Chapter 67 Mission Reward: Underworld-Specific Pistol...
Before Chu Ci could speak, a very soft and faint voice came from the side.
"I think... it's better to wake up."
That faint voice...
Chu Ci and Zhuang Jingxuan looked over together and saw Jiang Caixia, whose figure had become very faint, hiding in the grass of the green belt, with only her head showing.
She lowered her eyes and spoke softly:
"As long as you're alive, you can always find what you want. But if you die, you have nothing left..."
Zhuang Jingxuan suddenly turned around, saw her looking like a ghost with her head down and eyes lowered, ran over and slapped her on the shoulder.
"That sounds nice, but you're even helping the murderer recant his confession!"
Jiang Caixia was swayed by the blow and shrank weakly into the green belt, her voice low.
"But I'm already dead. Since I'm dead, of course I have to find a way to minimize the losses."
She pouted and peered at Zhuang Jingxuan's face through the gaps in the green belt.
"I'm dead, but you're not. If you're not dead, why not try to live a good life?"
Zhuang Jingxuan squatted in front of the green belt and watched her quietly, without slapping her like before.
After a long pause, he finally spoke: "You're a human being! The person is dead. Even if there are losses, it's not something you should be concerned about."
Jiang Caixia remained silent in the green belt where she was.
Suddenly, she felt a heat in her body, and the entire ghost was lifted up.
"Chu Ci!"
Chu Ci, holding her in his arms, waved to Zhuang Jingxuan.
"Come on, it's almost time."
Jiang Caixia's expression changed, and she began to struggle desperately in her hands.
"No! I can't be reincarnated. My mom... what will happen to her if I leave!"
Zhuang Jingxuan followed behind Chu Ci and answered her:
"You're already dead, do you think you can help your mother by not being reincarnated?"
As she spoke, she pursed her lips and said, "I think your mom is just like my mom; she doesn't like you that much at all."
Jiang Caixia finally got angry, her eyes widening as she glared fiercely at Zhuang Jingxuan.
"You're talking nonsense! Your mom doesn't like you, so you think all moms are bad!"
"My mom is just having a hard time and can't take care of me!"
"My mom is different from your mom!"
Zhuang Jingxuan scoffed, "What's the difference? Your brother helped the murderer cover it up, but your mother still wrote a letter of forgiveness, didn't she?"
"My mom did this because she had no other choice!"
Jiang Caixia tried to reach out and grab her, but failed because of the distance.
She bared her teeth, staring at Zhuang Jingxuan with resentment.
"I'm dead, and my brother is in jail. What will happen to my mother when she gets old?"
She poked at Zhuang Jingxuan's throat, "Didn't your parents abandon you because they had a new child?"
"you……"
Zhuang Jingxuan glared at her and reached out to hit her, but Chu Ci stopped her.
Chu Ci glanced at the fuming Zhuang Jingxuan and said, "Both of you should keep quiet."
The two glared at each other angrily, then snorted twice and turned their heads in unison.
When they arrived on the 15th floor, Chen Xinxin was standing at the door waiting for them.
She couldn't see Zhuang Jingxuan and Jiang Caixia, but she could feel that the surroundings had gotten colder.
"Sister Aci, you've finally arrived."
She hadn't finished her drink and was still holding the book she wanted to read.
"It's almost ten o'clock, when do we start?"
"Wait a little longer."
Chu Ci continued with the preparations.
Jiang Caixia and Zhuang Jingxuan sat back to back at the door, ignoring each other.
Several times during the journey, Jiang Caixia tried to leave, but Zhuang Jingxuan dragged her back by the leg.
"What are you doing! You're already dead, so go and be reincarnated!"
Jiang Caixia couldn't win an argument or a fight, so she could only sulk and wait for an opportunity.
It was eleven o'clock when Grandma, who had been playing mahjong outside, finally returned.
Grandma was pleasantly surprised to see Chen Xinxin there. "Xinxin, what brings you here today?"
Chen Xinxin smiled and said, "I haven't seen Sister Aci in a long time, so I came to chat with her."
Seeing the books in front of her, Grandma didn't try to chat with her, but instead gently gave her some advice:
"Studying is important, but you also need to take care of your health. If your health is ruined, no matter how well you study, it's useless."
"Yes." Chen Xinxin nodded emphatically. "I understand, Grandma!"
After Grandma washed up and went to bed, Chen Xinxin was so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open.
The clock hands quietly reached twelve o'clock. Chu Ci took out the brazier, took out the prepared items, and threw them into the brazier.
Hearing the noise, Chen Xinxin rubbed her eyes and sat up from the sofa.
"Sister Aci, is it time?"
"Okay. Don't make a sound in the room right now, I'll call you in a bit."
The flickering light from the brazier fell on Chu Ci's face.
She took out the wooden plaque and gently tossed it into the brazier.
The flames that were originally dancing in the brazier paused for a moment, and then began to grow explosively.
Jiang Caixia, who was standing to the side, seemed to sense something and, ignoring Zhuang Jingxuan's fists, desperately tried to escape.
Zhuang Jingxuan was able to suppress him at first, but she was quickly exhausted by Jiang Caixia.
Just as Jiang Caixia was about to jump out of the window, a black chain suddenly appeared around her waist, pulling her back abruptly.
Jiang Caixia was dragged to the ground, trembling with fear, her soul seemingly fading even further.
"Tsk."
Chu Ci heard a familiar, sinister voice.
"What's going on with this place? You've been dead for so long, why haven't any underworld officials come to guide you to reincarnation?"
When asked, Jiang Caixia seemed to have a natural awe of him, and lay on the ground for a long time without daring to make a sound.
Chu Ci heard him click his tongue again, and soon, a shifty-eyed face appeared before her eyes.
It was the same underworld official who had taken her money last time.
His attire was similar to before, but perhaps because he had received a lot of money from her, his clothes were much newer.
He also had a bottle of wine in his hand.
This time, instead of rushing to pick up the money from the brazier, he walked around Jiang Caixia twice.
He circled around, scrutinizing her, his brow furrowed in confusion: "You've been dead for so long, why is your soul so faint?"
Zhuang Jingxuan, her hair a mess from Jiang Caixia's grabbing, interrupted angrily:
"What else could it be? To send her mother a dream!"
The underworld official paused, his sinister gaze sweeping over.
Zhuang Jingxuan was so frightened by him that her face changed, and she quickly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling involuntarily.
Seeing her as quiet as a quail, the underworld official snorted coldly and concealed his displeasure.
"And what's wrong with you?"
Zhuang Jingxuan kept her eyes down, too frightened to speak.
Chu Ci shoved her, "I'm asking you a question."
"Me?" Zhuang Jingxuan looked up at the underworld official.
I noticed that the displeasure in his eyes was becoming more and more obvious.
Zhuang Jingxuan: "..."
She swallowed hard and explained the whole reason.
Upon hearing her words, the underworld official rubbed his chin and lowered his eyebrows.
"This isn't right. In all this time, haven't any underworld officials helped you send your soul back?"
Zhuang Jingxuan shook her head honestly, "No..."
After glancing at her a couple more times, the underworld official reluctantly groaned.
"Fine, seeing that you haven't died down yet, I'll work overtime today and help you send your soul back."
After saying that, he beckoned, and Zhuang Jingxuan stepped forward, whereupon he bound her hands with black chains.
"As for you..."
His gaze fell on Jiang Caixia, who trembled even more violently.
He tugged at the other end of the chain, and Jiang Caixia stumbled twice as well.
"You've been illegally staying in the mortal realm for so long, and you still want to run away?"
Jiang Caixia trembled like a leaf, unable to utter a single word for a long time.
After tying the two ghosts together, the underworld official chuckled and rubbed his hands together as he went to pick up the gold ingots and silver notes from the brazier.
He stuffed the silver notes into his pocket, then happily picked up a few gold ingots and took a bite out of each one.
As he continued picking up the items, the smile on his face faded.
"What's wrong with you, young man? This is only the second time you've come to me, and you've already learned to be cunning and sly?"
Chu Ci frowned, puzzled. "Senior, what do you mean by that?"
The underworld official squinted at her face for a while, and seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, he snorted.
He took out the gold ingot he had just slipped into his pocket, placed it together with the gold ingot in his hand, and showed it to Chu Ci.
What do you think is the difference between these two gold ingots?
Chu Ci squatted down in front of him and stared at the two gold ingots.
Only then did she realize that one of the two gold ingots was folded by her, and the other was folded by her grandmother who learned from her.
She blinked and answered honestly, "One of these two ingots was folded by me, and the other was folded by someone else."
The underworld official let out a cold snort and threw the gold ingot that Grandma had folded to her.
He continued picking up the gold ingots from the brazier.
Soon, a smile returned to his face.
Clutching a small pile of gold ingots in his hand, he was bitten.
"Oh my gosh, I'm rich! This little gold ingot is a real gold ingot!"
Chu Ci folded more ingots this time than last time, so he got more money and was naturally happy.
He didn't care about the little incident just now, and squeezed out a big smile on his sly face.
"Young man, what's your name again?"
In just a few days, he had already forgotten Chu Ci's name.
Chu Ci was not annoyed, and replied with a smile: "Chu Ci, Chu as in clear-headed, Ci as in compassionate."
"Oh, Chu Ci!" The underworld official smiled knowingly. "A good name!"
He was so greedy that he held the gold ingots in his arms and bit them one by one, then threw a wooden plaque to Chu Ci.
"Brother Chu, no, Sister Chu!"
He chuckled and shook the gold ingot in his arms, his pale face looking eerie against the backdrop of the gold.
"If you ever need anything in the future, I'll still call you Brother Hei!"
He stuffed the gold into his pocket, saying, "With money, everything is negotiable!"
Chu Ci smiled and agreed.
Seeing the underworld official happily leading Jiang Caixia and Zhuang Jingxuan away, she quickly called him back.
"Senior, wait a minute!"
The underworld official, who was counting money, turned around. "Is there anything else?"
Chu Ci smiled and said slowly, "I also know someone who needs to be reincarnated, but I don't know where she is."
A hint of displeasure flashed across the face of the underworld official, but after all, he had accepted the money.
He left Jiang Caixia and Zhuang Jingxuan behind and asked, "Do you know that person's address?"
Chu Ci gave out Guo Po's address, and a layer of black mist emanated from the Yin Messenger, who then disappeared into the corridor in the blink of an eye.
As soon as he left, Jiang Caixia started crying.
"Aci, please let me go. I really can't leave. What will happen to my mother if I leave..."
Chu Ci glanced at her, "If you're gone, there's still your brother."
“Your brother has taken too much benefit from you over the years; it’s time for him to do his part.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a thick layer of fog once again filled the stairwell.
Chu Ci looked up warily, and a white figure emerged from the mist.
He was dressed in white and holding a mourning stick in his hand.
The moment it appeared, it rushed straight towards the brazier in front of Chu Ci.
Seeing that there was nothing left inside, he slapped his thigh in anguish.
"Oh dear, it was so close! How could it have been lost!"
"If I had known there was a ghost faster than me, Old Bai, I wouldn't have dawdled!"
Chu Ci: "..."
She stared blankly at the white-clad ghost messenger who had plopped down on the ground, blinking her eyes.
He looked up and his eyes met those of the Hundred Ghosts Messenger.
The face of the Hundred Ghosts Messenger was also sinister, but it was a square face.
Compared to the shifty-eyed, dark-skinned policeman, he possessed a more righteous air.
But even this righteousness has its limits.
He waved his hand in front of Chu Ci and raised an eyebrow, "You can see me?"
Chu Ci quickly lowered his head, "Senior."
"Hey!" the ghost messenger responded, pointing to the brazier on the ground, "Where's the money!"
Chu Ci: "..."
She opened her mouth, hesitating about how to answer, when the black ghost messenger, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, patted the white ghost messenger on the shoulder.
A sly smile played on his lips. "Old Bai, what are you doing here?"
Chu Ci saw that several people were hanging from the end of the chain in his hand:
Granny Guo, Guo Miaotong, Zhang Wulai, Zhang Wulai's mother, Bai Anna, and even Bai Anna's mother.
But they didn't see the other students who caused Guo Miaotong's death, nor did they see Li Yingqiao's mother.
When Zhang Wulai's mother saw Chu Ci, she screamed and rushed over, but was pulled hard by the Black Yin Chariot and fell to the ground with a thud.
The black-clad constable's voice was sinister: "You're already in my hands, and you still dare to be disobedient!"
Zhang Wulai's mother was bound tighter and tighter with the chains binding her, and she let out painful groans.
He threw her out, then ignored her and chuckled as he hooked his arm around the neck of the white-robed official.
"Are you unhappy today? I worked overtime and I'm not unhappy at all. Smile?"
Bai Yincha glared at him and turned to leave.
The black-clad messenger quickly grabbed him, "Don't go! Help me take two of them, this is too many!"
Bai Yinchai stretched out his hand, "Give me my share of the money!"
Black Yin Messenger: "..."
He said sheepishly, "We're all colleagues, why be so formal?"
Bai Yincha turned and left.
Chu Ci quickly took out the remaining gold ingots, saying, "Please wait a moment, seniors."
She poured the gold ingots into the brazier, and the two underworld messengers were overjoyed and both crowded around.
The white underworld official shoved the black underworld official aside, his face darkening. "How much have you taken? You're insatiable!"
As he spoke, he quickly stuffed the gold ingots from the brazier into his chest without even having time to check them.
Touching his bulging chest, he smiled contentedly and found Chu Ci much more pleasing to the eye.
"Young man, you have good judgment!"
He tossed him a sign in return, saying, "Here, take this. If you ever need anything, just let me know!"
Seeing his decisive and efficient manner, Hei Yincha curled his lip and whispered a provocative remark.
"Sister Chu, don't listen to his nonsense! He's incredibly greedy; he might take the money but not necessarily do anything..."
"Old Hei, what are you muttering about!" Bai Yincha glared at him.
Chu Ci quickly said, "Seniors, may I speak with them for a moment?"
She pointed to Granny Guo and Guo Miaotong, who were sitting quietly behind her.
The two underworld officials, one black and one white, looked at each other with a conflicted expression.
“Sister Chu,” the Black Yin Messenger advised her, “this old ghost has killed many people and is now a vengeful spirit. What do you want with her?”
Chu Ci pulled the door open, pulling Chen Xinxin out.
Chen Xinxin stood at the door, looking at the empty corridor, and felt inexplicably breathless.
The hallway was completely empty, except for her and Sister Aci.
She inexplicably felt that the hallway was full of people.
In addition, Sister Aci's mutterings just now...
She couldn't help but shrink her shoulders.
Chu Ci put his arm around Chen Xinxin's shoulder and said, "This is my sister. She has a good relationship with that old lady and her granddaughter, so I wanted to let them say goodbye."
The black-clad messenger stretched out his hand and waved it in front of Chen Xinxin. As if sensing it, Chen Xinxin looked in the direction of his hand.
But his gaze was fixed on something unseen, clearly indicating that he could not be seen.
"Alright," Hei Yin almost nodded, "but we need to hurry, we're waiting to wrap up!"
"good."
Chu Ci brought Chen Xinxin to Granny Guo and whispered an explanation to her:
“Xinxin, Tongtong is right in front of you. You can’t see her, but she can see you.”
"If you have anything to say, just say it."
After saying that, she took a few steps back, giving Chen Xinxin some space.
The two underworld messengers also turned their heads away, refusing to look at them.
Chen Xinxin stared at the empty corridor in front of her, clutching the hem of her clothes helplessly.
She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, but felt a chill creep over her, as if something had embraced her.
Chen Xinxin was slightly stunned, then suddenly her nose stung, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face.
"Tongtong?"
She asked tentatively, but received no response.
But since Sister Aci said that Tongtong was in front of her, it must be true.
She tried to reach out and hug the invisible Guo Miaotong, but she only hugged air.
"I'm sorry, Tongtong, I'm so sorry..."
Her tears fell more and more rapidly, "I shouldn't have transferred schools back then. If I hadn't transferred, you wouldn't have died..."
Where she couldn't see, Guo Miaotong shook her head, her mouth opening and closing.
But Chen Xinxin couldn't hear it.
Chu Ci helped repeat: "Tongtong said she was glad you transferred schools back then, so you weren't bullied along with her."
After she finished speaking, Chen Xinxin cried even louder.
She collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry, Tongtong, I'm such a coward, sob sob..."
"I'm a coward..."
Guo Miaotong squatted down in front of her, wanting to wipe away her tears, but her hand passed right through her face.
She stared blankly at her hand, which had solidified again after passing through Chen Xinxin's face, and looked at Chu Ci.
"Sister Aci, may I call you that like Xinxin does?"
She tilted her head, a sweet smile appearing on her fair and pretty face.
"Could you please pass on a few words to Xin Xin for me?"
Chu Ci nodded.
A moment later, the white ghost messenger, accompanied by two ghosts, beckoned to the black ghost messenger.
"Hurry up, get them to their destination as soon as possible so we can finish work early!"
"Here I am!" the Black Shadow Chariot called out twice, turning its head.
He then whispered to Chu Ci, "See? You gave him so much, and he's not even willing to say a few more words!"
Chu Ci smiled but did not respond to his words.
But as he was leaving, he couldn't help but add, "Please trouble you to send Zhuang Jingxuan's soul back."
The black-clad man waved his hand easily, "No problem, no problem!"
After watching the two ghost messengers disappear into the corridor, she walked to Chen Xinxin's side and helped the crying Chen Xinxin up.
Chen Xinxin's face was covered in tears. She turned and threw herself into Chu Ci's arms, her sobs muffled and hoarse.
"Sister Aci, I'm a coward. I hope Tongtong will blame me..."
"If she blames me and scolds me, I might still be able to find excuses for myself."
"But she didn't blame me at all; instead, she was glad I wasn't bullied..."
Large tears streamed down her face, wetting Chu Ci's clothes.
"I don't deserve to be Tongtong's best friend at all..."
She sobbed uncontrollably, and Chu Ci patted her shoulder only after her sobs subsided.
"Tongtong said she asked me to pass on two messages to you."
Chen Xinxin stopped crying and looked up at her.
Chu Ci patted her head. "Tongtong said that you've always lacked confidence, but she thinks you're great."
"You have a very tolerant temper and are generous to your friends. Before, when Tongtong didn't have enough to eat for lunch, you always shared your food with her."
You have many strengths, but you just can't see them yourself.
Seeing her increasingly red eyes, Chu Ci smiled and said, "She hopes you won't be so hard on yourself and can see more of your strengths."
"I also hope that you can get into the university you want to attend, so that you can go and see the inland areas for her in the future."
After saying that, Chu Ci smiled and continued:
Tongtong also said that she felt her prediction was correct.
"Houses in the inland areas will definitely become more and more expensive in the future. She hopes that you can try to invest when you have spare money."
"If what she said comes true, you'll be set for life in your old age."
Tears streamed down Chen Xinxin's cheeks again as she sobbed.
After a long while, she clenched her fist and nodded emphatically.
"I will, Sister Aci. I will definitely go to the inland area to see what's going on for Tongtong..."
After saying that, she wiped away her tears, calmed herself down, and changed the subject.
"Sister Aci, let me help you tidy up this area."
"good."
Chen Xinxin cleaned up the mess in the stairwell, and Chu Ci put away the brazier and prepared to turn around and go back.
Just as she picked up the brazier, intending to put it away, the system, which had been quiet for several days, suddenly popped up:
[Phase Three: Psychic Detective]
[Task: Burn incense and paper money for the two underworld officials for three consecutive days]
[Mission Reward: One Underworld-Specific Pistol (Unlimited Ammo)]
Chu Ci: "!!!"
It's a pistol!
She was delighted, but then doubt arose in her heart.
A pistol used only in the underworld, and you also have to burn incense and paper money for two underworld officials for three consecutive days...
It's not just gold ingots, but also incense.
She stroked her chin, thinking for a moment, but Chen Xinxin had already finished cleaning and called out to her, "Sister Aci?"
Chu Ci snapped out of her reverie and smiled at her, "Finished cleaning? It's getting late, go back to sleep."
"Um."
Chen Xinxin nodded, intending to go back, but then suddenly remembered something and turned to Chu Ci, saying:
“Sister Aci, the courses are getting more and more demanding, so I plan to stay at school. I may not be able to go home every day anymore.”
Chu Ci paused for a moment, then nodded. "Have you bought everything for the accommodation?"
Chen Xinxin shook her head, "Still preparing."
Chu Ci: "Perfect timing, tomorrow is the weekend too, I'll have Grandma go shopping with you."
"No need, Sister Aci," Chen Xinxin declined shyly. "I can manage on my own."
Chu Ci shook her head, "It's your first time staying at a hotel, so it's inevitable that there will be things you haven't thought of. Let Grandma stay with you."
Chen Xinxin blushed and smiled, thanked them, took her things, and went home to sleep.
The next morning, Grandma was a little worried when she learned that Chen Xinxin was going to stay at a hotel.
"Xin Xin was bullied at school before. Will she be bullied by bad students again this time she goes to live in the dormitory?"
Chu Ci shook his head as he ate his breakfast.
“Her old school was too chaotic, but this school is different. I heard that her current school is very strict.”
“But,” Grandma sighed, her voice filled with worry, “Xin Xin only comes home once every two weeks, and her parents are both gone, this…”
“We can go to her school to see her,” Chu Ci smiled, her eyes narrowing. “She’s going to school, not to jail. Besides, jailers are allowed to visit their prisoners.”
"Too."
Grandma felt relieved and ate much faster.
"Then I'll eat quickly, and after I finish eating I'll take Xin Xin shopping."
After breakfast, Grandma tidied up and went to the 8th floor to find Chen Xinxin.
Chu Ci stayed in the shop, folding gold ingots while tending to the store.
She had just folded two or three gold ingots when there was a knock at the door.
A familiar voice rang out: "Hello?"
Chu Ci was taken aback and looked up to see Zhuang Jingxuan standing at the door.
Her face was pale, and she could only stand by leaning against the wall. She was smiling at Chu Ci.
Seeing Chu Ci stunned and speechless for a long time, Zhuang Jingxuan's smile grew wider and wider.
"Just one night later, Miss Chu doesn't recognize me anymore?"
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