Afterlife Department

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling as their gazes met. It seemed like time has slowed down for both of them as they looked at each other. How can Yi Bing not know what Huo Ling is thinking at the moment? Huo Ling's eyes are clear and bright, they look transparent, making Huo Ling's thoughts and emotions also be transparent to him. 

Yi Bing, although he has said before that he won't indulge Huo Ling, but how can he let Huo Ling down? Thus, he raised his arms and caught the other person. As soon as their bodies touched, they both sighed in contentment. It felt like their bodies perfectly fit together – like yin and yang. They complement each other. One hot, and the other one is cold. One is alive… while the other one is dead. 

"Were you hurt?" Yi Bing asked, breaking the silence that fell between them, making them drown in their thoughts. 

"No." Huo Ling answered.. Because you protected me very well. He added in his heart. He wanted to tell Yi Bing that Yi Bing is the best person, but he felt shy for some reason. 

"Mn." Yi Bing hummed. "Let's go." He told Huo Ling. The enemies are still chasing them, and he casted an illusion spell to them to buy he and Huo Ling time to escape. He grabbed Huo Ling's hand before they ran away. 

Yi Bing chose a hidden passage and when they passed by the stone gate, he teleported them to the exit of a cemetery on the other side of the city. Huo Ling, who has just returned to China, didn't notice anything else and he pulled Yi Bing's hand. This time, he was the one who pulled Yi Bing and they ran. 

Meanwhile, the assassins who had guessed the direction where Yi Bing and Huo Ling escaped looked around and found it was a dead end. But, no matter where they searched, they couldn't find a shadow of Yi Bing and Huo Ling. 

"Did they climb the wall?" one of them asked. 

"That can't be, unless they are Spidermen." One of them spoke and they all looked at the high wall of the tall building. 

"Then, where can they go?" they asked each other, feeling puzzled. 

"Continue to search! We will dig each grave if we have to! FIND THEM!!!" their deputy leader said through his gritted teeth. "They can't just suddenly disappear!" he added. If they can't find that preschool teacher, their leader will definitely kill them! 

In fact, Yi Bing and Huo Ling didn't disappear. They teleported. But, how can these assassins who escaped an impenetrable prison know it? So, they resumed looking for Huo Ling and Yi Bing like headless flies. Meanwhile, Yi Bing and Huo Ling have finally reached the safe house Lu Si sent to them earlier. 

"Hao Baiyun?! Gu Xingfeng?!" Huo Ling exclaimed when they saw Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng sitting on the sofa inside. "Why are you…" he muttered, out of breath. 

He and Yi Bing had just had a marathon. Yi Bing told him they should stop after seeing he is exhausted, but he insisted to continue running for fear that the assassins might catch up to them. Although they have managed to escape from the clutches of the assassins earlier, but who knows if they could the next time? There is only Yi Bing who can fight between them. Maybe it was luck earlier that they have managed to escape. 

Furthermore, he doesn't want to overwork Yi Bing again, nor want him to fight against those assassins alone again. Even if Yi Bing doesn't look tired nor have any wounds, but Huo Ling was really, really scared. Not only for himself, but also for Yi Bing. It was just now that he had realized how dangerous his situation is. That, anytime, in any place, he could be attacked. Worse, he could be killed without him knowing. 

The thought made him uncontrollably shiver. 

"Xiao Ling." Hao Baiyun called as he rose from his seat. "Are you alright?" he asked as he ran towards Huo Ling and hugged him tight. His brows are knitted and his eyes are filled with worry. He looked as scared as Huo Ling. 

Yi Bing brow twitched in annoyance. He could have stopped Hao Baiyun from hugging Huo Ling, but since he knows Huo Baiyun's concern towards Huo Ling is sincere, so he let the other comfort Huo Ling – in which he doesn't know how, shame on him. Furthermore, he discovered that his tolerance towards Hao Baiyun has lessened. Maybe his and Huo Ling's interaction with the Hao Baiyuns in the other worlds made him less resistant to the other. 

But, the biggest reason why he finally became tolerant of Hao Baiyun is… his gaze drifted towards Gu Xingfeng whose face looked dark as he watched Huo Ling and Hao Baiyun hug. Hao Baiyun is already booked by this policeman. Hao Baiyun is like Huo Ling – a bottom. And he will top Huo Ling! 

Thinking this, his gaze towards Huo Ling became darker. He remembered the kiss they once shared underwater. He realized, they have already held hands, hugged each other, and shared a kiss. But, the next stages will happen in the far future. They aren't official couple yet, and Huo Ling doesn't even know his feelings towards him, since he hasn't confessed to Huo Ling yet. He wanted to confess, but he can't find the right time to confess! 

"I – I'm fine…" Huo Ling answered. His face still yet pale but now looked better compared to earlier. 

Yi Bing was pulled from his thoughts. He raised his head and his and Gu Xingfeng's gazes met. They nodded at each other before they walked towards Huo Ling and Hao Baiyun who are still hugging each other and pulled them two apart. Although Huo Ling and Hao Baiyun are both bottoms, and nothing will happen between two bottoms… but still, with how big of a vinegar jar Yi Bing is, and Gu Xingfeng a hidden vinegar jar, too, they resolutely separated the innocent Huo Ling and Hao Baiyun. 

Hao Baiyun still hasn't noticed Gu Xingfeng's dark expression. He is facing Huo Ling and he smiled at the other. "That's good." He said as he sighed in relief. 

Huo Ling, who was still preoccupied of the ruthless realization he had earlier, didn't notice the stinky smell of vinegar coming from Yi Bing. He absent-mindedly nodded at Hao Baiyun and forced a smile. "Yes, thank goodness…" he said as he came to his senses. "Ge. Why are you here?" he asked again. 

It was only then did Hao Baiyun remember Gu Xingfeng. "Oh, we – " he said and glanced at Gu Xingfeng before he turned back to Huo Ling. " – Lu Si sent me an email." He answered. 

Gu Xingfeng's face darkened even more. Hao Baiyun looked at him for only two seconds before he turned to Huo Ling! He opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly heard what Hao Baiyun spoke next. 

"Lu Si asked me to contact the MI6 agents that were based here in China. Since this is confidential, I can't ask others. But, fortunately, there's Gu Xingfeng!" Hao Baiyun said and his expression turned better. "He and Lu Si have met before, and I trust Gu Xingfeng. So, I had him lend me a hand." He said and turned to Gu Xingfeng before he gave him a smile. 

Gu Xingfeng's heart fluttered. "… mn." He nodded before he looked away. Alright, I forgive you. He thought, and the tips of his ears are red. 

How easy. Yi Bing thought as he looked at Gu Xingfeng in disdain. How can he let his wife manipulate him? I will never be manipulated –

"I also trust Yi Bing." Huo Ling said and smiled. He shyly glanced at Yi Bing before he immediately looked away and turned back to Hao Baiyun. "Although we've met each other just recently, but I… I – " he said and peeked at Yi Bing before he lowered his head to hide his blush.

… never be… manipulated… Yi Bing felt his brain crashed. – never be manipulated… unless it's Huo Ling! He thought. "… mn." He muttered before he lowered his gaze to hide the turbulent emotions in his eyes. 

If Gu Xingfeng and Hao Baiyun know what Yi Bing is thinking, they would tell him, "You're the easiest one!" to his face. 

Hao Baiyun looked at Yi Bing's emotionless face. He remembered Yi Bing's cold eyes before and he secretly shuddered in fear. He felt afraid of Yi Bing, but today Yi Bing proved that he can protect Huo Ling. So, he rested the worries in his heart and gave Huo Ling a warm smile. "That's great." He said. 

Huo Ling nodded. "En." He spoke. "Right. Where are the MI6 agents you contacted?" he asked. 

"Right!" Hao Baiyun slapped his forehead. "Fortunately, you told me you are going to your maternal grandparents. I send them the location. Now, they are chasing the assassins." He explained.