Chapter 155 – Stuck with the Carpenters Workshop, A Dangerous Steward - Part 2
By now, Li Yuan and Yan Yu both understood. No one knew exactly how ghosts were born, but each ghost’s nature was governed by a core obsession. The ghost of the black market ghost domain had taken shape from Feng’er’s obsession; she never harmed anyone with the surname Yan, always brought ghost money to Yan Yu, and lingered silently by Yan Yu’s side. It was easy enough to guess why.
“She must have wanted to see me at the very end, but she never got the chance,” Yan Yu said, tears glimmering in her eyes. “I...I didn’t love her the way she loved me. I can’t imagine what she went through before she died. Sometimes I wish the ghost really was her, rather than just her obsession.”
Li Yuan stopped walking, and Yan Yu halted beside him. He wrapped her in his arms.
A light night breeze brushed past, and after a long silence, she murmured, “I’ll figure out how that ghost works, and then...” She trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished.
Li Yuan had no idea what else she intended to say. He knew she had something on her mind, but he didn’t press her for details. He had no idea that what she really wanted to say was, Then, I’ll create a world she’d have loved...a world where our family, and everyone we care about, can live happily.
She stayed silent because it felt far too grand and unrealistic. She was certain her husband would try to stop her, and with enough persuasion, her resolve might crumble. But the seed was already planted, watered by tears and regret until it grew into anger, compassion, and...a grand wish.
“Ghosts are too dangerous,” Li Yuan cautioned, worried. “Try to keep a balance. Don’t go pushing your luck. As long as you and Sheng’er are safe, that’s all I care about.”
Yan Yu nodded gently. “Mhm. I’ll listen to you.”
They walked on for a while longer. Then she said, “You should go see Nian Nian. She’s been really anxious about you ever since you got cursed. She’s been so distracted, throwing herself obsessively into her puppetry research. She lost her birth father; she doesn’t want to lose anyone else. She can’t think of any other way to help, so she’s clinging to those puppets, researching them and trying to grow stronger at any cost.”
“Mhm...” Li Yuan nodded in agreement, already feeling troubled by the matter of the carpenter's workshop. But he wouldn’t allow his wife to risk her life testing ghosts.
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A few days later.