Chapter 112: Lin Xiaobai’s Encounter

“You're here, little brother?”

Suddenly, the entire convenience store plunged into darkness. Outside, thick clouds blotted out the sun, and an ominous wind howled, sending a chill deep into one’s bones.

Ding-ling-ling...

Then, a clear, crisp bell sound approached from afar.

Lin Xiaobai jumped in surprise. Though his expression remained utterly composed, his heart was pounding fiercely. This subordinate seemed a bit difficult to deal with...

“Sir, are you calling for me?”

Suddenly, a timid female voice whispered beside Lin Xiaobai’s ear. He shuddered violently, goosebumps erupting all over him.

Damn... ghost!!!!

But mindful of his stature as a boss and unwilling to lose face, Lin Xiaobai suppressed the urge to curse and struggled to pull a cigarette from his jacket pocket, lighting it with feigned calmness:

“Is that how you speak to me?”

In an instant, the air fell into a heavy silence... Not a sound could be heard in the office—not even Lin Xiaobai’s own breathing, which he tried hard to suppress.

Feeling cold sweat trickle down his back, Lin Xiaobai suddenly regretted not resisting when the White Impermanence dragged him into the onboarding process. Wouldn’t reincarnation have been much better?

“A newly appointed envoy, the guilty spirit Qing Li, pays respects to the Ghost Official.”

After a long while, the lights in the convenience store flickered back on, and the eerie clouds outside dispersed. The crisp female voice echoed respectfully in Lin Xiaobai’s ears.

Looking closely, in front of the desk knelt a woman dressed in blue.

Her skin was as smooth as fine jade, her features exquisitely beautiful, her gaze gentle, and a perfectly measured smile played at her lips.

Her long black hair was pinned up with a wooden hairpin, and she wore a blue qipao that somehow conveyed an indescribable warmth.

“Guilty spirit?”

Lin Xiaobai’s eyes flickered with surprise as he looked at the unassuming Qing Li before him.

“When I died, I was with two companions,” Qing Li said evenly, her expression unreadable. After a brief pause, a profound depth surfaced in her eyes. Her voice was calm and devoid of emotion:

“We were met by a second-rank Ghost Official on our way back. He lusted after me.”

“Of course, I refused and, together with my two companions, killed him. In the battle, those two companions were killed by him.”

Her voice was light and slow, seemingly indifferent, yet Lin Xiaobai felt an immense pressure bearing down on him.

Damn, she’s touched on a sore spot... Will she suddenly lash out?

Lin Xiaobai felt uneasy, like sitting on pins and needles.

She’s killed a Ghost Official before... and a second-rank one at that...

“What are you afraid of, sir?”

Suddenly, Qing Li noticed Lin Xiaobai’s discomfort. A subtle surprise flickered in her deep eyes, and as her clear voice rang out again, a meaningful smile curved her lips.

Lin Xiaobai: Σっ

“And then?”

Maintaining his boss-like composure, Lin Xiaobai cleared his throat and straightened up, asking calmly.

“Afterwards, I suffered a hundred years of solitude in the Hell of Endless Torment as atonement...”

“Now, having served my sentence, I have been assigned by higher-ups to assist you.”

After a slight pause, Qing Li slowly shook her head, resuming her previous gentle demeanor as she spoke softly.

When she finished, she cupped her fists respectfully and bowed to Lin Xiaobai.

“Please, have a seat.”

Lin Xiaobai knew this was a customary salute from a subordinate to a superior in the underworld. He hesitated briefly before giving a faint command.

“By the way, I heard that Old Bai Street has recently been plagued by vengeful spirits. What is your opinion on this, sir?”

After finding a chair and sitting down, Qing Li’s eyes darkened with concern. She fixed her gaze on Lin Xiaobai, seemingly trying to peer into his thoughts.

What opinion? Lin Xiaobai thought with some amusement. What else can I do but watch? Should I go ask the spirits why they died unjustly? Or why they became vengeful?

That’s crazy.

Maintaining his impassive expression, Lin Xiaobai thought silently before lifting his head and locking eyes with Qing Li.

“There’s no need for you to worry about that.”

“They’re just petty vengeful spirits, nothing to be concerned about.”

His voice was flat, betraying no emotion, as if he held everything firmly in his grasp.

“It’s I who spoke out of turn.”

Qing Li nodded respectfully, relief evident in her eyes.

She realized this lord was well-prepared. Though somewhat timid, the fact that he could become a Ghost Official meant he was no ordinary talent.

She had underestimated him and vowed not to be so reckless in the future.

As she thought this, a subtle respect gleamed in Qing Li’s gaze toward Lin Xiaobai.

Damn... vengeful spirits... the strongest souls under the Ghost Officials...

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaobai’s heart raced wildly. Holding the ultra-modern, fully transparent iPhone 201x, he flipped through the new recruit’s manual anxiously.

Where is the Ghost Official’s gear? The equipment??

To face such sinister vengeful spirits, not even a single piece of gear issued???

What kind of underworld is this?

Could it be that the irritable Ximen Qing has kept everything for himself?

That scoundrel—could he really be this heartless?

Lin Xiaobai’s thoughts were in turmoil; his mood sank as he furrowed his brows deeply.

Qing Li noticed this flicker of change in his expression. A faint glimmer flashed briefly in her eyes.

Could it be that this lord has already sensed what lies behind those vengeful spirits?

She thought to herself that she had indeed underestimated him.

Those who can be appointed Ghost Officials without following protocol are never simple characters.

The underworld is always fair and just. Even though she was condemned to a hundred years in the Hell of Endless Torment, the celestial bank account was credited with fifty million as compensation.

Later, when she learned she was valued and appointed as an envoy, Qing Li was initially delighted.

Determined to reform and perform well, she spent millions investigating this new lord’s background and the affairs on Old Bai Street thoroughly.

That was why she dared to tease this young lord initially.

Who would have thought he knew everything already, though he had been a Ghost Official for less than half an hour?

Could it be that he was preordained by the underworld? His mortal life had just ended, and he was conveniently recruited?

Perhaps he even knows his own strength intimately...

Qing Li thought silently.

But then she winced, regretting the millions she had spent.

Emmm...

Throwing millions away, how frustrating...

Pouting a little, Qing Li felt mildly aggrieved. What she failed to notice was Lin Xiaobai’s trembling hand holding the iPhone 201x, and deep in his eyes, a trace of despair.

Because Steve Jobs died early and thanks to the underworld’s intense development, the new iPhone 201x was insanely powerful. Though fully transparent, its screen was one-way. Qing Li couldn’t see the page Lin Xiaobai was viewing.

It was the latest QQ interface, showing the following messages:

“Brother Ximen, don’t Ghost Officials get equipment? Why haven’t I received any gear?”

“…”

“I heard from above that White Impermanence has already given you the gear, right?”

“?? (No freaking way!!!)”

“Think carefully, what else did White Impermanence give you besides the phone?”

“Uh… two… walnuts...? (Are you serious...??)”

“That must be it. White Impermanence’s gifts are usually treasures everyone dreams of.”

“... (I’m doomed...)”

“Study them well. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the underworld to match cultivation techniques and get you fully equipped as a Ghost Official.”

“Alright, gotta go now, brother, some business to handle.”

“You work hard, I believe in you!”

“Thanks, Brother Ximen. (Hehe...)”

“Sir, here’s your tea.”

Without Lin Xiaobai noticing, Qing Li had already brewed tea and carefully entered, carrying a delicate cup. She gently placed it on the desk, smiling warmly.

“Hmm, you may leave now. I have some matters to attend to.”

Lin Xiaobai nodded, took the tea she offered, and said faintly,

“Yes.”

Qing Li said nothing more and quietly left.

Bang…

The door shut behind her, and Lin Xiaobai’s expression instantly fell, despair filling his eyes. He slumped helplessly into the boss chair.

His vacant gaze fixed on the two black, dull walnuts on the desk, an indescribable hopelessness swelling in his heart...

Why do those walnuts look like they’ve been dirtied by White Impermanence’s greasy hands?

And so ugly...

He vaguely recalled that when they were handed to him, White Impermanence kept rubbing them in his hands...

How many years has it been since he washed them...

Is the underworld really this unreliable?

After staring for a long time, Lin Xiaobai looked at the iPhone 201x screen with a complex expression. The lecherous pig avatar of the infamous Ximen Qing made his heart ache bitterly...

I’m still just a kid...

For some reason, the hot tea in his hand suddenly felt much colder...

Ice-cold, bone-chilling...

Wait…

This teacup…

Suddenly, a flash of astonishment crossed Lin Xiaobai’s eyes. He stared intently at the cup, his gaze deepening.

There’s no such thing in the store...

No such thing in the store...

Could it be Qing Li brought it herself?

Lin Xiaobai pondered, a faint gleam awakening in his eyes.

That must be it...

Judging from what she said, she had just died and was imprisoned in the Hell of Endless Torment. Upon release, the underworld directly assigned her an envoy position.

Surely, after preparations, she came bearing equipment...

Someone who could kill two second-rank Ghost Officials with two companions must be no lightweight...

Perhaps tonight, I have nothing to fear...

“Qing Li.”

With that thought, a profound light shone in Lin Xiaobai’s eyes as he called softly.

Ding-ling-ling...

Again, a faint, ethereal bell sound approached. The office door opened once more, and Qing Li stepped in, her gentle voice sounding:

“Sir, what are your orders?”

“Sit down. I’d like to talk with you about the vengeful spirits you mentioned earlier.”

Lin Xiaobai greeted Qing Li warmly, waving her to sit with a casual smile.

Just kidding. As a half-baked, unarmed Ghost Official, the only ally he could cling to was Qing Li. If he accidentally offended her and she turned away, where would he go to cry?

Should he throw these two black walnuts at her?

Boss Lin was still calculating inside.

Perhaps this was a test from the lord.

Or maybe, as a new appointee, the lord wanted to see if she could become his trusted aide...

Qing Li was somewhat surprised by his words. She pondered silently before saying thoughtfully:

“As far as I know, since that spirit is a vengeful one, there must be a grievance behind it. Although our duty is clear, we need not simply destroy it. Perhaps resolving its resentment in another way could yield better results.”

“Hmm, not bad.”

Lin Xiaobai nodded, appearing thoughtful.

“I’m ashamed to say my information is somewhat incomplete.”

Seeing this, Qing Li’s confidence grew. A flicker of contemplation shone in her eyes as she spoke gently:

“That vengeful spirit was once the owner of a barbershop on Old Bai Street. A warm and hospitable person with a thriving business. But one night, a very strange middle-aged man barged in and violated her purity.”

“That very night, the barbershop owner committed suicide.”

“It is said that the previous Ghost Official of Old Bai Street went to escort her back to the underworld, but the barbershop owner’s hatred was so intense she was nearly demonic. Even the powerful official on the verge of promotion to second rank could not subdue her.”

“After a fierce battle, the vengeful spirit fled overnight, and the Ghost Official was severely wounded, barely clinging to life. He is still being treated at the underworld’s medical center.”

“This happened about a month ago.”

A month ago...

Hearing Qing Li’s words, Lin Xiaobai shuddered all over. His hand holding the tea cup trembled, nearly spilling the tea.

“Sir, do you have any plans?”

Qing Li asked, puzzled as she looked at Lin Xiaobai deep in thought behind his desk.

“Nothing. Continue.”

Lin Xiaobai shook his head slowly. A deep gleam flashed in his eyes as he gave a faint command, all the while calculating silently...

If a Ghost Official about to reach second rank was nearly killed... what am I supposed to do?

ノ┻━┻

It’s been a month already; who knows how thick that resentment has grown...

Damn it...

The underworld is pushing me like a duck to slaughter—no humanity...

Should I run away...

So nervous...

“However, later, the underworld’s specialists examined the wounds of that Ghost Official and searched for clues at the scene. They discovered that the cause of that vengeful spirit’s deep hatred was not human...”

Qing Li gathered her thoughts and spoke gently once more, her eyes darkening with gravity as she uttered the last three words:

“Combining all the evidence, it has been confirmed: it was the work of a demon.”

“Demon…”

Lin Xiaobai’s eyes narrowed gradually, muttering the words under his breath. His mind flashed to the only mention of demons in the new recruit’s manual:

Immediately report to officials above first rank Ghost Official for a coordinated kill...

So here’s the question:

What the hell is the underworld up to?

Assigning an ordinary, defenseless human to such a dangerous place, and doing so with full knowledge.

If nothing happens, it would be unbelievable...