Afterlife Department

Stable World, Middle Heaven. 

"Achoo!" Sha Jiu suddenly sneezed as he and Gu Shi climbed up the seven thousand seven hundred and seven steps of the staircase leading to the Middle Heaven where Shen Sheng stays. 

"What's wrong?" Gu Shi asked as he turned. 

No sign of exhaustion on his face. Not only are their, grim reapers', bodies are inexhaustible. But, no matter how long you've climbed this long flight of steps, you will only think that it only happened in the blink of an eye. 

"Did the inhale some clouds?" Gu Shi asked as he waved off the clouds that drifted towards them. 

"No." Sha Jiu answered as he rubbed his nose that itched. "I think Yi Bing is cursing me now.." He said. 

"… you're very insightful." Gu Shi spoke as he recalled what he and Sha Jiu have come to the Middle Heaven for. 

It's because a Normal World, 9999, suddenly turned to a Supernatural World. They came here to inform Shen Sheng and want him to confirm it before they message Yi Bing about this. They don't want to incite panic to Yi Bing, albeit it is highly likely not gonna happen. 

Normal World, Fughlia High School. 

I'm not panicking?! Like hell! Yi Bing cursed in his mind while keeping his smile to Luren, forcing to ignore that shadow behind him that is likely to be a ghost. He could guess that Huo Ling must be seeing it now, too, so he immediately held Huo Ling's hand and, to divert Huo Ling's attention (and eat tofu), kissed the back of Huo Ling's hand. 

"My little darling is very shy.~" he spoke and laughed when he saw Huo Ling's face genuinely turned red after he kissed Huo Ling's hand. 

The corner of Huo Ling's lip twitched and he forced to laugh, though out of anger. Then, he withdrew his hand. Yi Bing didn't push his luck, either, since there's a pressing matter at hand, and that Huo Ling has finally calmed down. 

Though, just after they calmed down, they heard a fourth voice spoke. "They are strange." It is none other than the ghost. "They neither have yin nor yang energy on them." It said. 

Yi Bing who almost used his ice power and froze the library, and Huo Ling who almost jumped out of his wheelchair and burned it. "…" nmd1. They thought. Fck! Is this for real?! Are we really not shooting a horror movie and is suffering a genuine jump scare right now?! Their faces were covered in dark lines. They immediately suppressed their emotions to avoid showing unnatural expressions, revealing that they can hear the ghost talking. 

"Why is Teacher Evan and Schoolmate Howee here?" Luren asked them. 

Before Yi Bing or Huo Ling could answer, the ghost spoke again. 

"They didn't feel the ward I casted on this floor, so they reached here." It said. 

Yi Bing and Huo Ling. "…" it's so chatty. Can it give its fellow ghosts who are introverted some face?! They thought. Of course, they didn't forget to wonder how can Luren talk to a ghost, and even look friends with it? 

"Howee feels bored, and has finished reading all his books he recently bought when we arrived in Liyone." Yi Bing answered. "He wanted to go to the library to read some books, and remembered the direction to here when you toured us around yesterday." He explained. 

Luren nodded. There's nothing strange in Yi Bing's answer. Both of them really have arrived in Liyone, and Huo Ling is a 'genius' student. "Right." he muttered when he remembered something. "You said on the interview before with you by the police that you're just his teacher." He said. This is for Yi Bing to explain, but his gaze fell on Huo Ling. 

Huo Ling whipped his head to the side and looked at Yi Bing in 'shock' that Yi Bing didn't 'recognize' their 'engagement'. Then, his eyes watered. "You… you said that?" he asked, his voice sounded broke. "Of – of course… I… it's just our parents' verbal agreement, but now they were gone and it won't be considered legal." he said and lowered his head, acting being shy, and also feeling upset because of his and Yi Bing's 'unofficial engagement'. "Also… it's not really nice for a student to be in a relationship, more especially with his teacher. So, it's just natural for T… Teacher Evan to say that he's just my teacher, since I'm just his student – " he said and choked back a sob. His voice sounds very sad. 

How can Yi Bing not follow Huo Ling's script? "Don't say that…" he said and immediately held Huo Ling's hand as he flashed a sad smile. "Don't say this, please… it's not my intention…" he held Huo Ling's hand tight to 'assure' him (and also eat tofu). "I honor our parents' words. And, even if they didn't make a verbal agreement, but I still want to marry you." He caressed Huo Ling's cheek with his other hand. "Come on, look at me. I really like you. You like me, too, right? So, don't be sad anymore." He told him. 

Huo Ling raised his head and looked at Yi Bing with his round and misty eyes. 

Luren. "…" why did I ask them this? I must be out of my mind… he thought, feeling blinded by Yi Bing's and Huo Ling's 'PDA'. 

The ghost. "…" damn this pair of gays! I don't need the dog food, since I'm neither a dog nor a human! I'm a ghost, thanks! It thought as it gritted its teeth in anger. 

Yi Bing and Huo Ling. "…" our acting is really effective? They thought. 

How can Yi Bing not know that Huo Ling's eyes are misty because of tears, is because of him suppressing his anger? He wanted to laugh, but didn't since Huo Ling will definitely be angrier, and it will also expose them to Luren and the ghost. 

"Did you bring your library card?" Luren asked, changing the topic. 

Huo Ling 'cutely' nodded. "Yes~!" he answered. Though, it was him who answered, it was Yi Bing who took out the library card. 

How can they have the time to bring a library card? Not to mention the time is short, making them in a rush, but they didn't expect to meet Luren here. Huo Ling's student kit which was placed inside a box was inside their communicator. They can't just take it out like a magician, right? 

0000: … where did you get the library card? 

0001: our suit is made of the same material as our suitcase. So, it has the same magical effect like our suitcase – reproducing objects. 

0000: … brilliant. I have been enlightened. 

The two of them continued to send messages to each other through their communicators when Luren, who is about to leave to go somewhere in the library – maybe to chat with the ghost, suddenly stopped and turned to them. 

"Right." Luren spoke when he remembered something. 

Yi Bing and Huo Ling were just logging in the computer when they heard Luren spoke. They immediately stiffened and waited for Luren to continue. 

"Principal Iris sent a mass message. Have you received it?" Luren asked. 

Both nodded. "Yes." They answered. "Did you receive it?" they asked. Then, they realized how stupid their question is because they were panicking inside. 

Fortunately, Luren didn't seem to mind their mindless question, and the ghost, after knowing that they don't have either yin or yang energy, seemed to lost its interest in them. Yi Bing and Huo Ling secretly sighed in relief. 

"I did." Luren said. "I'm already here when I received it." he told them. 

Yi Bing and Huo Ling. "…" well, aren't you shameless?! We've seen that you had just boarded the elevator when Iris sent the message! They thought. 

As if not enough, Luren added. "I don't have anything to hide." He said. 

Yi Bing and Huo Ling. "…" your mother! Does your conscience not hurt?! There's a ghost floating beside you! Is this 'nothing to hide'?! You might as well say that you didn't steal the bell1 or that you didn't bury some silvers2! 

"Yes." Yi Bing laughed, regaining his composure. "If you have nothing to hide, then you won't be afraid to come to light." He said. 

Luren nodded in agreement. "Teacher Evan is right." he said. 

'is right', my ass! Yi Bing and Huo Ling thought as they internally cursed. They really admire Luren's ability to lie with a straight face! He didn't even blink. 

"Then, I won't be disturbing you. Study hard." Luren spoke. His second sentence is to Huo Ling. 

Huo Ling 'obediently' nodded even though he is shaking inside. "Yes, I will!" he answered, but he's screaming inside. Luren is very frightening! He thought and smiled at Yi Bing. 

How can Yi Bing not see that helpless smile that looked like a cry? "My little Howee is very good!" he said and 'patted' Huo Ling's head. 

0001: endure it. As soon as we find that bloody1 book, or get some clues about this dubious school, then we can leave. 

0000: … can we really investigate under the eyes of that ghost1? 

ni ma de, or 'your mom'. A curse or a scolding. refers to a story of man who wanted to hide his silvers so he buried it and wrote 'there are no 300 ounces of silver here'.somewhat sarcastic here, since the book has a page that was written in blood. YB meant to be literal and figurative here.reference to the idiom 'covering the ears to steal the bell'. A thief wanted to steal a very valuable and large bell, so he decided to smash it so that he could carry it home. But when he hit it, the loud clang surprised him and he covered his ears, thereby muffling the sound. He decided to use cloth to plug his ears, foolishly thinking it quieted the bell so that he could hit it repeatedly. Neighbors soon heard the sound and caught the thief in the act. meant to be both literal and figurative here. for figurative, someone described as a ghost is shady or suspicious.