Chapter 19
“Please, ladies first.” The coffin shop owner thoughtfully lifted the black curtain, motioning for Jiang Li to go in.
Jiang Li glanced at the pitch-black interior and didn’t move.
“Lead the way. Letting me go first – are you planning to sell one more coffin?” Jiang Li countered with a teasing tone.
Ever since she left her neighborhood, Jiang Li had been constantly observing her surroundings.
As for the “store rules” posted at the entrance of the coffin shop, Jiang Li had already read them three times.
The very first rule was:
[Visitors are allowed, but must always follow behind the coffin shop owner. Please remember this.]
The coffin shop owner’s suggestion of “ladies first” was clearly a trap.
As for why he wouldn’t let Jiang Li die in the street but insisted she die in the shop, Jiang Li guessed it had something to do with the owner’s interests.
Realizing Jiang Li had seen through him, the coffin shop owner huffed.
He pretended to be unconcerned and went inside. “Hey, what’s there to be afraid of? It’s just a bit dark in here.”
The coffin shop owner walked right in and, with a “click,” turned on the hanging lamp.
The cramped space was illuminated by the dim yellow light.
Jiang Li followed him in.
As she entered, the black dog by the door quickly stood up.
A metal chain was fastened around the black dog’s neck. It rubbed up against the coffin shop owner’s feet and barked twice – “Awoo, awoo.”
It seemed hungry, begging the owner for something to eat.
The coffin shop owner shot Jiang Li a sidelong glance, then, putting on an act, scolded the black dog:
“Bark, bark – be careful not to scare my guest! If you’re hungry, just lie down quietly.”
Jiang Li had no doubt that if she had stepped into this dark room first, she would have ended up being mauled by the hungry dog.
The coffin shop owner seemed to know exactly what Jiang Li wanted to buy.
He immediately took out a mutton-scented sachet, dripped a drop of sheep blood on it, and handed it to Jiang Li.
“Here, this wards off evil. Once it smells the scent, it’ll keep far away.”
The “it” the owner referred to was most likely the thing that had been chasing Jiang Li down the street.
Jiang Li took the sachet, weighing it in her palm. “Will this help me get out of the ghost wall?”
The coffin shop owner replied confidently, “Of course. As long as that thing doesn’t dare to appear, you’ll walk right out.”
Jiang Li asked, “How much?”
The coffin shop owner held up a finger.
“One finger,” he said with a sly grin. “Just a small business – enough for my black dog to get a meal.”
The black dog wagged its tail eagerly at the sound.
“Alright, I’ll make the deal with you.”
As soon as Jiang Li finished speaking, the black dog, as if it understood, lunged forward and bit off her little finger.
He bit it off in one snap and carried it away to eat.
The coffin shop owner was pleased – this customer was so straightforward.
Other customers always hesitated for a long time and then decisively refused him.
After all, losing a finger isn’t a huge loss, but it’s not a small one either.
But in the blink of an eye – in just half a second – the coffin shop owner watched as Jiang Li’s little finger grew back right before his eyes!
The coffin shop owner was stunned, his words stumbling:
“Th-th-this… what’s going on? How do you still have five fingers!”
For a moment he suspected the black dog hadn’t bitten it off.
But when he turned his head, he saw the black dog had carried the finger aside and was happily nibbling on it.
Now the coffin shop owner was convinced.
Wow, this is a big customer – her body parts can regenerate!
If he could make her a regular customer, he’d make a fortune.
The coffin shop owner’s eyes gleamed and, plastering a smile on his face, he said:
“Oh my, young lady, I never expected someone so young to have such remarkable abilities!”
“So, take a look around the shop and see if there’s anything else you need. I’ll give you one item for free! Just come back and do business with us more often in the future.”
Jiang Li didn’t stand on ceremony.
How could she refuse something given for free?
She glanced around the shop twice, and finally her gaze settled on an item in the farthest corner.
That thing was covered with a tattered black cloth.
Judging by its shape, it looked like a Paper House.
“I want that one,” Jiang Li pointed.
As soon as she spoke, the Coffin Shop Owner’s eyes widened in shock.
This girl’s eyes are too sharp!
He had deliberately hidden the good stuff in the corners, but she still managed to find it.
The Coffin Shop Owner’s expression turned a bit ugly. That Paper House was no cheap item.
In this Strange Tale World, as long as the owner burns it, the house becomes a portable storage space that can be accessed at any time.
If sold at full price, even five fingers wouldn’t be enough to pay for it!
The Coffin Shop Owner felt a pang of pain.
But he couldn’t take back what he’d already said.
He hesitated for a long time, then finally closed his eyes and waved his hand. “Ah, forget it… take it, take it.”
“That Paper House is worth at least ten fingers, but I’ll treat it as an investment in a returning customer.
Remember to come back and do business with us often.”
The Coffin Shop Owner grumbled a bit more.
But he still took out the Paper House, retrieved the instruction manual, and handed it to Jiang Li.
Jiang Li laughed heartily. “Thank you.”
After browsing through the manual, Jiang Li realized this was truly a treasure.
Burning the Paper House was equivalent to getting a portable storage space for free.
Jiang Li hadn’t expected to get such a huge bargain from the owner for nothing.
She was in a great mood and became generous herself.
She immediately stretched out the pinky finger of her other hand and called the Black Dog over to eat.
The Black Dog had been worried about not getting enough to eat.
Now it could eat another finger, so it was naturally delighted, rubbing enthusiastically against Jiang Li’s feet like a loyal dog.
After all this,
Jiang Li was happy, the Black Dog was happy, and even the Coffin Shop Owner was happy.
Only Dai Chunli in Huaguo was not happy.
Dai Chunli was rolling on the floor in pain in her room, screaming miserably, each cry more shrill than the last.
The pain from “Super Doubling” was unimaginable for ordinary people.
Dai Chunli was in agony, feeling like she was dying and coming back to life.
Her most beloved daughter, Jiang Lianlian, had already packed up and run away.
The only person who truly loved her-her Husband, Jiang Li’s biological father-had long since lost his mind from being pushed out early to take the fall for her.
He was already so far gone he wouldn’t even eat her, let alone take care of her.
Dai Chunli was utterly hopeless, more desperate than she had ever felt before.
She lay on the floor, thinking and thinking, until she felt like her lungs would explode from rage!
“You bastard! I don’t believe there’s no one who can deal with you!!”
Enduring the excruciating pain, Dai Chunli crawled up and posted a high-priced bounty online.
She claimed that as long as someone could contact the organization behind the Strange Tale World, she would offer half of her demolition compensation as a reward.
With a heavy reward, there are always brave souls.
Soon, an Anonymous Netizen with a death’s head avatar sent her a message.
“Hello, Ms. Dai. I can help you, but the price is…”
Seeing the message pop up, Dai Chunli was overjoyed.
But when she clicked in and saw the price, a cold sweat broke out on her back.
With a loud “thud,” she slammed her laptop shut, too frightened to look at it again.