Du Jianghe was originally an ordinary firefighter.

After graduating, he joined the local fire department. During this time, he saved countless lives, witnessed life and death, and faced many dangers.

He worked as a firefighter while also planning to pass the civil service exam and start a stable career.

But that fire completely shattered all his expectations.

It was a night in autumn last year. The temperature was very low, and the old residential building’s electrical circuits had become worn out. A single spark instantly ignited the entire building’s trash.

The alarm pierced the night sky, and Du Jianghe and his teammates rushed to the scene as quickly as possible.

The three-story building was already completely engulfed in flames.

Thick smoke billowed, firelight shot upwards, glass shattered, wooden beams burned, and the whole building crackled, ready to collapse at any moment.

Inside, there were still residents who hadn’t escaped. Cries, pleas for help, and coughs mixed together, tightening the hearts of all who heard them.

Du Jianghe followed his teammates, put on his respirator, and charged into the fire.

The corridor was pitch black, the smoke was suffocating, the temperature was terrifyingly high, and the walls were too hot to touch.

He bent down, groping through the smoke, checking each room one by one, sending elderly, children, and women out.

After rescuing everyone from the second floor, he ran towards the third floor without hesitation.

The fire had already spread to the rooftop, and burning debris from the ceiling kept falling, while the floor sensed the heat.

In the innermost room, he found a woman trapped.

The woman was curled up in a corner, trembling with fright, her face blackened by smoke, her consciousness somewhat blurred.

Without a word, Du Jianghe went forward, grabbed her wrist, and rushed her towards the door, with the smoke stinging their eyes shut.

Just as they were about to dash through the door to reach a safe zone, the woman suddenly stopped and shook off his hand.

"No, my bag, my bag is still inside..."

Du Jianghe’s heart tightened: "Is it your life or the bag that’s more important? Hurry up..."

"No, I can’t leave it..." The woman cried, nearly collapsing.

"It’s a limited edition luxury bag, I managed to get it from a different store and have to return it tomorrow. If it gets burned, I have to pay full compensation, I can’t afford it..."

She was just an ordinary salesperson, earning a meager monthly income. Such a bag was worth several years of her wages, and if it was damaged, she couldn’t afford to pay.

As she cried, she began to rush towards the flames.

Du Jianghe quickly pulled her back.

Inside, the fire was out of control, and the ceiling could collapse at any moment. If anyone went in, there would be no coming out.

"Wait here, don’t move, I’ll get it for you..."

Du Jianghe gritted his teeth, asked her for the location, and made his choice.

He was a firefighter; this was his duty.

Ignoring his teammates’ anxious cries from outside, he turned and rushed back into the inferno.

In the room, the flames had already reached the nightstand.

The bag was right there, about to catch fire, and if delayed any longer, it would be completely destroyed.

Du Jianghe hurried over, grabbed the bag in his hand, and immediately turned around to leave.

Just as he was about to step out of the room, there was a roaring sound. The ceiling, unable to withstand the high temperatures, collapsed with a crash.

Burning wooden beams and scorching cement blocks fell like torrential rain.

Du Jianghe didn’t even have time to dodge.

Immense weight struck his back harshly.

Pain overwhelmed him.

Everything went black.

Before completely losing consciousness, what flashed in his mind wasn’t the fire or danger, but his wife and child.

He hadn’t had the chance to properly say goodbye.

...

"Later, my teammates dug me out of the rubble, and I became like this..."

Du Jianghe’s voice was slightly hoarse, tinged with some helplessness and sarcasm: "Just because of a bag, I lost my life."

"I don’t regret saving people."

"But for a bag, I feel truly unwilling..."

"Now that I’m gone, what will happen to my wife, my son..."

He was just an ordinary person, with no grand ideals. He was a husband who wanted to return home safely, a father who wanted to watch his son grow up.

He wasn’t some earth-shattering hero; he merely did the job expected of him.

Yet because of this, he remained forever in that night.

Duoduo listened quietly, but wasn’t particularly touched.

After all, how many truly empathize in this world? Let alone Duoduo was a child who had never experienced such things.

However, she was sensible, and knew how to comfort people. She reached out a small hand, gently patted Du Jianghe’s leg, consoling like a little adult: "Uncle, you’re a good person and a hero."

"I’ll take you to see my brother, maybe he can help you."

Du Jianghe looked at the little girl in front of him, hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded in agreement.

Because he realized that his wife and child couldn’t see him, staying by them like this was not very meaningful; he might as well take a chance.

"Okay, I’ll go with you to meet your brother."

Duoduo then told Lin Jianming and his wife, who were quite relieved, especially since their shop wasn’t far from the community where they lived, so they immediately nodded in agreement.

"Let’s go."

Duoduo, like a little adult, waved to Du Jianghe and walked out of the small shop first.

Du Jianghe quickly followed, feeling both nervous and expectant.

He couldn’t help but size up the little girl. Her steps were light, and she walked along a non-motorized vehicle lane.

Sunlight fell on her, outlining a circle of soft halo. Despite being a Ghost Messenger, she exuded the innocence and playfulness of an ordinary child.

"Your brother... what kind of person is he?" Du Jianghe couldn’t help but ask, his tone filled with some trepidation.

He didn’t know what identity Duoduo’s "brother" had, would he really be as he guessed, an official in the Netherworld? And would he truly be willing to help him?

"Brother is a very powerful adult." Duoduo’s little face was full of pride.

"Uh, I naturally know he’s an adult, no need to emphasize that." Du Jianghe thought.

Duoduo continued: "Brother is omnipotent, super, super amazing! He’ll solve your problem easily."

"So powerful, is he an immortal?" Du Jianghe asked.

"Yes, he’s an immortal, the best immortal." Duoduo immediately replied.

Yet the more she said this, the more anxious Du Jianghe felt.

But he didn’t back down, continuing to follow closely behind Duoduo.

After walking a while, he couldn’t help but speak again: "You’re so young, running out alone, how can your mom and dad be at ease? It’s quite dangerous."

Upon hearing this, Duoduo thought for a moment and agreed. Then she immediately stopped and began to look around.

Seeing her sneaky manner, Du Jianghe couldn’t help but feel curious, so he stood by silently, wanting to see what she would do.

There was no one at either end of the road, even if there were, they were far away. After thinking it over, Duoduo still hid behind a nearby coconut tree.

When she emerged again.

"Huh?"

Du Jianghe couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

"Ha, now we’re the same." Duoduo said with a little self-satisfaction.