Afterlife Department

Chapter 541 – Elevator

Hearing this, their expressions turned grave. "Then what should we do?" they asked. Their voices sound helpless.

Their hands are tied.

"Before we can do anything, we have to see You Ri's soul first." Huo Ling answered. "Then, we can decide our next course of action after we determine her soul's condition, and find out what's preventing us from locating her." He explained.

"We'll do that." They answered.

"Then, right now, we'll go to the company and check You Ri's resentment that is haunting Li Yan, Li Nana and Shi Nana as a ghost." Huo Ling spoke. "You Ri's soul, on the other hand, even though her three targets haven't appeared yet, but she might linger around the Li residence and Shi Nana's house." He said.

"This is actually truly a coincidence, is it?" Yi Bing spoke. "The Li residence and Shi Nana's house, including the You residence, all are in just one community." He said.

Bai Liu, Wu Yi, Jiu Ye and Bai Wu were shocked. They didn't expect to hear this!

"Oh. You're right." Huo Ling muttered when he finally recalled.

"And I also happened to check Lin Weng's information on the internet." Yi Bing continued. "What a surprise, he actually also lives in the same community as You Ri's family, Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana!" he told them and smiled.

Everyone. "…" what truly a freaky coincidence. They all thought.

"This… is truly coincident." Jiu Ye muttered in a daze. "Then, we all need to go in their community, right?" he asked. "We can also check on Lin Weng's family after." He added. 

They all nodded.

…

"It's there! It's really there!" Shi Nana spoke as her eyes widened in horror while she catches her breath after she reached the eighteenth floor where her office is located. She didn't use the elevator earlier to go up after she saw You Ri's ghost inside the elevator.

Li Yan and Li Li are also the same as her.

"Ge… I'm so tired…" Li Li spoke with grievance in her voice. Her fair and delicate small face is flushed from exhaustion.

Li Yan handed her his handkerchief for her to wipe the sweat off of her face. "That fcking quack!" he cursed as he took out his phone to check on the secret forum where they found the fake exorcist before, only to loudly curse again when he saw that the fake exorcist's account was deleted.

He really fooled them!

"'Stuck Elevator. Why doesn't it go up? Or down when it's up?'" Shi Nana read the title under her breath as her face paled when he saw the post. She subconsciously looked at the elevator when they heard it ding-ed, indicating that someone came up.

They all held their breaths as they watched the elevator doors opened, only to reveal You Ri's ghost inside! There is no human inside, just a ghost!

"AAAAH!" Li Li and Shi Nana screamed and ran while Li Yan cursed and ran past them.

They already reached the company during lunch break because the park where the rally of the exorcists was held is far from the company, thus they dared to attend the rally even if they are professionals and shouldn't be superstitious.

Yet they were fooled. It's as if You Ri's ghost has consciousness and knew that they hired a fake exorcist to exorcise her. Then, she played along with the fake exorcist's plan to fool them into thinking that she wouldn't appear before them again. She didn't even appear in their houses that night.

But, it was all just an act.

"FCK!" Li Yan cursed and tried to open the door but it won't open. Because it was lunch break, the entire floor was deserted. It was only them three around, which makes it perfect for You Ri's ghost to harm them.

Worse, kill them. Even though it was in the middle of the day where the sun is at its brightest and strongest, but You Ri's ghost seemed to be unaffected.

"No! Don't come any closer!" they yelled as they backed into a corner when they saw You Ri's ghost came out of the elevator, and the elevator closed behind them before it descended.

The doors and windows were all locked, and the curtains were drawn. The lights also flickered. You Ri really is decided to kill them today!

"Why… why did I follow you to not confess to those masters?!" Li Li asked as she fell on her knees because of her regret. "If we did… if we just told them the truth, we might be able to live today, and even tomorrow!" she cried.

"Shut up!" Shi Nana snapped. She was also pissed and regretting her decision. But, it has already happened! What's the use of speaking of it?!

Li Yan clenched his fists. He also regrets it. If he knew… if he only knew this would happen now, he should have heeded those masters' advice! He shouldn't have been stubborn! What's the use of secrets if you are already dead? Do their secrets worth their life?

If those masters really could save their life, then, if he can see them again, if they will be given a chance, he won't hesitate again to ask for their help and confess everything!

Suddenly, everyone heard heavy footsteps. Because they are panicking and are afraid, they didn't think about it much and thought that it was You Ri's ghost! "Y – You Ri…" they all called in shaking voices and their bodies are trembling non-stop.

"So this is You Ri's resentment?" Huo Ling muttered as he sucked in a sharp breath while they looked at that black humanoid gas with You Ri's face slightly covered. "The Foul is too thick!" he said. "Surely she won't turn to a Soul Eater?" he worriedly asked Yi Bing.

"No." Yi Bing answered with conviction.

Huo Ling really believes in him so he didn't speak and decided to just watch the show. If You Ri really wants to kill them, she would have done earlier. But, obviously, she is just toying with them, waiting until their minds collapsed. That is her intention.

So, Huo Ling concluded that none among Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana could have killed her. Her murderer isn't here. But then – "Why would she go to their houses if none of these three people killed her? Did someone from their families kill her?" he asked. "Also… how did she know it was from their families then?" he added.

Yi Bing didn't answer since he doesn't know the answer. Huo Ling also stopped talking and resumed watching.

…

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed on the walls as it approached them three. Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana are bathed in their sweats from climbing up the stairs earlier up to now out of fear. Li Yan's shirt is already soaked with his sweat while Li Li's and Shi Nana's makeup are already ruined.

"Wu… are we really going to die?" Li Li asked as she scooted closer to Li Yan. She closed her eyes tight.

"No… I don't want to die… I don't want to die – " Shi Nana muttered as she hugged herself while the three of them watched with trepidation You Ri's ghost approaching.

"I – " Li Yan spoke.

"… what the hell is wrong with the three of you?" a familiar deep, male voice asked.

Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana squinted when the curtains drawn were lifted and the lights finally stopped flickering. The elevators also rang, indicating that people have arrived.

"… CEO Hao?!" Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana exclaimed when they saw Hao Ming's figure appeared.

Hao Ming's brows knitted as he looked at them three huddling in the corner. "What inappropriate deed are the three of you doing in the middle of the day! And the afternoon shift is about to start!" he yelled at them as he looked at them with his eyes narrowed in disdain and disgust.

The people who have just exited form the elevators almost jumped back inside when they heard Hao Ming's voice thundered. Mommy… CEO Hao is scary! Who the hell provoked him?! They all thought, feeling resentful to the ones who provoked Hao Ming. They know Hao Ming's temper, and definitely nothing good will come to the ones provoking him. Worse, the ones around will also suffer!

Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana are still in the state of shock and didn't hear clearly what Hao Ming said issuing their punishment. Their ears are still ringing and, it's as if someone's voice was whispering in their ears right now.

"But, I had to give you a warning. The longer you delay things, the worse things will happen."

"After all, although time is intangible, but it is connected with everything."

They then remembered that the one that left these words to them, that sounds like a curse, suddenly disappeared from their sight along with his fellow 'disciples', just like ghosts in broad daylight.