Afterlife Department

Stable World, Heaven, the Capital. 

Between the endless sea of clouds of the Middle Heaven, and the cloudless Upper Heaven, lies the floating giant mass of clouds drifting between the mountains of clouds where the archangels are residing. These mountainous clouds are only a small number, and are the residences of the originally nine, but now left seven, archangels after the two archangels, namely 0001 and 0007, committed sins and were punished, becoming grim reapers. 

But, we won't be focusing on these seven occupied mountains of clouds, and also the two hundred-years long unoccupied. The giant mass of clouds, bigger than the residences of the archangels, that is floating between the Middle Heaven, where Shen Taizi resides, and the Upper Heaven, where the emperor resides, is called the Capital. 

The Capital is where the remaining angels, Council of Elders and the Crown of Judges resides. This is the equivalent of the City of the Dead of the grim reapers, but the angels request to not be compared to them. 

"Eh? Long-xianjun and An-xianjun went to the mortal world again?" an angel exclaimed as she chatted with her friend. 

Her friend nodded. "Yes.. My friend, serving Long-xianjun, told me." she spoke. Her tone is proud. 

"How lucky is she to be assigned to a worriless lord?" she sighed. 

Her friend laughed. "She has been serving Long-xianjun when she was still a mortal. Long-xianjun recognizes her when she ascended to heaven and he picked her." She explained, then paused. "An-xianjun was jealous that time. His love towards Long-xianjun is eternal." She sighed in admiration. 

The two continued to chat. Since the Heaven doesn't allow anything related to debauchery in the realm, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and such can't be seen. Instead, there are only water and tea, as well as some paperbacks that is like that of the mortal world. These paperbacks, however, doesn't contain anything that is of entertainment. Instead, the paperbacks' contents are sutras. This made the place look like a library. If it wasn't just the place let them chat with their friends, one would think that they have entered a library, or a monastery since some background sounds that can be heard are incantations as the other angels in the place read the sutras. 

This made some angels envy the grim reapers since the grim reapers' City of the Dead has bars, amusement parks, night clubs and such. The Heaven is too boring, this sentence is really true. But, since angels aren't allowed feeling being envious, they could only keep it in their heart and hate the grim reapers for living such a luxurious life compared to them who, after ascended to the Heaven, instead became servants for the immortal lords. 

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. "Hey, have you heard?" someone whispered. 

"What?" somebody whispered back. 

"The grim reapers just gained their last grim reaper." someone answered. 

"What?!" they were shocked. 

"Shh! Quiet!" someone shushed. They were reading a sutra. 

"Sorry, sorry!" 

"Is that true?!" 

"Yes! I heard it from my xianjun who is talking to his friend xianjun that Shen Taizi was called by the Emperor." 

"Really?!" 

"Yes. My xianjun said that Shen Taizi was only allowed 9999 grim reapers. The Heaven is particular about this." 

"9999… that's a lot!" 

"My xianjun said that the Emperor granted Shen Taizi this right as the heir to the throne. With Shen Taizi added, Shen Taizi will have ten thousand people!" 

"This is amazing…" 

"But, why this number?" 

"Yes. Before, there are nine archangels. Now, there are only seven…" 

"There's eight!" 

"Oh. That Ling Shiyi? He isn't considered an archangel. He's just half!" 

"Yes. The original archangels are irreplaceable. Ling Shiyi can't be compared to Senior Yi!" 

"That's why they stopped the 'replacement' for senior Qi!" 

Middle Heaven, Yunhai. 

"Congratulations to His Highness for completing the grim reapers." Xiao Hun respectfully bowed and knelt. Shen Sheng has just returned from the Upper Heaven. 

A smile was on Shen Sheng's lips as he waved his hand to Xiao Hun. "This is all due to Yi Bing's efforts!" he happily said. 

Xiao Hun felt elated seeing the happy Shen Sheng. When Shen Sheng is happy, the surroundings became brighter. "The Afterlife Department must be celebrating now, right?" he asked. 

"Not really." Shen Sheng suddenly said. 

Xiao Hun was taken aback. "Ah?" he muttered. 

The smile on Shen Sheng's lips became wider and his mood became better. He didn't answer Xiao Hun and just dragged him with him to the City of the Dead. They are going to drink to their heart's content! 

Afterlife Department. 

Just as Shen Sheng said, the Afterlife Department's atmosphere is not of merry-making. More precisely, it is Gu Shi and Di San. They wore a complicated look on their face as they looked at the new member on their team. 

"What's wrong with them?" 9999 asked and blinked his eyes. His amber pupils shone because of the light reflected on his eyes. He turned to the man standing beside him. His icy-blue pupils are staring at Gu Shi and Di San, who are staring back at him. Their gazes speaking. 

Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui who have met this new member before is silent. 

Jin Wu, who is secretly assessing their new member's personality, spoke to break the silence. "I am Jin Wu – the Disciplinary Head." He said as he reached his hand out to 9999. 

9999, who was ignored by everyone, found someone who is willing to speak to him. He enthusiastically grabbed Jin Wu's hand for a handshake. "Hello!" he greeted with a big grin. "I am 9999. You can call me Huo Ling!" he told him. 

Hearing the name uttered, the temperature in the room dropped further. Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui didn't dare to speak now. Meanwhile, Jin Wu, surprisingly, didn't start a trouble today. The only ones missing are Sha Jiu, Hai Ba and Qi Shan. Sha Jiu and Hai Ba currently are making another invention so they are in a closed-door. Qi Shan, on the other hand, is currently with Lei Shan doing his tasks to help Lei Shan and complete another world. 

It was said earlier that the Heaven is very particular with the number 9 since it is auspicious. But, the Afterlife Department has ten people. It's not that they oppose the Heaven, nor they want to be unique. Actually, they are also particular with the number 9. There are nine reincarnation cycles, and each reincarnation cycle has nine lives to complete. 

But, the Afterlife Department has ten members. However, it's as if there are only nine of them. Because Yi Bing is a special case. He is the most powerful among both grim reapers and angels (archangels). So, although he is affiliated with the Afterlife Department, but he doesn't have the responsibilities a member should have. He does everything his own way. And now – 

"This is Huo Ling." Yi Bing finally spoke. "He is my apprentice. Please be kind to him." he told them. 

Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui stiffened on their seat. "Yes…" they forced themselves to answer in a small voice. 

Jin Wu's brows raised. Even though he already expected it, but from his expression, it seems like he has some thoughts regarding this. "Good." He spoke. "I also have an apprentice." He turned to Huo Ling. "I'm sure you'll get along." He told him. 

"Really?!" Huo Ling's eyes brightened. "That's great!" he said. 

Jin Wu nodded. "He isn't here since he is working on my behalf in the Disciplinary Department." He said. 

"Oh." 

Gu Shi and Di San can't hold back anymore. "Huo Ling." Gu Shi called, almost biting his tongue when he called. 

"Yes, director?" Huo Ling turned. 

Gu Shi forced a smile. "My name is Gu Shi. You can call me by name. 'director' is too formal." He spoke. "This is Di San." He turned to Di San. 

"Hello. I'm the vice director." Di San spoke. 

Huo Ling nodded. "Nice to meet you!" he said. 

Di San nodded. "And them – " he turned to Feng Er, Liu Lin and Si Shui. 

"I'm Feng Er." 

"I'm Liu Lin." 

"Si Shui." The three immediately spoke. 

"'feng', 'lin', 'shui'…" Huo Ling muttered as he looked at them. "Your power is wind." He looked at Feng Er. "And 'lin' (forest)… wood?" he asked Liu Lin. "'shui'… water!" he smiled at Si Shui. 

The three nodded and heaved a sigh of relief when the atmosphere slightly alleviated. 

"'gu' (valley) and 'di' (earth). Our power is earth." Gu Shi spoke as he pointed himself and Di San. 

"Mine is metal. 'jin' (gold)." Jin Wu said. 

Huo Ling nodded as he took note of everyone's power. 

"There's also Sha Jiu and Hai Ba." Yi Bing spoke as he turned to Huo Ling. "Sha Jiu's also of earth ability. Hai Ba's water." He said. 

"Sand (sha) and sea (hai)." Huo Ling muttered. "And yours…" he stared at Yi Bing. 

"Ice (bing)." Yi Bing answered. 

"Is his power fire (huo)?" Jin Wu asked. 

"Yes." Yi Bing answered for Huo Ling. Then, he smiled. "Welcome to the Afterlife Department." He told Huo Ling.