"Although I saw your name in the Book of Life and Death, we haven't officially met yet. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Ye Jie. My friends call me Brother Jie, and you can also call me Ghost Messenger Jie." Ye Jie clasped his fists.
The girl was a little reserved, but she still imitated Ye Jie and replied with a fist: "Brother Jie, my name is Nan Linghe. I don't have many friends, but you can also call me Guichahe..."
Ye Jie's mouth twitched, and he stroked his forehead and said, "You don't seem to be a ghost messenger, right?"
"Ah... Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry..." Nan Linghe's face turned slightly red, and she stuck out her tongue, as if she had done something wrong. She didn't dare to look Ye Jie in the eye.
Ye Jie was helpless. It seemed that if she wanted to become a qualified ghost messenger, she would have a long and arduous journey.
"If a wandering soul wants to become a ghost messenger, it needs recommendations from three different ghost messengers. A second-level ghost messenger can only be issued one recommendation order per year. It just so happens that I haven't issued a recommendation order for this year yet, so you've come at the perfect time."
Bringing the confused girl to a magnificent palace, Ye Jie spoke slowly.
Hearing this, Nan Linghe's eyebrows lit up: "That's really great. This way, together with the recommendation order left by Sister Sun, I will have two recommendation orders..."
"Wait a minute." Ye Jie suddenly stopped her, "According to the rules of the underworld, if you want to get a recommendation order from the ghost messenger, you must complete a task as proof of your qualifications."
"Ah...it seems to be true..." Thinking of what Sister Sun had said not long ago, and asked her to carry out a collection mission, Nan Linghe pursed her lips, wondering what Brother Jie would ask her to do next?
Ye Jie did not rush to assign tasks, but took her around to familiarize herself with the surrounding environment.
He raised a finger, pointing to the large hall in the distance. "See that? That's the main hall of Guangwang Palace over there. This world is divided into four regions, each governed by two Yama Palaces. Guangwang Palace and Tianxuan Palace are responsible for governing the Southern Continent. In addition, there are Mara Palace and Pingdeng Palace, which are responsible for commanding all regions. In total, there are ten palaces."
Nan Linghe opened her eyes wide and nodded. Even though she was a little confused, at least arithmetic within ten was not difficult for her. She immediately understood what Ye Jie meant!
"Strictly speaking, the Underworld you and I are currently in is just one of the branches of the Southern Continent. The ghost messengers you encounter on a daily basis are all affiliated with the Guangwang Palace. There are nine other Underworlds this large, and you can only see ghost messengers from other Yama Palaces during major events, such as the annual Fengyun Ghost Messenger Festival."
"Over there is the task list. It has tasks of all sizes posted on it, divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D. Some tasks can reimburse the cost of Earth-Shrinking Stones and Azure Nether Branches, but some tasks cannot. You must carefully consider when accepting tasks, and accept them according to your ability. If some tasks are not completed within the deadline, your Yin De will be deducted."
"The magnificent and majestic hall in the distance is the meeting place for the judges and the hall master. Don't approach it without permission. The judge is at least a fifth-level official, and the hall master is even a ghost immortal. If you offend these powerful beings, you will not end well."
"That's the performance ranking over there. It's based on the ghost messengers' Yin De gains and losses during their missions. It resets every quarter. The more Yin De you earn, the higher your ranking... Wait, what are you doing?"
Seeing Nan Linghe stop while walking and look around in front of the performance list, Ye Jie felt helpless. Just as he was about to go forward to ask, he saw Nan Linghe's eyes shining, as if he had discovered some exciting news. He pulled Ye Jie and said, "Brother Jie, I saw your name!"
The performance list was towering into the sky, with the names of thousands and tens of thousands of ghost officials recorded on it. Those who ranked at the top had to fly up to the sky to see the whole picture, and Ye Jie's name was ranked at the bottom of all the names.
Seeing this, Nan Linghe looked at Ye Jie with a bright light in his eyes: "Brother Jie, you are the first one!"
Ye Jie held his forehead with his hand: "...You are right, the last one is still the first one, do you think I am awesome?"
Hearing this, Nan Linghe blinked, feeling that things were not simple. However, Ye Jie changed the subject and said, "A first-rank ghost messenger can only accept D-rank missions and operate within the scope of the underworld. Only when they are promoted to the second rank can they go to the surface and perform the task of guiding wandering souls."
"How about this... you go and do the simplest errand task. Once you complete it, I'll give you the recommendation order." As he spoke, Ye Jie tore off a gray task list from the task list. At the same time, the torn page in his arms vibrated slightly.
【The Book of Life and Death records:】
In the winter of the 12th year of Zhenguan, Ghost Messenger Jie accepted a Level D mission: Post a notice.
【Task Requirements: Post notices on fifty bulletin boards on the streets of Hades】
【Quest Reward: Five Yin Virtues】
【Failure Penalty: None】
As Ye Jie accepted the task, the ghost messenger in charge in the hall soon handed him a stack of notices that was one arm wide and two arms long.
Nan Linghe took the notice from Ye Jie and glanced at the content on it. He shuddered all over, as if frightened. He patted his chest and said, "Who is he? Why does he look so scary..."
"Oh? Let me see."
Ye Jie took a notice and looked at it carefully. He saw an extremely ferocious human face painted on it. A tragic scar pierced through one of the man's eyes, and there were rough suture marks, making it look like a centipede was crawling on the face.
Below the notice, written in eye-catching scarlet blood, was the following:
【Wanted by the Demon Palace: The Bandit of Hengshan】
【Anyone who escorts this evil spirit to the Soul Devouring Abyss will be rewarded with 240,000 Yin De!】
"So it's the bandit Hengshan. Over the past few weeks, the bounty on him has increased significantly. No wonder the wanted poster needs to be updated."
Looking at the face on the notice, Ye Jie couldn't help but reveal a thoughtful expression. He wondered if his cheap apprentice was doing well. Challenging a powerful person with a bounty of 240,000 Yin De was no easy task.
However, thinking of Xia Wei's identity as the reincarnation of an immortal, Ye Jie couldn't help but feel relieved. Nan Linghe, with one superior talent, had a promising future. Xia Wei possessed nine superior talents and magical powers. Given time, she would surely become famous throughout the Three Realms.
Seeing that Nan Linghe was still somewhat afraid of the portrait on the notice, Ye Jie comforted her, "Don't be afraid. You are absolutely safe in the underworld. Those are the souls of evildoers wanted by the Demon Palace. Any fifth-level judge can suppress them."
After Ye Jie's repeated comfort, Nan Linghe's expression improved and she was ready to set out to carry out the D-level task assigned to her by Ye Jie.
After repeatedly reminding Nan Linghe to be careful and not to talk to strange wandering spirits on the road, Ye Jie watched Nan Linghe go away, secretly wondering, since when did a ghost messenger get scared by a living person? Was it right or wrong to let such a confused girl become a ghost messenger?