This unspoken bet had no winner.
Taohua Ying was neither Yan Shouyi's "concubine" nor Wei Changqing's "old flame." Her current identity was simply Lin Zitong's maid.
Therefore, when Lin Zitong introduced Taohua Ying's identity, three sighs echoed strangely from the crowd.
Taohua Ying asked nervously, "Do they not welcome me?"
Although Taohua Ying was an ancient ghost king, in Yan Shouyi's team, she wasn't considered particularly special. Thus, Taohua Ying didn't feel any sense of superiority. Instead, she hoped to integrate into the group.
Lin Zitong was also puzzled why Wang Ji, Weng Qianxiang, and Zhu Huansi looked so regretful.
However, she still comforted her, "Don't worry, everyone just returned from the Ghost Market. Their emotions might not have settled yet."
"Mm..." Taohua Ying nodded reluctantly and began to observe the outside world.
She had entered the Ghost Market decades ago. The extent of the world's changes in these decades was self-evident.
Consequently, Taohua Ying lacked the aura of an ancient ghost. She was like a country bumpkin entering the city, constantly staring at the tall buildings. She was even astonished when Master Qin produced his mobile phone to contact Ma Jinxuan.
Seeing Taohua Ying's "naive" demeanor, everyone lowered their guard significantly and began to enthusiastically introduce this new world to her.
But introductions aside, they didn't forget the main business.
Everyone got into the car, carrying the Yangling Tiger Tally towards Master Qin's residence in Xiao Dongmen. Ma Xingping was still waiting there to be saved.
...
Two hours after Yan Shouyi and the others left.
The sky had completely brightened. The bus stop outside Sifang Street was crowded. The peak rush for students and commuters had passed. Now, those waiting for the bus were Chang'an's office workers.
Although the weather was fine today, standing outside Sifang Street, the renowned ghost street, everyone still felt a chill down their spines. They couldn't help but glance back from time to time, afraid that something strange inside Sifang Street was staring at them.
Suddenly, someone noticed a person lying inside Sifang Street.
He immediately exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention.
As the saying goes, "All fear stems from a lack of numbers." Even in such a terrifying ghost street, with more people around, it became less frightening. They banded together and entered Sifang Street to check on the person's condition.
Upon approaching, everyone gasped, some turned pale with fright, while the calmer ones immediately took out their phones to call an ambulance.
The person lying in Sifang Street was covered in blood. One of his eyeballs had been gouged out, and one arm was severed at the root. The cut did not look like it was made by a blade; instead, it seemed to have been "torn" off forcefully.
Even more puzzling was that a patch of skin was missing from his back, as if a layer of skin had been peeled off.
This was Zhen Zhi Dao, the Di Tu He from the Twenty-Eight Mansions.
Two hours earlier, he and his companions had been suddenly pursued by ghost kings in the Ghost Market.
Shi Jing, who led the pursuit, attacked with deadly intent, showing no mercy and not listening to his explanations.
Under the encirclement of four ghost kings, Zhen Zhi Dao and his party, unfamiliar with the terrain, suffered heavy casualties.
Finally, Zhen Zhi Dao's tortoise shell was shattered. Sacrificing an arm, he used earth遁 (earth escape) to burrow into Shi Residence and then returned to the real world through the old banyan tree.
This led to the tragic scene before them.
Less than two minutes after passersby called for help, an ambulance sped into Sifang Street.
The reporting passersby were filled with confusion: "Is the efficiency of 120 this high now??"
The medical personnel alighting from the vehicle did not ask for details. They bowed their heads, loaded Zhen Zhi Dao onto a stretcher, and then rushed away, leaving only a pool of blood at the scene.
The onlookers had finished their morbid fascination and didn't think much of it. At this moment, the bus arrived, and everyone hurried to board, returning to their normal lives, treating the day's events as post-dinner conversation that would be forgotten in a few days.
Meanwhile, Zhen Zhi Dao, lying in the ambulance, struggled to open his remaining eye.
He weakly said to the doctor sitting beside him, "I want to see... the boss..."
The doctor removed his mask, revealing a dark and rugged face. He was clearly not a doctor who wielded a scalpel in an operating room, but rather more like a butcher from a slaughterhouse.
The man replied coldly, "We are taking you to see the boss."
Zhen Zhi Dao breathed a sigh of relief. Although the person before him looked like a butcher, with him around, he was sure he wouldn't die today.
It was just a pity for his brothers who were forever left in the Ghost Market.
A surge of anger welled up in Zhen Zhi Dao's heart. All of this was Yan Shouyi's fault!
...
The commotions in the Ghost Market were no longer Yan Shouyi's concern.
He might never return to the Ghost Market in his life. He only needed to consider whether Shi Jing would pursue him.
The early morning in Xiao Dongmen was quite deserted. Antique dealers often kept their shops open until two or three in the morning, then returned home to rest and only opened for business again in the afternoon.
Thus, at this time, very few people could be seen in Xiao Dongmen. Only occasionally at the intersection would a few tourists, with confused expressions, confirm if this was Xiao Dongmen, only to be mercilessly mocked by locals and then dejectedly leave, returning in the afternoon.
At Master Qin's residence, Ma Jinxuan and Old Jin, having received the news, were already waiting outside. They could only obtain the Yangling Tiger Tally and see if it could work for Ma Xingping.
Finally, when Yan Shouyi and the others returned, Old Jin, without a word, took the Yangling Tiger Tally and walked into the house.
To avoid disturbing Ma Xingping, everyone else stayed outside. Only Master Qin, Ma Jinxuan, Yan Shouyi, and Lin Zitong followed into the ward to observe.
Old Jin, holding the Yangling Tiger Tally, said as he walked:
"Curses are different from ordinary illnesses. They are like a switch. Once triggered, the curse directly becomes invalid, and the rest is for the cursed person to recover slowly. So, if the Yangling Tiger Tally is effective, Ma Xingping's curse should disappear immediately."
This was to reassure everyone. If Ma Xingping's curse was not lifted later, it would mean that the Yangling Tiger Tally was not the key to breaking the curse, and they would need to continue searching.
In just one night, Ma Xingping, lying in bed, looked even more haggard.
Already skin and bones, his current state was worse than a skeleton, and even his breathing was barely perceptible.
Seeing her own brother in such a state, Ma Jinxuan's nose stung, and she almost began to cry.
Old Jin stopped Ma Jinxuan, signaling her to compose herself.
Then, he directly placed the Yangling Tiger Tally into Ma Xingping's hand.
Ma Xingping had not even had the strength to lift his eyelids since yesterday, let alone grasp anything.
But as soon as the Yangling Tiger Tally reached his hand, he immediately clutched it tightly. Old Jin tried several times but couldn't retrieve it from his grasp!
"Is this... effective?" Master Qin asked, swallowing.