Man possesses nothing with which to repay the heavens.

“Can that human skin inside also be revived?” Chen Sheng gazed at the piece of human skin, surprise flickering in his eyes. He hadn’t expected to stumble upon such a “tool.”

Yes, a tool.

Because in Chen Sheng’s view, he had just triggered this decapitated girl’s “game storyline.” So, there was at least a ninety-eight percent chance he’d soon encounter something connected to this piece of human skin.

After all, this was the most common of tropes.

“It should be possible,” the headless girl replied. Though she prefaced her answer with “should,” expressing uncertainty, her tone was resolute.

She could feel the malice radiating from the human skin. Which meant, this was no mere piece of skin.

“Then, how do I subdue it?” Chen Sheng immediately asked. Simply grabbing it with his bare hands, or even with gloves, seemed far too unreliable. Better to consult the decapitated girl.

Since he’d already triggered her “game storyline,” she was sure to provide a reasonable answer.

The decapitated girl fell silent.

She couldn’t fathom Chen Sheng’s thought process, but still, she offered her answer.

She glanced directly at the execution scaffold.

“Really? That works too?” Chen Sheng understood instantly, surprise written all over his face. He truly hadn’t expected his “beginner’s gear” to be so versatile!

No wonder he was still stuck at “Level 0,” unable to level up. It made perfect sense.

If even his “starter gear” was this powerful, and if he could still rocket up the ranks, wouldn’t the game lose all challenge?

“Of course! Why not?” The decapitated girl gave Chen Sheng a puzzled look. Execution tools weren’t just for intimidating ghosts; even strange, malevolent things like this could be suppressed by such instruments.

Didn’t he notice how the human skin played dead as soon as the execution device appeared?

Chen Sheng nodded, then manipulated the scaffold, looping the noose around the folded human skin. Throughout the process, the skin trembled ceaselessly.

“It’s actually struggling…” Chen Sheng muttered softly, unsure if he was surprised or simply speaking his thoughts aloud.

The headless girl beside him nearly commented that it was out of fear, but recalling that she and the human skin were barely acquaintances, brought together only by a shared hunt, she swallowed her words.

“All done!”

Chen Sheng was about to put the execution device away when, suddenly, a strange and unsettling sensation prickled through him—as if someone were lurking in the shadows, watching him, making his skin crawl.

He immediately scanned his surroundings, but apart from the headless ghost at his side, nothing seemed amiss.

Casting a doubtful glance at the decapitated girl, Chen Sheng’s form blurred and vanished.

He reappeared outside the “old mansion,” but still couldn’t locate the source of his unease. Moreover, as he stepped outside, he felt a sensation much like the one in the “Li Family Tycoon’s Villa” before.

Someone was following him.

“This must be a hidden storyline…” Chen Sheng muttered, then brushed it off. This so-called healing game had already shown him too many sci-fi wonders—such a premonition barely registered in his mind anymore.

He returned inside the “old mansion,” approached the television, and tapped its screen with his finger.

“What are you doing?”

The TV, though clearly off, suddenly flickered to life. A pale, grayish little face appeared onscreen, its wide eyes staring unblinkingly at Chen Sheng.

“Master, when will you help me find my enemy?” Chen Sheng asked.

“Wait a bit longer, the foundation is just set, the rest hasn’t manifested yet,” the little ghost girl replied, glancing over her shoulder.

“Then please, Master, continue. I’m not in any hurry,” Chen Sheng nodded.

…

Meanwhile, outside the “old mansion,” a silent wave of black mist rolled forth.

Shapes writhed within the fog—agonized, struggling faces, exuding a chilling malice that sent shivers down one’s spine.

Drip, drip.

The sound of fresh blood falling.

A stone platform flickered in and out of sight amidst the black mist. Upon it was thrust a golden, demon-faced executioner’s blade.

Without warning, a terrifying aura spread, plunging the landscape into absolute silence.

It was the guillotine that had appeared at the “Li Family Tycoon’s Villa.”

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through. Though gentle, it parted the black fog near the guillotine, revealing two inconspicuous wooden pillars on the stone platform.

The pillars were ancient, rotted with age.

Each was inscribed with a line of words.

On one pillar: “Heaven begets all things to nourish man.”

On the other: “Yet man returns nothing to Heaven.”

…

The television was off, yet its screen abruptly glowed. The little ghost girl’s head emerged, but before she could call out to Chen Sheng, two hands grasped her head, and a foot braced against the table supporting the TV.

“Pop—”

Like pulling a turnip, Chen Sheng yanked the little ghost girl straight out of the TV screen.

The little ghost girl looked utterly bewildered: (⊙_⊙)?

How strange—why did she once again feel like she’d become a turnip?

Suddenly realizing what had happened, her expression turned furious: (〃＞皿＜)

This disobedient disciple had dared pull her out like a turnip again!

Such outrageous bullying of a ghost!

So unfair!

But Chen Sheng gave her no chance to protest. “Master, do you know who’s behind the recent bounty on my head?”

Hearing his question, the little ghost girl couldn’t help but recall a certain unreliable, sycophantic execution tool, and her anger subsided.

However, before she could answer, the decapitated girl huddled in the corner spoke up: “I think I know.”

“You do?” Chen Sheng turned to her at once.

“Yes.” The headless girl nodded. She’d just remembered seeing Chen Sheng’s face on a wanted poster.

“Who is it?”

“A big shot who arrived in Shangjiang City a few days ago.”

This response made Chen Sheng’s brows lift. As expected, it was likely trouble left behind by the “Chen Jueshen” whose identity he’d assumed.

“How do you know?” he asked.

“That big shot brought a fierce female ghost with him. As soon as they entered the city, the ghost killed several people. Vengeful spirits are rare in Shangjiang City, so the news spread quickly.” The decapitated girl explained, “And it was mentioned that you were specifically named in the bounty.”

Chen Sheng nodded; this answer was exactly what he’d anticipated. He then asked, “Vengeful spirits are rare in Shangjiang City? What about Black-faced Impermanence and the others—aren’t they considered vengeful spirits?”

Chen Sheng, of course, had no idea about the distinction between vengeful ghosts and ordinary ghosts.