When Great Grandpa was born, it was a chaotic time: civil wars, foreign invasions, famine, bandits… Basically, surviving was life’s only purpose.

In his youth, he followed a master who taught him the trade of treasure-hunting in old tombs. One day, they found a particularly “juicy” tomb, but his master didn’t make it out alive.

Great Grandpa barely escaped with his life and was then taken in by a passing Daoist who said he was born for this kind of work. Eventually, he gained some Daoist skills, and to survive, he ventured back into that tomb.

He forcibly opened the ghost gate, dragging an evil spirit into the underworld. That tomb then became the cellar of the old house—though they would never build anything over it; instead, it was left exposed to sunlight.

Over the years, from war and famine to political upheaval, the things stored in that cellar supported the family through hard times. Only after economic reforms did the family finally find other ways to make a living.

But all these ventures were still in this same “circle”; no one could escape the curse tied to our family name.

There were always a lot of men in the family, but few girls were ever born. This went on for four generations, with every girl born meeting an untimely death.

They say Great Grandpa prayed and divined, worshipped the City God, Judge, and Underworld Lord, and eventually concluded that the family’s connection to yin energy harmed female descendants.

Later, a Daoist from the Shen family said that when Great Grandpa forcefully opened the ghost gate and dragged the vengeful tomb spirit into the underworld, the spirit’s anger couldn’t be extinguished. This spirit evaded the laws of the underworld and became a ghost god, waiting for revenge. The best way to pacify it was through a ghost marriage.

The year I was born, disaster struck the family; everyone was terrified, and a blood jade ring appeared in the ancestral hall. The meaning was clear—it was asking for me.

So, I was raised as a sacrificial offering. No one taught me Daoist techniques, fearing I’d provoke that tomb spirit and invite retaliation. They also worried that if I died resentfully, I’d turn into a fierce ghost seeking revenge on the family.

When they placed me in the coffin, everyone thought I was doomed.

But what appeared wasn’t that tomb spirit; it was someone else—the true owner of the blood jade ring.

“So that tomb spirit, that’s the bloody ghost face?” I asked.

Little Uncle nodded, “Piecing together everything I know, yes.”

No wonder he said I was supposed to be his wife, but Jiang Qi Yun got to me first.

At first, Great Grandpa thought the blood jade ring was a token left by the tomb spirit. But when he saw the mark on my neck, he realized it was the Underworld Lord who had claimed me, and he immediately thanked the Lord for his protection.

But what did he want me for?

Jiang Qi Yun doesn’t seem like he lacks someone to warm his bed, does he?

Yet only a balance of yin and yang can create life. No matter how enchanting, graceful, or alluring a female ghost is, even if she could share his bed, she couldn’t bear his child.

So, I became his baby-making machine… And he even said he wouldn’t touch me. Hmph, never trust a man’s words, especially a male ghost’s!

“Xiao Qiao, you’re daydreaming again, aren’t you?” Little Uncle grinned mischievously, as if he could read my mind.

I quickly collected myself, sat up straight, and kept listening to his story.

But Little Uncle didn’t plan to continue. He chuckled, “Your dad went off to seal some kind of formation related to that ghost face. A lot of people went, but they failed, so that ghost face latched onto him, hoping to pick up where he left off with you. Haha, but who would’ve thought you’re already a mom.”

He glanced at my belly, “At least it’ll protect you from most evils… But, Xiao Qiao, love doesn’t come without a reason. Who knows what the Underworld Lord has in mind? You’d better be prepared and protect yourself.”

“… Uncle, can… can you see him?”

“I see a vague outline, faint, but from the way you look, I can guess it’s your ghost husband.” Little Uncle laughed, “He should be an external manifestation of the Underworld Lord. His powers are weak here in the yang world, but dealing with regular evil spirits and ghosts is a piece of cake.”

I forced a smile; I knew almost nothing about Jiang Qi Yun.

And he wouldn’t let me ask.

###

Two days passed, and then I saw the incident reported in the legal news. The headline read, “Evil Sorcery Destroys Family of Youth.”

Song Wei called, shocked that something like this happened so close to us. We ended up on the phone for an hour until my phone was almost dead. I went back to my room to charge it and found Jiang Qi Yun already there.

By now, I was used to his sudden appearances, though he was rather controlling and didn’t like me on the phone. So, I said goodbye to Song Wei.

Song Wei, the little tease, giggled, “Calling it a night already? Careful, don’t get too drained! No wonder you’ve ditched the high heels; can’t even walk properly these days, huh?”

“… Say one more dirty thing, and I’ll hang up.”

“Don’t! I’ll let you lovebirds be. Just don’t overdo it and oversleep tomorrow. We’re checking out a house at 9!”

“…” She really gives me too much credit.

Not wanting to let her down, I started fiddling with my compass on the bed and went over the twenty-four mountains again.

Jiang Qi Yun stood by my desk, flipping through my books. When I made a mistake, he would correct me coldly. Other than that, he didn’t say much.

When we went to sleep, he would lie behind me on my narrow bed. With his large frame, it was inevitable we’d bump into each other.

Compared to him, my willpower was pretty weak.

I’d always tentatively reach out and touch the back of his hand. If he was in a good mood, he’d turn over and rest his arm around my waist, letting me sleep against his chest so we wouldn’t have to lie there like corpses.

Feeling his cool chest against my back, I knew I was torturing myself.

“… What are you busy with here in the yang world? Can I help?” I asked lightly, hoping he wouldn’t think I was prying.

“What help could you offer?” He scoffed openly, “Just stick to checking feng shui. Keeping away from danger is the best help you can give.”

… Communication was impossible.

In the middle of the night, I woke up shivering, realizing I hadn’t covered myself with the blanket! My back was still pressed against his icy chest, and my limbs were freezing.

Jiang Qi Yun opened his eyes at the same time, frowning as I shivered and pulled up the blanket. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Say… say what?” I stammered, my voice trembling.

He furrowed his brows and, once I was bundled up, reached over and held me close, whispering in my ear, “If you feel cold, just tell me. I can’t feel the cold.”

I was stunned. Was he… worried about me?

His words kept me tossing and turning the rest of the night, so when I met Song Wei, she grumbled, “Xiao Qiao, you and your love life! Is your boyfriend really that wild? Every weekend you look like you’re floating!”

“… Could you be a bit more respectful? I just didn’t sleep well.” I sighed.

She pouted and led me to the entrance of a fancy apartment complex. A middle-aged man waited there, looking anxious.

I glanced at his face, noticing a faint green tinge between his brows, and his eyes were shifty.