Recently, two strange things have happened in the Netherworld.
First, the number of souls whose time in the mortal realm isn't up yet but who "accidentally" or "deliberately" enter the Netherworld has surged.
Second, the automatic soul-return System has broken down at just this moment.
The Netherworld envoy Qian Liu is assigned a miserable task by his superiors: escort "lost" souls all the way to the passage between the two realms and ensure their safe return to the mortal world.
Qian Liu thought a job like this would be a hundred times safer than hunting evil spirits, at least until the day he rushed to his target soul, only for the man to pull out a pistol and point its cold muzzle at him. "I'm here to confess to someone."
The man's name is Qingchuan. Qian Liu kindly helps him find the person he's looking for, only to hear him complain the whole way about how backward and boring the Netherworld is. They run into evil spirits and vengeful ghosts, and Qingchuan follows him into the Dark Forest, the Nether City, and all sorts of other places...
One chain subdues an evil spirit! ...The other chain holds Qingchuan back. Using his "hard" strength, Qian Liu finally manages to send the man back to the mortal world. But some time later, when Qian Liu is sent to the mortal world on a mission, he sees Qingchuan again.
Qian Liu thinks Qingchuan can't see him, so he listens in on all kinds of information without a care. Just as he's about to float away, Qingchuan suddenly appears beside his ear and whispers, "What are you doing here?"
After learning that Qingchuan is an immortal who doesn't age, cannot die, and heals from injuries, and hearing the story of his beloved from one of his students, Qian Liu begins to understand why he's so determined to go to the Netherworld.
For mortals with limited lifespans, reaching the end of this life means reuniting with their beloved. But for an immortal with an endless lifespan, how long must he keep going before he reaches the end?
Qian Liu softens toward Qingchuan a little. Of course, it's not just because Qingchuan is devoted to his beloved. It's also because...
Qian Liu: "This is so good! Is the food in the mortal world really this delicious??"
When he's sent on a business trip to the mortal world, he can use public funds to take human form! Then he can eat mortal food! He buries his head and wolfs down the food Qingchuan made. When he happens to look up, he sees Qingchuan staring at him, and as he watches, his eyes seem to grow red...?!
Qian Liu: "What's wrong? Is my table manners that awful??"
Qingchuan covers his eyes with one hand. "Nothing... I just thought of..."
He doesn't finish.
A few minutes later, Qingchuan's expression turns cold again. "I just thought the Netherworld should hurry up and hire a good chef to develop its food industry."
Qian Liu: "...?? Do you feel uncomfortable if you don't insult the Netherworld at least once!"
So what if he's immortal? So what if he can cook well? His devotion is for his beloved! In short, he's still an irritating guy!
Later, Qian Liu's colleagues gossip among themselves.
"It takes a lot of 'po' to communicate with the mortal world or stay there for a long time. Buying po costs a lot of Netherworld currency, or you have to drain the lifespan from living souls in the mortal world. I heard Qian Liu's public funds have run out, and his new application hasn't been approved yet. How has he been staying in the mortal world for so long?"
"Did he use his own Netherworld currency to buy po? Does he even have that much money?"
"Did he break the rules and drain someone's lifespan without permission? Does the Netherworld God know? Draining a lifespan without authorization just to stay in the mortal world will turn anyone, whether an ordinary soul or a Netherworld envoy, into an evil spirit!"
"Or did someone willingly let him drain theirs? If a living soul is found to have consented, then it's not prohibited."
"Living souls in the mortal world all want to live forever. Who would willingly give up some of their lifespan?"
Meanwhile, in a bed in the mortal world...
"That's too much... I can't take any more..."
Qian Liu's formerly translucent soul gradually becomes corporeal, and a faint blush spreads across his pale skin. He trembles as he tries to get up, but Qingchuan pulls him back into his arms. "Stay a little longer."
Bonus Scene:
Qian Liu takes the form of a little bird to go on a mission in the mortal world, and plays a prank on Qingchuan.
But as soon as his beak pecks Qingchuan's face, he turns back into his humanoid soul form because he isn't used to it.
Qian Liu: "..."
Qingchuan: "..."
Qian Liu quickly pulls his lips away from Qingchuan's face, pretending nothing happened as he greets him. "Hi, hello." He forces a smile. "I'm back in the mortal world."
A cold-faced, tsundere immortal top × a Netherworld civil servant who plays the pig to eat the tiger
-"I've always loved you."
A memoir for a deceased wife... except she's right there beside him (
1v1, with strong feelings on both sides. Power couple / bickering couple / reunion after a long separation / past and present lives / rekindled romance
Plot and romance split the story about evenly. Aside from the po system mentioned at the end of the blurb, there are many other original worldbuilding details.
This blurb was written in January 2026. Marking it as a saved draft.
Theme: Cherish life and every moment in this world
