Due to a disagreement with Shi Jing on the matter of the Yin Messenger, Tao Hua Ying, uncharacteristically, did not return to the Shi residence and instead spent the entire night at the Feng Lai Lou.
As for Yin Yin, Tao Hua Ying was not worried. After all, through five years of shared experience, Tao Hua Ying believed that Shi Jing had come to regard Yin Yin as his own daughter. A single night would be no issue.
The next morning, as guests began to depart Feng Lai Lou, the servants were already tidying up.
Tao Hua Ying had also composed herself and was sitting before the dressing table, attending to her makeup. After a night of calm reflection, she decided to speak with Shi Jing again.
However, at that very moment, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, followed by the frantic entrance of the madam of the house:
"Madam, something terrible has happened! Someone has broken into our Feng Lai Lou and is arresting people!"
Tao Hua Ying was startled. "Who dares to cause trouble at Feng Lai Lou?!"
Setting aside the fact that she was Shi Jing's wife, her own position as the second-in-command of the Ghost Market was significant.
While she couldn't guarantee safety outside, within the Ghost Market, Tao Hua Ying was confident that no one would dare attack Feng Lai Lou.
Unless…
Tao Hua Ying suddenly thought of something, and her expression turned exceptionally grim.
"It's… it's Master Shi's people!"
The madam's reply confirmed Tao Hua Ying's suspicion.
Had Shi Jing ultimately agreed to the Yin Messenger's terms?
Feng Lai Lou housed the most useless beings in the Ghost Market, mostly female ghosts with no combat ability, or weak male ghost servants.
If fifteen hundred souls were to be handed over to the Yin Messenger, Feng Lai Lou would be the prime target!
Tao Hua Ying's face turned frighteningly dark as she rose to go downstairs and investigate.
But at that moment, a chilling gust of wind swept in from the window, instantly scattering the madam outside into dust. Immediately after, a powerful force sealed the door.
Shi Jing's figure slowly materialized.
"You…" Tao Hua Ying bit her crimson lips and asked, "You agreed to the Yin Messenger?!"
"I'm sorry."
Although Shi Jing apologized, his face was equally ashen, showing little remorse.
For Shi Jing, being able to utter the words "I'm sorry" was already a considerable indulgence towards Tao Hua Ying.
Tao Hua Ying closed her eyes, struggling to accept this reality.
The Ghost Market was a sanctuary for them, beings who drifted in the mortal realm. Without the protection of the Yin Messenger, the Ghost Market would cease to exist.
If sacrificing fifteen hundred souls was necessary to ensure the peace of the Ghost Market, Tao Hua Ying… could perhaps persuade herself to accept it.
Suddenly, a look of resolve appeared on Shi Jing's face, and he reached out to embrace Tao Hua Ying.
Tao Hua Ying sighed softly, about to say something, when she saw Shi Jing suddenly reach out and lightly tap her forehead!
Unprepared, Tao Hua Ying's body went limp, her powers sealed!
"I'm sorry!"
Shi Jing let out a low shout, helped Tao Hua Ying to sit by the table, and then transformed into ghost energy, flying away. Before leaving, he placed a restriction on the window.
By the time Tao Hua Ying regained her senses, Shi Jing had already vanished!
Tao Hua Ying couldn't understand why Shi Jing had acted against her. Was he afraid she would stop him from handing over those fifteen hundred souls?
But she had already decided to compromise!
Tao Hua Ying could never have imagined that Shi Jing intended to hand over her daughter!
After sealing Tao Hua Ying, Shi Jing ordered his subordinate ghosts to arrest all the ghosts in Feng Lai Lou. As for the deficit in souls, he began searching the Ghost Market, determined to gather seven hundred souls!
The reason for targeting Feng Lai Lou was because Shi Jing had decided to hand over Yin Yin. He anticipated that Tao Hua Ying would fly into a rage afterward, so he preemptively weakened Feng Lai Lou's power to diminish Tao Hua Ying's subsequent strength.
At that time, with Yin Yin's departure a foregone conclusion, Shi Jing would suppress Tao Hua Ying with force. Time would heal all wounds.
The Ghost Market descended into chaos, with its inhabitants fleeing and hiding. The weak and powerless ghosts were captured by Shi Jing's subordinates!
Shi Jing himself returned to the Shi residence, heading straight to his own room, and carried out the sleeping Yin Yin!
Yin Yin, unaware of what was happening, woke up to find herself in her father's embrace. She even softly called out "Daddy" and kissed Shi Jing's face.
Shi Jing's steps faltered, a hesitant expression flashing across his face once more, though it was merely fleeting.
His steps firm, he took Yin Yin to the Yin Messenger's doorstep.
"Yin Yin, do you want to be a bride?" Shi Jing softly asked Yin Yin.
Yin Yin's eyes lit up. Every little girl yearns for the day she becomes a bride, dressed in a wedding gown.
So, she nodded her little head frantically.
Shi Jing asked expressionlessly, "And who do you want to marry?"
"I want to marry Daddy!" Yin Yin happily hugged Shi Jing and exclaimed.
The little girl had few complex thoughts, only believing that her father was the best man in the world, capable of providing her with the greatest sense of security.
But at this moment, these words no longer sounded heartwarming to Shi Jing's ears.
He knocked on the Yin Messenger's door, casually thrust Yin Yin into the Yin Messenger's arms, and then, with a cold face, said to Yin Yin, "From now on, you will be his bride. Whatever he says, you must listen, and you are not allowed to resist, understand?"
The Yin Messenger, holding Yin Yin with satisfaction, nodded at Shi Jing, signifying the completion of their transaction.
Yin Yin stared blankly at this stranger, feeling a sense of fear. Instinctively, she reached out to Shi Jing, her upper body stretching out, wanting to return to her father's embrace.
But all she received in response was Shi Jing's heartless retreating back.
Shi Jing turned around, closed his eyes, and quickened his pace, not wanting to linger here for a moment longer.
The Yin Messenger, holding Yin Yin, closed the door with a sinister grin, and Yin Yin's crying abruptly ceased.
…
The arrests continued, and the Ghost Market was thrown into disarray.
As if by telepathy, Tao Hua Ying's greatest concern at this moment was her daughter.
She worked tirelessly to recover her strength, pouring all her might into breaking the restriction Shi Jing had placed, then, propping up her weakened body, she transformed into ghost energy and flew towards the Shi residence.
Along the way, she saw the Ghost Market, once a place of peace, transformed into a living hell, filling her heart with immense grief.
Upon reaching the Shi residence, the house was eerily silent. Shi Jing had dispatched all the ghosts within the estate to round up more people.
With no one in the house, Tao Hua Ying's thoughts turned to the Yin Messenger again.
Should she beg the Yin Messenger for mercy?
Perhaps the Yin Messenger would show leniency and spare everyone?
Tao Hua Ying gritted her teeth and arrived at the Yin Messenger's courtyard.
For some reason, as soon as she reached the courtyard, Tao Hua Ying felt as if her body weighed a thousand pounds. The Yin Messenger's door seemed like a gaping maw, waiting to swallow her the moment she presented herself…
Knock, knock, knock!
Tao Hua Ying knocked on the door.
"Who is it! Ruining this lord's pleasure!"
The Yin Messenger's angry voice boomed, and shortly thereafter, the door was opened.
Upon seeing the beautiful concubine of Shi Jing, the Yin Messenger's anger suddenly subsided.
He looked at Tao Hua Ying playfully, his surprise mixed with delight, and asked, "Could it be… Shi Jing sent you?"
"That fellow Shi Jing is truly thoughtful! Not only did he send his daughter to me, but he also gifted you, this great beauty."
"Come in quickly. Your daughter is quite to my liking."