Ghost Baby was very busy.
After delivering the murderous intent, it turned around and crawled back into the prison, trying to yank the shikigami off the imprisoned man's legs.
But the shikigami was clinging on for dear afterlife, and Ghost Baby couldn't pry it loose.
Jangxia Tongzhi watched for a moment, disappointed. Then he turned his attention back to the two kids beside him.
Conan was still coughing and clutching his neck—the old woman had really pinched hard earlier.
Ayumi patted his back. When he finally caught his breath, she turned to stare blankly at Jangxia.
Jangxia looked back and asked casually, "You okay?"
"I'm fine!" Ayumi replied loudly.
Then she hesitated, glancing up at Jangxia. On TV, when someone gets rescued, aren't you supposed to say thank you? Look, this big brother even squatted down to her level—wasn't that a clear hint from the benefactor?
Ayumi stepped closer, blushing and whispering as she weighed whether to kiss his left or right cheek. "Thank you, n—"
Before she could finish, a hand landed firmly on her shoulder from behind.
Conan, already world-weary at age seven, said: "Don't kiss him."
…Judging from previous encounters, if she did, she'd probably end up kissing a mop instead.
Then somehow he would be the one blamed for it, carrying the pot like always.
And Ayumi had been through enough today. If she got hit with emotional whiplash from a so-called "friendly fire," she'd definitely cry.
And if a kid started crying, Jangxia definitely wouldn't help.
Which meant he would have to do the consoling…
Ayumi, unaware of the deep trauma Conan had suffered, looked at him in surprise. Was Conan… jealous? She began seriously debating whether she should choose the heavenly savior who fell from the sky, or the classmate she'd known forever.
At that moment, a chorus of footsteps echoed down the corridor.
The police had found the dungeon.
Inspector Megure walked in with a few officers, and the moment they saw the scene inside, they froze in stunned silence.
…A whole prison cell. Built right under their noses. In a society supposedly ruled by law.
Outrageous. Simply outrageous.
Inspector Megure looked at the miserable citizens in the prison and approached, ready to offer his condolences.
But before he could say anything, one of the "victims" suddenly sprang to the bars like a tiger and wailed, "Let me out! I want to turn myself in!"
Megure: "…Turn yourself in?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the shikigami latched onto the prisoner's leg suddenly released its grip.
Ghost Baby took advantage of the opportunity, grabbing the shikigami's leg, and both ghosts flopped onto the ground.
Ghost Baby blinked in surprise.
Then, realizing what had just happened, it gleefully dragged the shikigami back to Jangxia and turned in its ghostly prize.
At the same time, it glanced at the cigarette case in Jangxia's hand.
Scoring some murder energy today had been pure luck.
And this kind of unstable, hesitant aura didn't keep well—it would spoil after two or three days. Not like the long-lasting, premeditated type that could be stored for years.
Thinking this, Jangxia tapped out a ghost mint from the cigarette box.
Just as he was about to light it, a hand shot out and grabbed for the cigarette.
Jangxia quickly pulled his hand back and turned to look.
It was Officer Sato.
She frowned slightly. "You're smoking in high school? What if your lungs don't grow properly? Where did you get this?"
According to regulations, minors weren't allowed to buy tobacco or alcohol. If he'd stolen this from home… they'd need to have a word with his parents.
Jangxia stared into the void under her stern gaze and sighed internally.
He always forgot about rules like that.
Back in his original world, 18 was already adult enough.
Who knew that in this weird place, adulthood came two years later?
Jangxia slid the cigarette into his sleeve and said calmly, "I don't smoke. I just like the smell when it first lights up—it helps me think."
Next to him, Conan twitched.
He remembered when they rescued that kidnapped girl last time—Jangxia definitely lit a cigarette.
And not just for the smell, no way. The thing was halfway gone in no time.
Plus, they already had the victim back. No thinking required!
Surely the cops wouldn't buy that nonsense—
"Ah, so that's it," Sato nodded.
Conan: "???"
Sato wasn't just going by appearances.
It was more that long-time smokers had telltale signs—yellowed teeth, callused fingers, a lingering smell.
Jangxia had none of that. He even smelled kind of… clean.
And most importantly—he just looked so sincere. Inexplicably trustworthy. The kind of face you want to believe.
…
After sending the police on their way, Jangxia pocketed his new shikigami and returned to the logistics company to finish his shift.
The next morning, after waking up, he sat there a while, reminiscing about the dream he'd just had—he raised his hand and all the ghosts answered his call. Glorious.
Then he released all the ghosts and shikigami sealed in his tattoos.
Four ghosts lined up neatly on his blanket.
The shikigami was the most well-behaved, lying flat and motionless like it was actual paper.
Ghost Baby looked around, then reflexively tried to climb onto Jangxia.
But it was mercilessly shoved back down and forced to line up with the rest.
Jangxia pointed at each ghost, counting: "One, two, three, four."
…Only four.
He tried again. "One, two, three, four."
Still four.
Sigh. It was just a dream after all.
Jangxia rested his chin on his palm and sighed wistfully.
Maybe if he lay back down for a nap, he could pick up where the dream left off…
Ghost Baby watched Jangxia's fingers, deep in thought.
Jangxia, bored, started counting again: "One, two, three, four—"
This time, Ghost Baby quickly did a barrel roll and rolled itself to the end of the line.
Jangxia's finger landed on its head. "…Five."
Barely made the cut.
Man and ghost were both satisfied.
Ghost Baby rubbed its hands obediently, then looked longingly at the cigarette case next to Jangxia's pillow.
Jangxia pulled one out and twirled it between his fingers but didn't light it.
"It's not really convenient to keep calling you 'hey you' all the time. I should give you a name."
Ghost Baby: "…"
Thinking about the names Jangxia had given his potted plants in the past, Ghost Baby wanted to both shake its head and flee.
…But Jangxia was holding its rations.
So it bit its fingers and nodded reluctantly.
Jangxia was pleased with its cooperation. "Let's call you Xiaobai."
Ghost Baby let out a sigh of relief.
Sure, it was a little plain.
But at least it wasn't something like Cat Egg, Dog Egg, Pig Ear, or Green Cockscomb…
So when Jangxia called out "Little White," it responded obediently.
Jangxia patted its head in approval, got out of bed, walked to the table, and lit a ghost mint.
Then he re-sealed a few shikigami into his tattoo, ready to head out to work.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Jangxia opened the door. It was a delivery.
He hadn't ordered anything recently, and no one really sent him mail.
Except for Sherry and her sister—they sometimes mailed over homemade health supplements.
Jangxia took the package.
As usual, the sender's name had an "S" in it—Sherry's initial in English.
Glossary:
Xiaobai (Little White) – A simple, affectionate name; can imply a ghost is a harmless newbie or just cute.