I subdue demons and monsters, and cultivate immortality in hell to become a saint.

clang--!

The old-fashioned wall clock suddenly struck, its hands pointing to exactly ten o'clock at night.

The "Encounter at the Corner" milk tea shop in the university town was brightly lit, and the hall was filled with the sweet and affectionate voices of young couples and the sounds of mobile games fighting at the next table.

By chance, a dim yellow light in the corner illuminated two figures sitting opposite each other, creating an unusually heavy atmosphere.

"Zhong Jiu, let's break up."

Liu Yingying looked up at the man opposite her, her face expressionless, not even a tremor of her eyelashes.

Zhong Jiu looked dejected. Liu Yingying was the most beautiful girl in his entire department during his university years. She was also the girlfriend he had pursued for two years and supported for half a year by saving every penny.

Liu Yingying disgustedly poked at the grass jelly milk tea on the table with her fingers painted with 998 purple-black nail polish. She took a sip, leaving lipstick marks on the cup.

"Yingying, give me a little more time,"

Chung Kau tried to fight back, even though he knew the chances were slim, "I'm getting a permanent position soon, and my salary will double..."

"Double?"

She chuckled softly, a laugh like an icicle, piercing one's heart with pain. "From three thousand to six thousand? Zhong Jiu, do you know how much this new bag I bought cost?"

She patted the designer bag beside her, the logo so gleaming it made Zhong Jiu wince: "That's enough for you to work hard for half a year, and that's assuming you're eating nothing but steamed buns every day. Love is beautiful, but the reality is, with my face and at my age, I can't afford to waste it."

As she spoke, she scanned Zhong Jiu from head to toe, her gaze lingering for a moment on his faded T-shirt and cheap pants that cost 39 yuan with free shipping from Taobao, before finally settling on Zhong Jiu's face as he tried to maintain his composure.

"Chung Gau, you're a good person."

She paused, then delivered her final verdict, "You're just too cowardly. In this world, you can run into ghosts even if you go out at night. You can't even protect yourself, yet you expect to support me? So, we're really not a good match."

Zhong Jiu opened his mouth, but some words remained unspoken.

In fact, Zhong Jiu is a time traveler who arrived in this world just three hours ago. He immediately received a call from Liu Yingying, who suggested they meet at this milk tea shop.

This body is also called Zhong Jiu. The "love" story between the original owner and Liu Yingying in his memories surprised him.

To be honest, he had no feelings for this so-called "girlfriend" in front of him. He had only tried to keep her around out of respect for the original owner and out of habit.

"OK."

Zhong Jiu flashed a bright smile, even with a hint of relief, "Liu Yingying, I wish you a bright future and that you find a long-term meal ticket who will treat you like royalty soon."

Liu Yingying's face turned pale, clearly not expecting Zhong Jiu to react this way. Her delicate brows furrowed, as if he, this "disposable item," shouldn't have handled her so smoothly, as if he were a completely different person.

"This milk tea is on me."

She tossed down a hundred-dollar bill, picked up the bag that cost her six months' savings, and stood up.

The crisp, resolute rhythm of the nine-centimeter heels on the ground seemed like a death knell tolling for this failed relationship.

As she reached the door, she turned back and added one last sentence: "By the way, if you have the guts to wait until midnight before leaving this door, I'll consider... giving you another chance."

Zhong Jiu: "..."

Watching Liu Yingying's departing figure and the lonely cup of "grass jelly" on the table, Zhong Jiu laughed, a laugh of anger.

Having just transmigrated to this world, the first meal I ate was actually a breakup meal?

Or a cup of milk tea?

The store returned to its usual hustle and bustle, as if the farce had never happened. Zhong Jiu felt like a clown forgotten on a stage.

Are you sad? A little, but not much.

More than anything, it's a feeling of... immense emptiness and confusion.

Chung Kau picked up the "breakup milk tea" and took a big gulp.

It's cold, cloyingly sweet, and a little bitter—just like my mood right now.

The history of this world is similar to that of Earth, until six years ago when everything suddenly changed.

The eerie atmosphere has returned, with a surge in yin energy, rampant evil spirits, and an increasing number of paranormal events.

The worst part is that firearms are completely useless against ghosts in the face of supernatural forces. Nowadays, people are afraid to go out at night, for fear of becoming the evil spirits' "midnight snack".

Many people pessimistically believe that ghosts will wipe out humanity in a few years, and the end of the world is not far away.

The original owner was possessed by an evil spirit and was so frightened that he swallowed a whole bottle of sleeping pills and died, which is why he picked up this body.

Recalling Chung Kau's life in this world: his parents died in a car accident several years ago, and he also has a half-sister, Chung Ying-mei...

Suddenly, a jarring news broadcast blared from the television on the wall, the anchor delivering the message with a serious expression:

"Urgent news! Three dismembered male bodies have been found in the underground parking garage of Yuchun Garden in our city, suspected to be the work of a vengeful ghost!"

"The Huida Building was attacked by ghosts; all 100 people inside perished!"

"A six-year-old girl in the Weisha community is suspected of being possessed by an evil spirit and murdered her sleeping parents!"

……

"The Guiling City government has issued a strict order: No one is allowed to leave their home after midnight. Please remember this!"

"puff--!"

Zhong Jiu sprayed his milk tea all over the table, choking and tearing up. "Holy crap! Did this world just stir up trouble? Of all the worlds I could have transmigrated to, I had to end up in this godforsaken place!"

Several customers at the next table were also grumbling:

"What's the point of all this nonsense on TV? We need a way to deal with vengeful ghosts, not bedtime scares!"

"Didn't they say they established a Secret Service? Its old codename was something like Bureau 747, supposedly for catching ghosts? Why isn't it coming to save our small, third-tier city?!"

"I heard big cities get priority? So we're just prey for the devils?"

……

Chung Kau wiped his mouth, and Liu Yingying's words, "Wait until midnight before going out," suddenly echoed in his mind.

Test your courage?

Or... what does she mean?

He stroked his chin. He had received more than 20 years of materialistic education on Earth and was known for his courage. Why would he be afraid of a few ghosts?

Let's have a showdown today and see if ghosts can scare people, or if people can overcome ghosts!

Let's wait until after midnight before leaving the store!

It wasn't for the chance to get back together with Liu Yingying, it was just that he was simply unwilling to accept this!

Time flew by, and the customers in the shop left one by one, leaving only Zhong Jiu sitting alone.

The young shop owner, clutching his apron, rushed over, his face turning green: "Sir, we're closing. Hurry up! It's almost midnight!"

Are you afraid of ghosts?

"Maybe so, the nights are never peaceful!"

The shop owner wore a wry smile.

"fine."

Chung Gau remained seated as steady as a mountain. "I promised my ex-girlfriend I would leave after midnight."

He paused, then added, "I'll take responsibility if anything happens; I won't implicate you."

The shop owner opened his mouth, then sighed, turned around to close the shop, and before leaving, he made sure to leave an emergency light for Zhong Jiu.

clang--!

The clock finally struck twelve, and Chung Kau flung open the shop door with a "whoosh" and strode into the dark night.

The streets were eerily quiet, not even the chirping of insects could be heard, only the "tap-tap" of his footsteps echoing in the empty streets.

The moon, like a rusty scimitar, cast a pale, eerie light that cast distorted shadows.

Suddenly, a figure blocked their way.

It's Liu Yingying!

She stood straight, her hair loose, her face as white as if it were covered with paper, and her eyes were empty and unfocused.

"I gave you a chance to stay away..."

Liu Yingying's cold voice rang out, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

Zhong Jiu froze on the spot, his hands and feet seemingly nailed to the ground, unable to move at all!

My mind was racing, but my body felt stiff, as if it didn't belong to me.

Is this...sleep paralysis?

The next second, Liu Yingying suddenly grinned, her smile so ferocious it could tear her face apart. Her eyes rolled back until only a sliver of black remained, making her look like a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell: "You actually dared to come after midnight? You've got more guts than I thought."

"Damn! I've really run into a ghost!"

Zhong Jiu cursed inwardly. The official statement was right; going out after midnight was just suicide!

Liu Yingying's face cracked open like a porcelain vase, with bloody cuts spreading across her face like a spider web. Suddenly, she stretched out two icy hands and tightly gripped his neck with a force so great that it could crush bones.

Zhong Jiu's vision went black, and he felt as if all the air in his lungs was being squeezed out.

"Didn't you notice? Liu Yingying has already been possessed, hahaha!"

The sinister voice whispered in his ear, colder than ice.

"Was it you who ruined Liu Yingying?"

Zhong Jiu struggled desperately and managed to squeeze out a sentence.

"I satisfied her desire for designer bags and her vanity; now... it's your turn to pay the price!"

The force gripping his neck suddenly increased dramatically, and Zhong Jiu's consciousness began to blur.

I'm about to die right after transmigrating?

This is incredibly bad luck!

Zhong Jiu was in utter despair when, at that moment, a cold, electronic voice suddenly exploded in his mind:

[Warning! Warning! Host's vital signs detected as nearing their end. The Underworld's "Heavenly Yin-Yang Reincarnation Code" has been forcibly activated!]

[New player gift pack has been distributed. Would you like to claim it immediately?]

"system?"

Zhong Jiu's lifeless heart was suddenly ignited—a cheat code! The transmigrator's cheat code had finally arrived!

[Ding! Correction: The Underworld Decree is not called a System.]

"Whatever your name is, hey, give me the gift pack!"

[Given that this secret order is beyond the host's comprehension, you may temporarily accept the title 'System'!]

"Stop talking nonsense, I'm about to die! Claim your gift pack! Right now!"

Zhong Jiu roared inwardly.

[Ding! New player gift pack successfully claimed!]

[Items obtained: Soul-Binding Lock x1, Military Talisman x1.]

[Host: Zhong Jiu]

[Rank: Alternate Soul Soldier]