The situation was clear now: someone had impersonated the tour leader and sent messages to the young man. The source of the incident in the restaurant with the two girls wasn’t the tour leader’s two-timing, but someone revealing it.
The young man and the two girls were already dead. No matter how much they guessed, they could no longer confirm anything with them.
The sun had already set 4/5 of the way, and in a little while, it would be completely dark.
After returning the tour leader’s phone, Wu Sheng’s gaze swept over everyone—the two close male university friends and a female friend who were watching the tour leader being bandaged, the long-distance lover who still took the time to check his phone in the midst of the chaos, and the backpacker who was helping another female friend bandage the tour leader.
“Take out your phones. I need to check your messages.”
All five travelers refused. “Why should you check our phones?”
“Why am I still being investigated when I’m like this?!” The tour leader slapped the sofa, his bloodied bandage adding a lot of deterrence and persuasion to his words.
Six unlocked phones were reluctantly handed over, and Wu Sheng lined them up on the coffee table, checking them one by one.
His four companions gathered around, not necessarily expecting to find anything but showing support for their advisor.
The messages on the two male university students’ phones were mostly between themselves—
A: How about those two girls?
B: Vulgar.
A: Not vulgar at all. They smile so sweet.
B: I meant you’re vulgar.
A: …
A: I really want to be a bird.
B: To fly happy?
A: To be lightweight.
B: As a grown man, can’t you stop thinking about losing weight…
The messages on the two female friends’ phones were mostly to the tour leader—
Tour leader: Can you give me a chance?
C: You’re flirting is too cliché.
Tour leader: Your making me toss and turn, since you flirted with me first.
C: Me?
Tour leader: When we gathered, you smiled at me, and then my tooth started to ache.
C: What does that have to do with a toothache???
Tour leader: You look too sweet.
C: …
Tour leader: Do you have navigation on your phone? Help me find a place.
D: Where?
Tour leader: In your heart.
D: Please roll off smooth like a well-rounded ball.
Tour leader: I can roll away, but I’m afraid no one will be there to catch your tears.
D: I’m not paying the remaining amount for the tour.
Tour leader: ???
D: Consider it as compensation for emotional distress.
Tour leader: Miss, I was wrong [crying and hugging legs]
The backpacker’s phone had no messages.
The long-distance lover’s phone, naturally, was all mushy texts with his girlfriend—
Long-distance lover: Baby, I miss you so much that I is going crazy.
Girlfriend: Me too, sob sob.
Long-distance lover: Baby, people keep dying in this tour group. I’m scared.
Girlfriend: Don’t worry, which tour doesn’t have deaths? I’m here for you.
Long-distance lover: Baby…
Wu Sheng browsed too quickly. Except for Xu Wang, who always relied on his “language skills”, the others could barely read a few lines before he scrolled down, leaving them unable to follow a complete context.
Yet, it was the last long-distance lover’s chat record that shocked them. Just a few lines were enough to suffocate them with the stench of sappy romance.
Xu Wang always thought he was in a “pre-relationship” state, but after reading other people’s love chats, he suddenly felt he was still in the single dog phase!
But now was not the time for envy or jealousy.
The sun was about to set completely, and their only hope, checking the phones, had turned up nothing. At least from these people’s chat records, Xu Wang couldn’t discern any flaws or clues.
Wu Sheng put down the last phone, took out his own, and quickly typed something in his notes.
“What’s this?” Xu Wang asked as he watched him type strange dialogues in his notes.
Wu Sheng didn’t look up. “Chat records.”
Xu Wang asked, “Whose?”
Wu Sheng said, “The person who said the tour leader messaged him.”
The young man who had shown Wu Sheng the messages had died after falling down the elevator shaft. Except for Wu Sheng, no other companions had seen his messages.
From the typing speed alone, it was clear that Wu Sheng had firmly memorized those messages. He was thinking, and though he could have done it in his head, he typed out these chat records for Xu Wang to see.
There were two short conversations in the chat records—
Tour leader: Gather, handsome.
Young man: ?
Tour leader: Stop smiling foolishly. I’m talking about you.
Young man: Am I handsome?
Tour leader: Very handsome.
The second was at noon—
Young man: I think, I might have fallen for you.
Tour leader: Think about it again.
Young man: Really, I truly like you.
Tour leader: Sorry, but I really don’t.
As Wu Sheng finished typing the last word, Xu Wang’s eyes narrowed, catching some information at lightning speed.
He quickly picked up the row of phones on the coffee table, checking them a second time, comparing them with the messages in Wu Sheng’s notes.
“Do you have an idea now?” Wu Sheng waited until he had finished comparing all of them before asking.
Xu Wang put down the last phone of the long-distance lover, turned to Wu Sheng, and thoughtfully said, “You’ve already figured it out, haven’t you?”
Wu Sheng’s lips curled up in a confident smile, like always before an exam. “I need your confirmation, class representative.”
Xu Wang smiled and finally nodded solemnly. “The representative gives his stamp of approval.”
The three companions watched in confusion, while outside, the sun finally set behind the mountain, extinguishing the last ray of light.
“Ding—”
[Cheat Sheet]: Please identify one person as the demon within five minutes. You only have one chance to accuse. The countdown will begin now, and it will be announced whether the accusation is correct when the time is up.
Xu Wang looked steadily at Wu Sheng.
Their three companions also became serious.
The seven people from the tour group, sensing something was amiss, looked around in confusion. The injured tour leader, half lying on the sofa, directly asked, “What’s going on?”
Wu Sheng calmed himself, raised his head, and slowly scanned all the travelers, finally raising his hand and firmly pointing at one person. “You are the demon.”
The backpacker.
Qian Ai, Chi Yingxue, and Kuang Jinxin were stunned. This guy had been like a non-entity the whole time, not doing anything notable but also not showing any suspicious behavior.
The remaining six people from the tour group who were not accused were also baffled, completely not understanding what Wu Sheng was talking about.
The backpacker looked at Wu Sheng calmly. His tone remained even and orderly; even his confusion seemed well organized. “What demon?”
Wu Sheng had taken less than ten seconds to make his accusation, but the five-minute countdown was still ongoing.
Enough time for the backpacker, and everyone else, to understand.
“The demon who created all these accidents,” Wu Sheng said.
The tour leader, directly concerned, sped up his thinking. “So, it’s this bastard who capsized my boat?!”
Qian Ai, picking up his phone irritably, threw it back. “It’s because you flirted with four at once that it’s only natural for your boat to capsize!”
The backpacker tilted his head and smiled. “I caused the accidents? Do you have any proof?”
Everyone immediately looked at Wu Sheng, waiting for the suavely standing detective to slap the backpacker’s face with evidence.
Wu Sheng also smiled. “No.”
The group: “……”
His companions: “……”
Xu Wang leaned back in the armchair, leisurely waiting for their advisor to pin the demon to the ground.
“There’s no evidence to prove you’re the demon, but there’s also no evidence to prove you’re not,” Wu Sheng added.
The backpacker shrugged. “That’s a strange argument. Just because I can’t prove my innocence, you say I’m the culprit?”
The long-distance lover timidly interjected, “Yeah, if you asked me to prove the accidents weren’t my doing, I wouldn’t be able to either.”
Wu Sheng: “……”
There was no other explanation for how he survived until now and managed to maintain a sweet romance amidst dangerous situations other than sheer luck.
Without further nonsense, Wu Sheng opened the messages on the other six phones, along with the fake messages the tour leader supposedly sent to the young man that he had just typed in his notes. All the chat records were laid out on the coffee table, clear for everyone to see.
“I can’t find evidence that you’re the demon, but I can rule out the other six,” Wu Sheng said.
“Just spit it out.” Lao Qian couldn’t hold back anymore. He was anxious and agitated. “What did you see in those messages?”
Wu Sheng spread his hands. “I noticed the demon’s literacy skills are better than the six of them.”
Qian Ai: “Specifically, how?”
“The use of grammar*.” Kuang Jinxin, who had been quiet, fixed his gaze on the seven phones on the table and spoke up.
*Clarity: Referring to the use of ‘的’, ‘地’, and ‘得’‘. These are particles in Chinese that are often mixed up and used wrongly. If you noticed, the text messages that you read had grammatical issues. These are translated purposefully to highlight this. The breakdown of the particles: (的) Used for possessive of descriptive particles, equivalent to “‘s” (ex: Wang Xu’s apple/my car/his book). (地) Used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct, equivalent to “-ly” (ex: happily, sweetly, merrily). (得) Used after a verb or an adjective linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility, equivalent to “so” or “enough”.
Qian Ai and Chi Yingxue frowned simultaneously, the former immediately leaning in to re-read the messages, while the latter seemed indifferent but sneakily glanced at the lit phone screens.
Wu Sheng looked at the first male university student, reciting their message contents without needing the phone. “‘Not vulgar at all. They smile so sweet.’ It should be ‘sweetly’.”
His gaze moved to the second university student. “‘Fly happy.’ It should be ‘happily’.”
He then looked at the first female friend. “‘You’re flirting is too cliché.’ It should be ‘your’.”
Next was the tour leader. “’Your making me toss and turn, since you flirted with me first.’ It should be ‘you’re’.”
Then the second female friend. “Roll off smooth.’ It should be ‘smoothly’.”
Finally, he turned to the long-distance lover. “Actually, you were the most suspicious. You were holding your phone the whole time. Before checking the messages, I even imagined how you, under everyone’s watchful eyes, impersonated the tour leader to send messages to the young man and deliberately sent the wrong name in messages to the two girls in the restaurant…”
“You’re imagining too much…” The long-distance lover looked innocently aggrieved. “I was just in a relationship…”
Indeed, his relationship had attracted more animosity than the demon himself.
But now, Wu Sheng decided to forgive him. “‘I miss you so much that I is going crazy.’ It should be ‘am’.”
He picked up his own phone and deleted all irrelevant words from the note, leaving only three sentences—
Tour leader: “Stop smiling foolishly. I’m talking about you.”
Tour leader: “Very handsome.”
Tour leader: “Think about it again.”
Now everyone saw clearly: the text was all grammatically correct.
“I’ve ruled out everyone else. The only one I can’t rule out is you, who left no messages.” Wu Sheng gave the backpacker a gentle smile. “Holmes said, when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
Xu Wang stood up from the armchair and walked over to Wu Sheng, shaking his head regretfully at the backpacker. “You shouldn’t have chosen a straight-A student who crammed detective movies for three nights as your opponent.”
The five-minute countdown ended.
“Ding—”
[Cheat Sheet]: Accusation correct. Begin your fight.
The companions: “……”
Wasn’t identifying the demon enough? Nobody mentioned there would be a battle!
“Whoosh—”
The flames in the fireplace suddenly leaped out like a dragon, igniting everything around the hearth. The carpet, tables, walls—everything caught fire in an instant.
Amidst the blaze, the backpacker took off the backpack he had been carrying all along, lowered his head, and raised his eyes, his mouth curling into a creepy smile on both sides.
The tour leader stood up from the sofa along with the other five travelers, moving to both sides of the backpacker. Their movements were stiff, as if controlled by something. After positioning themselves, like the backpacker, they lowered their heads and raised their eyes to look at the five companions.
The difference was that they weren’t smiling. Their expressions were blank, and their eyes were lifeless. Only the color underneath their eyes was rapidly darkening, as if ink had spilled, quickly spreading darkness.
The bus arrived at a railway crossing. The barrier was raised high, showing no sign of an approaching train.
The bus smoothly entered the crossing, and the driver slowed down. However, as the tires rolled over the tracks, the ride was inevitably a bit bumpy.
Unexpectedly, this jolt shook loose a phone from the hand of a girl who was extending her selfie stick out of the window to capture the scenery. There was a “snap” sound, and the selfie stick was still extended, but the phone that had been attached was now gone.
The girl quickly shouted, “Driver, stop. My phone fell out—”
As she shouted, she retracted the selfie stick and leaned out to look down, fearing the tires might have crushed her phone.
Xu Wang saw her leaning out and felt something was wrong. Just as he was about to warn her to be careful, a large truck also crossing the railway line approached at high speed. In the midst of the violent jostling, the truck brushed past the bus with a whoosh!
The girl didn’t have time to dodge, and her head was struck directly by the truck! The force of the impact flung her entire body out of the window, and she practically flew out!
It all happened in an instant.
The truck crossed the railway and sped away.
The girl landed several meters away on the ground with her head gone, leaving only her body. Blood surged from her neck, staining the tracks red.
The bus driver, terrified, slammed on the brakes and killed the engine.
Qian Ai was shocked. “Driver, don’t stop. This is a railway!”
But the bus driver couldn’t hear him. Trembling, he opened the window, his face pale as he stared at the body not far away, completely stunned.
“Ding—Ding—Ding—”
The railway signal light started flashing red.
In the distance, the sound of a train could be heard.
To run or not to run? That was the question! Running could mean falling right into the demon’s trap, as stepping off the bus might trigger an attack. Not running? Staying put would mean certain death when the train arrived!
Outside the window, the approaching train could already be seen!
“What are you waiting for? Get off the bus!” Wu Sheng quickly walked back and made a decisive call.
As soon as he spoke, the small team hadn’t yet moved, but the travelers in the bus panicked first. They got up, some climbing directly out of the windows; others ran to the front, banging on the door and shouting for the driver to open it.
Wu Sheng unbuckled Xu Wang’s seat belt and pulled him up. Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and Chi Yingxue also stood up.
The bus door was already opened by a traveler who had found the switch.
The five companions were heading forward, and two girls and another couple from the back of the bus also ran over. Annoyed at their slow pace, they rushed forward in a panic, pushing and pulling each other, which only slowed them down even more!
“One at a time, there’s enough time!” Xu Wang shouted.
But those few ignored him, acting as if possessed, more intent on dragging everyone down with them than escaping!
The companions didn’t hesitate anymore. Using all their wits and strength, they finally managed to push them behind!
They rushed forward, the exit just in sight.
But so was the train!
Just a few steps away!
[Owl: Someone has used [(Defense) A Clever Rabbit Has Three Burrows] on you~~]
Suddenly, the ground beneath the five companions gave way, and they fell into an underground space!
Above them was a transparent surface, through which they saw the train “thunder” past, hitting the bus and sending it flying, pressing against the transparent surface as it sped by.
The bus hit the ground, making another loud noise, nearly shaking the ground, and then rolled a few times before coming to a stop.
Xu Wang, relieved, looked around at his four companions inside the “Rabbit’s Burrow”.
Chi Yingxue raised his hand, taking credit for the action.
Xu Wang patted his shoulder with gratitude. “I’ll make sure to credit you for this when we get back—a big merit, for sure!”
Kuang Jinxin looked up at the transparent surface, still puzzled about how they had fallen in so suddenly. He had used the [A Clever Rabbit Has Three Burrows] stationery before, during the Red Eye Flight level. Back then, to enter the burrow, one had to climb down themselves.
After the train had completely passed, the red light at the crossing turned off.
The five climbed out of the burrow, finding the crossing in total disarray.
The surviving travelers were gathered outside the crossing, some limping, likely injured, and jumping out of the windows.
The man and three women who had been pulling at them at the last moment didn’t make it out. Along with the driver, they lay in the wreckage of the bus—now five corpses.
The sun was beginning to set.
Only seven survivors remained—five men and two women.
Among the five men—the tour leader, the backpacker, and the man in a long-distance relationship—were all suspects previously identified by Wu Sheng; the remaining two men were university classmates who had come together, and the two women, who were best friends, on vacation.
The tour leader, dusting off the dirt from the escape, sighed heavily. “The bus is gone. We’ll have to walk the rest of the way. Luckily, it’s not too far.” He pointed behind him. “See that red roof over there? That’s where we’re headed.”
The travelers grumbled but had no choice but to follow the tour leader, limping forward. The original plan to “enjoy the green mountains and rivers” had ended prematurely, moving into the “just wanting to get to the lodge to rest” phase.
Wu Sheng walked at the back of the group, able to see everyone’s condition.
The backpacker still followed the tour leader, walking alone and silently, occasionally lifting his camera to take a picture, like an artist lost in his own world.
The man in the long-distance relationship was constantly tapping on his phone, perhaps communicating with his girlfriend about the recent scare.
The tour leader’s face no longer held ease, and he no longer waved the small flag. He trudged forward, taking a few steps and then sighing heavily as if out of breath.
The pair of male classmates were playfully pushing and shoving each other, still full of energy; the pair of female friends were whispering and occasionally laughing lightly, radiating charm and vivacity.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long, like cryptic codes waiting to be deciphered.
They finally reached the mountain villa.
It was a three-story countryside villa, built in an ancient style with a wild charm in its garden walls, but the companions had no time to appreciate it.
As they entered the courtyard, Qian Ai looked at the sky and reminded with concern, “Captain, the sun is about to set.”
“Mm.” Wu Sheng acknowledged, indicating he heard.
Qian Ai was anxious. “Don’t just ‘mm’. Do you have any idea who it is?”
The time was drawing near to make a choice. Though not many people were left, choosing one out of seven was still difficult. Even if they only considered the three remaining suspects Wu Sheng had in mind, the probability of being right was only 33.3%…
“Just ask directly,” Wu Sheng said.
Qian Ai was stunned. “Directly ask?”
Xu Wang, who had been waiting for their advisor to make a move, was also surprised and whispered, “Ask the tour leader?”
Wu Sheng nodded. “Since all suspicions point to him, asking him is the most direct way.”
Qian Ai was incredulous. “If he really is the demon, how could he possibly tell you the truth?”
Ahead, the tour leader had already used a key hidden under a windowsill to open the villa’s main door and led the team inside. Looking back to see them still at the entrance of the courtyard, he called out loudly, “Come in quickly. Why are you standing outside?”
Wu Sheng looked towards the tour leader and said indifferently, “Whether he tells the truth or not is his business. Finding inconsistencies is my job.”
Qian Ai: “……”
Kuang Jinxin: “……”
Chi Yingxue: “……”
Xu Wang looked down, focusing on the ground, ready to protect their advisor from stepping on nails or any other danger. Behind a successful person, there always has to be a man working silently in the background.
When they entered the hall, Chi Yingxue unexpectedly asked, “What should we do?”
It was the first time he had taken the initiative to ask for a task, which made Xu Wang raise his eyebrows.
Wu Sheng was about to delegate, but upon hearing the question, he responded directly, “Don’t let anyone else die.”
Chi Yingxue tilted his head. Confusion flashed in his eyes, but he just reconfirmed verbally, “Everyone?”
Wu Sheng said, “Yes, everyone.”
Qian Ai couldn’t understand. It was obvious that they themselves couldn’t die, but why did they have to prevent the deaths of the tour group members? The more members of the tour group that died, the fewer were left, making the demon more obvious. In an extreme case, if only one person remained at sunset, there would be no need for deduction to identify the demon.
Before he could ask, Wu Sheng had already headed towards the tour leader in the living room.
Qian Ai, bewildered, turned to Xu Wang.
Xu Wang explained, “Haven’t you noticed? Whoever we suspect ends up dead.”
Qian Ai realized it was true. They suspected the cook, and he was chopped to death by a kitchen knife; they suspected the two people who splashed water in the restaurant, and then they fell down the elevator shaft; recently, during the train incident, the people who hindered their escape also seemed suspicious and ended up as a corpse.
“Any of the remaining survivors might hold crucial clues,” Xu Wang said. “We can’t afford to lose any more.”
With the captain’s explanation, Qian Ai understood completely, but he suddenly realized he hadn’t actually voiced his question.
“How did you know what I was going to ask?”
“If I don’t even know what you want to ask, how can I be the captain?”
Xu Wang smiled confidently, turned proudly, and went to support Wu Sheng, leaving Qian Ai alone, deeply impressed. “The captain is truly a captain.”
Kuang Jinxin, who had been listening to the entire conversation, hesitated whether to tell Qian Ai the truth. Why did the captain know what Qian Ai wanted to ask? Because the leaders had secretly discussed the next tactics a few minutes ago, and the captain had already asked the advisor. The answer the captain gave to Qian Ai was the same as the advisor’s response to the captain.
“Tonight, we’ll have a BBQ. Everyone, get busy. You, skewer the meat. You, wash the vegetables. You, start the charcoal. And you… what did you say you were good at again?”
“Fried chicken! I’m not bragging, but I’m a chef held back by academics!”
In the living room, the travelers were already getting excited, rolling up their sleeves to contribute to the evening’s barbecue feast.
The kitchen was at the end of the living room—an open-style kitchen. When Wu Sheng arrived, the tour leader was already busy with a few people. Only the backpacker, sitting at the bar stool near the counter, was flipping through photos on his DSLR camera, and the long-distance lover, for once putting down his phone, was helping the college student prepare fried chicken and searching the fridge.
“Oh, are you also planning to show off your skills?” The tour leader, stuffing kiwifruits into a blender to make a smoothie, saw Wu Sheng coming and teased him with a smile.
Wu Sheng, having no time to beat around the bush, got straight to the point. “How many people have you flirted with?”
The tour leader was taken aback, putting the kiwifruit piece he had just picked up back into the bowl, and looked at him bewildered. “What are you talking about?”
Wu Sheng said, “The young man who almost drowned at the bath center; he was distracted because you rejected him; the two girls who splashed water at each other in the restaurant, they quarreled because of you. Is your main job leading tours and your side job being a lover?”
“First, finish the fruit smoothie.” The tour leader handed the blending task to a female traveler next to him, wiped his hands, and then frowned at Wu Sheng. “Are you sick?”
Wu Sheng didn’t speak. He just silently looked at him, continuing to look until the tour leader felt uneasy.
“Alright.” The tour leader finally couldn’t stand it and admitted it. “I was two-timing, but only with girls—there were no guys. You can’t just blame me for everything because I’m a womanizer, can you?”
“Wasn’t it you who texted the young man?”
“Texted what?”
“Twice. Once, you reminded him, ‘Handsome, it’s time to gather,’ and the other time he confessed his love…”
“Tour leader—” A coquettish call from the side suddenly interrupted Wu Sheng’s words and instantly drew the tour leader’s attention.
“What’s the matter? What’s the matter?” The tour leader almost immediately rushed over, showing great eagerness.
The girl who called him was the one who had just taken over his juice-making task. She pouted and said, “The blender stopped working. I told you not to cut the pieces so big…”
“Kiwifruits are so soft. It doesn’t matter how big the pieces are. You could even put the whole fruit in and it wouldn’t get stuck. Let me see…” The tour leader said, about to lift the lid of the blender.
Wu Sheng suddenly felt uneasy. “Don’t move—”
But it was a step too late. The moment the blender lid was opened, the blades at the bottom suddenly started spinning at high speed again, splattering green smoothie all over the tour leader’s face!
“Fuck!” He cursed, about to wipe the green pulp off his face, but the blender blades spun faster and faster, and suddenly, out of control, they detached and flew straight towards his eye!
“Ahhhhh—”
The tour leader, covering his bloodied eyes, staggered backward. The guy frying chicken behind him was so frightened that he instinctively moved aside, revealing the bubbling, smoking hot oil in the deep fryer!
Wu Sheng wanted to go forward to help, but the startled travelers blocked his way!
Just as the tour leader was about to knock over the fryer, Wu Sheng could almost foresee the subsequent development—the fryer toppling over, bursting into flames, resulting in either the tour leader being scalded to death by hot oil or burnt alive, with no chance of survival!
In the nick of time, Chi Yingxue suddenly appeared.
Wu Sheng didn’t even see how he darted in from the other side.
He saw Chi Yingxue forcefully bump into the tour leader, who was falling backward. The impact sent the tour leader flying towards Wu Sheng, crashing heavily onto Wu Sheng and a group of travelers hiding there.
Then, he swiftly turned off the stove.
Kuang Jinxin, standing by, immediately put on heat-resistant gloves and took the entire fryer outside the villa, banishing it to the cool outside air.
Qian Ai unplugged all the kitchen appliances and also confiscated dangerous items like kitchen knives, can openers, and wine bottle openers.
“First aid kit. Find the first aid kit.” A girl finally reacted, supporting the screaming tour leader, as she anxiously said.
“Nobody move!” Xu Wang stopped everyone from running around, offering his own first aid kit.
The girl gave the tour leader’s injured eye a simple dressing, which was more for psychological comfort than any real treatment, at most stopping the bleeding.
Wu Sheng was unwilling to interrogate the man at this moment, but he was pressed for time, as outside, only half of the sun was visible over the mountain.
After a moment of hesitation, he gently searched the tour leader’s pocket.
The tour leader, in pain, didn’t notice.
Soon, Wu Sheng found the man’s phone and quickly unlocked it using the tour leader’s fingerprint.
Checking the message history, there were flirtatious texts to the two girls but none to the young man.
Aside from the unexpected line with the young man, the source of the restaurant water-splashing accident was undoubtedly the tour leader. According to the theory that “the first flap of the butterfly’s wings must be triggered by the demon”, the demon should be the tour leader. But the current scene, looking like an “attempted murder”, was enough to prove that the demon wasn’t the tour leader, which was contradictory…
“What are you doing with my phone!” the tour leader, realizing late, shouted from a distance.
Seeing that he still had the energy to yell at him, Wu Sheng was somewhat relieved and, thinking quickly, suddenly said, “I’m checking who leaked your two-timing.”
The tour leader became furious, forgetting the pain and struggling to get up. “I knew someone was out to get me! I was wondering why they both confronted me out of the blue, saying I sent messages meant for one to the other, even getting the names wrong. As the heavens is my witness, ever since I started two-timing, I’ve been careful never to use any names in messages!”
Advisor Wu’s feeling of being admired was abruptly interrupted by Chi Yingxue’s simple and straightforward question.
Xu Wang quickly changed the subject to help maintain Wu Sheng’s image. “What should we do next?”
This brought the conversation back to Wu Sheng’s area of expertise, and his eyes immediately lit up with intelligence. “We need to find the source. Each accident, like the butterfly effect, developed step by step according to logical reasoning. But the initial flap of the butterfly’s wings, the start of it all, must have been caused by the demon.”
Qian Ai asked, “How do we find it?”
Wu Sheng looked up, his gaze falling on the young man who had pushed him near the Finnish bath door. “We start with the people.”
There were seven accident scenes with relevant people still around, but only the restaurant and the Finnish bath remained. The two girls who had quarreled in the restaurant, who also happened to be survivors of the car crash at the previous intersection, had now gone to the spa, leaving only the young man who pushed him as the breakthrough point.
Fortunately, Wu Sheng didn’t even need to think of a reason to approach him.
Normally, Xu Wang would handle “communication” tasks during the levels, but this one was different. Wu Sheng had to gather firsthand information, including the responder’s reactions and other details, which no one else could substitute.
Standing up, Wu Sheng walked directly towards the young man.
His four companions stayed back, not wanting to crowd the area and hinder the “conversation”, but they watched closely, ready to assist at any moment if needed.
Soon, Wu Sheng reached the young man’s lounge chair. The man was lying down watching TV and turned his head in confusion when he noticed Wu Sheng. “What’s up, man?”
Wu Sheng sat down on an adjacent empty lounge chair and politely said, “You bumped into me earlier.”
The young man frowned, took off his headphones, and asked again uncertainly, “What?”
“Just now in the bath area, you ran into me,” Wu Sheng repeated more specifically.
The young man remembered, quickly sat up, and apologized profusely, looking genuinely remorseful. His demeanor and tone showed no signs of deceit.
“Forget it.” Wu Sheng finally pretended to let go after the young man almost exhausted his apologies. “If he hadn’t fallen into the bath, you wouldn’t have bumped into me.”
The young man thought for a moment, then realized what had happened and quickly sat up, looking embarrassed. “Hey, at that time, I was just focused on rescuing people and didn’t notice. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Wu Sheng said. “But when you bumped into me, the bathroom door got stuck and couldn’t be opened. My friend almost suffocated inside.”
The more the young man listened, the more remorseful he became, apologizing incessantly. From his demeanor to his tone, there were no flaws to be seen.
“Forget it.” Wu Sheng finally appeared to let go when the other’s apologies seemed to run out. “If he hadn’t fallen into the bathtub, you wouldn’t have bumped into me.”
“You can’t say that. He didn’t fall in there on purpose.” The young man spoke quite honorably on behalf of the one who fell in.
Wu Sheng didn’t continue the topic. He just smiled at him and quickly found an excuse to leave. He turned around and went to the end of the row behind.
The man who fell into the water was there.
He was a young man with flowing hair, not one of the four suspects Wu Sheng had identified.
“Why did I fall in?” The young man was already confused by Wu Sheng’s sudden approach and was even more baffled by this opening remark. “What else could it be? I just missed my step.”
“Bathing is a dangerous activity. How can you be so careless?” Wu Sheng said heavily, trying to show some sincere concern.
But to the young man, it sounded odd, and he replied more aggressively, “I’m distraught over being dumped. What’s it to you!”
A flicker in Wu Sheng’s eyes showed he knew he was onto something. “A girl in the tour group?”
The young man hung his head, his flowing hair falling with it, and after a long while, he muttered quietly, “It’s not a girl.”
Wu Sheng: “……”
He didn’t deny the tour group, just the gender.
Before Wu Sheng could ask further, the young man looked up mournfully, glancing in a certain direction.
Wu Sheng followed his gaze—the tour leader had risen from the lounge chair and was looking everywhere for his slippers.
“Are you dating him?” Wu Sheng looked at the young man’s hair and then at the tour leader’s vague features, unable to see any couple vibe.
“No…” The young man looked down, playing with his fingers somewhat shyly. “I have an unrequited love for him…”
Well, as long as he’s happy.
But “unrequited love” means they haven’t dated, so how could there be a dumping?
“I couldn’t help it. I sent him a message.” The young man knew what Wu Sheng was going to ask.
“And then?”
“Then he rejected me in the reply…”
The young man pouted. The circles under his eyes were truly red, a genuine display of love.
Wu Sheng was reminded of his own bitter memories. He sighed and said sincerely, “Can I see the message? Maybe there’s some misunderstanding…”
The word “misunderstanding” reignited hope in the young man, who quickly handed over his phone.
The messages were brief, with just two exchanges.
The first was in the morning—
Tour leader: Gather, handsome.
Young man: ?
Tour leader: Stop smiling foolishly. I’m talking about you.
Young man: Am I handsome?
Tour leader: Very handsome.
The second was at noon—
Young man: I think, I might have fallen for you.
Tour leader: Think about it again.
Young man: Really, I truly like you.
Tour leader: Sorry, but I really don’t.
The conversation was short and quickly read, but Wu Sheng took his time. The tour leader initiated the flirtation but ended up rejecting him, suspiciously straightforward, lacking a sense of reality. Like preparing for a difficult exam for a long time, only to find elementary questions—it was unsettling.
“Sheng Ge.” Kuang Jinxin ran over. “We’re gathering.”
Sixteen members of the travel group, plus Xu Wang’s small team, gathered at the entrance of the rest hall.
The tour leader checked his watch. “It’s 3:30 p.m. now. Half an hour to change clothes, and we’ll meet at the downstairs entrance at 4:00.”
Wu Sheng hadn’t had time to share the news he just heard with his teammates, now focusing intently on the tour leader, trying to detect some clues.
The elevator reached the top floor.
With so many people, they’d have to go down in two groups. The tour leader conscientiously moved to the back. Perhaps to avoid awkwardness, the young man with the flowing hair squeezed to the front of the elevator.
The elevator doors slowly opened.
A couple in the front center entered first, but as soon as they stepped in, they fell through!
The young man with the flowing hair and another girl, following right behind them, also fell in!
The muffled sounds of heavy objects falling echoed up the elevator shaft.
Right behind these four were Qian Ai and Kuang Jinxin!
One clung to the door frame; the other was grabbed by the bathrobe by Chi Yingxue, narrowly escaping disaster.
Curious travelers peered down the shaft—the elevator hadn’t come to the top, still stopped on the first floor. The four people, stacked like logs on top of the elevator cabin, were twisted into bizarre angles—none survived.
The last to fall was the young man.
Just two minutes ago, he was chatting with Wu Sheng. Now, with a broken neck and his eyes wide open, he stared into the empty elevator shaft and at the onlookers above.
Owl time 16:00. The death toll rose to twenty, with only six men and six women remaining in the tour group.
While changing clothes, Wu Sheng quietly shared the information he gathered with a few companions.
Xu Wang and Kuang Jinxin felt the same as Wu Sheng, suspecting the tour leader but unable to fully trust that he was really the one.
However, Qian Ai, who didn’t follow the usual thought process, suggested while the tour leader was away changing clothes, “Is it possible that the demon is him, and the answer is that simple, but we overcomplicated the issue?”
“There is a possibility,” Wu Sheng said. “So we also need to follow up on the incident at the restaurant. If the source is still him…”
Qian Ai clenched his fist. “Then there’s no escape for him!”
Xu Wang looked at Wu Sheng and said just two words, “Be quick.”
Wu Sheng nodded. “I know.”
Just after Wu Sheng questioned the young man, the young man died. Who could guarantee the two girls would live much longer?
“Next, we will go to the suburbs to enjoy the green mountains and rivers…”
An old-fashioned bus, looking like a modified scrapped public bus, without air conditioning and with manually operated windows, was waiting outside the bathhouse.
The tour leader led the surviving twelve people and Xu Wang’s small team onto the bus.
The five companions looked left and right, naturally avoiding the front and back of the bus and choosing seats in the middle. Xu Wang and Wu Sheng sat together, and across the aisle were Chi Yingxue, Qian Ai, and Kuang Jinxin, squeezed into two seats.
Xu Wang looked at his teammates with an indescribable expression. “Isn’t it crowded?”
Qian Ai said, “It’s warm, feels safe.”
“……” Xu Wang looked at Chi Yingxue, who was sitting on the innermost seat with a very gloomy face, feeling that the word “safe” was on shaky ground.
The bus started slowly and merged onto the main road. The driver, a middle-aged man, drove steadily.
Wu Sheng slightly stood up and looked back. The two girls who had quarreled in the restaurant were sitting in the last row, now reconciled, and half-opening the window to enjoy the breeze and laughter.
“Be careful,” Xu Wang said.
Wu Sheng gripped his hand and smiled. “Facing me, that warning should be for the demon.”
Xu Wang rolled his eyes and shook off his hand. “Hurry up.”
“Why did we have a quarrel?” The two girls, faced with the uninvited Wu Sheng, were baffled. “What does this have to do with you?”
Wu Sheng said, “It’s related to the continuous deaths.”
The girls looked at him strangely. “Doesn’t traveling always involve deaths? What does our quarrel have to do with it?”
Traveling always involves deaths?
Wu Sheng frowned. Was this the default setting of these NPCs? If so, their calmness towards the continuous accidents made sense.
“Maybe traveling involves deaths, but my friend almost got hurt in the restaurant, and you can’t be absolved of that.”
Wu Sheng changed his approach, acknowledging the accidents of traveling but insisting that the two girls were entirely responsible for the near accident with Xu Wang in the restaurant.
As Wu Sheng expected, the girls, like the young man he talked to earlier, had simple personalities. Hearing Wu Sheng’s logical argument and admitting their part in causing the subsequent accident by quarreling and splashing water, they felt guilty and revealed the reason for their quarrel.
“Actually, we both fell for the same guy.”
Wu Sheng: “Let me guess. It’s not the tour leader, is it?”
The girls suddenly looked up. “How did you know?!”
Wu Sheng: “……”
“But later we both realized he’s a real scumbag!” one of the girls suddenly added.
Wu Sheng, sensing a clue, quickly asked, “How did you realize that?”
Both girls took out their phones. “In the restaurant, we both thought the other was the third party. Only after comparing messages did we realize that he had been two-timing from the start!”
Wu Sheng checked the phones at the back of the bus, while Xu Wang, in the middle, occasionally looked back, remaining highly vigilant.
The bus had left the city, and the scenery outside the window became pleasant, with blue skies, white clouds, and birds chirping among the flowers.
Almost all the members of the travel group opened their windows, enjoying the breeze and the scenery.
The four companions stubbornly kept their windows shut, fastened their seat belts, and remained unmoved by any scenery, firm like revolutionary soldiers.
The Purple Mist Mountain was surrounded by clouds and fog all year round, presenting a picturesque scenery with beautiful waters and clear mountains.
The land here contained powerful spiritual energy. Every tree and plant grown from this land was imbued with rich spiritual essence, making it a true paradise.
The Demon King Son absorbed his mother’s lifelong spiritual power and grew up in this treasured land. By the age of four, he had become a very powerful spirit creature.
At this moment, the Demon King Son faced many puzzles. He didn’t understand why his father lay motionless on the ground, nor why the surrounding trees were falling and the ground cracking. He vaguely felt that his father wouldn’t return, and his home was destroyed.
Driven by instinct, the Demon King Son shed tears. He was only four years old and had been raised by his father as food. He didn’t understand right from wrong, nor did he understand emotions. All he knew was that an intruder had disrupted his and his father’s ritual. He was angry and wanted to kill the intruder.
In his mind, without his father, there was no him. When his father needed him, he should give everything. What was wrong with that?
Before going to sleep, his father said to wait 30 minutes, and then he could enjoy him. If he could serve his father and make him happy, he would be very happy.
But why did the intruder, who destroyed everything, insist that he was doing this for his own good, that he was avenging him? What did he mean by “mother”? What is a “mother”? He only knew his father, his only kin.
And now… what did the intruder mean by saying, “Life is unique, and everyone should live for themselves”?
What was nectar to one was poison to another. The Demon King Son could never understand Zhou Qian’s words.
30 minutes later. The little dragon’s tail swept lightly, moving gracefully as it dodged another powerful attack and prepared for the next one. Suddenly, the Demon King Son’s attack stopped.
The illusion of a crying child disappeared, along with the high-speed movement and deadly palm strike. The Demon King Son stopped attacking Zhou Qian and walked silently to his father, kneeling beside him, shaking him.
“Dad? You should wake up! You said you would wake up after 30 minutes!”
He didn’t know his father was already dead. His father, who wanted him to die willingly, never taught him the meaning of life and death. He only remembered his father saying to wake him after 30 minutes to enjoy a meal.
After shaking his father several times without waking him, the Demon King Son shed a few more tears and then looked dazed. He stood up and walked to a thatched hut nearby, its roof overturned during the fight. The hut was in chaos, with various utensils scattered and covered in ash.
The Demon King Son found a cauldron in the messy hut. He brought it to the platform, set up wood, lit a fire, filled the cauldron with water, and then fetched a sack of medicinal herbs from the hut, adding them to the water.
Finally, he jumped into the cauldron without hesitation. Before closing his eyes, he looked towards his father and said, “Dad, remember to wake up and eat me…”
The bronze cauldron was engraved with mysterious symbols. The moment the water began to boil, the runes on the cauldron emitted a golden glow, while a purple mist rose from the mouth of the cauldron.
The Demon King Son cooked himself, offering all his life energy to the cauldron.
As if responding to some signal, the little dragon in the sky opened its mouth, and the endless purple mist from the cauldron flew into its belly, all of it absorbed by the Taotie Golden Pill.
As the little dragon’s life force increased manifold, Zhou Qian also received a system notification. He had successfully completed the level, with a whopping 40% increase in his combat-related stats. After gently patting the little dragon’s head and commending it as a good boy, Zhou Qian used his mind to command it to descend to the ground.
It was then that he noticed something unusual with the Rib of God—some of the purple mist was seeping out of the little dragon’s mouth and moving towards the bone.
Soon, the Rib of God was surrounded by the purple mist. Following this, a faint white smoke, almost invisible, emerged from the bone.
If Zhou Qian didn’t know it was impossible, he might have thought the Rib of God was on fire. The white smoke collided, intertwined, and merged with the purple mist, forming a faint, light purple smoke.
Eventually, the purple part completely disappeared, leaving only the white smoke, which coalesced into a human shape in front of the bone.
It was as if a soul had taken residence inside the Rib of God, too weak initially to leave its life source. Now, it had absorbed some life force and appeared before everyone.
Zhou Qian, with a serious expression and a furrowed brow, vaguely realizing something, earnestly said to the little dragon, “Longlong, try to emit some more life force for him!”
Upon hearing this, the little dragon immediately tried, but it had been exhausted from helping Zhou Qian evade the Demon King Son’s attacks for 20 minutes and couldn’t afford to expend any more energy.
Nevertheless, it managed to release a bit more life force before sitting down on the ground, its body slowly shrinking back to its original small dragon form.
However, its actions were meaningful. The white smoke absorbed more of the purple mist, taking on a more human-like appearance, and the features of the person in the smoke became clearer.
Zhou Qian, gripping the Rib of God, recognized something in the white smoke and immediately smiled. “Shan Ge, is it you? Did you stay in the Rib of God during ‘Last Wish’? Is my bone spirit actually you?”
Gao Shan faced Zhou Qian, raised his hand as if to say something, but couldn’t make any sound. He then tried to step towards Zhou Qian but disappeared instantly. The white smoke returned to the Rib of God, leaving no trace.
Zhou Qian immediately resolved to further enhance his stats quickly. Perhaps next time, he could actually talk to Gao Shan, maybe even revive him.
Since Gao Shan’s skills were still present, Zhou Qian’s team might still have a very powerful tank.
A short while later, Zhou Qian, holding the little dragon, descended the mountain, waiting at the exit to be transported out of the instance.
During this time, his watch on his left wrist vibrated—it was a summoning request.
[Item Name: Affectionate Call]
[Function: When facing a crisis, this item allows the user to summon a past teammate to assist in clearing the level; the teammate will receive 80% of the experience points.]
[Restrictions: Only usable in solo instances; only applicable to monster-slaying type instances; similar function cards can only be used once every three months.]
[Grade: S, extremely rare]
Zhou Qian was familiar with the function of this item because it was among the many things Bai Zhou had given him, including the [Affectionate Call]. However, when he was playing solo, he couldn’t use this item to summon Bai Zhou, as players of Bai Zhou’s level were completely unable to enter ordinary low-level instances.
Therefore, this item could only summon teammates of the same level, limiting its usefulness and preventing it from being used like a cheat code to summon powerful external support.
Upon seeing the message [Player Wu Ren has sent you a summoning request. Please confirm within one minute whether to accept.], Zhou Qian decided to go. At this time, he was in the process of being transported out of a solo instance and could message other teammates.
He quickly sent a message to Bai Zhou: [Zhou Ge, I can’t come back right now; I need to help a friend. Also, I think I might be able to summon a bone spirit now. Maybe I can revive an old friend. I’m going to try. Wait for me! I’ll be right back!]
……
Blue Harbor City, 2301, near the entrance of Purple Mist Mountain.
Anticipating Zhou Qian’s return, Bai Zhou bought some black tea and his favorite snacks. Just as he returned to the entrance of Purple Mist Mountain, he unexpectedly received a message from Zhou Qian.
Bai Zhou’s gaze lingered on the system panel for three seconds until the text disappeared. Then, he shifted his gaze, took out a portable sofa and a sun umbrella from his bag, and sat down. Since Zhou Qian didn’t mention which instance he was going to, Bai Zhou could only wait there for the time being.
He took out a cup of black tea and took a sip through a straw. Sitting under the sun umbrella, Bai Zhou opened a book to read.
After a while, a “tick” sound echoed as if a droplet of water had fallen in front of him. Bai Zhou shifted his gaze from the book to the ground—
It was a drop of red blood.
Casting a casual glance at it, Bai Zhou returned his attention to the book. His expression was indifferent from beginning to end, merely stating, “When he’s around, don’t appear in this form.”
“White Dragon, oh White Dragon, you are as heartless as your Breaking Dawn.”
A male voice spoke.
A female voice quickly countered him, “That’s not fair to say. He is heartless towards us, but affectionate towards that person!”
Male voice: “Xiao Mo, I think you have a problem.”
Female voice: “You’re the one with a problem! You’re so disgusting. You’re actually a drop of blood!”
Male voice: “You’re the weird one. Aren’t you also blood?”
With some arguing, the drop of blood on the ground began to spread and enlarge, bubbling like red lava, and finally, a person made entirely of red—wearing a red hat, dressed in red clothes, even the face emanating red—rose from it.
Strictly speaking, it couldn’t be considered a person because this body had two heads.
[Blood Demon] was always an object of fear among many players. It was notorious for its eerie appearances and disappearances, and for its ruthlessness in killing without blinking an eye. After every kill, it absorbed all the blood from its victim’s body.
Few had seen its true form and, thus, were unaware of its peculiar appearance.
This male and female duo shared one body; they were conjoined twins since birth. In the real world, no surgeon could separate them, and doctors had predicted they wouldn’t live past the age of nine.
So, they chose to participate in an experiment, entering the game, which has allowed them to survive until now.
Among the two, the male called himself “Xiao Xue1” and the female “Xiao Mo2”. They both had a joking nature.
1Blood. The Xiao is referring to “little”. 2Demon/Devil. The Xiao is referring to “little”.
In serious situations, Xiao Mo was usually more composed and mature, while Xiao Xue tended to be more impulsive. However, they complemented each other well and usually managed to turn perilous situations around.
As for their usual behavior, neither were easy to get along with, and they often bicker. Ever since Hidden Blade met them, he frequently pondered a question—whose opinion should he listen to when they argue?
Both of them unanimously responded, “Of course, listen to me. This body is male/female, so I make the decisions!”
At the moment, as Bai Zhou slightly furrowed his brows and turned the pages of his book more forcefully, the two’s quarrel abruptly ceased. Staring at him for a while, Xiao Mo said, “You haven’t reported back to Master for a long time.”
Xiao Xue pondered for a moment. “Hmm, I’ve realized we don’t need to be so servile to him!”
Xiao Mo added, “Yes, yes, White Dragon is far from his peak now!”
Xiao Xue mused, “I wonder if that Rank S kid knows what White Dragon sacrificed to save him. Such a touching story.”
Bai Zhou ignored them and silently turned to the next page of his book.
Xiao Xue and Xiao Mo said in unison, “Master wants you to return immediately! We’re dying here! Why are you still leisurely reading a book?”
Bai Zhou, without looking up, replied, “I’m waiting for my future Master to level up.”
Xiao Xue and Xiao Mo: “…”
Bai Zhou: “He will also be your future Master.”
At this, Bai Zhou seemed to sense something, abruptly threw the tea in a certain direction, his gaze turning sharp. Soon, a girl with big eyes, riding a turtle, and looking very cute and silly appeared not far away.
“Ah, I stayed hidden a bit longer this time. I’ve improved!” The cute-looking girl, riding a silly-looking turtle, approached the trio very slowly.
She yawned. “Much better than last time. Last time, White Dragon discovered me in a tenth of a second. This time it took half a second!”
Xiao Xue and Xiao Mo: “…”
The silly girl’s code name was [Turtle Fairy].
When Hidden Blade first saw this name, he thought it belonged to a centuries-old person with white hair, a white beard, and wrinkled face.
He never expected the real person behind the code name to be such a young girl*.
*Clarity: The fairy is [xian] (仙) which can also mean an immortal/celestial being, which is why Hidden Blade was thinking it was some immortal hermit-type guy that cultivated for hundreds of years.
Turtle Fairy blinked at Blood Demon and then looked mysteriously at Bai Zhou. “Lord White Dragon, I divined for that kid, oh no, for our future Master, using my turtle shell. He’s entered a very dangerous instance. Do you want to know if he wins or loses? Hehe—”
She paused, squeezing out a very cute smile. “If you want to know, accompany me to see Master. I’ll tell you on the way!”
Bai Zhou looked down and turned to the next page of his book. “He won’t lose.”
“Hahaha…”
Turtle Fairy laughed awkwardly, exchanged a look with Blood Demon, and then tried again. “You have so much confidence in him, his code name is… oh, Nightmare Commander, right?”
“Mm.” Bai Zhou nodded.
“I actually came to Blue Harbor City a long time ago. That day, I followed him for a few steps, and he didn’t notice me. Hehe, it was when you guys came out of the Murder Exhibition Hall, and Nightmare Commander went to the hotel alone.”
Turtle Fairy said, “At that time, I used [Mind Reading] to take a look—”
Before the naive girl could finish speaking, she was suddenly met with Bai Zhou’s abruptly cold gaze.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately looked at Xue Mo for help, then hurriedly said, “Hey, my mind reading skill is not entirely active—it’s a passive skill. I’m forced to hear the thoughts of lower-level players, and actually, I find it very noisy every day! Cough cough…”
“White Dragon, do you know, he thinks you don’t understand his heart, don’t understand what is… love!”
Xiao Xue and Xiao Mo immediately began an exchange of glances.
“Turtle Meimei* has been getting bolder lately. Have you noticed?”
*Little Sister (妹妹) When used with a name, it often conveys a sense of affection and endearment, generally towards a girl who is younger than you.
“Actually, Turtle Meimei is our team’s pet. Mind reading, fortune-telling—how amazing. A prophetic master we must protect!”
In an instant, however, Turtle Fairy’s demeanor changed as if she was possessed.
Initially, she was sitting sideways on a turtle’s back in a white dress, with big eyes and a tilted head, while speaking. This was her most genuine and adorable appearance, seeming naive and cute.
But then she suddenly stood up, almost floating above the turtle’s back in a drifting pose. Her facial expression became very serious, as if she had suddenly matured several years.
She stared straight at Bai Zhou and said something she herself hadn’t anticipated—
“Have you ever thought that the emotions between you two are not equal?”
“You can give him everything. But for him, even if he heard of your death, he would indeed be sad, but he could still peacefully get through these seven years.”
“These seven years he has been doing very well, so, actually, with or without you, for him, it doesn’t matter.”
“He would leave you behind any time for his friends. He has many important things to do every day. You are never the only one in his heart.”
“Maybe he does like you, and you are indeed different from others. But this difference is limited, and the extent of your importance to him is also limited.”
“Essentially, you are no different from his other friends.”
“From seven to seventeen years old, you’ve only known each other for ten years. Excluding those childish years, how many years of true affection are left between you?”
“But you’ve been apart for seven years.”
“Bai Zhou, have you ever thought that, to him, you’re not that important. If it weren’t for the time you spent with him in your youth, perhaps he would see you no differently from others.”
“He thinks you don’t understand his heart, don’t understand emotions. But in reality, it’s he who doesn’t understand.”
“I’m saying this just to remind you, about our battle in the future…”
……
After hearing these words, Xue Mo didn’t dare to look at Bai Zhou’s face. She only saw the swirl of her red rob and Turtle Fairy’s forehead being struck, knocking her out. She fell motionlessly back onto the turtle’s back.
When Turtle Fairy woke up, Bai Zhou was already gone.
Only Xue Mo was in front of her.
Turtle Fairy, realizing something from Xue Mo’s expression, annoyingly slapped her own head. “Did I enter… divinity state again? Did I babble things I shouldn’t have?”
Without Xue Mo saying much, Turtle Fairy had guessed everything.
“It’s over. Oh no, I didn’t mean it!”
“What about Master’s task? He asked the three of us to make sure Bai Zhou meets him.”
Xue Mo sighed. “What do you think he said before he left?”
Turtle Fairy blinked twice and asked, “What did he say?”
Xue Mo: “He said he wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye again. He will accompany Zhou Qian to finish this instance. Let’s wait a bit longer.”
……
Zhou Qian was completely unaware of what happened outside the instance.
He arrived at a vast stretch of open land, with a few scattered houses behind and a huge stone pot in front.
Next to the stone pot, stood a man holding a giant spoon.
He was badly wounded, almost unrecognizable.
With great difficulty, Zhou Qian recognized him as Wu Ren.
Wu Ren’s small eyes were completely buried in the mud and sand, almost completely invisible.
He squeezed out a smile at Zhou Qian, uglier than crying. “I almost thought you were going to refuse me.”
“You’re lucky. I just finished an instance, or else I couldn’t have made it.” Zhou Qian sized him up. “What’s going on with you?”
[Player Zhou Qian enters the instance: Magic Crucible.]
[I will give you a crucible. If you throw the bodies of your fallen men into it today, they will be resurrected unharmed tomorrow*.]
The wolf beastmen were responsible for guarding the border between the two countries. Eugene took out Captain Richard’s “emergency deportation order”, successfully crossing the border—this captain found a loophole, claiming their group’s identity proofs were irregular, and by law, expelled them from Shiva.
Despite being a zealot, Knight Eugene treated members of other races with impeccable manners. Moreover, with a dog-headed knight among them, the wolf beastmen guards didn’t trouble them and straightforwardly opened the border fence.
On both sides of the fence, the blizzard was dense enough to form fog. Thus, the group smoothly entered Gratice.
Perhaps it was psychological, but Nol always felt it was colder here than in Shiva.
Arriving at the “enemy’s” headquarters, they had already changed into everyday clothes. Nol changed into a gray-blue thick cloth dress with simple embroidery at the hem; Teest received a yellow-white long dress with wool trim, which, along with his blond hair and eyes, made him more conspicuous. Painter and Fischer’s clothes were modest—dark gray cotton, which was the most common type.
These were “kindly given” by Captain Richard.
Now, recalling Richard’s smile made Nol feel somewhat nauseous—he only cared about pleasing young girls with pretty clothes, completely disregarding the dangers of Gratice.
Eugene protested on the spot.
According to him, the Eternal Church didn’t discriminate in its diet. Especially now, with Demons rampant, not just young girls but handsome young men were equally in danger. To safely move through this land, regardless of age or gender, there was only one rule: keep as low a profile as possible to avoid attracting attention.
Of course, his advice was decisively ignored by Captain Richard.
Nol made a decision. As soon as they reached the first village, he would discard this troublesome outfit for the most common cotton clothes.
Although Mr. Demon King and Doom Knight weren’t afraid of harassment, they needed to send Eugene off first before considering solving the problems for the people.
The nearest village to the border was White Salt Village.
“There are many residents from Shiva in White Salt Village,” Saint Bernard explained cheerfully. Unlike other humans, it particularly enjoyed the snow fluttering outside the cart.
“The village chief said the merchants like to use it as a station, so it’s a mix… mixed cooking village1!”
“Mixed-race village1?” Painter corrected with a smile.
1Clarity: Saint Bernard is saying cook [zhu] (煮) instead of race [zu] (族) since he’s not proficient in the common language.
“Yes, mixed-race.” Saint Bernard scratched his ear, his tail wagging happily. “My friend, a Caucasian Polo, sells sheep’s cheese and sheepskin here! Shall we go say hello? You all can stay there!”
Logically, this would be the safest option. Unfortunately, “safety” was precisely what they didn’t need at the moment.
“I have relatives here. We can stay at their place,” Fischer said softly.
“Oh…” Saint Bernard seemed a bit disappointed.
“Just come with us. He won’t mind,” Fischer added.
“Oh!” Saint Bernard’s tail wagged happily again.
Near White Salt Village, they found a proper road. Finally, the carriage didn’t have to struggle through the snow. Saint Bernard simply jumped down from the cart and ran leisurely near it, exhaling puffs of white breath.
Shadow Wolf Ben, seeing the familiar environment, also became restless. It stretched its short legs, jumped gracefully from the cart, and then ‘puff’ was buried by the snow, creating an increasingly distant pit.
Teest, quick to react, hooked the aggrieved Ben back with a golden thread—another second late, and the guy might have reverted to its original form.
Nol then fed Ben a few pieces of cheese and dried apples, soothing its injured soul.
Upon reaching White Salt Village, the blizzard finally eased, and snowflakes no longer smashed into people’s faces. Saint Bernard shook off the snow from his head, leading the way. Eugene, dressed plainly and having swapped his long sword for the more common local long hunting knife, followed at the end of the group.
Compared to the village full of furry inhabitants like Sheepskin Ball Village, White Salt Village wasn’t as cute. Here, the snow was crushed by wheels into wet, muddy slush. The buildings were the most common wooden houses, hastily constructed with no unique style.
Perhaps due to the frequent appearance of Demons, the village had an inexplicable sense of silence.
Most of the pedestrians on the street were humans, with the rest sporting a variety of heads. Nol spotted many dog-headed beastmen, bunnymen, catmen, and even the less common leopardmen.
However, here, mostly warm-blooded species with thick fur were present. The common lizardmen, dragonkin, and the Lema serpent clan of Shiva were nowhere to be seen.
Not everyone had the dog-headed beastmen’s curiosity. Their group attracted few gazes on the streets. Nol could feel that most of the attention was on Eugene, Teest, and himself—the looks were hardly friendly.
Fischer walked with his chest out, ignoring the surroundings, leading the group to a relatively luxurious building. It was made of stone rather than wood, standing out among the wooden houses like a small castle.
“Uncle Garrison, I’m Fischer.” He knocked on the door, calling out as if he was sure someone was inside. “I’ve brought my friends to stay overnight. Please open the door.”
“How many friends?” A grumble came from inside, along with the sound of slippers dragging closer.
“My sisters Teesti and Noli, the respected Sister Holly, Sister Holly’s young godson, and our hired dog-headed knight.”
Fischer glanced back at Painter and Eugene. Nol swore he saw mischief in Fischer’s eyes—though he changed faith, this High Priest was still no good.
With a creak, the door opened. A towering man opened the door, his gaze briefly meeting Fischer’s before moving away.
His overly lush beard hid most of his expressions. He stood silently for two seconds, then, with a voice like a bell, said, “Grenier, prepare the guest rooms! Come in quickly. I’ve just baked a cheese and meat pie, and there’s hot sheep’s milk on the stove.”
“Is the room the same as usual?” Fischer asked as if casually.
“Why? Do you have requests?” The bearded man paused in his actions.
“I remember you have four guest rooms, two of which are servant-style, which are too cramped.”
Fischer brushed off the snow from his dress. “Teesti and Noli are inseparable, and Sister Holly and her godson need not be separated either. They are all guests. I can stay in a smaller room. Mr. Saint Bernard, do you mind staying alone?”
“I don’t mind!” Warmed by the heat, Saint Bernard’s fur was exceptionally fluffy as he exhaled. “I prefer the outside. Any room good enough for sleeping is enough for me.”
Teest hugged Nol tighter, very satisfied. Eugene looked a bit embarrassed. “Please let me stay in the small room…”
“That won’t do. You’ve taken care of us so much along the way,” Fischer said with a smile. “Here, you are a guest. How can a guest sleep in a servant’s room!”
After all, him staying alone would make it easier to “disappear”.
Eugene had no response.
Unable to stay in a servant’s room, then as a roommate, the older “Sister Holly” indeed seemed more appropriate. In the end, he could only nod.
A religious war without the smell of gunpowder thus ended in a major defeat for the Temple of Life. As Eugene’s gaze shifted away, the former Pope maintained an elegant smile, giving Fischer two middle fingers.
High Priest Fischer didn’t change his expression, politely returning two middle fingers.
‘What peace,’ Nol thought expressionlessly.
He decisively took the cheese, meat pie, and sheep’s milk prepared by the big-bearded man, taking the clingy Teesti to the room first.
Presumably, under Fischer’s secret instruction, the maid Grenier led them to the best guest room.
The room’s windows faced the distant cedar forest, hiding White Salt Village’s mud out of sight. Near the bedhead were blooming winter blue roses, and the fireplace had sweet and sour apples and soft honey candy baked on it.
In front of the fireplace, there was a small, round pine dining table. The maid placed the meat pie and sheep’s milk for them and added a bowl of corn vegetable soup.
“I am the border priest Grenier Gale, and the man earlier is also a border priest, Winpick Garrison.”
She smiled. “Lord Faien has instructed us. You two are our esteemed guests. If you need anything, you can call us at any time… Please enjoy your meal.”
She drew a perfect circle on her chest and lowered her head as she exited the door, not forgetting to close the door behind her.
“Are they also Chosen Ones?”
Nol tried a piece of the meat pie—it was made with goat meat and sheep cheese, with plenty of spices added. The gamey taste was minimal, and it tasted better than he had imagined.
“They’re probably servants of God. They don’t have their own church.”
Teest leaned out, biting a piece of the pie in Nol’s hand. “But if they perform meritorious deeds, they should be able to get a small church in the border area.”
Nol cut a small piece of the pie and fed his knight with a fork. “Speaking of which, Fischer is definitely a Chosen One. I almost forgot about that.”
Nominally, Teest and Fischer were chosen by the Eternal Son, Anstis, while Painter and Eugene were chosen by the Goddess of Life, Tilia.
Nol suddenly realized that in this six-person team, only he and the dog weren’t Chosen Ones. This feeling was a bit peculiar.
“Not long ago, Fischer Reginald told me his oracle.” Teest elegantly took a sip of the hot sheep’s milk, casually dropping a bombshell. “Ignoring the verbose part about confirming identities, his core prophecy was ‘He follows the Deepest Darkness and will witness the most glorious Eternity.'”
“No matter which religion you’re from, they are all unique Chosen Ones. If that guy hadn’t defected, he could have become the Pope.”
It sounded pretty good. Nol also took a sip of sheep’s milk.
Compared to Mr. Eugene, who was like a “personification of a Russian roulette of False Gods,” Fischer’s prophecy was more grandiose and safer. And perhaps the first half of this prophecy had already been fulfilled.
Nol thought about it and cut another piece of the juicy pie, feeding it to the “Deepest Darkness” across him. Teest, who had absorbed the characteristics of the Demon King, might well deserve this title.
The Mad Monk, accustomed to the previous bite size, misjudged his own size. After taking a big bite of the pie, Teest had to puff his cheeks, chewing hard like a squirrel.
…Hmm, maybe he was wrong. Nol looked at the squirrel knight across from him, discarding the profound adjectives from his mind.
The next second, another Deeper Darkness discontentedly jumped out of the shadow, hopped onto the table, and vacuumed up the remaining meat crumbs from the plate like a vacuum cleaner.
Nol promptly grabbed the shadow wolf by the scruff of its neck. The shadow wolf struggled madly, its red eyes gradually moistening. If not for its belly being round and slippery, Nol might have softened.
“Ben, no getting on the table!” Mr. Demon King sternly scolded.
“Cough, cough.” Teest finally swallowed the pie, his tongue regaining its freedom. “Speaking of oracles, with such a prophecy on Fischer’s head and him not becoming the Pope at his age… Godfrey Painter, who became Pope in his twenties, must have an even more exaggerated oracle.”
“Yes,” Nol muttered gloomily.
Unfortunately, Mr. Painter was tight-lipped, and they couldn’t get half a word out of him. Moreover, since he defected from the church, this question had become even more delicate.
The two exchanged glances for a few seconds and sighed in unison.
That night.
Teest, as usual, held Nol and fell asleep contentedly. But now, with his size disadvantage, the position was awkward. Nol silently adjusted his arm back under the blanket and hugged Teest instead.
Due to malnutrition, eighteen-year-old Teest’s bones hadn’t fully grown, making him feel somewhat slender. Oddly enough, Nol liked this kind of embrace—peaceful, warm, and comforting.
Finding a comfortable position, Nol buried his nose in Teest’s hair and likewise fell into a deep sleep. In the darkness, a pair of golden eyes slowly opened, lifting slightly to gaze at the other’s shadowy neck.
Those eyes contained pure confusion.
As the clock ticked away, Teest redirected his gaze back to the other’s chest beneath the pajamas. The wedding ring, the key to Paradise, and the two-toned bead of the Demon King formed a pile on Nol’s pale skin, leaving faint red marks.
He should be content, Teest thought as he stared at them.
Whether he understood or not, he had received everything.
Nol loved him in a worldly sense, and he reciprocated with a faith that pledged his life… He followed his God, received promises about the end, grasped clues to the truth of the world, and even gained power beyond reason.
He could kiss his God, be close to his God, possess every unknown moment of the other, and never tire of it.
They would never be separated again.
What a perfect situation, far exceeding his initial expectations—back then, he just thought about “maintaining the marriage” and gathering some intelligence.
But Teest couldn’t relax.
Something still felt wrong. It wasn’t just a matter of physical desire. There was something else…
How terrible. He felt like a baby thrown into the desert at birth. A nameless thirst tormented him, yet he didn’t know what he was seeking.
After pondering drowsily for a long time, Teest could only give up. He snuggled closer into Nol’s arms, opened his mouth, and left a bite mark on the necklace’s red marks.
This made him feel a bit better.
……
The next morning, the script played out on time.
“Sister, Sister Holly!” The maid knocked on the door anxiously. “Is Miss Fischer with you?”
“What’s the matter? Child, don’t worry. Take your time.” Painter was still in yesterday’s clothes, looking meticulous.
“What to do!” The maid’s eyes filled with tears, and her skirt hem was muddy. “Miss Fischer got up-got up early. She said she was going out to buy some sugar… The store is only a five-minute walk away. It’s been almost an hour, and she hasn’t come back! I went out to look. The sugar seller said they hadn’t seen her. No one has seen her… sob… sob…”
She collapsed on the floor, desperately clutching her skirt. “I should have gone out with her. I should have gone out with her… Mr. Garrison will definitely punish me…”
Painter played along. “I’ll call everyone. We’ll look together. You have a warm drink first.”
“Yes… Yes.”
“Miss Fischer is missing?” Eugene frowned.
He was also in yesterday’s clothes, with some snowflakes on his shoulder, looking like he had just come back from outside.
“Sir, good sir! Did you go out?” The maid threw herself at Eugene. “Did you see her?”
“This child went out to train earlier.” Painter shook his head. “If he had seen anything, he would definitely have mentioned it.”
Upon hearing the term “this child”, Eugene twitched slightly. He looked at the ground, said nothing, and just silently nodded.
……
For the entire morning, two nuns pretended to search the area, while Knight Saint Bernard sniffed around thoroughly. Eugene asked every household near the stone houses but couldn’t find any clues.
Based on the current clues, it seemed as though Sister Fischer vanished into thin air as soon as she stepped outside, with even Eugene, the most astute Investigation Knight, unable to find any leads.
“If even Sir Knight can’t find her, Fischer must have been abducted by a Demon!” Sister Teesti said timidly, on the brink of tears. “What do we do? What do we do? There are still Demons here. Noli, you must be safe…”
“Don’t cry, we’ll keep looking here. We’ll definitely find her.” Sister Noli softly comforted her. “Let’s find her before we leave, okay?”
“Mm-hmm…”
Knight Saint Bernard continued sniffing around nearby, his nose particularly moist. “Right! I must find her. She’s still a guest of Sheepskin Ball Village!”
“Ah, Goddess above…” Painter prayed anxiously. “Well then, let’s investigate more carefully for a few more days. I believe the Goddess will bestow a miracle.”
Perfect combo!
From the shadows, Nol, Teest, and Painter all glanced towards Eugene simultaneously.
Paradise had provided intelligence in advance. Knight Eugene’s mission was “to investigate the whereabouts of Drake and his party”. His destination was Ice Rock City, and he was just supposed to escort them along the way, not delay in this small place for too long.
As soon as Eugene leaves, they could use the Eternal Church to rush to Ice Rock City through another route.
Hurry up, big brother. Everyone is waiting to go to the Dragon’s Lair. Nol tried to push Eugene away with his glare.
Eugene stood silently in the snow. If not for his breath, visible in the cold air, this knight would be indistinguishable from a statue.
“I understand.” After a long pause, Eugene finally spoke.
He turned around, his eyes showing a strange golden-green color in the dawn light.
“The scene is so clean. It indeed might be the work of a Demon. Please allow me to stay and assist in the investigation until Sister Fischer is found.”
Nol: “…Huh?”
Teest: “…What?”
What’s going on? Given that Gratice isn’t lacking in Demons, Eugene didn’t need to cling to such a troublesome case. And as far as they knew, this captain of the Fifth Regiment was decisive in action and adept at making choices.
What’s going on with this guy?!
A few steps away, the corners of Painter’s mouth slightly twitch. “You still have a mission to attend to, right?”
“My mission is not solely my responsibility. Moreover, an uncertain future does not outweigh the certain ‘life’ in front of me.”
Eugene made a prayer gesture and spoke in a gentle tone. “Sister Fischer is not a formal believer. She’s not ready to be a sacrifice to God. I can’t presume to abandon her.”
“Praise your mercy.” Painter bowed slightly in “gratitude” and made a gesture of thanks.
“All praise be to the Goddess.” Eugene returned the gesture.
Trouble. Nol speechlessly watched this scene. Fischer disappeared too cleanly and wouldn’t reappear again. They need to find a new way to shake off Eugene. This was a sticky situation…
Just then, a blue shadow flashed in front of Nol, and something leapt out.
[Rare Hidden Quest: The Demons’ Conspiracy]
[Normal Completion Condition: Find the missing Sister Fischer]
[Perfect Completion Condition: Find the missing Sister Fischer; thwart the secret operation of the Eternal Church]
[Quest Reward: A large amount of experience points [Normal]; Secret passage to the Dragon’s Lair [Perfect]]
[Rejection/Failure Penalty: Permanent freezing of your Transcendence of the Law skills]
[※Your current Transcendence of the Law skills: Fallen Death, Creator]
“Is that all you’ve seen, good knight with thick fur?” Eugene asked gently.
The statement sounded eerily familiar, and Nol couldn’t help but glance towards Painter. Painter stood dignified, looking straight ahead, embodying the perfect image of an old nun without giving anything away.
Realizing the human in front of them was good-natured, the ears of Alaskan perked up. “We detected the scent of Demons and turned to run. They blew up our wheels, and I crashed into a tree. The nun just now healed me. I’ve only just woken up…”
Nol was flooded with emotions.
He was glad that the dog-headed beastmen weren’t corrupted by the twisted Tahe, still honest and sincere. Sad that these fluffy knights were too naïve and were no match for humans—looking at their breed, perhaps only the Border Collie village chief might fare better.
“It’s fortunate that you encountered Demons directly and are safe and sound.” Eugene’s gaze lingered on Nol and Teest. Nol swore, it was anything but relaxation and relief.
He was suspicious of them.
The reputation of the Demon Players seemed thoroughly tarnished, Nol thought. Two “beautiful girls” unharmed, now considered suspicious.
Alaskan sighed in relief, and Saint Bernard became conflicted. He looked back and forth between “Sister Noli” who saved his life, and the smiling knight Eugene, hesitating whether to tell the truth.
After a while, he hesitantly opened his mouth. “Uh…”
“Wuwuwu!”
“Sister Teest” who had been clinging to Nol, suddenly let out an extremely realistic cry.
“So scary!” He trembled all over, as if someone else had cleaned up the scene just now. “Those two Demons were so disgusting. They said they would take Noli and me away…”
Huh?
Nol looked baffled as he patted Teest’s back.
“Uwoo, it was so scary, Sir Knight… Thank you. It’s all thanks to you coming…”
Sure enough, Eugene’s attention shifted from the dog-headed beastman.
He stood politely a few steps away. “Miss, do you remember what those two Demons looked like?”
“One-one was bumpy, like a potato.” Sister Teesti lifted his reddened eyes, crying flawlessly. “One dressed like a dark wizard, covered in shiny stones… I don’t know anything else…”
He still clung tightly to Nol, sniffling from time to time. “I thought-I thought it was over. Bless the Goddess… They suddenly said-said they received a message from a friend and had to hurry away… Noli, Noli heard it too!”
Teest directly improvised along with what Alaskan had said. At this point, Nol had no choice but to nod.
Seeing this, the still conflicted Saint Bernard’s head and tail drooped—he would keep the secret if his lifesaver wanted it that way.
Returning kindness with ingratitude was wrong!
The village chief had specifically instructed that if they encountered a question they didn’t want to answer, they just had to respond with “mm-hmm”, and humans wouldn’t pester too long.
“Is that so?” Eugene turned towards Knight Saint Bernard.
“Mm-hmm,” Saint Bernard said.
“I’m sorry you all had to go through this. It’s the Temple’s negligence.” Eugene lowered his voice. “Given your situation, you were coming to the Knight Order for work, right? If you don’t mind, please allow me to escort you back.”
“It would be our honor, Sir Eugene.” Painter made an elegant bow.
Eugene had a hunch something was off, but he couldn’t pinpoint any more suspicions—the scene was just too clean.
He knew the two Players Teesti described—unless someone present could overpower them, forcing them offline and erasing all traces in a short time, it would be impossible to create such a scene.
This wasn’t something a few Evergreen Nuns could achieve, and the dog-headed knights present were even less likely.
Even he himself had to resort to the most brutal and bloody methods, scaring those Demons off, which led them to retreat on their own.
“You two can go back now. I will find someone to repair your cart and compensate you with four snow mountain goats. You can also take away these two dead goats.”
“In addition, the Temple will provide an additional compensation of 200 gold wheels, as a consolation fee.”
Eugene then turned to Knight Saint Bernard.
Knight Saint Bernard’s ears twitched, and after a moment, it muttered. “That won’t do.”
“If you are dissatisfied with the compensation…” Eugene was surprised, as the border dog-headed beastmen were never greedy.
“No, no. It’s not about the compensation.” Saint Bernard said honestly, “I want to see with my own eyes that you issue them certificates. Only then can Sheepskin Ball Village’s responsibility be considered fulfilled. My companion can go back first, but I want to see it to the end—I can’t let you take them away halfway, not even if you’re the Pope.”
“Your loyalty is admirable,” Painter generously praised.
Eugene opened his mouth, then maintained a smile. “I was negligent, good knight. Please forgive my presumption. Come with us.”
Saint Bernard’s eyes lit up, and his tail wagged. “Great!”
This place wasn’t far from the Knight Order’s camp. It wasn’t until they arrived at the camp that Nol realized why Eugene wanted to bring them alone—
The camp was severely damaged.
Supplies were looted. Fruits, vegetables, and frozen meat were scattered everywhere—many were trampled and mixed into mud. Elegant tents were knocked over; some burned down to a few charred sticks, emitting choking smoke.
Bloodstains were visible everywhere, and the air was filled with the stench of charred flesh. Injured Investigation Knights lay on stretchers, being treated by priests.
To sum it up in a word: disgraceful.
Seeing this scene, even Saint Bernard’s eyes showed sympathy. Painter’s mouth twitched, glancing skyward, pondering something.
“Please follow me.”
Eugene walked as if through a spacious and grand courtyard, leading them to one of the few intact tents.
In the center of the tent, stood a jar of lard… no, a sweating Investigation Knight.
“What’s going on!” He loudly scolded the young people around him. “I’ve only been gone a few days and came back a little late, and you’ve made this mess? What does this look like? If headquarters finds out—”
Upon seeing Eugene enter, the man’s scolding stopped abruptly, turning sarcastic. “Oh, our berserker has returned.”
Following Eugene, a few “pretty girls” entered one after another. The man’s sarcasm took a sharp turn and his voice became deep and authoritative.
“Why are you back now? Have you dealt with the escaped Demons?” He puffed up his belly, twirling his mustache. “I said, we must not let the enemy step into the camp again!”
Nol: “……”
Teest: “……”
Mr. Eugene brought the Demon King, Mad Monk, apostate Pope, and the High Priest of the Eternal Church.
Including the Eternal Son, Anstis himself, their group could squeeze into the top 5 enemies of the Temple of Life.
Nol felt a bit embarrassed.
“Hello, I’ve long admired you, Sir Richard.” Painter was the first to speak, performing a perfect bow. “I am Holly Artis from Red Feather City of the Feni Empire, leading my children on a mountain pilgrimage.”
“It turns out to be Sister Holly!” Richard beamed. “Ah, what brings you here?”
[This old fox sure can spin a tale.] Teest muttered to Nol in his mind, his eyes still a bit swollen.
[What’s a mountain pilgrimage?] Nol quietly responded.
[Starting from the southernmost part of the Fini Empire, heading north along the Endless Sea coast. Once reaching the border of Shiva and New Gemino, they come out from a nearby valley and circle back to the Fini Empire around the Brick Mountain Range. Along the way, they preach the Goddess’s doctrine to anyone they catch—this has become popular among monks and nuns. They think such foolishness is devout.]
Teest sneered, [Hard to say whether they’re increasing faith or just their lung capacity.]
“We originally planned to return to New Gemino through ‘Miracle Valley’.” On the other side, Painter calmly explained, “Recently, there were terrifying magical fluctuations near Miracle Valley. I led the children north, into Shiva. As you’ve seen, this good knight brought us here.”
“We also noticed that anomaly. Haa, it hasn’t been easy for you,” Richard said with boundless sympathy.
“This is a trial given by the Goddess.” The former Pope played the part of a believer to the hilt. “We failed to complete the mountain pilgrimage, disappointing the Goddess. Next, we plan to leave Shiva and head north to Gratice to preach.”
“You see, the Demons of the Eternal Church have been particularly active recently. And you’re bringing such…” Richard glanced at the “nuns”. “…Such delicate ladies. It’s really dangerous.”
“The Goddess always watches over us. She will protect the souls of the devout.”
For some reason, Nol detected a hint of irony in Painter’s tone.
“Your resolve is commendable. I will arrange for your departure as soon as possible.” The captain puffed up his belly again.
“I disagree,” Eugene suddenly said.
“Sir, lest you forget, I’m the highest commander here.” Captain Richard frowned.
“According to the rules of Shiva, female knights should search them, and then verify their identities and families one by one with a communication crystal, issuing identity certificates.”
Eugene continued sternly, “Additionally, I personally advise against going to Gratice. The Goddess undoubtedly is merciful, but Lady Tilia needs to counter the Eternal Son and the newborn Demon King and can hardly attend to the mortal world at all times.”
“Ha.” Captain Richard laughed dryly, pointing towards Teest. “A body search? Look how scared the poor girl is! Her tears haven’t even dried!”
“We’re only half a day’s walk from Gratice. We can just send them off directly. Why are you making such a big fuss*… With the camp in this state, who has the time to bother with that annoying identity verification?”
*Taking off your pants just to fart.
Towards the end, he turned his gaze meaningfully. “Mr. Malloy, you just want to see the pitiful young ladies searched and then keep them here—”
The pitiful Mad Monk cried on cue, collapsing into Nol’s arms. Fischer also put on a bewildered expression, looking dazed.
Nol was utterly bewildered, not because his acting was superb but because the scenario was too chaotic, far beyond his comprehension.
Eugene sighed, seemingly indifferent to Richard’s sarcasm. He just looked towards Painter. “Have you decided then?”
“The light of a candle has meaning only in the darkest place. By the Goddess above, this is the only way we can prove our loyalty.” Painter was quick with his response.
“I was once told that the Goddess prefers meaningful devotion over blind loyalty.” Eugene pursed his lips, his tone still gentle. “The Goddess loves life far more than death… Unless absolutely necessary, ‘life’ is always the first option. Please consider carefully.”
Painter suddenly fell silent, staring at Eugene for a few seconds before replying, “Thank you for your guidance. I will protect my children.”
“Since you insist so.” Eugene nodded. “How about this—I’m planning to head to Ice Rock City. Please allow me to escort you on the way.”
From a distance, Richard let out a disdainful “Tsk”.
From the corner, a puzzled “Ah” followed.
“So you’re not doing the identity verification?” Knight Saint Bernard asked bewilderingly.
“That’s right, sir,” Richard impatiently replied. “These sisters will be leaving Shiva today. We’ll personally see them off. You’ve seen the situation here. There’s no need to specifically delay for a verification.”
“Mm-hmm.” Saint Bernard scratched his fluffy ears. “So you’re not doing the identity verification?”
Richard: “……”
Richard: “No.”
Knight Saint Bernard stared at Richard in shock, silent for a full ten seconds. “Then I’ll follow them.”
Now, everyone’s attention was focused on the dog-headed knight.
“Humans haven’t taken responsibility,” Knight Saint Bernard said seriously. “So they’re still guests of Sheepskin Ball Village. I need to ensure their safety. They’ve paid a deposit!”
Wasn’t it just fifteen minutes of petting? Nol took two seconds to react, realizing what it meant.
“Actually, there’s no need…” Painter tried to intervene.
“I am Sheepskin Ball Village’s best knight.” Knight Saint Bernard emphasized, “A knight must fulfill their duties. Unless humans take responsibility, I will absolutely not leave.”
“We’re going to Gratice.” Eugene tried to reason. “There are many ill-natured humans there. It’s not safe for you.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“The den of those Demons is to the north. They’ve been unusually active lately. You’ve just encountered them.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Eugene sighed in frustration.
Although the First and Fifth Regiment were nominally equal in strength, he couldn’t force Richard to do the identity verification.
And Richard, being particularly petty, not only refused to please Eugene, the potential future Pope, but also insisted on opposing him for the sake of it.
Things were getting more complicated.
……
When the group set off again, the carriage, in addition to the four nuns, now also had two knights.
Nol looked at the solemn-faced Saint Bernard, filled with remorse.
Sorry, Mr. Saint Bernard. We really can’t let ourselves be thoroughly checked.
But leaving him behind in such a dangerous area wasn’t right either… They could only protect him well and find another opportunity to get the verification for Shiva done.
As long as they could escape the Temple’s surveillance net, this was a minor issue.
The biggest problem was Eugene.
Nol looked at the young knight opposite him with a clear gaze, trying to sit even more upright. Painter and Teest’s disguises were flawless, but Mr. Demon King wasn’t so confident.
Eugene seemed to misinterpret Nol’s look, thinking the nun was fearful of men after what had happened. He stood up, apologizing with a smile. “It’s a bit stuffy here. I’ll go drive.”
“You’re so considerate.” Teest took the opportunity to praise, and Nol suspected the second half of his sentence was, “Don’t come back.”
It was hard to say who he disliked more, Painter or Eugene, even though neither was his match now.
With Eugene leaving the carriage, everyone finally relaxed.
[This won’t do. We need to split up.]
Fischer quickly pulled out paper and pen, writing rapidly. He used the local language of Gratice, which Nol wouldn’t understand without Player privileges.
Knight Saint Bernard, not far away, already looked puzzled. He only knew a limited amount of the common human language. This was truly foreign to him.
[You’re going back home to reclaim your identity?] The former Pope, naturally not hindered by language, wrote in Gratice’s language even more beautifully than Fischer.
[This way, I can cooperate with Lord Teest to the fullest extent.] Fischer wrote. [My High Priest status is still intact. I can mobilize many core believers to divert Eugene’s attention.]
[It’s rare for you to be of some use.] Teest joined the conversation. [How do you plan to make your escape?]
Fischer wrote swiftly. [I have a way to contact the Church believers and have them ‘kidnap’ me. After that, you all can improvise. We’ll meet again in Ice Rock City.]
Painter furrowed his brows slightly. His pen paused on the parchment for a moment before retracting.
[Honey, what do you think?] Teest wrote, passing the pen and paper to Nol.
Nol: [If it’s certain we can shake off Eugene.]
Teest: [The situation is really bad. Should we consider killing him? We’re about to enter Gratice’s territory. If you’re worried about Paradise, just leave it to the Church. We don’t need to deal with the Demon King right now, and it’s useless keeping a zealot.]
Painter: [No. Have you forgotten his oracle? He is destined to slay the False God.]
Teest: [You’re quite interesting. Having defected from the Temple, you still take oracles as truth? Who knows if they’re just bullshitting.]
Painter: [Just in case.]
Teest: [Worried about your godson?]
Painter: [The kid does have issues, but it’s not deserving of death.]
Teest: [Right, so worried about your godson.]
[ENOUGH!!!]
Nol slashed a big “X” over the paper argument. [I’m not considering killing Eugene at all. End of discussion. Mr. Painter, what’s this about a ‘godson’?]
The authority of the first half was gone, the letters of the second half rounded out. Nol looked at Painter with bright eyes, filled only with pure curiosity.
Teest showed a frostbitten look of disappointment—though he could easily strangle Eugene himself—he murmured twice and slowly laid his head on Nol’s lap, leaving the others with a “I don’t care anymore” posture.
Nol allowed him to rest, gently stroking his soft hair with his fingers, without any hint of resistance.
Painter looked somewhat helplessly at the two, writing down several elegant paragraphs.
[The Malloy family is an ancient family of zealots with deep ties to the Temple. After Eugene Malloy’s oracle prophecy was confirmed, the Malloy family asked me, then the Pope, to be the boy’s godfather—given the hero prophecy, he was laden with the family’s hopes.]
[Just seven days after I became his godfather and baptized him, I defected from the Temple of Life. Undoubtedly, this was a heavy blow to the Malloy family.]
[Because of my actions, his journey has been fraught with hardship. I have no regrets about leaving the Temple, but Eugene Malloy is innocent, and I always felt I owed that child.]
‘No wonder Eugene despised Painter,’ Nol thought.
Not just an unprecedented religious scandal but also a damning stain tied to him. At Brick Shadow, the fact Eugene didn’t attack Painter on the spot showed just how astonishing his self-control was.
But looking at Mr. Painter’s attitude… facing Eugene, he didn’t show much guilt either.
Fischer, expressionless, didn’t glance at the paper, clearly uninterested in such gossip. Teest flipped over casually, glancing over the paper.
[Please rest assured, it’s just a slight debt! This Villain knows what’s heavy and what’s light.] Painter cheerfully added, [This Villain will definitely stand by your side.]
[I believe you,] Nol replied earnestly.
Teest snorted and turned his face back. The carriage moved on bumpily, yet he lay surprisingly steady, maintaining balance somehow.
The last one in the carriage—Knight Saint Bernard —tilted his head to the other side, sniffing at the paper filled with words.
‘So many words!’ he thought.
As the temperature dropped, Knight Saint Bernard closed his mouth, his fur puffing up. Nol pulled out the temple-supplied goods, wrapping himself and Teest in the same wool blanket.
Fischer balled up the paper filled with words and naturally chewed and swallowed it down. Beside him, Painter looked out of the carriage—snowstorms and snowy fields blended together. Outside was only the deathly pallor of gray-white, like a dead man’s eye.
The sound of the wind and snow outside grew more terrifying, from a dull whooshing to a sharp wailing, piercing painfully to the eardrum. The rounded snow mounds gradually vanished, replaced by jagged, tooth-like rocks.
Legend had it the snow here never melted, and the storm never ceased, barren as the edge of the world.
They all knew, Gratice was near.
Nol silently listened to the wind and snow, raising his body temperature a couple of degrees. Even as an “outsider”, he could guess why the Eternal Church had rooted itself here.
Gratice, with its harsh environment, where crops barely survived, had relied on cold sea fishing and ore mining for years, trading food with Shiva.
A land perennially frozen and bitter cold, how could it possibly worship the Goddess of Life—a symbol of vitality and harvest? The Eternal Church making this its headquarters couldn’t be more fitting.
Although the original setting of “Tahe World” was set that these people here shouldn’t believe in anything.
Nol exhaled a misty breath. Don’t think too much. He patted his face. Gratice was just a stopover. As long as they could shake off Eugene, they could detour to the Dragon’s Lair.
With such a simple plan, what could possibly go wrong?
The author has something to say:
Saying what could go wrong means something will go wrong.
Knight Saint Bernard and Knight Eugene, join!
Fischer: Finally, it’s my time to be the big daddy (×
Taking the elevator to the top floor lounge, all sixteen travelers had already gathered there to rest. The lounge, with over a hundred lounge chairs, was sparsely occupied, allowing the group of five to find a secluded corner to talk.
During their conversation, Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and Chi Yingxue finally understood the full story behind the “door closing” incident.
The sequence of events was simple yet abrupt: first, someone accidentally fell into the bath, and second, others rushed to check, crowding past Wu Sheng. In the chaos, someone bumped into him, causing the door to slip from his grasp.
But Wu Sheng, prepared for such “high probabilities”, had already initiated tactical plan F when he heard someone fall. Xu Wang, using stationery to levitate, oversaw the whole scene and clearly saw how the “helpful person” ran with the crowd and bumped into Wu Sheng.
“Who was it?” Qian Ai, still feeling the aftereffects of the near-steaming incident, was eager for some retribution.
Xu Wang looked towards the lounge’s entrance. “The guy next to the team leader now.”
Qian Ai followed his gaze to see a young male traveler, about twenty, speaking beside the team leader. The young man was part of a couple who had been openly affectionate throughout their journey.
“Him? A demon?” Qian Ai was incredulous.
“He pushed me,” Wu Sheng clarified. “But whether he’s the demon, we don’t know yet.”
“Regardless, we got the badge, and that means we’ve achieved our goal for this challenge. If we can also submit our papers, it’s a bonus.” Xu Wang patted his three companions on the shoulders. “Well done.”
The mention of the badge reminded them of the cabin, and Qian Ai felt aggrieved. “I thought we were done for when we couldn’t open the door. You should have briefed us on the plan beforehand.”
“We couldn’t be sure if the demon has eavesdropping abilities,” Wu Sheng explained. “If it does and can change the plan of accidents at will, all our strategies would be wasted.”
Kuang Jinxin added, “The tactics Sheng Ge gave us were very covert.”
“Us?” Qian Ai was certain he heard the plural.
“Controlling the indiscriminate attack of the flying hot stones was my responsibility.”
“……” Qian Ai looked at Wu Sheng, feeling sidelined. “So, I had no role? You don’t trust me?”
Wu Sheng glanced at Xu Wang.
Xu Wang sighed and said earnestly, “He trusts you, but your stationery…”
Qian Ai had an epiphany and quickly stopped his captain from continuing. “No need to say more. I was shortsighted.”
His stationery, despite its grand names, often had unreliable side effects and was indeed not suitable for saving teammates from danger. Better to leave it for the enemies.
As the lounge quieted down, the traveler who bumped into Wu Sheng also finished chatting with the team leader and laid down on a nearby lounge chair. In the dim light, the lounge felt eerily quiet.
Finding the badge was a good thing, but the constant threat of accidental death and the still-unseen demon weighed heavily on them, preventing any moment of relaxation.
Wu Sheng, deep in thought, suddenly looked up. “Something’s not right.”
“What’s wrong?” Xu Wang asked immediately.
“The Finnish bath incident,” Wu Sheng replied.
Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and even Chi Yingxue, who had been half-asleep, were now fully attentive.
“The door,” Wu Sheng continued without wasting a second. “The door of the Finnish bath had no lock, not even a latch. Yet once it closed, it couldn’t be opened. That’s illogical.”
Qian Ai, puzzled, said, “In a level like this, does logic even matter?”
“On the contrary.” Wu Sheng shook his head. “This level is actually the most logical.”
“There are no accidents without reason,” Xu Wang added.
“Exactly.” Wu Sheng focused on the reflection on the floor tiles as if revisiting past events. “Every accident before had a logical sequence. Even if it was too coincidental, it was still reasonable.” He looked at each teammate. “But a door without a lock suddenly becomes unopenable? That’s illogical.”
“I also found something strange about the door closing.” Qian Ai scratched his head, hesitating.
“You too?” Xu Wang was surprised.
“Not exactly.” Qian Ai clarified. “When the door closed, I had this eerie feeling.”
“What kind of feeling?” Wu Sheng asked seriously.
“Like… chilling… sinister…” Qian Ai struggled to describe it more precisely. “As if something entered the cabin, invisible and intangible…”
“What kind of entity?” Wu Sheng gave him options.
“Sunlight? Evil? Heat? Cold…”
Before Wu Sheng could finish listening, Qian Ai interrupted, “Definitely evil!”
“What about your [Righteous Energy Shield]?” Wu Sheng suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question.
Qian Ai paused, instinctively sensing his defense stationery, then his expression changed. “It’s gone.”
“The stationery is gone?” Xu Wang frowned. “Did it expire?”
Qian Ai shook his head. “No, I’m sure it hadn’t expired.”
“It’s clear now.” Wu Sheng nodded knowingly. “At the moment the door closed, the demon was using his power, an evil manipulation force that can affect everything in this level.”
Xu Wang realized. “Opposite of righteousness, it dissolved Lao Qian’s [Righteous Qi Shield]!”
“But I didn’t feel this before.” Qian Ai was confused.
Wu Sheng explained, “Before, it just needed to push a bit. The rest was the inertia of the affected objects, like falling flowerpots and collapsing floors. Once ‘fall’ and ‘collapse’ were initiated, its power could withdraw. It’s an instant effect, too quick to notice.”
“But the Finnish bath door was different.” Qian Ai finally understood. “It had to keep the door closed with its power!”
Kuang Jinxin also caught on but had another question. “Why did it need to close a lockless door this time?”
“Because the Finnish bath wasn’t its predetermined point of accidental death,” Xu Wang answered.
He wasn’t proficient at logic, but at this point, he had to understand as a team captain.
Finding the badge was their team’s own task. Whether to find it, where to find it, was random. Even assuming the demon knew they were heading to the Finnish bath as soon as they entered this challenge and added the bath center to the predetermined route, the Finnish bath’s death trap was still hastily set up compared to the fixed-route traps that had claimed many lives before.
Hastiness leads to flaws.
“This was the first time it exposed a weakness, letting us feel its presence.” Wu Sheng’s gaze grew steadier. “But it definitely won’t be the last.”
Xu Wang perked up. “You have a plan?”
Wu Sheng looked at him. “Considering all the NPCs we’ve encountered in various levels, their power usage has distance and range limitations.”
“Of course,” Xu Wang said, “If he could attack us from ten thousand miles away, there’d be no point in trying to clear this level.”
Wu Sheng added, “For this level, there’s an additional condition.”
Xu Wang asked, “What?”
Wu Sheng explained, “It must be able to see the accident scene and closely monitor the entire process.”
Indeed, to ensure such tightly linked accidents, being on the scene wasn’t enough. One must be close enough and attentive enough to time each event precisely.
“That’s great. We can eliminate half of the suspects!” Qian Ai finally saw a ray of hope. Since the Finnish bath incident occurred in the men’s area, all surviving female travelers weren’t at the scene.
“But that still leaves eight,” Chi Yingxue noted, glancing at the clock in the lounge. “It’s almost three o’clock.”
Wu Sheng corrected, “Not eight.”
Chi Yingxue looked at him, puzzled.
Wu Sheng remained silent, resting his hand on his forehead with his eyes closed. He replayed all the accidents that had occurred in this level in his mind. After a quick run-through, he focused on the moment each accident happened—freezing the scene!
The near-miss with the flowerpot and knife attack, gas explosion, car hitting a person, subway door malfunction, restaurant fork incident, ground collapse and billboard fall, Finnish bath… Each accident site was like a slide in a slideshow. Seven scenes, seven slides, stacking them up, filtering out the absentees, and locking in on those who were present at all scenes…
Chi Yingxue couldn’t see the mental palace inside Wu Sheng’s head. He only saw Wu Sheng sitting upright, eyes closed, lips slightly parted, murmuring to himself, his eyelids fluttering rapidly as if possessed by some ominous spirit…
Chi Yingxue pursed his lips and turned to look at Xu Wang, Qian Ai, and Kuang Jinxin, who appeared quite natural.
Catching his gaze, Kuang Jinxin helpfully explained, “Sheng Ge is in his ‘strongest brain’ mode.”
“……” Chi Yingxue understood each word but was clueless about the combined meaning.
“Don’t worry about understanding.” Qian Ai patted him. “Just follow me and look up to him with reverence.”
Chi Yingxue: “……”
As they spoke, Wu Sheng suddenly opened his eyes.
Xu Wang immediately asked, “What did you find?”
Wu Sheng declared, “There are four suspects who meet the requirements.”
Qian Ai asked, “Who?”
Wu Sheng listed, “The team leader, the guy who pushed me, the backpacker, and the long-distance couple.”
Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and Chi Yingxue: “……”
Xu Wang: “Can you be more specific? We’re just ordinary people…”
Following Wu Sheng’s guidance, the four teammates finally identified the suspects.
The team leader was obvious, as was the young man who had pushed Wu Sheng. The remaining suspects were the backpacker and the couple in a long-distance relationship.
Wu Sheng: “The fourth lounge chair in the second row is the backpacker. He wore a cowboy hat, leather jacket, and carried a hiking backpack. He’s a loner, doesn’t talk much, and only had brief interactions with the team leader…”
“The eleventh lounge chair in the third row belongs to the guy in a long-distance relationship. He wore a hoodie and jeans, used an XX phone with a 5.5-inch screen, spent 30% of his time video-calling his girlfriend, who’s studying abroad and will return within the year, and 40% texting.”
The four teammates: “……”
Wu Sheng asked, “Any questions?”
Kuang Jinxin: “Sheng Ge, they’re all wearing bathrobes now…”
Qian Ai: “They all look the same.”
Xu Wang: “I thought you just had a good memory, but your voyeuristic abilities are quite frightening.”
Wu Sheng: “…Observation skills, thank you.”
Wu Sheng, trying to maintain composure despite feeling a bit elated, turned to Chi Yingxue, who had been quiet, signaling with his eyes, “You can start praising me now.”
Chi Yingxue stared at him for a while, a rare hint of envy flashing in his eyes. “You’re so distracted when walking, and you still managed to avoid all these accidents?”
As soon as they came in, the male travelers who started changing clothes had already entered the bathing area one after another, leaving fewer and fewer people in the changing room.
Xu Wang opened the medical kit and treated Wu Sheng’s wound. On the side, Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and Chi Yingxue, unable to help, began to change their clothes themselves.
Qian Ai really enjoyed the leisure activity of bathing. Before he was sucked into the Owl, he used to visit the bath center near his residence every few days. It wasn’t an expensive place; a combined ticket would allow a comfortable soak for just ten or twenty yuan.
He always thought about splurging one day on a high-end, luxurious bathhouse. Today, his wish was fulfilled with this bath center inside the owl, certainly luxurious enough, but Qian Ai couldn’t feel any joy.
Bathing was supposed to be relaxing, but his mind was on the verge of collapse now, constantly fearing that what would come out of the shower head next might be steel needles!
In a state of despair, Qian Ai finished changing and wrapped a bath towel around his waist. When he looked up, he saw that Chi Yingxue and Kuang Jinxin were also in a similar state.
As the team captain and advisor were still not done, the three of them waited on the spot, the atmosphere cold and silent.
Qian Ai’s mind was already filled with “a hundred ways to die while bathing”, so to divert his attention, he decided to strike up a conversation with his two companions.
“Xiao Xue, I didn’t realize you had some muscles,” he commented. It wasn’t really small talk; Chi Yingxue’s physique, surprisingly muscular once he took off his clothes, was quite unexpected for Qian Ai. He was typically slim when clothed but revealed a well-toned body underneath.
After his rare compliment for Chi Yingxue, Qian Ai turned to Kuang Jinxin and immediately frowned, pulling him over, patting his shoulder blades and chest, and growing more concerned. “Xiao Kuang, you’re too thin!”
Kuang Jinxin, a bit embarrassed, quickly retorted, “I’m young and still growing!”
Qian Ai laughed, pinching his face. “Come on. You’re already twenty-three. You’re just drinking too much tea. I’ve told you so many times, you can’t drink it like water; it’s diuretic and doesn’t help you absorb nutrients!”
Kuang Jinxin: “……”
As Qian Ai was about to continue his lecture, Chi Yingxue suddenly pulled the person under his arm away.
Chi Yingxue didn’t pat or hit like Qian Ai did, but just calmly observed Kuang Jinxin from head to toe, and then, in turn, pinched his face. “You’re fine as you are. No need to develop further.” Glancing at Qian Ai, he added lightly, “If you become like him, it wouldn’t be cute.”
Kuang Jinxin: “……”
Qian Ai, not pleased, retorted, “Don’t twist Xiao Kuang’s healthy aesthetic of masculinity.”
Chi Yingxue raised an eyebrow and asked Kuang Jinxin, “Do you like his physique?”
Qian Ai answered quickly, “Of course, what else? Yours?”
Chi Yingxue ignored Qian Ai and kept his gaze on Kuang Jinxin, waiting for his response.
Qian Ai also turned his expectant gaze to Kuang Jinxin.
Kuang Jinxin, silent the whole way, now felt immense pressure.
Two seconds later.
“Captain, I think Sheng Ge can use a disposable shower cap to waterproof his foot…” Kuang Jinxin turned left and headed towards the leaders without hesitation.
Qian Ai glanced at Chi Yingxue disapprovingly. “Mixing with you every day, he’s learning bad habits.”
Chi Yingxue: “……”
When the five of them truly entered the bathing area, Xu Wang’s floating stationery had reached its limit. The short-lived joy of floating, indeed, was very fleeting. He initially wanted to use new stationery to make Wu Sheng “float”, but Wu Sheng stopped him.
Because the wooden Finnish bathhouse, colored in a light yellow hue, was clearly visible.
“From now on, we must be 100% focused. Any slightest distraction is unacceptable,” Wu Sheng said. “Don’t waste your mental energy on manipulating stationery on me.”
The Finnish bathhouse at the end of the bathing area, a cozy wooden cabin, now looked like a monster’s mouth from afar.
Wu Sheng surveyed the surroundings; excluding them, there were sixteen survivors left, eight men and eight women. In the men’s bath, the leader and four male travelers were soaking in the pool, while the other three were nowhere to be seen.
He looked over the floor tiles under his feet, the ceiling above, and the visible pipeline routing of the entire bathing area. After memorizing everything, he then walked towards the Finnish bath cabin.
His steps were steady, showing no sign of injury, if one ignored the plastic shower cap on his foot.
His four companions followed closely, and in a blink, they were in front of the Finnish bath cabin.
The Finnish bath didn’t have the dense steam of a sauna. Through the glass on the door, the inside of the cabin was clearly visible—the three missing male travelers were all sitting inside, steaming in uniform postures, leaning back, heads tilted back, with wet towels covering their faces.
The wet towels make the inhaled air cooler and more comfortable. Qian Ai used to do this, but at this moment, the sight made him uneasy. “They are still… alive, right?”
Chi Yingxue said, “Dead people don’t breathe.”
Qian Ai observed closely and confirmed that the chests of the three friends inside were moving regularly, finally heaving a sigh of relief.
Xu Wang: “……”
Fortunately, they were separated by the door; otherwise, those three travelers might come over and beat them.
After confirming there were no abnormalities around, Xu Wang and Wu Sheng jointly opened the door of the cabin, one holding the handle tightly and the other bracing the edge of the door to keep it half-open. Then, they stood still by the side of the door.
Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and Chi Yingxue, following the previously arranged plan, entered the Finnish bath cabin one after the other.
The task of finding the badge seemed most dangerous for those entering the cabin, but it was precisely for this reason that those waiting outside were even more crucial. They had already divided their roles tactically before entering the bath center.
The entry of the three people into the cabin caused quite a stir. The three travelers, resting under towels inside, lifted their heads as Qian Ai approached the hot stone and poured a ladle of water over it. The water instantly evaporated due to the extreme heat, abruptly raising the cabin’s temperature. The intense heat was palpable, but the half-open door allowed cool air to seep in, creating a sudden temperature contrast.
Unable to bear the fluctuating temperatures, the three travelers soon left the cabin.
Now, only the three remained inside the Finnish bath cabin. Sweat beaded on their heads and bodies from the heat, but none of them paid it any attention. Their six eyes were busy searching every wooden plank, every crack, and every hidden corner inside the cabin.
Suddenly, Kuang Jinxin, who had been looking up, exclaimed with surprise, “Qian Ge, Xiao Xue, look up there!”
Following his direction, they saw a small light flickering steadily near the central light on the ceiling.
Qian Ai stretched his arms upward and jumped, but his fingertips were still a few centimeters away from the ceiling, even after several attempts.
Helplessly, he turned to Kuang Jinxin. “Climb on my neck.”
Kuang Jinxin nodded and promptly stepped forward without hesitation. Badges were the priority at that moment.
As Qian Ai bent his knees to lower himself, Kuang Jinxin was about to climb on his back when a voice announced in their ears—
[Owl: Congratulations on finding the 8/23 Death Badge!]
Qian Ai and Kuang Jinxin froze and turned around to see Chi Yingxue still in the posture of taking down the badge, raising an eyebrow at Qian Ai. “I’m taller than you.”
Qian Ai, at 1.9 meters, looked at his 1.87-meter-tall teammate and said with frustration, “You’re making me feel bad, aren’t you?”
Chi Yingxue replied, “Jump higher.”
Qian Ai: “…You win.”
“Bang——”
The door of the cabin suddenly closed behind them, coinciding with Qian Ai’s words.
Qian Ai’s breath hitched as he swiftly turned around to see the wooden door tightly shut, with only Wu Sheng outside, trying to pull it open. After two unsuccessful attempts, he gave up.
Gave up?!
Qian Ai panicked, rushed over, and kicked the door with all his might, but it didn’t budge.
The sauna bath doors, not equipped with locks during construction, were now tightly closed as if an evil force was preventing them from opening. The air inside became hotter, the temperature rising at an abnormally fast rate.
“Wu Sheng!” Qian Ai shouted through the glass in the door, trying to appeal to his conscience.
Wu Sheng finally looked up, giving him a reassuring look, and then silently retreated.
Qian Ai: “……”
Was there a discrepancy between what he saw in Wu Sheng’s eyes and what Wu Sheng intended?
Breathing became difficult; every inhale scorched their nostrils.
“Qian Ge.” Kuang Jinxin’s firm voice came from beside him. “Leave it to me.”
Before Qian Ai could see his teammate’s face, the entire cabin began to shake violently!
The intense shaking lasted less than three seconds, and the Finnish bath cabin disintegrated, collapsing entirely!
Strangely, each steamy wooden plank seemed to avoid them deliberately, leaving the cabin a pile of scattered wood.
The three stood amidst the rubble, unharmed.
Wu Sheng, outside the wreckage, smiled approvingly at Kuang Jinxin.
Qian Ai looked back at his teammate.
Kuang Jinxin, without waiting to be asked, said, “[(Offense) House Collapse].”
Qian Ai: “You controlled the direction of each plank’s fall?!”
Kuang Jinxin: “With a strong enough connection to the stationery, more detailed control is possible.”
Qian Ai: “……”
Are they even using the same stationery system?
Kuang Jinxin stepped out of the wooden debris, panting and looking admiringly at the advisor. “Sheng Ge, you’re awesome.”
Wu Sheng modestly shook his head. “Just a high probability.”
Qian Ai, piecing together the events, started to understand, yet found it hard to believe. Could Wu Sheng have accurately predicted the crisis and instructed Xiao Kuang on which stationery to use? That would make him almost godlike!
“Fortunately, it was only closing the door and increasing the temperature,” Kuang Jinxin added. “If there were other factors, it would have been more difficult.”
Qian Ai was confused. “Other factors?”
“Yes.” Kuang Jinxin explained, “Sheng Ge predicted a chain of accidents. The door getting locked and the heating stones increasing in temperature was just the beginning.”
Qian Ai: “What about the intermediate and advanced levels?”
Kuang Jinxin: “Electrical leakage from the lights, wooden planks burning, uncontrollable flying hot stones… Basically, the more layers of accidents, the more difficult it gets.”
Qian Ai turned to Wu Sheng, completely convinced. “God.”
Advisor Wu modestly smiled. “Just a high probability.”
Qian Ai: “……”
“Done with the admiration? If so, hurry up to the lounge. The team leader has already taken everyone there.” A voice came from above.
Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and Chi Yingxue looked up to see their team captain sitting cross-legged in the air, supported by [(Defense) Flying Trapeze Artist], seemingly overseeing everything for quite some time.
As Ran Lin was about to leave, he halted, slowly turning around.
He faced a young man in his early twenties, traces of youthful naivety still lingering in his eyes, but his presence was intense and powerful. Especially now, standing in the fierce and dazzling sunlight of high summer, he seemed almost to radiate a wild, hormonal charisma that made men envy and women swoon.
As their eyes met, the man suddenly charged forward and threw a punch without warning!
Caught off guard, Ran Lin didn’t even have time to dodge.
The fist touched his chin, then… lightly brushed past.
Ran Lin stood there, the intended reactions of dodging, wincing in pain, and gasping all stuck due to the feather-light punch, leaving him emotionally complex.
“Cut—”
As expected, Director He Guan was exasperated.
“Yan Cheng, what’s the matter with you? Is that supposed to be a punch or a caress?”
He Guan was genuinely furious, and the entire crew could tell, but no one could blame the director.
Everyone knew that Ran Lin was hard to hire these past two years. It wasn’t just a matter of his rising rates but also his increasing inclination towards privacy. Outside of his film shoots, he seemed to vanish from the entertainment world altogether, rarely appearing on variety shows or in gossip news, with his Weibo updates becoming rarer, even helping friends with promotions only occasionally, much to the delight of his fans and followers.
From a relatively unknown actor struggling in the industry to one who could focus on acting according to his own terms, Ran Lin’s journey had been challenging but steadfast.
At first, many doubted his decision to reduce public appearances. After all, the entertainment industry moves fast, and fans’ affections shift rapidly from one star to another. Without regular public appearances, the only thing waiting is oblivion.
Yet every time Ran Lin was about to fade from public view, he’d return with a powerful performance that recaptured everyone’s attention.
Some said it was luck that he signed with a company that knew how to plan and manage his career for the long term. Others claimed it was his natural talent; as long as he showed up on screen, people would fall for him again.
Ran Lin never responded to these speculations. He just focused on his acting and his life.
Such a character, making a cameo in a film out of sheer goodwill, you’d know he’s doing it as a favor to the director. It’s said he didn’t even charge a fee, simply out of gratitude for the support he received for <Dyeing Fire> back in the day.
With someone so modest and cooperative, filming in the scorching heat, and yet after seven takes, the scene still wasn’t right. It was no wonder the director’s face couldn’t hold the frustration, and the entire crew was too scared to breathe.
“How many times have I told you? If you’re going to punch, really punch, but pull back the force at the last moment, don’t start retracting before you even finish!” The director called Yan Cheng over and repeated what he had already said seven times with increasing frustration.
This was Ran Lin’s last scene for the cameo, which was supposed to wrap up by noon. Now it was three in the afternoon, with no break in between, not even for lunch.
Yan Cheng’s vest was drenched in sweat, clinging to his body, showcasing his well-defined abs. But at that moment, his handsome face was all about frustration. “Director, I understand what you mean, but this operation is too difficult…”
Either really hit or pretend well; this kind of punch that looks real but is actually fake seemed like science fiction to Yan Cheng.
He Guan rubbed his temples, feeling near death by his lead actor’s hands. The guy had an appealing energy, no doubt, which is why he stood out among the many young actors who auditioned. But his lack of experience was also real. He was natural in other scenes, but anything slightly technical or emotional, and he’d completely lose his bearings.
If it were any other actor from the crew, He Guan would have persisted, whether it took ten or twenty takes. But Ran Lin was here as a favor, without charging a penny, purely out of friendship. How could he ask such a favor of him?
“Director.”
Caught up in his frustration, Ran Lin approached. He was wearing a shirt, seemingly demure, but if you looked closely, his back was also soaked, yet his face showed no signs of distress, maintaining a cool demeanor.
That coolness wasn’t his own but belonged to the character he was playing. Ever since the first shot, he had maintained that state and never stepped out of it.
He Guan quickly gestured to an assistant to bring a stool.
Ran Lin waved it off, indicating it wasn’t necessary, then said, “Director, let’s go for real.”
He Guan took off his sun hat, wiping the sweat from his forehead, worried. He’d considered real punches, but with Yan Cheng, a truly committed punch could knock someone over.
As if reading his mind, Ran Lin’s voice rose slightly. “It’s the last shot. Let me enjoy it.”
He Guan pretended to glare at him. “So you mean to say filming here all morning were all just dry runs?”
Ran Lin sighed deeply. “My character is too aloof; there’s not much room to play.”
He Guan gritted his teeth. “So getting hit for real gives you space to perform?”
Ran Lin chuckled.
That laugh brought out a hint of mischief in his eyes, overlapping for a moment with the young Ran Lin from years past.
He Guan saw it and felt a pang of nostalgia. Staying in this circle until today and still retaining a bit of childlike innocence is actually quite hard.
“Yan Cheng.” He suddenly called his lead actor.
The latter was obediently listening to the director and the guest star’s conversation, as meek as a puppy. At the call, he responded promptly, “Yes, director?”
He Guan pondered for a moment, then said firmly, “Go for real.”
Yan Cheng’s eyes widened. “For real?”
Ran Lin’s smile faded, reverting to his cool, challenging demeanor. “For real, as hard as you like.”
Yan Cheng looked at him intently, unsure if it was the intense sunlight causing an illusion, but in Ran Lin’s eyes, he saw light, a beautiful kind of radiance.
“Stop!” A resounding roar echoed under the blistering sun, the eighth time more intense and desperate than the previous seven attempts.
Ran Lin stopped and slowly turned around; his eyes narrowed with disdain, as if he were looking at a dog unworthy of speaking to him.
The air tensed for a moment, as if a battle was about to commence.
Yan Cheng, feeling the scorn, boiled with rage and blood, moving even before his brain gave the command.
He charged at Ran Lin like a missile, exerting all his strength into a fierce punch!
Ran Lin took the hit solidly; his head jerked to the side, and his body stumbled involuntarily.
Yan Cheng glared at him, eyes almost bursting, chest heaving dramatically.
It took a while for Ran Lin to slowly lift his head. Half of his face was now red, and the corner of his mouth split, revealing a hint of red. Under the sunlight, it was glaring yet alluring.
Yan Cheng had a moment of distraction.
With the final shot nailed, the entire crew exhaled in relief, and the long-awaited food from the catering team could finally be served. Ran Lin, foregoing the meal, courteously excused himself to Director He Guan.
“I’ve got some other things to attend to. I’m really sorry,” Ran Lin said sincerely, genuinely occupied and not merely making excuses.
He Guan, already feeling guilty for the delay, quickly responded, “Go on then. Today’s delay is on me. I’ll make it up to you with a lavish feast another day.”
He Guan was known for his straightforwardness and not pulling rank due to seniority, much like his wife’s cousin, Gu Jie, who was direct and informal. Over the years, Ran Lin’s relationship with He Guan had evolved more into a friendship.
As Ran Lin was about to get into his car, Yan Cheng suddenly came out, looking a bit sheepish as he scratched his nose. “Ran Ge, can I add you on WeChat?”
Ran Lin was surprised as they weren’t exactly close; today was their first meeting, and half the time was spent on unsuccessful takes.
“I won’t bother you. It’s just… I think you’re an amazing actor and would love the opportunity to learn from you in the future,” Yan Cheng quickly explained, somewhat anxious and cautious.
Ran Lin, finding the formal courtesy a bit too much for the young man, smiled.
Yan Cheng, though new to the industry, naturally exuded an untamed charisma, gaining him fans. There were also whispers of influential family connections. Ran Lin couldn’t judge the background, but Yan Cheng’s personality was evident—not arrogantly defiant; just youthful, probably never having faced much hardship due to good family conditions, hence more impulsive.
But Ran Lin had a favorable impression of him.
Simple, dedicated to acting, and eager to improve on all points highlighted by Director He Guan.
Ran Lin took out his phone and displayed his QR code.
Yan Cheng was momentarily stunned, then excitedly took out his phone. “Thanks, Ran Ge!”
His WeChat name was simply Yan Cheng. His profile picture featured him, an off-road vehicle, and a vast desert.
As Ran Lin put away his phone and turned to get into his car, Yan Cheng gently tapped on the window.
Ran Lin lowered it. “Yes?”
Yan Cheng hesitated, looked at his face for a while, and then said, “I’m sorry for hitting too hard.”
Ran Lin realized that Yan Cheng’s pursuit was primarily due to concern over the punch.
Gently touching the corner of his mouth and feeling a satisfying sting, he knew that only with such authenticity could his cameo in this film be meaningful.
With a subdued smile, he earnestly looked at Yan Cheng. “In all of today’s scenes, that punch of yours was the most impressive.”
Yan Cheng: [Ran Ge, how do you control your strength?]
Ran Lin was attempting culinary feats in front of the gas stove when the WeChat notification sounded.
Nearly a month had passed since his cameo on set, and the bruise from that punch had long faded. Yet, he’d unexpectedly gained a “little brother” who would come to him for advice every now and then, not just for small talk but real issues he had faced himself early in his acting career. Unable to ignore, he felt compelled to respond whenever possible.
Ran Lin considered himself someone who naturally worries.
However, the thought of Lu Yiyao, busy overseas for the past two months and due back home today—actually already landed and almost home—made his typing almost joyful.
A few years ago, he had also purchased a villa in the same complex, so both of them lived in the same villa area, far from the prying eyes of the paparazzi, appearing to others as just a good relationship between a boss and an employee. Little did they know that the employee’s villa was always empty, while the boss’s side was filled with private joys.
Thinking of some moments he shouldn’t, Ran Lin’s heart suddenly raced, his hand shook, and he accidentally sent an incomplete message to Yan Cheng. He quickly added “And also,” and then continued typing.
As he shared generously, Yan Cheng engaged thoughtfully. The conversation was so absorbing that Ran Lin forgot about the dish he was cooking until the pungent smell of burning brought him back to his senses.
Frustrated and unable to focus on Yan Cheng any longer, he immediately attempted to salvage what he could.
But it was a failure.
Ran Lin could only attempt damage control—eliminate the evidence.
Just as he was halfway through cleaning up, Lu Yiyao returned home. As he entered, not finding Ran Lin immediately, he was first struck by the smell of something burnt. “Is something on fire?”
Ran Lin sheepishly emerged from the kitchen. “Cooking failure.”
Lu Yiyao laughed, changed his shoes, and headed straight for the kitchen to see the extent of the “failure”.
Ran Lin obediently made way for his inspection.
As Lu Yiyao passed him, he pulled Ran Lin into his arms and kissed him.
Caught off guard, Ran Lin froze in his embrace.
Lu Yiyao, not willing to let go, pinned him against the kitchen counter and deepened the kiss. He passionately sought Ran Lin’s response, prying open his lips, dominating, and biting as if to consume him completely.
Ran Lin wanted to respond, but Lu Yiyao had taken complete control, trapping him in a net of desire, leaving him no choice but to yield and accept.
Finally, the kiss ended.
Lu Yiyao pulled Ran Lin closer, pressing him against his body. Ran Lin acutely felt something changing on the other’s body, and his face blushed instantly.
“I’m hungry.” Lu Yiyao murmured against his forehead, his voice low and husky with a hint of allure.
Ran Lin swallowed hard. “I know, maybe we should eat out…”
Lu Yiyao tilted his head slightly, nipping at Ran Lin’s earlobe. “I want to eat you.”
In the next moment, Ran Lin was suddenly lifted into the air!
Startled, he reflexively clung to Lu Yiyao’s neck, like someone in the waves grabbing onto driftwood.
Lu Yiyao, pleased with the cooperation, intended to carry his “dinner” inside. But as he barely stepped forward, Ran Lin’s phone on the kitchen counter pinged with a WeChat notification.
Both looked down.
Three seconds later, a faint cloud began to gather in Lu Yiyao’s eyes.
Ran Lin rubbed his forehead, tempted to block Yan Cheng.
Yan Cheng probably hadn’t received a reply and thought Ran Lin found him annoying. So, he sent a cutesy sticker, an animated one with hearts and a message saying, “I’ll always be your little fan.”
“How did the dish burn?” Lu Yiyao suddenly reverted to the cooking fiasco.
“……” Ran Lin felt he could be Sherlock… Lu. He lowered his eyes, nuzzling Lu Yiyao’s chin meekly.
Lu Yiyao enjoyed the touch but remained clear-headed. “How did it burn?”
Unable to evade further, Ran Lin murmured barely audibly. “Chatting on WeChat…”
Lu Yiyao nodded. “Good.”
“Don’t… Be gentle… I was just discussing some acting techniques with him…”
“Uh-huh, keep talking…”
“Can you be any more childish… Ah…”
“Let it out. I like hearing your voice.”
“……”
“How does it feel?”
“Nn…”
In the bedroom upstairs, the thick curtains shielded all possibilities of prying eyes.
On the bed, Lu Yiyao pinned Ran Lin beneath him, like a predator unwilling to release its prey for even a moment.
But even in his fierce invasion, there was tenderness.
Of course, he didn’t really suspect that there was anything between Ran Lin and the other person. He just missed him too much, with countless emotions accumulating in his chest, at his heart, throughout his body, burning him without knowing what to do. Despite being together for many years, these feelings haven’t faded but have grown stronger. Thus, he hoped the other would feel the same, although he knew it was too domineering to want Ran Lin to think of him every moment, he couldn’t help himself.
The pleasure made Ran Lin involuntarily bite Lu Yiyao’s shoulder.
At that moment, Lu Yiyao climaxed.
Holding Ran Lin, he breathed heavily, filled with a warm peace.
But Ran Lin was still twisting in torment.
Looking at Lu Yiyao with moist eyes, wordless, just gazing with slightly parted lips, panting gently.
Lu Yiyao, as if bewitched, kissed him again, his hand also reaching down.
After a while, Ran Lin arched his back, and at the moment of blankness in his mind, he called out, “Lu Yiyao—”
“I’m here.” Lu Yiyao murmured tenderly in his ear. “Love you.”
……
“Who exactly are you flirting with? You’re not eating or even looking at your script anymore.” Ding Kai came out from the study to see Yan Cheng still maintaining his pose of embracing the phone on the couch, completely exasperated.
Yan Cheng had always been the epitome of a mischievous child since he was little. Ding Kai always made sure to stay away from him at family gatherings, yet often couldn’t avoid being targeted by various pranks. And now, just when it seemed Yan Cheng had grown up, Ding Kai was informed he wanted to enter the entertainment circle.
The Ding family is a closely knit clan, always ready to support each other. When Yan Cheng wanted to join the entertainment world, Ding Kai, nominally his cousin but more like an elder, had to go to great lengths to support him.
Until now, as Yan Cheng started to emerge in the industry, Ding Kai still felt a sting in his ribs whenever he saw his cousin.
“Always talking about women. Why are you so vulgar!” Yan Cheng never really saw Ding Kai as an elder. To him, a brother is a brother, meant to be treated as such.
Ding Kai felt pained—he, a gay man, always associated with women? Could this misrepresentation get any worse?
While Ding Kai was brooding, Yan Cheng suddenly adopted a mysterious and somewhat proud expression. “It’s someone you know, but you’ll never guess who.”
Ding Kai frowned, not interested in playing such childish games.
“Whoever it is, just keep it appropriate.” Ding Kai ended the conversation, planning to pick up something and continue back to the study.
But Yan Cheng, who couldn’t keep secrets, blurted out, “Ran Lin.”
Ding Kai’s hand, about to open a drawer, paused, and he turned back to ask, “Who did you say?”
“Ran Lin,” Yan Cheng insisted. “How many Ran Lins are there in the entertainment circle!”
Ding Kai sat down next to the couch casually, asking as if making conversation, “You know him?”
Yan Cheng sprang up, eager to have an audience, and recounted the entire episode of Ran Lin’s cameo, how he was asked to punch for real, and all the details without missing any.
“You have no idea; his acting is really good. No matter how many takes he NGs, it doesn’t affect his emotions. I just need to look at him, and I’m immediately in character!”
Ever since this cousin entered the entertainment industry, he almost cursed all his colleagues he worked with—of course, these rants were private, saying things like how one person is notorious for hooking up on set, another appears gracious to fans but turns two-faced in private. Essentially, all the ugliness and darkness of the industry were subjects of his criticism—this was the first time Ding Kai saw him having such high praise for someone.
Even when he entered He Guan’s crew, he said Director He was really impressive, but it was just normal admiration and respect, far from the excitement he showed today.
“You… have a crush on him?” Ding Kai couldn’t see any other possibility.
Yan Cheng thought about it seriously and admitted, “I think… I sort of like him.”
Ding Kai nearly spat out blood.
Seeing Ding Kai’s reaction, Yan Cheng immediately knew he’d been misunderstood and hurriedly explained, “Not that kind of like. The kind… you know what I mean?”
“No matter what kind of liking it is, he’s already taken. Just content yourself with being a little fan,” Ding Kai said, managing his complex emotions while trying to cut off Yan Cheng’s infatuation.
If Lu Yiyao knew someone was eyeing Ran Lin, with his current strength, he could pave a path for them—a path of no return.
Yan Cheng’s liking was more akin to idol worship, but suddenly hearing his idol was taken, he felt a momentary loss, quickly replaced by curiosity. “How come there’s no whisper of such big news? A secret relationship? Or did they secretly get married?!”
“Uh… let’s say it’s a secret marriage.” Ding Kai wasn’t planning to reveal too much to this simple-minded cousin to avoid unnecessary complications, so he ended the conversation. “Don’t ask too much. It’s okay to admire him as an idol and occasionally chat on WeChat, but don’t do it too frequently.”
Yan Cheng was clearly not too willing but listened to Ding Kai’s advice, pondering it over, and soon seemed to come to terms with it. “Okay.”
Ding Kai: “…You sure adjust quickly.”
“Whoever is with him must be incredibly outstanding, right?” Yan Cheng looked earnestly at Ding Kai, as if hoping for confirmation. “The kind that shines just by standing there.”
Ding Kai: “…Not really.”
Throughout the afternoon, Yan Cheng didn’t see any more pleasant expressions from his cousin.
Although Ding Kai usually had a difficult personality, it was rare for him to be so stern. Usually, he adopted a more affable approach, so why he suddenly became sullen and stayed that way all afternoon remained a mystery to Yan Cheng.
In a certain villa district, within the bedroom.
“Have to leave again tomorrow?” Ran Lin asked while lying on his side, having just stabilized his breath not long ago.
“The other party changed the schedule last minute. It’s not time to be confrontational yet, so I have to comply.” Lu Yiyao was somewhat helpless.
Ran Lin knew it was important work, but having waited so long to have him back, only to leave again the next day, naturally made him reluctant.
“Haa,” he sighed deeply.
Lu Yiyao chuckled, echoing him, “Haa—”
Ran Lin glared at him. “Here you are, earning the lead actor’s pay in my place, and your schedule is as short as a cameo appearance, yet you’re still sighing?”
Lu Yiyao’s eyes and brows softened with laughter. “So? It looks like you’re planning to replace the lead actor?”
Ran Lin provocatively raised an eyebrow. “It’s not out of consideration…”
Lu Yiyao nodded. “Alright, let me know when you’ve decided. I want to see who dares to take on the role.”
Ran Lin glared at him, pondering a retort, when suddenly Lu Yiyao pressed over again.
Caught off guard, Ran Lin found his body reignited before he could react.
On July 6th, <Youths of Wuling> premiered, and by July 16th, it had broken a rating of 3 on XX Satellite TV.
The core marketing team urged Lu Yiyao to quickly hold a celebration, but he insisted on waiting. Finally, on July 21st, when another broadcasting station also reached a rating of 3, Lu Yiyao agreed—it was time for a celebration!
In an era filled with a plethora of TV dramas and various viewing channels, breaking 2 is considered a hit, and breaking 3 is basically a blockbuster, especially when two stations simultaneously hit that mark! Meanwhile, the online view count also led by a significant margin. Both websites and TV stations were making a killing.
What’s more impressive is that alongside its high ratings, <Youth of Wuling> also received critical acclaim, with scores reaching as high as 9 on viewing websites before settling down to 8.5. For a modern drama, this is an exceptionally high rating. Numerous critics analyzed the show’s phenomenal performance from various angles, generally attributing it to—
High-quality production, movie-level visuals giving the drama an exceptional feel; a solid script that breaks away from the typical summer fantasy and idol romance dramas, charting a unique path of urban youth growth, a rare gem of realistic themes in recent years; well-chosen actors, with Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu’s performances bringing depth and authenticity to their characters, embodying youthful recklessness and clear moral conviction. Lastly, the successful marketing and hype leading up to and during the airing also contributed significantly to its rapid word-of-mouth spread and explosive popularity.
While viewers simply enjoy whether the drama is good or not, insiders were surprised by Lu Yiyao’s bold and professional debut. The industry isn’t short of wealthy, courageous, or professionally savvy individuals, but having all three qualities is rare.
Hence, even before the drama was halfway aired, countless investors reached out to Lu Yiyao, hoping to be part of his next project, even though that next project was still up in the air for Lu Yiyao.
Meanwhile, as Lu Yiyao leisurely pondered whether to continue solo funding or to bring in some capital for his next project, the main actors involved in the drama saw their stock rise exponentially, with offers for scripts, events, and variety shows pouring in.
The day Ran Lin’s Weibo followers exceeded 30 million, he signed his first endorsement with an internationally renowned brand for two years, nearing an eight-figure endorsement fee.
Good things come in pairs. Just three days after signing the endorsement deal, the long-awaited celebration for <Youth of Wuling> took place.
……
“One, two, three—”
At the host’s command, all the key creators on stage simultaneously smashed an ice sculpture shaped as the Arabic numeral “3”, retrieving a scroll from within it that slowly unrolled—congratulating <Youths of Wuling> on achieving new heights in viewership.
Celebrations are all about good omens and straightforward well wishes, and the stage event concluded at its peak, with invited guests moving to the adjacent reception area. If sitting in the audience was a show of support, now began the networking and socializing.
The celebratory atmosphere continued at the reception. Despite the comfortable and casual lighting and ambiance, the place was abuzz with festive joy, perhaps due to the large number of invitees. The scene was lively, with clinking glasses and lively conversations.
As soon as Lu Yiyao entered, he spotted Huo Yuntao and Peng Jingyu. The former, having taken over the family business, seldom had time for the entertainment industry and came purely on the friendship ticket from Lu Yiyao, saying it was his “first pot of gold after changing careers,” and as a close friend, he must support him in person. Peng Jingyu was formally invited by Lu Yiyao, but curiously, instead of mingling with many industry seniors, he was chatting animatedly with Huo Yuntao.
“Lao Lu—” Huo Yuntao noticed Lu Yiyao and immediately waved his glass in greeting.
Internally rolling his eyes, Lu Yiyao quickly made his way over, not wanting others to catch on to his “nickname” and spread it around—he wasn’t even thirty yet, but such names made him feel prematurely middle-aged.
“Mr. Peng.” Lu Yiyao approached and greeted Peng Jingyu first, ignoring the friend who’d teased him.
Peng Jingyu nodded. “Congratulations.”
Despite his words, his eyes clearly showed reluctance. Lu Yiyao and he had more than a professional relationship, and with Huo Yuntao as a mutual friend, they were almost half friends. Lu Yiyao, seeking support, turned to his teasing friend, “Did I offend someone?”
Huo Yuntao draped an arm around Peng Jingyu but sighed at Lu Yiyao. “You’ve made a big offense. When Ran Lin’s contract was about to expire, Mr. Peng also wanted to sign him, but you beat him to it.”
Unaware of this subplot, Lu Yiyao was surprised. Presumably Peng Jingyu had contacted Wang Xi, who had already known Ran Lin was joining his company and diplomatically rejected him.
Annoyed at Huo Yuntao, Peng Jingyu’s face showed embarrassment. He retorted, “I watched your drama. It’s only because you chose Ran Lin that it didn’t flop.”
Lu Yiyao: “……”
Peng Jingyu frowned. “Are you laughing at me…”
Huo Yuntao rubbed his forehead, then patted Peng Jingyu. “He’s already signed Ran Lin. Naturally, the benefits should stay within.”
Lu Yiyao openly laughed this time. “See, I have a good eye, right?”
A sudden memory made Peng Jingyu gasp. “Wait, don’t tell me you were planning to set up your own firm and poach from Dream Without Limits at that Republic-themed party?”
Lu Yiyao thought about it. If declaring feelings counts as poaching…
“Suppose so.” Lu Yiyao quite liked this foresighted version of himself.
Peng Jingyu observed the significant expression on the other’s face and felt an involuntary chill pass down his spine. During the Republic-themed party, he had only felt that this person occasionally said something or made a gesture resembling his elder brothers. Now, it seemed like a full-fledged resemblance… He had a psychological shadow when it came to such people!
“Uh, don’t worry about entertaining us. You go ahead with your work.” Peng Jingyu gave Lu Yiyao the first smile since they met.
Huo Yuntao depressed that his vision of the two “appreciating each other,” didn’t pan out, also said to his friend, “Yeah, go on.”
Lu Yiyao didn’t linger, as he was effectively the host of the reception and needed to flit about like a butterfly, not staying in one spot too long and neglecting other guests.
In one corner of the reception, Ran Lin, having just finished talking to a senior executive of a certain satellite TV, turned around to meet Shi Jiuting and immediately greeted. “President Shi.”
It seemed Shi Jiuting had been waiting for him for a while. As soon as they met, the other party’s assistant magically appeared, handing over a bag. Shi Jiuting accepted the bag and handed it to Ran Lin.
“For me?” Although it felt somewhat off, Ran Lin couldn’t think of any other reason.
“If you like it, keep it.” Shi Jiuting cleared his throat, showing a rare hint of embarrassment. “But I’d be even more grateful if you could return it to me after signing it.”
Opening the bag, Ran Lin found what seemed to be a piece of clothing. Pulling it halfway out, he recognized it as the hoodie he wore in <Youths of Wuling>, now a trendy item.
Instantly, Ran Lin understood: Shi Jiuting, this doting father, was once again star-chasing for his princess.
Shi Jiuting was clear-headed. The last time he requested a signature for <Chronicles of Winter>, he was a financier, so his approach was polite but more natural. This time, without a direct professional link, his request was tinged with humility and courtesy.
Actually, there was no need; even if he wasn’t involved in <Youths of Wuling>, his status and position were such that Ran Lin should be eager to maintain a good relationship. But with Shi Jiuting, things were straightforward, each issue on its own merits.
That was Shi Jiuting’s personality, which was also what made him endearing. However, Wang Xi had said if Shi Jiuting really got serious, he could make an opponent weep with nowhere to cry. So, Ran Lin was glad that President Shi’s daughter was a fan and not a hater.
“Don’t worry, President Shi. I’ll sign it and have it sent to you as soon as possible.” If it were on set, Ran Lin would sign it right away, but at a reception with so many people, especially peers, spreading out a hoodie to sign would be too showy and awkward for Shi Jiuting.
Shi Jiuting seemed to think the same and promptly said, “Thank you.”
Ran Lin thought for a moment and asked, “Do you want me to get it signed by other actors in the drama too, for more sentimental value?”
Without hesitation, Shi Jiuting shook his head, sighing at last, “She only likes you.”
Ran Lin felt a tinge of envy, jealousy, and sadness in that sigh.
“What are you looking at?” A familiar, albeit not particularly likable, voice came from behind. Lu Yiyao turned to find Ding Kai.
Ding Kai, accustomed to Lu Yiyao’s “lack of affection,” indeed had his eye on Ran Lin and wasn’t surprised by the lack of warmth.
Following Lu Yiyao’s recent gaze, Ding Kai saw Ran Lin talking to Shi Jiuting. Ding Kai had wanted to find Ran Lin since the reception started but hadn’t succeeded until now, and ironically, it was through his official partner’s gaze. It was a bit bitter, but since he spotted him, he took the chance to look a bit longer.
Lu Yiyao frowned and stepped in front of Ding Kai, occupying his entire view, then smiled. “President Ding, are you looking for me?”
Ding Kai remembered he only asked, “What are you looking at?” There wasn’t a “looking for you” part. But with Lu Yiyao’s imposing figure, his view was entirely blocked; even the light seemed dim.
Stepping back a bit, Ding Kai found the world bright again, his eyes lifting slightly. “I heard Ran Lin acted in this drama for no fee?”
<Youths of Wuling>, having sold its premiere rights to two satellite stations, had broken even. The sale to online video platforms was all pure profit, and with the drama’s hit status, future sales to provincial and local stations were all lucrative. Although Ran Lin had initially joked about no fee, Lu Yiyao indeed shared the profits with his partner, more than any fee.
But since Ding Kai understood it that way, Lu Yiyao was happy to flaunt their relationship, immediately frowning as if caught. “Where did you hear that?”
Ding Kai hadn’t expected it to be true. His emotions were complex; he drained his champagne in one go, expressing a multitude of feelings. “You’ve got it all.”
Lu Yiyao could hear the undertone and shrugged innocently. “Can’t help it. The entertainment industry is superficial like that. Good-looking people do have it easier.”
Ding Kai: “……”
No business exists without shrewdness.
Ding Kai found himself almost missing the honest and straightforward actor Lu Yiyao… Indeed, peers are the hardest to endure!
In a corner of the reception, two handsome guys who came specifically to support their brother were huddled on a sofa, inconspicuous as if they had invisibility charms on their foreheads—
Gu Jie: “Isn’t it a bit rude for us to hide like this?”
Xia Xinran: “Today’s stars are Teacher Lu and Ran Lin. What limelight are we here to steal?”
Gu Jie: “Shouldn’t we at least greet them?”
Xia Xinran: “There’s a second round later tonight. You’ll have plenty of time for deep conversations.”
Gu Jie: “……”
Xia Xinran: “What are you drinking?”
Gu Jie: “…Soda.”
Xia Xinran: “Good, I was counting on you to drive later.”
Gu Jie: “Why do I feel like I took a day off from the crew just to be your driver?”
Xia Xinran: “Trust me, going to Teacher Lu’s villa for the second round tonight, there will definitely be surprises.”
Gu Jie: “……”
Typically, when Xia Xinran said there would be surprises, Gu Jie instinctively prepared to be startled.
……
By eleven o’clock, as the gathering disbanded and sobriety returned, the night air was cool.
Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao sat in the back seat, Xia Xinran in the passenger seat, and Gu Jie holding the steering wheel steadily, with the GPS voice filling the car with directions like “Turn left at the next intersection” and “Speed camera ahead in 300 meters.”
“Teacher Lu, is it the villa complex bought by Yuan Yiqun you’re living in?” Xia Xinran finally recognized the destination after looking at the GPS for a while, a bit surprised.
“Yeah,” Lu Yiyao admitted generously. “I think the environment is quite nice.”
For celebrities, “nice environment” usually means “secured privacy”, which Xia Xinran understood. But if he remembered correctly, wasn’t it in that same complex where Lu Yiyao confessed to Ran Lin, or rather, where he first learned about Ran Lin’s relationship with him, at Yuan Yiqun’s villa where they had the Republic-themed party? Wasn’t there a bit of sentimental value involved?
Shaking his head, Xia Xinran stopped himself from continuing the thought. He almost choked on the imagined dog food from Lu Yiyao’s display of affection—it’s too unfair!
Ran Lin watched Xia Xinran’s conflicted face and smiled silently. <Youth of Wuling> had double ratings of three, and while others saw Lu Yiyao as calm and collected, he knew his lover was over the moon. That’s why, after a networking reception, there was an eager follow-up with a genuine celebration party among friends.
Not just Lu Yiyao, Ran Lin was ecstatic too. This was the first time they truly collaborated, and the feeling of moving forward side by side was wonderful.
“There’s a car following us,” Gu Jie suddenly said with a serious tone.
Ran Lin was startled, and Xia Xinran immediately peered at the rearview mirror. “Which one?”
Although it wasn’t early, at 11 p.m. there were still quite a few cars on the street. Gu Jie could distinguish which one was tailing and which one was coincidentally going the same way. “The black one.”
Xia Xinran frowned and, after observing for a while, asked, “A paparazzi driving a Porsche?”
Initially puzzled, Lu Yiyao understood everything once he heard it and laughed. “That’s my friend. He’s also part of the group.”
“I thought a party of four was a bit quiet.” Xia Xinran liked liveliness.
Gu Jie also relaxed, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Sorry about that.”
“No problem,” Lu Yiyao said genuinely. “You need to teach me sometime how to spot a tailing car.”
Gu Jie hesitated and then voiced his honest thoughts. “Driving is a progressive skill. Maybe you should start with remembering the roads?”
Lu Yiyao, often getting lost in the bustling streets of the capital, felt a thousand points of damage.
Ran Lin, realizing Lu Yiyao had also invited Huo Yuntao, glanced through the rear window, and indeed, the black Porsche gleamed under the streetlights with a subdued luxury.
However, the distance was a bit far, and he couldn’t see how many people were inside, so he directly asked his partner, “Is Panxi coming along?”
Lu Yiyao shook his head. “She went overseas for an orchestra exchange performance.”
Ran Lin understood. Ever since Lu Yiyao’s friend got married, whenever Ran Lin saw him, it was always with Lin Panxi. The couple were inseparable, especially today being Lu Yiyao’s celebration. If Lin Panxi hadn’t been abroad, Huo Yuntao would have undoubtedly brought her along.
The streets were clear at night, and even the traffic lights seemed more green than red, so they smoothly arrived at Lu Yiyao’s villa.
“Teacher Lu, is this a living room or a tropical rainforest…” Xia Xinran dodged left and right but still got slapped in the face by various plant leaves.
Finally finding a clear spot, the spread of drinks and food on the table looked more like a party.
“I’ve already questioned his taste, but our doubts are futile,” Huo Yuntao joined in, meaningfully. “Someone likes it.”
This was Xia Xinran’s first proper face-to-face interaction with Huo Yuntao, and he promptly extended his hand. “Xia Xinran.”
Huo Yuntao shook hands. “Huo Yuntao.”
Lu Yiyao was about to introduce them, but it seemed unnecessary now. He turned to find Gu Jie, who was looking around, utterly bemused.
Approaching his friend, Lu Yiyao patted Gu Jie’s shoulder. “How’s the house?”
“It’s good.” Gu Jie sincerely praised—it was spacious, open, and private. But for some reason, he felt this late-night “celebration party” carried an air of eeriness.
Both Lu Yiyao and Xia Xinran, including the not-yet-formally-met Huo Yuntao, seemed to have a meaningful glint in their eyes. Only Ran Lin seemed a bit more straightforward, but every time their gazes met, the other would smile at him in an especially joyous and sweet manner, sending chills down Gu Jie’s spine.
“Take a seat.” Not wanting to torture his friend further, Lu Yiyao ushered Gu Jie to sit comfortably on the sofa, then called out towards the dining area. “Lao Huo, Xia Xinran—”
The two who were conversing immediately ended their discussion and found suitable seats to join in. Finally, Ran Lin came over.
When he approached, there was a comfortable distance between Gu Jie, Xia Xinran, and Huo Yuntao on Lu Yiyao’s large sofa. Ran Lin could easily pick a spot at a comfortable distance from the three, but instead, he chose to sit right next to Lu Yiyao, their shoulders nearly touching.
Gu Jie noticed, swallowed hard, and instinctively leaned back, as if time had looped back to the day Mother Lu visited, always uncertain of what the next second might bring, especially now that the four seated people smiled at him in unison!
“Enough!” Gu Jie, unable to endure any longer, slapped the coffee table. “If you’ve got something to say, say it. If you keep hinting at me with your eyes, I’ll… I’ll go back to the set!”
Lu Yiyao: “…”
Xia Xinran: “…”
Huo Yuntao: “…”
The threat seemed oddly… pitiable.
No longer keeping everyone in suspense, Ran Lin took a deep breath, covered Lu Yiyao’s hand with his own, interlocking their fingers, and then raised their clasped hands for his friends to see.
Gu Jie was stunned.
Ran Lin quietly watched him, patiently waiting for him to process the news.
This was the most important part of tonight’s private party: officially informing Gu Jie of his and Lu Yiyao’s relationship. Otherwise, waiting for Gu Jie to realize it on his own might take forever.
While Gu Jie was frozen, his mind was racing, piecing everything together from Ran Lin’s single action of hand-holding.
The fact that Lu Yiyao is gay had long ceased to be a shock to Gu Jie, and after seeing Lu Yiyao’s mother off, he made numerous guesses and analyses. He had thought of Ran Lin, but due to his limited understanding of Lu Yiyao’s circle of friends, which mainly included Ran Lin and Xia Xinran, he thought his suspicion was too narrow and somewhat presumptive, so he didn’t dwell on it.
And yet, he had guessed, right? No, the real shock was that it had all been happening right under his nose, and he hadn’t noticed?!
Seeing his friend still in shock and not digesting the news, Ran Lin carefully chose his words to explain, “Lu Yiyao and I are together, like… in a romantic relationship.”
Finally snapping out of it, Gu Jie didn’t look at Ran Lin but turned to Xia Xinran first. “Did you know?”
Xia Xinran just shrugged.
Then Gu Jie turned to Huo Yuntao. “Did you know?”
Huo Yuntao just shrugged his shoulders.
Gu Jie was in despair at his own slowness.
Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao had prepared themselves for the possibility that their friend might not accept this revelation right away and even considered that Gu Jie might react negatively. But now…
“Uh.” Ran Lin finally spoke up. “It seems like we’re the ones coming out. You don’t have to be this troubled…”
Finally, Gu Jie looked up, gazing at his two friends holding hands, then slapped his thigh. “How could I be so dense!”
Xia Xinran nodded vigorously next to him, fully agreeing with the assessment.
Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao exchanged glances, wondering what exactly they had grasped from all this. Really, what kind of friend circle did they have?!
Eventually, Gu Jie stopped berating himself, sat up straight, and said solemnly, “Thank you both for trusting me enough to tell me this.”
Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao had hoped for a smooth revelation but hadn’t dared to hope too much in case of an unexpected reaction. Now that everything had gone well, a warm current flowed through them. With understanding from family and support from friends, their lives were truly blessed.
Ran Lin’s emotions surged, just about to speak when Xia Xinran preempted, “Are we done?”
Ran Lin followed his gaze to see he was asking Lu Yiyao, who didn’t speak but nodded his head.
In the next moment, as if on cue, Xia Xinran and Huo Yuntao suddenly rose and, grabbing Gu Jie, headed upstairs. Gu Jie, utterly confused, shouted, “Hey? Hey, hey—” as he was dragged away.
Ran Lin watched, completely baffled. By the time he gathered his wits, only he and Lu Yiyao remained in the living room. He turned to his partner. “What’s happening?”
Lu Yiyao replied, “Maybe they’re going upstairs to share their feelings about hearing a friend’s coming-out story.”
Ran Lin rolled his eyes, about to comment on the absurdity, but then Lu Yiyao suddenly pulled him up.
“Let’s go to the yard,” Lu Yiyao said.
Not understanding but curious, Ran Lin followed his lover to the backyard.
The moon was bright, and stars filled the sky.
As Ran Lin entered the backyard, he noticed Lu Yiyao had replaced the original night lights installed by the developer with new ones that cast a softer, more tranquil light. There was a strangely familiar feeling to it.
Lu Yiyao led him forward, walking along the pool’s edge. As they neared the end of the pool, Ran Lin noticed something odd.
Lu Yiyao’s villa was larger than Yuan Yiqun’s, but the layout was similar, including the backyard pool. However, maintaining it was too troublesome, so it had been empty and not filled with water. In winter, the pool was covered with a protective film to prevent the pool walls and system from freezing. But in summer, it wasn’t necessary, and Lu Yiyao had mentioned filling it with water for the summer, so the winter cover had been removed as it warmed up.
But now, the protective film was back on. Due to the dim light of the night lamp, it was hard to notice unless one looked closely. However, precisely because the light was dim, when it shone on the protective film, it reflected a serene light.
Aside from the weather not being cold, every detail was eerily similar to the winter night when Lu Yiyao confessed his feelings.
Finally, Lu Yiyao stopped. It was the same secluded corner, the same faint night light; even Lu Yiyao’s face contours in the dim light seemed identical.
Ran Lin’s heart pounded.
Still holding hands, he wondered if Lu Yiyao could feel his racing heart.
“What are you thinking about?” Lu Yiyao asked softly.
Ran Lin looked up at him, feeling sweet inside but teasingly replied, “I’m wondering if you did all this from memory, or did you visit Yuan Yiqun’s place again for reference.”
“I’m not close to Yuan Yiqun.” Lu Yiyao chuckled. “I asked Xia Xinran for photos. But the photos and that night are different, so it’s mostly from memory.”
A breeze passed between them.
Last time, it was the cold wind of a winter night.
This time, it was the warm breeze of a summer night.
“Then you should be wearing a Republic-era military uniform,” Ran Lin said, the memory clear as if it were yesterday, causing his eyes to curve into a smile.
“…” Lu Yiyao looked slightly frustrated, obviously regretting not fully recreating the scene.
Seeing this, Ran Lin quickly reassured, “The main point is you’re handsome; the clothes don’t matter.”
Satisfied, Lu Yiyao’s eyes gleamed with contentment. In the quiet of the night, Ran Lin looked up at the beautiful moon.
Suddenly, the hand he was holding gave a gentle squeeze. Ran Lin looked back at his partner, puzzled, “Hm?”
“Do you remember what I said the night I confessed to you?” Lu Yiyao asked.
Ran Lin remembered clearly, even the voice and expression Lu Yiyao had when he said it—
“You said, ‘I like you. I want to be with you.'”
As soon as the words left his mouth, his hand was released. Surprised, Ran Lin saw Lu Yiyao raise his hands, showing the palms and backs as if to prove nothing was in them.
Ran Lin blinked, watching Lu Yiyao’s empty hands, puzzled, only to see Lu Yiyao’s hands suddenly flash, pinching a ring between his thumb and index finger.
The ring was simple yet elegant, shining beautifully under the night light.
A rush of warmth filled Ran Lin’s eyes.
“The same words, I want to say them again today, but I need to add a word…”
Lu Yiyao knelt on one knee, holding up the ring, gazing steadily at his partner, took a deep breath, and spoke each word deliberately—
“I like you. I want to be with you forever.”
Ran Lin’s heart raced wildly, but he forgot to breathe. He seemed to have forgotten everything in the world along with himself…
“Cough, we understand you’re excited, but if you don’t say something soon, Lao Lu is going to feel pretty awkward.” A chuckling tease came from Huo Yuntao nearby.
Surprised, Ran Lin looked over to see Xia Xinran, Huo Yuntao, and Gu Jie pushing forward a beautiful multi-tiered cake. The cake, adorned in light blue and white, exuded a fresh and elegant warmth, and on top were two handsome men in suits, one kneeling before the other.
Gu Jie wasn’t informed about the coming-out.
Ran Lin was unaware of the proposal.
But now, even if Ran Lin was slow, it was clear—Xia Xinran and Huo Yuntao were the only ones in the know all along. They had dragged Gu Jie, who had just learned the truth, upstairs under the pretense of sharing feelings, but it was actually to relay the next step of the plan.
Ran Lin turned back to look at Lu Yiyao, who was still kneeling, unmoved.
Without warning, Ran Lin took the ring, slipped it onto his finger, then pulled Lu Yiyao up and kissed him directly. Caught off guard, Lu Yiyao hesitated only for a moment before gripping his partner’s head and deepening the kiss.
Huo Yuntao looked up at the sky. Xia Xinran looked down at the ground. Gu Jie… watched intently. After all, love should involve plenty of kissing, and as a friend, his gaze was filled with joy and blessing.
Finally, the kiss ended.
The two faced each other again. Ran Lin, with a mischievous smile, raised his hand, revealing he was also holding a ring.
Lu Yiyao was stunned. His first reaction was to check his own trouser pocket, and indeed, the ring he had prepared for himself was missing. He’d planned another magic trick to bring it out, but with just one kiss, it had been snatched away…
As he was pondering this, his hand was suddenly pulled, and the next second, the ring slipped onto his own finger.
Their hands joined together, the matching rings gleaming in the moonlight.
The friends group erupted in hearty applause. Though only three people, they clapped with the gusto of thirty.
As the clapping subsided, the two continued their sweet nothings. The friends group had to remind them—
“Shouldn’t you come over and cut the proposal cake lovingly sponsored by the groom’s sister-in-law?”
……
As dawn broke, Xia Xinran and Huo Yuntao slept soundly in their respective rooms, while Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao saw off Gu Jie, who had to return to the set.
After bidding their friend farewell, the couple returned to the living room, opened the curtains, and cuddled on the sofa, quietly waiting for the sunrise amidst the ticking of the clock. Despite a sleepless night, they didn’t feel tired at all.
“Don’t tease Huo Yuntao anymore.” Ran Lin started, recalling something with a laugh. “Your magic is even colder than his.”
“I don’t mind the magic being cold.” Lu Yiyao, holding Ran Lin close, boasted contentedly. “As long as it charms the person I want.”
Ran Lin pretended to sigh dramatically. “I’m just too easy to pursue.”
Lu Yiyao nibbled on Ran Lin’s ear. “It’s you who pursued me.”
The nibbling was comfortable but Ran Lin couldn’t tolerate the reversal of truth. “You confessed to me first.”
Lu Yiyao stood firm. “Does confessing first mean the person is the pursuer?”
Ran Lin didn’t hesitate. “Of course.”
“Then that settles it.” Lu Yiyao grinned. “You pursued me, no question about it.”
Ran Lin wriggled out of his embrace and turned to face him squarely, ready for a serious discussion. But Lu Yiyao suddenly put his finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
Ran Lin frowned but, having just enjoyed the proposal cake, allowed some “patience of love.”
Lu Yiyao picked up his phone from the coffee table and started flipping through his photo album quickly.
Ran Lin waited.
Ran Lin kept waiting.
Ran Lin was waiting even as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window.
“Hey—” Patience of love has its limits.
Finally, Lu Yiyao lifted the screenshot he’d found on his phone, trying to suppress a smile, whispered, “Kid, you wrote this, right?”
Ran Lin, seeing his own handwriting on the screenshot, was dumbfounded. After a long moment, he surrendered. “You win—”
It was a special autograph he’d given to Liu Wanwan when she wasn’t yet his assistant, back at the Dream Without Limits company, which she later posted on Weibo, causing quite a stir.
The evidence was undeniable; he was the first to confess, and there was no turning the case around. But Liu Wanwan had long deleted that Weibo post…
“When did you even take this screenshot?” Ran Lin exclaimed.
Lu Yiyao simply replied, “That’s a secret.”
Morning light filled the living room.
The couple on the sofa playfully argued, with the phone’s screen still lit. The full-screen screenshot showed Ran Lin’s signature from years ago, and above the flamboyant autograph were four words requested by a fan—
I love Lu Yiyao.
[End]
The author has something to say:
I really updated daily until the end, tears streaming TAT. Thank you to all the cool friends who accompanied me on this journey, your support was my greatest motivation. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. This is the end of the story. Everything I wanted to say is in the text. Teacher Lu and Xiao Ran Lin will continue to be happy, and I wish all the friends who have read this far a happy and joyful life. Love you forever, muah (づ￣ 3￣)づ
Kinky Thoughts:
This marks the end of the novel. This is probably one of the best showbiz novels I have read and easily my favorite of that genre. It’s well written, and the pacing was great. Little bits of humor made it quite a joy to read.
The portrayal of feelings and actions was quite realistic. I especially love the conversation both MCs had with their parents for their coming out. That hit quite close to home. I also love that there’s no public announcement. Let’s face it, in today’s (China’s) entertainment world, coming out is a death sentence for their career.
While it might be sentimental to the readers to have a public display, I think realistically this fits better. And in a way, they did come out to all the people that actually mattered to them on their own terms.
Ahhh… I can go on and on about this novel. I haven’t read anything like this (outside of Nian Zhong) in a while and this definitely rekindled my spark. Such an amazing novel. If you like this novel, you can check out Midnight Owl, another work by the same author, that I’m working on. It is an unlimited flow novel though, but still very good.
If you enjoyed this novel, please consider supporting the author by buying the raws. You can use Google Chrome with their auto translate and this guide on how to buy novels on jjwxc. Remember, only with your (financial) support can artists continue to produce more great works.
I would also like to thank everyone for your comments, encouragement, help with my translations, and ko-fi donations. It in part fuels my motivation to release so frequently.
With that, I do have a little bonus. Next is an extra that’s exclusive only to the traditional Chinese publication.
Kinky Translations 