad people in the world.”

---

Shen Yunxuan calmly addressed the audience, “Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished—this is true. If justice hasn’t arrived yet, it’s because the time isn’t right. If it doesn’t come in this lifetime, it will in the next. For example, Xianglan’s wicked parents suffered while alive, with their intestines rotting and enduring unbearable pain every day. In death, they descended to the 18th level of hell.

Curses are incredibly hard to succeed, which is why they’re so potent when they do work. The caster must also make sacrifices—it’s not always worth it. Everyone should strive to live virtuously and avoid recklessly creating bad karma, even online. Otherwise, in the afterlife, you might find yourself having your tongue pulled out.”

---

“Yuck! Who are you trying to scare? If anyone’s tongue gets pulled, it’ll be yours first.”

“Did you think about karma when you bullied newcomers and your own co-stars? And now you’re lecturing others about virtue?”

“What a joke: Shen Yunxuan preaching about virtue.”

“Let’s state the obvious: Shen Yunxuan is the worst.”

---

While some fans and viewers supported her, the flood of negativity was overwhelming. Many were convinced it was all scripted. After all, a ghost from 300 years ago and a floating red cloth? It was too far-fetched. Even Shen Yunxuan’s own fans were unsure—they’d followed her for two years and had no idea she had these skills.

Shen Yunxuan noticed a large donation from a Level 60 viewer who sent five Carnival gifts, praising the livestream as an excellent ghost story and requesting more creative scripts next time.

This livestream had brought in a total of 18,000 yuan. After the platform’s 50% cut, she’d still take home 9,000 yuan. Jackpot!

A genuine smile spread across Shen Yunxuan’s face, dazzling the livestream viewers. It had been twenty years since she last earned her own money. And now, one livestream had earned her so much—this was just the beginning. With more clients and a growing audience, the earnings could skyrocket.

For someone as cash-strapped as Shen Yunxuan, the livestream was practically glittering with gold. Who cared about haters? They might as well be invisible!

Just as she prepared to interact with viewers, she received a warning: her livestream had been flagged for excessive reports. Moments later, her livestream was shut down.

Shrugging, she pocketed her phone and hailed a cab to the antique market to shop for supplies—high-quality talisman paper, cinnabar, incense, and suitable jade. She wanted to try crafting a spirit-gathering array. If successful, it might even cure Idle Wanderer Daoist’s illness.

Meanwhile, as Shen Yunxuan browsed the market, she made headlines again. Clips from her livestream sparked heated debates. Many were intrigued, believing Shen Yunxuan truly had mystical abilities. Others dismissed it as a desperate gimmick from a struggling star. But regardless of the side they took, one thing was certain: the livestream had been entertaining. Some even said, “Even if it’s scripted, the effort shows. Shen Yunxuan might just find her niche as a top-tier paranormal streamer.”

Discussions ranged from whether Shen Yunxuan’s abilities were real, to debating Fang Qianqian’s stance on recognizing her father, to whether Xianglan deserved to be burdened by her parents’ sins.

The surge in Shen Yunxuan’s popularity not only failed to divert attention to others but also caused her popularity to skyrocket exponentially. In the past, Manager Feng would have been ecstatic about this, but now that Shen Yunxuan had completely severed ties with the company, there was no chance of working together again. This surge in popularity was nothing but an eyesore.

Especially since Manager Feng hadn’t slept for an entire day and night, spending a significant amount of money on paid trolls, marketing accounts, and overtime for the PR department. In the end, she gained nothing, inadvertently boosting Shen Yunxuan’s fame. This surge of popularity felt like a slap in her face, making her too embarrassed to show her face at the company.

Manager Feng began harboring resentment toward Shen Yunxuan. She thought that once it was confirmed Shen Yunxuan had no powerful backers, she’d make sure to teach her a lesson.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan, having just solved Fang Qianqian’s problem and earned some merit, stumbled upon an opportunity while shopping for supplies. She came across a batch of discarded raw stones. Apparently, a bankrupt businessman was selling off his collection. One of the stones, about the size of a basketball, glowed faintly in her eyes. Others said it was a poorly performing piece, essentially a freebie thrown in by the seller. No one wanted it.

Shen Yunxuan bought it for 500 yuan. Upon returning to the temple and cutting it open, it turned out to be an exceptional piece of Imperial Green jade, with a thin layer of stone covering a vivid green interior.

Idle Wanderer was stunned. “Your good fortune seems to be returning now that the merits have suppressed your bad luck. Could it be that the life-swapping ritual wasn’t thorough? Maybe your foundation remains intact?”

Shen Yunxuan laughed. “That’s possible. Who knows what kind of shady, half-baked ritual that was? It couldn’t have been flawless. As long as I’m fine now, I’ll just let things take their course.”

Idle Wanderer agreed. With his limited abilities and talent, overthinking things would only cause unnecessary distress. No wonder Shen Yunxuan had such a strong affinity for Taoism—her mindset was far superior to his.

As he examined the jade, Idle Wanderer chuckled. “This could sell for over 100 million yuan! Wealthy collectors would pay any price for such a massive piece of Imperial Green. You could auction it off.”

Shen Yunxuan quickly tucked the jade away. “This is too valuable—it’s a treasure for our temple and cannot be sold. From now on, we’ll collect all kinds of precious items to store in our treasury. A temple this big with an empty storeroom? That’s unacceptable! I shouldn’t have to buy talisman paper out of my own pocket.”

Idle Wanderer scratched his nose awkwardly. It wasn’t entirely his fault; talent was rare, and with the world’s spiritual energy so scarce, he was already doing well compared to many others. His predecessors hadn’t been much better—otherwise, the temple wouldn’t have fallen into such disrepair.

Still, perhaps it was fate. After all, the temple now had Shen Yunxuan, the perfect new abbot. With her ambitions to revive the temple, he’d give her his full support.

As Shen Yunxuan cleaned the storeroom, Xianglan volunteered to help. Shen Yunxuan released her spirit, allowing her to move freely within the temple. Both Shen Yunxuan and Idle Wanderer were practitioners, so they wouldn’t be negatively affected by her presence.

Being a three-century-old spirit, Xianglan swiftly tidied up the space. She even assisted Shen Yunxuan in cutting the large jade into smaller pieces, saving her considerable time.

Using these smaller jade pieces, Shen Yunxuan carefully placed them around the main hall to form a spiritual gathering array. When she set the final piece, the air in the hall seemed to change—fresher, quieter, and more serene. Even Xianglan remarked on how much more comfortable she felt.

The array was complete!

Idle Wanderer was overjoyed. “The temple is saved! You’re truly a prodigy. If our master were alive to see this, he’d climb out of his grave from sheer happiness!”

Shen Yunxuan laughed. “Keep talking, and Master might actually visit you in your dreams tonight for a chat.”

Idle Wanderer didn’t dare joke further, though his delight was evident. He immediately went back to his room to meditate.

Shen Yunxuan also opened the temple’s sacred texts, ones she hadn’t seen in her previous life. Reserved for the temple’s Taoists, these books contained advanced cultivation techniques. With the spiritual array now in place, Shen Yunxuan decided to try cultivating.

During her meditation, she noticed a surge of faith energy around her.

Her and Idle Wanderer’s earlier suspicions were confirmed—gaining recognition, trust, and admiration from others could generate faith energy. Remarkably, she could use both merit and faith energy for cultivation!

She realized livestreaming her practices was the right choice. Once she fully absorbed the faith energy, she’d find a way to lift the streaming ban and continue broadcasting. She’d also promote the temple, hoping to increase its following and incense offerings.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yunxuan finished watching Shen Yunxuan’s livestream recordings, her brows tightly furrowed. While others debated the authenticity of Shen Yunxuan’s actions, Zhou Yunxuan knew they were real. Shen Yunxuan’s rapid growth in spiritual abilities was alarming, and her rise in popularity even more so. If Shen Yunxuan’s name reached Xie Hengchen, the truth about his true savior might come to light, ruining her position as the Xie family’s mistress.

She contacted Manager Feng to confirm that Shen Yunxuan had no backing and subtly expressed her displeasure toward her former colleague. With the Xie family’s influence backing her, she knew Manager Feng wouldn’t hesitate to act. As expected, Manager Feng soon arranged for marketing accounts to release fabricated dirt on Shen Yunxuan—fake yet persuasive enough to sway public opinion.

Zhou Yunxuan also reached out to Douyin, hinting at her connection to the Xie family and requesting that Shen Yunxuan’s account be permanently banned or at least heavily restricted. For someone like Shen Yunxuan, a mere D-list celebrity, anyone targeting her would succeed with ease.

Staring at Shen Yunxuan’s livestream recordings, Zhou Yunxuan thought coldly, Don’t blame me for this. If you’re going to threaten my position, I have no choice but to strike first. Blame your own bad luck.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆