Ha, Karma! – Chapter 18

How did you get Elder Sister to agree?

Lin Yun’s request left both the human and ghost present in silence.

After a few seconds, the little water ghost finally moved, hesitantly pointing outside: “Sh-should I go ask?”

As soon as the words fell, something flew in from outside and hit the water ghost directly on the head.

The water ghost yelped in pain, caught off guard.

She rubbed her head grievously while looking at Chu Zhaoqiu and Lin Yun: “She doesn’t agree…”

Lin Yun: “…”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “…”

“I’ll go negotiate with her.”

Chu Zhaoqiu could only volunteer.

Among those present, only she and the water ghost could speak with Fu Lianxue.

The water ghost had already been rejected, so she was the only option left.

A demon hunter must not only be able to subdue and eliminate demons but also protect innocent humans.

If she could get the necklace and expose Chen Hong’s true nature, helping Lin Yun see clearly and avoid this dangerous situation, it would be a meritorious deed.

The water ghost touched her head and blinked.

“Ah, you’re going?”

Would it work if she went?

Does she know Elder Sister?

Chu Zhaoqiu told the water ghost to stay put in the room.

Then she turned to look at Lin Yun and said: “You stay here and wait for me to return. If any ghosts try to harm you, use the talisman paper to block them. The yellow talisman I gave you can ward off evil and protect you. I’ll sense if anything happens and rush back immediately.”

Lin Yun was stunned for a moment before hurriedly taking out the talisman paper.

She had wanted to go with Chu Zhaoqiu to meet that person.

But seeing that Chu Zhaoqiu had no intention of taking her along, and given the mysterious nature of the situation, she probably couldn’t go…

“Come back quickly,” she said softly, “I’m scared…”

Upon hearing her say she was scared, the water ghost immediately ran to the corner and huddled there.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, I’ll stay right here and won’t move, though I’m scared too…”

Lin Yun asked, puzzled: “What are you afraid of?”

The water ghost: “I’m afraid you’ll call up all those demon hunters from downstairs!”

Lin Yun suddenly realized.

Oh right, Chu Zhaoqiu’s subordinates were still downstairs – she wasn’t unprotected after all!

Looking at the water ghost’s pitiful appearance, she didn’t feel as scared anymore while clutching Chu Zhaoqiu’s talisman paper.

She turned her head to look for Chu Zhaoqiu.

Only to discover that she had vanished.

A living person had just disappeared from her room like that!

“…”

Lin Yun: “Wow…”

There really were so many things in this world she didn’t know about!

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The sunlight was bright, and the morning breeze gentle.

Fu Lianxue stood under a tree listening to the wind rustling through leaves, her expression content.

Soon after, footsteps sounded behind her.

She turned to look and saw Chu Zhaoqiu approaching slowly.

“We meet again, Young Master Chu.”

Chu Zhaoqiu got straight to the point: “You heard Miss Lin’s request.”

Fu Lianxue lazily leaned against the tree: “You know what, helping her so earnestly – aren’t you afraid she’s just lovesick and you’re wasting your efforts?”

Chu Zhaoqiu replied seriously: “I only do what I can and should do, with a clear conscience, regardless of the outcome.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Fu Lianxue suddenly walk toward her.

Slender, fair fingers lightly pressed against her chest.

Their eyes met as the distance between them suddenly shortened, with neither able to escape the other’s gaze.

Amid the intense floral fragrance, Fu Lianxue stared at her unblinkingly, fingers jabbing her chest twice.

“Was stabbing me with that sword back then also done with a clear conscience?”

The pressure from her fingertips was neither light nor heavy, but pressed against her heart, it left an undeniable sensation, just like her hatred and resentment.

Unforgettable, unrelenting, impossible to ignore.

Looking at the demon so close before her, a trace of sadness welled up in Chu Zhaoqiu’s heart.

The grudge between them seemed to have entangled her for many years…

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

But before she could speak, Fu Lianxue cut in: “Forget it, you don’t remember the past, so asking you now won’t get me sh*t.”

Then she handed over the necklace.

It was unexpected and caught her off guard.

Chu Zhaoqiu looked at the necklace in her palm: “?”

Fu Lianxue gave a sly smile.

“This isn’t free. I want you to agree to one condition.

“You’ll owe me one favor, though I haven’t decided what yet. I’ll come back to collect when I figure it out.

“If you can accept this, take the necklace and go. If you can’t accept…”

Fu Lianxue took the necklace back from her palm and turned away gracefully.

“——Then goodbye.”

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Lin Yun and the water ghost remained peaceful in the room.

They didn’t know what to do except stay put and wait for Chu Zhaoqiu’s return.

This resulted in a situation where the human and ghost each stayed on their own side.

The room was very quiet.

So quiet it was awkward, making them restless and uncomfortable.

Lin Yun occasionally glanced toward the window, withdrawing her gaze when she didn’t see the person she was expecting.

Sometimes she would inadvertently notice the water ghost hugging herself in the corner.

Braided pigtails, ancient-style top and pants, and a childish face.

She definitely didn’t look like someone from their era.

“You…” Lin Yun tried to break the silence, “You’re not from our era—as a ghost, right?”

Hearing this, the water ghost replied: “No, I’ve been dead for a long time.”

Lin Yun paused for a moment: “Dead? You became a water ghost after death?”

The water ghost nodded: “Yes.”

Lin Yun was silent for a moment, then asked in a gentler tone: “What’s your name?”

“Me?” The water ghost’s eyes rolled around as she tried hard to remember, then said cheerfully, “I’m called Little Sister, and also Second Sister!”

Lin Yun: “?”

She couldn’t help but criticize: “Those aren’t names! You must have had brothers and sisters at home, and since you were in the middle, that’s why they called you that.

“I’m asking about your name, your actual name.

“Like me, my surname is Lin, I’m called Lin Yun – that’s my name. You must have one too.”

“Name…”

The water ghost looked confused, thinking hard before finally shaking her head.

“I can’t remember.”

She had been dead for too long, and after death, she seemed to have slept at the river bottom for ages.

She vaguely remembered people calling her “Little Sister” and “Second Sister” when she was alive.

Those voices were sometimes rough, sometimes gentle, and some were childlike.

After death, no one ever called her name again, and her memories of life grew fewer and hazier, like they had drifted away with the flowing river, never to return.

She sat in the corner hugging herself, her face full of bewilderment.

Lin Yun suddenly felt sympathy seeing her like this, and couldn’t help but grow more curious.

She looked very young, probably middle school age.

How did such a child end up dead?

Lin Yun wanted to ask about her cause of death.

But just then, Chu Zhaoqiu returned.

Not only did she return, but she brought back a worn-out necklace.

When the water ghost saw her necklace in Chu Zhaoqiu’s hands, her expression turned to surprise, and she couldn’t help flying to her side, looking at her curiously: “How did you get Elder Sister to agree?”

Realizing she had accidentally revealed Fu Lianxue’s gender, she quickly covered her mouth.

Chu Zhaoqiu calmly looked at the water ghost, the recent scene flashing through her mind.

She had grabbed Fu Lianxue’s hand before she could withdraw it.

Their eyes met in the gentle breeze.

She had told Fu Lianxue: “Alright, I agree.”

Then she returned with the necklace.

However, she never did answer the water ghost’s question.

Lin Yun looked at the water ghost, then at Chu Zhaoqiu, clearly confused.

They all seemed familiar with that “Elder Sister,” while she alone didn’t know who it was.

Then, she saw Chu Zhaoqiu calmly place the necklace in her palm.

“I’m lending you the necklace. You can do whatever you want with it, with just one requirement—don’t damage it.”

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