“Ghost Officials clear the way, meeting at Yellow Springs.”

Su Muyu and Su Changhe stood beside a river where muddy waters rushed downstream, truly resembling the legendary Yellow Springs of the underworld. On the opposite bank stood an enormous manor with a flag planted before it, bearing four characters: Yellow Springs Inn.

“We’ve seen the Yellow Springs, but where are the Ghost Officials?” Su Changhe called out loudly.

Su Muyu tilted his head slightly, then suddenly turned around.

Four tall figures had appeared before them, wearing yellow robes with purple cloaks draped over their shoulders. They wore bamboo hats and each held a weathered oil-paper umbrella, their entire being emanating a bone-chilling aura.

“Three feet tall, paper umbrellas shielding from the sun. The Ghost Officials of Yellow Springs truly carry the air of the netherworld,” Su Changhe smiled while stroking his mustache. “They look even more unsettling than our Dark River.”

“Our master has had us waiting here for some time, Family Head of the Dark River,” the leading Ghost Official spoke in a hoarse voice, so low it was barely audible.

Su Changhe smiled. “I’ve heard the master of Yellow Springs possesses great powers, to have predicted my coming here.”

“Then please, Family Head and Clan Head Su Muyu, board the boat.” The leading Ghost Official led the other three past Su Changhe and Su Muyu. A rickety small boat was moored at the shore, where a woman in red clothing of stunning beauty stood at the bow holding an oar, smiling at Su Changhe and Su Muyu.

Su Muyu started. “When did she appear there?”

“Isn’t this wonderful? At least in this world, there exist things even more inexplicable than our Dark River.” Su Changhe smiled as he walked forward.

The four Ghost Officials stood at the bow with their umbrellas, gently rotating the weathered paper parasols. Mysteriously, the rushing river waters grew calm. The woman began to row, and the small boat slowly made its way toward the opposite shore.

“Young master must be this generation’s Su Family Head, Su Muyu. You truly are handsome,” the woman in red stared intently at Su Muyu.

Somewhat uncomfortable under her gaze, Su Muyu nodded faintly. “Miss is also beautiful. You flatter me.”

“Am I beautiful?” The woman in red waved her hand, peeling off a face mask to reveal the flesh beneath. “Would you still say so now?”

Su Muyu froze, speechless.

The woman in red waved her hand again, returning to her exceptionally beautiful appearance. “I’ll stop teasing young master now.”

“Miss knows the art of face-changing?” Su Changhe smiled.

The woman laughed along, suddenly speaking in a male voice: “Are you certain I’m a miss?”

Su Changhe and Su Muyu exchanged glances, and finally, Su Changhe pursed his lips: “Now I’m truly confused. What’s your name?”

“This humble girl is called Hong Ying.” The woman in red’s voice instantly became alluringly tender again, making one’s entire body go weak just from hearing a single sentence.

“Devils take it,” Su Changhe cursed under his breath.

Before long, the small boat reached the opposite shore. The four Ghost Officials walked to the bank and continued holding their umbrellas as they headed toward the Yellow Springs Pawnshop. Su Muyu and Su Changhe followed.

“Young master, do return safely,” that bewitchingly tender voice sounded behind them again.

Su Muyu and Su Changhe turned around to see an elderly woman with white hair sitting at the bow, still wearing the red clothing, but aged fifty years in an instant.

“Devils take it,” this time even Su Muyu cursed under his breath.

“How interesting,” Su Changhe continued following the four Ghost Officials. “The Mu family knows disguise techniques too, but compared to this Hong Ying, they’re worlds apart.”

The four Ghost Officials walked up to the Yellow Springs Inn, and the leader gently knocked on the wooden door. Suddenly, a thick fog rose. Su Changhe and Su Muyu immediately stood back-to-back, Su Muyu taking down his paper umbrella while Su Changhe gripped his Inch Sword. Moments later, the fog gradually dispersed.

The doors of the Yellow Springs Pawnshop had opened, and the four Ghost Officials had vanished. A heavy voice came from within: “Patrons of the Dark River, please enter.”

Su Changhe kept his hands tucked in his sleeves, two daggers ready to strike at any moment. He stepped through the main door of the Yellow Springs Pawnshop to see a short, stout man wearing money-patterned robes sitting at the counter working an abacus. He frowned as he calculated, the beads clicking rapidly, seemingly frustrated.

“Are you the master of the Yellow Springs Pawnshop?” Su Changhe asked.

“Wait!” The stout man shouted, then furrowed his brow deeply, staring at the abacus in deep contemplation. After a long while, he forcefully threw the abacus to the ground, shattering it instantly with beads scattering everywhere. He said angrily, “Can’t calculate it clearly. Forget it—kill them all.”

The Ghost Official who had led the way appeared at the door. “Shopkeeper, do you mean what you say?”

“Kill them, kill them,” the stout man waved impatiently. “End it all, deny the debt!”

“As you command.” The Ghost Official immediately withdrew.

Only then did the stout man look at Su Changhe and Su Muyu: “So you two are the current powers of the Dark River—Family Head Su Changhe and Clan Head Su Muyu? Interesting, interesting. I know of you. The current Dark River is controlled by two nobodies. How did you manage that?”

Su Changhe smiled and was about to speak, but Su Muyu stopped him: “This has nothing to do with our purpose here.”

“Hahaha! To dare speak thus in my Yellow Springs—truly worthy of being a former puppet. A puppet is a ghost among the living, walking the same path as us.” The stout man looked at Su Muyu.

“Are you the master of Yellow Springs?” Su Muyu asked.

The stout man waved his hands. “Ai-ya, you can’t say such things! I’m just an accountant, unworthy of the title ‘Master of Yellow Springs.’ If you’re here to see something, then see it, but don’t get me in trouble.”

Su Muyu shook his head. “We wouldn’t dare. The shopkeeper is too serious.”

“Then let’s not waste words. Shopkeeper, please take us directly to see the Dark River’s treasure,” Su Changhe took out the pure gold key from his clothes and placed it on the counter.

The stout man quickly took the key, his expression changing: “That courtyard… no one has entered it for a very long time. Follow me.” The stout man pushed open a hidden door behind him and led the two inside. After passing through the door, they entered an enormous manor complex. The residence Su Changhe had bought in Qiantang City was already quite large, but this manor seemed to be composed of hundreds of such residences. The stout man led them to the deepest residence and stopped: “This is it.”