Chapter 20: Meeting Nie Chuxia Again

"Ding! Containment successful!"

"Ding! Task completed, reward: 100 experience points and 100 virtue points."

"Ding! The ghost baby in the urn has been successfully refined into a shadow candle."

That night alone, Lin Feng earned 50,000 yuan and 200 virtue points, leaving him feeling very satisfied.

He knew Niu Meng and Ah Chou had helped scare Daoist Liu by urging the ghost baby on, so they deserved some credit too.

"You both worked hard today. Let's go to the night market later and get two servings of roast pork. I'll light incense and serve a meal for you both!"

Niu Meng shouted in delight, and though Ah Chou didn't understand, he also got excited seeing Niu Meng's enthusiasm.

…

In the following days, apart from tasks, Lin Feng ventured to places heavy with Yin energy to capture wild ghosts and refine them into shadow candles. With his level now higher, he felt confident to earn extra "on the side." Each shadow candle was worth 100 virtue points, and he had amassed 2,000 virtue points. He browsed through the skills in the Vicious Ghost Mall.

Lin Feng currently had two skills: Celestial Eye Technique and Soul Mirage Curse. However, he was unsatisfied with his offensive abilities—these skills didn't really suit his character. Lin Feng was a fiery and straightforward person who wanted skills to showcase his strengths directly.

Lin Feng saw himself as a warrior, not a strategist. When his level got higher, he couldn't keep relying on Niu Meng to do all the fighting, could he?

In the Vicious Ghost Mall, the array of skill books dazzled him. The priciest one was Thunder Strike Curse, costing 2,500 virtue points, which sounded powerful, but the system hinted that even stronger skills were available in the Vicious Ghost PK Arena.

For now, Lin Feng planned to learn some cost-effective skills as a temporary measure.

After filtering, Lin Feng found four skills he liked: Great Flame Binding Hand, Soul Crushing Fist, Nine Ghosts Curse, and Thunder Strike Sword Technique.

The Thunder Strike Sword Technique required a century-old peach wood sword, while the others had no restrictions.

Great Flame Binding Hand

Description: Created by the Blue Flame Ghost King. Once learned, the user can produce ghostly flames on their hands, causing serious harm to spirits.

Soul Crushing Fist

Description: A vajra fist technique from Buddhism. When fully mastered, it can shatter souls and cultivate Buddhist virtues.

Nine Ghosts Curse

Description: A spell created by the Mother of the Yellow Springs. The Yellow Springs Army and the Nine Ghost Generals serve under her. This is both a spell and a formation, exceedingly complex.

Thunder Strike Sword Technique

Description: A Maoshan thunder sword technique that strikes with lethal precision.

Lin Feng reviewed the options. All four skills were direct offensive techniques, and while the Nine Ghosts Curse involved summoning, it allowed for "Nine Ghosts Possession," effectively acting as a transformation skill.

"Which one should I choose…"

In the Longhuai District of Nanyang, all the restless ghosts Lin Feng could purify had already been refined into shadow candles. It seemed his only path to earn more virtue points was through the Vicious Ghost PK Arena; otherwise, his weekly mission's virtue points wouldn't be enough to satisfy him.

So the top priority was to get ready for the PK Arena.

Just then, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.

Lin Feng saw an unfamiliar number and answered, somewhat puzzled. "Hello? Who's this?"

A sweet voice replied on the other end, "Big brother! It's me, Xiao Xue! I'm here in Nanyang!"

What?

Lin Feng sat up in surprise. "Xiao Xue? What are you doing here?"

The caller was none other than his younger sister, Lin Xue.

Lin Feng thought back. School wasn't starting for another week, so why had she come so early?

Lin Xue giggled and then huffed, "I heard from Mom and Dad that you're making a decent salary now. Why not take me out to have some fun in the city before school starts?"

Oh, come on, calling me "dumb"? You little rebel!

Lin Feng adopted a big brother's tone. "Don't listen to Mom and Dad's nonsense. I only make 2,200 yuan as base pay each month, hardly a fortune!"

In reality, Lin Feng's salary had long since approached five figures. Working at the funeral home wasn't popular, but it was essential, so the pay was decent. After bonuses and shares from outsourced work, even with social security deductions, he still took home over 8,000 yuan.

He played poor with Lin Xue to keep her from thinking he was wealthy and getting too spendy. Their parents had spoiled her growing up, so he had to rein her in a little now that she was at college.

Luckily, Lin Xue was fairly sensible. After hearing him out, she replied sheepishly, "Well, I'm already here! You're not just going to send me back, are you?"

Lin Feng relented, "Alright, since it's nearly time for school, I'll take you out for a bit."

Lin Xue cheered, "I knew you were the best! Where are you staying? I'll come find you."

Lin Feng was speechless. This girl, so independent—did she not need him to pick her up?

He gave her his location, and Lin Xue said, "Got it! Here's my number. Save it, and I'll be there soon."

Forty minutes later, Lin Feng waited at the neighborhood entrance, watching as Lin Xue got out of a taxi. "Brother! Pay the fare!"

Lin Feng felt a little overwhelmed.

The bus station was at the northern suburbs, and the taxi fare to get here was 90 yuan. Lin Feng, still frugal by habit, cringed. He'd been through hard times—how could this girl be so carefree with money?

"Xue'er… have you heard of buses? Or maybe even the subway?"

Lin Xue shook her head cheerfully. "Nope!"

Lin Feng gave her a thumbs-up. "Good! Truly my sister, bold and lavish!"

Lin Xue beamed proudly. "Of course!"

Lin Feng said, "Alright, let's get your luggage inside, then I'll take you shopping for some new clothes and show you around."

Lin Xue happily linked her arm through his. "You're the best, brother!"

Lin Feng smirked. "You know it."

Ever since they were kids, Lin Feng had never been particularly fond of his sister. In his words, his little sister lacked common sense—other than her good grades and somewhat decent looks, she had no special talents. No one could figure out which family trait she'd inherited.

When she was young, Lin Xue was kidnapped twice; both times, she followed a middle-aged woman who lured her away with a piece of candy, and both times Lin Feng was the one who got her back. The second time, Lin Feng himself nearly got taken too, but that's another story.

Apart from the kidnappings, Lin Xue was kicked by a cow, bitten by a dog, scratched by a cat, and once even set fire to Lin Feng's room, burning off half his hair, which left him with a shaved head for months. Thinking about it still makes him angry.

When Lin Xue was twelve, Lin Feng was sixteen. She had just started junior high and got involved with a local thug. At the time, Lin Feng was also a bit of a troublemaker and quite notorious at their county school. This thug was no match for Lin Feng, but he thought Lin Feng was just some admirer of Lin Xue's, so he called his buddies to teach Lin Feng a lesson. Furious, Lin Feng dislocated the thug's arm right after school and ordered him to stay away from Lin Xue. In response, Lin Xue reported to their parents, saying Lin Feng was a troublemaker who was always fighting.

The thug's family even caused a scene at school, and since their family couldn't afford to send both of them to school, Lin Feng ended up dropping out and joining the workforce early.

Lin Feng always felt that his missed chance at education was thanks to Lin Xue. But Lin Xue insisted that Lin Feng was falsely accusing her, claiming she was never actually in a relationship with the thug. They argued about this for years.

It wasn't until Lin Feng's 20th birthday, when he came home from work only to be mocked by some cousins, that things finally changed. Lin Xue took a bottle and smashed three of their heads with it, which led to a reconciliation between the two.

Lin Feng realized that while he found his somewhat airheaded sister insufferable, he also couldn't do without her. So, over the years, they didn't stay in close contact, but their bond improved.

That afternoon, at Nanyang's Guomao Plaza, Lin Feng took Lin Xue shopping and splurged 2,000 yuan on two outfits, which brought her to tears of joy. She had never worn anything so expensive before.

As Lin Feng was about to buy her a pair of shoes to complete the look, a stunning woman in high heels appeared from the corner.

Dressed in a long dress, red lipstick, and sporting big, wavy hair, she exuded the confidence of a queen. She spotted Lin Feng, took off her sunglasses, and teased him, "Daoist Lin, taking a schoolgirl shopping here? That must've set you back a bit, huh?"

Nie Chuxia!

Lin Feng, annoyed, said, "Hey, Miss Nie, could you maybe think better of me? This is my sister—my actual, genuine sister. Thanks!"

Nie Chuxia glanced between Lin Xue and Lin Feng, realizing she had jumped to the wrong conclusion.

"Oh, so it's your sister," she chuckled, "I misspoke earlier. I'll make it up to you by helping your sister pick out some clothes."

Nie Chuxia's attitude toward Lin Xue was worlds apart from how she treated Lin Feng. Her usual frosty expression melted into a warm smile, and Lin Feng almost suspected she was possessed.

"Well, go on! Say thank you to Miss Nie. She's what they call a 'big shot,' so pick the priciest stuff you can find."

Lin Xue beamed sweetly. "Thank you, big sister! My brother said he'll pay for everything today. And, big sister, since you're so stylish, could you help me pick out some shoes? My brother's covering it anyway."

Whoa… Lin Xue, are you serious?

Lin Feng stood there, dumbstruck as his sister innocently smiled up at him. Nie Chuxia seemed amused, giving him a smug look. "Then I'll really pick out some shoes for her, alright?"

Lin Feng noticed her wearing VK heels that easily cost 30,000 yuan or more. He thought, Oh no, I can't let this woman go wild.

"Lin Xue, you sit here for a bit," he said, handing her an ice cream and pulling Nie Chuxia aside.

"Miss Nie, are you messing with me? Don't pick anything too expensive! You know how spoiling a kid can ruin them."

Nie Chuxia let out a rare laugh, "Didn't you make a tidy profit recently? Even if I make you buy my shoes, you'd still have enough."

Lin Feng, startled, asked, "How did you know?"

Nie Chuxia shrugged, "Dean Xu Jianguo has old ties with my grandfather, and he's been asking around about you lately. Looks like you're quite the businessman now?"

Lin Feng felt a bit embarrassed.

Remembering something, he asked, "So, why are you here today? I sensed something strange around this area, could be some malicious presence."

Nie Chuxia looked at him, "You sensed it too? That's exactly why I'm here. Lately, strange sounds have been reported around midnight here at Guomao Plaza. Two teams of security guards were scared away, claiming to see a group of ancient soldiers fighting over clothes at night."

Soldiers?

Lin Feng frowned.

Nie Chuxia sighed, "Yes, my dad said if this keeps up, our business will suffer. He asked me to come to investigate."

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. "Impressive! You've got a shop here at Guomao? Come on, give me a VIP card or something?"

She pointed up at the building, then down at the ground.

It took Lin Feng a moment to realize, "Wait… you're telling me you own the entire Guomao Building?!"

Nie Chuxia shrugged.

Lin Feng, exasperated, said, "Nie Chuxia, as a friend, can you cover my expenses today?"

She shrugged again. "We're not that close."

Lin Feng took on a serious tone, "I know where those soldiers came from! I'll help you resolve this, but you owe me a 2,000 yuan voucher and a platinum VIP card for Guomao."

Nie Chuxia looked equally serious, "No way! I could figure this out myself with some more investigation, and if not, my grandpa could! I won't let you hustle me like Dean Xu. The best I can do is 1,000 yuan in vouchers and a pair of end-of-year movie passes."

Lin Feng thought about it. "Deal! Meet me here at 1 AM; I'll come after my shift."

Nie Chuxia leaned close, her voice silky, sending a shiver down his spine, "Daoist Lin, always riding that bicycle—doesn't it get uncomfortable?"

Lin Feng responded, matching her tone, "Then maybe you should take it for a spin. There's a bumpy road in the western suburbs that'll do wonders for you."

Nie Chuxia gritted her teeth, "You really are as crude as ever!"

Lin Feng chuckled, "Thank you for the compliment."