Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Doll

Shelly had wired $1 million! Wasn’t the agreed amount $100,000, or were her eyes playing tricks?

Lana counted the zeros, like an old woman having difficulty reading letters.

“$1 million! What the heck! By “$100,000,” did she mean $100,000 each?” Lana murmured, her conscience hurting a bit. As greedy as she was… her bottom line was never harming or scamming the innocent.

“That’s not scamming. The price was quoted by her, and these talismans were made by your arduous efforts! It’s only right for her to pay so much!” Mr. Crow leisurely interrupted.

Others might be unaware, however, that he had witnessed a silver-haired girl hunched on a desk, patiently grinding ink, putting in her energy, writing on the talismans, and discarding her own hard work when it didn’t match her result.

She was a perfectionist through and through. Each time her waist ached, her hands trembled, and even her legs became numb due to maintaining the same posture for 3 to 4 hours straight.

Sometimes Lana’s eyes became dry, and sometimes she forgot to eat her food on time. Anyhow… it was heartbreaking.

Though Mr. Crow claimed to call her stupid, the reality was… he accepted it in his heart. She was a woman with average talent, able to stand out because of her fierce dedication.

Other mystic cultivators in Lana’s class feel that by cultivating for 3 hours in the university, they have fulfilled their duty, while Lana? That woman was cultivated in the university and at home too.

Even before entering the university, she cultivated while others slept and cultivated while others enjoyed.

As for talismans… Mr. Crow had seen with his own eyes. Lana made 4,000 of them and discarded 3,500 of them due to their lesser effectiveness.

Such a woman… deserved every penny she earned by selling her talisman!

“Sigh… Mr. Crow, you truly know how to console me! Don’t worry, I will repay you by finding you a child bride. Oh wait! We have one! See this doll; it’s your child bride.” Lana waved the doll in her hand.

Mr. Crow: (;⌣̀_⌣́) This woman!

Inhaling a deep breath, his tone turned curious, “Do you know this doll? Or did you notice something?”

“Hm.” Lana mysteriously flashed a smile and explained, “This doll is a rare, good material. When I instilled my mystic energy in the doll, the doll didn’t resist, nor did it contain any evil energy inside itself, even though it had hosted an evil being inside it. Do you understand what it means?”

“Are you suggesting this thing was created to suppress or contain evil?”

Lana’s lips curved in a half-smile. “Bingo. I tested it earlier by feeding it my mystic energy. Normally, any vessel would crack or emit a shriek of protest, but this one absorbed it… calmly. Like it was born to balance both Yin and Yang.”

“So what are your plans?” Mr. Crow asked curiously.

“I plan to tame a ghost, bind it with a contract, and use this doll as a vessel. In this way, my fighting combat would increase.” Lana explained patiently.

“The plan is good on paper, but impossible to execute. No one in human history has ever tamed a wild ghost!” Mr. Crow tried to pour cold water on Lana’s imagination.

He wanted to remind Lana about the incident with the twin statue, where the humans overestimated themselves and ended up creating powerful enemies rather than allies!

“Who said anything about a wild ghost?” Lana arched a brow. “I will find someone from this world to serve me.”

Mr. Crow’s beady eyes blinked twice. “Wait, you mean a native ghost? You want to make a contract with one of the lingering souls here?”

“Exactly.” Lana nodded, her silver hair shimmering under the soft light. “Wild ghosts from the portal are uncontrollable because their origins are unknown. But the ones here…”

She tapped the doll’s porcelain head lightly. “They were once human. Their logic, attachments, and desires remain traceable. That’s what makes them… negotiable.”

Mr. Crow tilted his head, half skeptical and half intrigued.

“Negotiable, yes. But obedient? That’s another story. You’re talking about binding a ghost that retains free will, memories, and emotions. They might obey you for a day and then tear your throat the next.”

A slow smile spread on Lana’s lips, one that carried a hint of mischief. “That’s why it’s called a contract, Mr. Crow. Not a chain.”

She stood up, brushing invisible dust from her sleeves.

A contract of mutual benefit is stronger than control through fear. If I can find one ghost with enough intelligence and reason to desire something… I can make it work.”

Mr. Crow flapped his wings, landing on her shoulder. “You sound like one of those ambitious lunatics who claim they can reform a devil.”

Lana chuckled, her tone light but her eyes sharp as blades. “Sometimes lunacy and genius share the same border. You just have to cross carefully.”

“I often see a mask of intelligence under your cheerful facade, but what I couldn’t understand is…why do you pretend to be dumb?”

The closer Mr. Crow got to Lana… the more he realized… though a bit crazy… she was more confusing.

Often, with the wisdom hardly seen in many and crazier than a mental patient! Sigh!

Lana ignored Mr. Crow and got inside the car, while her entire attention was focused on the doll.

On arriving outside Lucian’s mansion, Lana rushed with her suitcase inside and plopped on her bed.

A wave of exhaustion washed over her.

“Hey? Wake up and change your clothes before going to sleep.” Mr. Crow nagged.

When, even after 3 minutes, no one retorted, Mr. Crow stared at Lana with an arched brow and jumped on her face. His bark-like claws tried to wake up Lana, but soon he froze.

Lana was burning with fever!

“Hey! Lana! Wake up! What has happened?” Mr. Crow anxiously tapped on Lana’s face; however, the only response he got was the sound of her shallow breath.

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