Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 183: Daytime Gathering

It was the weekend. Winter was nearly over, but the weather was still cold.

Guan He tightened his scarf and looked at the traffic on the road. His classmates chatted and laughed nearby, while the smell of steaming food rose from the roadside shops. Compared to the ritual-filled months before, this life felt unbelievably peaceful.

He had once taken such happiness for granted.

“You dropped out last semester because of your illness. Are you doing okay?” A guy he got along with came up and clapped him on the back. “Man, your timing was lucky. You skipped the exams. Last year’s finals were brutal. The English paper had me ready to puke.”

Guan He briefly recalled the eight nerve-racking rituals he had gone through. “…I’m fine.”

Just a little trip through the Underworld, capped off with a brawl against the heir to a cult.

“We’re in our final year now. Just one more year to freedom.” The guy slung an arm around his shoulders. “Hey, by the way, have you figured out what you want to do next? You always said you wanted to study far away from home, but you never said where exactly.”

Guan He couldn’t help but stop walking.

“I want to apply to the police academy in Gui Province,” he said. “I remember it ranks among the top nationwide.”

“Police academy? With your grades, you could shoot for one of the top two universities. Why not something in business, chips, or computer science? Why become a police officer?”

“And Gui Province is so close. Didn’t you say you wanted to get away from your mom and be independent?”

“I’ve changed my mind.” Guan He pressed his lips together.

“Come on, man, don’t make decisions on impulse…”

Guan He: “I’m serious. I talked things through with my mom.”

On his first day back to reality, Guan He withdrew some of the funds from his “Underworld-to-Mortal Realm Day Tour”. He bought a bouquet of carnations, a well-known brand of hand cream, and went straight to the store where his mother worked.

After eight rituals, that mountain of sin that once suffocated him and those complicated, unshakable feelings, had all turned to dust.

Maybe his mother had made a lot of mistakes, but she had never given up on him or hated him. Looking back, she had worked nearly nonstop the whole year, never delayed his tuition, and always gave him enough living expenses.

His mom wasn’t some flawless model parent. She was just an awkward, ordinary person—scared, in pain, often overwhelmed by reality, sometimes at a loss.

They simply didn’t know how to forgive themselves.

So he would take the first step.

In fact, before seeing her, Guan He had carefully written down what he wanted to say, even made a mental list of bullet points. But when he saw his surprised and anxious mother at the shop, all those prepared lines vanished from his mind.

In the end, he only managed to squeeze out two sentences.

“Mom, I came to see you.”

“I’m sorry, it was my fault…”

That day, for the first time, he saw his mother cry like that. She didn’t cry like a mother, but like a child. He hugged her frail body and heard a stream of muffled apologies.

Looking down at the top of her bowed head, Guan He suddenly noticed how much thinner her hair had gotten, strands of white running through it. They had barely made eye contact these past months, and he had never noticed before.

It was good. He was still young. There was still time to make things right.

He had made a wonderful wish. They still had many years ahead.

“…He, Guan He, what are you zoning out for?” His classmate gave him a hard tug. “I swear, for a second there, your shadow split into two!”

“Oh, yeah.” Guan He grinned. “That’s a gift from a friend.”

“What?”

“A secret. Anyway, maybe I’m more suited to being a police officer than you think.”

He smiled at the little ghost child hiding in his shadow.

Guan He had kept his memories. The ghost child was extra clingy, refusing to terminate their contract. So Fang Xiu made the decision for them—let the child continue protecting Guan He until it was satisfied.

This meant Guan He would retain powers like his yin-yang eyes, wall-phasing, and the Five-Ghost Relocation Technique.

In return, he had to regularly renew the ghost contract, ensure the ghost child’s powers were used righteously, and keep all matters of the Disaster Relief Tower strictly confidential.

“Xiao Guan, think carefully about your future.”

Before they parted, Fang Xiu had said with a smile, “I’m not an ‘Official’. But maybe you could become one, in the truest sense.”

“We’re here. I’ll head out. See you Monday.” Guan He waved to his classmate.

“Oh right, you going to the hospital… for a follow-up?”

“No, to see a friend.”

……

In the hospital room, the old trio reunited at last.

Cheng Songyun wore light makeup and stylish clothes, with a bottle of milk and some fruit by her side. Her calm smile made her look like she was in a good mood.

On the bed, Fang Xiu leaned against the headboard. He was still alarmingly thin, but his face had regained some color. The ventilator and feeding tube were gone.

“Fang Ge, Auntie Cheng!” Guan He grinned wide.

“Looks like you talked to your mom.” Fang Xiu winked.

“Yeah, though it’s still a bit awkward between us…”

“One bite at a time. Take it slow,” Fang Xiu said, pointing at his own face. “Look at me. I’ve got to gain weight bit by bit too.”

“This is important. I made free-range chicken soup. Xiao Fang, can you have chicken broth?” Cheng Songyun asked, digging out a thermos. “If Bai Shuangying were here, he could reheat it.”

“It’s fine like this. He’s not around. I sent him to follow my dad.” Fang Xiu reached out longingly for the soup.

At present, only Underworld envoys and fierce ghosts were guarding him here. All they could do was make the soup colder.

Cheng Songyun, Guan He: “……”

He let that man follow an ordinary person?!

“It’s okay. I know what you’re thinking.”

With the nurse’s permission, Fang Xiu slurped his soup. “Actually, this is for the best. My dad will really like Bai Shuangying.”

Cheng Songyun and Guan He tacitly chose not to comment.

Bai Shuangying’s appearance was indeed exceptional. But truthfully, seeing a face so far from human norms would more likely cause fear than attraction in a rational adult.

Moreover, his personality… gentle in understanding memories, ruthless in eliminating people. Would an ordinary cop really like that?

“My dad doesn’t believe in ghosts or gods. Unless Bai Shuangying introduces himself as the God of Wealth, he won’t care.”

Fang Xiu held up a hand, speaking softly. “Besides, he’ll definitely see how simple-minded Bai Shuangying is. If anything, I’m the one more likely to trick him than the other way around.”

“He’s worried about me for now… but give it time, he might start worrying about Bai Shuangying instead.”

“But Officer Yuan doesn’t really know you. You were only thirteen when you fell into a coma…” Cheng Songyun trailed off.

Fang Xiu stirred his soup calmly. “Even if he compares me to the thirteen-year-old version, the result is the same.”

Fair enough. Both Cheng Songyun and Guan He nodded.

“Cheng Jie, this soup is amazing…”

“My daughter really loves my soups too.”

“Fang Ge, your digestion’s probably still weak. Uh… can I have a drumstick?”

That night, after seven days, Yuan Ye returned to Fang Xiu’s hospital room.

“The issue’s basically settled. We saw a Taoist during the day.”

Bai Shuangying slipped onto the bed, nestled between Fang Xiu and the headboard, and expertly wrapped him in a sleeve.

Officer Yuan: “……”

This sly bastard really didn’t treat him like an elder… the younger elder!

Fine. Business first.

He rubbed his temples and forced a smile. “Kid, have you thought about your future?”

“Uncle… Dad will take good care of you. Even after I’m gone, your parents left enough money to support you for life.”

“If you want a normal job, we can hire a tutor and help you earn a degree. You’ve always been smart. You’ll be fine.”

“Just, uh, try not to rely too much on…” Yuan Ye glanced at Bai Shuangying. “…outside forces.”

He still didn’t get what exactly this God of Xushan was in charge of. But the phrase “Mountain God” sounded too wild and ungrounded. People should depend on themselves.

“Dad, you can relax. I’ve already found a job, and it even comes with a government post.” Fang Xiu thumped his chest. “I even have my own office. Not sure if I can bring you to visit, though.”

Yuan Ye’s eyes lit up. “Is it a special national department? One of those super-classified ones?”

“Something like that.” Fang Xiu smiled shyly. “The secrecy part is manageable. It’s just… the office is in the Underworld. I need to get clearance from them first…”

Officer Yuan: “………………”

……

Disaster-Resolving Tower

A’Shou: “………………”

A’Shou: “This was Fang Xiu’s idea?”

Dian’er nodded and bowed. “Yes. Lord Fang Xiu said he doesn’t want to touch your room. He only needs the top-floor attic.”

That attic was only about 200 square meters and had previously been used for storage. In Dian’er’s opinion, it was nowhere near as luxurious as the master of the Disaster Relief Tower’s room. He had no idea what Lord Fang Xiu was thinking.

These days, the Underworld envoys had been cleaning the abandoned attic, renovating it into a modern earthly style, and using spells to supply water and electricity. They even built a gate in the attic that connects directly to the human world, with Fang Xiu in charge of the exit.

Everything was nearly ready. They were just waiting for King Yan to approve the express route to the mortal world.

“So thoughtful. That little brat really won’t lift a finger, huh.”

A’Shou gritted her teeth. Even if her pay had doubled, Fang Xiu’s blatant refusal to handle documentation and reports was still… hard to tolerate.

Nobody likes their boss living on the second floor of the office. Not even ghosts. If she didn’t know how scheming he was, she might think he came to the Underworld just to scam some real estate.

Dian’er wouldn’t dare curse the new boss. He laughed foolishly and pretended he heard nothing.

“Right, the negotiation with Country A is finished.”

He rubbed his hands and changed the subject. “As long as we’re willing to exchange criminal souls, they agreed to let Fang Xiu capture people remotely.”

“Their only conditions are—he can only target people with our bloodline, and he has to notify them in advance.”

“Pretty reasonable.” A’Shou clicked her tongue.

“The Xushan range is massive. I bet they’re wary of Lord Bai Shuangying.”

A’Shou clicked louder. “Then they’re wary of the wrong guy.”

It’s fine. After dealing with Fang Xiu once, they’ll understand.

“…Anyway, the formal contract is signed. The express route to the human world should be approved today, and the mortal side is already on standby.”

“I want to see how that brat plans to manage the Disaster Relief Tower.”

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The author has something to say:

A’Shou: (Looks up—three feet above, there’s the boss and his husband).

A’Shou: …crap.

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