The Underworld Emissary’s Visit

“What could be wrong? He who has a clear conscience fears no knock at the door from a ghost. Little nurse, go open it.”

“Me?”

Shi Xiangning had initially assumed that after Bai Wanwan uttered such a righteous declaration, she would open the door herself.

But as it turned out, that wasn’t the case at all. ‘If you have a clear conscience, you fear no ghost,’ so why aren’t you opening the door yourself?

“Exactly. You’ve already sold yourself to me. Isn’t it perfectly normal for you to help me clean a room or run a few errands?”

Hearing Bai Wanwan’s words, Shi Xiangning found herself without recourse.

After all, bound by their contract, she had no choice but to obey Bai Wanwan. Otherwise, she risked being struck by five bolts of heavenly lightning.

Yet, a nagging feeling persisted that something was amiss. The punishment of being struck by five bolts of heavenly lightning was supposed to be incredibly difficult to trigger.

However, ever since signing the contract with Bai Wanwan, Shi Xiangning felt the conditions for such a divine strike had become far simpler than she ever imagined.

It was as if merely talking back to Bai Wanwan could instantly summon a bolt of celestial thunder.

Thus, it was far better to remain as compliant as possible.

Shi Xiangning opened the door. Outside, the darkness was absolute, revealing only a short figure standing silently.

She furrowed her brow slightly, intending to offer a greeting. Yet, before a single word could escape her lips, her eyes widened dramatically, and she slammed the door shut.

“Underworld Emissary!”

Shi Xiangning cried out, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

As the owner of a ‘Weird Realm,’ she harbored a profound fear of Underworld Emissaries.

After all, the creation of a ‘Weird Realm’ invariably involved the accumulation of human lives. While acting discreetly usually posed no issues, if the denizens of the Underworld decided to take matters seriously and come for a reckoning, Shi Xiangning would have no escape.

She would be dragged to the eighteen layers of hell to endure torment.

Every conceivable torture, from frying to boiling, awaited her.

“What’s wrong?”

Bai Wanwan emerged from the room, noticing Shi Xiangning’s small face had turned utterly pale with fright.

“An Underworld Emissary! There’s an Underworld Emissary outside… Wanwan, I’m scared.”

“An Underworld Emissary? Just let him in! How impolite is it to keep someone waiting outside?”

Bai Wanwan pondered for a moment, realizing it must be the Emissary sent to collect the paper effigies and help her with deliveries.

With that thought, Bai Wanwan opened the door. Thankfully, the Underworld Emissary still stood outside, not having departed in anger due to Shi Xiangning’s earlier rudeness.

“My apologies. My little ghost-girl here is a bit uncultured and has offended you.”

As Bai Wanwan spoke, she pulled a folded piece of joss paper from her pocket and slipped it into the hand of the shadowy figure before her.

Bai Wanwan couldn’t discern the Emissary’s features, yet she distinctly sensed the Emissary’s overflowing delight.

“You’re Miss Li’s subordinate, aren’t you? Would you like to come in for a moment?”

“…”

The dark silhouette silently shook its head.

“Alright then. The items you’re meant to deliver for me are all in the downstairs storage room. Here’s the key; the room number is on it.”

“Everything is prepared, and the addresses are written. Just trouble you to deliver them for me.”

Bai Wanwan extended a storage room key, but the dark silhouette still shook its head.

“No need. Your permission alone is sufficient. Miss Li mentioned that payment for the delivery would be settled upon completion. We apologize for disturbing you, Miss Bai, and we shall take our leave.”

The Emissary’s voice carried an ethereal, almost illusory quality, as if it were electronically synthesized.

With a slight nod to Bai Wanwan, he turned and departed, heading to the downstairs storage room to retrieve the items.

As expected of an Underworld Emissary, a mere security door truly seemed incapable of holding them back.

****

After seeing off the Emissary, Bai Wanwan finally noticed Shi Xiangning, who stood behind her, her eyes now gleaming with excitement.

Observing her excited demeanor, Bai Wanwan wondered what new scheme Shi Xiangning was concocting.

“Wanwan! You can actually chat and laugh so freely with an Underworld Emissary? And were you bribing the Emissary just now? That was so cool! Can you teach me how?”

Shi Xiangning gazed at Bai Wanwan with an expression of utter adoration, looking every bit like a devoted fangirl.

“Does bribing an Underworld Emissary really need to be taught?”

Bai Wanwan was somewhat astonished. ‘Isn’t it just a matter of smiling, handing over the joss paper, and having them accept it? What more is there to it?’

“Of course! Underworld Emissaries have their proper duties, and they rarely accept bribes, much less one from a human like you!”

Shi Xiangning was convinced that Bai Wanwan possessed some unique secret technique. ‘Could it be her innate charm?’