Afterlife Department

It was a female grim reaper. But, they are not dumbfounded because of her gender, since female grim reapers aren't rare.

"Hello, seniors." She greeted with a beautiful smile making one feel refreshed. "I am 0342. Well, the new one." She shyly chuckled. "I found that poor soul after I finished my mission and was about to leave, so I kindly brought him here." She explained.

Huo Ling and Yi Bing are just silent.

"Oh. I forgot to introduce my name." she said and slapped her forehead, feeling clumsy for being forgetful. "I am Xiao Hualing." She told them.

That's right. The one before them is Xiao Hualing, the victim of the Normal World 0342. Souls from the other worlds becoming a grim reaper also isn't rare, since there are many grim reapers whose souls came from other worlds instead of Stable World. Huo Ling came from the Stable World, but the brothers Shi Jiu and Jiu Ye, Shou Ji, Hai Ba and Sha Jiu who also came from the same world, came from other worlds.

But, Huo Ling has never expected to meet a soul from one of the worlds he has been to that became a grim reaper, thus becoming his colleague. Although neither he nor Yi Bing has formally met Xiao Hualing when they went to the Normal World 0342, Huo Ling just felt it was novel that he met her here. It was also unexpected.

This also made Yi Bing slightly taken aback. But, he immediately composed himself. "What mission from the Normal World 101?" he asked.

Although new, Xiao Hualing already know Yi Bing despite not meeting him before. "Just a small matter, senior Yi." She answered. "It was an escaped soul that was making troubles by leading the ordinary natives of that world to jianghu to have them killed." She explained.

When Huo Ling and Yi Bing heard the words 'leading the natives to jianghu', their expressions changed, especially Huo Ling.

"That… escaped soul…" Huo Ling spoke with much difficulty. "… was it a quack doctor?" he asked.

Xiao Hualing nodded. "Yes. It possessed the body of a quack doctor who starved to death." She answered. "He created false diagnosis and rumors related to jianghu, thus his patients went to venture in jianghu." She explained. Then, she suddenly paused. "How did senior know?" she asked as she looked at Huo Ling in surprise.

Huo Ling and Yi Bing. "…" who would expect that their story is actually true! They thought, shocked.

Huo Ling's lip twitched. How can I not know? I was the one who made up that excuse to Luo Zhilai and the others… he thought and heaved a sigh. "Let's not talk about this." He said and waved his hand. Then, he turned to look at Mu Li and Zhuo Xia crying s they hugged each other tight.

Obviously, they have feelings towards each other.

"You sent Mu Li here… thank you." Huo Ling said and smiled.

Xiao Hualing shook her head. "It is just a small matter. I have to help as much as I could." She said.

"You should be with the Inspection Department, right?" Yi Bing asked.

Xiao Hualing turned to him. "Senior Yi is right. I also replaced the former senior 0342 in his duties." She answered.

"Then, you are not here just to send Mu Li to meet Zhuo Xia." Yi Bing said.

Huo Ling froze.

But, Xiao Hualing just smiled. "Senior Yi is right. I am on my way to my next task." She answered.

Yi Bing nodded at her. "Keep up the good work." He told her.

"Thank you, senior Yi." Xiao Hualing answered and respectfully bowed.

Yi Bing then turned to Huo Ling. "Go ask Zhuo Xia. Might as well Mu Li, too, if they want you to be their assigned grim reaper." He told him.

"En." Huo Ling nodded and then ran towards Zhuo Xia and Mu Li. "Zhuo Xia. Mu Li." He called them.

Zhuo Xia and Mu Li turned. Mu Li was surprised to see him. "So, you are actually a Soul Envoy!" he exclaimed.

Huo Ling smiled. "En. Our group of six, actually." He said and laughed.

Mu Li feels worried. "Soul Envoys appear only when someone died or is about to die." He said. "The young master won't die, right?" he asked, referring to Luo Zhilai.

"Not yet." Huo Ling answered, assuring him. "But, you two… do you want me to ferry you again next time?" he asked them. "If one of you dies first, I will let the other wait until you two see each other again. Then, I will send you to your next reincarnation, just like now." He explained.

Their eyes brightened. They looked at each other and smiled. Then, they held each other's hand tight. "Okay!" they answered. "Thank you very much." They said.

"No problem!" Huo Ling answered. "Zhuo Xia, you sign here. Mu Li, you write your name here in the next page so you, as an assignment, will be transferred to me. Then, please sign at the end." He told them as he gave them the pen.

Zhuo Xia signed first, followed by Mu Li. "What is this?" Zhuo Xia asked as he pointed the page where Mu Li's name was written, as well as his signature at the end.

"That you two have become my permanent assignments." Huo Ling answered. "After you die, I will fetch you two and ferry you to your next reincarnation." he explained and smiled.

Finally, he now have two permanent assignments, and two at that! And one of them he just had successfully ferried! He is very happy.

"Oh, right. You have to go now." Huo Ling said as he gently pushed them two, urging them to go. "Just walk under that rain, and then you will arrive in your next reincarnation." He told them.

The two nodded, then bowed to him, before they left together, hand-in-hand. Huo Ling sent them off with a smile.

"Congratulations, xiao Ling, for having two permanent assignments!" Qian San said as he, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai approached him.

"Thank you, seniors." Huo Ling nodded. "How about seniors?" he asked.

Wu Ling waved his hand. "Due to a large number of lovers, we can't get permanent assignments so all souls that we collect are temporary ones." He answered.

"I see…" Huo Ling muttered.

Meanwhile, Yi Bing and Xiao Hualing are staring at each other. If it was the usual, they would complement the two for being a match in appearances, like a jade couple.

"You should have gone back to the Inspection Department now and shouldn't have stayed here in the Pathway of the Clouds." Yi Bing spoke.

Xiao Hualing secretly coldly sweated and she forced a smile. "I…" she said.

"Bai Liu knows?" Yi Bing said.

Xiao Hualing's brow twitched. "… yes." she answered. "My next task is in the same world as senior Huo's, so the chief and vice chief sent me to learn from him." she explained.

"Good." Yi Bing muttered.

Xiao Hualing was surprised that Yi Bing didn't get mad.

"Was it Shen Taizi who told you to stay in the Normal World 101 and wait for Mu Li's soul before bringing him here in the Stable World and have him reunite with Zhuo Xia?" Yi Bing asked.

Xiao Hualing. "…" how is he this sharp! She thought and inwardly cried. "… senior Yi is right…" she honestly said.

Shen Sheng has told her before to never lie to Yi Bing since the other is like a lie detector test of the humans… well, he is more accurate than that device, thus making him very terrifying. Xiao Hualing wanted to cry now, but no tears came out.

"Oh." Yi Bing muttered and ignored her. He looked at Huo Ling now talking with Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai.

Xiao Hualing. "…" what 'oh'? Just 'oh'?! she thought and took a deep breath.

Shen Sheng and Yi Bing really are more than friends but less than lovers… heck, who would even think of the two in that way?! Anyway, Xiao Hualing could feel when she and Shen Sheng were talking that Shen Sheng deeply trusts Yi Bing. It was a woman's sixth sense.

"Since you will be going with him, then look after him." Yi Bing told her before he turned to leave.

Xiao Hualing. "..." shouldn't it be the opposite?! I am just a newcomer! She thought, really wanted to cry now. "Wait, senior Yi. You wouldn't tell senior Huo that you will leave?" she asked and looked at Huo Ling who bade Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai goodbye.

"I already told him earlier." Yi Bing answered before he walked across the Pathway of Clouds and then disappeared.

Huo Ling saw him leave. "There he goes…" he muttered as he watched the direction Yi Bing left.

"Senior Huo." Xiao Hualing called.

Huo Ling turned.

"I will be going with you!" she told him and smiled.

"… huh?" Huo Ling muttered and blinked. Wait… what did she just say?!