Afterlife Department

"So, your father was still alive all these years…" they said and looked at Luo Zhilai. "But, until…" they added and heaved a sigh of pity.

Luo Zhilai nodded, before he bitterly smiled. "We really didn't expect that last disciple to be Zhuo Xia…" he bitterly laughed.

They all fell silent. Huai Sen, or actually Luo Zhuo, saved Zhuo Xia, the son of one of the people who led his sect to a tragedy. In the end, he also died due to Zhuo Xia. It seems like this Zhuo family wouldn't stop until Luo Zhuo dies.

"Then, shouldn't he have known what exactly happened that day in the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain?" Qian San asked.

But, Luo Zhilai shook his head. "He was too shocked and lost his memories." He answered and sighed.

They all sighed in disappointment. This is truly unfortunate. The only clue that they have right now as the only witness left of what had transpired back then in the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain has lost his memories.

"What should we do now?" Qian San asked.

"Let us wait for him to return and have him look for clues of where Mu Fan and Hu Linci could be." Luo Zhilai answered. "Let us regroup first and then plan afterwards on what we will do next week in the Martial Conference." He said.

"Okay!" they answered.

"Oh, right. Since he is your father's disciple, he must have a name, right?" Shi Yi asked. "We can't just call him 'boatman' again?" he added.

"Yes. His name is 'Li Mu'. His father, my father's right-hand man, is Li Shu." Luo Zhilai told them.

…

"Hey." Lu Xiu called as they all wait for Li Mu to return.

Wu Ling didn't turn and resumed washing off the dust on his arms by the river.

They are all travel-worn and are tense because they are being chased. Any time and they might be found and then later killed.

"We are acquaintances already, yet why are you still not calling me 'Si Lang'?" Lu Xiu asked him.

"Why don't you ask the others?" Wu Ling asked back as he washed his face.

"They can call me 'Lu Xiu'. But, I want you to call me 'Si Lang'." Lu Xiu said as he sat beside Wu Ling.

Wu Ling scooted away from him. "Stop teasing me." He frowned.

"I am not." Lu Xiu said. "I already told you before. You remind me of my childhood friend because you have the same temper as he." He explained.

"I am not obliged to fulfil this wish of yours." Wu Ling told him before he left.

Lu Xiu helplessly smiled before he also washed up.

…

"Thank you… I really wronged Hu Linci for following me." Hu Tisong sighed.

"En." Luo Zhilai nodded.

Silence fell. Hu Tisong didn't speak since he wasn't only tired, but he also sensed something bad with Luo Zhilai talking to him alone.

As expected, after some time has passed, Luo Zhilai spoke since he can't bear the silence anymore. He also knows that Hu Tisong has sensed something was amiss. "Hu Tisong. I have something that I should tell you." He said.

Hu Tisong didn't answer and just tiredly closed his eyes.

Luo Zhilai bit his lip. He knows that Hu Tisong doesn't want to listen to him, but he still has to tell him. "I… that day, when I saved you…" he spoke in a quiet voice. "It wasn't an accident." He said.

Hu Tisong remained silent.

"That day… it was me who the Beggar Sect are after." Luo Zhilai continued. "They are looking for me to ask me about the sword… they think that I was lying and that I actually have the sword." He said as he took a deep breath. "That time, I was still recovering and they chased me. I – " he looked at Hu Tisong's face. " – they know about my father being well-versed in disguise. So, when they found you, they thought that I impersonated you, so they…" he lowered his head.

"So, they thought that I was you and chased me." Hu Tisong said.

Luo Zhilai nodded. This is where Hu Tisong's hatred towards the Beggar Gang has stemmed. "But, I just hid. I didn't impersonate you!" he said. "I… don't even know you." He said in a small voice.

A long silence fell.

After a while, Hu Tisong heaved a sigh. "So, I don't owe you anything?" he asked.

Luo Zhilai who felt guilty looked away before he shook his head. "No." he answered. He then lowered his head, self-blame can be seen on his face. So, he didn't see the ecstatic expression on Hu Tisong's face. Instead, he thought the other felt humiliated after being deceived and taken advantage for a long time.

"Then, it was you who owe me something." Hu Tisong said.

"Yes." Luo Zhilai nodded in agreement. "What do you want, or want me to do?" he anxiously asked. He clenched his fists and bit his lips. If Hu Tisong wants him to pay with his life, then he will beg him to take it after he finished his father's and sect's matters.

But, thinking this, Luo Zhilai's heart ached. He just realized his feelings towards Hu Tisong.

"You." Hu Tisong answered.

Luo Zhilai's eyes widened in shock. He raised his head and looked at Hu Tisong as he looked at him in disbelief. "What…?" he muttered under his breath.

"I want you. And I want you to be with me for a lifetime." Hu Tisong told him.

Luo Zhilai's mouth fell open in shock.

"And, if there are other lives after this, I want you to still be with me." Hu Tisong continued. "I want to tie you to me. Is that clear?" he said as his eyes narrowed. He looked domineering.

Luo Zhilai's eyes reddened and his tears fell, but due to joy. "I accept this agreement wholeheartedly." He answered and smiled.

"Good." Hu Tisong nodded, looking satisfied. Though his red ears betrayed him who is actually nervous. "Luo Zhilai. You have already agreed, so you have to be mine... you belong to me for eternity." He told him before he lowered his head to kiss him. Then, he softly sighed when their lips finally touched.

This feeling of full satisfaction... only Luo Zhilai could give, since he is the one he fell for.

…

Li Mu rowed the boat, ignoring the unconscious Mu Fan and Hu Linci who are breathing weakly inside with their bodies full of injuries. He found them under a bridge and they were about to attack him when he disarmed them. They are too weak to fight back thus they fainted.

Li Mu's eyes narrowed when he saw some assassins are hiding in the shadows as they warily looked around, trying to look for Luo Zhilai, Jiang Ci, Rong Huai and Lu Xiu. Like Hu Tisong, they already regarded Mu Fan and Hu Linci as dead men after they have poisoned them when they attacked them.

Li Mu started to sing. Jin Chong has already been caught by Zhao Wei, or Zhao Yuwei and who knows what did Zhao Yuwei did to him. Maybe he has already killed him. As for the Green River Sect and the Swallow Tailed Assassins, Li Mu doesn't know why they are still supporting Zhao Yuwei when the sword has already returned to Luo Zhilai's hands, thus them wanting to kill Luo Zhilai. Why are they hell-bent on supporting Zhao Yuwei? The Green River Sect and the Swallow Tailed Assassins should know that Zhao Yuwei is not Zhao Liwei, and Zhao Yuwei doesn't know martial arts. He is just an ordinary person.

So, why are they still on his side? Li Mu frowned and feels that there is something fishy about this. The sword… Zhao Yuwei… the Martial Alliance… he thought as he lowered his head and continued to sing when several assassins passed by. From the corners of his eyes, he saw them leaping on the roofs, as if… they are in a rush.

Li Mu's pupils shrank when he realized something. It can't be… in the place where Luo Zhou found the sword… there are more valuable items buried in there?! He thought as his hands froze. Fortunately, he didn't halt in singing so nobody noticed him.

No wonder Zhao Yuwei, acting as Zhao Liwei, presented the sword to the Martial Alliance even if he knows that the sword has become useless after it sealed itself. It is to deceive the Martial Alliance, and to gain more supporters from it.

This person… he is really cunning! Li Mu thought as he clenched his fists. He has to tell Luo Zhilai about this. And after that… he lowered his head. It can be counted as him properly paying his debt to Luo Zhilai. For being the one to bring Zhuo Xiao to the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain and hiding Zhuo Xia's origin… thus, causing their Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain to be attacked, and everyone to die.

Zhuo Xia… after this is all over… I will accompany you in the underworld.