Afterlife Department

Chapter 425 – Girl

Huo Ling almost tripped had it not for his quick reflexes, which became quicker after he turned to a grim reaper. So, his face-planting didn't happen and he has prevented himself from humiliating himself. 

What?! Pei Tinghe's first crush has died?! He thought as his eyes widened from shock. He immediately turned when and hid to listen on in Pei Ru's and Han ma's conversation. Fortunately, their communicators have automatic recording function that records their daily activities 24/7. So, he didn't need to feel loss for missing to record Han ma's and Pei Ru's conversation earlier. 

Meanwhile, his thoughts continued wandering while he continued to listen in. 

"Huh? Died?" Pei Ru spoke. "I thought she has already married someone, or continued to wait for Pei Tinghe." She said, then paused. "But, if she decided to wait for Pei Tinghe, but she should have seen him whoring. She should have been brokenhearted about this, so she must have given up and married someone. But, you said that she died…" she muttered as she pondered. "Could it be she committed suicide?" she asked. "When did she die?" she looked at Han ma. 

Han ma shook her head. "They also aren't clear…" she answered. 

Pei Ru was taken aback. "What? If they aren't sure, then how can they just decide her fate like that?" she asked. 

Han ma's expression suddenly turned complicated. 

Pei Ru finally noticed her strangeness. "What is it?" she asked. When she didn't hear Han ma spoke, she realized something. "Pei Tinghe's crush happened before I left… could it be something happened after I left?" she stared at Han ma. 

Han ma frantically shook her head. "I'm also not clear about this, eldest miss! I'm just xiao Li's nanny!" she said. 

"Then, tell me what did you hear." Pei Ru said. 

Han ma bit her lip. "I heard them talking about the late second young master. Then, they suddenly mentioned her." She said. "They said that they haven't heard of her for a long time, it seems that she have moved to the other towns. She must have felt grievance towards the late second young master back then. She moved because of a heartbreak." She explained. "But, the second young master died. They think that it must be related to her." She told Pei Ru. 

Pei Ru frowned. "What is their basis for saying this?" she asked. 

"Because someone said that they saw her before by the river. Then, she fell." Han ma answered. 

Pei Ru was stunned. "She really committed suicide?!" she was shocked. Why is there someone taking their own life just for the scum Pei Tinghe?! She thought, feeling irked. 

Han ma nodded, then suddenly looked hesitating. 

"Is there more?" Pei Ru asked. 

"Yes." Han ma sighed. "They said that it was very spooky that time." She didn't wait for Pei Ru to ask again. "He only saw the girl's back figure from a distance, and it was already in the wee hours of the morning and so it was very dark. He only knew it was her because he recognized her figure." She explained. "Then, he saw her fell on the river. She must have turned to a ghost to revenge on the late second young master." She finished. 

Pei Ru pinched her chin as she contemplated. "Just what did she see in this scum Pei Tinghe?" she asked. 

Huo Ling. "…" miss doctor, you missed the point. This ghost must be the one responsible for Pei Tinghe's death! He thought. 

She must have received Huo Ling's thoughts as she spoke. "So, she's the perpetrator behind the appearance of Pei Tinghe's corpse in the water." She said, then suddenly remembered something. "Pei Tingting must have been implicated by Pei Tinghe." She grinned in schadenfreude.

Han ma helplessly sighed and excused herself after she relayed the gossip she heard. Pei Ru also left to go and see her husband and tell him what she has found out. 

Meanwhile, Huo Ling immediately sent the recording of Pei Ru's and Han ma's conversation. Since he has finished his task, he left to find Yi Bing and ask what should he do next while thinking about the girl that committed suicide because she has her heart broken by Pei Tinghe. Then, he remembered 'Pei Ru' who asked Han ma in the middle of the night. 

Could it be her? But, if she wanted to avenge herself, she already has done it by killing Pei Tinghe. Pei Tingting and lord Xu were also implicated by her revenge. Then, what was she asking Han ma for about her? To reminisce? This isn't likely. Furthermore, she has already died for many years. If she turned into a ghost after her death, then, shouldn't she have killed Pei Tinghe then? Why did she kill him only now? 

Huo Ling took a deep breath after he written down his doubts on his notes before he saved it. Then, he closed the holographic screen. He has just raised his head when he saw Yi Bing's lone figure sitting on the bench by the roadside. 

As soon as he landed, Yi Bing turned to look at him. "Found something?" he asked. He has just finished watching the video sent by Huo Ling. 

Huo Ling was surprised. "Why do you know?" he asked. 

"You wouldn't rush to find me if you didn't find anything." Yi Bing smiled. "You want to hear my conjectures in order to piece all the information you've found." He explained. 

Huo Ling sheepishly grinned after being found out. "Yes." He confessed. "So, what did you find from the local tyrant?" he asked and looked at Ke Hanying's figure sitting by the riverbank. 

"He really knows Pei Tinghe and came to his funeral with a purpose." Yi Bing answered. "As to what, maybe to hurl insults at him during his funeral, since he can't desecrate the dead further than that." He explained. "Also…" he slowly spoke. 

"There's more?" Huo Ling was surprised. 

Yi Bing nodded. "I heard him say a name, and it's of a woman's." he said. 

"That is?" Huo Ling asked. But, he didn't need to ask, since he heard Ke Hanying spoke from the distance. 

"Hualing… Hualing…" Ke Hanying muttered. His voice is filled with grief. 

"'Hualing'… what a nice name." Huo Ling muttered. From the name, the person must be a beautiful, soft, and graceful woman. 

"En." Yi Bing nodded in agreement. "I want to know more who is this person, and what is she to him, and what happened to her, since from the tone of Ke Hanying's voice and his behavior, this Hualing must be dead." He explained. 

"Then, did you find something?" Huo Ling asked. 

Yi Bing shook his head, looking disappointed. "No." he answered. "I don't hear him say anything other than her name. And it's almost an hour." He told him. 

Huo Ling's brows knitted as he contemplated. "I think this Hualing must be Pei Tinghe's first crush." He said. 

"Oh?" Yi Bing looked at Huo Ling. His expression saying, 'let me hear it'.

"I also think she's the one who possessed Pei Ru last night and asked Han ma." Huo Ling continued. "The proof of this is Ke Hanying, who came to attend Pei Tinghe's funeral. Ke Hanying's objective for attending this funeral is definitely related to Hualing, the one whose name he is calling." He explained.

Yi Bing nodded, seeming satisfied with his conjectures. "This is plausible." He said. 

Huo Ling secretly sighed in relief before he continued speaking. "Since Hualing fell on the river and died, then, she must be the one behind the appearance of Pei Tinghe's corpse in any form of water." He said. "For her to do this, she is powerful. So, I think – " he looked at Yi Bing. " – she's also the one responsible for the rebirth of the souls." He told him. His expression serious. 

Yi Bing fell silent. Huo Ling stared at him, doesn't know what he is currently thinking, so he also didn't speak and just waited for Yi Bing to speak. 

After a while, Yi Bing spoke. "I agree with what you are thinking." He said. "But, there are some parts that might not be possible." He looked at Huo Ling. "It might be indeed her that has a control over the water and the souls, but where did she get this much power?" he asked. 

Hearing this question, Huo Ling also feel stumped. "The disappearance of souls is because of them being reborn… but ye, where did she get this power?" he asked, then remembered something. "Was it because she cultivated for a long time since her death that she became this powerful, mixed with her resentment?" he asked. 

"… possible, but also not. It depends on the length of the time of her death, and the quantity of her resentment." Yi Bing said. Seeing that they have reached a dead end on Hualing's topic, he opened another one. "As for that question in the middle of the night last night…" he spoke.