Lin Wantang stared at the line of bloody writing on her wrist and didn't move for a long time.
“If I die, forget me.”
Just thirteen short words.
Yet they were like a key.
They drove deep into her mind.
The next instant—
Boom!
Her memories surged over her like a tidal wave.
Heavy snow.
A palace.
The Yellow Springs.
A woman in white knelt before her, crying until her eyes were red.
“Sis, are you really leaving?”
“I have to go.”
“But you know perfectly well that place is the Nether Ruins.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you still going?”
Shen Yueli lowered her head and smiled.
“Because someone has to go.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I don’t come back…”
Shen Yueli reached out and stroked Shen Yuexi’s head.
“You have to live on for me.”
Shen Yuexi shook her head through her tears.
“I don’t want to.”
“I don’t want to live for you.”
“I want you to come back on your own.”
The scene shifted again.
A black palace.
Ye Chenyuan stood before the hall.
He had been much younger then than he was now.
But the coldness between his brows and eyes still made people afraid to approach him.
Shen Yueli stood before him.
“There’s something I want to ask of you.”
“Say it.”
“If I die…”
She looked at him.
“Forget me.”
Ye Chenyuan’s expression changed slightly.
“Impossible.”
“Promise me.”
“I won’t.”
“Ye Chenyuan.”
“I said I won’t.”
“But I don’t want you to wait for me.”
“I can wait.”
“For a hundred years?”
“Yes.”
“For a thousand years?”
“Yes.”
“For ten thousand years?”
The man looked at her.
“Even then.”
Shen Yueli suddenly laughed.
“You’re such an idiot.”
“You’re only realizing that now?”
The two people in the scene looked at each other and smiled.
But the next instant—
The Nether Ruins split open.
Black resentful energy swept across heaven and earth.
Shen Yueli turned around.
One step.
Two steps.
She walked into the endless darkness.
Ye Chenyuan remained where he was.
He didn't follow.
Because she had once told him—
“Don’t come.”
“If you come…”
“I really won’t be able to return.”
The memory ended abruptly.
Lin Wantang suddenly opened her eyes.
She was standing in a teahouse in the Ghost Market.
Yet tears had already slipped silently down her cheeks.
Ye Chenyuan was right in front of her.
The two of them stood less than three paces apart.
Neither said a word.
Bai Heng let out a quiet sigh.
“She remembered.”
Ye Chenyuan didn't answer.
Lin Wantang raised a hand and wiped away her tears.
“I remembered.”
The man’s body stiffened slightly.
“A little.”
“Not much.”
“But I remembered.”
She looked at him.
“Did I really hate you that much before?”
Ye Chenyuan shook his head.
“No.”
“Then did I love you?”
The man fell silent.
Lin Wantang stared into his eyes.
“Did I?”
After a long while, he finally answered.
“Yes.”
She suddenly smiled.
“Then why did you never tell me?”
“Because you aren’t her now.”
Lin Wantang froze.
“You said I’m her second life.”
“Yes.”
“Then who do you love—Shen Yueli or me?”
This time, Ye Chenyuan didn't answer immediately.
Bai Heng also fell silent.
Xie Qi quietly backed away several steps, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
Finally, Ye Chenyuan spoke.
“I don’t know.”
Lin Wantang paused.
The man looked at her.
“I used to think I was waiting for Shen Yueli.”
“But after you appeared…”
“That was when I realized…”
“What I wanted to wait for had never been a name.”
“It was you.”
Lin Wantang’s heart jolted violently.
She turned her face away.
“You Netherworld Kings…”
“Are you all this good with words?”
Ye Chenyuan said mildly, “I only talk like this to you.”
Lin Wantang: “…”
She suddenly felt that this man was normally cold as ice.
But once he opened his mouth, his words were somehow even more lethal.
Bai Heng broke the mood at that moment.
“Stop flirting and get to the point.”
Lin Wantang: “…”
Ye Chenyuan: “…”
Bai Heng pointed outside the window.
“The Ghost Market is already in chaos.”
“The collision of your auras just now alarmed quite a few things.”
Lin Wantang looked out the window.
Sure enough, a large number of underworld enforcers were already evacuating departed souls in the distance.
Xie Qi hurried over.
“Miss Lin!”
“What happened?”
“The Soul-Reaping Bureau sent an order.”
“They want you back immediately.”
“Why?”
Xie Qi’s expression was strange.
“Because…”
He lowered his voice.
“Your appointment came through.”
Lin Wantang stared blankly.
“What appointment?”
“Temporary outsider personnel of the Netherworld.”
Lin Wantang was speechless for a moment.
Before she died, she had been an ordinary person.
After death, her soul had been reaped by mistake.
And now she even had an official position in the Netherworld?
An outsider position, at that.
She couldn't help asking, “What does that mean?”
Xie Qi answered with a straight face, “It means…”
“You aren’t a formal underworld enforcer.”
“But you can enjoy some of the benefits of one.”
“Such as?”
“A monthly salary.”
“How much?”
“Three hundred merits a month.”
Lin Wantang’s eyes lit up.
“What else?”
“You can freely enter and leave certain restricted areas of the Netherworld.”
“Hmm.”
“You can access ordinary case files.”
“Not bad.”
“You can carry a temporary warrant from the Soul-Reaping Bureau.”
“Pretty good.”
“And you can also…”
Xie Qi suddenly paused.
“You can be summoned by His Highness at any time.”
Lin Wantang: “…”
“How is that a benefit?”
Xie Qi said seriously, “Other underworld enforcers would kill for it.”
Lin Wantang looked at Ye Chenyuan.
The man’s expression was calm.
“I arranged it.”
“Why?”
“Because your current status makes formal registration unsuitable.”
“Didn't you say I could become a formal underworld enforcer directly?”
“You can.”
“Then why not let me?”
“Because once you’re formally registered…”
Ye Chenyuan looked at her.
“Your soul will be completely bound by the laws of the Netherworld.”
Lin Wantang frowned.
“What are the consequences?”
“You’ll never be able to return to the mortal world.”
She froze.
“I couldn't return anyway.”
“No.”
Ye Chenyuan shook his head.
“You still have a chance.”
“What chance?”
“If the Nether Ruins seal succeeds seven days from now…”
“I can send you back to the mortal world.”
Lin Wantang’s heart leaped.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Can I come back to life?”
“Not necessarily.”
“But at the very least…”
Ye Chenyuan looked at her.
“You’ll be able to choose.”
Lin Wantang fell silent.
To live again.
To return to the mortal world.
That had once been what she wanted most.
But now, images of the Netherworld King’s Palace, the Yellow Springs, the Ghost Market, and Xie Qi flashed through her mind.
Along with the man standing before her.
She suddenly realized that she was already a little reluctant to leave.
After returning to the Netherworld King’s Palace, Lin Wantang officially received her temporary warrant.
The black warrant was only the size of her palm.
Four words were carved into the front:
“Netherworld Outsider.”
Her name was carved into the back.
Lin Wantang.
She turned the warrant over and over in her hands.
“Does this count as a secure government job?”
Gu Changsheng was expressionless.
“Half of one.”
“Why?”
“Because you aren’t officially appointed.”
“So I’m a temp?”
“More precisely…”
Gu Changsheng paused.
“A temporary outsider.”
Lin Wantang: “…”
“What’s the difference?”
“The benefits are better than a temp’s.”
“Then that works.”
She put away the warrant.
“I accept.”
Gu Changsheng placed a case file in front of her.
“This is your first official assignment.”
“Another ghost hunt?”
“No.”
“An audit.”
Lin Wantang’s expression instantly stiffened.
“What did you say?”
“An audit.”
“The Netherworld has audits too?”
“Of course.”
“Aren’t you the underworld?”
“The Netherworld has a budget too.”
“Then why are you making me do it?”
Gu Changsheng glanced at Ye Chenyuan.
“His Highness said you’d be perfect for it.”
Lin Wantang looked suspicious.
“When did I ever learn to audit accounts?”
Ye Chenyuan lifted his teacup.
“Weren’t you good with numbers when you were alive?”
“I was.”
“Then that’s settled.”
She suddenly had a bad feeling.
She opened the case file.
Page one: annual expenditures for the Yellow Springs Ferry Crossing.
Page two: Ghost Market administration expenses.
Page three: purchases of ingredients for Meng Po Soup.
Lin Wantang turned to the fourth page.
Her brows slowly drew together.
“Wait.”
“This number is wrong.”
Gu Changsheng paused.
“Where?”
Lin Wantang pointed at the ledger.
“The annual purchase of Otherworld Flowers for Meng Po Soup is three thousand pounds.”
“But based on the actual number of registered departed souls…”
“There’s no way they could use that much.”
Gu Changsheng took the ledger and examined it carefully.
“How much is missing?”
“At least a thousand pounds.”
“A thousand pounds?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s not all.”
Lin Wantang flipped through the pages rapidly.
“Yellow Springs lamp oil.”
“Spirit-calming talismans.”
“Underworld enforcers’ salaries.”
“There are problems with all of them.”
The more she read, the graver her expression became.
“Someone has been falsifying the Netherworld’s accounts.”
The main hall fell silent.
Gu Changsheng looked at Ye Chenyuan.
“Your Highness.”
Ye Chenyuan set down his teacup.
“Investigate.”
Lin Wantang froze.
“You’re not going to ask who it is?”
“You’ve already figured it out, haven’t you?”
“But…”
“Investigate first.”
“Okay.”
Lin Wantang sat back down.
She had originally thought the Netherworld’s job was just catching ghosts.
She never expected the truly frightening things to be hidden in the ledgers.
An hour later, she finished organizing all the accounts.
“I found it.”
“Who?”
Lin Wantang pointed at the final page.
“The Ghost Market Bureau.”
Gu Changsheng frowned.
“The Ghost Market Bureau?”
“Yes.”
“Every year, large quantities of Otherworld Flowers, lamp oil, and spirit-calming talismans leave the Ghost Market Bureau.”
“But on the books, they’re all recorded as normal consumption.”
“In reality…”
She raised her head.
“Those things were sent to the Nether Ruins.”
Gu Changsheng’s expression changed drastically.
“Impossible.”
“Look.”
Lin Wantang spread several bills across the table.
“All the abnormal expenses are concentrated in the past three months.”
“And three months ago…”
“That was when the first batch of departed souls began disappearing.”
Ye Chenyuan’s gaze darkened.
“Someone has been sending resources from the Netherworld to the Nether Ruins.”
Lin Wantang nodded.
“Yes.”
“And they must have extremely high authority.”
“Ordinary underworld enforcers couldn’t get their hands on these things.”
Gu Changsheng immediately said, “I’ll investigate the Ghost Market Bureau.”
“No need.”
Ye Chenyuan stood.
“I’ll go myself.”
Lin Wantang stood as well.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“It’s dangerous.”
“Again?”
Ye Chenyuan looked at her.
“This isn’t the Nether Ruins.”
“It’s the Netherworld’s own internal affairs.”
“That’s exactly why I have to go.”
Lin Wantang hung the temporary warrant from her waist.
“I’m temporary outsider personnel of the Netherworld now.”
“I have an employee badge.”
“You can’t leave me behind in the office.”
Gu Changsheng lowered his head, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Ye Chenyuan looked at her.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“You might die.”
“I’ve already died once.”
“Your soul might be annihilated.”
“Then protect me.”
The man fell silent.
In the end, he nodded.
“All right.”
The Ghost Market Bureau.
Late at night.
Lin Wantang and Ye Chenyuan walked side by side down the street.
For the first time, she truly felt that the Netherworld wasn't as peaceful as she had imagined.
The vendors by the roadside were still hawking their wares.
The departed souls were still haggling.
But behind that bustling prosperity lurked countless watchful eyes.
Some people lowered their heads the instant they saw Ye Chenyuan.
Others showed strange expressions when they saw Lin Wantang.
“That’s her.”
“The woman whose soul was reaped by mistake.”
“I heard she’s Shen Yueli.”
“No.”
“She’s the soul His Highness the Netherworld King personally brought back.”
“Who is she, really?”
The whispers reached Lin Wantang’s ears.
She frowned.
“Am I famous now?”
“Yes.”
“Famous for something bad?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
Ye Chenyuan glanced at her.
“The leading candidate to become the Netherworld Queen.”
Lin Wantang stopped short.
“What?”
The man’s expression remained calm.
“A rumor.”
“Who started it?”
“The entire Netherworld.”
She was silent for a while.
“You’re not going to explain?”
“There’s no need.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Get used to it.”
Lin Wantang gritted her teeth.
“I’ve only been here a few days!”
The corner of Ye Chenyuan’s lips lifted slightly.
“I know.”
“You smiled!”
“I did not.”
“You definitely smiled.”
“Your imagination.”
The two of them arrived at the entrance to the Ghost Market Bureau.
A black signboard hung above the door.
Lin Wantang looked up.
“This is it.”
“Yes.”
Ye Chenyuan pushed open the door.
There wasn't a single person inside.
Yet an oil lamp that had not gone out still sat on the table.
Lin Wantang approached it.
She noticed that the lamp oil gave off a dense aura of netherworld energy.
She reached out.
“Don’t touch it.”
Ye Chenyuan immediately grabbed her hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“This isn’t ordinary lamp oil.”
“Then what is it?”
“Nether Ruins black oil.”
Lin Wantang’s expression turned grave.
“Someone has been refining Nether Ruins materials here.”
Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.
“You two arrived quickly.”
Lin Wantang turned around.
The head of the Ghost Market Bureau stood in the doorway.
He wore a gray robe and a smiling expression.
“His Highness the Netherworld King.”
“And…”
His gaze fell on Lin Wantang.
His smile deepened.
“The new temporary outsider.”
Lin Wantang stared at him.
“You know me?”
“Who in the Netherworld doesn't know you by now?”
“Is that so?”
“The soul reaped by mistake.”
“The person personally protected by the Netherworld King.”
“Who wouldn’t know you?”
Lin Wantang didn't smile.
“Then do you know…”
“That your books have a problem?”
The bureau chief’s smile vanished instantly.
“Miss Lin.”
“There are some matters…”
“That someone like you, a temporary outsider, has no business investigating.”
Lin Wantang’s gaze turned cold.
“Then I’m going to investigate them today.”
The bureau chief stared at her.
The next moment, the doors and windows of the entire bureau slammed shut at once.
Boom!
Black fog surged in from all directions.
Lin Wantang’s expression changed.
“This is bad.”
“It’s an ambush!”
Ye Chenyuan raised a hand.
Netherfire erupted with a thunderous roar.
But the black fog did not disperse.
Instead, it grew denser and denser.
The bureau chief’s figure slowly faded away.
“His Highness the Netherworld King.”
“You really think…”
“That after all these years…”
“You’re the only one waiting for her to return?”
Ye Chenyuan’s gaze turned ice-cold.
“Whose orders are you following?”
The bureau chief laughed.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Lin Wantang suddenly saw a blood-red mark emerge in the black fog.
It was identical to the Yellow Springs Flower on her wrist.
Her heart jolted.
“Ye Chenyuan!”
“Hmm?”
“The things here…”
“They’re connected to me.”
The man immediately looked at her.
The next second, a familiar white figure slowly emerged from the black fog.
Shen Yuexi.
She stood in the deepest part of it, looking at Lin Wantang with sorrow in her eyes.
“Sis.”
“You’ve finally started investigating.”
Lin Wantang froze.
Shen Yuexi raised her hand and pointed at Ye Chenyuan.
“But…”
“Are you really ready to learn the whole truth?”
“Because next…”
“You’re going to find out—”
“Who, a thousand years ago…”
“Personally sent you to your death.”
As her voice fell, the doors of the Ghost Market Bureau slammed shut.
And the temporary warrant hanging from Lin Wantang’s waist suddenly split open without a sound.
The four words originally carved into it—
“Netherworld Outsider.”
Slowly changed into four other words.
“Netherworld Soul Ban.”
Lin Wantang’s expression changed instantly.
She suddenly realized that from the moment she received the warrant, someone had already been watching her.
And this so-called job as temporary outsider personnel of the Netherworld…”
“From the very beginning…”
“Had never been an ordinary job.”
“It was a trap someone had carefully arranged from the start.”