Afterlife Department

After formally introduced themselves to each other, the tense atmosphere slowly relaxed. They began to scan their surroundings, as well as analyze their situation. 

"Han Meng was possessed by something inside the mausoleum." Zhang Jun said as he pointed his flashlight to Han Meng who's walking back and forth outside the mausoleum. "But, it seems that she can't enter the mausoleum… or – " his voice lowered. " – she doesn't dare to?" he asked as he looked at them. 

Fear flashed in the young men and young women's face while Huo Huainan and Huo Zichu looked calm. 

"Mr. Huo, Mrs. Huo. Do you know something about this mausoleum?" Zhang Jun politely asked. The Huo family, after all, is a family of grave robbers in the past.. 

"This will be a long story." Huo Zichu answered. She took out a lighter from her back pocket and walked towards a candleholder standing by the wall, then lit it up. 

The others looked at each other before they also took out the lighter their brought. Then, they followed Huo Zichu's example to light the candles that they could reach. 

But, who knows what happened, but after lighting up the last candle near the floor, a gust of wind blew and brush past their skin, bringing in the coldness of the night from outside. They uncontrollably shivered, and thought that the candles would be blown out by the wind. However, contrary to their expectation, the candles near the ceiling actually lit up on their own after the wind blew. 

The entirety of the area they are in was illuminated by the orange light coming from the candles lit, bringing a warm glow in the area, thus decreasing the coldness they felt. Peng Qian and Zhou Cheng who entered the mausoleum earlier this day saw that the mausoleum looked the same as when they saw it before. Thus, they released the breath they didn't know they were holding in due to anxiety for something that might suddenly happen. 

Huo Zichu, done with the task, went to a corner and sat. "Have you brought food?" she asked. 

Zhou Cheng, Peng Qian, Rourou and Lian Xiang nodded. "Yes, but…" they answered and then looked outside. 

Zhang Jun and Yang Jie immediately understood. "Where was it placed?" Zhang Jun asked. 

Zhou Cheng, Peng Qian, Rourou and Lian Xiang knew that they will take the food and bring them here. "In the backseat." Zhou Cheng answered. 

Zhang Jun nodded as he and Yang Jie walked towards the entrance of the mausoleum. They were about to take a step outside when Huo Zichu spoke. "Leave it." She said. 

They all turned to her. 

"I asked you if you have food. I didn't say for you to retrieve it." Huo Zichu said. Seeing the puzzled look on their faces, she turned to Huo Huainan. 

"We have food here." Huo Huainan spoke as he took out two bags of biscuits. "We bought it for xiao Ling as presents, but…" his voice faded. 

A trace of awkwardness flashed on the faces of Zhou Cheng, Peng Qian, Rourou and Lian Xiang. So, should they or should they not take the bag of biscuit? They thought as they looked at each other. 

"I'm just joking." Huo Huainan spoke, but there's not a hint of joking on his face. 

Zhou Cheng, Peng Qian, Rourou and Lian Xiang hesitated. 

It was Yang Jie who reached out and took a bag of biscuit from Huo Huainan's hand. "Thanks, Mr. Huo. We won't be polite!" he said as he opened the pack and took a biscuit before he shared it with Zhang Jun. 

Huo Huainan nodded, not the least bit offended. He placed the remaining bag of biscuits on the floor. Zhou Cheng, Peng Qian, Rourou and Lian Xiang felt their stomach grumbled. They immediately threw their shame and took the bag of biscuit before opening it to eat. 

Huo Zichu watched everyone started eating before she took the food handed by her husband to her. 

"Those are my favorite biscuits!" Huo Ling exclaimed as he watched them eat biscuits for their dinner. 

"You're already dead and just a soul. Souls can't feel hunger. Stop being greedy." Yi Bing told him. 

Huo Ling pouted, feeling wronged. He sat beside Huo Zichu and Huo Huainan. "Eh? They can't see you?" he asked when he saw nobody is paying attention on Yi Bing as if they can't see him. But, earlier, Philip can see Yi Bing. 

Yi Bing glanced at Huo Ling. He noticed only now? He rolled his eyes. "I'm using my invisibility power." He answered. 

"Cool!" Huo Ling exclaimed. 

"Everyone already know, but our family has a long history of being grave robbers." Huo Huainan started. "It dates back to ten generations ago. Foreigners came to our country and wanted to dig the soil. Our family is one of the families that they hired to dig the soil." He said. "Who knows that below the ground where our family thrived, a giant maze-like structure lies?" he asked. 

Zhou Cheng, Peng Qian, Rourou and Lian Xiang stared at him, aghast. "A tomb?!" they exclaimed. 

Huo Huainan nodded. "Yes." He answered. "One of the family members happened to study abroad, and every time he returns home, he would teach the family the basic language he learned. Thus, the family understood the gist of what these foreigners is planning." He said. "The village our family lived, everyone knows each other and thus are close with each other. So, our family secretly told the other villagers about the foreigners' plan – the tomb beneath our land is a tomb of an important official during the ancient era. They want to dig a special treasure in the tomb. But, because the tomb is a maze, it would be time-consuming. There are also traps hidden within each bend and corner. Although the foreigners badly wanted the hidden treasure, but what use will it be if they'll die after they got it?" he asked. 

Zhou Cheng, Peng Qian, Rourou and Lian Xiang gasped as they gaped at Huo Huainan. Yang Jie's eyes widened and Zhang Jun frowned. "So, they sacrificed the people of your village." Zhang Jun said. 

Huo Huainan nodded. "They did." He said. "But, if everyone died, where did I, and the other descendants of our village come from?" he asked and smiled. 

Zhang Jun's eyes narrowed while Yang Jie's eyes became as round as saucers. "Your ancestors survived!" he said. 

Huo Huainan chuckled. "Naturally, they did." He said. 

"But, how?" Zhou Cheng asked. "Weren't those foreigners tricked them?" he said then suddenly paused. "Could it be… those foreigners… were overpowered by them?" he looked at Huo Huainan. 

Huo Huainan's eyes flashed. "Smart." He said.

However, Zhou Cheng didn't feel pleased with Huo Huainan's praise. He could sense Huo Huainan, although looked approachable, but is actually more difficult to deal with than Huo Zichu. 

"They thought that, because our ancestors looked weak and their culture is way behind them, they thought of our ancestors as dumb." Huo Huainan continued. "They only had a handful of people, but they would never imagine that even a rabbit would bite back." He said. "Our ancestors acted dumb, easy to trick. But, when they entered the maze, they fought them. The foreigners were caught off-guard, and some who fiercely fought back against our ancestors escaped. Our ancestors also suffered losses from their side. But…" his smile suddenly disappeared. "… the tomb is actually very treacherous." He opened a bottle of water and drank. 

They all looked at each other and received the three bottles of water Huo Zichu gave them. One for Zhang Jun and Yang Jie. One for Zhou Cheng and Peng Qian. And the remaining one is for Rourou and Lian Xiang. 

"After those foreigners escaped to the depths of the maze, our ancestors are ought to continue to see what is exactly hidden in the tomb." Huo Huainan continued. "But, suddenly, some lost their will and ran back. Some suddenly attacked the others. Chaos befell them." He said. "Only five people were left: my ancestors, the Huo family. The Ling family. The Guo family. The Sui family. And, the Feng family. They resumed walking around the maze, figuring out the paths. But, on their way traversing the maze, they met those who tried to return home. They're…." his voice fell. 

"Dead." Zhang Jun said. 

Huo Huainan nodded. "Yes." He said. "Our ancestors finally feared the maze. They also tried to find the path home. But, they realized that they were already deep in the maze. There was no turning back." He sighed. 

"How did they escape, then?" Lian Xiang asked. 

"Have they gotten the treasure?" Rourou asked. 

"Was there really a treasure?" Peng Qian asked, looking skeptical. 

"How about the foreigners?" Zhou Cheng added. 

"When our ancestors found them, only their corpses remained." Huo Huainan answered. "One of them is barely alive. It was then that we found out that the important official who owns the tomb is actually a descendant of an immortal. The treasure that the important official owned was coveted by the people around him that time. And, not only the treasure was coveted, but also his body." He said. "His blood was sucked out of his body, and his flesh was eaten. Not even his bones were spared."