Chapter 341

Chapter 341

◎A Full Quiver◎

The Gao family began having strange dreams after objects in their home started moving inexplicably. In the dreams, they transformed into unfamiliar women dressed in ancient attire. The dream always began with a wedding—seemingly a marriage "up" into a wealthy and influential family.

There was a husband who went through the motions, distant and disinterested; a mother-in-law who laid down the law on the very first day; oppressive walls enclosing the courtyard and suffocating rules governing every word and action. Everyone watched closely, waiting for the slightest misstep.

After several mechanical intimate encounters, the woman became pregnant. But life didn’t improve. She still had to rise early to pay respects and serve tea, endure lectures on ancestral rules, copy passages from the *Nüjie* (Women’s Precepts), and even find a night companion for her husband since she could no longer attend to him herself. Though wives couldn’t take concubines during pregnancy, a temporary substitute was expected to care for the husband.

Each day in the dream dragged endlessly under an unbearable weight. Her pregnancy symptoms were severe—violent morning sickness that left her vomiting blood—yet she was scolded for being weak, blamed for failing to protect the unborn child.

During those nights of dreaming, Tian Pei looked drawn and weary. The suffering in the dream wasn't just physical—it was the crushing sensation of fate clenched in an iron fist, leaving only bitter resignation.

Later, she noticed her husband was also running on fumes. He would absentmindedly touch his belly when distracted. Thinking he was ill, she asked and discovered he too was trapped in the same nightmare. It turned out everyone in the household was experiencing it.

Unlike Tian Pei and her mother-in-law, the two men in the Gao family struggled to identify with the female dream persona. They felt disoriented and agonized, forced each night to endure the physical burden of carrying a baby to term.

Listening to their ashen-faced accounts, Ji Nanxing asked, “How far along is your dream now?”

Tian Pei glanced at Ji Nanxing. Though she knew he was capable, he was still her friend’s son—a high school student. This wasn’t easy to discuss with a teenager, but there was no choice: “We’ve reached nine months. The family in the dream has already hired a midwife for the delivery.”

Time moved differently in dreams, meaning tonight they would likely give birth in the dream world.

Ji Nanxing said, “That ghost will probably come back tonight. I’ll stay and see if I can catch him. At least one thing’s clear—you’re not in immediate danger. This isn’t about killing you.”

Grandfather Gao frowned. “If not to kill us, then what? Just torment us? Why target our family? We’ve never done anything wrong.”

Ji Nanxing had his suspicions but kept them to himself. The Yin energy in the house matched what he’d sensed from Gu Yu before. The root of this haunting almost certainly lay with Gu Yu—but whether Gu Yu was involved, manipulated, or unaware remained unclear.

What was certain was that the ghost would return tonight. After dragging the Gaos through the agony of childbirth, it wouldn’t stop now. That final cruel twist was sure to come.

“We’ll probably figure it out tonight,” Ji Nanxing said.

His mother offered, “Then I’ll stay here with you today.”

Normally, she never interfered with her son’s work, but this was her friend’s home, and he’d be staying overnight. Worried he might feel out of place alone, she wanted to keep him company.

He shook his head. “No need. You carry a spiritual artifact. If the ghost senses its presence, it won’t dare show up. I’ll handle it alone.”

Grandfather Gao looked from Ji’s mother to Ji Nanxing. “Nan Xing, where can I get something like that? Money isn’t an issue.”

“Spiritual artifacts aren’t about money,” Ji Nanxing replied. “My master spent a lifetime collecting just a few. The ones I gave my family have bonded with their energy. True spiritual artifacts are bound to one owner. You could try antique auctions—you might find one that resonates with you.”

Grandfather Gao sighed and dropped the matter. Turning to the Taoist he’d hired, he asked curiously, “Do you have any spiritual artifacts?”

The Taoist smiled awkwardly. “No. Only a Five Emperors’ Coin Sword passed down from my master. That doesn’t really count as a spiritual artifact.”

With Ji Nanxing taking over the case, the Taoist, though curious, respected the boundaries and left before dark, not lingering to gawk.

Ji’s mother stayed for dinner with her son before leaving. Watching her hesitate at the door, Tian Pei chuckled. “I’m here. Who would dare mess with our boy? Don’t worry.”

Ji’s mother knew exactly what kind of man Grandfather Gao was. If not for Tian Pei, she wouldn’t have gone near the Gao family. After reminding her son to go home if things got uncomfortable, she pulled Tian Pei aside.

“The root of this haunting is clear from your dreams. I won’t say more than this—do you really want this for Youlin?” (Tian Pei’s son) “Trapped in a joyless marriage and parenthood, or free to choose happiness and peace—what matters more?”

Of course, Tian Pei wanted her son to be happy. But some choices weren’t simple. The consequences—for both her and her son—weren’t something to make lightly.

Seeing her look of frustration, Tian Pei gave a resigned smile: "I know. I’ll think it through carefully."

After seeing off Ji’s mother, Tian Pei slipped her arm around Ji Nanxing as they walked back inside, sighing as they went: "Xingxing, do you think Auntie made a mistake?"

"I just know my mom would never hurt me," Ji Nanxing replied.

Things like breaking legs to keep someone locked up would never happen in the Ji family.

Tian Pei sighed—she’d never seen this coming. Her father-in-law had always adored Youlin. She thought he’d be the one most upset about what happened to him. No one expected the old man to go this far.

At the time, everything had been chaos—no one could stop him. Later, bodyguards were posted all over the house. Even if she or her mother-in-law wanted to help, they couldn’t.

Before going inside, Ji Nanxing handed Tian Pei a talisman. "Keep this on you. And it’s best if you and Uncle sleep in separate rooms."

Tian Pei took the talisman and held it tightly in her hand.

Gao Youlin's room was guarded in rotating shifts, twenty-four hours a day. The guards were only there to make sure he didn’t run away—they didn’t stop anyone from entering.

When Ji Nanxing pushed open the door, Gao Youlin was eating. He’d been refusing food before, even needing IV nutrients. Now, he’d finally started eating again.

Seeing Ji Nanxing, Gao Youlin glanced at the guards outside. Only after the door was closed did he ask urgently, "Can I borrow your phone?"

Ji Nanxing unlocked his phone and handed it over. Gao Youlin immediately dialed the number he knew by heart. Each ring hammered at his chest, twisting his gut with dread.

After several rings, the call connected. Gu Yu’s tired voice came through the speaker. The moment Gao Youlin heard it, his eyes welled up and his voice cracked: "Xiao Yu…"

There was a pause before Gu Yu said, "I already told you we’re done. Just drop it. We were never meant to be, Youlin. Neither of us can fight your family. Stop putting us through this."

Without waiting for Gao Youlin to respond, Gu Yu hung up.

Gao Youlin stayed on the line long after the call ended, unable to let go. He knew that once he put the phone down, it would truly be over.

Ji Nanxing watched as his expression shifted from hope to despair. A grown man, sobbing too hard to talk. Finally, Ji Nanxing asked, "What’s crying gonna fix?"

Gao Youlin handed the phone back. "I thought… I thought I could make him wait for me."

"How? Why would he?" Ji Nanxing shot back. "You know what kind of family you come from. You know how much your family values tradition. Yet you still had him dress as a girl just to buy time. You jumped into this without any backup plan. Now that it’s blown up in your face, why are you crying?"

Gao Youlin looked at him. "Feelings are hard to control."

"Excuses," Ji Nanxing snapped. "Feelings might be messy, but responsibility isn’t. At your weakest point, you dragged him into this mess and still expected him to wait? For what? Your helplessness? Your powerlessness? Your inability to take charge of your own life?"

Gao Youlin had no reply. He never imagined being lectured about love by a high schooler—especially one who was right on every count. He didn’t know what to say.

After a long silence, he muttered, "You’ll get it when you fall for someone."

Ji Nanxing chuckled. Then maybe he never would. Xiao Ye wasn’t much older than him, but he carried responsibility like it was second nature. Ji Nanxing just had to say the word, and Xiao Ye would bulldoze any obstacle in their way.

But this wasn’t the time to discuss relationships. So instead, he asked, "Does Gu Yu ever worship anything? Like gods or spirits?"

"Why do you ask?" Gao Youlin frowned.

"I ran into him once before everything came out. Back then, he was carrying some dark energy—exactly the same as what’s haunting your house now."

"You think Gu Yu is behind this?" Gao Youlin shook his head. "Impossible. He’s not like that."

"I didn’t say it was him," Ji Nanxing clarified. "But whatever spirit is causing trouble here has something to do with him."

Gao Youlin still looked doubtful. "Gu Yu doesn’t believe in any of that stuff. He won’t even pray to the God of Wealth on Lunar New Year’s Day 5."

Ji Nanxing asked, "Was there someone really important to Gu Yu who's passed away?"

Gao Youlin nodded. "Yes—his younger sister. She died of leukemia three years ago. Gu Yu went into debt trying to save her, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough."

"Get some rest," Ji Nanxing said.

As he turned to leave, Gao Youlin called out, "Nan Xing! If Gu Yu's really involved in this… can you not be too harsh?"

"As long as they don’t cross the line, I won’t go too far."

Night after night, the Gao family had been trapped in relentless nightmares. Knowing tonight might be the worst, the mere thought was terrifying. They chugged coffee and tea, desperate to stay awake, praying sleep wouldn’t take them.

But when the time came, those fighting sleep were dragged under in an instant—except for Tian Pei, who kept the talisman Ji Nanxing had given her close to her chest.

Their consciousnesses were ripped away and they awoke inside the nightmare. Before they could even react, searing pain tore through their abdomens. People crowded around the bed—some pressing on her stomach, others murmuring empty comforts. In the dream, the Gao family found themselves trapped in a woman’s body, forced to endure childbirth firsthand.

No painkillers, no anesthesia—just raw, brutal agony. They felt themselves tearing open below. Hands reached inside, pulling at something, while another figure took a pair of scissors and sliced through flesh to make way for the baby.

They’d never known pain like this—pain so unbearable they wished for death. But hands held them down, forcing them to stay conscious. Someone shoved ginseng slices into their mouths, while voices urged, *“The baby’s crowning—just a little more!”*

In that moment, any thought of heirs or legacy vanished under the pain. *They didn’t want to give birth.* *They couldn’t bear this.*

When the baby wouldn’t come, someone pried their legs apart while others crushed down on their bellies, trying to force the child out. As they teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, a cold voice whispered, *"Save the baby. The line comes first. Wives are replaceable."*

With that command, the midwives stopped holding back. No matter how much blood spilled, how deep the wounds tore, or how much the mother screamed, the only priority was delivering the baby safely—even if it meant cutting her open.

After a day and a night of torment, the child they had carried for ten months was finally pulled free. But the pain didn’t stop. Their bones were rubble, their bodies icing over. They could feel something pouring endlessly from them.

In their final moments, a single verdict rang out: *"She’s bleeding out."*

In the dream, the Gao family endured the agony of dying in childbirth. Outside of it, a ghostly woman floated down the hall, her ghostly mist creeping under doors and wrapping around each member of the Gao family.

When the energy meant for Tian Pei was suddenly scattered, the female ghost paused in confusion. Just as she started to drift inside, she felt a thread tighten around her.

She turned. Ji Nanxing stood holding the red string. "Did you come to take revenge on the Gao family for your brother?"

"Stay out of this," she hissed.

"Have you even asked your brother if he wants you to do this?" he asked.

Her spectral energy flared violently. "After what the Gaos did to him?!" Her voice cracked with fury. "They want children so badly? They love continuing their bloodline? Then I’ll make them give birth until they break!"

Ji Nanxing didn’t argue about the Gao family. Instead, he asked calmly, "Do you want to see your brother? I can arrange a meeting."

The ghost stared. This Taoist wasn’t following the script. He’d thrown her off balance.