I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 69

The small island of the Ghost Market was bustling every day. It was connected to a commercial network that stretched in all directions, and anything from the Three Realms could be bought here for a price.

The monthly opening of the Ghost Market was the busiest time. People here would package their received orders and send them out during the opening hour.

Traveling merchants also used that hour to select goods and take them out to earn a profit from the markup.

The Ghost Market was illuminated by the powerful spiritual energy of the cherry blossom tree. Every inch of land here was imbued with strong vitality. Sow a seed one day, and you could harvest a field of grain the next, so they never worried about food or clothing.

Mang Ke had been staying in the Ghost Market for quite some time. During this period, she tried to control her tear ducts, preventing them from bursting into sobs whenever she was startled or felt wronged. Although the results were minimal, at least she didn’t cry for as long.

Mo Ying had long since emerged from the inkstone. He was too severely injured to speak, so communication had to be done by posing his body into shapes that conveyed his meaning—simple, practical, and didn’t interfere with daily life.

Today, Mang Ke was squatting in the backyard watering Mo Ying. It had dried out considerably from being outside to buy groceries in the last few days, so it needed some moisture replenishment.

A small black head poked out of the ground, and Mang Ke poured water onto it with a small watering can.

The scene looked quite harmonious.

“Little Lady.”

Yin Shu walked into the backyard and placed the flowers he had just picked in front of her. “These are a gift from Your Excellency.”

“Wow~”

Delighted, Mang Ke ran off with the watering can, leaving the silent little black figure behind.

Cradling the bouquet of daisies, Mang Ke looked up at Yin Shu. “When will Yun-Yun be back? I miss her.”

Seeing Mang Ke start to pout and cry again, Yin Shu couldn’t help but bend down and pick her up. “Your Excellency said she will return once she finishes her work.”

Mang Ke leaned back in a disgruntled, tactical retreat. “Little Brush, you smoked again! You smell!”

Yin Shu chuckled. “I quit smoking a long time ago, Little Lady. You must have smelled wrong.”

Mang Ke pouted. Her nose was so sharp she couldn’t possibly be wrong. This guy must have been sneaking a smoke again.

“You said this was supposed to be a vacation in the Ghost Market, so why is Yun-Yun busy working every day?” Mang Ke asked angrily. “Are you messing with us?”

“How could I dare?” Yin Shu carried Mang Ke to the pawnshop’s front hall and placed her in the armchair. “Your Excellency has her own business to attend to. If she doesn’t want to work, no one can stop her.”

Mang Ke thought about it. That seemed true.

“Little Lady, try on this new pair of shoes.” Yin Shu took a pair of shoes from the counter and showed them to Mang Ke. “These are Golden Thread Glass Lotus Shoes from a previous dynasty, just acquired today. They will surely look perfect on you!”

Mang Ke saw the shiny golden little shoes in the box and couldn’t help but say, “They look so expensive. I don’t want to wear them.”

She was afraid to even walk in such expensive shoes.

“Your Excellency specifically instructed me to save these for you,” Yin Shu said, disregarding Mang Ke’s refusal. He took off her small tiger-head shoes and replaced them with the lotus shoes. “They are infused with Your Excellency’s spiritual energy. Not only can they help you grow taller, but they also cover up your human scent.”

Mang Ke: “!!!”

Grow taller!!!

She looked down at her small feet, wiggled them, and asked, “Will I really grow taller?”

She wanted to grow to 168 centimeters!

Yin Shu smiled. “You will, so please wear them often.”

Mang Ke nodded eagerly. She also wanted to experience the fresh air of the upper world and not have a chest in her face every time she squeezed into an elevator.

Thinking that she hadn’t seen Xun Fangyun for several hours, Mang Ke felt a little sad. She tugged at her little dress and asked, “When exactly is Yun-Yun coming back?”

Yin Shu: “She should be back this afternoon.”

Mang Ke: “Will she be back for lunch?”

Yin Shu: “Your Excellency does not need to eat.”

Mang Ke: “Then will she still come back at noon?”

Yin Shu: “…I don’t think so.”

Mang Ke: “Waaah…”

Seeing that the little ancestor was about to cry again, Yin Shu said helplessly to the shop clerk, “Stop working for a minute. It’s almost noon. Tell Your Excellency to come back for lunch.”

Shop Clerk: “…”

Didn’t you just say that demons don’t need to eat?

Yin Shu: …Didn’t you see the Little Lady was about to cry?

Shop Clerk: “…I’m going right away.”

Watching the clerk leave, Yin Shu clasped his hands and smiled. “What would the Little Lady like for lunch? I’ll have the human inn owner make it.”

Mang Ke rubbed the corner of her eye, counting on her tiny fingers. “Pine nut-fried mandarin fish, twice-cooked pork, soup dumplings, and spicy crab!”

She held up three fingers as she spoke.

Yin Shu smiled. “Very well, I will arrange it immediately.”

When Xun Fangyun received the message, it was well past noon. Upon arriving at the pawnshop, she learned that Mang Ke had already eaten and fallen asleep.

“Your Excellency,” Yin Shu said to Xun Fangyun, “The Little Lady is sleeping in the inner room. Would you like to check on her?”

“Mhm.”

Xun Fangyun lifted the curtain and walked in. She saw that the inner room was dark, with a bulging shadow in the center of a small bed.

Next to the small bed were flowing stars, and in the two corners of the bed were Mang Ke’s favorite pinwheels, creating a serene and cozy atmosphere.

“The Little Lady insisted on waiting for you before eating lunch,” Yin Shu told her. “But I saw she was truly hungry, so I let her eat and go to rest.”

Xun Fangyun walked to the small bed and saw Mang Ke’s chubby, smiling face crumpled into a little bun. She couldn’t help but sigh. “Has she been sleeping for long?”

“She just fell asleep, only a moment ago.”

“Then don’t wake her. Let her sleep a little longer.”

The two left the inner room. Xun Fangyun sat in the armchair and took a sip of tea. Yin Shu stood before her, smiling professionally.

“Tomorrow, I can take Mang Ke out,” Xun Fangyun said calmly. “I have already found the nearest exit to her sect.”

Yin Shu was slightly surprised. “Opening the door early will consume a lot of your spiritual energy, won’t it?”

“It’s fine,” Xun Fangyun said. “A little more rest is all I need.”

Yin Shu naturally knew she was lying. If spiritual energy could be restored simply by resting, it wouldn’t be the currency of choice in the Ghost Market.

But since the Demon Lord said so, what could a minor minion like him do?

“May I ask when Your Excellency plans to return after handling her affairs?”

“I’ll decide then.”

Xun Fangyun seemed displeased by Yin Shu bringing up the subject. She set down her teacup and said, “It will probably be a few more years.”

Yin Shu looked at her. “Your subordinate knows you cherish the Little Lady. You can absolutely bring her along. I doubt anyone in the Demon Realm would dare harbor intentions against her.”

Xun Fangyun shook her head. “She is not suited for such a dangerous place.”

Taking Mang Ke to the Demon Realm would be like placing a meat bun in front of a pack of dogs. Even if most dogs wouldn’t eat it, there was no guarantee against the one or two individuals with ill intent.

Even one person meant a one hundred percent risk.

Under no circumstances was Xun Fangyun willing to take that chance.

Yin Shu was about to persuade Xun Fangyun further, but he saw the curtain to the inner room move. Mang Ke walked out, rubbing her eyes, and looked up at Xun Fangyun, holding out her hands for a hug.

Xun Fangyun immediately stood up, walked over, and picked up the still-sleepy Mang Ke.

Little Mang Ke grabbed Xun Fangyun’s hair with one hand and rubbed her eyes with the other, asking, “Did Yun-Yun eat yet?”

“I have,” Xun Fangyun replied.

“Mhm…”

Mang Ke pulled out a squashed bun from her pocket and said, “I saved this for you…”

Yin Shu quickly took out a handkerchief and rushed over. Looking at the oily, deformed bun, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “My Little Lady, how can you keep a bun in your pocket? Quickly take off your clothes! I’ll wash them!”

Xun Fangyun glared at him. Whose clothes are you demanding she take off!

Yin Shu felt wronged. She’s a three-year-old child right now! What intentions could I possibly have?

Mang Ke was awake now. She rubbed her oily clothes with her small hands and said sadly, “It’s dirty.”

And whose fault is it that it’s dirty?

Xun Fangyun reached out and tapped Mang Ke’s clothes. The grease stains instantly vanished, and the clothes looked brand new.

“We can leave tomorrow,” Xun Fangyun said, gently stroking Mang Ke’s messy head. “We will go find your Senior Sister. Her spiritual energy is of the same lineage as yours, so she will surely be able to help you recover.”

“Mhm.” Mang Ke looked up at Xun Fangyun, leaned in her face, and gave her a loud kiss.

“I’ll listen to whatever Yun-Yun says,” Mang Ke smiled sweetly.

Yin Shu said to the couple, “The Lady has changed so much, and you must have many things to prepare. This Cosmos Bag can hold hundreds of items. It will be very convenient for the Lady to take wherever she goes.”

Mang Ke took the purse-sized bag and looked up, asking him, “Did my Senior Sister reply to the letter I wrote last time?”

“It arrived today,” Yin Shu said. “Your Senior Sister said she would be stopping in Yanghu Village for three days. If you can make it, you can wait for her there.”

Mang Ke blinked and turned to look at Xun Fangyun.

Xun Fangyun said, “There is indeed an exit near Yanghu Village. We will go there tomorrow.”

After settling on the location, Yin Shu helped Mang Ke prepare many more items. The scattered things added up—food, utilities, and a voice-transmitting tube—all packed into the Cosmos Bag.

The next day, just after midnight, the two arrived at the shore early.

The ferryman returned through the mist. He looked at the shrunken Mang Ke without surprise and asked, “Where are the guests going this time?”

“Yanghu Village,” Xun Fangyun said lightly.

“Alright, please get settled.”

Mang Ke was perched on Xun Fangyun’s shoulder, waving goodbye to Yin Shu and the puddle of ink at his feet. She wondered when they would return after finishing their business.

The rocking ferry boat traveled back and forth in the mist. Mang Ke nestled in Xun Fangyun’s embrace, unsure how much time had passed. When she looked up and saw the light penetrating the fog, she realized she had arrived in the human world.

“Yun-Yun.”

Mang Ke tugged at Xun Fangyun’s sideburns, pointing up at the moonlight. “We’re out~”

Xun Fangyun chuckled, tapping her on the nose. “Mhm, we’re almost ashore.”

As the ferry slowly docked, Xun Fangyun carried Mang Ke off the boat. The fisherman then vanished into the sea mist, as if he had never appeared.

The wind at midnight sounded exceptionally loud. Mang Ke, nestled in Xun Fangyun’s arms, was wide awake since she had slept earlier.

Just as Xun Fangyun was about to walk towards the village, she saw a slender, green-clad figure standing on the small path.

Xuan Ji stood there, holding a cold, gleaming sword, her eyes fixed intently on Xun Fangyun. “We meet again, Demon Race!”