50,000 years ago, Hell was destroyed because of too much Foul from the resentment of the souls that later turned to Soul Eaters and devoured everything in their wake, leaving nothing of Hell. The gods above in Heaven, in order to take care of the newly-died souls, created the Afterlife Department comprised of grim reapers. Huo Ling was delivering food that day when he met Yi Bing and the guy gave him a warning. When he arrived to the customer's unit, he was killed. Huo Ling: you set up a death flag for me! Yi Bing: I'm a grim reaper. I'm the flag myself. Let me help you solve the mystery of your death. Huo Ling: your sister! Alternative title: The Different Ways I Died at 23 Update: daily
So, this world will be dominated by ability users and the one who will dominate the ability users is Lei Shan? Huo Ling thought after he heard the spoiler from Yi Bing. Then, he remembered the film emperor he saw earlier.
Lei Shan looked worse than him. There's a hole in his chest. Some of his skin was peeled off, revealing the chunks of flesh that was missing on his limbs. His left eye was missing and his cheek looked like it was burned. The right side of his mouth was also torn, revealing his gum and teeth inside. On his neck was a slanting line, looking like it was cut.
When Huo Ling saw him, he was neatly dressed. His clothes must be from Qi Shan. Huo Ling doesn't know what other injuries did the former film emperor suffered, but he knows there must be more underneath those clothes! How the film emperor has fallen… he had acted so many roles before, but Huo Ling is sure the film emperor has never acted as a zombie!
Huo Ling still can't remember his life in this world, thus he doesn't know much about the former film emperor and of his death. He got an amnesia due to being struck in his head before his death. How unfortunate is he? Anyway, he already had heard about his life from his acquaintance in the hospital…
Something struck in his mind. He turned to Yi Bing, eagerness in his eyes. He reached for Yi Bing's sleeve and tugged it.
Yi Bing turned when he felt his sleeve was tugged and he saw Huo Ling. "…" if he just had crooked thoughts, he would think Huo Ling is asking for 'it'. But, they aren't a couple, and it's strange that both men would be a couple. Though, he may have said it is strange, but it is possible.
But, grim reapers can't fall in love. They can't fall in love with a human, nor to a soul. It's not as if Yi Bing has a plan to fall in love, either. This emotion is foreign to him. If ever he would be struck by this emotion, he'll just cross the bridge when he gets there. "What?" he asked.
Huo Ling opened his mouth to speak, but he remembered he can't speak. He immediately squatted down and wrote on the ground with his finger: I remembered an acquaintance in the hospital I was sent to. His name is Jin Yu.
… gold fish (jin yu)? Yi Bing thought. But, he didn't stop Huo Ling from writing on the ground.
Huo Ling: I remembered he was working as a nurse in the hospital I was sent to, thus he saw me and recognized me. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't know some part of my life I forgot.
"You want to see him and thank him?" Yi Bing asked. Huo Ling nodded. "But, people shouldn't see you." He told him. Huo Ling stared at him. "You already died, and you are a walking corpse now. Corpses shouldn't move or walk." He explained for him.
Huo Ling fell silent. He only said it out of impulse. He also knows he shouldn't be seen by people. The public doesn't know yet of their existence – the zombies, nor of their abilities. Huo Ling doesn't know how much does the government knows now. But, if the zombies will be caught, they'll definitely be dissected to know their secret to the afterlife! Huo Ling can't afford that. He already died once. He doesn't want to die for the second time, and in a dissecting table!
Huo Ling heaved a sigh. What to do…? Yi Bing saw he looked like he's in a dilemma. He remembered the first thing he told to Huo Ling in Huo Ling's previous life: attachments. Attachment to people (relationships), attachment to objects (wealth and other possessions) and spiritual attachment (life, principles and religion). Before, Huo Ling's attachment is to life. He is unresolved of his death. Now… he is yet to know of Huo Ling's attachment/s.
On the other side, Qi Shan looked at Lei Shan dressed up as a mascot. He is carrying a big box. Qi Shan can't be seen by people, while Lei Shan cannot see the road before him. Qi Shan was guiding Lei Shan as they entered through the backdoor when Qi Shan didn't see anyone around. Then, he pushed the dressed-up Lei Shan in.
After they finally squeezed in through the door, Qi Shan was panting and was heavily sweating. This is the downside of having Important Souls as your assignment. Because they affect the world so much, you have to do the Important Souls' bidding! Qi Shan might be a grim reaper, but he still has to hug the protagonist's thigh! By! Doing! Everything! They! Want!
Qi Shan remembered the female Important Soul he was assigned to. She fell in love with him and doesn't want to move to her next life. Thus, he could only catch her off-guard and push her to the Pathway of Souls to remove all her memories. There was also an infant Important Soul. It was reborn and he has to raise it alone after it was thrown to the dumpster and was left unattended that caused its death! Another Important Soul is a bisexual man. He is a Ghost King and had a thousand harem of beauties – males and females. He invited him to be a part of his harem. Qi Shan almost buried them under a big mountain with his earth ability. He has a temper, but fortunately, he matured early due to Yi Bing's 'punishment' to him. Qi Shan doesn't want to admit, though.
He looked at Lei Shan who was walking very, very slowly towards the company's elevator due to the heavy costume. Everyone was looking at him and the big box in his arms. Lei Shan is just like any other Important Souls that had suffered. But, he felt that Lei Shan is too pitiful.
He knows how Lei Shan died, but not his murderers. Lei Shan was abducted and was tortured. He was also raped – Qi Shan doesn't know many people were there, and they would hit Lei Shan every time Lei Shan resists. Looking at his injuries, plus the injuries on his body that was hidden by the clothes… If it was Qi Shan, he would be a vengeful ghost and tore the soul of every one of his murderers.
Beauty is a gift, but also a curse. If only Lei Shan was ugly, no one would want him and he might have died an ordinary death during the abduction. But, he just has to be too handsome. Qi Shan doesn't know what will Lei Shan do once his memories would return, nor what he will end up – be a vengeful ghost or destroy the whole world. In any case, Qi Shan knows that he will definitely support him all the way!
Thinking this, he pushed Lei Shan inside the elevator that would bring them to the floor filled with many people. They will start their revenge!
The author has something to say:
Lei Shan: you will support me in everything?
Qi Shan: yes!
Lei Shan: undress.
Qi Shan: yes… ah?
If beauty is a sin, then who is the sinner? Was it the one who has the beauty, or the one who covets it?
P.S.: please don't forget to leave a comment for me to know you're there!