Chapter Seven: Resurrection, Becoming an Underworld Detective

“Hehe.” Watching Fan Fan collapse in Zhang Yang’s arms, sobbing in the school corridor, while Zhang Yang stood there looking utterly bewildered as to why he was even there, Xia Dan, notebook in hand, turned back to Qin Xiaochuan with a mischievous grin. “So, what exactly were the three words you wanted to say to that girl down there? Come on, tell me! I want to write them down.”

“Hmph, nosy woman, dream on…” For the first time, Qin Xiaochuan’s cheeks flushed at Xia Dan’s persistent questioning, making her stifle her laughter behind her hand. “Don’t laugh, don’t laugh, what’s so funny about it…”

Perched in mid-air, Qin Xiaochuan finally spoke aloud to Fan Fan the three words he’d long kept hidden in his heart. Since Xia Dan had to wait with Qin Xiaochuan for his resurrection, the two of them went through quite a few adventures together during that interim. They comforted a little boy who’d grown withdrawn after losing his beloved dog, rescued a spirit bound to a park bench for waiting in vain for her boyfriend, and even helped a spirit fox who’d turned into a boy to care for his grandfather out of gratitude. Afterwards, they passed the Little King of Hell’s final test by helping a small, scrawny student rediscover his passion for wrestling. After all these trials, when Fan Fan finally channeled her life energy into the slumbering Qin Xiaochuan, he was fully restored to life.

On the seventh morning after his resurrection, with the sky just beginning to lighten, Qin Susu threw back the covers and shook Qin Xiaochuan awake.

“Wake up, wake up, Xiaochuan, wake up…”

“Mom, it’s only seven o’clock, why are you waking me up so early? I’m not even going to school…” Rubbing his eyes and glancing at the alarm clock on the desk, Qin Xiaochuan sat up groggily.

“Wuwu… you’re awake, my Xiaochuan is really awake…”

Feeling the warmth of his mother’s tearful embrace, Qin Xiaochuan once again relished the sensation of being alive. It was wonderful! Ever since he’d returned to his body, every morning Susu would wake him like this, then hold him and cry for a while, as if afraid he’d never get up again like before. After comforting his weeping mother, Qin Xiaochuan got up, ate breakfast, got dressed, and went out into the bustling street. Stretching lazily and hopping twice, he couldn’t help but say, “Heh, the weather’s great. I just want to pick a fight with someone for no reason at all.”

“Hey, young man over there, care to have your fortune told?”

Just as Qin Xiaochuan was about to head to the arcade near school, a familiar voice called out to him. Beside him was a fortune-telling stall, and the mysterious person behind it had their face almost entirely hidden by a scarf, leaving only their eyes visible as they greeted the freshly revived Qin Xiaochuan.

“You’re talking to me?” Qin Xiaochuan eyed the mysterious figure suspiciously.

“Yes, it’s you. The mysterious guidance of the stars has led me here. You are the one I’ve been looking for. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will fulfill the mission entrusted to you.”

‘How come this voice sounds so familiar?’ The tone stirred something in Qin Xiaochuan’s memory. ‘If you only knew what I’ve been through, you’d be scared out of your wits.’

“I’ve come with a mission to guide you. May I see your hand?”

“My hand? Heh, forget it. I’m in no mood to get mixed up with supernatural destinies right now, sorry.” Seeing the mysterious figure’s persistence, Qin Xiaochuan decided not to get involved and turned to leave.

“Qin Xiaochuan.”

“Huh? You… who are you?” The moment the stranger pulled off the scarf, revealing her face, Qin Xiaochuan gasped in shock. “Xia Dan? What are you doing here?”

“Hehe, surprised?” Xia Dan flashed a triumphant smile at his astonished face.

“What are you doing here? No wonder your voice sounded so familiar—it’s you!”

“Yep, I just got the assignment and rushed here from the Underworld. The Little King of Hell asked me to notify you. Since you passed the Underworld’s trial, you’re officially an apprentice detective for the Underworld now. And I get to be your assistant, Xia Dan. Surprised, aren’t you?”

“Wait, what did you just say? Apprentice detective for the Underworld? What’s that supposed to mean?” Qin Xiaochuan was thoroughly confused.

“That’s right, an apprentice detective. To put it simply, your job is to help the Underworld capture evil-doers who’ve escaped to the mortal realm. These fugitives broke out of the Underworld’s prison and are causing trouble among the living. Your mission is to bring them to justice and return them to the Underworld. Understand?”

“Catching criminals? Come on, I just got resurrected!” Qin Xiaochuan grimaced. “Besides, why should I work for you? There’s nothing in it for me…”

“Hmph! If I’d known you were this kind of person, I wouldn’t have begged the Little King of Hell to bring you back. Hmph…” Xia Dan was indignant—she’d thought he’d be thrilled to become an Underworld detective, but instead he wanted conditions. She was clearly mistaken about him.

“Hey, hey, don’t be mad,” Qin Xiaochuan hastened to placate her. After all, she had helped bring him back to life—he wouldn’t soon forget that favor. “Fine, fine, I’ll do it. But not today. I want to enjoy being alive for a bit first, hehe.”

“It’s a deal, then.” Xia Dan let out a sigh of relief. If he’d really refused, who knew how the Little King of Hell might punish her?

“Alright, you stay here and tell fortunes. I’m going to stroll around and greet all my old friends. Listen up, everyone! Qin Xiaochuan is back!”

“Is he really up to the task…” Xia Dan sighed, watching him vanish into the crowd.

The next day, as he walked through the school grounds, Qin Xiaochuan grew frustrated by the stares and whispers of his classmates. He had no idea what strings his mother had pulled to get him readmitted, but according to her, she’d begged the principal for hours. Fan Fan, on the other hand, said that the day he returned, the school was surrounded by black luxury cars, and men in black suits and sunglasses poured out of them. It seemed the one doing the crying was more likely the principal than his mother. Oh well, he thought, better to focus on where to skip off to next.

Just then, he felt a gentle tap on the head with a textbook. “Don’t block the way, you’ll be late. Get to class, Qin Xiaochuan.” It was his homeroom teacher, Mr. Huang Kui, who seemed to be in good spirits since Qin Xiaochuan’s return to school, hurrying off with his books to the next class.

“That settles it, I’m skipping class right now.” Rubbing the back of his head, Qin Xiaochuan felt annoyed again.

“Hurry up or you’ll be late…” At that moment, Fan Fan’s familiar nagging voice rang in his ears. But today, she looked especially fresh and adorable.

“Class, class, class…” Watching the cute Fan Fan run past, Qin Xiaochuan tucked his books under his arm and hurried to the classroom—he couldn’t be late for his first day back.

After class, Qin Xiaochuan stood in a secluded corner near the playground, fiddling with a small lens Xia Dan had given him. This spot was usually where students came to sneak a smoke, but seeing Qin Xiaochuan there, they all kept their distance—his reputation clearly preceded him.

“Spirit Lens?” He held the convex lens up to the sunlight, inspecting it closely. “Really? They say it can see through things, but I don’t see anything at all…” He squinted through it at the nearby school building.

“Bad news, Qin Xiaochuan! Something terrible has happened!” Just as he was peering through the lens, the Little King of Hell materialized in midair, calling out in alarm. “The Underworld’s treasure vault has been robbed! A trio of thieves broke in and stole the three greatest treasures: the Ghoul Jade, the Dark Mirror, and the Flame Gem. You must catch these three and return them to us, or the human world will face a disaster!”

Qin Xiaochuan nearly jumped out of his skin. Wasn’t the Little King of Hell supposed to contact him only through Xia Dan? For him to appear in person, something must truly be amiss.

“You scared me to death, Your Majesty!” Qin Xiaochuan picked up the Spirit Lens he’d dropped, brushed off the dirt, and stuffed it in his pocket. “Is it really that serious? Don’t try to frighten me—what are these treasures, anyway? Explain.”

The Little King of Hell then gave him the full account: Not long ago, three thieves infiltrated the Underworld’s treasury and stole the King’s most cherished possessions. The treasures were: the Ghoul Jade, which could suck human souls directly into itself; the Dark Mirror, which unleashed demonic powers under the full moon; and the Flame Gem, capable of releasing the Underworld’s black flames. Each item had been stolen by a different thief.

Surveillance footage had captured their faces, and the criminal records had been checked. The three culprits were: Stone Fiend, a demon whose body was covered in rock-hard skin and who loved devouring children’s souls; White Shadow, a fox spirit skilled in theft, previously wounded by Underworld detectives and now possessing a middle-schooler named Luffy in the mortal world; and Feiyan, whose mother was a Snow Woman from the Underworld’s Ice Spirits and whose father was unknown—he had a missing younger sister and was hiding in the mortal realm, searching for her.

After hearing the whole story, Qin Xiaochuan finally understood what the Little King of Hell wanted.

“No way! Just from their names, you can tell these three are tough. I’m just a middle-schooler—how am I supposed to handle them? No way, I can’t do it!”

“You have no choice, Qin Xiaochuan! Those treasures are my father’s most beloved possessions. When he returns and finds them gone, he’ll be furious—and the mortal world will suffer for it. Do you understand?”

“Uh…” Seeing the Little King of Hell’s anxious face, Qin Xiaochuan hesitated. He was just a regular student—with a decent knack for fighting, sure, but catching monsters was another matter entirely. “Are you sure about this disaster, Your Majesty? Don’t try to trick me…”