Afterlife Department

"'Ruojian Valley'?" Huo Ling and the others muttered after hearing this unfamiliar name.

"It is a sect located in Ruojian County." Hu Linci explained. Then, he paused as if he is hesitating. "Although this matter of the Lailai Inn's boss being the young master of the Ruojian Valley is known, you still have to not spread it as much as possible." He told them.

"Of course!" they solemnly nodded.

Hu Linci sighed in relief.

"But, aren't you and your da shixiong from another sect?" Huo Ling asked. "Your da shixiong and the boss seem to know each other for a long time?" he said.

Hu Linci smiled. "That's because boss Luo once saved our da shixiong when da shixiong was being chased by the Beggar Gang." He answered.

"The Beggar Gang?!" Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai exclaimed and Qi Bai even almost dropped his chopsticks due to shock. "So, last night…" they said.

"En. It is as you guessed. Da shixiong wanted to use this as an excuse to clean up the Beggar Gang." Hu Linci explained.

So, there was actually a grudge. No wonder Hu Tisong approached them yesterday afternoon. It is really, 'one who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil intentions'.

Hu Linci grimaced when he saw their suspicious gazes. "Please, don't misunderstand us!" he immediately said. "We really wanted to help you! It is our duty!" he explained.

"So, you wanted to hit two birds with one stone?" Wu Ling frowned.

"Really, really clever." Shi Yi added while nodding with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"En. They can also make us owe them." Qi Bai spoke.

Hu Linci's face is about to collapse.

"Y – you guys!" Qian San immediately covered the three's mouths. He apologetically smiled at Hu Linci. "I apologize. My cousins are just…" he said.

Hu Linci stiffly nodded and forced a smile.

Huo Ling acted as if he doesn't care. "So, why is your da shixiong angry earlier?" he curiously asked.

Hu Linci turned. "Because boss Luo was said to have left the jianghu. But, him appearing in the Martial Conference next month, it will serve as him declaring that he wanted to return." He answered.

"Is he not allowed to?" Yi Bing asked.

"He isn't." Hu Linci answered.

"Why?" Qian San asked in surprise. "Boss Luo is a good person." He said.

Hu Linci nodded in agreement. "Boss Luo is good. But, his father, the master of the Ruojian Valley, Luo Zhou, isn't." he told them.

"What?!" they exclaimed in shock.

Hu Linci saw their shocked expressions and heaved a sigh. "You must have at least heard about the Ruojian Valley's reputation?" he asked them.

"… what reputation?" they asked and looked at him with either a blank or dazed gaze.

Hu Linci who expected too much. "…" okay, they really aren't from the jianghu. He thought. The Ruojian Valley's reputation of being a crazy sect is widely known yet these people haven't heard of it.

Just which world did they come from? He thought and secretly frowned. He didn't know that he guessed that Huo Ling, Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai really came from another world but he only thought of this in a sarcastic way.

"The Ruojian Valley is a sect and was originally called 'Luojian Valley Sect'." Hu Linci started. "'Luo' for the surname of the valley master, the father of boss Luo Zhilai, Luo Zhou. And 'jian', meaning that they practice sword style." He explained.

"Then, why did it change to 'Ruojian' now?" Shi Yi curiously asked while Qi Bai who is sitting beside him started to nibble on the snacks.

"It is related to Luo Zhou's incident." Hu Linci answered. "To some who heard of this name and remained a good impression of the Luojian Valley Sect, or is simply just kind, they would say that the 'ruo' is from the ancient mythical tree. But, of course, the ones who changed the name of the Luojian Valley Sect obviously has the intention to ridicule them." he frowned.

"Then, what does the 'Ruojian' mean?" Huo Ling asked.

"One meaning of the 'ruo' is 'weak'." Hu Linci answered. "But, after the Luojian Valley Sect disciples one-sidedly beat them up after they tried to beat them first, everyone shut up and never used this 'ruo' again." he said.

Huo Ling, Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai nodded in agreement. Strength is power in jianghu, after all.

"Then, what is this 'ruo' that they are using now for 'Ruojian'?" Yi Bing asked.

"The 'ruo' of 'meat'." Hu Linci answered.

Qi Bai who was eating choked and Qian San immediately handed him a cup of water. "'meat'?!" he exclaimed. "Is it what I am thinking about?!" he said.

Hu Linci nodded. "'meat 'ruo' sword 'jian'. They wanted to say that they are a group of butchers." He said. "One, out of ridicule. Two, because of what happened to their sect leader that became the downfall of their sect." he explained.

"Judging from this… this Luo Zhou has unjustly killed many people?" Yi Bing guessed.

"Yes." Hu Linci answered with a sigh. "But, it can't be helped. He had gone into a qi deviation." He explained.

Huo Ling frowned when he heard this. Meanwhile, Yi Bing saw that Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai wanted to ask what is qi deviation and he explained it to them in a low voice. Seeing this, Hu Linci confirmed that these people really aren't from jianghu, although Huo Ling and Yi Bing seemed to have a superficial knowledge of the jianghu.

"Who did he kill?" Huo Ling asked as he looked at Hu Linci.

"The residents of the village near their sect, as well as his own disciples and – " Hu Linci took a deep breath. " – boss Luo, Luo Zhilai." He answered.

They were stunned.

"Of course, the boss survived. But, he was severely injured." Hu Linci hurriedly said. "Due to this, his martial arts were crippled and he can't practice martial arts anymore. It was also because of this that our sect is secretly protecting his businesses since he attracted the envy of many people." He explained.

"But, boss Luo wanted to go with us next month to the Martial Conference…" Wu Ling muttered.

"Yes. That is why our da shixiong was very mad." Hu Linci bitterly smiled when he saw Hu Tisong's livid expression earlier before he closed the door. "Not only the people of jianghu would be warier of him since he will return, they will also likely to attack boss Luo." He wanted to cry.

Adding to the fact that Luo Zhilai was reduced to an ordinary person now, he definitely wouldn't survive in the Martial Conference even if he would just come there to be a spectator. He is seeking death! Thus, Hu Tisong was enraged.

…

Calculating the time, Hu Linci decided to return, bringing Huo Ling, Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai with him. But, just as they neared the door, the door suddenly opened from the inside… well, not really… it was more like it was forcefully removed! Its hinges even made a sad creak.

Hu Linci, Huo Ling, Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai were puzzled and were about to enter and call the two inside when they froze after they saw Luo Zhilai came out with his clothes and hair disheveled. He was even bleeding on his lips.

"Boss Luo!" Hu Linci cried, returning Huo Ling, Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai from their shock.

Luo Zhilai turned to them as if he just noticed them. He made an awkward smile towards Huo Ling, Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai, but it looked unsightly due to his current appearance. When he turned to Hu Linci, though, he coldly glared at him. Then, he silently left. His back looked very pitiful.

Hu Linci was frozen from Luo Zhilai's glare. After he returned to his senses, he went inside and called Hu Tisong. "Da shixiong!" he called. His voice was laced with anger. "Why did you hurt boss Luo?! Even if he was someone from jianghu in the past, he is just an ordinary person now! We can't hurt a civilian!" he told him.

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai became more worried. "…" good lord! So, even if there was an order of not harming the civilians, if a martial artist's temper isn't good, they can still harm them?! They thought and inwardly cried, lighting candles in advance for themselves.

Huo Ling who was pondering over Luo Zhilai's complicated situation and impulsive decision. "…" he must have held it in for so long… he thinks that life isn't important anymore since he has lost everything. Even if he had diverted his attention elsewhere, looking for some things to serve as another purpose of living, in the end, his heart still belonged to jianghu. He thought and can't help but feel pity towards Luo Zhilai.

Yi Bing who actually thought that Hu Tisong and Luo Zhilai had a fight… in the bed. "…" oh. My apologies for thinking such.. He thought, but his face looked indifferent.