Don't Engage in Netherworld Activities in the Mortal World!

In the dean's office, Jiang Lu sat obediently on the sofa, legs crossed, listening to the dean's relentless chatter.

"Did you understand everything I said?"

The dean asked sternly.

"I understood."

"Then repeat what I just said!"

Jiang Lu smacked his lips, pondering for a moment before shaking his head seriously, "There's truth in your words, but it's all forgotten as soon as you try to discern it."

"..."

The dean sighed deeply, "When will you ever grow up?"

The sudden gravity of the situation caused Jiang Lu to become serious as well, his expression turning somber, "You... got diagnosed?"

"Diagnosed?" the dean's brewing emotions disappeared instantly, confusedly asking, "Diagnosed with what?"

"Oh... you scared me there." Jiang Lu breathed a sigh of relief, "With that tone, I thought you were about to entrust me with something heavy."

"..."

The dean, hands clasped behind his back, stepped onto the balcony again, turning his back to Jiang Lu and sighed, "Just give me some peace of mind, would you?"

"Even though I'm an Exorcist and can live a bit longer, I'm old after all. How many peaceful years can you count on me to provide?"

The dean said earnestly:

"Do you know why Xiao Li took leave?

He was cursed by an unknown source, and I only discovered it after it took effect. I thought I could provide a safe environment for you and the children. Now, it seems that even under my watch, you may not be safe.

In the past years, none of the major Exorcist organizations chose you, you should stop dreaming and focus on learning a skill. So that even if I die, even without my help, you can still make a living. Nowadays... sigh."

This topic had become an old refrain between them. If it had been in the past, hearing this would have left Jiang Lu somewhat conflicted, but things are different now, it's not quite laughter-inducing, yet it's no longer a psychological burden either.

So, he didn't counter with the usual "Fortune turns with time", "Fallen geniuses", or "Everyone's remarkable if they dare to dream" like he used to. Instead, he asked, "When will Xiao Li have his feast? I'm not too familiar with him, can I give just a small gift?"

The dean turned sharply, his moustache bristling with outrage, "He's not dead, what feast are you talking about?!"

"Then why bring him up?" Jiang Lu was puzzled, "Just a curse, in this day and age even ghosts roam outside the safe zones, what's so impressive about being cursed?"

"So, you're comparing now?" the dean said, exasperated.

Jiang Lu shrugged, "Not exactly, I just think it's an accident. If there's anyone to blame, it's his habit of wandering around."

The dean fell silent.

And aren't you the same?

Seeing the dean not responding, Jiang Lu tried to alleviate the awkwardness by changing the subject, "So, has his curse been dealt with?"

"No," the dean shook his head helplessly, "I can't identify the source of the curse, so I've called in an old teammate from the guild to take a look."

Jiang Lu said "Oh" with interest, "And how does that make you feel?"

"How does what make me feel?"

"Having to ask for help from an old teammate because you couldn't handle it yourself. Wouldn't you feel slighted? If I were you, I'd be embarrassed."

The dean chuckled, "Of course not, he is one of my best friends. Back in the day, we often entered the Spirit Realm together. He's now a pillar of the Mount Chi branch. He..."

He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing that Jiang Lu's intentions behind his words might not be so simple. The smile gradually vanished.

"Go on, tell me why he becomes a 'pillar' as soon as he stops being your teammate." Jiang Lu asked curiously, "Who's trying too hard, and who's committing the crime here?"

"Get out!"

...

After leaving the dean's office, Jiang Lu headed straight for the activity room.

It wasn't that he had a sudden attack of conscience, but because he had hit a nerve with the dean, he was ordered to work diligently or else he wouldn't get paid this month.

There were a dozen children playing in the activity room. Jiang Lu greeted the caretaker looking after the children.

"Busy, aren't you, Auntie Zhang?"

Auntie Zhang was almost fifty this year, having begun working as a caretaker in her early twenties. Jiang Lu was pretty much raised by her, so she always had a special concern for him.

Even after Jiang Lu himself became a caretaker, he maintained the habit of calling out to Auntie Zhang whenever he was in doubt.

"Little Lu, what brings you here today?"

Auntie Zhang was somewhat surprised, handing over the children's book she had in her hands for the children to read themselves, and then pulled Jiang Lu aside, whispering, "Did you upset the director again?"

"Now if you say that, I'll get angry!"

Jiang Lu pretended to be angry, "Can't I just be here because I think you're working too hard and want to help?"

"Oh, that would make me very happy."

Charmingly influenced by Jiang Lu, and even though knowing well it was greatly exaggerated, Auntie Zhang couldn't stop smiling, "Having your thoughtfulness is satisfaction enough for me."

With that smile, Auntie Zhang's face showed all its wrinkles. Jiang Lu distinctly remembered her as a very pretty auntie; he didn't realize when she had aged so quietly.

Just as he was feeling somewhat emotional and ready to let Auntie Zhang take a break while he looked after the children, she suddenly started coughing violently.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Lu asked with concern.

While "cough cough coughing" and hastily gasping for air, Auntie Zhang motioned with her hand, "It's nothing, the seasons are changing, the weather isn't good, it might be a cold. Little Li seems to have caught a cold too, she didn't come to work today. You should also be careful and wear more clothes."

As she said this, Auntie Zhang's breathing became somewhat labored, and Jiang Lu quickly helped her to sit down on a chair.

"I'll go get you some cold medicine," Jiang Lu said, a bit worried, "I just hope it's not the flu."

Auntie Zhang nodded, leaning back on the chair, looking utterly exhausted, "Okay."

The orphanage had a specially equipped medical room. Jiang Lu was just about to get the medicine when he suddenly heard someone let out a strange laugh.

He stopped in his tracks, turning curiously towards the direction of the laughter.

Besides a few children who had noticed Auntie Zhang's condition and came over to show concern, the rest in the playroom continued their games and mischief.

But there was one child, sitting quietly in the corner with his hands behind his back, staring at Jiang Lu, his face bearing a bizarre smile.

His mouth was stretched almost to the height of his earlobes, his eyes almost became slits.

This expression, even for Jiang Lu, felt somewhat unsettling.

The Uncanny Valley effect?

Jiang Lu squinted his eyes.

No, wait, is it called the Uncanny Bean effect?

Thinking again, it still didn't seem right, but he couldn't quite remember the term.

Anyway, that was the idea.

This child was clearly more than human.

But to be safe and to rule out the possibility that someone just naturally looked unique, he asked anyway:

"Auntie Zhang, who is that?"

Following the direction of Jiang Lu's finger, Auntie Zhang turned to look and then said with a mildly reproachful tone, "Ah Feng, don't you recognize him?"

"Er..." Jiang Lu ultimately didn't say 'I'm asking about the child next to Ah Feng'.

Can ordinary people not see him?

The child, realizing Jiang Lu seemed to be able to see him, appeared quite excited. He stood up, hands still behind his back, and slowly began walking towards Jiang Lu.

His legs had no hint of bending at the knees while walking, as if on stilts, coming closer with a stiff, swinging movement, indescribably strange.

As Jiang Lu watched him approach, he took a serious look at Auntie Zhang, then quickly walked out of the playroom.

Seeing Jiang Lu retreat, the boy became even more excited, his wobbling increased, and so did his pace.

Jiang Lu hastened his steps, and the boy did the same, steadily closing the distance.

Until Jiang Lu reached the now empty kitchen with no way out, the boy suddenly pounced, falling right in front of Jiang Lu.

His chin resting on Jiang Lu's stomach, he looked up with an even more demonically twisted smile.

"Caught you, you're the next ghost! Heeheeheeheehee..."

Jiang Lu looked around to ensure no one would come by, then grabbed the boy by the neck. Facing the child whose laughter had frozen, he revealed an even more ferocious smile:

"We're all orphans here, quit acting like an orphan with a grudge! Trying to be special, huh?"