“It was Han Fei who brought this paper doll here. We have consumed its energy and that is already more than our fair share. I suggest we leave the doll itself for Han Fei.” After the combination was undone, Wei Youfu sat on the stairs weakly. Rationality and despair wrestled in his eyes.
“I agree but it’s dangerous for Han Fei to touch cursed objects directly.” Xu Qin picked up the cracked blood red paper doll. “I’ve seen this doll before, it hides deep inside the convenience store, controlling its many paper doll creations. It’s impossible to deal with, who would have thought it’d one day die in our neighbourhood.”
“Sis, do you know about its history?” Han Fei was quite interested in the paper doll. He wanted to know more about it.
“There is nothing too special about this doll. The reason it became the way it was, was due to the uniqueness of its curse.” Xu Qin placed the doll before Han Fei. “It was created as a Substitute Paper Doll.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s something you use when you are the target of a malicious curse. The paper doll will become the substitute to bear the curse on your behalf, hence the name,” Xu Qin explained patiently, “I’m not familiar with the curse on it but I can make sure that it won’t harm you again.” With that, Xu Qin used the knife to cut open her wrist. Her blood dripped onto the doll. “I might not be always there for you in person, but my blood will accompany you always.”
When Xu Qin’s blood soaked the whole doll, she placed the doll under her left palm and then she used the knife in her right hand to pierce right through her palm into the paper doll. Shadows of lunacy flashed in her red eyes. Xu Qin mumbled something on her lips before she pulled out the knife. Then she handed the doll which had completely changed to Han Fei. “Now it’ll not only not harm you, it’ll help you when you’re in danger.”
Han Fei accepted the transformed doll with both hands. The doll now took on Xu Qin’s likeness with red eyes and crimson lips.
“Notification for Player 0000! You have obtained a Grade F Cursed Item—Paper Doll!
“Paper Doll (Status - Ruined): This is the first cursed object you own. When you need her, she’ll appear to share in your despair and pain.
“Warning! The doll is in a ruined status, it can only unleash 50 percent of its full power. Please repair it as soon as possible.
“Notification for Player 0000! You’ve completed Grade G Main Mission—Convenience Store Worker! Obtained 1 skill point!
“Notification for Player 0000! You’ve completed 500 percent of the mission requirement! You’ve obtained additional reward—Title: Store Manager
“Store Manager (Ungradable Title): You’ve become the new manager of Yi Ming Convenience Store!
“The responsibility of the manager is to modulate the worker’s daily schedule, assess their performance, come up with a good branding, and build a peaceful relationship with your employees, and customers. Follow these guidelines and you’ll soon become a respected store manager!”
After reading all the system notifications, Han Fei reached out to touch the paper doll. He did not feel any negative impact, the negative emotions were all sealed off behind a thin layer of blood.
“Sis, are you feeling okay?” Xu Qin seemed to feel sorry for ‘losing’ Han Fei the previous time so this time she purposely used her own blood to create a unique cursed item, wishing to use it to protect Han Fei. “You’ve taken such a great risk to bring the paper doll here, and we’ve consumed its Yin energy, so this is the least you should get from it.” Xu Qin said with a soul-crushing smile.
“Thank you, oh by the way, this is yours.” Han Fei returned to Xu Qin her knife. Xu Qin’s knife came in a set, losing one would weaken her.
After chatting for a while longer with the group, the ‘satisfied’ neighbours returned to their room. Han Fei also supported Wei Youfu as they returned to Room 1044. “Han Fei, you shouldn’t do such dangerous things anymore.” Wei Youfu nagged like a concerned brother.
“I’ll be more careful next time.” Han Fei had Wei Youfu and Little Eight go to their room to rest. Han Fei stood next to the window and studied the convenience store across the street. “Now I have my own asset but it’ll be hard to run and keep it.” The paper doll boss’ death was still a kept secret but the nearby ghosts would soon find out the truth.
“Of all my neighbours, only Xu Qin has the habit of leaving the neighbourhood, I can’t expect her to help me look after the shop forever…” Rubbing his temple, Han Fei felt like his next move should be to find some reliable workers. “Hopefully the single-eyed young man and my other seniors in the back-alley survive the ordeal.”
“Brother, can you hear me?” A voice came out from Han Fei’s pocket. The white candle poked out its wick. “Is this all part of a plan? You guys have been plotting to get rid of the boss? Can I join you?”
“Right, I almost forgot about you.” Han Fei did not plan to harm the white candle. Since he decided to keep the convenience store running, then he needed an experienced former worker around, the white candle fitted the description. The candle felt fear being scrutinized by Han Fei. Then again, there was nothing he could do. Could he grow legs and run? No.
“In the future, I need you to help me look over the store. As long as I’m around, no one will hurt you.”
“You really plan to keep the store in business?” The candle face smiled bitterly, “The store is situated right in front of a ‘crowded’ junction. One careless mistake and we’ll all be dead. To survive in this world, one has to keep a low profile…”
“The convenience store is just a stepping stone, my real target is Yi Ming Private Academy from across the street.” Han Fei looked at the dark silhouettes of buildings out the window. “The convenience store’s backdoor offers a shortcut to the school. Owning the store will allow easy travel between Yi Ming Private Academy and Happiness Neighbourhood.”
“The school? That’s a very dangerous place, it has its own manager…” The candle immediately shut up when he realized he had said too much but it was already too late.
“You also know things about the school?” Han Fei’s interest was piqued.
“I only know the rumours. They say you can enter but never leave the school. It is owned by a scary headmaster. But recently, something happened inside that school and many students were seen escaping from its premises.” The candle warned, “Something strange is going on over there. I’d advise you to stay away from it!”
“It’s a bit too late for that.” Han Fei still remembered how a few days ago, a female student was forced to infiltrate into the Happiness Neighbourhood. ‘I’ll need to build up the business at the convenience store first before I expand my exploration into the school.’ Han Fei knew the dangers at the school, but the school was also specifically circled out by the previous manager. The school might have the manager’s memory fragment, Han Fei had to go retrieve it.
When Han Fei sought out the red paper doll from his pocket, the white candle fussed and moaned. With a frown, Han Fei tried to store the white candle into his inventory but he failed. He tried the same thing with the red paper doll but this time he succeeded. “Wait, since when can I store cursed objects inside my inventory? I failed to do so when I experimented with Xu Qin’s knife! Is it because I claim ownership over the paper doll already?”
After multiple tries, Han Fei came to this conclusion, to store a cursed object inside his inventory, he had to fulfil 2 requirements. First, the cursed object must not be sentient; secondly, Han Fei himself must have the cursed object’s approval, in other words, the objects must not be hostile against him.
‘I can make use of this. This is perfect for a sneak attack. I’ll appear weak to others since they can’t sense the cursed objects inside my inventory. When they’ve put their guard down, it’ll already be too late for them.” Han Fei held the red paper doll and a sneaky smile appeared on his face. The white candle sat on the table next to Han Fei and any traitorous thoughts that he might have were vanquished fully.
