Afterlife Department

Stable World, City of the Dead.

"Say! Can't you tell me first about this? This is too sudden!" Huo Ling told Yi Bing as they walked. 

"A grim reaper must be flexible." Yi Bing said. 

Huo Ling's feet stopped and his face darkened. "'flexible', my ass!" he said as he glared at Yi Bing. "Who in their right mind would ask if they know how to kill someone?!" he exclaimed. 

"I am. I'm in my right mind." Yi Bing calmly answered. 

Huo Ling's face turned darker. 

Yi Bing saw that Huo Ling was about to explode and know that he has to stop teasing him. "I'm kidding." He spoke. 

Huo Ling stared at Yi Bing's serious and cold face. "No shit." He sarcastically said. With that serious and cold face that looked like he's from a church or a graveyard to utter a joke… can it be considered a joke? 

Yi Bing helplessly smiled when he heard Huo Ling cursed. He decided to lower his head since he's in the wrong. "I worded it the wrong way." He spoke. "What I want to ask is that if you know how to fight?" he asked. 

"I know." Huo Ling answered. When he saw Yi Bing was about to speak, he continued. "But I don't do it." he said. 

Yi Bing. "…" so, what was the point of your first answer? To toy me back? He thought and then coughed. "After successfully completing two tasks with a high evaluation from your superior, the grim reaper's superior can decide to grant the grim reaper a weapon, or to wait for him for his third task and continue to observe." He explained. 

"So, you mean to give me a weapon?" Huo Ling said. 

"Yes." Yi Bing said, then paused. "We have a weapon in order to fight." He said and looked at him. "Fighting is unavoidable in the future." He told him. 

Huo Ling remembered Yi Bing fought the Soul Eater. "I understand." He said. Although he hates to admit it, but Yi Bing was very cool. He is also a man, and every man wants to look cool. In other words, he aspires to be like Yi Bing who is strong, although he hates to admit this. 

Unfortunately, Yi Bing doesn't know what Huo Ling is thinking. If he knew, he would've kissed him right then and there. "What weapon do you want?" he asked. 

Huo Ling didn't ask Yi Bing what weapon does Yi Bing use since he saw it before. A scythe, which can transform to a sword, or even a dagger. "Dunno." He honestly answered. 

Yi Bing nodded in understanding. He has already expected this, that's why he brought Huo Ling here. "Go inside." He said as they stopped in front of a shop. 

Huo Ling didn't ask anything and just entered since he trusts Yi Bing. Then, he was stunned when he saw what's inside. "… an arsenal?!" he exclaimed in shock as he looked at the weapons inside. 

From ancient weapons like battle axes, swords, bows, whips, spears and lances, to modern weapons like guns, cannons, bombs, and even lightsabers, everything can be found here. 

"Although grim reapers have powers, but they also have weapons." Yi Bing spoke as he followed him. "The weaker ones usually carry weapons with them. Their weapons make up for their lack of power." He explained. "Weapons can also act as the medium to release our power." He added. 

Huo Ling carefully analyzed. "The simplest and easiest to use is dagger. But, it has a short range of attack, depending on how long can your arm reach and how near can you approach your opponent, as well as how short is its blade. These are essential to its lethality." He said and then looked at the sword. "This one depends on the speed and reaction of its wielder." He picked up the sword and then swung it. "This one has longer reach than the dagger, but if you are slow to wield it, you give chance to your opponent to harm you. If you don't react correctly, then you'll impale yourself instead." He explained as he placed the sword back. 

Yi Bing nodded as he silently listened to Huo Ling and saw him pick up a gun. 

"Guns are easier to use, since you just need to pull the trigger and it will kill for you. No need to be fast or to react." Huo Ling continued. "But, if you won't handle it correctly, and grip it tight because of its recoil, then it will become a toy." He said as he turned to Yi Bing. 

"For someone who don't fight…" Yi Bing said as he looked at Huo Ling. His eyes are full of appreciation. 

"I told you, I know." Huo Ling shrugged. 

"You just don't have a chance to execute what you know." Yi Bing chuckled. 

Huo Ling rolled his eyes. 

"So, have you decided which to pick?" Yi Bing asked. 

…

"I'm sorry, brother." Jiu Ye said after he and Shi Jiu have dinner. "I wasted your effort…" he said. 

Shi Jiu smiled as he patted his younger brother's shoulder. "I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have forced you." He told him. 

After they left the Normal World 341, Shi Jiu asked Yi Bing to cancel Jiu Ye's transfer which was already approved. Yi Bing has a special position in the Afterlife Department, and he's the only one with a special authority to cancel or approve anything. He can overturn Gu Shi's commands, and that's why Shi Jiu asked him. 

Jiu Ye isn't suited for the Collection Department. 

"I'm sorry." Shi Jiu said and hugged Jiu Ye before he released him. Then, he watched him left with his friend. 

"Reluctant to part?" Shou Ji, the director of the Collection Department, asked. 

"No." Shi Jiu sighed. "I'm just worried." He said. 

"But from what I can see, he's already fine." Shou Ji said. 

Shi Jiu froze. 

"It's you who isn't." Shou Ji said as he looked at him. 

Shi Jiu helplessly smiled. "It's already fortunate for both of us to meet in the afterlife." He said. 

Shou Ji didn't speak. 

"That's right, boss." Shi Jiu muttered when he remembered something. Then, he took out a box. "I brought you a present." He said as he gave the box to Shou Ji. 

Shou Ji's brows raised and he opened the box, feeling puzzled. Only to be surprised when he saw it was a Soul Fragment. "This is…" he raised his head and looked at Shi Jiu with widened eyes. "Mine? This is my Soul Fragment!" he exclaimed as he sharply gasped. 

"Mn." Shi Jiu nodded. "I came across it and followed it, but suddenly lost it. Coincidentally, Yi Bing and his apprentice have a task in that world, and I dragged xiao Jiu with me to train him. Many things happened, and I almost gave up. Fortunately, I didn't, and then I happen to find it inside a little girl's room." He explained. 

Grateful to Yi Bing for his help, and out of his responsibility, he let Yi Bing, also his superior, know about the Soul Fragment of Shou Ji. Fortunately, Yi Bing didn't say anything nor did he confiscate it. 

Shou Ji felt his heart is about to burst as he stared at the Soul Fragment. "Qian Shi." He called. 

"Hm?" Shi Jiu answered. He never hid his real name and just chose his code to be his name in the afterlife to start anew. 

"… is this a proposal?" Shou Ji asked and looked at Shi Jiu in the eyes. 

"… boss. Blink once if you've been kidnapped." Shi Jiu said. His face is covered in black lines. 

"Pft – " Shou Ji laughed. "Then, as a compensation for this task, let me tell you my real name." he said. 

Shi Jiu's face darkened. "Boss. I think I forgot something. Let me go back to take it – " he said and immediately made an about face. He must have left his brain like Pei Tingsong to give his shameless boss a gift! 

But, how can Shou Ji let him go like that? Shi Jiu choked when Shou Ji grabbed the back of his collar and pulled him back. He suddenly felt how Pei Tingting died! 

"Come on~" Shou Ji said as he dragged Shi Jiu with him. 

"Ack! I'm dying! I'm dying!" Shi Jiu cried as he tried to loosen his collar. 

"You can still speak, so you won't die." Shou Ji said. "Stop acting." He told him. 

"… where are we going?" Shi Jiu asked as he looked at his feet scraped the road and left two lines on the soil. 

"You'll know~" Shou Ji just said, declined to answer. 

Shi Jiu's shoulder fell, feeling depressed. 

"So – " Shou Ji spoke. " – want to know my real name now?" he asked. 

"No!" Shi Jiu answered. 

"Don't be so hasty to refuse~ after all, I know your real name. This will make us even~" Shou Ji said. 

"I refuse!" Shi Jiu said and covered his ears. But, suddenly, he heard voices speaking. 

"Oh~ good work!" a familiar voice spoke. 

Shi Jiu turned, only for his jaw to drop when he saw who it is. 

"We've arrived~" Shou Ji spoke at the same time. "Ruan Yu!" he called one of the people walking towards them. 

The two people turned. 

"Shen Taizi?!" Shi Jiu exclaimed in shock when he saw Shen Sheng.