Afterlife Department

Chapter 436 – Wu Deguang

"Wu Deguang?" they were surprised. They almost forgot this side character who is Pei Ru's husband. 

Shi Jiu nodded as they looked at Wu Deguang walking back to his room. 

"What happened to him? Or – " Huo Ling spoke. " – what did he do?" he asked. 

"I saw him standing around in that area." Shi Jiu answered and pointed. 

They turned to the direction he was pointing at. They thought that it was familiar and then suddenly remembered that the area is where Pei Tingming's room is located. They were surprised. 

"He's lurking around there… could it be that he is suspecting Xu Hongkai's death?" Jiu Ye guessed. 

They didn't speak, but they felt that it was possible. Xu Hongkai is a famous lord in Anhe. Wu Deguang can't go back with just a corpse and without a proper explanation for Xu Hongkai's death. After all, Wu Deguang is Pei Ru's husband and Xu Hongkai attended Pei Tingming's funeral. Wu Deguang must get to the bottom of this case. 

"One of the things I've heard from Li Huchong is about Wu Deguang." Shi Jiu spoke. 

They turned to him, waiting for him to continue. 

"Wu Deguang is a responsible person. It is expected since he's the only son of Wu Dequan, and his heir. He bears a great responsibility as both his son and successor to his father's position in the government." Shi Jiu said. "As it is, Wu Deguang looks down on these occultic events. In short, he is a man of science. A realist." He told them. "That is why he fell for Pei Ru, a doctor. And – " he looked at them. " – he hates Ji Qiuxin." He said. 

Their eyes widened. "He hates the priestess?!" they exclaimed in shock. 

Shi Jiu shrugged. "This priestess stuff is an occultic stuff, after all. He doesn't believe in the supernatural." He said, then paused. "He also hates her because Pei Ru is fanatical towards Ji Qiuxin." He added. 

"He's jealous of Ji Qiuxin?!" they were surprised. 

"No, no. Pei Ru is heterosexual, right? And priestesses can't have lovers. They should remain pure for their position." Jiu Ye said. "How can he be jealous of a priestess, a woman? He should be jealous towards a man, instead!" he said. 

"Anyway, is he suspecting that Pei Tingming killed, or have someone kill Xu Hongkai?" Huo Ling asked. 

"It must be. Xu Hongkai is actually Wu Dequan's backer in Anhe." Shi Jiu said. "It is expected that Xu Hongkai will also be backing Wu Deguang. But, Xu Hongkai died. And it is even in an event related to Wu Deguang. In other words – " he looked at them. " – he is in a precarious situation." He told them. 

"It really sucks." They grimaced, can't help but feel sympathy towards Wu Deguang. 

His enemy is the family of his wife. How shall he solve this situation?

"Oh. Also – " Shi Jiu spoke when he remembered something. " – Pei Tingming is actually secretly acquiring Anhe. He still hasn't given up." He told them. 

"Ah." They sighed. "Pei Tingming must be the scourge in Wu Deguang's life." They said. 

Since Wu Deguang has already left, they also returned to their respective rooms to rest. Because something unexpected happened the next morning. 

"WHAT?!?!?!" Jiu Ye exclaimed as he shot up from his seat. "Pei Tingting… Pei Tingting was…" he stammered. 

"Yes. Her corpse was skinned." Huo Ling spoke. "From her head to her feet." He added. 

Jiu Ye's face turned pale in horror, then turned green in disgust. "Bleaurgh!" he vomited. 

Shi Jiu looked away from his younger brother. "Didn't they secretly hold a small funeral for her? They are also planning one for Pei Tingsong…" he said. 

"Pei Tinghe's urn is even empty when his funeral is proper and grand. What can a measly funeral do?" Yi Bing spoke. 

"Oh." They muttered when they remembered it. 

"It's because his corpse is still hasn't found." Shi Jiu spoke. 

"This late and still hasn't?!" Jiu Ye exclaimed. 

It's already the last day of Pei Tinghe's funeral, and the day which Pei Tingsong's small funeral is supposed to be held. Yet, something like this happened to Pei Tingting's corpse. 

"Pei Tingming has already gone together with Li Huchong to question the coroner who is inspecting Pei Tingting's corpse, as per the Pei family requested since they are suspicious of Pei Tingting's death." Huo Ling spoke. "Among all deaths that happened, only hers is normal." He told them. 

"Was it because she's a fellow woman so Xiao Hualing has gone easy on her?" Jiu Ye tried to guess. 

"Are you an idiot? Why would Xiao Hualing go easy on her when she wants to kill her because of an unresolvable grudge? Then, won't killing Pei Tingting lose its point?" Shi Jiu told him. 

Jiu Ye pouted. 

"Yes. Xiao Hualing's grudge is unresolvable, so she skinned Pei Tingting's corpse." Huo Ling said. 

"Is it a delayed revenge?" Jiu Ye asked. 

"More likely, Pei Tingting has expected she will be killed like Pei Tinghe so she took the initiative and killed herself so she would feel less pain compared to Xiao Hualing killing her, right?" Shi Jiu grinned. "So, Xiao Hualing acted just now on her." He laughed. 

"Oh. You have a point." They muttered. 

"Pei Tinghe… Xu Hongkai… Pei Tingting… Pei Tingsong." Jiu Ye counted. "Four people… is there anyone that Xiao Hualing still has to kill?" he asked. 

Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu who suddenly felt they couldn't react. "…" has Jiu Ye been tormented too much in this world that he now feels indifferent towards other people's death? How can he talk so calmly about murder? They thought as they looked at each other. 

"For now, Li Huchong is a possible target of Xiao Hualing." Yi Bing spoke. 

"What should we do?" Huo Ling asked Yi Bing. 

Yi Bing fell silent as he pondered. "Shi Jiu." He called after a while. "Go to where Pei Tingming and Li Huchong are. They are currently together, so they must talk and speak some secrets." He told him. 

"Okay!" Shi Jiu answered before he teleported and disappeared from their sight. 

"Jiu Ye." Yi Bing called. 

"Yes!" Jiu Ye answered. 

"We can't ignore what happened last night." Yi Bing said, referring to the Pei family servants placing highly flammable weeds on the inconspicuous places of their rooms. "You go secretly guard Ji Qiuxin." He told him. "Make sure nothing happens to her. She's still useful to us." He said. 

"Yes!" Jiu Ye saluted before he also disappeared. 

"What about me?" Huo Ling asked. 

"Go tail Pei Ru and Wu Deguang." Yi Bing answered. 

"… and you?" Huo Ling asked as he looked at Yi Bing. 

"I'll go observe Ke Hanying." Yi Bing spoke. 

"Huh?" Huo Ling was surprised. He thought that Ke Hanying's matter has concluded. 

Yi Bing could read his thoughts. "It doesn't hurt to be more careful." He said. 

"… I understand." Huo Ling nodded. 

Although Ke Hanying is innocent and is on Xiao Hualing's side, but they have to be meticulous until the end. They can't have some loose ends. Lives are at stake here, and so are the worlds. If they can't resolve the problem of this world, this world might affect the other worlds. After all, the energies flowing in each world are all connected. 

Just like a house of cards. One wrong move and everything will crumble. And they can't afford to make a mistake. 

"Huo Ling." Yi Bing called. 

"Hm?" Huo Ling absent-mindedly answered as he was still pondering. 

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling's pensive face and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Do you trust me?" he asked. 

"Huh?" Huo Ling muttered. He was taken aback by Yi Bing's sudden question. He raised his head and looked at Yi Bing. 

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling for a long time. 

"What do you mean?" Huo Ling asked in a low voice. 

Yi Bing didn't answer. 

"Yi Bing?" Huo Ling called. 

"I…" Yi Bing spoke. He then took a deep breath before he continued. 

…

Ji Qiuxin paced back and forth inside her room. She can't sleep. Even though there is a night rule in the Anchuan, but she doesn't care about it. It isn't because she is conceited, but it's because of something else. 

"Is there really…?" she muttered. Her voice soft. 

Jiu Ye who is secretly watching her felt awkward. "A man inside a woman's room in the middle of the night and is secretly watching her… isn't this perverse?" he muttered to himself and sighed. "What is she doing now?" he asked when he saw Ji Qiuxin thrown herself on her bed. Her face is facing down. "Has she gone mad? Did she notice the Pei family's intention of killing her and she now became insane?" he asked.

Even though Ji Qiuxin has a high status as priestess, but this isn't her territory. Although she was admired and respected, but if we're talking about the Pei family, they have her as a hostage.