Chapter 173: Paying the Gift Fee, Rice Grains and Meat Chunks

After blocking the captain, the Ghost Train side didn't require Zhang Hao to deal with it again.

Perhaps because there were no intelligent Fierce Ghosts, the Ghost Train, after arriving in this Painting World, quickly came to a stop.

In the carriage, a terrifying Fierce Ghost stepped out of the train at this moment.

At the same time, besides the Fierce Ghosts in the carriages, some foreigners seated on the Ghost Train also got off.

Zhang Hao roughly observed the Ghost Train's passengers and noted that several figures who stepped off the train appeared to be living people, exuding a terrifying aura.

"These should all be King Organization King-level Members, right?"

He formed a judgment in his mind, but Zhang Hao didn't dwell on it for long.

Because the ranks of King and Captain now hold little meaning for him.

With his ability to infinitely stack Suppression Quota, even if many King Captains arrive, he can deal with them one by one.

"He Yuelian! Prepare the banquet!"

After waiting a moment, Zhang Hao shouted toward the empty space behind him.

As his voice faded, a beautiful woman with a smiling face stepped forward.

"Alright, I'll arrange everyone's entry now."

He Yuelian walked to the front of the Square, raised her hand, and waved outward as if greeting.

Yet the moment He Yuelian raised her hand, both Fierce Ghosts and humans simultaneously lifted their heads toward her.

"The Fierce Ghosts within their bodies are restless, instinctively wanting to enter the Square."

Zhou Deng looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"Go in; our numbers are now about enough for two tables, so any mishap later will be easier to handle."

Lu Zhiwen stared at the Square ahead, his gaze full of apprehension.

"I'm not sure if it's an illusion, but it seems that all the Fierce Ghosts in the world have gathered here."

Lin Bei's tone grew solemn; he recognized many familiar figures.

Because he rode the bus and only got off after his own Fierce Ghost Dead Machine, Lin Bei has relatively extensive experience with Fierce Ghosts.

Although not fully knowledgeable, he has seen many Fierce Ghosts that roam the Spiritual Realm.

Yet just now, he had already spotted many familiar silhouettes.

For example, toward the west side of the Square, an old man wielding an Iron Shovel was walking toward the Square.

Beside the old man, numerous oddly shaped figures, stained with earth as if they had just crawled out from underground, stood nearby.

This inevitably reminded Lin Bei of the Graveyard that the bus had passed many times.

On the other side, a group of people with Yellow Paper stuck on their foreheads and wearing shabby clothes reminded him of that Strange County Town.

However, there were fewer of those with Yellow Paper, perhaps because the Strange County Town has fewer Fierce Ghosts, or due to some unknown reason.

Not only Lin Bei, Lu Zhiwen also discovered some Fierce Ghosts they had all encountered before.

Not far away, a road connecting to their Square had a person reading a newspaper walking toward them.

"That is an A-Class Paranormal Event, a special Fierce Ghost with intelligence that can alter living people's memories."

Beside the person reading the newspaper, there was a group of suit‑clad Fierce Ghosts, each holding a newspaper to varying degrees, appearing to be a gang.

This inevitably reminded Lu Zhiwen of that special Supernatural Incident, the Ghost Newspaper Agency.

Meanwhile, in the sky, a flock of heads like balloons drifted toward this direction.

"Head Balloon!" Feng Quan startled, becoming alert.

The number of Fierce Ghosts increased, and various Spirit Phenomena manifested at this moment.

At the same time, at each of the Square's four entrances, a pair of Paper Couple Dolls—one white, one red—appeared.

The red Paper Couple Doll depicted a female figure, resembling a bride.

The white Paper Couple Doll showed a male figure, clad in a pallid long robe, looking like a groom yet also like a funeral.

"These ghost things, could it be a marriage of the dead?" Zhou Deng seemed to have considerable knowledge of folklore.

He watched the scene, and couldn't help thinking of some ominous things.

"Although I feel it's unlikely a Fierce Ghost would do this, considering it's the Red and White Double Evil, the possibility exists," Lin Bei said gravely.

"The two ghosts of the Red and White Double Evil have been together since their debut."

"According to what you said earlier, the old mansion ahead has a special room, and now the mansion is controlled by the Red and White Double Evil."

Lin Bei didn't continue, but everyone understood his meaning.

At that moment, someone began entering the Square.

No, it should be a ghost; when that ghost entered the Square, the paper groom beside it tore off a limb from the Fierce Ghost and ate it.

Meanwhile, on the other side, a Fierce Ghost wielding a wooden stick, resembling an old beggar, also approached.

However, as the old beggar entered the Square, the paper bride reached out and snatched the cane from his hand.

"Could entering inside be attacked by these ghosts?" someone asked, their face pale.

Not only him; everyone noticed the situation ahead.

At that moment, another ghost walked over.

This was one of the Fierce Ghosts that had been holding newspapers earlier.

One of them, a middle‑aged Fierce Ghost holding a newspaper, when it reached the paper groom, voluntarily handed a newspaper to him.

After receiving the newspaper, the groom ate it in one bite and no longer troubled the middle‑aged Fierce Ghost.

Later, others also discovered that some Fierce Ghosts voluntarily surrender Supernatural Artifacts when entering the Square.

Only Fierce Ghosts whose Supernatural Artifacts are of poor quality get attacked by the paper groom.

"It seems that to enter the Square, one must pay a gift fee," Lin Bei mused, rubbing his chin.

"However, this kind of gift fee likely has certain requirements; if the minimum standard isn't met, one may be attacked by those two paper dolls."

"Damn, isn't this robbery?" someone muttered.

"You guys can pay if you want, but I'm not paying."

"You can also choose not to pay." Lu Zhiwen calmly glanced at that person.

"We have enough people already; one more of you won't make a difference, and one less won't matter either."

Lu Zhiwen saw through this person's little scheme—he just wanted to complain and get someone sensible to pay the so-called gift money for him.

Hearing this, that person gave an awkward smile.

Not pay the gift money? What a joke—he didn't dare face that terrifying Paper Couple Doll.

The way it devoured Supernatural Artifacts one bite at a time was enough to make anyone's heart race just looking at it.

Having eaten so many Supernatural Artifacts or the flesh and blood of Fierce Ghosts, the consequences of being attacked by it were easy to imagine.

As for staying outside? What a joke.

The Fierce Ghost inside his body was now extremely restless; if he stayed outside much longer, who knew if the ghost would revive.

While everyone was still hesitating, the Fierce Ghosts from various places had already gone in, seven or eight out of ten, leaving only their team of Ghost Tamers still outside.

"Let's go!"

Zhou Deng swept his gaze over the other directions and saw that those still outside were basically all teams of Ghost Tamers, so he stepped forward.

Zhou Deng walked up to the Paper Bride. Compared to the ghost-eating Paper Groom, he felt this bride was easier to deal with. A Paper Tube appeared in Zhou Deng's hand, and with a pained expression on his face, he handed the Paper Tube to the Paper Bride.

"Hehehe!"

Taking the Paper Tube, the Paper Bride let out a series of hehehe laughs.

Although the Paper Bride didn't eat ghosts, just looking at her, everyone felt she was even more eerie than the Paper Groom.

This thing seemed to possess intelligence.

Zhou Deng passed through safely, while Lin Bei now walked toward the Paper Groom.

As for brides and the like, the psychological shadow they left on him was too deep; he didn't want to get close.

Lin Bei held a Mirror Fragment in his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he handed the Mirror Fragment to the Paper Groom.

The groom took the fragment, but this time he didn't choose to eat it. He raised the fragment high.

The next moment, the fragment vanished in his hand, as if someone had taken it away.

Seeing this, Lin Bei's pupils contracted slightly.

He hadn't detected any fluctuation of Supernatural Aura at all—it was as if the Mirror Fragment had disappeared out of thin air, utterly bizarre.

"Forget it, no time to dwell on this now. Better hurry up and get in."

Lin Bei looked around, silently noted these things in his mind, and then left.

Next came Lu Zhiwen's turn. Compared to the others, Lu Zhiwen's method was much simpler.

Lu Zhiwen stepped forward, holding a three-yuan Paper Money bill, and handed it to the Paper Bride.

The Paper Bride giggled as she took the Paper Money, but she didn't attack Lu Zhiwen.

"Damn! I got ripped off."

Seeing this, Zhou Deng's eyes widened.

"Why didn't I think of this? If I'd known, I would have just given Paper Money too."

Although Paper Money had the ability to Buy Life Money, that ability was only useful against relatively weak Fierce Ghosts.

At their level, to buy their own lives, it might cost over ten yuan of Paper Money each time.

Getting in with three yuan of Paper Money—compared to a Supernatural Artifact, which was more valuable went without saying.

Lu Zhiwen's success made many people who held Paper Money brighten up.

But not everyone had the same strength as Lu Zhiwen and his group. For some weaker Ghost Tamers,

three yuan of Paper Money could save their lives, so spending it still hurt.

Still, at a time like this, no one dared to cheat or treat their own lives lightly.

Because just then, at another exit, someone had already had an arm torn off by the Paper Groom for offering an insufficient gift.

Half an hour later, everyone had paid their gift money.

Apart from the Supernatural Vehicles parked outside, ninety-nine percent of the Fierce Ghosts in this world were now gathered in this Square.

Lu Zhiwen and the others found a spot near an exit with few Fierce Ghosts and sat down.

At that moment, in the Square, Paper People—some white, some red—appeared one after another.

The red Paper People held white jade-like wine cups and placed cups of red Blood Wine on the tables.

The white Paper People carried trays, on which were arranged unknown Blood Clots that looked like cooked raw meat.

The Paper People brought these Blood Clots to the Fierce Ghosts or Ghost Tamers nearby.

Looking at these Blood Clots, Zhou Deng and the others swallowed.

It wasn't fear—these Blood Clots were emitting an irresistible fragrance that made them instinctively want to eat.

"Wait, let's observe first."

Lu Zhiwen looked toward the direction of the distant Fierce Ghosts.

As the Blood Clots were served, the Fierce Ghosts at the full tables had already started eating.

Lu Zhiwen noticed that even the terrifying Fierce Ghost that had been driving the Ghost Ship was now wolfing down these Blood Clots.

It seemed these Blood Clots held some unknown benefit for these Fierce Ghosts.

At the same time, some Fierce Ghosts were reaching for the plates of Rice Grains set on the tables.

They mixed the Rice Grains with the Blood Clots and ate quickly.

"I remember now—mixing these Rice Grains with your own blood and letting a Fierce Ghost eat them can prevent the ghost from attacking you for a certain period."

Zhou Deng looked at the Rice Grains on the table, recalling his past experience with Yang Jian in the old mansion.

Upon hearing it, everyone's eyes lit up, and they reached out to grab those rice grains.

Even Lu Zhiwen, at this moment, proactively extended his hand and seized a handful of rice grains.

"Gulu!"

Suddenly, at that moment, a swallowing sound came from beside the crowd.

It was a Ghost Tamer who rode a Ghost, and he did not reach for those rice grains.

The fragrance of the Hong Bai Shuang Sha blood clot seemed to make him unable to endure any longer, so he grabbed a handful of the blood clot and swallowed it.

As the blood clot entered his stomach, a chilling aura immediately emanated from his body.

At this point, the man seemed to come to his senses, his face showing terror.

"After eating these, my Fierce Ghost revived."

The man looked at the crowd in terror, his eyes showing a plea for help.

But everyone at that moment merely stared at him coldly, with no intention of intervening.

"Come to think of it, after these rice grains are stained with blood, they can prevent Fierce Ghost attacks."

"This blood clot, judging by its appearance, should be able to cause a Fierce Ghost revival, and even carries some other supernatural effect."

"If one stains the rice grains with one's own fresh blood and then eats them, could it prevent the damage brought by a Fierce Ghost revival?"

Lu Zhiwen spoke with a hint of meaning, as if pondering, yet he habitually uttered it without realizing.

Hearing Lu Zhiwen's words, the man fell silent for a moment, feeling the abnormality inside his body grow stronger, and he hurriedly looked at the porcelain plate in the middle of the table.

The rice grains in the porcelain plate had already been snatched away by everyone, but a few grains were still scattered on the table.

The man tried to stand and pick up that single grain, but found the bench beneath him now firmly stuck to his legs.

Seeing this, he could only bend down, almost pressing against the table to retrieve the scattered grain.

Having obtained the grain, the man did not hesitate; he bit his finger, letting blood drip onto it.

After swallowing that grain, the man's chilling aura did not vanish, but the onlookers could see his complexion become considerably calmer.

It seemed the condition inside his body was not as dire, allowing him to calm down.

"It looks like Lu Zhiwen got it right; eating these blood‑stained rice grains can indeed, to some extent, prevent Ghost Wound when the Fierce Ghost revives."

"The rice grains can ward off attacks from a reviving Fierce Ghost, and likewise can prevent the ongoing erosion of the body by a reviving Fierce Ghost."

Zhou Deng glanced at Lu Zhiwen; the fellow appeared refined, yet even from those words one could tell he was not that simple.

He is a scheming fellow.

(End of chapter)