Chapter 4: I’m Waiting for My Ultimate Move While You…

The Ghost Messengers from the Nether Palace still watched with predatory eyes nearby.

Li Changsheng lowered his gaze to observe Yu Qingjian: “Hmm, no need for formalities, Lord Yu.”

Caught between a rock and a hard place, even if he wanted nothing to do with the Bureau of Tribulation Transference, he had no choice but to accept this “Director” title for the sake of his own survival.

The Ghost Messenger who had earlier lost face after being startled by the “Spirit Attachment” shout grew increasingly furious upon regaining his composure. With a darkened expression, he sneered: “Ever since Shang Heng’s death three hundred years ago, the Three Realms haven’t seen a single Calamity Ghost needing salvation. Your Bureau survives by stealing cases from the Nine Bureaus to accumulate Karma. This behavior has long made your bureau unpopular throughout the Nether Capital. And now—what do we have here? A Mortal Director in this ghost city of Nether Capital, something unheard of…”

Before he could finish, the other Ghost Messengers behind him paled in terror, retreating several steps with expressions clearly spelling out “Are you out of your mind?!”

Only after speaking did the Ghost Messenger realize his mistake—this was bad.

Before he could react, a spiritual whip lashed toward him with undisguised killing intent.

BANG—

The Ghost Messenger barely managed to raise his arms in defense before the powerful spiritual force sent him flying backward. His back slammed into the only intact wall, causing half of it to collapse into spiderweb cracks radiating outward.

Ghost Messenger: “Pfft—!”

He nearly coughed up his ghostly essence.

The other Ghost Messengers immediately scattered, shouting as they fled: “Yu Qingjian—! You dare use ‘Spirit Attachment’ against your own colleagues? Are you rebelling?!”

Yu Qingjian’s long hair swirled like intertwining specters as his cold crimson eyes looked down contemptuously at the insolent Ghost Messenger.

“What worthless creature dares address Chong Jun by name?”

Three hundred years ago, when Calamitous Spirits threatened to destroy the world, Chong Jun of Snow Jade Capital sacrificed himself to save all living beings.

Though Chong Jun perished, he left behind the “Spirit Attachment”—a technique allowing Bureau members to briefly borrow his spiritual power when pacifying vengeful spirits.

This technique meant for salvation was now being used to beat up colleagues.

Li Changsheng: “…”

Does the Bureau wield such authority that they can casually assault Nether Palace Ghost Messengers?!

The Ghost Messenger struggled to his feet, lips trembling with rage: “Outrageous! How dare you act so recklessly? Aren’t you afraid of adding another century to your sentence? Chong… Chong Jun has fallen! Without his protection, your Bureau will be disbanded sooner or later. How much longer can you keep this up?”

Most who joined the Bureau were heinous criminals or evil spirits, accumulating Karma by pacifying vengeful ghosts to eventually shed their sinful forms.

Rumor had it Yu Qingjian had already served three centuries in the Bureau. He seemed indifferent to Karma accumulation, frequently losing his temper.

The life-saving Spirit Attachment bestowed by Chong Jun? He’d casually use it to slap colleagues left and right, endlessly extending his sentence.

“I’ll keep this up as long as you remain ‘alive’,” Yu Qingjian replied, his pupils still glowing faintly gold from the Spirit Attachment, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Let me hear one more disrespectful word about Chong Jun from your Nether Palace, and you’ll get to die a second time. Scram.”

The Ghost Messenger nearly coughed up blood from fury, but knowing the Bureau was full of uncontrollable madmen, he could only shoot Yu Qingjian a hateful glare before storming off.

Li Changsheng watched dumbfounded.

Yu Qingjian’s whip coiled like a silent serpent around his disheveled ink-black hair, loosely gathering the waist-length strands.

Taking a few steps forward, Yu Qingjian approached Li Changsheng, once again adopting a respectful demeanor.

“Director, please forgive the disturbance. It should have been the deputy who came to welcome you, but the Nether Capital summoned him for urgent matters. He won’t return to the Bureau for some time—this is the Director Seal of the Bureau of Tribulation Transference.”

The Director Seal was a square golden stamp with a blue jade knob, though its surface appeared dull as if covered in dust.

Li Changsheng took the seal and glanced at Yu Qingjian.

From their first meeting, this man had spoken with reverent tones and humble manners, addressing him with utmost respect, yet for some reason, it made Li Changsheng deeply uncomfortable—as if he were being subtly mocked.

Yu Qingjian met Li Changsheng’s gaze, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly before he quickly averted his eyes.

Li Changsheng: “?”

Why did that look resemble the ravenous ghosts from earlier?

Before he could ponder further, a voice suddenly cut through like a divine intervention.

“I object to him becoming the Director of the Bureau of Tribulation Transference!”

Li Changsheng’s spirits lifted instantly.

Perfect.

He had no desire to take on this troublesome responsibility anyway.

But when he turned, the smile froze on his face.

Lou Changwang—an unappointed clerk of the Bureau—had somehow found his way here, panting as he jogged over angrily. “How can a mere Mortal be fit to lead the Bureau? I’ll report this to the Nether Capital, I’ll—ah—!”

Before he could finish, the hair tie in Yu Qingjian’s hair lashed out like a living creature, striking Lou Changwang’s calf.

Lou Changwang stumbled face-first onto the ground.

Yu Qingjian glanced down at him coldly. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble at the Four Cities Ghost Market? Did you really come all this way just to get beaten? The Lou Family should check their ancestral feng shui—how did they raise such fools, one dumber than the next?”

Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

These two knew each other?

Lou Changwang stubbornly pushed himself up, though his mouth remained defiant.

“He’s just a Mortal—what qualifies him to enter the Bureau? Even if he were to join as a clerk, he should at least have some skill. Not everyone can be like Shang Heng or Chong Jun, born with a Golden Core and reaching Soul Transformation by adulthood, but at least some cultivation! Otherwise, how will he face tribulations—rely on that pretty face to scare enemies away?”

Li Changsheng, flattered: “Thank you, thank you.”

Lou Changwang: “?”

Who’s praising you?

“The affairs of the Bureau are not for outsiders to meddle in,” Yu Qingjian said icily. “If you speak another word, I’ll inform your uncle about the nine Spirit Artifacts you destroyed.”

Lou Changwang immediately deflated, stammering, “I-I didn’t break them on purpose! It was… him!”

Yu Qingjian, annoyed, sent him sprawling again. “The Bureau doesn’t recruit useless trash. What can you do besides flaunt your Family’s influence? Shut up.”

Lou Changwang: “Wah…”

Li Changsheng’s eyes gleamed thoughtfully.

If the Director of the Bureau was just a coward who screamed and fled at the sight of ghosts…

He rubbed the dull Director Seal, scheming silently.

After dealing with Lou Changwang, Yu Qingjian turned back with that same unsettling, false politeness. “Director, please don’t mind him. That boy is the nephew of the Nether Capital Vault’s manager—spoiled rotten since childhood.”

Li Changsheng didn’t take it to heart.

Judging by Yu Qingjian’s attitude, he clearly despised having a Mortal as Director but was forced to accept it for some reason.

Someone this prideful surely wouldn’t want him to assume the role smoothly.

…Perhaps he could use Yu Qingjian to return this cursed seal.

As Li Changsheng pondered, Yu Qingjian’s Adam’s apple bobbed again.

Ordinary mortals couldn’t see it, but Li Changsheng’s soul was enveloped in shimmering golden Karma, its radiance occasionally flickering upward like a dazzling lantern.

…Malevolent spirits found the temptation of golden Merit utterly irresistible.

Yu Qingjian’s Adam’s apple nearly sank into his stomach as he bit down hard on the tip of his tongue.

Li Changsheng keenly noticed the increasingly eerie fervor in the man’s eyes and, recalling the vengeful ghost that had chased him earlier demanding a bite of his Karma, subtly took a step back.

After being pursued by several groups throughout the night, Li Changsheng had grown accustomed to this look and was already prepared to bolt.

“Lord Yu?”

Yu Qingjian closed his eyes, his rationality overcoming the violent impulse of hunger. When he reopened them, they had returned to their previous feigned, sarcastic deadpan expression.

“Director need not worry. The Director Seal contains a Hex Suppression Command. Should this subordinate harbor any rebellious intent to harm you, the command would immediately scatter my soul.”

Back to using “you” with deference again.

Li Changsheng felt slightly reassured. “How does this Hex Suppression Command work?”

Yu Qingjian: “…Tch.”

Li Changsheng: “?”

He definitely made that sound, right? This time he hadn’t misheard.

Yu Qingjian barely maintained a respectful facade as he nodded. “This place is dangerous. Allow this subordinate to escort the Director back to the Bureau of Tribulation Transference first.”

The mere thought of that vicious ghost in the Nether Capital made Li Changsheng’s neck ache. “Return now?”

Yu Qingjian looked like he wanted to click his tongue at him again.

Seeing Yu Qingjian’s growing impatience, Director Li fell silent for a moment before suddenly covering his mouth with a violent cough. Leaning weakly against the shattered statue, he said languidly, “An early return would be best. However, this mortal body is too frail to travel far. Might I trouble Lord Yu to arrange an eight-man palanquin?”

Yu Qingjian: “…”

Lou Changwang’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

An eight-man palanquin? Was he getting married?!

Yu Qingjian had probably never encountered someone so deliberately finicky before, as a vein faintly throbbed at his temple. “This subordinate can activate a Ghost Gate Teleportation Array. It won’t exhaust the Director’s esteemed body.”

Li Changsheng: “Ahem, I’m afraid I can’t withstand the Spiritual Power of the teleportation array.”

Yu Qingjian clenched his fist, his knuckles emitting an unsettling crack.

Just as Li Changsheng thought Lord Yu might finally lose control and use Spirit Attachment on him, Yu Qingjian took a deep breath and raised a hand, commanding the Masked Ghosts behind him: “Prepare a palanquin for the Director.”

The ghosts: “…”

Li Changsheng: “…”

The Masked Ghosts exchanged glances but obediently complied and scurried off.

Li Changsheng, still unconvinced, decided to push further: “Lord Yu—”

Before he could finish, Yu Qingjian’s brows suddenly furrowed.

Li Changsheng perked up.

Had he finally reached his limit?

Yu Qingjian abruptly reached out as his hair tie transformed into a long whip coiled around his wrist, his cold gaze fixed on… the statue behind Li Changsheng.

Puzzled, Li Changsheng turned to look.

There was nothing there except for an ugly Dragon God Statue.

Yu Qingjian frowned. “Who destroyed this statue?”

Li Changsheng guiltily averted his gaze—he couldn’t very well admit that the thing had collapsed on its own when he tried to offer incense. “It was probably destroyed by those Ghost Messengers from the Nether Palace.”

Yu Qingjian’s frown deepened.

Li Changsheng ventured cautiously, “Is there something special about this Dragon God Statue?”

“The focal point of a sealing array,” Yu Qingjian said tersely. “This was the type of array Chong Jun used when traveling to resolve calamities.”

Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

Chong Jun again?

The Bureau of Tribulation Transference seemed to hold that long-deceased Chong Jun in exceptionally high regard.

The Dragon God Statue was mostly destroyed, and the sealing array beneath the ground was slowly dissipating. Numerous mindless, vengeful spirits within several miles had already caught the scent of the living, struggling to swarm toward this place.

“We can’t let what’s beneath the seal escape,” Yu Qingjian said calmly. “Lou Yao, protect the Director.”

Lou Changwang suddenly felt a surge of satisfaction at the turn of events and snorted arrogantly, “I’m not one of your Bureau of Tribulation Transference officers. Why should I protect some Director? I don’t work for free.”

Yu Qingjian ignored him, raising his hand flatly as intricate circular runes formed in his palm, several golden anchor points spinning incessantly.

Broken golden light from the array beneath the ground flickered as his spiritual power continuously repaired it.

Lou Changwang had been waiting for Yu Qingjian to plead with him repeatedly. Seeing no response, he had no choice but to awkwardly console himself.

However, upon noticing the surrounding vengeful spirits, his spirits lifted as if struck by an idea.

If he could showcase his skills in front of Yu Qingjian, perhaps he could make an exception to join the Bureau of Tribulation Transference!

Li Changsheng, having endured a chaotic night, remained unfazed by the ghastly spirits eager to devour him. Yet, he too seemed to have an idea, his spirits lifting even higher.

If he could embarrass himself and drag everyone down in front of Yu Qingjian, maybe he could rid himself of the Director Seal of the Bureau of Tribulation Transference?

Lou Changwang and Li Changsheng were instantly on the same page.

Lou Changwang cheerfully pulled a golden needle from his hair, whistled softly, and drove it into the ground around Yu Qingjian, transforming it into a protective golden cage.

“Rest easy, Lord Yu!” Lou Changwang, who seemed to have an endless supply of high-grade magical artifacts, summoned another sword and declared happily, “I’ll guard you!”

Yu Qingjian: “…”

Yu Qingjian seemed to want to curse at him, but the intricate barrier repair hindered his ability to do so. He could only glare daggers at him, mentally insulting his ancestors.

Lou Changwang, invigorated, brandished his sword and charged boldly toward the lead vengeful spirit.

The high-grade magical artifact was formidable, sending the malevolent spirit flying with a resounding crash.

Yu Qingjian glanced over, noting that the kid was lively and surprisingly resilient—unlikely to die anytime soon. Then he turned his divided soul’s attention to Li Changsheng, only to pause abruptly.

…Li Changsheng was preparing to flee, not even bothering to look back.

Yu Qingjian: “?”

Li Changsheng made a grand show of escaping.

A Director who abandoned his colleagues and fled at the first sign of danger was morally corrupt and utterly despicable. No matter how short-staffed the Bureau of Tribulation Transference was, they would never allow such a person to take office in the Nether Capital.

Perfect.

Li Changsheng’s eyes even curved into crescents.

But before he could get far, Yu Qingjian suddenly called out sharply, “Watch out—!”

Li Changsheng froze, barely registering the warning before a razor-sharp claw swiped toward his face.

A whooshing sound, even the whistle of slicing air, reached his ears.

His mind couldn’t react in time, but his body seemed controlled by some strange instinct. His slender waist bent effortlessly, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike, and he kicked out with a thud.

Solid form.

Li Changsheng stumbled back several steps, his robes fluttering like scattered petals before settling around him.

Beyond the ruins of the Dragon God Temple, dozens of towering vengeful spirits had gathered, their resentment palpable as they drooled over the golden merit radiating from him.

Li Changsheng: “…”

Li Changsheng turned to flee in an instant, but the sharp reflexes he had displayed moments ago seemed to have vanished completely. His sickly body was so heavy that he only managed three steps before the vengeful spirits behind him caught up.

Yu Qingjian frowned, nearly disrupting the formation he was repairing in his hand.

Idiot!

Knowing full well he was just a mortal, yet daring to roam around with Golden Merit?

Yu Qingjian wanted to intervene, but it was already too late.

Dozens of vengeful spirits, their eyes gleaming with malice, surged forward in a frenzy, swallowing Li Changsheng’s figure in an instant.

Yu Qingjian’s vision darkened.

The Bureau of Tribulation Transference had lost two Directors in three years, leaving it in dire straits. The Nether Capital had already begun considering disbanding the Bureau and merging it into the Punishment Enforcement Bureau of the Nether Palace.

Li Changsheng, though lacking in strength but not in looks, was merely a mortal. If he were to perish right before Yu Qingjian’s eyes…

Before he could finish the thought, a loud “bang” erupted from the golden cage as a tall figure slammed into it, leaving behind a sinister black mist that slowly slid downward.

Yu Qingjian stared blankly, then froze in shock.

The dozens of vengeful spirits were now engulfed in golden flames, shrieking as they crashed to the ground around them. Yet Li Changsheng, who should have been torn apart beyond recognition, stood unharmed at the center, not even a speck of dust on his robes.

The spirits writhed as golden light seared their forms, their agonized wails filling the air.

Li Changsheng stood there, his expression indifferent, his gaze fixed on the suffering spirits.

Yu Qingjian watched in stunned silence, his formation nearly dissipating in his grasp.

Having served in the Bureau of Tribulation Transference for three hundred years, Yu Qingjian had witnessed every Director being chosen by the collective decision of the Nine Bureaus of Youdu—some were cultivators, others malevolent ghosts.

Li Changsheng was the most unusual of them all.

Because his Bureau Chief Decree had been issued by the Heavenly Dao itself, personally bestowing him with Golden Merit and placing him on equal footing with the Eleven Hall Masters.

At first, Yu Qingjian had thought the Heavenly Dao had sent a useless figure to the Bureau, deliberately setting it up for disbandment. But now…

This man was far more than he appeared.

Perhaps under his leadership, the Bureau could truly be revitalized.

Li Changsheng felt his vision darken, as if he had momentarily lost focus. When he regained his senses, the ground was littered with defeated spirits.

He stared blankly, wondering: What is this?

What just happened?

Lou Changwang, having just subdued a second vengeful spirit, wiped the sweat from his face and turned back cheerfully. “Lord Yu, though my cultivation is weak, I can still be of some use—”

His words died in his throat.

Lou Changwang gaped at the scene before him: the ground covered in writhing, howling spirits, while the supposedly useless Director stood there effortlessly, his demeanor as ethereal as an immortal.

Lou Changwang stammered, “You… what kind of Magical Artifact did you use?”

Li Changsheng responded with a deadpan expression.

Just then, the dull, lifeless Director Seal in his hand suddenly emitted a sharp “clang,” shedding its ashy exterior to reveal a blinding golden radiance.

Li Changsheng: “?”

Inside the golden cage, Yu Qingjian’s pupils contracted.

None of the previous fifteen Directors had ever managed to remove the tarnish from the Director Seal. This was the first time he had seen its true form.

Yu Qingjian finally stopped clicking his tongue in disapproval. Instead, he gasped, “Truly chosen by the Heavenly Dao.”

Li Changsheng: “…”

Wait, hold on—!