Chapter 44: Well, This Is a Eunuch

With her appearance changed, He Yuwei’s personality underwent a dramatic shift as well. Gone was her previous domineering aura as she asked in a soft, gentle voice, "Are you really willing to help me find Qiongyin?"

To be honest, Duan Ming still preferred her initial sexy, queen-like persona, but upon second thought, a cute, demure little maiden wasn't entirely unacceptable.

Besides, although he didn't quite understand what had just happened with the split into two, who could say for sure whether the queen-like He Yuwei wouldn't return in the future? By then, whether she was sweet or savory would be entirely up to him with a single word.

At this thought, he excitedly patted his chest and declared, "A promise made by me, Duan Ming, is steadfast!"

"Alright, I agree to become your bound ghost spirit."

"No way!!!"

"Who said no... Huh? Sister Lingling? Why not?"

Han Lingling's gaze swept over He Yuwei's flawless figure, and she gritted her teeth. "Duan Ming, the paths of the living and the dead are different."

Duan Ming offered an awkward smile to He Yuwei. "Apologies, please hold on for a moment while I handle some family matters."

With that, he immediately pulled Han Lingling aside.

"Big Sis, what are you playing at? She's at the Fierce Ghost tier."

"Fierce Ghost tier? Don't you already have Qin Wei?"

"Qin Wei? What would I want with that old guy?" Duan Ming muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?!"

"Nothing! Oh come on, my dear sister, stop making trouble. He Yuwei is different; her ghost Qi is at 99,999. With just a little effort, she can reach the Evil tier. Why wouldn't you seize such an opportunity?"

Han Lingling narrowed her eyes. "Don't think I don't know what you're scheming."

Hearing this, Duan Ming’s brow twitched. He instantly straightened his posture and said with righteous indignation, "What could I be scheming? I, Duan Ming, have walked an upright path all my life. My only thought right now is to lay a solid foundation and add a layer of security for our future adventures in the Ghost Realm, with absolutely no other ulterior motives."

At this moment, Chen Feng’s trio also stepped forward to back him up.

Chen Feng: "Han Lingling, Duan Ming is actually right. Having the chance to acquire a bound ghost spirit—and a half-step Evil tier one at that—such an opportunity is simply too rare to pass up."

Xu Haoran: "Yeah, Big Sis, as far as I know, only a small fraction of the higher-ups in the Ghost Controller Association possess Fierce Ghost tier spirits, let alone a major-tier Evil spirit. We definitely can't miss this chance."

In truth, how could Han Lingling not know the importance of a half-step Evil bound ghost spirit? Her previous objection was merely a moment of willful impulse. Now that she had calmed down, she gladly took the out. With a cold snort, she turned her face away and said nothing more.

Seeing this, Duan Ming scurried right back to the little milk cow.

"It's all settled. Let's begin. What posture should we use?"

"Um, no need. Just stand there."

For any ghost spirit, forming a symbiotic pact was as instinctive as breathing. He Yuwei clasped both of her hands tightly with Duan Ming's, then closed her eyes as rings of black Qi converged and rippled behind her back.

Just at that moment, a sudden change occurred.

Duan Ming only heard a cold snort echo in his mind, and the soft hand in his grip was instantly yanked away. With a startled gasp, He Yuwei’s body was repelled like a cannonball, flying more than ten meters back.

"He Yuwei!" Duan Ming roared, then looked down at his right forearm with an extremely grim expression.

The tattoo of Xiao Yun was slowly fading in brilliance.

Damn it!

So basically, you won't let me use you, and now you won't even let me find other young girls?

His earlier complacency over having a taboo entity sealed inside his hand vanished completely.

This signaled that he would likely never be able to have another bound ghost spirit in the future.

Damn it!

Motherfucker, I'm not giving you my ear anymore.

The rest of the group began to gather round, jogging over toward He Yuwei.

"Are you alright?" Duan Ming asked with concern.

He Yuwei shook her head. "No major issues. Inside your body..."

"Never mind, I can't talk about it, but I won't be able to become your bound ghost spirit either."

Duan Ming fell silent.

At that moment, he suddenly heard...

"However, choosing her might be a bit more appropriate. My other self quite appreciated her earlier."

He Yuwei pointed toward Han Lingling.

"Me?"

Han Lingling widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Awesome." x2

Duan Ming and Han Lingling exchanged beaming smiles, speaking in unison.

Both of them were harboring their own little schemes in their hearts.

Han Lingling: Anything is better than being bound to Duan Ming.

Duan Ming: Nothing is better than being bound to Han Lingling.

This time, the bonding ritual went exceptionally smoothly. In no time, Han Lingling transformed from the leader of Hongxing's thirteenth branch into the Ghost-Controlling leader of Hongxing's thirteenth branch.

Now she would be able to beat up Fierce Ghosts at will without having to rely on the Evil Spirit Tarot Cards.

The matter was finally brought to a close. One had to admit that Duan Ming, the Child of Destiny, had still lost out to his Sister Lingling this time, handing over the greatest reward on a silver platter.

Duan Ming looked at his right hand and gritted his teeth.

Then, with a wave of his hand, he called out to the group, "Everyone, time to head back to sleep."

The 157 trio followed closely behind, leaving only Han Lingling and Shang Xiaoya lingering in the rear.

Shang Xiaoya gently poked Han Lingling. "Sister Lingling, when the truth was being revealed just now, you were the only one who wasn't surprised at all. You actually knew all along, didn't you?"

Han Lingling smiled, watching Duan Ming's back with a tender gaze.

"Does knowing or not knowing really matter?"

"In our household, having just one person out in the spotlight is more than enough."

"Huh? Xiaoya, you seem awfully concerned about the two of us."

Shang Xiaoya's face instantly flushed crimson. "No way, Sister Lingling, don't talk nonsense."

"I'm just advising you not to get any wild ideas. Duan Ming isn't suited for you."

"He likes men."

Shang Xiaoya: "???"

Right at that moment, a commotion suddenly erupted ahead.

Duan Ming was seen squatting on the ground, covering his nose as tears streamed down his face.

Han Lingling’s expression shifted instantly. "Oh no, Duan Ming is crying! Something's up!"

She immediately summoned He Yuwei and rushed forward.

"Duan Ming, what happened?!"

Duan Ming waved his hand, unable to speak.

It was Chen Feng from the side who explained, "He was walking too fast and crashed into the transparent wall. Strange, didn't it disappear just now? Why is it back again? Look, Head Nurse, now that everything's settled, can you take this wall down?"

Yet He Yuwei wore a look of utter shock. "I didn't do this. After my other self left, the seal should have been completely lifted."

"What?!"

Soon, someone provided the answer.

"Hehehehehehe~"

"After all these years, I've finally broken free!"

The voice came from Ward 513.

Following the sound, the group saw a fat man slowly sitting up from a hospital bed. The look he cast toward them was filled with intense hatred and mockery, bordering on madness.

Chen Feng: "Who the hell is he?"

Xu Haoran: "No idea. Some deadbeat otaku, probably weighs over two hundred pounds. His laugh sounds damn awful."

Meng Qian: "Wait, look at his pants. Heh~ That's a eunuch right there~"

Veins bulged on Sun Dapang's forehead.

"Enough!"

"I hate it most when people call me a eunuch. I'll remember you, kid."

Meng Qian curled his lips. "Plenty of people remember me, you consider..."

Duan Ming: "He's Evil tier."

Meng Qian: "Σ(゜-゜;)"

At this moment, He Yuwei stepped forward, her eyes likewise filled with overwhelming hatred.

"Sun Dapang, do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

Sun Dapang spat on the ground and smiled malevolently. "Kill me? Weren't you planning to torture me?"

"Oh right, I actually have to thank you. If it weren't for all those years of torture by your hands, I wouldn't have had the chance to break through to the Evil tier."

"At your peak, you could indeed suppress me, but don't forget—right now, you're just a little Fierce Ghost. Hehehehehe~"

While Sun Dapang was laughing arrogantly, Duan Ming crept up to He Yuwei's ear and whispered, "Is there any way for you to shatter this sealing wall?"

With a grim expression, He Yuwei replied, "Shattering it is a minor issue, but it's useless. He..."

"That's more than enough," Duan Ming said, turning his attention to Han Lingling.

"Sis, take everyone and leave first in a moment."

"Duan Ming, what are you planning!"

Duan Ming smiled faintly, pulled out the amulet hanging around his neck, weighed it in his hand, and let his gaze sweep across the rest of the group.

Han Lingling nodded in understanding and prepared to pull out her substitute death doll.

Duan Ming raised a hand to stop her. "No need, I just acquired another one."

"On the count of three, He Yuwei, you break the seal and take everyone away. I have a way to pin him down."

"Alright."

"One."

"Two."

"Three!"

He Yuwei acted swiftly. Before Chen Feng and the others could even react, they were already whisked away downstairs.

Sun Dapang sneered malevolently, "Trying to run? Do you think you can escape?"

"Hey, grandson!"

"Huh?"

In his field of vision, Duan Ming was holding Jiang Xiaoxia's toy gun, staring at him with a provocative expression.

"You're courting death!!"

Then he realized a split second later.

"Hah, trying to buy time for them to escape? Do you think you can pull it off? Ridiculous."

"I'll deal with an idiot like you in a second."

With that, Sun Dapang readied himself to give chase downstairs.

Right at that moment, a soft gunshot rang out.

He smiled with disdain, casually moving to swat the bullet away, but no physical sensation hit his hand; instead, the projectile seemed to burrow directly into his body.

"What was that?"

"Wait, why do I suddenly only want to beat this kid up?"

"Whatever, I'll just kill him first. It won't waste much time anyway."

Yet the next second, he stood frozen in utter astonishment.

Duan Ming suddenly dropped to his knees right where he stood, bowing piously toward empty air.

"Even if you beg on your knees, I won't spare you!"

"No!"

"Damn it!"

"Why is it that even though I desperately want to kill him, my body simply can't bring itself to disturb him?!"

Check-in, Number One
(End of this chapter)