Afterlife Department

"Mr. Li. Ms. Li. Mrs. Shi." Huo Ling called when they saw that the three people are about to enter their cars that are parked on the side of the street after the 'exorcists' left to rally.

Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana turned to see five people behind them. "What?" Li Yan spoke. "How did you know us?" he asked them. "And who are you?" he added when he saw that they are wearing exorcist clothes.

"We are the disciples of the Fengshen Sect." Huo Ling answered.

"'disciples'? 'sect'?" Li Yan frowned. "Brother, you shouldn't believe in immortality since it doesn't exist. It isn't good to be superstitious." He told him.

"Then, based from your words, you also shouldn't believe in ghosts since they also don't exist, as they are also a part of the supernatural world." Huo Ling smiled. "It isn't good to be superstitious." He told him, returning Li Yan's words back to him.

Bai Liu, Wu Yi and Jiu Ye. "…" he really is smart, and also good with his words… they thought as they looked at Huo Ling. Also, is it alright for you to speak this way? We are also a part of the supernatural world! Because we are grim reapers!

"Nonsense! When did I become superstitious?!" Li Yan asked.

"Earlier when the three of your entered this park at seven in the morning and left at exactly nine." Huo Ling answered.

Li Yan's, Li Li's and Shi Nana's eyes widened in shock. This guy knows! They thought.

"If you are thinking we are stalking you, please, cease your worries. We don't need to. Anyone can see everyone just by sitting in one area in the park." Huo Ling chuckled.

Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana. "…" although we know that you are telling us that it is us whose actions are conspicuous, but why do we feel that you are also implying that we are unattractive thus undesirable based from your tone?! They thought and looked at Huo Ling, then at Bai Liu, Wu Yi, Jiu Ye and Bai Wu standing behind him.

Although these five people are wearing exorcist clothes, but their clothes are more neat and pleasant to look at than those other exorcists on the rally.

Since they are the ones in the need, and Huo Ling felt that he has insulted enough (so he is aware) these three people before them, he opened his mouth to speak. "As I have said, we are disciples of the Fengshen Sect. in other words, we are Taoists." He told them.

"We arne't familiar with the word 'Taoist'." Li Li spoke.

"Taoists, us, are also called 'exorcists' by you people. We also expel ghosts." Huo Ling explained before he smiled. "Of course, not just simple ghosts, for even if we are humans, but we also have a ghost in our hearts." He added.

Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana froze when they heard his words. Bai Liu, Wu Yi, Jiu Ye and Bai Wu secretly gave him a 'like'.

"We don't know what you are talking about!" Shi Nana spoke and glared at Li Yan and Li Li. "What are you two still standing there for?! Obviously there are con artists! Let's call the police and go back to the company!" she told them.

It was then Li Yan and Li Li snapped out of their daze. Li Li's face paled while Li Yan's expression turned ugly. They are about to enter the second car when they heard Huo Ling spoke again.

"You are haunted by a ghost recently and yesterday, you decided to hire an exorcist even after you have the protection of the police." Huo Ling said.

The three people instantly froze and their face paled.

"Today, you came to attend this event thinking that yesterday, you had the victory after the ghost was 'expelled'." Huo Ling continued. "If you really felt you won against the ghost, why the rush and not hear more of my words?" he asked as he looked at them three. "Unlike the one you hired yesterday, we won't extort you for money since you'll realize that money doesn't worth that during your death and the afterlife." He told them.

Their expressions finally changed. "Damn that quack!" Li Yan cursed and kicked the pebble on the ground. "Nana, I already told you that that ghost still hasn't been expelled! I paid for nothing!" he glared at Shi Nana.

"Why blame me?! Didn't you also come here today to thank the exorcists?!" Shi Nana gnashed her teeth in anger.

"You guys, calm down… there are still people around…" Li Li spoke.

While the three are in chaos, Bai Liu, Wu Yi, Jiu Ye and Bai Wu are trying to hold their laughter in. They aren't superstitious? Then why would they feel rattled just from a few words by a stranger? They thought and looked at Huo Ling in admiration. As expected of Yi Bing's apprentice! They thought.

Huo Ling: no. Yi Bing's got nothing to do with this! This is my own merit!

 "Master… I still don't know how to address you." Li Yan turned to Huo Ling after they have calmed down. "I apologize for our rude behavior earlier." He added.

Huo Ling shook his head. "No need for apology. We understand." He answered. "I am Yan Ling. And they are my fellow disciples – " he turned to Bai Liu, Wu Yi, Jiu Ye and Bai Wu.

"I am Yan Liu." Bai Liu spoke.

"I am Yan Wu." Wu Yi smiled.

"I am Yan Er!" Bai Wu said.

"And I am Yan Jiu." Jiu Ye slightly nodded at them.

"All of you are surnamed 'Yan'?" Li Li was surprised.

"We are from the same village and are orphans. The surname 'Yan' is from our sect master, Yan Luo." Huo Ling explained.

Bai Liu, Wu Yi, Jiu Ye and Bai Wu almost did a spit-take when they heard Huo Ling's answer. 'Yan Luo'?! He is the king of hell! Why are you using his name so casually?! What the hell! They thought as they reigned in their expressions to not let Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana notice anything strange.

Surprisingly, or as expected by Huo Ling, Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana didn't react to the name 'Yan Luo'. They don't have an underworld here in this world.

"Similarly, our sect master is an orphan thus he took us under his wing. His surname 'yan' means the 'gate of village' since that was where he was left by mother, and also was found, when he was an infant." Huo Ling added.

Bai Liu, Wu Yi, Jiu Ye and Bai Wu. "…" what the hell are you making up a background story with the king of hell! They complained in their mind.

But, surprisingly, this story was bought by Li Li whose eyes are reddened and her tears are threatening to fall.

"Our sect master believes that this kind of life was given to him by the Heaven in exchange for his abilities." Huo Ling continued.

"What abilities?" Shi Nana asked.

"Ability to expel ghosts…" Huo Ling answered. "… and also to divine others' fates." He added.

Hearing his first answer, their expressions didn't change since they have already expected it. But, when they heard the latter sentence, their eyes widened in shock.

"Yes. It is as what you think. It is our sect master who sent us here after he 'saw' that you are troubled." Huo Ling told them in a soft voice, as if he is coaxing three children.

But, right now, Li Yan, Li Li and Shi Nana are no different from children because they have experienced frightening things recently. Not only in the company, but also in their homes that they couldn't even sleep a wink! They only said that it was in the company to make Hao Ming, this influential person, protect them! Yet Hao Ming wasn't moved. He didn't even blink an eye when he heard their plight!

They guess, that even if the company's name was smeared, Hao Ming will remain unmoving like the mount Tai! Thus, they can only take some action, and that is to hire an exorcist. Yet, now, they found out that the exorcist was fake!

"M – Master Yan… w – what should we do?!" Shi Nana nervously asked and, because of panic, wanted to hold Huo Ling's sleeve when she saw that Huo Ling, who didn't even move, his sleeve moved instead and avoided her hand!

Her eyes widened in shock and was about to shout 'ghost', but then remembered that the ones before them are the real masters! Could it be, it was their ability?

Li Yan and Li Li naturally noticed the sleeve moving on its own and felt fear in their hearts. They have really met real masters! But, if they are really masters, then their words should be true! The ghost that is haunting them really didn't disappear, and should be continuing to haunt them!