I looked around and found a fairly large food stall, selling normal food. It was crowded with customers. I sat down, and the owner, seeing I was a Whitecoat Wraith, looked at me with little patience.
Then I took out some Spirit Notes, ordered some wine and a roast chicken, and gave him a little extra. The owner immediately welcomed me, seating me near the back by the woods, in a quieter spot.
"Brother, whatever you want to ask, just say it."
I looked at the owner in surprise. He smiled cheerfully at me.
"How did you know I wanted to ask something?"
"I've been selling things here for over two hundred years. I've seen every kind of ghost, haha. Go ahead."
I asked about the person collecting faces. The owner immediately glanced around nervously.
Listen, Sonny Four, that's something you really shouldn't ask about.
It was the Night Warden—the one who collected fees in the Wisteria Complex. I'd fought him before, and he lost an arm. Thankfully, Wei Lao helped reattach it.
"That matter is somewhat connected to that bastard."
Suddenly, the Wraith screamed, emitting a green light from his body. In an instant, he turned to ashes and vanished.
The ghostly owner explained that the Night Warden patrols the mortal world on behalf of the underworld, managing the ghost market and places where ghosts reside. Recently, with major incidents in the city, many ghost markets have moved to the suburbs. That guy's name is Lawrence Ross. He's been overseeing this area and collecting money every night.
I watched as the ghostly owner put away his anger and walked over with a welcoming smile.
"Master Ross."
Lawrence Ross still looked arrogant as ever. He walked over and held out his hand.
"Your stall's business is pretty good tonight. Pay double the usual fee."
"But... Master Ross, this—"
Lawrence Ross shot him a glare. The ghostly owner hurriedly handed over a stack of Spirit Notes. I smirked and muttered under my breath.
Sonny Four, what are you up to on my turf?
I kept my eyes on Lawrence Ross as I ate. The food tasted just like it did in the living world. I hadn't eaten in days, so I devoured it hungrily.
Lawrence Ross went from stall to stall collecting money. Many ghosts looked furious but didn't dare speak up. Even those who seemed to be Wraiths or Shade Ghosts had to pay, but no one dared resist.
"Boss, when does the guy who collects faces usually show up?"
I asked, and the owner told me the face collector comes every Wednesday. Today was Monday, so there were two days to wait. After eating and drinking my fill, I watched Lawrence Ross's behavior with growing annoyance. But I didn't act yet—I needed to learn the truth about the faces before dealing with him.
When Wednesday night arrived, I came to the ghost market early. But the owner said the face collector hadn't shown up yet. I grew doubtful and sat at the same stall, waiting.
After a long while, the owner finally came over.
"When will he show up?" I asked. The owner pointed to an empty stall. Oddly, that stall had been vacant for two nights. Suddenly, a commotion broke out. I looked over—it was Lawrence Ross, his arm stretched out, dragging a Wraith over.
"Trying to die? Pay up—this is my turf."
The Wraith reluctantly handed over money to Lawrence Ross. I stood up. At that moment, I saw another Wraith arrive, radiating a strong ghost aura. He carried a large bundle, greeted Lawrence Ross, and went straight to the empty stall, sitting down. Lawrence Ross followed.
"Looks like you've done well for yourself."
"Ah, Master Ross, I've been running around all week. Not a bad haul—got more than twenty faces."
Lawrence Ross grinned, and the Wraith handed him a thick wad of Spirit Notes.
"That's a lot."
"Of course, Master Ross. Heh."
The collector waited. Soon, several ghosts arrived, each carrying a human face—some old, some young, some women.
I watched in silence as a group of ghosts began to surround me, their eyes glinting with greed. They moved closer, clearly wanting to rob me.
"Hey, you lot—don't push your luck with me."
The ghostly owner hurried over, but the group stood up. One Wraith, a young man in his twenties with an earring and dyed dark green hair, stayed behind. He sat next to me, eating my food. I ignored him.
Seeing trouble, the owner realized he couldn't handle this guy. He went over to Lawrence Ross and whispered a few words. Lawrence Ross walked over and eyed the green-haired punk.
"Xiao Si, what are you up to on my turf?"
Sonny Four, the Wraith, patted me on the shoulder. I quickly pretended to be afraid. Then Lawrence Ross held out his hand.
Xiao Si, the Wraith, patted me on the shoulder. I quickly pretended to be afraid. Then Lawrence Ross held out his hand.
"Kid, if you've got money, pay me some protection fees—I'll watch your back."
I hurried to pay, but suddenly Xiao Si grabbed my hand.
"Master Ross, this is my friend. Does he really need your protection? Right, brother?"
It was the Specter Web. Xiao Si easily pierced the thin layer of ghost aura around my body. He was stunned, then looked at me. In that instant, I connected to his Specter Web.
"Don't say a word, or I'll kill you."
Xiao Si, the Wraith, suddenly stood up and left with a forced smile. My Specter Web had already locked onto him—if he made a sound, I'd take him out in an instant.
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After that, I paid up, and Lawrence Ross left, satisfied.
I waited quietly. As dawn approached, the collector had received five more faces. He packed up to leave, and I immediately got up to follow. Xiao Si lingered nearby, not leaving either.
I didn't care about anything else—I just followed the Wraith who collected faces out of the ghost market. The sky was lightening, and he headed into the woods. I followed, and when he entered the forest, I floated up in front of him.
"What do you want...?"
Suddenly, the Wraith was stunned, staring at me. Sharp spikes of killing aura pointed at him as I revealed my true form.
"Tell me—where do you take those faces?"
"I don't know..."
With a swish, the Wraith screamed as my killing aura severed both hands holding the faces. He wailed in agony.
"You get one more chance."
I let out a bit of ghost aura. The Wraith howled in pain. Suddenly, someone approached at high speed—I ducked my head as a gust of wind swept past, a flash of red light. It was Lawrence Ross, swinging his club at me. I dodged and moved to the side instantly.
"How dare you on my turf—"
Lawrence Ross didn't finish his sentence. He stared at me in shock.
"Ethan Zhang, you..."
Lawrence Ross glared, raising his club, his body glowing with red light.
"Perfect timing. You probably know more about this than anyone."
As I spoke, I drew the ghost weapon from my back and hurled it at Lawrence Ross. He blocked it with a bang, and his body instantly began to freeze.
He moved swiftly behind me, stabbing with his club. Suddenly, a revolver of killing aura appeared in my left hand. I pointed it back, ready to pull the trigger.
"I surrender, Ethan Zhang."
In an instant, the revolver vanished from my hand. I turned to see Lawrence Ross holding up both hands, smiling. I put away the ghost weapon. The Wraith lay on the ground, writhing in pain, his spirit fading.
"Ask whatever you want. I didn't see anything. I only collect money—what they do isn't my concern."
I glared at Lawrence Ross, furious. He backed away step by step. Suddenly, with a flash of red light, he tried to run.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I blocked Lawrence Ross's path. He stared at me, stunned. After two and a half years training in the Forest of Desire and enduring beatings from Yixue Han, his speed seemed frozen in front of me.
"Nowhere, just finishing my shift. I'm done for the night."
Lawrence Ross quickly pulled out some money and smiled. Judging by his look, he really didn't know anything. I smiled back.
"If I ever see you collecting money here again—"
"No, no, Ethan Zhang, I won't be here again. I'm leaving tonight, promise! Let me go, I'm just working for the underworld. No need to make things hard for me. We did have some bad blood before, but after what happened at Wisteria Complex, with those three tough guys, I got beaten up too. You should let it go."
"Get lost."
I roared. Lawrence Ross fled for his life. Then I walked toward the Wraith, who lay dying, both hands severed.
"Speak. Tell me everything you know. This is your last chance."
At that moment, the Wraith suddenly started laughing.
His laughter was chilling, echoing through the woods.
"You want to know about faces? Go ask Wei Lao. Only he knows where the faces go."
Suddenly, the Wraith let out a miserable scream. A green glow burst from his body, and he turned to ashes, vanishing without a trace.