The moment Ning Chen finished speaking, the ghost bride's expression froze.
"Sugar water…?"
At the same time, system notifications rang out in Ning Chen's mind.
"Ding! Ghost Bride is stunned — Merit Points +10!"
"Ding! Ghost Bride is confused — Merit Points +10!"
"Ding! Ghost Bride's heart is stirred — Merit Points +10!"
"Note: The Host may obtain Merit Points by killing ghosts or influencing their emotions!"
"Merit Points can be used for item enhancement and system lotteries!"
"When Merit Points reach 1,000, the lottery function will unlock!"
Ning Chen's eyes lit up instantly.
Looking at the ghost bride, it was as if he were seeing huge piles of walking Merit Points.
And moreover—
Her heart was stirred?
Noticing the constant changes in her expression, Ning Chen's thoughts raced.
This had to be the buff from the Ning Caichen II title!
Otherwise, a ghost bride like this should've attacked immediately—
How could she possibly be moved?
Once he understood the principle, Ning Chen decided to be bolder.
He stepped forward two paces and stopped right in front of her.
Tilting his head up, he looked at her delicate face hidden beneath the red gauze veil.
The smile on Ning Chen's face grew brighter and brighter.
He reached out directly and grabbed her slender jade-like hand.
Although her hand was a full size larger than his, it didn't diminish its beauty at all.
As always—
Tall stature aside, nearly two meters in height—
Her body proportions were absolutely perfect.
Back in the day, this was labeled feudal superstition and mocked as deformity.
But now?
She was a hundred times better than those so-called internet celebrities!
As the saying goes—
Whatever "little horse" nonsense—
He truly loved this type!
"Ding! Ghost Bride is flustered — Merit Points +10!"
Flustered?
Well, that made sense.
Back when she was alive, everyone probably feared her and avoided her at all costs.
Who would've dared touch her like this?
Ning Chen gave her jade hand a gentle squeeze and continued smiling.
"Come on! Didn't I already say I'm treating you to sugar water?"
As he spoke, he pulled hard.
Caught completely off guard, the ghost bride was dragged straight into the apartment.
Before she could react, Ning Chen slammed the door shut and locked it.
Ghost Bride: "..."
Ignoring her stunned silence, Ning Chen excitedly dragged her over to the living room sofa.
When she saw him genuinely pour her a cup of sugar water, the red glow in her eyes gradually faded.
She remained silent for a long while.
Only after Ning Chen placed the cup in front of her did she finally speak softly.
"You… aren't afraid of me?"
"Why should I be afraid of you?"
"I'm a ghost…"
The ghost bride spoke gloomily, and under the influence of her yin aura, the lights in the room began to flicker.
"Are you… teaching me how to behave?"
"If it weren't for the fact that you look so—"
Ning Chen's eyebrows shot up, and he shouted—
But before he could finish, the ghost bride cut him off.
"You… said I look refined and pretty?"
"Ding! Ghost Bride is secretly delighted — Merit Points +10!"
"Well, of course! I'm an honest man—I speak the truth!"
"You really are beautiful."
Ning Chen raised an eyebrow and said with a grin.
The ghost bride pursed her lips and lightly floated down onto the sofa.
With a casual wave of her hand, the cup of sugar water on the coffee table floated into the air under the control of yin energy.
Holding the cup, she lifted the red veil from her head and took a small sip.
Then she looked straight at Ning Chen, her gaze complicated.
In life…
And in eighty years after death…
This was the first man who had ever praised her looks.
Even though he resembled that heartless man…
If she killed him…
It really would be a little regrettable…
"Ding! Ghost Bride is conflicted — Merit Points +10!"
...
The ghost bride was conflicted, but Ning Chen was delighted.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the choice mission!"
"Invite the Ghost Bride inside for sugar water~"
"Spirit-Capturing, Ghost-Dispatching General has been issued to the system space. Accept?"
"Accept!"
Why wouldn't he accept—wait for the system space to gather dust?
Letting her go now would just waste all the effort he put in!
With the Ghost-Dispatching General, he could make her his first bound spirit.
A little maid who could serve tea, massage shoulders, and even act as a human-shaped air conditioner—
Wasn't that wonderful?
A moment later, a mysterious and profound force surged into his body.
His core energy roared as streams of icy black energy overflowed from his skin.
Countless insights about the technique Spirit-Capturing, Ghost-Dispatching General flooded his mind.
One of the Eight Arcane Arts.
And just like that, Ning Chen mastered it completely.
All he could say was—
The system was absolutely insane.
The ghost bride sensed the change in aura and her expression shifted.
But before she could react, a low shout rang out.
"Spirit Capture!"
In the next instant, she was locked in place.
Ning Chen's eyes erupted with silver light as he raised one hand.
Dark energy pulsed rhythmically in his palm.
A second later, the ghost bride shattered into wisps of black smoke, converging into his hand.
They formed a compact mass of dark energy, which then flowed straight into his body.
Ning Chen instantly sensed the connection between himself and the ghost bride.
Joy surged in his eyes.
If his strength continued to grow and he broke the capture limits—
Even a Ghost King would be easy prey!
The future looked bright.
After dealing with the ghost bride, Ning Chen finally relaxed.
He collapsed onto the sofa and drained the cup of sugar water he had poured earlier.
...
After thinking for a moment, he went next door.
Jiang Qiujin had been scared badly today—
As a gentleman, he naturally had to go comfort her.
He had a spare key to her place and went straight inside.
At the sound of movement, Jiang Qiujin thought it was the one knocking earlier.
But when she saw it was Ning Chen, her mouth trembled.
She rushed over and clung to him, refusing to let go.
"Bro—"
"It's okay, Jiang Jiang. Everything's fine now…"
"I already chased that person away!"
Patting her on the back, Ning Chen comforted her gently.
Then he carried her into the bedroom.
"Bro… you're not hurt, right?"
Sitting on the bed, Jiang Qiujin anxiously checked him over.
"I'm fine!"
"I'm a scholar, after all! I'm best at reasoning with people!"
"I even invited her into my place for sugar water~"
Holding her hand, Ning Chen chatted and joked with her for a long while.
Eventually, she calmed down.
He firmly—but politely—refused her invitation to sleep together.
After coaxing her to sleep, Ning Chen quietly returned to his own apartment.
He had just awakened his cheat—
This was the capital he needed to survive in this world.
He had to familiarize himself with it as soon as possible.
As for Jiang Qiujin?
There would be plenty of time in the future.
...
He closed the door and returned to his bedroom.
Lying on the bed, a thought crossed his mind.
Wisps of black smoke seeped out from his body and gathered on the bed.
They condensed into a figure wearing a phoenix crown and霞帔.
"Master!"
Kneeling on the bed, the ghost bride bowed her head respectfully.
Ning Chen nodded, extremely satisfied with the domineering nature of the technique.
This ability was absurdly powerful.
To be honest—
If he ordered her to die now, she wouldn't hesitate.
Of course, Spirit Capture only maximized her loyalty—it didn't erase her thoughts.
She still retained her independent personality.
Which was good.
If she were reduced to a puppet after capture, what fun would that be?