376: Mortal World Passes Away

“Such sweet talk.”

Ling Qi pushed up her glasses. “Alright, alright, your Subordinate will handle the rest.”

Shang Wan Ning leaned in, breathing softly into Ling Qi’s ear: “Wuwu, Qi Qi is so good to Me. I’ll reward you later.”

Her hand secretly traced circles on the Secretary-General’s waist. “Glass Coffee Table, three tails, or Full-length Mirror. Choose one of the three.”

A faint whimper suddenly escaped Ling Qi’s throat, and her ear tips turned red at a visible speed.

The next second, a snowy white Fox Tail peeked out from under her skirt, the downy tip subtly brushing Shang Wan Ning’s wrist. “Your Majesty, only children make choices. An adult fox naturally wants them all.”

Shang Wan Ning burst into laughter.

She casually shoved the Soul Contract she was holding into Ling Qi’s arms.

The scroll, bound in Netherworld Vine covers, landed in the other party’s palm, and then Shang Wan Ning almost bolted out of the hall as if running away.

“Secretary-General, I’m counting on you for the follow-up matters.” Her voice came through the palace doors.

“Next time, I will ‘thoroughly’ reward you.”

Ling Qi looked down at the Soul Contract, then touched her swaying Fox Tail, shaking her head helplessly.

“A heartless pervert.”

...In the Mortal realm, Municipal Hospital.

The smell of disinfectant mixed with faint medicine wafted through the corridor, clinging stubbornly to the white walls and tiles.

Shang Wan Ning walked slowly, the Divine Light around her having long since receded. Dressed in a plain long dress, she looked no different from an ordinary visitor.

As the Netherworld Empress, she possessed a sensitivity to the aura of life’s end that far surpassed that of the Ghost Messengers.

It was a subtle ‘Extinguishing Sensation,’ like a candle flame in the wind that could go out at any moment.

Before entering the hospital, she had deliberately sealed off this perception, fearing that the dense ‘Extinguishing Sensation’ would disturb her mind.

Now, walking to the middle of the corridor, she slowly released her perception, and countless pale gray Flames of Life instantly appeared in her Spiritual Consciousness.

Most were so weak that only a tiny spark remained, flickering softly in the air.

“Huh?” Shang Wan Ning stopped walking.

Her gaze penetrated the wall and landed on a spacious private room on the west side.

Inside the ward, an elderly woman with white hair was half-reclining against a soft cushion.

A pair of Reading Glasses rested on her nose, the temples showing slight signs of wear, clearly having been used for a long time.

She held a Thread-bound Book, the pages slightly yellowed. Her fingertips gripped the edge of the page, her posture slow yet steady.

Although time had etched wrinkles onto her face, her straight back still exuded an innate competence.

However, the Flame of Life surrounding her was already so faint it was almost transparent; the orange-red flame wavered in the air, clearly on the verge of extinction.

“Chief Assistant Lin, you’re about to leave, yet you’re still working so hard?” Shang Wan Ning was slightly surprised.

Her figure flickered, and she silently appeared inside the ward.

Lin Ran seemed to have sensed her arrival, slowly raising her head. Her Reading Glasses slid down to the tip of her nose, revealing clear eyes.

When she saw Shang Wan Ning, a trace of surprise flashed across her face, followed by a gentle smile. “Your Majesty, how do you have time to visit me today? Isn’t the Underworld busy?”

“No matter how busy, if I miss you, I’ll come to see you.” Shang Wan Ning walked to the bedside and reached out to touch the snowy hair near Lin Ran’s temples.

“Heh ;-), My Chief Assistant was the most capable girl in the Special Affairs Bureau when she was young, and even in old age, she’s still charming.”

Lin Ran gently patted away the Empress’s hand, tapping the back of it with a hint of playful reproach: “Stop touching it. The Caregiver just combed it, and you’ll mess it up again.”

Shang Wan Ning’s heart sank.

She perceived that Lin Ran had long known her Great Limit was approaching, and she had likely been waiting quietly all this time.

Fortunately, she had arrived.

Seeing A Ning’s expression dim slightly, Lin Ran smiled and changed the subject, placing the Thread-bound Book on the bedside table. “Mom and Dad already know I’m going to the Bridge of Helplessness.”

“A few days ago, they even praised me for being capable, managing to buy a property near the precious Earth God Temple.”

She shook her head helplessly, a smile playing on her lips. “They also said I secured an ‘Iron Rice Bowl,’ and when they pass away and come down, they want me to give them special tutoring for the civil Underworld Examination.”

“Isn’t that funny? I wasn’t a ‘Cramming Child’ in the Mortal World, but now I have to ‘Cram my Parents’ when I get to the Underworld.”

Shang Wan Ning looked at Chief Assistant Lin’s forced casualness, feeling both sour and soft inside.

How could she not know that Lin Ran was Reporting Good News and Concealing Bad News?

For parents, watching their child age and die, even knowing there is Rebirth on another plane after death.

Yet, that Heart-wrenching Pain is hard to dissipate.

Lin Ran said all this just to prevent her from feeling sad.

[Damn it, I was just building up the mood for comfort, and this woman ruined it all!]

Shang Wan Ning snorted softly in her heart.

Yet a smile bloomed on her face, and she reached out to pinch the back of Lin Ran’s hand. “Fine. When they come down, I will personally allow you to transfer some Underworld Examination materials from the Secretariat Office to give them special tutoring.”

Lin Ran was just about to speak.

The ward door was pushed open with a creak.

A middle-aged female Doctor Li in a white coat wheeled a Medical Cart inside, followed by a young Nurse. The wheels rolled across the floor with a faint ‘gurgling’ sound.

“Captain Lin, it’s time for your check-up.” The doctor walked to the bedside, took out a Stethoscope, and then bent down to look at the Medical Record Card at the foot of the bed.

The name “Lin Ran” was clear on the card, and the words “Multiple Organ Failure” below it were particularly jarring.

She and the Nurse acted as if Shang Wan Ning was invisible, proceeding directly with the routine examination.

“Doctor Li,” Lin Ran suddenly spoke, her gaze fixed on the doctor’s face.

“Am I about to pass away?”

“I saw a Ghost Messenger this morning, standing quietly right outside the ward door, wearing a plain long dress...”

Shang Wan Ning: “…”

[Me? A Ghost Messenger?]

[So annoying ￣へ￣!]

The Stethoscope in Doctor Li’s hand paused, and her expression changed slightly.

Since the global announcement of the Spiritual Energy Revival, inexplicable phenomena have constantly emerged. She had heard the phrase “saw a Ghost Messenger” more than once in the Intensive Care Unit, and patients who said this usually didn't last longer than a week.

As a doctor, she should adhere to science, but in this era, some things she couldn't help but believe.

“Captain Lin, I am very sorry, my medical skills are limited, and I couldn't...”

“It’s fine.”

Lin Ran gently interrupted, shaking her head. “Lifespan is fixed; it is Fate.”

“Mortals cannot change it. I’ve lived this long; it’s enough.”

“But you are a Cultivator, and you’re not even fifty yet!” Doctor Li couldn’t help but raise her voice, her eyes filled with regret.

Lin Ran listened quietly without speaking, simply turning her head to look in Shang Wan Ning’s direction.

[No Regrets.]

There was no regret in her eyes, only a faint sense of reassurance.

It was as if she was telling Shang Wan Ning, “Don’t be sad. This is my Destiny, and I accept it.”

She then shook her head, indicating that Shang Wan Ning shouldn't mind Doctor Li's words.

[Of course, if she were given two months of Bereavement Leave, she would be very happy.]

But the prerequisite was that Shang Wan Ning possessed the ‘virtue’ of a Conscientious Entrepreneur.

Otherwise, it was just wishful thinking.

Another Sycamore Leaf drifted in from outside the window, spiraling down onto the floor beside the bed.

The ward was very quiet, with only the clinking of instruments from the Medical Cart and Lin Ran’s steady breathing... “Lin Ran, I’ll give you three days off. No more.”

“No, how about one week?”

“Seriously, no. Five days at most. The Bridge of Helplessness has been very busy lately.”

“Deal.”

“(°ー°〃)”