Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence.

"Why can't I touch this underworld emissary?"

"Of course, you can't! It's an underworld emissary!" Hu Tao stated matter-of-factly.

"Then why can you?"

"Because it's under my command!" Hu Tao wiggled her fingers, drawing attention to the ring she wore. The ring was like a string wrapped tightly around her finger, firmly tethering the little ghost by its tail.

"…" Jiang Bai had no words for that explanation.

"Hm? You don't seem satisfied with my answer?"

Hu Tao's smiling expression sent an immediate sense of danger coursing through Jiang Bai.

"How could that be?! Director Hu is amazing! Director Hu is invincible!"

"What do you mean by that?" Hu Tao raised an eyebrow. Why did that sound like sarcasm?

"It means I'm praising your strength!"

"Then why doesn't it sound like a compliment…?" Hu Tao narrowed her eyes at him but didn't seem too bothered. She hopped down from the rock she was perched on and waved her hand.

"Break time's over! Let's keep moving!"

Jiang Bai, who had barely rested, obediently picked up the basket and hoisted the hoe onto his shoulder.

He noticed that his stamina was quite impressive—despite carrying so many things over such a long distance, he barely felt tired. The weight of the basket strapped to his back felt almost nonexistent, not hindering his movement in the slightest.

As he walked, he even had the energy to keep an eye out for Sweet Flowers.

Just as he climbed to the top of a small hill and reached for a particularly vibrant Sweet Flower, a small, masked creature suddenly leapt out from the bushes with a shrill screech, brandishing a wooden club.

Jiang Bai flinched at the sudden noise, and before he could think, his reflexes kicked in—he swung the hoe in his hand instinctively.

With a swift whoosh, the creature was sent flying in an arc through the air, landing with a dull thud on the ground, bouncing twice before lying still.

"What the hell?!"

Jiang Bai had not expected something to jump out at him—he was just trying to pick a flower!

Now, he looked between the Sweet Flower and the creature lying motionless on the ground, feeling a little guilty.

Could this have happened because he tried to pick that flower?

This wasn't his fault! It was purely a reflex! His brain hadn't even processed what was happening before the creature was already on the ground!

This was all because of this culprit!

Thinking that, he plucked the Sweet Flower from its root before approaching the strange creature to examine it.

At a closer look, the creature was small and covered in fur. Its limbs were somewhat similar to a human's, though its fingers were fewer and less dexterous.

Its face—or at least where its face should be—was covered by a mask that seemed almost fused to its body, making Jiang Bai wonder whether it was actually a mask or part of its face.

The creature's legs twitched slightly, and it murmured weakly in a strange language. However, when it saw the Sweet Flower in Jiang Bai's hand, its voice suddenly grew sharper—though it no longer had the strength to get up.

"Director Hu! Director Hu! Come take a look at this!"

Hu Tao had already walked far ahead, so Jiang Bai had to shout for her.

Fortunately, her hearing was sharp—before he knew it, she appeared before him in a flash of fluttering butterflies.

"Oh? A Hilichurl?" Hu Tao looked a little surprised. "Why is there a half-dead Hilichurl here?"

And judging by its condition, it looked like someone had beaten it within an inch of its life.

"This creature is called a Hilichurl?"

Jiang Bai vaguely remembered Hu Tao mentioning the word that morning when she woke him up, but he had been too groggy to register it.

"That's right! Hilichurls are a type of monster. They attack humans who enter their territory and often raid passing merchants. Most of them live in groups, so they can be quite dangerous."

"But I don't remember there being any Hilichurls on this road… Could a new Hilichurl camp have moved in?" Hu Tao rubbed her chin thoughtfully as she paced around the fallen creature.

"What should we do with it?"

Now that he knew it was a monster, Jiang Bai felt no guilt. He even gripped his hoe a little tighter, eager to test his strength.

"Obviously, we get rid of it!"

Hu Tao conjured a dark red polearm in her hands, striking the mask of the weakened Hilichurl with precision.

The creature, already on its last breath, let out a final shudder before falling silent.

The spearhead glowed with a crimson light, and flames surged down its length, engulfing the Hilichurl's body. In mere moments, it was reduced to charred remains.

Jiang Bai stood there, hoe in hand, stunned.

He had been thinking of digging a hole to bury it, but clearly, that was unnecessary now.

Man, Director Hu's abilities are so efficient. Kill, cremate, and if she's in the mood, she could even play a funeral tune on her suona.

"If there was one here, there are probably more nearby. We should clear them all out—otherwise, travelers passing through might be in danger."

Hu Tao dismissed her spear and scanned the rolling hills around them.

These Hilichurls were no trouble for her, but she still had to consider the safety of her little sidekick. She wasn't sure how strong Jiang Bai was yet, and bringing him along might be risky.

"Jiang Bai, you shou—"

Hu Tao had just been about to tell him to stay put when she noticed the eager look in his eyes, his grip tightening around his hoe.

"Oh? You want to come with me?"

Jiang Bai chuckled sheepishly. "You don't know this, Director Hu, but that Hilichurl just now? I took it down with a single swing of my hoe. I want to see if I can handle more of them."

Hearing that, Hu Tao's interest was piqued.

"So that's why there was a half-dead Hilichurl lying around! One swing, huh? Seems like you were pretty strong before you lost your memory~"

Her little ghost peeked out from behind her, equally intrigued.

"Alright then! You take the front, and I'll back you up!" Hu Tao decisively gave the order.

Their original plan to visit the Statue of The Seven was immediately put on hold as they began scouting the hills for Hilichurl camps.

"This one came from that direction, so the camp is probably that way," Jiang Bai pointed, and the two of them quietly hid in a bush at the top of the hill.

Peering through the leaves, they spotted a small Hilichurl settlement.

Jiang Bai counted—there were five of them in total.

Two were on wooden watchtowers—one resting, the other standing guard. A large, hulking Hilichurl, nearly twice the size of the others, sat on the ground dozing, a wooden shield propped beside it.

Two more were munching on fruits, their shields lying nearby.

And finally, there was one wielding a massive wooden staff, dancing in a strange ritualistic manner.

In the center of the camp sat a large, basin-like object, where a jelly-like, light-blue creature with two beady eyes wobbled back and forth.