Afterlife Department

Chapter 562 - Twice

"Ugh! Why is it us, again, to collect these lovers' souls?!" Wu Ling, or 0520, complained. Although his code is 'wu er ling', he dislikes the number '2' for 'idiot' thus he skipped it and named himself 'Wu Ling'.

"Because our codes give them comfort." Qian San, or 1314, answered as he watched the two souls walked down the Pathway of Clouds hand in hand.

"Ah. Really." Shi Yi, or 0521, spoke with an indifferent expression. He looked unwilling to collect the souls of lovers despite his code signifies of 'willingness'.

"I never despise numbers more than right now." Qi Bai, or 0770, spoke through gnashed teeth as he pushed up his eyeglasses.

0520, or merely 520, means 'I love you'. 521 means 'I am willing'. These two are numeric codes for confession. Meanwhile, 1314 means 'for a lifetime' while 770 means 'kiss you'. Them four's codes are associated with love thus they are assigned with collected the souls of lovers who don't want to separate in life and in death. Thus, Qian San told them that their codes give these lovers comfort, to which elicited different reactions from the other three.

"Hm? Aren't they…" Wu Ling muttered when he turned and caught sight of two figures.

"Senior Yi!" Qian San called when he also saw Yi Bing.

Yi Bing stopped when he heard someone called him while Huo Ling resumed walking, to which he stopped after when Yi Bing pulled him back.

"They looked close." Shi Yi commented when he saw Yi Bing pulling Huo Ling through the back of his collar.

Qi Bai doesn't look interested in this disciple of Yi Bing.

"Qian San." Yi Bing spoke. "Your team has ferried another pair of lovers to ferry again?" he spoke.

"Yes." Qian San respectfully answered.

"Good work." Yi Bing spoke and nodded at the three who immediately behaved.

They highly respect Yi Bing so they schooled their earlier expressions when Yi Bing looked at them.

"Huo Ling." Yi Bing called. "They are from the Collection Department." He said.

Huo Ling's expression changed. "From chief Shou Ji's and vice chief Shi Jiu's department?" he said and looked at the four men before him. When he looked at them, suddenly, it reminded him of a certain popular romantic show about four guys and one girl. He immediately shook his head to erase his thoughts. "Greetings, seniors. I am Huo Ling." He spoke.

Qian San good-naturedly smiled. "Hello. I am Qian San." He said.

"Wu Ling." Wu Ling spoke.

"I'm Shi Yi." Shi Yi said.

"Qi Bai." Qi Bai said.

Yi Bing told Huo Ling their codes as each of them spoke their names. Huo Ling's expression turned stiff and he did his best to not laugh or cry in front of them. These four… their codes are really… unique. How can Qian San, Shi Yi, Wu Ling and Qi Bai not guess Huo Ling's thoughts? Anyone who would hear their codes definitely would think about nauseating romantic codes.

But, in front of Yi Bing, they can't show a black face. "Ehem. I am code 0000." Huo Ling told them his code as a sign of courtesy.

"'0000'?" the four muttered and looked at him. "There… is a code like that?" they said.

Huo Ling tilted his head as a question appeared on top of his head. "There isn't?" he asked and slowly turned to Yi Bing.

"There is." Yi Bing answered.

The four, although have codes like that, are sharp. They noticed something subtle between Yi Bing and Huo Ling and they immediately decided to retreat.

"It is us who are ignorant." Qian San, as the leader, spoke as he apologetically smiled. "Senior Yi. We will take our leave first to report to our chief." He said.

"En. You may go." Yi Bing nodded.

The four nodded at Huo Ling before they left as if there is oil beneath their feet.

"There wasn't code '0000'?" Huo Ling asked Yi Bing. He thought that the other just gave him face earlier in front of Qian San, Shi Yi, Wu Ling and Qi Bai.

"There is." Yi Bing repeated.

Huo Ling stared at him.

Yi Bing knows what he wanted to ask. "No one knows about code 0000 because only a few actually knows about it." He explained.

"Why?" Huo Ling asked. "Is it some sort of a secret that has to be kept?" he said.

It is. Yi Bing answered in his mind.

Huo Ling is smart so he can guess. "You can't tell me why." He spoke. This second 'why' is for the reason why it is a secret to be kept. "What if someone asks me about my code or find it out from others?" he asked.

"Is there someone that dare to mess with my apprentice?" Yi Bing asked back as he crossed his arms on his chest. He looked at him with that ice-cold pupils that are very unnerving, making one feel that they are in the peak of winter season.

Huo Ling suppressed his thoughts to not shiver. "No. No one. You are the greatest!" He answered and looked away.

Yi Bing nodded, feeling satisfied. If it was before, he would sneer if someone told him that he would act arrogant but doting at the same time. He might even beat that person. Yet, now he has become like this. Although he felt this moment is surreal, he also felt that this is how things should be.

"Do you have any opinion against me?" he asked Huo Ling with his brows raised.

Many. A lot. Huo Ling answered in his mind but he maintained the fake smile on his lips. "No – " he answered.

"Ling-ge!" Mo Shi called when he saw Huo Ling and immediately ran towards him.

Jin Wu who is walking behind him turned and saw the two. "Why are you two flirting here at the entrance of the Pathway of Clouds?" he asked as he approached them.

"'flirting'?" Huo Ling asked and turned. He felt like he found an escape from Yi Bing's question.

"You're not?" Jin Wu spoke and looked at Yi Bing.

"We aren't." Yi Bing answered. Yet. He added in his mind.

Huo Ling looked back at Yi Bing. He thought he heard that unspoken word at end of his sentence. But, seeing that the other's expression looked the same, he withdrew his gaze and turned back to Mo Shi to ask how the other is doing.

"What are you doing here?" Yi Bing asked.

"We just sent former 0342 to the Rainbow Tower." Jin Wu answered.

Huo Ling turned. "'Rainbow Tower'…" he muttered. He already knows that this is a prison for those who broke the rules. Some with heavier crimes have their souls dissipated.

"Ling-ge. That place is really scary!" Mo Shi said, turning Huo Ling's attention back to him.

"Really?" Huo Ling spoke.

"Yes!" Mo Shi nodded. "That place is so dark and you can hear many voices. Some crying, some shouting… ah. I felt like I am going mad just listening." He explained.

"Oh…" Huo Ling muttered and continued to listen to Mo Shi.

Yi Bing watched the two on the side before he turned back to Jin Wu who is watching the senior and junior grim reapers send their assignments to their next reincarnation. "Why was former 0342 sent to the Rainbow Tower?" he asked. "His punishment should be between level 2 and level 3. Those who are sent to the Rainbow Tower have level 4 and level 5." He said.

Jin Wu nodded in agreement. "En. That's how it should be. But, I received a notice from Gu Shi who returned from the Middle Heaven with Sha Jiu." He spoke. "The notice says that former 0342 harmed, indirectly, the Abnormal Soul You Ri twice. Former 0342's punishment rose to level 4, so I had to transfer him to Rainbow Tower." He explained.

"'harmed twice'?' Yi Bing's brows knitted.

"I don't know the specific details." Jin Wu said. "You can go to the Inspection Department to ask." He told him and glanced at Huo Ling who is still talking with Mo Shi. "After all, You Ri was still your apprentice's former assignment. It is still within permission for you to inquire for her well-being." He explained.

"En. Thanks." Yi Bing nodded.

Jin Wu shrugged. He turned and called Mo Shi before they left.

"What's wrong?" Huo Ling asked when he turned and saw Yi Bing's expressionless face.

"Do you want to ask what happened to You Ri after?" Yi Bing asked him back.

"Hm? I can?" Huo Ling was surprised.

Yi Bing nodded and decided to take Huo Ling to the Inspection Department.

…

"I didn't expect to see you two again so soon." Bai Liu spoke with a frown. Obviously, he is in a bad mood.

"What happened?" Huo Ling asked.

"This…" Jiu Ye hesitated.

"Tell him. He is You Ri's former grim reaper." Bai Liu told Jiu Ye.

Jiu Ye heavily nodded. "We found out that former senior 0342 harmed You Ri twice.." He answered.