Chapter 43: The First Commissioned Assignment
Jiàng Yǎn shook his head, amused, “I’m also not comfortable leaving you alone with Xiǎo Lán, right?” Jiàng Yǎn peeked out from beside Mo Míng, smiling at me with twinkling eyes.
I decisively gave him a thumbs-up. Mo Míng kept a close watch on Jiàng Yǎn, who then turned his gaze back from me to him: “What? Are you planning to keep an eye on me now? Does that mean you’ll acknowledge me as your master?”
Mo Míng turned his face away disdainfully, arms crossed, “That is absolutely impossible!”
“Hahaha—” Jiàng Yǎn and I laughed together. Actually, Mo Míng was already somewhat integrated with us, just unaware of it himself.
Mo Míng looked at us both, perplexed, the diamond studs on his ears sparkling as they moved.
When we returned to the entrance to check out, Máo Máo, Qīng Míng, and Xiǎo Nuo were already there. Máo Máo immediately hid the hair removal cream in my cart and hugged me gratefully. I should be thanking her; she and everyone else gave most of their prize money to me so I could buy more equipment.
Ah, the prices are inhumane; I saved thousands of immortal coins but could only buy some medicines, not even affording armor.
“Beep. Beep. Beep.” The checkout at the supermarket was done by identical big-headed dolls! They were the kind with big head masks, like the ones seen in dragon and lion dances, and every doll looked the same.
The immortal realm really cuts costs, even going as far as using identical dolls.
But… it seems… under those masks… there’s nothing at all…
I tilted my head to look closer and saw that under the doll masks were… springs…
==!!
Please imagine a comical expression of disbelief on my face, as the immortal realm even saved on labor by using big dolls.
“Sister Xiǎo Lán… that’s a toy…” Xiǎo Nuo whispered to me, poking me gently. I straightened up and turned to him awkwardly, “I was just curious…”
He hid behind Xiao Bai, making me wonder why Xiǎo Nuo was of the Gū Tribe. Isn’t the Gū Tribe known for controlling gu, not snakes?
I turned back, scratching my head, planning to ask Xiǎo Nuo later.
“Xià Xiǎolán, please attend to your call. You have an assignment waiting for you.” I was stunned. An assignment, what is that?
Even more surprised than I was my companions. Jiàng Yǎn and Mo Míng looked astonished, Sī Yinuo’s eyes widened from beneath his long bangs, Qīng Míng gave me a thumbs-up, and Máo Máo excitedly gripped my arm, “Xiǎo Lán sister, that’s great! You have an assignment! Hurry and accept it!”
Urged by Máo Máo, I answered the call.
“This is the Task Management Bureau. You have an assignment waiting for you. Please come to meet the client as soon as possible.”
I hung up and looked at everyone confusedly, “What’s an assignment?”
Everyone looked at me with smiles, obviously congratulating me.
Holding his blood bag, Jiàng Yǎn adopted a scholarly demeanor again, “An assignment is when someone specifically requests your help to complete a task. It’s somewhat like a bounty, but with a designated person, which means someone trusts you a lot. Moreover, an assignment not only offers a reward but also merits.”
“What are merits?”
“Like credits! Credits!” Máo Máo got excited, “You don’t know how many people wish to get an assignment!”
“Yes, yes!” Qīng Míng and Xiǎo Nuo nodded together.
“Really?” I got excited too, “Then I should hurry.”
“I’ll take you,” Mo Míng said, already transformed into a wolf standing beside me.
Jiàng Yǎn smiled at me, “Go ahead, we’ll bring your things back for you.”
Máo Máo clasped her hands together excitedly, nodding, “You must tell us about the assignment when you get back.”
I smiled and, climbing onto Mo Míng’s back, gave everyone a thumbs-up.
Mo Míng carried me swiftly towards the Task Management Bureau, the place where we collect assignments.
The Task Bureau was as quiet as usual, with only two people cleaning the windows. It was hard to imagine that such a peaceful place was the site of a terrible war ten years ago.
The seniors mentioned a demon clan rebellion here ten years ago, which led to a great war with many casualties. But since I arrived, I’ve seen an immortal city like a peaceful paradise, tranquil and serene. Shop owners often stand at their doors smoking leisurely, enviable in their relaxation.
How could such a place have witnessed war?
Ten years ago… that was when my mother left…
“Is Xià Xiǎo Lán here~~~” A voice like an old goat came from inside. I snapped back to reality, dismounted from Mo Míng, took a deep breath, and steeled myself: Xià Xiǎo Lán, you must persevere, because you have a mission far more important than staying here!
I adjusted my backpack and walked determinedly inside, with Mo Míng gradually shifting back to human form beside me.
Entering the clean, bright bureau, the familiar first window raised a hand, pointing towards the right. I looked and saw an elevator, designed in a traditional Chinese style, with red lattice doors and a wooden interior adorned with gold paint, and walls hung with classical Chinese inscriptions.
As I stepped into the elevator, the lattice door suddenly closed, leaving Mo Míng outside. He looked anxious, immediately turning to the first window, demanding, “Let me in!”
“No~~~~” The person at the window extended an arm, slowly shaking it, “The client only requested to see Xià Xiǎo Lán~~~”
“I am her protector!” Mo Míng said sternly.
“You haven’t formed a pact, so you’re not officially linked. Just wait here~~” The arm waved dismissively, and Mo Míng, reluctantly, turned away, his face seething with frustration.
I quickly looked away, my thoughts on forming a pact with Mo Míng hesitating, especially considering what he did for me today…
My face suddenly flushed. Come on, Xià Xiǎo Lán, you’re slow on the uptake! Are you just now getting embarrassed? Good thing I have my mask.
The elevator began to descend sharply, and Mo Míng anxiously peered at me as I waved back, watching his face slowly disappear above. Though Mo Míng’s thought process differs from mine, he truly is loyal. I just need to be more careful with my words…
As the elevator continued to descend, I wondered why it was moving downward. Such directions rarely bode well…
Indeed, the temperature inside the elevator started dropping, and a thin layer of frost began to form around it, sending a shiver through me. Gradually, my school uniform thickened into a thin, traditional Chinese cotton robe, still in a crescent moon base color, with exquisitely arranged plum blossom buttons diagonally aligned, the collar stood up and thickened with a layer of rabbit fur, and the cuffs were also lined with fur.
The immortal realm’s school uniforms are impressive; they self-clean and self-repair when hung up, so wearing them daily is no problem, and they can transform into various styles, which is very practical.
“Ding.” The elevator stopped, and in front of me was a black lattice, behind which stood a man in a black suit with sheep’s horns, his face a shade of blue different from Qīng Míng’s, resembling the pallor of death.
He looked at me faintly, “Are you Xià Xiǎo Lán?”
Suddenly, I hesitated to respond, feeling an instinctual fear towards this horned man in black, emanating an aura of death.
“This isn’t…,” I carefully started, “the place where humans… go after…”
“Yes.” He answered directly, then looked at me with those lifeless eyes, “So, I am surprised to see you now, and alive at that.” After speaking, a sinister smile crossed his face, making me shiver.
He extended his hand, “After your task is over, I’d be glad to give you a tour…”
“No thanks!” I quickly edged away from him, keen to leave this place. Right… this is where ghosts reside…
Ahead was a white corridor, exceptionally cold, as if freezing liquid was injected directly into my veins, spreading throughout my body, or as if my skin had lost its ability to keep warm, allowing the cold to penetrate every pore.
“Living beings are not suited for this place,” Mr. Horns commented, leading the way beside me.
No kidding, I didn’t need him to tell me that.
Throughout the white corridor were portraits of a handsome man with white hair, spanning from ancient times to the modern era, in traditional and avant-garde styles. Either this man has lived through the ages, or he has a broad taste in cosplaying.
I shivered as I observed one portrait after another: the man transformed from a snow-haired beauty standing atop a mountain to a smoky-eyed, white-haired vampire, then to a long-horned, red-faced demon, and even to a fair-skinned celestial being.
Undoubtedly, all these images depicted the same individual.
As I commented on his vanity, the horned gentleman suddenly covered my mouth in alarm. His eyes wide with fear, he whispered tensely, “That’s His Majesty, the Underworld Emperor! If not for the young emperor’s favor towards you, your remark just now could have sentenced you to death!”
The Underworld Emperor!!!
The one in charge of reincarnation and the six paths of existence?!
He cautiously removed his hand from my mouth, scanning the area, and exhaled in relief.
I really have a sharp tongue! How could I offend the Underworld Emperor, the one who decides my reincarnation? one wrong move and I might end up as a dung beetle rolling dung balls in my next life!
