Cataclysm Chapter 8: A Skeleton Under Clothing 1; Wicked Spirits

Chapter 8: A Skeleton Under Clothing 1; Wicked Spirits

Translated by Shiya of Exiled Rebels Scanlations 

Editor: Karai

 

After signing the contract, Chen Yang formally became the Director of the Dafu Branch Office. After Ma Shanfeng described everything, Chen Yang knew that the Dafu Office was the product of the cooperation between Tianshi and the government, and supported by the state, they were aiming to solve all of the ghosts and evil spirits in the world. There were six Dafu offices all over the country, and only one branch office was located in the capital.

Chen Yang was now the Director of the branch office. There were four staff members in the office, including himself. At present, he only knew the deputy director, Ma Shanfeng, and Mao Xiaoli. The remaining one named Zhang Qiudao, who just took a job and went out, had not returned yet. Ma Shanfeng was here as a retirement job, he didn’t take jobs and only received the base salary. Mao Xiaoli was a Tianshi who was barely able to take a job that had more than two stars. As for Zhang Qiudao, he was a MengWei Tianshi (fourth rank), as such he could take up a three star job.

Three star jobs were quite difficult. Generally, it took a Tianshi that was WuLei (3) or above to take up a three star job alone. Although Zhang Qiudao was a MengWei Tianshi (4) ¹, he was able to take up a three star job if cooperating with others. Chen Yang understood that there were many factions for Tianshis, famous ones such as Zhengyi and Quanzhen don’t have to take orders, people naturally bring real gold and silver to hire them directly.

However, these factions had many disciples, and most of them made money by receiving orders on the Dafu APP as well.

Let’s go back to discussing the Dafu office. The branch office, where Chen Yang’s at right now, was having difficulties with paying out just the base salary. In fact, the headquarters was full of talent. Only Third level or higher Tianshi could get into the main office, most were descendants of famous factions, and their talents were amazing.

Chen Yang looked up at Mao Xiaoli, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, chewing on watermelon and watching cartoons. He sighed deeply. Mao Xiaoli was not even sincere in worshiping her ancestors, so even though she was talented, and was from a long lineage of Tianshis and a successor to a famous faction, she only just became a DuGong, a sixth grade Tianshi.

There were too few talents, no resources, no reputation, and their employees were not ambitious. The entire place was a mess!

It was a giant pit!

Chen Yang got up and went back to the room. Mao Xiaoli called him, “Brother Chen, you just moved over, do you need me to help you unpack?”

“No.” After that, he went upstairs.

The old building where the Dafu Branch was located had six floors. The first three floors served as office space and the upper three as staff dormitories. Of the four employees, only Ma Shanfeng didn’t live here, but there were other families.

Chen Yang just moved in this morning, and only after a day of tidying up, he had time to check the current development of the branch office. Opening the door, he stood in the entrance and changed into slippers. He saw that the other pair of large slippers were missing from the shoe rack and were replaced by a pair of leather shoes.

Chen Yang knew who it was and walked towards the kitchen.

But he didn’t see anyone.

At this time, from the bathroom came the sound of running water. Chen Yang went to the bathroom and turned the door handle. A hand was extended out of the bathroom and suddenly grabbed his hand, dragging Chen Yang in. Warm water of moderate temperature drenched his clothes in an instant.

Chen Yang squinted slightly and felt uncomfortable with his wet clothes. Behind him, a big hand held his waist and brought him into a broad chest. A familiar breath enveloped him, “Have you taken a bath yet?”

Chen Yang stared at the hand, quite unhappy, “You are not sure whether I have taken a bath yet, but you still pulled me in?”

This could not be considered taking a shower though. 

“Accompany me.” Du Shuo rested his chin on the curve of Chen Yang’s neck, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. Chen Yang felt tired and could not bear to scold him so he took off his clothes and stepped into the bath, face to face with Du Shuo.

The handsome man in front of him was Chen Yang’s ghost husband, and they had a Yin marriage. ².

Due to his Yin constitution, Chen Yang was haunted by ghosts and demons since childhood. Someone once told him that he would not live to be fifteen years old. From childhood to adulthood, he did not remember how many ghosts he had encountered. When Chen Yang was ten years old, his parents tried to save him from being murdered by a fierce ghost and died. Later, at sixteen years old, an old person next door took him in and taught him occult knowledge for two years. He also suggested helping him perform a YinQin. 

Although Chen Yang didn’t officially get married until he was eighteen years old, he also had connections with the underworld and had a husband who was a Hell servitor ³ to protect him. No more ghosts coveted his body anymore. Not long after that, the grandfather who took him in died as well.

Since then, Chen Yang’s only relative was Du Shuo.

Chen Yang soaked in the warm water and was pulled over by Du Shuo with immense strength and also with gentleness, Du Shuo sealed his lips and their teeth touched. After the water in the bathtub cooled down completely, Chen Yang was taken out of the bathroom. He lay on the sofa, showing a little fatigue between his eyebrows.

Du Shuo watched Chen Yang, his cold expression softening a lot and his face full of satisfaction. “The job is done?”

“Um.” Chen Yang moved his body, leaned on Du Shuo and told him about his salary, “If we save for two years, I will be able to hold a ceremony for you to gain merits in the underworld. Then you can be promoted, and then I will burn more paper money for you.”

Chen Yang yawned and counted the money he had to spend several times. It was a long way to go.

Du Shuo looked at Chen Yang with a gentle smile in his eyes. He took his hand and said, “I don’t need merit and money though.”

“That’s out of the question.” Chen Yang looked at him and felt that Du Shuo was not ambitious enough, so he began nagging, “Do you want to be a Hell servitor forever? You are always busy and in a rush. You have no vacation all year round. Once you start working, like this time… I haven’t seen you for three days.”

“You missed me?”

“Don’t divert the subject.”

“All right, but the ceremonies and the paper money of this world have no effect on me. I don’t depend on those to get a promotion.”

When Du Shuo closed his mouth and was faced with Chen Yang’s eyes full of the words, ‘You’re making it up, I won’t believe you.’

Chen Yang didn’t believe Du Shuo’s words, since he thought Du Shuo said those things only so that Chen Yang didn’t have to work too hard. For a Hell servitor, only virtues earned from ceremonies and merits in his work could be used for promotion.

Chen Yang couldn’t help with Du Shuo’s merits in his work for the time being. At least he should be able to help in the virtues department. He could send Du Shuo virtues by holding ceremonies in his name. But that needed money, and it was helpful that as a Director of the Dafu Branch, he had a high salary.

Chen Yang yawned again. Today, he moved and tidied up for a day and when he came back, he was tossed around and tired.

“Sleep if you’re tired.”

Chen Yang grabbed Du Shuo’s clothes and snuggled into his arms. His eyelids drooped and he said confusedly, “You have to accompany me.”

“I will accompany you.”

“You cannot disappear tomorrow morning.”

“…Okay. “

With a positive answer, Chen Yang satisfactorily fell asleep.

Du Shuo took him back to his bedroom, turned on the heater, and covered him with a quilt. He got up and went out. He took out his cell phone to issue an order, then returned to the room, lifted the quilt and drilled in.

Chen Yang sensed the heat source and snuggled up spontaneously. It was a completely unconscious action. Du Shuo’s lips twisted slightly and took him into his arms. He did not loosen his arms all night.

The next morning, he did not disappear directly, but accompanied Chen Yang to finish breakfast and send him out. As a result, Chen Yang was in a brilliant mood. When he went downstairs and heard that there was a new job on the app, he was in an even better mood.

Mao Xiaoli was chewing the rest of the watermelon she cut up last night and saw red marks hidden along Chen Yang’s neck under his shirt collar. So she said, “Brother Chen, I have mosquito repellent charms, do you want some?”⁴

“Mosquito repellent charms?” Chen Yang shook his head. “I didn’t see mosquitoes.”

Mao Xiaoli wiped her finger and pointed to his neck. “Isn’t there a big bite there?”

Chen Yang covered his neck in reflex, a little embarrassed, “No, it’s all right.”

“Isn’t it itchy?”

“It’s fine.”

“I have anti-itch ointment and mosquito repellent. I’ll go and get it for you.” 

Mao Xiaoli just turned around and met Ma Shanfeng, who laughed back and said, “Xiaoli, don’t bother. The director has just moved in and he’s not adapted to it yet. So he’s having an allergic reaction and should be fine in two days.”

“Is that right? Brother Chen, you are quite delicate.” Mao Xiaoli looked at Chen Yang’s skin and found that being delicate had its perks, “Such good skin, I’m really envious.”

Ma Shanfeng, “Young people have such good physical strength.”

Chen Yang was almost choked by his own saliva and his face turned red. It took a long time to return to normal. Facing the seemingly benevolent but penetrating stare of Ma Shanfeng, he was able to remain calm, “Vice Director Ma, good morning.”

“Heehee, you usually go to work at eight o’clock. Now it’s almost nine o’clock. Are you ready to abandon the old people’s lifestyle and throw yourself into the embrace of young people?”

Ma Shanfeng smiled. “I arrived at eight in the morning, but I was dealing with some business and had to chat for an hour.”

“There’s a new job?”

There’s new work so soon?! 

Mao Xiaoli jumped up, “Brother Chen, you are the lucky star of our Bureau. Before you came, the branch office barely had any job for three years. Ever since you came here, one job is worth three years of pay.”

…Once again, she easily exposed the real situation.

Ma Shanfeng was still indifferent to Chen Yang’s eyes and did not feel guilty for cheating him. Anyone could tell that he had a strong mind.

“The new job is from headquarters, and they want to cooperate with our branch office. There are two people on their side and two on our side. The salary is 20 million yuan ⁵ and the two sides will share the payment equally.”

Before Chen Yang responded, Mao Xiaoli jumped up and shouted, “We are taking it!”

Ma Shanfeng looked at Chen Yang. Chen Yang suppressed his excitement and cut the nail on the head. Chen Yang raised the question, “Why is the headquarters willing to give us half of such a large amount?” 

Ma Shanfeng was silent for a long time, “Poverty alleviation?”

“…” Chen Yang, “Forget it, just take the job.”

“Yes. I’m sure a three star job can be solved by Brother Chen alone.”

Ma Shanfeng’s face was seldom this serious, he warned Mao Xiaoli, “You’d better not have the mentality of taking chances and belittling enemies. If Zhang Qiudao was here, I would never have let you take up a three star job.”

Mao Xiaoli grumbled unwillingly, “The job we did the day before yesterday was solved by Brother Chen alone.”

Ma Shanfeng shook his head and told Chen Yang, “I’ve seen the job you received, but it’s not as difficult as a real three star one. That job was at most two stars, but because the original Tianshi belittled the enemy and did not find out in time that it was a fierce ghost who had lived for nearly a hundred years, the rating of the job got bumped up. This one is a lot harder. It is difficult for even a WuLei Tianshi (3rd) to deal with. Five people have already died on this job.”

Chen Yang looked grim, Mao Xiaoli also put away the mentality of thinking it was easy.

“Can you give me the details?”

“I have the information here. I’ll send it to the WeChat group later, and you can see for yourself.”

“WeChat group?”

Mao Xiaoli, “Brother Chen, I’ll add you in.”

Chen Yang opened his WeChat and found a new group.

[An office dedicated to getting out of poverty and single status.]

Ma Shanfeng, “Oh, now we’re symmetrical.”

[A pair of single dogs and a pair of married dogs devoted to getting out of poverty.]

Chen Yang, “…”

Mao Xiaoli was full of enthusiasm, “Brother Chen is here, so getting out of poverty is not a problem.”

She was the embodiment of a pure and honest character all the time.

Ma Shanfeng sent all the information about the job to the WeChat group so that both Chen Yang and Mao Xiaoli could read it first. After reading it, they were ready to start meeting with the people from the head office.

This time they were going to go to a villa area, where they should lay low, find the evil spirits and kill them if necessary. After all, it was a ghost who had killed five people already. Even if it was caught, it must be sent to the Six Palaces of the Underworld for trial. The employer had a villa in Shijingshan District, which could be temporarily lent to them.

Chen Yang finished reading the data, but found it was quite difficult.

Ma Shanfeng asked him if he had found any leads. Chen Yang said, “Looking at the methods, it does not seem like we’re dealing with ghosts, but a JingGuai.”

Ma Shanfeng said, “I think so too.”

After reading the information, Mao Xiaoli also said, “For a ghost to kill people, it is either because it is seeking revenge, or looking for a stand-in to get a new life. It’s rare for them to kill people just because.”

“Moreover the five deceased had all their skin and flesh gnawed at, their internal organs were eaten. Only a JingGuai would try to become human in this way.” Chen Yang compared the photographs and data of the deceased, saying, “These are the remains that were found, according to the JingGuai’s ferocity, there should be more undiscovered victims.”

A ghost did not have a skeleton, so they would seek a substitute, they would try every means to avoid Hell servitors to become human again. A JingGuai had a skeleton, but it had not cultivated itself to become a human yet, so it would try to get a human’s skin.

For some JingGuai ⁶, such as a fox absorbing moonlight essence by worshiping the moon, and a weasel helping the world by storing virtues. But there were also some who gnawed on people’s viscera, then drilled inside the human body to obtain a human-shaped pouch. There were also some that obtained human-shaped skin by drinking human blood, thereby turning them into their own flesh.

This is what people call an evil incarnate.

 

The author has something to say:

Yes, this novel begins with them being old husband and husband. Six years of acquaintance, four years of marriage life, they are familiar with each other’s everything already. Yangyang is 22.

Yangyang’s gong will accompany him this arc.

 

 

 

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