Afterlife Department

"As you have said before, he asks others favors." Yi Bing said. "However, if he was put in a critical situation, he would choose himself than the one whom he owed a favor." He said. 

Huo Ling nodded. "That's correct." He said, remembered that it was what he really said earlier. 

"This shows he values his life more than anything. He isn't greedy, either, since he knows he would owe others a favor, thus he rarely asks for favors, right?" Yi Bing said and looked at Huo Ling. 

Huo Ling. "Yes." He answered as he looked at Peng Qian.. "Actually, he would only ask for help when things are already out of his ability." He explained for Peng Qian. 

Peng Qian, although he looked like a lazy person, but Huo Ling believes that Peng Qian's abilities are really limited. He could also feel that Peng Qian is sincere with his actions. If not, would Huo Ling befriend him? Huo Ling has already seen lots of people trying to curry favor towards him, but only a handful of people had gained his trust. 

Peng Qian is one of them. 

Yi Bing nodded. "So, it can't be him." He said. 

Hearing this, a thought suddenly flashed in his mind. Huo Ling looked at Yi Bing. "How can one become a member of the Soul Society?" he asked. "How do they choose them?" he added. Although he hates the Soul Society, but its mysteriousness also piqued his interest. 

"Are you interested in joining them?" Yi Bing asked back when he saw Huo Ling's inquisitive gaze and pensive expression. 

Huo Ling's face immediately warped. "Hell, no!" he exclaimed. "They are just thieves, pretentious bastards!" he said through his gritted teeth. 

Yi Bing also knew this, so he stopped teasing Huo Ling. "Yes, yes." He said. Having known Huo Ling for several lifetimes (on Huo Ling's part), naturally he knows Huo Ling is an upright person and thus hates these evil schemes and dirty tricks. He knows that what interest Huo Ling is the secrets of the Soul Society and not its people. 

Or else, Huo Ling would have already asked him about Philip's well-being after knowing that Philip is a member of the Soul Society. 

"The one who bought the Soul Furnace is an ambitious and scheming person, so what do you think will his people and the people around him be like?" Yi Bing asked back. 

Huo Ling didn't answer. 

"Of course, this is just a subjective opinion." Yi Bing said. "Not all members of the Soul Society are necessarily bad." He made a pause. Though he hated to admit it, but he still said it in the end. "Like Philip." He added, his voice low. 

Huo Ling stared at him. "What about Philip?" he said. "Do you know how he… joined the Soul Society?" he asked. 

Yi Bing, like the previous answer, didn't necessarily answer. "Do you know that if you'll join the Soul Society, you'll be an 'immortal'?" he asked. 

"'immortal'?" Huo Ling's brows raised as he looked at Yi Bing up and down. Before, he doesn't believe in supernatural, much less immortals. That's one of the reasons why he dared go to tombs, which are believed to be cursed. 

But now, meeting Yi Bing, a grim reaper, and him becoming a wandering soul… he was forced to believe it. 

"The energy the Soul Furnace created after refining the souls is being extracted by the founder of the Soul Society." Yi Bing said and looked at Huo Ling in the eyes. 

Their gazes locked, and they talked with each other using their gaze. 

"So, the founder of the Soul Society is alive until now." Huo Ling said after he fully grasped what Yi Bing meant. 

"Yes. That's one of the reasons why this world is imbalanced." Yi Bing said. "And, after the Soul Society gains a member, he would share that energy with the new member after the new member undertook an oath. The energy from the Soul Furnace will retain their youth." He explained. 

"You mean…" Huo Ling gasped. 

"Yes. It's those life expectancies of the souls." Yi Bing understood what Huo Ling wanted to say. 

Huo Ling's eyes widened in horror. 

"The years those pitiful souls that are about to live, but was robbed of them, it was added to the life expectancy of the Soul Society's members." Yi Bing explained and paused. He looked at Huo Huainan and Huo Zichu sitting not far from them. "How did your parents introduce Philip to you?" he asked. 

"A family friend." Huo Ling subconsciously answered. 

"Haven't you noticed how Philip looked the same as when you first met him?" Yi Bing asked. 

Now that Yi Bing asked, it seemed as if a fog has cleared in Huo Ling's brain. His pupils constricted. "It can't be…" he muttered. "But, I thought that Philip has the same face and name as his father!" he looked at Yi Bing. "It can't be… Philip's father… was Philip?" he muttered, stunned. 

Yi Bing didn't answer since the answer is already obvious. "You asked earlier, how does the Soul Society choose its members?" he said. "One reason is, seeking immortality." He told him. 

Huo Ling regained his calm. "And Philip?" he asked. "And how old is he supposed to be?" he added. 

"Seventy-eight." Yi Bing answered. 

Huo Ling sucked in a breath. 

"Philip came from a broken a family." Yi Bing started. "He is a product of premarital sex. His parents met in a club, and had a wild night. His biological father is a womanizer, while his mother was a casual woman. The two married, but before he could be born, they already divorced. It was just one spring night." He explained. 

Huo Ling felt sympathy. He didn't expect for Philip to have such a past. 

"This doesn't end here." Yi Bing said. "His father is somewhat wealthy, so he sends money to his ex-wife for her to raise Philip. But, Philip's mother is a casual woman. She just hired a nanny to raise Philip before she started partying about." He couldn't help but heave a sigh. He admits he is prejudiced towards Philip because the other is a Soul Society member. "Philip was raised by the nanny and slowly grew up. However, when he became a teen, the nanny died of old age. His mother brought home a man, and the two always… even though the child was there." he shook his head. "His mother took it as 'teaching' Philip in that area. But, his mother's lover is a young man, only a few years older than him. One time, when his mother wasn't home, that man…" his voice trailed off. 

Huo Ling could already guess. Philip was touched by that man. 

"Philip fell in love with that man. But, that man is just after his mother's money. Not long later, his mother got bored of the man and replaced him with a new lover." Yi Bing continued. "Who could have expected, that new lover of his mother is a criminal that just got out of jail? One time they argued, he killed Philip's mother. Philip just happened to return home and saw it, but fortunately, he reacted fast. He escaped." He said. "Philip called the police, and that criminal was arrested. But, Philip was still an underage, so he needs to go to his biological father's custody." He looked up at the ceiling. "It turned out, his biological father has long since died because of an accident. That was then when Philip come across his mother's former lover – the man he fell in love with." Suddenly, a faint smile formed on his lips. 

Huo Ling's heart skipped a beat. 

"That man also fell in love with Philip. He raised him alone, until Philip graduated from college." Yi Bing continued. "Philip found a job, and the two continued living in harmony. But – " the smile disappeared from his lips and was replaced by a frown. " – that man saw Philip was being hugged by a girl. He got agitated, and ran away. He missed to see Philip pushed the girl. Philip also saw the man and he ran after him. But, who would have thought – " he closed his eyes and shook his head. 

Huo Ling held his breath. "A car accident?" he said. 

Yi Bing nodded. "That man was hit by a car." He said. "And the car's driver is that criminal who killed Philip's mother. It was also found that that man also crashed into the car of Philip's biological father when he escaped the first time, resulting to the death of Philip's biological father." He explained. 

Huo Ling sucked in a cold breath. No wonder Philip is introverted and doesn't like people. It turned out that his life is very tragic. 

"So, the Soul Society chooses their members by their motivation." Yi Bing said. 

"'motivation'?" 

Yi Bing nodded. "Philip's motivation in life is to make that man who killed his parents and lover to slowly suffer and not die."