Chapter 105: Dispel the Evil Spirit (3)
The Ghost Market sprawled across the entire mountain, where humans and ghosts mingled, yet they were not hard to distinguish.
As Chuzheng walked by, both humans and ghosts made way for her.
“Was it her who just killed Sister Jiaojiao?” a ghost pointed and gossiped about Chuzheng.
“Yes, yes, that’s her. She’s really daring.”
“But with that wicked woman dead, it’s truly satisfying. She can be considered a bane to ghosts.”
Earlier outside, Chuzheng had effortlessly killed Sister Jiaojiao, and the news had already spread before she even entered the Ghost Market.
A ghost floated up to her side and warned, “You’d better leave quickly. If the Ghost Kinges looking, you’re done for.”
“Hmm.” Chuzheng nodded, indicating she understood.
The ghost looked at Chuzheng, who seemed to have no intention of leaving, and with a somewhat helpless shrug of the shoulder. They only warned her because she had eliminated a nuisance.
Chuzheng found a ghost vendor and spent forty million Joss Paper currency.
Chuzheng understood a truth—the Joss Paper currency was next to worthless.<div>
But most ghosts seemed to be quite poor…
Chuzheng wandered around the Ghost Market, where the merchandise for sale was all very unscientific.
For example, a mobile phone that could make calls to ghosts.
And aputer that could video chat with ghosts.
Wouldn’t this disrupt the world’s order?
[Main Quest: Miss, please spend a hundred million Joss Paper within one hour.]
Chuzheng ‘smack’ ced her hand down on the stall.
The ghost selling goods opposite her jumped in fright, stuttering, “Is…is there something wrong?”
He hadn’t called out an outrageous price just now, had he?
Chuzheng withdrew her hand, calmly saying, “Nothing.”
The small stall’s goods were of little value, so Chuzheng picked out a shop that looked quite grand and had actual buildings.
Chuzheng parted the door curtains and entered.
There were already people inside, and not just a few—genuine human beings.
In addition to these humans, there was also a little ghost.
“Miss, please take your time browsing,” the little ghost called out invitingly.
As Chuzheng entered, the people on the other side became visibly wary.
Chuzheng moved further inside, walking towards the shelves where items were disyed.
The group of people was slightly on edge but didn’t drive her away, going about their business as she came in to shop, with one of them continuing the conversation with the little ghost.
“We had already agreed on a price earlier, and now you’re jacking it up on the spot. What’s the meaning of this!”<div>
“I’m not worried about being unable to sell my goods. You can leave if you don’t want them. I can sell to someone else.”
“You…”
“You want Joss Paper, and we can’t get that for you at this moment. Look, is it possible to owe it first and pay you when we get out?”
Entering the Ghost Market means no contact with the outside world; one must leave the Ghost Market to do so.<div>
But a passcard can be used only once to enter.
And the passcard isn’t cabbage; they had no spare ones in their possession.
The little ghost refused, “No way, cash on delivery only.”
Chuzheng picked out items worth a billion as per the asking price and approached the group of people.
They were all on guard, while Chuzheng, without looking elsewhere, set her items on the counter. “Check out.”
“All right!” The little ghost behind the counter immediately grinned from ear to ear, swiftly scanning the items to the side. “Miss, it’s exactly a billion. If you guys don’t have enough money, don’t stand here blocking the way and hinder my business.”
Thest sentence was directed at the group of people.
Chuzheng began to take out Joss Paper, shaking out a pile of it, causing the little ghost’s mouth to twitch involuntarily.
With such arge amount of Joss Paper, it would have flooded the entire store.
“Miss, why don’t you get a card?” the little ghost suggested.
“A card can be made?” Bastard didn’t say it was so advanced.
“…Yes, you can. Just walk straight out of the door for a hundred meters, turn left, then go straight and turn left again. You can get one at the Underworld Office.” He must be a new ghost, not even knowing about making a card. But with so much money, surely someone in the human world backs her.
Chuzheng made a mental note.<div>
“Miss,” a young man with a long braid suddenly started the conversation, “may I have a word with you in private?”
“Ghosts follow a different path from humans.” Chuzheng embraced the object the little ghost handed over: “Goodbye.”
The young man with the long braid: “…”
The little ghost scornfully said: “Don’t think you can fool someone just because they’re a new ghost.”
The young man with the long braid: “…”
–
Chuzheng found the Underworld Office, which looked a bit like the high-walled courtyards of ancient times.
The words “Underworld Office” were in neon lights…
Neon lights!!
Such a stylish, high-end, and modern Underworld Office.
Afterpleting the registration, Chuzheng gained a new understanding of the ghosts in this world.
Ghosts in this world, if they have lingering attachments and wish to stay in the human realm without harboring any ill will towards humans, can exchange joss paper and merits for more time to stay.
To manage these kinds of ghosts, the existence of the Underworld Office came into being — a disguised institution for collecting money.<div>
Chuzheng also understood why those ghosts were so poor.
The rest of the settings were mostly the same; there were also ghosts that turned into fierce ghosts and evil ghosts to harm people.
Some hide from the Underworld and stay in the human realm without permission, which is essentially ‘tax evasion.’ If caught, they not only have to pay back what they owe but will also be punished.
Of course, the Underworld Office doesn’t care for the fates of these ghosts.
In other words, ghosts can freely fight amongst themselves, and if they die, it’s on them; the Underworld Office won’t take responsibility. They even support this self-destructive behavior since it means less work for them.
“You’ve been dead for a year now,” the ghost processing the card said. “You need to pay for the past year before you can continue to stay in the human realm.”
“Oh,” she realized she was guilty of tax evasion too.
Having paid for the past year, Chuzheng took the card and prepared to leave.
Just as she was getting up, a surge of gloomy energy loomed in the sky, and the expressions of the several ghosts at the office turned solemn.
“There’s a fight breaking out between a human and a ghost in the east!”
“These bastards, always causing trouble!”
“Let’s hurry over and check it out.”
The office abruptly became quiet, leaving only Chuzheng, who looked up at the swirling gloom in the sky, then leisurely floated out of the door.<div>
Outside, most of the ghosts and people were rushing to the east to watch the excitement.
Chuzheng followed the crowd and arrived at the scene of the incident.
[Hidden mission: Please obtain a Good Person Card from Xia Han.]
Chuzheng: “…”
Chuzheng silently pped her own hand—curiosity killed the cat!
In the crowd, Chuzheng spotted the group from before, with several ghosts attacking them.
Good Lord… they weren’t robbing ghosts, were they?
Chuzheng shifted her gaze, searching through the crowd.
Xia Han… Which one is Xia Han?
The King’s ount gave Chuzheng a hint, and she pushed through the crowd, heading down an adjacent slope.
The noise from above gradually faded as Chuzheng followed the path down to its lowest point.
“We’ll lure a few more ghosts down hereter,” said one.
“Is that really a good idea? What if something goes wrong…” another hesitated.
“What could go wrong? This is the Ghost Market, and nobody can die here,” the first replied confidently.
As the group of young men discussed and walked uphill, Chuzheng stood in a dark corner, waiting for them to leave before continuing to drift downwards.
Below was a woond area.
It was very quiet in the woods. Chuzheng floated into the woods and didn’t find anyone after searching the area.
Just as she was about to leave, a flicker of ghostly shadows caught her eye not far away.
Chuzheng floated over to find a young man standing in a clearing there.
He was dressed in traditional Chinese ck garb, with cuffs andpels embroidered with patterns that were indiscernible.
Several ghosts circted around the young man. They moved forward tentatively, as if held back by something, not daring to get too close. They kept advancing and retreating, circling around him.
Just as Chuzheng moved to leave, the ghosts suddenly seemed to make up their minds, and all at once, they rushed toward the young man.