Chapter 83 - Soul Secret

Yi Bing's face darkened when he saw Huo Ling's body is still inside the dormitory while his friends are nowhere to be seen. Huo Ling's body is still on the same place as when he last saw it before he left with Huo Ling (the soul). Fortunately, Huo Ling's friends didn't do something strange on Huo Ling's corpse, like drawing on his corpse or worse, take nude photos of Huo Ling.

He immediately took out his phone and called the police before he went out to look for Huo Ling's classmates. "Huh?" he muttered when after the call, he saw on his phone's screen a familiar number. He ignored it.

He looked around and found it was strange since he didn't find anyone. All the units are empty. "It's still afternoon. They celebrated this early?" he muttered, his brows knit in disgust. "They actually hate Huo Ling. And this much?" he frowned as he went back to Huo Ling's room. Unfortunately, he doesn't have any knowledge regarding poisons.. Thus, he can only blindly search for clues about Huo Ling's death.

It really bothered him their reaction, as well as their words. Anyone who would see a corpse should be horrified. However, not only did they feel joy, but they're overjoyed. How much do they hate Huo Ling to wish for him to die? He thought.

Yi Bing is unlike Huo Ling who would be mad over his death. Instead, he would find the culprit and beat him to death. Unfortunately, Yi Bing had forgotten how he died. Initially, grim reapers should be wiped out of their memories of their death to not affect their emotions that could might interfere with their work. However, some who had gotten over it would have the memories of their death remained.

Yi Bing can be either, or both. He has forgotten his own death, and he had gotten over it because of it. Even if Yi Bing wanted to know how he died, but since he had gotten over it for some reason he also couldn't remember, then he had left it be.

Suddenly, he stopped what he's doing. Not because he had found clues, but because he had an epiphany. Huo Ling's life is too clean. Even his room is too clean. You can't find anything suspicious in it. It's like any normal student's room. However, it also isn't so since you'll still find some traces of a student's secret in his room.

It's as if it's intentional. Not that he wanted to find some dirt in Huo Ling, but, because he's too clean it's too suspicious.

He took out his Death Note and opened it. Then, he opened Huo Ling's profile and pressed on the third tab. There's one thing that won't appear on the Death Note – Soul Secret. The Heaven could only see the exterior of a person as well as their actions, and it will be recorded. However, they won't see the person's thoughts and emotions. Thus, the grim reaper could only rely on the soul's biography in the Death Note. They'd be lucky to find the dirt of the person in the Death Note – for instance, their crimes. However, for someone like Huo Ling, Yi Bing is unfortunate.

Yi Bing remembered Huo Ling's first life where he had another identity – Howee Jackson. It was recorded in the Death Note since the Heaven can see Huo Ling's side as Howee Jackson. They can see Howee Jackson's existence. However, right now… Huo Ling had lived a clean life. A very clean life it's abnormal.

Yi Bing sighed and closed his Death Note, then hid it. He's relieved he didn't find any dirt on Huo Ling, but he's also suspicious since Huo Ling – who had lived cleanly, would be hated to the point he's been killed. "What could he have on him…?" he muttered and pulled on his the locks of his hair as he thinks. "The only way to know the Soul Secret is to ask the soul himself of what it is." he said. "But, would he tell me?" he muttered. It's impossible. He thought. There is no trust between them. Right now. He added. "He's unstable right now. I can't be insensitive." He sighed as he walked out of the room and looked around. Huo Ling's friends still aren't back. I have to find them, and get some clues. He thought and went around the campus. He didn't need to go far since he saw them in the canteen. Currently, it's only the people in their dorm who's present.

"Finally, we got rid of him!" Rong Zhe said.

"Yeah. He's really annoying." Xu Ke said frowned.

"He's an eyesore." Su Yuan snorted.

"Stealing the women's affection on us…" Ye Ting said.

"I still haven't got enough of Ah Mei yet, she already jumped on that eyesore's lap. Such a slut! She'll see what will I do to her! Hehehe…" Su Yuan said.

"Let me have a taste of her, too. I'm bored with my whore." Ye Ting told him.

Yi Bing listened to them and felt even more disgusted. It's a fight over women? He was surprised as well as mad. They don't have to go that far! He thought. It looked like it really isn't, since he heard their next words –

"What do we do about that eyesore's corpse, though?" Su Yuan asked.

"Why don't we take nude photos of him? He's too popular with the girls, those whores would be delighted." Xu Ke suggested.

"Shall we let them have him? He can't fight back anymore." Ye Ting said.

"Hey. I heard one of our seniors is interested in him. He's male." Rong Zhe told them as he evilly grinned.

"Oh? He can have a taste of him if he won't mind he'll be fcking a corpse." Su Yuan laughed.

Yi Bing's heart sank. Fortunately, he already hid Huo Ling's corpse and called the police to pick it up. If he didn't… he suddenly felt unwell all over. So, it's not women, but envy? They're jealous of Huo Ling's popularity? He thought in disbelief.

"Even the professors like him. That bastard!" Su Yuan said as he hit the table in anger.

"Finally, Ah Ke killed him." Ye Ting said.

"Yeah. How did you do it? Did you suffocate him with a pillow?" Rong Zhe asked.

Yi Bing frowned as he glared at Xu Ke. "I didn't." Xu Ke said.

"Huh?" Su Yuan blinked in surprise.

"It wasn't me." Xu Ke frowned. "I found him already dead." He explained to them.

"Then… who is it? Was it you?" Su Yuan asked as he turned to Rong Zhe.

"How can I? I don't have the guts!" Rong Zhe answered.

"Then, it's you?" Su Yuan turned to Ye Ting.

"Why me? I won't dirty my hands for someone like him!" Ye Ting answered. He's mad.

"Then – " Su Yuan turned to the silent Lu Ming.

"Not me." Lu Ming said. "I'm the last one to arrive." He told them, reminding them that they're the ones who called him earlier.

"Oh, right." Su Yuan said as he remembered. "The three of us were together earlier." He said. "But, still, there are other ways to kill a person - " he looked at Rong Zhe and Ye Ting.

"Not me! Even if I could, I won't have the chance to do it!" Rong Zhe said as he glared at Su Yuan.

"Not me. I don't like to trouble myself with others." Ye Ting explained.

Su Yuan turned to Xu Ke. "Then, it's Ah Ke – " he said. " - you're roommate with him - " he told him.

Xu Ke's brows knit. "I already said I didn't!" he said.

"You don't need to lie. We'll cover for you – " Su Yuan told him.

"It's not me, damn it!" Xu Ke hit the table. "How many times should I tell you?" he asked.

"If it's not you, then who?" Su Yuan said as they looked at each other, their eyes asking. Suddenly, the festive atmosphere was covered with tension and chill.

Yi Bing's expression is frosty. It was not Xu Ke? He thought and balled his fists. Then, who is it? He looked at the five men sitting around the table.

Xu Ke is Huo Ling's roommate. The three earlier were Rong Zhe, Su Lin and Ye Ting. The last one… Yi Bing's eyes narrowed when he noticed something's off with the fifth person's expression. He's been silent earlier and wasn't speaking unless he was asked. Was it guilt? Regret? Pain?

Could it be… Yi Bing thought and frowned as he stared at Lu Ming. Could it be...? He thought when he saw him lowered his head. Underneath the table, his fists are shaking. This guy... he thought as he observed him.

Lu Ming was listening to the four's conversation, but his eyes are bloodshot and he has a murderous look in his eyes. It's as if he's holding back himself - his anger, to not punch his friends.

Could it be... he's in love with Huo Ling?