Chapter 12: Midnight Signal

In the blink of an eye,

and then...

Just as the Seductive Ghost lunged toward Lin Ye,

a distinctive feature suddenly caught her gaze.

Vibrant with vitality,

firm and upright.

Accentuated by the burial garments,

it appeared rather conspicuous.

Gulp~

The sound of a swallowed throat echoed.

Though spirits lack saliva, the Seductive Ghost halted abruptly.

Bigger.

Bigger than the Lustful Ghost's.

This was the Seductive Ghost's first thought upon stopping.

"You keep yourself well maintained, Little Lord."

The Seductive Ghost smirked devilishly,

her attitude shifting entirely.

Yet somehow,

when that smile reached Lin Ye's eyes,

he perceived lewdness

in this female ghost's expression.

"So you're the Seductive Ghost!"

"Your servant is here."

As the ghost stared unblinkingly below his waist,

Lin Ye shuddered involuntarily.

Meanwhile,

seizing her distraction, Lin Ye silently produced the Spirit Jar.

Biting his middle finger,

a drop of vital blood fell into the urn.

"Dare you answer when I call your name?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

But as the words left her lips,

tremendous suction yanked her inside.

Lin Ye swiftly sealed the lid,

affixing a Spirit Suppression Talisman.

Xiao Cui could pop the lid open at will—

so could this ghost.

After consideration,

Lin Ye deemed the talisman essential.

"So cruel, Little Lord..."

A mournful voice echoed from within.

"Enough!" Lin Ye refastened his trousers.

"Tell me—where's your grave?"

Sealed but not destroyed,

the ghost left no loot behind.

Lin Ye had to plunder her resting place.

"Such rudeness inquiring where a lady lives! Perhaps you wish to accompany me—"

"Spare me the act. Where's your tomb?"

"I have no tomb... but other entrances. Which would you enter?"

"I..."

Damn it!!

Lin Ye bit back his reply, sensing the trap.

"Giggle... Enough teasing, Little Lord. Ask away."

"You don't belong in this graveyard, do you?"

Lin Ye steered the conversation.

He'd confirmed she was the Lustful Ghost's mistress—

ghosts sharing a graveyard wouldn't have let him pick them off separately.

"Such effort each time I visit my ex, Little Lord."

"How did you contact each other?"

"Have you overworked your memory? This servant could assist with that~"

"Focus! Answer properly!"

This was one lust-obsessed specter—

Lin Ye couldn't afford distractions.

"As I said earlier: come midnight when... needy,

I'd light a Soul-Guiding Lantern as signal.

"That lustful ghost would see

and come running."

Last night her lantern went unanswered,

so she'd come searching.

"Wait—what lantern?"

"The Soul-Guiding Lantern."

"?"

"??"

"Take me to your home!"

"But Little Lord—"

"But what?"

"...The grass here would suffice."

"..."

Later,

after thirty minutes,

Lin Ye carried the urn

to her grave under her guidance.

Unlike others,

a bamboo pole stood beside her mound,

topped with a white lantern.

Normally lowered,

it would be raised

when desire struck.

Grade: Mourning!

Attribute: Dispels disorientation, prevents ghostly illusions!

Description: Fashioned from a hundred specter hides. Pierces through graveyard fog!

Special Note: Functions as a unique token!

"Mourning-grade?!" Lin Ye gasped.

His first encounter with such high-tier gear.

"What need have you for it, Little Lord? To attract female spirits?"

"Not your concern. It'll serve its purpose."

Lin Ye thought of Xiao Cui—

this would make a fine gift.

"Truly, just call for me—"

"Silence! Or I'll piss in this urn!"

"Promises~"

Lin Ye's unintended implication

about his chastity

made even the jar seem obscene.

"Enough of you."

Lin Ye carefully stored the lantern.

"I'll show mercy since you cooperated.

Your grave stays untouched—if you surrender its treasures."

"So many treasures here~"

"Don't make me dig!"

"Silk stockings? Thigh-highs? Open-crotch?

Which do you prefer?"

(Why no fishnets?

The Lustful Ghost stole them.)

"Others?"

"Oh yes."

"Such as?"

"Lace. Sheer. Ruffled. Bow-adorned."

"..."

In the end,

Lin Ye spared her grave.

Instead,

he excavated

a half-dug grave nearby.

His Gravedigger talent

detected no owner—

yet he found no coffin either.

Ultimately,

he collected only a few bones.

Twilight fell early

amid drizzling rain.

Retiring to his tomb,

Lin Ye inventoried the day's haul.

Beside him,

the Spirit Jar trembled.

"Little Lord..."

"Behave yourself—it's nighttime."

"Your servant only asks: might this servant have those bones?"

"Why?"

"With bones from nine professions,

I evolve into Crimson Skeleton!"

No spirit resists evolution—

not even this lust-driven ghost.

"How many do you have?"

"None."

"..."

Absence of tokens for the Seductive Ghost

didn't mean Xiao Cui lacked hers either...