Chapter 032: Why Do People Work?

Chapter 032: Why Do People Work?

This question stumped the younger one. Hesitating under Xu Xiuyun's cold gaze, he managed to say, "He's still residing there."

"He's been there for days without any issues," Xu Xiuyun grew more anxious, "Why did trouble arise the moment Ranran went?"

Another person tugged the youngster aside, "Let's go. We need to get the corpse poison out."

The group helped Bai Ran into the house to rest, then departed.

Inside Bai Hengqing's study, Bai Ximing and Bai Hengqing were deep in discussion.

From the moment he entered the house, Bai Hengqing had felt more at ease. He had personally set up protections here, ensuring common spirits couldn't enter. Even for a spirit of Bai Wan's caliber, breaking in would require some effort.

"He Lianhai is missing," Bai Hengqing stated upfront.

Bai Ximing inquired, "Uncle, did you find the ghost that called?"

Upon hearing these words, a chill seemed to pass over Bai Hengqing's aging frame. After a pause, he responded, "That matter's been settled. You should get in touch with He Lianhai."

"He Lianhai is Mr. He's name," Bai Ximing inquired, "Is Mr. He not around?"

"He's gone missing. Also, I'd advise against going to the old house for now," Bai Hengqing contemplated, a trace of fear flickered in his murky eyes, swiftly hidden away. "We've stirred too many spirits tonight. It's dangerous there."

Bai Ximing nodded, "I understand. I'll send people to search for him right away. If anything's happened, I've prepared for the aftermath."

Bai Hengqing briefly looked up at him.

Calmly, Bai Ximing stated, "The Special Safety Bureau."

With that, instead of taking out his phone to call his subordinates, he walked straight out the door, calling out several names, instructing them to search for Mr. He.

Downstairs from Bai Hengqing's study, in the temporary room set up for Bai Ran, Xu Xiuyin summoned two people to perform a soul-calling ritual for Bai Ran.

They turned off the lights, lit candles, brought out talisman papers. One person used willow branches to strike Bai Ran's back, while Xu Xiuyin chanted Bai Ran's name by the candlelight.

"Bai Ran, my son, come back to me. Your mother is waiting."

"Bai Ran, my son, don’t stay with the wandering souls. Hurry back to your mother's embrace."

"Bai Ran, my son, don't wander the wild paths. Quickly return to your mother."

After the third chant, the white candle beside Bai Ran's bed flickered, turning red. The two assistants saw this change and held their breaths, not daring to speak. Only Xu Xiuyin continued chanting.

After another round, the candle turned back to white. Bai Ran, lying on the bed, began to convulse, his wide eyes finally showing movement.

"Quick! Hold him down!" Xu Xiuyin shouted. The two middle-aged assistants immediately held down the violently struggling Bai Ran. One of them fetched a towel for Bai Ran to bite on, preventing him from biting his own tongue in his frenzy.

After about ten minutes, Bai Ran's movements subsided. Xu Xiuyin quickly approached, asking, "Ranran, Ranran? How do you feel? Is anything hurting?"

Bai Ran's eyes gradually focused. He looked around the room in confusion, finally resting his gaze on Xu Xiuyin's face. The next moment, tears streamed down from his eyes, and with a frightened look, he tried to jump off the bed and flee.

"Stop him!"

At Xu Xiuyin's command, the two middle-aged men immediately restrained Bai Ran. Just awakened, Bai Ran was weak, and easily subdued. They placed him back on the bed.

"Young Master Ran hasn't fully recovered from the shock," one of the middle-aged men commented, "His soul hasn't fully returned."

Xu Xiuyin looked at him blankly, "Should we call again?"

The middle-aged man produced a rope, "We might need to use a more drastic measure."

Seeing the rope, tears streamed down Xu XiuYin's face, but she simply nodded: "Alright."

Inside the Bai family mansion, Chi Shen was already asleep.

Meanwhile, in the side courtyard, Bai Wan played with two broken ancestral tablets, piecing them together. Disturbing cries of pain echoed from the tablets from time to time. A transparent spirit crouched in a corner of her room, trembling at the sight.

It was one of Bai Ran's lost souls.

He wasn't kept by Bai Wan intentionally; after witnessing how Bai Wan tormented Bai Chongshan and Shen Hui, he was so terrified that he lost two of his souls there. One of them had just been recalled, but Bai Wan showed no interest in the remaining one. After playing with the tablets for a while, she waved her hand to crush the soul, but a sudden foul stench emanated from Bai Ran.

Bai Wan halted, and being from the Bai family, she recognized the significance. She quickly swept away the spirit with her sleeve, ensuring no trace of the stench remained on her.

Back at Bai HengQing's residence.

After being force-fed ash from enchanted paper, beaten, pierced with golden needles, and bound while fed bizarre concoctions, Bai Ran finally regained clarity. Without fully recognizing his surroundings, he turned his head and vomited.

After a moment, he looked up at his mother, tears in his eyes.

Xu XiuYin, concerned, asked, "RanRan, are you alright? Look at mommy."

Clearly shaken, Bai Ran hesitated before rasping, "I... I want to sleep."

"Okay, okay, as long as you're back," Xu XiuYin replied, tears of relief in her eyes. "I'll let you rest then."

Once Xu XiuYin left, Bai Ran immediately got up, grabbed the candle by his bedside, threw it out the window, and then sat on his bed, shivering and covered in a blanket. Despite the filth and stench around him, he just sat motionless and silent.

While the Bai household faced a chaotic night, Chi Shen enjoyed his evening. After a good night's sleep, he got up cheerfully, dismissed the red-clothed ghost attempting to embrace him on the bed, and with Ji XingChen's assistance, began preparing for the day's tasks.

First, Ji XingChen vetoed Chi Shen's idea of wearing a suit to work. Instead, he found a casual outfit that a typical game company employee would wear and then reminded him of the bus routes to the city.

Ji XingChen was perplexed by Chi Shen's obsession with the suit, "Why are you so fixated on it?"

"Because it's the most expensive piece of clothing I own," explained Chi Shen. He'd splurged on the tailor-made suit upon graduation. "Also, I believe wearing it might boost my colleagues' impression of me, making me appear more professional."

In reality, during his time in the death game, wearing a suit in profession-related scenarios increased his friendliness with NPCs. This gave him the notion that a suit would make him excel in a professional setting.

Previously, he'd always dressed based on Ji XingChen's recommendations, but today he wanted a say.

Adjusting his glasses, Ji XingChen posed a different question, "Have you seen anyone at your company wearing a suit?"

Upon reflection, Chi Shen realized that there truly wasn't.

Ji XingChen remarked, "You aim to blend in. So, you shouldn't wear a suit."

"Alright," Chi Shen conceded, "I'll let it go."

Having packed his belongings, Chi Shen swiftly headed out, kickstarting a day in the life of a working man.

Upon reaching the office, he first greeted the young girl stationed at the door, exchanged pleasantries with the visibly weary Ma CaiJin, and then, with enthusiasm, fired up his document to begin the day's tasks.

Yawning, Ma CaiJin inquired, "Did you really finish and leave yesterday?"

"Indeed," Chi Shen responded unflinchingly. After all, he had created a new Word document, which technically meant he had commenced his assignment.

"That's good," Ma CaiJin said, taking a sip of his coffee, "When Li noticed your absence yesterday, he asked about you. I told him you'd finished and gone home. Just polish it up today, and then you can present your ideas to him."

Chi Shen glanced at his blank document, idly fidgeting with his pen.

As Ma CaiJin booted up his computer, he asked, "Need a boost? Coffee?"

"No need, but thank you," Chi Shen appreciated Ma CaiJin's gesture and refocused on his document, brainstorming.

Half an hour later, he beckoned his shadow, "Can you offer more skills? Perhaps help me devise a story plot?"

A voice echoed from within his shadow after a prolonged silence, "... I can't."

Another half-hour passed, and as Li Xu left his office for a glass of water, Chi Shen, observing the spectral figures that clung to him, found inspiration. He began typing: 'Revenge of the Blue Floral Dress.'

The main theme? A vengeful spirit manifesting as a blue floral dress, eliminating every character in the game, whether they be gods of wealth or murderers. All would be dominated by the dress!

As for the touch of redemption that Li Xu had requested...

It was simple: grant them liberation from their torment. Wasn't that redemption enough?

*

A note from the author:

Tomorrow's update might be a bit late and not precisely at 12 noon. However, I will post two chapters as compensation. Thank you for your continued support!