Ch 109: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan packed her newly purchased talisman papers, copper coin sword, and other items, leaving Xianglan to watch the house. She called on the idle wanderer to join her as they set off. The livestream audience had mixed reactions to her actually heading to a haunted house—some were worried, others relished the potential chaos, but most were just there for the spectacle.

After all, the previous participants in haunted house sleep tests were either ordinary netizens or small-time streamers. A beautiful celebrity like Shen Yunxuan had never done it before. The combination of a gorgeous woman and a haunted house piqued everyone’s interest, prompting them to invite more people to watch, causing her viewer count to skyrocket.

At Shayu Streaming Platform, an employee rushed into the boss’s office. “Mr. Lin, a new account is trending like crazy today. It’s overtaking many top streamers, and the numbers are still climbing—it’s a celebrity!”

Lin Zixiao, stressed over saving the company, rubbed his temples and checked the statistics. He was stunned by what he saw: the new account’s followers and live viewers were increasing exponentially. Though the gift revenue wasn’t significant yet, the sheer popularity was undeniable.

Not recognizing Shen Yunxuan, he had his secretary look her up. “Do you believe she can actually tell fortunes or exorcise ghosts?” he asked skeptically.

The employees exchanged awkward glances. Being staunch materialists, they found such claims hard to believe.

Lin Zixiao shared their skepticism but couldn’t deny the appeal of Shen Yunxuan’s previous livestream highlights. Her intriguing stunts—making incense stand upright in water, red cloth mysteriously floating, and the bizarre ghost curse stories like Fang Qianqian’s incident—captivated fans of the supernatural. Now, her haunted house venture was drawing even more curious viewers, boosting both her popularity and the platform’s stats.

After some thought, Lin Zixiao instructed, “Feature her stream in the most prominent position on the homepage and promote it heavily. By the way, she came from Douyin, right? Was her account banned there?”

The secretary nodded. “They said she violated the rules, and it hasn’t been reinstated. It looks like someone targeted her. Even her anti-fans have been filing constant reports against her. We’ve received a number of complaints too.”

Lin Zixiao watched Shen Yunxuan’s stream and said, “Announce that as long as her content doesn’t cross any major lines, we won’t ban her. Reach out to her and discuss a potential contract. She has the potential to become a top streamer, and she’s independent—no backing. We can’t miss this opportunity.”

One employee hesitated. “But she seems to have made some enemies, and her content promotes superstition. Could signing her bring us trouble?”

Lin Zixiao chuckled. “The company’s already on the verge of collapse—what trouble could we possibly be afraid of now? If anything happens, let me know. For now, handle it. I have a meeting with potential investors.”

With the boss’s orders, Shen Yunxuan’s stream quickly received the platform’s best promotional resources. Many users stumbled upon her stream while browsing and stayed to watch the drama unfold.

By then, Shen Yunxuan had already signed an agreement with the haunted house owner and entered the property with the idle wanderer. Unlike others who tried to create a spooky atmosphere, she casually walked in, leaving viewers to wonder if the house was even real. Why wasn’t she scared? Didn’t the place have an eerie chill or oppressive vibe?

Some were also curious about why she referred to the idle wanderer as her “senior brother” and asked about her master.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yunxuan explained, “Our Taoist temple is called Idle Cloud Temple. Friends in Beijing can find it via navigation, though it’s in a remote area—remember to go in groups. This is the idle wanderer, who was the previous temple master and introduced me to the path. A while ago, he took me as a disciple on behalf of his late master and passed the title of temple master to me, giving me the Taoist name Xianyun.

“So, from now on, you can call me Taoist Xianyun. I’m now the temple’s master, and my senior brother is an elder at Idle Cloud Temple. For now, it’s just the two of us, but we’ll recruit more disciples in the future.

“If you encounter any unexplained issues, you’re welcome to visit Xianyun Temple. If traveling is inconvenient, you can also visit my livestream. I’ll soon add various talismans and protective items to the shop.”

[Xuanxuan, blink if you’re being scammed.]

[“Taking a disciple on behalf of a master” and “passing the temple leadership”? Did he ask you for money?]

[Did you join some cult? Just the two of you? I live in Beijing and have never heard of Idle Cloud Temple.]

[An old scammer and a young scammer—are you planning to con people nationwide?]

Fans were worried, convinced Shen Yunxuan was being tricked. Anti-fans, meanwhile, laughed at what they saw as her self-destructive antics. Casual viewers, however, found the drama increasingly entertaining, wondering if they’d stumble upon a major scandal.

Shen Yunxuan didn’t respond to the skepticism, and the idle wanderer didn’t mind. The two explored the house, checking every room. Viewers were soon distracted by the house itself. Although it was bright outside, the villa’s interior was oddly cold and dim, as if all the glass was coated with mist. Finally, the house began to feel genuinely creepy.

“Senior brother, did you notice anything?” Shen Yunxuan asked.

The idle wanderer shook his head. “I didn’t find anything, but the yin energy is heavy.”

With her yin-yang vision, Shen Yunxuan could see more than someone using only the heavenly eye. Though she didn’t see any ghosts, the house was filled with a grayish mist of yin energy. The master bedroom and kitchen had the densest, almost black, concentrations. If there were ghosts, they’d likely be in those areas, but for some reason, she couldn’t pinpoint their exact location.

After calculating for a while without results, Shen Yunxuan decided to let it go. After all, the goal was to spend the night. Solving the mystery wasn’t mandatory. Suddenly, she had a thought and asked the viewers, “Can haunted house testers repeat the test? Do they get paid every time?”

[Wow, are you trying to exploit a loophole?]

[You can’t repeat tests—it’s a one-time deal.]

Shen Yunxuan sighed dramatically. “I should’ve done it myself this time. Next time, I’ll let you go, senior brother. That way, we’d earn double. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?” She had been so focused on earning merit with her senior brother that she forgot about splitting tasks to maximize earnings. “We’ll work separately from now on. Building a temple costs a lot of money—we need to work hard.”

The idle wanderer stroked his beard, hesitating before nodding. He was more laid-back and thought, If we don’t have the money, we just won’t build. Why rush? Still, seeing Shen Yunxuan’s enthusiasm, he didn’t want to dampen her spirits.

Ah, well, he thought. When I first inherited the temple, I also had grand plans. Youthful passion is a good thing.

[So the old guy is just using the temple-building excuse to scam her?]

[What are you talking about? This is all an act—they’re in it together.]

As it was still early in the afternoon, Shen Yunxuan ordered takeout, telling the idle wanderer to eat well before resuming work. They sat in the dining room with their backs to the kitchen. Viewers who had previously followed the haunted house’s history began flooding the chat, warning them about eerie occurrences in the kitchen.

Not long after Shen Yunxuan spoke, the viewers noticed the kitchen window swinging open. Although it appeared to be caused by the wind, they vividly remembered Shen Yunxuan checking the kitchen earlier—she had ensured all the windows were securely locked!

As a gust of wind blew through, Shen Yunxuan turned to see the open window and walked over to close it, scolding, “Stop causing trouble! It’s autumn, and if I catch a cold, I won’t let you off!”

After closing the window, she turned on the faucet to wash her hands. The livestream audience watched in shock as the water, which initially ran clear, suddenly turned red!

[Ahhh! Protect me, comment shield!]

[What is this? Help! Is that blood? This place really is haunted!]

[Xuanxuan, run! Forget the money—we’ll crowdfund for you to get out of there!]

[Haha, looks like Shen Yunxuan is doomed. Hope she doesn’t faint again.]

[Old man, get Xuanxuan out of there! How can you let her go through this just for some money?]

The idle wanderer, holding the phone to stream, responded to the comments, “Don’t worry about the temple master p. Although she’s new to the path, she’s exceptionally talented—she learns everything instantly and is far more capable than I am. This is just a minor issue.”

While he was speaking, Shen Yunxuan had already pulled out a talisman and slapped it onto the faucet, scolding, “Enough already! I’m only staying one night. Behave yourselves, and we’ll all get along just fine.” The water quickly returned to normal. Disdainfully, she washed the dirt off her hands and returned to eat her meal.

She joked with the viewers, “No wonder this house hasn’t sold. Even if it’s not scary, living here would drive anyone crazy.”

[No, no, we’re genuinely terrified!]
[Xuanxuan, aren’t you scared?]

Shen Yunxuan replied, “Nope, I’ve got talismans, don’t I? Oh, by the way,” she said, showing the talisman she had just used, “this is the simplest warding talisman. For minor disturbances like this, sticking one on solves the problem. For even smaller issues, just carrying the talisman on you can ward off evil. For example, if you have frequent nightmares, wearing one while sleeping will help you rest peacefully.”

[I suffer from insomnia. Would it work for me?]

“For normal insomnia, you’d need a calming talisman. Want one? I’ll draw it for you—500 yuan each.” As she spoke, Shen Yunxuan pulled out yellow talisman paper and cinnabar. With elegant, flowing brushstrokes, she drew the talisman, her actions imbued with a sense of solemnity that inexplicably inspired trust.

But could a talisman really cure insomnia? Most viewers doubted it. If such a thing worked, there wouldn’t be so many people taking melatonin. Still, with 80,000 viewers now watching, there were always some insomniacs who, having tried everything else, were willing to spend 500 yuan to give it a shot.

Hadn’t Shen Yunxuan just fixed the bloody water with a talisman? This haunted house had been notorious for six or seven years, and previous testers had been helpless against the blood-like phenomenon, often fleeing in terror. Maybe her talismans really worked. If not, losing 500 yuan wasn’t too bad, and they could always expose her later.

Shen Yunxuan had barely listed the calming talisman in her shop before receiving over a dozen orders. Overjoyed, she realized she had earned more than 7,000 yuan in just a few minutes. It was far easier than fortune-telling or solving problems for people—this was a great business idea.

She then began drawing other talismans: peace talismans, protection talismans, peach blossom talismans for love, marriage harmony talismans, and house-warding talismans, explaining each one’s purpose to the viewers. To her surprise, the marriage harmony talisman became a runaway success, with over thirty sold immediately.

Even Shen Yunxuan was astonished. “Why are so many people buying marriage-related talismans?”

[Xuanxuan, I’m getting married tomorrow. I hope everything goes smoothly

[My son’s wedding is next month. I want them to be happy—just seeking some good fortune.]

[Exactly! It feels like fate. Someone in my family is getting married, so I had to buy one for luck. Not buying it felt weird.]

Nodding in understanding, Shen Yunxuan reminded them, “This talisman works wonders for couples who are already compatible, enhancing their love and happiness. But for toxic relationships, its effects are negligible. Conflict is inevitable in such cases.”

As soon as she finished speaking, someone sent her a “Shark,” the most expensive gift on the platform, worth 3,000 yuan.

Shen Yunxuan immediately asked, “Does this friend want a fortune-telling session? Shall we connect?”

The sender agreed, and Shen Yunxuan started a livestream call. The screen split in two, revealing a middle-aged woman and a younger woman, both wearing masks. Their attire and demeanor suggested they were from a middle-class family.

The middle-aged woman spoke first. “Taoist Xianyun, I just bought a marriage harmony talisman for my daughter. She’s getting married in three days, but I’ve never been fond of the couple…”

“Mom!” the younger woman interrupted, visibly annoyed. “Why are you doing this? My wedding is in three days! What if someone sees this livestream? You’re just causing trouble between us! I’ve done everything you asked, and everything checks out. Your worries are unfounded, yet you’re still stirring up drama.”

The middle-aged woman, suppressing her anger and looking aggrieved, replied, “I’ve raised you all these years—when have I ever caused trouble? I don’t even know why, but I just have a bad feeling about him. I tried to stay out of it, but you’re my only daughter. How can I not care? Now, don’t interrupt me. I spent the money to consult the Taoist; let me speak.”

Turning to Shen Yunxuan with a desperate expression, she pleaded, “Taoist Xianyun, can you compare their birth charts? Is that something you can do?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. “Yes, send me their birthdates and a photo in a private message.”

The middle-aged woman immediately complied, ignoring her daughter’s protests. It was clear the two were emotionally drained, each convinced of their own stance, yet unable to persuade the other. Their ongoing argument, aired in front of the livestream audience, only heightened the tension.

[Honestly, from the daughter’s perspective, this feels suffocating. If everything checks out, why keep doubting?]

[The mom’s just anxious about her daughter’s happiness. Sometimes gut instincts are spot-on.]

[Let’s see what the Taoist says—there might actually be something wrong.]

[Haha, Shen Yunxuan is just a washed-up celeb. Believing she can tell fortunes is as absurd as me claiming to be Emperor Qin!]

The middle-aged woman, seeing the barrage of comments, calmed down somewhat and acknowledged she might have been too impulsive. However, hearing Shen Yunxuan mention “toxic relationships” earlier had prompted her to immediately request a fortune-telling session. It wasn’t that she opposed the idea, but she thought consulting a renowned master at a temple or Taoist hall might have been more reliable.

At that moment, both Shen Yunxuan and the idle wanderer finished their calculations. Shen Yunxuan’s expression turned strange, while the idle wanderer looked visibly disdainful. The viewers grew excited.

[What’s the verdict? Is there a problem?]

[She figured it out! Is the guy cheating?]

[Of course, she’ll say there’s an issue—how else would she make money? She even said Fang Qianqian’s forehead looked dark before.]

[But Fang Qianqian streamed recently and said that after Xuanxuan helped her, she inherited her family’s business early.]

[It’s scripted.]

The younger woman frowned and said, “Miss Shen, I know you’re a celebrity, and for some reason, you’ve recently taken on a mystical persona. My mom’s paranoia is probably due to menopause. I’m about to get married, so please don’t say anything reckless. We won’t ask for a refund for the gift earlier—consider it a token for good luck.”

Shen Yunxuan sighed and said, “If you’re asking for good luck, I have to tell the truth. You and your boyfriend met six months ago, hit it off immediately, and felt an inexplicable connection, as if you’d known each other in a past life. You quickly fell into a whirlwind romance and accepted his proposal last month.

“He’s an orphan who received a few million yuan from a property demolition deal. His job is decent, and he’s likely to get promoted this year. You think he’s perfect in every way, and even your friends say you’ve found a great man. That’s why, when your mother repeatedly expressed doubts, you couldn’t accept her concerns.”

The younger woman looked at her mother in disbelief. “Did you tell her everything about me? Are you two working together to trick me?”

[Haha, I told you this was scripted. This is embarrassing now.]

[They didn’t even loop the daughter in before the reveal. What a mess.]

The middle-aged woman quickly waved her hands, her expression serious. “I only stumbled upon this livestream by chance. I overheard the master talking about marriage harmony talismans, which led to all of this. I didn’t even know who she was until you mentioned she’s a celebrity.

“Master! You’ve been spot-on so far. From your tone, does this man have a problem?”

“Yes,” Shen Yunxuan replied decisively. Before the younger woman could react in anger, she continued, “He’s attracted to men. To put it plainly, he’s deceiving you.

“You feel a strong connection with him because his true partner is your cousin. Your cousin told him everything about you, so he knows exactly how to act like your perfect match.

“While his job is legitimate, the millions he claims to have from a property deal actually came from staging his previous wife’s death to claim her life insurance. She discovered his scheme and threatened to expose him, so he acted first.”

The younger woman froze in shock, unsure how to process what she’d just heard. She recognized every word but couldn’t make sense of them together. How could her loving boyfriend be gay? And his partner—her cousin?

The middle-aged woman slammed the table in anger. “I finally understand why I couldn’t stand him! He doesn’t like women at all. His so-called affection for you felt distant, clouded by a layer of pretense. His gaze and behavior never quite matched!”

The younger woman wanted to refute this, but memories flooded back. Over their six months together, their physical contact had been limited to holding hands and hugging. She’d thought he was being respectful and cherishing her, but now doubt crept in. And after meeting her cousin, he had indeed grown closer to him than to any other relative. Could they have known each other all along? The thought was terrifying—especially with the added accusation of insurance fraud and murder.

This revelation was so overwhelming that the younger woman didn’t outright reject it as impossible. Instead, she started recalling every little detail, desperately trying to prove Shen Yunxuan either right or wrong. Her face turned pale.

Shen Yunxuan calculated further and said, “They’re together right now. Do you want to go verify it?”

The middle-aged woman immediately grabbed her daughter’s hand. “Let’s go! I’ll call your uncle and the others. If they dared to do this, I won’t let them off!”

Shen Yunxuan sent them the address, and the livestream erupted into chaos.

[She’s accusing someone of a crime now? This is way too much. You can’t joke about things like murder and fraud.]

[I’ve already reported this. Let’s watch her crash and burn. Haha.]

[She just got her account reinstated and now might get banned again. Maybe even detained. Why couldn’t she just stick to being a celebrity?]

Shen Yunxuan rolled her eyes. “Do trolls all have such low IQs? Do you think I wouldn’t consider the consequences? With 80,000 people watching, do you really think I’d fabricate a murder accusation? My senior brother has already reported it to the police.”

The trolls were momentarily stunned but quickly began spamming insults in the chat. Meanwhile, other viewers were shocked. Shen Yunxuan’s confidence in calling the police suggested that her claims might be true.

Even those who were convinced this was scripted began to waver. Who would risk their career by making a false murder accusation live? That would be asking for trouble.

[She’ll probably claim it happened too long ago, so there’s no evidence. Then the murder-for-insurance story will quietly disappear.]
[This mother-daughter drama and the soon-to-be-caught guy are all actors. Anyone who believes this is a fool.]

Other viewers grew irritated at the trolls.
[Just wait and see what happens. If you don’t want to watch, leave. Stop ruining the vibe.]
[Yeah, even if it’s scripted, it’s more entertaining than most dramas.]
[Mods, please mute the trolls.]

Shen Yunxuan smirked. “At least they’re boosting engagement and helping me climb the rankings. Just mute them—think of it as waste recycling.”

Fang Qianqian, Xu Wei, and the idle wanderer, who were moderators, quickly muted the trolls. Enraged, the muted trolls were left stewing in frustration. They wanted to see Shen Yunxuan fail but couldn’t bring themselves to leave, adding to their misery.

Meanwhile, the mother and daughter had arrived at the hotel, joined by seven or eight relatives. The younger woman, taking a deep breath, disguised herself as a cleaner and knocked on the room door.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆