The Ghost Insists on Giving Me a Beautiful and Powerful Wife! - Chapter 44

Yu Ruoyin’s emotions were complex, a mix of sorrow and sympathy, along with an unspeakable sense of hostility.

The strong smell of blood intensified her gloomy mood. Yu Ruoyin suddenly recalled something: Jiang Huaining had always said that there was no murderer in her death, so could that also be the power of a curse?

If she was also burdened with the same eternal, entangled curse as Lu Qichun and the others, everything would make sense.

The one who cast the curse had long since perished, but fate continued to turn, leading to her death with no apparent killer.

Yu Ruoyin was about to voice her speculation when she suddenly remembered Jiang Huaining covering her mouth when she had cursed the perpetrator. Jiang Huaining’s attitude towards the curse-caster was somewhat ambiguous. Yu Ruoyin didn’t dare to speak rashly, afraid that one wrong word might disrupt her current dynamic with Jiang Huaining.

She could only cautiously probe: “Aunt Ning, isn’t the person who cursed them too cruel?”

Jiang Huaining’s expression stiffened: “A curse doesn’t appear without reason. Perhaps they did something even more vicious in their previous lives.”

As expected.

Jiang Huaining was protecting the curse-caster.

If Lu Qichun had committed evil deeds in a past life, then what about her? Did she also do something wicked before, which is why she carries a curse?

Would Jiang Huaining also despise her?

No, that’s not her.

Whether Jiang Huaining liked it or hated it, that wasn’t her.

Yu Ruoyin instinctively wanted to evade, and her expression became pained, which greatly worried Jiang Huaining: “A’yin, what’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.” Yu Ruoyin swallowed her troubles and deliberately brought up another topic to prevent Jiang Huaining from peering into her thoughts: “Aunt Ning, Lu Qichun said that humans can’t become spirits, only monsters. With so much of your spiritual energy in me, will I also turn into a monster?”

Not just Jiang Huaining’s spiritual energy, but also what she had absorbed into her body: “If I turn into a monster, will you…”

“You won’t.” Her unspoken question was cut off by Jiang Huaining, who didn’t give her a chance to continue asking: “A’yin, I would never harm you.”

Jiang Huaining’s tone was calm, with no hint of complaint, yet Yu Ruoyin read a sense of grievance in it.

She felt she should say something, something less serious and less complicated: “Aunt Ning, I didn’t mean that. I wanted to ask… to ask you, if I were a monster, would you… would you dislike me?”

Jiang Huaining’s eyes showed a momentary confusion. Yu Ruoyin scratched her cheek: “If you turned into a monster, I definitely wouldn’t dislike you. I… I mean, I really like you, no matter what you are or what you become, and I wanted to know if you felt the same way about me. I…”

Yu Ruoyin was anxious to improve the heavy atmosphere between herself and Jiang Huaining, but the words that came out were incoherent and strayed from her intent.

Jiang Huaining’s confusion grew, and Yu Ruoyin herself wasn’t sure what she was saying anymore.

She truly wished she could bite off her own tongue.

Yu Ruoyin nervously rubbed her palms: “You don’t have to answer.”

She seemed very good at explaining things for herself and stopping herself from talking.

This should count as a positive trait, hopefully.

Yu Ruoyin’s chaotic thoughts were interrupted by an embrace. After she had sealed off her own words, Jiang Huaining suddenly hugged her.

She buried her face in Yu Ruoyin’s neck, her body trembling uncontrollably: “Thank you.”

The unexpected thank you stunned Yu Ruoyin. She couldn’t glean much from those two simple words, but she could feel the warm liquid trickling down her neck, under her collar, slowly soaking her clothes.

Jiang Huaining was crying.

Why was she crying?

Curiosity and pity surged together, but Yu Ruoyin didn’t dare to ask. She could only follow her instinct and hold the person in her arms tightly, letting her hide in her embrace and vent her emotions fully.

Yu Ruoyin stood still for a long time, receiving neither an answer nor an explanation.

She was the first to faint, collapsing into Jiang Huaining’s arms, and drifted off to sleep amidst a patch of warmth and fragrance.

When Yingzhu and the others returned, Jiang Huaining had already wiped away her tears and was waiting for them in the long corridor, holding Yu Ruoyin horizontally.

Nan He finally accepted the fact that Lu Qichun was destined to leave. She held onto Lu Qichun’s arm; they could stay together for one last moment before the Yama (Yin Messenger) came to guide her to reincarnation. Seeing the Return King come back, she subconsciously tightened her grip, but Yingzhu’s attention wasn’t on them.

She pushed Zhuang Huaishu directly towards Jiang Huaining. The wheelchair Zhuang Huaishu was sitting in had somehow fallen into Yingzhu’s hands. Zhuang Huaishu, sitting in the chair, looked disgusted, and Zhuang Ciyue, who was following nearby, dared not express her anger. Only Yingzhu, who was pushing the wheelchair, was cheerful and radiant, looking like she had won a great prize: “Boss Jiang, my speed wasn’t slow, was it?”

She was seeking credit from Jiang Huaining. Jiang Huaining pointed to the corpses piled up in the room: “Have you dealt with these?”

Yingzhu pouted: “Just leave these to the Yin Messengers who are on their way. I don’t have the time for that. Aren’t you waiting to interrogate me?”

Yingzhu leaned over without reserve and pinched the unconscious Yu Ruoyin: “What happened to her? Did you hit her? And knock her out?”

Before Jiang Huaining could deny it, she burst out laughing: “My mistake, you would definitely not bear to hit her.”

Yingzhu then pointed to Nan He, who was still immersed in sadness: “Then you must have hit her.”

Nan He was suddenly accused, lifting her head in a daze, completely bewildered.

Lu Qichun had served as a guide for too long in Nan He’s life. Facing Yingzhu, who casually accused Nan He, she blocked Nan He despite the fear her soul felt towards the majesty of the Return King: “Lord Return King, I don’t think Miss Ruoyin’s appearance is very hateful, so why must she have been knocked unconscious?”

She steered the conversation toward Yu Ruoyin’s looks. Even if Jiang Huaining wasn’t particularly fond of her, she would still speak up: “A’yin is too tired.”

The journey to find Gou Nanchun consumed too much of her spirit and stamina. When the environment became safe, fatigue would take over.

Jiang Huaining’s concern for Yu Ruoyin was too obvious. Yingzhu nudged Zhuang Huaishu’s shoulder: “Hey, let’s discuss something. You faint too.”

“?”

“When you faint, I’ll definitely do a better job than Boss Jiang.”

Her outrageous remark left Zhuang Ciyue and the others speechless. Jiang Huaining was unsurprised, but Zhuang Huaishu only felt revulsion: “My Lord, if you are mentally deranged, I don’t mind helping you rebuild your soul.”

Yingzhu raised an eyebrow: “Oh? And how do you plan to help me?”

Zhuang Huaishu was not intimidated by her identity and remained sharp-tongued: “Of course, by breaking it up first.”

“Thank you, but no need.” Yingzhu pressed down on the wheelchair, bent over, and pressed hard on Zhuang Huaishu’s shoulders, her eyes exceptionally gentle: “You’re almost crippled, yet your mouth is still so toxic. Who else but me would be so tolerant of you?”

Zhuang Huaishu clutched her throat and let out a dry retch.

Her look of annoyance was clear, but Yingzhu didn’t mind. She patted Zhuang Huaishu’s shoulder again, looking extraordinarily forgiving.

After confirming that Zhuang Huaishu wasn’t going to acknowledge her anymore, Yingzhu straightened up and said to Jiang Huaining: “The cleanup work will be handled by the Yin Messengers. Let’s go. I’ll go back to the Four Spirits Shop with you and explain.”

“Mhm.”

Jiang Huaining carried Yu Ruoyin and started walking out. After only one step, she stopped: “Yingzhu, you go carry that coffin back to the Four Spirits Shop.”

“Are you still short of that one coffin?”

“Yes.”

Yingzhu rubbed her ears: “Boss Jiang, can’t you just put it away?”

“No,” Jiang Huaining said. “That coffin was carried here by A’yin. Now you will carry it back.”

The huge difference in attitude towards Yingzhu and Yu Ruoyin—the cold command—made Yingzhu almost feel that she wasn’t her friend, but her subordinate.

Yingzhu was reluctant, but her gaze swept over Yu Ruoyin in Jiang Huaining’s arms, and she instantly realized this might be a form of punishment.

She unenthusiastically carried the coffin onto her back. Zhuang Ciyue took the opportunity to ‘steal’ back control of the wheelchair, wanting to take Zhuang Huaishu far away from Yingzhu. Before she could move, the wheelchair was snatched by Yingzhu again, who also got a lecture for nothing: “There’s a time for filial piety.”

Zhuang Ciyue couldn’t think about timing; she only saw that Zhuang Huaishu was unwilling to interact with Yingzhu.

Driven by a burst of courage, she was about to fight Yingzhu for the wheelchair. Yingzhu merely lifted her hand, and Zhuang Ciyue’s body became immobilized.

Jiang Huaining gently frowned: “You focus on carrying the coffin properly.”

Jiang Huaining clearly told her to focus on carrying the coffin and to return the right to push the wheelchair to Zhuang Ciyue. Yingzhu reluctantly let go. Zhuang Ciyue immediately snatched the wheelchair and dashed away a distance.

Yingzhu was very displeased with Zhuang Ciyue, and by extension, also a bit displeased with Jiang Huaining: “Boss Jiang, why are you siding with them?”

“She is A’yin’s friend.”

Yingzhu looked thoughtfully at Yu Ruoyin in her arms, her trembling gaze holding a remembrance of the past: “After all these years, as soon as it concerns her, friends like us don’t even have the right to speak.”

“Did you say one word less?”

Yingzhu rubbed her nose and gave a dry laugh.

She pointed to Lu Qichun: “You stay here. A Yin Messenger will come to take you away shortly.”

“A’Chun.”

Nan He nervously leaned closer to Lu Qichun, filled with unease and anxiety.

All of this was within Lu Qichun’s expectation, and her reaction was much calmer than Nan He’s. She nodded with a smile, accepting Yingzhu’s arrangement.

She tried to withdraw her arm from Nan He’s embrace, but Nan He held her tighter and tighter: “A’Chun.”

Nan He often lacked initiative, especially when facing Lu Qichun.

She was hoping Lu Qichun could offer a different possible ending, but Lu Qichun couldn’t.

She had known this was the end, yet it was still difficult to accept.

Lu Qichun forcibly pulled her arm from Nan He’s embrace and touched Nan He’s face for the last time: “You must be safe, you must be happy, you must… you must forget me.”

“I won’t!” Her frantic reaction was a desperate protest against Lu Qichun’s finality.

Composure was Lu Qichun’s strong suit, and also her cruel side.

She was too clear-headed, clear enough to know what words would make Nan He let go: “Then don’t look for me again. I don’t want to… remember those painful memories anymore.”

“Pain.”

That was the two words Nan He couldn’t bear to touch. She was constantly remorseful that she failed to protect the Gou family back then, leaving Gou Nanchun to bear the hatred and be tormented by pain. Even though everyone else had forgiven her, she could not forgive herself.

Lu Qichun’s memories about her included not just their past, but also suffering.

Reluctance was overshadowed by guilt. She couldn’t help but touch Lu Qichun’s chest: “A’Chun, are you… are you still hurting badly?”

Lu Qichun didn’t answer. This was, after all, an excuse to distract her: “Xiao He, you should go.”

“I, I’ll go now.”

Nan He was still so obedient, so easy to fool.

A few words of persuasion, a few words of advice, and everything would proceed as she intended.

Lu Qichun averted her gaze from Nan He’s retreating figure. Her final words were for Jiang Huaining: “Boss Jiang, I hope you will keep your word.”

“Nan He is also A’yin’s friend.”

No further promises were needed. Judging from Jiang Huaining’s attitude towards Yu Ruoyin, that sentence was the best guarantee.

The way back to the Four Spirits Shop gained a chattering Yingzhu. Zhuang Huaishu and the others maintained a great distance from Jiang Huaining, walking ahead at a fast pace, leaving her to walk alongside Yingzhu while holding Yu Ruoyin.

With Yingzhu, the Return King who couldn’t easily leave the Underworld, they had no choice but to take the Ghost Market route on their return journey.

Many of the Underworld Generals greeted Yingzhu along the way, and Jiang Huaining instinctively distanced herself from her.

She hadn’t moved far before Yingzhu stuck close again: “Why are you also avoiding me?”

Yingzhu’s use of “also” reminded Jiang Huaining of Zhuang Huaishu’s attitude toward her. Her thoughts were initially elsewhere, but now that all the scenes were pieced together, she was genuinely curious: “What exactly did you do that was so wicked?”

“Me?” Yingzhu exaggeratedly exclaimed: “I gave her a bone-pen, and I’m wicked?”

The more agitated she became, the more Jiang Huaining sensed a problem.

Her suspicious gaze scrutinized Yingzhu repeatedly. Yingzhu nervously scratched her nose: “Huaining, we are friends.”

Jiang Huaining didn’t follow up with a conversation but countered with a question: “Yingzhu, are we really friends?”

Jiang Huaining’s words were too harsh, causing Yingzhu to panic slightly: “I can explain the bone-pen incident.”

“Not just the bone-pen. Zhuang Huaishu said that when she knew you, you were from the Painting Witch clan, you came to the mortal world, and you even reincarnated into the Kang family.” With every word, Jiang Huaining’s eyes grew colder: “Yingzhu, what are you plotting?”

“This… I can explain all of this.”

“I’ll wait for your explanation.”

“…” Yingzhu bit her lip tightly, her expression complicated.

Jiang Huaining felt she probably wouldn’t get a reasonable explanation. Yingzhu looked entirely guilty. She was the kind of person who could argue the dead into the living; if she had any valid point, she would never spare anyone. This speechless demeanor only proved that she knew she was completely in the wrong.

Sure enough, she quickly diverted the topic, pointing to Zhuang Huaishu at the very front: “Well… um, what about Zhuang Huaishu’s injuries?”

Jiang Huaining didn’t want to engage, but Yingzhu persistently asked again: “How was she injured? She has my bone-pen, and her own talent is high. There shouldn’t be many people who can injure her like that without a trace. I…”

Jiang Huaining couldn’t tell if she was genuinely concerned or just trying to change the subject.

She only felt Yingzhu was being too noisy, which might disturb Yu Ruoyin’s rest, so she casually replied: “It has something to do with Xia Yu.”

“Xia, Xia Yu?” Yingzhu brightened immediately and picked up the conversation: “Then you have to compensate me!”

“How about I don’t hold Xia Yu responsible for injuring her, and you stop asking about my time in the mortal world? Let’s call it even.”

“Why should we?”

“She and I had a wedding ceremony, so… not maybe, she is my wife.” Yingzhu’s expression showed a hint of smugness: “It shouldn’t be too much for me to seek justice for her!”

Jiang Huaining looked at her coldly: “You’re right, you can go settle the score with Xia Yu.”

Yingzhu asked in disbelief: “You… you won’t protect Xia Yu?”

“Didn’t you say it? You want to seek justice for your wife. Although Xia Yu has followed me for many years, we are friends, and I shouldn’t stop you.”

Jiang Huaining’s sarcastic words instantly disheartened Yingzhu. Her face turned pale and miserable, and she pleaded weakly: “Huaining, do I really have to explain?”

Jiang Huaining’s bad premonition grew stronger: “What exactly did you do?”

Yingzhu completely gave up the struggle: “You’re hitting me because you guessed, right? It’s… it’s just as you think.”

“…” Jiang Huaining’s receding anger was instantly reignited. If she weren’t holding Yu Ruoyin, she would fight Yingzhu right now: “I shouldn’t hit you; I should kill you.”

“The Underworld King won’t agree. And… you probably can’t bear to either?” Yingzhu forced a smile, her attempt at appeasement even stronger: “Don’t worry, I didn’t succeed. I only got myself into a love debt during those years in the Kang family, and I didn’t accomplish anything else. I swear! If I had succeeded, how would I dare return to the Underworld? Not only would you not forgive me, but the Underworld King wouldn’t either. I truly lost my head for a moment, and I regretted it greatly when I sobered up. I absolutely did not do it on purpose. If I deliberately went against you, then let me be doomed for eternity, never finding peace!”

Yingzhu made a solemn vow, and Jiang Huaining’s expression softened a little.

They were still in the Ghost Market, and the commotion Yingzhu created drew considerable attention.

Jiang Huaining, holding Yu Ruoyin, quickened her pace: “We’ll talk about this when we get back.”

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