The Post Office's New Mission

If one were to draw this world as a map.

The Tian Group of ten cities would be located right in the center, huddling tightly together.

Above the Tian Group, to the north, is the Salvage City.

In the distant east and west are Dao City and Buddha Kingdom respectively.

However, no safe travel routes have been opened between them and the Tian Group. To communicate with each other requires traversing the barren lands in between.

In the northwestern corner of the Tian Group, in the deepest recess, there is a stockade.

The Qingfeng Stockade is not big, yet in the barren lands, it commands its own sphere of influence!

Far and near, it is notorious!

Like a group of bandits, independent and uncompromising. Though of the same human race, they do not join the Tian Group, pay no heed to Buddha, respect not the Dao, with profit as their foremost motive, always belligerent and vengeful!

"The Inspector of Shangjing City, as well as Wang Xuean and his gang of four, are dead."

In a small wooden hut, an old man with snowy white hair sits quietly, propped up by a crutch. Hanging on the crutch is a severed human head with eyes closed.

At this moment, the old man states lightly:

"Send a few men to investigate who did this, then kill them."

Speaking as if discussing some trivial matter, without the slightest trace of murderous aura.

"Yes."

A middle-aged man with dark skin and sturdy build answers softly, then turns to leave.

...

Oblivious to all this, Wang Ye looks at the wooden door that appears punctually in the living room, and walks through it.

'Mission: Fu Mansion No.3'

'Objective: Deliver a ghost to the post office.'

'Reward: Ghost official uniform.'

The mission format has changed again?

Wang Ye looks at the note, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

Could this be the true intention of the post office?

It's finally revealing its objective, to catch ghosts and deliver them to the post office?

What's the purpose behind the post office doing this?

To detain, imprison?

Or devour, strengthen itself?

With the evolving changes in the post office's mission formats, Wang Ye who had started to guess at the mysteries of the post office, now finds himself puzzled by it once more.

Moreover, the reward is just a ghost official uniform?

Though it must be said, the ghost uniform did help block a calamity for him previously. Based on the post office's reward system, this mission shouldn't be too difficult.

But considering how badly he was hoodwinked by the post office during his last trip to the Salvage City, he must still proceed with caution.

After leaving the post office and checking up on Xiao Wu again, Wang Ye sets off with Xiao Si.

...

Fu Mansion.

This is one of the few villa districts in Shangjing City.

Different from those in the days before the Dark Night, its residents are mostly families of espers, rather than the wealthy.

Some of the villas also house espers themselves, to protect these people.

Yu Xin is a woman in her thirties who has managed to maintain her figure quite well.

Her husband was an esper in the Operations Unit, killed in a supernatural incident, leaving behind only her and a five year old daughter.

As the widow of a martyr, she was assigned residence in this villa district, living in hardship with her daughter.

Just as usual after buying groceries and returning home, Yu Xin boiled water and started preparing a meal. Her daughter sat in front of the TV, watching science videos about precautions against ghosts.

Everything was tranquil.

As she cooked, Yu Xin would glance up now and then at her daughter, gazing upon her with fondness and indulgence.

After her husband's passing, her daughter had become her sole emotional support.

In a moment of distraction, Yu Xin somehow felt as if something was peeping at her. She instinctively looked around, but noticed nothing amiss.

Just then, the kettle started boiling.

Yu Xin shook off that bizarre sensation and removed the lid from the pot.

In the steaming water, it seemed a human face was reflected back, gazing at her numbly.

The visage was that of her late husband.

Yu Xin recoiled several steps in fright, dropping the lid with a loud clang.

Startled by the sudden noise, her daughter looked up, wide eyes staring at her mother.

Yu Xin forced herself to swallow hard, then peered into the pot again. The face had vanished without a trace, as if an illusion.

"Mommy..."

Her daughter was frightened into shock, gazing blankly at Yu Xin.

"It's...it's nothing."

Yu Xin struggled to regain her composure, looking at her daughter reassuringly. Then she put the vegetables into the pot, picked up the fallen lid, and replaced it.

Lack of sleep lately must be getting to me. I really need to rest well.

In a daze, Yu Xin saw that face reflected once more in the sheen of the pot lid, standing right behind her, staring at her woodenly.

"Ahhh!!!"

Yu Xin couldn't help screaming, but when she looked again, the face had disappeared yet again.

Her daughter was completely bewildered by her mother's outburst, just staring blankly at Yu Xin.

"It's fine, don't worry."

Yu Xin hurriedly went over and embraced her daughter, murmuring words of comfort, while looking around fearfully.

Just then...

A knock sounded at the door.

Yu Xin shuddered in fright, her face turning ghastly pale as she stared fixedly at the door.

The knocking grew increasingly urgent.

Finally, under Yu Xin's terrified gaze, the door was kicked open violently.

A youth burst into the room, sharp eyes scanning the interior intently.

"Jun?"

Seeing the visitor, Yu Xin relaxed in relief, clearly recognizing him as one of those assigned by the Tian Group to protect esper families.

"Sister-in-law, I heard strange noises from your room just now. What happened?"

Lin Jun scrutinized the room cautiously, a faint glow emanating from his hand, as he questioned in a rapid voice.

Yu Xin's face was still somewhat pale. "I...I saw Old Liu's face in the water, and on the pot lid too. Back then he...he seemed to be standing right behind me."

"Bro Liu?"

Lin Jun was visibly startled. "Don't worry sister-in-law, take your child outside first."

"Please be careful yourself."

Yu Xin nodded and headed for the door carrying her daughter.

For supernatural incidents, ordinary people like herself would only get in the way. Her leaving would allow Lin Jun to react freely.

Just then, the lights in the living room suddenly switched off without a sound. The flames on the stove turned an eerie greenish hue.

A chill breeze blew through, and the front door swung shut with a heavy thud, trapping Yu Xin and her daughter inside.

"A supernatural incident!"

Lin Jun took out his phone and dialed a number, but no one picked up.

He rapidly tried several more, all with the same unanswered result!

Gritting his teeth, he swiftly assessed that as an esper with only a single awakening, this incident was beyond his capability to handle alone.

Now he could only hope other espers sensed something amiss and came to assist.

"Sister-in-law, just keep an eye on your child. Stand in an open area, don't move around, and try not to make any sound."

"Most importantly, do not leave my field of vision!"

Lin Jun instructed in a low and extremely swift voice, standing at their side while continuously scanning their surroundings.

Yu Xin nodded, tightly gripping her daughter's hand. Though afraid, she no longer screamed or shouted chaotically.

The five year old girl already had tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks, yet stubbornly bit her lip and remained silent obediently.