"What?" Cecilia Gu asked anxiously.
"About a month ago, someone in the area bought up huge quantities of food, salt, vegetables, fruit, medicine, daily necessities, and so on. The amount was enormous—enough to sustain fifty people for three whole years!" Max Mo said gravely. "And after making these purchases, this person vanished without a trace, as if they never existed. I suspect this person is Adrian. In other words, he started setting up his plan a long time ago."
Cecilia Gu drew in a sharp breath.
How long had she and Molly Yun just returned?
And the other side had already started planning ahead?
What else had he prepared?
Had Adrian gone mad?
"Such a massive amount of supplies." Charles Yin paused, then continued, "This isn’t wartime—almost no one would stockpile that much. And what’s more, the person did it so mysteriously. It’s basically certain that it was Adrian. Everything he did was premeditated. He even predicted we’d be stuck here for a long time and prepared for a drawn-out battle. Three years’ worth of supplies—he’s ruthless. We don’t have that much time to keep so many people here. Even if we wanted to, the locals might not agree. Right now, we’re only getting by on reputation and status, but as time drags on, it’ll wear us down, and them too. Meanwhile, Adrian can just sit back and win easily. He’s calculated everything perfectly!"
"He really has everything figured out. He even anticipated every possible reaction we’d have," Max Mo said. "I heard he tested you guys again today?"
Charles Yin’s face darkened, clearly unwilling to bring up the matter.
He had almost been played by Adrian!
It was simply unforgivable!
Cecilia Gu said angrily, "Adrian is just too hateful! Luckily, we reacted quickly, or we really would have fallen into his trap!"
Max Mo’s eyebrows relaxed, and he looked rather pleased.
Seeing Charles Yin get bested—Adrian really was something!
"Adrian has cast a huge net," Eric Jiang said. "He anticipated every move from all of us. How could he possibly predict our reactions in advance?"
Cecilia Gu thought for a moment and said, "Could this be the ability of their tribe’s High Priest?"
Charles Yin, Eric Jiang, and Max Mo all fell silent at once.
The three of them also felt it was just too strange, too unnatural.
There was simply no other explanation.
Cecilia Gu said quietly, "I don’t know what powers Adrian has. But I heard from Grandma that the Yun Family’s Astrologers actually use up their own life force to perform divinations and predictions. By reading the stars and casting hexagrams, they can foresee events—even the fate of a whole kingdom. Grandma said she’s the longest-lived Astrologer in Yun Family history. Normally, Astrologers rarely live past sixty; most sacrifice their lifespans for the family. Because times are peaceful now, Grandma hasn’t had to use her lifespan for predictions, so she’s lived this long. I suppose Adrian is the same. Even if he can use divination to get information ahead of time, it must take a heavy toll on his body—and he might die young because of it."
The others all nodded, agreeing with Cecilia Gu’s deduction.
"What’s more, during times of war, Astrologers rarely lived past thirty, because they had to constantly divine the family’s fate, seeking fortune and avoiding disaster. The Yun Family nearly collapsed several times, only to be saved by Astrologers—who paid a steep price. The family survived, but the Astrologers were lost. Without the Astrologers’ protection, the Yun Family was like a declawed sick cat, easily trampled. So, even though the Yun Family’s history spans thousands of years, by my generation, we’re only at the thousand and first. That’s because wars in ancient times led to rapid population turnover—sometimes there wasn’t even time to pass on the line before people died in the chaos."
"Once, I heard my sister talk about our Yun Family history. There was a time when we could only hide in the mountains to survive, cut off from the outside world. Even so, the Yun Family barely made it." Cecilia Gu sighed. "Thinking back now, it’s pure luck that the Yun Family lasted long enough to reach me and my sister!"
Max Mo agreed with Cecilia Gu: "I’ve heard about that part of Yun Family history too—it was the darkest time. Without the Astrologers’ protection, the family had to give up all their wealth and escape into the mountains with just a few young people. The others died in their estates, sacrificing themselves as cover. The survivors hid in the mountains, holding onto the last bit of heritage, and suffered for nearly sixty years before daring to return. By then, dynasties had changed, and their old home was nothing but a graveyard."
"It’s a good thing that spark survived, or the Yun Family’s legacy would have ended. Since then, Astrologers have become crucial—there can never be a gap in the line." Cecilia Gu said, "We’re getting off track. Adrian’s High Priest powers and our Yun Family Astrologers share the same origin. Now that Adrian’s health is failing, he’s desperate, so he’s set his sights on our Astrologers."
On this point, Cecilia Gu had to explain again—she’d had a dream, where Zara Yun appeared and explained the connection between Adrian and the Yun Family.
The others listened in awe.
"So that’s how it is," Max Mo nodded. "No wonder Adrian knows all about our movements and reactions—and no wonder he’s targeting Nora’s child. Could it be that Nora’s child is the next Astrologer?"
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Cecilia Gu nodded solemnly. "Yes. Grandma’s hexagrams show that my sister’s child will inherit the Yun Family’s Astrologer role."
At this, Cecilia Gu turned to Eric Jiang. "Brother-in-law, my sister probably hasn’t had a chance to discuss this with you yet. According to Yun Family rules, the Astrologer must always bear the Yun surname and serve the family. So, Brother-in-law, at least one of your children must be surnamed Yun and inherit everything from the Yun Family. Will the Jiang Family agree to that?"
Eric Jiang responded immediately, "That’s no problem! Nora and I won’t have just one child—we’re both healthy, so we’ll just have a few more."
Cecilia Gu let out a sigh of relief. "That’s good."
At that moment, Charles Yin suddenly looked at Eric Jiang. "Cousin, you and Molly haven’t used any contraception—could it be that Molly is already...?"
Charles Yin didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone instantly understood!
That’s right, they hadn’t used any contraception.
Could Molly Yun already be pregnant now?
Cecilia Gu whispered, "If my sister is already pregnant, will Adrian finally give up?"
Max Mo frowned and said, "Let’s hope he does. Otherwise..."
Otherwise, the Jiang Family would wipe out the entire Adrian Tribe—and they’d definitely find Molly Yun and the child!
This possibility had just occurred to Cecilia Gu—and to Molly Yun as well.
She suddenly realized her period seemed to be two days late.
Normally, her cycle was always regular, but this time, it was late.
Why was it suddenly late?
Could it be because she’d been working too hard lately?
Molly Yun silently hugged her cup, sipping it slowly.
Just then, someone knocked at the door and came in.
Molly Yun looked up and saw a group of doctors and nurses walk in. She instinctively hugged her cup tighter.
Was it finally happening?
The doctor smiled at Molly Yun. "Miss Yun, we’ll start your physical exam now. After this period of recuperation, we’ll check your overall health."
"No, that’s not necessary," Molly Yun said with difficulty, anxiety rising in her heart. She’d tampered with the license plate, so why hadn’t anyone outside found it yet?
Had they not seen it?
Or had Adrian destroyed it?
She absolutely couldn’t let them take her eggs!
No way!
"Miss Yun, please cooperate with us," a nurse said, coming up to Molly Yun and reaching for her sleeve.
Molly Yun suddenly stood up. "Wait!"
Everyone turned to look at her.
A wild thought flashed through Molly Yun’s mind: What if she was already pregnant?
Then... did Adrian’s plan just fail?
Molly Yun quickly recalled the books she’d read, remembering clearly what was written.
Once a woman is pregnant, she doesn’t ovulate!
That meant Adrian couldn’t take her eggs!
Just thinking about this possibility made Molly Yun tremble with excitement.
She spoke up resolutely: "I’m already pregnant!"
"What?!" The doctor and nurses were shocked. "How is that possible?!"
Molly Yun steadied her trembling voice and said, "My period is always on time, but now it’s two days late. You’re doctors—you know exactly what that means."
Everyone was stunned.
They couldn’t make the decision and had to report to Adrian immediately.