My Family Is Very Odd

The dwarf doll knew some things were better left unsaid. Saying them would only invite trouble. It could be coaxed into running away, or into causing trouble.

“Don’t you also feel like waiting like this is pointless?”

“What? No, who told you that?” The dwarf doll replied.

“Don't you think Master Bai hasn't considered us at all? The plan was stopped just because of one human. When this human dies naturally after a hundred years, won't the master we depend on also die? We will return to the abyss once more, and who knows when we will be able to come out again.”

“As a doll, the most important thing is to be happy. A hundred years is enough to return to the human world. It was Master Bai who let us out, so let it be.” The dwarf doll said.

“Are you scared? Don't be afraid, we can go to Master Hanging Ghost in the north, it will take us in.”

The Hanging Ghost in the north had always been at odds with Master Bai. It was more than just a disagreement, they simply couldn’t stand the sight of each other.

Master Hanging Ghost always thought it was stronger than Master Bai. Let's not talk about what would happen if Master Bai found out they ran away. Just the fact that they were once from this area, the dwarf doll didn't believe that Master Hanging Ghost would sincerely accept them.

So, the dwarf doll shook its head again, firmly rejecting the persuasion of the other doll.

It didn't want to run away and seek refuge with Master Hanging Ghost.

The dwarf doll thought.

“I can’t believe it, humph, I thought I finally found someone who shared the same ambition as me, but I didn't expect you to be a coward. Then I'll go by myself." The doll snorted coldly and left on its own.

The dwarf doll turned its head and saw Master Bai.

Master Bai smiled slightly and said, "You can leave if you want to."

The dwarf doll smiled awkwardly. "Master, I don't want to leave. I was just kidding."

Master Bai didn't say anything and left. The dwarf doll later paid attention to the doll that ran away and found that Master Bai didn't do anything. Instead, it was dispelled by the Spirit Master in the north.

Although the town had been peaceful lately, not every place was so tranquil.

The Spirit Bureau in the north came knocking and specifically asked to speak with the Young Ghost.

The Young Ghost sat in the dark room, holding a mobile phone in its hand. The faint light from the phone illuminated its face, making it look ghastly pale and eerie.

The phone displayed an orange webpage, and the search bar showed the keyword "sunscreen".

The door to the dark room opened from the outside. A man with slightly graying hair walked in, his head held high and his eyes looking down with an air of arrogance.

Following closely behind was Shen Yan, Shen Chen's father and also the director of this district's Spirit Bureau.

Wen Yuanrui walked in last.

The unfamiliar man took off his coat, and the person behind him respectfully took it and retreated, lowering his head as he closed the door.

Wen Yuanrui introduced him to the Young Ghost. This was Zhao Zhao, the director of the Northern Spirit Bureau.

The Young Ghost didn't even look up.

Zhao Zhao snorted. "Let's cut to the chase. In recent years, a new type of ghost has frequently appeared in the human world, Abyss. They are more powerful than ordinary ghosts and can also bewitch humans, but we know nothing about them."

“It wasn't until recently when we dealt with an Abyss that it said something interesting. It said, 'If it weren't for that human child, we wouldn't have regressed to this point.' Let's ignore the fact that they speak as if the human world was already theirs for the taking, because it's ridiculous."

"As long as there are Spirit Masters, such a thing will never happen. However, a few words from the ghost were quite intriguing. Perhaps we can learn something about the Abyss from them… What do you think?"

The Young Ghost's two black, bottomless eyes glanced at the man.

Zhao Zhao continued, "We're wondering who 'that human child' is, the one that the ghosts both fear and resent, the one who could cause them to regress. We investigated and first discovered that the frequency of Abyss appearances outside has increased, with special cases far exceeding previous years. However, one district is different."

"Not only is it peaceful, but it's even more peaceful than in previous years. This district actually uses ghosts for spirit elimination. Then we discovered that this group of ghosts is actually raising a human child in a haunted house."

Zhao Zhao looked at the Young Ghost. "What is the relationship between this human child and the Abyss?"

Wen Yuanrui couldn't help but interject, "We are not the only district using ghosts for spirit elimination. This is not something worth mentioning. Moreover, the order in our district has improved a lot, isn't that good? This is all thanks to them."

Wen Yuanrui had been working with ghosts for a long time. Although he couldn't say he understood them, he knew what they had done. He couldn't accept someone being so sarcastic.

What's more, Zhao Zhao even targeted Li Xiao Gui. This was something he couldn't tolerate, the kind that made him want to curse.

Zhao Zhao said, "There are always some greedy people who use ghosts for spirit elimination, this is not special. But if this ghost is the only one in the area where special cases have decreased by more than tenfold, and it has become friends with the Spirit Master, and is raising a human child, and this child is related to the Abyss, isn't that very special?"

"No relation." The Young Ghost said flatly.

Zhao Zhao looked down from his position of authority. "No relation? Then why are you raising her? A ghost has no reason to suddenly decide to raise a human, does it? Is there really no relation, or do you just not want to say?"

The corners of the Young Ghost's mouth curled up, revealing a slightly eerie smile in the cold light.

Zhao Zhao was a little displeased. "Don't forget that you are still wearing our Spirit Master's special restraining ring. You are now a ghost servant of our Spirit Bureau. You can do nothing but serve us."

The Young Ghost's right hand, holding the phone, idly fiddled with the silver ring.

But it didn't seem to care at all.

Shen Yan spoke up, "You are going too far. It ultimately belongs to our bureau, not the Northern Bureau. Please do not treat our colleagues like this."

Zhao Zhao retorted, "You consider ghosts colleagues? Do you know what is happening outside?"

Shen Yan replied calmly, "Yes, as long as everyone is working towards the same goal, they are colleagues. The peace in this town is inseparable from their efforts. We are also aware of the chaos outside, and we will definitely do our best to help if needed."

Shen Yan continued with an impassive expression, "But that's all. Please do not make any further assumptions about my colleague, and do not disturb its daughter. The child is still in school."

Hearing what it wanted to hear, the Young Ghost lowered its head to look at its phone again.

Zhao Zhao stared at Shen Yan for a long time, surprised by his ignorance.

But he had already said what needed to be said. This was someone else's Spirit Bureau, and no matter what else he said, it wouldn't make a difference. Zhao Zhao snorted coldly, turned around with a sullen face, and left.

Shen Yan glanced at Wen Yuanrui, who understood and followed Zhao Zhao out to see him off.

Turning around, Shen Yan looked at the Young Ghost. "Are you related to the Abyss?"

"You could say that." The Young Ghost replied.

"What do they want?" Shen Yan pressed.

"To climb out from below, permanently."

"And?"

"It's a long story, and I don't want to talk about it."

"…" Shen Yan was speechless.

The Young Ghost offered him reassurance, "But rest assured, they won't be able to do anything. I will take care of it. A good learning and growing environment for a child is very important, isn't it?"

"Right." Shen Yan agreed.

"What are you looking at?" Shen Yan was curious, he had seen the Young Ghost staring at its phone since he came in.

"Sunscreen, Little Gui is about to start school. She will have military training when she starts her freshman year. I have to prepare more sunscreen for her, otherwise, she will get sunburned."

Shen Yan thought about it seriously for a while, then said solemnly, "Then should I buy some for Shen Chen too?"

"Up to you. But it's best to buy from a trusted store, be careful not to buy fakes."

"…" Shen Yan was speechless again. You even know this?

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