Tao Hua Ying rushed back with great haste, as if fearing Yan Shou Yi and Lin Zi Tong would escape.
It was Yan Shou Yi who had wanted to leave before but couldn't, and now it was Tao Hua Ying who feared they would depart. She herself hadn't noticed this shift in roles.
Along the way, the little ghosts who saw Tao Hua Ying all knelt to make way.
Seeing Tao Hua Ying's anxious expression, they couldn't help but wonder: They had never seen their楼主 (Lou Zhu -楼主 usually refers to the master of a building or establishment) like this, could it be that she had encountered her beloved?
Tao Hua Ying couldn't be bothered to explain. The man she had met was even more important than a perfect lover!
Although this man already had a wife, he could give her the freedom she yearned for and unimaginable joy!
Tao Hua Ying reached the door of the private room and habitually went to break it open. But as she pushed the door, she suddenly realized her current identity. She restrained her impulse, reached out and gently knocked, and asked softly:
"May I come in?"
Hearing Tao Hua Ying's tone, Yan Shou Yi, who was sitting in the private room, knew that this old woman had figured things out.
After all, this was Feng Lai Lou, Tao Hua Ying's territory, and Tao Hua Ying was a ghost king. She could usually barge into any door she pleased. When had she ever announced herself beforehand in decades?
Yan Shou Yi cleared his throat and said, "Come in."
Tao Hua Ying entered the room, carefully closed the door, and actually performed a respectful bow to Yan Shou Yi and Lin Zi Tong, calling them "Young Master and Young Lady."
The address of "Young Lady" made Lin Zi Tong feel as if she had traveled back to ancient times and become a rich young lady.
But on second thought, she was now a rich young lady. Lin Yu and Lin Yin also called her "Young Lady." The only difference was that Tao Hua Ying was wearing ancient attire.
Yan Shou Yi asked, "Have you made up your mind?"
Tao Hua Ying quickly nodded, "I am willing to become Young Lady's ghost servant!"
Lin Zi Tong looked at Yan Shou Yi. After all, Tao Hua Ying had been subdued by Yan Shou Yi, so she wanted to hear Yan Shou Yi's plans first.
Tao Hua Ying noticed this detail and thought to herself: Is this what they call the hierarchy of a family?
Although Lin Zi Tong was wearing a disguise, Tao Hua Ying had already seen through it. And women understood women better. Tao Hua Ying could see that the face hidden beneath Lin Zi Tong's disguise was absolutely stunning, the kind that would make even Tao Hua Ying, a woman, fall in love with her!
Tao Hua Ying also could tell that Lin Zi Tong was not just a pretty face with no substance.
Such a perfect woman was so devoted to Yan Shou Yi, even obeying his every word. If this wasn't the hierarchy of a family, what else could it be?
Tao Hua Ying sighed again. As the saying goes, beauties are matched with heroes. Lin Zi Tong had found her hero, but if she herself had met a "hero" back in the day, her current situation would likely be completely different.
Yan Shou Yi pondered for a moment and said:
"Tao Hua Ying, although your life is now in our hands, I know very little about you. I can't be sure you don't have ulterior motives, and I don't like keeping unreliable people around. Therefore, I want you to provide a pledge of allegiance to demonstrate your loyalty."
Although Yan Shou Yi had never enslaved a ghost king before, he recalled that his grandfather had enslaved several ghost kings.
This was why Yan Shou Yi handled the situation with such ease, showing no signs of awkwardness.
However, Tao Hua Ying felt a pang of bitterness upon hearing this. Clearly, you're the one who made me your ghost servant, and now you want me to provide a pledge of allegiance? Is there any justice left...
Though she thought this in her heart, Tao Hua Ying dared not say it aloud. She lowered her head and said,
"Young Master, please tell me."
"You've been in the Ghost Market for many years and must know it like the back of your hand. I ask you, besides the four spiritual trees that appear when the Ghost Market opens, are there any other exits?"
Tao Hua Ying breathed a sigh of relief. If it was just answering this question, it was no difficulty for her at all.
She quickly explained, "The true exit of the Ghost Market is under the banyan tree in the center of the Ghost Market. However, that is also Shi Jing's residence, and outsiders cannot easily enter."
Yan Shou Yi nodded, "What is your relationship with Shi Jing?"
Tao Hua Ying took a deep breath, "We were once intimate, then we became strangers, and now we mind our own business."
In a few words, she clearly described their relationship.
"If I asked you to kill Shi Jing, could you do it?"
"Without hesitation!" Tao Hua Ying replied, "It's just... I'm not his match."
"Hmm, I don't need you to kill Shi Jing. I only need you to kill a few of Shi Jing's subordinate ghosts. How about that?" Yan Shou Yi asked.
The Ghost Market was Tao Hua Ying's only refuge. By asking Tao Hua Ying to kill Shi Jing's subordinates, Yan Shou Yi was forcing them to completely break ties. At that point, even if Yan Shou Yi granted Tao Hua Ying her freedom, she would not dare to remain in the Ghost Market.
Tao Hua Ying also understood Yan Shou Yi's intentions. She took a deep breath, stood up, and said,
"Killing Shi Jing's subordinates is useless! Shi Jing's own son is in the private room downstairs. I will drag him up and kill him right in front of you!"
It's true what they say about women being the most venomous. Before Yan Shou Yi could even react, Tao Hua Ying had already gone downstairs with killing intent.
Before long, Tao Hua Ying dragged back a small old man. The old man was disheveled, probably having a good time in bed just a moment ago before being dragged here by Tao Hua Ying.
He was full of anger and pointed at Tao Hua Ying, scolding, "Tao Hua Ying, are you tired of living? My father is Shi Jing, how dare you touch me?!"
Tao Hua Ying smiled, "Then I'm half your stepmother! Behave yourself!"
Shi Jing was also hundreds of years old. When his biological son died, he looked like this old man. After his death, Shi Jing brought him to the Ghost Market to enjoy family bliss.
In fact, Tao Hua Ying had long been annoyed by this brat. When she and Shi Jing were still in their sweet phase, it was this brat who had cursed her as a vixen behind her back.
At the time, she didn't act due to politeness, and later she worried about Shi Jing's retaliation.
However, now, Tao Hua Ying had no reservations whatsoever.
She acted in front of Yan Shou Yi towards the scolding brat, directly twisting off his head!
The brat couldn't believe that Tao Hua Ying actually dared to act. His eyes on his severed head were wide open.
But he no longer had the chance to curse, because Tao Hua Ying had already lifted her beautiful leg and stomped the brat's head into an explosion!
"This is exhilarating!" Tao Hua Ying felt refreshed.
Sister, you're playing quite perversely!
The corner of Yan Shou Yi's eye twitched. He felt like he had provoked a crazy woman even more perverted than Luo Ning.
After personally killing Shi Jing's brat, Tao Hua Ying immediately knelt before Yan Shou Yi and Lin Zi Tong:
"Young Master, Young Lady, I've killed him and provided my pledge of allegiance. I beg Young Master and Young Lady to lead Hua Ying out of this sea of suffering and return to the human world!"
Yan Shou Yi felt strange. Why did Tao Hua Ying, who had looked so reluctant earlier, seem to be begging to become a ghost servant after going out and coming back?
However, he was not afraid of Tao Hua Ying having malicious intentions. After all, as long as Lin Zi Tong wished it, she could make Tao Hua Ying vanish into thin air with a single thought.
So he nodded and said, "From now on, you will be Zi Tong's personal maid. Any problem with that?"