After reconciling with her father, Yotsuya Miko wore a smile she couldn't hide, and even the family members eating at the dinner table were infected by her joy.
"What is it, Miko? You look so happy," Miko's Mother said, smiling as she looked at Miko. Since her husband passed away, Miko hadn't seemed this happy.
"Could Big Sister have a boyfriend?" Yotsuya Kyosuke, who was still in elementary school nearby, suddenly asked with suspicion.
He had noticed that Big Sister had been acting strangely these past few days, either sighing, spacing out alone, or even talking to herself in the air—this was nothing like the usual Big Sister.
"Of course not!" Yotsuya Miko glared at her younger brother, then glanced at her father sitting at the dining table, feeling a little embarrassed.
"It's just that I achieved a wish I thought I could never achieve, so I'm this happy."
"That's wonderful, Miko," Miko's Mother smiled, happy for her daughter.
Miko was very happy during this meal; she felt like she was back in the scene when the whole family was together, though seeing her father's spiritual body, she knew only she could see him.
After dinner, Miko went to bathe. Xia Yu glanced at Miko's Father nearby and didn't shamelessly follow her in.
He had some decency; following her into the bathroom in front of her father was something even he wouldn't do.
Hmm, he would go in next time Miko's Father wasn't around.
A moment later, Xia Yu, who had returned to Miko's bedroom, was teasing his newly acquired subordinate, or rather, pet.
Actually, after looking at this horse-shaped monster for a while, it was quite cute. At least it looked better than other decaying evil spirits; at least it wasn't randomly grinning with a big mouth and dripping saliva.
*Click*~
The sound of the door opening rang out. Yotsuya Miko, wearing pajamas, was startled at first before realizing that Xia Yu was the one in the room. She almost thought she would have to sleep accompanied by a ghost again tonight... Hmm, it didn't seem much different; Mr. Xia was an evil spirit, too.
"Um, Mr. Xia, my father wants to thank you," Miko suddenly said, seeing that Xia Yu seemed unoccupied.
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Xia Yu turned his head to look over. Miko's father happened to walk in as well. Seeing that the Horse-Shaped Monster was not dead, Miko's Father breathed a sigh of relief.
He was about to perform a respectful dogeza to express his thanks to Xia Yu, but a tentacle stopped him.
"You don't need to be so respectful. I don't like people treating me this way. A normal attitude is fine, and no honorifics are necessary."
Seeming to sense the displeasure in Xia Yu's tone, Miko's Father didn't insist, but he still bowed and said, "Thank you very much, Mr. Xia, for helping my daughter."
"It's nothing," Xia Yu waved a tentacle dismissively. "She's the only person who can see me and talk to me. Of course, I have to protect her."
"I don't want to go back to the kind of life where no one could see me or talk to me."
Hearing this, Miko's Father affirmed empathetically, "Yes, that kind of life is indeed unbearable. But as long as I can watch over my family, that is enough for me."
"You are easily satisfied," Xia Yu smiled, hearing the heartfelt words of Miko's Father, and spoke again.
"In that case, would you like to exist forever?"
"Eh?" x2
Hearing this, Yotsuya Miko and her father simultaneously voiced their surprise, apparently not expecting Xia Yu to say such a thing.
"Let me explain it to you," Xia Yu said, pointing at Miko's Father. "Spiritual bodies exist because of persistent attachment. The moment that attachment is lost, the spiritual body dissipates."
"However, this attachment is divided into several types. Some attachments are too deep and lead to degradation into an evil spirit, while others allow the spiritual body to maintain its self and even protect the people it wishes to protect."
"You are the latter, but who knows when your attachment might fade, and then you will dissipate."
"Wouldn't that be good?" Miko's Father smiled as he looked at Miko. "My attachment is for my family to live healthy lives. If the attachment disappears, it means my wish has been fulfilled."
"Don't you want to see your family again? I mean the whole family together, not just one person."
Hearing this, Miko's Father was stunned. How could he not want to? But he was already among the dead, so how could he meet the living?
Seeming to read Miko's Father's mind, Xia Yu smiled calmly, "As long as you can continue to exist, your family will eventually die. Once they die, won't you be able to meet them?"
"Ah, this..." Miko's Father was dumbfounded.
Although it sounded strange, it seemed correct. Since the dead cannot meet the living, if they wait for the living to become the dead, won't they be able to meet?
Upon hearing Xia Yu's words, Miko's Father was somewhat tempted. Seeing this, Xia Yu spoke frankly.
"I'll be direct: work for me. I need subordinates, as I can't personally handle everything. This opportunity is yours, conveniently, because of Miko."
"Moreover, maybe in the future, you won't even need to wait for your family to die. You might be able to solidify your form and return to the mortal world to see them yourself."
Since Xia Yu had put it that way, Miko's Father didn't say anything more. He genuinely wanted to see his family again.
Moreover, this young man in front of him was indeed mysterious. Perhaps he really could reunite him with his family. Judging by his willingness to help Miko, he didn't seem like a bad person.
Hmm, although they were both spiritual bodies, he could tell that the other party was indeed a young man.
"Then what do I need to do?" Miko's Father asked.
"What to do? Naturally, improve your strength." As he spoke, Xia Yu suddenly extended a tentacle and stabbed it into Miko's Father's forehead.
Seeing this scene, Miko's heart tightened, but she didn't act rashly. Xia Yu offered no explanation. Half a minute later, he withdrew his tentacle, and Miko's Father touched his forehead in surprise.
"First, slowly cultivate according to this Cultivation Method. If you don't understand anything, ask me later. We'll discuss other things once you have the strength to fight."
This was the Ghost Cultivation Art that complemented the True Art of Ghost Control. Although its cultivation speed couldn't compare to the True Art of Ghost Control, it was the most suitable cultivation art for subordinate ghosts.
After Miko's Father recovered his senses, Xia Yu picked up the Horse-Shaped Monster from the ground and suddenly tossed it toward him.
Miko's Father fumbled and caught the Horse-Shaped Monster. Looking at the shrunken Horse-Shaped Monster, he suddenly wanted to laugh—so this fellow could be this small too.
"I'm handing it over to you. Teach it how to cultivate, too, by the way."
"Thank you, Mr. Xia, for sparing its life." Miko's Father bowed again, holding the Horse-Shaped Monster and glancing at Miko.
"Then I entrust my daughter to you, Mr. Xia."
After speaking, Miko's Father exited the room, holding the Horse-Shaped Monster. Seeing her father leave, Yotsuya Miko looked at Xia Yu somewhat nervously.
Perhaps her father's recent words made her suddenly nervous when facing Xia Yu, a feeling she hadn't had before.
"Why does that sound like an old father entrusting his son-in-law to take good care of his daughter on his behalf?" Xia Yu teased, looking at Miko's nervous expression.
Hearing this, Miko's face flushed. The nervousness that had just appeared was instantly forgotten. Mr. Xia was still so frivolous.
However, Xia Yu changed the subject and suddenly asked, "You don't have class tomorrow, right?"
"Huh? No class tomorrow. It's Saturday," Miko replied.
"Perfect. Let's go to the Cursed Building tomorrow."
"Eh!!!"
Typing is painful... painful... painful... pain.