What's with everyone today? First Li Xi acting all weird, and now Jiang Wan being so strange.
Short life? Who's got a short life?!
In the funeral home office, Lin Feng took out his phone and checked himself in the camera. His complexion looked fine! Seriously, after knowing each other for so long, this was no way to talk to someone.
Lin Feng opened the Haunted Spirit System and started browsing through it.
[Personal Attributes]Name: Lin Feng, Male, 22 years oldLevel: 20XP: 600/2100Health: 200/200Spiritual Energy: 400/400Karma Points: 300Active Skills:Celestial Eye TechniquePhantom Soul CurseThe Great Blazing Spirit-Binding HandsPassive Skills:Eyes of TruthEquipped Items:Floating Cloud RobeBlade of KarmaCity God TokenTalisman of Misfortune Dispelling
Looking at his full health bar, Lin Feng felt even more exasperated. In such good shape, why was everyone acting like they'd seen a ghost around him?
Lately, Lin Feng had been diligently leveling up. But as his level increased, so did his troubles.
First, his Karma Points were becoming insufficient. The City God Token held five little ghosts, and while the incense offerings at the City God Temple kept their ghostly forms stable, it was just barely enough.
The haunted missions no longer provided enough XP and Karma Points to sustain these five ghosts' cultivation. If he wanted to keep them around, he'd have to find a major, long-term mission.
Then there was the matter of new features.
Upon reaching Level 20, a new option was unlocked: Karma Point Missions.
These missions refreshed every Monday, occasionally appearing, and their content involved commanding ghosts to scare people.
While Lin Feng didn't have strong moral convictions, he found the idea of scaring people using ghosts somewhat inappropriate. Not to mention, scaring someone to death or into a mental breakdown would weigh on his conscience. However, Lin Feng suspected that the Haunted Spirit System, no matter how brainless, wouldn't issue such unreasonable tasks. If these missions awarded Karma Points, the people being scared were likely not good people anyway.
Karma Point Mission:Target: Boss of the "Night Enchantment" nightclubObjective: Frighten to the point of faintingReward: 1000 Karma Points, 500 XP
"Night Enchantment" was one of Lin Feng's frequent hangouts, and he hadn't expected its boss to become his target. He remembered the boss as a friendly guy. How unlucky could he get to be marked by the system?
Lin Feng decided to take action tonight.
"Lin Feng, what are you doing? You've been spacing out this whole time."
The funeral home office building was old, with open windows along the hallway. A voice suddenly snapped Lin Feng out of his thoughts.
He turned to see Director Wang standing by the window with a teacup, sizing him up.
Lin Feng grinned. "Nothing much, just bored."
Director Wang snorted. "Young man, if you're bored, read more books. Back when my son Wang Ge was your age, he was slacking off after vocational school. I had to chase him around with a stick to make him study. Eventually, he got into an adult university, and now look at him—doing great!"
Wang Ge, Director Wang's son, worked in the city's cybersecurity division—a certified insider hacker and a source of endless pride for his father.
Lin Feng, who didn't have much education, couldn't compare to such a genius. In his eyes, people like Wang Ge were even cooler than celestial masters.
Still, with his current decent salary and his sister Lin Xue now in college, Lin Feng retorted, "It's fine as long as there's one successful person in the family. My sister's also studying computer science. She won't be any worse than your son in the future!"
Director Wang rolled his eyes, unwilling to argue further.
After some idle chatter, Director Wang suddenly said, "By the way, our department will be recruiting at the job fair in a few days. You should come along—we'll get you an apprentice."
"What?"
Lin Feng's eyes widened. He'd only been working here for two years, and now he was supposed to take on an apprentice?
Director Wang explained, "You've been working hard, and I don't want you to work yourself to death. With someone to share the workload, you can earn less bonus here and do some freelance gigs outside. A young man shouldn't spend his whole life cooped up in a funeral home."
Lin Feng was genuinely touched. Truth be told, he didn't need the money anymore, and with so many tasks from the Haunted Spirit System piling up, he was feeling overwhelmed. If it weren't for worrying about his family's concerns, he would've quit long ago.
Director Wang believed that Lin Feng shouldn't waste his youth in a place filled with nothing but the elderly and the dead.
"Alright! Director Wang, I didn't know you had a soft side." Lin Feng teased.
Director Wang snorted. "But let me warn you. If you recognize me as your boss, stay out of the disputes between the Southern Sect and the Northern Sect. The life-and-death conflicts on that path are all caused by those troublemakers."
Lin Feng nodded. He had no desire to get involved in such matters. Everyone had their own life to live, after all.
That evening, after work, a crisp autumn wind brought a slight chill to the air.
Lin Feng headed to Xixiang Street, the largest nightlife hub in Nanyang City. The street was alive with energy, bustling with the vibrancy of night culture.
Inside Night Enchantment, Lin Feng relaxed in his booth after a long time away. A few drinks and the lively chaos of the stage helped him unwind. After spending all day around the dead, he relished moments like these.
The bar was filled with young people—fashionable men and women flaunting their colorful personalities. But among them, one person stood out.
"Ghost?"
Lin Feng rubbed his eyes. About a dozen steps away, in the most hidden booth, sat a man and a woman. The man was slender, with long hair that made him look like an artist, though his face was unnaturally pale. The woman wore a low-cut gown, her figure voluptuous enough to draw attention. If Lin Feng's eyes weren't deceiving him, she was likely a sex worker.
The man sat up straight, and under the dim lighting, the woman's expression was one of infinite allure. Her delicate hands were sneaking between the man's legs, stroking something. Lin Feng realized what was happening—she was giving the guy a handjob.
Lin Feng didn't discriminate against sex workers, but it was a different story if the man was a ghost.
"This woman sure is gutsy. That man doesn't look normal, and she's still offering herself up?"
Lin Feng chuckled bitterly, scratching his nose. Tonight, he was here to complete a task involving ghosts, so he didn't have the time to meddle, but he also couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"Waiter!"
He snapped his fingers, and a baby-faced waiter hurried over.
"Yes, sir?"
Lin Feng pointed at the woman. "Send this drink to that lady over there."
He picked up a glass of Blue Curacao and indicated the woman who was busily working.
The waiter noticed the woman was accompanied by a man and hesitated. "Sir... That might not be a good idea..."
The waiter figured Lin Feng was trying to stir up trouble. The bar had strict rules against fights, and if sending over the drink caused a brawl, the waiter knew he'd be reprimanded.
Lin Feng took out 200 yuan as a tip.
"Stop overthinking and tell her to come over."
Encouraged by the money, the waiter gained some courage. He could sense a cold, menacing aura from Lin Feng, so he didn't dare argue further and reluctantly went to deliver the drink.
When the drink arrived, the voluptuous woman looked surprised. She turned to see Lin Feng watching her and smiled seductively before bidding farewell to the ghostly man and walking toward Lin Feng.
"Big Brother, what's the meaning of treating your little sister to a drink?"
The woman assumed Lin Feng was interested in her. She glanced at him, noting he didn't seem like a typical loser. However, his table lacked the wallet, car keys, or other items that might suggest wealth, so she played coy.
Reeking of alcohol, Lin Feng chuckled and casually wrapped an arm around her. "What do you think it means?"
The woman, sensing Lin Feng's confidence, acted coy but leaned in closer despite pretending to resist.
"I was just helping that guy... relieve himself. Would you like me to do the same?"
She whispered in Lin Feng's ear, her breath warm and fragrant.
Lin Feng, knowing "relieve" was slang for a handjob, felt a tingle as her overpowering perfume enveloped him. When she placed her hand on his thigh, he calmly said, "Of course I'd like that, but you'll have to wait a moment. I've got something to take care of first."
He took out 500 yuan and slipped it into her neckline, giving her chest a firm squeeze before standing up to leave.
Feeling flattered, the woman's heart fluttered. Compared to the previous man, Lin Feng was far more generous—a real catch, she thought.
Lin Feng, however, headed toward the restroom.
Spending 500 yuan to save a life was a hefty price, but Lin Feng hoped the woman wouldn't be foolish enough to return to that male ghost.
Inside the restroom, Lin Feng took out his phone and looked at the profile of the nightclub's owner.
Profile
Name: Jiang JianjunBackground: Criminal connectionsCareer: Started with this nightclub 10 years ago, expanded to a cyber café on Xixiang StreetAddress: UnknownLicense Plate: AJ443
Lin Feng had seen Jiang Jianjun a few times back in his street days. As the owner, Jiang liked to hang around the nightclub, usually leaving around 2 or 3 a.m. Tonight, Lin Feng planned to follow him.
After relieving himself, Lin Feng exited through the back entrance—a narrow alley piled with trash and bottles. Not wanting the woman to spot him again, he chose this route.
Unexpectedly, a long-haired man now blocked his path.
"You dare steal the woman I fancy?"
The man, who was clearly the ghost, grinned maniacally. The alley was dimly lit, with no one around. The damp and eerie air sent chills down one's spine.
Lin Feng shrugged. "What can I say? I'm more generous than you. Blame your poverty."
The ghost's face contorted in rage. He opened his mouth wide, revealing sharp teeth, and placed a hand on Lin Feng's shoulder as he growled, "Do you even know who I am?"
His bulging, white eyes, twisted expression, and unnaturally long neck made for a terrifying sight. Any ordinary person would've fainted by now.
Lin Feng, wrinkling his nose at the ghost's foul breath, fanned the air with his hand. Placing his own hand on the ghost's shoulder, he smirked.
"Do you know who I am?"
The ghost, noticing Lin Feng's complete lack of fear and the mischievous glint in his eyes, suddenly realized he was the one being toyed with.