Memories ended here.
Ling Xiaoyou glanced at the message on her mobile phone and prepared to head out to the Ghostly Grievance Department.
The person who sent the message was Hong Lingyan.
Although she had been very busy lately, she still took a moment to message Ling Xiaoyou, informing her that she could now gather at the Ghostly Resentment Office.
Someone would lead them to the venue for the Xuantian Martial Tournament afterward.
Although she was a bit curious about how they would travel to the city where the tournament was held — the Imperial Capital — Ling Xiaoyou did not bother Hong Lingyan.
She simply sent a reply to indicate she understood and stepped out of her home.
Passing through the still-bustling Ghost Street, Ling Xiaoyou arrived in front of the Ghostly Grievance Department.
Looking at the simple, eerie, red-lacquered wooden door and the small red-lacquered building that looked like something straight out of a horror movie, Ling Xiaoyou couldn’t help but make certain associations.
‘I feel like a Fierce Ghost in a haunted house, needing to scare people every day just to prove I exist,’ she thought.
However, who could have guessed that beneath this eerie and terrifying building was actually an extremely modern office building?
‘Who could have imagined that such a modern office exists under this place?’
Ling Xiaoyou thought as she pushed open the wooden door.
The soft white light immediately shone upon her.
She was about to step inside when her footsteps suddenly paused.
She looked toward the side in front of her with a gaze full of curiosity and doubt.
There, a kind-looking old lady with gray hair, dressed in clothes from the previous century, was leaning on a cane in front of the snack stall.
She seemed to be waiting for someone.
Upon seeing that figure, Ling Xiaoyou scratched her small head in confusion.
She didn’t understand why this Senior Li wasn’t lying on a lounge chair in the underground training field, leisurely drinking tea.
Instead, she was here, and it appeared she was waiting for someone.
Seemingly noticing Ling Xiaoyou’s gaze, Li Xuemà n turned her eyes toward her, revealing a peaceful and serene smile — like a grandmother looking at her cute granddaughter under the warm afternoon sun.
“Xiaoyou is here. Come over quickly.”
She waved at Ling Xiaoyou, looking just like a grandmother about to give out red envelopes to the younger generation during the New Year.
Well, it wasn’t just “like.”
Ling Xiaoyou really had received a red envelope from Li Xuemà n during the New Year, and the amount was quite large, keeping her happy for several days!
“Eh? Elder, why are you out here?”
Ling Xiaoyou approached Li Xuemà n and asked in surprise, “Is it because it’s too stuffy underground and you wanted to come out for some fresh air?”
“Are you not welcoming this old lady?”
Li Xuemà n blinked and joked.
“Of course not, I’m just curious,”
Ling Xiaoyou hurriedly waved her small hands and explained.
“It’s quite simple.”
Li Xuemà n smiled and rubbed Ling Xiaoyou’s small head.
“Because I am the team leader for this Xuantian Martial Tournament.”
“Ah, this —”
Ling Xiaoyou was truly surprised by this answer.
Before this, she had thought of many potential candidates for the team leader, even the Jing Xian next door, but she never expected it to be Li Xuemà n.
After all, since Ling Xiaoyou joined the Ghostly Resentment Office, she had never seen Li Xuemà n leave the underground.
She even wondered,
‘Is Senior Li’s home actually inside the underground training field?’
Otherwise, why would she never leave?
Of course, it was also possible she had left before and Ling Xiaoyou just didn’t know.
However, Ling Xiaoyou wasn’t surprised for long.
After all, Li Xuemà n was a veteran.
Having her lead the team was perfectly fine and reasonable.
Ling Xiaoyou was only surprised that Li Xuemà n would leave the underground, not questioning her qualifications as a team leader.
“By the way, where is Sister Ling? Is she still busy with work?”
Thinking of Hong Lingyan, Ling Xiaoyou reflexively looked around as if the woman would suddenly pop out.
But she didn’t appear.
She was likely still processing work on the top floor.
“Yes,” Li Xuemà n sighed softly.
“After all, you understand Sister Hong’s situation. Although she is a very good person, when it comes to handling administrative affairs…”
She paused and chose a more tactful way of putting it.
“No one is perfect. If she improved in this area, then Sister Hong would be the perfect person.”
Hearing this, Ling Xiaoyou nodded her small head in agreement.
Sister Ling really wasn’t good at handling work.
If she were, she wouldn’t always be trying to avoid it or slacking off.
“Alright, since you’re here, Xiaoyou, let’s not stand here foolishly. Let’s head to the reception room first and wait for the participants from the other branches.”
Saying this, Li Xuemà n leaned on her cane and took slow, aged steps toward the reception room.
Ling Xiaoyou was startled.
She had wanted to ask more, but seeing Li Xuemà n walk further away, she hurriedly caught up and reached out her small hand, wanting to support the veteran performer.
But Li Xuemà n just waved her hand and gave Ling Xiaoyou a gentle smile.
“No need, Xiaoyou. I appreciate the gesture, but I’m not so old that I need someone to help me walk.”
“But…”
Ling Xiaoyou looked at the cane Li Xuemà n was using and wanted to say more.
Seeing this, Li Xuemà n simply shouldered the cane and smiled at the stunned Ling Xiaoyou.
“This thing is just a decoration. My legs are still quite agile. Do you need me to perform a dance that was popular back in my day?”
Ling Xiaoyou:
“…Thank you, but no thanks.”
The two arrived at the reception room.
Ling Xiaoyou pushed open the door and let Li Xuemà n enter first before closing the door and looking inside.
To her surprise, there was no one else in the reception room.
Only she and Li Xuemà n were inside.
“Come, Xiaoyou, sit here,”
Li Xuemà n said, patting the sofa next to her.
Ling Xiaoyou gave an “oh” and sat obediently next to Li Xuemà n.
She looked around and asked the old lady in confusion,
“Elder, why are the two of us the only ones here? Are the other participants from the Division Headquarters still busy?”
Ling Xiaoyou wasn’t surprised that the branch members hadn’t arrived yet.
Given the distance, they would surely be a bit late.
But she didn’t expect the other participants from the Division Headquarters to be missing as well, which was strange.
Hearing this, Li Xuemà n glanced at her and chuckled helplessly.
“Other participants from the Division Headquarters? What are you talking about, Xiaoyou? You’re the only participant from our headquarters.”
“Eh?”
Ling Xiaoyou was stunned.
She then asked in confusion,
“But I heard before that many people from the headquarters wanted to participate. Why am I the only one left?”
“Because…”
Li Xuemà n took out her thermos, took a sip of hot tea, and then said unhurriedly, “Because they’re scared.”