The Red Thread of Fate - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The red thread on the side of the road wasn’t much to look at.

But the hundred-yuan bill it was tied to was beautiful.

It was so captivating I couldn’t move my feet.

I reached out to pick it up, only to be blocked by a string of prayer beads.

“Female Benefactor, please do not be greedy…”

However, my hands have always been faster than my brain.

By the time I snapped back to my senses, I had already-from a very tricky angle-dodged the prayer beads and snatched the money.

The middle-aged monk looked stunned.

He stared blankly at his right hand, which had blocked nothing but air, his face frozen in a mix of bewilderment and shock.

A gentle breeze blew, fluttering his sleeves.

His hand remained frozen in mid-air.

Feeling inexplicably awkward, I let out a small “ha.”

“Actually, it’s not about the money. I just really like the color red-”

“It makes my skin look pale.”

The man before me was speechless.

His mouth hung open for a long moment before he finally spoke.

“Benefactor, this is no ordinary red thread.”

“A strand of a deceased person’s hair has been woven into it. Picking it up is seen as agreeing to a ghost marriage with them.”

I was shocked. “There’s actually such a thing?”

Seeing my face change, the middle-aged monk’s expression normalized slightly.

He was about to continue when I interrupted him.

I asked hesitantly, “Is the ghost handsome?”

“To be honest, I’m a bit of a sucker for a pretty face.”

The monk’s eyelid twitched visibly.

He subconsciously began to thumb his prayer beads.

“…Amitabha.”

He closed his eyes, struggling to maintain a calm tone. “It… it’s a female ghost!”

I froze.

So this was someone’s dowry, not a betrothal gift.

I made a move to put down the red thread and the money.

“Then I’ll be going?”

The monk’s expression softened a bit.

But then he shook his head, a hint of pity appearing in his eyes.

“Since you have taken it, Benefactor, even though you are not a man, you have already become entangled in karma with that female ghost.”

“She will surely come for you tonight to possess your body and borrow your life.”

He sighed softly. “This ghost is shrouded in resentment and overflowing with malevolence.”

“This Humble Monk’s spiritual power is meager; I cannot cross her over. I had no choice but to stand guard here to prevent anyone from touching the red thread.”

“But now…”

He pressed his palms together and bowed to me. “Benefactor, you’re on your own. Take care.”

With that, he turned and left.

My childhood friend, Chen Yan, panicked and reached out to pull on my arm.

“An Beibei, go after him!”

“It’s better to believe it than not. Hurry and ask the master to help find a way…”

“Where did he go?”

She had only turned her head to speak a few words to me, but when she looked back at the street, the monk was nowhere to be seen.

“What are we going to do?”

Chen Yan’s brow was furrowed tight.

I patted her shoulder, signaling her not to panic.

“Don’t worry, yours truly has a plan!”

She looked skeptical. “What plan?”

I gave a mysterious smile.

I pulled Chen Yan along and headed straight for…

The Mountain God Temple.