"It's... it's too beautiful..."
The innkeeper was utterly mesmerized, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.
His other wives were all hideous creatures, not only ugly but mostly crippled, some even headless.
Most female ghosts died of old age, so young female ghosts were rare. Coupled with the lawless nature of the ghost market, any ghost with even a modicum of beauty or a pleasing appearance was already claimed by the powerful and influential demons of the market. For the innkeeper to have over a dozen ghost wives was considered quite fortunate.
Now, beholding the incomparably stunning Tao Hua Ying, the innkeeper secretly felt he had struck gold.
His hands trembling, he beckoned Tao Hua Ying to the bed. If he hadn't been dead, his current excitement would have likely caused his heart to explode.
Tao Hua Ying, dressed in a red gown, did not approach the bed. Instead, she asked the innkeeper, "Is my daughter safe?"
The innkeeper chuckled, "Rest assured, I've made all the arrangements. Hurry over, you know a moment of passion is worth a thousand gold coins..."
Tao Hua Ying felt a sense of relief. She lifted her skirt and slowly walked towards the innkeeper.
She reached the bedside, and the lecherous, ugly old man was already impatient, drool escaping the corners of his mouth.
"Beauty, truly a beauty!" The innkeeper grabbed the hem of Tao Hua Ying's skirt, inhaling deeply, a look of intoxication on his face. "I've been dead for hundreds of years. Before my soul scatters, to experience a beauty like you is a blessing from countless lifetimes! What are you waiting for? Come up quickly!"
Seeing Tao Hua Ying hesitate, a flicker of anger crossed the innkeeper's eyes. After all, in his inn, his dozen wives never dared to defy him, nor even show a hint of disrespect.
Just then, a commotion erupted from downstairs.
"Who are you? Why did you take my daughter!"
"Your daughter has been noticed by a Netherworld Official. We're sending her for reincarnation. It's a good thing, you should be happy!"
"Stop this at once! My husband is the innkeeper, he won't agree!"
"Hahaha, you don't know, do you? It was your husband who gave your daughter to us!"
Tao Hua Ying paused, her gaze fixed on the innkeeper. "What's going on?"
"Heh, that's one of my concubines. Like you, she has a daughter," the innkeeper sneered. "That woman's looks are incomparable to yours, and her daughter isn't even my seed. It's the perfect opportunity to send her away!"
Tao Hua Ying's heart sank.
If the innkeeper could give away that ghost's daughter today, he would give away his own daughter tomorrow. The only difference was that his own daughter might fetch a higher price!
"I... I'm coming."
Tao Hua Ying lifted her foot and stepped onto the edge of the bed.
The innkeeper gazed at her tantalizing legs, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
Suddenly, a fierce glint flashed in Tao Hua Ying's eyes!
She pulled out the hairpin from her hair and thrust it fiercely at the innkeeper!
With a '噗呲' sound, the hairpin pierced the innkeeper's head!
The innkeeper's face contorted in shock. He had never expected Tao Hua Ying to attack him at this moment!
Immediately after, Tao Hua Ying's lips split, stretching all the way to her ears. Then, opening her cavernous maw, she bit off half of the innkeeper's head!
Tao Hua Ying was no ordinary stray soul. She was a vengeful spirit who had killed over a dozen living people outside before being pursued by Zhang Yin!
Upon entering the ghost market, Tao Hua Ying wished to avoid further trouble, so she endured humiliation, only wanting to live a peaceful life with her daughter.
However, the incident with the Netherworld Officials made Tao Hua Ying realize that to live a peaceful life, she needed a strong backing!
This innkeeper was unreliable; he would betray her sooner or later!
Therefore, Tao Hua Ying decided to kill this ugly old man and find a way to establish herself in the ghost market. Only then could she protect her daughter!
After devouring the innkeeper's soul, Tao Hua Ying's strength grew. She walked out of the inn, exuding a chilling aura, and saw two demons dragging a small girl away.
"Stop!"
Tao Hua Ying commanded.
The demons turned, intending to see which foolish ghost dared to speak to them in such a manner. But when they saw Tao Hua Ying's appearance, they froze in stunned silence.
Ordinary ghosts retained their appearance at the moment of death. Only more powerful ghosts could disguise themselves.
Tao Hua Ying now appeared to be in her early twenties, at the peak of her beauty. Coupled with her red dress, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the most beautiful ghost in the market!
The demons' reason was instantly consumed by lust. Dropping the girl, they leered at Tao Hua Ying.
"Beauty, how have we never seen you before? Why don't we find a quiet place, and you can introduce yourself properly to us?" one of the demons asked with a suggestive grin.
Tao Hua Ying smiled faintly.
The next second, her hairpin flew out, piercing the heads of both demons. She then opened her mouth again, devouring their souls!
"Daughter!"
The innkeeper's concubine rushed over, tightly embracing her daughter, and repeatedly kowtowed to Tao Hua Ying. "Thank you, girl, thank you, girl!"
Tao Hua Ying looked at the orphaned mother and daughter and felt a pang of pity.
In a place like the ghost market, devoid of order, female ghosts held a low status, barely better than beasts of burden.
She took a deep breath and said, "The innkeeper is dead. Wait for me in the inn. If I return safely, I will ensure your safety from now on... In the ghost market, no one will be able to bully us again!"
With that, Tao Hua Ying hurried towards home.
When she reached her doorstep, she saw the door ajar and heard her daughter Yin Yin's scream from inside.
"Yin Yin!"
Tao Hua Ying's face turned pale, and she rushed into the house, only to find two more demons trying to abduct someone!
It was then she realized the innkeeper had been lying to her all along. Her daughter meant nothing to him; it was fine if she was taken away.
If she hadn't resisted, hadn't killed the innkeeper, she would have ended up as the innkeeper's plaything and failed to protect her daughter's safety!
An boundless rage surged from Tao Hua Ying's heart. She could no longer control herself and ferociously attacked the house!
Seeing a frenzied female ghost charging in, the demons shouted defensively, "We are subordinates of Lord Shi Jing!"
"Die!!!"
Tao Hua Ying ignored them. All she wanted was for her daughter to be safe!
The two demons were instantly killed by Tao Hua Ying, their souls completely consumed!
A few minutes later, Tao Hua Ying stood at the doorway, panting, holding her hairpin.
She would stand here, and whoever dared to cross the threshold and plot against her daughter, she would kill them!
Children are inherently weak, but a mother's love makes her strong.