Chapter 52: Beyond Redemption

  "Yet he claimed to be Xiaoqin's boyfriend and that she was murdered."

  Lu Fei stared intently at Lulu.

  Lulu lowered her head guiltily, then raised it, speaking loudly, "He's lying! Don't be fooled by him!"

  "Zhang Shan is a total scumbag! He drinks, gambles, and even consorted with prostitutes. He also tricked Xiaoqin out of her money! Xiaoqin jumping off a building might have been because he broke her heart!"

  Just from that statement, Lu Fei was certain that this woman had long known that the 'sister spirit' was actually Xiaoqin's ghost.

  Her deceit ran deep; she lied without a second thought.

  Had it not been for Zhang Shan, she might have successfully concealed it.

  Her heart was as twisted as her scarred face.

  Tiger frowned, wanting to curse, but Lu Fei raised a hand to stop him.

  "Enough, let's not talk about unrelated matters. Now that the issue is resolved, it's time to discuss business. Miss Lulu, how do you plan to pawn this box? Dead pawn or live pawn?"

  Lu Fei took out pen and paper.

  Lulu's eyes shifted, a smile forming. "Lu Zhanggui, you said this type of wood is valuable."

  "Indeed," Lu Fei nodded.

  "Then, could I pawn it for more?" Lulu asked, testing the waters.

  "Name your price," Lu Fei gestured, signaling that customers had the right to set their initial price.

  "I... I want twenty thousand!" Greed flashed in Lulu's eyes.

  Tiger gritted his teeth, anger rising.

  Lu Fei, however, remained expressionless. "This piece of yinwood has been divided into four parts, damaging its condition. On the market, it's not worth that much."

  "So, how much is it worth?"

  "Two thousand at most, and that's the price for a dead pawn," Lu Fei replied calmly.

  Market value was one thing; the price for dealing with sinister objects was another.

  The Evil Pawnshop only acquired items at low prices.

  There was no way anyone could take advantage of them.

  "Two thousand?"

  Lulu was taken aback. The difference was vast, but she had only made an initial attempt at bargaining. Something was better than nothing.

  Besides, she still had some savings and could afford cosmetic surgery. Perhaps she could make a comeback.

  "So, do we have a deal?"

  "Deal!"

  Lu Fei wrote up the pawn ticket.

  Lulu signed it and pressed her fingerprint.

  There were two copies of the pawn ticket.

  Lu Fei immediately transferred two thousand yuan to her.

  "Thank you, Lu Zhanggui! If it weren't for you, I don't know how I'd have survived. I really owe you."

  "No need for thanks. At the Evil Pawnshop, we take on sinister items and ward off misfortune—this is just business." Lu Fei smiled faintly.

  Lulu touched the scars on her face and asked, "Lu Zhanggui, do you have any treasures that could restore my appearance?"

  "No."

  "Well, once I get my face fixed, I'll come back and properly repay you."

  "The transaction is complete; that won't be necessary. Safe travels, Miss Lulu."

  Lu Fei stood and made a gesture for her to leave.

  Lulu wanted to engage him further, but seeing his aloof expression, she gave a forced smile and left reluctantly.

  "Boss, that woman is full of deceit and still greedy. If you ask me, even two thousand was too much," Tiger said angrily.

  "A deal is a deal; grudges are separate. The Evil Pawnshop only deals in transactions, not personal vendettas." Lu Fei smiled. "Two thousand to end this karma—it's a bargain. This piece of yinwood can bring back a hundredfold profit!"

  "Huh?"

  Tiger was stunned.

  "Didn't you just say its condition was damaged and it wasn't worth much? Were you bluffing her?"

  "Of course not. The Evil Pawnshop isn't a shady business!"

  "Then...?"

  "That's the skill of the Evil Pawnshop," Lu Fei said with a mysterious smile.

  But he didn't plan on selling the yinwood.

  "How could I forget! The Evil Pawnshop can turn sinister into treasure. Once an item passes through your hands, it becomes entirely different!" Tiger slapped his forehead. "But I still think that wicked woman got off too easily! She killed her best friend, and now she faces no consequences—how's that fair?"

  "For someone like her, disfigurement is the best punishment. The scars left by yin energy aren't something cosmetic surgery can fix. Thinking she can make a comeback is just a dream."

  Lu Fei did have ways to cure her scars, but he didn't intend to use them.

  "That's perfect," Tiger said, feeling more at ease.

  "And do you really think that ghost keeper will let her go?" Lu Fei added.

  "Right! If I were him, and my girlfriend had been driven to suicide, I'd stop at nothing for revenge! A real man has to have some fight in him!"

  "If she had shown any remorse earlier, I might have given her some advice. But unfortunately, she's rotten to the core—beyond redemption."

  Lu Fei chuckled, stretched, and walked to his room for some sleep.

  The job was done. Whatever happened to Lulu from now on had nothing to do with the Evil Pawnshop.

  Tiger felt immensely satisfied.

  Night fell.

  In a cramped, shabby room within the urban village.

  Zhang Shan sat alone at the offering table, windows shut tight, holding a sharp dagger.

  On the table was a paper-wrapped bundle containing Xiaoqin's ashes.

  "Xiaoqin, can you really bear to leave me like this?"

  With a cold expression, Zhang Shan raised the dagger, pressing its tip against his chest.

  "You can't go! You promised we'd be together forever..."

  Clenching his jaw, he drove the dagger toward his heart.

  Clang!

  Suddenly, a bluish-gray shadow leaped out of nowhere, striking the dagger away.

  Zhang Shan turned, seeing a pale ghostly figure crouching on the offering table, its malformed feet pressing down on Xiaoqin's ashes.

  "Master..."

  Zhang Shan's eyes widened in fear as he looked up.

  The door banged open, and a tall, ominous figure walked in slowly.

  The presence was suffocating, with its face obscured in shadow and eyes sharp as blades.

  "Master, I was wrong!"

  Zhang Shan dropped to his knees.

  "You dare call me Master?" The cold, raspy voice came from within the figure, its mouth unmoving.

  "Master, it wasn't on purpose! My disciple only wanted revenge for his wife's murder and had no choice but to take the yinwood."

  Zhang Shan's head lowered, his body trembling.

  "No choice?" The tall figure let out a chilling laugh, eyes slicing into Zhang Shan's back like knives. "So, if you had more reasons, would you take the whole sect for yourself?"

  "Your disciple would never dare! I only wanted to use the yinwood to bring my wife back. I swear to return it after!" Zhang Shan's sweat dripped onto the floor.

  "Oh, really?" The shadowy figure reached out with a cadaverous, blue-gray hand, flicking the bundle of ashes.

  The small ghost jumped aside as the bundle ignited in green flames, turning to ash in an instant.

  "Now your wife is truly gone. Can I have the yinwood back?"

  Zhang Shan's body went cold as he crumpled to the ground.

  "Hand it over!" The tall figure's voice sharpened like ice.

  "The yinwood... is gone..." Zhang Shan muttered numbly.

  The shadow loomed over him, a storm of fury. 

  "Where is it?"

  Zhang Shan's lifeless eyes shifted, and he whispered, "The Evil Pawnshop."