Afterlife Department

The police officer's swivel chair bumped against the wall behind him after he moved away from his table, warily looking at the seemingly ordinary-looking wallet on top of his table, as if a snake would jump out of it. Meanwhile, the taxi driver's face paled when he heard what Gu Xingfeng and Hao Baiyun said. He must have encountered a kidnapping case. Fortunately, he wasn't greedy and went to the police station to have them deal with the wallet filled with money. Or else, he would've wronged the young man kidnapped by the black-clothed man, his life or death is unknown. 

"A taxi driver met them." Gu Xingfeng answered and explained the situation to Hao Baiyun. 

"What the hell… no way! Xiao Ling!!!" Hao Baiyun screamed in grief from the other line.. They heard him sobbed before a series of sounds was heard, probably he was preparing something. "Gu Xingfeng! Look for them! Call me if you have found xiao Ling!" he told him. 

Before Gu Xingfeng could answer, the call was ended. The police officer looked at Gu Xingfeng, stunned. He never knew someone could yell and order their chief. When he met Gu Xingfeng's gaze, he immediately looked away and coughed before he turned to the frightened taxi driver. "Sir. Can you tell us more?" he asked. "Like if he mentioned something, anything…" he said. 

The taxi driver hurriedly nodded. "Y-yes!" he answered. "He said that they will be taking a bus, that's why he gave me money since he called me for nothing." He explained. 

"A bus…" the police officer muttered. "Where did you meet them?" he asked. 

The taxi driver immediately gave them an address. 

"Which bus stops are near the area?" Gu Xingfeng asked. 

The police officer immediately pulled up a map in the computer. Then, he recited a couple of bus stops and stations. 

Gu Xingfeng nodded, satisfied. "Call the officers near the area. Tell them to call me if they found the two people." He ordered. 

"Yes!" the police officer saluted before he picked up the phone and called. 

Gu Xingfeng turned to the taxi driver. "Thank you for your time and kindness. Our station will send you a banner – " he said. 

"No need! No need!" the taxi driver said. He has given so much fright today. 

Gu Xingfeng nodded. He thanked the taxi driver again, then left with his car. Before he left, he glanced at the police officer. The police officer nodded and gave the taxi driver some food and drinks to show their gratitude. Then, he sped off. 

…

Huo Ling was slightly trembling and Yi Bing helped him sit on one of the benches in the bus station. "Calmed down?" he asked. 

Huo Ling's face and lips are slightly pale, but he somehow calmed down. "Y-yes." He answered. Although he looked calm after, but the vivid red in the dashboard of the taxi was still imprinted in his mind. 

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling as he stood beside him. "I'll buy some water." He said and was about to leave when he suddenly felt Huo Ling tugged at his sleeve. He turned and was about to speak when he saw Huo Ling was staring at the reflection of the man sitting in one of the benches behind, not far from them. 

Yi Bing's expression changed and he opened his suitcase. In the corner of his eyes, he saw the man slightly raised his head to look at his suitcase. Yi Bing just calmly took out a bottle of water and handed it to Huo Ling. "I remembered I have one here. But, it was already opened…" he said. 

"I'll take it!" Huo Ling immediately answered and took the bottle of water. He uncapped it and drank with one big gulp. 

Yi Bing helplessly looked at Huo Ling. "Slow down." He told him. Suddenly, he froze when he heard a voice spoke. 

"Boss. He just gave the target a bottle of water. Do you think he will drug him?" the man sitting on the bench spoke in a low voice. 

Yi Bing's eyes narrowed. The man must be speaking through an earpiece hidden under his long hair. While he is contemplating, two people arrived and sat on the bench a meter away from Huo Ling. Yi Bing could see Huo Ling stiffened when more people arrived – a man and a woman. 

"Calm down." He told Huo Ling. He didn't tell Huo Ling that the area has become isolated and no vehicles or people are passing by in order to not add to Huo Ling's fear. 

Huo Ling was preoccupied with his fear and he tightened his hold on Yi Bing's sleeve. After he heard Yi Bing's voice, he inexplicably calmed down. Holding Yi Bing's sleeve gives him comfort and security, so he isn't that afraid anymore. He was about to speak when suddenly, a man came to the station. Huo Ling subconsciously raised his head and saw the man's face. He thinks he looks familiar. 

Yi Bing, on the other hand, has seen the man from afar. And, the man is, in fact, very familiar. It is none other than Gu Xingfeng. Seeing the man, Yi Bing's face chilled. But, he was holding back his irritation earlier to not spook Huo Ling. However, now that the man is near, his irritation increased. 

Gu Xingfeng didn't dally and stopped right in front of Yi Bing and Huo Ling. When he saw Huo Ling's pale face, he secretly clicked his tongue. Hao Baiyun would definitely yell in his ear later. "Sir. The man beside you is a friend of my… acquaintance." He said and glanced at Huo Ling. "I haven't seen my acquaintance for a long time, and seeing your friend reminds me of my acquaintance." He explained. "Can I sit beside him to talk about my acquaintance?" he asked. 

If it were the first and second sentence, Yi Bing might have relented. But, after hearing the third sentence, Yi Bing can't hold back his irritation anymore. His face became dark and he darkly laughed. "How about 'no'?" he asked. 

The temperature in the surrounding immediately dropped. The man and woman not far from Huo Ling jumped and crossed the benches between them and Huo Ling to grab Huo Ling. But, before they could, Yi Bing moved. He grabbed Huo Ling's hand holding his sleeve to pull Huo Ling towards him. Huo Ling, still hasn't reacted, fell on Yi Bing's arms. Before he could open his mouth to speak, Yi Bing raised his foot and kicked his suitcase towards the two people. 

"Ugh!" the two people cried when they fell back to their seat. 

Gu Xingfeng and the man on the other bench was taken aback. They looked at each other. Gu Xingfeng glanced at Yi Bing before he and the other man moved to attack the man and the woman who tried to grab Huo Ling earlier. 

Gu Xingfeng has already heard from Hao Baiyun that someone is after Huo Ling. Seeing Yi Bing's protective embrace and the dependency in Huo Ling's eyes, Gu Xingfeng would be an idiot if he can't figure out what is happening. The man and the woman are the enemies, not Yi Bing! 

The policemen who were surrounding the area heard the commotion from the earpiece of their fellow officer. But, when they arrived, they saw that the man who took Huo Ling was fine while Gu Xingfeng and their fellow officer are attacking these two unfamiliar people. Who are these two people?! Why didn't they notice them?! 

Thus, they joined the fray and apprehended the man and woman. Seeing the man and woman still struggling, Gu Xingfeng spoke. "Knock them out." He told them as he patted his hands off of dust. 

"Yes!" the police officers answered and injected something on the man and woman before they took them away. 

"Sir, what about him?" one of the police officers who was sitting on the bench earlier asked and looked at Yi Bing who was Huo Ling clinging tight to. "…" I shouldn't have asked. He thought and hurriedly left when he saw Gu Xingfeng's ridiculing gaze on him. 

"Xiao Xie." Gu Xingfeng called. 

"Yes!" Xiao Xie answered and his back stiffened. 

"Have Song Mingfan bring Hao Baiyun here when he arrives." Gu Xingfeng said. 

"Yes!" Xiao Xie said and immediately left. 

Gu Xingfeng turned and saw Yi Bing patted Huo Ling's back before he gently pushed Huo Ling off of his body. "It seems like we were mistaken. I offer my apology." He said as he walked towards Yi Bing. 

"I don't need it." Yi Bing sneered and unwrapped a candy before giving it to Huo Ling. "Low blood sugar." He told Huo Ling. 

Huo Ling nodded and obediently ate the candy. Not long after and the color on Huo Ling's face returned. "Thanks." He smiled at Yi Bing before he turned to Gu Xingfeng. "You mentioned Hao Baiyun earlier… you're his friend?" he asked. 

"Acquaintance." Gu Xingfeng corrected. Before he could speak further, they heard rushed footsteps. 

"GU XINGFENG! WHERE IS XIAO LING?! WHERE IS THAT BASTARD THAT KIDNAPPED XIAO LING – " Hao Baiyun asked when he saw Huo Ling was standing beside Yi Bing. Furthermore, Huo Ling was slightly leaning towards Yi Bing.

It was obvious that this isn't a kidnapper and the one that he kidnapped would look like.

"Gu Xingfeng. Let me beat you." Hao Baiyun said and glared at Gu Xingfeng.