Afterlife Department

Chapter 116 - Illness

"What do you mean?" Huo Ling asked as he looked at Jiu Ye in puzzlement. Black clothes and carrying a suitcase like Yi Bing, as well as he can see them… of course, Jiu Ye is a grim reaper. "'sent off'? 'Pathway of the Clouds'…" he said and looked at Yi Bing.

Jiu Ye also glanced at Yi Bing. Seeing Yi Bing not speaking, he treated it as Yi Bing's permission for him to get acquainted with Huo Ling. He smiled as he reached his hand out to Huo Ling. "Hi. I'm Afterlife Department's grim reaper, 9910. You can call me 'Jiu Ye'." He introduced himself.

Huo Ling reached Jiu Ye's hand and was surprised he can touch him. "Hello. I'm Huo Ling.." He said and shook Jiu Ye's hand before he let go of it. "What do you mean by 'sent off' earlier? Like a firework?" he asked.

Jiu Ye laughed. He glanced at Yi Bing again before he spoke. "No. I meant, he sent you to your reincarnation." He answered.

Huo Ling's eyes widened. "You mean…" he said and slowly turned to Yi Bing.

"Yes." Jiu Ye nodded. "This is one of your reincarnations." He told Huo Ling.

"… we've already met before?" Huo Ling stared at Yi Bing.

"Yes." Yi Bing answered. "This is your third life, and your second reincarnation." He explained.

Huo Ling was stunned. Jiu Ye noticed the atmosphere had changed. "Erm… senior…" he called.

"You can go now." Yi Bing told him.

Jiu Ye felt a chill ran down his spine. "Yes!" he answered. He nodded at Huo Ling before he disappeared.

Silence fell between Huo Ling and Yi Bing who were left. The flames are burning everything around them, yet they don't feel it. One is a soul and the other is a grim reaper.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Huo Ling asked as he stared at the fire before them.

"There's no need to." Yi Bing answered.

Huo Ling's eyes widened and he sharply turned to Yi Bing. "'no need to'?!" he exclaimed.

"If I'd introduce myself as an acquaintance, would you believe me?" Yi Bing asked.

Huo Ling was about to answer 'yes' when he froze.

Yi Bing had seen his reaction. "You're a smart person. My appearance is already suspicious. My identity is dangerous. If I had told you I'm your acquaintance, you would never believe me." he explained. "Added the fact you're already very confused about your death, you would neve believe me." he told him again.

Huo Ling fell silent. He knew Yi Bing is right. "This is my third life." He said when he remembered what Jiu Ye had said. "Did you also do this before?" he asked. He's referring to his second life when they met again after his death.

"Yes." Yi Bing answered.

Huo Ling closed his eyes. Yi Bing didn't tell him that they already met. He felt his soul has sank on the floor, but he didn't care. "Why?" he asked.

"Because there's no need to." Yi Bing answered.

Huo Ling bitterly smiled as he buried his face on his knees. That's right. He thought. No need for Yi Bing to introduce himself as his acquaintance, since he knows he will just fall in love with him again. He knew, he must have definitely fallen for Yi Bing before. "I see." He just said.

Yi Bing's expression is rigid. He glanced at Huo Ling. He's not mad? He thought in surprise. "Okay." He said and watched as Huo Ling's soul floated again. "Do you want to see Rong Zhe?" he asked.

Huo Ling shook his head. "Not anymore. I know Ah Zhe's in good hands now." He said. Jiu Ye will definitely take good care of Rong Zhe.

Yi Bing nodded. "Jiu Ye's a competent grim reaper. I'll tell Gu Shi to promote him and his friends to be seniors." He said and immediately sent a message. Added the fact that they were lacking senior grim reapers right now… "Shall we go find Ye Ting?" he asked.

"Yes." Huo Ling nodded. "Do you know where we can find him?" he asked.

"Souls, after their death, would go to the places deeply etched in their memories." Yi Bing said. "Which place is the most memorable to Ye Ting?" he asked.

Huo Ling's brows knitted. "Uhm…" he muttered. He doesn't know.

Yi Bing saw Huo Ling's upset expression and fought the urge to laugh. He's like this before – many times. He thought. "Let's go back to the police station. Maybe his soul might still be around there." He told him.

Huo Ling nodded. "Okay." He answered.

S City Police Station.

The telephone rang and Ke Congyi immediately picked it up. "Chief!" a police officer called. "Officers Zhang, Xiao and Song are alive. Officer Zhang is still unconscious including officer Song who had been caught in the explosion. Their condition is critical. If not for officer Xiao saving officer Song, officer Song might have…" he said and didn't continue.

Gu Xingfeng sighed in relief. "How about Ye Tong?" he asked.

"Mrs. Ye's room is far from the explosion." The police officer answered. "The explosive device is yet to be known, but it came from Zhu Min's room." He explained. "So, Zhu Min is…" he said. Zhu Min is dead.

Gu Xingfeng took a deep breath. "Wait for Zhang Bao and Song Mingfan to wake up. Zhang Bao must have seen the culprit and Song Mingfan might know something." He said.

"Yes, chief!" the police officer answered. "Also… Mr. Rong has arrived." He added.

Gu Xingfeng fell silent before he sharply inhaled. "I'll be there." He said before he ended the call.

"Xing-ge." Hao Baiyun called. "I'm coming with you." He told him.

"No." Gu Xingfeng answered as he wore his jacket. "You're safer here, okay? And, Lu Ming's parents might come later to check on Lu Ming." He told him.

"… okay." Hao Baiyun lowered his head. "I'm afraid." He said.

Gu Xingfeng felt all his tiredness and irritation faded away. "I'm also afraid for you." He said and kissed Hao Baiyun's temple. "So, please stay here until I come back. This will make me feel assured." He told him as he lets go of Hao Baiyun's hand and he left the station.

"Xing-ge…" Hao Baiyun called.

"Madam." Ke Congyi called as he made Hao Baiyun sit on a chair. "You can wait for the chief here." He told him.

"… okay." Hao Baiyun sighed as he worriedly looked at the entrance where Gu Xingfeng left.

Stable World, S City.

"Hah!" Hao Baiyun sharply gasped and he clutched his chest when he felt it's painful.

"Young master?!" Fei Xuli and Jing Yu called as they immediately caught Hao Baiyun who collapsed. "Young master!" they called as they immediately placed him in the sofa. They had just returned from inspecting the areas where the strange occurrences happened.

Hao Baiyun didn't answer and just continued breathing to relieve the pain in his chest. He can feel his other self's worry. Is it coming? He thought and closed his eyes. He's referring to Gu Xingfeng's death. "Call… Gu Xingfeng – " he told them.

Fei Xuli and Jing Yu weren't surprised. Fei Xuli immediately called Gu Xingfeng while Jing Yu gave Hao Baiyun water. "Chief Gu." Fei Xuli called when the line call connected. "Our young master wishes to see you." He told Gu Xingfeng who's on the other line.

Gu Xingfeng was in the X City to see Liu Xi and inquire about the strange phenomenon in the X City. "Did his illness recur?" he asked.

"Yes." Fei Xuli honestly answered.

"Stop the car." Gu Xingfeng immediately told Zhang Bao who's driving.

Zhang Bao immediately parked the car to the side and watched Gu Xingfeng hurriedly took his wallet and jacket.

"You go ask Liu Xi in my stead. Tell him something important came up." Gu Xingfeng told Zhang Bao.

Zhang Bao nodded. "Yes, chief." He answered and started the car, leaving Gu Xingfeng to hail a taxi.

"I'm on my way there." Gu Xingfeng told Fei Xuli and ended the call. Then, he called the taxi that passed by and hailed it. "Go to S City." He told the driver before he unlocked his phone. There, he saw his wallpaper is Hao Baiyun brightly smiling when he was young. Then, his temperament suddenly changed because of his illness. Not only until recently did he know the cause of Hao Baiyun's illness, resulting to his frail body. It's because Hao Baiyun could see a different world in his dreams, but he has to pay the price for having the privilege.

He was about to call him when his eyes suddenly widened and he dropped his phone. His abdomen suddenly hurt. Like he was stabbed. "Sir?!" the driver was startled when he heard him groaning in pain.

"Just… continue to drive – " Gu Xingfeng told him as he endured the pain. This pain is nothing compared to what Hao Baiyun is experiencing now. He had to see him immediately!