Afterlife Department

Huo Ling placed a hand on his forehead as his face turned green when he remembered Liu Lingling's rejection to his confession.

"You haven't even seen my face. I might be ugly, and my face is wrinkled due to my old age. So, how can you like me?" Liu Lingling asked.

"Because of your eyes." Huo Ling answered.

"Then, what you like isn't me but my eyes." Liu Lingling chuckled.

Huo Ling blushed in both shame and anger.Liu Lingling made fun of his feelings and he didn't take his confession seriously so he packed up and left. If he knew that'd be the last time he'd see the man, he would've torn off the fabric covering Liu Lingling's face and kissed him..

Yes – he 1died a virgin. Great. Huo Ling sarcastically thought and he bitterly smiled. Then, he sighed. Liu Lingling, even though his name is Chinese, but he is a foreign man that loves China. That's why he named himself in Chinese, and he liked to drink tea. That's what he thought.

As for Harry, his father… Huo Ling's smile faded. The one he saw leaving must be Harry's phantom Liu Lingling created as Harry's farewell to him. That's why, when he looked at his father's back, he didn't feel sad. It was because his heart had already knew, and accepted, Harry died.

Even if his mind can't remember, but his heart will.

A knock on the door woke him up from his thoughts. Huo Ling raised his head and saw the sunlight peeking through the gaps between the curtains. "Come in." he called to the person outside.

The door opened and Yi Bing came in. "Your complexion looked bad. Did you have a nightmare?" he asked as he walked towards Huo Ling.

"En." Huo Ling nodded.

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling, studying the other's expression. "Do you… want to go to the Hao family?" he asked. He thought Huo Ling missed his family.

Huo Ling's eyes widened and the image of his father's monstrous arm flashed in his mind. "NO!" he violently shook his head. His voice rose higher than the usual. When he realized his violent reaction, he froze. He looked at Yi Bing and, as expected, he surprised the man. "… I'm sorry." He apologized.

Yi Bing recovered his expression. "I don't mind." He said. "I shouldn't have stimulated you after you woke up from your nightmare." He told Huo Ling.

Huo Ling didn't answer. He just stared at the carpeted floor as he pondered. Yi Bing thought Huo Ling wanted to be alone. He was about to silently leave when he heard Huo Ling spoke.

"My father was possessed by monsters." Huo Ling quietly said. "He lived half-dead." He bitterly laughed. His tears fell when he remembered his father's peaceful expression as if he was finally relieved from the torment.

Yi Bing turned and looked at Huo Ling crying. "You're not a monster." He told him.

"That's what Liu Lingling told me." Huo Ling said as he explained to Yi Bing that Harry was possessed after he was born. "Liu Lingling… Liu Lingling ah… hahahaha." He bitterly laughed as he recalled the man. "Why be so good to me when you just would leave me in the end? No…" he shook his head as he made a pained smile. "I was the one who left you. I'm such an ungrateful…" he clenched his fists.

"Huo Ling…" Yi Bing called.

"I'm fine." Huo Ling said as he wiped his tears. Then, he smiled at Yi Bing. "I just feel nostalgic because of that nightmare." He explained

"Mn." Yi Bing nodded in understanding. "About your mother's family…" he said.

Huo Ling smiled. "I don't want to see them." he decided.

Yi Bing nodded. That's what he planned, too. He can't give Huo Ling to the Hao family, even if he's just a soul. As for Huo Ling's corpse… his eyes narrowed as he looked at Huo Ling who was silently sitting on the bed. If it is really Hao Baiyun who took Huo Ling's soul… then he can feel assured.

He believes Hao Baiyun won't harm Huo Ling's body.

It really is as Yi Bing thought: it was Hao Baiyun who took Huo Ling's corpse, and he didn't have any thoughts about Huo Ling's corpse.

"Young master." Fei Xuli called.

Hao Baiyun stared at Huo Ling's corpse lying on the bed. Huo Ling looked like he was just sleeping. Even after being submerged underwater, his body didn't have any changes. It was due to a yao's self-healing ability, and the fox clan's self-healing ability is top notch. Added to the fact Huo Ling is a nine-tailed fox, he shouldn't have easily died with just drowning.

"His soul has left his body." Hao Baiyun said. If they can have Huo Ling's soul, Huo Ling can be resurrected. But, it has been many days, they have yet to find Huo Ling's soul.

"His body and soul were imprinted." Jing Yu spoke.

Fei Xuli and Hao Baiyun looked at each other and nodded. The reason why they can't find Huo Ling's soul is because it was imprinted. One reason of imprinting is to mask or hide one's scent. Another reason is to seal one's memories. There are many others like to track someone like a GPS.

"It must be someone powerful." Fei Xuli said. For Huo Ling to be hidden this long, as well as Hao Ning… "It's a regret eldest young miss…" he said.

Hao Baiyun's eyelids lowered. "Aunt Ning's existence was totally erased." He said. Hao Ning's soul and body will never be found in this lifetime. "Just who could…" he pressed his lips tight.

Fei Xuli started. "Eldest young miss had changed her name to 'Huo Ning'. Her husband is named Harry Jackson. He is an orphan and he died seven years ago." He said. He had already investigated before they left that foreign land. "Eldest young miss's child is named Howee Jackson. His Chinese name is Huo Ling." He raised his eyeglasses. "He worked as a waiter." He finished.

Hao Baiyun's brows scrunched. "'Harry Jackson'?" he said.

Fei Xuli nodded. "He's a human." He said.

Jing Yu, on the side, suddenly sniffed. Hao Baiyun glanced at him. "Strange…" he muttered. "You can also smell it?" he asked Jing Yu.

Jing Yu nodded as he stared at Huo Ling. "It is indeed a human blood half of his blood." he said. "But…" his eyes narrowed and his pupils turned to slits. "I won't mistake this smell." He frowned.

Fei Xuli realized the change in Jing Yu's expression. "Could it be… that family?" he asked as his face and blood turned cold.

Hao Baiyun's expression also shifted as he looked at Huo Ling. His gaze complicated. "The Walter family…" he said.

Jing Yu gnashed his teeth when he heard the name while Fei Xuli's hair became long and changed in color. His eyes also flashed. "Walter family…" Fei Xuli said through his gritted teeth.

Hao Baiyun felt pained for his friends. He had met the two during one of the banquets of the Walter family. The Walter family are like the Hao family. If the Hao family is influential in China, then the Walter family is influential in Europe.

Of course, each family has their secrets. The Walter family has one, and that is they domesticate the monsters, but at the same time they also either sell them… or eat them. Jing Yu and Fei Xuli are two of those monsters the Walter family caught.

Yes – caught. If the Hao family is a yao family, then the Walter family is a hunter family. However, on the surface, these two families are cordial.

"You don't say…" Hao Baiyun's face darkened. "Aunt Ning, she…" he said as his body trembled in anger.

"Young master." Fei Xuli called as his hair turned to normal. "We can't say that the eldest young miss was captured by them. Didn't a Walter have a child with her?" he asked.

Hao Baiyun retracted his oppressing aura. "You're right." he said as he calmed down.

Jing Yu frowned, but he couldn't help but also ponder. "For twenty-three years…" he said and looked at Fei Xuli. He trusts Fei Xuli would never fail investigating. "A Walter had lived with the eldest young miss… could it be – "

"Harry Walter left his family?" Fei Xuli said as he stared at Huo Ling's face.

"Investigate it." Hao Baiyun said. "But, don't get caught." He added.

Fei Xuli knew the terror of being on the hands of the Walter family. "Yes." he answered and left.

"If the Walter family would know about my cousin's existence…" Hao Baiyun frowned as he touched Huo Ling's hand. "No one should know about you." He said as he stared at Huo Ling's face. "I have to hide you. You also have to hide – " he said. He's referring to Huo Ling's soul. "Don't let anyone find you… xiao Ling." He said and sighed.

A nine-tailed fox is both a blessing and a disaster. A male nine-tailed fox can hold the world. Hao Baiyun, however, chose to be low-key to prevent any conflicts while staying alive. However, if one would get hold of Huo Ling and resurrect him… the disaster Hao Baiyun managed to prevent with all his might will happen.

He just hopes it is not inevitable.