Chapter 28: Negotiating with the Ghost Bride

One of the rules of the Infinite Restaurant is that sharing a table requires the other party's consent. Since Xia Tiangong had explicitly refused, the Ghost Bride sitting across from him triggered the rule.

As soon as she sat down, a massive force of rules erupted from the void, tearing at her body. Yet, she sat there composed and undisturbed, as if completely unaffected. The power of the rules was powerless against her!

Xia Tiangong’s pupils dilated in shock, his heart churning with turbulent waves. This was beyond his comprehension. In his previous life, even top-tier entities like Ghost Generals and Ghost Kings could be shredded by the power of rules. How could this Ghost Bride ignore it? Could she be of a higher rank than a Ghost King? That shouldn't be possible; the Ghosts themselves claimed that Ghost King was the highest rank.

Unable to muster any thought of resistance, Xia Tiangong hurriedly activated his teleportation token, hoping to return to the first floor. To his horror, the token showed no reaction, as if it had suddenly failed. Cold sweat poured down his back. Could she even disable such a teleportation tool? Was he doomed to be trapped here? Although his Shadow Teleportation skill was still functional, every floor was isolated from the outside world; he could only teleport within the sixth floor, not to others.

"Are you planning to run away again before letting me finish speaking?"

Just as Xia Tiangong was hesitating whether to use his Shadow Teleportation to flee, a melodious, enchanting voice drifted from beneath the red bridal veil. For some reason, the tone carried a hint of resentment.

"Miss, what do you want from me?" Xia Tiangong suppressed the urge to bolt. "I must tell you, I rarely bathe, and my flesh is foul. My thoughts are twisted and my mind is full of filth, so my soul is far from pure. If you eat me, you’d only be sullying your own stature. How about this? I’ll give you gold instead. The nether power in gold is so pure—ten thousand times cleaner than a filthy person like me. It’s much more fitting for your status."

He desperately tried to smear his own reputation, recalling what he knew of the Ghost Bride from his past life. It was said she enjoyed asking men if they were willing to be her groom; regardless of whether the answer was yes or no, the victim would inevitably be eaten alive. It was a notoriously cruel fate.

"Why do you possess the power of reincarnation?"

The Ghost Bride asked a question that stunned Xia Tiangong.

"Power of reincarnation? What is that? I’ve never heard of it!" Xia Tiangong was puzzled. He knew of the power of rules and the power of contracts, but never this. A sudden thought struck him: could it be related to his rebirth?

The Ghost Bride seemed to be watching him; he couldn't see her eyes, but he could feel her gaze. A moment later, she lowered her head slightly, as if murmuring to herself: "So, even you don't know."

Xia Tiangong cautiously probed, "Miss, is that all you wanted me for?"

The Ghost Bride seemed lost in thought, but after a moment of silence, she looked up. "I heard you wanted to buy the Infinite Restaurant?"

"Er, yes, I did have that thought, but the manager said it wasn't for sale." Xia Tiangong was confused. Why would she ask this? What did it have to do with her?

"The Infinite Restaurant certainly cannot be sold, but I could lease the basement floor to you." Her voice was so beautiful that just listening to it suggested she must be a great beauty.

"Is that really possible?" Xia Tiangong was overjoyed. Not only was she not there to kill him, but leasing a floor was a great alternative. However, a thought crossed his mind: "Are you the owner of this place?"

"You could say that."

The answer was unexpected. The Ghost Bride continued, "The nine floors above ground are already in use and cannot be rented to you, but you may lease the basement."

"There’s a basement? How much is the rent?" Xia Tiangong had never heard of a basement in the Infinite Restaurant.

The Ghost Bride adjusted her veil as if worried it might slip. "The basement is larger than any floor above ground. The rent is three thousand gold taels per month."

Xia Tiangong frowned. This was an exorbitant price, bordering on a scam. The combined annual revenue of the nine floors above ground might not even reach three thousand gold taels. She was clearly trying to fleece a fool!

"That’s too expensive; I can't afford it. If it were one thousand taels a month, I might consider it." Xia Tiangong spoke casually, intending to reject the offer.

To his surprise, the Ghost Bride immediately agreed. "Very well, let it be leased to you at that price."

"..."

Damn it! I’ve been played by this woman! Xia Tiangong felt deeply frustrated; if he had bargained harder, he might have gotten an even better deal.

"What? Are you going back on your word?"

"No, of course not. My word is my bond. One thousand taels it is."

Words spoken between a human and a Ghost carried the weight of a potential contract; one had to honor it, or risk being haunted. The Ghost Bride suddenly extended a fair, slender hand and beckoned to him.

"Er... Miss, what are you doing?" Xia Tiangong didn't understand, but he felt a sense of foreboding.

"Hand over the money, what else?" The Ghost Bride’s tone turned cold.

"I don't have enough on me right now; I'll pay the rest next time." Xia Tiangong had just spent over eight hundred taels of gold to buy the waiter, and he only had about three hundred left in his Mirror Space. "How about this, I'll pay two hundred taels as a deposit." He hurriedly produced the gold ingots and placed them before her.

"Fine."

The Ghost Bride didn't touch the gold directly; the nether power seemed to drift out of the gold on its own, seeping into her body. In an instant, the two hundred taels of gold crumbled into a small pile of ash.

"Hee hee! It’s been so long since I’ve tasted such pure nether power!" She seemed to be in a good mood, letting out a light, giggling sound. "Would you like to be my groom?"

"You... you damn woman, have you no integrity?"

Xia Tiangong’s face changed drastically, his heart nearly stopping. She had just eaten his gold and was now immediately subjecting him to a death rule. She was truly the most heartless, duplicitous creature!