"Say that again!" Molly Yun put down the fruit knife and spoke urgently.
Cecilia Gu looked confused. "I didn't say anything weird. I just said, Grandma once told me our family's astrologer is a bloodline inheritance, always skipping a generation. Dad didn't inherit it, neither did you or me, so the only possibility is the next generation. Ethan and Yinuo obviously didn't inherit it, so the only one left is you! Even though you're using Molly Yun's body now, your soul is Nora Yun. Besides, whether it's Nora Yun or Molly Yun, you're still a Yun family member... Sis? What's wrong with you? Why do you look so pale? Don't scare me!"
Seeing Molly Yun's face turn instantly pale, Cecilia Gu panicked and grabbed her hand. "Sis, I was just rambling, don't be mad!"
"Cecilia, I finally understand why I've been feeling so uneasy!" Molly Yun suddenly grabbed Cecilia's arm. "I've been racking my brain, wondering why we were able to come back so smoothly."
"Huh?" Cecilia Gu still hadn't caught on. "What do you mean?"
"That High Priest!" Molly Yun squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth. "He went to so much trouble to make me reincarnate, tricked me into going there, and then captured you too. Why would he let us leave so easily?"
"So, what does this have to do with our child?" Cecilia Gu was still confused.
"I've always felt something was off. Sure, Charles Yin threatened him and forced him to let us go. But he had no reason to make a deal with Charles! Even if he agreed at the time, it's normal to break the deal later! If the High Priest broke his word, it wouldn't be easy for us to find him again, right?" Molly Yun reminded Cecilia.
Cecilia Gu finally realized, "You're right! How did I not think of that? We only found that tribe by pure luck! If we had to look again, we might not find it at all! So what is he really after?"
"If you hadn't reminded me, I would've forgotten our bloodline includes the astrologer lineage." Molly Yun said quietly. "Do you think his real target is my child?"
"But the High Priest of a primitive tribe has nothing to do with our family's astrologer!" Cecilia Gu couldn't help but say, "Even if both the High Priest and the astrologer work with spiritual power, they're not the same thing! He can't possibly want our family's astrologer to become his tribe's High Priest, right?"
Molly Yun stared at Cecilia Gu. "What if that's exactly his plan? After all, an astrologer is a very special existence, isn't it?"
Cecilia Gu was suddenly speechless.
"Later, I need to talk to Grandma." Molly Yun clenched her fist. "No matter what, I won't allow anyone to target our family!"
"Grandma's energy hasn't been as good lately," Cecilia Gu sighed. "How about I go home with you to check on her? Astrologers always use up their life force... Wait, that High Priest also seemed to use up his own life force to let you reincarnate, didn't he?"
A chill ran down the backs of both Molly Yun and Cecilia Gu.
Some things are just too scary to think about—the more you think, the more terrifying they seem.
Neither of them dared to delay any longer. They immediately booked tickets to fly back to Eastshire Province.
Their sudden return to their parents' home startled Mr. Yun and Mrs. Yun.
"What happened to you two?" Mrs. Yun asked. "Don't tell me you quarreled with Charles or Eric?"
"Mom!" Cecilia Gu and Molly Yun called out together. "It's nothing like that—we just have something we want to discuss with Grandma!"
Mrs. Yun was extremely curious. "That's strange! You came all the way back just for this? Couldn't you have just called?"
Molly Yun immediately went over and took her mother's arm, not wanting her to worry, and said playfully, "We came all this way just to see you—aren't you happy?"
"If Cici said that, I might believe her. Nora, you know your mother understands you best. You never act without a reason." Mrs. Yun said seriously.
Cecilia Gu immediately clung to Mrs. Yun. "Oh, Mom! Actually, Charles and Eric are both away on business trips, the kids aren't around—they're off playing at the base. Since my sister and I were free, we thought we'd come see you!"
"Alright, you two go ahead and make a fuss! I'm not going to bother with you. Your grandmother is upstairs in the attic, she rarely comes down to see anyone these days. Walk quietly when you go up." Mrs. Yun shot Cecilia Gu a look, then said to Molly Yun, "Nora, Grandma always loved you most when you were little. Comfort her as much as you can."
"Got it, Mom." Molly Yun replied gently as always. "I know what to do."
After chatting with their parents for a while, the two of them slowly went upstairs to the attic.
The entire attic was Grandma Yun's domain.
As soon as they entered, they felt a mysterious, oppressive atmosphere.
"Grandma." Molly Yun walked over slowly. "We're back."
"Grandma." Cecilia Gu said, a little nervously.
"Come, have a seat." Grandma Yun's wrinkles had deepened. Although she was about the same age as Grandma Evelyn Yin, she looked at least ten years older.
Cecilia Gu noticed the two cushions in front of her and felt like Grandma had already expected her and her sister to come.
Without saying a word, Cecilia Gu obediently sat down with Molly Yun in front of Grandma Yun.
"Grandma, we came back this time because we have some questions for you." Molly Yun said softly. "I was always sick and didn't inherit your astrology skills, so I never thought about this. Yesterday, Cici told me that our family's astrologer is always passed down every other generation. Grandma, do you think the next generation will have one?"
Grandma Yun held a tortoise shell in her aged hand, rubbing it constantly. She closed her eyes and swayed for a moment before speaking slowly. "I thought you'd only remember this question years from now. Since you're asking, I can finally explain it to you."
Cecilia Gu made a goofy face at Molly Yun, and Molly glared at her playfully.
"Your grandfather and I are distant cousins. So, I actually have Yun family blood in my veins too." Grandma Yun said calmly. "Our family has three treasures: books, medicine, and tea. That's our visible wealth—everyone knows about it. But the Yun family also has many secrets, like the astrologer."
"A long time ago, our Yun family was closely tied to the imperial court, but we were always wary of each other. The court needed the Yun family, but also feared us. So whether the Yun family lay low or emerged, we always asked the astrologer for guidance. Every generation's astrologer bore the family's rise and fall. I was no exception. That's why, back then, to keep you alive, I had Jane Gu take Cici away."
Hearing Grandma Yun mention these old events, Cecilia Gu felt a surge of emotion in her heart.
"The Yun family has escaped death several times, but we've always survived—and thrived. The astrologer's contribution can't be erased." Grandma Yun continued, "I've watched all the Yun family children, and none of them inherited this ability. Not from the main branch or the side branches. I even thought the astrologer line was finished. Until one day, I realized my own lifespan had far exceeded that of previous astrologers. Only then did I understand: I must wait for the new astrologer to arrive before I can pass away."
"This is my mission and my responsibility. I have to protect the new astrologer until they grow up—only then can I die." Grandma Yun said softly. "Cici's two children didn't inherit this ability, so the only possible one left is you, Nora."
Molly Yun looked up gently. "Grandma..."
"No need to avoid this topic. I'm already so old—even if I died now, it would be a happy passing." Grandma Yun waved her hand, unconcerned. "Your resurrection was a Yun family miracle, so the next astrologer is most likely your child. Nora, whether you're Nora Yun or Molly Yun, your soul is the same!"
"Yes." Molly Yun lowered her head. "But Grandma, I don't want my child to inherit all this. Call it selfishness if you want. Before I was married, I never thought about it, but now that I am, and will have my own child, as a mother, I just want my child to grow up safe and happy."
"Nora, you're getting attached." Grandma Yun shook her head. "As a Yun family member, many things are destined and can't be changed. Look, I sent Cici away back then, but it didn't change your fate of separation and reunion, did it?"
Cecilia Gu and Molly Yun exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness on the other's face.
"Let nature take its course." Grandma Yun nodded. "Maybe this child will bring you a surprise."
After saying this, Grandma Yun waved her hand gently. She was a little tired.
"Grandma, we'll go downstairs now. Please rest well." Cecilia Gu and Molly Yun stood up from the cushions and left the room carefully, heading downstairs.
Standing on the second-floor stairs, Molly Yun said sadly, "Cici, have I changed? Have I become selfish?"
Cecilia Gu replied, "I wouldn't say that. Being an astrologer means devoting your whole life to the Yun family—it's only natural you'd feel reluctant."
"Let's not worry about it yet, I'm not even pregnant. It's too early to talk about this." Molly Yun finally relaxed a bit and said with a hint of childishness, "Maybe it won't be my child!"
"Come over here, both of you, and try my latest batch of tea." Mr. Yun was happy to see his daughters return. "By the way, Charles mentioned seeing an altar in a primal jungle last time—did you two see it?"