Afterlife Department

Chapter 553 – Shift

Yi Bing and Huo Ling looked at the dark clouds above the Haoming Company while they sat on the bench beneath the tree while they looked at the people passing by.

"Huo Ling." Yi Bing called the name that smoothly gone out of his lips.

"Yes?" Huo Ling answered while watching the people pass by them.

"Do you know why I want you to ferry souls in the other worlds first before you ferry souls in our world, the Stable World?" Yi Bing asked him.

"No." Huo Ling answered. This is the first time he will be ferrying a soul. Though, he felt that it was a strange and complicated case, and the difficulty is very hard.

It is like you are a novice in the online games and you have met the last BOSS. His first assignment just had to be in a complicated situation. But, he won't complain, anyway, since, as he said, this is still the first time. He is hoping the next time won't be as hard as this.

"There are two reasons." Yi Bing spoke, rousing Huo Ling from his thoughts. "One: to not affect the balance of the world." He said, raising his index finger before he raised another finger. "Two, the souls here can affect the balance of the world, too, thus, they are stronger than the ordinary souls." He told him. "Like you." He added.

Huo Ling didn't speak, since he knows that there are more things that Yi Bing will say.

As expected, Yi Bing continued. "The souls here have the potential to become grim reapers after they die and thus could travel to other worlds." He spoke as he pointed the humans passing by them. "Unlike the other worlds, the strength of the souls vary thus only some of them can become grim reapers. Not to mention the condition of their soul, for example, Shou Ji's case." He told him.

Huo Ling nodded when he recalled Shou Ji. Although Shou Ji's soul was gravely injured, if it was nurtured, it could return to its peak condition when he was still alive.

"You Ri is just an ordinary soul and didn't reach the qualification to become a grim reaper." Yi Bing said. "Not to mention that she fell into a complicated situation, she would have to enter reincarnation. As for the exorcists, they have the potential since they possess some power." He told Huo Ling.

"Then, will we recruit some people here to be grim reapers?" Huo Ling asked.

"We can, but not at the moment." Yi Bing answered. "First, they haven't died yet. Second, the Afterlife Department has the list of the souls that have the potential to become grim reapers. Third, right now, the grim reapers all are full." he explained.

Huo Ling then understood. "Hm?" he muttered when he recalled something. "But, wasn't that 0342 has to be replaced?" he asked.

"Yes. The Afterlife Department can choose from the list who will replace him." Yi Bing answered.

"I see." Huo Ling muttered. "That's them?" he said when he noticed a group of people within the crowd.

"Yes." Yi Bing nodded. "They won't be able to see us, don't worry." He said as he looked at the exorcists with narrowed eyes.

These exorcists should be protected by this world's rules thus they can overpower their spells, and that's why they also can't locate Lin Weng. Yi Bing isn't angry, though, since he knows that the rules exist for the world to protect itself. Just like what happened in Shou Ji's world that reset, which made them think at first that it was due to rebirth.

Huo Ling believes in Yi Bing. If Yi Bing said that they can't be seen, then they can't be seen even if these exorcists are protected by the world's rules and overpowers them. "Do you think they belong to the upper echelon of the Dawn of Light?" he asked.

"We'll find out." Yi Bing said.

Huo Ling nodded and they walked towards the exorcists until they stopped a distance away from them before they started to follow them. Since You Ri's stance is still the same, Huo Ling didn't bother with her and decided to help Bai Liu and Wu Yi find Lin Weng. He also heard that the You family has finally returned, but since You Ri was 'guarding' the Li residence and Shi residence. He concluded that her murderer must be in these residences, and not someone in her family.

But, it shouldn't be among Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana. You Ri wants to protect her murderer thus her murderer must have been someone very close to her. Although Li Li was once her 'friend', You Ri didn't go after her after she died. And her resentment only haunted Li Li. Thus, it can't be Li Li.

Then, what's left is the Li family members, Shi family members, as well as the Lifea. Jiu Ye and Bai Wu are already in the police station to hear some updates from Gu Xingfeng regarding You Ri's case as well as the exorcist society. Thus, Huo Ling, Bai Liu and Wu Yi could set off with ease to find Lin Weng.

Yi Bing naturally followed after Huo Ling. He didn't say anything after Huo Ling stopped pestering You Ri's soul, since he can see that You Ri is stubborn. Thus, he thinks that Huo Ling made a wise choice in choosing Lin Weng even though You Ri is his assignment because Lin Weng also has a connection with You Ri. If You Ri wouldn't speak, then Huo Ling will ask Lin Weng.

Huo Ling's instinct tells him that Lin Weng is their breakthrough, both in You Ri's case and the exorcist society's case. But, what secrets does Lin Weng hold? For him to be hunted down by the exorcist society so he hid deeply. Then, he saw a high school classmate and tried to save her…

Wait. Huo Ling thought as his feet screeched into a halt. 'save her'? His brows knitted as he pondered over these two words.

"Huo Ling?" Yi Bing called as he turned when he noticed that Huo Ling suddenly stopped following him. "What's wrong?" he asked when he saw the other's pensive expression.

Huo Ling raised his head and met Yi Bing's gaze. "Yi Bing… could it be, Lin Weng… has the power to bring someone who recently died back to life?" he asked.

Yi Bing's eyes widened when he heard this. "What?" he muttered as he walked towards Huo Ling, ignoring the exorcists who disappeared after they turned into a corner. "What did you just say?" he asked.

"I mean, Lin Weng tried to save You Ri, right?" Huo Ling spoke. "And You Ri's soul already have separated from her body. But, it was floating near her body thus she must have just died a few moments ago. So, Lin Weng tried to save her." He explained.

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling for a long time. "You mean, he can revive the dead ones?" he asked. "The recently died ones?" he added.

"This is just my conjecture." Huo Ling sighed.

"But, it won't hurt if we think it this way." Yi Bing patted his shoulder. "And, if this is true, then this must be the reason why the exorcist society wants to find him." He said. "But, for him to have an ability, he should have either inherited it or he learned it from somewhere. Did You Ri say anything regarding Lin Weng's family?" he asked him.

Huo Ling shook his head. "She only said that Lin Weng has been living with his uncle and his family. As for his parents, no one knows." He answered.

Not even the neighbors know who Lin Weng's parents are. Some even actually thought that his uncle is his elder brother. But, no matter how curious they are, they wouldn't ask such personal matter even if they are neighbors. Some truths don't have to be said.

"But, Lin Weng's uncle, he should be an ordinary person." Huo Ling spoke as he pinched his chin while he stared at the ground. "The exorcist society is frantically looking for Lin Weng, but they didn't touch his uncle nor his uncle's family. They must have principles, and this also shows that Lin Weng's uncle is an ordinary person, as well as his family and they don't know about the exorcist world." He explained. "Or…" his voice trailed off.

Yi Bing's eyes narrowed while the corners of his lips curled up. "Or, Lin Weng isn't biologically related to his uncle?" he said.

Huo Ling nodded. "If he is adopted, then it explains everything." He spoke. "Just that, where and when did his uncle met him? If it is in an orphanage or if he picked him up from somewhere, then his uncle might not know who are his parents." He explained.. "But, if his uncle does, especially if they entrusted Lin Weng to him, then his uncle should know the exorcist world and deeply hides to avoid the eyes of the exorcist society…" he said.