[Master, you're back?!]
Seven-colored egg flew out of school and saw Jiang Lin at a glance.
Instantly, its leisurely flight turned into a sprint.
In the blink of an eye, it zipped to Jiang Lin's side.
Moreover, it had learned to use clouds to display the characters it had just learned.
[Master, congratulations on graduating!]
The two characters for "congratulations" had too many strokes.
They hadn't learned them in class yet, so Seven-colored egg specifically sought out Teacher Xu to learn them to congratulate its master.
Its master must have successfully completed his graduation project to pick it up so early!
Jiang Lin responded with a faint "Mm."
His graduation project for the beginner's instrumental music class had gone much smoother than he had anticipated.
He had taken a day off,
originally planning to re-take the mission if he didn't pass.
"Let's go home!"
[Okay, Master!]
After showing off its learned characters again, Seven-colored egg quickly said goodbye to the teachers in the regular teaching area using its mind.
'See you tomorrow, Teacher Xu~'
Then, it followed its master, chattering about its day at school.
'Master, I'm telling you, we learned twenty new characters today! I've memorized them all!'
'I've already finished half of today's homework, and I can preview tomorrow's lessons when I get back...'
...
As one ghost and one egg drifted towards the school gate.
At the entrance of the regular teaching building.
Teacher Xu was also walking a little girl towards the school gate.
The little girl was only as tall as Teacher Xu's knees and had short hair that reached her ears.
She was wearing a green short-sleeved shirt and shorts with white smiley face patterns.
After walking for a while, the little girl suddenly raised her small face, "Teacher, why hasn't King Yama come to see us lately?"
Perhaps surprised by the question, Teacher Xu paused.
She crouched down to face the little girl.
After a moment of thought, she said seriously, "Because King Yama made a mistake and voluntarily went to accept his punishment."
The short-haired little girl furrowed her delicate eyebrows, looking a bit confused.
"King Yama makes mistakes too?"
"Of course."
Teacher Xu said slowly, "Everyone makes mistakes. As the saying goes: It is never too late to mend.
This means that after making a mistake, recognizing and correcting it is the best course of action."
"So..."
She pinched the little girl's chubby cheek, "So, if you don't listen properly next time, Cai Cai, I'll have to spank your bottom."
"Do you understand?"
The little girl pouted, "Oh~ Cai Cai understands."
Recognizing and correcting mistakes is a good thing.
But would King Yama ever return?
According to Ah Wang next door, King Yama had gone to a very distant place and might never come back.
Is there anything they could do for King Yama?
If it weren't for King Yama,
how could they, these children who died young, have the chance to attend school?
How could they experience life properly again?
"Teacher, does King Yama have anything he values, or any wishes, or anything like that?"
Cai Cai's little face was full of innocence and sincerity.
Teacher Xu smiled, "As long as you study hard, King Yama will be very happy."
"Let's go, I'll take you home."
She took Cai Cai's hand again and walked towards the school gate.
Perhaps she knew a little about King Yama's hopes, or perhaps she knew nothing at all.
She was so gentle, and she wanted to protect this land so much.
Yet, in the end, she almost destroyed it with her own hands.
King Yama, what were you thinking?
Teacher Xu was also a little confused.
However, she did not share these thoughts with Cai Cai.
...
If a person does good deeds their entire life, and then commits one bad deed before dying.
Does that make them a bad person?
Should the good deeds they did in the past be erased?
These were questions for Cai Cai to judge when she grew up and understood the situation.
At least...
Teacher Xu glanced at the school gate not far away.
At least, as someone who had received King Yama's favor, she was not qualified to say anything more.
...
Meanwhile.
That evening, after Jiang Lin and Seven-colored egg returned to the apartment.
At the same time, the same knocking sound echoed.
When he opened the door, there was still no ghost in sight, only a small paper crane flew in.
It transformed into a small slip of paper.
Last time, it asked: "Do you want to be King Yama?"
This time, it asked:
"Do you know why all your talents are so compatible with the Northern Hall?"
Just like last time, as soon as Jiang Lin finished reading, it turned to ashes and disappeared.
'Master, what does this ghost who sends paper slips want?'
Seven-colored egg floated over. This was the second time.
Other ghosts passed notes during class, but this ghost was different.
It sent notes to their home every night, in the dead of night.
It was truly strange.
Based on its experience with stories, whoever it was, it was definitely not friendly!
This was a sign of trouble!
Jiang Lin shook his head and said faintly, "Let's wait and see."
...
The next day,
Seven-colored egg went to the regular teaching area to study.
Jiang Lin studied in both the intermediate paper-cutting class and the intermediate instrumental music class.
After advancing to the intermediate classes, the workload was slightly greater than in the beginner classes.
However, in the intermediate instrumental music class,
Jiang Lin still only specialized in the few pieces he had learned before.
He only had a general understanding of the rest.
After three consecutive days like this.
On this day, the small paper slip that flew in at midnight changed.
"You are the chosen ghost. Here, we can help you get everything you desire."
Below the paper slip was also the time and address.
'The chosen ghost? Is this chuunibyou?'
This time, Seven-colored egg was fortunate enough to see the paper slip, which did not turn to ashes, and couldn't help but complain.
'Get everything you desire... Master, you have me, isn't that enough?'
Seven-colored egg muttered this softly.
Seeing its master deep in thought, Seven-colored egg asked:
'Master, should we go?'
This was clearly a setup for trouble.
Having been in the Northern Hall for so many days, it had learned about the current situation of the Northern Hall from its classmates.
— There is no King Yama.
Does Master want to become King Yama?
Seven-colored egg thought about it. What was so good about being King Yama?
Thinking of ten good things about being King Yama in one minute.
Failed.
After a long pause, Jiang Lin spoke.
"We can go, or we can not go."
However, it didn't have much to do with him.
The Northern Hall was in turmoil.
If he were to get involved, it would inevitably lead to trouble.
Setting aside whether he himself wanted to be King Yama.
Currently, the Northern Hall was being supervised by ghost officers from the Eastern, Western, and Southern Halls, and they would definitely not let this matter slide.
If he were to rashly get involved, he might even implicate the Eastern Hall.
Seven-colored egg used clouds to form three question marks: [???]
Whether to go or not is optional, so Master, are you going or not?
Afterward, Seven-colored egg saw its master leave the room.
He knocked on the door of the Eastern Hall's Day-time Guardian.
...
After learning about the situation, the Day-time Guardian was not surprised.
"I've also heard about this matter."
Jiang Lin thought to himself: As expected.
Day-time Guardian: "The Western and Southern Halls are probably also watching, and they might even add a little fuel to the fire to liven things up."
After a brief chat, she changed the subject and asked,
"How have your studies been recently?"
Jiang Lin thought for a moment, "I think it's okay?"
The Day-time Guardian chuckled inwardly. This child had already reached the intermediate class.
And this was considered "okay"?
Then what level were the other students at?
"Study hard, and you can come to me if anything comes up."
The Day-time Guardian's tone was gentle, "You don't need to get involved in this matter."
Leave the troublesome matters to them.
The Eastern Hall is behind you.
...