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
A loud clap broke Bai Wu's daydreaming. She and He Furong turned to the door, only for their face to pale when they saw Gu Xingfeng came inside and Hao Baiyun was following him. They wouldn't react badly if they only saw the patient. But, Gu Xingfeng was wearing his uniform beneath his jacket, so they recognized he is a policeman.
He Furong raised her gaze and saw it was Gu Xingfeng. "Ch-chief inspector Gu…!" she called for help.
Bai Wu's knees were shaking and she collapsed on the floor in fright. When did they arrive? Did they hear her? Did they record their conversation? She thought right. Hao Baiyun heard her and Gu Xingfeng recorded their conversation.
Bai Wu heard He Furong's address to Gu Xingfeng and she glared at her. "Old bitch! You set me up!" she said and kicked He Furong. However, He Furong now fought back. She caught Bai Wu's leg and bit it, just right where she scratched it! Bai Wu's face turned green. "AAAAAHHH!!! You bitch! You're crazy! You've gone crazy!" she said as she tried to kick He Furong with her other leg, but He Furong seemed to not feel pain. Now she finally recalled. The drug she poured on He Furong's drink is to make her fell numb! She shot her own foot! "AAHH! Police officer. Sir! Help me!" she called the two men present.
Because the door was now fully opened, someone saw the scene inside while some were attracted by Bai Wu's screams like a banshee's! "W-what's going on? What the hell happened!" a doctor passed by and looked at the people inside. "Police? What happened here?" he asked Gu Xingfeng.
"An exposition of schemes." Gu Xingfeng answered and played the audio clip.
Bai Wu's face paled, then turned red when she saw more people were surrounding He Furong's room. Shock registered on their face when they heard the conversation between the two women, followed by a look of disgust that was directed to Bai Wu!
"ARGH!" Bai Wu screamed in anger as she kicked He Furong hard! He Furong rolled away, while Bai Wu pulled her leg that was wounded from He Furong's scratch and bite. Is she a dog?! She and He Tianyu are dogs! She thought as her face reddened in shame and she looked away from the gazes of the crowd.
"I already called Mr. He Tianyu." Gu Xingfeng spoke and stopped the audio clip. "Miss Bai. Do you admit your crime of killing He Xiaozhu, framing Miss Zhang and threatening to kill He Yiyong?" he asked.
Bai Wu's pretty face distorted in anger. But, she didn't speak. Her silence admitting her crimes.
Afterlife Department.
"Eh… so it was actually her who killed He Xiaozhu?" Huo Ling spoke in surprise as he watched what happened in the S City Hospital on the open Death Note.
"Yes." Yi Bing said. "He Xiaozhu isn't her son, nor He Yiyong." He said. "Neither are they sons of He Tianyu. Bai Wu had a miscarriage with her first child. She replaced him with He Yiyong. Then, when she became pregnant with her second child, she found she had complications with her pregnancy. Thus, she aborted the child and replaced him with He Xiaozhu." He explained.
"Who are He Yiyong and He Xiaozhu's parents?" Huo Ling asked.
"He Yiyong's mother is Bai Wu's colleague at 'work'." Yi Bing answered. "She accidentally got pregnant with her customer. She gave her newly-born son to Bai Wu who coincidentally needs a child." He said. "He Xiaozhu's mother is a woman she met who was escaping from somewhere. She killed her and stole her child." He explained. "Bai Wu has two bad karma surrounding her. She will meet a bad end in this life." He finished.
Huo Ling was surprised. He didn't expect this twist. Bai Wu is such a poisonous woman. "What will happen to He Furong?" he asked.
"Now that the truth came out, she'll have a lighter sentence." Yi Bing answered. After all, she still harmed Huo Ling, despite she mistaken him for He Xiaozhu.
"Eh…" Huo Ling said.
Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling. "I have something to tell you." He said, his face serious.
Huo Ling stared back at Yi Bing's handsome but indifferent face. "… is it a confession?" he asked.
Some people who heard what he said laughed. "Romance is forbidden!" someone said.
Huo Ling laughed at them while Yi Bing rolled his eyes. "I want to ask if you want to work with us." Yi Bing finally said.
Huo Ling's eyes widened in shock. He was offered work?! He stared at Yi Bing and saw he's deadly serious. "… can I refuse?" he asked.
It was Yi Bing's turn to be surprised. "Yes." he answered. He saw Huo Ling sighed in relief. "… what's your reason?" he asked Huo Ling in case Gu Shi would question him later.
Huo Ling turned to Yi Bing. "Everything you say is too complicated to comprehend. Everything you do is too dangerous. My IQ isn't high, and I am a naturally weak person despite my temper." He answered. "I cannot be a grim reaper." He told Yi Bing.
Yi Bing looked at Huo Ling's orange soul. He hid the disappointment in his eyes. "Alright." He said and rose from his seat. "I'll send you to your next life later. Have some rest first." He said and left.
Huo Ling watched Yi Bing leave and then disappear from his sight. "Brother." He heard someone called him. He saw a 'man' on the bed next to his. "Don't worry. The Afterlife Department doesn't force the souls they save to work for them." He told Huo Ling.
"Why?" Huo Ling asked.
"It will cause dissatisfaction and resentment if forced." The man answered. "Then, they will develop Foul. They wouldn't jeopardize everyone, alright?" he said and sat up. "Also, there's a reason why would you be offered work here." He told him.
"What is it?" Huo Ling asked.
"Brother, don't you feel your soul is too strong?" the man asked and pointed him. Huo Ling looked down and saw his arm was on fire. "It's because of your soul attribute." The man told him.
Huo Ling pondered. But, despite the reason, he still refused.