Chapter 36: The Air Conditioner Summons a Chilling Wind

“How should we scare them away?” Tanya’s fear eased once she learned that, before the contract was fulfilled, Chu Ning would not intentionally harm her. She patiently awaited Chu Ning’s return, suppressing her other self.

Judging from previous encounters, the Chu Ning who stepped out of the mirror could not stay for long; control over the body was soon reclaimed. Though she had no idea what secrets Chu Ning was hiding, Tanya felt no curiosity about them.

“Well, what about tearing them apart limb from limb? Ripping their bodies into pieces while they're still alive! Or maybe depriving them of their senses, plunging them into a darkness of terror…”

As she listened to Chu Ning recite various novel ways of killing, growing ever more obsessed with the artistry of it, Tanya could not help but shudder. The cruelty was chilling.

Chu Ning calmly pondered their methods of frightening people. It had been a long time since he had scared anyone, and he worried his thinking had become rigid, unable to devise new ways to cultivate fear.

“Which approach do you think would be best?” Chu Ning asked Tanya enthusiastically, eager to discuss. He considered himself kind-hearted, always warning his victims in advance about their impending fate, delighting in watching them struggle against destiny.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea! Isn’t it a bit too cruel? Our goal is merely to drive them away—killing them would cause trouble!”

Tanya eyed Chu Ning with twitching lips, recalling how he once claimed to be a pacifist. How had he become so cold and ruthless? They shared the same body, yet their approaches to being a ghost were worlds apart!

Chu Ning was open-minded, inviting Tanya to offer her suggestions. But she stammered, unable to voice a coherent idea, let alone anything constructive.

“Aren’t you going to say something? I’m starving here—don’t make me wait too long!” Chu Ning urged Tanya gently, knowing his time was limited.

He could not afford to linger. If Tanya failed to respond soon, he would proceed with his own methods.

Conveniently, the living room was crowded, and the sixth floor provided ample height for a free fall—he could even display his calligraphy skills. Chu Ning imagined vivid scenes in his mind, contemplating which characters to compose with their bodies.

“Are you hungry? If you’re not in a hurry, I can wait until you’ve finished eating before we act. I’ve almost figured out how to scare them. What do you think?”

Tanya knew little about scaring people. Despite having watched countless horror films, she could hardly imitate the actions within them—her abilities were simply too limited.

Nor did she dare command Chu Ning. For now, her strategy was caution, avoiding anything that might provoke him.

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“But we lack fresh ingredients! So let’s hurry and finish the task—I’m growing impatient.” Chu Ning said regretfully, gesturing meaningfully at Tanya.

He licked his pale lips, smiling warmly at the retreating Tanya. “Don’t be nervous, I’m just joking! The people behind you are preparing hot pot, and by ‘food’ I meant the hot pot, not anything else—don’t let your imagination run wild.”

Just as Tanya breathed a sigh of relief, a somber voice whispered in her ear, “The finest ingredients require careful preparation to bring out their flavor. How could you possibly devour such delicacies like a cow chewing peonies?”

“Let’s get moving!” Tanya urged Chu Ning, uncharacteristically anxious for him to act—otherwise, she feared she’d be frightened to death by him first.

Why must ghosts hurt each other? Tanya could not fathom what Chu Ning found so appealing in her soul. Was it truly so tempting that he had to devour her?

“Should we start by summoning a cold wind?” Tanya turned to Chu Ning for his opinion. It was a common method for scaring people, a staple in horror films.

Chu Ning nodded indifferently, agreeing to Tanya’s suggestion. He was curious to see what ideas Tanya might come up with. One needed entertainment in times of boredom, after all.

“Why are you staring at me? Get on with it!”

“Well, I’m a bit rusty—I don’t know how to conjure a cold wind!”

Tanya gazed fearfully at Chu Ning, who stood by, enjoying the show. She approached him with a spirit of humility, seeking instruction, and managed to persuade Chu Ning to teach her.

“This… can’t be!” Tanya was astonished by Chu Ning’s actions—the scene was utterly different from what she had imagined. The technique for summoning a cold wind was so down-to-earth that she felt anyone could do it.

No, Tanya realized she was perfectly capable of generating a cold wind—how simple could it be?

“The greatest difference between humans and animals is the use of tools. Don’t let mundane conventions restrict your thinking—understand?”

Chu Ning no longer threatened Tanya maliciously. He could see her, but not touch her; it was pointless to be impatient. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future—she had signed the contract so carelessly.

He had warned her that Chu Ning was not to be trusted, but she foolishly walked into the trap laid for her. It was hardly his fault. When food is delivered to your doorstep, how could you possibly let it go to waste?

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“To think you’d lower the air conditioner’s temperature to create a cold wind—that’s really something!”

The simplicity stunned Tanya. With a few button presses, the cold wind was easily produced; it was beyond her imagination.

What she regretted most was asking what to do in the absence of an air conditioner—a spectacularly foolish question.

Chu Ning’s mocking laughter still echoed in her mind, and his answer was equally sarcastic.

“If there’s no air conditioner, can’t you use a fan? If that won’t do, you can always wave a handheld fan!”

“What? You ask why not use your abilities to make a cold wind? Because, of course, I don’t know how. Who would bother learning a skill with no destructive power? That’s just a waste of time—unless it’s innate…”

Tanya felt she’d been unfairly targeted. So what if her awakened abilities were harmless? It wasn’t as if she’d eaten his rice! She grumbled inwardly.

“Besides, when hunting, silence is best. Who would deliberately stir up a breeze, alerting the prey to danger lurking in the shadows?”

Tanya felt thoroughly stabbed.

“And I advise you to stop watching so many horror films. Most of what you see there doesn’t match reality. Don’t get confused. You need to remember: we are ghosts, not idiots!”

Tanya was left speechless by Chu Ning, her understanding completely overturned. Human experience could not be applied wholesale to another species, after all.