Afterlife Department

Chapter 368 – Sha Jiu

At first, Sha Jiu thought that Yi Bing was harming Hai Ba so he loathed Yi Bing. But, after that, he noticed that Yi Bing really has some problems. So, it wasn't intentional what happened between him and Hai Ba before. However, Sha Jiu really couldn't let go because Hai Ba has suffered, and can't become a combatant grim reaper anymore. While, on the other hand, Yi Bing just shone brighter. 

"What's wrong with Yi Bing?" Sha Jiu asked as he pulled himself from his thoughts. "After I contemplated what happened before, I can swear that Yi Bing has really lost his power at that time. But, why did he recover it after? How did he recover it?!" he asked. 

"I don't know!" Gu Shi answered. 

Sha Jiu frowned. "I am more curious of how Yi Bing regained his power than hate him for what he did." He said.. 

"… so that's why you are very particular as to what's happening around Yi Bing?" Gu Shi helplessly said. As expected of a researcher! 

"Yes." Sha Jiu nodded. "For me, Yi Bing has a big 'troublemaker' tag on his face. Just hope he didn't do anything in the Normal World 9999 this time." He told Gu Shi. 

Gu Shi doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Why 'this time'? He didn't do anything else!" he told him. 

"Huh." Sha Jiu declined to comment. 

Gu Shi's shoulder shrunk. "Let's go to Shen Taizi to report." He just said. 

"'kay." Sha Jiu answered and followed him. 

Normal World. 

"So, the dormitories for the poor are separated from the rich?" Yi Bing heard Huo Ling spoke as he looked around the room. 

"This is to prevent thievery." Yi Bing said as he hid his phone after he read the information sent by Iris Hudgeson. 

Huo Ling shrugged as he leaned on the wardrobe. "As long as I get a room for me." He said. 

Yi Bing nodded. "The Fughlia High isn't that heartless. Iris was also poor. So, he naturally would take care of the poor students." He explained. "Each student has his own room. The same can be said for the teachers." He said. 

"The poor teachers' dormitory is also separated from the rich teachers, right?" Huo Ling asked. 

"That's expected. The adults' mind is more wretched than the students'." Yi Bing harshly spoke. 

"That applies only to you. Don't lump me in." Huo Ling frowned as he looked at him, looking displeased. 

Yi Bing didn't speak. "That driver of the car who hit you was also a poor teacher." He said. "I'll be replacing him." he told him. 

Hearing that, Huo Ling felt his leg that was wrapped in a cast ached even though he can't feel pain because of his body constitution as a grim reaper – a corpse body. But, because of Shen Sheng's Conferment Seal, there are vital signs on their corpse body. When he was sent to the hospital, he really 'died'. But, because of the Conferment Seal, his 'vital signs' returned, which shocked the doctors and nurses in the hospital because they had already declared him dead. The cause is blood loss and bone fractures on the rib and waist. 

But, what can they do that he lived again? Thus, they can only cast his body and leg, and wrap his head in a gauze. Since his body miraculously became fine in just a few hours, and he is poor, they immediately discharged him under the premise that Huo Ling was fine. 

Huo Ling crossed his arms on his chest, making his uniform jacket and the shirt underneath slightly rose. What should be his waist exposed, was actually a cast can be seen. But, Huo Ling's relaxed posture right now, with his leg crossed over the other, he doesn't look like he has been hit hard by a car earlier and 'died'. 

"How about the classes?" Huo Ling asked Yi Bing. 

"Fortunately, the rich and the poor students are combined, so we can limit our search and doesn't need to search in the rich students' classes, if happened." Yi Bing answered. 

Huo Ling stared at Yi Bing. "What's the deal with this school?" he asked. "The energy here really is low? How can I not feel it?" he added. 

"Because your soul attribute is fire. And mine is ice, so we can't feel it." Yi Bing answered s he took out a device where some colorful bars are moving and blinking on the screen.

"That is?" Huo Ling pointed as he curiously looked at the device that looked like a mobile phone. The moving and blinking colorful bars are a gauge. 

"Mobile World Energy Gauge." Yi Bing answered. 

"… so simple?" Huo Ling asked as he speechlessly looked at Yi Bing. 

"Yes." Yi Bing nodded. 

Huo Ling. "…" fortunately, the device's name isn't fancy. Or else, he'd feel embarrassed, even though it should be Yi Bing, or, more precisely, Sha Jiu, for naming the device in a chuunibyou manner. 

Yi Bing moved around the room while holding the Mobile World Energy Gauge in his hand. The bars on the screen are moving, but not that much. "Sha Jiu said that it is in this area that this world's energy is the lowest. But, he can't pinpoint the exact location, so we can only look for it then see what caused this world's energy to change." He explained. 

Huo Ling pondered over it. "No. Locating the change this far is already amazing." He said. "Sha Jiu is an excellent man… ehem, grim reaper." he coughed. It seems that he still hasn't adjusted to being a grim reaper. 

Yi Bing nodded in agreement. "He is. Or else, he wouldn't be recruited as a grim reaper." he said. 

"He must have been a very intelligent person when he was alive." Huo Ling said. 

"He was a scientist." Yi Bing said. 

"So, that's why he was assigned to the R&D?" Huo Ling asked. 

"Originally, no." Yi Bing answered. 

"'originally'?" Huo Ling looked at Yi Bing. 

"Sha Jiu's soul attribute is of earth type, the sand." Yi Bing started. "His meticulous attitude as a scientist when he was alive was reflected on his soul attribute – fine sands." He said. "It is a good power, so he should have been a combatant grim reaper like Feng Er, Liu Lin, Jin Wu and Si Shui. Not even an assignment-bound grim reaper like me. Sha Jiu… he is born a fighter." He explained. 

"But, wasn't he a scientist before?" Huo Ling was puzzled. 

"Sha Jiu was born from a wealthy family. His brothers are soldiers, and he should have been one. However – " Yi Bing spoke. " – he got into an accident and became disabled. So…" he didn't continue. 

"So he can't become a soldier anymore." Huo Ling continued. 

Yi Bing nodded. "Fortunately, life opened a new path for him. He is a genius, so he became a scientist. His disability didn't stop him from pursuing glory." He said. 

Huo Ling sighed in admiration towards Sha Jiu. "So, when you said he should've been a combatant grim reaper…" he spoke. 

"It was his hidden desire to become a soldier." Yi Bing answered. 

"Then, how did he come to the R&D?" Huo Ling asked. 

"It is connected to Hai Ba." Yi Bing answered. 

"The former 8888?" Huo Ling asked. He knows that there was a new 8888, like him who is a 'new' 9999. And Hai Ba is the original 8888. 

"Yes. Hai Ba came from the same world as Sha Jiu." Yi Bing spoke. "He was a soldier." He said.

"… isn't he the doctor of the Afterlife Department?" Huo Ling asked. 

"A soldier is required to study medicine." Yi Bing said.

"Oh…" Huo Ling muttered. He didn't pursue this topic. 

"Hai Ba, precisely, was a subordinate of Sha Jiu's elder brother, and is also a friend. Sha Jiu, naturally, became friends with Hai Ba." Yi Bing said. "But, Hai Ba died while on duty. Then, he became a combatant grim reaper. When he heard the news that a Soul Eater appeared in their world, he volunteered to go with me to kill the Soul Eater. Then…" his voice trailed off. It was a while before he continued. "He found Sha Jiu's soul. I noticed that they were acquaintances, so I had Hai Ba hide Sha Jiu in somewhere safe. But…" he lowered his gaze. "An accident happened. I momentarily lost my power. The Soul Eater reached Hai Ba and Hai Ba was injured. Fortunately, my powers immediately returned and I killed the Soul Eater. But, Hai Ba…" his voice choked. 

Huo Ling fell silent and felt sympathy towards Hai Ba and Sha Jiu. Because of unfortunate circumstances, they can't realize their dream. 

"When we returned to the Heaven, Shen Taizi regretfully appointed Hai Ba as the doctor. Sha Jiu refused Shen Taizi's Conferment Seal – which will make him an official grim reaper. He volunteered to be the R&D's director, which is close to the Afterlife Department's Hospital – where Hai Ba was assigned."