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"But," Su Ming raised a finger, "considering you came all this way to scare me."

"So I'll give you a chance to explain."

"Tell me, why are you here to claim my life?"

He scrutinized the Life-Claiming Ghost.

Its skin was deathly pale, lips a purplish hue, and there was a dent in its head.

The cause of death was obvious; it must have fallen to its death.

The Life-Claiming Ghost stared at Su Ming in confusion.

Even if it pushed its dying brain to the limit, it couldn't comprehend Su Ming's words.

To it, claiming the life of the living was perfectly normal.

Just like how humans eat when hungry and drink when thirsty.

The Life-Claiming Ghost didn't know how to respond, so the Ghost School Belle answered for it.

Two words: "Instinct."

"Instinct?" Su Ming's eyes were fixed on the Ghost School Belle.

The Ghost School Belle turned her head and explained, "For ghosts, anything with vitality draws them in involuntarily."

"But because a ghost's existence in the world is fundamentally composed of the strongest negative emotions from its life—fear, resentment, unwillingness, jealousy, and so on."

"So, when they approach living beings, they try every possible way to absorb the negative emotions from them to satisfy their needs."

Su Ming understood.

In other words, ghosts primarily feed on the negative emotions of the living.

Fear, breakdowns, madness, especially the despair at the moment of death, greatly satisfy a ghost's needs.

It's akin to humans craving gourmet food.

And killing is the ultimate way to harvest these negative emotions.

Su Ming smacked a kiss on the Ghost School Belle's hand, "As expected of the School Belle, so knowledgeable."

The Ghost School Belle didn't react.

At least, from her expression, there was no reaction.

However.

Su Ming heard the system notification sound.

This could be considered an alternative inner voice.

[Favorability +10, Current: Unfamiliar (35/200)]

When he tried to kiss her hand again, the Ghost School Belle had already withdrawn it.

Su Ming could only shrug and refocus on the Life-Claiming Ghost.

Now that he understood its situation, there was no need to keep it around.

Su Ming shook his head regretfully at the Life-Claiming Ghost.

"What a pity."

"I was thinking, if you cooperated a bit, I wouldn't kill you."

"But you're not cooperating at all."

The Life-Claiming Ghost was anxious.

It wasn't that it didn't want to cooperate; it simply didn't know how to respond.

In its panic, it tried to grab Su Ming.

And that grab led to trouble.

As soon as it raised its hand, the Ghost School Belle's black hair began to dance.

In less than half a second, it exploded on the spot, turning into a pile of flesh.

It forgot that the Ghost School Belle was right there.

"How bold, to even think of ambushing me."

Su Ming cursed, just about to finish off the Life-Claiming Ghost when a system window suddenly appeared before him.

He immediately shouted, "School Belle, wait a moment."

[Detecting Anomalous Fluctuation]

[Unlocking Containment Function]

[Scanning...]

[Scan Successful]

[Detected "Danger Level" Jumper Ghost (Severely Injured), Contain?]

[Containment Success Rate: 100%]

[Containment Successful, Initial Loyalty 60]

(Warm Reminder: Loyalty below 60, 90% chance of losing control, please handle with care)

"Containment Function."

After the Jumper Ghost was on the brink of death, Su Ming unlocked a new function.

To be precise, it was after the Ghost School Belle severely injured the Jumper Ghost that it appeared.

So weak.

Couldn't even withstand a single move from the Ghost School Belle Projection.

But still, it's Danger Level.

After a brief consideration, Su Ming made a decision.

"System, begin containment."

[Ding! Executing containment command...]

[Target: Jumper Ghost (Severely Injured)]

[Capture Success Rate: 100%]

In an instant, a pitch-black halo emerged beneath Su Ming's feet, and several arm-thick iron chains shot up from the ground.

Their surfaces were covered in dark red rust, exuding a cold chill, as if alive, wrapping around the Jumper Ghost.

When these chains appeared, even the Ghost School Belle took a step back, then stared thoughtfully at Su Ming's back, pondering something.

The Jumper Ghost didn't know what this was.

But its ghostly instincts told it this was its only chance to survive.

So it didn't resist and cooperated fully.

The containment went very smoothly.

There was even an unexpected surprise.

The system window popped up with a containment success page.

[Ding! Containment Successful!]

[Danger Level Aberration: Jumper Ghost]

[Detected Jumper Ghost's extreme cooperation, Initial Loyalty +10]

[Loyalty: 70]

[Current Containment Capacity: 1/2] (Increases with Favorability and character development)

"Smart choice!"

After many choices, the Jumper Ghost finally made the right one, earning a chance to live.

As for losing control.

Su Ming wasn't worried at all.

At worst, he could give the School Belle an extra meal.

After unlocking the Containment Function, Su Ming unlocked another new function.

[Unlock Anomaly Scan Function, Range 500 meters]

(Warm Reminder: Completing Contained Entity's Obsession, resource feeding, active communication, all can increase loyalty)

The Jumper Ghost's Obsession is the Lychee Hotel.

It died at the Lychee Hotel in life.

So Su Ming triggered a quest [Obsession Quest (Jumper Ghost): Investigate Lychee Hotel]

Active communication is simple, just talk to the Jumper Ghost more.

Resource feeding is the key to increasing loyalty.

Resource feeding is divided into two types.

The first: Harvesting negative emotions from the living, such as fear, despair, breakdowns, etc.

The second: Feeding ghosts with ghosts, mutual devouring among ghosts is also a way of growth.

"No wonder the Anomaly Scan Function was unlocked."

Su Ming began scanning the surroundings.

A radar-like scanner appeared before him, with a range of 500 meters.

As soon as he scanned, Su Ming was stunned.

Seven red dots appeared within the scanner's circle, not counting the Ghost School Belle and the Jumper Ghost.

The nearest red dot was only about 70 meters away, seemingly in the building across the street.

"So many?"

He was dumbfounded.

Are there really so many ghosts in the real world?

Is this for real?

Immediately, he reached for the Ghost School Belle's hand.

He caught it.

But it didn't feel right.

Looking back, the Ghost School Belle was several meters away from him.

He had grabbed the Jumper Ghost instead.

No wonder it was so easy.

"Damn."

Su Ming kicked the Jumper Ghost.

"Can you stay away from me?"

"And, I kicked you, aren't you going to react?"

The Jumper Ghost looked at Su Ming in confusion.

Su Ming rubbed his forehead.

This guy was a Danger Level Aberration, yet his kick didn't move it an inch, and instead, his own foot hurt.

So, Su Ming spoke directly, pointing to the other side of the living room and scolding, "Fly over there, understand?"

The Jumper Ghost seemed to understand, then chose to fly away.

"Aye... ya..."

The long-drawn-out words echoed in the living room.

Su Ming's face darkened.

But the Ghost School Belle laughed.

The wind blew in from the balcony.

It didn't feel like a ghost, more like a signal of affection.

[Favorability +10, Unfamiliar (45/200)]

[Favorability +10, Unfamiliar (55/200)]

[Favorability +10, Unfamiliar (65/200)]

Su Ming couldn't help but sigh.

Raising a character... is really fun.

Both thrilling and pleasing to the eye.