The Human Realm.
Night fell, and the lights began to glow.
The lively music drifted from the square all the way to the nearby residential areas.
"My dear viewers, these past few days have been incredibly exciting!"
A plump man, dressed in a winter down jacket, sat in front of his computer, shouting into his livestream.
The name of the livestream was: Entering the Black Hole World from a First-Person Perspective.
This title had indeed attracted quite a crowd.
Especially those viewers who had followed the 'Daily Healing in the Underworld' livestream and had seen almost all the footage from inside the black hole.
Upon seeing the plump man,
Some were excited, feeling that there was someone else to share with.
At the same time, there was a sense of "as expected."
"I know you, haha! I was in the livestream back then!"
"After a trip into the black hole, you're back to livestreaming and selling goods, reaching the pinnacle of life!"
"Do you guys have any after-effects now?"
The plump man livestreaming in front of the computer was none other than Peng Fei, the plump man who had entered the chess and card room level with Shen Luo, the square dancing auntie, and Xia Qingqing.
After emerging from the black hole, many familiar people called to inquire about his condition.
Even some people he hadn't been in touch with much before started reaching out to him.
Furthermore, numerous companies contacted him, hoping to sign him.
Naturally, Peng Fei embarked on his livestreaming journey.
"Don't worry, my dear viewers, I'll tell you all about it."
"The greeter in the chess and card room, the one in the qipao, you know her? She..."
As Peng Fei was enthusiastically speaking, he was suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
Knock, knock!
"Who is it?"
Peng Fei shouted towards the door but received no response.
"My dear viewers, please wait a moment. It seems someone is looking for me."
He put on his slippers and walked towards the door.
Before opening it, he instinctively glanced at the peephole.
Looking through the peephole, the corridor was dark, with only the faint emergency lights.
No one was visible.
"That's strange... no one's there, maybe it's the neighbor?"
Peng Fei muttered, about to return to his livestream.
Bang!
Knock, knock, knock!
The knocking sounded again, much closer.
It was definitely at his door!
A chill ran down Peng Fei's spine, and his hair stood on end.
He suddenly looked at the heavy iron door.
Outside the peephole, there was indeed no one.
"Who, who is it..."
He swallowed, looked around, and picked up a baseball bat leaning against the wall, which seemed more like decoration.
He gripped it tightly.
Turning back, he saw half a head embedded in the middle of the heavy iron door.
Below that, a pair of small, cloth-covered feet.
"!!!"
Peng Fei's eyes widened, his face turning pale.
He stumbled back two steps, collapsing onto the floor.
The baseball bat felt as if he wasn't holding it at all.
"You, you you you..."
His lips trembled, and he couldn't speak.
The little ghost stuck in the doorway took a step forward, revealing its full appearance.
It was a girl about a meter tall, with two buns tied on her head and wearing a blue and white robe.
She politely bowed to Peng Fei, "Excuse me."
"I am a ghost soldier of Lord Shen Luo. Following my master's instructions, I am here to collect冥币 (ming bi) and ghost artifacts."
Peng Fei's mind was a blank for a moment before he finally understood what the other party was saying.
"I, I, I'll go get them for you right away!"
He scrambled towards the bedroom.
He quickly rummaged through his belongings and returned shortly.
The ghost soldier took the items and counted them.
She bowed to Peng Fei again, "Then, goodbye."
With that, while facing Peng Fei, she floated backward towards the door and disappeared.
Peng Fei instinctively pushed the door open and looked around.
She was indeed gone.
When he returned to his computer, he saw his reflection.
He touched his forehead, his hands covered in cold sweat.
He turned on the microphone and said with a tremor,
"My dear viewers, you absolutely won't believe what just happened to me..."
...
After emerging from the black hole,
Some people's immunity to supernatural phenomena increased, while others became even more fearful.
Zhou Xiaofen belonged to the former.
Having danced in the square for so many years, what hadn't she seen?
Now she had even seen ghosts.
What was there to be afraid of? In another ten or twenty years, she would also be a member of the underworld.
After returning to her normal life, Zhou Xiaofen still faithfully danced in the square every evening.
It was healthy and helped her maintain a youthful mindset.
However, there was one thing she hadn't let go of.
That was the item the beautiful girl had lent her in the black hole, which she hadn't returned yet.
In fact, when leaving the black hole, underworld ghost messengers had inquired about the items obtained in the black hole world.
Such as冥币 (ming bi) and prizes.
After understanding the functions of the prizes, they were exchanged for ghost artifacts suitable for everyday self-defense for humans.
However, Zhou Xiaofen and the others did not exchange the items given by the beautiful girl.
"These have to be returned to her, no exchanging."
The other party, perhaps sensing whose items they were, didn't say anything further.
"Zhou Xiaofen, Zhou Xiaofen."
In the square, the speaker was still playing 'The vast prairie is my love...'
Zhou Xiaofen, while thinking, moved her arms with the people in front of her.
Suddenly, someone tapped her arm from the side.
She turned her head and saw Auntie Wang, the neighborhood gossip from the same building.
"Zhou Xiaofen, I heard you were on TV? You've become an internet celebrity?"
Zhou Xiaofen continued to dance to the music, "What? What did you say?"
Auntie Wang: "I—heard—you—were—on—TV—?"
Zhou Xiaofen also raised her voice, "What—TV? I haven't watched TV recently!"
Auntie Wang: "No, I heard you were on TV! You! Were on TV!"
Zhou Xiaofen turned sideways, twisted her waist, and waved her hands, responding:
"Oh oh, there's a new TV show? I don't watch it."
Then, using the dance moves, she took two steps forward.
And twisted her waist again.
Don't think she didn't know that if rumors of ghosts and monsters spread, who knew what the neighbors would gossip about her.
After the square dance ended,
The music stopped, and the whole world seemed to fall silent.
Zhou Xiaofen wiped the light sweat from her forehead,
Turned and walked away, giving the gossipy woman no chance to speak.
She quickly headed towards her home.
It was already eight or nine in the evening, and most people who had gone for a walk after dinner had returned.
As Zhou Xiaofen reached the entrance of her building, it was as if she had some kind of premonition.
She suddenly stopped and looked towards the green belt area.
The figure was about a meter tall, looking like a little girl.
Whose child was still out at this hour?
As she was thinking, the little girl floated towards her.
Yes, she floated.
Zhou Xiaofen watched as she floated all the way to her.
Maintaining a distance, she politely bowed.
"Hello, I am a ghost soldier of Lord Shen Luo, here to collect borrowed items."
Zhou Xiaofen's first reaction was to slap her thigh, "Oh, you're finally here!"
Her second reaction was: "Please wait, I'll go get it for you right away!"
In fact, she didn't need to get it.
After Zhou Xiaofen went back inside to search, she saw the little girl outside the window.
She handed the item to the other party.
Then she looked out the window, where the girl was suspended in the air.
She couldn't help but praise, "This is quite convenient."
Much more cost-effective than delivery.
The little girl gave her a polite smile and then gradually disappeared.
Unless one possessed Yin-Yang eyes,
Whether ordinary people could see ghosts largely depended on whether the ghosts were willing to be seen.
...