Afterlife Department

Since the grim reapers don't need rest, they lazed around their room after the servants delivered them their dinner and fixed their bed, silently telling them to sleep early. Why will the grim reapers care about that? 

Jiu Ye, the coward, can't sit still in his room and ate his dinner. Then, he called for his elder brother, only to be surprised when he saw Huo Ling and Yi Bing arrived, too. They used teleportation since the servants have reminded them earlier to not go out of their rooms. 

Huo Ling has been lying on his bed and typing down notes again when he suddenly received a message from Jiu Ye. Then, he found out it's for Shi Jiu. He realized that Jiu Ye must have accidentally set it as a group message. Since he is bored, he decided to go to Jiu Ye's room. 

Yi Bing naturally received Jiu Ye's group message which supposed to be sent only for Shi Jiu. Guessing that Huo Ling might go to Jiu Ye's room after receiving an accidental group message, he decided to go to Jiu Ye's room, too. 

And so, thus a group meeting happened in Jiu Ye's room.. 

"You're a grim reaper. Why are you afraid of a mere ghost?" Shi Jiu asked Jiu Ye. "Ghosts are a form of souls, too, you know." He told him. 

Based from his words, it can be inferred that Jiu Ye has never had a soul assignment that is aggressive or fierce, nor have undergone any mission that is dangerous. A soul, after turning to a grim reaper and were trained, they will immediately become an assignment-bound grim reaper. One, to make them more familiarized with the souls. Two, being a non-assignment grim reaper is more dangerous, since their tasks are random and usually dangerous. 

Thus, to make Jiu Ye adjust to the shift from being an assignment-bound to a non-assignment grim reaper, Shi Jiu pulled Jiu Ye to the Collections Departments and became his apprentice. Since the Collection Department collects souls, the souls are from timid and weak ones to aggressive and dangerous ones. 

"Ge…" Jiu Ye called, sounding aggrieved as he looked at his elder brother. 

Shi Jiu helplessly sighed. "It's really better for you to deal with Pei Li than deal with Pei Ru." He said, then looked at Huo Ling. 

Since the topic has shifted to work, their impromptu meeting started. 

"Does anyone have questions on how to deal with their target tomorrow?" Yi Bing asked. 

Since there is a night rule in Anchuan Town, then, they can only execute their tasks tomorrow. 

"I'll act sick tomorrow." Huo Ling answered. 

"What if the Pei family would send their doctors for you instead of Pei Ru?" Shi Jiu asked. 

"I'll say that I don't trust them." Huo Ling answered. "I'll say that I've heard of their bad reputation while on our way here from our 'hometown'. I can also say that we're from Anhe." He explained. 

Shi Jiu nodded and looked at Huo Ling with an admiring gaze. Huo Ling is really smart. 

"What about you?" Yi Bing asked Shi Jiu. 

"I'll invite him for drink and ask about the Pei family." Shi Jiu answered. "To do that, I'll say that I want to set up a business and in the future, want to set up a partnership with the Pei family, but then – " he glanced at Huo Ling. " – heard that they has a bad reputation, so I am hesitating. I'll also butter him up , like he's the only one I can ask about the Pei family since he is the most powerful person in Anchuan, etc." he explained. 

Jiu Ye's eyes sparkled. "Ge, that's really a brilliant plan!" he exclaimed. 

"Of course!" Shi Jiu proudly raised his chin. "Who do you think your brother is?" he laughed. 

Huo Ling smiled while Yi Bing rolled his eyes. "How about you?" Yi Bing asked Jiu Ye. 

"Oh. I'll show her the functions of mini Anji Li that Sha Jiu made in order for mini Anji Li to complement the ancient era, like using her winder for her to walk." Jiu Ye answered. 

Sha Jiu really is a meticulous person… ehem, grim reaper. He even remembered to add this function. 

"Good." Yi Bing nodded, feeling satisfied. 

Pei Li will definitely like mini Anji Li more. 

"Oh!" Shi Jiu exclaimed when he realized something. "In case that official will ask about my business, how about…" he said and took out his mini Anji Li. 

Their eyes brightened. "Such a convenient product!" they said and laughed, thanking Sha Jiu in their hearts. 

Just as the atmosphere inside the room is getting warmer, a loud, piercing scream broke through the silence outside. They all sharply turned, waiting for the footsteps outside to pass by. But, after five minutes, no one arrived. 

A horrible thought entered their mind. "It couldn't be… the Pei family isn't planning on helping them?" Jiu Ye asked as his eyes widened in horror when they still didn't hear any movement outside, and the screaming sound has already disappeared. "So cruel!" he exclaimed, referring to the Pei family. "How can they just leave the person on their own?!" he asked. 

"The servants have done their tasks to remind the guests." Yi Bing spoke. "So, whatever happens to anyone, as long as they break the 'patriarch's rules, then the Pei family won't take any action. All the guests also know this, and bore witness to this, thus they also aren't making their move." He explained and glanced at the wall on his right, where the other guest is staying to him next.

"No way!" Jiu Ye exclaimed. 

"Even if there is no night rule, but attending a funeral, the guests who have come from the far places are expected to stay overnight in Anchuan." Huo Ling spoke. "Of course, they could stay in a hotel, but who wouldn't want to stay for free? Even if they are all wealthy people, but they also might want to save money sometimes. Furthermore, they are giving face the Pei family here by staying in the Pei mansion after being invited by them to stay." He explained, then paused. "Of course, the Pei family might have another reason for inviting them." He said. 

"Such as?" Jiu Ye asked. 

"Showing off their wealth." Huo Ling answered. 

Jiu Ye. "…" not only is the Pei family cruel, but they are also vain. He thought and sighed. 

Suddenly, the scream was heard again. 

Jiu Ye looked at the three adults. "What should we do?! Let's help them!" he said. 

Huo Ling and Shi Jiu looked at Yi Bing. 

Yi Bing nodded. "Let's go. We won't lost anything, anyway." He said. After all, they're already dead. 

The four of them returned to their respective rooms to not raise suspicions before they simultaneously came out and ran to the direction where the scream can be heard. Unlike earlier, the screaming continued this time. 

"Say…" Shi Jiu spoke as they ran down the hallway. 

Their running footsteps are clearly heard in the silent night, like the scream. But, no one took any action after they heard a scream, showing their indifference to death, which is a cruel attitude. 

"I have a bold guess." He said.

Huo Ling and Yi Bing didn't speak. Jiu Ye noticed it. Obviously, they know that what his elder brother is about to say is probably not good thus they didn't speak. 

But, he still can't help his curiosity, so he asked. "What is it, ge?" he looked at his elder brother. 

"The first scream is a prank." Shi Jiu answered. 

"What?!" Jiu Ye was shocked and he almost tripped on his feet. 

They stopped and slowly walked towards the crime scene.

"Why?" Jiu Ye asked as he followed behind the three. 

"To test the 'patriarch's rule." Shi Jiu answered. 

"Oh." Jiu Ye frowned. There is no one good in this feudal era! He thought. "Then, what about the second scream?" he asked when they heard that the voice is slowly weakening. 

The scent of blood pervaded their noses. 

"Of course – " Shi Jiu grinned as the scent of blood became strong. " – it's real." He said when they finally arrived. 

It's a garden, and beneath the bridge lies a corpse. 

Although Jiu Ye was frightened by the corpse, but he's not as frightened by it as he feared the ghosts. "… should I scream now?" he asked the three adults when he noticed their indifferent expressions as they looked at the corpse. 

It's as if they are looking at an unappetizing dish. Thinking this, he felt nausea and wanted to vomit out the dinner he ate earlier. 

"Go and scream." Yi Bing answered. 

Jiu Ye opened his mouth and was about to scream when Yi Bing suddenly raised his hand. "What?" he asked. 

Yi Bing took out a pair of earmuffs and placed it on his and Huo Ling's heads. Shi Jiu's expression changed. 

"Now, you can scream." Yi Bing told Jiu Ye. 

Jiu Ye looking at the earmuffs. "…" can I still?