Chapter Twelve: The Three Rules (Part Two)

"If only I had known you wouldn't dare act rashly," Shi Jun said, coming to a sudden realization, though confusion quickly followed. "But wait, why then do you two wander around the human world all day long? And you beat me up so badly I was left a complete mess! Aren't you afraid of violating some agreement among the Four Realms?"

"You are an exception," Chi Yang replied with a sidelong glance, her tone indifferent.

An exception? That didn't make sense. Shi Jun blinked, not having time to ponder Chi Yang's words, and immediately asked, "So what should I do?"

"We want you to join the Netherworld as our envoy in the human realm—a Nethercatcher."

Ah, so that's it. Only now did Shi Jun understand why Little Rascal had called him 'Nethercatcher Lord' ever since they first met. But why, out of all living beings, had he been chosen? And as Chi Yang said, with so many wandering spirits in the human world, how could an ordinary person like him deal with them? How could he possibly handle such matters?

As if reading his thoughts, Chi Yang continued without waiting for Shi Jun to ask. "Not just anyone can be a Nethercatcher; you must have a special constitution and potential. As for what that is, you'll find out in time. And don't worry, with Little Rascal and me by your side, you'll settle into the role quickly."

"Why do you talk as if I'm bound to agree?" Shi Jun muttered, though his resolve was already wavering.

"Are you really sure you won't agree?" Chi Yang looked up at him. "I doubt it."

"And why's that?" Shi Jun retorted, feeling a bit indignant.

"I admit, at first, I misjudged you—I thought you were timid and useless. But you clearly aren't," Chi Yang's voice was softer than ever before. "You couldn't bear to see even people you disliked hurt by our little pranks. You were obviously afraid, yet you still gathered your courage to reason with us. That shows you are kind-hearted and responsible. How could someone like you, seeing more innocent people dragged into troubles, stand by and do nothing when you have the power to help?"

Flattery always finds its mark—Shi Jun felt as though he had willingly leapt into a well-laid trap. Just as he couldn't watch the innocent, even those he disliked, suffer at the hands of these two, he couldn't turn a blind eye to strangers who might be caught up in misfortune, not if he had the ability to help. Had he known he could help both ghosts and people, perhaps he wouldn't have refused the ghost girl Liu Qing so decisively that night...

* * *

"You may have a point, but how come I've never noticed any of the abilities you speak of?" This was what had puzzled Shi Jun the most—if he were to judge himself fairly, he would place himself firmly among the most ordinary people. Physically, he could at best call himself 'healthy'; mentally, he had no outstanding qualities—without effort, he could barely scrape by in exams.

"Well..." Chi Yang hesitated, "We're not entirely sure what abilities you have, but since you were selected by the Nether Emperor himself, you can't be an ordinary person."

Shi Jun realized that further questions would yield nothing, so he shifted the subject. "There's something else I don't understand."

"What is it?" Chi Yang, relieved at the change in topic, hurried to answer, "If we know, we'll tell you everything!"

"At first, I could see you... ghosts, but later I couldn't. And there are billions of people in this world; I'm just an unremarkable nobody. How did you find me?" Shi Jun didn't know what to call these beings, but after a moment's hesitation, he spoke plainly.

"I know! I know!" Little Rascal, who had been dying to speak, finally burst out, "The day you saw us was your birthday! And that's also the day the Nether Emperor located you!"

"And why is that?" Shi Jun grew more confused and looked to Chi Yang for a clearer explanation.

"Little Rascal, stop babbling!" Chi Yang quickly stopped her, then fixed her gaze on Shi Jun for a moment before finally saying, "Of course, there are reasons, but it's not something that can be explained in a few words. Besides, Little Rascal and I only know bits and pieces. If you ever get the chance to meet the Nether Emperor, you can ask him yourself."

"......"

"And, strictly speaking, we're not ghosts. If you don't understand, don't call us that!" Chi Yang quickly changed the subject, seeing Shi Jun's persistent expression.

Clearly, they were hiding something from him. Shi Jun knew this well, but seeing Chi Yang and Little Rascal's evasiveness, he guessed it was probably the Nether Emperor's will. He didn't want to make things difficult for them, so he let it go.

Thinking this, Shi Jun felt it was best to end the conversation for now. He waved a hand and said, "All right, you two go back first. I'll think about it and give you an answer later."

Seeing Shi Jun suddenly lose all interest, Chi Yang was inexplicably swept by a wave of guilt. She called Little Rascal over, whispered a few words in her ear, and then took her leave.

* * *

Only when Chi Yang's figure vanished into the night outside the window did Shi Jun come to his senses. Seeing Little Rascal still standing there, he asked curiously, "Little Rascal, why aren't you leaving with Chi Yang? Is there something else?"

Little Rascal grinned, skipped over to Shi Jun's side, and said, "Nethercatcher Lord, are you angry at me and Sister Chi Yang?"

To be honest, Shi Jun had been quite upset with them these past days. But after talking with them today, he began to feel they weren't unreasonable. Their methods were hard to accept, but it was likely because they were afraid of failing their mission. His anger had already faded.

Seeing Little Rascal's innocent, adorable face, Shi Jun lost all resentment. He pulled her close, put on a gentle, instructive air, and said, "Little Rascal, you two really have been out of line these days. Maybe causing a bit of chaos with your powers seems trivial to you, but have you ever thought how much harm those jokes could do to ordinary people? People in this world may not have your supernatural abilities, but they have their own order. If you keep stirring things up, others will notice, and then I really won't be able to clean up after you."

Little Rascal listened, half-understanding, and put on a remorseful look. "Lord, I know I was wrong! Please don't be angry with me. And Sister Chi Yang just asked me to apologize to you for her!"

Only then did Shi Jun realize the meaning of Chi Yang's whispered words to Little Rascal. He couldn't help but find it funny—Chi Yang, for all her bluster, was actually so shy that even apologizing had to be done through someone else. She really was not what she seemed.

"Forget it! Let's not dwell on the past. Just don't make trouble in the future," Shi Jun said magnanimously. In truth, he wasn't angry anymore. "Off you go, Little Rascal. I need some time alone to think."

* * *

Just as he spoke, the door creaked open and Qin Xiaoya walked in, looking around with suspicion. "What's going on? Why are you sitting here mumbling to yourself? I thought we had guests."

"I... I was memorizing vocabulary," Shi Jun quickly signaled Little Rascal to leave, scratched his head, and put on a sheepish grin.

"All right then, get some rest. You have class tomorrow," Qin Xiaoya chuckled at her son's antics.

"Mom, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Rest for a bit while I heat up some food for you!" Shi Jun, feeling sorry for his mother, darted into the kitchen.

Qin Xiaoya, unable to refuse, nodded, "Let's do it together. You should eat something too." She followed her son into the kitchen.

After their late meal, Shi Jun wished his mother good night and returned to his room. Little Rascal had vanished at some point, and the house was silent and empty. Burdened with thoughts, Shi Jun couldn't sleep and sat on his bed, lost in contemplation.

Judging by Chi Yang and Little Rascal's persistence these past days, it seemed inevitable that he would become a Nethercatcher. And if what they said was true, perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing. At the very least, if he ever encountered another pitiful ghost like Liu Qing, he could help her openly. Perhaps even now, Shi Jun didn't realize that his coldness toward Liu Qing had left a hidden scar in his heart. At the very least, he could help fulfill some unfinished wishes for souls like hers, so they wouldn't be so lonely and desolate.

But to agree to become a Nethercatcher—Shi Jun truly lacked confidence. Dealing with spirits and ghosts was no simple task. As he was now, if he ran into anything supernatural, he could only flee in terror. How could he possibly subdue or help them? Though the Netherworld had spent so much time persuading him, implying there must be a reason, Shi Jun still felt completely in the dark.

Thinking this, Shi Jun got up and stood before his mirror, examining himself closely: tall, slender, and reasonably good-looking, but in every way an ordinary person. Why were Chi Yang and Little Rascal so certain he wasn't? It was a real headache.

After a while, unable to make sense of anything, Shi Jun finally gave up.

But this matter could not be delayed any longer. Whether he agreed or refused, he needed to give Chi Yang and Little Rascal a clear answer tomorrow. Countless thoughts clashed fiercely in his heart, and once again, Shi Jun was lost in contemplation...

In truth, deep in Shi Jun's subconscious, there was an even greater reason urging him to accept Chi Yang's request—a reason he had always tried to avoid. He made a point of suppressing this thought, but tonight, in the midst of his turmoil, it surfaced irresistibly: Father! A word that to Shi Jun was both painfully unfamiliar and endlessly yearned for. Since birth, he had never seen his father, nor heard his mother mention him. He had always assumed his father was dead, and to spare his mother pain, he never brought it up. Still, he deeply regretted never meeting him. Now, an opportunity lay before him. If he became a Nethercatcher, as an official of the Netherworld, he could come and go freely. Even if his father had become a ghost, at least he could see him, see what he really looked like...

This enticing thought breached the dam in Shi Jun's heart, and all the emotions he had suppressed for so long flooded out. Unable to restrain himself, he flung open his window and softly called out for Chi Yang and Little Rascal.

* * *

In the next instant, Chi Yang and Little Rascal appeared in his room.

"Sit!" Shi Jun gestured toward the chairs, then sat on the edge of the bed, ready for a long and earnest conversation.

Chi Yang ignored him, walked to the window, and perched on the sill, legs dangling as before. Little Rascal, much more obedient, settled on the chair, though she fidgeted and looked quite uneasy.