Subjugation

Under Grandpa Ghost's gaze, Lin Luo took out a water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and poured out the crimson cow blood.

The pungent smell brought excitement to Grandpa Ghost's face. This was fresh cow blood drained right after slaughter.

Clean and hygienic.

"You've got good sense, kid. You even know to bring this old man a gift."

Grandpa Ghost gave Lin Luo an approving look, then picked up the bowl of cow blood and gulped it down with a look of pure bliss.

In two or three gulps, Grandpa Ghost drained the entire bowl and let out a satisfied burp.

"You've got good taste, kid. You know cow blood is a great tonic."

Having accepted Lin Luo's gift, the previously neutral Grandpa Ghost would now lean toward his side.

"You flatter me, sir. When it comes to food, I still have plenty to learn from you."

Lin Luo spoke with a warm smile, then began chatting with Grandpa Ghost.

While searching through memories with the Crimson Demon Finger earlier, Lin Luo had learned about Grandpa Ghost's dietary preferences. Everything he brought up caught Grandpa Ghost's interest, and the two quickly hit it off.

Flaying Ghost, who had still been planning to ambush Lin Luo, was scared witless by the sight.

Grandpa Ghost had been at Yellow Springs Hospital for a very long time, even longer than Director Ghost. If he discovered Flaying Ghost's feud with Lin Luo, he might tear him to pieces!

At that thought, Flaying Ghost lost all desire for revenge. He only wanted to stay alive.

But just as he was about to back out, Lin Luo suddenly turned around and called out to him.

"You're already here. Leaving so soon would be no fun, would it?"

Lin Luo grinned, but to Flaying Ghost, his words were more terrifying than a demon's!

Flaying Ghost had to admit that he was afraid of the human before him.

"Kid, this ghost's plotting against you. Want this old man to scatter his ashes for you?!"

Grandpa Ghost smiled as well. Their conversation made Flaying Ghost's skin crawl, leaving him trembling in terror.

If Grandpa Ghost decided to kill him, he would have no chance of survival!

"Honored human, I'm sorry! Everything before was my fault. Please spare my life!"

Flaying Ghost begged in terror, so frightened that chunks of flesh fell off his body, staining the floor with blood.

"Shut up. Keep making noise, and I really will destroy you!"

Lin Luo shot Flaying Ghost a cold glance, but his harsh attitude actually made Flaying Ghost breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Looks like my life is safe.

In truth, Lin Luo had never intended to kill Flaying Ghost. He had lured him over only to put him in his place and bring him under control.

Flaying Ghost wasn't particularly powerful. Wasting a favor from Grandpa Ghost just to destroy him would be a terrible deal.

By now, Grandpa Ghost had also seen through Lin Luo's little scheme. Rather than being displeased, however, he looked intrigued.

This kid is far more impressive than the humans I've met before. Looks like a rare talent.

"How should we settle the matter of you trying to kill me?"

Lin Luo looked at Flaying Ghost with a faint, ambiguous smile.

Flaying Ghost groaned inwardly. If he had known Lin Luo was this capable, he would never have dared offend him.

But it was too late now. Their feud had already begun, and unless he made amends, he might truly lose his life.

"Honored human, I'll do anything you ask. Consider it my atonement for my earlier stupidity."

Lin Luo had underestimated Flaying Ghost's fear of death.

After all, the ghosts of Horror World looked down on humans, treating them as ants and vermin.

This was the first time he had encountered a ghost as servile as Flaying Ghost.

"Then you can be my lackey from now on. I need a ghost to run errands for me at Yellow Springs Hospital."

Since Flaying Ghost had so little backbone, Lin Luo wasn't about to stand on ceremony.

"Of course. It's my honor to serve you."

Desperate to stay alive, Flaying Ghost hastily agreed.

Seeing how cooperative Flaying Ghost was, Lin Luo pulled a hundred-Ghost-Coin bill from his pocket and tossed it to him.

"This is your reward."

Lin Luo's generosity instantly brought delight to Flaying Ghost's face.

He held little standing at Yellow Springs Hospital and was only a handyman. A hundred Ghost Coins was no small sum to him.

"Thank you, sir."

Flaying Ghost thanked him excitedly, all his resentment vanishing.

Grandpa Ghost watched with interest. This kid really knew how to handle things. He had brought Flaying Ghost to heel in no time.

Though Flaying Ghost wasn't particularly powerful, he was still an absurdly strong monster to novice players!

"You can go back now. I'll contact you if I need anything."

Lin Luo glanced at Flaying Ghost as he spoke.

Flaying Ghost hastily nodded and left in a hurry.

Before the immensely powerful Grandpa Ghost, Flaying Ghost felt like an insignificant speck of dust, crushed under so much pressure that he could barely breathe.

He didn't want to spend another moment facing such a terrifying ghost!

"Kid, aren't you planning to take that Flaying Ghost as your companion ghost?"

Grandpa Ghost couldn't help asking.

For human players, subduing a companion ghost and becoming a Ghost Tamer was an indispensable way to establish themselves in Horror World.

"Flaying Ghost is too weak. I never intended to make him my companion ghost."

Lin Luo shook his head.

He wasn't going to lower his standards for some petty short-term gain.

A companion ghost was extremely important to a player.

If the ghost was too weak, the Ghost Tamer would be limited as well.

Since Lin Luo intended to become a Ghost Tamer, he would become the strongest, and the companion ghost he chose had to be extraordinarily powerful.

Even Grandpa Ghost, who could crush Flaying Ghost, fell a little short of Lin Luo's standards.

"Looks like you're a human with ambition, kid."

Grandpa Ghost thought increasingly highly of Lin Luo. Compared with him, the players he had met before were utterly unimpressive.

"Sir, do you know a Drunkard Ghost who often hangs around the Morgue?"

Lin Luo continued chatting with Grandpa Ghost.

His words stunned the previously unflappable Grandpa Ghost, who blurted out instinctively, "Don't tell me you want that monster as your companion ghost?"

At that, Lin Luo nodded inwardly. Just as he had suspected, any ghost that even the powerful Grandpa Ghost considered a monster had to be terrifying beyond measure.

"Young man, ambition is a good thing, but that Drunkard Ghost is no one to mess with. He's volatile. One little gesture could be enough to make him obliterate your soul!"

Grandpa Ghost was speechless.

That Drunkard Ghost was said to be someone even the head of Yellow Springs Hospital feared.

And the head of Yellow Springs Hospital was a Ghost King!

"Sir, I'll just give it a try. It doesn't matter whether I succeed."

Lin Luo smiled, unwilling to give up just like that.

"That Drunkard Ghost lives in the Abandoned Building beside Yellow Springs Hospital. But I advise you to improve your strength first. With your current abilities, you'd never come back alive."

With that, Grandpa Ghost poured himself more cow blood and resumed drinking heartily.