Fucking shard of crystallised -Resentment makes me want to shed a tear. It’s so poorly edited. It’s like there was a large video someone windowed and they just cut off the best parts of the flickering flame. All you get is the core, and, sometimes, at the very edges, you might see the actual flicker of flame.
“If they’re that dangerous I’m going to let them out any time someone fucks with me, since it’s alright,” I snap, and I swear Widow’s Sigh rolls his eyes at me. Why can’t I see through those fookin’ masks?
Someone runs up to me presenting a pen and a sheet of paper. I send a quick private message in the team window to Silent Howl asking him to read the short contract real quick. Yes, it’s faster for me to wake him up and get him to look over it. Pffft. Like he’s not curious.
“The girls were created. There are several methods to create powerful spirits. You can buy poisons from our shop that will hold someone in a state of wakeful paralysis. We can interact with the flesh and the spirit.
“The one who made them kept them awake and paralysed for weeks while they worked. I don’t think they intended for both girls to survive, but they have, as two entities linked as one. You can’t separate them. They won’t allow it.”
Is this asshole telling me ghost stories right now? Why wasn’t the asshole who made them punished? Is that what they were doing in the village? Trying to make more ghosts? The fuck was that spiel about “just go to the Graveyards”? Wait. Is that how the populate the Graveyards?
... Eugh.
“Damaged souls tend to be weak spirits, giving you servants and lesser guards. More powerful souls can be guards or soldiers. Push too far and you might create a demon, but you know all about that,” Widow’s Sigh says in the same tone as he said that fackin’ ghost weapon bullshit. I swear to all if he’s saying Shimmering Steel made me a demon instead of just a silk factory on purpose...
No need for idle threats. I’m probably going to eat everything anyway...
I take a deep slow breath, steadying myself. No need to get upset... Mustn’t Death Knell. No grab the ghosts. Protect. The girls.
Silent Howl:
The fuck is this?
The first thing he points out are that there are 12 other names crossed out along the bottom of the page. The contract itself is only a few lines, but there’s so many symbols woven into the paper --. Hells, the paper isn’t even just paper. It’s a physical binding spell. I write my name, with blood, -- ichor, -- and the bits and pieces of the girls used to create the paper, -- fuck, these people are sick, -- and my blood will mix. And they’ll be bound to me. And probably kill me like they did the others. Or just watch as I get my ass handed to me, who am I to judge?
“They haven’t had a female owner yet, and they tend to consume their male owners, so that might be common ground for the two of you.”
One. Math? Two? Fuck all the way off.
“Men, women, children, animals, spirits probably. I consume everyone equally, although not all meals are equal,” I mumble, distracted. You wanna at me, bish?
I nibble on one arm, giving myself a light wound, dip the bone shard quill, -- seriously? -- into my “blood”, and sign under the third row of names on the contract. I feel that fackin’ ghost weapon sizzle as the contract and quill go up in flames, and then the girls are standing beside me.
Contracted Help
Achievement +100
Form a contract? I have. Or the emperor did between me and Shimmering Steel. I think. Never got a look at it --. Holy shit, did he?
Silent Howl:
Focus!
What is your luck?
Is this what good Karma gets you?
They’re scary strong!
Shut up!
... Thank you for your help.
“You’re mine now,” I tell them, realize how awful that sounds, but Aunty somehow explains before I can figure out how to apologize.
“The contract... Isn’t supposed to break like that,” Widow’s Sigh says, holding a ghost stone blade.
“It didn’t break!” Asshole! Why didn’t he warn me --. Oh.
And the girls hear her. Just like Fuck Face did. And they don’t look pissed or vengeance-y. Sweet!
They exchange a glance before shyly pulling out two money pouches, opening them and lightly tipping them in my direction.
[Tribute x10]
[+12 -Ghost]
[39000 x10 -Resentment Gained]
[Ghost Pot (+100/-12)]
[Resentment: +527810/-456747]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831238/24277349]
[Current Qi: 1905495/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97109397/107275977]
“Oh!” Shit. Why are they paying me?
What? I go to my Logs to find out why they’re giving me presents.
“The fuck is a tribute?” Logs aren’t telling me why, just that I got loaded for no reason.
“Advanced spirits can collect other spirits and Resentment. One or the other. Truly, it depends on the spirit,” Widow’s Sigh says as Silent Howl and Aunty tell me to shut the fuck up. “What did they provide you with?”
“Protection?” I snark, the girls giggling behind their sleeve shrouded hands.
[1 Tear of Resentment Produced]
[-10,000 -Resentment]
[Ghost Pot (+100/-12)]
[Resentment: +527810/-446747]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831238/24277349]
[Current Qi: 1905495/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97109397/107275977]
“This is for you,” I hold out the tear and the girls exchange looks before they both reach out and politely accept it, holding the tiny thing with the tips of their fingers. “You two hold onto this. Share it, okay?”
Gods, their hands are so small... And what they endured... But the ones who did this to them got theirs, didn’t they? I’ll find out. We’ll go on a cross-empire food tour if anyone’s left. This should last you a few years, just so you never have to wonder where your food is coming from.
“Here!” I make them two pouches similar to the ones they kept their previous owners in.
[200 -Resentment Stones Produced]
[-20,000 -Resentment]
[Ghost Pot (+100/-12)]
[Resentment: +527810/-426747]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831238/24277341]
[Current Qi: 1905495/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97109397/107275977]
I split the stones, 100 to each pouch and put the pouches in their pouches.
“For emergencies!” I say, gently attempting to remove one girl’s hand from her pouch as she grabs one of the stones. “Feed on the shard. These are for if you get separated or hurt. Let me know when you need more, okay?”
I pat her hand, get to keep mine, and take a shaky breath.
Still alive! Must keep cackles inside! I tried to move her hand and nearly fell on her. I have no way of stopping these girls. I’m so fucked if they go off.
Cool.
What do I do now?
I’m not about to go into the store with them staring at me like, knowing that the tools that made them are sold here --.
“Oh!” I start as I realize I’m still holding a Shard.
I take the first shard I made, -- I never put it down, I just held it up and palmed it waiting for them to stop me from releasing the evil spirits, -- reach through the weird ward glass, and set the shard on the stones where the girls were. There’s actually a stone bench underneath all of the stones, but it got blocked by the stones piled around it.
I nod, turn, and catch sight of Fashionista still looking shell-shocked as he puts the stones in his purse. Purses. This bish is still picking up the stones. Looks like he’s got spatial bags but they’re only so so.
Heh.
Oh, right.
“What have I contributed?” I shout, pointing at Widow’s Sigh’s face, picking up on my earlier rant. I didn’t run out of steam, I was busy! “‘Disciples contribute 100 Resentment a year’? You owe me now!”
-Thank you. Master,- the girls say, bowing their heads respectfully while I gag and try to comb off the ick.
-Sandy is fine!- I shudder, shimmying and flailing as I try to dislodge the grossness. And a whole lot of fear, ‘cause Master is what the dead people in my Ghost Pot were called.
The girls exchange looks, giggle, and then pull out small knives.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Oh, fuck me. I don’t even bother running. They’re ghosts, right? They look--.
They’ve got meat suits.
Oh, I’m fucked.
They do a respectful bow, a quick dip, heads lowered, before cutting off a lock of their hair, maybe two inches from a small section at the bottom of their waist long length. Then while I’m waiting for them to end me they bow again, offering me their hair. Aunty hiss whispers for me to take it, so I take the bundle of hair from both of them, cheers, and eat it.
[Feeding(Qi) x2 Successful]
[1 x2 Con. Qi]
[Karma 100 x2 Gained]
[Ghost Pot (+100/-12)]
[Resentment: +527810/-426747]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831240/24277399]
[Current Qi: 1905495/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97109597/107275977]
Yeah, that’s cultivator hair. Fack, they’re strong as shit. Oh, gods, I’m having a heart attack. Hopefully it takes me out before they get their hands on me.
The girls gasp, stiffening, growing taller, appearing to age a few years, -- holy shit, they really were just kids, -- their irises cycling through a rainbow of colors. They cheer and laugh, bouncing and lacing their hands together.
Ack. I hope they know how to preserve corspes. No wait. I do now. From the Soldiers. Fack. I never got Fuck Face a proper body. Yay, forgetfulness? Or was that why he kept shifting the pick through my innards? That’s a fucked up reminder.
I can respect it.
Fack. I’m the asshole.
-Let’s go,- I sigh, head lowered as I give them a weak wave to get them to follow. -I gotta go apologize...-
They skip over to me, hop to a stop, and just beam while holding hands. They’ll probably giggle like they are now when they kill me. Oh, fack, I’ve got natural glitter. Yeah, they’re definitely arts-and-crafts-ing my ass...
I sigh again and transfer us back to the village. I’ve been all up in the place, courtesy of the monks, so I know it well enough. And it’s way faster than the markers. Speaking of.
“Can you use Stone Markers to move around?” I turn my head to look back at the girls. They giggle, jump, disappear, and then come screaming at me from a different direction. “Oh, fuck!”
They stop, laughing hysterically, and I realize they did the show not tell thing. Don’t. Call. Them. Bitches... I hold my breath and wait for the urge to pass. There’s a marker, several probably, nearby. They can move to them without moving to them. Cool.
“Thank you?” I wheeze out before taking a deep breath.
[Vengeful Ghost Sect Breathing Technique II]
[3 -Resentment Gained]
[-5 Karma]
[Last Rites II Enhanced]
[-100 x10 HP]
[Karma +100 x10 Gained]
[100 x10 +Resentment Gained]
[-1 -Ghost x10]
[Ghost Pot (+100/-2)]
[3 x12 -Resentment Gained]
[3 x218 -Resentment Gained]
[Karma +5 x0 Gained]
[20 x100 +Resentment Gained]
[Karma +50 x100 Gained]
[Resentment: +528810/-435680]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,578,475]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831240/24281278]
[Current Qi: 1905495/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97125112/107275977]
Sweet, there’s still incense --. Oh, shi--!
-That wasn’t an attack! I was just breathing! Don’t hit me!- I shriek at the girls, crouched down arms up to shield, defend, and sacrifice in case I have to run. I can grow a new arm!
Silent Howl:
Why’d I stay awake for this?
I’m going back to bed.
Aunty tells me to stop embarrassing myself just as a group of monks race from the paths leading to the square, -- why the fuck did I drop down into the middle of town?! -- arms raised, cheering loudly.
The sisters immediately spin up, rising into the air --
-- and look in confusion at their censers.
They’re just floating, with golden filigree, round, covered incense censers on the end of a long thick chain, leading to --.
What is that? They’re wearing gold filigree masks. Veils. Oh, my gods, they’re wearing muzzles shaped like veils with locks on the back, locked by the chains leading to the censer.
-I didn’t do that...-
They’re going to castrate me.
The monks, -- smarter than me, unfortunately, -- go back into their purification formation, but now they’ve got us surrounded. There’s chanting, that fucking sharp knocking drum is being tapped, -- Aunty tells me to show respect, but that loud tap is annoying. Even a big bassy drum would be annoying! -- and the incense in the area thickens.
The girls bristle, their censers pouring out smoke, and then one of the monks sounds a bell.
[Vengeful Ghost Sect Breathing Technique II]
[3 -Resentment Gained]
[-5 Karma]
[Last Rites II Enhanced]
[-100 x10 HP]
[Karma +100 x10 Gained]
[100 x10 +Resentment Gained]
[-1 -Ghost x2]
[Ghost Pot (+100/-0)]
[3 x2 -Resentment Gained]
[3 x218 -Resentment Gained]
[Karma +5 x0 Gained]
[20 x100 +Resentment Gained]
[Karma +50 x100 Gained]
[Resentment: +530810/-436140]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,578,475]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831240/24281783]
[Current Qi: 1905495/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97127132/107275977]
“Ah...” I drone, trying to pop my ears, -- thought I didn’t have any? -- wondering how to get rid of tinnitus.
One of the monks claps me on the shoulder, scaring the shit outta me, and I frantically look around to see the monks laughing. And the girls are sitting on my ass.
Let’s see those skinny bitches do that. They’d fall right off!
Why are they sitting on my back?
“Kisandera the Clever!” One of the monks jokes, and I missed the rest. How long have they been talking shit?
I accept a bowl of washed poisonous greens, sitting down and going into my Logs to find out “WTF?”. Um... Tone. Girls purified. Ooh! And the collected Resentment! That’s nice. Probably get that later if they don’t use it. Um-mum-mum... Weren’t injured? Karmic chains deflected the Purification attempt, wuh? No seriously.
Silent Howl:
Couldn’t sleep with that much stupid.
Your Karma? The girls are bound to you. You’re sharing it now?
As long as your positive karma outweighs your negative Resentment, and theirs, you two should be fine.
And it’s two because they count as one object not two entities.
Assholes.
“Don’t hit me!”
You for real right now?
I look over with everyone else, as a festering corpse runs up, drops to their knees, then prostrates themselves, bowing and raising their hands in surrender over and over again.
-BRB,- I broadcast, snatching up Fuck Face and the girls to my void. -How the fuck did you survive? Oh!-
Before they can explain I scrap their body and build a new one. Reinforced flesh and bone, no organs, can I donate ichor instead of using that weird poison blend they have for the --. Better not. First time, so shouldn’t doctor the recipe too much. Probably. Upgrade the abdominal cavity for spatial storage, -- void bug shit. Let’s see the others try this! -- he’s pretty handy with a sickle, so black iron sickle ‘cause we got it... Everyone else can suck it. What else?
Can he use Qi? Qi reserve... Gonna have to look into that... Oh! Cores! Core? Core! Um... I think I can... Yes! I can produce Jade, stash energy into it, oh, it can convert it? Like some fucked up transformer battery system? Do that! Solid energy what...?
What else did they build into the soldiers? Oh! Stone Marker for transport... And... No. This is a first draft. Produce that shit!
Ghost Soldier
Achievement +50
[Ghost Lieutenant Produced]
[-100 Con. Qi]
[-500 Karma]
[-5000 -Resentment]
[Ghost Pot (+100/-0)]
[Resentment: +530810/-431140]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831140/24281658]
[Current Qi: 1905495/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97126632/107275977]
-There! New body! Don’t stab me any more!- I start off happy enough, but I snap, pissed off all over again by the time I finish.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt you!” Fuck Face drops to his knees, sinking in and nearly burying his head in the dirt when he tries to knock it against the ground.
While he’s staring in confusion at the damage he’s doing I go to my Logs.
Ghost Weapon... Burn? No.. Poison! Soul Poison... Isn’t that a drink? Soul Poison... Fuck Face... Okay!
He noticed I couldn’t breathe, hurt himself interacting with the weapon, didn’t think he’d be able to hold it long enough to remove it, so tried to detach whatever organ it was connected to. Oh! I can grow new shit. Okay. Why the pushy?
He honestly didn’t notice the back of the pick.
He’s not malicious. He’s dumber than I am.
Kinda hurts.
-Okay, I understand I’m one to talk, especially considering how much you’ve done, but you really are a shitty servant,- I finally admit.
“You literally picked me up out of the garbage and never fixed me,” he points out, standing tall and imposing in his powerful new deluxe flesh suit. Maybe I shouldn’t have given him a super awesome reinforced sickle. “Or replaced me.”
And he has a point. Several. ...
-Fuck it,- I throw my hands up, turn, and the girls squeal and hop on my back again. -Oh, uh. I don’t know if I can make you girl bodies.-
“You don’t have to. They’re contracted. They made their own,” Fuck Face points out, slinging a harvest sack onto his shoulder.
They did what? I look and the girls, -- they know where my Ultravision is... -- strike poses like I’m flying a drone. They look healthy, but Fuck Face does at the start.
Shit, am I? Visible. Not a healthy young girl. That’s conspicuous as hells. I thought that was for --. Does this count as remote viewing? I thought that was proxy remote viewing.
Shit. They... Look alive.
-You’re not actually alive, are you?- I ask, deeply concerned that they’ve got parasites in their personally customised bodies.
In response one of them turns around and blows on my antenna.
One, how the fuck did they know? I forget and they’re my antenna! Two, their breath is warm, moist, and smells like breath. Not corpse breath, and not I ate too much pickled garlic, but definitely living breath.
-Fuck, I don’t have food,- I panic and Fuck Face sighs loudly, rolling his eyes and his entire fucking head.
“They sustain themselves with Resentment. You can try giving them positive regard if you don’t want them getting corrupted over the centuries,” he finishes sarcastically. “Now take us back out. They didn’t kill all of the villagers, and some came back. I need to point out the disciples to the monks, so this shit doesn’t happen again.”
How’s he so stupid and so useful?
Silent Howl:
Learned it from watching you?
Go to sleep! Asshole...
