ADLH Chapter 13: Love Rival, Where Do You Live?
Ghost Society.
In ancient times, ghost who tried to escape divine punishment fled into the world within the painting. They were branded and had to serve the will of Heaven in exchange for freedom—all such ghost work here now.
These demon had either committed misdeeds in the past or owed karmic debts. Once thrown out of the painting realm, if they didn't come to the Ghost Society to perform good deeds and punish evil, they'd be struck by lightning again—straight to the skull.
The stronger ones were assigned higher-level tasks and had better chances of regaining freedom sooner.
Weaker ones took on lower-level jobs, like pretending to be feng shui masters and resolving minor grievances from lingering spirits—thus beginning their long and arduous days of part-time work.
The society's manager, known as the Heavenly Duty Officer, was named Jun Hua. He cultivated from immortal grass, specialized in healing spells, and was also highly skilled in combat.
Jun Hua also had a son named Jun Dou, said to have sprouted as a seedling from Jun Hua’s own root while he was in seclusion cultivating. During their time in the painting realm, Jun Dou even recognized a dragon as his adoptive father.
But most demon just laughed this off—after all, the painting realm was divided into zones, and there was supposedly only one dragon sealed inside. Few had ever seen it. The legendary Dragon Lord was said to be stern, aloof, and unapproachable.
So nobody really believed it.
Until that dragon… was actually released from the painting realm!
Many little ghost secretly peered through the cracks in the door to glimpse this legendary figure. Dragons technically weren’t demon but gods. This one was the only one in existence, with sky-high combat power, and on his very first day, he nearly shattered the protective barrier of the Ghost Society.
The barrier-protected demon nearly died of fright.
Luckily, at the last moment, Jun Hua recognized this "door-knocking" friend.
From that day on, they had a Dragon Lord in residence.
A dragon!
An actual dragon!
The little ghost stared worshipfully at Qian Ji, wishing they could crawl at his feet to bask in his magnificence. Just sensing his dragon aura today was enough to make their day.
But soon enough, they noticed something strange: Huh? What’s that in the big boss's hand? Who’s that being held so affectionately?
Wait… no ghost aura?
Could it be… a human?
Ruan Xingzhou was like a schoolkid on a field trip to the zoo, obediently holding Qian Ji's hand and curiously looking around. His dark eyes swept over the little ghost hiding behind pillars or shadows, finally landing on their fuzzy ears and tails.
The ghost wore clothing from different eras and appeared human, but each had some physical feature from their original form.
Like a cold-looking youth with cat ears and tail hiding in the shadows; a stylish woman in a suit with a fox tail and peacock-like fan of feathers; or the front desk clerk whose snake tail hung off the edge of the desk...
The only one who looked completely normal—a black-haired teenager—met Ruan Xingzhou’s gaze and let out a shriek. With a pop, a green sprout popped out of his head as he scrambled away.
Ruan Xingzhou stood still for a few seconds, then reached up to scratch his hair, wondering if there was a sprout growing out of his own head too.
Qian Ji, noticing all this, gave a faint smirk. “These demo lost much of their already-weak powers after being branded. They mostly work odd jobs here at the for shelter.”
“That’s pretty good,” Ruan Xingzhou mused. Then he looked up at Qian Ji and asked, “Can I catch one and take it back with me? My company mainly does biotech. If I could dissect one, that sprout-head guy would be perfect.”
“…” Do you think the ghost here are… local specialties or something?
Qian Ji’s smile stiffened. He shut his mouth and kept walking, face darkening, dragging Ruan Xingzhou upstairs.
Ruan Xingzhou, completely innocent, continued to ask, “You won’t catch one for me? Then I’ll just hire someone to wait at the door and catch one.”
The little ghost overhearing their conversation trembled in fear, nearly bursting into tears.
How can this human be so brutal?!
They scurried off, probably to report to Jun Hua. Thinking of Jun Hua’s smiling, scheming demeanor, Qian Ji's temple throbbed. He turned back and growled, “Shut up!”
Scolded, Ruan Xingzhou lowered his head, looking disappointed and dejected.
Qian Ji: …What the hell are you disappointed for?
They climbed the wooden stairs to the sixth floor, which was much quieter. The spacious room had only a few office desks with partitions, sparsely occupied. Only two cold-faced men—identical in appearance—sat silently in pale blue outfits, covering arms and legs despite the summer heat.
When they saw Qian Ji, they stood and greeted respectfully, “Dragon Lord. The master is inside. And this human?” They frowned in perfect sync. “Are you leaving him here?”
A human, connected to the Dragon Lord… must be food, right?
That’s what they thought as they suggested “storage.”
Understanding their implication, Qian Ji replied coldly, “No need. He’s the Executor I chose in the human world. I’m taking him to see Jun Hua.”
Executor?
The identical men exchanged glances and looked at Ruan Xingzhou again, saying nothing. Qian Ji also didn’t linger.
Ruan Xingzhou was dragged into the innermost office like a small animal.
The red-lacquered door opened to reveal a standard Republican-era office. Even the telephone on the desk had a rotary dial. A deep green leather couch sat solidly in the room. A small potted plant adorned the coffee table. Window sills and corners were filled with green plants on wrought-iron shelves.
Ruan Xingzhou sensed a gaze above and looked up. Hanging from the ceiling were many strange plants he’d never seen before.
“Qian Ji, you’re here.”
A warm, gentle male voice fell like water into a lake, familiarly calling Qian Ji’s name.
“Mm.” Qian Ji responded blandly, letting go of Ruan Xingzhou’s hand and walking toward the lounge area.
Ruan Xingzhou’s hand, now exposed to cool air, curled slightly. He clenched it and dropped it by his side.
He looked at the man chatting with Qian Ji.
White trousers, black vest, and raven-black curls tied with a white headband, the ends draped over his shoulder. A few stray strands fell across his cheek.
That face…
Ruan Xingzhou stared.
Fair and flawless, with peach blossom eyes slightly drooping at the corners, full lips with a distinct cupid’s bow, and slightly downturned corners—exuding a harmless beauty. He was half a head shorter than Qian Ji and spoke while looking up with reliance and warmth. His figure was tall and slim, gentle beside the fiery, imposing Qian Ji.
Ruan Xingzhou slowly blinked and thought of one word: Perfect match.
Jealousy and irritation bubbled up in his chest.
Ruan Xingzhou opened his mouth to interrupt that untouchable closeness, but before he could, something shook in one of the hanging baskets overhead.
A tiny, naked little person with grass sprouting from his head popped out of the soil, shook off the dirt, and jumped down.
“Godfather!”
The little guy was caught midair by Qian Ji, who pinched the leaves on his head. The tiny creature wasn’t scared—he giggled and kicked his legs.
The gentle man beside Qian Ji chuckled. “That’s enough. Jun Dou only has a few little leaves. Don’t pull them out.”
“They’re not that easy to pull,” Qian Ji said, but with a tenderness Ruan Xingzhou had never seen, he placed the tiny Jun Dou on his broad shoulder.
Palm-sized Jun Dou cupped Qian Ji’s cheek and affectionately rubbed his face against it.
“Godfather is the best~ Godfather is the best~”
The three of them together exuded the aura of a loving family, while Ruan Xingzhou stood at the door, his expression blank—like an outsider being excluded.
He clenched his teeth.
Standing still, his face sharpened.
Suddenly, he addressed Qian Ji, “Is this your second marriage? Is that your ex-wife?”
Qian Ji’s smile froze, and the gentle man also turned with a smile.
“What second marriage?” Qian Ji frowned. “Jun Hua is my friend. That’s his son, Jun Dou—my godson.”
“Oh, really?”
Ruan Xingzhou walked up to Jun Hua, extended his hand, and in that moment, the clingy, shameless human transformed into the high-and-mighty President Ruan.
His blank expression suddenly bloomed into a businesslike smile. With the tone of a formal introduction, he said, “Hello, love rival. I’m Ruan Xingzhou.”
Jun Hua: “…”
Qian Ji: “…”
Ruan Xingzhou smiled even brighter. “Why don’t you speak, love rival? Hmm? Mind telling me where you live? I’ll pay you a visit someday.”
Along with some bodyguards, armor-piercing rounds, and sniper rifles.
Jun Hua: “…” Murderous intent detected.
Qian Ji: “…” I felt it too.
Looking closely, the human had sharp brows like ink strokes and eyes like starry night skies. When he wasn’t smiling, he looked ordinary. But when he smiled, he was like a blazing star.
But that smile…
Qian Ji thought, Why does Ruan Xingzhou’s smiling face look more disturbing than his blank one?
Unlike the emotionally dense Qian Ji, Jun Hua noticed it immediately.
He saw through Ruan Xingzhou’s cold hostility behind the smile and gently shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Jun Hua said. “I’m Jun Hua, an old friend of Qian Ji. You’re the Executor he chose, right? Haha, he even talked to me about you yesterday. As expected from Qian Ji’s choice—you have the face of someone wealthy and powerful.”
“You flatter me.”
Ruan Xingzhou let go and, smiling like a carnivorous flower, squeezed between them. He coldly and emotionlessly snatched Jun Dou from Qian Ji’s shoulder and stuffed him into Jun Hua’s arms, then shoved himself into Qian Ji’s embrace.
He turned back, still smiling like that flower, and said to Jun Hua:
“I’m just very rich—and incidentally, very powerful.”
Jun Hua: “…”
Qian Ji: “…”
Jun Hua: Yep, definitely murderous intent.
Qian Ji: …
[Author's Note] — [Mini Theater]
Ruan Xingzhou: Hey, Mirdan, get me armor-piercing rounds. Yeah, I’m gonna bomb the love rival’s house.
Qian Ji: …
Jun Hua: …
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