"But respect isn’t enough to guarantee safety." Long Yifan said with a frown, worried Gu Jin’s heart might melt, and she would end up contracting this disaster.
Mimi clenched her fists and stood up.
"I know I said all the bad stuff," she said quickly, "but there are good things too! Lots of them!"
Gu Jin tilted her head. "Go on."
Long Yifan folded his arms with a sigh, clearly not convinced.
Mimi held up her hands and started counting with her fingers.
"First," she said, "we ghost beasts can pass through walls and hide in shadows. That means I can sneak into places no one else can! I’m perfect for spying, stealing keys, or escaping when things go wrong."
Gu Jin blinked. "That... does sound useful."
"Second!" Mimi said louder, getting more confident. "We don’t need food or rest. I don’t eat your money. I don’t need a bed. You don’t have to take care of me like a pet. I take care of you!"
Long Yifan muttered, "Still sounds like a creepy ghost."
"Third!" she said. "I can hide inside objects, rings, necklaces, even your shadow. No one would ever know you have a beast. That means you won’t be targeted by beast hunters or greedy people who want to steal me."
Gu Jin looked thoughtful now.
"Fourth," Mimi said, her eyes shining, "I can suck in ghost energy from enemies. If we meet evil spirits, I can eat their energy and make you safe."
Gu Jin’s brows lifted slightly.
"And fifth..." Mimi paused for a moment. "Once I grow stronger, I can help you cross into the treasure-filled spatial rifts."
Gu Jin’s eyes flickered at that. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Long Yifan noticed her reaction and frowned. "That’s dangerous."
But Mimi stepped forward and looked right at Gu Jin.
"I’m not like the others," she said softly. "I don’t want revenge. I don’t hate the living. I just... want to follow you. I want to start over. To be useful."
She smiled, just a little.
"I know I can be dangerous. But so can fire, right? And you still use fire to stay warm, to cook, to fight. You just have to be careful."
Gu Jin didn’t answer.
Long Yifan stepped in. "Gu Jin, don’t listen to her. She’s using your kindness."
"I’m not!" Mimi snapped. "I’m just telling her the truth. I can help her!"
She turned back to Gu Jin, her voice softer again.
"I won’t beg. I just want you to think about it. Try me. If I do anything wrong... You can destroy me."
Gu Jin narrowed her eyes. Her voice was calm, but sharp like a blade.
"You’re still hiding something."
Long Yifan let out a low chuckle. "Now we’re getting somewhere."
Mimi looked up in shock. Her face turned pale, well, paler than usual. "W-What do you mean? I told you everything!"
Gu Jin stepped closer, her eyes locked on Mimi’s like she could see straight through her.
"There are too many restrictions on you," Gu Jin said slowly.
"Heavens went through a lot of trouble to make sure you stayed hidden and weak. That means... You have something they were afraid of."
Mimi’s lips trembled.
"Only Ghost Piece beasts are treated like that," Gu Jin added. "So I’ll ask again... What is it? What power do you have, Mimi? What are you hiding?"
Long Yifan leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watching like it was a drama.
"This is getting fun," he said with a smirk.
Mimi clenched her tiny fists. She looked at the ground, then at Gu Jin. Her mouth opened, then closed again.
A long silence followed.
Then finally, she whispered, "...I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you’d be scared. Or worse, you’d use me like the others."
Gu Jin didn’t say anything. She just waited.
Mimi took a deep breath, her small chest rising and falling slowly.
"My true power... is something all the ghost beasts fear. Even the strongest undead don’t dare mess with it."
She looked up, her glowing eyes serious for the first time.
Even Long Yifan’s smirk faded.
"You mean...?" Gu Jin started.
"I don’t just kill," Mimi said softly. "I erase. If I use this power... the person’s soul disappears forever. No reincarnation. No heaven. No hell. Nothing. Not to mention... I can transfer that person’s 50% cultivation to you or absorb it myself."
Gu Jin’s breath caught.
"Not only that..." Mimi began, "And we can also grow by absorbing resentment, fear, or death energy from the air. It’s like... food for us."
She looked at Gu Jin with wide, serious eyes.
"But that’s not the scary part," she continued. "The really scary part is... I don’t need a contract space. I can be bound straight to your soul. That means, once we’re connected, I can help raise your cultivation just by being near you."
Long Yifan narrowed his eyes. "That sounds like parasitism."
Mimi quickly shook her head.
"No! It’s not like that! I don’t steal her energy; I help her gather more. I share mine too. And I only need a small thread of her soul to bind. It won’t hurt her."
Gu Jin looked calm, but her fingers twitched slightly at her side.
"So... you don’t take up a contract slot, you make me stronger, you grow faster than normal beasts, and you can erase souls..."
"Yes. That’s why the heavens fear Ghost Pieces. That’s why they put so many rules on us. They’re afraid we’ll grow too strong... or fall into the wrong hands."
She looked down again, her voice barely a whisper.
"Most people just want to use me as a weapon. They want my power but not me. That’s why I didn’t tell you earlier. I was scared you’d see me the same way."
Gu Jin stared at her for a long time.
Long Yifan spoke up again, though his voice was softer than before.
"Gu Jin... if you take her in, you’ll be watched. Maybe even hunted. Are you ready for that?"
Gu Jin didn’t answer right away.
She looked at Mimi again, this tiny ghost beast, trembling but standing her ground.
"No," she said. "It’s not possible. I can’t make a contract with you."
Mimi’s hopeful face froze. Her lips trembled as if she were about to cry.
Gu Jin looked at her with calm but serious eyes. "You may seem useful, Mimi. But usefulness isn’t everything. I still can’t trust you. You could be a danger to me... maybe even kill me one day."
Mimi took a step back, her tiny hands clenching into fists.
"There are too many risks with you," Gu Jin said. "Even if I call myself brave... this is not a choice I can make. Not now. Not yet."
Mimi’s voice came out in a whisper. "Isn’t there even a small chance?"
Gu Jin paused. Then she looked away and said quietly, "There might not be."
Those words hit Mimi like a slap.
She didn’t say anything else. Her small face crumpled, and she ran into one of the side rooms, slamming the door shut behind her.
Long Yifan gave a low whistle. "Ouch. That was cold."
Gu Jin shot him a sharp glare, then walked quickly after Mimi. She stopped outside the door and knocked.
The door creaked open a little, and Mimi peeked out with tearful eyes.
"Did you... change your mind?" she asked, voice trembling with hope.
Gu Jin chuckled lightly and shook her head. "No. I will never contract a beast I don’t trust."
Mimi looked down sadly.
"But," Gu Jin added, "if you really want to become my companion, then prove it. Stay by my side. Show me that you’re not like the other ghost beasts. Show me that you’re kind."
Mimi looked up quickly.
Gu Jin continued, "I want to see your power. I want to see how you grow. And if after one year, I still don’t make a contract with you... I’ll still help you with your cultivation. That much, I promise."
Mimi’s eyes lit up. Her face went from sad to shining in an instant.
"That’s a win-win!" she said with a big smile. "I get to stay with you! I knew it! I knew you were special the moment I sensed that necromancer energy from you!"
Gu Jin suddenly froze.
So did Long Yifan, who had just walked over.
Long Yifan’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes locked onto Gu Jin’s face.
Gu Jin closed her eyes for a second, then turned toward Long Yifan with a tight expression.
Long Yifan quickly stepped forward and looked at Mimi with a serious face.
"You can’t say that again. Not in front of anyone else," he said sharply.
Mimi blinked. "Why? What’s the problem?"
"You don’t get it," Long Yifan said, his voice low. "If anyone finds out that Gu Jin has that element... her life will be in danger."