"I'm asking you."
Slap-!
"What the heck were you doing exactly?"
Slap-!
"Is becoming a yellow grade ghost something to be proud of?"
Slap-!
"I've been watching on the side for a while now and you're starting to piss me off."
Slap-!
Slap-!
"Anyways-"
Slap-!
"You can go to Hell now."
With that said, a dark hole opened up beside the young woman as Chu Nuan directly threw the unconscious ghost in. Closing at once to bring this anti-climactic battle to an end.
Chu Nuan: "There, everything's done."
The young lady declared while patting away nonexistent dust on her arms and hands.
The troublesome battle that lasted so long has been dealt with by one person in a matter of minutes…
"... …"
An awkward silence filled the atmosphere as three bewildered sights stare at the young woman with agape mouths.
Man Tingshu was the first to recover however as he gave a young woman a stiff smile. "Thank you for your assistance, Envoy Chu."
"We were careless today thinking that this was merely an easy mission so we were highly underprepared."
"I know that helping us capture Xu Qianqian was not a part of your duties but you still helped us either way. I'm very thankful."
Envoys have a very strict rule not to interfere with the mortal world too much.
Any interference that an envoy might have must be related to the task they came to complete.
That was the reason why Man Tingshu didn't ask Chu Nuan to directly help with the capturing of Xu Qianqian. It's okay to slightly aid with finding clues but to actually help them do their jobs is a different matter.
"Thank you." Xie Luochen drew near while withdrawing his dagger to give a word of thanks as well. Rong Cheng followed after with a wide grin.
Anyways, now that the main problem is solved, the second eldest of the sect is suddenly faced with another.
"Envoy Chu… that is…" Revealing a somewhat sheepish smile, the stoic man tried hard to form the right words. "I was wondering if… if you can invite Xu Qianqian back?"
Chu Nuan: "?"
Showing a flustered expression on his face, the second eldest of the sect explained. "It's just that there are a few questions we didn't have the chance to ask…"
Like how did she suddenly turned into a yellow spirit.
Or if she has any idea of where she got those [Su Ya] and [Xiao Ming] cursed dolls from.
"Oh. About that…"
Obsidian irises rolled within those almond eyes once as Chu Nuan drawled in a steady tone. "You don't have to ask her, I can probably answer those questions for you."
To put everything into a simple conclusion, Xu Qianqian was a normal ghost from the very start as she didn't have any idea as to why she'd died.
It happens a lot to spirits that had a sudden death with no great regret or hatred. If nothing triggers them, their memories remain vague until an envoy shows up to guide them away.
What's different about Xu Qianqian is that she somehow remembered her fiance cheating on her with another woman. Although this made her angry enough to prepare cursed dolls, it wasn't to the point that she would turn into a vengeful ghost so early on.
What caused this trigger was actually Man Tingshu's comment.
The one where he told Xu Qianqian the truth that her mother and fiance was the one that caused her death.
Imagine losing all your memories in an accident only to find out later on that this was caused by your family and lover. Who wouldn't turn crazy from that type of truth.
As to how Xu Qianqian got a hold of those two dolls…
"This has something to do with my mission so I'll take these and also the ones we found in Xu Qianqian's house."
Chu Nuan said while waving the two dolls in her hand before stuffing them into her pockets.
"Oh, of course." Man Tingshu agreed with an embarrassed smile. Who would have ever thought that it was his careless words that caused this incident.
What can he say about those dolls when it is related to the task Chu Nuan came to complete. He can only stay silent and write everything out in the report.
"Well then, let's head home."
Therefore, the incident ended with the capture of Xu Qianqian along with mother Xu and Xiao Ming.
Chu Nuan: "Ah. There's also one more thing I wanted to do."
Basking under the curious gaze of others. Chu Nuan revealed a charming smile that pairs well with the devious tint in her almond eyes.
_____
The next day…
Released from the police station after a night of unrest, Su Ya came to work despite bearing heavy bags under her eyes.
Informed that the office building is cleared to be used again. Everyone that was given a break during this incident was given the option to choose whether they want to work at home first or at the office right away.
Of course, everyone immediately chose to come back to work.
What a joke.
No one wants to give the boss an impression that they are lazy workers that would rather stay at home. What if the big boss says, "if you like staying in your house so much, that's fine. You can stay there forever, no need to come to work starting today!"
That's also the reason why Su Ya was compelled to show up despite her fatigue.
Greeting her fellow co-workers while making her way towards the building, the fatigue woman was only a few yards away when-
"Ah-!!"
The sky above turned dark as a blanket of unknown substances splashed all over the woman's body.
"What is this? It stinks!"
A shrill scream exploded in the atmosphere as Su Ya dropped all her belongings in a desperate attempt to wipe away the mysterious substance.
"Ugh! I got some in my mouth!?"
Surprised by this sudden incident, fellow co-workers first retreated to a safe distance before gradually surrounding the area. Some took videos while some pointed and a few whispered amongst themselves.
But no one stepped up to lend a helping hand.
"Wow, what is that? So stinky." someone said.
"Could this be karma? I heard this woman interfered in someone else's relationship. Remember the woman that died some time ago by jumping off our building? That was the official girlfriend. Look how she can still act as if nothings wrong."
"Haha! So embarrassing."
"Look, she's like a drenched cat now."
Angered and embarrassed, a red face Su Ya wanted to erupt at the onlookers. Tears formed at the corner of reddened eyes as quivering lips pinch into a line and just as she was about to shout.
Splash-!
Another round of reddish brown liquid fell from above.
Su Ya: "Ahhh-!!"
Looking up at the direction of the attack, Su Ya finally exploded with a crazed scream. "Who is it?! Who's the fucker that doesn't want to live! How dare you cover me in this disgusting liquid!"
"Dong!"
What answered the woman instead, was a large bucket to the face.
"Ah-!"
The woman lost consciousness in an instant as she fell face first into the thick liquid.
_____
Third floor of the office building.
Sounds of laughter echo around the roof as four mischievous gazes plus one staggering dog retrieve their heads away from the railing.
"Hahaha!" Rong Cheng laughed happily while hanging from Man Tingshu's arms. "So funny!."
"I see people filming. I'm sure a video of them will show up online soon." Man Tingshu added.
"Woof." Blackie gave a weak bark while feeling a bit proud of his contribution.
Wearing yellow hazardous suits. A variety of items are strewn upon the area with a large piece of blue tarp.
Placed on the tarp are two large buckets stained with a reddish brown coloring on the side. The freshness of that mysterious mixture is still drizzling in slow motion downwards from the side.
Beside those two buckets are a few empty gallons of white vinegar, red paint buckets as well as two black plastic bags. Mixing sticks are thrown on the side in careless motion which cause a long streak of dark brown to color a wide curve on the blue tarp.
Just as everyone excitedly conversed, Xie Luochen asked Chu Nuan in a curious tone. "So, what did we pour?"
This was a question the others wanted to ask as well.
Last night, the young woman rejected the notion of returning back to the temple. Instead she had Man Tingshu prepare a list of items for her to use.
Vinegar, red paint, mixing sticks, tarp, buckets, hazard suits, and two black plastic bags that disappeared the moment those items were delivered.
Although confused, at Chu Nuan's action, everyone helped out in the end with the mixing. It was just a combination of everything until moments later when Blackie appeared with two heavy plastic bags.
It oozes with a disgusting stench that causes everyone to retreat a few steps back.
Staggering with unsteady steps, the overtaxed creature dragged the two bags over before throwing himself onto the ground. Eyes closed and body relaxed into an immediate deep slumber that came with miniscule snores.
[I will complete the last step myself]
Everyone recalled the sly smile that was on the young woman's face.
"Just those simple things that you mixed in." Chu Nuan answered with a coy tilt of her head.
But of course, that was not the answer they were expecting.
"As for the last ingredient…" Soft lips said in a deliberate tone, "we must thank our little Blackie here. He worked hard to procure one special ingredient needed to complete this recipe."
Xie Luochen. "Ah?"
Blackie wagged his tail slowly in response to Chu Nuan's words. Hind legs and chrysanthemum quivering from the horrors of last night.
It truly was an ingredient only he can brew…
"Anyways, this is one of my favorite techniques, I use it often in Hell when envoys or spirits owe me money." Chu Nuan explained in a light tone while sauntering towards the exit.
Throwing the hazard suit down on the tarp while walking past, the young woman released a fatigued yawn.
"The paint clings to the hair tightly so you'll have to shave your head if you want to remove the paint. While the combination of the vinegar and… special ingredient is there to give the mixture a smelly sour smell."
"It sticks to the skin, so even if they wash their bodies a few times, the smell won't go away so easily. Basically turning the person into a walking trash can." Chu Nuan snickered merrily while recalling the faces of those crying envoys and ghosts.
"... …"
Hearing this ingenious attack, Rong Cheng's eyes sparkled in admiration. "Amazing!" Face clearly showing the desire to learn the secrets of this special recipe.
"... …"
Patting his junior's head in a loving gesture, Man Tingshu's complicated sight landed on the back of the departing envoy.
Breathing out a helpless sigh, the man merely declared in a relieved tone, "let's really go home this time…"
Agreeing to this suggestion, the group filed out one by one with Man Tingshu leading the way as Rong Cheng followed. His cheerful voice echoing in the stairwell as he jumps up and down from excitement.
Xie Luochen narrowed his eyes in a mix of affection and relief of a closed case. Just as the young man was about to follow after his senior brothers.
A sudden grip on his wrist induced the youth to turn around with a confused expression. Colliding sights with the serious appearance of Chu Nuan whose obsidian irises reflect the image of his bewildered expression.
"Is… something the matter, Envoy Chu?"
The young man waited for a second to hear the young woman declare in a firm tone of voice.
"There's nothing going on between me and Bai Ling."
The declaration was sudden and unexpected but a thread of unknown sensation tickled the youth's chest the moment he heard those words. Peach blossom eyes lowered to stare at the hand that's clasped around his wrist.
Feeling the warmth that's being transferred between that point of contact. The young man swallowed the itchy sensation on his throat before replying with a faint hum.
"En."
Contemplating for a few more seconds he then added, "I understand."
Before pulling away to follow after his senior brothers.
Leaving the young woman who was left behind with a baffled expression to stare at the empty stairwell.
"???"
Almond eyes lowered to stare at the furry creature beside her foot, "what does he mean?"
Blackie raised his sights to connect gazes with the young woman in a few breaths of silence before replying with a shrug.
"Who knows."