Chapter 1

At the entrance of the cheap rental houses in the urban village, smoke billowed in the air. Ethan Moore leaned against the weathered wall. The cigarette he held between his fingers was almost burned out. The heat made his fingertips twitch, but he slowly flicked the cigarette butt away. A faint spark traced a path across the dim alley before disappearing instantly.

His gaze swept over the woman before him. There was no trace of admiration in his eyes, only utter helplessness. Chloé Bennett stood right in front of him. Her white dress highlighted her fair, snow-like skin. Her long, slender legs were graceful. Her delicate face carried a hint of stubbornness. A few strands of hair fluttered in the wind above her forehead. Anyone would consider her a truly beautiful woman.

Yet it was this very beauty who had been waiting at his door for two whole hours, like a sticky label that wouldn’t come off.

“Ethan Moore, today we must consummate our marriage!” Chloe Bennett’s voice was clear and firm, with no room for refusal. Her cheeks were slightly red, clearly indicating her shyness. Yet, her gaze remained fixed on Ethan Moore, without any sign of hesitation.

Ethan Moore rubbed his swollen temples and lit another cigarette. As he inhaled the smoke, he coughed slightly. He really had no idea what was going on in that woman’s head.

A month ago, he obeyed his old master’s orders and left the deep mountains to go to the city and “gain some experience.” As soon as he stepped out of the train station, he encountered three scumbag thugs who were harassing a woman. Ethan Moore had practiced the Muir family’s secret arts since childhood, so he was naturally very skilled in combat. With just a few quick moves, he dealt with those thugs. In effect, he did a good deed by taking care of those troublemakers.

But what he never expected was that this act of rescue would lead to a problem he couldn’t shake off. Chloe Bennett cried on the spot and declared her love for him. Ethan Moore thought it was just a joke and walked away. But from then on, no matter where he moved, Chloe Bennett always managed to find him, insisting every day that they get married.

It wasn’t that he disdained Chloe Bennett. On the contrary, which man in his prime wouldn’t be tempted by such a beautiful woman? But he couldn’t.

The Moore family is a lineage of physiognomy experts, possessing the world’s most advanced secrets related to yin and yang. However, there’s a deadly taboo associated with these secrets: men must remain virgins until the age of 25. Otherwise, the powers they wield will turn against them, resulting in certain death. His two elder brothers broke this rule due to their recklessness in youth. Both died in horrible ways, at the hands of women.

Before leaving the mountains, the old man called him aside, patted him on the shoulder, and warned him. He said that in the city, one might get into trouble, kill people, or even use drugs. But above all, one must never touch women. These words became like a shackle that firmly bound Ethan Moore.

“I told you, it’s impossible.” Ethan Moore exhaled a ring of smoke, his tone calm, though his eyes revealed a hint of impatience. “If you really want to repay me, then stop bothering me. Find a good man to marry instead. That would be better than anything.”

Chloe Bennett’s eyes turned red instantly. Her previous stubbornness vanished without a trace, replaced by deep sorrow. Tears streamed down her face like beads falling from a broken string. “I don’t… I just want to repay you. Besides giving myself to you, I have no other way.”

Ethan Moore looked at her tearful face and felt a strange softness in his heart. But when he thought of what had happened to his two brothers, his heart hardened again. “I said no, and that’s that.”

“It’s my first time too, it was all clean.” Chloe Bennett sniffled, her voice choked up. “After tonight, we’ll never speak to each other again. I promise I won’t bother you anymore, okay?”

Ethan Moore’s heart pounded violently, and his throat tightened. At twenty-four, he was in the prime of his life. Facing such a stunningly beautiful woman who was openly pursuing him, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted. But the fear of what was forbidden acted like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the desire in his heart.

He suddenly realized something was off. Although Chloe Bennett was persistent, she had always been pushy and demanding in her attempts to get him to marry her. But today, she seemed suddenly soft and vulnerable, even somewhat pleading. Moreover, over the past month, he had moved around constantly, staying in five different places. Yet, Chloe Bennett managed to find him every time. This was certainly not something an ordinary woman could do.

Could this be a test arranged by the old man? A test of whether he could abide by the taboos and resist temptation?

Ethan Moore narrowed his eyes, carefully studying Chloe Bennett, trying to detect any signs of deception on her face. But Chloe Bennett’s tears were genuine, and the sorrow and pleading in her eyes didn’t seem fake at all.

Just then, Chloe Bennett suddenly grabbed the hem of his shirt. Bending her knees, she almost fell to her knees. Her voice was filled with despair: “I beg you, Ethan Moore! The lives of my family are in your hands. Just sleep with me! If you agree, I’ll do anything!”

Ethan Moore quickly grabbed her, his expression turning serious in an instant. The lives of family members? This wasn’t a trivial matter, and certainly not the kind of test the old man would use. Though strict, the old man would never toy with the lives of outsiders.

He glanced down at the Yin-Yang ring on his wrist. The ring was slightly cool to the touch, and the runes engraved on it flickered faintly. Today was the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. It was not only his 24th birthday but also the birthday of the Ghost King. On this day, the forces of darkness were at their strongest. It was a time when evil spells thrived and conspiracies abounded.

There must be something wrong with this.

Ethan Moore extinguished the cigarette in his hand and spoke in a serious tone, “Stop acting foolish. Explain things clearly. Who kidnapped your family? What does it have to do with me? If you tell the truth, maybe I can help you resolve this.”

Chloe Bennett raised her tear-streaked face. There was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes, quickly replaced by despair. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she bit her lip and shook her head. “I can’t say it. I can only beg you: promise me that if we consummate our marriage tonight, my family will live.”

Ethan Moore’s doubts grew even deeper. He couldn’t say anything? It seemed like the other party wasn’t to be trifled with. Moreover, it was likely that their true target wasn’t Chloe Bennett at all, but him.

He stared into Chloe Bennett’s eyes and said, word by word, “I can help you, but marriage is out of the question. If you trust me, tell me everything. If not, you can leave now—and never come to me again.”

Chloe Bennett stared into Ethan Moore’s determined eyes. After a long silence, she finally broke down in tears. As she cried, she pieced together the truth—that truth was far more terrifying than Ethan Moore could have imagined.