Raising the Evil Spirit

饲鬼

raising-the-evil-spirit

Reciprocal Agreement

The reason why Su Kun never thought to ask the little ghost's name was because he felt their interaction was only temporary and abnormal.
Once the little ghost came to its senses, or if some other unexpected factor intervened, it might just go back to where it came from, or properly reincarnate and start anew as a human.
Moreover, he always had a subconscious guard against this little ghost, feeling like his life was more or less in its hands to some degree, which made him instinctively reject truly getting to know it.
Getting to know someone often starts from learning each other's names, and then slowly evolves into some light or heavy bond. That's why when he was young, he often heard the elders say that a name is an important thing and can't be casually told to others.
He had always resisted forming such a bond with such a dangerous little ghost, not wanting even the slightest possibility.
But now, from the moment he subconsciously asked its name, something seemed to start changing... and not just in terms of his gradually lowering guard.
"Why don't you ask my name?" Su Kun felt the little ghost should ask in return, as that would be proper etiquette. And judging from its words and actions, it was obviously more particular about such things than a modern person like himself.
Who knew the little ghost would avert its gaze and inexplicably focus its attention on his neck, casually replying: "I know, Su Kun."
"Eh?!" Su Kun was very surprised. "How do you know?"
But as soon as he asked, he realized and waved his finger with a look of sudden enlightenment. "Oh-- you must have heard Geng Zimo call-- what the hell are you doing?!!"
Before he could finish, he was startled by the little ghost's actions. The little brat extended a paw no bigger than Su Kun's palm, easily passing through his cotton t-shirt and directly pressing on the spot between Su Kun's two pecs below his collar.
Su Kun's first reaction as a straight man was: Holy crap, I'm in my twenties but I just got groped by a tiny little brat! This world is too dangerous, save me! QAQ
However, at the same time, the icy sensation coming from where the little ghost pressed instantly pulled him back from his tofu-like speculations. He almost immediately recalled the scene he saw that midnight when he woke up.
So... that little brat's target wasn't his chest, but the jade pendant hanging in front of it?
I have to say, Su Kun, whose mind had wandered astray, and General Gu, who had been on the wrong channel, finally, rarely, got on the same page.
Gu Yan, who had just emerged from the coffin, had his attention diverted by Su Kun from the start. Plus, the light in the room wasn't very bright.
So it wasn't until he recovered from the feeling of being stabbed by the words "alive and kicking" that he noticed a faint black aura shrouding below Su Kun's neck and between his chest.
With the previous experience, General Gu said nothing further and reached for the jade pendant in the same way as last time.
The moment his fingertips touched that coolness, a warm current surged through his body from his fingers as if electricity was flowing, going straight to his heart. His body, which had been cold for a long time, was enveloped by this warmth from the inside out, making him so comfortable that he almost wanted to let out a soft sigh.
Gu Yan, who was exceptionally enjoying this process, narrowed his eyes, like a wolf finally pinning its prey under its paws, its sharp teeth piercing through the prey's fur and muscles on the neck, slicing open the artery. The hot, bloody liquid instantly gushed into its mouth, temporarily alleviating the hunger with a look of satisfaction.
Su Kun: "..." Is this little ghost sick? Can fondling jade produce such an expression? It really isn't groping my chest... chest... chest!
Damn little ghost, wake up, this is a man's chest, not a girl's. It's not soft or big and has no cleavage. Don't you feel something is off when you grope it?! Your actions will make me suspect you were gay even before you shrank. Is that really good-- hm?
Just as he was silently ranting a long paragraph, he felt an alarming chill from the jade on his chest, seeming to lessen bit by bit the longer the little ghost maintained contact.
At the same time, he also noticed a change in the little ghost.
"Why has your transparency changed again?!" Su Kun couldn't help but blurt out the question in his mind.
Gu Yan saw the last trace of the black aura shrouding below Su Kun's neck disappear. That obviously warm current also seemed to have its source cut off, leaving only a small, barely perceptible trickle.
He retracted his hand. After feeling the warmth gradually dissipating in his body, he finally raised his eyes to look at Su Kun, a hint of puzzlement in his eyes: "...Transparency?"
Great, the channels are disconnected again _(:з」∠)_
Su Kun twitched the corner of his mouth: "Never mind, I'll just assume you have a built-in Photoshop layer adjustment function." =_=||
Gu Yan: "..." Not bad, didn't understand a single word. Does this person really not have mental issues?!
"No, I was wrong about the main point just now." Su Kun extended a finger and audaciously poked the little ghost's forehead. "Why did you grope me?"
He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but the sensation of his finger touching the little ghost felt more noticeable than before...
Gu Yan: "...This old master is a sage and virtuous one, when have I ever--"
Damn it, can't the brain waves align for once?!
Before he could finish, Su Kun interrupted him in exasperation, "I, I, I, I! Why did you grope me!" So tiring, don't want to love anymore.
General Gu replied with a deadpan face: "This one groped the jade."
"..."
Probably seeing that this kind of conversation was about to drive Su Kun crazy, this time Gu Yan didn't wait for him to rephrase the question again before explaining: "This jade has attracted filthy things."
"Filthy things?" Su Kun was a bit confused, but he quickly recalled what he had thought of that midnight when he was startled awake by this little ghost. He hesitated for a moment before voicing his guess from that night: "You mean... ghosts?"
Gu Yan nodded, then shook his head: "Not entirely."
Su Kun: "Huh? What do you mean?"
"To be precise, they are remnant soul fragments, not complete."
Thinking of the little ghost's actions that midnight and just now, as well as the changes to itself, Su Kun's dog brain rarely had a moment of enlightenment: "So you're saying, by touching this jade, you absorbed those fragments into your body? Like some kind of star-absorbing technique?"
"Star-absorbing technique?" Gu Yan furrowed his brows. He found that he could understand every word Su Kun said when taken apart, but put together he had no idea what it meant. However, the first half of what he said was correct, so he reluctantly nodded.
Su Kun waved his hand, not wanting to argue over terminology with him. As long as the general meaning was correct, that was fine. He was more concerned about another question: "Since you've absorbed all those fragments, they won't have any negative impact on me anymore, right?"
He wasn't actually sure about this, but having those things clinging to his body definitely wasn't good. Absorbing them should at least provide some help...
Moreover, the person in front of him had widened his eyes, looking at him with a bit of nervousness and innocence, reminding him of that kitten from years ago. When it had messed around in the courtyard and stepped on that hard-earned blooming gentian, he had picked it up by the scruff of its soft neck to scold it. It had the same look then, its pink nose twitching, eyes full of innocence.
And so, General Gu, who had originally intended to say he didn't know, only hesitated for a moment before nodding and grunting in affirmation.
Seeing this, Su Kun patted his chest. "That puts my mind at ease." Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "Those things are beneficial to you?"
Gu Yan thought for a moment before saying, "Based on the current situation, that does seem to be the case." At least, he had yet to discover any drawbacks.
Su Kun immediately put on the expression that reminded Gu Yan of that kitten. "So if I attract more of those things in the future, you'll still help me suck them up, right?"
Gu Yan: "..." Speak properly!
"Silence can often be seen as tacit agreement in legal terms." Su Kun flashed a toothy grin. "Much appreciated!"
Although General Gu was quite willing to continue this mutually beneficial arrangement, he was still a bit exasperated with Su Kun.
"..." This person's ability to make arbitrary declarations was truly impressive.
Having seen the little ghost who had been cooped up in the coffin for days and signed a verbal reciprocal agreement, Su Kun was in an exceptionally good mood. He decided to turn his attention back to the entrepreneurial plan he had been researching before abandoning halfway.
"However—" Gu Yan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke, causing Su Kun's heart, which had just settled, to be hoisted up again.
"Taking a big breath is a bad habit, Comrade Gu Yan—" Su Kun drawled, staring at him with dead fish eyes, looking as if he would hang himself in front of Gu Yan if he scared him again.
"The filth you attracted this time is different from last time..." Gu Yan furrowed his brows, recalling the feeling of the black aura being much more agitated than before when he absorbed it into his body.
If this feeling was related to the danger level of those soul fragments, then what Su Kun had attracted last time might have just been some ordinary grime from street corners and alleys. This time, however, it was something quite dangerous...
He thought for a moment, then asked, "Where exactly have you been these past few days?"

Raising the Evil Spirit

Raising the Evil Spirit

Chapter 26 - Reciprocal Agreement

Night