Chapter 4: Bear with It, It Might Hurt a Little

Chapter 4: Endure It, It Might Hurt a Little

[Completed F-rank mission: Harmonious Neighbors]
[Reward: 1. Ghost Energy +1 point]
[2. Ghost Coins 1,000,000]

Now this is a proper reward for a dungeon task. None of that nonsense from before. But after everything with crossing over, what’s truly unreasonable anymore?

Duan Ming sighed and casually opened his attribute panel—this was a special ability granted to every human by the Realm Stone.

[Name: Duan Ming]
[Ghost Energy: 101 (Malevolent Spirit Level)]
[Ghost Skill: Grave Weeping]
[Inventory: 16 incense sticks, 2.11 billion ghost coins, “Passionate Portraits of Ghost Elegance” (special), Toilet Paper Ghost’s paper (consumable), Bloodstained Cleaver (Malevolent Spirit Level), Ghost Cloth (Malevolent Spirit Level)]

Who would have thought that just an hour ago, Duan Ming was an ordinary transmigrator, and now he was a powerful Malevolent Spirit tycoon?

Normally, when ordinary people enter the Phantom Realm, unless it’s the first round with reduced difficulty, earning over ten points of ghost energy is considered outstanding.

By now, Duan Ming had a rough idea of the reward system.

Ordinary dungeon missions offered the smallest rewards—usually just a point or two of ghost energy, the most common way to gain it.

Hidden tasks were better, granting up to 10 points, though he had only completed one so far, so whether that was fixed remained uncertain.

Maxing out friendliness surely brought the richest rewards, but Duan Ming knew well that encountering the Rotting Ghost or the Ripper Ghost was a rare stroke of luck.

Those two had personalities far too extreme.

Even with his golden finger’s targeted remedies, he couldn’t guarantee he’d fill another ghost slot within the few days left.

The Greedy Supervisor was still worth trying.

After all, money wasn’t a concern now.

Thinking of this, a sly smile tugged at Duan Ming’s lips.

Ghost energy’s transformative effects on the body were truly powerful. When he had just a few dozen points, Duan Ming already felt significant changes. Now that he had broken through a level, his strength surged, his movements light and swift, even his return journey was noticeably faster.

Just as he stepped out of Building A, he unexpectedly encountered the large black dog that was always by the supervisor’s side. The dog was idly wandering near the entrance, looking bored, but the supervisor was nowhere in sight.

Duan Ming grinned and gave himself a mischievous idea.

“Woo woo—”

“Tsk tsk tsk—”

The black dog looked over and immediately bared its teeth, eyes filled with unhidden hatred. “Grrr—”

Duan Ming instinctively shrugged and stared at it.

[Canine Spirit]
[Level: Fierce Ghost Level]

[Friendliness: -100]
[Target Info: Once a loyal rural guard dog, it was despised by villagers for its black color, deemed unlucky, and almost killed. With help from its young master, it escaped and became a stray dog. It thought it had escaped death, but was caught again by a gang of delinquents and tortured to death. After entering the Phantom Realm, its tragic fate worsened. Amid endless abuse, it encountered Qin Wei, a somewhat humane master, and has since followed Qin Wei, obeying death rules set by him.]
[Tips: 1. Human bones have a deadly attraction for it.]
[2. Despite its hatred for humans, it never forgets the first meeting with its original young master—a singular soft spot in its heart.]

Alongside the second tip appeared a brief scene.

Wow, even a dog possesses Fierce Ghost-level power?

Duan Ming couldn’t help but gape. With his current strength, he wasn’t even worth a single bite.

Fortunately, the supervisor wasn’t here, and without Qin Wei’s command, the black dog couldn’t pose a mortal threat.

Still, his plan to improve Qin Wei’s friendliness through the black dog was probably doomed—it was clearly impervious to persuasion.

At that moment, a shout from afar caught Duan Ming’s attention. It was Yu Xiaoshuang, Sun Jiali, and Ma Nana, newly joined in the cleaning department. The three were being harassed by a Skeleton Ghost that was gripping Ma Nana’s hand, emitting eerie laughter.

“Ha ha ha, it’s been a long time since I tasted a live little girl, ha ha ha ha~”

Ma Nana and Sun Jiali screamed repeatedly, while Yu Xiaoshuang remained relatively calm, frowning, “Don’t mess around—we’re from the Property Management Department.”

“Of course I know you’re from Property Management. I’m not after your lives, just want her to play with me for a bit, ha ha ha~”

They all looked towards the hollow rib cage.

The Skeleton Ghost’s tone faltered, then it snapped angrily, “What are you staring at? Look again and I’ll gouge out your eyeballs!”

“Try me,” came an abrupt voice.

“Who?”

“Duan Ming?”

“Duan Ming!”

“Duan Ming!”

Several voices sounded simultaneously.

Duan Ming’s face broke into a broad smile.

Truly, when you’re in trouble, someone always brings a pillow.

He scanned ahead.

[Skeleton Ghost]
[Level: Wandering Soul Level]

The Skeleton Ghost hesitated upon seeing the newcomer, then sneered, “Kid, you’re quite the busybody. Do you even know who I am?”

“I don’t care who you are,” Duan Ming murmured and kicked out rudely. The Skeleton Ghost was slammed flying into a corner, completely stunned. As it began to curse,

“Shut up.”

Duan Ming stomped on its skull with his foot. Malevolent Spirit-level ghost energy crushed its jaw. Only then did he start to examine it with interest.

The Skeleton Ghost clearly realized it had met a tough opponent. Even if its jaw hadn’t been broken, it wouldn’t dare speak again—until it saw Duan Ming’s gaze settle on its thigh bone as a cleaver glinted with ghost energy in Duan Ming’s hand. A terrible feeling arose.

“Hey, hey, hey, let’s talk it out nicely. Don’t get cocky, giegiegiegie~”

Duan Ming returned a gentle smile.

“Hold still, this might hurt a bit.”

After the crisp sound of bones being chopped, he happily trotted away, leaving the Skeleton Ghost wailing and the three female classmates disheveled in the wind.

“Was that… Duan Ming just now?”

“Did he just… chop up a ghost?”

In front of Building A, Duan Ming adjusted his breath, holding the warm thigh bone as he slowly approached the black dog.

The dog, still confused by the strange scene, began to bare its teeth again as Duan Ming approached—but its tail wagged uncontrollably.

Damn it, stop that!

But it was a human bone—the thigh bone at that!

Damn, this is a hateful human!

But it couldn’t help itself~

Eventually, reason overcame instinct. The black dog lifted its two hind legs and, bending in a very unnatural way, firmly pressed its wagging tail down. Its hindquarters slumped to the ground, looking utterly ridiculous.

Duan Ming smiled faintly, stopped, and squatted down. Holding out the bone in his left hand, he softly said, “Puppy, you must be hungry. Here, this is for you.”

In an instant, the ferocity in the black dog’s eyes melted away, replaced by disbelief and a gentle sparkle.

Memories long buried surfaced—it clearly remembered its young master saying the same words, mimicking the same actions exactly.

“Woof~ woof~”

[Canine Spirit Friendliness +70]
[Canine Spirit Friendliness: -30]

The black dog finally gave in, wagging its tail wildly as it dashed over, happily gnawing on the bone in Duan Ming’s hand.

[Canine Spirit Friendliness +1]
[Canine Spirit Friendliness +1]
[Canine Spirit Friendliness +1]
...

Duan Ming gently stroked the black dog’s head. “Eat slowly, no one’s going to snatch it from you. Are you full? If not, there’s more.”

“Woof!”

“Got it.”

The Skeleton Ghost watched helplessly as Duan Ming raised his cleaver once more, fear beyond words welling up inside.

Don’t come any closer!!!

(End of Chapter)