Afterlife Department

Chapter 135 – Play

Yi Bing kept glancing at Huo Ling. He doesn't know why but he suddenly felt there is something wrong with Huo Ling. Well, not exactly 'wrong'. Just that there is something with Huo Ling. It is like, ever since they left Liu Lingling's apartment where Huo Ling lived with Liu Lingling for six years after Harry Jackson – Huo Ling's father, died, something changed with Huo Ling. If someone would ask him how Huo Ling changed and what is this change, Yi Bing cannot answer. Yet, he is sure. This is his gut feel, and it never failed.

There's definitely something that changed in Huo Ling!

On the other hand, Huo Ling who was playing dumb and is deliberately ignoring Yi Bing's glances is busy looking around outside the hospital where the body of the victims of the shipwreck of Ascend Cruise Ship was sent. He is not that narcissistic enough to think Yi Bing's glances are flirtatious, nor Yi Bing is looking at him because Yi Bing likes him. He knew, Yi Bing must have noticed the change in his emotions, that is why Yi Bing kept looking at him.

Huo Ling and Yi Bing had arrived, but no one has noticed them.. One, because everyone is busy doing their own thing. Two, they cannot be seen. He is a ghost, while Yi Bing is a yao which has an invisibility.

Remembered this, Huo Ling finally turned to Yi Bing. "Hey. Why do you have an invisibility power?" he asked. "Aren't you a sacrifice yao?" he saw Yi Bing suddenly stiffened. His brows scrunched in suspicion. Did Yi Bing lie to him?

A lie has to be covered up by another thousand lies. Yi Bing, who is a competent grim reaper, finally encountered something hard in his task: covering up his lie. As a grim reaper, they can lie just to appease a soul. However, Yi Bing, he lied to deceive a soul – Huo Ling.

Suddenly, the corners of his lips curled up when he remembered the first time he and Huo Ling met. Their bantering… and him deceiving Huo Ling countless times just to mess with him. His heart always felt itchy when he saw Huo Ling's wrinkled face when Huo Ling gets pissed after finding out he's playing with him. However, since the Huo Ling in his second life is too serious and his emotions are unstable, he cannot take a risk playing with his mind and emotions. As for the Huo Ling in his third life, the situation is too unexpected and very complicated, thus Yi Bing got no time to 'play' with Huo Ling.

But, this fourth encounter of them, Yi Bing was pleasantly surprised to find Huo Ling's attitude seemed carefree this time. Thus, Yi Bing tried to 'play' with Huo Ling again.

"Some yao has an invisibility, not just my kin – sacrificial yao." He said as his eyes narrowed while there is an imperceptible smile on his lips as he looked at Huo Ling who was waiting for his answer.

Seeing that attentive gaze of Huo Ling on him, Yi Bing's heart was scratched. That gaze made of Huo Ling made him tell Huo Ling before – in their first meeting, the confidential information about grim reapers, and also of the Afterlife Department. With that attentive gaze on you, as if you're the only one in his eyes, made Yi Bing impart all the knowledge he has to Huo Ling. 

However, this time, the 'knowledge' he will impart on Huo Ling are, of course, lies. What 'sacrificial yao'? He is a grim reaper! It is Huo Ling's fault he had misheard Di San's answer. "Some yao can have invisibility." He said.

"'can have'?" Huo Ling said when he noticed the key words. "You mean, the invisibility can be learned?" he asked.

"Smart." Yi Bing looked at Huo Ling with an appreciative gaze. He knew Huo Ling has always been smart.

Huo Ling bashfully smiled as he rubbed his nose.

"There are two ways to have one's ability: through inheritance, or learning it." Yi Bing said. "Inheriting an ability can be done in two ways: one, through blood. Two, by using a stealing ability." He explained.

"There's a stealing ability?" Huo Ling was surprised. "But, it is stealing. How can it be inheriting…" he muttered in a low voice. His voice is filled with confusion.

"Since one's ability was seized through another ability, then that's inheriting for the yao." Yi Bing said. "Thus, this ability of stealing is really sought-after, since it is rare." He said. "As for inheriting through blood, there are two kinds: one, by being born from the bloodline. Two, by drinking the blood of someone from that bloodline." He explained.

Huo Ling's eyes widened in horror. The second one is too gruesome. So disgusting, but also terrifying!

Yi Bing saw the fear in Huo Ling's eyes and he felt his heart softened. This Special World may be peaceful in the surface, but the truth is it's really cruel. Thus, he didn't comfort Huo Ling. Huo Ling must see this world with his own eyes. "The invisibility is not as important as the abilities of the powerful yao. The invisibility can be learned through spells or can be attained through a stealing power, thus it can be said invisibility is common for yao." He explained. "Since invisibility can be easily obtained, our kin which has one of invisibility is safe since the yao who wanted to have invisibility doesn't necessarily have to drink our blood." he said. "Of course, the strength of an ability also varies." He paused.

"What?" Huo Ling asked when he noticed Yi Bing stopped talking.

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling. He wanted to stop talking, since he wanted for Huo Ling to discover all these by himself. However, he felt defeated by those eyes. "Nothing." He answered before he continued. "One has to learn powerful spells to obtain a powerful ability." He said. "As for obtaining an ability through blood… one way is to drink the blood of a powerful yao who has the ability. The more powerful the yao is, the lesser the blood of him needed to be drank. But, if the yao who has the ability is weak… more blood of him is needed in order to obtain his ability." He explained.

Huo Ling frowned in disgust and the ruthlessness of the truth. Reality sure is always harsh. He can't help but think. "But, your kin still is in danger." He told Yi Bing. "If one really is determined to obtain the invisibility, and if there are no spells that can be found nor he can learn it, they will come after your kin." He said and his eyes suddenly widened when he remembered something. "Wait. How about your friends?" he asked when he remembered Di San and the three other 'sacrificial yao' earlier. "Will they be alright?" he asked as his voice was laced with worry. He looked at Yi Bing.

"They will be. They are powerful." Yi Bing answered. However, he didn't know this just increased Huo Ling's apprehension.

"Then, the more they will be in danger!" Huo Ling said.

Yi Bing. "…" he just took a rock and smashed it on his foot. He coughed to clear his throat. "They can protect themselves well. Since we are a yao, of course, we learned how to protect ourselves." He said, then suddenly smiled. "And since we are a sacrifice yao, then, the more that we have to protect ourselves." He added. His usually cold eyes are tinged with mischief.

Huo Ling's heart sank when he noticed the hidden implication in Yi Bing's words. "Wait…" he said as he looked at Yi Bing in horror. "You don't mean…" he said.

Yi Bing nodded, his face is filled with 'bitterness'. "Yes. Since we are a sacrifice to a god, of course, the things you offer to a god should be valuable, right, or you'll offend the god?" he said. Seeing Huo Ling's eyes widened in panic, he forced himself not to laugh.

Huo Ling now confirmed his conjecture is true. "You mean…" he said.

"Well, in order words – " Yi Bing said as he think. " – we can be called as 'natural treasure'." He told him.

A loud explosion can be heard inside Huo Ling's head. He felt his soul staggered but, since he is a ghost now, he cannot collapse. "So, you…" he said as he stared at Yi Bing.

"In a common person's word – " Yi Bing said. " – I can be called the emperor's son." He smiled.

"You… you – " Huo Ling said as his hand that was about to point at Yi Bing retreated and is shaking.

"I am the 'heir' of our kin." Yi Bing said.

Huo Ling felt he is going to faint from everything that he had learned today. "So, you're the most powerful in your kin?" he finally managed to say.

Yi Bing nodded. "Yes." he answered. Well, there's His Highness Shen Sheng, but since only I, Di San, Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui are currently in this world, then, I'm the most powerful among us. He thought. 

He didn't know the cost of his lies, which will happen later.