In a new hotel, Lin Zitong's assistants, Lin Yu and Lin Yin, two young sisters, were nervously tidying her luggage.
"I was so scared when we delivered the luggage to the hotel this afternoon!"
"Yeah, thank goodness we didn't stay at that hotel. Otherwise, I'd have nightmares tonight."
"I heard the person who booked the hotel was the son-in-law's friend. He got thoroughly chewed out by everyone later."
"The son-in-law's friend really has twisted tastes..."
Even Yan Shouyi and his companions, who had braved ghost dens and explored ancient tombs, were still unnerved by the previous hotel, let alone these two young assistants.
After Yan Shouyi and his group had taught Long Feicheng a lesson, they changed hotels overnight and finally managed to rest.
In the suite shared by Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong, Lin Zitong was busy handling affairs on her phone.
Upon inquiry, it turned out Lin Zitong was preparing for their visit to the Ghost Market the following night.
The Ghost Market was a mixed bag, with deep currents running beneath the surface, but the one thing that held the most sway was money.
And Lin Zitong happened to be the one who had no shortage of money.
So, she arranged for Ye Chengfu to prepare a large sum of cash, hoping it would be useful the next night. If a problem could be solved with money, it wasn't a problem at all.
This was the power of wealth!
Having such a wealthy wife saved Yan Shouyi a lot of trouble.
He lay on the sofa, casually pulled out a letter, and hesitated, unsure whether to open it.
"What's this?" Lin Zitong asked curiously, putting down her phone.
"It's a letter of recommendation from a senior storyteller in Qiantang. He revealed my whereabouts to Ghost King Yu Jinhong. As compensation, this letter of recommendation will help us gain many allies in Chang'an," Yan Shouyi explained.
"Then why aren't you using it?" Lin Zitong asked, puzzled. "We'll likely encounter a lot of trouble at the Chang'an Ghost Market tomorrow. Having local friends to help would make things much safer."
Yan Shouyi shook his head. "After I arrived in Qiantang, although I wiped out three Ghost King families, I also lost a lot of manpower from the crematorium. Especially Zhong Yan, the zombie handler. I still can't believe he's dead."
Lin Zitong stared blankly at Yan Shouyi. It was the first time she had seen him appear so lost.
Because so many people had died in Qiantang, Yan Shouyi was contemplating whether he should continue to be a "hero."
Chang'an, as it appeared, had no major problems. Perhaps Chang'an didn't need Yan Shouyi at all.
"Silly goose."
Lin Zitong sat down beside Yan Shouyi, leaned into his embrace, and said softly,
"If Yu Lumin, Changshan, or Zhao Chengxiang were here, they'd probably urge you to persevere. But I'm different. I'm your wife, and I'm a bit selfish. If you don't want to do this, then don't."
Lin Zitong was very intelligent, but when it came to Yan Shouyi, her feelings were pure.
She only wished Yan Shouyi well.
Yan Shouyi sighed, tucked the letter of recommendation back into his satchel, and hugged Lin Zitong from behind, kissing her on the head.
He suddenly realized that back when they were at Shanghang Art School, he and Lin Zitong used to bicker constantly, sometimes to the point where Lin Zitong wouldn't speak to him for days.
But after they got married, it seemed they never argued anymore. Both of them unconsciously considered the other's feelings, and their words and actions became more considerate.
Was this the difference between before and after marriage?
Just as they were about to enjoy a moment of sweetness, Lin Zitong suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong?" Yan Shouyi asked, concerned. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Lin Zitong sighed, "My mind is filled with Terracotta Warriors right now."
"..."
...
The next evening, Yan Shouyi and the others, traveling light, headed to Xiao Dong Gate to meet up with the others.
However, their appearances had changed upon leaving.
Everyone had altered their appearances using Weng Qianxiang's skin-grafting technique!
This was Yan Shouyi's arrangement from the previous night. To prevent recognition by Yu Jinhong and to avoid being targeted by the Ghost Kings of Chang'an, everyone had to change their faces before going to the Chang'an Ghost Market tonight.
Weng Qianxiang's skin-grafting technique was truly masterful. In just a few minutes, everyone's appearance had undergone a drastic transformation. Even Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong, who were closest, could barely recognize each other.
Yan Shouyi now looked like an ordinary man with a buzz cut, and Lin Zitong's features were also greatly diminished.
After the skin-grafting, Wei Changqing and Wang Ji became like father and son.
It was one thing for Weng Qianxiang to turn himself into a handsome man, but it was incomprehensible that Long Feicheng had also become a dashing young man.
Everyone had reason to suspect that Long Feicheng and Weng Qianxiang had engaged in a sordid transaction in the same room last night!
"I wish I could keep this face forever!" Long Feicheng said enviously, looking at his reflection in the car's rearview mirror.
Yan Shouyi said faintly, "The skin-grafting technique has its drawbacks. I advise you not to get too attached to this face."
"Why?" Long Feicheng asked, confused.
"The faces drawn by Old Weng are all of people who have actually existed, possibly even dead people. If you wear a dead person's face and want to become that dead person, you might eventually lose your sanity, develop a split personality, or even be controlled by the deceased's face. By then, it will be difficult to change back."
Long Feicheng gasped. "Is it that bizarre?"
Weng Qianxiang deliberately put on a creepy smile. "Little Long, how do you know this face truly belongs to me? Or rather, how do you know the Weng Qianxiang sitting next to you now is the original Weng Qianxiang?"
Long Feicheng looked at Weng Qianxiang, his face devoid of fear.
Weng Qianxiang was taken aback. According to his performance, he should have terrified Long Feicheng!
Long Feicheng scratched the back of his head and said, "Old Weng, could you repeat what you just said? I'm having a bit of trouble following."
Weng Qianxiang: "..."
He had overestimated Long Feicheng's courage and intelligence. It wasn't that Long Feicheng wasn't scared, he simply didn't understand.
As the sun set, Chang'an's nightlife began. Tourists flocked to places with rich nightlife like Datang Everbright City. In contrast, the market streets around Xiao Dong Gate became exceptionally quiet. Apart from the occasional passing bus, the only other occupants of the road were lone wild dogs.
Yan Shouyi and his group met up with Qin Liuye, Zhu Ling, and Zhu Huansi. They were also surprised to see the greatly changed appearances of Yan Shouyi and the others.
Qin Liuye, already aware of the prowess of followers of folk cults, said nothing. Zhu Huansi, whose experience was limited, was too astonished to speak.
Zhu Ling and Zhu Huansi were each carrying a small lantern.
Qin Liuye also instructed his subordinates to issue one to each of Yan Shouyi's group.
Upon receiving the small lantern, Yan Shouyi quickly sensed its peculiarity.
This item was most likely the pass for entering the Ghost Market.