"Senior Brother, is something wrong?" Yun Jin noticed that Yue Zhao's expression was rather strange and couldn't help but ask.
Yue Zhao shook his head. "It's not that it's difficult…"
It just felt a bit like tricked Gu Jinghong.
"Then let's go with this plan." Yun Jin turned to Gu Jinghong. "This is the task I'm assigning you. From now on, you'll stay in this haunted house and play the role of a ghost. Make it scary, if possible. The best outcome would be to scare people to tears."
This Gu Jinghong was already a bit of a maniac to begin with, so assigning him this role was just putting the right person in the right position.
Gu Jinghong nodded and said, "Master, if you wish to make the haunted house even more terrifying, I can add more elements. With the use of various formations, we can create an oppressive atmosphere. Talismans can enhance visual and auditory effects, and combined with image and sound-recording stones, the horror can be taken to the next level."
"Add formations and talismans?" Yue Zhao's interest was piqued. "Tell me more."
Gu Jinghong had gone through all five themed scenarios before. Now that Yue Zhao asked, he pointed out various improvements using formations and talismans to enhance the fear factor in specific areas.
Yue Zhao listened intently, nodding again and again. Suddenly, he slapped his thigh. "With someone like Junior Brother Gu, having him only play NPC roles would be a waste. How about this — from now on, I'll handle the scriptwriting for the haunted house, and Junior Brother Gu will be in charge of implementing the setups. Once we start earning money, I'll give you a share of the profits!"
Gu Jinghong looked puzzled. "NPC?"
Yun Jin blinked and put on an equally puzzled expression.
Yue Zhao coughed and explained, "NPC refers to the ghosts and characters within the story. It's not important, don't worry about it. What matters is, from now on, you'll be working with me. Junior Brother Gu, I have a feeling you're a genius when it comes to crafting horror! Whether our haunted house can shake the cultivation world with fear — that's up to you!"
Gu Jinghong remained silent for a moment.
Although he heard the word "genius," he didn't think Yue Zhao meant it as praise.
He kept his expression impassive and replied calmly, "I only follow Master's orders."
Yue Zhao looked over at Yun Jin.
Yun Jin smiled. "You two can work out the details yourselves. I won't interfere."
"See? Your master agrees." Yue Zhao grinned. "From now on, you're mine."
He was desperate for help right now. With his current manpower, he could barely run a few small events in the marketplace. If he wanted to expand and scale up, he'd need far more people.
Ordinary workers weren't hard to find, but someone like Gu Jinghong — now that was rare talent.
Gu Jinghong thought for a moment, then nodded. "Since Master approves, I'll join. But as for the profit share, there's no need. Give it all to Master."
"Tsk tsk tsk." Yue Zhao turned and looked at Yun Jin.
She hadn't done much at all.
Yet Gu Jinghong looked as if he'd been completely tamed and was more than willing to serve. Ordinary contracted servants usually racked their brains trying to break free of the bond.
Looking at Gu Jinghong, Yue Zhao could swear — even if someone offered to help him break the contract, he probably wouldn't agree.
Yue Zhao chuckled. "Keep your share. The businesses here in the market all belong to your master. Technically, I'm just working for her too."
"Oh? So it was all Master's property!"
Gu Jinghong immediately said, "If that's the case, I have a few more ideas that could be added to the haunted house."
Yue Zhao: "???"
"What's that supposed to mean? So if it hadn't belonged to Yun Jin, you were planning to hide your ideas?"
Yun Jin didn't bother getting involved in their back-and-forth. She waved her hand. "I don't know much about business. Senior Brother, I'll leave Jinghong to you."
"Don't worry," Yue Zhao said with a grin. "Talents like him — the more, the better."
Yue Zhao still wanted to discuss more in detail with Gu Jinghong, but Gu Jinghong said, "Let's not talk further today. Master still has instructions for me."
"Alright then." Yue Zhao sounded a little reluctant.
It wasn't every day you found someone talented in horror design. With Gu Jinghong onboard, the future of the business could grow indefinitely. So many cultivators yearned for that sense of adventure in secret realms. But real secret realms came with actual mortal danger, which most didn't dare to face.
Once he had enough funding, he wouldn't have to settle for small tricks anymore. He could create a genuine, immersive secret realm!
A secret realm filled with terror, treasures, adventure, and compelling storylines. Wouldn't that be enough to make cultivators lose their minds?
Of course, creating something like that would be extremely difficult. He'd need top-tier formation masters and talisman experts to build a realistic world. His next step would be to recruit elites in those two fields. Yue Zhao was feeling incredibly fired up.
While Yue Zhao continued to busy himself in the marketplace, Yun Jin brought Gu Jinghong back.
Yun Jin took a seat, and Gu Jinghong immediately poured her some tea and stood respectfully at the side.
Yun Jin took a sip and asked, "How did you know I still had something to ask of you?"
Gu Jinghong replied respectfully, "Just a hunch, Master."
Yun Jin glanced at him and handed back the jade slip he had given her earlier. "Take a look."
Gu Jinghong took it reverently.
As he scanned it again, a flicker of shock flashed through his eyes.
The formations inside had all been revised.
Perfect grade.
Perfect grade.
Every single one was perfect grade.
Gu Jinghong quickly withdrew his spiritual sense, visibly unsettled. He looked at Yun Jin in alarm. "Master, this is too valuable. I don't dare examine it."
"What's so valuable about it?" Yun Jin said casually. "It's just the formations you gave me earlier. I spent some time refining them. You have some talent with formations. Study what's in this jade slip carefully. I'll add more in the future."
Yun Jin looked at him steadily. "Gu Jinghong, my expectations for you aren't just to be some unambitious servant. I want you to become one of the top formation masters. The stronger you become, the more useful you'll be to me. Your haunted house venture with Senior Brother will also need a powerful formation master. So you won't just learn — you must learn. Understand?"
She spoke lightly.
But Gu Jinghong's gaze began to burn with growing intensity. He hadn't expected that Master held such high expectations for him. Had she ever said something like this to Ye Cheng? Hoped he'd become the top spiritual herb cultivator?
She hadn't.
These words had only been said to him.
What was this?
This was a bond.
Gu Jinghong clutched the jade slip tightly. "Master, I will do my utmost!"
Yun Jin nodded with satisfaction. Then she added, "Though you have some talent with formations, it's still not enough. I've refined a batch of pills that can enhance your comprehension in formation arts. Take one every seventh day at the hour of the dragon. Remember — not earlier or later. As soon as the time comes, take it immediately."
She handed him a porcelain bottle.
These pills, of course, didn't actually improve one's comprehension in formations. They were just casually refined pills, with a layer of concealment added by the system to prevent anyone from analyzing their composition.
What would actually improve his comprehension was the system's simplification function.
Yun Jin planned to use one simplification every seven days to enhance Gu Jinghong's formation aptitude.
Still, she wanted to make sure he knew she was helping him. The pill bottle was a good enough vehicle for that.