The single-eyed worker did not respond to Han Fei’s latest statement. Han Fei’s image was reflected in his eye, for some reason, the young man felt things were going to get a lot less peaceful around here. “Once your picture is on the wall, you’re an official worker here. Now I will bring you to a place exclusive to the workers.” With a few more coughs, the worker led Han Fei into a room next to the warehouse. There were two doors inside this room. One of them was connected to the warehouse and the other reeked horribly. “We’re in the garbage disposal room, the door on the left leads to the warehouse and the right leads to the back alley.” The worker strode towards the door with the horrible smell and pushed it open with some force. It opened to a dark alley about 10 metres long. There were 3 large trash cans placed adjacent to each other in the alley, the stench emitted from the cans.
“You have to clear up the racks every day and toss the expired merchandise into the trash cans.”
“What if the cans are full?” Han Fei glanced outside. One of the cans was filled with the convenience store’s uniforms. Most of the uniforms were shredded and bloody. It was not hard to imagine their owners had had a horrifying death.
“That is not something you should worry about.” The worker signaled for Han Fei to come out into the alley with him. “We also need to maintain the cleanliness of the back alley. There are many rats out here, so be careful when you clean up.”
“Understood.” Han Fei glanced down the dark alley, when he saw the building at the end, he startled slightly. The end of the alley was connected to the main road and opposite the road was a dilapidated school. The sign for the school had faded away and Han Fei barely made out the name Yi Ming Private Academy. ‘Huh, so the convenience store provides a shortcut to the school.’ According to the previous manager’s map, Han Fei would have to take many turns on the main street to go from Happiness Neighbourhood to Yi Ming Private Academy. There was no telling what kind of danger one might run into. Thus it came as a pleasant surprise to Han Fei to have found out this shortcut. ‘The Happiness Neighbourhood, Yi Ming Convenience Store and Yi Ming Private Academy are closely connected to each other. If in the future, I am to become the headmaster or the convenience store owner….’
Han Fei was dreaming ahead when the bell at the store front rang. The single-eyed young man immediately led Han Fei back into the store. There was no one inside the empty store. But the temperature appeared to have dropped.
“There’s a new set of uniforms in the breakroom. Go and change. I’ll serve this customer.” The worker said plainly.
“There’s a customer?” Han Fei glanced around the deserted store front. In any case, he hurried into the breakroom to change so that he would not miss out on this opportunity to learn from his senior. However, when Han Fei came out, the temperature had already returned to normal and the single-eyed young man was kneeling on the ground, wiping away a puddle of black blood.
“Has the customer left?”
“No.” After cleaning up the puddle, the worker entered the trash disposal room. Han Fei walked to the spot his senior just deserted and noticed there was a new white candle on the rack. ‘This is not a shop but a trap! Only by ensuring customer satisfaction that they’d return. Who’d come if you go after your customers like this? No wonder the business here is so horrible.’ Han Fei was an actor. After he put on the uniform, he looked even more like a worker than the single-eyed young man. ‘The cans in the back alley are stuffed with the store’s uniforms and dead pictures of former workers are pasted on the wall. Looks like this is a high risk career.’ Han Fei sauntered over to the front door. ‘The current boss is not business-minded at all. I don’t see a bright future with him, if anything, I might lose my life if I continue to work for him. I need to find myself a way out before the whole ship sinks and carries me down with it.’
Han Fei’s hand landed on the front door. After he was an official employee, the door gave with a slight push. However, the ghost tattoo on his body started to tremble and struggle like it was scalded. ‘I do not feel anything but the ghost inside the tattoo is clearly in plenty of pain. Looks like the working contract has been signed with the ghost tattoo and not me.’ Several plans immediately appeared in Han Fei’s mind. ‘When a ghost enters the store, the bell will ring. But when I opened the door earlier, it did not. Everything inside this convenience store appears to serve the dead. Then again, that’s perfectly normal considering we’re in a world of the dead. No one would have expected a living person to come work at a ghost convenience store anyway.’
Han Fei took a step back. Once he moved away from the door, the struggle of the ghost tattoo stopped. ‘The contract is signed with the ghost tattoo, so no matter what I do, it’ll be the tattoo who will pay the price.’ His eyes scanned the store greedily. A brave plan popped up in his mind. ‘Should I make use of this opportunity to take all the valuable merchandise with me? A ghost tattoo to trade for a whole lot of items, no matter how you look at it, it’ll be a positive outcome for me!’ Thankfully the ghost inside the tattoo was unable to read Han Fei’s mind or else it might have torn itself right out of Han Fei’s skin.
‘But if I do that, it’ll sever any good relationship I might have with the current boss. Even though I have not met the boss, we might end up as business partners in the future. It’s easier to make enemies than friends. My plan is to make a systemized community out of the apartments, stores, and the school. The convenience boss store might be a great ally for it has heft over the other store owners. From the fact that it was spared from the singer’s destruction, it was clearly the strongest among all the store owners.’ With that in mind, Han Fei decided to work obediently at the store at least until he completed the main mission, ‘One must always take the future into consideration.’
Han Fei stood near the door and noticed the old man with the paper money wandering outside the shop. He seemed to be still hung up on Han Fei but he was too afraid to come in. ‘This old man is going to be a hindrance, I’ll have to deal with him as soon as possible.’ Han Fei turned to glance behind him. The single-eyed worker had not returned. Han Fei sought his way to the door and pretended like he was going to make his escape. Han Fei manifested the hesitation, fear, and struggle clearly on his face. Falling for Han Fei’s performance, the old man quietly slunk over. As if worried of attracting other people’s attention to Han Fei, he whispered, “This convenience store is very dangerous, it’s still not too soon for you to come with me!” The old man hissed concernedly. “I’m risking the anger of the store owner to come warn you. Believe me. Step out of the shop and you’ll be safe.”
Conflict was evident in Han Fei’s eyes. His teeth grinded together, as he teetered at the edge of the front door.
“You still have the choice now. In a while longer, you won’t be able to escape anymore! Follow me and I’ll bring you somewhere safe!” The old man persuaded. He could see Han Fei being convinced by his words. With his hand on the door, veins bulged on the back of his hand. Han Fei’s teeth gritted so hard together, his gum almost bled. His eyes focused on the opposite street and his jaw set with a decision. He pulled the front door open. Just as Han Fei was about to step out, the ghost tattoo pleaded with mercy. The ghost trapped inside the tattoo had no idea what was happening, he assumed Han Fei was torturing him on purpose.
“I can’t leave, my skin is being torn off!” Han Fei shouted harrowingly, almost as real as the ones issued by the ghost tattoo.
“Grab my hand!” The old man actively reached out for Han Fei. A sinister smile lit up his face. His wrinkled face looked anticipatorily at Han Fei. But to his minor concern, despite the shrill shouts, Han Fei’s face carried a sinister smile as well.
Han Fei activated Soul-Depth Touch. With 10 points in stamina, the old man lurched forward from a massive pulling force. Han Fei yanked him into the shop before the old man could even react.
The bell above the door tingled. The single-eyed man materialized beside Han Fei. Han Fei and the young man sandwiched the old man between them. The two drawn faces lit up with a brilliant smile as they uttered in unison. “What can I get you?”
