"Nonsense!"
The handsome man held by the Little Reaper looked at the woman sobbing in despair over his corpse. His face was filled with pain and longing. Suddenly, as if thinking of something, he turned to Morgan Shangguan, pleading, "Help me, I don't want to leave!" Since she could see ghosts, she must have special powers—maybe she could help him!
Morgan Shangguan finally glanced at the despairing woman, thought for a moment, and said, "Think carefully. If you stay, you'll be nothing but a lonely wandering ghost forever!"
The man gazed lovingly at the woman on the ground and said, "As long as I can stay with her, that's enough!"
The woman on the ground only clung to the man's corpse and cried, her eyes empty, as if she hadn't heard Morgan Shangguan's 'mutterings' at all.
Morgan Shangguan nodded. The Little Reaper stared at her warily, warning, "What are you trying to do? I'm warning you—if you interfere with an underworld official's duty, I'll take you back and throw you into the flames of hell!"
Morgan Shangguan ignored his warning. If he weren't one of Grandpa's people, she would have already made his soul scatter for threatening her like that!
"Tell King Yama I'm fine—and this ghost is mine now!" Right now, she needed someone to do her bidding, even if it was a ghost!
Before the Little Reaper could get angry, Morgan Shangguan flicked her sleeve, and with a miserable cry, the Little Reaper disappeared without a trace.
The man bowed to Morgan Shangguan with clasped fists. "I am Ryan Ouyang. Thank you for saving my life, miss!"
Morgan Shangguan smiled. "Saving your life is a bit of an exaggeration—you're still dead."
"Uh..." Ryan Ouyang was momentarily speechless. He looked at the woman still crying in grief, his eyes full of tenderness.
Morgan Shangguan suddenly said, "I'm not saving you for nothing!"
At her words, Ryan Ouyang's eyes flashed with caution, but then he relaxed. He was the one begging for help, after all. Whatever she wanted was only fair. Besides, he was already dead—what could he possibly have that anyone would covet?
Morgan Shangguan was satisfied with his attitude and spoke up, "I need you to work wholeheartedly for me. You must never disobey my orders!"
Ryan Ouyang frowned. "If you order me to kill, burn, rape, or pillage, I can't resist?"
Morgan Shangguan chuckled softly. "Didn't you hear me? You must never disobey my orders!" Then, before Ryan Ouyang could respond, she added, "I can let her see you."
Ryan Ouyang looked at Susie Yun, hesitated, and finally nodded heavily. He couldn't bear to see Susie so heartbroken. He could only hope this woman wasn't truly wicked.
Morgan Shangguan smiled in satisfaction, walked over to the woman, pressed her index and middle fingers together, and traced something in the air. Suddenly, a flash of golden light appeared—a talisman materialized and shot into the woman's forehead.
Ryan Ouyang asked anxiously, "What are you doing?"
"Opening the Yin Eye!"
"Ryan..." The woman stared at Ryan Ouyang's spirit, eyes wide, then rushed straight into his arms, sobbing softly.
Ryan Ouyang held her, gently patting her back to comfort her. He looked at Morgan Shangguan and asked, "How can Susie touch me? People shouldn't be able to touch ghosts, right?"
Morgan Shangguan replied calmly, "If I'm saving someone, I should save them completely. Since I saved you, I wouldn't let you remain separated by life and death."
Susie Yun finally looked at Morgan Shangguan, wiped away her tears, and said gratefully, "Thank you!"
Morgan Shangguan studied her. She was only mildly pretty, and seemed gentle, but there was a hint of resilience in her eyes. Morgan smiled and asked, "Would you like to follow me too?"
Ryan Ouyang quickly said, "I've already agreed to work for you!" He didn't want Susie to get involved as well.
Morgan Shangguan raised her brows and said, "Then let's go!"
Ryan Ouyang, holding Susie Yun, was about to follow when Morgan Shangguan suddenly turned and reminded, "Aren't you going to let go? Or do you want her to follow me too?"
Ryan Ouyang snapped back to reality. Right—since he was already following this woman, if Susie didn't, would they be separated? Ryan's expression shifted between emotions as he looked at Morgan Shangguan, who smiled lightly and seemed as sly as a fox. Suddenly, he realized this woman must be as clever as a fox!
Susie Yun covered her mouth and giggled. It was rare to see Ryan Ouyang's face change so much!
"Susie..." Ryan Ouyang was a bit helpless. Susie gestured for him not to worry, then looked at Morgan Shangguan and said, "Miss, Susie Yun is willing to follow you." Her instinct told her this woman was trustworthy.
Ryan Ouyang frowned, but seeing Susie's determination, he said no more. After all he'd gone through to stay, would they really be separated again? This was probably for the best, but he couldn't help worrying about what Morgan Shangguan might make them do.
Morgan Shangguan pricked her fingertip and touched Ryan Ouyang's forehead. "This will help stabilize your soul, and the Little Reaper won't dare catch you! More importantly, that man won't be able to see you!"
Morgan Shangguan led the two back to the royal residence. Even Palace Lord Jue didn't come to trouble her, as if he had no idea she'd left. The servants, seeing Susie Yun added to their group, didn't react at all.
Yama's Hall.
The Little Reaper, forcibly sent back to the underworld by Morgan Shangguan, was reporting to King Yama, "Your Majesty, that woman obstructed an underworld official, disrupted the order of the spirit realm..."
Although the Little Reaper was angry that Morgan Shangguan had sent him back, he wasn't so furious as to lose his head. He bowed respectfully to King Yama, not noticing that the ruler above him wasn't angry at all—instead, his face was full of excitement.
Before he could finish, King Yama jumped down from his seat and grabbed him.
The Little Reaper felt his shoulders tighten and instinctively looked up, only to see King Yama's excited face. He was baffled, and before he could react, he was shaken violently.
King Yama shook the Little Reaper repeatedly, asking excitedly, "You've seen my precious granddaughter? How is she? Is she well?"
The Little Reaper was so dizzy from being shaken that he couldn't think straight. King Yama impatiently roared, "Hurry up and speak!"