Afterlife Department

Chapter 321 – Court

Upper Heaven. 

Shen Sheng stood at the center of the Heaven's Court and looked at the Council of Elders, the Judges, and, finally, the emperor of the heaven. "The matter with the Special World #7312, will be handled by me." He said as he calmly looked at them. "I believe no one objects?" he asked. 

"Shen Taizi." One of the Elders called. "May we ask how will you handle this case?" he asked. 

Shen Sheng slowly turned to him and graciously smiled. However, the words that came out of his mouth is the opposite. "First Elder, are you sure you're supposed to use 'we' and not 'me'?" he asked. "Also… you may not.." He answered him. 

The First Elder's face reddened and choked back the words he is about to say. Shen Sheng ignored him before he could speak, making him choke in anger again. 

"I am aware that every one of you doesn't like the Lower Heaven." Shen Sheng spoke with an unhurried pace. The ends of his clothes are rubbing against the floor as he walked around. "But, who should I use if not the Lower Heaven – who are my people?" he asked. "Or, are you suggesting, for me to join the Upper Heaven?" his eyes narrowed and his gaze swept past each and every one of them present in the court. "Are you sure? If I'll join, I'll replace one of you seating on your comfortable seat, that looks… actually not that comfortable?" he chuckled, and his eyes curved into crescents. 

Silence fell upon them, and even the drop of a needle could be heard. Everyone knows that they have worked hard just to grab a seat and gain the opportunity to join the court. If Shen Sheng would join the Upper Court, who will he replace? What if it's them? Then, all their hard work would just go to waste?! 

Simultaneously, they secretly glared at Third Elder as they gnashed their teeth. The Third Elder felt like his chest is so full of blood from suppressing his anger. He wanted to say that Shen Sheng is just making insinuations from his words. That wasn't his own intention! Shen Sheng is just toying with them! Who doesn't know that Shen Sheng wanted for them to ruin themselves by their own hands?! 

"Shen Taizi." The emperor spoke. 

Shen Sheng finally stopped laughing, and a smile was hanging on his lips. 

"Shen Taizi is being mischievous." The emperor spoke in a helpless tone. "The matter with the Special World #7312 will be handled by Shen Taizi. Court, adjourned." He said. 

"Praise the Emperor! May the Heaven more prosper!" they all said and bowed as the emperor rose from his seat. 

Shen Sheng, standing in the middle of the court, also bowed. 

The emperor looked at him, and countless emotions flashed in his eyes before he turned and disappeared. Seeing that the emperor disappeared, the others also hurriedly left. Who they are afraid of is obvious – Shen Sheng. Shen Sheng not only has the archangels in his hands, but also the grim reapers! His power is already rivalled that of the emperor's. But, because the emperor dotes on him too much, even calling him 'mischievous' despite being more than a thousand years old, it can clearly be seen that the emperor doesn't see him as a threat. 

"Hmph!" the Third Elder scoffed as he left with the other four Elders. Suddenly, he tripped. 

"Third Elder, be careful!" his attendants cried as they hurriedly caught him. 

Shen Sheng chuckled. "Third Elder's eyesight is becoming poor. Please take care of Third Elder." He told them before he slowly turned to leave. 

Everyone who has seen the flat floor before the Third Elder's feet trembled. Who could mess with them like this, and be unable to strike back? If not Shen Sheng, then it could only be the emperor. 

Middle Heaven. 

As soon as Shen Sheng appeared, the archangels immediately folded their wings and descended on the floor to kneel and bow. "Shen Taizi has safely returned!" the doorkeeper announced as he bowed. 

The smile on Shen Taizi's face disappeared and his face cooled. The archangels immediately shivered in fright. "Scram." He told them. 

The archangels immediately disappeared on sight. The doorkeeper has been working with Shen Sheng, so he knows his temper. Shen Sheng has just returned from the Court and is in a foul mood. Then, he saw the archangels, whom he despises. His mood turned for the worse. 

The doors automatically opened and the doorkeeper soundlessly followed behind Shen Sheng. He immediately but carefully took off the heavy outer robes of Shen Sheng, as well as his hair ornaments that is three times heavier than his clothes, before he prepared the Cloud Foot Bath for Shen Sheng. 

"Damn eyesores." Shen Sheng spat out. 

The doorkeeper hurriedly lowered his head. He knows Shen Sheng is referring to the archangels. As long as they have wings, Shen Sheng's mood would turn sour. He didn't dare breathe loudly. 

"Call Yi Bing." Shen Sheng spoke. 

"Yes, Shen Taizi!" the doorkeeper slash messenger immediately answered. He knows that Shen Sheng likes the grim reapers and souls the most. Look, his cloudy face suddenly brightened like the sun! 

"I heard he brought back a new friend." Shen Sheng said and happily laughed. "And, it seemed this new friend is Yang Jie's… 'friend'." His voice slowed down, then a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. 

The doorkeeper didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Shen Sheng sure loves to gossip! 

"It's been a long time since I last conferred a Seal." Shen Sheng said then suddenly paused. The smile on his lips becoming more meaningful. 

Xiao Hun finally can't hold it back. Shen Sheng would drive him crazy! However, before he could speak, he suddenly turned when he felt the change in the fluctuation of the air. "Yi Bing, Yang Jie, and Zhang Jun have arrived!" he announced as he bowed to the side when he saw Yi Bing, Yang Jie and Zhang Jun.

He announced their arrival by calling their name. Although grim reapers have a code, but Xiao Hun, as only a doorkeeper, even though he is someone from the Middle Heaven, but feel uncomfortable calling the grim reapers by their code. Shen Sheng also likes the grim reapers' personal names, since it was him who created this rule that grim reapers must have a name by themselves. This is how idle this prince is. 

He can't help but marvel what's before him. It is rare to see Yi Bing, much less see him before Shen Sheng. Yi Bing is cold, while Shen Sheng is, as the emperor said, mischievous. Yi Bing is like a son to Shen Sheng so Shen Sheng likes to tease Yi Bing. That's why Yi Bing doesn't like appearing before Shen Sheng. 

Who is even rarer to see is Yang Jie, the second grim reaper. He is a spy, so it is natural to not see him for even a hundred years. 

"Shen Taizi." Yi Bing and Yang Jie called as they knelt and bowed. 

Zhang Jun, as a soul, could already feel the oppressive pressure coming from Shen Sheng, so he followed Yi Bing and Yang Jie to kneel and bow. "Shen Taizi…" he also called. As a former policeman, he has met all kinds of people. But, he has never met someone like Shen Sheng. 

Shen Sheng's brows raised as he waved his hand. "As you were, as you were." He said in a perfunctory tone.

Zhang Jun was taken aback. He was dazed, and Xiao Hun has to help him up since Yi Bing and Yang Jie ignored him even if they were the ones who brought him here. 

Yi Bing is lazy to talk with Shen Sheng, so it was Yang Jie who opened his mouth to speak. "Shen Taizi." He cupped his hands and lowered his head. "Zhang Jun, a non-assignment soul, has completed two cycles of reincarnation. As per the rules, a soul is given a chance to become a grim reaper after he finishes a cycle. Since he is a non-assignment soul, no grim reaper was tasked to accompany him after his death and help him through his reincarnation cycle. But, this time, he happened to meet senior Yi and I." he explained. 

No need for further explanation. Yang Jie is a non-assignment grim reaper. Zhang Jun is a non-assignment soul. So, Yang Jie doesn't have the authority to offer the invitation to Zhang Jun to become a grim reaper. And since Yi Bing is present, and has a higher position than Yang Jie, he's the only one who has the authority to give the offer to Zhang Jun. And since Zhang Jun was brought back by Yi Bing, that means that Zhang Jun agreed. 

"Have you already told him about the grim reaper's tasks?" Shen Sheng asked. 

"Yes, Shen Taizi." Yang Jie answered. "He chose… the non-assignment." He said. It meant that Zhang Jun wouldn't be given some souls to help them reincarnate, like Yi Bing. He will be like Yang Jie, Jun Wu, Feng Er, Liu Lin, and Si Shui. 

"It seems like you have a fate with the word 'non-assignment'!" Shen Sheng exclaimed. 

Yi Bing, Yang Jie and Zhang Jun. "…" is it okay for him to say things like this?

Xiao Hun. "…" just let the prince say whatever he wanted to say. He is a willful prince.