Shi Jing, the mastermind behind Chang'an Ghost Market, was not only more powerful than Yu Jinbo but also possessed a far more extensive network of connections.
Otherwise, how could other Ghost Kings, their eyes coveting such a massive prize as the Ghost Market, refrain from making a move to seize it?
Old Master Qin had repeatedly warned him, and Yan Shouyi had no intention of provoking anyone, yet here they were, at this very moment, having inadvertently offended Shi Jing.
It was simply perplexing to Yan Shouyi how the esteemed proprietor of the Ghost Market would coincidentally appear at this location.
Before him, Shi Jing still stood outside the door, yet the terrifying aura he exuded had already enveloped the entire courtyard.
Not to mention minor characters like Ji Zhan, even Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong felt an immense pressure mounting.
Yan Shouyi, carrying the unconscious young girl, tightly gripped Lin Zitong's hand.
He was prepared; if Shi Jing were to truly attack, he would have no choice but to summon General Qing Jiang for assistance, as this was a matter of life and death!
Shi Jing stood outside the door and coldly inquired, "Who are they?"
He wasn't in a hurry to attack, seemingly possessing absolute confidence in his own strength, believing that Yan Shouyi and the others had no way of escaping.
Ji Fuxui pointed at Yan Shouyi and shouted, "That kid is from the Yan family of Kunlun Mountain. He just tried to buy the Yangling Tiger Tally with money. We couldn't agree on a price, so he sent people to snatch it by force. When he found out it was a fake, he turned back!"
Upon hearing this, Shi Jing's gaze turned unkind as he surveyed Yan Shouyi from head to toe.
Yan Shouyi was truly experiencing what it meant to have "eyes that could kill." Shi Jing's gaze was sharp, and just being scrutinized by it felt as if his body were being sliced by a knife.
To spare Lin Zitong from such pain, he shielded her behind him.
"He is not from the Yan family of Kunlun Mountain."
Shi Jing stated coldly, "He is a descendant of Lu Ban!"
Yan Shouyi's expression changed. He hadn't expected Shi Jing to see through his identity at a glance.
Damn it!
The old man's skin-changing technique was useless!
His appearance could be altered, but his aura couldn't. His outward appearance could deceive ordinary people, but it couldn't fool the shrewd and calculating Ghost King Shi Jing.
Even Taohua Ying had only discerned that Yan Shouyi was disguised, but she didn't know he was a descendant of Lu Ban.
Shi Jing was like an ancient well; Yan Shouyi stood above it, unable to fathom its depth.
Ji Fuxui was also taken aback, then he yelled,
"The Ghost King Yu Jinhong of Qiantang had already sent people to remind us earlier, stating that if they encountered Yan Shouyi, the descendant of Lu Ban, they should greet him immediately. It seems this brat is indeed Yan Shouyi!"
Now Yan Shouyi's identity was completely exposed, and at the same time, the two of them faced a greater predicament—Yu Jinhong!
Yan Shouyi had guessed that Yu Jinhong might also be in the Ghost Market, but he hadn't anticipated that this fellow would already be hunting him, and even an unremarkable person like Ji Fuxui had received the notification.
With his identity now revealed, even if he managed to escape Shi Jing's grasp, Yu Jinhong would likely soon hear of it and arrive.
This wasn't a Ghost Market!
It was clearly a meticulously laid trap!
Yan Shouyi now understood that Shi Jing and Ji Fuxui were clearly involved in some illicit dealings.
Ji Fuxui was an ordinary person; no matter how strong he was, he only possessed minor skills for petty thievery and had cultivated a group of disciples.
His foothold in the Chang'an Ghost Market was likely due to Shi Jing.
Shi Jing, in turn, relied on the money sent by Ji Fuxui to maintain his position as the proprietor of the Ghost Market...
While these two might not have a formal subordinate relationship, Shi Jing would absolutely not abandon Ji Fuxui.
Yan Shouyi's heart sank to the bottom; he was even prepared for a desperate struggle.
Shi Jing then entered the courtyard, stepping over the threshold.
The moment he stepped into the courtyard, all the oppressive aura vanished, and even the surrounding temperature began to rise.
"You are Yan Shouyi, the grandson of Yan Baixiang?" Shi Jing inquired.
Yan Shouyi was momentarily stunned.
Lin Zitong's face lit up with joy, and she tugged at Yan Shouyi, saying, "Could it be that this Shi Jing is an old friend of your grandfather?"
"This..."
For a fleeting moment, Yan Shouyi truly thought it was possible.
After all, his grandfather had traveled all over the world and had countless friends, each of them of considerable status.
Perhaps his grandfather had visited the Chang'an Ghost Market in the past and sworn brotherhood with Shi Jing?
But in the next second, Yan Shouyi crushed this "naive" thought in its cradle.
His grandfather had principles when making friends; they had to be loyal, upright individuals.
In this regard, his father, Yan Chou, might have been slightly different; he enjoyed befriending disreputable scoundrels.
However, Shi Jing and Ji Fuxui, colluding and amassing wealth indiscriminately, were certainly not the kind of friends his grandfather would associate with!
Therefore, Yan Shouyi extinguished any glimmer of hope and seriously scrutinized Shi Jing's gaze.
Indeed, within Shi Jing's seemingly indifferent eyes, a murderous intent was hidden!
Yan Shouyi instantly understood—Shi Jing was not his grandfather's old friend; quite the contrary, he was his grandfather's sworn enemy!
"Your grandfather and I..."
As soon as Shi Jing raised his hand, Yan Shouyi directly produced San Yuan and activated the Wood Puppet Heavenly Law!
A puff of smoke obscured the vision of Shi Jing and Ji Fuxui. Shi Jing's eyes chilled, and with a mere wave of his hand, he summoned a fierce gust of wind that dispersed the smoke!
And in that instant, Yan Shouyi, carrying Lin Zitong, the unconscious young girl, and the brothers Ji Zhan and Ji Xiong, crowded onto San Yuan's back and soared into the air!
Ji Fuxui shouted, "Lord Shi, don't let them escape! The Yangling Tiger Tally is still with them!"
Shi Jing couldn't be bothered to reply to the disruptive Ji Fuxui. He transformed into a ball of ghostly energy and pursued them.
The sky was covered in dense, dark clouds, and San Yuan dared not fly too high, lest it leave the confines of the Ghost Market and become lost in the chaos.
Lin Zitong clung tightly to Yan Shouyi and asked, "What's going on?"
"Shi Jing is not an old friend of my grandfather. He had killing intent in his eyes when he looked at us. He was deliberately talking to us earlier to make us let our guard down!"
After speaking, Yan Shouyi said to San Yuan, "San Yuan, fly down. We need to inform Xiao Long and the others!"
San Yuan plunged downwards without hesitation. Yan Shouyi could already see Xiao Long and the others still sitting in the teahouse in the distance.
Wei Changqing seemed to sense something and looked up at the sky, coincidentally spotting Yan Shouyi and the others descending.
Yan Shouyi raised his hand, holding the pair of Yangling Tiger Tallies.
Wei Changqing's eyes sharpened, and he also raised his hand. Yan Shouyi directly tossed the Yangling Tiger Tallies into his grasp.
At the same time, he roared, "The Yangling Tiger Tally has been secured. We have angered the Ghost King Shi Jing of the Ghost Market. We need to leave here quickly!"
Whoosh—
San Yuan's speed was so great that before the others could even react, it had already carried Yan Shouyi and the others back into the sky.
Long Feicheng poked his ear and asked, "Did I hallucinate, or did I just hear Brother Yan's voice?"
The next second, the sky above the Ghost Market suddenly rumbled with thunder!
Long Feicheng's expression changed, "Is it raining in the Ghost Market? What do we do if we didn't bring an umbrella?"