Grand Theft Auto

The vendor's blood-curdling scream instantly drew the attention of everyone on the street. The smiles on the faces of the hawkers and passersby froze simultaneously. Like a horde of zombies, they stood rooted to the spot, their vacant gazes fixed squarely on Gu Qingfeng and Yan Lingyu.

It was as if someone had hit the pause button on reality; the once-bustling atmosphere turned chillingly macabre in an instant.

Witnessing this, Yan Lingyu felt a surge of panic.

She instinctively moved closer to Gu Qingfeng, yet hesitated to get too near. To her, it felt as though she were the only sane person on the entire street—and Gu Qingfeng certainly didn't count as one.

Under the collective stare of the crowd, Gu Qingfeng let out a sinister laugh. He tossed two ghost eyes into his mouth and chewed vigorously. A sickening pop echoed as the eyes burst, spraying dark fluids everywhere.

"What the hell are you looking at?!" he snarled. "Look at me one more time and I'll gouge your damn eyes out myself!"

His sheer arrogance made it seem as though he were the true forbidden entity here.

Miraculously, the moment he finished speaking, the street seemed to unfreeze. Everything surged back to life; pedestrians resumed their strolls, laughter filled the air, and the rhythmic cries of street vendors rang out once more.

It was as if everyone on the street was an actor and Gu Qingfeng was the director; the moment he called "Action," they all snapped back into their roles.

Yan Lingyu stood there, stunned. Was this really the proper way to navigate the Yellow Springs Ghost City?

In the past, others had treaded here with the utmost caution, as if walking on thin ice, only to meet gruesome ends. Yet Gu Qingfeng, with his insufferable arrogance and blatant disregard for everyone, was moving through the city completely unhindered.

Did even ghosts and gods fear a truly wicked man?

As her mind struggled to process the absurdity, Gu Qingfeng let out a cold snort.

"Hmph, a bunch of mere ants. At least they know their place. Otherwise, I would have ensured they didn't even have the chance to remain ghosts!"

Yan Lingyu’s heart skipped a beat in pure terror.

Could you please just be quiet? she thought desperately. There were countless spirits and gods in the Yellow Springs Ghost City, not to mention the forbidden horrors lurking in the shadows. If he provoked them, they would be dead before they even realized what happened.

She was here to save her sister; the last thing she wanted was to be the city's most wanted fugitive before she even found her.

Steeling herself, she cautiously tugged at the corner of Gu Qingfeng's robe and whispered, "Gu... Senior Gu, please, let’s keep a low profile. Finding my sister is the priority."

"Shut your damn mouth! Who do you think you are, trying to tell me what to do?"

Yan Lingyu flinched, a mixture of fear and resentment swelling in her chest. She felt her well-meaning advice had been spat back in her face, yet she didn't dare utter a word of protest.

Seeing her so submissive and timid, Gu Qingfeng gave another snort. "Come here," he commanded. "Hold my hand."

"Wh-what?" Yan Lingyu’s beautiful eyes widened in shock, her lips parting slightly.

"Don't 'what' me. If we’re going to walk through the streets, we should look the part. I know you're overwhelmed by this honor, but I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll give you the privilege of touching me."

Without waiting for a response, Gu Qingfeng reached out and snatched her dainty, delicate hand, leading her down the street as if they were on a casual stroll.

Yan Lingyu didn't dare resist, following him like a mistreated little bride.

Thud!

"Move it, you blind bastard! How dare you block my path?"

Gu Qingfeng continued his arrogant march, kicking aside anyone who happened to be in front of him.

Yan Lingyu couldn't bear to watch. The man he had just kicked hadn't even been blocking the way; he had simply been passing by, yet Gu Qingfeng had lashed out regardless.

The victim was a young man dressed in the robes of a scholar. He had been carrying a folding fan and wearing a gentle, refined smile that was as warm as a spring breeze—until he was sent sprawling onto the ground.

Even after being kicked to the ground by Gu Qingfeng, the scholar maintained that unchanging smile, as if the expression were painted onto his face. He said nothing, his eyes remaining fixed on Gu Qingfeng.

However, Gu Qingfeng paid him no mind. He walked straight ahead, planting a foot directly onto that smiling face and stepping over him as if he were nothing.

Yan Lingyu hurriedly looked back at the scholar, terrified that he might suddenly lash out.

But he did not. That face, now marked by a large footprint, continued to smile.

I am tired of holding hands; let me wrap my arm around your waist. Before Yan Lingyu could react, Gu Qingfeng made his move.

Her waist was incredibly slender and soft.

Yan Lingyu let out a startled cry and offered a few weak flickers of resistance before giving up.

Her only hope now was that he would not try to steal a kiss later.

Gu Qingfeng led the beauty along, acting as if they were merely out for a stroll, occasionally glancing around at the various stalls.

He noticed that these vendors were selling items condensed from ghost qi—secular things like mooncakes, flatbreads, and candied figurines.

He reached out, snatched a piece of osmanthus cake, and ate it.

Hey, customer, you haven't paid yet.

Pay? Pay for what? This Emperor eating your cake is giving you face. Do not be ungrateful.

Customer, it is only natural to pay for what you buy. This is true no matter where you are.

Get lost!

Bang!

Gu Qingfeng kicked the stall over and followed up with a sharp slap to the vendor's face before sauntering away.

The seller of osmanthus cakes was not the only one treated this way; the other vendors also found it impossible to escape Gu Qingfeng’s cruelty.

Regardless of what it was, he took whatever caught his eye. If anyone dared to say a word against him, they were met with a swift slap.

Of course, he did not do this because he coveted those trifles, but rather to provoke the ghost gods and draw out the taboo.

Yan Lingyu was already completely terrified. In all her years, she had never seen someone so arrogant. She did not even dare to resist anymore, fearing that the moment she left Gu Qingfeng’s embrace, she would be torn apart by the ghost gods.

She allowed Gu Qingfeng’s hands to wander as they pleased.

After overturning an entire street’s worth of vendors, a different kind of existence finally appeared in a small alleyway.

The alley was long and seemed to stretch on without end, its depths swallowed by an ink-like darkness.

An emaciated, hunched old woman with a face full of deep wrinkles was crouching at the mouth of the alley. She held paper money in her hands, feeding it into a brazier while chanting under her breath. Her voice was intermittent, sounding as though she were mourning someone.

Unlike the others, she was not smiling; she was weeping.

The firelight flickered against the old woman’s face, casting a sickly green glow that made her aged features look utterly bleak.

A murky mist began to shroud the street at some point.

A terrifying, sinister atmosphere began to spread.

Yan Lingyu felt her heart being squeezed by an invisible hand the moment she saw the old woman, making it difficult to breathe.

Though the old woman looked ordinary, facing her felt like staring directly into the abyss.

Gu Qingfeng also sensed a slightly different aura from the old woman. She was clearly far stronger than the other ghost gods they had encountered.

The others were more like puppets following a set of rules, but this old woman was a being capable of independent action.

A strange smile played across the corners of his mouth. He stepped forward, his tall frame casting a long shadow that swallowed the old woman’s hunched form.

Hey, you old hag, do you have any idea how much of an eyesore you are?

The old woman looked up, her cloudy eyes meeting Gu Qingfeng’s. A kind smile spread across her aged face.

"Forgive me, Young Master. This old woman only wished to burn some paper to pay her respects to those two. I meant nothing more by it."