At this moment, looking at the suddenly appearing seductive female ghost, Yan Shouyi's mind flashed with a scene from a TV series.
"Why are you wearing Pingru's clothes?"
How provocative you are.
Although the word "provocative" was somewhat inelegant, Yan Shouyi racked his brain but couldn't come up with any other word to describe the female ghost before him.
Provocative wasn't simply about being beautiful and wearing revealing clothes; that was mere low-level manipulation. True provocation was when, even while wrapped tightly in three layers of thick down jackets, a hint of charm leaked from one's eyes, enough to captivate the soul and keep a man tossing and turning.
The female ghost before him was just like that; every movement she made was soul-stirring.
"Big fool!"
Yan Shouyi suddenly felt a tap on the back of his head. Snapping back to reality, he saw Lin Zhitong pouting and giving him a scolding look.
Lin Zhitong had confidence in herself and believed in Yan Shouyi. However, women were naturally competitive, and Lin Zhitong, being a strong woman, was unwilling to be inferior in any aspect. It was just that she couldn't bring herself to be overtly provocative, so she could only express her frustration by keeping a close watch on her man.
In truth, the female ghost before them was considerably less attractive than Lin Zhitong. But this woman knew how to flirt!
How did that saying go? Cuteness was worthless in the face of sexiness!
Fortunately, Yan Shouyi wasn't a man who easily wavered. After regaining his senses, his gaze became much clearer, and he didn't linger on the beauty before him.
Wang Jíwǎng was already quite a self-disciplined man. But as a single man, he now took advantage of his single status, allowing himself to steal a few more glances.
Wei Changqing, on the other hand, remained unfazed. He had likely seen far more alluring beauties than the young men like Yan Shouyi, and was long immune to such temptations.
Long Feicheng and Weng Qianxi were not so fortunate.
Long Feicheng murmured, "It's such a shame someone this good-looking works in this profession..."
Weng Qianxi tightly grabbed Long Feicheng's shoulder and slapped him, exclaiming angrily, "What are you thinking? It would be a real shame if someone this good-looking *didn't* work in this profession!"
Long Feicheng instantly came to his senses and excitedly grasped Weng Qianxi's hand, "Old Weng, you really are an experienced driver; this understanding is too profound!"
If someone this beautiful didn't work in this profession, what chance would ordinary men have?
As soon as the proprietress of Fenglai Lou appeared, the surrounding women instantly lost their color. The drunken guests, with flushed faces, appraised the proprietress, feeling that the women beside them had become uninteresting.
A little female ghost at one table was picking at her food, preparing to feed a guest, and said with a jealous tone, "Sir, you just called me your 'little sweetie,' didn't you? Come, let me feed you a bite, ah..."
"Get lost, you ugly thing!"
The guest pushed the female ghost beside him away, completely forgetting that he had just called her "little sweetie."
Mesmerized, he walked directly towards the proprietress. As he got closer, he bared a hideous smile and reached out to touch her leg.
This scene caused all the men present to hold their breath, as if that hand were their own.
However, in the next second.
A cold glint flashed, and the man's hand froze in mid-air.
Fenglai Lou fell into a deathly silence; even the sound of the zither disappeared.
Immediately after, the man's hand was severed at the root, and blood splattered onto the proprietress!
The man was stunned for a full three seconds before he remembered to scream.
"Ah—"
But his scream was cut short as a second cold flash sliced across his neck.
His head rolled to the ground.
Blood splashed, several meters high, spattering onto the proprietress, making her cold, pale skin appear incredibly alluring.
Even more damningly, the woman actually dipped her slender finger into the blood on her face and slowly tasted it in her mouth.
The men once again forgot the bloody scene, their eyes fixed only on the woman's lips.
"Fenglai Lou is not a place where you can run amok."
A melodious voice rang out as the woman introduced herself, "My name is Taohua Ying, the proprietress of Fenglai Lou."
Yan Shouyi nodded slightly. Despite the woman's boundless allure, he saw the venomous heart beneath her charming exterior.
This woman was a Ghost King, no less powerful than Yu Jinbo!
This Ghost Market was full of hidden talents, but Yan Shouyi hadn't expected that the proprietress of a mere brothel would be a Ghost King.
This was now troublesome.
Yan Shouyi clasped his fists and said, "My two brothers here are ignorant of the rules, and it was unintentional. I am willing to compensate Fenglai Lou for any losses."
"Oh? How will you compensate?"
Taohua Ying transformed into a wisp of Yin wind and appeared before Yan Shouyi in an instant, mere inches away.
She sniffed Yan Shouyi's scent and suddenly smiled, "Little handsome guy."
Long Feicheng and Weng Qianxi were puzzled. Yan Shouyi's disguise at this moment made him appear quite ordinary. If anyone was handsome, it should be Long Feicheng and Weng Qianxi right now.
Could this Ghost King have a problem with her aesthetic sense?
Lin Zhitong felt threatened and immediately stepped between them, glaring at Taohua Ying.
Although she said nothing, it was as if she had said everything.
Taohua Ying also glanced at Lin Zhitong, a peculiar glint flashing in her eyes, and then burst into laughter.
"It's not difficult for me to overlook this matter. I only ask for a drop of blood from each of you."
"A drop?" Lin Zhitong asked.
The madam earlier had demanded sixty liters of blood, yet now, for Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong, only a drop was required. The difference was not insignificant.
Taohua Ying nodded, covering her mouth with her hand as she chuckled, "Even sixty liters of blood from an ugly duckling is not as valuable as a drop from handsome men and beautiful women, especially since you two are not ordinary people."
These words immediately made Long Feicheng and Weng Qianxi feel utterly dejected.
Can being pretty and handsome allow you to do whatever you please!
Damn it!
However, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong's expressions were not good, as Taohua Ying had seen through their identities.
Not only was their disguise seen through, but it was likely that Taohua Ying also knew that Yan Shouyi was a Heavenly Fiend Corpse Puppet.
Taohua Ying was not in a hurry and said softly,
"Sixty liters of blood, or one drop from each of you. You decide. But I will remind you, there is more than just me, a Ghost King, in this Ghost Market. They are all regulars at Fenglai Lou."
This was a blatant threat.
Yan Shouyi could do nothing but nod in agreement, "Alright, it's just two drops of blood. We can give them to you. But after giving them to you, all past grievances will be settled, right?"
"Not only settled, but I can also offer you a private room and treat you well," Taohua Ying smiled.
"That sounds great!" Long Feicheng said, rubbing his hands with a grin.
"Get aside!" Yan Shouyi glared at Long Feicheng. If the two of them hadn't been blinded by desire, how would they have ended up in this situation?
This Taohua Ying was no easy person to deal with, and Yan Shouyi did not want to get involved with her.