Afterlife Department

Special World, mausoleum. 

"So, the artefact is in the Soul Society's hands!" Huo Ling exclaimed as he shot up from his seat. "And they are maliciously using it!" he added, his eyes narrowed and his fists clenched in anger. 

Yi Bing stared at him. "… don't brazenly change the topic." He told him, his gaze blank. "Call me 'my hero' now. Or, if you want, you can call me 'brother' or 'daddy' or 'boss'." He said. "If it's convenient for you, you can call me 'dear' – " he added. 

"Ugh!" Huo Ling grunted as he rolled his eyes at Yi Bing. "You wish!" he told him.. He coldly scoffed and resumed watching his parents and friends. 

Yi Bing just chuckled. He felt his communicator on his wrist vibrated. He tapped it and the holographic screen popped up. 

1001: I have already reported to Shen Taizi about the Special World 7321's misconduct. I will send Jun Wu with Mo Shi, and Hai Ba and Sha Jiu. Shen Taizi also said that he will dispatch the angels. 

0001: did he say anything else? 

1001: Shen Taizi seemed to notice something and he asked me. When I didn't answer, because I can't lie, he didn't push me. 

0001: we've made the right decision to not bring Di San with you to report to him. 

1001: yes. He didn't mention him. Thank you, Yi Bing. I will send Di San, Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui to look for the Soul Fragments again after they have recovered. 

Yi Bing's hand paused and he fell silent. After a while, he sent a message. 

0001: I seem to feel another Soul Fragment here. 

1001: what?! Are you sure? 

0001: yes. I have encountered the Soul Fragments many times, so I can't be mistaken. I suspect it's got something to do with the artefact the Soul Society is using. 

1001: … why do you always encounter the Soul Fragments more frequently than Di San, Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui, who are looking for it? 

A smile formed on Yi Bing's lips. 

0001: it just proves that the Soul Fragments are owned by Huo Ling. 

1001: … Yi Bing…

Yi Bing didn't answer and just closed his communicator just in time when Huo Ling turned to him. 

"Oh, right." Huo Ling said when he remembered something. "You already know that the Soul Society is insidious. And, you look powerful. So – " he looked at Yi Bing, his eyes are sparkling in excitement and expectation. " – can you steal the artefact?" he asked. 

Yi Bing smiled. "I can." He said. 

Huo Ling's eyes widened in astonishment and his smile became brighter. 

But, Yi Bing crushed his expectations. "But, I won't." he told him. 

Huo Ling's face sank. "Why?!" he asked, his smile was replaced by a frown as he looked at Yi Bing. His eyes are filled with disappointment and his face looked full of grievance. 

"This matter is very complicated. This will affect the fate of this world." Yi Bing answered. 

"Tch!" Huo Ling clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned his back on Yi Bing. He doesn't want to talk to him nor look at him anymore. 

If only he is as strong as Yi Bing, he would have raided the Soul Society to destroy the artefact and crush the Soul Society, stopping their evil acts! But, Yi Bing doesn't even want to when he has the power! So frustrating! 

Yi Bing chuckled at his childish act. "Furthermore – " he said as his eyes flashed and narrowed in amusement. " – it might not necessarily be in their hands anymore." He told him. 

"Huh?" Huo Ling muttered as he turned to look at Yi Bing. "What do you mean?" he asked. 

Yi Bing just smiled. 

Soul Society, headquarters. 

"WHAT?! YOU USELESS FOOLS!" the head of the Soul Society yelled as he waved his arm, and everyone around him were flung to the walls by a powerful force! "AAAAARRRGHHH!!!" he screamed in frustration as he turned and glared at them with narrowed and bloodshot eyes. 

He raised his hand in the form of a claw, and one of his subordinates rose in the air, gripping his neck as if he is being choked. 

"Ack!" his subordinate cried as he kicked his legs and raised his hands to try and remove the invisible hand clutching his neck. His face became red, then slowly turned purple. He's slowly lacking oxygen. 

"How dare you lose the Soul Furnace!" the head of the Soul Society said as he glared at the head of the security, his eyeballs almost all popped out of their sockets. "Useless… useless!" he screamed and waved his hand. 

The body of the head of the security was thrown and hit the ceiling. "Ugh!" he cried and spat out blood when his back hit the ceiling, then fell on the ground. 

SPLAT! Everyone looked away and closed their eyes when they saw the body of the head of security turned into a meat paste, his blood and other fluids mixed with his flesh that became mashed. 

His chest heaved up and down in anger. His fists are clenched to his sides, and his nails dug deep in his palm to the point that blood flowed from his hand and dripped to the floor next to his feet. However, it's as if he can't feel the pain. "Find it…" he said, his voice hoarse and his breath rapid. "Find it… find the artefact – " he told them. "FIND THE SOUL FURNACE!!!" he shouted, his voice reverberated in the walls. "FIND THAT DAMNED THIEF AND BRING HIM TO ME!!! I'LL PEEL HIM ALIVE!" he added. 

"Yes, my lord!" they immediately answered and hurriedly ran away, afraid that they'll be suddenly called back and be killed like the head of the security. They can't afford this immortal! 

When he was the only one left, the head of the Soul Society clutched his chest when it hurt. "Damn it… who is it… who is it?!" he gnashed his teeth as he thrown all the things on top of the table. He kicked his chair and it overturned. The loud noise when it hit the ground is like a drop of stone that fell on the water of the calm like, creating ripples. "THIEF!!!!" he screamed. 

Everything around him shook and fell. The walls, the ground and the ceiling trembled. He has done his best buying that artefact from the hands of those idiots Huo, Ling, Guo, Sui and Feng. He took of their ignorance and fear towards the artefact and bought it from them. They thought it was just an ominous, but also precious object. And so, they sold it to him for a high cost. 

But, he knew what the artefact is, and its value. He also knew its origin. Since their family was long since looking for it. Yes – his ancestors are one of those that coveted the artefact, the Soul Furnace. They wanted to dominate the world using the living dead. 

Yes. The Soul Furnace can gather a soul, but also place it inside a container called 'corpse'. When it happened, the corpse would become 'alive' again. Thus, it is called 'living dead'. And with these living dead, they will become the most powerful! More powerful than kings! 

However, in order to control the living dead, he first has to strengthen himself. Thus, after the Soul Furnace refined the souls, he converted it into energy and placed it inside the body. This is his secret to immortality. But, as time goes by, he felt that the energy wasn't enough. And so, he stole the souls of even the living. It was then that he stumbled upon a great surprise. 

Vessels. He didn't expect that after he stole the soul of a person that passed by him, the person was revived! He was frightened and hurriedly left. Only after he calmed down did he investigated the said person. He confirmed that the person is still alive. Thus, he tried to steal that person's soul again, but after the person revived, this time, he was calm. He named that person as a 'vessel', which means a vessel for the souls. 

He then started to look for the other vessels so that he could steal more souls and gain more power. In order to do this, he created the Soul Society. He also shared the power he gained to the members of the Soul Society and instructed them to find and then later monitor the vessels. He has yet to find out how to make a living dead, though. 

But, all his hard work… it was gone in one night! Because of a thief! He swears, when he finds that thief, he would make him the first living dead! 

Desert, mausoleum. 

Huo Ling is a smart person. It only took him a few seconds to guess the meaning of Yi Bing's words. "The artefact was stolen?!" he exclaimed, both in surprise and joy. 

Yi Bing nodded. "Yes." He answered. A faint smile was on his lips.