The Palm-Smack Punishment

Their eyes met suddenly.

For a moment, amidst Zhao Ruru's exclamation, Xu Shu's understanding, and Yi Qing's gossipy expression, the atmosphere became strange.

Because the surrounding area was filled with vengeful spirits and viruses, and it was speculated that some were stronger than others, Yu Xing did not rashly begin to use his senses.

What he didn't expect was that he would be so lucky this time. Even without using his senses to find people, he was able to find the person he was looking for after wandering around for a short while.

Keep in mind that he traveled almost in a straight line from outside the city to this place, without making a single turn.

Yu Xing was about to put on a smile and greet Zhao Yijiu when she suddenly noticed that Zhao Yijiu's gaze wasn't so "friendly."

Zhao Yijiu's dark eyes stared intently at him, as if trying to pierce through him with her gaze. Her body was even stiffer than when she attacked, frozen in place like a puppet.

In that indescribable look in her eyes, Yu Xing swallowed back the "Oh, long time no see" she was about to say, and instead a faint smile appeared on her face.

"What's wrong? Brother Jiu doesn't seem happy." He asked softly, tilting his head and looking at the corpse impaled on the ground with a feigned realization. "Could it be that I accidentally ruined Brother Jiu's mission, and he's angry with me?"

Zhao Yijiu's expression froze, and she stammered, "No..."

Yu Xing smiled in a harmless yet sincere way, making it impossible for anyone to get angry at him.

But Zhao Yijiu had no intention of getting angry.

It's just an infected person. If Yu Xing doesn't kill it, the infected person might pounce on her and get Yu Xing clothes dirty. Killing it is no big deal.

We can just find a new objective.

Only...

Having not seen Yu Xing for so long, Zhao Yijiu felt that she might have forgotten how to get along with Yu Xing. Just like when two people reunite after a long separation, there is always some awkwardness between them.

So he dared not move.

Yu Xing pretended to examine the corpse for a moment. "Oh my, I knew it. Look at this infected person, all sour and rotting, and carrying a doll that looks like a ghost carrier. It's obviously strong. Brother Jiu must have been chasing this target for a long time."

Zhao Yijiu: No, not really.

He wanted to explain to Yu Xing that this infected person was the most basic and lowest level type, not hard to find, but then he saw Yu Xing feeling extremely guilty. He stepped forward and offered his hand to him.

"?" Zhao Yijiu lowered his gaze, landing on the hand extended in front of him. "What?"

Yu Xing leaned closer. "I did something wrong, Brother Jiu, how about you punish me by spanking my hand?"

"... hit, hand, palm?"

Even if Zhao Yijiu was slow on the uptake, he knew this guy was making fun of him again. Did he think this place was a kindergarten? Slapping his hand!?

It was obvious that Yu Xing was coaxing him like a child!

"You're still laughing?" Zhao Yijiu gritted her teeth and Stop Killing at Yu Xing's head. Yu Xing dodged, thus avoiding the embarrassment of Zhao Yijiu having to stop her attack.

Zhao Yijiu took a deep breath and suddenly realized that all the awkwardness of not seeing each other for a year and the lack of understanding of how to get along were nonsense. He knew this guy's personality all too well.

"You've already punished me, why are you still complaining?" Yu Xing said innocently. "One hit isn't enough, then hit me until you're satisfied! I definitely won't dodge. But Stop Killing won't work; if I don't dodge, half my head will be off."

"Ha." Zhao Yijiu couldn't bear to look at Yu Xing's acting skills. If he had just believed that Yu Xing genuinely guilty for stealing the mission target or for not returning for too long, then this slap on the hand made it impossible for him to trust him anymore.

Before Yu Xing could retract his hand, Zhao Yijiu swiftly lashed Yu Xing with the Stop Killing.

Although she held back her strength, the pain from being slapped still traveled from her palm all the way to her limbs, especially since Yu Xing was only thinking about teasing people and hadn't expected to actually be hit.

That sharp crack not only struck Yu Xing's hand, but also struck the hearts of everyone present.

Zhao Ruru: Damn, Zhao Yijiu is really obedient. He really does hit when told to. I definitely can't provoke him in the future.

Xu Shu: "He dares to hit the contracted ghost I've set my sights on!"

Yi Qing: "... Tsk."

Yu Xing quickly pulled her hand back.

That was a miscalculation.

We only knew Zhao Yijiu was funny, but we forgot that a year has passed and Zhao Yijiu has evolved!

He no longer gets angry easily out of embarrassment or annoyance, and then uses that as an excuse to get closer to her.

Zhao Yijiu coldly watched as Yu Xing rubbed her reddened skin, trying to count how many seconds the marks would last.

One two three...

Very good, it's been more than five seconds. Yu Xing is deliberately suppressing the speed at which the traces dissipate.

All they know is to play the victim; they're just fooling innocent kids like him.

Zhao Yijiu thought bitterly, "This guy never knows how to explain things clearly to me, and he never takes the initiative to reflect on why the agreed two months have dragged on for a year."

All they knew was to pretend, attract attention, change the subject, and then act as if nothing had happened, waiting for Zhao Mou be there before revealing everything to him and discussing it together.

Because Zhao Mou is clever and can help Yu Xing with strategies, and he is good at fighting, so fighting is all he needs to do.

But this was a long-awaited reunion; he was the first person to see Yu Xing in all this time.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yijiu caught a glimpse of Yiqing out of the corner of her eye.

Oh... never mind, he's still the first one, Yiqing is just a ghost.

As the first person to see Yu Xing, Zhao Yijiu didn't want to become a mouthpiece again.

Yu Xing inexplicably felt a cold wind blow by, making her feel chilly.

"What are you thinking about? You seem so focused. Did I guess wrong before? Are you just missing me because you haven't seen me in so long?"

Zhao Yijiu, upon hearing this, still didn't blush. Instead, she chuckled, took another step forward, and stared intently into Yu Xing's eyes. "Wrong. I was thinking, since they stole my mission target, a slap on the hand isn't enough."

Zhao Ruru suddenly pulled Xu Shu, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she gestured to Xu Shu: "Is this something I can hear? It's like a mute is speaking!"

Xu Shu nodded seriously in agreement: Yes, Zhao Yijiu is trying to exploit the contracted ghost I've set my sights on, that won't do.

The two, who were talking past each other like chickens and ducks, were a bit too far apart. Yi Qing, who was watching the drama unfold from the front lines, coughed heavily and said, "Ahem! Now that you two old friends are reunited, shouldn't I step aside a little and give you some private space?"

"Whether you want to fight or catch up, it's up to you..."

Yu Xing ignored Yi Qing's seemingly "mediating" but actually infuriating words and still smiled, "A slap on the palm isn't enough, what do you want, Brother Jiu?"

Zhao Yijiu pondered for a moment.

Then he said, "I want you to give me ten mission targets in return."

Zhao Ruru: "..."

Xu Shu: "..."

Yi Qing: "..."

Yu Xing could see that Zhao Yijiu had really changed; she had learned to be indirect and tactful.

It's basically saying we can act together from now on.

He had no reason to refuse and simply said, "Okay."

"Wait, wait a minute!" Zhao Ruru anxiously from a distance, immediately jumping over. "Luckily!"

"Zhao Ruru?" Yu Xing raised an eyebrow as she looked at the girl who had a familiar face but a very different temperament.

"You all have to come together, everyone gets a share, include us too!" She smiled like a gender-swapped version of Zhao Fox.