Chapter 32: Master of Both Yin and Yang

"I can help you, but tonight you have to come to my place," she said, her gaze utterly enchanting as she looked at me.

Looking into her eyes, I was certain no man could possibly refuse her, so I nodded in agreement.

"Fine. Meet me at ten o'clock tonight at Ghost King Temple. Don't bring anyone with you. If you don't show up, Yang Minghui will not survive the night!" With that, she vanished into a swirl of black mist.

I was still lost in the memory of her gaze, but soon I came to my senses—this was a threat, wasn't it? If I didn't go see her, she would kill Yang Minghui, and then my plan with Lin Chuan would fall apart.

If the plan failed and the people at the black market found out, tomorrow's opening might be canceled, and it would be difficult for us to ever return. No, I couldn't let everything fall apart after coming this far!

"Sir, are you really going tonight?" Xiao Fang asked, seeing me lost in thought.

I sighed, "I have to."

"But she's the King of Vengeful Spirits. She won't let you bring anyone. Will you be safe?" he asked, worried.

"I don't know, but as a Reaper's Envoy, she shouldn't be able to do much to me," I replied.

Just then, Tan Xiao returned, looking distraught.

"How did it go?" I asked.

"Gai Xifeng refused to help. He said you already owe him two souls and he doesn't want you to owe him more. He said you have to pay your debt before your next transaction," she answered helplessly.

"It's fine. The King of Vengeful Spirits has already come and promised to help me," I told her the truth.

But upon hearing this, Tan Xiao suddenly lost her temper and shouted at me, "Zhang Xiaobei, I told you not to deal with her! Why don't you ever listen?"

"What's wrong with her? And she was the one who came to me!" I protested.

"Hmph, you men are always so easily swayed by beauty. I told you not to trust her, but you just won't listen. Fine, I won't bother with you anymore!" With that, she stormed off in anger.

After she left, Guan Xin said quietly, "That young lady seems to genuinely care about you."

I was silent for a moment. I didn't know why she was so concerned, but she must have her reasons for stopping me from meeting the King of Vengeful Spirits. I decided to use this opportunity to investigate.

After a while, Jueling emerged, looking as if he'd just been in a fight—his spirit was slightly damaged.

I hurried to support him. "What happened to you?"

"Yang Minghui had a Soul-Killing Gun," he replied.

"Soul-Killing Gun? What's that?" I asked in astonishment.

"It's a weapon that can utterly destroy ghosts, leaving nothing behind," he said with difficulty.

How could something like that exist? It seemed even more powerful than my prayer beads. I was shocked.

Guan Xin explained, "He probably bought it at the Ghost Market. That place is full of forbidden things—you can buy items to see ghosts, kill them, or even command them. As long as you have money, nothing is impossible."

Listening to her, I felt that the people and things in the Ghost Market were far more formidable than a Reaper's Envoy like me. If I had to fight those people, it would be sheer suicide.

Seeing me fall silent, Guan Xin continued, "But don't worry, sir. None of them are that powerful individually, and many are actually your followers. They all envy your eyes."

Hearing this made me uneasy. I began to understand why Wu Yan had never wanted these eyes—having them only brought trouble.

"Are you badly hurt?" I quickly asked Jueling.

"It's not too serious. Because I'm a spirit, the Soul-Killing Gun isn't very effective against me," he replied.

I was suddenly relieved that it wasn't Tan Xiao or Xiao Yuan who had gone in, for if they'd been shot, they'd have been completely destroyed.

"I'm going to rest now. The King of Vengeful Spirits has already subdued Yang Minghui," Jueling said, then returned to his box.

Yang Minghui really was a man who dabbled in both worlds. No wonder there were no other ghosts in his house—they'd all been destroyed by him.

"Zhang Xiaobei, look what I got for you!" The King of Vengeful Spirits appeared and threw something at me.

It looked like a toy gun, but I asked in horror, "Is this the Soul-Killing Gun?"

"Yes, I got it for you," she replied with a seductive smile.

"Thank you, Ghost King. Didn't he try to use this on you?" I asked, both surprised and delighted.

"This thing can't hurt me!" she said, reaching for my face again. "Xiaobei, remember to come find me tonight!"

"How's Yang Minghui now?" I asked, moving her hand away. That was still my main concern.

"He's fine, just unconscious. But if you don't come tonight, he'll die," she said with a wicked smile before vanishing.

After she left, I quickly sent Xiao Yuan and Xiao Fang in to check on him. Sure enough, he was unconscious and wouldn't wake up for a while.

Should I take this chance to steal Guan Xin's body? The thought crossed my mind, but then I realized that carrying a corpse out of someone's house in broad daylight would surely cause panic.

Better stick to the plan. I told Guan Xin, "Stay here and watch him. As long as he doesn't wake up before tomorrow, he won't touch your body. If he wakes early, come find me."

"Thank you, Reaper's Envoy," she said, then returned to Yang Minghui's house.

I took Xiao Yuan and Xiao Fang back to the police station to find Lin Chuan and tell him everything.

He agreed that Yang Minghui was terrifying—not only did he kill people, he killed ghosts too.

"How are things on your end?" I asked.

"Going well. Mr. Liao was brought in. He didn't expect us to have so much evidence, so he didn't manage to warn anyone. The black market will be open as usual tomorrow."

I was relieved to hear this. After a busy morning, it was already two in the afternoon and I hadn't eaten. I decided to go out for lunch.

Outside the police station, I gazed at the bustling county town, feeling conflicted. Many people carry darkness in their hearts. Before I gained these eyes, I thought just being alive was a blessing. Now I realized many people live far from the lives they wish for.

After lunch, I wandered the streets with Xiao Yuan and Xiao Fang. Suddenly, a woman ran up to me and pleaded, "Help me! I don't know that man!"

Was this some new scam? Did she think I was an easy mark because I was young?

I didn't expose her directly, but asked, "What did he do to you?"

"I'm from out of town. I don't know him. He insists I'm his wife and wants to take me away. He even took my money," she cried.

I had already seen through her act, but I nodded as if I believed her. "Alright, I'll help you."

"Hey, what are you doing? Let go of my wife!" A rough-looking, unshaven man stormed over, shouting at me.

I looked at the woman. "Are you sure you don't know each other? You two look like a real couple to me."

"Young man, I swear I don't know him! You have to help me!" the woman clung to me, refusing to let go.

Frankly, her performance was convincing. The old me would have believed her.

But then the man really tried to hit her, making me doubt my own judgment for a moment.

She cried and screamed for help, but no one intervened. I grabbed the man's hand. "Even if she's your wife, hitting her is against the law!"

"None of your business!" He tried to shake my hand off, but to my surprise, he couldn't break free.

I was shocked—when did I become this strong?

"Let go, or I'll beat you too!" the man threatened, pointing his free hand at me.

I didn't let go. "Release her, and I'll let go."

"How I discipline my wife is none of your business," he grumbled.

So I gripped him even tighter. Sensing I wasn't ordinary, he quickly relented. "Fine, let go. I won't hit her!"

Now I knew he was really hurting, but I couldn't let him go just yet—their act wasn't over.

Still, since he said that, I released him.

But as soon as I did, he tried to attack me. Somehow, I dodged easily and countered fiercely.

If the woman hadn't pulled me back, I might have beaten him half to death.

Even so, no one around called the police. I didn't know if it was because they thought he deserved it, or simply didn't want to get involved.

"Take him to the hospital. Whether you're a couple or not, you know each other," I said to the woman before walking away.

In the past, I believed in the world's goodness, but ever since I got these eyes, everything seemed darker. Maybe that's what it means to be a Reaper's Envoy—only by stepping into darkness can you truly see the world for what it is.

With nothing else to do that afternoon and Lin Chuan busy at the station, I went back to the hotel to rest. He Yanran wasn't around, so I asked the hotel staff to open the door for me and lay down quietly on the bed.

To be honest, I felt conflicted. So much had happened in these past few days—far beyond what I thought possible in this world.

"Zhang Xiaobei, you have the nerve to be napping here?" As I was brooding, Tan Xiao barged in, shouting at me.

I was speechless. "What is it now? Just say it, and stop yelling."