"The shops on both sides of the street are too desolate and eerie. Isn't there anyone not afraid of death? Anyone short on cash? Or bold enough to just open a haunted house?"
As Fang Ze pointed out each loophole, the little girl kept saying "Oh, oh," in acknowledgment while taking out a small notebook from somewhere and jotting down notes with her head bowed.
It was as if she planned to amend her scheme after recording all the loopholes, then go scare others once more.
Watching her do this, Fang Ze secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead.
In fact... he hadn't noticed that many flaws.
He had begun without any wariness. Once he got into the thick of the narrative, the little girl's increasingly intricate storytelling, coupled with the deepening psychological suggestions, completely immersed him in the tale, so he truly had no opportunity to spot them.
What actually broke the illusion was: Void Eye.
When the little girl asked Fang Ze questions, he tried to use Void Eye because he couldn't discern her true form, to see whether the little girl in front of him was human or ghost, and to check if there were any other specters around.
As a result... upon looking, he saw the "Real World," saw countless street vendors at their stalls, saw the bustling crowds.
Therefore, in that moment, Fang Ze guessed he had fallen for an illusion, or was unwittingly led by the person in front of him into some bizarre space.
And there could only be one with such strength, who also left secret messages to intentionally lure him— it had to be the new liaison.
Add to that the memory of One Two Three shivering in fear, and Fang Ze not only saw through the whole affair but even penetrated the new liaison's character.
A... little girl who loved playing pranks?
The reason it's in "question form" is because Fang Ze wasn't certain of the true age of the liaison before him.
In this world with extraordinary abilities, where creatures that age eternally exist, it wouldn't be too farfetched to have some artifacts that turn old age back to youth, right?
While thinking this, Fang Ze cautiously looked down at the liaison beside him and asked, "Excuse me... how should I address you?"
The little girl looked up and gave a sweet smile, only it was probably because that smile was exactly the same as when she was scaring people in the Spirit Realm, that Fang Ze didn't feel any pleasure, but rather a chill down his spine.
Then he heard the little girl say, "You can call me my code name in the organization: Hua Nu."
"Hua Nu?" Fang Ze looked the little girl up and down and asked, "Your ability isn't flower-related, is it? Why the name Hua Nu?"
Upon hearing Fang Ze's question, the little girl rolled her eyes, "Do you think everyone's as silly as Golden Fox? That their abilities match their code names?"
Possibly because there were many parents who brought their daughters out to play at the night market, so the combination of Fang Ze and the liaison Hua Nu didn't attract much attention.
The two walked and talked along.
And as a barter for just now aiding with the "improvement of a ghost story", Hua Nu also told Fang Ze about the situation just earlier.
Fang Ze hadn't guessed wrong. The place Hua Nu had taken him to was the Spirit Realm.
Just as the female instructor Qing Ya had said: the Spirit Realm isn't located somewhere else, it's right within the Real World, like a shadow world that completely overlaps with the Real World, even buildings, landscapes, forests, and rivers coincide exactly. Except, everything is made manifest by the Power of Laws.
What Fang Ze hadn't anticipated was that what he thought to be manifestations of the Power of Laws or some strange spirit entities should appear odd, uncanny.
Yet, having now experienced it firsthand, it seemed indistinguishable from reality?
At least, he couldn't tell.
Just... fewer people? More dilapidated surroundings? Seemed scarier?
But upon hearing what Fang Ze had said, Hua Nu rolled her eyes and casually remarked, "That's only because you haven't reached the Spirit Ascension stage and don't have 'Spirit Vision'."
"That's why you can't see what's different about the Spirit Realm."
"In fact, you can't even see some spirit entities."
As she said this, it was unclear whether she was trying to spook Fang Ze or if it was really true, "Just now, when I was scaring you, there passed by your side a very terrifying spirit entity with eight hands and more than twenty eyes."
"It scrutinized you for quite a while. But it probably found your flesh too old and so it left."
Honestly, watching her speak so convincingly, Fang Ze really couldn't tell if what she said was true or just a joke.
Fang Ze felt somewhat of a headache.
He felt that the character of this liaison was problematic, not as good as the original steamed bun shop owner who, though not very talkative, at least provided a sense of solidity when spoken to.
This little girl before him... honestly, he felt she could pull off something wicked like taking the information and fleeing...
Whether Hua Nu read Fang Ze's thoughts or not, she took his hand and rolled her eyes at him, "Hey, what's that look for?"
"Although I like to play pranks usually, when it comes down to serious matters, I'm quite reliable."
Fang Ze glanced at her and said bluntly, "I hope so..."
Hua Nu playfully waved her little fist at Fang Ze in feigned anger.
They found a tea house open all night and selected a private room.
After sending the owner out, Hua Nu dropped a couple of bizarre badge-like items in the room and sat down on the opposite end of the table from Fang Ze, initiating the day's formal negotiation.
Just as Hua Nu said, when it came to business, she was decidedly more serious and solemn.