When Tao Hua Ying was not in the presence of Yan Shou Yi and Lin Zi Tong, she was still the Ghost King who commanded the Ghost Market and managed the Feng Lai Lou.
The moment she stepped out of the private room, her demeanor shifted from that of a lowly maid to a powerful Ghost King, and the temperature around her plummeted by more than ten degrees.
With a cold expression, she went to the reception room downstairs and ordered the young members of the Shi family to be brought over.
As the young Shi family members entered the reception room, they were trembling, their souls like small flames flickering in the wind, swaying back and forth as if they could be extinguished by a gust at any moment.
How could the young Shi family members not be afraid?
The person before them was a true femme fatale; the biological son of the Shi family patriarch had just been killed.
If they said the wrong thing… no, they didn’t even need to speak, Tao Hua Ying might just act.
Therefore, the moment the young Shi family members entered the reception room, their legs involuntarily weakened, and they knelt before Tao Hua Ying.
“Shi Jing sent you to see me?” Tao Hua Ying asked in a clear, cold voice.
The young Shi family members stammered, only managing a “hmm” after a long while.
Tao Hua Ying said, “As the saying goes, in war, one does not kill messengers. You don’t need to be afraid, I won’t kill you. But what I say today, you must convey to your patriarch exactly as it is.”
The young Shi family members were stunned. Discovering that they could actually survive, they were overjoyed.
They kowtowed to Tao Hua Ying repeatedly, as if Tao Hua Ying were their own patriarch.
“Thank you, Lord Tao, for sparing my life. Whatever you wish to convey, I guarantee I will deliver it!”
Tao Hua Ying smiled and began to speak in the manner Yan Shou Yi had taught her:
“Shi Jing has occupied this Ghost Market for a long time. He should have guessed that I’ve had rebellious intentions for a while. Killing his son this time was merely an appetizer. When you return, it will be the moment I, Tao Hua Ying, officially declare war on Shi Jing!”
The young Shi family members listened with trepidation. They suddenly felt that delivering messages was not such an easy task.
If such words were relayed from their mouths to their patriarch’s ears, there was no guarantee the patriarch wouldn’t fly into a rage, disown his own kin, and even kill his own juniors in his fury.
Thus, the young Shi family members fell into a state of gloom and fear once more.
“You must be wondering what strength I, Tao Hua Ying, possess to contend with your patriarch, Shi Jing… Heh, if it were just me, I would naturally be no match. But this time is different!”
“I have joined forces with Yan Shou Yi, the successor of Lu Ban! Yan Shou Yi has brought Yu Jin Hong, the Ghost King of Qiantang, and five other Ghost Kings from Chang’an. With the seven of us joining forces, killing Shi Jing will be more than enough!”
“Moreover, Yan Shou Yi’s father, Yan Chou, once founded the Xuan Shan Sect, which also boasts a multitude of experts. He had already arranged for the experts of the Twenty-Eight Mansions of the Xuan Shan Sect to infiltrate the Ghost Market. The one who went to seize the Yang Ling Tiger Tally from Ji Fu Sui earlier was Di Tu He – Zhen Zhi Dao, one of the experts from the Twenty-Eight Mansions!”
The more the young Shi family members listened, the more their hearts sank, and the more frightened they became.
They hadn’t expected their Shi family to be in such a dire situation, facing enemies from all sides and surrounded by peril.
There had been no prior signs at all!
After speaking, Tao Hua Ying let out a cold smile and waved her hand, saying,
“You may leave. What I’ve said, you must relay to your patriarch without alteration. Also, convey this to him for me: the reason I’m saying so much is because I don’t want your Shi family to die in complete ignorance. I greatly enjoy your reactions as you know the end is near, yet are helpless…”
The young Shi family members understood. Tao Hua Ying not only wanted the Ghost Market, but also revenge!
As for the specific grievances between Tao Hua Ying and Shi Jing, that was not something for the young Shi family members to concern themselves with.
Seeing Tao Hua Ying wave her hand, the young Shi family members truly scrambled and crawled out of Feng Lai Lou.
This was news concerning the life and death of the Shi family!
They had to rush back and inform the patriarch immediately!
Just as the young Shi family members were leaving, Yu Jin Hong was standing at the entrance, getting some air.
Because the five Ghost Kings had been feigning ignorance, Yu Jin Hong had bottled up a great deal of frustration, so he came out to ponder a solution.
When he saw the young Shi family members fleeing in a panic, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled. Then, seeing Tao Hua Ying appear, he couldn’t help but ask:
“楼主 Tao, who was that person just now?”
Tao Hua Ying was just about to look for Yu Jin Hong when he unexpectedly came to her.
She immediately showed a look of nervousness and said to Yu Jin Hong:
“Adult Yu, I was just looking for you. Something terrible has happened!”
Yu Jin Hong had encountered nothing but setbacks and dismissive attitudes everywhere he went in the Ghost Market. Tao Hua Ying’s sudden change in demeanor, while baffling, suddenly warmed his heart.
Tao Hua Ying was the first ghost who was willing to speak to him kindly during his time of trouble!
Yu Jin Hong completely forgot that Tao Hua Ying had previously looked at him with disdain and told him to scram. He lecherously grabbed Tao Hua Ying’s hand to comfort her, “Don’t be nervous, what happened?”
“Yan Shou Yi… it’s Yan Shou Yi!” Tao Hua Ying said, feigning fear. “That person just now was a junior from the Shi family, Shi Jing. He came to inform me that Shi Jing will be bringing people to attack Feng Lai Lou shortly!”
“Shi Jing? The owner of the Ghost Market? Why would he attack Feng Lai Lou?” Yu Jin Hong asked, full of confusion.
Actually, when he came to the Ghost Market, he had also intended to seek out Shi Jing. However, Shi Jing was arrogant and disliked befriending external Ghost Kings. In fact, his relationship with the local Ghost Kings wasn’t very good either.
So, Yu Jin Hong had given up on that idea.
Tao Hua Ying said, “Shi Jing is an old acquaintance of Yan Shou Yi’s grandfather. He learned you were at our Feng Lai Lou and directly asked Shi Jing to take action. Shi Jing already held a grudge against me, so he decided to seize this opportunity to make a move. That young Shi family member just now was a messenger, telling us to prepare ourselves, as they will be arriving soon!”
Yu Jin Hong also felt a little flustered after hearing this. He did know about the commotion that had occurred in the Ghost Market earlier and the subsequent closing of the entrance.
However, he hadn’t expected that this incident was aimed at him!
This was clearly a case of closing the door to catch the dog… no! Closing the door to catch Ghost Kings!
Yu Jin Hong hadn’t thought too much about it. Firstly, he was unfamiliar with the place. Secondly, Tao Hua Ying’s acting was convincing. Thirdly, his own strength was insufficient, and he felt extremely guilty.
For a moment, Yu Jin Hong couldn’t help but pace back and forth, his brows furrowed.
Tao Hua Ying said, “Adult Yu, didn’t you invite five Ghost Kings to help? Will they take action then?”
“It’s hard to say!” Yu Jin Hong said guiltily. “Asking them to kill Yan Shou Yi would be no problem, but asking them to kill Shi Jing, I’m afraid they would have to reconsider.”
“Then we won’t have a good outcome!” Tao Hua Ying had already “tied” herself and Yu Jin Hong together, instilling in him the awareness that they were in the same boat.
After all, Yu Jin Hong had become a Ghost King under the protection of his elder brother, Yu Jin Bo. Compared to Yan Shou Yi and Tao Hua Ying, he was as pure as a child.
He gritted his teeth and comforted Tao Hua Ying, “I’ll go ask them! Don’t worry, Lord Tao, we’ll be fine!”
Tao Hua Ying deliberately reddened her eyes and nodded, appearing pitiful. Yu Jin Hong was mesmerized, and his courage surged instantly.
What Tao Hua Ying was thinking was: What a fool. I was still worrying about how to involve those five Ghost Kings, and now I don’t have to. Yu Jin Hong has taken care of it all.