Chapter 45: Little Yun: Interested in Making a Deal?

Chapter 45: Xiao Yun—Interested in Making a Deal?

Even with five people in tow, ten seconds was more than enough time for a fierce ghost-level being to escape far away.

Duan Ming bowed for ten seconds, and Sun Dapeng stared blankly for ten seconds, feeling He Yuwei’s aura vanish from his sensing range. By the time he regained his ability to act, he was burning with rage and immediately wanted to give chase.

But Duan Ming anticipated his move and blocked the stairway ahead of time.

“Do you really think I have no way to deal with you?”

“Do you think an evil-level being is just here to eat leftovers?”

Sun Dapeng said darkly.

Duan Ming shook his head, holding a toy gun in his right hand pointed at the other, knees bent.

“Of course I believe an evil-level has plenty of tricks, but since you still have the nerve to waste words on me, using that trick won’t come without some harm to you, right?”

“Besides, do you think I’d be standing here without any preparations?”

He was about to pull off the protective charm around his neck.

Just then, a female voice suddenly echoed in Duan Ming’s mind.

“I think you might want to save your chance this time.”

“Who? Xiao Yun?”

“Mm.” The voice sounded again. “Interested in making a deal with me?”

Duan Ming: “Can we talk about the deal later? I’m fighting for my life here, sister!”

Xiao Yun was calm and carefree: “I have work to do, and I won’t tolerate interruptions. Besides, it’s just a small evil-level.”

Duan Ming: “Why do you speak so cryptically? You’ve got no head, don’t you? Don’t forget, you’re only a fierce ghost-level yourself.”

Xiao Yun: ─━_─━

Though Xiao Yun didn’t reply, Duan Ming soon sensed something was wrong.

During their mental exchange, Sun Dapeng showed no reaction at all.

Looking over, the other maintained his standing posture but his face was a vivid canvas of struggle, anger, and mostly fear.

“Frozen in place?”

Muttering, Duan Ming boldly stepped forward…

And delivered a fierce kick to his groin.

“Hey, he really can’t move at all!”

Without hesitation, he drew a cleaver and swung it at Sun Dapeng’s face.

Clang!

The weapon of a malevolent ghost-level was no match for his defense.

No worries, Duan Ming still had his disfiguring hairpin.

Once wielded, the evil-level weapon’s effect was immediate. Soon, bloodied holes appeared all over Sun Dapeng’s face, body, and backside.

***

After a while, Duan Ming, panting, casually sat cross-legged, finally able to pay attention to Xiao Yun.

“Speak. What deal do you want?”

Xiao Yun got straight to the point: “Give me your ear, and I’ll handle him for you.”

Duan Ming raised an eyebrow.

Xiao Yun’s left ear was useless to him. After the chaotic poking earlier, he knew even if Sun Dapeng couldn’t move, he had no means against him.

He almost said “Okay,” but quickly held back, instead putting on a troubled expression.

“Xiao Yun, although I’d love to give you my ear, I’m about to become a civil servant. My people now belong to the state, and I can’t just handle my possessions like before.”

“Leaders have their own difficulties.”

“How about this? Tomorrow you write me a ten-thousand-word application report. When I’m out, I’ll submit it. I can’t promise approval, but I’ll have Brother Chen Feng put in a good word. Hopefully, it’ll turn out well.”

“Don’t worry, I checked. At most, I’ll have an answer for you in a month.”

Xiao Yun: “???”

“Just tell me what you want.”

“Nonsense!”

“How can you say that! Do you think I’m just coveting some tiny benefit on you by following the rules?”

Xiao Yun said calmly, “I want one chance to trace back your ghost skill to its origin rules.”

Instantly, Xiao Yun’s left ear appeared in Duan Ming’s hands, held reverently with both hands.

“Actually, after thinking it over, since you’re so determined to choose me, that’s a sign of trust. How could I bind my dearest subordinate with rules?”

“I’ve decided—even if it risks breaking regulations—I’ll give you the ear today.”

“Here, this is the leader’s love for you.”

With that, he handed the ear forward.

Xiao Yun: “…”

“Where are you handing it? I’m in your hand.”

“Oh, oh, oh.”

Duan Ming placed the ear on his forearm; it immediately glowed and vanished.

[Friendliness with Xiao Yun +10]

[Current Xiao Yun friendliness: -10]

As the master of the bond, Duan Ming clearly felt Xiao Yun’s excitement—more joyful than when absorbing Ying Hongyan’s origin aura.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

“Oh right, you have no head. Where do you hang the ear?”

“…None of your business.”

Snapping back irritably, a tattoo on his right arm lit up, and the headless exploding girl Xiao Yun reappeared. Floating where her ear should be was a solitary left ear.

***

“…”

“…”

“…”

Duan Ming: “Awesome.”

At the moment Xiao Yun appeared, all other expressions vanished from Sun Dapeng’s face, leaving only deep terror.

“Please… spare… me…”

He said with difficulty.

“I… am… willing… to… be… your… slave… ghost…”

Xiao Yun: “In your dreams.”

Duan Ming: “If you’re willing, I’m even more so. You’re so ugly, not even He Nai Niu would have a chance, let alone you.”

Sun Dapeng: “???”

“!!!”

“Since it’s like this, if I have to… die… you won’t… have peace!!!”

With a furious roar, black qi surged wildly from him, then dissipated. His own ghostly aura withered.

Duan Ming gave a puzzled look.

“What did he just do?”

Xiao Yun: “Oh, he severed all his roots to curse you.”

Duan Ming scanned himself, confused: “What curse? I don’t feel anything.”

“A curse that grows more powerful the later it goes. Early on, it only causes slight physical harm, barely noticeable.”

“Don’t look at me. Although I got the ear and my strength restored to evil-level, I still can’t deal with this curse. Either wait until you reach evil-level yourself and use your own ghost power to dispel it—but who knows how crazy the curse will be then.”

“Or, while the early damage is minor, find a way to keep your body in perfect condition. If even for a moment the curse has nowhere to latch on, it’ll be easily undone. But that’s not easy, since most methods that seem effective leave some hidden injury.”

“You decide.”

Duan Ming was stunned.

Then he pulled out a “heart stimulant” and jabbed it into his chest.

“Is it solved now?”

Xiao Yun: “So…lved.”

Sun Dapeng: “⊙▂⊙”

Damn, it’s cold in here!

Thanks to the patron who waited for the rain and the monthly ticket fans. Overwhelmed and grateful. More updates coming (w), limited conditions now but adding an extra chapter—once I have more drafts, I’ll flood you all!

(End of chapter)