"You can call me Young Master."
Ning Chen patted her hand, then reached up and removed the red gauze veil covering her head.
Looking at her peach-blossom-like face, he smiled.
"From today on, you're my ghost."
"Yes, Young Master~"
The ghost bride's crimson eyes were filled with gentleness.
She raised her hands to Ning Chen's shoulders and began massaging them lightly.
Only after being subdued by Ning Chen did she finally understand how he had dared, without the slightest fear, to invite her inside for sugar water.
To ghosts, this kind of method was simply unsolvable.
She couldn't resist it—
And didn't want to resist it either.
After all, in eighty years of life and death, this was the first man who had ever praised her for being beautiful…
And more importantly—
She had already become his.
Even her soul was permeated with his aura.
How could she possibly resist?
"Young Master may call me Hongdou~"
She said softly, then sat Ning Chen down on her lap and continued massaging his shoulders.
Eyes closed, Ning Chen let out two comfortable hums.
Ning Caichen—how about me instead?
While enjoying his ghost bride's massage, Ning Chen began studying the system.
Host: Ning Chen
Title: Ning Caichen II (Equipped)
Level: Tier 4 (Qi Condensation Realm)
Skills: [Golden Eyes], [Spirit-Capturing, Ghost-Dispatching General LV1]
Merit Points: 60
...
After briefly reviewing the attribute panel and reading the notes, Ning Chen gained a clearer understanding of the system.
He also learned more about the classification of ghosts and cultivators.
For example, after consuming the Dragon-Tiger Pill and gaining a full cycle of true yang energy, he had easily stepped into the Qi Condensation Realm—a realm many ordinary cultivators might not reach even after decades of cultivation.
Calling it a step straight to heaven wouldn't be an exaggeration.
That was the power of a cheat.
The Qi Condensation Realm corresponded to Tier 3–4 ghosts.
Once a ghost reached Tier 4, those with exceptional talent could awaken a Ghost Spirit Space.
Tier 7 was a major watershed—
Once a ghost cultivated into a Ghost King, it could awaken its own Ghost Domain.
Above Qi Condensation lay Entering Dao, corresponding to Tier 5–6 ghosts.
Beyond that were Innate, Knowing Fate, and Celestial Realms—
Corresponding to Tier 7, 8, and 9 ghosts.
The level system itself was straightforward.
What really mattered was Merit Points.
To obtain them, there were only two ways:
Influence a ghost's emotions—or kill ghosts.
Different ghost strengths meant different caps on obtainable Merit Points.
For example, Hongdou—
By influencing her emotions, Ning Chen could only farm 60 Merit Points.
To get more, he'd have to kill her.
But Ning Chen would never do something so shortsighted.
A two-meter-tall, perfectly proportioned ghost big sister—
Who wouldn't love that?
Cough—
Getting off track.
As for Merit Points, their uses were simple.
First: System lottery.
As a certified lucky bastard, Ning Chen wasn't afraid at all—
He could absolutely be a gambler!
Second: Item enhancement.
Merit Points could strengthen all kinds of items.
Ordinary objects could be transformed into magic artifacts effective against ghosts.
Even pills could be enhanced—
One kidney tonic could turn into dragon essence and tiger ferocity!
Now that was the correct way to use Merit Points!
"Nice~"
After sorting everything out, Ning Chen happily lit a cigarette.
Leaning against Hongdou's long, slender thigh, he sank into thought.
Although the cheat had given him some ability to protect himself, it was still far from enough.
If a Ghost King went berserk, it could wipe out an entire city overnight.
Compared to that, he was still weak.
The top priority was to increase his strength as fast as possible.
The system only triggered choices when encountering supernatural events.
If he lay flat like a salted fish, the chance of ghosts coming to him was low.
So he needed to take the initiative.
Besides, he wasn't alone in the world.
Both parents were alive; he had a car and a house—
A well-off family.
With supernatural revival underway, since he had the ability, he had to protect his family.
That required even more Merit Points—
At the very least, he needed to refine some protective talismans for them.
Wool comes from the sheep!
Hunting ghosts could not wait!
Thinking this through, Ning Chen let out a long breath and flicked the cigarette butt into the ashtray.
Then he took Hongdou's slender jade hand and looked up at her.
"Hongdou, do you know if there are any other ghosts nearby?"
"Other ghosts?"
"I don't know…"
She shook her head apologetically.
"Young Master, I only woke up not long ago, so…"
"It's fine."
Ning Chen waved his hand casually.
"If you don't know, forget it. I'll think of another way."
He picked up the phone from the side.
After opening it, he found the forum he'd been browsing earlier on his computer.
Those netizens might be idiots, but they sure knew how to talk.
Now that he knew ghosts really existed, maybe those posts had some credibility.
"Young Master, what is this?"
"A phone."
"And what is a phone?"
"A thing you hold in your hand."
"I'll buy you one tomorrow and teach you how to use it."
"Then this humble one thanks Young Master~"
"We're family—no need to be so formal."
...
While chatting with Hongdou, Ning Chen scrolled through the forum.
Aside from the post about the ghost bride photographed on the eighteenth floor, there were no posts with solid evidence.
Mostly it was UC Horror Department content, with netizens flooding replies.
After scrolling for a long time, he summarized only two leads.
[Bizarre! On Jiangxi Road in Xuanwu District, Jinling, someone once saw a JK-uniformed loli wandering late at night, stopping people to ask if they'd seen her little bear!]
There were no photos, but it still caught Ning Chen's attention.
Mainly because his parents lived near Jinling First People's Hospital in Xuanwu District.
Although Jiangxi Road was some distance away—
Better safe than sorry.
He had to find time to check it out.
[Bizarre! Jiangning District's Wanda Plaza — "Seven Days and You Must Die" curse? Four deaths in the past month! Area now sealed, authorities conducting an urgent investigation…]
This one had higher credibility and even included uncensored photos.
Wanda Plaza wasn't far from the university town. Ning Chen had heard about it before.
Now that he thought about it, it really might be related to supernatural activity.
Otherwise, how could it be so precise—
One jump every seven days?
Who schedules their suicides?
That was ridiculous.
What was more suspicious was that shortly after the post went up, it was taken down.
Other than official channels, who would be working so diligently in the middle of the night?
Wasn't it obviously to control public opinion and prevent panic?
Supernatural revival would eventually be announced, but definitely not now.
Shaking his head, Ning Chen stopped thinking about it.
Whether it was true or false, it wasn't far from him.
He'd go investigate tomorrow night.
After deciding, he turned off his phone and stretched lazily.
Looking at Hongdou, who was lowering her eyes and smiling as she massaged him, Ning Chen's heart stirred.
"Hongdou~"
"Hm?"
"Want another cup of sugar water?"
"Can I?"
Seeing her lick her lips with anticipation, Ning Chen sighed, his eyes full of pity.
This girl… really was pitiful.
She had lived a miserable life—
So miserable she couldn't even drink a bowl of sugar water.
After sixty years as a ghost, she finally met Young Master Ning.
You could say she'd finally seen clouds part and moonlight appear.
"Come!"
"There's no reward without effort! I'll teach you how to make sugar water~"
"In the future, if you want it, make it yourself!"
"Our family doesn't have much—
But sugar water? As much as you want!"
"Okay~"
Nodding hard, Hongdou began learning how to make sugar water under Young Master Ning's guidance.
Young Master Ning truly was a good teacher.
He taught seriously—
And Hongdou learned seriously…
A girl's eyes should hold stars and oceans—
Not the tangled smoke of the mortal world.
Hongdou, who couldn't even drink a bowl of sugar water in life,
finally met Young Master Ning sixty years after becoming a ghost.
It could be said—
She had waited until the clouds cleared and the moon shone bright.