Chapter 10: Summon Ghosts
The ghost is right behind Lin Shuyue.
But she seems completely unaware.
It seems that even those performing the see a ghost ritual cannot truly see ghosts.
“Maybe because the ritual is still ongoing?”
Once the ritual is disrupted, the ghost will appear and kill Lin Shuyue.
But if it really wants to kill, why just wait for Lin Shuyue to make a mistake?
Is it because the rules restrict it from doing anything to affect Lin Shuyue?
Or perhaps, its intention is simply to wait.
The difference between these two points is very important.
Lu Jinzhao feels she must figure this out.
“Lin Shuyue? Are you still alive?”
Outside the room, Lu Jinzhao lowered her head and softly asked toward the inside of the door.
“Who?!”
Lin Shuyue suddenly looked up, her arm trembling slightly, but her tone was filled with eager anticipation.
Someone seems to have come outside the door!
“Yes.” Lu Jinzhao gave her name.
While speaking, she kept her head down, not looking at Lin Shuyue or the ghost behind her.
“How did you get here, you’re still alive!”
“Have you completed your ritual?”
“So now… can you see if there are any ghosts here?”
Lin Shuyue’s tone gradually slowed from its initial urgency, but the anticipation in her tone grew thicker.
Lu Jinzhao knew what she wanted to ask and didn’t mind giving the answer directly.
“Yes, the ghost… is in the room.”
As soon as the words fell, the room instantly fell silent.
Even though she had anticipated it, upon hearing this answer, Lin Shuyue still felt a chill in her heart.
“Where is it?”
“You don’t want to know.”
As soon as Lu Jinzhao spoke, Lin Shuyue gave a bitter smile: “I understand, but it’s okay, tell me.”
“Right… on your back.”
Not behind her, but on her back.
Lin Shuyue’s expression completely froze.
She had thought of many possibilities, but never imagined the ghost was this close to her!
Damn it, is she about to die right now?!
A terrified expression appeared on Lin Shuyue’s face, and she even wanted to stand up and escape immediately, at least to shake off whatever was on her back first!
But immediately, she forced herself to calm down.
Can’t rush, she still has a trump card!
Knowing for sure there’s a ghost, even knowing where it is, the situation is much better than before; she can’t lose her reason due to fear.
Lin Shuyue took deep breaths repeatedly, her mind still racing with thoughts, when she heard footsteps outside the door as if Lu Jinzhao was about to leave.
“Wait…!”
“Are you leaving?”
Lu Jinzhao’s footsteps stopped just in time. She was still keeping her head down; Lin Shuyue couldn’t see her expression through the door crack and could only hear her say: “Yes, there’s a ghost here, too dangerous, I’m going somewhere else.”
Lin Shuyue immediately said anxiously: “No, wait!”
Her original plan was to try leaving when the train was almost coming, but now knowing the ghost is on her back, she can’t remain indifferent or stay here any longer!
Moreover, since Lu Jinzhao has completed the see a ghost mission, is still alive, and has eyes that can see ghosts, perhaps she should go with Lu Jinzhao.
At least, the other’s eyes that can see ghosts can avoid many dangers.
Lin Shuyue gritted her teeth: “Can you help me with something?”
Lu Jinzhao outside the door hesitated for a few seconds before asking: “What? I refuse if it’s too dangerous.”
“Not dangerous, come in, there’s a small box and a knife in my pocket, cut off one of my fingers and put it in the box.”
“…Why?”
Lu Jinzhao didn’t seem in a hurry to leave now, but she hadn’t planned to really leave anyway.
Perhaps because it was a matter of life and death, Lin Shuyue no longer concealed it.
“This box is very special; as long as you pay part of your body as the price, it can briefly shield its owner’s flesh and blood from the ghost’s perception.”
“Although the time is very short, it’s enough for me to push the cup to yes.”
So that’s how it is.
This is the thing Jiang Yingzhi mentioned.
“If so, why didn’t you do it earlier?”
Lin Shuyue gave a bitter laugh upon hearing this: “Because the price is too high, I’ve been hesitating.”
“Don’t think it’s just one finger; it means the transaction with it has begun.”
“Every three days, I have to pay at least an equivalent price to the first transaction to maintain this contract.”
“And this time, it’s one finger; next time, even to shield the same level of ghost, it will take at least two fingers; the time after, four!”
The price grows exponentially.
“Even though the train can repair damaged bodies, the life-buying money is far from enough!”
The previous owner of this box was eaten alive by it because they couldn’t afford the price.
Supernatural items can help them briefly cope with ghosts, yet they are existences even more dangerous than ghosts.
This box, among the few supernatural items she has for seeing ghosts, is also one with a very low rating.
Because the price is too high, and it can’t be stopped.
But now she can only use such a supernatural item.
Paying a heavy price is still better than dying here.
The more Lu Jinzhao listened, the more unease she felt.
She thought of the parchment.
Isn’t this exactly the same?
If the box’s price is already this terrifying, what about the parchment?
“Okay, I’ll help you.”
Lu Jinzhao agreed.
She pushed open the door, head still down, and walked to the table; Lin Shuyue had already placed the box and knife on the table with her other usable hand.
The knife is an ordinary knife; the box is palm-sized, bronze-colored, looking like a product of an old era.
“Start.”
“Be quick and ruthless.”
She instructed.
Lu Jinzhao doesn’t look like someone who exercises often; if her strength is too small and the knife doesn’t cut through the finger in one go, she’ll have to endure torment.
This was Lu Jinzhao’s first time doing this kind of thing; she picked up the knife, gripped it, positioned Lin Shuyue’s finger with her other hand, then raised it and aimed.
—Thud!
A clean and decisive strike with unexpectedly great force, directly severing Lin Shuyue’s little finger.
“Ah”
The following syllables were stifled in Lin Shuyue’s throat; the pain was too intense for her to speak.
Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, eyes tightly closed, lips pale, body trembling continuously from the pain.
Lu Jinzhao quickly picked up the severed finger and put it into the already opened box.
In the next instant, the wound on Lin Shuyue’s finger that had been bleeding miraculously stopped.
Lin Shuyue forced her eyes open, trembling as she said: “Cup Spirit, Cup Spirit, please leave.”
Then, instead of waiting for the ghost’s movement, she herself applied force to slowly move the cup from no to yes.
Success.
And she didn’t die; she also didn’t feel any discomfort.
Lin Shuyue breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing Lu Jinzhao’s gaze still on her finger, she smiled weakly: “Pretty amazing, right?”
“But this isn’t because it cares for the owner; rather, it’s because this box wants more flesh and blood, wants to continue the transaction, that’s why.”
“Seems fine now, let’s go.”
Lin Shuyue forced herself to stand, eager to leave this room.
She thought it was okay now.
But Lu Jinzhao, following behind her with her head down, clearly saw a pair of legs behind Lin Shuyue.
The ghost wasn’t sent away at all.
It was still clinging to her back.
