Afterlife Department

"Neighbors bring comfort in adversity but only envy in success." You Ri muttered as her soul drifted while Jiu Ye silently followed behind her.

Bai Wu can't stay still and remain silent thus he helped people they passed by who are chased by the ghosts. Naturally, these ghosts would subconsciously avoid these two grim reapers, albeit they are still juniors.

"She was my best friend, from primary school until high school. We both have been through thick and thin." You Ri said.

"That's why after you found out that it was her who killed you, you wanted to protect her from your resentment that separated from you to take revenge on her." Jiu Ye said.

You Ri nodded. "But, we lost our contact after college due to work." She spoke. "She flew abroad while I stayed in the country, which my parents chided me for since they urged me to go abroad, too, and work." She wryly smiled. "I thought of contacting her sometimes but then thought that I might disturb her so I dropped the call. If I would have known…" she closed her eyes.

Time is sometimes slow, sometimes fast. But most importantly, it can never go back. Ah, regret… regret. The things I did, you don't make me forget. She inwardly lamented as her tears fell. She knows that she is just using her work as an excuse. For, even though you have been together for ten or thirteen years, you can still lose interest in them.

Yes. Time can wear down affection if we spend too much time with them. But, we also felt fear when we don't have enough of it to spend with them. With her new environment at work, she became distracted with novel things and met new people, making her almost forget Su Ri. If she had called her that time, she could have known her friend's situation and could have helped her. Reconnect with her. Revive their relationship before.

But, she didn't. So, things became like this.

Jiu Ye nodded in understanding, though he didn't have deeper thoughts in this matter. He faithfully recorded everything and sent it to Bai Liu, Wu Yi, Huo Ling and Yi Bing. But, after some time passed, there was no reply. He thought that they are busy fighting against the Dawn of Light so he didn't think much of it.

He called Bai Wu and resumed helping the people as per Bai Wu instructed while You Ri followed behind them to watch them.

…

It is as Jiu Ye guessed. The seniors Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Bai Liu and Wu Yi are really busy to quell the clouds that are about to form a funnel shape.

"Leave this to me. You go and look for Lin Weng." Yi Bing spoke as he took out his scythe, which its blade glistened with a blue light.

Huo Ling, Bai Liu and Wu Yi felt a chill and subconsciously shivered when they saw that fine-looking blade that looked as thin as a cicada's wing but its destructive power isn't what it really looks. "Yes!" they immediately answered and ran to the ancient mansion where the ominous clouds have gathered above it in the sky.

Huo Ling, Bai Liu and Wu Yi have landed on the ground and looked around. Surprisingly, though also not surprisingly, the entire surroundings are empty. "An underground tunnel!" they looked at each other and nodded before they split up in different directions to look for the entrance.

Meanwhile, Yi Bing is floating in the sky holding his scythe. He looked at the dark clouds swirling and the wind almost sucked him towards the clouds. Then, he raised his scythe before he swung it in a cutting motion. He saw that a cut was formed in the funnel-shaped clouds, only for the clouds to 'heal' itself.

Yi Bing frowned. He looked at the ground and saw Huo Ling, Bai Liu and Wu Yi are running around the mansion. It was then that he noticed that the mansion is actually empty. Well, above ground. He can guess that Huo Ling, Bai Liu and Wu Yi must have realized that the Dawn of Society must be underground. Or else, why would the funnel-shaped clouds gather here?

Suddenly, something struck Yi Bing. "HUO LING!!!" he shouted and flew towards the ground. But, before he could reach it, he saw that Huo Ling's figure suddenly disappeared.

His eyes widened, stunned.

"Yi Bing?!" Bai Liu and Wu Yi heard Yi Bing's voice calling Huo Ling. They turned and saw Yi Bing descended on the ground. "Did you just call Huo Ling? Did he find the entrance?" they asked when they looked around and didn't see Huo Ling.

But, Yi Bing didn't speak.

"What's wrong?" they asked when they looked at him. Seeing that he still didn't speak and remained looking at the ordinary-looking wall where Huo Ling disappeared, they pressed their hands on the wall to try turning it.

But, it didn't move.

"What the hell?" Bai Liu frowned and opened his communicator to try calling Huo Ling. But, he was shocked when he saw that the call can't connect. "What the hell?!" he exclaimed as he tried calling Huo Ling's communicator again but the call won't go through.

"This world really can block our network." Wu Yi said, looking displeased.

"No." Yi Bing finally spoke. "It only blocked Huo Ling from us." he said.

They looked at him. "What?!" they exclaimed.

"I will go find You Ri." Yi Bing said.

"Why?" they asked.

"She also was blocked from us, including our Death Note. She must know something about what Lin Weng did to revive her." Yi Bing answered. "It must be the same as what happened to Huo Ling just now." He added.

Bai Liu and Wu Yi immediately understood. "What about the clouds?" they asked.

"We can't do anything to it as long as we can't find the entrance leading underground. We can only find a way first to contact Huo Ling for him to help us from that side." Yi Bing told him.

"Understood!" Bai Liu nodded.

"Hey. Xiao Ye sent us something!" Wu Yi told him. "They are currently with You Ri." He said.

"Then, let's go to where they are and ask You Ri." Bai Liu spoke. "What about Huo Ling?" he turned to Yi Bing.

"Huo Ling is smart so he should be able to manage the things on his side, find Lin Weng, and stop the summoning ceremony if possible." Yi Bing answered and flew.

Bai Liu and Wu Yi nodded in agreement since they have seen Huo Ling's intelligence. They immediately followed after Yi Bing.

…

"Ugh!" Huo Ling grunted in pain when he fell on his back and his shoulder hit a protruding rock. He turned over and rose, then looked around his surroundings. As they expected, there is really a tunnel underground. Huo Ling saw a torch and he took it before he started to walk, using the torch in his hand to illuminate his way.

Thump. Thump. He felt his heart beat against his chest as his feet continued to walk. Only the sound of his heartbeats and steps can be heard inside the tunnel which he doesn't know where it leads, where it ends, and what he would see at the end.

Fortunately, he isn't a scaredy-cat or else he would have long panicked since earlier after his hand suddenly passed through the wall and, before he could react, the wall sucked him in.

"Huo Ling?" a voice suddenly spoke behind him.

Huo Ling sharply turned and saw Lin Jin. "Lin Jin." He muttered.

"How did you get here?" Lin Jin asked, similarly holding a torch, too.

"Same question to you." Huo Ling didn't immediately answer. Although Lin Jin answered their questions before, who knows that he might be hiding something even deeper of a secret.

Lin Jin smiled, understanding Huo Ling's vigilance. "The Dawn of Society's underground base has many entrances, including the one near our community." He answered.

Huo Ling frowned when he heard this.

"So, what are you doing here? You also want to save Lin Weng?" Lin Jin asked.

"Yes. He is our only lead to know about You Ri's past." Huo Ling answered. Even though they can investigate You Ri's acquaintances one by one, but only those people involved knows the exact events that happened in the past.

What they will find in their investigation is just the surface.

"I see." Lin Jin muttered.

"What about you?" Huo Ling asked. After all, Lin Weng should have already cut his connection from Lin Jin.

Lin Jin smiled. "My conscience would eat me if I let him be sacrificed to this 'god' by his own family's hands." He answered and resumed walking.

Huo Ling followed him while looking at his back. Lin Jin, who has no blood connection with Lin Weng wanted to save Lin Weng from the people who have blood connection with him, yet wanted to kill him.

How ironic.. "'sacrifice'?" he asked.