Chapter 242 : Petty Ghosts are Hard to Deal With 24 (1/2)

‘Those missing pieces of memory have something to do with these ghosts? You mean I really do have a connection with this haunted mansion?! Fuck! This setting is giving me(bbb) a headache… Can’t it be simpler? Something like, oh I dunno, having my body tossed out into the wilderness after a little murder or something? Come on, why can’t you gimme something easier? Why make me go through all these complicated storylines involving clan grudges and shit…’

“Can I see your arm?” The woman suddenly raised a request. Shi Sheng pondered for a moment before rolling up her sleeve to let the woman take a look. ‘This ghost must be an important NPC to find those memories; best not to upset her. After all, when NPCs turn wilful, they can raise the heavens and lower the earth!’

There was a very small red mark where Shi Sheng’s arm met her shoulder. It looked like the kind of mark that would be left behind from a childhood injury.

……

The woman’s name was Ning Xian, while the boy’s was Ning Yan.

They brought Shi Sheng and Feng Jin down to the basement. It was very clean, but there was a strange stench hanging in the air that made Shi Sheng frown and draw closer to Feng Jin.

Noticing her reaction, Ning Xian smiled a bit awkwardly. “Xiaoyan’s very cheeky; he brings back all sorts of oddities.”

“You two are all alone down here?” Shi Sheng calmly surveyed the basement. Everything was old, but by no means plain. The intricately designed bookshelves and impressive writing desk proved that this place had been carefully furnished before it was abandoned.

“En, it’s just me and Xiaoyan. You guys can sit anywhere…” Ning Xian glanced at Feng Jin rather timidly.

“No need. Can you tell me about my past?”

Ning Xian nodded. “Of course. Xiaoyan, go out to play for a bit. Big Sis has something to discuss with Second Sis.”

“Then, can I play with Second Sis when I come back?”

Ning Xian looked at Shi Sheng. “If Xiaoyan is good, I’m sure your Second Sis will play with you.”

“Xiaoyan will definitely be good!” Xiaoyan wholeheartedly promised as he slapped his chest and smiled at Shi Sheng. “Second Sis, I’ll play with you later.”

Shi Sheng showed a smile, but it raised nary a ripple in her eyes.

“Your name is Ning Ying. You are the second daughter of the Ning Clan…”

The Ning Clan was a mercantile family. Although it was the norm back then to have at least a couple of wives and concubines, the head of the Ning Clan, Father Ning, only had one wife.

Sadly, Mother Ning’s body wasn’t in the best condition and had to carry great burdens to bear children. After giving birth to two girls in succession, she blamed herself greatly for being unable to continue the Ning family line.

But Father Ning didn’t care about such things; he loved those two little girls with all his heart. The more he adored his daughters, the heavier the guilt Mother Ning felt. Her body’s condition worsened by the day to the point where it seemed like she wouldn’t make it.

One day, Father Ning consulted someone of unknown origins about Mother Ning. That person told him that Mother Ning’s condition was due to her heart’s obsession.

For the sake of releasing her from that obsession, Father Ning learned a method to contract a ghost king from that person. He would have to promise the ghost king Ning Ying’s hand in marriage after she had come of age.

In exchange, the ghost king would have to make it so that Mother Ning became pregnant with a son. As expected, she became pregnant not long after.

Eight months later, she gave birth to a lovely baby boy, Ning Yan.

Perhaps it was because they felt guilty towards Ning Ying, for the Ning couple doted on her far more than their other two children.

As the days passed, Ning Yan slowly grew older and Ning Ying’s coming of age ceremony also drew closer.

Although Ning Ying had heard her parents’ discussions before and knew they were planning on marrying her off to a ghost, she merely felt it was ridiculous, for how could ghosts possibly exist?

She didn’t place much importance on it until the day when wedding decorations started to be put up in the mansion, and the number of servants was suddenly reduced drastically, leaving only the most trustworthy servants who had served the Ning Clan for a long time.

Only then did Ning Ying begin to feel fear. Father Ning kept her under house arrest. She was only allowed to walk around the Ning Mansion, and was to be accompanied by two female servants who kept watch over her at all times.

Ning Ying was very scared now. She didn’t want to get married to a ghost, nor did she want to die, so she planned on running. But Father Ning had been prepared.