Spirit Reaper - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Qin An—What a Wicked, Cold-Hearted Woman!

As the jade ruyi lifted the veil, Wuyi’s field of vision expanded, and her heart rate spiked to an unprecedented level.

The red hem she had caught glimpses of finally revealed its full glory. Just as she had imagined: the familiar “twin swans playing in the water” pattern and the soaring golden phoenix embroidered with metallic thread.

The female ghost was wearing the exact same wedding dress she had seen in the courtyard that afternoon. To Wuyi’s shock, she realized her own clothes had also transformed into a matching crimson bridal gown.

Suppressing the panic rising in her chest, she scanned the room. Though the furnishings were antique, they were made of high-quality rosewood, as luxurious as the chambers of an ancient noble family. The bright red “Double Happiness” characters pasted on the hollowed-out window lattices were so eye-catching they felt like they were searing her retinas; she immediately looked away.

She turned her gaze back to the ghost, who was also veiled. Wuyi gripped the bedsheets even tighter.

“Now, it’s your turn,” the ghost said leisurely.

Wuyi was dazed for a moment, not understanding. It wasn’t until the ivory jade ruyi was pressed into her palm that she realized: the ghost was waiting for her to lift the veil.

After handing over the scepter, the ghost sat down beside her. Wuyi shivered at the sudden proximity of the cold. She looked at the silent ghost, then at the jade in her hand, and hesitated.

“Then… then I’m lifting it…” Her voice trembled.

“Mhm.” The response was faint, like a stray breeze brushing past Wuyi’s ear.

With permission, Wuyi’s hand shook as she mimicked the ghost’s earlier action, using the ruyi to slowly push the red veil upward. Pandora’s box was opening inch by inch.

If the ghost’s voice was cool peppermint, then her looks were rich tobacco. Two seemingly unrelated things that, when combined, created a lethal addiction.

The moment Wuyi locked eyes with those obsidian-like orbs, she froze. Her grip loosened, and the jade ruyi clattered onto the red bedcover.

The ghost had a pair of stunning “phoenix eyes.” Even without a clear expression, she naturally looked as if she were smiling yet not smiling. That, combined with a single tear mole at the corner of her right eye, left Wuyi completely disoriented.

From the looks of it… in this marriage, I might be the one getting the better end of the deal?

“Seen enough?”

“Ah… ah… sorry, I’m sorry!” Realizing she had been staring like an idiot, Wuyi’s face turned bright red. She scrambled back, putting distance between them until she was huddled in the corner of the bed.

“You’re afraid of me.” The ghost narrowed her eyes, amused by Wuyi, who had curled up like a shrimp.

“No… I’m not…” Wuyi backed into the wall. With nowhere left to retreat, she bit her lip and buried her face in her knees to avoid eye contact.

“Then why are you hiding?” As she spoke, Wuyi could feel the overwhelming aura of a powerful spirit inching closer.

“Don’t—don’t come over here!” Wuyi snapped her head up, meeting those soul-snatching eyes. “I know some Daoist arts…”

“Heh.” The ghost let out a soft snort, clearly unimpressed by Wuyi’s harmless threat. “The way you look now is just like a puppy I once kept in the palace. It loved to bared its teeth at me, too.”

She leaned closer, grabbing Wuyi’s hands and pinning them high against the wall. Cold breath brushed Wuyi’s face as the ghost’s thin lips moved.

“It was the only thing in the entire palace brave enough to growl at me. Of course, not long after, I threw it into the pond to feed the fish…”

What a wicked, cold-hearted woman! Wuyi’s heart went cold. Beauty was a trap; beneath that gorgeous face was a black heart.

“You…!” Before Wuyi could spit out a sarcastic retort, the ghost began blowing teasingly into her ear. Wuyi lost all her fight. The air was icy, but Wuyi’s ears felt as if they were being scorched by fire.

“I wasn’t finished…” the ghost whispered, lightly nipping Wuyi’s earlobe. “As for you, you aren’t a beast, and we are married. Naturally, I have other plans for you…”

“So put away those little schemes. They aren’t worth my time.”

“I have protected you for thirteen years. Taking a little interest today isn’t too much to ask, is it?”

Interest? What interest? And she protected me for thirteen years? Why didn’t I know about this?

“Mmph—” All her questions were swallowed back down as icy, soft lips pressed against hers.

It was like a cold, white firework exploded in Wuyi’s brain. She couldn’t react; she simply responded to the ghost’s kiss out of pure instinct.

“Ow—” In her daze, a sharp pain shot through her lower lip. The sudden taste of copper in her mouth snapped her back to reality. She mustered all her strength to break free from the ghost’s grip and pushed her away.

“Who are you? What is your goal?” Wuyi wiped the blood from her lip, glaring warily at the satiated-looking ghost.

“Truly an ungrateful little wolf.” The ghost sighed helplessly. She pointed to the jade pendant around Wuyi’s neck. “You’ve worn the betrothal gift for thirteen years, yet you’re still this guarded against me?”

“You’ve already guessed who I am, haven’t you? As for my goal, I think you have an idea…”

“Qin… An?” Wuyi whispered tentatively, recalling the name from the contract.

“Not entirely stupid, then.” Seeing Wuyi name her, Qin An folded her arms and nodded. “I am the Eldest Princess of the Great Qin State, known as Zonglan. Since we are married, you may call me by my name.”

“Princess Zonglan…” Wuyi muttered. There was no record of a “Great Qin State” or its princess in history, but the woman didn’t look like she was lying. Regardless, if she survived the night, she’d worry about history later.

“Since you are a princess, why marry a commoner like me? Surely there are plenty of ghosts in the underworld…”

“Naturally, it is for your Body of Pure Yin.” Qin An leaned in again and took a deep breath. “As expected of the ‘Holy Body’ coveted by ten thousand ghosts. Even I need a fair amount of endurance to restrain myself.”

Fine. All ghosts are the same; they just want my special constitution! Wuyi cursed her fate internally.

“If you’re here for my body, why not just swallow me whole like the others? Why go through all this trouble?” Wuyi would rather it be over quickly than endure a long ordeal.

“Don’t compare me to those filthy things.” Disgust flashed in Qin An’s eyes. “A good thing should be kept by one’s side for long-term use to be truly reassuring.”

She tilted Wuyi’s chin up, staring into her eyes. “I know you’re unwilling to marry a ghost. Don’t worry, our marriage contract only lasts for three years.”

“I made a deal with Yu Song. I protect you until you reach adulthood, and you marry me. For these three years, you will help me recover my strength. Your Body of Pure Yin is the best tool for that.”

“Huh…?” Wuyi blinked. So, according to Qin An, she didn’t have to be eaten to help the ghost recover?

She bit her lip and whispered, “How… am I supposed to help you?”

Qin An’s lips curled into a faint smile. She pressed her thumb against Wuyi’s lip, rubbing it back and forth. “Just like… we did a moment ago.”

“!!!” The jelly-like, cold sensation returned to Wuyi’s mind. Her temperature, which had finally started to drop, surged once again.

This isn’t a “mutual aid agreement.” This is an indentured servitude contract!

Though, to be honest, the feeling just now wasn’t bad… and this “wife” dropped from the sky was undeniably beautiful… but she still couldn’t accept daily physical intimacy with someone she had no emotional connection with!

“Silly child.” Seeing Wuyi turning as red as a boiled crab, Qin An let out a light huff and waved her hand, manifesting a vellum scroll.

“Sign it. Become the Deputy Underworld Emissary under my seat.”