Before anyone could react, including Huo Ling, Lin Jin has seized Huo Ling's neck and pointed a dagger to his throat.
"You said that you would help me save Lin Weng, right?" he whispered. "As soon as I brought Lin Weng to somewhere safe, I will definitely return to save you. So, please cooperate with me as an exchange for Lin Weng." He told him.
Huo Ling. "…" fck! I didn't mean this kind of help! He thought with a dark face.
"Lin Jin! What's the meaning of this?!" Fang Buzi asked as they all looked at Lin Jin in shock.
Huo Ling was about to feel touched at everyone's concern towards him after he saw their reactions when he heard Fang Buzi continued.
"If you want to kill someone, do it elsewhere!" Fang Buzi told him. "This sacred temple isn't a slaughterhouse!" he added.
Huo Ling. "…" fck you, you hypocrite! Isn't what you are doing right now is slaughtering Lin Weng?! He thought and cursed all the hypocrites before him, including Lin Jin.
"I want to do an exchange." Lin Jin spoke. "This child also has a breath of life in him, and should be stronger than Lin Weng's." he told Fang Buzi.
Everyone was shocked. "Is that true?!" they exclaimed as they all murmured, wondering if Lin Jin is just bluffing.
Meanwhile, Huo Ling felt so confused. What 'breath of life'? He thought then suddenly looked at his chest. No way… could it be Shen Taizi's Conferment Seal?! He was shocked. This thing that should get them out of trouble from being found out was 'living' dead actually landed me in trouble! Fck! He inwardly cursed.
"Lin Jin. If you are lying to me…" Fang Buzi glared at him.
"You can see for yourselves." Lin Jin told them and cut Huo Ling's arm.
Blood flowed out of Huo Ling's arm and a strong aura was felt.
"Amazing! This breath of life is stronger than Lin Weng's!" they exclaimed.
Fang Buzi's eyes sharpened. "Hand him over." He spoke.
"No. You release Lin Weng first and bring him to me. Then, I'll hand this person to you." Lin Jin said.
Huo Ling is such a strong temptation to them.
"Release Lin Weng!" Fang Buzi yelled.
They moved and released Lin Weng before they pushed him towards Lin Jin. At the same time, Lin Jin pushed Huo Ling towards them.
"Sorry." Lin Jin whispered before he ran towards Lin Weng, picked him up, and then fled back to the tunnel.
Huo Ling wryly smiled. He turned to face the exorcists whose eyes looked like flashing lights as they looked at him.
"Tie him up." Fang Buzi spoke. "God Zero is about to descend!" he added.
"Yes!" everyone answered as they tied Huo Ling with the chains.
"Is it almost time?" an old and weak voice spoke.
Everyone turned and saw an old man walking out of the darkness.
"Yes, father." Fang Buzi answered.
Huo Ling looked at the old man that appeared. So, this is Fang Bo, the founder of the Dawn of Light? He thought when he saw the old man turned to look at him and their gazes met. But, Huo ling didn't expect for Fang Bo's eyes to widen in shock when he saw him.
He was about to speak but suddenly, he felt something struck his chest and his breath hitched. His eyes widened in shock. He wanted to clutch his chest that is in pain but he recalled that his hands are tied after he heard the chains clang from his movement. Then, he fell on his knees and his head hung.
Then, everyone heard a loud and ear-piercing roar from the sky followed by a loud crash! The ground also violently shook! "This is…!" they all exclaimed as their eyes widened with joy and excitement.
…
Yi Bing, Bai Liu and Wu Yi also heard the thunder roaring and the ground shaking.
"Not good!" Yi Bing exclaimed. "Faster!" he told them.
"Yes!" Bai Liu and Wu Yi nodded.
Yi Bing's heart thumped loudly against his chest. He has a bad premonition… Huo Ling, hang in there! He thought and clenched his fists, wanting to explode the underground base of the Dawn of Society. If something happens to Huo Ling…
His eyes widened when he finally saw light. "We're here!" he said and jumped out. Bai Liu and Wu Yi followed after him.
Just they reached the place, they heard the exorcists cried. "Lord Zero!" they all said.
Their voices and eyes are filled with worship as they looked at the figure that stood on the platform. The stone table stained with blood is behind him and his hands and feet are chained.
"Fck! Are we too late?!" Bai Liu cursed as he and Wu Yi turned to see this 'god' that was successfully revived by the exorcists. "And where is Huo Ling? He can't possible… caught…?" his eyes widened when they saw the one the exorcists called 'Lord Zero'. "H – !" he exclaimed when Wu Yi covered his mouth and pulled him to the back.
"Don't be too loud, chief. They will notice us." Wu Yi whispered as he released Bai Liu's mouth.
"Holy sh*t! Why was it Huo Ling?! Where is Lin Weng?!" Bai Liu asked in succession.
Wu Yi didn't answer and looked at Yi Bing who is watching Huo Ling.
"Lord… lord Zero. It really is you…" Fang Bo spoke with a shaking voice.
"… were you the one who roused me in my sleep?" a powerful voice spoke.
As soin as everyone, including Bai Liu, Wu Yi and Yi Bing, heard it, their hearts thudded violently in fear.
"What…" Bai Liu muttered under his breath as he stared at Huo Ling in shock. "This… shouldn't be Huo Ling, right?!" he asked and looked at Yi Bing who remained silent. "Yi Bing… who is this? Is this really their god, Zero?" he asked. "Yi Bing…?" he called when he saw that Yi Bing didn't answer.
"If this is really that god, then, not only do gods exist in this world, but also – " Wu Yi looked at Yi Bing. " – Huo Ling might be gone." He said.
"It is I, my lord!" Fang Bo answered and respectfully bowed. "I asked for my son's help for I am regrettably physically incapable of doing the ritual." He explained.
But, that being's eyes dangerously narrowed because of irritation. "Impertinent!" he yelled and raised his hand. "Who gave you the right to rouse me from my sleep?!" he asked as his pupils brightly flashed.
The surroundings flashed with a brilliant light because a large fire appeared and also almost scorched everyone due to its heat! Everyone's eyes widened in shock when they saw that their revered god wanted to attack Fang Bo and Fang Buzi!
"Father!" Fang Buzi screamed and jumped before Fang Bo.
But, the expected pain didn't come. A black figure flashed and blocked the giant fire from attacking them!
"Who - ?!" Fang Bo and Fang Buzi exclaimed.
"Take all of your followers and save the people instead of bringing pain and fear to them. This is your atonement." The black-clothed figure said as he faced the god that everyone awakened.
Fang Bo and Fang Buzi didn't expect that their god would harm them after saving them before from the claws of death. They immediately nodded and took everyone to leave, leaving Bai Liu, Wu Yi, the black-clothed Yi Bing and Huo Ling, who Bai Liu and Wu Yi aren't sure if he is still Huo Ling or the god Zero really exists and is possessing him right now.
"Yi Bing, he… is he Huo Ling, or Zero?" Bai Liu asked as he and Wu Yi stood at the back while they stared at Huo Ling in shock. If he is Huo Ling, then how can his power be so overwhelming? They thought. And it is comparable with Yi Bing's! They added when they saw that Yi Bing's expression is serious.
But, if he isn't Huo Ling, then, a god really exists in this world? However, the Afterlife Department didn't say that there is a god in this world. So, who is this Zero?!
Meanwhile, Yi Bing really is trying to suppress the power coming from Huo Ling. He didn't answer Bai Liu's questions since he can't tell him that Huo Ling is Zero.
Yes – now, he confirmed this fact. Huo Ling is Zero! Huo Ling, as lord Zero the first grim reaper, really has been in this world and has actually been worshipped as a god, to which he doesn't know if it was intentional or not. But, right now, he has to quell this guy first who is as fierce as his power right now!
The red string that is tying his hair snapped and his black hair suddenly became longer, reaching his waist.
"Fck!" Bai Liu and Wu Yi cursed as they immediately ran back to the tunnel to escape. Maybe Yi Bing was considerate and gave them time to escape since, just as they took Jiu Ye, Bai Wu and You Ri away from the old mansion, they heard a loud explosion!
The strong impact made the earth quaked stronger than it did earlier when Zero descended. But, this explosion blew away the ominous, funnel-shaped clouds that are about to wreak havoc to the billions of people living in the country.
…
One week later.
The government issued a warning to the residents not to approach the town where the explosion happened for they are still investigating the cause. Fortunately, no residents are living near it and the incident miraculously didn't harm anyone.
"So, the government decided to keep everything under the wraps?" Gu Xingfeng laughed in anger as he threw the newspaper on the table that says that the incident was likely caused by nuclear experiments.
Hao Baiyun grimaced when he recalled that his elder brother also had the same expression.
"But – " Gu Xingfeng turned to look at Hao Baiyun. Then, he smiled. " – I think this is good for you. This way, no one would think that you are a vile ghost, which most humans would think of since they are prejudiced towards ghosts." He said.
Hao Baiyun blushed. That time when the Dawn of Light tried to summon their god, he panicked and revealed himself to Gu Xingfeng so that he can protect him, which in fact he doesn't need to since the other actually possess a power that can exterminate ghosts.
Starting then, the two of them didn't separate from each other.
…
Haoming Company.
"M – Mr. Chairman, Li Yan was arrested by the police for attempted assault on You Ri while Li Li had a miscarriage and took an indefinite leave. Shi Nana was also arrested for theft for stealing You Ri's designs before…" Hao Ming's assistant coldly sweated.
"Oh." Hao Ming just indifferently muttered as he resumed signing documents.
The assistant thought he was pissed so he hurriedly escaped. Meanwhile, Hao Ming who was left feel bored and he turned to raise the blinds. The sunlight hit his handsome face as the view of the city was revealed to him.
"Boring…" he muttered as he gazed outside. He didn't know that a figure passed through the wall and watched him.
…
Stable World, City of the Dead.
"Cheers!" Bai Liu shouted as he raised his cup of alcohol.
"Cheers!" the others answered and raised their cups while Jiu Ye and Bai Wu raised their sodas.
The Inspection Department invited Yi Bing and Huo Ling for a celebration after they finished their task in Normal World 112. Because they saved the world, their punishment due to 0342's misconduct was lifted. You Ri wanted to remain in her world since she developed feelings towards Hao Ming.. Finally, she didn't count as Huo Ling's assignment in the end because she was deemed as an Abnormal Soul and Huo Ling will be assigned a new soul for his assignment, which made Huo Ling sigh in relief.