Afterlife Department

"What happened?!" Yi Bing asked as they opened the door of the bedroom. 

"Y-Yi Bing…" Huo Ling's body is trembling as he turned to them. "I… I only wanted to help. I didn't mean to harm him – " he said and turned his head to look at the bed. 

They all followed his sight and saw Liu Lin's body, precisely his skin, turned dark and some bruises appeared. Then, they smelled a faint smell of rot inside the room. 

"What did you do?" Yi Bing patiently asked as he pulled the frightened Huo Ling on the side for Di San and Feng Er to go to Liu Lin and check his condition – precisely, his body condition. 

"I heard he was injured, and saw he is gravely ill, so I tried feeding him spiritual energy." Huo Ling explained. "However, he suddenly turned like that. I knew I only made it worse…" he lowered his head in self-blame.. 

Yi Bing's expression changed and he glanced at Di San. Di San met his gaze and nodded at him before Yi Bing took Huo Ling to the living room. They can't divulge more information about their identity than what Huo Ling guessed of them. 

"No. Liu Lin's fine. His body is already full of qi, so when you feed him more qi, naturally, there were changes in his body. It might look severe, but Liu Lin is tough." Yi Bing said. 

"Really?" Huo Ling's widened eyes stared at Yi Bing. 

"En." Yi Bing nodded. 

"Oh. Then, if you'll get injured, I can give you some qi?" Huo Ling asked. 

"En – " Yi Bing's answer stopped midway and he froze. Then, he slowly turned to Huo Ling who innocently blinked at him. "… how much do you know about Soul Envoys?" he asked. 

Huo Ling wiped his crocodile tears and his lips that were lowered in the corners curled up. "I know that they borrow a body, more specifically, a corpse, since they can't possess a human body because it'd disrupt that human's life." He answered. "Soul Envoys are related to death, so they can't interfere with the livings' matters. Thus, right now, your body should be of a corpse's." he then poked Yi Bing's arm. 

"… did you feed Liu Lin qi to test your knowledge?" Yi Bing asked as his eyes narrowed. 

"Naturally not." Huo Ling answered, his eyes sincere. "The qi, or spiritual energy, is the life energy. However, the Soul Envoys are wrapped in death qi, and negative qi – which is lesser in intensity. Thus, qi is a bane to the Soul Envoys." He explained. 

"Then, why – " 

"Soul Envoys are only wrapped in death qi, and not consist of death qi." Huo Ling cut him off. "They were wrapped in death qi because of their corpse body. However, a Soul Envoy isn't only consisting of a corpse body. They also have their own soul." He looked at Yi Bing in the eyes. "Because I know, only the corpse body of the Soul Envoys will be harmed if touched by qi. However, the qi that went past their corpse body will go to their soul, enriching their soul, but at the cost of their corpse body." He said before he moved his gaze away after he saw Yi Bing's pupils that were tinged with beautiful blue. "Soul Envoys normally don't cultivate, but sometimes they also do, and only when they are willing to discard their corpse body." He said and walked to the near table and picked up a pastry. 

"Sect master Huo is very knowledgeable. I am impressed." Yi Bing spoke after a while of silence. 

Huo Ling smiled. "I am flattered." He said and sat on a single-seater sofa. 

After a while, as Huo Ling said, Liu Lin's complexion turned better because his soul that was injured by a Soul Fragment was repaired with the qi of this advanced world. However, the cost of the reparation of his soul is an arm. His arm rotted until they turned to ash. 

When Yi Bing heard Di San's and Feng Er's soft voices, he knew that Liu Lin's condition turned better. "Many thanks to sect master Huo for his aid." Yi Bing said. 

Huo Ling just smiled. Since Soul Envoys, or now called grim reapers, can't touch qi directly, they evade it. If they accidentally touched it, it is equivalent to a human being burned by fire. Thus, Di San, Feng Er and Yi Bing can't help Liu Lin. Fortunately, Huo Ling, who's a soul, can use qi since it is beneficial to a soul, is present. He's the only one who can help Liu Lin repair his soul. 

After Di San and Feng Er removed the stench of rot in the air, they came out. "Huo… sect master Huo, thank you for the aid." He said and bowed like in ancient times to express his respect and gratitude. 

Feng Er, who had a good impression of Huo Ling, followed Di San's action. "It seems sect master Huo likes pastries?" she said when she saw the crumbs on Huo Ling's lips. 

Huo Ling smiled as he slowly wiped his lips with a table napkin. "I've disgraced myself." He said. 

Feng Er waved her hand. "No, no. It just helped me understand sect master Huo's preferences." She said. 

"I have a sweet tooth." Huo Ling said. 

Feng Er's eyes lit up. "It just happened I've bought some pastries during our first stay in this hotel. Let me get them for you!" she said and dashed to the kitchen to get the pastries. 

Yi Bing and Di San watched Feng Er busied herself on the kitchen and also made them some drinks. 

"Women are also important in managing a group." Di San said and looked at Yi Bing. 

Yi Bing smiled. "Indeed." He nodded. 

Huo Ling who naturally understood the real meaning behind those words, as he is a man. "Sexists." He spat out. He knew that Di San and Yi Bing are naturally thinking that women are only for house works. If Feng Er just heard them, she would've blown away Di San and Yi Bing out of the window of the 24th floor. 

Yi Bing turned to Huo Ling. "Prejudiced!"