Afterlife Department

Chapter 72 - Thoughts

3257: Soul Fragment, as its name implied, is a piece of a soul that was broken and later scattered. The original soul could be strong or weak. Too weak or too strong that it broke. Either way, it broke. Depending on the original soul's strength, its fragment would affect its surrounding, or its holder. If it's in a place, it'll change its surrounding depending on the power left on the fragment. However, if it's someone who has it, then it's a different story. It could change that person – his temper, his strength or power, or his memories. It'll change his personality. An irritable person can become a submissive person. A timid person can be an overbearing person. A weak person can become strong. A strong person, however, it'll absorb his strength. As for the memories, it'll confuse the person by fusing the memories in the fragments with the memories of the person.

"So, you mean…" Qi Shan said as he and Yi Bing turned to Huo Ling. "Xiao Ling wasn't reborn, but - "

" - he only has his memories confused?" Yi Bing frowned.

Qi Shan laughed. "Isn't this a good news, 0001? Xiao Ling is a modern person – erm, soul, through and through! No need to be tense dating an ancient person…"

"Who said we're dating?" Yi Bing glared at him. Qi Shan just laughed. "This isn't any good, either. Huo Ling's memories will be replaced soon." he said. "Did San Di say anything on how to remove it?" he asked.

Qi Shan immediately read the rest of the email, only to be stunned. "… 0001." He called.

"What?"

"Di San said…" Qi Shan pursed his lips. He motioned the screen to Yi Bing.

Yi Bing's eyes widened. "Destroy it?!" he said.

3257: Because of these, Soul Fragments should be destroyed. It is a frightening existence, especially if its original soul is powerful.

Qi Shan immediately sent a reply.

0007: what if it's on a person, then?! What will happen to the person?! Aren't you being ruthless?!

3257: we can only sacrifice one person in exchange of the whole universe.

0007: you're being dramatic! I know you know how to take the Soul Fragment out of a person! Spill it!

"Qi Shan…"

"Shut it! I'm not doing this for you, but Xiao Ling!" Qi Shan said. "I don't know why, but… I just can't let someone die!" he said.

"Could the Soul Fragment be affecting you?" Yi Bing asked.

"Then, it should have affected you, too!" Qi Shan said. "Could you bear to kill Xiao Ling?" he asked. "Even if this is due to the Soul Fragment, but I'm honest with my feelings. You should be, too, 0001!" he told Yi Bing. Then, he ignored him and focused on replying to Di San.

"… I won't kill my assignment. I'll definitely find another way to solve this. This problem is mine to begin with. We've already dealt with the Soul Eater. You continue with your own tasks." Yi Bing said. "Thank you for your help." He told him.

Qi Shan's fingers typing on the holographic screen stopped. "I'm just repaying you for saving me from the Soul Eater." He said, then closed the holographic screen. "If I can find something that can help Xiao Ling's situation, I'll tell you. So… don't you dare kill Xiao Ling, even if the whole universe will be at stake." He looked at Yi Bing. "You might have saved the universe, but what use will it if you can't even sleep even just for a second?" he asked, referring to the guilt.

"I know what I'm doing. I'm a principled person, too. I won't kill my assignment." Yi Bing said.

"You'd better… or I'll be haunting you!" Qi Shan told him, then walked towards Lei Shan and Huo Ling.

"You're always annoying." Yi Bing sighed and followed Qi Shan. "Huo Ling." He called when they reached them.

"Hm?"

"Let's go look for clues of your family's death." Yi Bing told him.

"Okay." Huo Ling nodded and turned to Lei Shan and Qi Shan. "We'll be taking our leave! Good luck with taking the whole world!" he told them.

"Thank you." Lei Shan said.

"Sure! You just wait! After we do so, everyone can freely walk in the streets!" Qi Shan said.

"I'll be waiting for that, then!" Huo Ling said as he and Yi Bing left. Huo Ling didn't know, with the Soul Eater now gone, he doesn't have to wait for so long. Since the negotiations failed, Lei Shan finally followed Qi Shan's suggestion to force his way in this world.

Unfortunately, he wouldn't be there to witness it.

"Yi Bing. Lei Shan told me about this 'assignment' you and Qi Shan are talking about." Huo Ling said as they walked towards the apartment where Huo Ling rented before he died. "'Assignment' is referring to me and him. The people- err, souls that the grim reapers are helping. He said they will help us move on and go to our next life." He said and looked at Yi Bing. "There's really a life after this?" he asked.

"Yes." Yi Bing answered. "Being a human is a life. Being a zombie is another one." He said. "Life begins from birth and ends in death. Birth or living beyond that, that's the afterlife." He looked at him. "Us, grim reapers, we're living in the afterlife." He told him.

"Oh." Huo Ling said and didn't continue the depressing topic. "That's the place." He pointed the apartment. "Huh?" he said when he saw the stairs and the walls are stained with blood. "Something…"

"The Soul Eater has been here, huh…" Yi Bing said. "So it's what ate Jin Yu." He said. "Let's go to your room. We might still find something there." He told him.

"Okay."

Stable World.

"Oho~?" Li Yuechu said as he looked at Jin Wu and Feng Er fighting against the three Soul Eaters. "Looks like they're having a hard time." He smirked.

"Chief…" Zhu Qingqiu called, warning on his voice despite the dull look on his face.

"Tch!" Li Yuechu clicked his tongue as he glared at Zhu Qingqiu. He placed the bat he's holding on his shoulder. "Where's Bingbing and Feifei? And Jiming and Xi-ge?" he asked as he made a balloon with his gum, ignoring Jin Wu and Feng Er who were busy fighting.

"Gone to help the other grim reapers with the rest of our department." Zhu Qingqiu answered, his voice monotone. If he didn't know him, Li Yuechu would think he's also a grim reaper. He's more lifeless than the grim reapers. Even his body, because his soul attribute is water, is colder than of a normal person's. On the other hand, Li Yuechu, because his soul attributes are fire and lightning, his body is warmer than usual.

The Ability Users' Department's chief and vice chief, the literal fire and water that would never mix with each other, is working together.

"Why the hell would they pass the chief's position to me? Just because I'm a dual-ability user?" Li Yuechu complained. "I hate it… I hate all of these!" he said.

"This is per your father's orders." Zhu Qingqiu reminded him.

A vein popped in Li Yuechu's forehead and he pulled Zhu Qingqiu before he slammed him to the wall. The wall cracked, but Zhu Qingqiu's expression didn't even changed. "You shut your mouth!" he told him and pushed him. Then, he marched towards Jin Wu and Feng Er and joined in on the fray.

Zhu Qingqiu watched as Li Yuechu fought recklessly. "Teenage rebellion." He muttered before he wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand.

Li Yuechu is just 17 years old. The reason why the important position of department chief was given to him is because of his father who used his connections to secure both his son's position, albeit Li Yuechu's disapproval. With his son as the leader of the ability users, Li Yuechu's father could secure his position as a government official. Meanwhile, him – Zhu Qingqiu, has the same situation with Li Yuechu, but unlike Li Yuechu, he just went with the flow.

"What's the point of struggling, going against life that was predestined?" he asked. "Life may be unplanned, but death is." He said and looked at the soul trembling in fright inside the car. "Living as a human and living while being dead… there's not much difference." He said and pulled up his long sleeve, showing the multiple cuts on his fair skin, making a horrible sight.

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