Chapter 29: Black Impermanence the Courier

Chapter 29: Black Impermanence the Courier

Only after seeing Xiao Pangzi in person did Zhu Chun’an realize he had misunderstood.

“What’s been going on these past few years? It feels like there are more and more demon clans transforming into human form.”

Zhu Chun’an’s senior sister Chai Sitian was a fox who had transformed into human form, and this chubby little newcomer before him had actually transformed from a hamster.

He joked, “Will there be giant pandas transforming into humans in the future too?”

The newcomer Xiao Pangzi looked shy and somewhat timid. Seeing him like this, Zhu Chun’an could hardly bear to continue speaking, as if he were bullying someone... no, bullying a hamster.

“Have you completed all your paperwork at the Spirit Bureau? If not, I’ll accompany you to finish it.”

Xiao Pangzi’s face was very round, but not the kind of greasy fatness that made people uncomfortable. Instead, it carried a certain cuteness.

The skin on his face was delicate and rosy. Looking at it made one feel that his flesh must be soft and springy, making one unable to resist wanting to pinch it and test the texture.

Xiao Pangzi hurriedly waved his hands, his cheeks turning red.

“I’ve already completed all my paperwork. No need to trouble you, Teacher.”

The Spirit Bureau had arranged an identity for Xiao Pangzi as a sixteen-year-old high school student. However, because of his special circumstances, they had also contacted the school and arranged a long leave of absence.

What Xiao Pangzi needed to do now was follow Zhu Chun’an and learn, adapt to society as quickly as possible, and learn to support himself.

This was somewhat difficult for a hamster.

“Do you have any dietary restrictions?”

Zhu Chun’an had searched online and found a long list of taboos.

He did not know whether a hamster that had become a spirit and transformed into human form needed the same precautions as an ordinary hamster, so he wanted to ask first.

Xiao Pangzi shook his head.

After all, he was a hamster spirit now. His digestive system was not so fragile anymore, and he could eat both human staple foods and snacks.

Zhu Chun’an said, “It’s best if you don’t have any dietary restrictions. Let’s exchange contact information. I’ll notify you whenever there’s a mission.”

He told Xiao Pangzi many things that required attention, such as the old ghosts in various districts of T City. If possible, it was best not to provoke them.

Normally he should avoid them, lest Xiao Pangzi suffer losses.

Xiao Pangzi held a pen and paper, seriously writing things down and taking notes. His focused expression looked exactly like that of an elementary school student.

During a break, Zhu Chun’an spent some time browsing his social media feed.

He liked what deserved likes and ignored what deserved ignoring.

His social media feed was very clean. Most of his contacts were either clients he had met while carrying out missions, Celestial Masters, or colleagues from the Special Investigation Department. He had very few friends from school.

After scrolling for a while, he discovered that his master had posted something over an hour ago.

[Old Taoist Left Behind, Qingxuan: Which fellow practitioner summoned an underworld messenger and managed to alarm Eighth Master?]

Black Impermanence was also known as Fan Wujiu, and among the common people he was often called Eighth Master.

As a respected senior generation Celestial Master, Realman Qingxuan was always highly regarded. His posts always received large numbers of likes, and the comments were very lively.

Zhu Chun’an saw several senior veterans from Special Investigation Department headquarters leaving comments for his master.

“Alarmed Eighth Master? Impressive. Could there be another major case somewhere?”

“A major case? What major case? Is everyone alright?”

“If even the chief soul-reaping underworld messenger has been alerted, then no matter how serious the matter is, it can be resolved. What could there still be to worry about now?”

“I wonder which fellow Daoist did it. I’d like to seek guidance.”

The Celestial Master circle was not isolated at all. On the contrary, information circulated very quickly. Some major figures frequently held exchange conferences.

News about the mysterious finger bone appearing in T City had already spread everywhere. The older generation of Celestial Masters were deeply worried, fearing another catastrophe. As a result, they paid close attention to every recent case. They had truly become frightened. The decline of the mystical community over the years was not only due to environmental destruction and the thinning of spiritual energy, but also because of the catastrophe more than twenty years ago.

All the fierce ghosts from the eighteen levels of hell had rushed out through the Gate of Ghosts, wreaking havoc upon the mortal world. Countless powerful Celestial Masters had sacrificed themselves because of it.

Many Celestial Masters had their lineages severed as a result, and the younger generation had not been able to mature in time. This led to a severe generational gap.

Fortunately, over the years several major Celestial Master sects had supported one another and established the Celestial Masters Alliance, causing the situation to improve considerably.

Zhu Chun’an also gave the post a like and left a reply.

He frequently dealt with underworld messengers, but they were always low-ranking ones. He had never met high-ranking Fengdu officials such as Black Impermanence and White Impermanence.

First, his strength was insufficient. Second, his status was insufficient. Third, the cases he encountered were not significant enough.

Black Impermanence was extremely busy. Why would he appear so casually? Only major figures at Realman Qingxuan’s level could invite him over, and even then it had to be for something truly important.

Little did they know that the Black Impermanence appearance incident, which had stirred ripples throughout the Celestial Master community, was nowhere near as complicated and mysterious as they imagined.

The great figure who had personally summoned Black Impermanence had merely asked him to deliver a package.

The first person to discover that Black Impermanence had been summoned to the human world was not a Celestial Master, but his longtime partner White Impermanence.

When White Impermanence saw his old partner return wearing a sour expression, he casually asked a question.

“What major incident happened in the human world this time?”

Black Impermanence’s gaze wandered as he vaguely nodded.

Partner, you probably won’t believe this, but I just went out to deliver a package.

White Impermanence sighed.

“So many years have passed since ten thousand ghosts escaped from the eighteen levels of hell and rushed out through the Gate of Ghosts, yet several troublesome troublemakers are still hiding out there. Given the current state of the human world, if those old ghosts are causing trouble, the commotion would indeed be enormous. You’ve worked hard this time. How about I cover your shift so you can rest for a couple of days?”

Black Impermanence awkwardly replied, “It’s fine. I’m not tired.”

What was tiring about delivering a package? The recipient had been right beside him.

This Sunday passed peacefully, and in the blink of an eye it was Monday morning.

Among the eight people in the dormitory, six girls got up at the call of the alarm. They brushed their teeth, washed their faces, combed their hair, and busied themselves in an orderly manner. Only two people still showed no signs of preparing for class.

One was Lei Yating, and the other was Pei Ye.

The former felt that her future profession no longer had much to do with nursing. Continuing to attend classes would only waste time. She might as well cultivate diligently and simply obtain her diploma.

The latter simply did not want to attend class. She could not understand the lectures anyway. Going there would only mean changing locations to play on her phone. She might as well stay in the dormitory a little longer and contemplate life.

Zhou Huirong warmly asked Pei Ye, “Not going to class? Then do you want me to sign attendance for you?”

“Thanks for the trouble, Dormitory Leader.”

Lei Yating on the top bunk emerged from meditation and hurriedly said, “Can someone sign attendance for me too?”

Even if she was not going to become a nurse, there was no reason to waste her university education. Obtaining a diploma was still necessary.

Zhou Huirong did not agree. The others also pretended not to hear. Only Mei Lixiang was still willing to pay attention to her.

Seeing this, the smile on Lei Yating’s face faded.

“Lixiang, sign attendance for me. When you get back, I’ll let you use my Divine Water. I also received a package yesterday with super effective weight-loss powder!”

The moment Mei Lixiang heard there were benefits involved, she agreed.

Lei Yating had originally been quite popular, but the events of yesterday had completely damaged their relationships.

Zhou Huirong and the others each contributed one hundred yuan and admitted that they had secretly used Lei Yating’s Divine Water, hoping she would forgive them.

Upon hearing this, Lei Yating became so angry that her hands trembled.

“Do I lack this little bit of money? Are you treating me like a beggar? You used my Divine Water without my permission. How is that any different from stealing?”