Ch 111: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan calmly walked into the room and placed a talisman on the TV, which immediately returned to normal. She then crossed her legs on the sofa, found the scariest horror movie, and began watching it with great interest.

Shen Yunxuan: “Senior brother, this ghost is acting pretty convincingly.”

Idle Wanderer: “If its eyes didn’t have pupils and were all white, it would look even more realistic. That’s how the ones we see appear.”

Shen Yunxuan: “Have you seen water ghosts? Are they really dripping wet all the time? I’ve never seen one before.”

Idle Wanderer: “I’ll take you to the river to see them sometime. There are several there.”

Shen Yunxuan: “This little vampire’s fangs are quite cute.”

Idle Wanderer: “Actually, real vampires have hideous, sharp fangs. They’re very fierce.”

The two casually chatted back and forth. Judging by the sparkle in Shen Yunxuan’s eyes, she was genuinely interested in seeing ghosts she hadn’t encountered before, planning to visit someday. Meanwhile, viewers were wondering if the idle wanderer was serious about ghosts hanging out by the river, making some swear never to visit a riverbank again.

The room’s lights flickered, windows opened and closed, the vanity mirror displayed lipstick-scrawled farewell notes, and sobbing noises filled the air. The atmosphere was eerie, but Shen Yunxuan and the idle wanderer were so relaxed that the events felt like mere theatrics, as though the ghosts were setting the mood for their horror movie night.

The audience was torn between fear and confusion. Some speculated that the haunted house was staged, that Shen Yunxuan had figured out the homeowner’s tricks, which explained her calm demeanor. Others argued it was unlikely anyone would fake such phenomena in a house that couldn’t even be sold or rented due to its ominous reputation.

[What the heck is this? Watching horror movies in a haunted house? The vibe in the comments feels off!]

[This is wild—first time seeing a debate about science in the chat. Aren’t you scared?]

[With this casual tone, how could we possibly feel scared?]
[Let’s just watch. Whether it’s real or fake, our Xuanxuan has it under control.]

[Who is Idle Wanderer? And who is Xuanxuan?]

The chat quickly filled with explanations, and new viewers learned that Shen Yunxuan was a once-controversial celebrity who had transitioned to fortune-telling and ghost-hunting. Despite how absurd it sounded, her livestream was undeniably captivating, causing many to stick around.

The ghosts in the house, seemingly provoked by Shen Yunxuan’s nonchalant attitude, decided to escalate. One appeared face-to-face with her, its appearance grotesque—its face covered in blood and its flesh mangled. Shen Yunxuan’s expression shifted instantly.

The ghost felt smug. Not so brave now, huh? Scared stiff, aren’t you?

But before it could bask in its triumph, Shen Yunxuan kicked it squarely, sending it flying across the room.

“Are you out of your mind? Why are you getting so close? That’s disgusting!”

She then slapped another ghost that had floated near her. “And you! Blocking my view of the TV—so annoying!”

The two ghosts, stunned, slammed into the wall before phasing back into the room, their rage boiling over. “How dare you touch us? Come down here and join us!”

The idle wanderer raised his phone to capture the moment. “Need help, Master?”

“No need,” Shen Yunxuan said, rolling up her sleeves with excitement. “This is a perfect chance to test out the moves I just learned.”

Channeling her spiritual energy into her hands, she grabbed a ghost in each and swung them around like hammers, slamming them into the ground. She then switched to claw-like strikes, drawing the ghosts toward her with spiritual energy before landing direct punches.

“Master, watch out!” the idle wanderer shouted.

Shen Yunxuan turned to see a third ghost lunging at her from behind. She threw three coins as she rolled to dodge, then unleashed a flurry of new techniques—palm strikes, sword energy, spinning kicks—all aimed at the strongest ghost. Though she took a few hits due to inexperience, she quickly adapted and gained the upper hand.

Ten minutes later, Shen Yunxuan threw three talismans, immobilizing the ghosts and forcing them to line up neatly against the wall, now as harmless as wallpaper. They couldn’t move or speak, merely standing there like part of the background.

The idle wanderer handed her a glass of water. “Are you hurt?”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “I’ve figured it out. Spiritual energy inflicts more damage directly, but throwing them into walls or floors doesn’t hurt them since they can phase through. We need to trap them in a spiritual barrier to fight them more effectively.”

The idle wanderer nodded. His past encounters with ghosts were far less intense, but Shen Yunxuan’s unique method of using merit and faith energy for cultivation clearly made her far stronger. He felt reassured, knowing she could handle herself even after he left.

After analyzing her first ghost-fighting experience, Shen Yunxuan returned to watching her horror movie. This time, she pulled out some snacks, laughing at the absurd parts of the plot.

Viewers, who had gone from hiding under blankets in fear to staring at their screens in disbelief, couldn’t process what they’d witnessed. The floating talismans, the bizarre combat, and now the casual TV-watching—some even thought they’d stumbled into a home-lifestyle livestream by mistake.

[Xuanxuan, were those real ghosts?]

[Did you just fight ghosts? Did you win? What did they look like?]

Shen Yunxuan glanced at the comments. “There were three of them. The old lady was the strongest, and her son and daughter-in-law were weaker. Luckily, none of them had taken lives, so they didn’t turn into malevolent spirits. If they had, they’d be far more dangerous.”

[Aren’t you scared of ghosts? How are you so brave?]

“Sometimes, human hearts are scarier than ghosts. After encountering terrifying human behavior, you naturally become calmer about other things.”

[Why didn’t you deal with them permanently?]

“That’s an extra service. I’m just here to test-sleep the house.”

Her comment reminded everyone that this was, in fact, a haunted house sleep test. Yet everything about this stream felt completely different from the typical screaming, terrified livestreams they’d seen before. Curious, some viewers even checked other haunted house streams for comparison, only to find other streamers panicking and crying. Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan appeared as relaxed as someone on a weekend getaway.

[Am I the only one curious about spiritual energy? Master, can you teach me?]

[Idle Wanderer! Master! Please teach me—I’m so fascinated by metaphysics!]

[Xuanxuan, I’m your biggest fan. Please teach me too!]

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Not everyone can cultivate. I couldn’t before—it depends on having a spiritual connection. Without it, even if you memorize Taoist texts backward, it won’t help. You won’t even be able to read fortunes.

“If you’re sincere about entering the path, you’re welcome to visit Idle Cloud Temple. My senior brother and I will examine your aptitude and destiny. If you’re a good fit, you can become our disciples and learn alongside us.”

“Those with bad character need not come,” Shen Yunxuan added calmly. “I have a good eye for people, so don’t humiliate yourself.”

[I’m in Beijing. I’ll visit Idle Cloud Temple this weekend to check it out.]

[Yeah, even if I don’t join, I want to see what the temple is like.]

[I remember seeing it in the livestream—it looked really run-down. Is the Master trying to revitalize the temple?]

“Exactly,” Shen Yunxuan responded enthusiastically. “I hope everyone can support us. I’ll livestream whenever I have time. If you need help, feel free to visit the livestream or come to Idle Cloud Temple in person. You can also message me privately. If fate allows, I’ll definitely see it.”

She added more talismans to her shop:
“This one is the Binding Talisman I used to immobilize those ghosts. This one is a Purification Talisman, which can cleanse residual negative energy from a room. And this one is a Soul Nurturing Talisman, which helps stabilize your spirit if you’re feeling disoriented.

“They’re all newly listed, priced at 500 yuan each. Try them out if you’re interested. In a few days, I’ll adjust prices based on their effectiveness.”

[Aren’t spiritual practitioners supposed to be charitable? Why are you so focused on making money?]
[Typical entertainment industry move—always chasing money. 500 is expensive enough, and you’re saying the prices will go up?]

Shen Yunxuan remained unfazed. “Rebuilding the temple requires a lot of money, so I have to work hard. If you think it’s too expensive, don’t buy it. These are for people who need them, and I’m sure they won’t find the price unreasonable.”

She began drawing more talismans.

[Why isn’t your senior brother helping? I still think he’s scamming you.]
[Yeah, maybe he’s just using you to fund the temple repairs.]

The idle wanderer quickly explained, “My talisman-drawing skills are far inferior to hers. The Master is incredibly talented—she succeeds in one stroke. For me, I’d need to draw over ten attempts for a basic talisman and hundreds for a complex one. It’s better not to waste materials.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded in agreement. “Also, my senior brother is ill and unwell, so I let him rest. He doesn’t need to do these things.” She smiled at the camera. “I appreciate your concern, but please don’t accuse him of scamming me. He’s my benefactor. When I was at my lowest, he gave me a lifeline and hope. He’s the most important person in my life, like family.”

The idle wanderer was visibly moved, waving his hands modestly. “I didn’t do much—it’s simply that you were destined for the Tao and connected to Idle Cloud Temple. I just followed the will of the heavens.”

Shen Yunxuan looked at him earnestly. “You’re my benefactor, regardless. Take good care of yourself. I’ll find a way to help you recover.”

In her previous life, the idle wanderer had taught her everything about Taoism and given her nearly all the temple’s books. Though it might have been fate, his teachings and letters were her only support during her darkest times, enabling her to rise from despair, seek revenge, and rebuild her life.

Though he was unaware of these details, Shen Yunxuan would never forget his kindness and truly hoped for his well-being.

The livestream viewers, unaware of their past, could sense their close bond. Fans who had worried Shen Yunxuan was being deceived felt reassured. However, they became curious—what had happened in Shen Yunxuan’s life that she described as hitting “rock bottom” and needing a “lifeline”?

This sparked discussions, with some recalling her past scandals and the company’s alleged exploitation. There were even speculations about Zhou Yunxuan potentially manipulating Shen Yunxuan, presenting herself as the victim while taking advantage of her.

Digging deeper, people noticed Zhou Yunxuan always had slightly better resources and public favor. Her fans, colleagues, and staff all praised her, and she lacked significant scandals—hardly fitting the image of someone oppressed. Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan seemed to bear the brunt of bad press and resource losses, making her the likely victim in their partnership.

This raised questions about whether Zhou Yunxuan had deliberately played the “white lotus” role to harm Shen Yunxuan.

Shen Yunxuan said nothing about Zhou Yunxuan, but her silence only fueled the speculation. If Zhou Yunxuan were innocent, wouldn’t Shen Yunxuan clarify? Her lack of response suggested there might be truth to the accusations, even if she lacked evidence to speak openly.

The discussion snowballed, with many concluding Zhou Yunxuan’s virtuous image was a façade, and fans on both sides clashed in the livestream chat. What started as a haunted house sleep-test turned into an all-out fan war.

By midnight, Shen Yunxuan grew tired and meditated to sleep, with the idle wanderer resting on the carpet. The livestream quieted down, and most viewers logged off for the night. A few die-hard fans of mysticism stayed to watch until dawn, curious if anything else would happen in the haunted house.

By morning, nothing had changed.

[This is insane—Shen Yunxuan actually made it till sunrise!]

[I’ve double-checked. This is the infamous haunted house, right? No one’s ever lasted the night here. People either ran out screaming or left traumatized!]

[I feel like I’m in a parallel universe. How is this house suddenly not haunted?]

[Maybe Xuanxuan’s just that good. Those three talismans probably worked!]

[Does this mean the house is no longer haunted?]

[Not necessarily. Shen Yunxuan said exorcising ghosts is a separate service. It depends if the owner’s willing to pay.]

The owner, who had watched the entire livestream, was more than willing to pay. The house had been a burden for three years, with high maintenance costs and no prospects for sale or rent. He even suspected the house was affecting his business. When Shen Yunxuan woke up, the owner was already waiting outside.

He offered one million yuan on the spot to exorcise the ghosts. Shen Yunxuan consulted the idle wanderer, who explained that pricing was flexible—it could range from free to astronomical sums, depending on the situation and the practitioner’s discretion. Feeling satisfied with the offer, Shen Yunxuan agreed.

Lighting three incense sticks, she removed the talismans immobilizing the ghosts and addressed them.
“Now, tell me, why are you lingering here? What’s the point of scaring people after death? Do you realize someone’s already been traumatized into mental illness because of you? That’s karma on your shoulders. You’ll be punished in the afterlife and have to repay this debt in your next life. Isn’t this just hurting yourselves?”

The three ghosts were shocked. “What? He got scared himself, and now we’re the ones being punished?”

The old lady said, “This is our home. Our family worked hard for three generations to buy this villa. Why should we let others live here?”

Her son added, “We didn’t intend to stay, but the first tenant didn’t take care of the house. They’d party until late at night, turning the place into a garbage dump. We couldn’t bear it and scared them off.”

The daughter-in-law chimed in, “The second family had three unruly kids who broke the crystal chandelier, drew on the walls, and even put metal in the microwave. We were heartbroken over the damage and scared them away too.”

In short, their attachment to the house made them intolerant of its occupants. Eventually, they started scaring everyone indiscriminately, turning the villa into a haunted house that no one dared to live in.

The three had died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the house. All the eerie occurrences—the flickering lights, strange noises, and ominous writings—were their deliberate pranks, not scenes of tragic deaths. Since they hadn’t harmed anyone directly, they didn’t become vengeful spirits, but they were too timid to leave. Fearful of being attacked by other ghosts, they remained in the house, living as they did when alive.

The homeowner was speechless when Shen Yunxuan explained their story. “So, all this fuss because you didn’t want to leave the house and were too scared to move on? I thought there’d been some horrific murder here!”

The three ghosts, feeling aggrieved, reiterated that this villa represented their family’s ultimate dream after years of hard work.

To resolve the matter, Shen Yunxuan ordered supplies and folded paper into the shape of a luxurious five-story villa, complete with a courtyard and surrounding estate. Initially reluctant, the ghosts eventually became excited, eagerly requesting additions like furniture and vehicles. Shen Yunxuan complied, folding paper cars and offering gold ingots. Everything was burned in the courtyard as offerings.

The ghosts soon donned their new paper clothes and felt a spiritual connection to the villa in the underworld. Thrilled, they asked, “Has the house reached the afterlife?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. “Yes, it’s waiting for you. Now it’s time to go. Someone will guide you there. Don’t linger in the mortal world anymore. All things must follow the cycle of life and death. Letting go of the past allows for new beginnings. Farewell.”

She lit incense and summoned ghost emissaries, bowing as they arrived. The ghost emissaries escorted the ghosts away, who kept nervously glancing back. It was clear they were genuinely frightened, perhaps recalling ghost stories they’d heard while alive, leaving them too scared to even step out of their house after death.

Though the ghosts were gone, the house still held heavy residual negative energy from their three years of occupancy. Shen Yunxuan affixed purification talismans in each room, instructed the homeowner to replace certain items, and adjusted the house’s feng shui. After working all morning, she surveyed her work and nodded in satisfaction.

“All done. The house is fine now. To reassure buyers, you should invite a few more livestreamers to test-sleep here and show that it’s no longer haunted. I’ve also improved the feng shui—it’ll benefit health and career for whoever lives here.”

The homeowner beamed. “Thank you so much, Master! I noticed you were adjusting the feng shui earlier but didn’t dare ask. If it’s all set now, I’ll move in myself.”

Surprised, Shen Yunxuan asked, “You really believe in me? You’re the first person I’ve met who’s so decisive.”

The homeowner chuckled. “You can only believe what you’ve experienced. This house used to feel cold and eerie—I’ve felt it myself. But after you sent them away, that oppressive chill vanished. I trust you. I’ll also encourage my friends to support Idle Cloud Temple.”

Delighted, Shen Yunxuan replied, “It’s a deal! And if your friends have any troubles, remember to refer them to me. We at Idle Cloud Temple treat everyone fairly.”

The homeowner nodded enthusiastically and bought several of Shen Yunxuan’s talismans, even wearing a few immediately. He then respectfully saw her off.

By this time, the livestream viewership had climbed to over 200,000. Some believed in Shen Yunxuan’s abilities, while others dismissed it as a staged performance orchestrated by the homeowner to sell the house.

Others found it amusing that the so-called “haunted house” was occupied by timid ghosts. Some even felt that ghosts weren’t so scary after all.

[Master Shen, since they drove someone to a mental breakdown, what punishment will they face?]

Shen Yunxuan calculated briefly. “Each will receive fifty lashes in the underworld. The whips down there hurt—imagine pain worse than childbirth. They’ll also repay their karmic debts in their next lives. The heavenly laws are fair; no one escapes accountability.”

[I don’t buy it. Some people suffer all their lives—where’s the fairness in that? Others do good for years but die forgotten, with no gratitude from those they helped.]

Shen Yunxuan explained, “I haven’t fully comprehended the fairness of the heavenly laws, but from what I’ve seen, it’s akin to the conservation of energy. If one life is bad, perhaps another was good, or a mistake in the past is being rectified. Regardless, the most important thing is to live each day well. Keep a kind heart, and good outcomes will come in time.”

She added with a smile, “And if you can’t figure it out, don’t stress. We only live this life—after reincarnation, we remember nothing. Whether suffering or enjoying, it’ll feel like someone else’s story. So treasure the present.”

After concluding, she announced, “This livestream has gone on long enough. I need to return to the temple and prepare talismans. Those who’ve placed orders, expect your deliveries soon.” She waved goodbye and ended the stream.

On the way back, Fang Qianqian called. “Master, someone’s suppressing your trending topics. Haunted house livestream, ghost exorcism, Zhou Yunxuan—these are hot topics, but you’re not even on the tail end of the trending list. Someone’s targeting you.”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “It’s probably the Xie family. Don’t worry. Let nature take its course.”

The idle wanderer, concerned, asked, “What about Zhou Yunxuan? Will she keep targeting you? Who knows what dark arts she might still wield?”

Shen Yunxuan, recalling Zhou Yunxuan’s current inability to cultivate, smiled. “Don’t worry. She might not be able to harm me. Besides, I’ve been helping people and accumulating merit—these days should pass smoothly. Sometimes, what seems like trouble might turn out to be a blessing. Let’s wait and see.”

Despite the suppression, fans and gossip enthusiasts were already suspicious. The deliberate silencing only fueled speculation that Shen Yunxuan had been wronged. Many were determined to uncover the truth.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yunxuan, enraged by the shifting public opinion, plotted to eliminate Shen Yunxuan’s platform entirely. She instructed her assistant to request Shen Yunxuan’s livestream ban, citing “disturbing content” and its potential to incite fear and mislead minors.

Watching Shen Yunxuan effortlessly draw talismans in the recorded stream, Zhou Yunxuan couldn’t suppress her jealousy. How did she master so much so quickly after changing her fate? Why is she so talented?

But then she sneered. Let’s see how long you last, Shen Yunxuan. Beijing isn’t short of malevolent spirits. Sooner or later, you’ll encounter one, and then we’ll see who gets the last laugh.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆