Chapter 39 The Strongest Connection in the Realm of Anomalies

"Sister, have your injuries recovered?"

Duan Ming immediately activated his appraisal skill.

Sure enough, Ying Hongyan's status of severe injury was gone. In the current level column, three striking characters were displayed: "Despair Grade," and her ghostly aura had even reached a terrifying 999,999,999.

He had once tried to guess just how strong Ying Hongyan's prime state was. Originally, he only thought she was a Destruction-grade bigwig, never daring to imagine she would be at the Despair grade, and a half-step Wordless at that.

This made the single summoning opportunity from the protective amulet immensely precious, easily equivalent to thousands or tens of thousands of those previously imagined Calamity-grade summonings.

Duan Ming froze in place.

Han Lingling and Qin Wei, standing nearby, showed the exact same expression.

It was Ying Hongyan who finally spoke up to break the silence.

"Yes, I have recovered. This is all thanks to you."

"Me?"

"Yes." She nodded, her gaze drifting leisurely toward Duan Ming's right forearm.

"I really didn't expect her to be in your hands."

"Her?"

Duan Ming raised his right arm.

Little Yun?

"She..."

"Shh～" Ying Hongyan made a gesture to quiet him. "She is not someone you can casually discuss at your current level."

"Although I don't know what agreement you two reached, since she is willing to become your enslaved ghostly spirit..."

Duan Ming suddenly interrupted, "Sister, Little Yun isn't my contracted ghostly spirit; she's my enslaved ghostly spirit."

"En... Enslaved ghostly spirit?!"

Ying Hongyan, who had always maintained an air of serene detachment, suddenly widened her eyes as if she had heard the most unbelievable thing in the world, her gaze shifting back and forth between Duan Ming and his forearm.

After a long while, she slowly withdrew her expression, though it still looked somewhat unnatural compared to before.

"This world is too crazy," she murmured.

"What?"

"No... nothing. Since that's the case, it's naturally the best choice for you. Anyway, don't talk about certain things regarding her, and don't ask about them either. When the time comes, you'll naturally know."

"Oh."

Though he gave a casual, floating response on the surface, a monstrous storm was already raging in Duan Ming's heart.

To be able to shock Ying Hongyan to this extent, and even warn that her name must not be mentioned or spoken of, Little Yun's identity was practically self-evident.

Wordless.

Even though her strength had plummeted to the Fierce Ghost grade due to the loss of her head, she was still Wordless. It was basically certain that Ying Hongyan's recovery was inseparable from Little Yun. Combined with the muttering of the Coffin-Wealth Residential District's property management committee leader who had beaten him previously, Ying Hongyan falling into a severe injury might even have been Little Yun's doing.

Therefore, the moment she came into contact with Little Yun's tattoo, Ying Hongyan was able to recover as good as new because that Wordless power within her body had been taken back by Little Yun.

Only a Wordless power could affect the Boundary Stone, causing the Coffin-Wealth Residential District instance to end prematurely.

Good grief, his older sister was at the peak of the Despair grade, and she was enslaving a Wordless entity in her hand. Was there any connection stronger than Duan Ming's in this ghostly realm?

He grew significantly more confident just speaking.

"Then congratulations to Sister for returning to her peak."

Ying Hongyan smiled slightly. "I said, this was all your merit, and I won't forget it. Once I find Chenchen, I will definitely come back to your side."

Duan Ming was overjoyed. "Have you found traces of Chenchen?"

"Yes." At this, genuine excitement appeared on Ying Hongyan's face. "Although I only received news that Chenchen once appeared in the Northern Domain of the ghostly realm, that's enough. As long as he is still safe and sound, that's all that matters. Right now, I am on my way to the Northern Domain."

"Oh right, I've already transferred that house in the Coffin-Wealth Residential District to your name through the property management. Have time to go home and take a look; I left a good thing for you there."

Ying Hongyan smiled mysteriously.

A good thing?

What good thing could be more valuable than a house?

This was a house in the ghostly realm! Probably nobody else in the entire circle of Ghost Controllers enjoyed such treatment.

Duan Ming replied, "Okay, I'll definitely go back when I have time."

Ying Hongyan returned a gentle smile, at which point her gaze swept over Han Lingling standing nearby.

"This young lady is..."

"Oh, she's my younger sister, my younger sister, hahahaha."

Duan Ming pulled Han Lingling over, reaching out to give her hair a messy rub. The ponytail tied in her hair instantly turned into a messy ball.

Han Lingling glared angrily, but kept her mouth shut and dared not speak.

"Oh, hello younger sister, my name is Ying Hongyan, Duan Ming's older sister in the ghostly realm. You can call me sister too."

"Sis... Sister, hello," Han Lingling obediently lowered her head.

Qin Wei, standing to the side, trembled even more violently.

"Huh? Isn't this the little ghostly spirit I beat up that day? Did he bully you? Is that why you called me over?"

Qin Wei's heart almost cracked from fright, and he waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no! I didn't bully him, I... I... I'm his underling!!!"

He was almost crying.

Why did everyone think he would bully Duan Ming?

"An underling?"

Ying Hongyan looked at Duan Ming, who slapped his forehead. "I almost forgot the main business. The injuries on this underling of mine were caused by you back then, Sister. Do you think you can help cure him?"

"Since they're our own people, it's just a minor matter."

Ying Hongyan raised her hand slightly, and a grey wisp of aura drifted out from Qin Wei. The latter felt a surge of comfort throughout his entire body, and his whole ghost became revitalized.

He bowed deeply twice.

One to Ying Hongyan.

One to Duan Ming.

At this moment, Ying Hongyan sensed her surroundings and slightly furrowed her brows. "There is the aura of the Evil grade here. Did you run into trouble?"

"I ran into a bit of it."

"Do you need me to make a move?"

Duan Ming shook his head. "Since you can be summoned by me at my current level, Sister, your projection probably isn't that simple to deal with either. Besides, the time you have left shouldn't be much anymore, right? Moreover, the situation is still unclear, and it hasn't reached the point of wiping each other out yet."

"I'll observe the situation further. If possible, I don't want to fight her to the death. Of course, if it really comes to that point, I won't be polite."

Ying Hongyan replied, "Alright, since you insist."

"Time is almost up, so take care of yourself. Once I find Chenchen, I'll bring him back to see you."

"Okay."

With these words, Ying Hongyan's illusory figure gradually faded until it vanished.

The room fell silent once more.

Just as Duan Ming was feeling emotional, he suddenly felt a piercing pain in his right ear as he was hoisted high up.

"Ah～ It hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts, Sister Lingling, let go quickly!"

"So I'm Sister Lingling when it gets to me, huh? Just a moment ago over there, you were calling her 'sister' as sweetly as you could, huh?!"

"Sister, sister, sister, go easy, go easy, my ear is going to fall off!"

"Calling me sister now? It's too late! A younger sister, you say? Why didn't you just say I'm your wife?!"

"You'd let me say it, but I wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, what a joke. You can even acknowledge a half-step Wordless entity as a sister; is there anything in this world that you, Duan Ming, wouldn't dare to do?"

"It hurts, hurts～ Qin Wei! Help me! Haven't you recovered your strength? Your boss is being bullied and you're just standing there acting blind?!"

Qin Wei: "..."

How did this drag me into it?

Still, he hardened his scalp and stepped forward.

"That..."

"Scram!"

"Okay."

(End of this chapter)