Getting that answer that confirmed his worries, Bubai’s face deadpanned.

  As expected. How can there be no issues with this mid-grade doll?

  It’s hardly surprising, given her background as a former high-tier doll.

  Heritage like this always tend to be tricky, especially when its original owner was most likely a golden core old coot.

  Ever since Bubai dropped this Leng Meng doll off in his storage warehouse, his x-ray consciousness has visited her over and over again, searching for ghosts in the machine.

  Verdict? Nothing.

  His pseudo divine sense gave him the all-clear, but that, in itself, was a problem!

  How can there be no ghosts? Just because they can’t be seen doesn’t mean they don’t exist!

  Frankly... Bubai doesn’t have much faith in his own trashy insight.

  Better safe than sorry. Just call the fairy!

  Lo and behold, he was right to be cautious! There were problems at a glance!

  Now, he was eager to see how much this fairy can pick out

  “Oh all-knowing, wise and beautiful fairy, would thou mind broadening this humble knowledge seeker’s horizon?”

  The fairy patted her neat silver bun, humming pleasantly.

  “Hum, hum, well said. Then let this fairy give fairy brother a lesson on the ways of those stingy misers.”

  Those starry eyes turned, and the fairy pointed at the crown of the goddess doll’s head. “This.”

  Bubai followed her finger and looked at the head full of gray hair twisted into an elegant bun...

  He studied it, blinked, then studied it again, and finally saw…well, nothing wrong. It’s just hair and more hair?

  “???”

  Shu Ling read the confusion on his face like an open book and her fingers reached out to pinch a strand of gray hair. “Fairy brother, pay closer attention. It’s this!”

  Obligingly, Bubai’s divine sense reached out to examine that single strand of gray hair, but after scanning it inside out from root to tip...

  All he saw was a whitish-gray strand covered in overlapping scales that textured the thread with ridges and grooves like shingles on a roof.

  This was… just what hair looks like up close. Not much to write home about.

  Well, since he can’t see anything, just ask.

  “Fairy, this… is there something special?”

  Shu Ling rolled her eyes, but didn’t keep him in suspense.

  “This looks almost like human hair, doesn’t it? But this is actually the hair from the antenna of a rare gu called the Forget-Me-Not Butterfly.”

  “If fairy brother pays close enough attention to the ends, you will notice the traces of tampering left over by those misers’ handiwork.”

  Huh? So this hair is an implant?

  Bubai’s divine sense zoomed in to where the hair follicle attached to the scalp.

  Sure enough. Once it got pointed out, he did notice some suspicious artificial traces at the root.

  But truth be told, they were so subtle that they could easily be passed off as nothing more than damage from the doll-making process!

  It’s hard for a layman to discover the traces, let alone say there was something wrong with it!

  Then, there was an even more baffling question.

  What can a single piece of hair even do? A curse? Or...

  “This… could it be used for some sort of tracking method?”

  “Fufufu, otherwise?” The fairy tapped the strand lightly and let it go.

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  “For most human cultivators, it’s just another piece of hair. But this hair actually releases a unique signal that will attract other forget-me-not butterflies within a certain range…”

  “Even beyond that, a magic tool crafted from the origin butterfly can sense the general direction of this hair even if fairy brother runs all the way out of the Sunfire Desert!”

  Holy Merlin! Bubai’s mind whirred and matched the fairy’s explanation to the animal kingdom knowledge buried in his science database.

  So this was… kinda like a normal butterfly’s pheromones, but on a supernatural scale?

  This… actually makes a whole lot of sense!

  Yet… even with all this logic laid out in his mind, Bubai still can’t help but feel it was utter nonsense.

  After all, to his eyes, it was nothing but a hair.

  It’s hard to tell if the fairy is pointing at a deer and calling it a horse just to spook him, but…

  Better safe than sorry. Trust the professional!

  Bubai pinched the strand of hair. “Then, can I just pluck this out?”

  Shu Ling gave a sage-like nod. “Hum, there’s no problem once it gets plucked out. Just make sure fairy brother does it cleanly and don’t leave any roots behind.”

  Getting the green light, Bubai immediately did just that.

  Dig it out, and heal back the almost unseen scar. Easy.

  The hard part was finding it in the first place.

  Now that he thought about it... this tracker was quite sneaky and sinister!

  Good thing he got a signal-isolation storage box. Perfect.

  After putting away that special hair in a corner of his storage space for future re-purposing, Bubai turned back to the fairy...

  Only to cross paths with the starry gaze watching his hands like she was waiting for a magic trick to happen.

  “Ahem.” Bubai coughed lightly. “Fairy, we’ll talk later about how much gold this will cost.”

  Shu Ling shot him a reproachful look and pouted. “Is this fairy the type to lust after your gold? Hum, humph!”

  That was what she said, but the appraiser enthusiastically got back to work.

  “Look here. This fairy knows fairy brother likes using mouths the most, but please pay attention…”

  “Her saliva and honey hole are mixed with a nectar that secretes a scent detectable by a bug called flower mosquito.”

  “Once marked, any mosquito from the colony can track the target within ten miles!”

  “This is a trick commonly used by the brothels ran by this sect, especially those green tea at the Phoenix’s Nest.”

  “Hum, fairy brother, just remember to wash up after using and there won’t be a problem.”

  Bubai nodded, not too shocked. Bathing is already his habit for a good reason.

  But this was only the start.

  A wave of the fairy’s delicate hand and a soft illusory glow highlighted a pattern on the inner thigh of the goddess’s long, sexy legs.

  “This is the special rune left by those misers on any dolls they deem worthy.”

  “It’s drawn using Glasswing Fish ink. Once dried, it becomes invisible and almost undetectable even by divine sense, effectively hiding the rune.”

  “Even spiritual fluctuations are suppressed, concealing any spiritual brand until the owner chooses to activate the rune.”

  Bubai observed the somewhat familiar, yet unfamiliar rune. An uneasy feeling crept up his spine. “This rune… is it what I think it is?”

  “Fufufu~ Hum, it’s exactly what fairy brother thinks. It’s the type that goes boom, boom. Those misers love playing this trick.”

  Merlin’s ducking beard! Bubai almost cursed out loud. What a sick trap! So sinister! How treacherous!

  If someone was busy working out with a doll and this rune gets activated, then—boom!

  A point-blank farewell to the little brother down below.

  Imagine that. How many could survive that?!

  No wonder dolls were infamous for being an assassination tool! How many poor ghosts had met their end this way?

  Even his own little brother felt a bit weak inside, knowing there was such a landmine planted right there on the inner thigh.

  Bubai swallowed hard and gave it a poke. “This... can be removed, right?”

  “Hum, of course! But…” Shu Ling thoughtfully tapped her own lips.

  “The spiritual brand on it is probably left by those old stingy fogeys. Once we touch the rune, those misers might just set it off.”

  “To be safe, this fairy suggests to bring her over to granny and have granny wipe the brand first.”

  Bubai blinked. Oh, right. Just erase the brand and put his own on it. Simple.

  Realizing he can handle this himself, Bubai politely dismissed the offer. “No need to disturb Granny’s rest. I’m not in a hurry to use this.”

  Shu Ling rolled her eyes. “Hum, if fairy brother says so.”

  She didn’t bother pointing out his little juju. Instead, she pointed out the next point of interest.

  “Hum, this fairy doesn’t know what fairy brother did, but any tracking rune inscribed on the core are as good as gone. No worries there…”

  “But there’s still a remnant seed from those misers’ Shadow Sun Doll Art. Does fairy brother need help getting rid of that?”

  Bubai stiffened. He knew she was referring to the turtle boy’s foundation seed that was now assimilated by his T-seed.

  He wasn’t sure about the specific qualities of the original seed, but...

  Want to remove his T-seed? Won’t that mean scrapping this valuable doll?!

  Perhaps he can stuff the seed back in after taking it out, but… who knows!

  Anyways, Bubai was sure he can recall his T-seed anytime he wants.

  There’s no need to conduct this experiment here and now.

  “No, it’s fine. There’s still some use for that... No need to trouble fairy.”

  “Hum?” Shu Ling’s curious eyes sparkled like twin stars. “How is fairy brother going to use it?”

  Thinking of the plan that had been shelved at the back of his mind due to the lack of manpower, Bubai sported a crooked smile. “Oh, just some matters that are not convenient to be said.”

  Shu Ling pouted. “So mysterious! Humph, leaving this fairy hanging again!”

  “Haha…”

  “Fuu?! Fairy brother finds it funny?! See how you like it if this fairy leaves you hanging without telling fairy brother about the rest! Humph!”

  Bubai’s laughing face got flushed with awkwardness. Drats, he shot himself in the foot!

  He forgot this devious little elf really knew how to make things difficult when she wanted to!

  So, he can only surrender and try to coax the lady.

  “My wise Miss Ling’er, my beautiful fairy, don’t be like that. We should finish what we started, shouldn’t we?

  Shu Ling turned her pouting face away. “Humph. Not telling.”

  Guess she won’t release the eagle until she sees the rabbit.

  So, Bubai wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer to breath into her ear.

  “Okay, be good. How about this? I promise we’ll do something fun after, alright?”

  Those starry eyes finally looked over and a smile bloomed across the moon’s face.

  “Fun?” The fairy’s giggle tinkled like silver bells and a pinky finger hooked his own. “It’s a promise! Fairy brother… you can’t back out later. Fufufu~”