Afterlife Department

Chapter 253 – Behavior

"Then, they are very lucky." Huo Ling can't help but feel envy. He looked at Yi Bing. "I think you're a nice person. They are very lucky to have someone like you risk your life for them." He sighed with emotion. 

"Yes. I think so, too." Yi Bing said. "That's why they have to hurry to know my sacrifices for them." He chuckled. 

Huo Ling was surprised. "They don't know?!" he asked.. 

"They don't." Yi Bing said. 

Huo Ling stared at Yi Bing. "Yet, why do you look happy with that?" he asked with a look of puzzlement on his face. 

"Because by the time they knew of it, something bad will happen." Yi Bing said. 

"Huh?" Huo Ling is puzzled. He can't follow Yi Bing's thoughts. 

Yi Bing just laughed as he walked towards the Baurne residence. A bitter smile was on his lips. If Huo Ling were to find out his feelings towards him, they will be separated. A soul's deeds are recorded in the Death Note, thus Yi Bing can't afford to let Huo Ling know of his feelings for him, despite he wanted to be with him so bad. 

He isn't afraid to let Di San, Feng Er, Liu Lin, Si Shui, Gu Shi, and even Qi Shan, know of his feelings towards Huo Ling. For one, he trusts them. Two, a grim reaper's deeds won't be known by the Heaven. Their hands are already full managing the souls, they can't afford to monitor the grim reapers. That's why, even if it is forbidden for grim reapers to fall in love or develop any human emotions, no one takes it seriously. Unless, they were discovered after they have done an irredeemable deed. 

Yi Bing is smart, so he won't do anything foolish that will make the Heaven discover his feelings towards Huo Ling. Di San, Gu Shi and Qi Shan also know that he is a rational person that won't easily be swayed by his emotions. As for Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui, they are afraid of him, and now, they owe him their life after he also saved them from the space waves and brought them in this world. They won't breathe a word about him, aside from words of praise of him. 

"A soul, huh…" Huo Ling muttered as he pondered. "How do we find it?" he asked Yi Bing. 

They stopped before the Baurne residence. Huo Ling stared at the place where he lived for more than two decades. His eyes reddened and he felt something was clogging up his throat, making him feel choked and it was hard for him to breathe. 

Yi Bing saw Huo Ling feeling emotion with a nostalgic look on his face. He felt jealous of Jonathan Baurne, the man that raised Huo Ling. Actually, he can go in a world in advance where Huo Ling will reincarnate and set up an identity that will make him have more contact with Huo Ling like what he did in the fourth world where he disguised as Liu Lingling. 

But, because of an accident in the previous interstellar world, not only did he have no time, but they all almost died after leaving the world in the process. 

Di San, Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui knew they messed up and implicated them on the process. If Huo Ling died, this sin is irredeemable. They'd rather die themselves than the soul with them. Thus, they are greatly indebted with Yi Bing. Not only did Yi Bing saved Huo Ling, even if it is a part of Yi Bing's task, Yi Bing also saved them and they arrived in the next world safely. 

Yi Bing spoke after Huo Ling regained his calm. "I don't know what will my soul look like." He honestly answered. "That's why we're blindly looking everywhere, widening the scope of our search." He said. 

"Don't worry! I'm here. I'll definitely help you!" Huo Ling told him as he patted his chest. "I know the Baurne family, as well as Lao Xie and Lu-ge. Just promise me you and your friend won't harm any of them!" he said and looked at Yi Bing. 

Yi Bing nodded. "We won't." he solemnly said. It was against their rules to harm humans, anyway. Humans are the weakest creatures. Even the animals are stronger than them. Thus, the grim reapers shouldn't harm the humans, in any way. 

Huo Ling was relieved. "Good." He said. "I'll lead you to the back door so no one would see you going inside. There are also cameras, and I'll tell you where to go to avoid them." He told him as they walked around the Baurne residence. 

However, just as they entered the residence through the back door, Huo Ling was stunned. A grand funeral was held in the side courtyard and Lao Xie and Lu Si were there, including Di San. 

Di San saw Yi Bing and Huo Ling arrived and he walked towards them. "Just when I arrived in Lao Xie's place, I saw them leaving and followed them." Di San explained. "I didn't expect they are going here." He said and then turned to Huo Ling whose eyes are filled with tears when he saw Jonathan Baurne arrived together with Jason Baurne who was silently following behind Jonathan Baurne. 

When Lao Xie and Lu Si saw Jason Baurne, their eyes reddened. Not because of tears, but because of anger. Even their own people are emanating killing intent directed towards Jason Baurne. However, since they respect Huo Ling and hold him in their heart, they didn't make a move against Jason Baurne to not ruin Huo Ling's funeral. 

"Jonathan…" Huo Ling muttered as his tears finally fell. He slowly walked towards Jonathan who stood in front of the empty casket together with Jason Baurne. 

Di San fell silent while Yi Bing silently observed the people present. His eyes couldn't help but narrow as he looked at Jason Baurne. This guy indirectly caused Huo Ling's death! He thought as he clenched his fists. 

"Yi Bing!" Di San called when he felt a chill and saw Yi Bing's anger on his face. "He's a human!" he reminded him. 

Yi Bing immediately retracted his killing intent. But, his anger didn't subside. Even if the only way he could see Huo Ling is Huo Ling dying, but that doesn't mean he approves of it. He wanted Huo Ling to live longer if he could. However, this time, Huo Ling died as soon as the clock struck midnight! 

Yi Bing's face is dark as he turned to leave. "Yi Bing!" he heard Di San called, but he didn't turn back nor answered. Di San could only helplessly sighed. 

"He left?" He heard Huo Ling's voice spoke from behind him. Di San turned and saw Huo Ling was siping his tears. "Why does he look more upset than me? I'm the one who died!" he said and laughed, pertaining to Yi Bing. However, one could see the rims of his eyes are red, as well as his nose, because he cried heavily. 

"That guy may have some personality issues, but he is a good person." Di San told Huo Ling before his gaze swept past Huo Ling and looked at Lao Xie who was silently mourning as he stared at Huo Ling's picture above Huo Ling's empty coffin. Then, he turned to Huo Ling. "Do you… have a message for Lao Xie?" he asked. "You may have already heard from Yi Bing why we are approaching these people?" he said. He knows Yi Bing likes Huo Ling, and Yi Bing doesn't hide anything from Huo Ling. 

Huo Ling nodded. "Yes." He answered. "Tell him to always look after his health. That's my wish for him. He will naturally doubt your identity, so tell him that I told you about him sneakily looking at grandma Lin." He smiled. 

Di San nodded and looked at Huo Ling in appreciation before bidding him goodbye. Huo Ling nodded and waved at him before following Yi Bing outside. Di San walked to the side, silently watching over Lao Xie while thinking how to approach the old man when his eyes suddenly widened after he ran over the excuse Huo Ling gave him to prove his identity to Lao Xie as Huo Ling's friend. 

Grandma Lin. Was Huo Ling referring to Lin Yuxiu, the matriarch of the Xi family?! He felt like a lightning struck him as he stared at Lao Xie's back with widened eyes in shock. Lin Yuxiu's husband died thirty years ago, and he is a famous wealthy businessman, which is what Lao Xie before. After Xi Zhengdong died, Lin Yuxiu single-handedly raised the Xi family to one of the top aristocratic families with the support of her family, the Lin family, who allied themselves to the Xi family through her and Xi Zhengdong's marriage. 

Di San's eyes narrowed as he drowned in his thoughts. Lao Xie's fall was thirty years ago, the same year as Xi Zhengdong's death. Then, Lao Xie's behavior, based on Huo Ling, which is secretly looking at Lin Yuxiu, could there be an unspeakable hidden truth with it? He had to make sure if Lao Xie's watching over Lin Yuxiu is out of love, or out of guilt.