Trouble on His Very First Assignment

Wen Ning was blow-drying the Big Golden Retriever when he received a patrol assignment from the Heavenly Court.

The notice from the Heavenly Court's Thunder Department was short and clear.

Effective immediately, begin routine patrols of the mortal realm, covering the Urban Village and surrounding areas. Focus on potential hazards such as abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations, lingering souls, and disturbances caused by monsters.

Note: patrols are a routine duty and carry no additional Merit rewards. However, problems discovered and resolved during patrols will be compensated according to standard assignment rates.

"Right, finally some proper work. I knew the Heavenly Court wouldn't leave a talent like me stuck in the bathhouse business forever."

Wen Ning put away the hair dryer and gave the Big Golden Retriever's head a vigorous rub.

"Watch the shop. Daddy's off to work."

The Big Golden Retriever looked as lazy as ever. He wagged his tail and rested his chin on his front paws, his expression clearly mocking Wen Ning: You're just a bath scrubber. What proper work could you possibly have?

Wen Ning's patrol area consisted of just a few nearby streets, heading south along the Urban Village.

It was his first proper patrol assignment.

Wen Ning even dug out the Beginner's Guide to Mortal Realm Patrols that Lu Ming had given him last time.

He read it twice.

Although Lu Ming's writing always contained more waffle than theory and more theory than practical advice, at least it gave him something to go on, so he wouldn't be completely in the dark.

He tucked the Thunder Department Token into his pocket and used his immortal sight to scan the spiritual energy fluctuations along the way.

He didn't find any actual hazards.

Instead, he came across two rat spirits fighting beside a trash can in the alley behind the farmers' market. They had fought so hard that their fur had been torn out in bald patches.

Both were clearly minor monsters that had only recently gained sentience. One had gray fur and the other black, and they were locked in a vicious fight over a bag of expired cat food, flinging trash everywhere.

The gray rat spirit had the black one by the throat and was swearing nonstop. The black rat spirit was no pushover either, curling its tail around a popsicle stick and hammering the other one's head with resounding thwacks.

Wen Ning stood at the mouth of the alley and watched this battle of the century for a moment before giving a soft cough.

The two rat spirits, still in the heat of battle, spotted the Thunder Department Token at Wen Ning's waist and let go of each other at once in fright.

The gray one dived deep into the trash can, while the black one scrambled over the wall, leaving trash scattered across the ground and a flattened soda can behind.

"Clean up before you leave! Don't mess up the neighborhood!"

Wen Ning shouted toward the trash can.

Hearing that Wen Ning didn't seem intent on holding them accountable for fighting, a gray-furred paw emerged from the trash can and quietly retrieved the scattered trash, piece by piece.

After dealing with the rat spirits' brawl, Wen Ning continued his patrol.

When he reached the main road, a gray blur hurtled over his head at incredible speed, whipping up a gust that tore leaves from the trees.

Wen Ning took a closer look. Wasn't that the Sparrow Spirit who often came to his shop for a bath?

The fellow hadn't come to soak today or give him any business.

Apparently, it had gone out racing instead. The Sparrow Spirit seemed to recognize Wen Ning too. It slammed on the brakes in midair, flapping its wings to hover as it hastily explained.

"Boss Wen! I didn't mean to speed! I was just trying out a flying technique I learned and couldn't control my speed! Really, really! I won't do it again!"

Wen Ning pointed at the fallen leaves it had whipped from the trees.

He took out his phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to the Heavenly Court Work Group.

His caption read: First day on patrol. Caught one case of speeding in flight in the Urban Village.

The Sparrow Spirit involved is a bathhouse regular. Please handle at the Thunder Department's discretion.

When the Sparrow Spirit saw Wen Ning taking a picture, every feather on its body puffed up.

It circled him several times, chirping frantically and begging him not to report it.

Lu Ming sent three exclamation marks in the group, and Bai Lu followed with a message.

"I suggest deducting its bath points."

The results of his first patrol day: one rat-spirit brawl stopped and one Sparrow Spirit caught speeding in flight. All in all, they were petty little matters.

For Wen Ning, at least it counted as getting started.

Wen Ning slipped his phone back into his pocket and was about to wrap things up and return to the shop to continue scrubbing the Weasel Old Man's back.

Then he sensed a faint trace of chilling energy behind him. It wasn't demonic aura or spiritual energy.

It was the yin energy unique to ghosts, very weak and barely perceptible. He hadn't noticed it a moment ago.

Wen Ning perked up. Was I really going to shatter the darkness with thunder on my very first assignment?

Without giving anything away, he glanced behind him using the side mirror of a car parked along the street.

A small figure stood two or three meters behind him.

Her clothes were tattered, thin, and filthy, covered in patches, with fabric so old it was almost falling apart.

Her yellowed, disheveled hair clung to either side of her face. Her little face was deathly pale, and she was so frail that a gust of wind looked enough to knock her over.

She looked no older than fourteen or fifteen, and especially pitiful.

She also had a slight limp in her left foot, standing a little crookedly, as though an old leg injury had never healed properly.

The little girl followed timidly behind him, afraid to approach but also afraid to leave. She watched Wen Ning cautiously from a distance, her dark eyes fixed silently on his back.

Wen Ning sensed no resentment from her, only pure yin energy. That meant this little girl had never harmed anyone.

To encounter the ghost of such a young child on his first assignment made Wen Ning feel sorry for her.

He slowly stopped and turned to look at the little girl.

The little ghost startled when he suddenly turned around.

She instinctively shrank back half a step, limping slightly on one foot. Panic filled her eyes, and both hands clutched the ragged hem of her clothes. Fear and unease radiated from her.

"Why are you following me?"

Wen Ning softened his voice as much as he could, afraid of frightening her.

The little ghost looked up at him, her lips moving. Only after a long while did she manage a faint, indistinct sound.

She struggled to speak, her words broken and many of them poorly articulated.

"I... I... I... I..."

"Want... to ask you... to h-help me..."

Her voice was soft and weak, faltering between words.

Looking at the pitiful little ghost in her ragged clothes, Wen Ning spoke gently.

"Do you still remember your name?"

The little ghost looked at him blankly and shook her head. She didn't remember her name or where her home was. All she remembered was walking for a very, very long time—perhaps several years. When she saw Wen Ning on the street today, she felt he was different from everyone else, so she had followed him.

Wen Ning sighed.

Wandering souls who couldn't even remember who they were were among the hardest cases to handle in the Underworld's system.

Without identifying information, there was no way to look up her file. Without a file, there was no way to know what her circumstances actually were.

But there was no other option right now. He certainly couldn't leave her out on the street.

He stood up and beckoned to the little girl, signaling for her to follow.

The little ghost hesitated, then took a step with her slightly lame foot and followed behind him.

Without identifying information, there was no way to look up her file. Without a file, there was no way to know what her circumstances actually were.

But there was no other option right now. He certainly couldn't leave her out on the street.

He stood up and beckoned to the little girl, signaling for her to follow.

The little ghost hesitated, then took a step with her slightly lame foot and followed behind him.