The moment Bo Jingmo made his move against Yu Chi, the aura of the malevolent ghost on the fourth floor weakened simultaneously.

It seemed that as Bo Jingmo's power grew, that ghost's strength would diminish.

Yu Chi sneered inwardly - in that case, all he needed to do was seize this opportunity to kill that ghost.

Bo Jingmo looked down at his wrist. "Is that so?"

When he raised his head again, his face showed no expression, only chilling coldness as the corner of his mouth curled into a mocking arc. "Do you think I have no way to kill you?"

Yu Chi clicked his tongue. He wouldn't fight Bo Jingmo directly - not only would they both be severely injured in a fight, but if he actually killed Bo Jingmo, wouldn't that ghost's power just grow stronger?

"Bo Jingmo! Don't you want to eliminate that ghost? If you're capable of killing me, you can do it after that ghost is dead." Yu Chi narrowed his eyes, employing both carrot and stick. "Why must we both be severely injured now, with only Yu Li and that ghost benefiting in the end?"

Hearing that familiar name, Bo Jingmo paused, his pitch-black eyes fixed on Yu Chi with inscrutable emotions.

Seeing this reaction, Yu Chi felt pleased and was about to continue speaking when a woman's lazy voice sounded nearby.

"What benefit would I get?"

Hearing this familiar voice, Bo Jingmo froze momentarily before his face turned even paler than before. A fear-induced chill spread from his feet throughout his entire body.

He didn't even dare turn around, just standing there stiffly.

But the more you fear something, the more it comes.

Just then, the woman called his name: "Bo Jingmo."

Bo Jingmo's body stiffened as he slowly turned. Seeing the woman who should have been asleep upstairs standing here, his eyelashes trembled slightly. Like a child caught misbehaving, he pressed his lips together and spoke softly: "Lili..."

Yu Li stood with her arms crossed, merely curling her lips slightly. "Surprised to see me here?"

Hearing this, the man was silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

The dosage he'd given her wasn't large, and he hadn't dared to give her too much anyway.

So Yu Li was bound to come down eventually - Bo Jingmo just hadn't expected... it would be this soon.

Before he'd even dealt with Yu Chi.

He clenched his fists, nails digging deeply into his palms, only to hear Yu Li speak calmly:

"Why so nervous? Did you think you were the only one who knew my secrets while I knew nothing about yours?"

Bo Jingmo was stunned as he saw Yu Li smile with curved eyes, crooking her finger: "Come here."

He pressed his lips together, his body already obediently moving toward her.

Yu Chi watched this scene with wide eyes.

"What the..."

These two were actually together??

But wasn't Yu Li allied with that ghost?

Yu Chi hurriedly spoke up: "Bo Jingmo! That woman with you is working with the malevolent ghost! She only approached you to deal with it!"

But the two across from him ignored him completely, as if they hadn't heard.

Yu Chi: "..."

Damn, couples are the worst.

When they're flirting, they become blind to everything... no, blind to ghosts too!

As the man approached, Yu Li suddenly grabbed his collar, forcing him to bend down.

She looked up coldly, her beautiful eyes filled with icy determination.

"Bo Jingmo, shouldn't you explain this situation to me?"

"...I don't know."

The man's expression darkened as he obediently lowered his head, his voice hoarse. "I don't know how to explain, Lili... haven't you already figured everything out?"

That was the truth - he was truly this selfish, allowing Yu Chi to kill so many people just to achieve his own goals.

And now he'd created this huge mess without resolving it.

His lips trembled as he forced a gentle smile, though his eyes were full of bitterness: "I'll handle it, I will. After I kill Yu Chi, can you... pretend none of this happened? Just act like you never knew."

"Pretend I never knew?" Yu Li narrowed her eyes, leaning closer. "Sure. Then how will you kill him?"

Bo Jingmo opened his mouth: "I—"

"Need my help?"

Yu Li suddenly spoke up, lightly curling her lips as she reached out to grab his arm, whispering closely, "I know your ritual requires a soul as a medium to complete."

Bo Jingmo froze, dumbly looking down at his hand resting on Yu Li's neck.

The girl smiled at him, willingly exposing her vulnerable throat. "How about I be your medium? Use my soul to kill both yourself and Yu Chi. What do you say?"

Bo Jingmo's hand jerked back violently: "No!"

But then he seemed to realize something, gripping Yu Li's wrist with reddened eyes, his voice choked with anguish:

"You know perfectly well how I feel about you. I would never use your soul, Yu Li. You're giving me no choice - you're forcing me to sacrifice myself for that male ghost. But why... why are you doing this to me?"

The man looked at her with helpless, pleading eyes, his throat so tight it felt lined with glass shards, each word coming out painfully as the taste of blood spread in his mouth.

"Why can't you just pretend you don't know anything? Wouldn't it be fine to stay with me like this? I'll handle everything, and I'll treat you well too, Lili. I'll treat you well too."

"It was you who confessed to me first... why can't you just love only me?"

He'd always known Yu Li preferred his other self, but Bo Jingmo couldn't understand - couldn't understand why she would like that ghost, what was so good about him.

This was exactly why Bo Jingmo hated that version of himself even more.

Staring into the man's stubborn, aggrieved eyes, Yu Li slowly sighed.

Finally, he'd said it.

She'd known all along this man had already broken down once in some lonely corner.

"Bo Jingmo..." She gently took his hand, her fingertips brushing over his wounds. "I did consider forcing you before, because you refused to tell me anything."

She looked up and continued slowly, "That night I asked you, but you rejected me and even lied to me. So I thought... I had to teach you a lesson."

Hearing this, Bo Jingmo's eyelids trembled heavily, his voice choked: "I... I was just afraid—"

Afraid Yu Li would hate him. Afraid Yu Li would fear him.

"I know." Yu Li reached up to stroke his hair before standing on tiptoe to kiss him. "So I don't blame you."

Her icy demeanor melted away as she cupped the man's face, her eyes curving gently.

"The things you didn't want me to know - I know them now. But look, nothing's happened."

"The outcome you've been fearing... it never existed to begin with."