"Can I keep her in the well?"

Ning Jiaojiao looked at the adorable Money Lolita, Su Yuniang, her eyes suddenly filled with affection.

Ning Zheng paused for a moment: "Isn't that a little inappropriate?"

Ning Jiaojiao preferred living in water.

She appeared to be an amphibious creature.

Sometimes at midnight, she slept in bed, sometimes in the cellar, and sometimes in the well.

But the well wasn't very safe; occasionally, there were River Demon disturbances, so she often slept indoors.

Whenever she got into the water, she'd transform into a mermaid tail.

Even though she didn't frequent the water, she often washed her tail to keep it moist.

Ning Zheng guessed she was now a ghost, no longer needing water, yet maintaining her previous habits and routines.

But you, Ning Jiaojiao, being half-human, half-fish, could happily live in well water. To you, water is paradise, but the Money Child...

Maybe can too?

Moreover, she has a First Layer ghost identity, can't drown since she's already dead.

"There's a small nook at the bottom of the well, big enough for a person."

Ning Jiaojiao recognized the Money Child and earnestly said, "The earth there is delicious, brimming with earth energy, very beneficial for her. More comfortable than living above ground, it's the best for hosting guests."

Ning Zheng realized he misunderstood her.

Ning Jiaojiao was actually quite nice, warm and hospitable, preparing the most comfortable environment for guests.

Though, from a human worldview, the setting seemed a bit bizarre; amongst demon beasts, inviting guests to stay in a water cave is just right.

"There's a whole new world inside the well, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Ning Zheng said.

"You didn't ask." Ning Jiaojiao was a bit aggrieved, "It's just a small grotto under the well, barely big enough for one person. I want her to help enlarge it a bit and then move in some furniture."

Ning Zheng thought her plan was quite loud, the Money Child was skilled at digging and construction, and had been swiftly noticed by her.

Ning Zheng pondered, the Crow Disaster had been resolved, but the River Demon cluster remained unknown. After all, the underground waterways were intricate, right at the doorstep, perhaps a solution was needed.

Catching River Demons was indeed imperative.

Su Yuniang truly was a social butterfly.

Before Ning Jiaojiao could approach her, intending to lure her home, the opposite party walked up voluntarily.

Su Yuniang resembled a lady of the household, flashing a gentle and composed smile:

"Hello! I am a traveler passing through this mountain village, found the festivities here are quite lively."

"Could you help me find an inn to stay for a while, I wish to stroll around and experience the local customs and culture. Are there any good sights nearby?"

Ning Jiaojiao saw the other party's enthusiasm, not needing any enticing, approaching on her own, felt even happier:

"There's no inn in our village, but the Du family can provide lodging for passing travelers, or you could come to our place, we have a spare house! I'll prepare a very nice room for you!"

"I'd be most grateful." Su Yuniang displayed a polite smile, targeting these two from the start.

Unlike other farmers, these two were evidently from a wealthy family.

Pale skin, exceptional appearance, not the type of people who did farm work.

You could tell they were advanced NPCs, the ones with storyline!

As a top player, Su Yuniang mused:

"The village beneath Sword Casting Manor is evidently a new map and a primary one at that."

"Because our first stop after setting out is here, there's simply no way around it!"

So, she opted to try and blend in.

Even aiming to become a resident of the village, these two were a great starting point.

In fact, Su Yuniang's assessment was accurate.

The two were indeed the wealthy family in the village, aside from Ning Zheng, Ning Jiaojiao was fair-skinned and beautiful.

Being a Human-Merfolk Hybrid, her looks were certainly exceptional.

Moreover, Ning Jiaojiao's family, a hundred years ago, must have been affluent.

Residing in a luxurious mansion, complete with a well, almost no one in the village could have such lavish means.

From another perspective,

Those who could play with 'Jiao' — could they be poor?

Though it was unclear whether they played with merfolk snake or merfolk fish, they were surely wealthy personages in the village!

"We are going to the bookstore, will return home shortly."

Ning Jiaojiao said: "There's nothing much scenic to tour in our village, we're quite ordinary, perhaps you might find it disappointing."

Su Yuniang originally intended to chat and smoothly tried, "May I also check out the bookstore and later lodge at your place, rest assured, I'll pay."

Su Yuniang was good at conversation.

Quickly befriended the countryside girl Ning Jiaojiao, unfamiliar with worldly affairs, chatting as they walked.

Su Yuniang thought she was the hunter, not realizing she was the prey.

The more Ning Jiaojiao looked at her, the more pleased she became, "Yuniang, your name is fitting! Open your mouth, let me see."

"See what?" Su Yuniang was a bit confused but opened her mouth wide.

"Hmm, nice, very nice." Ning Jiaojiao grew more and more delighted, "Such neat teeth, a beautiful tongue."

Su Yuniang: "..."

She felt a bit uneasy, what was going on!

In no time.

They arrived at "Youzhu Bookstore".

Inside, a handsome and mature middle-aged Confucian scholar was copying books.

Most of the books in this world are handwritten copies, the bookstore owner increased his store's inventory daily.

Under Ning Zheng's Spiritual Eye, he appeared as a delicately crafted book puppet made up entirely of books, also someone who didn't eat meat.

"Uncle Youzhu." Ning Zheng walked through the door.

"Why are you here again?"

The middle-aged man looked up at Ning Zheng, waved his hand, and said with disgust, "You've already read all the books I have, there's nothing else."

How could that be?

The books on the owner's body were probably the rare treasures not for sale.

Unlike the fabric puppets from the tailor shop or the bamboo puppets from the wicker shop, this book puppet's books were truly valuable.

Since they didn't eat meat, when needing to fill themselves, they would instinctively fill the "void" with their most precious, most obsessed things.

What a pity.

This bookstore owner didn't even know there were books on him.

Ning Zheng had tried to enquire indirectly, nearly angering the bookstore owner, who thought Ning Zheng was trying to undress him with ill intent, almost calling for help.

Almost ruining Ning Zheng's reputation among the neighbors.

And using force was not an option.

This one was known to be one of the Great Calamities, far more terrifying than Ning Jiaojiao.

This, despite having no flesh, his entire body made of books, if he had flesh, it would be unimaginable!

At this moment, Ning Zheng didn't dare to act rashly, only browsing the books on the side.

His original intention was to buy some books as gifts for the blacksmiths on the mountain, but now that Su Yuniang was here, he naturally wouldn't do that anymore.

Meanwhile, Su Yuniang curiously looked at the books, her eyes sparkling as if she found a treasure!

"So many books." Su Yuniang felt like she'd discovered a new world.

"The books here are few." Ning Jiaojiao retorted.

The three of them, none triggered the bookstore owner's murderous intent.

Because in his eyes, none of them were alive.

Ning Jiaojiao, Su Yuniang, indeed weren't truly alive, ghosts and ghosts mostly coexisted peacefully, only a few special individuals would actively attack their kind.

And Ning Zheng, a living person, had a Shadow Spirit Root, enveloped in Yin Qi, those ghosts thought he was a companion.

Back then he asked for a Spiritual Root that matched him most, and he got this Yin attribute, allowing him to bond with the Great Calamities in Spirit Manor, thinking he was one of them.

Ning Zheng watched for a few minutes, coveted the books on the bookstore owner's body but eventually did not make a move.

He walked around and bought a few miscellaneous books, while Su Yuniang took out a Magic Coin, asked for the price, and bought two children's primers.

They began to head back to the village along the mountain road.

Soon, they reached the courtyard and opened the door.

"I'm going to cook." Ning Jiaojiao ran to the cellar to cut meat.

Su Yuniang quickly said, "I'll go too, my cooking skills are decent."

"No need, don't go into the cellar casually, just light the firewood." Ning Zheng advised.

Soon, the pot was heated, and they started cooking meat.

The taste was extremely delicious.

Eating the Spiritual Flesh almost made Su Yuniang's tongue fall out: indeed, this was the Mountain Manor of gourmet food!

"Don't rush, eat a bit more." Ning Zheng glanced at her hair, eat more, supplement nutrients, to grow more Spirit Rice.

"Mm-hmm." Su Yuniang felt these two were really nice.

After eating, cleaned the dishes, and Ning Jiaojiao was going to hold their family ritual post-meal fishing activity, "Sister, can you help me with a task?"

"What do you want me to help with?" Su Yuniang curiously asked.

A hidden task.

The thing Su Yuniang cannot refuse the most in this lifetime is hidden tasks!

Bring it on, I am a legendary high-level player!

"Fishing." Ning Jiaojiao took out a large iron hook for hanging pork.

"I'm good at this, never failing." Su Yuniang said professionally, but this hook was so thick and large, wondering what fish it was for, with such a big size?

"Bite it, come to the wellhead, I'll let you down."

Ning Jiaojiao was very happy, couldn't imagine she also had leisurely times with her brother at the wellhead sipping tea and fishing big fish.

Eh? Eh? Eh?

Su Yuniang gaped in surprise.

"You're so smart! Just open your mouth like this."

Ning Jiaojiao happily stuffed the hook into her mouth, yanked it hard, directly piercing through her jaw.

Before Su Yuniang could react, she was princess-carried and with a thud was thrown into the well.