Song Miaozhu was stunned. Hearing the phrase "APP trial" from a ghost official who spoke in such an archaic, scholarly manner felt utterly bizarre. She quickly flipped through the Ghost Shop Function Catalog to find details about this app trial.
To her surprise, the very first page read:
[Limited-Time Test of the Underworld Commerce Division (UCD) APP]
Requirements to Participate:
—Prior exposure to the mortal world's internet
—Ownership of at least one ghost shop
—Must be willing to actively report any issues encountered during testing to the UCD's assigned ghost testers
Participation Rewards:
—All purchases made through the APP during the test period receive a 10% discount
—Each valid bug or issue reported earns 100 underworld coins in communication credit
Registration Deadline: Until the end of the Qingming Flower Festival
How to Register: Speak to any UCD ghost official and request a registration form
Miaozhu had heard of the UCD before—it was a newly formed department in Fengdu City. Sister Xiang Yun had previously mentioned the online communication feature, which was also their creation.
But now they were developing official apps?
Just as she was about to ask the ghost official in front of her to sign up, she noticed him staring wide-eyed at the shop records in his hands, as if he'd seen something unbelievable.
From Xing Peng's perspective, the records displayed:
[Yin Shui Alley, No. 414]
[Current Owner: Song Miaozhu (Birth/Death Dates: Unrecorded)]
[Purchased Functions: Heaven-Tier Ghost Shop (Permanent)]
[Heaven-Tier Ghost Shop (Permanent): Allows living inheritors to traverse yin and yang, conceals owner's identity. Inheritance restricted to women. Resets to initial state upon ownership change.]
[...]
Xing Peng couldn't stop staring at the words "Heaven-Tier Ghost Shop." In all his years at the Underworld Commerce Division, he'd never encountered a function that bridged the realms of the living and the dead.
But the archives couldn't be wrong.
After the initial shock, he quickly deduced that this must be a discontinued feature from an earlier era. Yinshui Alley was, after all, older than he was.
But if this function existed… did that mean the current owner might actually be alive?
His gaze snapped back to Song Miaozhu, scrutinizing her as if she were a panda in a zoo.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she finally asked.
Xing Peng shook his head. He wanted to ask, but ghost officials had rules. Even though he could access files, he wasn't allowed to pry or reveal private information about the people he served.
"You've just inherited this shop and haven't activated any features yet. I recommend taking some time to go over the Function Catalogue thoroughly before deciding what to enable," he said professionally.
Miaozhu nodded in agreement. "Can I purchase shop features through the UCD APP?"
"You can," Xing Peng replied. "Spiritual energy is returning to the mortal realm, and many senior ghost officials have already reincarnated. The bureaucracy's short-staffed, so we're both recruiting and learning from the living world—moving part of our work online to save labor. Through the UCD APP, you can lease or buy shop functions entirely digitally."
He said this while subtly testing her response.
"Then I'd like to sign up for the trial," she said.
"Wait a moment." Xing Peng retrieved a registration form from the shelves. "Fill this out. Once I stamp it, submit it to the Underworld Net Division."
Song Miaozhu completed the form in seconds. It only asked for her name, shop address, and her knowledge of the internet. As a computer science major—and a living person—this was child's play. She listed her university program and popular living-world apps before handing it back.
Xing Peng glanced over it, then used his inkless brush to scribble on the form. When Song Miaozhu took it back, she saw a new line at the bottom: "Underworld Commerce Division, Official No. 1023 – Xing Peng."
The white candle on the desk had burned down to a quarter of its length. Miaozhu quickly bid farewell and left the UCD. Then she headed straight for the Underworld Network Division.
The setup inside was similar to Xing Peng's office—one ghost official, one desk—but this room was noticeably more modern. On the desk sat a wooden box that resembled a computer.
The ghost official wore the same black uniform, though a peek of checkered shirt collar stuck out. "Hey there, beauty. What can I do for you today?"
"I'm here to submit my registration form." She handed it over and took a glance at his name badge: Ghost Official No. 4, Bai Xiaoqiao – Underworld Network Division
Bai Xiaoqiao scanned the form and whistled. "Whoa! You studied computer science at Jiangcheng University? A straight-A student, huh? How's your virtue score? Interested in joining our department as a ghost official?"
"I can't be a ghost official," Song Miaozhu replied.
As a living person, she could only stay in the underworld for a maximum of two hours a day—any longer and it would harm her body. Running a shop here was manageable, but working? Impossible.
Bai Xiaoqiao assumed she meant her virtue score wasn't high enough (since ghost official positions had strict moral standards) and didn't press the matter.
"Well, your registration's been approved. Let me see your ID so I can install the UCD APP for you."
Song Miaozhu took out the golden key. As a living person, she didn't have an official underworld ID—but the Heaven-Class Ghost Shop Owner Credential covered all her needs. It was both her proof of ownership and her identification.
"Place it here." Bai Xiaoqiao pointed to a wooden tray on the desk.
She followed his instructions. As he started operating the wooden machine, curiosity got the better of her. "Is that the underworld's version of a computer? Made of wood?"
Bai Xiaoqiao nodded. "Yep. Materials here differ from the living world. This whole unit is carved from aged ghostwood dredged from the River of Forgetfulness. It runs on yin energy and transmits information the same way. We're still new as a department and short on technical ghost staff, so some features are a bit buggy."
Miaozhu had no clue what kind of specs that would be. "By the way, can you activate the online messaging feature for me, too?"
"No problem! I'll also install the GhostLink app. It's kind of like a texting platform in the mortal world—lets you send messages. Monthly fee's 300 hell coins," Bai Xiaoqiao said.
"Isn't that a bit steep? Can ghosts in Fengdu even afford that?" Miaozhu frowned.
Just today, she'd hired two new staff. Even after probation, the highest monthly wage she could offer was 800 hell coins. Most ghost shop employees in other places only earned around 500 a month.
"We're still in the R&D phase. Production costs are high—nothing we can do about it. We're working on it, but like I said, short on hands, too many tasks, and progress is slow." Bai Xiaoqiao sighed.
"Alright then," Miaozhu relented. "Activate it. I'll pay for three months upfront."
After all, most of the ghosts buying from her shop could afford communication fees—and several had already asked to add her on GhostLink for convenience.