Chapter 17: The Divine Eagle and Its Heroic Partner of the Tomb-Robbing World, the Black-and-White Fiends of the Occult World

So that’s how it was!

Upon hearing this, Ji Yun suddenly understood the whole sequence of events.

From beginning to end, it had been a battle of wits between the Forbidden Widow and “Shang Xiaoyu.”

Both were putting on a grand performance, but only Ji Yun had taken it seriously.

From the start, when “Shang Xiaoyu” stopped the cat-faced old woman and her companion, it wasn’t out of a desire to save anyone, but rather to prevent outsiders from ruining her plan. Later, when she sent text warnings about various dangers in the Netherworld, it was only because she feared Ji Yun might die prematurely—not out of genuine kindness. And the subsequent struggle for the coffin mentioned by the Forbidden Widow had all been carefully orchestrated in advance.

This woman’s scheming was indeed deep.

She had even calculated that Ji Yun would have no choice but to hide inside the coffin.

Or perhaps, Ji Yun had been “forced” into the coffin.

Moreover, his home in Happiness Community, Apartment 304, was not merely for convenience in studying—it had long been designated by his parents as a “place to nurture the coffin.”

Had Ji Yun not witnessed so many ghosts and mystical Taoist arts with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have dared believe such an outlandish plot could be more absurd than fiction.

The Forbidden Widow continued, “A top-grade evil artifact is not so easily merged; it requires special methods and a massive amount of yin energy. The original plan was to use a ghost marriage to harness the abundant yin energy in this Netherworld to help you merge with the coffin. But a small mishap occurred—that white dumpling you saw came to cause trouble…”

She paused, gesturing toward the blood-stained triangular iron talisman on the ground. “This is a Yin Talisman Nail. The person implanted it inside you to steal your life destiny, thereby seizing your family’s Ghost Gate Coffin.”

“...”

Ji Yun’s gaze followed hers to the bloodied talisman on the floor, a dull ache pressing on his chest.

That was exactly what “Shang Xiaoyu” had pulled out of his heart earlier.

He wondered vaguely when that foreign object had found its way into his body.

After some thought, he recalled it probably happened during the few days of attending Shang Xiaoyu’s funeral feast.

With meals lasting several days, there were ample chances for such a move.

He thought to himself just that.

Before he could ponder further, the Forbidden Widow went on, “Of course, the talisman alone isn’t enough. Because only a member of your Ji family can merge with that top-grade evil artifact. So she needed a role tied to you by marriage. That’s why she used the corpse of your deceased ‘ex-girlfriend’ to stir things up. Only through this could she establish a marital connection with you and have a chance to sabotage the Yin Kin Formation I set up, usurp your fate, and steal the coffin. Just like what you saw earlier…”

“...”

Ji Yun listened and found it not hard to understand.

The mistress tearing apart the original wife, so to speak.

Because Shang Xiaoyu had previously given almost the exact same lines.

He simply hadn’t expected her to invert truth and falsehood, hiding her own ill intentions.

And this Forbidden Widow was truly on his side.

…

By this point, the matter was nearly clear.

This “Forbidden Widow” had been arranged by his parents to aid him.

Whereas “Shang Xiaoyu” was an unknown enemy.

Recalling the perilous night, Ji Yun realized he had come dangerously close to death multiple times.

Facing his true savior, he sincerely said, “Thank you.”

The Forbidden Widow said nothing, only chuckling lightly as if it meant little to her.

Ji Yun did not press further; the matter involved his parents’ past karma, so he chose not to pry.

Instead, he asked, “Then... why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Until waking just now, he had genuinely thought the Forbidden Widow wanted to harm him.

The sudden reversal had caught him off guard.

It was largely because the Forbidden Widow had remained silent from the beginning until the wedding ceremony.

Had she informed him earlier like “Shang Xiaoyu” did, perhaps things would have been different...

The Forbidden Widow smiled faintly, “If I told you, would you believe me?”

Ji Yun thought that was true.

Then she revealed the most crucial reason: “Besides, I couldn’t say. That person is a master of the occult arts. The Yin Talisman Nail was implanted using secret arts from Mount Lü. Only she can remove it safely. If anyone else tries, you would surely die. The reason she spread rumors of your death was actually a ‘word-spirit curse’ designed to work with the talisman. It’s a highly sophisticated fate curse, like me publicly staging the wedding so fate would forcibly entangle us. The curse’s purpose is similar: once everyone believes you are dead, your karmic ties with the world become ‘virtually severed,’ making it easier for her to steal your fate.”

She took a breath and added, “So after discovering the talisman inside you, I dared not be careless. I had to use the same trick—pretending to covet your family’s Ghost Gate Coffin—to make you truly feel the threat of death and force that person to act.”

“I see.”

Ji Yun fully understood now.

What seemed like the Forbidden Widow attempting to steal his fate through marriage was actually a ploy to compel “Shang Xiaoyu” to reveal herself.

To mislead her into thinking the Widow was a rival also after the coffin.

She had no choice but to act.

Otherwise, once the artifact was snatched away, it would be impossible to intervene later.

Only when the Yin Talisman Nail was pulled out was Ji Yun’s life truly secured.

…

So many dangers lurked hidden in their rivalry.

After listening, Ji Yun felt both amazed and puzzled.

It seemed multiple forces coveted him— the cat-faced old woman, and “Shang Xiaoyu.”

He asked, “By the way, who was that person?”

“I don’t know.”

The Forbidden Widow’s tone wavered slightly, showing rare uncertainty. “Although you sealed the corpse manipulator, the person escaped and wasn’t captured.”

After a moment of thought, she continued, “That person’s background is complicated and untraceable, but her skills are top-notch. She used the Tians’ corpse-driving technique from Xiangxi, the ghost shadow arts of the Laoshan sect to conceal herself, the Yin Talisman Nail from Mount Lü, and finally the shikigami mirror from the Yin-Yang sect…”

Ji Yun listened, puzzled by the tangled references.

He had heard of these Taoist arts mostly from folklore.

After a pause, she added, “Of course, hiding one’s identity is itself a clue. The opponent might be someone with a public persona in the eyes of the world, so they dare not expose themselves. Your family’s records are classified at the highest level, known only to a handful of top officials. Yet, the information leaked. You should understand what this means… Be more careful in the future. Not everyone will be there to shield you from disaster. But rest assured, after this commotion, those people dare not show their faces for a long time.”

“Mm.”

Ji Yun nodded but was deeply puzzled.

High-level confidentiality? When did the old Ji family become so formidable?

At this point, unable to contain his greatest curiosity, he finally asked, “My parents aren’t…”

He meant to say: Aren’t my parents just ordinary middle-aged folks?

Though the family used to make coffins and had some connection to the occult world, hearing all this made him realize those ties were far more significant—almost overwhelming!

Official classified files completely shattered his perception of his parents as plain, honest middle-aged couple.

The Forbidden Widow, clearly reading his thoughts, said, “Your coffin-making Ji family… well, as an outsider, I shouldn’t say too much. But your parents are far from simple. They are known as the divine couple of the tomb-raiding world, the black and white assassins of the occult arts… One has the ability to detect graves by scent, the other seals corpses and ghosts. In the transcendent realm, they carry quite a reputation. Because they have been absent, those secretive forces dared to show themselves.”

Her tone held undisguised respect and admiration.

“Ah?”

Ji Yun was utterly stunned by this increasingly unbelievable tale.

At the same time, he sensed something was amiss.

If his parents were so powerful, why was someone sent to protect his life?

Moreover, they hadn’t returned home for two years.

With an uneasy premonition, he asked, “Where are my parents now?”

Before he finished speaking, the Forbidden Widow fell silent.

After a few breaths, she said softly, “Missing.”

Ji Yun’s eyes flickered with unease, questioning, “Missing?”

Weren’t they sailors working at sea?

They had called many times over the past two years.

How could this be…

Anticipating his thoughts, the Forbidden Widow answered before he could speak: “Your parents were invited by the official ‘Bizarre Affairs Bureau’ to participate in an S-level top-secret mission. I don’t know the details. I only know that over the past two years, they have explored many dangerous places. Until recently, I received news from them asking me to come protect you. What happened afterward you have already seen.”

“…”

Ji Yun fell silent.

Just as he had found it unreal to hear of Shang Xiaoyu’s death, now hearing his parents were missing felt equally surreal.

So they weren’t sailing after all, but summoned for a secret mission?

No wonder these past two years felt so mysterious.

Could they be in danger?

Having witnessed the true nature of this world tonight, Ji Yun couldn’t help but worry.

At that moment, the Forbidden Widow deftly tied a knot in the silk thread. “It’s sewn up. Avoid strenuous activity for a while; it will heal soon.”

Ji Yun seemed not to hear, his mind far from the wound. He tried to ask plainly, “Then my parents now…”

Before he could finish, the Forbidden Widow interrupted, “I don’t know the specifics. I’m only here under their commission.”

She then pulled a yellowish envelope from her sleeve and handed it over. “Perhaps if you read this letter, you’ll understand what happened.”

“…”

Ji Yun recognized the envelope immediately—it was the one the postman had delivered to him earlier.

He hadn’t even opened it.

Sure enough, she was not here for that.

The Forbidden Widow added, “The cat-faced old woman hired by someone, and your ex-girlfriend, were largely after that letter. Because it might contain clues about that top-secret mission. Be careful.”

“Mm.”

Ji Yun took the letter, gazing at his father’s handwriting, his eyes distant.

Before he could say more, the Forbidden Widow showed no intention of lingering.

She turned and headed for the door, finally saying, “The mission is complete; I must go. Exit through the south gate of the Liu family estate, and you will leave the Netherworld.”

Watching the figure in the red wedding gown walk toward the door, Ji Yun finally snapped back to reality.

Countless words of gratitude swirled in his heart, but only one could escape, “Um… thank you.”

Without turning back, the Forbidden Widow’s calm voice echoed, “No need. Just returning a favor.”

With that, the crimson wedding dress vanished into the faint mist.