Seventh-Grade Spirit Officer Visits the Netherworld

"Ryan, are you really sure you can bring my aunt back to life?" Angie Chen stared at Ryan in shock, all suspicion in her eyes. Around them, Lin Zhan, Harvey Jin, and the others were also staring blankly at Ryan, as if everyone thought he was talking way too big.

"Once the arrow leaves the bow, there's no turning back. It's too late for regrets now. And by Huo Clan rules, if you lose, you have to take three cuts and six holes—don't blame us for being ruthless!" Lady Four Huo sneered coldly, flashing a sharp knife in her hand. The other Huo family members grinned, already picturing how much fun they'd have stabbing him.

"Relax, I won't regret it. Just wait quietly—I'm heading down to the Netherworld to summon her soul right now!" Ryan said bluntly.

"You almost make it sound real," Lady Four Huo snorted. "But I'm not waiting forever. Give me a time limit!"

"One stick of incense—that's the limit!" Ryan had already checked with the System; one incense stick's time was plenty for a round trip.

"Fine, light the incense now!" Lady Four Huo glanced at her servant, who immediately lit a stick of incense in the burner.

"Watch Old Yuan for me—I'll be back in a flash!" Ryan glanced at his brothers; Lin Zhan, Harvey Jin, and the others quickly nodded.

"Little brother, you—you have to succeed, I'm counting on you!" Simon Sun was clearly convinced. In the first two years after Rose Zhan 'died,' Simon, as the Medicine King, had gone mad searching for a resurrection secret. But as time mercilessly passed, he lost hope. Dead is dead, that's common sense. So he desperately sought Ice Crystals to preserve Rose Zhan's body—his last shred of hope.

But now, hearing Ryan say this, others might be shocked, but Simon was elated. Others might think it was nonsense, but for Simon Sun, he'd rather believe it than not—because he loved Rose Zhan too much. Even if there was only a one-in-a-billion chance, he wouldn't let go.

"Don't worry, I'll do my absolute best!" Ryan was willing to go through with this—not just to crush the Huo Clan's arrogance, but also because of Simon Sun's devotion.

"Good, good!" At this moment, Simon Sun was too emotional to speak, his eyes filled with tears. If Rose Zhan could wake up—even if he only got one more day with her before dying—he'd take it.

Without Rose Zhan, Simon Sun's life was just an empty shell. If not for his daughter Cindy Sun, he probably would’ve followed Rose into the Netherworld long ago.

Ryan didn't waste any more time. He went straight to Rose Zhan's coffin, sat cross-legged, and started chanting the soul-departing mantra. Instantly, Ryan felt himself gently float out of his body—it was his first time experiencing this, like all his weight was gone, drifting up like a feather. He could still hear everyone talking around him, loud and clear.

"This little punk sure knows how to put on a show. When the incense burns out, cut the flesh off his bones—piece by piece!"

......

"Sister Angie, do you think Ryan will be okay? He—he didn't really go down to the Netherworld, did he?"

......

"Dad, can Mom really come back to life?"

"I believe she can. She's always been right here with us—she never really left!"

......

Ryan sighed at all the tangled grudges and emotions in the world. Before he could turn away, the System's Ghost Elder patted him and said, "Spirit Officer, stop daydreaming! Let's go—the sooner the better. Half-Step Border Town hasn't been peaceful lately!"

Ryan turned and was startled—the Ghost Elder was dressed to impress: old-school denim jacket, bell-bottom pants, and mirrored sunglasses. He looked as cool as could be.

"I asked you to come with me to the Underworld, not to go speed-dating!" Ryan said speechlessly.

"Haha, Half-Step Border Town! My old flame is there—I haven't visited in ages. Gotta look cool if I'm going to drop in!" the Ghost Elder chuckled, a little embarrassed.

"You're such a perv. Want me to tell Granny Soul you’re hitting on ghosts in Half-Step Border Town?" Ryan blurted out.

"You dare? If you do, I'll tell Sophie Su you and Angie Chen have already slept together seven or eight times!" The Ghost Elder shot back.

"Old and shameless! Watch out for a group beatdown!"

"So sleazy! Watch out for a lightning strike!"

"Blame the author for this!"

"Seriously, author—writing a harem novel? Watch out for angry readers!"

"Enough, enough. We’re almost at Half-Step Border Town. Let’s go!"

......

Half-Step Border Town isn’t the real Underworld—it’s more like the border of the Netherworld, a so-called "town of doubts." Ghosts here mostly have unfinished business from their past lives or unresolved ties. Reincarnation is a distant dream for them.

"We’re here! That’s Half-Step Border Town up ahead. I’ll go find my old flame. Give me Rose Zhan’s birth date—I’ll pinpoint her soul’s location so we can find her!" The Ghost Elder said, and Ryan quickly handed him the slip with Rose’s birth data.

The Ghost Elder glanced at it, then his soul drifted into Half-Step Border Town. The place looked like an ancient Chinese town, but with no sun—everything was pitch-black except for green ghostly lanterns on the streets. Ryan, a Seventh-Grade Spirit Officer and Ghost General, was visiting for the first time, and it felt creepy.

Soon, a fat ghost girl appeared beside the Ghost Elder—she must’ve weighed at least two or three hundred jin! Despite her size, she and the Ghost Elder were clearly old lovers. She threw herself into his arms, and he gave her a good squeeze. Ryan almost gagged—the Ghost Elder’s taste was unbeatable.

Note: 'jin' is a traditional Chinese weight unit, roughly 0.5 kg per jin. So 200-300 jin is about 100-150 kg (220-330 lbs).

After a brief lovers’ reunion, they got down to business. Soon, the Ghost Elder seemed to get crucial info—he gave the fat ghost girl a kiss and excitedly floated back to Ryan.

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The fat ghost girl giggled, then blew Ryan a kiss. His face turned white.

[Empty dialogue omitted.]

"Haha, my old flame really is Half-Step Border Town’s number one beauty ghost! I got the info—Rose Zhan’s soul is in Office No. 7. Let’s go!" the Ghost Elder said excitedly.

"You’re sure?" Ryan asked quickly.

"Of course—absolutely!" the Ghost Elder nodded.

"I mean, are you sure your old flame is Half-Step Border Town’s top beauty ghost?" Ryan asked, stunned.

"Kid, you dare insult my old flame? I’ll smack you dead!" The Ghost Elder snapped, dragging Ryan to Office No. 7.

As soon as they entered, they saw Rose Zhan’s soul drifting back and forth, looking forlorn and murmuring Simon Sun’s name. If Ryan hadn’t come today, she might have gone on like this for eternity.

"All right, let’s take her now—the timing’s just right!" The Ghost Elder was satisfied. Ryan didn’t waste words and rushed to Rose Zhan, grabbing her hand.

"Come with me—back to your husband!"

Rose Zhan seemed to understand and immediately clung tightly to Ryan.

"Auntie, can you not cling so close?" Ryan frowned.

"Her intelligence is really low right now—she can’t understand what you’re saying," the Ghost Elder said quickly.

"Just like mother, just like daughter!" Seeing the dazed Rose Zhan, Ryan immediately thought of Cindy Sun.

"Let’s go!" the System urged.

Ryan was helpless, but had no choice—he put his arm around Rose Zhan and rushed out.

But just as they were about to leave Half-Step Border Town, a voice roared outside.

"The Western Pacifying King passes through Half-Step Border Town—all ghosts must withdraw. Half-Step Border Town is temporarily closed!"

"What? Half-Step Border Town is closing?" At the sound, Ryan and the Ghost Elder shouted at the same time.

They had timed their trip for just one stick of incense. (Note: 'one stick of incense' is a traditional Chinese time unit, about 15–30 minutes.) If the incense burned out, Lady Four Huo would definitely attack—no hesitation. But now, with their souls in Half-Step Border Town, they had no way to resist.

What should they do?

Just then, a mountain-like giant descended from the sky, its two huge eyes sweeping across Half-Step Border Town. Instantly, all the lights went out, every ghost trembled and knelt.

At that moment, the Ghost Elder, Ryan, and the others had just set half a foot outside Half-Step Border Town, but now they couldn’t move. The giant’s eyes swept toward them…