In the Underworld Archives' conference room, the Ghost Guards stared blankly at the projection on the wall. the Goddess of Hell idly examined her manicured nails, occasionally glancing up, visibly bored. King Yama and the Emperor of Death, however, wore solemn expressions, whispering to each other in hushed tones.
"In addition to using new materials to resolve the leaking problem, we've reinforced and repaired the older sections of the archive to ensure stability..."
A few days ago, the archive's ceiling had leaked, causing severe moisture damage to some of the older documents. In response, the Underworld allocated funds for renovations. Qi Nian was here today to deliver a progress report on the project.
She stood beside the podium, clicking through slides as she spoke. Her long black hair was neatly coiled into a bun, secured with a wooden hairpin, giving her a composed and professional look. Her dark official robe was immaculately clean, its collar meeting the Underworld's strict dress code.
Qi Nian, much like her appearance, was sharp and efficient. Her clean, cool-toned face revealed little emotion. Tall and slender, she carried herself with an air of unwavering reliability, as if any task placed in her hands was bound to succeed. Having endured six years of grueling civil service exams, she had become exceptionally disciplined and meticulous, never one to waste words or hesitate in action.
Everyone had assumed she would become a rising star among the heaven officials, yet she had shocked them all by submitting her application to the Underworld Archives instead.
The news left many speechless—while the Underworld offered fair salaries, the job itself was nothing short of grueling. Maintaining the balance of the Three Realms was a high-intensity job, not to mention the daily dealings with the corpses. The workplace was perpetually shrouded in a morbid gloom, and most employees went about their day looking as if their souls had been sucked dry.
Whenever people asked why she made this choice, she initially answered earnestly, "For the prosperity of the Three Realms, for the happiness and well-being of the people." However, her conviction only invited skeptical laughter, as if she were being overly self-righteous.
Eventually, Qi Nian became indifferent to their reactions. She settled on a simpler response: "Job security. Can't beat that."
Ironically, this answer garnered more admiration. People praised her ambition, her dedication to working hard, buying a house, and securing a future—because in the grand scheme of things, ideals and responsibilities didn't put food on the table.
But back to the present—being one of the Underworld's top ten promising young talents, Qi Nian's report was clear and concise, and the results spoke for themselves. The officials appeared satisfied.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Emperor of Death was conducting an inspection today, and King Yama had stressed repeatedly in the morning meeting that no mistakes would be tolerated. Whenever higher-ups visited, the entire archive was on edge. The fact that the leadership seemed pleased meant their work had passed the test—and more importantly, it meant no one's salary would be docked this month.
Every day as a government employee was a battle for survival…
Just as Qi Nian was celebrating another day of making it through unscathed—
Boom!
The ceiling collapsed, leaving behind a massive gaping hole.
Qi Nian jerked her head up—only to lock eyes with a pair of bloodshot, unblinking eyes.
Then those eyes… fell.
They tumbled to the floor at Qi Nian's feet, rolling slightly before coming to a stop.
A moment later, a head—missing its eyes—came crashing down. From such a height, it hit the ground with a sickening splatter, splitting open upon impact. Blood, flesh, and brain matter splattered everywhere, staining the calligraphy scroll bearing the words "Diligence Brings Prosperity" in a gruesome red. Pus-like yellow fluid oozed along the ink strokes, making for a nauseating sight.
Some of this unknown liquid landed on Goddess of Hell's freshly painted nails, and she let out a piercing shriek.
The Emperor of Death stood in stunned silence, his face blank.
Qi Nian didn't dare look at King Yama—judging from the Emperor's reaction, she could already predict exactly what her boss was about to say. She quickly tried to salvage the situation.
"Apologies, esteemed leaders. This was an unexpected incident. A lapse in my oversight. I'll contact security immediately to investigate—"
Please don't say it. Please don't say it...
Qi Nian mentally chanted, praying her boss wouldn't—
King Yama adjusted his glasses, took a sip from his thermos, then placed a hand on her shoulder. His tone was slow and deliberate:
"Ms.Qi,you are an outstanding young lady, but a bit too reckless... The workload must be overwhelming for you."
Cold sweat trickled down Qi Nian's back—she knew that King Yama's discourse was a code for You're fired.
Sure enough, within three seconds—despite King Yama's prior friendly demeanor—all of her belongings were unceremoniously thrown out of her workspace. Even the freshly brewed tea from this morning was still steaming as it landed beside her.
And she, too, was thrown out.
To be fair, this wasn't exactly new. King Yama was notoriously temperamental, and employees at the Underworld Archives were suspended three to four times a year on average—only to return to work the very next day as if nothing had happened.
Qi Nian, as one of the Underworld's most diligent young officials, had managed to avoid this fate for years.
What truly drove her to despair, however, was one particular rule: any employee suspended from duty was disqualified from the year-end bonus.
She had been this close to securing that bonus. Before today, she had already calculated exactly how much she would save and the interest it would accumulate.
Nearby, a floating ghost flame flickered gleefully, cackling at her misfortune—an insufferable little thing that delighted in fanning the flames.
"What the hell are you laughing at..." Qi Nian rolled her eyes, dusted herself off, and got to her feet.
At that moment, a faint rustling sound came from the rooftop. She frowned.
She needed to find out what had happened. She wasn't about to lose her bonus over some unsolved mystery.
In a flash, Qi Nian sprinted up the stairs, moving faster than she had during the physical fitness test for her civil exams. She skidded to a halt on the rooftop—
Only to nearly be blinded by a dazzling golden light.
A woman stood in its midst, her long hair elegantly pinned with a gold and pearl crown. Her flowing robes of golden yellow and moon-white silk shimmered under the sunlight, adorned with gemstones and delicate embroidery. Ribbons and tassels danced in the wind.
Qi Nian had only a word in her mind: Posh.
The sheer luxury of her attire was mind-boggling—Qi Nian estimated that even with eight lifetimes' worth of salary, she wouldn't be able to afford it.
The woman turned, meeting Qi Nian's gaze. She was stunning—rosy lips, flawless skin, and a pair of enchanting peach blossom eyes, clear as amber.
Had she not been holding half a lit stick of dynamite, Qi Nian might have mistaken her for some gentle celestial maiden.
Unfortunately, the dynamite was very real.
"Are you here to collect a debt too?"
Before Qi Nian could react, the woman threw the dynamite at her feet, dramatically covering her ears and shouting, "Help! Help! Someone's trying to kill me!"
Luckily, Qi Nian was quick on her feet and dodged the sudden, utterly inexplicable attack.
"Debt collection? I am a dignified official of the underwor—"
Unfortunately, the lady didn't seem to hear a word. She was too busy hurling explosives—well-crafted ones, no less, looking expensive enough to bankrupt a small fortune. And yet, in her hands, they were tossed around like roadside pebbles.
Qi Nian swiftly dodged one after another. Seeing her attacks miss, the woman in yellow grew anxious. To make matters worse, she suddenly realized she was out of explosives. "Damn it."
As she fumbled in frustration, Qi Nian moved like the wind, silently appearing behind her. With a swift motion, she pressed her sword against the woman's pale neck. "Who are you? What did you just do—and why did the roof collapse?"
Qi Nian held her firmly, veins bulging in frustration. First, she'd inexplicably lost her year-end bonus, and now, she'd been ambushed out of nowhere—this was shaping up to be the worst day ever. There was no way she'd be in a good mood.
The young lady eyed the blade against her throat and gulped, immediately switching from arrogance to groveling. "Whoa, let's talk this out! However much you want, I'll pay you back when I return to the Celestial Realm. My name's Ye Mingnan, I live at No. 99, Palace Road—I'll even write you an IOU! Just don't kill me over money, okay?"
"I don't want to repeat this one more time—we underworld officials do NOT collect debts!" Qi Nian was furious. She pulled out a fine slip from her robes. "Of course, you won't get away without paying for damages. But this isn't something you can settle just by throwing money at it. You need to come with me to the police office!"
Ye Mingnan hesitated. Judging by Qi Nian's reaction, it seemed like she really wasn't a debt collector. Feeling a little guilty for attacking first, she quickly explained, "Madam, this was all a misunderstanding. Let's not get worked up! Listen, that terrifying Red Oni has been hunting me down. I had no choice but to use explosives to defend myself. It just so happened that I ended up near your workplace. At most… this counts as self-defense?"
Qi Nian frowned suspiciously.
Now that she thought about it, the severed head that had fallen earlier did resemble the infamous underworld casino owner—the legendary Red Oni, known for killing those who failed to repay their debts.
Just then, Ye Mingnan gently grasped the hilt of Qi Nian's sword, slowly lowering it. She then leaned into Qi Nian's embrace, her voice soft and sweet. "The underworld is full of danger. Why don't you protect me? You're so quick, so skilled, and—so handsome… I'd feel so much safer with you around. You wouldn't just stand by and watch a helpless, delicate woman like me be hunted down, would you?"
"Have some self-respect." Qi Nian sheathed her sword and shoved Ye Mingnan away. "It does seem like this was a misunderstanding. However, you still violated the Underworld Public Order Regulations by destroying government property. You're required to cover the full cost of repairs and will be sentenced to detention or probation. If you want a pardon, go through the proper channels and get your superiors to vouch for you."
Ye Mingnan immediately panicked. "Compensation is fine! But could you at least give me a little more time? As for the detention or probation, surely, as a gracious official, you could turn a blind eye? If I actually get arrested, I'll be scolded to hell and back…"
As the two bickered, a small green-skinned ghost came rushing onto the rooftop, panting heavily. "Lord Qi Nian! Bad news—the archives have been robbed!"