Afterlife Department

Chapter 448 – Difference

Yi Bing heard what Jin Wu said and was silent for a long time before he finally spoke. "You're right." he said while nodding in agreement. "He really is cruel." He is referring to Shen Sheng. 

Jin Wu was smiling when he heard what Yi Bing said. His smile stiffened and he looked at the other. "… something is wrong with you." he said. He was just joking earlier about Shen Sheng. After all, who would say bad things about Shen Sheng? 

Shen Sheng is their creator, as well as their superior. They should be indebted to him. They should be grateful to him for being given a second life – this afterlife. If not for him, who knows where their soul would be going to? After all, Hell was destroyed. But, thanks to Shen Sheng, the Afterlife Department was created to take care of the souls, sending them to their reincarnation. 

"The task assignments… it's cruel." Yi Bing said. 

Jin Wu was taken aback. He didn't expect for the sudden change of the topic. Is Yi Bing trying to divert him after Yi Bing badmouthed Sheng Sheng? 

But, before Jin Wu could speak, Yi Bing spoke. "This world is an apocalypse world. It is expected to be filled with Foul. And only the grim reapers could withstand the Foul since the angels, especially the archangels, are susceptible to it." he explained. 

Jin Wu's expression changed when he finally understood Yi Bing's words. "You mean, Shen Taizi is targeting Ling Shiyi?!" he exclaimed. His eyes are wide in shock. 

As Yi Bing said, angels are susceptible to the Foul. The stronger they are, the more susceptible they are. So, the archangels are more susceptible to the Foul than the ordinary angels. 

This is like the matter between the rich and the poor. Because the rich wanted to take care of their health, they eat healthy foods. Meanwhile, the poor people can only eat 'dirty' foods like street foods, which have germs. So, the rich people's immune system is weaker than the poor people who were exposed to the germs. 

"… I don't think so." Yi Bing spoke after pondering over it. "Although his hatred towards the angels, the Upper Heaven, is known, but he won't destroy his own creation." He said.

They are Shen Sheng's 'children', and he is their father. No matter how the father hates his child, he definitely wouldn't kill him. No matter how cruel the tiger is, it won't devour its cubs. 

Jin Wu also considered this fact. "But… it can only be him who can assign the tasks." He spoke. "He's the only one who can command the angels, even though he hates it." he explained. 

Although he is acting indifferent to his surroundings and looked like he is only interested in fights, which made him to be assigned in the Disciplinary Committee, but he is secretly observing his surroundings. He is also listening to the gossips around him. So, he has an idea on what is happening in the Upper Heaven.

Yi Bing closed his eyes as he sighed. "I don't know." he honestly spoke. 

Jin Wu stared at Yi Bing for a while. Then, he spoke. "Yi Bing… you're the only one who is closest to Shen Taizi. Not even the emperor can compare." He said. 

Yi Bing has a special position in the Afterlife Department. This is his privilege as the oldest grim reaper, and is also a sign of respect to him. But, what makes Yi Bing's existence even more special is the fact that Shen Sheng is very close to him. Yi Bing is cold in nature, which made his soul attribute become ice. But, Shen Sheng is unfazed. 

Everyone thought that it's because Yi Bing was the first grim reaper that is why Shen Sheng treats him differently than the other grim reapers, even if Shen Sheng is already acting very familiar to them. But, as Jin Wu pondered about this, he finally understood what is the difference in Shen Sheng's treatment between Yi Bing and them. 

Shen Sheng treats the grim reapers like they are his children, which can be a fact. But, Yi Bing… Shen Sheng treats him like he is his friend, or even brother. 

Yi Bing bitterly smiled. "I don't even know why." He honestly said. Of course, over the thousand years he and Shen Sheng interacted, naturally, he is the first to notice this difference. It even crossed his mind that Shen Sheng might be romantically interested in him. 

So, after their relationship became very close, he straightforwardly asked Shen Sheng about it. But, what he got was a direct, great blow to his pride. Shen Sheng showed a disgusted expression. Not disgusted to the homosexual matter, but the suspected romantic relationship between them two. 

Yi Bing's face is even darker than the sky after his power affected it. His eyes are even colder than the Afterlife Department, the whole Lower Heaven, after he froze it. That is why everyone is afraid of angering him since everyone became ice statues after he froze them. Fortunately, the grim reapers are already dead so, after feeling cold and extreme fright, they weren't affected that much. 

He became mad not because he realized he is in love with Shen Sheng. He only feels respect towards Shen Sheng, and, some inexplicable feeling of familiarity. He got mad because of his pride. Yes – he is a prideful being. That can be contributed to him being the strongest grim reaper, and also the oldest. So, he ignored Shen Sheng for three hundred years. Their relationship only became better after he met Huo Ling. 

Jin Wu fell silent. He knows Yi Bing won't lie. He was about to speak again when Huo Ling and Mo Shi suddenly appeared in the room. 

"… did something happen?" Huo Ling asked when he saw Yi Bing's and Jin Wu's serious expression. 

Since the two are here, Yi Bing and Jin Wu changed the topic. Huo Ling and Mo Shi, although they are their disciples, but they are still new, after all. It's best to avoid talking some confidential matters in front of them. It's because if these two would know something, they might get in danger for accidentally knowing. 

"Did you already tell them that it can only be inanimate objects that our space can hold?" Jin Wu asked Mo Shi. They are in his room right now, which they decided to use as a meeting room. 

It actually doesn't matter because they have their teleportation skill. They can also scout their surroundings before choosing a meeting room to use. But, they just really don't care whether where it is. And, they are also lazy to look for one. 

Also… Yi Bing's room, who would dare to enter, even if it's just for his temporary use since they are not of this world? This is a silent and tacit respect towards Yi Bing, this special existence. 

"Yep!" Mo Shi answered. "Although they think that it was a pity, but they still have the land for them to farm." He told them. 

Spatial ability is very convenient in apocalypse. Not only it can store objects, but if the space can also grow plants, then wouldn't the owner of the ability be OP? They would be very valuable in apocalypse. Of course, they might also get in trouble as they might be taken away to be experimented for others to also obtain the spatial ability. 

"Good." Jin Wu nodded. 

They aren't lying. They really can only store inanimate objects. A spatial ability that can store inanimate objects is safer than a spatial ability that can grow plants. Hehe. 

"Did they say anything else?" Yi Bing asked as he looked at Huo Ling. 

"Yes." Huo Ling answered. "They said that they wouldn't recruit for more people, as it is a waste of time and effort to train them, and that we are already here to help them with their tasks." He told them. 

"Things sure became convenient for this base, huh?" Jin Wu grinned. 

Not only the base gained more ability users who can protect them and help them with their mission, but the people in the base can now expect to receive more food as them four would contribute to the base by looking for more food and clothes and other necessities aside from their own, in which they actually don't need to as they are grim reapers. But for the sake of pretense, they have to consume food. And, of course, they would definitely need to change their clothes. 

"Also – " Huo Ling continued. " – Qi Ming said that he will split his team and our group into two so that we could scout more areas." He spoke. "He said that you will decide how to split our group." He added as he looked at Yi Bing. 

"This idea is good. He is a smart man." Jin Wu spoke, referring to Qi Ming. "Definitely the leader type." He said. 

"Then, I and Huo Ling and you and Mo Shi." Yi Bing told Jin Wu.