"Happiness Community, a place that can bring happiness..."
Jiang Lin murmured, looking at the资料 in his hand.
The source of pollution incident had ended, and he had become a first-class ghost messenger.
To advance further, he could only proactively take on missions.
Hearing this, the mechanical ball and Xu Nan leaned closer.
Curiously, they asked, "A place that can bring happiness?"
Does such a place truly exist?
"Mhm."
Jiang Lin didn't answer directly but asked, "Do you know about [Ling]? A being that doesn't need reincarnation."
Ling?
The mechanical ball tilted its head and thought, it seemed to have heard of it somewhere?
As it was trying hard to recall, it heard Xu Nan beside it speak in an organized manner:
"Ao Bai mentioned it to us before. Some beings exist without going through reincarnation, and even the Underworld has no record of them."
"They have no concept of death, but they are not always awake either."
"And the [Ling] that humans become after death is such a being."
"Correct."
Jiang Lin nodded, continuing from Xu Nan's words, "They are formed from a certain obsession in their past life, and are merely obsessions.
All their wakefulness and slumber are for the purpose of achieving their obsessions."
Their existence and abilities are above ordinary beings, but below gods.
"However, it is not easy to become a [Ling]; it has another necessary condition.
That is, their obsession and persistence must be recognized by the World Spirit."
Jiang Lin didn't know these things before.
It was information attached to the mission for Happiness Community.
And there was also a prerequisite for taking this mission.
—Only first-class ghost messengers, or those at the冥使 (Ming Shi) realm, could accept it.
Of course, the rewards after completing the mission were also substantial.
The mechanical ball looked at Xu Nan, then at Jiang Lin.
"Is this mission related to this [Ling]?"
Just now, Master mentioned happiness... could this [Ling]'s obsession be happiness?
"Mhm."
Jiang Lin put away the资料 on his desk and stood up.
"Let's go, we can talk as we walk."
"Eh?"
The mechanical ball and Xu Nan raised their heads in unison, "Can we go too?"
Jiang Lin looked back at them, "If other situations arise, I'll need you two to provide support."
"..."
The mechanical ball and Xu Nan exchanged glances and quickly followed.
Master/Captain Jiang said so... it seems this mission is not easy to deal with.
...
According to the资料, although [Ling] has no concept of death, they do have a final moment.
That is, when their obsession is fulfilled, or... when they are disappointed by their obsession and give up on what they have always persisted in.
The former is called Ling Man (spirit fulfillment), and the latter is called Ling Zhui (spirit fall).
Along the way,
The mechanical ball and Xu Nan followed Jiang Lin, listening attentively.
Hearing this, the mechanical ball couldn't help but ask:
"Is the mission for Happiness Community this time caused by a Ling Zhui?"
Jiang Lin shook his head, "It's not certain yet."
After Ling Zhui or Ling Man, two situations can occur.
Either they disappear, or they become like Happiness Community.
Forming a certain influence on a particular area.
"Anyone who enters Happiness Community will feel happiness. Even if they leave quickly, the sense of happiness will last for a while before dissipating," Jiang Lin said.
The mechanical ball tilted its head, "Isn't that a good thing?"
Isn't what humans pursue a happy and joyful life?
If possible, it also wanted to go in and experience what happiness felt like.
Beside them,
Xu Nan, who had been listening to their conversation, said thoughtfully, "The degree of influence should have deepened, and extreme things can lead to the opposite."
After all, according to Ao Bai and Captain Jiang, [Ling] is not weak.
Above ordinary beings, below gods.
Moreover, they have been recognized by the World Spirit and have experienced long years.
It is also possible for them to mutate or become stronger.
"Even if that's not the case, unnatural happiness that lingers in the mortal world for a long time might not be a good thing."
The feeling of happiness should be something one strives for oneself.
Xu Nan confirmed, "Captain Jiang, am I right?"
Jiang Lin nodded, "Your analysis is correct, the general situation is like this."
Hearing this, Xu Nan seized the opportunity to ask, "Captain Jiang, how do [Ling] fulfill their obsessions?"
Ao Bai was about to explain, but Captain Jiang returned.
The group went to the Dragon Clan, and then there was the source of pollution incident.
There was no opportunity to mention it.
He had always had this doubt, "Since they are just obsessions and have no fixed form, how can they fulfill their obsessions?"
Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow, surprised that he would bring this up.
He pondered for a moment and replied:
"Their method of action is similar to 'inheritance'."
Any living being, be it human, immortal, or monster, can develop obsessions.
"For example... a [Ling]'s obsession is to be able to eat enough, and to let everyone also eat enough.
Then it will continuously appear at suitable times and places, looking for carriers that can bear its obsession.
Humans or animals could be its targets.
In the process of continuous awakening and slumber, it searches for the possibility of fulfilling its obsession.
Trying again and again, experiencing failure after failure.
Until the final moment arrives."
—Ling Man, or Ling Zhui.
"???"
The mechanical ball spun its head dizzily, what was what?
What was what?
It seemed to understand, yet it seemed to understand not a single word.
"So that's how it is," Xu Nan thought deeply and murmured,
"No wonder they say that [Ling] are formed from obsessions in their past lives, and are merely obsessions."
Their existence is more like a concept.
Come to think of it, in the various histories of the mortal world, there seem to be such beings.
Every so often, there would be someone obsessed with ensuring everyone had enough to eat.
Throughout their lives, they contributed to this cause.
Thinking of this, Xu Nan's eyes lit up, "Captain Jiang, I think I understand!"
The mechanical ball looked at him: ???
What did you understand? You understood again?
Why don't you say it so we can hear?
...
As they spoke, the group of three had already arrived above Happiness Community.
The small live-streaming ball beside them spun around.
Eagerly wanting to start the broadcast.
Jiang Lin looked down at Happiness Community. People entering and exiting all had happy expressions.
They were filled with ease and joy, as if they had no worries at all.
He sensed carefully and could vaguely feel a sense of incongruity.
If his strength hadn't improved, he probably wouldn't have noticed even if he had passed by here.
As expected of a [Ling] recognized by the World Spirit.
While thinking, he saw a white figure fly into the community from the other side.
"It's the Sixth Squad's Bai Wuchang... didn't he receive the news?"
Xu Nan also saw it and asked strangely, "Captain Jiang, should we stop him?"
Since deciding to work with Jiang Lin, he had specifically learned about the functions and member distribution of the various squads in the Underworld.
To facilitate their actions.
Jiang Lin stood in the air, his expression unchanged, "No rush. Let's observe the situation first."
...