Legend Management Bureau Chapter 17

[ … words ]

Inside the beat-up van, aside from Du Yu occasionally striking up a conversation, the two girls chose to remain completely silent. Du Yu had no idea what had caused this, and he could not help but feel a little nostalgic for Xie Jin’s quirky personality.

“Dear passengers, our vehicle is currently experiencing some turbulence. Please stow your tray tables, open your window shades, and fasten your seatbelts. The lavatories are temporarily out of service,” Du Yu instructed the two of them, mimicking Xie Jin’s mannerisms.

However, neither of them showed any reaction whatsoever.

Fan Xiaoguo wore an awkward expression, frantically scolding herself in her mind. ‘Fan Xiaoguo, oh Fan Xiaoguo, what on earth are you doing! Assistant Dong asked Du Yu out… You don’t even like Du Yu, so why did you have to insert yourself into this…’

As for Dong Qianqiu, this was her first time leaving the house in nearly a thousand years. Her feelings were quite complicated. On one hand, she felt extremely anxious, constantly feeling as though she had done something wrong. On the other hand, she was deeply conflicted. She knew very well that the Fan family wanted to use Fan Xiaoguo to win over Du Yu. Now, she was unsure whether she should take the initiative to step back, giving up this opportunity to let Fan Xiaoguo and Du Yu spend time alone together.

Before long, the trio arrived at the Gates of Hell. It took them quite a while to find a parking spot before finally bringing the vehicle to a halt.

“Ah!” Fan Xiaoguo let out a feigned shriek of panic as soon as she stepped out of the van. “So we’re already here! I… I still have some matters to attend to, so I won’t be accompanying you two.” With that, she turned around, ready to leave.

“Hold on!” Du Yu reached out and grabbed Fan Xiaoguo by the arm.

“Huh? What is it?”

“Oh! Right!” Fan Xiaoguo suddenly remembered that she had come under her ancestor’s orders to deliver an item. She rummaged through her small crossbody bag and pulled out a pitch-black scroll.

“Here, for you.”

“What is this?” Du Yu took it and examined it. It felt like the bamboo slips that frequently appeared in historical TV dramas, except this one was entirely black.

“It is a cultivation technique. My ancestor wanted me to hand it over to you.”

“A cultivation technique?” Du Yu exclaimed in surprise. “Like those peerless techniques that cultivators get in fantasy novels?”

“You could say that…” Fan Xiaoguo scratched her head. “However, this technique generally isn’t meant for regular cultivators. It is meant for demonic cultivators or evil spirits.”

“Holy crap?” Du Yu was utterly bewildered. “If you guys want to get me killed, shouldn’t you at least try to hide it a little? It’s going to be pretty hard to murder me when you’re this painfully honest about it.”

“Du Yu, you misunderstood,” Dong Qianqiu interjected. “Aside from the big shots, the vast majority of Underworld Immortals were once demonic cultivators in the mortal realm. Because they spent their years surrounded by yin energy and ghosts, they ascended to become Underworld Immortals.”

“Huh? Is that so?” Du Yu glanced down at the scroll in his hand. “But I am just an ordinary mortal. Who knows how many years it will take me to master this technique. Do you not have any better ones?”

Fan Xiaoguo sighed helplessly. “I do not mean to crush your spirits, but ever since the last global Immortal Realm survey in 1945, it was confirmed that the spiritual energy of the Heaven, Earth, and Human realms has been completely exhausted. From that moment on, it became impossible for anyone to master an immortal technique, and the cultivation bases of all the immortals have stagnated. Fortunately, this manual my ancestor gave you is a technique of ultimate yin and extreme evil. It can be mastered quickly without the need for any spiritual energy.”

“Good grief…” Du Yu was genuinely a little spooked. “It being meant for demonic cultivators is one thing, but it’s actually a technique of ultimate yin and extreme evil?”

As Du Yu spoke, he unrolled the scroll, only to see four glowing, golden words light up:

“The Eight Directions Ghost Register!”

Dong Qianqiu’s eyes went wide the moment she saw it. “The Eight Directions Ghost Register?!”

She muttered the name to herself a few times before suddenly recalling something. “Could it be Lady Houtu’s Eight Directions Ghost Register?”

Du Yu took a closer look. The contents recorded within the scroll were incredibly bizarre. Rather than text, it looked more like a diagram.

The diagram included the cardinal directions of north, south, east, and west, while also branching out into up, down, left, and right. In total, there were eight arrows pointing in eight different directions.

“Sister Qianqiu, do you recognize this thing?”

“Recognize it? It’s much more than that. Legend has it that the Eight Directions Ghost Register is the technique Lady Houtu used when she founded the Underworld. However, everyone thought it was just a myth, so no one believed it actually existed. After all, the rumored powers of the Eight Directions Ghost Register are simply too bizarre. Du Yu, you have stumbled upon an astronomical windfall this time. You definitely need to thank the Fan family properly!”

“Oh…” Du Yu was still completely lost. “Xiaoguo, make sure to thank your ancestor for me when you go back.”

“Oh… is that it?” Fan Xiaoguo was a bit stunned. “Then I will… take my leave now.”

Only when Fan Xiaoguo was a fair distance away did Du Yu turn back and continue asking, “Sister Qianqiu, is this thing really that incredible?”

“It is. I have no idea how Fan Wujiu managed to obtain the Eight Directions Ghost Register, but since he gave it to you…” Dong Qianqiu retrieved a golden pen. “If you write your name and the eight characters of your birth time in the center of the Eight Directions Ghost Register, it will belong solely to you. Unless you give it up willingly, absolutely no one can take it away from you.”

“But what exactly does this Eight Directions Ghost Register do?” Du Yu asked, his worry apparent. “If it’s truly that powerful, so much so that even Lady Houtu had to rely on its power, how could it be a technique of ultimate yin and extreme evil?”

Dong Qianqiu gazed at the faintly glowing Eight Directions Ghost Register and explained, “It is a long story. The so-called ‘Eight Directions’ refers to north, south, east, west, ascending to heaven, descending to earth, the gate of life, and the gate of death. The owner of the Eight Directions Ghost Register can invite eight ghosts to guard these eight directions. In other words, you can permanently acquire the powers of these ghosts and make them your own. The technical department of the Legend Management Bureau once tried to reverse-engineer the principles of this technique, but no matter what they did, they could only maintain a soul’s possession time for five minutes. Compared to the true Eight Directions Ghost Register, their efforts were merely child’s play.”

“So that’s how it works…” Du Yu paused for a moment. “The Underworld is home to an unfathomable number of ghosts. If I just take ten incredibly powerful figures, wouldn’t that make me invincible?”

“Theoretically, yes,” Dong Qianqiu nodded. “But ghosts have minds of their own. Having a group of untrustworthy individuals constantly by your side would ultimately be quite unsettling, would it not?”

Upon finishing her sentence, Dong Qianqiu turned back, only to find that Du Yu had already finished signing his name and birth details.

“You…”

“You said it yourself, Sister Qianqiu. The moment I sign it, this thing is mine, unless I willingly give it up. So I might as well claim this spot first. As for whose ghosts I’ll invite to guard the directions, I can figure that out later.”

“But I must warn you, you need to be extremely cautious when choosing a ghost. Once you select a spirit to become one of your Eight Directions, it will accompany you for all eternity unless its soul is completely shattered.”

Du Yu looked down at the black ghost register in his hands and nodded silently.

After a brief moment to collect themselves, the two began making their way toward Fengdu City.

“Sister Qianqiu, I thought I could count on you to show me around the Underworld, but by the looks of it, you seem even more lost than I am.”

“Yes… I haven’t stepped out of the house in nearly a thousand years,” Dong Qianqiu admitted, looking a little embarrassed. “But I can still vaguely remember where some of the more interesting places are. There is a Sansheng Stone Pedestrian Street over by the River of Forgetfulness. We can go take a look.”

Having decided on a direction, the two set off. Exactly as Du Yu had anticipated, none of the Reapers or ghostly guards in the Underworld recognized Dong Qianqiu, nor did they recognize him as the newly appointed Operator. The two of them simply wandered through the streets like ordinary spirits.

“By the way, Sister Qianqiu, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“The place where we work… it is called the ‘Legend Management Bureau’s Underworld Office,’ right?”

“That is correct.”

“It sounds like this place is just a local branch office. So why is the Director working in a branch office? Shouldn’t he be at the ‘Headquarters’?”

“Mhm, it makes sense that you would have such questions. Our original workplace was not the Underworld. The actual headquarters of the Legend Management Bureau isn’t located here either, but rather in the Heavenly Court.”

“The Heavenly Court?!” Du Yu had not expected the organization to be quite so grand. “Then why isn’t the Director in the Heavenly Court?”

“It’s a long story. Ever since Zhan Qisheng betrayed the Legend Management Bureau nine hundred years ago, the Bureau was left without an Operator. Not only was our ability to intervene in legends severely crippled, but our status also plummeted. What used to be a massive organization with branch offices in the Heavenly Court, the Dragon Palace, the Mortal Realm, and the Underworld, was gradually marginalized. We had no choice but to constantly relocate until we ended up with nothing but this tiny plot of land on Mount Bugui in the depths of the Underworld.”

“Holy hell.” Du Yu felt a surge of indignation. “These people are way too snobbish. When you had an Operator, they sucked up to you in every way possible, but the moment you lost one, they pushed you aside.”

Dong Qianqiu offered a bitter smile. “It’s alright. We have an Operator now.”

Du Yu blinked, then realization dawned on him. “That’s right, I’m the Operator now! Sister Qianqiu, you just wait. Before long, I’ll make the Heavenly Court carve out a piece of territory for us.”

Dong Qianqiu’s eyes curved into a slight smile as she replied, “Okay, I’ll be waiting.”

“Wow… Sister Qianqiu… you actually know how to smile…”

“Du Yu, are you asking for trouble?”

The pair walked for about twenty minutes before finally arriving at the Sansheng Stone Pedestrian Street that Dong Qianqiu had mentioned. The place was far more bustling than Du Yu had ever imagined. The quaint, antique-looking street was adorned with all sorts of neon signs. Above the thoroughfare, alongside ancient colorful banners, hung strings of modern fairy lights. The entire street exuded a unique aesthetic that blended the ancient with the modern. The pedestrians strolling about were equally diverse; some women wore elegant qipaos while others sported mini-skirts, and some men strutted around in full plate armor while others opted for casual dress shirts.

“My goodness…” Du Yu remarked in bewilderment as he took in the sight. “Why are there so many people living in the Underworld?”

“It’s quite simple,” Dong Qianqiu explained. “Not everyone wishes to reincarnate. The Underworld is home to many ghosts who simply prefer to live their lives here.”

“Living out their lives here?” Du Yu pondered this for a moment. “That doesn’t sound too bad, actually.”

After wandering around for a bit, the two found themselves in front of a minimalist coffee shop. The flat, cement storefront bore a glowing sign that simply read: “Bitter Wait.”

“Bitter Wait. This shop has an interesting name.” Du Yu looked up at the sign. “Shall we go in here?”

Dong Qianqiu nodded and reached out to pull the door open. However, the exact moment the door cracked open, a bloodcurdling scream rang out from within.

“Look out!” Dong Qianqiu quickly yanked Du Yu to the side, just as a figure came crashing through the glass door, hurtling into the street.

“Holy shit!” Du Yu jumped in fright at the sudden spectacle. Had Dong Qianqiu not pulled him away in time, he would have been sent flying along with the poor guy.

“Who dares to cause trouble here?!” Dong Qianqiu shouted furiously.

The interior of the shop was eerily silent, as if no one inside dared to breathe a single word.

With a cold snort, Dong Qianqiu slowly stepped into the cafe. Standing dead center in the room was an exceptionally tall woman. The surrounding customers and staff were all too terrified to speak.

“Wh-why did you suddenly attack someone…” a staff member asked the woman with a trembling voice.

The woman slowly turned around. She was clad in a sleek, practical suit of armor dating back to the Warring States period. Her facial features were stunningly beautiful. However, sharply contrasting with her glamorous allure was her towering height of nearly six-foot-three and her fiercely commanding, heroic bearing.

“Why did I hit him?” The woman glanced down at her fist. “I was in a bad mood.”

Emboldened by Dong Qianqiu’s presence, Du Yu peeked out from behind her back to get a better look. Good grief, were there actually people this arrogant in the Underworld?

“You think being in a bad mood gives you the right to hit people…” The female employee retorted, like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger. Even though the woman before her radiated an incredibly intimidating aura, as the shopkeeper, she had no choice but to step forward and handle the situation.

“Oh no! This guy is seriously hurt!” someone outside suddenly yelled.

The female employee hurriedly rushed outside, only to find the man sprawled on the ground, already completely unconscious.

“How can you be so barbaric!” The employee bellowed furiously before shouting to the bystanders, “Quick, call the Reapers to come handle this!”

“My god, she just beat a guy unconscious on a whim! Sister Qianqiu, beat her up!” Du Yu cheered from behind, adding fuel to the fire.

“No… I can’t…” Dong Qianqiu suddenly became hesitant. “Things have just gotten complicated. We need to find a way to slip away…”

“Huh?” Du Yu blanked. “Is this person that powerful?”

Just as he spoke, the woman turned her head and coincidentally locked eyes with Dong Qianqiu.

“You?”

The woman murmured under her breath, but she quickly looked away, ignoring Dong Qianqiu entirely. She righted the chair she had just knocked over and took a seat. Sweeping a cold gaze over the room, she warned the remaining customers, “If anyone else dares to look at me, I’ll send you flying out the door just like him.”

The customers hastily lowered their heads. Not a single person dared to steal another glance at the towering woman.

“Du Yu, let’s go…” Dong Qianqiu reached back, grabbing Du Yu’s sleeve, and prepared to quietly exit the shop. The woman paid them no mind, opting instead to dig into the dessert on her table.

“Who dares to run wild here?!” A furious roar split the air as a figure slowly descended from the sky. Clad in an official uniform with a face as dark as charcoal, he clearly appeared to be a Reaper. “You dare cause trouble on the street under my jurisdiction? Today, I will let you witness the formidable power of Bu Zudao!”

“Bu Zudao? I’ve never even heard of that name.” Dong Qianqiu stepped forward and immediately grabbed hold of the Reaper.

“What are you doing? Who are you? An accomplice?” The Reaper named Bu Zudao barked irritably at Dong Qianqiu.

“I am Dong Qianqiu from the Legend Management Bureau. You cannot handle the situation in front of you. Hurry and fetch your superiors to deal with this—Ox-Head, Horse-Face, or the Lords of the Cangue and Lock—any of them will do.”

“What a joke! If you are Dong Qianqiu from the Legend Management Bureau, then I’m He Suoyi from the Legend Management Bureau!” The Reaper roughly shoved Dong Qianqiu aside and charged straight into the shop. Pointing a finger at the towering woman, he bellowed, “Demoness! I am the Reaper Bu Zudao! Who are you? State your name…”

The Reaper hadn’t even finished speaking before the woman’s figure blurred. She teleported directly in front of him, her fist—which was visibly larger than an average person’s—stopping a mere hair’s breadth from his nose.

“Damn, she doesn’t play by the rules!” Du Yu gasped in shock. The woman hadn’t even waited for the other party to finish their self-introduction before throwing a punch.

“Bam!”

A tremendous crash echoed through the air, and the sheer force of the shockwave forced all the onlookers to take a step back.

Dong Qianqiu had stepped right in front of the Reaper, her hand raised to tightly grip the woman’s massive fist.

“Zhongli Chun, do me a favor and let this go,” Dong Qianqiu said, her tone laced with a hint of nervous tension.