Ghost Marks of the Spirit World

After leaving the villa complex, Ye Fengwu stopped by the safe house. Lin Qiang had recovered well enough to move around normally.

Ye Fengwu then had Liu Hui get rid of the business car he had driven somewhere and crudely treated the wound on his back before hurrying home. He had promised Qin Qinghan he would definitely be home before dinner.

At half past seven in the evening, Ye Fengwu finally opened the door and stepped into the house. The moment he entered, the fragrant smell of food wafted to him.

Qin Qinghan had just brought out a dish from the kitchen. Seeing Ye Fengwu, a trace of complicated emotion flashed across her beautiful eyes before she softly said, "You're back."

Ye Fengwu nodded and smiled. "Where are Jing Si and your parents?"

Qin Qinghan put the food on the table before replying, "My parents said they were going to get away for a few days. Jing Si is doing homework in her room."

Just then, the door to Qin Qinghan's bedroom opened and Jing Si's petite figure came into Ye Fengwu's view, causing a soft feeling in his heart.

He had never imagined having a family of his own, never fantasized about coming home to his wife and daughter waiting for him for dinner.

Yet this had all come about by a twist of fate, or perhaps it was destiny.

"Uncle, you're finally back!" Seeing Ye Fengwu, Jing Si's delicate doll-like face lit up with joy. She ran straight to Ye Fengwu.

Ye Fengwu bent down to pick up Jing Si and kissed her cheek. Gently smiling, he asked, "Did you miss your uncle?"

Jing Si obediently nodded her little head and pursed her lips. "I did."

Watching how much Jing Si liked Ye Fengwu, Qin Qinghan felt exceptionally complicated.

Then Jing Si suddenly put her mouth to Ye Fengwu's ear and whispered, "Uncle, I'll tell you a secret. These past few days Mommy kept spacing out, like she was thinking about you too."

Hearing this, Ye Fengwu looked at Qin Qinghan by the dining table in surprise, his eyes brimming with delight.

Though Jing Si had spoken softly, her words still reached Qin Qinghan's ears. Qin Qinghan's face instantly turned red to the neck. Blushing, she bowed her head and gently said, "Jing Si, come eat."

Ye Fengwu was very happy that Qin Qinghan was slowly accepting him.

So he whispered in Jing Si's ear, "Mommy's shy. From now on, tell Uncle these things secretly, okay?"

"Okay, I know," Jing Si said mischievously.

Qin Qinghan was utterly mortified. Though the two were whispering, it was clearly meant for her to hear.

But one thing put Qin Qinghan's mind at ease - Ye Fengwu's affection for Jing Si was genuine, not something that could be faked. But if he had done anything unforgivable these last two days, then what would she...

Just as Ye Fengwu was about to carry Jing Si to the table, Jing Si suddenly sniffed and said oddly, "Uncle, are you hurt?"

Ye Fengwu was taken aback, surprise in his eyes. Qin Qinghan, who was dishing out food, also looked up at Ye Fengwu, worry flickering in her eyes.

Ye Fengwu then smiled and shook his head. "Of course not. Uncle is very strong."

Jing Si didn't seem convinced. Pouting, she said, "But Uncle smells of blood and antiseptic."

Again Ye Fengwu was shocked. He had tended to the wound on his back simply and securely. Even he couldn't detect any odor, yet Jing Si had noticed.

Qin Qinghan said in a complicated tone, "Jing Si has a keen sense of smell. Should I take a look?"

Ye Fengwu gazed at Jing Si in astonishment. He felt there was something extraordinary about the girl. But he just smiled and said, "It's nothing serious. I fell while fishing today."

Hearing this, Qin Qinghan didn't push the issue further, but she knew Ye Fengwu wasn't telling the truth.

Jing Si seemed worried too. She said, "Uncle, I'll give you a talisman. Then you won't get hurt anymore. It's very powerful."

As she spoke, Jing Si took out a red string from her collar with a triangular object tied to it.

"Don't take it off!" Qin Qinghan suddenly called out to Jing Si urgently, a trace of panic in her eyes.

Hearing Qin Qinghan's warning, Jing Si pouted. "But I want Uncle to be safe."

Qin Qinghan stroked Jing Si's cheek. Gently she said, "Jing Si, didn't Mommy tell you to always keep the talisman on you?"

Qin Qinghan's strong reaction surprised Ye Fengwu. He smiled. "It's alright. Uncle is very capable. I don't need a talisman."

As Ye Fengwu moved to put the talisman back into Jing Si's clothes, his gaze fell upon it and his face sank. His eyes fixed intensely on the slightly darkened talisman.

"This is..." Ye Fengwu's tone was excited. He turned to look at Qin Qinghan beside him, his eyes full of gravity.

Noticing his gaze, Qin Qinghan explained, "Jing Si was sickly ever since she was little. Every night starting from age two to four she would cry incessantly. Later someone gave her this talisman and the abnormal behavior stopped."

Seeing Ye Fengwu's still grave expression, Qin Qinghan added, "It's just a regular protection talisman. The doctor said Jing Si's emotional issues were from trauma. She hasn't had any crying fits for years."

Ye Fengwu was silent. He knew this was no ordinary protection talisman, because he could sense an aura from it that only the dead possessed.

Jing Si's crying was definitely not from trauma but because she saw things normal people could not.

Suddenly, Ye Fengwu pulled down Jing Si's collar and checked the back of her neck. Finding the skin there fair and unblemished, he let out a breath of relief.

But Qin Qinghan only grew more conflicted at Ye Fengwu's actions.

Jing Si looked up at Ye Fengwu and flipped up her sleeve. "Uncle, were you looking for this? How did you know I have a birthmark?"

Ye Fengwu lowered his head and his body shook. On Jing Si's slender arm was a purplish-black birthmark in the shape of the character for "ghost".

Just a glance sent chills through Ye Fengwu's body.

The netherworld's ghost seal, a medium's physique, able to see the yin and yang realms, cross the Naihe Bridge, enter the Ghost Gate.

Words someone had told him long ago floated to Ye Fengwu's mind.

This constitution was different from Qi Warriors. They were heaven's darlings, endowed with strange abilities at birth, but those abilities also drained their life force. Judging from the darkened talisman, Jing Si's life force was already more than halfway depleted.

"Let's eat, shall we?"

Qin Qinghan's rather cold voice broke into Ye Fengwu's thoughts, and even her breathtaking face had hardened slightly.

Qin Qinghan's intense reaction gave Ye Fengwu an inkling of what was going on. He unconsciously touched the back of his neck.

He could never have imagined this happening to his own daughter. Her talisman probably didn't have long before it lost its power.

Qin Qinghan must know something but didn't want Jing Si to find out at her young age.

The dinner was oppressive. Qin Qinghan ate a few bites then set her bowl and chopsticks down, her beautiful face full of melancholy and unease.

Ye Fengwu also barely picked at his food.

Though only seven, Jing Si was exceptionally bright. She was adept at reading expressions and could tell her mother and uncle were keeping something from her.

So, after eating half a bowl of rice, Jing Si got up and said, "Mom, I'm full. I'm going to my room to do homework."

A hint of a pained smile appeared at the corner of Qin Qinghan's mouth. She said, "Okay, go ahead."

After Jing Si entered the room, Ye Fengwu finally spoke up. His tone was extremely solemn as he said, "Who gave Jing Si the talisman she's wearing?"

Qin Qinghan took a deep breath. She didn't know what Ye Fengwu had noticed, but she didn't seem to want to talk about it. Instead, she said lightly, "It's just a safe talisman. Let's not talk about that. I have something I want to ask you."

Ye Fengwu suddenly got up and walked over to Qin Qinghan. His emotions were somewhat agitated as he grabbed Qin Qinghan's wrist and asked again, "Jing Si's condition is very poor. Please tell me everything you know, okay?"

Qin Qinghan looked up at Ye Fengwu's gaze. From his eyes, she could see his nervousness. Unconsciously, two streams of hot tears slid down Qin Qinghan's cheeks.

"What good will it do to tell you? The fortune teller said... Jing Si won't live past ten years old. I... I just want her to have a good childhood." Qin Qinghan's red lips trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of endless heartache.

"I tried my best to give her everything she wanted, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't even let her have a father who loves her." Qin Qinghan became more and more heartbroken as she spoke. Covering her mouth, she choked back sobs as tears trickled down through her fingers.