Chapter 361: Human-faced Peach Blossom Ghost
The rack was made up of countless squares. Each square was only several inches wide, but the space behind them was impossibly vast. Ye Qing saw giant mountains, frozen snowland, sea of fire and more behind those squares, and each square contained a rare ghost-type Stranger.
Ghost Six pointed at a square and introduced, “Please check this out, customer. This is the Snow Soul, the ghost of a Show Woman. She is incorporeal and intangible, and she possesses the ability to control wind and snow.”
The square was showing a frozen snowland, and within the snowland was a semi-transparent woman. Not only was she completely unperturbed by the frigid temperature, the wind and snow themselves were her bodyguards. They could assume any shape they wanted, and they were currently dancing around the woman and keeping her entertained with their transformation ability.
As soon as Ye Qing looked away and trained his gaze on another square, Ghost Six launched into another introduction, “This is the Bone Rakshasa, a vile ghost that was born from slaughter. It lives on bones and is immortal and imperishable.”
“Bone Rakshasa? Where is it?” Ye Qing asked.
The space contained a sea of bones. Wherever he looked, there were only white, perfectly unblemished bones, and at the center of the space of bones was a small hill. However, Ye Qing couldn’t see the Bone Rakshasa anywhere.
Ghost Six smiled and gave the square a tap. The square immediately rippled like water, and the space of bones started shaking like an earthquake. The earth split asunder, and the bones wouldn’t stop clattering.
It was at this moment the hill of bones slowly grew taller. Scratch that, it was the Bone Rakshasa. As it rose to full height, it let out an earthshaking roar as if angry that someone had disturbed its slumber and damaged its world. It was over hundreds of meters tall, maybe even a thousand.
Although they didn’t exist in the same space, Ye Qing still felt chilled to the core.
Ghost Six smiled as he watched Ye Qing. “Do you see it now, customer? That is the Bone Rakshasa.”
“...”
What else could Ye Qing say? He could only shoot him an impressed look.
“This is the Ghost of Hundred Eyes...”
“This is the Void Prison...”
This is the Hundred Mouth Woman...”
“This is the Mountain Bearing Ghost...”
Every time Ye Qing checked out a square, Ghost Six would give him a detailed introduction of the Stranger that resided within. The ghost seemed to possess infinite patience.
While passing by a rack—there were multiple Hundred Ghosts Racks on the first floor—a certain square drew Ye Qing’s attention. It was a massive peach blossom forest in full bloom, and a woman was standing in the middle of the forest. She was holding a branch with her back facing toward him.
“Sigh...”
He was just wondering why the woman was hiding her face when he heard a sigh. Then, she slowly turned around to face him.
Ye Qing’s eyes lost their focus the moment he heard the sigh. As the woman turned around, he unconsciously leaned closer to get a better look.
Beside him, Ghost Six’s smile grew increasingly eerie.
Greenlake didn’t seem to notice his abnormal reaction as well.
Ye Qing could almost see her profile now. Not only that, his face was an inch away from the rack. Right before he would make contact with the rack, a cool sensation abruptly spread out from his chest and jolted him back to reality.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!”
The moment he snapped out of the trance, the comely woman abruptly screamed and wheeled around to face him. One side of the face was as smooth and flawless as jade, while the other was dry and withered like a dead tree. It was a perfect depiction of the contrast between life and death, beautiful and ugly.
Even scarier was the fact that the peach blossom forest had withered the instant she let out a scream. Countless faces appeared on the tree trunks and screamed as well. They all looked just like the woman.
“Phew...”
Caught off guard, Ye Qing staggered away from the rack. A hint of disappointment flickered within Ghost Six’s eyes, but he asked in a concerned voice, “Are you alright, customer? There is nothing to be scared of. This is the Peach Blossom Ghost, and it can only confound people with its illusions. It cannot hurt you in any way. In fact, no harm will befall you while you’re inside our establishment.”
“Is that so?” Ye Qing sucked in a deep breath and shot Ghost Six a smile. If he was an honest guy, then maybe he would’ve believed him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t.
The ghost inside the square was very similar to the Peach Blossom Ghost, but it was really the Human-faced Peach Blossom Ghost. The difference between the two Strangers despite the similarity in their names was like night and day.
“The peach blossom is beautiful, and so is the beauty.
But look not when the beauty turns around,
Or the soul shall be forever gone.”
The Peach Blossom Ghost was just an ordinary Stranger, whereas the Human-faced Peach Blossom Ghost was both powerful and anomalous. Born from the resentment of someone who was doomed by love, the Human-faced Peach Blossom Ghost was a ghost-type Stranger who turned its back on someone as a hunting strategy. Once its back had caught a prey’s attention, the Stranger would slowly turn around so as not to alarm its prey until it was facing them completely. If the victim didn’t break out of their trance before it was too late, then they would lose their soul.
Ye Qing was certain that Ghost Six was trying to kill him. Everything he did until now was to lower his guard. He should’ve known that the Yin Market was a dangerous place no matter the segregation. If he wasn’t careful, then he would lose everything.
“Am I wrong?” Ghost Six countered.
Ye Qing narrowed his eyes. It was too bad he didn’t have evidence, not that he dared to try anything even if he did. This was Ghost Six’s turf after all. The best thing to do here was to pretend that nothing had ever happened. Just because you found the truth didn’t mean you must reveal it for all to know. Some truths carried severe consequences, and in this case the only one who was going to suffer was him.
That was why Ye Qing cracked a grin and nodded. “No, you’re right.”
“By the way, I heard that the Ghost Tower also sells all sorts of precious treasures besides ghosts. Is that true?”
He was going to tour the place a little longer, but since its employee had bared its fangs, it was in his best interest to finish his business and get the hell out as soon as possible.
“That’s correct. The Ghost Tower collects all kinds of precious treasures for sale. What do you need, customer?” Ghost Six asked.
“Do you sell Duckweed Flowers?” Ye Qing went straight to the point.
“Duckweed Flower?” Ghost Six frowned and caused another chunk of flesh to fall off his face. “Are you talking about the Duckweed Flower that is found in the River of Forgettance?”
“That’s right.” Ye Qing nodded. “Do you have it?”
Ghost Six’s frown deepened. “We do, but we cannot sell it to you.”
“Why’s that? Do you think I’m poor?” Ye Qing asked casually.
“That’s not it.” Ghost Six explained, “The Duckweed Flower is born in the River of Forgettance, and the River of Forgettance is a dangerous place for both man and ghost. Not only that, the Duckweed Flower takes sixty years to grow its leaf, and another sixty years to bloom. Its flower only lasts a single day, but if it is plucked before its time is up, then it will never wither.”
“The Duckweed Flower can only be plucked by a ferryman, which is why it is beyond valuable. We do have a Duckweed Flower, but it is reserved for the auction. That is why we cannot sell it to you.”
“The auction?” Ye Qing asked curiously, “You do auctions as well?”
Ghost Six replied smilingly, “That is correct. Every year, when the Yin Market overlaps with the yang world, we will auction our collection of treasures and the items our customers had entrusted to us. They are all precious and valuable items.”
“The auction hasn’t started yet, has it?” Ye Qing asked worriedly.
“Not yet, but it will happen soon,” Ghost Six clarified.
“Can we participate in the auction?” Ye Qing asked another question.
“You can. Anyone can participate in the Ghost Tower’s auction. But...” Ghost Six hesitated for a moment. “You do need to fulfill a small condition.”
“A small condition, you say? What is it?” Ye Qing asked.
Ghost Six replied, “You must spend six hundred and sixty six yin gold buying our items before you are allowed to participate.”
Ye Qing let out a gasp despite his self-control. How could he not? It was like the government stating that he was free to claim his lottery prize, but they must tax fifty percent of his winnings. Why don’t you go rob the Bank of Heaven and Earth while you’re at it, you greedy fucks?
He only had a total of one thousand plus yin gold including the money he scammed from Fu Hengcong. If he paid the price, did he have enough to bid for the Duckweed Flower with his remaining money? He didn't think he could even afford a single petal!
The worst part was that he could have afforded the price. He just didn’t think to prepare for it. He thought that the Duckweed Flower was just an ordinary item, and the main reason he came to the Yin Market was just to broaden his horizons. That was why he didn’t bring too many yin gold with him. It was a mistake.
“What’s wrong, customer?” Ghost Six asked. The ghost’s smile hadn’t changed, but Ye Qing could sense a hint of ridicule and disdain from it. You sonuvabitch, I will exchange my yin gold into Tongbao coins and bury you in it!
“Ahem... Why did you make it six hundred and sixty six gold instead of a round number?” Ye Qing tried to change the subject.
“That’s because that number is a lucky number for ghosts. And because it’s what our owner wants,” Ghost Six replied.
“That’s surprisingly human of your owne!” Ye Qing let out a dry laugh. He was weighing his chances of winning the Duckweed Flower after paying the entrance fee.
Ghost Six said suddenly, “I’m not implying anything, but assuming you’re lacking in cash, there is another way to enter the auction.”
“Okay?” Then why didn’t you say it sooner? He really is a piece of shit.
Ghost Six explained, “You can sign a contract with us. When you pass away, you will join Fengdu and work for us for sixty years.”
“Of course, we will not disturb you before you pass away naturally, so you have nothing to worry about. Your life will also be much more convenient with our imprint. For starters, you can enter the Ghost Tower at any time and purchase anything you want. Besides that, we also offer discounts, coupons and more during holidays.”
“Haha... that sounds pretty good!” A small smirk crossed Ye Qing’s face. “Fine!”
“A wise decision! I’ll bring you the contract immediately, customer!” Ghost Six exclaimed with delight. Although he failed to kill Ye Qing earlier, the outcome was the same if he could convince the young man into signing the contract.
After all, anyone who owned a Yin Token of Forgettance was either a genius, blessed, or both. The Ghost Tower was always in need of such talent.
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