Afterlife Department

Chapter 469 – Mist

The man grinned when he saw the young man stood frozen by the entrance. The young man finally reacted, but then he collapsed on his knees and covered his head as he trembled in fear. But, the expected death didn't happen since the man suddenly disappeared.

"That day, master sent me out on an errand." Luo Ye spoke. "When I returned, this was what I saw. Master… the elders of the sect…" he took a deep breath to calm his emotions. "They were all killed by Ming-shixiong." He told them.

"What about those monsters?" Chichi asked. "Was he the one who created them?" she asked.

Luo Ye nodded. "Yes." He answered.

"How can you be so sure?" Xi Kai asked.

"Because I met him again, when I finally gathered enough courage to ask him about everything." Luo Ye answered. "I saw him inside my room, just standing there and watching me without saying anything." He said and the scene changed to Luo Ye's room.

Their eyes widened in shock. "Wait! Aren't they – ?!" Xi Ke abruptly rose from his seat while Lu Lu gasped and covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming.

Luo Ye nodded. "They are the elders of the sect who have died." He answered and looked at the 'people' standing outside the door of his room. "I asked him why… why did he kill them? Why did he betray the sect? And why…" his voice trailed off as his tears fell on the table.

Everyone saw that Luo Ming left and the elders of the sect who turned to zombies silently followed him.

"Why did he spare you?" Yi Bing continued for him.

Luo Ye didn't answer and neither of them spoke.

"Huh? That person…" Xiao Ru muttered as her eyes widened in shock when she saw one of the 'people' following behind Luo Ming.

They turned to her and saw her cried.

"That person is the one who killed master…" Xiao Ru sobbed as she hugged the children who now woke up.

A long silence fell while the boy and the girl looked around in bewilderment, wanting to ask where they are but then saw that Xiao Ru, the only one familiar to them, is crying so they didn't make a fuss and just hugged her while also wiping her tears.

"Wait." Huo Ling suddenly spoke. "You didn't tell us about his expulsion." He spoke.

Everyone looked at him.

"If he was expulsed in the sect, then why was he still there?" Huo Ling asked. "His expulsion should have been earlier, when your master and the elders of your sect are all still alive." He explained.

Everyone felt enlightened. They looked at Luo Ye who wiped his tears. But, to their disappointment, Luo Ye shook his head and waved his hand, and another scene appeared.

"Shixiong!" the young Luo Ye called after he ran after Luo Ming. "Why did they expel you? What did you do?" he asked. "Master is lenient. We can still ask forgiveness from him – " he said.

"Go back." Luo Ming spoke and then left.

"SHIXIONG!" Luo Ye was about to ran down the mountain to follow him when he was held back. He turned and saw his master. "Master!" he exclaimed. "Shixiong left… why did you expulse him? What did shixiong do? I am sure he has some reason for it! Master, please! Bring shixiong back!" he told him as he cried.

But, his master just silently dragged him back. In the end, he knocked him unconscious.

"The next day, and the days after that, I continued to ask master, and even the elders." Luo Ye spoke. "But, they didn't tell me anything. Not even a word. They only told me to continue training…" he shook his head. "I know that it was suspicious, and I tried to investigate. But, I didn't find anything wrong in the sect. And when I leave the mountain, I was always brought back." He sighed. "I am really weak. And then, that day happened." He looked at them as the scene disappeared and the tranquil bamboo mansion reappeared.

"What about your master?" Lan asked. "His corpse was there, but then he didn't follow your shixiong." She said.

"I also noticed that. But…" Luo Ye fell silent.

They all looked at each other and a guess formed in their heart: the sect master's corpse was eaten. But, who could have eaten it? It couldn't be Luo Ming, is it?

"Luo daozhang." Yi Bing called. "Could it be, your shixiong… is still alive?" he asked.

Everyone's eyes widened in shock. But, as they pondered about it, this isn't impossible.

Luo Ye sadly smiled. "If he is, I would have already seen him again." He said.

"You mean… you left this mountain and went to look for him?" they asked.

Luo Ye nodded. "But, I have never seen him again." He spoke.

They looked at each other. "He must not want to meet you." Xi Ke spoke.

Pain flashed in Luo Ye's eyes and he lowered his head. He didn't speak.

"That mist…" Huo Ling suddenly spoke. "Was it you who made it?" he asked.

Luo Ye raised his head. "What mist?" he asked.

Everyone was shocked. "WHAT?! It wasn't you who made that mist?!" they exclaimed.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling was also stunned.

Luo Ye frowned. "What mist are you talking about?" he asked.

They all fell speechless, and also bewildered.

"We found a mist at the foot of the mountain, which is actually an illusion spell." Yi Bing spoke after he finally reacted. "We thought that it was you who did it…" he looked at Luo Ye.

"'illusion spell'?" Luo Ye muttered. "Illusion spells are done by the elders of the sect, including master. We, the disciples, were not taught of it in order to prevent it from being used with ill intention." He explained.

It took a long time for them to understand what he said.

"If you didn't know about the mist, and didn't see it on the foot of the mountain, then – " Qi Ying spoke. " – you didn't leave the sect…?" he asked. Then, his voice faded when he saw Luo Ye's stunned expression.

The others are also stunned and their eyes are wide in horror. "… fck!" Lan can't help but curse as she rubbed her arms when she felt that goosebumps appeared on her skin.

The others, though they didn't curse, but their faces turned pale. "… just what did we run into…?" Rei helplessly sighed.

"I… didn't leave…?" Luo Ye muttered as her face turned paler by the minute. "Then… I have been here this whole time?" he asked.

No one answered him, since the answer is obvious. Meanwhile, Yi Bing and Huo Ling looked at each other. There is still something left that wasn't explained.

"Luo daozhang." Huo Ling spoke, breaking the tension in the air. "May I ask about that visitor that you spoke of earlier?" he asked. "Also… why did you say earlier that 'we've come', referring to me and him?" he asked and pointed Yi Bing.

Everyone seemed to wake up when they heard his question. That's right. Yi Bing's and Huo Ling's case are also puzzling. Why do they know so much? And why are they so good in everything? No… their focus is wrong. They have spoken out of jealousy. What they wanted to know is that who are Yi Bing and Huo Ling exactly?

Luo Ye regained his composure. "That visitor… that visitor…" he muttered as he tried to suppress his emotions. "That visitor only appeared once." He spoke and waved his hand. "And, I only accidentally saw him talking with my shixiong." He told them.

Everyone turned and saw that they were suddenly inside a forest. They saw the normal Luo Ming talking with someone who has his back on them.

"Shixiong?" the young Luo Ye called as he approached them.

Luo Ming looked over the visitor's shoulder and smiled when he saw Luo Ye. "Xiao Ye." He called.

The young Luo Ye blushed. "Shixiong should call me 'shidi'!" he said. But, there is a smile on his face. "This is?" he asked as he stood beside Luo Ming.

It was then that everyone saw the man's face. The man has a smile on his thin and red lips and his eyes are dark. Nothing seemed strange on his except that he is exceptionally handsome.

It was then that everyone heard a loud bang. They all turned and saw Yi Bing and Huo Ling are standing and their gaze is on that visitor. "W – what happened?" Xi Kai was shocked by their actions. It was rare to see them two rattled.

"It's really him." Huo Ling spoke.

Yi Bing answered and just resumed watching.

"Ah. He is just a wandering visitor. No need to ask for one's name. It's a taboo. Didn't I already tell you this?" Luo Ming told the young Luo Ye.

Luo Ye was about to nod when the visitor spoke.

"It's fine." He said. "Just call me – "