Chapter 582

While speaking, two more ghosts gathered, chatting back and forth.

I listened attentively, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

After they finished speaking, I asked, "In other words, after I take these funeral garments, whoever wants them can directly ask me in a dream to reserve them?"

Those ghosts all said yes in unison.

I then asked, "If several people want the same popular item, who should I give it to?"

"Obviously, first come, first served."

"What if several of them enter my dream at the same time?"

"……"

"Also, are you sure these clothes worn by the living, tainted with mortal aura, can be freely bought and sold down there? Would it affect the original owners? It doesn't seem good for you either; better to just buy paper offerings—paper craft is now mature, and whatever style you want, as long as you pay, we can make it for you."

"There will be no impact! And if you worry that reserving funeral garments via dream will cause unnecessary trouble, we can just pick them out right now..."

The leading ghost grew impatient, tugging at the old woman's cotton waistcoat and hastily putting it on himself.

In the blink of an eye, several more ghosts appeared, scrambling to strip the old woman's clothes.

While they were busy putting on the funeral garments, I spoke again, staring at the old woman: "In my sleep you dragged me down without my consent, bringing nothing; pawning requires paperwork—should you come up with me, or should I go up first to get the pawn ticket and then you pull me down?"

The old woman startled, instinctively looking toward the leading ghost.

"I... I'm too tired to move," the old woman said. "How about... I pull you down later?"

"Just now you said you were in a hurry," I said, embarrassed. "From the Wangxiang Terrace to the Naihe Bridge is still far; it's almost two o'clock, and even if I get the pawn ticket, I can't just fall asleep. Moreover, you're a new ghost with weak spiritual power—pulling me down twice in a row would overwhelm your soul."

The old woman gaped, completely bewildered.

The leading spirit said, "Don't worry, she can't—after all, we're still here."

"Oh? You?" I sneered. "Several wandering ghosts who refuse reincarnation, lingering by the Wangxiang Terrace, unwilling to leave, upon seeing this properly deceased mortal with a bit of merit, you don't think of devouring her to increase your power, but instead expend great spiritual energy to help her pull me down? You're truly paragons of the ghost realm! Why don't I see this through as a good deed and go tell her family to burn you some banners?"

My tone was unfriendly, and the ghosts' faces changed instantly.

The ghosts' faces, which had looked relatively normal, instantly turned ferocious as they surrounded me, seeming ready to tear me apart limb from limb.

The little old woman trembled, curling up on the ground in fear.

I immediately summoned the several ghost faces on the Soul-guiding Lamp.

The ghost faces raged; those few wandering ghosts were swallowed in a few breaths, leaving not a trace.

Seeing the tide turn, the old woman on the ground clung to my leg, sobbing uncontrollably: "Boss, I was forced; I don't want to end up like them. I want nothing—I just want to be reborn. Please help me, I beg you."

I withdrew the ghost faces, looked at the old woman, feeling complex: "You ought to have died peacefully, bearing merit, to be reborn smoothly and still land in a good family next life—why involve yourself with these wandering ghosts and ruin your bright future?"

"I... I wanted to save my little grandson," the old woman said sorrowfully. "A few days ago, my grandson had a car accident and lies unconscious in the hospital. The family called a master, who said... that I've lived too long, sucking my grandson's lifespan, and if I cling to the world unwilling to leave, not only will he not survive, but when I go below I'll be cast into the eighteenth level of hell, never to be reborn."

I frowned: "Then what happened?"

The old woman continued: "Later the master transferred my remaining half-year of lifespan to my grandson, who woke up that very night. The master said that if I cooperate, he will arrange everything, ensuring I won't be judged by Yama and will enter reincarnation directly."

I almost wanted to cry but had no tears.

What master could wield such power to sway Yama's judgment?

He thinks he's Yama's own father!

I sighed and said: "I thought you had died a natural death, but instead you were deceived, ending your life half a year early; soon a yin official will come to seize your soul and take you to Wǎngsǐ Chéng for trial..."

"Wǎngsǐ Chéng?" the old woman panicked, visible to the naked eye, "Boss, I'm innocent, please save me, I beg you..."

I cut her off, asking: "Time is pressing—can you first tell me where you live and what that so-called master's name is? Perhaps I can still help you..."

Ah!

Before I finished speaking, the old woman seemed struck by something, her eyes widening and mouth opening wide.

Immediately after, her soul faded rapidly, vanishing in a blink.

I hurriedly looked around, but before I could spot any suspicious person, the whole space became turbulent.

The next moment, I jolted awake from my dream, sitting up sharply and gasping heavily.

Liu Junyan was also awakened by me; he reached out, turned on the light, and gently rubbed my back, concerned: "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

My heart raced, my thoughts in disarray.

I nodded vaguely, closed my eyes, striving to calm myself quickly.

Liu Junyan got out of bed and brought me a cup of warm water.

After a few sips, I finally calmed down completely and recounted what had just happened to Liu Junyan.

Upon hearing, Liu Junyan immediately said: "Xiao Jiu, you're perceptive; if you really take this job, trouble will be endless."

"Yeah, this is a setup," I said. "From the moment I was inexplicably dragged down by a recently deceased ghost, I sensed something odd—how could a newly dead mortal possess such great spiritual power?"

Not to mention the wandering ghosts that appeared later.

Moreover, I'm no longer a novice in this line—don't they overestimate themselves too much?

Liu Junyan opened his mouth as if to say something, hesitated, then held back.

"Āyàn, are you trying to remind me that our shop's conversion to Yin Dang Hang hides something fishy?" I asked.

Liu Junyan said: "On New Year's Eve, the shop was appointed by the Nether Realm to become Yin Dang Hang, taking on business from both yin and yang realms; everyone was happy, but I soon sensed something off. These past days I've been waiting for the department overseeing Yin Dang Hang to send someone to liaise with you on its operations, rules, etc., but nothing has come..."