Chapter 54: The Decision

“Bai Xiaoli!” Granny Wan said in a low, somber voice.

I was stunned the moment I heard this. Bai Xiaoli was, in fact, someone born under the fate of Yin. After being with her for so long, I had never thought to ask for her birth date and hour. So when Granny Wan uttered Bai Xiaoli’s name, I was completely taken aback.

“No, I can’t let Bai Xiaoli take this risk.” Even knowing she was born with such a fate, I couldn’t bear the thought of putting her in danger. Xu Yingying already harbored resentment against Bai Xiaoli because of her misunderstanding with me. If Bai Xiaoli were to come and assist with the birth, there was no telling what might happen.

Granny Wan said that if we couldn’t find another person with the natural Yin fate, I would be doomed to die on the night of the full moon.

I told her I wasn’t afraid of death; even if I were to die, I wouldn’t let Bai Xiaoli get involved in this mess. Seeing how firm I was, Granny Wan said no more.

On the way back, I thought about the promise Granny Wan had made to Xu Yingying. She had told her to keep the ghost infant under control and not let it out, and that she would find a way to help deliver it. So I asked Granny Wan what would happen if she couldn’t keep her promise.

With a look of indifference, Granny Wan replied, “If that happens, Xu Yingying will come for my life, of course. But I’m an old woman with one foot already in the grave—I don’t mind. It’s just a pity for the little Yin spirits in my shop; without anyone to offer sacrifices, they won’t be able to reincarnate.”

Though Granny Wan spoke lightly, her words weighed heavily on my heart. She was helping me by assisting Xu Yingying with the delivery. If she were to be harmed because of this, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself, even in death.

I pondered for a long time before finally asking, “Granny, if Bai Xiaoli agrees to help us with the delivery, what are the odds of success?”

By then, we had reached Granny Wan’s shop. As she opened the door, she replied, “About fifty-fifty.”

I was speechless—a fifty percent chance meant nothing but success or failure.

Sensing my hesitation, Granny Wan smiled and said, “Xiao Xi, I’ve told you before, you don’t need to worry about Bai Xiaoli. Even if she goes and we fail, only you and I will be at risk. Bai Xiaoli won’t be harmed. What you need to consider now is whether that girl is willing to go.”

I remembered what Granny Wan had told me before, and I recalled the fear on Chen Yetian’s face when he heard Bai Xiaoli was in trouble. I realized Granny Wan wasn’t lying to me. Having sorted my thoughts, I promised her I’d ask Bai Xiaoli tomorrow and let her know.

After Granny Wan returned inside, I headed back to my own shop to rest. I had been exhausted all day and fell asleep as soon as I lay down. I slept straight through to noon the next day, only to be woken by Bai Xiaoli knocking at the door.

When I opened the door, there she was in a red dress, standing at the threshold with an annoyed expression. She scolded me for sleeping so soundly, saying she’d been knocking for ages.

I apologized and tried to placate her with a smile.

But Bai Xiaoli wasn’t having it. She pouted and demanded, “Tell me honestly, were you up to something bad last night? I want the truth.”

I wasn’t much good at lying anyway, so with her questioning me like that, I ended up telling her everything about delivering Xu Yingying’s baby at the “Dragonhead Canal” with Granny Wan.

Bai Xiaoli’s eyes widened in astonishment. “You—you and Granny Wan actually went to help a dead woman give birth? Something that exciting, and you didn’t invite me?”

Her reaction caught me off guard, but then I remembered her longstanding fascination with feng shui and all things supernatural, so it wasn’t so strange after all. Thinking of what Granny Wan had said yesterday, I decided now was the right time to ask for her help. So I looked at Bai Xiaoli seriously and said, “Xiaoli, we didn’t succeed in delivering the ghost baby yesterday. Granny Wan said we’ll need your help if we’re to have a chance.”