Chapter 28: Are you interested in pulling off something big with your big sister?

In the stairwell between the third and fourth floors, a half-faced ghost, missing half its visage, tottered past. Its hands gripped the railing tightly, and it couldn’t resist casting a glance.

It immediately received a cordial response.

"What are you looking at! Keep staring and I’ll dig out your remaining eyeball! Get back and take your medicine!"

The half-faced ghost covered its face and bolted away with a wail.

Han Lingling continued to lecture Duan Ming with her hands on her hips.

"I’m telling you, what is wrong with you? You’re so troublesome."

"I didn’t let you know I had been pulled in for a reason, didn’t I? Why did you have to go and do something so reckless as to use that designated instance entry ticket? Huh!"

"Sister Lingling, do you think I wouldn’t worry just because you didn't want me to? If our roles were reversed, and you risked everything to run into this school to find me, I would do the same."

The calm, plain tone made Han Lingling’s breath hitch.

In the silence, Duan Ming suddenly spoke again, his tone tinged with anger: "So, have you been sneaking into the Ghost Realm behind my back for the past three years?"

After seeing how effortlessly Han Lingling handled herself in the Ghost Realm, he had begun to deeply suspect that her entry wasn't just some trick played by the Mirror Ghost, but the next second, he was left dumbfounded.

"No! This is only my second time here."

Re... really only the second time?

To be able to trample a Fierce Ghost-level entity underfoot on her second visit?

Are you kidding me!!!

Although he knew Qin Wei was in poor condition, such courage was not something a newcomer should possess.

Unless...

"What’s going on?" he asked.

Han Lingling immediately pulled up her sleeve, revealing a purple ghost mark on her left forearm.

Duan Ming frowned and pulled up his own sleeve; his ghost mark was cyan.

Looking closely, the lines of the purple ghost mark were much finer than those of the cyan one, so much so that staring at it for too long caused a sense of dizziness.

All these anomalies indicated that it was indeed the Mirror Ghost.

Han Lingling was the host of that seed.

Of course, he didn't say these things out loud, but instead asked: "Sister Lingling, what... what was your rating in the last instance?"

Han Lingling didn't hesitate: "F."

"Anything else you want to say?"

"No."

"Really nothing else?"

"Really nothing."

Duan Ming just watched her quietly.

After a long while, Han Lingling began to avert her eyes, finally unable to help herself, though her tone remained hesitant: "I also... I also completed an... a hidden task."

"Just one?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Alright, alright, I completed a series of hidden tasks. It was a massive harvest, happy now? Honestly, you just had to keep asking."

Duan Ming fell silent.

He was only fearless and daring because he possessed a hint system, but Han Lingling, at least in all the time he had known her, had been just an ordinary girl.

The only explanation...

Han Lingling was a genius born for adventures in the Ghost Realm, and one of the very best at that.

After a long time, Duan Ming spoke, his words somewhat fragmented: "Over these past three years, have you never thought about returning to the Ghost Realm? After all... after all, this might actually be the place that suits you better."

Han Lingling shook her head, smiling lightly: "What are you talking about? What kind of 'suit' or 'not suit'..."

"The place where you are is the only place that suits me."

Duan Ming felt as if his throat and heart were constricted.

"Sister Lingling, can I give you a hug?"

"Dummy, you should call me 'Sister' at a time like this."

"Sister, can I... mm~"

Words were silenced within the abyss.

Just then...

"Ahem! Ahem!"

"Who is it?!!!"

Duan Ming climbed out of the abyss, his face full of rage, but he immediately froze in astonishment.

"Captain Chen Feng? And Meng Qian, Xu Haoran?"

Who else could it be but the 157 trio coming up the stairs?

And, of course, Zhou Mengyue, who was leading the way.

Seeing Zhou Mengyue appear again, Han Lingling couldn't help but lift her head proudly, pressing Duan Ming’s head back into her embrace before looking at Chen Feng in surprise.

"You... are those people from the Supernatural Investigation Bureau? How did you get in here?"

The three of them blushed, their eyes darting around, not knowing where to look.

Chen Feng: "Well, Duan Ming insisted on coming in to find you, and we were a bit worried, so we followed."

"Seeing that you’re both fine, we can rest easy."

"Ha, haha, you two siblings are so close, ha, hiccup~"

Han Lingling only then realized her loss of composure, hurriedly letting go, her face turning crimson.

Duan Ming regained his freedom, coughed twice, and then said seriously: "Thanks."

Chen Feng waved his hand: "It’s too early to thank us. I’m afraid these three days won't be easy; we need to plan carefully."

Han Lingling: "I have less than a day left."

Duan Ming: "I still have two and a half days."

"???" x3

Is this the time for that!!!

Chen Feng smoothed his breath, about to speak, but was interrupted by Duan Ming raising his hand.

"The tasks shouldn't be a problem; I’ll make arrangements when the time comes. Zhou Mengyue, take them up first and help them get familiar with the situation."

"Alrighty! Yueyue listens to Brother Duan Ming the best. Everyone, follow me!"

From start to finish, Zhou Mengyue only had eyes for Duan Ming. She acted as if she didn't see Han Lingling’s display of dominance, behaving like a tool, skipping away as she led the three of them further up the stairs.

Chen Feng was completely confused.

What’s going on?

What arrangements?

Speak clearly, hey!

Seeing the scene clear again, Duan Ming asked: "Sister Lingling, what are you planning to do next?"

Han Lingling looked at the purple ghost mark on her hand, pondering for a long time.

"Although I performed okay in my first instance, that was just a whim. Once I got out, I truly wanted to live an ordinary life with you, so I never intended to come back in."

"But I have a strong premonition that this thing on my hand won't just drag me in this one time. If that's the case, then I might as well go with the flow. Since you don't seem content with an ordinary life either, I might as well become the woman behind you, haha."

She paused at this point.

"Oh, right, I have something for you."

Reminded by this, Duan Ming also said: "I have something for you too."

Then, both of them reached into their Boundary Stone spaces to retrieve something.

"Here, this is for you."

They said in unison.

Then, seeing the substitute dolls in each other's hands, they burst out laughing simultaneously.

"You have one of these too?" x2

"Looks like you had quite the harvest in your first instance." x2

"Pfft~" Han Lingling laughed, but still handed over the substitute doll in her hand.

"You take it. Your sister is quite capable; I don't really need this."

Duan Ming immediately felt indignant: "Who are you looking down on?"

He pulled out Jiang Xiaoxiao’s toy gun, triumphantly saying: "Look at this, a Fierce Ghost-level weapon with infinite ammo. Do you have one? Heh~"

Han Lingling’s eyes widened, and she pulled out a card: "Watch closely, Evil Tarot Card. I have a one-time chance to instant-kill even a Fierce Ghost-level entity!"

Duan Ming was provoked, taking out his three-colored toilet paper: "Look, with this red one, I can kill things one level higher than me. Once I reach Fierce Ghost level, I’ll be able to instant-kill Evil-level entities too."

Han Lingling: "That’s nothing. This is the Lone Leaf Grass from before a grave. No matter how severe the injury, eating it recovers you instantly!"

Duan Ming: "This amulet was given to me by a big shot; it can block a Disaster-level attack once. Impressive, right?"

Han Lingling: "Impressive my foot. Look at my Joy Lollipop. As long as you eat it, you’ll feel joyful regardless of the environment. It’s an essential item for Ghost Realm travel."

Duan Ming: "Your Joy Lollipop is nothing compared to my Love Curling Iron. As long as it taps an opponent lightly, even the most terrifying ghost spirit will find everything pleasing to the eye. That’s the power of love."

Han Lingling: "Hmph, what’s so great about a Love Curling Iron..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The two of them went back and forth, continuously bringing out their prized possessions until the floor was soon covered in all sorts of items.

After a long while, Duan Ming was tapped out, and seeing Han Lingling still reaching for more, he hurriedly called a stop.

"These are all external things; true power comes from within. Just tell me, how much Ghost Qi do you have now?"

Han Lingling stopped, a disdainful smile on her face: "It’ll scare you to death, I’m at 333."

Duan Ming smirked.

I won in the end.

To avoid being too shocking or scaring her, he stated a number just a tiny bit higher than hers.

"I’m at 666."

Han Lingling’s eyes widened instantly.

Duan Ming: "What’s with that expression? I told you back in the real world that I was very powerful."

Han Lingling didn't respond, instead beginning to inspect the ghost items scattered across the floor, her eyes growing brighter and even fanatical.

Then, she picked up her substitute doll.

"I won't give you this one yet; let’s each keep one."

She then stared fixedly at Duan Ming, staring until he felt a chill down his spine.

"My dear brother..."

"Any interest in pulling off something big with your sister?"