Chapter 2: Turning Evil Ghosts into Jerky

In her past life, Yan Luo possessed the luck of a koi fish; the moment she appeared, she would scare away any wild ghosts that dared approach.

Because of this, the Duke of Zhong's family witnessed her capabilities, and both the First and Second Branches scrambled to take her as their adopted daughter.

Later, she chose the First Branch, which appeared affectionate and gentle, only to realize it was a bottomless abyss.

Walking along the winding long corridor with the butler, she looked at the scenery in every step of the estate. Above the understated luxury, dark clouds of misfortune loomed.

Yan Luo decided in her heart: this time, she would absolutely not show off!

The butler led them through a moon gate entwined with vines and arrived at a courtyard in the shade, away from the sunlight.

Almost the entire Duke of Zhong's family was waiting here; at a glance, there was a sea of heads.

Looking at these familiar faces, Yan Luo slowed her pace.

Chu Yue acted quite enthusiastically.

She walked quickly to the Duke of Zhong and bowed joyfully, "Grandfather."

The Duke of Zhong was over sixty years old and a serious man, his entire being permeated with the aura of slaughter from the battlefield.

He merely spared Chu Yue a glance: "The manor is haunted. I implore the little Taoist to remove it as soon as possible so that we may be spared this torment."

"That is a given," Chu Yue turned back and said to Yan Luo, "Junior Sister, your cultivation is not yet sufficient, so don't follow us in."

As she spoke, she walked directly into the haunted attic.

Everyone's gaze first fell upon Yan Luo.

The little one was three years old, carrying a flat bundle on her back. With black eyes and fair skin, she looked quite dull and simply stood there obediently.

She didn't speak, and combined with Chu Yue's comment that her cultivation was low, everyone quickly averted their eyes, turning instead to stare at Chu Yue, who was preparing to perform a ritual in the attic.

Yan Luo looked into the attic; there were blood handprints everywhere, and a servant lay unconscious on the floor.

She had just heard the nearby servants gossiping; this servant had been patrolling here last night when he saw a ghostly shadow flicker past. Just as he opened the attic door to check the situation, he was dragged inside by a bloody hand.

The door had slammed shut with a bang, and immediately, the servant's shrill, miserable screams had echoed from within.

The manservant traveling with him was so terrified he nearly soiled himself and immediately notified the butler.

Early this morning, the butler had invited two high monks and a highly respected Taoist priest to exorcise the ghost.

However, whenever they stepped into the attic, they were either thrown out by an invisible force or fell unconscious immediately.

Seeing that even the high monks and the Taoist were powerless, the Duke of Zhong had no choice but to rush home, his expression grim!

He clearly did not believe that two three-year-old girls could exorcise a ghost.

Yan Luo looked into the attic. Chu Yue held a red jade plate in her left hand, while her right hand fished two talismans out of her bundle.

"Audacious evil spirit, retreat at once! You see me and still won't roll away!"

*Whoosh—*

After a loud sound, the talismans in Chu Yue's right hand suddenly burst into flames.

Startled, she threw them out with a flick of her hand, her face turning pale.

Yan Luo also raised her eyebrows in surprise.

How strange~ The ghost in this attic seems different from the one in her past life; this time, it seems much more ferocious.

In her past life, the moment she took out the red jade plate, the entity had been scared away.

Perhaps realizing that this moment differed from her past life, Chu Yue hurriedly fumbled through her bundle in a panic.

She also took out the peach wood sword the Taoist Priest Ziyang had given her, holding it high. She stomped her foot forcefully and roared, "Evil spirit, retreat! Retreat! Retreat!"

With a *crack*, the peach wood sword in her hand actually split apart.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Duke of Zhong's family was startled.

The First Madam of the First Branch furrowed her willow brows: "Is this all the skill a child from a Taoist temple possesses?"

Yan Luo saw this and felt it was not good.

The First Branch was highly valued and would certainly take an adopted daughter.

If Chu Yue was not chosen by the First Branch, Yan Luo would be sent to them, just like in her past life.

At the thought of the First Branch's private actions, Yan Luo couldn't help but shudder.

Repeat the same mistake?

She absolutely would not!

The little one silently moved her tiny feet and stood by the door.

She poked her head out slightly to take a peek inside.

The malevolent ghost that no one else could see was crouching on the roof beam, revealing an evil and hideous gaze.

Its next move was to grab Chu Yue's hair, intending to hang her from the beam.

Suddenly sensing a terrifying aura, it turned its head and saw Yan Luo.

The little girl's body was delicate and thin. Beneath her jet-black bangs, a pair of bright, spirited round eyes were staring coldly at it.

The black jade plate hanging from her chest reflected a piercing, pale purple light.

The evil ghost froze. In the next second, the window burst open with a bang, and a gale blew in.

"Aaaaaah—!"

The evil ghost screamed, trying to flee.

But it could not withstand the pressure of this gale. No matter how it struggled and wailed, it failed to escape, eventually being blown into the black jade plate and instantly absorbed clean.

Yan Luo's small hand reached into her pocket, where there was now an extra piece of dried meat.

She pursed her little cherry mouth in satisfaction and licked her lips.

Heehee.

Isn't delicious food coming right along?

Chu Yue had originally been surprised that the koi luck had not taken effect.

But when the gale stopped and the blood handprints in the room gradually vanished, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"It worked," Chu Yue took out her compass; the needle was no longer acting strangely. "The evil ghost has been driven away by me."

The Duke of Zhong's family all showed joyful smiles.

The Second Madam stepped forward quickly, putting her arm around Chu Yue's small shoulder: "I knew it, children from Taoist temples are extraordinary! Here, this gold bracelet is a meeting gift from Second Aunt; you must keep it safe."

She slid the gold bracelet directly onto Chu Yue's wrist.

The First Madam reminded her calmly, "Second Sister-in-law, don't be in such a hurry. What if you scare the child?"

The Second Madam held onto Chu Yue without letting go, smiling sweetly: "Once the two children enter the family, they are our own people. It wouldn't be too much for them to call me Second Aunt."

However, Chu Yue looked at the First Madam's expression and quietly pulled her hand out from the Second Madam's grasp.

The Second Madam froze, and the look in her eyes changed.

The Eldest Master of the First Branch looked toward the Duke of Zhong: "Father, the matter of cleaning up the attic can wait. For now, let the two children recognize the family."

The Duke of Zhong nodded: "Very well. Let us go to the flower hall then. Butler, go prepare the tea for the recognition ceremony."

The so-called "recognition of the family" meant choosing parents for them.

The Duke of Zhong was the head of the family. His three sons below were all legitimate and had not yet branched off into separate households, yet the manor was already divided into the First, Second, and Third Branches.

Currently, the most favored was the First Branch. The Eldest Master served as a fourth-rank military official in the Ministry of War. Since there was no Old Madam in the manor, the First Madam managed the inner household, keeping it in perfect order.

The two of them had one son.

The Second Master of the Second Branch was also a military officer, holding the position of Director of the City Patrol, and was living quite well.

His wife was the eldest daughter of the wealthiest man in Jiangnan, so the Second Branch was incredibly wealthy, and they had three sons.

As for the Third Branch, they were the least favored. The Third Master was a civil official, but two years ago, due to a misunderstanding, his leg had been broken by a royal descendant, and he had been depressed and frustrated ever since.

The Third Madam was a match made by a matchmaker and was also the daughter of a civil official. She was quiet and did not like to talk. The two had no children and were inconspicuous in the manor.

Yan Luo's dark, water-like gaze swept across the faces of the First, Second, and Third Branches one by one.

Who should she choose?

Yan Luo and Chu Yue followed them to the flower hall.

As the Duke of Zhong sat in his grand armchair, his piercing aura was instantly displayed.

He was in no hurry to arrange adoptive parents for the two children, but instead asked Yan Luo and Chu Yue: "What skills have you both learned in the Taoist temple that can help ease the family's burdens?"

Chu Yue took the lead in answering: "Before descending the mountain, Master gave my Junior Sister and me one magical tool each. I can bring good fortune to the whole family and transform calamities."

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone present turned their gaze toward Yan Luo.

If Chu Yue could have such great ability, then as her Junior Sister, Yan Luo must surely possess extraordinary skills as well, right?

Yan Luo took a small step forward, her soft voice very calm.

"I can see ghosts."

The whole family was in an uproar.

What kind of skill was that?

Chu Yue also raised her head slightly with a hint of pride.

She wanted everyone to know that Yan Luo was far inferior to her!

(End of Chapter)