Chapter 8: Money Makes the Mare Go

As she landed, dark red, foul-smelling liquid splattered across Xie Yunnuo’s face.

Zhang Yurou and Chen Wanchong stared, eyes wide with shock at the crisp, decisive sequence of movements Xie Yunnuo had just executed. Though they had anticipated her strength, they hadn't expected her to be so ruthless. She was formidable!

However, as a Corpse Ghost, Xie Yunnuo could not smell a thing, nor did she possess taste buds. While Zhang Yurou and Chen Wanchong were nauseated by the stench, Xie Yunnuo calmly tore a clean strip of fabric from the ghost’s severed hospital gown. She stood up, offered the two of them a small smile, and proceeded to wipe the bloodstains from her face. Her appearance caused Zhang Yurou and Chen Wanchong to instinctively step back.

Glancing at them, Xie Yunnuo withdrew her gaze and began to scan the environment with quiet vigilance. She stood in place, wiping the blood from her face while reviewing her recent gains:

"Ding! Congratulations to Player Xie Yunnuo for successfully slaying the low-level F-tier ghost—'Brainless 208'."
"Ding! Congratulations to Player Xie Yunnuo for obtaining 10,000 Fear Points."
"Ding! Congratulations to Player Xie Yunnuo for obtaining 200 Ghost Coins."
"Ding! Congratulations to Player Xie Yunnuo for obtaining an F-tier supernatural item—the Spiked Club."
"Ding! Congratulations to Player Xie Yunnuo for obtaining 1,257 Fear Points."
"Ding! Congratulations to Player Xie Yunnuo for obtaining 875 Fear Points."

Xie Yunnuo knew the last two amounts of Fear Points came from the two players standing before her.

"Because the host is a special player, all the energy from this F-tier ghost has been converted into the Fear Points the host requires," System 368 explained in her mind at the right moment.

Xie Yunnuo gave a mental nod and casually tossed the blood-stained blue-and-white striped cloth aside. As it fell, it vanished into thin air before hitting the floor. The remains of the ghost labeled 208 also disappeared from the white porcelain tiles.

Seeing the corpse gone, Xie Yunnuo began to re-examine the lobby. She cast a look of disdain at the remains of Chen Rong, who was now only half-intact. Seeing no further threats, she prepared to leave. As she turned, Zhang Yurou called out to her back.

"Dr. Xie..."

Xie Yunnuo merely raised an eyebrow, her pace steady and unwavering. Seeing this, Zhang Yurou did not panic but spoke faster.

"Dr. Xie, I have Ghost Coins! Five hundred! I can give them all to you!"

Zhang Yurou gritted her teeth as she said this; it was the most she could possibly scrape together. No ghost could resist the temptation of Ghost Coins. As she expected, Xie Yunnuo stopped in her tracks. When she saw Xie Yunnuo turn around and walk back, Zhang Yurou finally let out a breath of relief.

In these game instances, players could trade Ghost Coins with one another, and even with ghosts. Most importantly, Ghost Coins could be used to purchase supernatural items at the Ghost Market, though not every instance featured one. Even though Xie Yunnuo had regained her human form, Zhang Yurou’s hands trembled nervously as she watched the doctor approach.

"Dr. Xie, I... I want to cooperate with you."

Chen Wanchong looked at Zhang Yurou in shock, unable to fathom why she would want to collaborate with a ghost. Ignoring the confused Chen Wanchong, Xie Yunnuo looked Zhang Yurou up and down, her smile becoming slightly more genuine.

"You say... you want to cooperate with me? For five hundred Ghost Coins?" Xie Yunnuo leaned in toward Zhang Yurou with a playful glint in her eyes, holding up five fingers.

Separated by the reception desk, the two locked eyes. A bone-chilling, icy aura radiated from Xie Yunnuo, causing Zhang Yurou to flinch backward.

"Yes, yes..."

"And what exactly is it you want to cooperate on?" Xie Yunnuo straightened her posture and asked again.

Zhang Yurou swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm, while Chen Wanchong faded into the background.

"I want you to help me clear this instance."

Xie Yunnuo stared at her, her smile slowly fading.

"The five hundred coins are just the appetizer. As long as you help me clear this, I will pay you even more later," Zhang Yurou said steadily, though her hands, hidden behind her back, were clenched tight and sweating.

"As far as I know, once I help you clear the instance, you won't be in the Horror World anymore," Xie Yunnuo smirked, her eyes glinting with danger. "How exactly do you plan to pay me then?"

Zhang Yurou was speechless; she hadn't expected this ghost doctor to be so sharp. *So much for that bluff,* she thought.

"They say we ghosts are full of lies, but it seems you humans aren't exactly honest yourselves," Xie Yunnuo said with a scoff. "You spout nonsense as easily as you breathe."

Xie Yunnuo let out a disdainful snort. For the first time in the Horror World, Zhang Yurou felt a twinge of guilt. She had built a reputation on her thick skin, having swindled quite a few ghosts before; none of those previous ghosts had ever received their "final payments."

Though a veteran player, Zhang Yurou’s strength was not particularly outstanding among the many in the Horror World. She had been lucky in previous instances, managing to turn danger into safety. The only truly perilous one had been a four-star instance where she had to identify "It" among her companions. If her own supernatural item hadn't saved her at the critical moment, she would have perished. Truth be told, she had swindled that item into her possession as well. Having survived so many times, she refused to believe she couldn't make it through this one.

Seeing Xie Yunnuo’s growing irritation, Zhang Yurou gritted her teeth and pulled six 100-denomination green Ghost Coins from her system inventory. *Giving away six hurts!* she thought, *but six is just right.*

"Doctor, I am truly sincere about wanting to cooperate."

Xie Yunnuo finally accepted the six coins. For the sake of the six hundred, she relented. "I'll do my best."

Seeing the deal struck, Chen Wanchong’s eyes lit up, and he quickly pulled six 100-denomination notes from his own system space. Though he would be penniless afterward, money could be earned again, but life was singular. His life was precious!

"Dr. Xie, these are mine. I want the same terms as my sister."

Xie Yunnuo looked at the grinning Chen Wanchong and took the coins from him without hesitation. After pocketing the wealth, she asked the system, "368, if I let a few players clear the instance, will there be any trouble?"

"No trouble at all, Host."

"Good."

If there had been, she would have had to play the part of a truly wicked ghost.