The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 70 - 57: Debt Collection

Chapter 70: Chapter 57: Debt Collection

Li Yi didn’t understand the affairs between Cultivators since just a month ago he was still your ordinary employee. Hence, he always sought advice from experienced individuals when indecisive.

Following others’ advice and guidance sometimes saved him from taking unnecessary detours.

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Uncle Biao, who was beside him, immediately lit up and said, "Li Yi, did you say an investigator invited you to become an external agent for the bureau? That is great news, you must agree. This is a legitimate career with high pay and numerous opportunities. Most importantly, the bureau has your back if anything goes wrong."

"External agents often have to go on missions, won’t that affect my Cultivation?" Li Yi voiced his concern.

Lin Yue replied, "It all depends on what you prioritize. Joining the bureau as an external agent provides you with more systematic training. Although you’ll have to go on missions, you gain a stable source of income. That’s much better than being a guide, which is unstable. The reason I’ve only now decided to take the guide exam is because my Cultivation has slowed down, and I need a part-time job. Once you reach our stage, you can’t just focus on Cultivation; living is equally crucial."

"Li Yi, you’ve already noticed your Cultivation slowing down, right? Everyone experiences this. Once the speed of Cultivation progress slows, we need to shift our focus elsewhere. So, I still hope you accept this job to become an external agent."

Hearing this, Li Yi understood.

A stable job would benefit his future life, and joining the bureau could spare him many unnecessary troubles.

Although it meant going on missions, it seemed worthwhile in comparison.

"I possess a Mysterious Object, and although my Cultivation speed has slowed down compared to before, I haven’t reached my limit yet. I have significant room for improvement. Normally, I should continue Cultivating at home, but this opportunity is rare. I should take this job. As long as I work during the day and practice Cultivation at night, it won’t hinder me."

"Most importantly, I need an identity and a backing right now, otherwise, I’d be as powerless as I was this time. If I join the bureau, even if I offend someone, they’ll have to think twice."

Li Yi thought over and over, and finally made his decision.

"Since Uncle Biao and Sister Lin have said so, I’ll follow your advice and join the bureau as an external agent."

At that moment, Lin Yue smiled and nodded, "That’s right. You have the Boxing skills and the strength to handle this job. However, remember, if you encounter dangerous tasks that you can’t handle, don’t be a hero. Run when you need to run, and refuse missions when you need to refuse them."

"Is that really okay?" Li Yi asked in surprise.

Lin Yue gave him a look, "You’re not an investigator. External agents are essentially what temporary workers used to be. It doesn’t matter if you slack off a few times; you can always resign. Your life is what’s most important."

"I understand." Li Yi found Sister Lin’s words very sensible. One’s own life is always the most important thing, no matter the situation.

"By the way, has anything unusual happened at your home recently? Like something concerning your mom..." Lin Yue suddenly became serious again.

"No, my mom is doing well in the medical pod; I greet her often. What’s up?" Li Yi asked, puzzled.

"..."

Lin Yue didn’t know how to explain and could only say, "Just keep an eye on your mom, and let me know if something seems off."

"Alright." Li Yi nodded, smiling.

Lin Yue fell silent again. Whether it was just an illusion or not, whenever it involved his mother, Li Yi seemed off, like his perception was being influenced by some force. Despite her obvious hints, Li Yi seemed completely oblivious.

But she dared not point it out directly, as she had yet to find a way to handle that issue. Breaking this balance too hastily could lead to serious problems.

The group chatted for a while longer.

About an hour later, Uncle Biao had matters to attend to in his meditation room and couldn’t stay any longer, hence he and Lin Yue left.

Before leaving, Lin Yue advised Li Yi to keep an eye on the clothes she had brought.

The clothes made from Qiu Dragon Skin were luxurious, and losing them would be a huge loss.

Li Yi understood naturally, as these were acquired from Yang Yilong, and were definitely not cheap.

After seeing the two off, Li Yi updated his extended family about his situation, reassuring his relatives not to worry and thanking them for looking after his parents during these days.

After dealing with these trifles, he finally rested with ease.

The next morning, Wang Jian came to visit.

"The sniper rifle issue is resolved. You are quite cunning, hiding it that far. No wonder they turned the neighborhood upside-down and found nothing. By the way, how are you considering the external agent position? I have other things to handle, so I need your decision soon," Wang Jian said hastily, ready to leave almost as soon as he arrived.

Li Yi responded, "I agree to become an external agent."

"Good, very good. Rest well these next few days. Once you’re discharged, I’ll take you to the bureau to register. Also, don’t worry about Kong Sheng. He’ll be able to return in a couple of days. I’m just giving you a heads-up," Wang Jian said, satisfied with the response.

"Thanks," Li Yi replied.

"We’ll be colleagues now, so let’s support each other. Also, add my contact details, and call me if you need anything." Wang Jian smiled, gave a few instructions, and then hurriedly left.

It seems being an investigator is really busy.

In these past days, everything had been peaceful, and Li Yi only knew that he was fine, without further worries, as Wang Jian would take care of them for him. As for Ning Wu... he hadn’t heard any related news and couldn’t find out either, so he simply stopped thinking about it and focused on recuperating in the hospital.

It was the third night of Li Yi’s hospital stay.

An event he had overlooked occurred.

Originally, Li Yi had purchased Coffin Ganoderma and Mud Horse on Ghost Street using his lifespan, and now it was time to pay the debt, as the old man who had sold him the items mentioned that a Debt-collecting Ghost would come to collect after seven days.

And Li Yi found himself in debt of eighty years of lifespan.

At this moment.

Inside Ghost Street in the Danger Zone.

This place was as usual, with Vengeful Ghosts roaming and ghost soldiers and Ghost Messengers patrolling nonstop. Any living person who accidentally stumbled in here would be mercilessly devoured by these terrifying ghosts unless they had a special way to disguise themselves as dead and avoid being attacked by the ghosts.

Unfortunately, those who strayed into this place were unaware of this, and by the time they realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

Thus, many cultivators regarded Ghost Street in the Danger Zone as a deadly forbidden land, an existence not to be trespassed under any circumstances.

The fact that Li Yi made it back alive from Ghost Street could be considered nothing short of a miracle.

At this time.

There was an especially peculiar and eerie figure on Ghost Street.

It was a person barefoot, hunched, wearing ragged clothes, and carrying a bamboo basket, more resembling a fierce ghost from hell than a human. This ghost was wearing a head cover made of white cloth, making its face unclear. One hand held a cane while the other carried a ghastly pale lantern with a twisted black font on it: "Debt."

"The Debt-collecting Ghost has appeared again." For those hidden living beings on Ghost Street, the appearance of such a ghost was nothing unusual.

However, this time the Debt-collecting Ghost was behaving abnormally, heading in an unknown direction away from Ghost Street.

As it walked.

The scenery of Ghost Street gradually became blurry, and modern skyscrapers started to emerge around it.

The appearance of the Debt-collecting Ghost seemed out of place in the surroundings.

But the Debt-collecting Ghost did not stop, it simply followed the guidance on the debt note, seeking the debtor.

Li Yi, lying in the hospital, was the debtor this time.

Just like that.

The Debt-collecting Ghost, leaning on its cane and holding the lantern, slowly walked through the Danger Zone.

It had assumed this debt collection would go as smoothly as before.

But halfway there, something strange happened.

The ghastly white lantern, which was previously emanating an eerie ghost fire, suddenly snuffed out, and the lantern seemed to have become shabby and worn out as though eroded by something.

This erosion wasn’t fast but it was like boiling a frog in warm water; by the time it reacted, it was too late.

The Debt-collecting Ghost stopped.

Because it wasn’t just the lantern being eroded; it was also undergoing some kind of erosion, with its flesh dissolving and black smoke coming out of its body, as if it were exposed to sunlight, completely scorched.

But it was clearly deep into the night.

Why was this happening?

The Debt-collecting Ghost’s spiritual intelligence didn’t seem very high; it couldn’t comprehend this situation, so it let out a creepy and painful wail, while quickening its steps, continuing toward Li Yi’s direction.

Yet all this was in vain.

The Debt-collecting Ghost couldn’t even leave the Danger Zone before it succumbed to the corruption of this world and was completely eroded.

Accompanied by the last scream of the ghost, the Debt-collecting Ghost completely disappeared, leaving behind only a useless bamboo basket and a broken lantern that had long since extinguished.

Clearly, this debt would be very difficult to reclaim.

As for Li Yi, the instigator of all this, he was still sound asleep in the hospital, completely unaware of the events transpiring in the Danger Zone, even forgetting about the massive debt of lifespan he owed.