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Chapter 77
🕑 Added 2024-01-30 05:48:15 +0000 UTC"…"
Lynne: ".."
Decapitated Ghost Woman: "..."
For a moment, an unexpected silence enveloped the surroundings.
This was something Lynne hadn't anticipated, and he found himself disliking this almost instinctual understanding of the situation. It reminded him of a similarly embarrassing experience at Miss Blood Spirit's house.
With a pop, Lynne withdrew the gun barrel from her mouth, casting her a fleeting glance. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped off the strange fluid that had smeared the barrel.
"How long have you been in this... business?" he asked.
The Decapitated Ghost Woman, still in a daze, opened her mouth, "First time…"
Her head, having twisted too far, finally fell off and rolled to Lynne's feet, looking up at him pitifully.
Lynne, with a deadpan expression, picked up her head and faced it towards himself, shaking his head, "Why to choose to imitate street haunting of all things? To be honest, I'm not unreasonable. If you hadn't suddenly twisted your head around to scare me, I wouldn't have hit you."
The Decapitated Ghost Woman tearfully apologized, "I'm sorry, sob."
This human didn't seem like a normal person at all! She recalled a young human male who had recently asked for directions – his reactions seemed more like what a normal human should exhibit. A little scared and off he ran, how cute! Why was there such a stark difference between people?
Sigh.
Calmly, Lynne reached out, pulled her body up, adjusted the position, and placed her head back onto her neck. With a twist, he snapped it back into place seamlessly. He patted her shoulder and closed his eyes, "No need for compensation. I see you don't have much experience. Just remember not to scare people unnecessarily."
Then, Lynne extended his hand, took out a business card from his pocket, and handed it to her.
The Decapitated Ghost Woman, bewildered, asked, "What's this?"
Lynne, still with eyes closed, explained, "This is my business card. If you ever consider plastic surgery, you can make an appointment at Bloodsaw's potion shop in Wandering Soul Lane next door. And besides being ugly, I notice your spine is a bit loose. Your head falls off too easily. If you have time, I can stitch it up for you right now."
Ding—
Lynne produced a needle, its tip glinting with a dazzling light. His expression was serious, not at all joking.
[Decapitated Ghost Woman's Sanity -10]
"No… no need!"
The Decapitated Ghost Woman, pressing her head down, retreated fearfully, covering her face where the handprint was, crying, "I'll stitch it myself when I have time! And I'm sorry, I didn't know you were a creature of this world too! I swear I won't scare anyone again, please let me go, sob."
It was too much for her to bear. Really too much!
Lynne looked at her reassuringly, nodding, "It's good to know your mistakes and change. In the future, be sure to do good deeds, avoid haunting the streets, and engage in honest business. And don't go around frightening people anymore, understood?"
The Decapitated Ghost Woman, tearfully nodding, replied, "Understood, sob."
[Ding! You have reformed a lost ghost, earning 50 experience points and +1 happiness]
Watching the Decapitated Ghost Woman hastily flee into the foggy street, clutching her head and sobbing, Lynne felt a sense of fulfillment and his mood brightened.
Sometimes, the creatures of the Dark World can be quite endearing. With just a little guidance, they are willing to reason with you.
Lynne took out the map from his pocket again, carefully discerning his path, and continued along the street, holding the lamp, like an innocent youth.
...
The street was shrouded in rising fog.
Crackle—
Crackle—
Under the dim streetlights, two tall, slender figures stood with their heads hanging, their bodies as straight as pine trees.
The two figures seemed to stand side by side, but upon closer inspection, one could see that their bodies were actually fused together, forming a bizarre "Siamese" shape that was eerily unsettling.
Crackle—
Crackle—
The sound of a saw cutting through flesh and bone echoed, especially chilling in the dark. At this moment, however, they felt something was amiss. They had the sensation that something in the darkness was watching them, and it had been for quite some time. An unnerving feeling chilled their hearts.
"Brother, do you feel it?"
"Yes, brother, I do."
The two tall, slender figures simultaneously lifted their heads, turning vacantly to peer into the darkness behind them. What they saw immediately struck them as odd.
In the dark street behind them, under a broken street lamp, sat a human boy on a small stool, a dim soul lamp hanging from the lamppost. It was clear that the intense feeling of being watched originated from here.
Under the faint light of the soul lamp, the boy sat motionless on the stool, chin propped on his hands, staring directly at them, giving off an eerie and unsettling vibe.
"Brother, I'm a bit scared."
"Me too, brother."
"He seems to have been watching us for a long time."
"He's been watching us for more than ten minutes."
An uncanny silence spread unrestrainedly. The two elongated figures stared blankly and directly at the boy under the distant street lamp, then continued to see slowly at the flesh connecting their bodies.
Gradually, they both began to feel unnerved. Previously, they were the ones who stared directly at passersby, causing them to flee in fear quickly. But this time, they were experiencing the terror of being watched by a mysterious presence for the first time.
He couldn't be human, could he? He couldn't be alive, right? What was he looking at?
Moreover, the more they observed, the more unsettling and peculiar his gaze seemed to be. It was the first time since their death and descent into this world that they felt such discomfort and hair-raising fear.
[Ding! Twin Ghosts' Sanity -5]
Their eyes widened, their bodies stiffened, and the saws in their hands involuntarily slowed and became rigid.
On the dark street, the Twin Ghosts faced the boy sitting under the street lamp, their gaze spanning the night's darkness.
Bizarre. Terrifying. Discomforting.
Their hearts slowly rose to their throats, their bodies tensed, spines chilled with nervousness. At that moment, suddenly, the soul lamp under the street lamp extinguished, plunging the distant area into darkness.
Their hearts skipped a beat.
It's out?! It's gone! Was that "human" still sitting there? Or had he prepared to launch an attack on them?
His presence felt profoundly ominous; he certainly couldn't be human, as no human would engage in such peculiar behavior.
Where had he gone? Could he be...
In an instant, both of them swiftly turned to look behind them. The chill wind whistled through the streets, stirring the dark mist. Behind them was empty; their tensed hearts finally relaxed.
As creatures of the Dark World, they understood the tricks of its evil spirits all too well: If you don't watch them, they appear behind you the next moment, ready to attack.
"Not behind us?"
"Not behind us."
"Not there."
The Twin Ghosts silently breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from their brows. But as they were about to turn around, they suddenly realized something amiss.
They were two entities. But where did that third voice come from...?
(((;◔ᴗ◔;)))
Instinctively, they turned around. Right in front of them, the boy who had been sitting under the distant street lamp was now standing before them, looking up, staring directly into their faces from a close distance.
The boy grinned, revealing a friendly smile.
"..."
"..."
"Ghost!!" The Twin Ghosts screamed in terror, reflexively climbing several meters up the nearest street lamp pole.
[Ding! Twin Ghosts' fear of you +40]
[Ding! Twin Ghosts' fear of you +10]
The fright nearly made them lose their wits.
"Sorry for scaring you."
Lynne, polite and gentle, looked up at the Twin Ghosts as they slowly slid down from the lamppost. He tried to appear as friendly as possible, then kindly handed them a business card, saying: "I happened to pass by and saw you two sawing at yourselves, so I couldn't help but watch for a while. This is my card, as you can see, I am a doctor."
The Twin Ghosts, trembling, cautiously took the card, asking: "Are you human or a ghost?"
Lynne, slightly taken aback, then broke into a warm smile, adjusting his monocle: "Of course, I am human, and not just any human, but a good one."
Seeing that Lynne didn't seem to have any immediate intention of attacking them, the Twin Ghosts hesitantly let go of the lamp post but still instinctively maintained a safe distance of two meters from him. Because he seemed too normal. And it was this very normalcy that made them feel all the more uneasy.
"You were watching us for so long, why?"
The Twin Ghosts asked warily.
Lynne responded with a chuckle, "Well, you see, I am a doctor. I noticed you two trying to saw at yourselves. After observing for several minutes, it seemed like your saw was stuck in the middle, neither advancing nor retreating, as if you were facing some difficulty. So, I thought of offering my help. Do you need the assistance of a real doctor?"
The Twin Ghosts hesitated, exchanging glances. Then their eyes narrowed, showing clear malice.
"Brother, is this guy mocking us?"
"Brother, I'm really annoyed right now!"
Crackle—
Crackle—
The Twin Ghosts' eyes narrowed, and they swiftly pulled out the saw stuck between them, splitting it into two halves. Each held a half, dripping with crimson blood. Before they could advance, their bodies suddenly stiffened.
Whirr—
The sound of an electric saw buzzing.
Lynne cheerfully revved up his electric saw, the sharp blade spinning in front of them, blinking as he offered, "How about using mine? I guarantee it's quick and effective, and won't hurt a bit."
The Twin Ghosts blankly looked at the fine saws in their hands and then at Lynne's rumbling electric saw. They involuntarily swallowed. Quickly, they hid their small saws behind their backs.
"No need! No need!"
They laughed nervously, their eyes darting away as they wiped the sweat off their foreheads, stammering, "We were just playing with the saws, no need to trouble you. Plus, we're quite poor and can't afford a doctor. Let's just forget it, shall we? Ha... ha ha..."
[Twin Ghosts' sanity -5]
[Twin Ghosts' sanity -6]
Lynne earnestly said, "Don't worry, I don't charge money. My teacher always said, while charging in the shop is a rule, outside we should carry a heart of kindness. As a medical angel, I firmly believe in this principle."
Whirr—Whirr—
He continued to rev the electric saw.
[Twin Ghosts' sanity -10]
Sweating profusely, the Twin Ghosts stepped back, their eyes wide in fear, "Um... such kind-heartedness is rare, ha... ha ha... But really, you don't need to bother... We think it's quite fine this way~ Don't you agree, brother?"
"Yes, yes, brother."
They nodded frantically.
Lynne's face showed a hint of difficulty as he pondered for a moment before decisively reaching into his pocket to produce two cards, handing them over to the Twin Ghosts.
Upon receiving and examining the cards, their faces were struck with shock.
[Bloodsaw Potion Shop 20% Discount Coupon: Use this item to visit Lynne at Bloodsaw Potion Shop on Wandering Soul Street and enjoy a 20% discount on all services.]
Tucked between the two cards were about ten skull coins.
"This… this…"
The Twin Ghosts were astounded.
Lynne coughed softly, speaking in a low voice: "Encountering conjoined beings like yourselves is quite rare in the history of medicine. As a doctor, I can hardly contain my excitement at such a unique case."
He lifted his head, adjusting his monocle which reflected the light from the streetlamp.
"So, I ask you to grant me the honor of treating you. These discount coupons and skull coins are a token of appreciation for meeting you."
Lynne looked at them with hope, "What do you say?"
The Twin Ghosts were overwhelmed, gazing at Lynne's hopeful expression and then at the coupons and skull coins in their hands. They felt their worldview being severely challenged.
For years, seeking medical help always meant spending a fortune, yet today they were actually receiving money in return!
Was this considered bribery? It was their first time encountering a doctor who was willing to pay them to perform surgery!
This… this…
…
A few minutes later.
The Twin Ghosts stood there, drenched in sweat and nervous, one hand on the wall and the other gripping a lamp post, exposing the connecting part of their conjoined bodies.
Whirr—Whirr—
Lynne, across from them, was serious, pulling the electric saw to increase its speed.
The Twin Ghosts swallowed hard, trembling, "Doctor, are you serious? It won't hurt at all? And you guarantee a successful surgery?"
Lynne focused on the saw, and replied gravely, "Rest assured, my teacher is a renowned expert with the electric saw, and I have perfectly inherited all of his skills."
"How long have you been learning?"
"Two days."
"!!!"
