"Brother Tang is looking for someone?"
Amidst the clinking of glasses and the buzz of the banquet, Jiang Xian, uncharacteristically, had set aside his fortune-telling banner and was dressed in a proper suit. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and with this attire, Jiang Xian cut a fine figure as a young talent.
"I observe that Brother Tang is on the verge of establishing a venture. Meeting you is fate; shall we collaborate?" Jiang Xian proposed.
"..."
Upon hearing Jiang Xian's words, Tang Tianze's eyes lit up. He had been at a loss for a reason to persuade Ye Youshi to open an agency. He had also heard a great deal about Jiang Xian's reputation recently. Moreover, the divination the latter had performed for him last time had been remarkably accurate. Ye Youshi had also mentioned that Jiang Xian was likely backed by an ancestor. If such a talented individual joined, the agency might actually come to fruition! In the future, if he encountered uncertain matters, he would have an ancestor to consult! With this thought, Tang Tianze broke into a smile and extended his right hand.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Tang Tianze, and I can summon ghosts."
Jiang Xian's lips curved upward as he stepped forward to shake hands.
"Jiang Xian, divination."
Since the ancestor refused to teach him, he had no choice but to seek out someone who could deal with ghosts. This was undoubtedly a historic moment.
...
Outside the restroom.
Tang Shu, having just washed his hands, walked out and saw the two shaking hands from afar. His already shaken heart was dealt another blow. Ye Youshi was one thing, but he had known Tang Tianze since childhood... How could Master Jiang, whom the influential figures in the circles were currently fawning over, be associating with Tang Tianze? Tang Shu suddenly realized with a belated clarity that while he was still embroiled in family disputes, Tang Tianze seemed to have already broken free from the family, forging his own path outside its confines. For a moment, Tang Shu felt dizzy. Was he, perhaps, the frog in the well?
...
...
The Underworld.
On New Year's Eve, Jiang Lin picked up the annual meeting invitation again. The content of the invitation was simple, stating that Jiang Lin was to attend the annual meeting in the grand hall beneath the King of Hell's palace on New Year's Eve, for a duration of three days, and to bring his year-end work report.
...
Jiang Lin had heard of the Underworld's annual meetings before. It was said that every hundred years, the Underworld held a year-end work report session that only captains and those of higher rank among the ghost envoys could attend. After the reports, everyone would share a New Year's Eve dinner. It was a tradition. In the past, when Jiang Lin was in the Ninth Team, King Jian'an would begin preparing materials in advance. On New Year's Eve, he would bring a large stack of work reports to the annual meeting. After all, it was a once-in-a-century event, and there was a considerable amount of data to compile and report. Now, having only recently become a captain, Jiang Lin didn't have that much work to report. Everything was kept simple. After handing over his current tasks, Jiang Lin straightened his uniform. After a careful inspection to ensure nothing was amiss, he set off towards the eighteenth hall with the invitation and his work report.
He had taken only a couple of steps when a small entity followed him. Jiang Lin turned his head and saw the Seven-Colored Egg standing quietly behind him.
"Do you want to come with me?"
The Seven-Colored Egg hopped up and down, indicating it wanted to go! It wanted to spend the New Year with its master! It also wanted to join the fun!
Jiang Lin thought for a moment and said, "You can, but you must remain quiet and not run around. Can you do that?"
"!!!"
Yes, it could! It would listen to its master! The Seven-Colored Egg hopped up and down, its colors shifting from white to a mix of golden yellow and red. Without Jiang Lin needing to say more, it voluntarily flew into Jiang Lin's sleeve and hid.
...
After leaving the eighteenth hall, Jiang Lin floated towards the grand hall not far beneath the King of Hell's palace. After only a short while, he encountered the captain of the Ox Head team, whose hall was adjacent to the eighteenth hall.
"Captain Jiang, are you also heading to the annual meeting?" the Ox Head captain greeted him proactively.
Jiang Lin nodded, "Yes, Captain Chu, and you are..."
The Ox Head captain's surname was Chu, and his given name was Yong'an. He wore a blue robe, and his ox horns were thick and curved. Standing nearly two meters tall, he had a robust build, with bulging muscles on his arms, giving him a fierce appearance and making him seem unapproachable. At least, that was the impression. However, Jiang Lin noticed the red tips adorning the ends of Captain Chu's ox horns, which were exceptionally festive. He then looked at the fluffy Tibetan Mastiff in the captain's left hand and a fluffy red fox in his right. An owl with wide, staring eyes perched on his shoulder. At first glance, the contrast was striking.
However, what Jiang Lin was most concerned about wasn't this, as he had seen pets wandering around the captain's hall before. What he was concerned about was... wasn't he going to an annual meeting? Wasn't there a work report to be given? Why did the atmosphere seem a bit off? It looked more like they were going to a party! Was he overreacting, or had the other party misunderstood something?
Captain Chu chuckled heartily, "I'm also going to the annual meeting. Let's go together!"
"Relax, the annual meeting isn't that serious."
Jiang Lin didn't say much more, quietly following the captain towards the grand hall. He figured the style of the annual meeting might be different from what he imagined, and he would find out when he got there. Along the way, he saw many captains and ghost envoys of captain rank or higher flying towards the grand hall. Some wore uniforms, while others, like Captain Chu, wore casual attire, bringing their pets or ghost soldiers. Among them, many ghost envoys had red decorations. The captains chatted and laughed as they flew, with no sign of a serious atmosphere.
Jiang Lin had initially thought the annual meeting would involve everyone collectively reporting on their work, summarizing the achievements and shortcomings of the past century, or discussing the progress of various departments and any resource mobilization needed. But from what he saw, it seemed to be the complete opposite.
Jiang Lin tentatively asked the Ox Head captain beside him: "Captain Chu, how are the three days of the annual meeting usually arranged?"
Upon hearing this, Captain Chu grinned and said casually, "What arrangements are there? King Yan simply invites everyone to eat and drink, and celebrate the New Year together."
Jiang Lin paused for a moment, "What about the work reports?"
"When you arrive, just hand your work report to the ghost soldiers beside King Yan." He then stroked the fluffy body of the Tibetan Mastiff and added after a moment's thought, "In the past, everyone did report individually, and the reports alone could take one or two days. Until a few hundred years ago, your predecessor, King Jian'an, brought a huge stack of documents. He alone reported for a day and a night. After that, King Yan simply told everyone to submit their work reports and not to report individually, so everyone could eat, drink, and have a good time."
Captain Chu couldn't help but burst into laughter as he recalled the astonishment of the captains and King Yan's desire to escape when King Jian'an reported for a day and a night.
"In that case, we have to thank King Jian'an, hahaha..."
Jiang Lin was somewhat surprised, not expecting there to be such a backstory. As they spoke, the two ghosts arrived at the grand hall beneath the King of Hell's palace. At the entrance of the grand hall, many familiar ghost envoys were greeting each other or arguing about something. Jiang Lin also saw Granny Meng. Given her special position, Granny Meng was definitely guaranteed a spot at the annual meeting.
Seeing the atmosphere, Jiang Lin wondered if he could open his live stream if it was truly just about eating and drinking. He had previously thought it wouldn't be convenient to stream as they had to report on work first. But now... He hadn't completed his daily task for the day. Moreover, the annual meeting should also be a part of the Underworld's culture, right? One daily task was five hundred points, plus the task for streaming duration... Jiang Lin thought it was feasible.
...