Afterlife Department

"So, the reason why this Huai Sen became the patriarch of the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain is because he can brew elixirs?" Shi Yi spoke after the boatman finished his story.

"En." The boatman nodded. Then, suddenly, he paused, as if he realized something. "Young sirs, are you actually here for the elixir of immortals?" he asked as he looked at them.

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai fell silent and they looked at each other. What should we answer? 'yes' or 'no'? They thought.

The boatman seemed to not need them to answer since he already made his conclusion. "Young sirs, I have told you earlier that the elixir of immortals is just a myth!" he told them and sighed while shaking his head. "If someone in your family is ill, then I can recommend you to the best doctors here or the pharmacies that have the best medicine!" he sincerely said.

"This…" Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai looked at each other.

Neither Yi Bing nor Huo Ling speak. It is not because they don't want to help the four, but because the more you speak, the more mistake you make. If they would speak right now, this boatman who is suspicious of them would suspect them more, thinking that they are lying again. It is better to remain silent and let the boatman's brain hole answer his own questions about them.

"Then, I will take you to the Lailai Pharmacy." The boatman decided even though they haven't told him yet their destination. "This is the most famous pharmacy, since they have the best quality of medicines. They also have many kinds of medicines for you to choose from. They can also assist you in choosing which medicine is suitable for your illness." He explained while rowing the boat to a certain direction.

Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai looked at each other but didn't say anything. They decided to just wait and see how things will unfold, as they don't have any direction to go to right now.

…

After the six of them alighted from the boat, the boatman finally accepted the fare and then rowed away. They didn't linger to watch him leave and immediately left instead. Who knows who is the prey and who is the hunter? The six of them don't dare to commit any mistake. Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai conscientiously followed Yi Bing and Huo Ling since they were frightened of what happened to them yesterday.

"Excuse me. Can we ask for the direction of Lailai Pharmacy?" Huo Ling asked a vendor.

"The Lailai Pharmacy? Just look for the tallest building and that's it." The vendor answered.

Huo Ling smiled. "Thank you." He spoke and gave the vendor a tip before they left.

The vendor was surprised and the other vendors looked at him in envy. Those young masters looked very carefree but they are actually very wealthy!

"Huo Ling." Yi Bing called as they walked around. "You aren't scared?" he asked.

Before Huo Ling could answer, one of the four spoke.

"What? What scared?" Shi Yi asked.

Qian San and Qi Bai pondered over Yi Bing's question and what happened earlier before their eyes suddenly widened in shock. "What – " they sharply inhaled and looked at Huo Ling in disbelief while Wu Ling and Shi Yi looked puzzled.

Huo Ling smiled. He kindly explained to the clueless Wu Ling and Shi Yi. "I took out a gold ingot and gave it just as a measly tip for one question that is very to answer. What do you think will happen?" he asked the two.

"Uh…" Shi Yi muttered as he tried to think.

Wu Ling's eyes suddenly narrowed. "Will we be robbed?" he asked.

Shi Yi was startled and almost yelped in surprise had Qi Bai and Qian San not been fast and covered his mouth.

"Yes. I am planning for us to be robbed." Huo Ling confessed.

Their eyes widened in shock.

"Reason." Yi Bing spoke.

"I don't know what your impression of a martial world is. But, the martial world I know shouldn't be like this." Huo Ling spoke. "This isn't the impression from the drama I watched nor the novels I read, but my own impression after comparing what I watched and read from what I am seeing right now." He explained.

"Your point is?" Qian San asked.

"From the name itself, the martial world should be filled with fighting." Huo Ling answered. "But, of course, it can also be peaceful. Yet, all men are hot-blooded. Who can remain still with how still (peaceful) the world is?" he asked. "In short, jianghu should be chaotic. Yet, when we arrived, the martial world turned like any ordinary ancient world." He told them.

Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai were shocked and they looked around. After a while, they nodded in agreement. Indeed, everything around them seemed peaceful.

Suddenly, Huo Ling smiled as he bought a fan before he snapped it open and fanned himself, acting like an arrogant and wealthy young master from the ancient times. Yi Bing can't help but feel fascinated as he watched him. With Huo Ling now acting naturally and not acting based from the wuxia drama he watched, Huo Ling brought out the elegance and noble temperament of a wealthy young master of the ancient times.

"I want to see how long will these people remain patient after setting such a large, tempting bait before them." Huo Ling spoke. "Do you know one of the reasons why jianghu is chaotic?" he asked them. the jade pendant on his waist swayed as he walked.

"No." Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai answered. They obviously know nothing about a martial world. This is their first time.

"Thieves." Huo Ling spoke.

"'thieves'?" they muttered.

"No matter how the martial alliance impose order in the jianghu, greed is in the heart of all men. Greed is one of the things that can't be controlled." Huo Ling spoke as he looked around. "It is like an itch that won't go away unless you scratched it. In short, until one was satiated, they would continue to feel restless until they can't bear it anymore and finally act." He explained.

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai looked at Huo Ling with amazement. He is this smart! No wonder he is Yi Bing's apprentice! They thought.

Yi Bing who saw the awe on the four's faces smiled and felt proud of Huo Ling. This is how it should be – Huo Ling shining in glory. He thought as he looked at that long, wavy brown hair that swayed along with the white jade pendant on Huo Ling's waist. Suddenly, a memory flashed in his mind.

He closed his eyes tight and shook his head before he opened his eyes that regained their clarity. Huo Ling… he thought as he looked at Huo Ling's back. Another image that looked very similar overlapped with Huo Ling's figure. Only the height and the clothes looked different. But, the color of the hair as well as the temperament are the same.

No doubt that person whose image flashed in his mind just now is Huo Ling. But, it was another Huo Ling, or to say, the Huo Ling before they met in the Stable World. That was Huo Ling, who should be the Fengshen Sect master. Another life of Huo Ling that is outside of his first cycle of reincarnation. As to how this happened… only Shen Sheng could answer that.

And there is also the matter of Huo Ling being the first archangel, as well as the first grim reaper – Lord Zero. Why did these happen to Huo Ling? How did he cope with it? Yi Bing thought and heaved an imperceptible sigh. "What are you planning to do now?" he asked.

"Let's book the most expensive inn!" Huo Ling answered, looking very excited. Whether it is due to implementing his plan or fulfilling his wish to go to a wuxia world and experience it, it doesn't matter now since both coincides.

"En." Yi Bing nodded and went to ask some vendors before he also gave them a gold ingot as a tip.

The other vendors exclaimed loudly. They have been secretly watching these high-profiled young masters who lavishly spends and not asking for their change. They also very generously give a large sum of tip. Who wouldn't watch them?

"Uh… this is very uncomfortable." Shi Yi muttered, feeling conscious.

After all, they were used to being in stealth mode as they ferry the souls of the lovers, because ferrying doesn't need removing their stealth and also they don't need to be high-profiled when ferrying the souls of lovers since they only need to fulfill these lovers' requests to each other, and make each of them do the other's request. They only had to assist them.

But, right now, they are in the middle of the spotlight.. Really, there is a first time for everything.