Chapter 28: A Nail as a Gift, Debt Repaid

Chapter 28: A Nail as a Gift, Debt Repaid

Ji Yan took a step back as the spectral hand struck his chest. A terrifying aura erupted, sending cold sweat down his spine. For a moment, he envisioned his chest being pierced, his vision drowned in blood...

Yet, all he heard was a tearing sound. He remained unharmed, but his sweater was ripped open.

"Oh?"

"This sweater looks familiar. You’re that old hag from 404’s grandson," the Mother Supernatural Entity remarked, her crimson lips curling as she examined the frayed threads caught on her sharp nails.

"Mommy! Grab him! Turn him into a 'toy'! Xiao Xiao wants a new toy!" The Ghostly Child shrieked with excitement.

Ji Yan yanked the Privilege Badge from his chest. "This belongs to the Landlord—"

Before he could finish, the badge was snatched away and crushed into pieces.

The Mother Supernatural Entity sneered. "This trash might work on the lower-floor tenants, but to me, it’s just a worthless trinket."

"Did you really think this thing would let you run wild in the apartment?"

Ji Yan hadn’t expected the 8th-floor tenants to be so unreasonable. Not only was the Night Privilege Badge useless here, but they also didn’t need a reason to attack a Player—just a whim.

Something was off. The killing intent in this Female Supernatural Entity’s eyes was overwhelming. A child’s request alone shouldn’t warrant such bloodlust...

"If I’ve offended you, I’ll leave now."

"Thinking of running? Too late."

"How many more hits do you think that sweater can take?"

Her nails grew sharper and longer, slicing through the air like bloodied blades unsheathed.

"This was hand-knitted by Grandmother. If she finds out it’s ruined, she might come looking for you to settle the score!"

"Using that old hag to scare me? Tell her to step onto this floor—see if she dares to speak!"

"What I mean is... Can I trade this treasure for my life?"

Ji Yan pulled out the so-called "treasure" from his Toolbar and handed it over, desperation clear in his eyes.

"Take a look?"

His open palm revealed a long, rusted nail.

Before the entity could react, Ji Yan drove the nail forward with all his strength, empowered by specter power. It pierced her throat, sinking halfway in.

As if activated, the Coffin Nail emitted a dark, searing aura, sizzling as it burned through flesh.

The Mother Supernatural Entity let out a piercing shriek.

Ji Yan turned and fled.

If she wasn’t going to spare him, neither would he hold back.

The Ghostly Child wailed in terror.

Thick black blood gushed uncontrollably from the Mother Supernatural Entity’s neck. She gripped the Coffin Nail with her claws and yanked it out.

"Shut up! Cry again, and I’ll rip your mouth apart!"

"Get back inside!!"

Her twisted, monstrous face glared at the Ghostly Child, who stifled its sobs and scurried back into the room in fear.

"You filthy Rat... You dare trick me?"

"Do you really think you can escape?"

With a crushing grip, she shattered the Coffin Nail in her hand. Her hair rapidly lengthened, turning snow-white, her face twisting into something inhuman as she lunged forward at a horrifying speed.

Meanwhile, Ji Yan sprinted downstairs, the Mother’s flashlight in hand.

The hysterical screams echoing from the stairwell urged him not to slow down for even a second.

Ji Yan sprinted down the 7th floor without hesitation, dashing straight toward the end of the corridor.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!!

The door to Room 702 was pounded frantically as Ji Yan shouted, "Mr. Liu!! Open the door, quick!!"

The door cracked open slightly, revealing half of Liu Nianqing’s face. "I’ve got a bad feeling about this. You knocking on my door at this hour can’t mean anything good."

Gasping for breath, Ji Yan pleaded, "Let me in first."

"Help! A tenant’s trying to kill me!"

"You do know most of the tenants who die every month end up dead because they wander around at night, right?"

"What, you don’t sleep and just go looking for trouble?"

Despite his words, Liu Nianqing still opened the door.

"Who’d you piss off?"

"I’ll help you this once. After this, we’re even."

After shutting the door, Liu Nianqing turned to look at the disheveled Ji Yan.

Listening to the noises outside, Ji Yan hesitated before speaking slowly, "A tenant from upstairs..."

The moment "8th floor" was mentioned, Liu Nianqing’s face darkened.

"You said you’d help with anything except the Landlord."

Liu Nianqing’s lips twitched before he gritted his teeth and asked again, "Who did you piss off?"

"I swear, I was just passing by! That brat’s mother suddenly wanted to kill me—I don’t even know why!"

Though he said that, Ji Yan already had a guess as to why the Mother Supernatural Entity still wanted him dead.

"That family of three in 804?"

"That whole family’s got terrible tempers."

Liu Nianqing narrowed his eyes. "That woman wouldn’t want you dead for no reason. You must’ve done something!"

No sooner had he spoken than the door behind him began visibly rotting. "Liu, hand that brat over."

"I’m not in the mood to deal with you."

Liu Nianqing fell silent for a moment before replying coolly, "I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just got up for a drink."

"Tell your kid to stop playing marbles upstairs at night. It’s annoying."

A heavy silence followed before the Mother Supernatural Entity’s sinister voice seeped through. "Oh? You’re protecting that dead rat?"

"You, a pitiful widower who can barely pay rent or even feed himself—still playing hero for others?"

"You little bastard put a hole in my neck! This isn’t over!"

Crack.

Strands of white hair slithered through the rotting door cracks, spreading across the floor as if ready to break in.

Liu Nianqing rubbed his temples and asked Ji Yan, "You got the Rusted Hatchet?"

"Yeah."

"Let me borrow it."

Without another word, Ji Yan took it out and handed it over.

Gripping the hatchet, Liu Nianqing turned and stabbed straight at a spot on the door.

A strange noise came from outside, and the invading white hair recoiled like startled birds, swiftly retreating.

When Liu Nianqing pulled the hatchet back, a few drops of black blood clung to the blade.

He tossed it back to Ji Yan before addressing the door again. "Stop screeching like a shrew out there."

"There’s no one in my place. If the neighbors see you making a scene, rumors might reach your sensitive husband—he’ll think I’m cuckolding him."

The Mother Supernatural Entity’s voice was practically gnashing teeth. "Liu Nianqing, if you insist on meddling, then let’s play."

"I can’t deal with you, but when my hot-tempered husband gets here, let’s see if you can still act tough."

The commotion outside gradually faded away.

The decayed and dilapidated door actually returned to its original state in the blink of an eye.

Liu Nianqing shook his head, turned around, and poured himself a glass of water at the table.

Ji Yan hadn’t expected Liu Nianqing to actually stand his ground against the resident from the eighth floor and send them packing outright.

This favor still carried some weight after all!

"Mr. Liu, thank you."

Liu Nianqing spoke indifferently, "Now we’re even."

"How you managed to piss off that white-haired woman so badly, I won’t ask, and I’m not interested."

"Now get out. I need to rest."

"I’d like to drink some water before I go," Ji Yan said, still wanting to linger a little longer—who knew if someone was lying in wait outside?

Liu Nianqing shook his head. "No can do. You can’t stay another second. Get out now."

"So urgent?"

Liu Nianqing dropped the pretense. "Of course it’s urgent, dumbass! If you stay any longer, that woman’s husband will be down here soon."

"This door of mine can’t hold back that madman. I’ve repaid the favor. Whether you live or die is none of my concern now. Get the hell out!"

"..."