Chapter 2 — Rule-Based Horror System: Making the Ghost King Kneel

A third option... My mind raced at lightning speed. Pei Shu was a masochist; he relished humiliation and control. If I obediently helped him undress, it would lower my status and fail to meet his expectations of me as the "enforcer of violence." If I refused, it would mean defying an order, and in this realm, defying the Ghost King was a fast track to the underworld. Therefore, I had to seize the initiative. I suddenly pressed down hard on the hand he was using to wander around my waist, casting a look of absolute disdain down upon him.

Such a vulgar task as undressing, and you expect this young lady to do it herself?

I raised my hand and snapped my fingers sharply, pointing straight at the red-robed female ghost crouching nearby.

You there, come here.

The female ghost froze, her pale face betraying absolute disbelief. Even Pei Shu paused, his movements coming to an abrupt halt. I intensified my tone, my gaze sharp. What are you staring at? Did you not hear me? You are the maid in this bedchamber; isn't it your duty to serve your master and help him change his clothes? Using a murderous evil spirit as a lowly errand girl—I must have grown truly tired of living. But I had gambled correctly. A flash of heightened interest crossed Pei Shu's eyes. He released me, leaned back against the edge of the coffin, and said leisurely:

My wife speaks wisely.

The corners of his lips curved upward. Little Red, why haven't you come over to serve? The female ghost addressed as Little Red shuddered from head to toe, her fierce expression instantly replaced by sheer terror. Trembling violently, she crawled over, her long, dark-nailed fingers shaking as she undid Pei Shu's waistband. Seizing the opportunity, I slipped away from the coffin, stood off to the side, and watched with a cold detachment. The system's prompt rang out: [Ding! The host has broken conventional rules, unlocking the hidden achievement: Borrowing the tiger's might. Reward: One-time control over malevolent spirits.] Watching the timid red-robed female ghost help Pei Shu undress, a wave of deep satisfaction washed over me. Just a moment ago, she had wanted to snap my neck, and now wasn't she obediently doing manual labor? Pei Shu's outer robe was cast aside, revealing not the rotting flesh or white skeleton I had imagined, but a skin that was pale yet taut and solid. Only, his skin was densely covered in bizarre black runes, resembling some kind of seal. As the garments fell to the ground, those runes seemed to spring to life, slowly shifting beneath his flesh. Pei Shu appeared to be in agonizing pain, his brow tightly furrowed, yet his eyes burned with an escalating madness. He pushed the female ghost away and locked his gaze firmly onto me.

My wife, do you see this?

He pointed to a blood-red hollow where his heart should have been.

This place is missing something.

My heart gave a violent jerk. That cavity was completely empty; there was no heart within.

Find it, and bring it back to me.

He reached a hand out toward me, his voice carrying the desperation of a plea yet wrapped in the weight of a command:

In the Shen household, it rests in the hands of your dear younger sister.

So that was it. The Shen family had married me off not merely as a substitute to die in another's place, but to suppress the Ghost King—or rather... to steal his heart? [Main quest activated: Retrieve the heart of the Ghost King.] [Time limit: Seven days.] [Failure penalty: Destruction of the entire clan (including the host).] I drew a deep breath, gazing at Pei Shu's bewitching face partially veiled by the shifting runes.

You want your heart back?

I arched an eyebrow. Beg me. Pei Shu froze, then burst into a wild, frantic laugh. The laughter shook the entire bridal chamber, causing even the heavy coffin lid to rattle. He abruptly sat up from within the wood, and in a blur, stood right before me. Dropping to one knee, he took my hand and pressed a chilling kiss to the back of my fingers.

I beg you,

he raised his head, his eyes brimming with a doting, unhinged fervor:

My master...

Early the next morning, members of the Shen family arrived. Leading the group was the stepmother, Madam Wang, accompanied by the fake daughter who was originally supposed to be married off—Shen Yao. Trailing behind them were several manservants carrying a thin, flimsy coffin, clearly meant to collect my corpse.

Tsk tsk, how utterly pathetic.

Shen Yao covered her nose with a handkerchief, looking at the tightly shut gates with an expression of utter disgust:

I heard there was quite a terrible racket last night. The Ghost King must have torn her limb from limb.

Madam Wang gave a cold snort: Good riddance. It saves her from coming back later to fight over the family estate. Hurry up and carry the body out before we miss the auspicious hour for burial. I heard every single word clearly from behind the door. Collect my corpse? They were dreaming. I straightened my slightly disheveled wedding attire and glanced back at Pei Shu, who was standing quietly in the shadows. He had already changed into a dark flowing robe that completely concealed the runes on his skin, making him look precisely like a sickly young nobleman. Only his eyes remained lifeless and hollow, brightening with an eerie blood-red glow solely when they landed upon me.

Remember your status,

I warned in a low voice:

You are my matrilocal husband who married into my family, understand?

Pei Shu obediently nodded, the corners of his mouth curling into a wicked smile:

I obey my master in all things.

That word—master—sounded so profoundly eerie upon his lips that it sent a shiver of goosebumps across my skin.

Crash!

The courtyard doors were brutally kicked open by the manservants. Madam Wang and Shen Yao strode in arrogantly, only to find the courtyard deathly quiet, with nothing but funerary paper fluttering aimlessly in the wind.

Where is she?

Shen Yao looked around:

Could it be she was eaten down to the very bones?

Search! We must find the token of the marriage!

Madam Wang barked in fury. At that exact moment, I pushed open the doors of the main hall and lazily leaned against the doorframe.

So early in the morning, Mother and Sister have come looking for me?

The courtyard instantly plunged into a dead silence. Everyone stared wide-eyed, gazing at me as if they had just encountered a ghost. Shen Yao let out a shriek and shrank behind Madam Wang's back:

A... a living corpse!