Hou Zhi Yu’s face turned pale as she took a couple of deep breaths before continuing, “Last night, I made some soup and wanted to bring it to my dad, thinking it would be good for his health. But when I got to his study door, I heard him talking to a woman—”

A woman? What’s strange about that?

My brother chuckled, “Miss Hou, for you folks in the wealthy circles, it’s common to have messy relationships. Your dad having a couple of mistresses or secret lovers—whether it’s one, two, or N—wouldn’t be surprising, right? Besides, if he’s having a little fun in his study, making things exciting, it’s no big deal.”

Hou Zhi Yu shot my brother a glare. “If it were just a regular woman, would I be scared?”

“So, what was it?” I was starting to feel like this wasn’t so simple, so I couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

“I… I heard my dad call that woman… ‘Mom’! But my grandmother passed away last year!” Hou Zhi Yu’s face went ghostly white.

“And it didn’t stop there. I even heard my dad pleading with that woman, ‘Mom, please, let it go… Mom, don’t do this, it hurts me so much… Mom, I’m begging you, please let me go…’”

Hou Zhi Yu was saying this while clenching her fists tightly.

My brother and I exchanged a look. Could this be some deep-seated family grievance?

“Miss Hou, in this situation, haven’t you thought about calling a master to take a look?”

Hou Zhi Yu rubbed her cheeks, saying, “I did. I came to ask you two to come with me because I don’t really understand the things these masters talk about—like what kind of protective charms or exorcism items are needed. Better let the master explain it to you guys directly.”

My brother is only half-skilled, and I’m a complete rookie who doesn’t even know how to perform ghost-banishing techniques.

Are we supposed to tag along? Just to watch?

“That five million wasn’t a joke. If you can help solve my dad’s issue, I’ll keep my word!”

In the end, my brother, the little businessman that he is, couldn’t resist the lure of the money and agreed to go along. And Da Bao, that cheeky underworld errand-runner, shamelessly hopped in the car with us.

“What are you tagging along for?” I whispered.

“Little miss, I am someone who navigates the yin-yang realms; maybe I can lend you a hand. If I manage to help out, don’t forget to throw me a tip!” Clearly, the five million caught his attention, and he hoped we could land him a windfall.

People like him, mortal errand runners for the underworld, usually handle tasks in the mortal realm that official yin beings aren’t suited to handle.

I was still hoping he could give me some news about Jiang Qi Yun. But that was probably just wishful thinking.

My brother was right—Jiang Qi Yun and we aren’t on the same level at all; we simply can’t interact as equals. Whether he’s present or not, we should take things in stride.

Since I want to keep what’s inside me, I’d better adjust my mindset and protect this spiritual fetus, which I don’t even know when will be fully formed.

With both father’s essence and mother’s blood, this child has my blood in it, too.

As soon as we stepped into the Hou family’s courtyard, I spotted several “masters.”

Each one had their hands behind their backs, with little apprentices by their sides—or, if they wanted to appear a bit fancier, they called them assistants.

When Hou Zhi Yu brought us three inside, the masters looked at us with thinly veiled disdain.

The underworld errand-runner Da Bao looked like a beanpole and dressed like a country guy coming to work in the city.

My brother was in a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers—a poor student’s getup.

And me, ever since Jiang Qi Yun stormed off, I’d been forcing myself to remember my current role as an expecting mother. I was wearing a T-shirt and fitted velvet track pants, with my high heels abandoned in favor of sneakers.

“Miss Hou, who are these people? My master is about to start the ritual. Please have any unrelated people leave.” A bespectacled assistant approached, speaking to Hou Zhi Yu.

“They’re also my guests. They don’t need to leave,” Hou Zhi Yu said frankly.

A “master” who was preparing for the ritual snorted, “These kids, who aren’t even fully grown, dare meddle in such dangerous matters? They don’t know what they’re messing with!”

Hou Zhi Yu, hearing the word “danger,” quickly asked, “Master Liu, what have you seen?”

We were completely ignored, so my brother whispered to me, “Come on, let’s go have a look around the mansion.”

As soon as we stepped through the mansion doors, we stopped in our tracks. The temperature inside was noticeably colder than outside—the yin energy here was thick.

Two bodyguards were standing at the entrance of the corridor leading to the study. Even though it was broad daylight, I could see a layer of black mist lingering at the study door.

Ever since Jiang Qi Yun had covered my eyes, allowing me to see Bai Wuchang in daylight, seeing ghosts had become routine.

The master spotted us entering and sneered, “Reckless.”

His assistant immediately chimed in, flattering him, “Exactly. These brats probably can’t even read a compass.”

My brother wasn’t pleased. He scoffed, pulled out his phone, and opened an app. “Who says I can’t read a compass? Mine’s electronic and doesn’t even need demagnetizing!”

Ignoring him, I quietly took out the small compass my mother had left me.

I just wanted to test how to use the compass, but the moment that master saw it in my hand, his face changed instantly!

He stared at me in disbelief, his voice grave. “So, you’re with the Kun Dao of the Shen family!”

I froze. Kun Dao of the Shen family? What was that?

His expression shifted a few times before he righteously said to Hou Zhi Yu, “Miss Hou, since you’ve invited a Shen family Kun Dao to handle this matter, it’s best I don’t interfere. Farewell!” He then left, flicking his sleeves.

The Shen family’s reputation is that strong? Wu Old Lady had said it would be easy to make money with the Shen family’s name, and it looks like she wasn’t lying.

But the problem is… we’re both rookies!

Hou Zhi Yu couldn’t stop the master and turned to us in exasperation. “What’s going on? Who exactly are you? Why are all the masters leaving after seeing you?”

My brother coughed and mumbled sheepishly, “Probably because they think we’re really skilled.”

Hou Zhi Yu suppressed her anger and nodded. “Fine, then, go take a look at my dad! But if you’re playing with me… hmph!”

It was too late to back out now. Hou Zhi Yu’s bodyguards were blocking our escape, practically forcing us into the house.

“I’ll go check it out,” I whispered. “Jiang Qi Yun said ordinary ghosts wouldn’t dare get close to me.”

As I approached the study, the ring on my hand glowed faintly red as if it were protecting me. I touched my chest, where Jiang Qi Yun’s name seal hung. Even that blood-red ghost face fears it; it should have a greater deterrent effect on regular ghosts.

The study lights were off, and thick blackout curtains were drawn tightly. I could hear the sound of paper being shredded.

Hou Zhi Yu stood at the doorway, too afraid to come in. I took a step inside and said softly, “Hello, I was asked to come check on you.”

The paper-tearing sound stopped, and a bizarre-looking face peeked out from behind the desk.

It was a man in his fifties, but his eyes were swollen red, and the corners of his mouth drooped in a miserable expression.

When he spoke, his voice was sharp and feminine. “Little girl, how did you die? Why are you still so pretty, even in death?”

Dead? I’m not a ghost.

I was momentarily stunned before remembering Jiang Qi Yun had told me that, inside and out, I was cloaked in his ghostly aura. This female ghost must’ve mistaken me for one of her kind.

“Do you… have any unfulfilled wishes?” I asked tentatively.

The ghost woman let out a strange laugh—