73: Chapter 73 Slaying the Delivery Monster

The rule for the masseuse at the foot massage parlor in the small goods market was [Free Service]; when Chu Xuan delayed payment, she transformed into her Specter form on the spot.

This delivery guy was likely the same.

Deliberately delivering disgusting junk food was a calculated move, intended to make the target trigger the killing rule!

However, this delivery guy was clearly much stronger than the low-level Specters he had encountered in the small goods market; otherwise, he wouldn't have died at this guy's hands in the future.

These thoughts flashed by in less than two seconds.

The delivery guy was visibly showing signs of impatience. Chu Xuan didn't delay any longer and grabbed the packaging bag.

“I hope you enjoy your meal.” The smile on the delivery guy's face became brilliantly bright again, but he didn't mean to leave, remaining motionless at the door.

Chu Xuan didn't move recklessly, his brain spinning rapidly.

Is it because I haven't paid?

Or do I have to eat the delivery on the spot?

As he was thinking, [Future Tang Zheng] finally sent a message:

[Chu Xuan, the delivery guy you're facing has been parasitized. It's a C-rank Ghost. Remember, you must give a positive review!]

A positive review?

But I didn't order delivery through a phone app. Where am I supposed to give a review?

Chu Xuan's mind raced as his gaze swept over the delivery guy. Seeing the other's expression slowly darkening again, Chu Xuan's eyes suddenly fixed on the man's chest.

The delivery guy's outfit was mostly the same as a normal one, but there were some subtle differences.

On both sides of his chest were coin-sized icons: a smiling face on the left and a mourning face on the right.

Chu Xuan's heart stirred.

This must be it!

At the same time, another message from [Future Tang Zheng] arrived: [The review buttons are on the delivery guy's chest. You must give a positive review!]

Click!

The moment he saw the message from [Future Tang Zheng], Chu Xuan felt confident. He reached out and pressed the smiling face on the delivery guy's chest.

“Thank you!”

Accompanied by an electronic voice, the smiling face on the delivery guy's chest lit up green.

Chu Xuan clearly saw a hint of disappointment flash across the delivery guy's face. He shook his head slightly and turned to leave, but his slow pace suggested he was reluctant to go.

Chu Xuan, who was on high alert, was stunned. He thought the delivery guy would drop the act and try to kill him by force.

Chu Xuan already knew that C-rank Ghosts would transform into their Specter form when harmed or facing a fatal threat, but the delivery guy hadn't done so.

Chu Xuan immediately realized that his understanding of Specters was still too shallow. Feeling uneasy and worried about a trick, he sent a message to [Future Tang Zheng]:

[The delivery guy is leaving. I want to know why he didn't attack me proactively to force me into harming him or posing a fatal threat?]

[Tang Zheng: This is all the result of rule collisions. Different levels of Specters are affected by rules in different ways, aside from their own strength.]

[C-rank Ghosts are also known as Lurkers. Aside from their own killing rules, when they take damage, they can choose whether to immediately enter their Specter state based on their own will. However, they are subject to more rule restrictions, namely that they cannot proactively provoke or harm humans of their own volition. They play the role of peaceful, kind citizens in human society, but in reality, they hide among the crowd. At any moment, someone might trigger their killing rules and be eaten until nothing is left!]

[As for B-rank Ghosts and A-Rank Specters, we'll talk about them later. My enemies have found me again, and I'm currently on the run. If you have more questions, let's keep it brief.]

So that's how it is!

Chu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that [Future Tang Zheng] was being hunted again gave him a bit of a headache, but it also explained why the replies were slow.

While wondering if he could help, he caught a glimpse of the delivery guy out of the corner of his eye. The man was dawdling, looking back every few steps, seemingly unwilling to leave.

Is he targeting me?

Chu Xuan narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he sent another message:

[Do you remember the oil lamp I carried when I brought you out of the Night Demon's Domain? It's a spiritual item that can reduce the pressure of Forbidden Domains. Can it affect a C-rank Ghost?]

[Tang Zheng: I forgot that was in your hands. That's a ghost-forbidden lamp. Within the lamp's light, it can suppress D-rank Specters and average C-rank Ghosts, preventing them from transforming into their Specter forms. Even B-rank Ghosts aren't willing to waste spirituality attacking the lamp bearer unless absolutely necessary.]

[But be careful, this thing might be too much for you. It consumes a lot of spirituality. You must ensure you can kill the opponent in a short time. Otherwise, if the lamp goes out due to insufficient spirituality, he can kill you in return!]

The ghost-forbidden lamp?

I didn't know this thing was so strong!

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up. He suddenly shouted to the delivery guy who was only two or three meters away, “Hey kid, get your ass back here! What kind of food is this? Is this even fit for human consumption?”

Chu Xuan deliberately rolled up his sleeves, looking like he was about to beat someone up.

The delivery guy's eyes immediately brightened. He ran back quickly and bowed in apology, “I'm so sorry for making your meal unpleasant. How about you give me a couple of slaps to vent your anger?”

“Come inside with me, and remember to close the door.”

Chu Xuan entered the room without looking back. Seeing the other man follow him in with a smiling face and close the door, he sneered inwardly.

“Sir, can we start? I'm very tough; you can hit me however you like.” The delivery guy remained extremely respectful, his face full of sincere smiles.

“I want to stab you. Is that okay?” Chu Xuan asked, pulling out a fruit knife.

The smile on the delivery guy's face grew increasingly excited. “No problem! Just stab me. You can stab me anywhere; service comes first!”

“Then I won't hold back!”

Chu Xuan pulled an old-fashioned oil lamp out of his backpack.

[Spiritual item detected. Spend 10 spirituality points to view related information?]

— No.

Closing the System prompt, Chu Xuan carried the oil lamp and walked up to the delivery guy. Seeing the smile on the other's face grow more excited, Chu Xuan smiled as well.

The next second, Chu Xuan stopped suppressing his spirituality from being drained by the oil lamp.

[Your spirituality value -1]

[...]

As the System prompts appeared, a dim yellow light suddenly spread out. Chu Xuan abruptly raised his hand and stabbed the knife into the other's neck. A look of shock suddenly appeared on the delivery guy's face.

Pfft!

The knife hit the throat dead center. With 10 points of Strength, he sliced through more than half of the delivery guy's neck, and blood sprayed out instantly.