Afterlife Department

Chapter 391 – Beneath

Yi Bing frowned when they reached the pool area and he immediately pulled Huo Ling back when they felt they were pulled stronger. "Don't go near." He told Huo Ling and they moved away from the swimming pool. 

"What is this?" Huo Ling asked as he looked at the swirling water in the middle of the swimming pool. His jaw dropped, feeling gob smacked as he stared at the vortex in the water. 

Yi Bing pulled Huo Ling closer to him, afraid that the air around them would suck them in the vortex. "We should've gone here at night before. But, it isn't too late." He said. 

Huo Ling turned to him. "What do you mean?" he asked. 

"I mean, aren't the 'main events' all happen during the night?" Yi Bing asked. 

The corner of Huo Ling's lips twitched. "… why didn't you tell me that earlier?" he asked as he casted a look of annoyance to Yi Bing. 

Yi Bing rubbed his nose in embarrassment. "My bad." He apologized. He admits, he really underestimated this world. He thought that everything is simple since this is just a Normal World. 

Now, he is slapped in the face. Not only by Renton's ghost, but also by this inexplicable giant vortex of water occupying the swimming pool. It's like a giant mouth of a monster under water, hiding in the darkness and ready to pounce on them when they come near. 

"There must be something beneath the swimming pool." Yi Bing spoke. 

They have been here before and saw that the water is clear. So, if there's anomaly, it must be beneath the swimming pool. 

"That thing must be the reason of the disappearance of the world's energy." Yi Bing added. 

Obviously. Huo Ling thought as he forced not to roll his eyes at Yi Bing. "What should we do now?" he asked. "We can't go near it, or we'll be sucked in." he said, then raised his hand to feel the wind. "Ah. There's a stronger energy mixed with the wind. It's sucking this world's energy!" He told him. 

Yi Bing's expression looked pensive as he stared at the vortex. "Huo Ling." He called. 

"Hmm?" Huo Ling answered. 

"Do you remember the newspaper I was reading back then in the library?" Yi Bing asked. 

"Yeah." Huo Ling nodded. 

"It's about this swimming pool." Yi Bing said. 

Huo Ling looked at him. 

"This swimming pool was built the last because they want the best of facility. Guess when it was built?" Yi Bing asked Huo Ling. 

"Two years ago?" Huo Ling randomly guessed. 

"Two months ago." Yi Bing spoke. 

"… f*ck." Huo Ling cursed as he kicked the fence. "Could it be… could it be – ?" he stared hard at Yi Bing. "Renton's body is under that…?" he asked, aghast. 

"There's a high possibility." Yi Bing spoke. 

Two months ago, Renton disappeared. It could be said that his disappearance is actually his death. The swimming pool was then built. 

Huo Ling uttered a string of curses. "No wonder Renton… I can't blame him for killing the bastards who wronged him!" he said, mad. His brown eyes glowered an orange colored, looking like a pair of amber gems in the dark night. 

"If Renton's body was buried underneath the swimming pool, then his ghost should've been in the pool area. But, it was in the library…" Yi Bing said. 

"He can't even be with his body after he died?!" Huo Ling exclaimed in outrage. 

"Wait. Calm down." Yi Bing spoke. "Because this area is open-air, the sun directly hits the pool. Added to the fact that mostly, males are gathering here, there's a strong yang energy in this area. The yin energy coming from Renton's body must been suppressed, as well as his ghost, thus separating them two." He explained. 

Huo Ling's eyes turned red from anger and tears, pitying Renton. "No wonder why he always stayed in the library… it is to watch the swimming pool." He sniffed. 

Yi Bing patted his head, comforting him. "But, if it's Renton's corpse sucking this world's energy, it should've already broken out of the swimming pool." He continued. 

Huo Ling froze. "You mean…" he muttered as he stared at Yi Bing. 

"There's something aside from Renton's corpse that is in there." Yi Bing said and looked at the vortex. "And it's the one that is sucking this world's energy, adding to the suppression of the yin energy in Renton's corpse." He explained. 

"Then… then let's take it out!" Huo Ling said. "This way, not only can we accomplish out task, but we can also help Renton!" his eyes brightened. 

Yi Bing's heart melted at the sight. Huo Ling is too adorable! He thought, suppressing the urge to kiss Huo Ling. "I think this matter isn't simple." He said. 

"What do you mean?" Huo Ling asked. 

"How do you think can a Normal World turn to a Supernatural World?" Yi Bing asked. Seeing the look of bewilderment in Huo Ling's face, he explained. "I guess there must be a special item beneath the swimming pool. And, it must be the work of an expert." He said. "Think about it. This place is directly hit by the sun, and almost males gather here. This is the best place to collect yang energy, suppressing the yin energy. This work is very elaborate." He sneered. 

Huo Ling's face paled. "You mean… this must be planned by someone?" he asked. 

Yi Bing nodded. "En." He answered. "I can guess who." He said, remembered the name that appeared in the newspaper. 

"Who?" Huo Ling asked. 

"Quinn Hudgeson." Yi Bing answered. 

…

"So, Renton can only wander around during night?" Huo Ling spoke as he looked at Luren's and Renton's figures through a binocular as he stood in the roof of the gymnasium. He turned to Yi Bing and saw that he has finished calling Iris. "Can't Renton go outside Fughlia?" he asked. 

"That depends." Yi Bing answered. "If he can get stronger, then he might. One way for the ghosts to get stronger is to collect fear from the humans, especially fear directly towards them. But…" he spoke. "Renton's corpse is here. He can't leave too far. No matter how strong he is, but he will feel weaker if he'd separate farther and longer from his corpse." He explained. 

Huo Ling nodded in understanding. "So, that's why he and Luren keep gazing at the swimming pool." He said. 

Luren must know how Renton died. 

"The reason why he can't take an action – to dig Renton's corpse, is because of this mystic object that is suppressing the yin energy in Renton's body. You should know that if the ghost combines with his corpse, the easier for him to get stronger." He said. "So, Renton must have already told Luren to not take any action, or else his corpse might be destroyed if this object is carelessly taken away." He explained. 

Huo Ling sighed in pity. "Luren also has it hard. He wanted to avenge his love and help him, but he learned that he can't." he lamented. 

Yi Bing just smiled. I also want to confess, but I can't since I don't want to part from you. He thought and suppressed his emotions. "He also can't carelessly take any action because Quinn is Iris' son." He told him. 

Huo Ling snorted in disdain. "Rich people." He said. 

Yi Bing chuckled. "Although Luren is an heir, but he's still a student right now. He has to win in Decathlon, and any competition or contest, to prove his strength." He explained. 

"Ah… the Decathlon…" Huo Ling frowned. He remembered that he had to participate as one of the special classes' students. 

"You can just participate for a while and use your 'injury' as an excuse. That way, you can leave the contest, and also show your respect to your seniors." Yi Bing told him. 

Huo Ling's eyes brightened. "Good idea!" he grinned. "So, what did Iris say?" he asked. 

Yi Bing went to call Iris about Quinn, and if he noticed any suspicious behavior from Quinn. 

"It wasn't Iris that answered." Yi Bing said. Before Huo Ling could ask, he spoke. "It was Lin Ze." He told him. 

"… it isn't what my mind crookedly thinking, right?" Huo Ling's expression turned complicated. 

Yi Bing laughed. "Can't it be that Iris is busy signing the documents and Lin Ze happened to pick it up?" he said. 

"Oh…" Huo Ling chose not to comment. 

Yi Bing patted his head. "Lin Ze said that Iris has fallen asleep on his working table and happened to bring him a cup of coffee." He explained. 

"So, did he tell you about Quinn Hudgeson?" Huo Ling asked. 

"He did." Yi Bing answered. "He said that Quinn Hudgeson asked to take over the project for the swimming pool in Fughlia High, add more workers and had them work overtime. So, the project was finished in just three days." He explained. 

Huo Ling's jaw dropped in shock. "Then, isn't he main culprit?!" he said. "He's definitely the one who murdered Renton!" he added.