Lying on the ground, Bai Zhou’s eyes remained wide open in death. A silent tear slid down his face before disappearing.
Upon witnessing this, Zhou Qian’s heart sank.
He didn’t have time to utter a word before the person in front of him turned into ash and dispersed into the void.
For a rare moment, Zhou Qian felt a pang of anxiety.
However, he quickly suppressed it, clutched the Rib of God, and hurriedly headed towards the elevator.
Sure enough, “He Xiaowei” was desperately pressing the elevator button. He had witnessed the previous scene and knew he was exposed, so he decided to flee.
“Although I don’t exactly know what you ‘ghosts’ are, it seems you too need to use the elevator and can’t just vanish at will.”
Zhou Qian stepped forward. Just as he spoke those words, he felt a gust of wind beside him; a bloodshot-eyed Bai Zhou was lunging at him with a knife.
In the nick of time, Zhou Qian leaped forward, grabbed him by the waist, trying to stop him. “Zhou Ge, wait! Let me ask a few questions.”
Bai Zhou indeed stopped in his tracks. But that didn’t mean he spared “He Xiaowei”.
With a swift motion, he surprisingly didn’t kill with one strike but instead pierced “He Xiaowei’s” shoulder with his blade, nailing him to the wall.
Then, Bai Zhou turned his gaze to Zhou Qian.
Filled with a fierce aura, he said nothing, but his eyes seemed to urge: “Ask your questions.”
Zhou Qian deeply looked into his eyes, then turned his attention to “He Xiaowei”. “Do you know where you went wrong?”
“He Xiaowei’s” reactions were rather perplexing.
At first, he displayed anger, fear, and regret—typical responses when one’s plans are foiled and faced with death.
Yet, in the next moment, he looked at Zhou Qian with sadness, as if he truly was He Xiaowei.
He seemed reluctant to turn against his old friend, hence the reaction.
The previous “Bai Zhou”, when he “betrayed” and died, showed a similar response.
Recalling the tear that slid from his eye, Zhou Qian momentarily drifted into thought.
But his eyes sharpened quickly after. “Can you tell me, what exactly are you?”
“He Xiaowei” didn’t reply but painfully shook his head.
Zhou Qian continued, “Tell me, and I’ll let you know where you went wrong, deal?”
Still, “He Xiaowei” didn’t respond. Zhou Qian raised an eyebrow, then said, “From the moment I met you, I’ve been trying to figure out who you really are by talking to you. You revealed many inconsistencies, but they weren’t enough for me to act.”
“After all, people can change and behave differently under different circumstances. I needed more evidence, so I decided to trap you. It’s no fun trapping just one; the bigger fish had to be lured out.”
“After deciding to set you up, many of the things I said to you were deliberate. I intentionally told you first that I suspect there are two of you, two of me, and even two Zhou Ge here. Based on that, I then deliberately put on a show, pretending to believe that he was fake.”
“Sure enough, you really believed it. You believed it, and then another Zhou Ge emerged.
“So now, do you know where your flaw is?”
Zhou Qian walked up to He Xiaowei and said, “If you tell me what’s going on, I’ll let you die cleanly. How about it? At least tell me… why the fake Bai Zhou would shed tears, and why you occasionally show sadness? Why does the fake Bai Zhou also have a Tang sword and use exactly the same moves?”
He Xiaowei actually responded. But he only said one thing. “I have He Xiaowei’s memories of you. In some sense, I am also the real He Xiaowei. That’s why I feel pain.”
Hearing this, Zhou Qian wondered—
Did the “Bai Zhou” shed tears earlier because, at that moment, he truly felt sad as Bai Zhou? Was he a clone of the real Bai Zhou? Did his tears signify that the real Bai Zhou would also feel such pain and sorrow if betrayed by him?
Zhou Qian’s expression changed slightly. Before he could ask further, the figure of “He Xiaowei” turned into ash and disappeared completely.
Zhou Qian suddenly felt a sense of loss, as if he had just personally persecuted Bai Zhou and He Xiaowei. But after all, they were just fakes.
Their feigned concern and real intent to kill him were clear. After all, pretending to protect him while actually wanting to distract the real Bai Zhou in a duel was what the fake Bai Zhou did.
The reason why this “He Xiaowei” was fooled was easy to analyze. He had been lurking by Zhou Qian’s side, looking for a chance to kill him. The reason He Xiaowei hadn’t acted yet was because Bai Zhou was with Zhou Qian. Alone, he couldn’t deal with both of them.
Realizing this, Zhou Qian hatched a plan to trap the “ghosts”.
Upon seeing Bai Zhou acting strange and Zhou Qian considering him fake, without knowing it was all Zhou Qian’s design, “He Xiaowei” believed it was real. The mission of “He Xiaowei” and their group of “ghosts” was probably to kill all the players. They wanted to kill Zhou Qian and Bai Zhou.
At that moment, seeing Zhou Qian mistakenly think the real Bai Zhou was fake, “He Xiaowei” thought it was a golden opportunity and wondered why he hadn’t brought the fake Bai Zhou. Zhou Qian would definitely think the fake was real, and they could team up to eliminate the real Bai Zhou. Once the real Bai Zhou was gone, killing Zhou Qian would be easy to deal with.
So, the fake He Xiaowei brought the fake Bai Zhou, hoping to seize this golden opportunity. In their eagerness to kill, they exposed a major flaw.
No matter how smart a person was, they couldn’t solve a math problem with missing conditions. From the information they had, players still didn’t understand the rules of this instance. They had no idea which number to press in the elevator to reach which time and space.
So far, Zhou Qian only knew one fact: once players enter the elevator and leave, they can’t return the same way as the numbers’ corresponding time-space is always changing.
Given this, it was impossible for the “He Xiaowei” or “Bai Zhou” to find them so quickly.
The overlapping time and space on the 11th floor turned it into a maze. Their swift arrival could only mean they knew the coordinates and how to get there. Therefore, they knew all the secrets of this space and were “ghosts”, not humans.
Of course, this flaw wasn’t the basis for Zhou Qian’s judgment. He had this plan to further confirm He Xiaowei’s identity, bait the fake Bai Zhou, and eventually eliminate the two “ghosts”. He always knew that the Bai Zhou by his side was real.
After He Xiaowei disappeared, Zhou Qian immediately ran to the blood-covered Bai Zhou, helping him up.
“Zhou Ge, are you okay?”
During the recent battle between the real and fake Bai Zhou, Zhou Qian didn’t intentionally delay, causing Bai Zhou to get injured.
The two “ghosts” came too fast. They might also realize that their approach had flaws and could reveal their “ghost” identities.
However, in their eyes, Zhou Qian might not quickly realize this flaw, so they wanted to test Zhou Qian’s reaction.
Therefore, Zhou Qian had to continue acting as if he was unaware.
In this way, he could ensure that he would succeed in one strike and be able to kill the ghost that was as powerful as Bai Zhou.
Right now, Zhou Qian didn’t get a response from Bai Zhou.
Bai Zhou simply grabbed his wrist and dragged him back into room 1107, which was almost completely destroyed except for a bed.
From the broken furniture on the floor, Bai Zhou quickly pulled out a cloth strip, tied Zhou Qian’s wrist to the bed, and then leaned over to hug him tightly, just as he did before.
“Zhou Ge?” Zhou Qian lifted his other hand and gently touched Bai Zhou’s eyelid.
He watched as deep blue scales appeared on Bai Zhou’s face, one by one, gradually covering his entire face.
At the same time, sharp horns grew on his forehead, and his ears became pointed, completely different from a human’s.
Then, Bai Zhou whispered something in a low voice.
But it was clearly not a human voice anymore; it sounded like a beast suppressing its roar.
However, Zhou Qian actually understood him.
He was asking, “Are you afraid of me?”
“Not afraid.”
Zhou Qian raised his hand and gently touched his horn, which felt very smooth. He whispered, “Even in this state, you haven’t harmed me. I just don’t know which of my words triggered you to transform—”
Zhou Qian shouted out loud, immediately struggling fiercely. He tried to bend a leg, fiercely kicking the person pressing on top of him. However, his strength couldn’t move the person at all.
At the same time, the Bai Zhou from outside had broken into the room, his Tang sword slashing at the man on the bed, the flash of the blade reflecting his cold, murderous eyes.
Suddenly, another Tang sword was drawn. It was pulled out by the Bai Zhou on the bed.
He didn’t dodge or evade but directly drew his sword to meet the attacker’s strike.
As the two blades clashed, a brilliant white light erupted, illuminating two identical faces. One face looked as usual, albeit angry. The other’s face was increasingly off, with its pupils almost completely turning red, contrasting with a pale, bluish complexion, as if some monster disguised as a person was about to lose control and reveal its true form.
Accompanied by the screeching sound of metal scraping, one blade slid past the other, briefly separating before both swung with powerful killing intent. They continuously clashed, creating massive sounds with each impact.
Thus, two identical figures with identical swords began a fierce duel. Within moments, they had exchanged dozens of slashes, seemingly evenly matched. Sofas, coffee tables, and even the door were shattered, showcasing the sharpness of their blades.
Due to the special rules of the instance, neither could use special skills. Both were relying purely on their strength and combat abilities. The two fought their way from inside the room to the corridor. Carpets and walls broke apart, with shards and dust exploding amidst the flashing blades. Lights overhead shattered, dimming the already dark corridor.
While the two fiercely battled, Zhou Qian, with only one wrist bound, discreetly freed himself.
Though the room was in chaos, he wasn’t injured at all. It seemed both Bai Zhous were cautious around him, adjusting their strikes just before hitting him. Zhou Qian also noticed their techniques were almost identical.
All of this suggested as if Bai Zhou had been magically duplicated. Only one detail differed—the Bai Zhou from outside didn’t have a bite mark on his hand.
Zhou Qian took out the Rib of God from his bag and entered the corridor, where the fight between the two Bai Zhous was intensifying. Near the elevator, he saw He Xiaowei had returned, hiding in a public resting area, seemingly scared of being caught in the crossfire.
Raising his eyes, he unexpectedly met Zhou Qian’s, and he showed a terrified expression.
“Thank you for not abandoning me and calling for help,” Zhou Qian said to him.
He Xiaowei swallowed. “Ah… yes. You should come hide too. It’s too terrifying!”
Hearing this, Zhou Qian’s expression remained unchanged, but he felt a sinking feeling inside. His last doubts had vanished, and he now had a definite answer.
“I can’t. I have to help. If they keep fighting like this, they might both end up dead. Thank you for bringing the real Zhou Ge here. I’ll go help him defeat the fake one now!”
“You shouldn’t go. Zhou Ge and I can handle him!”
Having said that, Zhou Qian continued forward, his face full of rage. “I’ve been deceived for so long! I’ll kill him!”
Seeing that he couldn’t persuade Zhou Qian, He Xiaowei simply said, “Be careful then!”
“Mm. I can do it.”
Without paying further attention to He Xiaowei for the moment, Zhou Qian, holding the Rib of God, dashed towards the area where the two were fiercely battling.
At this moment, both Bai Zhou’s bodies were injured, their arms and legs covered with wounds of various sizes and severity.
However, both seemed equally unfazed.
They continued to fight as if they were numb to pain. As they moved, wounds would constantly burst open with fresh blood, staining their clothes completely red.
By the time Zhou Qian arrived, one of the Bai Zhou’s, whose eyes were almost blood-red, was slashing at him with his sword.
The other Bai Zhou, without hesitation, held his sword with both hands and slashed upwards, clashing fiercely with the oncoming blade.
The moment the two blades collided, the screeching sound of metal friction resonated once again. After that, Zhou Qian confronted the red-eyed Bai Zhou with a question: “Bastard, who the hell are you?”
Hearing this, Bai Zhou’s blood-red eyes squinted slightly, revealing a strong hint of restlessness, as if heralding the imminent arrival of an extreme danger, like a volcanic eruption or a raging tsunami.
“You’re not Bai Zhou. You’ve deceived me all along. I’m going to kill you!”
Zhou Qian yelled at him, raising the Rib of God and swinging it hard.
Bai Zhou shifted his body to the side, avoiding the attack from the Rib of God, and retreated half a step.
Seizing this opportunity, Zhou Qian swung his weapon again at him, launching a second attack in quick succession.
Yet, the sword continued to pull back, and the red-eyed Bai Zhou took another half step backward. Like this, he kept retreating, not retaliating. After a moment, he just looked up, gazing deeply at Zhou Qian through sweat-soaked hair with eyes that seemed like they were brewing a storm.
Zhou Qian bravely met his gaze, showing an unmistakable murderous intent.
After a while, he raised the Rib of God in front of his chest with his right hand while holding onto the arm of the other Bai Zhou beside him with his left. Turning his head, Zhou Qian looked at him with concern. “Thank goodness you came. Otherwise, I might have been killed by him. Zhou Ge, thank you—”
“There’s no need for that between us. Zhou Qian, step back. I’ll kill him.”
Bai Zhou looked at Zhou Qian with equal concern, grasping his hand.
While trying to pull Zhou Qian to his side and about to say something, a rapid strike from the opposing sword came swinging at them.
The normal-looking Bai Zhou quickly sidestepped to Zhou Qian’s right, wrapping an arm around him and raising his own sword, striking with lightning speed.
As the blades clashed again over the next 30 seconds, they exchanged numerous blows. Both were ruthless, aiming for vital areas; each strike was fiercer than the last.
In a fleeting moment, the opposing red-eyed Bai Zhou’s gaze slid down to the hand on Zhou Qian’s waist. The blood in his eyes seemed to boil with rage, as if blood would spurt out at any moment.
With hands clasped, he stepped back several paces, then lunged forward, delivering the fiercest blow, aiming straight for the head of the Bai Zhou beside Zhou Qian.
The blade gleamed with unprecedented sharpness, painted with red marks, prominently reflecting the murderous intent in Bai Zhou’s eyes.
Seeing this, the Bai Zhou holding Zhou Qian quickly retreated a few steps. His palm exerted a slight force, perhaps intending to push Zhou Qian away and confront the blade charged with murderous intent.
However, Zhou Qian advanced instead of retreating, swinging the Rib of God horizontally.
As the Rib of God was about to meet the incoming blade, the blade unexpectedly stopped in its tracks.
The blade’s glow dimmed, and the red-eyed Bai Zhou stepped back, spitting out a mouthful of bright red blood.
The normal-looking Bai Zhou, seeing this, immediately pulled Zhou Qian close again, gripping his sword tightly and launching another fierce strike at the opposing red-eyed Bai Zhou.
A new round of combat began, but this time, the red-eyed Bai Zhou seemed to be on the defensive, as if he was holding back something. He retreated all the way to the end of the corridor.
At this end of the corridor, one door was sealed with cement, and the other led to the chaotic room numbered 1107.
Most of the lights here were broken. From the other half of the corridor, a dim yellow light shone, suggesting that this duel was nearing its climax.
Zhou Qian felt the hand around his waist release him. Then he heard Bai Zhou beside him say, “Get behind me. I’ll handle this.”
Zhou Qian shook his head. “You can’t defeat him on your own. Let’s do it together. You distract him, and I’ll seize the opportunity to strike!”
While saying this, Zhou Qian stared intently at the red-eyed Bai Zhou across from him.
His tone was cold, filled with the intent to kill, as if he had made up his mind to put the opponent to death.
After speaking, when he looked at the Bai Zhou beside him, his gaze had softened.
His voice also softened. “Zhou Ge, be careful.”
Zhou Qian’s gentle reminder gave Bai Zhou by his side endless courage. In contrast, it seemed to evoke infinite anger in the Bai Zhou on the opposite side.
Two identical Tang swords were held by two people who looked the same, and they began their deadly duel once again.
Multiple streaks of blade light flashed and then faded. The floor curled up one after another, the wallpaper shattered inch by inch, and dust and smoke spread everywhere. By the time it all settled, both Bai Zhous were drenched in blood.
With a “clang”, the two swords met again.
The two Bai Zhous stood facing each other at the end of the corridor.
At this moment, their physical strength was obviously exhausted, with their sword-holding hands slightly trembling.
At this point, whoever lost stamina first would be the one defeated.
The deadly fight had reached its critical moment!
Zhou Qian whispered to the normal-faced Bai Zhou close to him. “Now is the time.”
Having said this, Zhou Qian gripped his Rib of God and walked step by step towards the Bai Zhou with red eyes. The red-eyed gaze shifted from his opponent to Zhou Qian, a suppressed emotion in them so intense it was suffocating.
Through these blood-red eyes, Zhou Qian felt as if he was witnessing the end of the world. Gripping the Rib of God, Zhou Qian took a deep breath and lifted it.
At this moment, the red-eyed Bai Zhou had to grip his sword with both hands just to barely withstand his opponent, trying to remain undefeated.
Looking back at the entire battle, even at the most dangerous moments, he never harmed Zhou Qian. The reason he was at a disadvantage earlier was because Zhou Qian was held by the other Bai Zhou, making him hesitant in his moves.
Given this, Zhou Qian could easily kill him if he chose to attack. And it seemed Zhou Qian intended to do just that.
He seemingly couldn’t understand all the emotions hidden deep within those red eyes, only approaching with the intent to kill.
Holding the Rib of God with both hands, Zhou Qian raised it high and swung it forcefully towards the red-eyed Bai Zhou. However, in a split second, with a twist of his ankle and a tilt of his body, the Rib of God suddenly changed direction, striking hard at the Bai Zhou originally standing behind him!
Caught off guard, the Bai Zhou took a heavy blow to the forehead and started to tilt backward, losing the standoff. The next moment, the Tang sword from the other side ruthlessly lunged forward, piercing his heart with astonishing speed and precision.
Due to Zhou Qian’s proximity, the gushing blood immediately drenched him.
Regardless of Zhou Qian’s aversion to blood, he couldn’t care less at the moment—he looked into the eyes of the fallen “Bai Zhou” who was lying in a pool of blood.
His expression was strange; initially, it was filled with deep hatred from a broken conspiracy, but a moment later, it was filled with endless pain and sorrow.
Suddenly, his eyes became extremely red, and in an instant, tears slid down from the corners, glistening like dew or stars. However, they quickly merged into the blood, leaving no trace behind.
The spaceship landed on the spacious landing pad. As the cabin door slowly opened, Ling Xiao, holding the bottle, stepped out steadily, with Xiao Hui following closely, two steps behind.
Back on Tianxiu soil, only Xiao Hui heard Ling Xiao whisper to the soul in the bottle:
“Ying Feng, we are home.”
People lined up on both sides, first soldiers, then various civil servants, and finally, the general public. Walking through the corridor formed by the crowd, Ling Xiao carried his hero back to their land.
Fu Yao was waiting at the end of the corridor.
“You completed your mission exceptionally well.”
“Duty fulfilled.”
Ling Xiao opened the bottle lid, and Ying Feng’s soul leaped out but didn’t fly away. It lingered beside Ling Xiao, reluctant to leave.
“Alright, I’ll come find you after handling some things.” Ling Xiao gently touched its head. “Be good.”
Ying Feng’s soul then headed towards the purification pool. At that moment, Huo Luo brought over the people brought back from Huoxiu.
“We were a step too late. Zhu Yue modified Tai Er, but it seems unsuccessful. He’s turned into this,” Huo Luo said.
Tai Er’s red eyes remained, but human emotions had completely vanished from them, making him a different kind of Lone Star.
Tai Ruo clutched his brother’s sleeve tightly. “We’ve destroyed all the codes. No one can create Lone Stars anymore. The people of Huoxiu fear that the history of Tianxiu will repeat in Huoxiu. They don’t allow such ‘monsters’ to stay there, so I had to bring him here.”
He tentatively asked, “May we stay?”
Fu Yao looked at the emotionless brother, then at the anxious brother, and the diverse descendants of ancient Tianxiu and Huoxiu people behind them and nodded in agreement.
“This is your home,” he said. “Welcome back.”
The museum curator also arrived, and Ling Xiao solemnly handed over Bing Can and Red Head’s daggers and the remembrance stone to him.
“I heard mine and Ying Feng’s daggers are also in the museum?”
“Yes.”
“Can you place ours together with them?”
“Of course.”
Ling Xiao, his task completed, sighed in relief. “It’s a pity Yu Ji and Shuang Feng didn’t leave anything behind.”
“We’ve already sculpted their statues. Heroes will always be remembered by people.”
Ling Xiao followed Fu Yao towards the Soul Tree.
“How are the souls retrieved from Huoxiu doing?”
“They’ve been remodeled and are being nurtured. In a decade or so, they will awaken as people like us.”
Ling Xiao remarked, “So many fledglings all at once, Bikong will need to expand its recruitment.”
“Let’s leave that headache to Ta Yun.”
“The principal returned to Bikong?”
“With Fei Jing, but they demanded at least two months of travel leave every year.”
Ling Xiao laughed. “That does sound like Fei Jing.”
They arrived at the tree. The Soul Tree had been replanted. It was unclear if the soil in the churchyard was unsuitable before, but the newly planted sapling had grown quickly, becoming a large tree that required one person to embrace it overnight.
“It’s completely different from when I left,” Ling Xiao said, somewhat doubtful. “Is this really the same tree?”
“It’s the tree that grew from your peach pit.”
Ling Xiao, a bit embarrassed, looked up, making a delightful discovery.
“Look! There!”
Fu Yao also looked in the direction Ling Xiao pointed, and among the dense branches, a small, inconspicuous blue light sparkled in the sunlight.
“Is that a soul?” Ling Xiao asked excitedly, “Is it? Is it?”
“It does look like one.” Fu Yao also couldn’t help but smile.
“New souls are growing. That’s great…”
Everyone looked up at the tree, where hope for the planet was growing. As long as hope continued to grow, their beliefs would be passed down through generations.
“Fu Yao, this person wants to speak with you.”
They turned around to see Nie Yun escorting Zhu Yue, accompanied by the fake Zhen He.
Zhu Yue’s animosity towards Ling Xiao remained, but his eyes held a certain resignation.
“Do you have anything else to say?” Fu Yao asked.
Zhu Yue disdainfully glanced at the glowing bodies in the branches. “I have a request before death.”
“What is it?”
“I no longer wish to be reborn in this land. Grant me permanence.”
“Alright,” Fu Yao promptly agreed. “Go ahead.”
“No need to trouble.” Zhu Yue declined the trip to the Hall of Nightmares. “I want to leave to a place where sunlight can reach.”
Fu Yao agreed and instructed Nie Yun, “Turn off the lights.”
Nie Yun spoke into his terminal, and the distant lighthouse gradually went dark. Someone approached and injected the liquid, symbolizing death, into Zhu Yue’s neck.
Zhu Yue surveyed the land he had lived in, his gaze finally resting on the Zhen He he had created.
The emotionless Zhen He watched indifferently as his former Qizhu faced execution.
Zhu Yue lifted his hand with his last strength, touching that familiar face, but no familiar expression appeared.
“I’m about to dissipate, and you don’t even have a hint of sadness?”
Zhen He remained impassive, not even frowning.
Disappointed, Zhu Yue lowered his hand, his soul disintegrating, leaving this world without any attachment.
The lighthouse lit up again, illuminating the land and guiding its true people on the path to rebirth.
Ling Xiao had two concerns left. “Red Head and Bing Can were sacrificed because of the Peacekeeping Force.”
“Don’t worry,” Fu Yao assured him. “I will seek justice for them.”
He switched languages. “And about Xiao Hui…”
“Leave it to me.” Huo Luo patted his chest. “I guarantee he’ll pass level four in Wolf Star language in a month.”
Xiao Hui looked tearfully at him, wanting to say something but remained silent.
“That’s good.” Ling Xiao had no more unfulfilled wishes and stretched leisurely.
“It’s time for me to go.”
In the Hall of Nightmares, Yu Quan routinely asked him,
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Ling Xiao sidestepped the question. “I knew I had to take two injections this lifetime.”
He pondered. “I now understand Ling Xing’s feelings when he entrusted his legacy before leaving. Lone Stars fall, three lives cold. This is just the first life; how can I leave Ying Feng unattended in the next ones?”
“Ling Xing said only we could endure him. I think so too. His character is so bad, I feel bad letting him trouble others.”
“I’ll keep this Ying Feng for myself.”
The cold liquid was injected into his body.
“Do you have any regrets in this life?”
A white mist clouded Ling Xiao’s vision, and the voice seemed to come from a distant world.
Regrets…
He closed his eyes, and the events of this lifetime flashed backward before his eyes like a film reel.
The farewell journey in Huoxiu, the time leap of four thousand years, the brief sweetness with Royal Sky, the mutual antagonism in Bikong…
If there was any regret…
The scene shifted to Bikong, on that rooftop, where a fledgling Ling Xiao leapt from the high platform, landing right in front of a similarly fledgling Ying Feng.
“Now someone is willingly offering their heart’s blood, and you still don’t accept. What kind of person are you looking for?”
Ying Feng, who usually ignored Ling Xiao, unusually curled his lips in a slight sneer.
“I don’t know. If you offered your heart’s blood, maybe I’d consider it.”
That person, who awakened his feelings yet remained unaware, had an immature face.
Ling Xiao’s thoughts drifted towards him, gazing deeply for one last time.
I am willing.
Ying Feng was startled. “Why are you crying?”
The fledgling Ling Xiao mechanically touched his face, feeling moisture. He stared blankly at the liquid on his fingertips, tears uncontrollably streaming down.
He ran away in a panic, not noticing Ying Feng’s unconsciously raised hand behind him. Only Ling Xiao’s consciousness captured this moment. If he hadn’t fled in haste, could they have realized their feelings for each other sooner?
He leaned in, lovingly brushing his lips against the other’s fingers.
Ying Feng, stunned, looked at his hand as if feeling the illusion of a kiss.
With no more regrets, Ling Xiao, for the first time, left towards his destined direction without any attachments.
The moment Teest noticed the fire igniting on Nol, he planned to jump away. Nol’s push added fuel to the fire, enabling Teest to successfully leap back several steps.
It wasn’t that the Mad Monk was heartless; he recognized the fluctuation of power emanating from Nol—
Nol’s current “human form” wasn’t his true body. He had been maintaining it with magic.
It was like compressing a large blanket into a tiny bundle using cloth. If the external stimulus was too strong, the thin cloth wrapping would break open, revealing the true contents.
The fluctuation on Nol’s body was a sign of the “transformation magic” breaking.
A huge shadow rose in the mist. Teest looked up, completely focused. He had rarely seen a real dragon, let alone a Dracolich that only existed in legends.
The fog surged, and the silhouette resembled a dragon, but it wasn’t as massive as a real dragon.
From the posture, Nol seemed to be crouching on the ground, shifting occasionally, probably searching for the most suitable position. His body expanded and contracted, likewise searching for the most appropriate form. Teest didn’t feel the unique oppressive aura of a dragon, which meant Nol must be restraining it.
Curious, Teest approached to get a clearer view.
The Mad Monk had his own caution. He seldom approached a massive monster voluntarily. If he did, the purpose was undoubtedly hunting… but now, who’s to say this wasn’t a form of hunting? He had to completely capture the other with the net of his gaze.
As the fog receded layer by layer in front of him, Teest could see the other’s skin. Yes, skin, not the bones or mummy he had imagined. That body looked even plump, just lacking the warmth of a living creature.
The black scales on the Dracolich’s body were extraordinarily beautiful, different from any dragon scales he had seen—whether the natural dragon scales enshrined in the church or the finely polished display pieces in top material shops, none had such shimmering luster.
Surprisingly, Nol had three pairs of overly large wings on his back. The wing membranes were a special bluish-red color, filled with strange patterns, and had a soft, visceral sheen. They also had peculiar folds, with pure black, eye-like moistness exposed in the spindle-shaped gaps.
Those wings wrapped around the body in a disordered manner, twisting into angles that dragon wings shouldn’t have.
It was more like a bizarre embryo—part dragon, part beast—than a dragonling. It had the incomplete feel of a young monster, but that didn’t detract from its surreal beauty.
Who would have thought, Teest only had time to take a brief glance.
He just stared at those strange wings for half a second longer, and his head buzzed as if a hundred fingers were digging into his brain.
Teest felt a warm and then cold sensation in his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. He stumbled back two steps, feeling as if someone had violently squeezed his insides, causing unceasing sourness and numbness. His vision flickered and twisted, like having ingested poison, and his head felt as if it had been roasted, completely unable to think.
He wanted to collapse and retch, but he managed to stay standing.
The fog kept moving. As he retreated, it gently concealed more details, leaving only vague shadows. When Teest finally regained his thoughts, Nol’s claws emerged from the fog.
The black scales were still beautiful. The recent events seemed like an illusion. Nol now appeared as an unmistakable dragon—a not-so-large dragon with eyes burning with blue fire.
It had the shape of a white dragon skilled in magic, looking agile and elegant. It also had the pitch-black scales of a black dragon, mixed with the surreal blue of undead creatures. Teest had never seen such a beautiful dragon, but that near-fatal glimpse still left him disoriented.
Was it a hallucination he saw? Or was it a transitional form during transformation?
Why couldn’t he see the full form? What exactly was it…?
Why did it hurt him?
Teest blinked with effort.
That extraordinary beauty still lingered in his mind, but the impression uncontrollably faded away, like a vivid dream. Only the dried bloodstains on his skin reminded him that the “anomaly” had existed.
[Are you okay?] The burning sensation was gone. Nol worriedly nudged Teest with the tip of his claw.
[What a coincidence. I was about to ask you the same question.] Teest quickly wiped the blood from his face. His head was still a bit dizzy, but fortunately, he still had his strength and sense of direction.
Nol tried to clear his throat to speak, but accidentally spat out a burst of blue flame instead. They immediately burned through the fallen leaves in front of him, creating a small circle of scorched earth. He quickly closed his mouth, his too-sharp fangs accidentally biting into his tongue, causing Mr. Dracolich to whimper.
[I feel okay.] In the end, Nol had to continue the conversation using telepathy. [The skill upgrade was successful.]
It was just that he really wasn’t accustomed to this body. It was too big and too complex. For the moment, Nol could only wriggle around on the ground.
The hearing, smell, and vision of the dragon form were overly sensitive, bombarding his brain with a multitude of information—the rich scent of the forest was almost suffocating, his own breathing sounded like a typhoon landing, and Teest’s heartbeat was deafening.
During his struggle, he plainly demonstrated [Breath of a False God] to Teest.
[So that’s how it is,] Teest quickly read it and responded meaningfully.
[You don’t seem very surprised,] Nol said while wriggling.
[First, I’m your Pope, remember? This isn’t just a role-playing game. I had some mental preparation.] There was a hint of inexplicable pity in Teest’s tone. [Second, you’re now frantically digging in the mud… I’m quite concerned about the atmosphere, sorry.]
He wasn’t the neurotic Eugene, unable to muster religious sentiments at this time. Teest frowned and carefully took two steps back to avoid his “God” flinging mud on him.
Faith should be practical, indeed.
Sensing Teest’s retreat, Nol lay down on the ground in defeat, motionless.
[I don’t want you to worship me,] he said dejectedly. [I just want to ask if you have any discoveries or insights…]
There were indeed some, but Teest wasn’t sure if his brief glimpse could be accurately described—after all, he had only a faint impression left in his mind, unable to be expressed in words.
It was better to keep it to himself for now. The anomalies he had secretly noted weren’t just this one.
[There are indeed insights.] Teest looked at the Dracolich lying on the ground as if dead. [Since the system can grant you almost “god-like” powers—it’s certainly not just a simple world law. It has the ability to give out “god-level powers.”]
[If I were a so-called “God”, I wouldn’t just want to break free from the system’s constraints, I would want to dominate it, to have a share of it.]
[I think so too,] Nol responded listlessly, his mouth buried in the leaves.
But “dominating the system” was no easy task. It seemed the system had its own set of operating logic. Even as its creator, he couldn’t just make the system give him a bonus. He could only exploit some logical loopholes.
For a second, Nol suddenly felt like he was competing with the Goddess of Life and the Eternal Son, scrambling for the “system” as if it was a delicious piece of cake.
Forget it, no more dreaming. Even with [Breath of a False God], his pitiful attributes made him at best a half-god. Not to mention the two ancient gods, he couldn’t even beat a dragon leader.
The joy of skill enhancement gradually faded, and Nol buried his mouth deeper into the leaves.
As someone without ambition, he just wanted to find a way home and create a beautiful ending for Teest. He hoped those two gods wouldn’t come looking for trouble…
[I have another insight,] Teest continued solemnly.
[Oh?]
[Since you feel okay, it seems “help” wasn’t called by you.]
Nol was startled. He moved his head and listened attentively.
Faint cries for help came from under his front paw. He quickly and laboriously moved his paw away.
Nol had only managed to push Teest aside, and Kando was pressed into the leaves and mud. When Teest pulled it out, the candle was close to crying. Seeing the immensely large Nol, it swallowed its cry.
Teest tossed the candle in front of Nol’s nose and found a spot between the dragon’s claws to sit down comfortably.
Nol activated [Ash Remnants] again; his scales were warm and comfortable, smooth and fine to the touch. Skin against the scales felt like being embraced from all directions.
Teest collapsed on the scales, suddenly understanding why Nol always wanted to hug.
“Do you… ahem… have anything to say?” Nol finally managed to speak with his vocal cords, his rumbling voice causing the ground to tremble.
Teest leaned on his front paw, a warm bundle, not daring to move too much for fear of pressing the other.
“Nothing!”
Kando covered its eye with wax tears. Nol couldn’t tell if it was just his imagination, but he felt like it was deliberately showing its bitten-off part.
“I don’t want to interrogate you. If it weren’t for you, the battle at The Manor wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. I just want to talk to you.”
Nol tried to soften his tone, but the dragon’s vocal cords still rumbled. Although it was unlikely that there were people in the depths of the Black Forest, he still cast a soundproofing spell nearby.
The candle peeked out from between the wax tears. “You always use such a terrifying form to chat?”
“.…..”
Nol fell silent, not really wanting to admit that he hadn’t found a way to change back yet… and he was quite enjoying Teest clinging to his claws.
“Fine, ask away. I can’t run anyway,” after a few seconds, the candle said resignedly.
“Do you have dragon blood?” Nol went straight to the point.
“Oh, yes,” the candle said. “There’s a string in my head that tells me to stay away from dragons and the Dragon’s Lair, because they don’t like me as a member—other than that, I know nothing.”
Nol wanted to frown, but instead, he crinkled his nose, revealing all his sharp teeth.
Teest turned around curiously and reached out to touch the row of snow-white teeth.
They felt pretty good.
Seeing those sharp teeth, the candle shuddered and cautiously waved its wax tears. “It seems you don’t understand what ‘forgetting one’s name’ means… Right, the Mad Monk is an exception. Most people aren’t as lucky as him.”
“‘Forgetting your name’ isn’t just forgetting your name. You forget everything related to that name—people you cherish, people you hate, everything you care about as ‘you’. At most, you’re left with some insignificant knowledge, like those amnesiacs who only remember common sense.”
“If it weren’t for ‘dragon-related’ knowledge being a matter of life and death, I wouldn’t have any impression either.”
“But you’re not a Supplement Demon.” The two huge blue dragon eyes stared intently at the candle.
The candle was silent, a tear of wax slowly flowing down its “head”.
“A ‘name’ is one of a person’s most precious possessions.”
In the tranquil darkness, Teest picked up the conversation. “The Eternal Church takes it away to brainwash more easily. I’ve heard that some people use it as a bargaining chip—mortgaging ‘self’ is far more severe than mortgaging property or the body.”
“Mr. Kando, you traded your name with someone, right? Let me guess, your insistence on following my husband is also part of the deal, isn’t it?”
Nol immediately understood.
The candle’s personality had nothing to do with strictness or discipline. In critical moments, there was no need for it to be so tight-lipped—if its name was in someone else’s hands, that would explain it.
Who was the candle’s trading partner?
It openly insulted the Goddess of Life and the Eternal Son, so it probably wasn’t a follower of either. During the time it followed them, it never conveyed any information to the outside world—it was more like a pure tool sent to them, and it had accepted this role.
Moreover, whether it was originally a dragon or a hybrid of a dragon and another species, it shouldn’t be in its current sad state. It’s hard to imagine what it went through to decide to “sell its name”.
Although the candle had a venomous mouth and was unruly, without it, their territory wouldn’t have developed so fast, and they wouldn’t have come so far.
“Kando, if you can’t speak because of this, I won’t ask anymore,” Nol suddenly said.
The candle put down its wax tears that covered its eye in surprise.
“Thank you for helping me,” Nol earnestly expressed. “Let’s continue to work together in the future. I hope you can regain your name soon.”
The candle visibly relaxed, its gaze complex, as it looked at Nol for a while. “So it really was just a chat.”
“Were you expecting me to exact revenge?”
“Heavens, no!” Kando exclaimed. “It’s just that you and your knight are too crude. I was just a little worried…”
Nol: “…”
Nol exhaled a breath, blowing the self-satisfied candle away.
[You’re really giving up just like that?] Teest patted his claw.
[Of course not. I don’t want to force it—even if it has its own agenda, it has indeed helped us a lot.] Nol gently moved his claw. [Just confirming ‘it has dragon blood’ and ‘its relationship with dragons is bad’ is enough. I can investigate through other means, which wouldn’t count as Kando breaching the contract.]
Teest sat cross-legged on his claw, eager to hear more.
[Dragons are very rare, and hybrids with other species are even rarer. Human records in this area are indispensable. We just need to verify those missing dragons or hybrids.]
Teest slumped his shoulders. [You make it sound easy, but those are top-secret materials. Even I don’t know about them.]
[But someone should know,] Nol said. [As long as the reward is sufficient, I think he’ll speak.]
[Wait, wait! You’re not going to…] Teest’s body stiffened slightly.
[Before meeting the Demon King, we need to be prepared.] Nol’s thoughts brimmed with a hint of amusement. [There’s a major dungeon in the depths of the Black Forest, and I want to level up with everyone—though it’s particularly dangerous. To clear it without injury, we need external help.]
[Like Miss Anakin, Mr. Solo, and that fake siren… including our knowledgeable Mr. Painter. Together with you, that makes a six-person team.]
[…] Teest was stunned for a few seconds by the overly free composition. [Are you sure you want to put these people together?]
[Why not?]
Death Knight Teest, Dracolich Nol, and Saint Painter could provide different types of magical output.
Night Ranger Solo could be a great support. Flawless Annakin focused on healing… As for the High Priest of the Eternal Church, he could be used as bait in dangerous situations.
A perfect team, all with tight lips, so there were no worries about the secrets of Paradise being exposed. The other neighbors just needed to follow behind them, clearing small monsters and gaining experience.
From the perspective of a raid team, this setup was absolutely reasonable!
[Regarding the secrets of the dragons, Mr. Painter definitely knows something.] Nol nodded in satisfaction.
[Dear Lord Nol, you always make me feel very sane.]
[Uh, that means our emotional relationship is positively progressing.]
…Maybe?
……
Bissus, the holy land of the Temple of Life.
“Lord Eugene, there has been no unusual activity near the Black Forest, and Paradise has made no moves so far.” An Investigation Knight bowed deeply.
Eugene sat upright in his armchair, listening intently.
His wounds had been thoroughly healed by healing magic. Unfortunately, the injuries had been severe and long-standing, sapping his vitality and preventing him from returning immediately to his peak condition.
“We have reviewed the oracles of the last hundred years, ensuring there are no oversights. However, there has been news from the Eternal Church about a Chosen One—they have dispatched a High Priest, reportedly searching for a missing Chosen One of the Eternal Church.”
Another knight stepped forward.
“Which high priest? Are you sure of this information?” Eugene tapped his fingers on the table.
“‘Eye of the Storm’, my lord. The information is almost certain. That High Priest was spotted by our people. He was in the territory of New Gemino, heading towards Gratice.”
The knight bowed. “We couldn’t intercept him, so the content of that oracle…”
“Don’t worry. That’s ‘Eye of the Storm’. Even I might not be able to stop him.” Eugene sighed softly. “I see. They sent ‘Eye of the Storm’. It seems the Eternal Church doesn’t dare to offend this Chosen One.”
“Could that hero Drake be the Chosen One of the Eternal Church?” The reporting knight choked up.
“I thought he was entangled with Paradise.”
The first knight spoke in a low voice. “Paradise promised to handle The Manor issue but never showed up. Something isn’t right. Moreover, for Drake to single-handedly destroy the entire Manor is too exaggerated. None of us know what really happened there.”
Eugene narrowed his eyes, falling silent for half a minute.
“I remember the Homeward Saints were to liaise with Paradise to confirm The Manor’s situation,” Eugene said. “As for the Chosen One…”
He glanced at the two knights. “I will handle the matter of the Eternal Church’s Chosen One. You two can go rest.”
“Yes!” “Yes, my lord!”
The room’s door opened and then closed, leaving it in complete silence. Eugene sipped his cold tea with a trace of fatigue on his face.
He exhaled deeply, pulling out a light green communication crystal from his inner pocket. Soft light filtered through the finely carved gem, casting a patch of emerald green on Eugene’s face.
“That is the person you specifically showed me…”
“I can feel the conflict of light and shadow in that person. They mix with each other, barely in balance… Perhaps he is standing on the edge of darkness, only a step away from the Eternal Evil God.”
Eugene closed his eyes, clutching the crystal tightly.
The muscles on his cheeks moved, as if trying to chew and swallow that piece of darkness.
After a while, he lowered his arms. Knight Eugene clasped his hands together, pressing the communication crystal between his palms, his fingers crossed in a wheat-sheaf-like prayer gesture.
“If there exist Chosen Ones who were selected by God, stood at the pinnacle, but still chose betrayal…”
He murmured.
“Then there must also exist heroes who were initially chosen by evil gods but can still be pulled back into the light… Supreme Lady Tilia, is this also a test you have given me?”
“If you desire him, I will snatch him from the Eternal Son and present him before you.”
……
Gratice, Ice Rock City, the holy land of the Eternal Church.
High Priest Fischer, dragging his weary body, returned to his room. For some reason, on his way back to the city, he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to “hop back on one foot” to express his loyalty to his God.
It felt almost like some kind of mind-control magic. Mr. Fischer tried a dozen dispelling spells, none of which worked.
What was he supposed to do upon reaching his destination?
Right, he needed to report the anomalies in The Manor battle, inform the Pope about the Chosen One’s situation, and somehow bring the Mad Monk to the Eternal Son…
No! He had to take out the list of Paradise monsters, hand it over to the General of Grape Collar, and then go into seclusion in the Black Forest…
It was as if two versions of himself were arguing. High Priest Fischer stood in the middle of his room, frozen like a statue. For the first time as a fanatic, he had an absurd thought—could he be going mad?
Fischer took several deep breaths and walked to the statue of the Eternal Son. He habitually knelt to pray, only to find that his knees had suddenly lost the ability to bend.
He couldn’t kneel down.
Fischer tried hard but still couldn’t kneel. The statue in front of him became more and more irritating to look at—an infant holding a sphere. What’s so sacred about that?
The person he should follow should have long white hair, brilliant golden eyes, and an extremely wicked smile. That was his master… his god…
As Fischer recalled the appearance of the Chosen One, his knees weakened, and he fell to the ground with a thud.
…Damn it!
“My task is not yet complete. I won’t go to see the Pope,” he heard himself say to someone outside the door. “I need to make a trip to Grape Collar.”
The author has something to say:
Teest: Bad news, I believe in a god with a soft heart.
Teest: Good news, sometimes he’s crazier than me.
Nol: Hey, I’m throwing a super cool mix-up of surface forces. Guess who isn’t invited?
Witch Lynn awoke in the early dawn. Strictly speaking, Puppet Witches like her didn’t need so much sleep. Still, she strictly adhered to the routine she followed when she was human—crucial for maintaining mental health.
During Nol’s absence, the Lost Tower had become increasingly refined.
Nol had previously confirmed everyone’s race and attributes, tailoring leveling strategies for each of them. He had written detailed guides about resource points and hidden dungeons around them. Everyone had goals, and their vitality and spirits gradually improved.
People had transformed into entirely different creatures, with gender and age becoming blurred and the competitive mentality in society completely disappearing.
Teenagers in their teens and elders in their fifties chatted animatedly, discussing the minutiae of life on Earth; young men and women talked freely, exchanging advanced leveling techniques.
Recently, Lynn heard cheerful conversations and laughter in the cafeteria. Many had transitioned to higher-level races, like Griffin Piel, who, after being well-fed, had grown significantly, running around with a wooden sword every day.
As the number of people increased, a management system was gradually forming.
Nowadays, the security of Paradise was managed by Officer Luo and Dr. Zhu, with Officer Luo occasionally patrolling the tower to reassure everyone with his “official law enforcer” presence.
Uncle Ma, with his factory management experience, took on the tedious tasks of labor distribution and resolving conflicts. The conflicts were efficiently coordinated by the succubus Ma Zhigang—men and women alike became more reserved in the presence of the succubus’s naturally charming face.
As for Lynn herself, as Nol’s designated deputy manager, she took on the tasks of research and diplomacy. She was responsible for the Tower’s infrastructure and external relations.
It sounded burdensome but was actually easier than Lynn had expected. So far, few external forces had specifically visited the Lost Tower. She spent most of her time researching magical artifacts and searching for her sister through surveillance.
Lynn was ready for a new era of stability. Unfortunately, as of last night, her workload increased. The events of the previous night revisited her mind. She lay rigid in bed, unwilling to get up.
Nol—Mr. Xu Yue—emerged unpredictably, like mushrooms after the rain.
Last night, just as Lynn was enjoying her freshly baked egg cake, she was suddenly summoned for a meeting. Nol only called for herself and the Luo-Zhu couple, not even Uncle Ma.
Whenever there was a “management only” meeting, Nol always dropped bombshells. Lynn sensed trouble, suspecting Nol had discovered something at The Manor.
She shared her warm cake with Piel and the little ghost girl, bracing herself before entering the meeting room.
Regrettably, her preparation was still insufficient—
The strange situation after the neighbor was expelled by the letter opener. The suspicion of the Demon King’s corruption was a god’s corpse. Three destroyed worlds and their relics. And the message presumably from the Demon King, “To My Compatriots: Please kill me.”
“…What?” Faced with a barrage of shocking news, Lynn summed it up with a dazed question. In comparison, the issues she prepared to report seemed trivial.
“The research of Zhuang Shuhang, I’m afraid I’ll have to entrust it to you,” Nol continued sincerely. “In a few days, I can take you underground to collect some research samples.”
“I understand,” Lynn responded vaguely. “I’m not very knowledgeable about biology, but I can look into the mechanical aspects.”
Nol nodded. “The corruption itself is dangerous. I’ll handle that research. I ask you all to keep today’s matters confidential.”
Compared to their first meeting, there was a subtle change in Nol’s demeanor.
His tone was steadier, without the excessive caution of looking back and forth, and his gestures carried an odd sense of oppression. Lynn had seen such demeanor in the eyes of her military ancestors.
Whatever Nol had experienced, he must have come to terms with many things. If not for the Mad Monk sitting beside him, Nol might have appeared even more reliable—
Teest sat close to Nol, his face bearing a wary smile. God knows why he attended this kind of internal discussion of Earth.
Lynn originally thought Nol and Teest were only cooperating temporarily, using each other until Paradise took shape. After that, there would be no need to contact such dangerous people.
However, not only did their relationship not drift apart, but the atmosphere between them also grew more intimate.
What on earth had happened between these two in these few months?
Teest’s hand was always on Nol’s knee, as if glued there with superglue. Lynn stared doubtfully at that hand but ultimately decided to remain silent.
“Wait, wait, let me get this straight…” Opposite Lynn, Officer Luo said in a daze, “So, there were three worlds before, and they’re all gone? And these worlds are like games, which Xu Yue doesn’t recognize?”
“Not necessarily games. It could be other things, like novels, movies,” Dr. Zhu added precisely. This couple had been oblivious to the world at first. To them, this world was already absurd enough, and hearing even more ridiculous news, they were relatively calm.
“It seems that something is deliberately replicating the worlds from the works of Earth.” Lynn pressed her temples hard. “If this hypothesis holds, Xu Yue must have been involved. Speaking of which, I have something to report.”
Nol nodded. “Please, go ahead.”
“While you were away, we found a young neighbor. He lives in Building No. 4. That night, he was working overtime at home… He was greatly traumatized before and didn’t speak. Just a few days ago, he started to recover. He saw what happened that night.”
Lynn projected a recorded image with magic. In the image, a scarred zombie sat cautiously. To cover his pale, decaying skin, he was wrapped in a uniform. He wore white gloves and a small round hat to cover his thinning hair. Unfortunately, he couldn’t cover the bloodless, horrifyingly curled flesh on his face.
“I work in advertising and usually sleep late,” the zombie said in a sticky, throaty voice. “That night I was sleepy. I went to the kitchen for tea… then I saw light, not the good kind.”
He struggled to gesture, slurring his speech. “Just in those two seconds, the sky suddenly turned red, extremely bright outside. It felt like an earthquake, but not quite. Something flashed in front of me—a dark shadow. I couldn’t see clearly, then my head hurt, and I woke up here.”
After speaking, he seemed to remember something and shivered several times.
“I thought I’d encountered one of those sudden-death transmigration situations,” he said listlessly. “That’s all I saw.”
“It sounds a bit like an explosion.” Officer Luo furrowed his brows.
“So, what Mrs. Meng said isn’t very reliable. If it started with an explosion in Building No. 7, Building No. 4 wouldn’t have had this situation—unless Xu Yue hacked into the nuclear weapons system, he couldn’t have killed everyone instantly.”
Lynn put away the projection. “I’ll ask around more later, but given Mr. Chen’s testimony, the whole process was too short, so don’t get your hopes up too high.”
“There was a similar incident in City B,” Officer Luo said. “But that was in a suburban detached house, a self-built home. There was a major explosion there, flattening nearby farmland and killing two people.”
“That was many years ago,” he continued, shaking his head. “‘The sky turned completely red’ sounds familiar. At that time, the nearby farmers also said they saw the sky bright red.”
“What happened then?” Nol perked up.
“The public explanation was ‘suspected high-risk explosive made by the homeowner.’ My predecessor said that was the only possibility, as the house was blown to bits, making it difficult to gather evidence. In our view, it’s still somewhat of an unsolved case.”
Officer Luo’s tone became serious when talking about the case.
“That could explain Zhuang Shuhang’s situation.” Lynn shifted the topic. “If it was an explosion, it’s understandable to end up like that. It’s a miracle his brain is still intact.”
Perhaps everyone was already fragmented under the guise of monsters. She didn’t voice this thought, but those present might have guessed something. Nol’s expression darkened, and Officer Luo cleared his throat uncomfortably.
Nearby, Teest’s hand on Nol’s knee moved slightly. Then, as if hearing something, Nol’s expression softened a bit.
“Too bad we can’t verify it,” Nol said with a forced smile. “I can’t exactly go around poking people.”
“Right, let’s set aside unverifiable matters for now. Regarding the worlds, the gods, and the underground research, we’ll do our best. And about that Demon King… what do you plan to do next?”
Officer Luo changed the topic, patting his face. “Brother, you’re not planning to meet the Demon King, are you? It might just be tricking you.”
“I’ll be careful,” Nol said gently, his hand lightly brushing over Teest’s hand on his knee.
As expected. Lynn sighed inwardly.
If Nol only wanted to save everyone’s lives, he wouldn’t need to be so dedicated. He could comfortably stay in Paradise, letting the Players figure out a way home.
But as his power grew, he became more proactive—not being pushed forward for survival, not cautiously moving forward to return home, but willingly charging towards the truth.
A strange person.
Regarding last night, after recalling everything, Miss Lynn turned over a few times on the pillow, finally sitting up—regardless, Nol’s proactiveness was beneficial to her. The more she knew about this world, the more clues she would find about her sister.
For the sake of her cherished ones, she too must be at the forefront… Wait, why did she say “too”?
Teest’s hand on Nol reappeared in her mind, and Lynn squinted, pondering for a full ten seconds.
…It couldn’t be, right? Hmm, definitely not what she was thinking! Lynn got out of bed firmly.
Gossiping about colleagues wasn’t good; work was more important.
……
“You didn’t mention our relationship to them, have you?”
During the night, in the depths of the thicket, Teest sighed heavily.
“The people from our side don’t really believe in God. Even if I spoke of it, they wouldn’t understand,” Nol said, making his way towards the depths of the Black Forest in the darkness. “If I told them you are my ‘knight to whom I would entrust my life’, they would just think I’ve been scammed—those guys know you’re the Mad Monk.”
Teest: “…Tsk.”
Nol glanced back at him. “Don’t tsk at me. That’s what you hurriedly promoted yourself as.”
Teest: “…Tsk!”
Mr. Mad Monk, frustrated, trampled on the leaves under his feet, not knowing exactly what he was upset about. Eventually, he took a few steps forward to walk alongside Nol.
“Why are you leading me into the woods in the middle of the night?” Teest muttered. “If it’s just to change clothes… Ah, I see, you also want to interrogate Kando.”
“Interrogate whom?” Kando screamed in Nol’s arms. “This is biting the hand that feeds you!”
“No, I have something else to confirm,” Nol said, holding down the wildly jumping candle. “Just bring the skill enhancement stone.”
“It’s not necessary to come to the forest for that,” Teest said, casually playing with two crystals.
After walking for two or three hours, Nol finally found his target—a patch of gray-white fog drifting through the depths of the Black Forest, obscuring vision.
Nol stood at the center of the fog, took out a skill enhancement stone, and motioned for Teest to step back.
Upon seeing the “skill enhancement stone” as a reward, Nol’s first thought was to use it to strengthen [Fallen Death]. He suppressed the impulse and, after calmly thinking for a few days, had a new idea.
[Fallen Death] was his most useful skill and his biggest reliance. The current [Fallen Death] perfectly suited his situation, with no waste.
Enhancing a skill would bring changes. If the ability of [Fallen Death] to absorb attributes was enhanced and lost, he would have nowhere to cry, so it was better not to tamper with it lightly.
Teest’s “declaring his body as territory” gimmick came to mind, and Nol suddenly thought of something interesting.
By design, the skill enhancement stone would logically enhance a skill and then write it into the user’s skill bar.
Players’ skills were of course in the skill bar, and they all had corresponding enhanced versions. But he wasn’t like that—he still had skills in the external skill slot of [Fallen Death], which were monster skills that he hadn’t considered strengthening.
What would happen if he used the skill enhancement stone on such skills?
[Bloodline Suppression: As the apex of all creatures, you instill innate fear in other species. Only those with strong wills can resist.]
This skill was designed for dragons. Dragons were the apex of all creatures in Tahe, but in today’s world of Tahe, above dragons, there existed “gods”.
Let’s see how far the system can go.
With a snap, Nol crushed the skill enhancement stone.
[Please designate a skill to enhance.] The system’s voice sounded smooth.
“Bloodline Suppression,” Nol responded softly.
[…] The system fell silent, and the enhancement light didn’t light up immediately.
Nol waited patiently, and after a full five minutes, the system finally responded.
[Enhancement calculation complete. Enhancing this skill involves… involves a significant risk of failure. Please confirm again…]
“Confirm enhancing Bloodline Suppression.” Nol was unhesitant.
He was now a Dracolich. Although his attributes were still suppressed by a curse, with the relentless accumulation of [Fallen Death], they were somewhat respectable. Even if he lost this skill, he could bear the consequences.
A dazzling blue flame ignited on Nol, and he suddenly pushed Teest away, listening to the system’s prompt and holding his breath.
[New skill loading into skill slot…]
[Loading complete]
[Breath of a False God: You possess the authority above all beings, invoking the innate fear of all species. ※Your power hasn’t reached the standard. This skill is a weakened version adapted to you.]
He succeeded!
This skill was definitely not weak and was successfully written into the permanent skill bar.
Nol turned to Teest, intending to share his fresh joy. He had just stepped half a step closer when his bones crackled.
In Teest’s shocked gaze, a huge shadow unfolded before him.
The author has something to say:
At the beginning:
Miss Lynn (to Nol): Although a person’s XP is free, you… (hesitates)
Much later:
Miss Lynn (to Teest): Although a person’s XP is free… (omitted)
After resolving a major problem, everyone joyfully returned to the spaceship. Huo Luo excitedly sang a tribal song on the public channel, a tune that the Tianxiu people could never appreciate, but Xiao Hui, though not understanding a word, bobbed his head and followed along.
Red Head, having just experienced intense passion in space, was now as red as his hair. He braced himself for Ling Xiao’s mockery but was instead greeted with a powerful embrace.
“Thank goodness you’re okay,” Ling Xiao said, still shaken. “I would have been overwhelmed with guilt if something had happened to you.”
“How could anything happen to me? I have my little angel halo protecting me.”
“Talk less.” Bing Cui pulled Red Head aside for treatment. “The Ember inside you isn’t completely purified yet.”
With the crisis averted, the fatigue in Ling Xiao’s body heavily set in, and he yawned repeatedly.
Yu Ji looked around worriedly. Although the Peacekeeping Force wouldn’t reappear for now, and the severely injured Zhen He had been forcibly taken to Tianxiu, the cost was high—Ying Feng could no longer use his mental power, Ling Xiao was exhausted, Qian Si was suffering from side effects, and Shuang Feng also had significant depletion.
Shuang Feng noticed his concern and reassured, “Once we pass the stargate ahead, we’ll be in Shuixiu’s territory, a high-security area. Shuixiu has tense relations with Huangxiu and has always been protected by Tianxiu. There shouldn’t be any danger.”
“That’s good.” Yu Ji relaxed slightly, glancing at Ling Xiao, who had fallen asleep on Ying Feng’s shoulder, and at Red Head, still flushed. “We can take some time to let them rest.”
Just as Shuang Feng said, the vicinity of Shuixiu was peaceful. After the intense battle, the sudden quietness was almost unsettling.
Ling Xiao had a long dream where Ying Feng and Red Head were both in danger. He was torn, unable to save either, and woke up, realizing it was just a nightmare.
“Did you have a nightmare?” Ying Feng asked, seeing Ling Xiao wake up abruptly.
“Yeah,” Ling Xiao replied sleepily, instinctively touching Ying Feng’s forehead, still warm but much better than during the coma. “I dreamt about that question.”
“What question?”
“The one we answered in the couple’s game, about whom to save first, your best friend or the person you love most.”
“You chose the friend.”
Ling Xiao thought Ying Feng wouldn’t remember and hesitated. “Yes, but when it actually happened, I found I couldn’t choose either.”
Touching his chest, he continued, “I just came back to save you while knowing Red Head was in trouble. Thankfully, he escaped by himself. If something had happened, I would have been so scared just thinking about it.”
Ying Feng patted his head. “It’s alright now, isn’t it?”
“Don’t use your mental power!” Ling Xiao said anxiously.
“This doesn’t consume mental power.”
“Really?” Ling Xiao leaned in. “Then pet me some more.”
Ying Feng, amused and exasperated, smoothed his hair again. Ling Xiao, enjoying the comfort, was about to suggest Red Head try it too, but noticed that Red Head’s blush seemed abnormal.
“It’s been so long, why are you still embarrassed,” Ling Xiao teased. “Don’t worry, I’ve already forgotten about your public kiss in space.”
Red Head barely managed to open his eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t feel well.”
Red Head’s admission of discomfort caught everyone’s attention. “What’s wrong?”
“The spot where I was hit in the back still hurts a bit.”
He downplayed it, but everyone knew that the pain was serious enough for him to bear so long and still speak of it wasn’t minor.
“Let me check.” Bing Can lifted the shirt off Red Head’s back and then froze.
Seeing Bing Can’s expression, which was rare, Ling Xiao hurried over and reacted the same way.
Soon, everyone except Red Head saw the change on his back. From the cervical to the sacral spine, at each vertebra joint, there was a glowing circle. Along the spine, thin lines of light connected these circles, resembling a narrow star chart.
Seeing everyone silent, Red Head became anxious. “What do you see? What’s on my back?”
No one present had seen anything like it before.
“What should we do?” Yu Ji asked.
“Contact the base,” Bing Can said quickly.
The base was connected at high speed, and upon seeing the star chart on Red Hair’s back, Yu Quan’s expression darkened unimaginably.
“Was there a foreign object that entered your spine?”
“Yes,” Red Head said uneasily. “But I can’t feel any wounds.”
“What exactly is this?” Bing Can urgently asked.
“Since the Peacekeeping Force couldn’t capture any of us alive, they developed this device. If it hits the right spot, it can instantly collect and transmit the hostage’s genetic data.”
“So that strange sphere wasn’t to take anyone away, just to trap them to prevent rescue or suicide?” Ling Xiao asked anxiously, “Is there any way to remove it?”
Yu Quan slowly shook his head. “This device has high precision requirements for hitting, but once it does, removing it would be fatal.”
Yu Quan’s words fell like a bucket of dry ice. “The genetic collection has a process. When the two lines completely connect, that process ends, and the Peacekeeping Force will have a complete Tianxiu gene.”
Prompted by his words, everyone noticed that the two thin lines weren’t static; they were slowly spreading towards each other, much closer than before, with less than a finger’s width between them.
“So Red Head is going to…? Is there really no other way?” Ling Xiao was almost in tears.
“I just received this information recently. If I had more time, maybe I could find a solution, but now…” His voice was filled with helplessness, and everyone could hear the apology in his tone.
Fu Yao, who had returned to the base, silently listened to the entire conversation, his joy of regaining what was lost not yet fully fermented before turning into cruel despair.
“I’m sorry! If I had just…”
“It’s not your fault,” Bing Can interrupted Ling Xiao. “Your choice was correct. If it were me, I would have made the same decision.”
Red Head smiled, no trace of complaint on his face. “After all, Ying Feng is our hope.”
“There must be a solution.” Ling Xiao refused to give up. “We’ve overcome such difficult times. How can we stop here?”
Ying Feng’s wrist terminal beeped, and Ling Xiao only had time to see Fu Yao’s name before Ying Feng subtly withdrew his hand.
“There’s no time left,” Ying Feng suddenly said, startling Ling Xiao, who clutched him tightly.
“I know, just give me a few more words.”
Bing Can took Red Head to a corner, their foreheads touching, whispering something, while Ying Feng stepped forward, his arm tightly grasped.
Ying Feng turned around, and almost in that instant, tears burst from Ling Xiao’s eyes.
“What did the Marshal just tell you?” He whispered in a volume only the two of them could hear.
Ying Feng remained silent, struggling to withdraw his hand, finding it difficult.
“Did he ask you to do it yourself?”
Ying Feng’s arm was painfully gripped by Ling Xiao, but it was nothing compared to the sting of the tears.
“He is my friend, my best friend.” Ling Xiao struggled to repeat these words.
“I know,” Ying Feng responded. “Do you remember that game?”
Ling Xiao lowered his head, tears rolling down continuously. “If only this were just a game.”
Ying Feng also wished it were, but time was running out. Just as he was about to use his power as a Qizhu to force Ling Xiao to let go, Ling Xiao voluntarily released his grip.
“I understand.” Ling Xiao wiped his tears and stepped back. “I’ll distract Bing Can.”
But at that moment, Bing Can’s voice was heard.
“Yu Ji, how far are we from our destination?”
Yu Ji, with red-rimmed eyes, replied, “Still 6,000 EAU.”
“Ying Feng, Ling Xiao, sorry, this is as far as we can take you,” he said calmly. “Please take our belongings back.”
“Bing Can!”
“Recognize me in the next life,” Red Head said cheerfully to Ling Xiao. “You, the little monkey with royal genes.”
“Red Head!”
Before Ling Xiao could say anything, Bing Can swiftly pulled out the dagger from Red Head’s waist, clicked it against his own, and in a snap, the two daggers became one. He thrust one end straight into Red Head’s heart and the other end towards himself. Leaning forward, the two became inseparable, their souls entwined, flying out of the cabin into the vast cosmos.
“What happened?” Huo Luo asked anxiously. “I just saw two blue lights fly away. What’s going on?”
His voice echoed alone in the grief-filled space. Ling Xiao walked to where they had left, tears in his eyes, picking up the closely clasped daggers and pulling out the ungiven remembrance stone from his waist.
“I will definitely take your belongings back to Tianxiu,” he promised, hearing Red Head’s cheerful laughter as if coming from the crooked marks. “I promise.”
Huo Luo’s communication continued, but the content changed.
“The scouts report that the acceleration track to Huoxiu is blocked by Huangxiu’s troops. Should we change course?”
“We can’t,” Yu Ji replied, fighting back immense sorrow. “Changing course means detouring, straying too far from Tianxiu. Our soul traction is getting severe; I can feel my strength draining, and Ying Feng doesn’t have much time left.”
“Passing here is the limit our bodies can endure. It’s the territory of Huoxiu,” Shuang Feng added.
“Then let’s fight them while we still can!” Huo Luo, leading Thunder Wolf, charged ahead, and the Wolf Star troops soon engaged fiercely with the independent army of Huangxiu. The blockade remained unbroken despite the intense battle.
As the fight dragged on, with casualties on both sides, the situation became increasingly unfavorable for them.
“They are evenly matched, but we can’t let the Wolf Star forces deplete too much here. Ying Feng needs them for the last stretch,” Yu Ji said, standing up.
Ling Xiao pocketed the belongings of Red Head and Bing Can and pulled out something else. “You’re right. I haven’t used my Ember yet. Let me go.”
He took a step, but suddenly felt a pain in his neck and lost control of his body.
Yu Ji, who easily took the Ember from Ling Xiao’s hand, said, “Let me go instead. Remember, you have a more important task.”
Before Ling Xiao could react, Yu Ji was already at the hatch. Freed but determined to follow, Ling Xiao protested. “You can’t use Ember…”
Before he could finish, the same sensation struck him, and Shuang Feng calmly walked past him, immobilized. “I’ve learned it too.”
Shuang Feng stood beside Yu Ji, an orange syringe appearing in his hand. “You must take Ying Feng back.”
As they rushed out, Ling Xiao lunged to follow but only hit the cold cabin wall.
“There’s a gap in the blockade!” Xiao Hui asked Ying Feng anxiously, “What do we do?”
“Full speed ahead!”
Xiao Hui pushed the control stick, and the spaceship, along with the Wolf Star’s mech troops, broke through the blockade from the gap. Two tiny figures behind them blocked all pursuit, their shadows gradually receding into the vast cosmos, eventually becoming two indistinguishable specks of dust.
“We’re 3 EAU away from the acceleration track, 2, 1… Jump engine activated, beginning acceleration…” Xiao Hui’s voice was methodical as the spaceship, under the track’s influence, sped towards their next destination at light speed.
“We’re reaching the critical point. Are you okay, Ling Xiao?” Xiao Hui turned back to ask, just in time to see Ling Xiao collapse to the floor, as if he had suddenly malfunctioned.
“Slow down!” Ying Feng quickly instructed him, moving forward to pick him up. There was a barely noticeable pause in the air before he placed Ling Xiao back in the chair.
“How are you feeling?” Ying Feng squatted beside him.
“I can’t seem to move much.” Ling Xiao struggled to wiggle his fingers, “but I think I can go a little further.”
“We’ve gone far enough.”
“Have we?” Ling Xiao’s voice was slightly stiff. “Your power is also greatly reduced, right? You almost couldn’t lift me just now.”
Ying Feng couldn’t refute but said, “I will definitely come back.”
“I believe you will come back.” Ling Xiao gazed intently at Ying Feng. “I also believe you will succeed.”
Thunder Wolf approached the spaceship. “There’s not much time left. Hand over Ying Feng to me!”
Ying Feng didn’t get up but instead brushed the hair from Ling Xiao’s face.
“Thank you for accompanying me this far.”
“I’ve always said you are my pride,” Ling Xiao smiled faintly. “And I want to be your pride too.”
The shuttle, escorted by the mechs, quickly disappeared, leaving the spaceship carrying Ling Xiao and Xiao Hui floating in place.
“Xiao Hui.”
“What’s up?” Xiao Hui immediately ran over.
“Go a little further forward.”
Xiao Hui hesitated. “But we’ve already reached your limit.”
“I know,” Ling Xiao slowly blinked, “but I feel that if we’re closer to him, there’s a higher chance he’ll come back.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry, I know what my body can handle.”
Reluctantly, Xiao Hui advanced a bit further towards Huoxiu and then refused to move any further.
Ling Xiao lay quietly in the chair, appearing asleep, and only after a long time did he open his eyes.
“How much time has passed?”
Xiao Hui checked the time. “They should have arrived by now.”
Ling Xiao weakly nodded, then started talking about trivial matters.
“Even though I found you, I regret that I didn’t spend much time with you.”
Xiao Hui, recalling the past, lowered his head sadly.
“When we get back, you should go with Luoluo back to Wolf Star and learn your mother tongue. That’s your homeland, where your kind is. Staying in Tianxiu, you’ll always be an outsider.”
Xiao Hui silently nodded.
“Let me pet your fur one more time.”
The tall figure vanished, replaced by a gray wolf, no longer cute but very majestic. Ling Xiao lifted his hand with difficulty and slowly stroked its back.
“It’s not as soft as when you were younger,” he remarked.
“It’s prickly.”
Suddenly, Xiao Hui, now a wolf, excitedly howled towards the window. Ling Xiao turned to see, and blue souls streaked past the window, flying towards the direction of Tianxiu, like a grand meteor shower of the century.
“He succeeded.” Ling Xiao watched this rare spectacle. At that moment, the warning indicator for Ying Feng’s condition lit up red.
“It’s time for him to come back.”
Ling Xiao mustered all his strength, pulling out another transparent syringe from his pocket. “This time, no one will stop me.”
But before he could grip it firmly, the syringe rolled onto the floor.
“It seems I can’t do it,” he called Xiao Hui for help.
Xiao Hui, back in human form, picked up the syringe, hesitating to inject it into Ling Xiao’s arm.
“If Ying Feng doesn’t return, you’ll perish here,” he said worriedly.
Ling Xiao smiled slightly. “After living with him for so long, don’t you trust him?”
Xiao Hui hesitated but proceeded at Ling Xiao’s insistence.
“Hurry, Ying Feng is running out of time.”
Xiao Hui, with a determined bite, injected the needle into Ling Xiao’s skin, slowly pushing the liquid in.
“Do you know?” Ling Xiao murmured, “In my last life, it took two injections to kill me. I always thought I’d need two this life too.”
A blinding white light flashed. Xiao Hui, afraid of the brightness, closed his eyes. When he reopened them, Ying Feng, who should have been miles away, was already standing before them.
Ling Xiao looked up at him with a smile. “You’re back.”
“I am back,” Ying Feng said softly.
“I knew it. You wouldn’t let me down.”
“Being your Qizi in this life, I am very happy.”
“If I can in the next life, I still wish to…”
Ying Feng extended his right fist. Ling Xiao slowly raised his own, and their fists finally collided in the air.
But in that instant, Ling Xiao’s hand passed through Ying Feng’s translucent body, limply falling down.
Bright spots of light surrounded Ling Xiao, dancing around, telling of their love, from their first meeting in the first life, through countless lifetimes, never ceasing.
Tears rolled down Ling Xiao’s cheeks, but the smile never left his lips.
“Don’t worry. I’m not sad,” Ling Xiao explained to Xiao Hui. “This is a natural reaction when one of the pact partners departs. Quick, bring it here.”
Xiao Hui hurriedly opened the bottle he was holding, and the gathered soul fragments tumbled into it. He quickly sealed the bottle and carefully placed it in Ling Xiao’s arms.
Ling Xiao hugged the bottle containing Ying Feng’s soul close, rubbing his cheek against it.
An old grandmother and her granddaughter died here. Both of them died in a similar manner: their heads covered with nylon bags, their faces beaten beyond recognition, and their limbs tied into bizarre shapes. As for the floor and walls inside the room, they were all painted with inverted pentagrams.
Xiong Fei and Li Yuan seemed to have become Satan’s minions, constantly killing in the human world and sending them to hell to serve the devil.
After the murders, they left Room 1112 and headed for the elevator.
While waiting for the elevator this time, a wound suddenly appeared on Xiong Fei’s neck, and blood spurted out instantly.
Xiong Fei quickly held his head, seemingly trying to prevent it from falling off.
Afterward, the two of them took the elevator and left.
After the two left, the door to Room 1104 opened, and a woman in a red dress came out.
Before leaving, she yelled into the room, “That’s right, what you’ve given me has never been what I wanted!”
Perhaps because she was too angry, the woman stumbled as she walked out. Her high heels slipped off, and she twisted her foot.
The opposite door of room 1103 opened, and a handsome man walked out.
When he saw the woman, he looked at her with a hint of pity.
Meeting his gaze, the woman lowered her head, as if feeling ashamed to be seen by him in her current state.
The man, however, seemed unconcerned. He walked over to help her up, and seeing that she couldn’t walk, he simply carried her to the elevator entrance.
In a seductive tone, he said to her, “Being with the wrong person isn’t your fault. You deserve better.”
The woman blushed and buried her face in his chest.
The elevator doors opened, and the man carried the woman inside. A moment later, both of them had disappeared.
“My god, what the hell is going on here?” He Xiaowei couldn’t help but say.
“I have some guesses. Let’s get on the elevator first.”
Having said this, Zhou Qian took Bai Zhou’s hand and walked forward, pressing the elevator’s up button.
Inside the elevator, the digital display still showed they were on the 9th floor.
Zhou Qian glanced at the number and pressed the button for the 11th floor.
The elevator soon arrived.
Exiting the elevator, Zhou Qian immediately turned left and walked to the end of the corridor.
This time, at the end of the 11th floor corridor, there was only Room 1107.
As for the old room 1108 where a family of three had died, it had once again appeared to be sealed off with cement.
Seeing this, Zhou Qian went to the opposite room 1107 and swiped his key card.
The room was still empty.
However, this room didn’t have the lampshade decorated with swastikas and human skin tattoos, nor the cold towel with ice cubes left by Bai Zhou. Clearly, this wasn’t the room they had originally stayed in.
After a quick look around the room and making some kind of confirmation, Zhou Qian left room 1107.
Unsurprisingly, they encountered the third murder.
This murder took place in Room 1110.
The victims were still a couple. However, this time there were no children at the scene.
The details of this case were somewhat similar to the previous one, where a family of three were the victims, only this time the roles were reversed.
Initially, the husband was alone in room 1110 and was beaten to death by the fat man Li Yuan.
Later, the wife appeared, accompanied by the bald-headed man Xiong Fei.
The wife didn’t immediately enter the room but clung to Xiong Fei’s hand, seemingly reluctant to let go.
“Once I go back… I’ll have so many troubles.”
She sighed. “This vacation with my husband was supposed to mend our relationship. We used to argue about our child all the time, so we thought we’d try traveling alone… but it seems it didn’t work.”
“He’s not like you. You’re so considerate. You’re the best.
“Ah… The thought of seeing his face later makes me uncomfortable.”
Xiong Fei’s expression changed slightly, but only for a moment.
He quickly returned to his usual demeanor and said, “Don’t you want to go back? But if he finds out… maybe you should go back first. We have plenty of time in the future.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll go back now.”
She sighed and approached the door of Room 1113.
Perhaps because she no longer had any feelings for her husband, unlike the victims in the previous cases, when she saw the blood flowing from under the door, her first reaction was not to check on him but to turn and run.
However, this didn’t change her fate.
The moment she turned around, a small hammer raised by Xiong Fei from the side knocked her out.
The door to Room 1113 then opened, and Li Yuan came out. He grabbed her by the ankles and dragged her into the room.
After killing the two individuals and leaving behind a room with a pentagram ritual circle, Xiong Fei and Li Yuan took the elevator and left.
After the two killers departed, the story of the handsome man living in 1103 and the woman in a red dress from 1104 played out again unexpectedly. This time, as if on cue, they both emerged from their respective rooms at almost the same moment. The instant they opened their doors, they exchanged smiles, showing a deep connection. Afterward, they walked hand in hand down the corridor.
“Why do you always wear a red dress when you see me?”
“Because the first time I met you, I was wearing a red dress. I bought many identical ones… I want to commemorate that day.”
“I get it. Every time we meet, it’s as if it’s our first.”
“Yes. Every time I see you… it feels like the first time.”
After a brief conversation, the two entered the elevator and left.
Subsequent to this, Zhou Qian and his two companions didn’t make any moves for the time being.
They went to the public resting area opposite the elevator; Zhou Qian and Bai Zhou sat side by side on a couch, while He Xiaowei sat on a single soft-back chair beside them.
Looking at Zhou Qian, He Xiaowei was the first to ask, “What… What does all this mean?”
Zhou Qian replied, “It was a bit confusing at first. But after watching it a few times, it’s actually not that hard to understand. Even though it seems the man and the woman can see us, and so can Xiong Fei and Li Yuan, and they even talk to us, there’s no substantial interaction between them and us.”
He Xiaowei scratched his head. “So, does this mean… we can treat everything they do as just an animation or cutscene?”
“Yes. As to the real situation, it’s hard to tell. But for now, we can treat it as an animation.” Zhou Qian explained, “The hotel has 12 floors, but now every floor has become the 11th floor. So, my theory is—”
“We’re always on the 11th floor, and the elevator acts as a medium connecting different time spaces. The numbers on the elevator’s panel no longer determine which floor we’re going to, but which time on the 11th floor.”
“That makes sense! But I can’t find a pattern.” He Xiaowei continued, “I met you guys on the 9th floor. But before that, I took the elevator in and out of the 9th floor several times. Every time I got out, the situation on the 11th floor was different!”
What He Xiaowei said makes sense.
The reason Zhou Qian went back to the 11th floor was to check the situation there again.
From his perspective, he entered a strange space when he went down to the lobby to buy something and then returned to the 11th floor.
At that time, he encountered Xiong Fei and Li Yuan, who had “resurrected” and “changed their personalities”.
When he returned to room 1107, the ice cubes and towels were still there.
But now, after he went to the 9th floor and met He Xiaowei and then returned to the 11th floor with him, the items in room 1107 had changed. Although he was back on the 11th floor, the situation was completely different from before.
“Yes. The elevator panel leads to different time spaces, but it’s not fixed. We need to find out the specific pattern. However, we can ascertain one thing— “
Zhou Qian added, “As we previously discussed, for now, we can treat Xiong Fei and Li Yuan’s murder story and the love story between the man and the woman as animations. They’re playing out two entirely different storylines. So, whenever we exit the elevator, we see different parts of these two animations.”
The woman in the red dress had a troubled relationship with her original husband, with marital discord likely being one of the main reasons.
Additionally, for some unknown reason, they didn’t stay at home but lived in the Saiya Hotel. At least the woman in the red dress did. Hence, she had ample opportunities to cheat. And indeed, she fell in love with the man in room 1103 across from her.
Now, as players traverse different floors, they witness fragments of their story—their meeting, getting to know each other, and falling in love.
After hearing Zhou Qian’s explanation, He Xiaowei nodded. “I get it. When we go to different floors, we’re actually watching different parts of their story. But, we only see what’s related to the 11th floor. We don’t know what they did in other parts of Blue Harbor City.”
“Well, about the story of Xiong Fei and Li Yuan, it’s actually quite easy to understand,” Zhou Qian said. “The ‘animations’ we see are actually the system’s way of vividly showing us their methods of killing. So far, from the three cases we’ve seen, their method of killing has always been the same, involving a well-coordinated collaboration. They don’t target individuals who are alone; their targets are always pairs.”
“To kill two people, it would be much easier to use methods like drugging. However, before Xiong Fei and Li Yuan kill, they clearly need to conduct a specific ritual. Not only do they have to physically beat their victims to death, but they also require their victims to recite words swearing loyalty to Satan.”
“So, they can’t use indirect means like drugs; they have to do it bluntly.”
“In such a situation, if both victims are in the room, it might be hard for them to act.”
“Hence, in each case, one killer lures one victim out while the other enters the room to kill the remaining victim.”
In the first case, a family of three was victimized.
It appeared Li Yuan seduced the husband and lured him out.
Thus, it became much easier for Xiong Fei to deal with the wife and daughter alone.
After Xiong Fei finished the act, Li Yuan, timing it perfectly, brought the husband back. Upon his return, he walked into an ambush and was also murdered.
In the second case, the victims were an elderly grandmother and her granddaughter.
The granddaughter was a female athlete. With both present, and a direct approach, the killers might not have had an easy opportunity.
So, Xiong Fei seduced the granddaughter, taking her out on a date, while Li Yuan killed the grandmother left alone in the room.
In the end, the granddaughter was killed upon returning with Xiong Fei.
The third case followed the same logic.
Xiong Fei seduced the wife.
The husband left alone in the room was then killed by Li Yuan.
Finally, Xiong Fei brought the wife back and killed her at the same crime scene.
After a pause, Zhou Qian said, “What I’m wondering now is—if there’s a pattern among the victims of these three cases.”
Bai Zhou took over. “In the first case, the husband had an affair, in the third, the wife did, and in the second…”
He Xiaowei interrupted, “In the second case, I suspect it’s also related to having an affair!”
Zhou Qian asked, “How so?”
He Xiaowei explained, “Didn’t I mention earlier that the system asked me to help an elderly woman downstairs to the lobby? She must be the recent victim. Although she was unrecognizable due to the beating, I recognized her clothes.”
“When I was helping her downstairs, she chatted with me. She mentioned she came to Blue Harbor City to accompany her granddaughter, who was participating in a competition. She mentioned I seemed nice and would have introduced me to her granddaughter if she wasn’t already married.
“So, her granddaughter was married. And if she was out dating Xiong Fei, isn’t that cheating?”
“Hmm… So maybe when the killers choose their targets, it’s related to infidelity.”
Zhou Qian reflected, then self-corrected, “No, if we phrase it that way, the causality is wrong. The decision to target the victims precedes the seduction. It should be said that the victims are primarily those prone to infidelity, possessing a trait of ‘prone to cheating’.”
Take the first case as an example.
Perhaps the husband was already known to be unfaithful and was easily seduced.
The killers targeted this kind of person.
Given the victim’s personality, he was easily lured.
Therefore, one of the killer duo was sent to seduce him, and once successful, they seized the opportunity to kill his wife and even their child. Then, finally, the husband was also killed.
The subsequent cases follow a similar pattern; only the “easy-to-cheat” target switches from male to female.
After hearing Zhou Qian’s explanation, He Xiaowei speculated, “Shh… I might have found a connection between the two storylines! The woman in the red dress also cheated! She’s likely one of the victims!”
Zhou Qian neither agreed nor disagreed; he just listened while shaking his head.
He Xiaowei continued, “But wait. I still don’t get one thing… If the killer hates cheaters, why not just kill the one who cheated? Why kill their family too?”
“This goes into the killer’s specific motive,” Zhou Qian answered. “That’s something we still aren’t clear about.”
“The killer’s motive… Why are the killers Li Yuan and Xiong Fei?”
He Xiaowei pondered, seeming perplexed. “What’s their motive? Oh right—”
“One of the killers seduces and lures the victim out, while the other takes advantage of the isolated victim. I get that. But why Li Yuan… I mean, no offense to heavy people—I’m overweight too. But how can he easily seduce someone’s husband? It doesn’t make sense.”
“And Xiong Fei, to be honest, looks average. Why could he easily lure and seduce a woman?”
After a long silence, Zhou Qian said, “Xiong Fei does indeed look average. But… the man from room 1103 is handsome and charming.”
“Li Yuan is overweight, and being gay is still a minority. So theoretically, he shouldn’t be able to easily seduce men. However, the girl in the red dress is undeniably stunning.”
He Xiaowei gasped. “Wait… are you suggesting…”
Zhou Qian looked at the closed elevator for a moment, then got up and pulled Bai Zhou with him. He pressed the up button on the elevator. “Let’s go. Whether the truth is as I’ve guessed, we might find out after the next ‘animation’.”
One minute later.
Zhou Qian, Bai Zhou, and He Xiaowei arrived on the 12th floor.
Of course, it was only the number “12” displayed on the elevator’s panel.
They left the elevator, but they were still on the 11th floor.
At the end of the left corridor, room 1108 was sealed off with cement.
This time, the incident took place in room 1212.
The deceased were still a couple.
The husband was, as usual, seduced by Li Yuan and wasn’t present as he had a date with her.
Seizing this opportunity, Xiong Fei sneaked into the room and killed the wife.
Later, when the husband returned holding Li Yuan’s hand, he noticed blood under the door. Upon entering to inspect the situation, Xiong Fei suffocated him with a nylon bag.
After the murder and drawing a pentagram, Xiong Fei and Li Yuan took the elevator and left.
Shortly after, a man and a woman appeared.
Unlike their previous passionate encounters or their initial reserved interactions, this time the two ran out from room 1103 where the man was staying.
The tall, handsome man looked furious, striding forward with a stern face.
The woman, still in her red dress, fell to her knees as she ran out, holding onto the man’s leg.
“Please, don’t go! Don’t leave me. What happened today… It was an accident. I don’t know why he came looking for me! We are already divorced!”
“No. On reflection, we were both wrong. You were wrong. I was wrong too.”
“I…I didn’t…”
“No. We are both married. We betrayed our spouses.”
“It’s not like that. He—”
“I heard it, your husband was asking you to come back. What’s wrong with him… Why? Why would he indulge a wrongdoer like you? You’re a sinner. I’m a sinner. He, who led you astray and indulged your mistakes, is also a sinner.”
“We’re all sinners. We should go to hell to atone.”
After saying this, the man shoved the woman aside and tried to leave.
The woman lunged at him again, falling to her knees. The moment her knee hit the ground, it made a loud impact noise, indicating she was probably seriously hurt.
It seemed the man had no pity for her. “We have to atone. We did wrong.”
The woman, breaking down, said, “I… I’ll atone with you. As long as you don’t leave me, anything is fine!”
Hearing this, the man took out a badge from his sleeve and handed it to her.
At this moment, Zhou Qian could clearly see that the design on the badge was an inverted pentagram.
The man said to her, “Then atone with me. We have to repay.”
After saying this, the man took the hand of the woman in the red dress and left with her by elevator.
Watching the elevator doors close again, Zhou Qian said, “Hmm. I’m pretty sure now that my deduction is correct.”
“Not long ago, He Xiaowei said that the woman in the red dress had an affair, so she’s also a victim. This connects two storylines.”
“But as you all saw…”
“The woman in the red dress is likely not a victim. She’s probably one of the killers. That’s the real connection between the two storylines. So—”
“I need to correct something. In Hall C’s serial murder case, there’s more than two killers.”
“The killer related to the swastika and tattoos, without other evidence, is temporarily considered as one person.”
“But in the nylon bag and inverted pentagram serial killings, the real culprits are a man and a woman working together. The male killer lures female victims, and the female killer lures male victims, cooperating in the murders.”
“I think they do this firstly to test if the victims are prone to infidelity or making mistakes; secondly, for the convenience of murder; and thirdly, after killing so many, they turned it into a ritualistic act.”
Zhou Qian concluded, “So… the animation of the man and woman is about how two normal people became killers. Clearly, this girl was brainwashed by the one she had an affair with, joining a Satan-related cult.”
“They stayed in the Saiya Hotel, becoming hunters of the hotel, targeting promiscuous or conflicted individuals.”
“I guess, in the end, they might have died. They killed all they could within their capabilities. Before getting caught by the police, they might have committed suicide. After all, the man just said he was going to hell to atone.”
“These murderers worship Satan, not fearing death. They not only want to go to hell but also send as many servants to Satan as possible before they do.”
“Perhaps they even believe that killing is an achievement. After going to hell, they will be praised by Satan.”
“Anyway… I think the two of them are dead.”
“Their existence, like a process animation, is a hint from the system for us to clear the level.”
“Assuming this place is some alternate dimension, they might have turned into ghosts after death. After becoming ghosts and using someone else’s identity, they reenact the story of their past crimes. This might also be a direct hint from the system.”
“The most crucial hint hidden here is…”
“Ghosts can take on the appearance of our teammates, like the Xiong Fei and Li Yuan we see now.”
“After the male and female killers died and turned into ghosts, these two ghosts appeared as Xiong Fei and Li Yuan, repeatedly enacting the crimes on different floors to different victims.”
“Of course, I still don’t understand what this space is. The actual situation might be much more complicated. After all, after killing, Xiong Fei and Li Yuan greeted us. They have the memories of players.”
“But for now, I can’t find another term to describe this unknown entity, so I’ll just call it a ‘ghost’.”
“How ghosts become players and why they have their memories, I still haven’t figured out. However—”
At this point, Zhou Qian gave He Xiaowei, who stood in the dim corridor light, a meaningful look.
“One thing is certain. There might be many ‘ghosts’ in this space. They can take on the appearance of players, appear beside us, and then potentially look for an opportunity to kill us.”
He continued, “So, the reason I’ve been talking to you for so long, explaining in such detail… is to test whether or not you’re a ‘ghost’.”
He Xiaowei was stunned, then burst out laughing. “Qian’er, are you joking? How could I possibly…”
“Yes, how could Xiaowei be a ghost? We’ve been talking for so long, and I feel that you’re still you. A ‘ghost’ couldn’t possibly imitate so perfectly. So, it’s not possible.”
Zhou Qian smiled, raised Bai Zhou’s arm that he was holding, and then looked at him. “Zhou Ge is also one of us. From now on, it’s better for the three of us to act together so as not to give the ‘ghost’ an opportunity. I guess—”
After a pause, Zhou Qian said, “The exhibition hall designs virtual game instances with a function to explain the killer’s motive. Since this male-female killer duo worship Satan… the exhibition hall might really construct a hell in the game.”
“So, this alternate space is probably something like hell.”
“Now that so many people have died, if they all become ghosts, and subsequently take on the identity of players, then that’s troublesome.”
After Zhou Qian finished speaking, he noticed that Bai Zhou seemed lost in thought, as if unresponsive to his words.
He Xiaowei didn’t say anything for a while either, seemingly deep in thought.
Zhou Qian narrowed his eyes, scratched Bai Zhou’s palm, and then noticed a hint of red fleeting across Bai Zhou’s pupils. It was so brief that it seemed like Zhou Qian’s imagination.
Finally, He Xiaowei spoke up. “Wait, that’s not right—”
“How do they obtain these identities?” He Xiaowei asked with confusion, “The two Hall D players, Li Yuan and Xiong Fei, were killed by the swastika killer and died in reality. Were their souls taken over and possessed by ‘ghosts’? Can I understand it that way?”
“That’s indeed a possibility,” Zhou Qian replied. “Hmm… your thought is quite reliable. If ghosts only change their appearance, that doesn’t explain the memory issue.
“The ghosts imitating Li Yuan and Xiong Fei recognize us and can call out our names… The theory of possession is indeed more plausible. They take over the player’s body and subsequently acquire the related memories of the player.”
Upon hearing this, He Xiaowei patted his chest. “From what you’re saying, there won’t actually be a second me or a second you. If I die in reality, only a ghost could possibly possess me. Right?”
“True. That makes sense.” Zhou Qian pondered. “If there isn’t anything like parallel universes, but just spirits possessing bodies to revive them, then yes, that’s the case.”
“So, what we need to guard against next isn’t one of us! What we should really be wary of are those killed by Xiong Fei and Li Yuan. Who knows when they might start a killing spree against us. But…”
“We don’t have anyone here with the ‘prone to cheating’ characteristic, do we?!”
He Xiaowei scratched his head. “There aren’t even couples here. How does this death condition get triggered?”
Hearing this, Zhou Qian smiled and glanced at Bai Zhou, releasing the hand he was holding.
At this moment, Bai Zhou’s pupils looking at Zhou Qian suddenly deepened, his demeanor drastically different from usual.
Yet Zhou Qian seemed oblivious to any change.
He simply said, “He Xiaowei’s idea is quite accurate. That man and woman are the real culprits behind the serial killings. They have now possessed Li Yuan and Xiong Fei. After finishing the animation and the game hint function, they’ll likely make their move on us. So, based on their analysis—”
“Their targets are always couples. We shouldn’t stay together.”
“So, Zhou Ge—”
Staring into Bai Zhou’s eyes, Zhou Qian emphasized word by word. “Zhou Ge, we need to split up.”
At this very moment, the three were right outside room 1107.
Across from them, room 1108 had turned into a wall again.
As for the situation inside 1107, no one knew.
Bai Zhou’s expression changed dramatically, showing an unprecedented level of seriousness and gloom.
He stared at Zhou Qian without blinking, knocking hard on the door of room 1107. When no one answered, he kicked the door open with force.
Seemingly sensing something was amiss, Zhou Qian’s face changed instantly.
His pupils constricted, and he warily looked at the now unfamiliar Bai Zhou.
Taking a few steps back, he shouted to He Xiaowei, “He Xiaowei, something’s off with him. Run! We need to run! Head to the elevator!”
“Okay, okay, I’m on it…” He Xiaowei turned and ran, heading in the direction of the elevator.
Zhou Qian backed up a few steps, quickly turning to follow He Xiaowei.
The next moment, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Zhou Qian almost cried out, “What’s going on? Who are you?”
Bai Zhou seemed to ignore him.
He gripped Zhou Qian’s wrist tightly with one hand while swiftly wrapping his other arm around Zhou Qian’s waist, quickly pulling him into the room.
Once inside, Bai Zhou didn’t hesitate, swiftly delivering two powerful kicks. The first one slammed the door shut, causing a loud bang. The second kick sent a sofa, along with a coffee table, crashing against the broken door, effectively barricading it.
In the ensuing struggle, Zhou Qian seized a moment to free his wrist and tried to run.
However, without the ability to use any skills, he was no match for Bai Zhou.
Bai Zhou grabbed him by the waist and shockingly threw him onto the bed!
As the back of his head and spine hit the bed, Zhou Qian, disregarding the pain, sprung up from the bed. The next thing he heard was the sound of fabric tearing.
The next moment, his right wrist was gripped, and he was uncontrollably thrown back onto the bed, his wrist then being tied tightly to the bedpost with a strip of torn cloth.
It turned out that Bai Zhou had torn the cloth with one hand while subduing Zhou Qian.
His speed and strength were almost unbelievable!
Struggling to lift his head and glance in the direction of the room door, Zhou Qian’s expression had changed significantly from when he looked at He Xiaowei in the corridor earlier.
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Qian looked at Bai Zhou, his voice somewhat heavy. “Zhou Ge, can you hear me? You—”
Bai Zhou didn’t respond but simply lay sideways on the bed, with one arm pulling Zhou Qian into his embrace while staring intently into his eyes.
Bai Zhou looked at Zhou Qian.
Zhou Qian was also gazing at him.
Zhou Qian could clearly see that deep within Bai Zhou’s pitch-black eyes, a faint redness was emerging, as if they were about to bleed.
“Zhou Ge?” Zhou Qian tried calling his name again.
He then felt Bai Zhou tightly grip his hand, the strength almost causing him pain.
Zhou Qian immediately furrowed his brows and then felt Bai Zhou lean in even closer.
Staring at Zhou Qian, Bai Zhou remained silent. His heavy breathing and the rise and fall of his chest conveyed a deep, powerful heartbeat clearly to Zhou Qian, who was very close.
Holding Zhou Qian tighter, Bai Zhou then lifted a hand and gripped the back of Zhou Qian’s head, pulling him even closer. Accompanied by this movement, Bai Zhou leaned forward, gently kissing Zhou Qian’s earring.
After a moment, a loud banging sound came from the door.
Zhou Qian heard another Bai Zhou’s voice from outside.
“Zhou Qian? Are you in there?”
Zhou Qian remained still, just gazing deeply at the Bai Zhou in front of him, who seemed completely off.
Soon after, the door of the room, along with the sofa and coffee table blocking it, was flung open.
The next moment, there was a flash of silver, and a Tang sword, which Zhou Qian was very familiar with, slashed through the air with endless killing intent!
Countless stories crisscrossed outside the window, but Teest’s gaze was fixed only on Nol.
Teest stood with his back to the light while Nol’s face was slightly upturned, his golden eyes shining brightly in the sunlight.
‘How wonderful,’ Teest thought, having seen himself in the mirror countless times. He had never imagined that the same gold could become so scorching.
[Since you still remember, this is a good time for an answer. That guy still has a long way to go in his painting.] Teest tightened his grip on the back of the chair.
He hadn’t looked forward to something like this in a long time—even the second before he threw the corpse at the doorstep of the Evergreen Church and the bishops discovered it, Teest’s heartbeat hadn’t been this fast.
What kind of reward would Nol, with his personality, offer?
What reward would the Creator of this world give him?
Teest realized that his palms were starting to sweat.
There was a bit more tension in Nol’s smile. He looked straight into Teest’s eyes and finally gave his answer.
[A conclusion you will like,] Nol said slowly and seriously.
[A conclusion?]
[Yes, the conclusion between you and me,] Nol said.
Teest felt somewhat dazed.
He had guessed everything from “mysterious artifacts known only to the Creator” to “special vows” and “love”, but he had never thought in this direction.
Teest was mentally prepared to receive a bag of cookies. But when the blindfold was removed, he found himself standing in a candy house.
[Even if the conclusion is “I betray you first”, or “I want you to stay”.] Even in his mind, Teest still spoke softly. [Is that okay? You really want to give me this? Are you sure?]
The smile on Nol’s face didn’t waver.
[If you betray me first, why should I cling to a traitor?]
He was bathed in light, without any coldness of an undead.
[If you want me to stay, then I will look for a way that allows us to be together,] Nol said.
[Even if there is no such way?] Teest’s question collided with Nol’s unfinished sentence.
[If there isn’t one in the world, I will create it. If you are concerned about empty promises, we can add terms to the marriage contract,] Nol answered decisively.
…This was his treasure.
Through those eyes, Teest finally confirmed this.
There was no need for daily temptation, no need for constant planning. Nol was indeed his—his companion, his puzzle, his private god.
But why didn’t he feel a bit of peace of mind?
Nol seemed completely different from his family—
Teest had thought that if one day his family had to give him up, he wouldn’t object. He was aware of his anomaly and knew they had once “loved” him and had tried for him.
It was a pity for such an ending, but there would be no regrets. It was fine for everyone to live their own lives; there was nothing to care about.
But Nol couldn’t do it.
The moment the treasure was in hand, the fear of loss and emptiness became more pronounced.
[You’ve changed.] Teest clenched his fingers tightly, as if to grasp the invisible “ending”. [You used to have so many concerns.]
[Because I realized I like you more than I thought.] Nol admitted frankly. [This world is too chaotic, with countless problems to solve. I don’t want to dwell on this—if I can’t let go, I must hold on tight.]
[You asked about our relationship. This is my answer.]
Teest fell silent. He instinctively felt he needed to do something yet didn’t know what to do.
The Eternal Church had taught him how to charm hearts but not how to properly preserve “love”. Once the plan succeeded, they would kill or abandon the object of seduction. “Heart-to-heart” was never part of the curriculum.
He felt like he was wearing a nightgown and holding a pillow, suddenly brought to a battlefield of flashing swords and shining armor.
[I haven’t decided on the ending yet. I want to keep it.] The Mad Monk spoke cautiously but couldn’t quite hide a trace of helplessness in his tone.
[Whatever you want,] Nol said. [It’s a gift for you, after all.]
Liking this guy, he hadn’t expected any normal romantic relationship. The Mad Monk blinked; his eyes filled with hundreds of thoughts. Rather than watching Teest go in circles probing, it was better to give him what he pursued.
Teest looked dazed by this gift. He gazed at Nol groggily for a while before finally speaking up.
[If it’s to be written in a marriage contract.] Teest imitated Nol’s tone, speaking seriously. [I’ve also changed some thoughts. It can be added.]
[Before I said I wouldn’t give you my life, loyalty, or love. But I’ve found that I’m more willing to take risks for you than I thought. So, well, my life could be considered.]
[Really?] Nol raised his eyebrows amusingly.
[I have to admit the truth,] Teest replied earnestly. [Among these three, I only have ‘life’ to offer. I did my best.]
[Yes, yes.] Nol couldn’t help but reach out, his fingertips brushing over Teest’s hair.
Teest breathed a sigh of relief, that subtle fear of loss finally suppressed. His gaze swept over Nol’s upturned lips, suddenly yearning for a warm, soft kiss.
Now they were each other’s lord and knight, entrusted with their lives. A close kiss should be okay, right?
A few steps away, the painter put down his brush.
“It’s done, Lord Drake,” he said respectfully. “Please see if there’s anything that needs to be changed.”
Nol stood up, slipping away from Teest’s view.
The knight, too late to kiss, pursed his lips silently. He turned on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and followed Nol.
The moment Teest saw the painting, he paused.
In the painting, sunlight poured in through tall windows, making everything incredibly bright.
Nol sat in a high-backed chair, looking at Teest standing beside the chair, the colors so pale they seemed to melt into the sunlight.
Teest, with black hair, stood backlit. His shadow was cast on Nol, the position of his head resting on Nol’s shoulder, like a covert embrace.
The painted Nol smiled tenderly, his eyes full of undisguised soft emotions. And the painted Teest looked down, his gaze focused and fiery, as if burning.
Teest subconsciously touched his eyes.
Strangely, that look was very similar to Nol’s just now.
“How affectionate,” the painter remarked. “You must have seen such a look in your lover’s eyes to reproduce it so realistically.”
“No need to modify this painting.” Nol didn’t pick up the conversation. “Remember your promise. It’s not to be exhibited.”
“Of course! The Blanco family has always valued their reputation. I’ll wrap it in silk cloth right away, and even the servants outside won’t see it,” the painter quickly assured, patting his chest, forgetting his earlier sentiment.
“Ah, and there’s this small sketch.” He hurriedly picked up a small piece of cloth from the easel. “You can take this as a souvenir.”
Nol examined the photo-sized piece of fine cloth. It depicted the same scene as the painting, but in even finer detail. It looked more like a photograph than a painting.
“This was ‘captured’ using magic—not strictly a painting, but it’s easier to preserve,” the painter quickly explained. “If you don’t like it…”
“No, I like it very much.” Nol tucked it into his chest.
Later, when everyone had left, he planned to sew it into the last page of “The Complete Recipe Book”.
[I want one too,] Teest protested at his side.
[Having two would be excessive. “Drake” isn’t the type to collect one and play with another,] Nol rejected mercilessly. [You can look at mine.]
The sound of the saluting cannon outside the window finally diminished, as if someone was giving a speech. Just as the servants were about to move the painting out, an earth-shattering cheer erupted outside.
“Ah, the king’s speech is ending. I must take my leave.” The painter packed his tools in a hurry and rushed out the door.
[After the speech, they’ll scatter gold wheels, silver hooks, and copper coins,] Teest said. [But there’s no need for us to join that crowd.]
The king must have announced the news of “the threat of The Manor being eliminated”. Then—
[You have completed the rare area quest: Monster Manor.]
[You have met the perfect completion conditions for the quest “Monster Manor”: Help Eternal Day City resolve The Manor’s threat; Unravel the mystery of the Lord of The Manor’s power.]
[Quest rewards: Prestige in Eternal Day City [Normal] being calculated; Monetary reward [Normal]; Skill Enhancement Stone [Perfect]; Permanent Land Deed (Small) [Perfect], among other rewards, will be settled with subsequent events.]
By now, both of them were used to such prompts.
[There’s no experience points for this quest,] Teest casually mentioned.
[Since we didn’t kill anyone in The Manor…] Nol paused mid-sentence.
“The system that promotes ‘strengthening oneself through killing’ is in operation. Under such rules, you still expect peace?” The shouts of Zhuang Shuhang surfaced in Nol’s mind again, and he pressed his temples.
They needed to inform Paradise as soon as possible and continue their research.
The heroes of Eternal Day City had to exit the stage.
……
On the silver tray, three items were neatly arranged.
A mountain of gold wheels, two crystal-clear light golden gems, and a small scroll emitting a faint glow.
Standing behind the tray, Eugene stood neatly, smiling.
“This is a token of gratitude from the Temple of Life for you, Mr. Drake,” he said, his eyes burning as he gazed at Nol. “Your performance far exceeded my expectations, and I would like to recommend you as an official Investigation Knight in my personal capacity.”
Just as expected.
Nol remained composed.
[Eugene must have consulted the oracles.]
The true Chosen One, Teest, murmured while draping an arm over Nol’s shoulder. [I bet this guy found nothing and just wants to keep an eye on you… Poor thing. His god completely ignores him.]
[I know all this,] Nol said patiently. [We’ve discussed it before.]
[But saying it again in front of him feels especially good.] Teest, still mindful of Eugene’s sword, obediently hid behind Nol.
Nol suppressed a laugh, his expression slightly twisted.
“I’m sorry, but I must decline,” Nol said. “Drawing a sword for the Goddess is my honor. But even without joining the Investigation Knights, I can still wield my sword for Lady Tilia.”
…As if he was a swordsman.
“I see,” Eugene responded easily, his gaze locked on Nol. “Do you mind telling me the reason?”
Nol sighed deeply, tapping his head impatiently. A glimmer of light passed, and the light golden hue in his hair quietly faded, leaving only moonlight-like silver white.
With white hair and golden eyes, Nol now resembled Teest. Even Eugene narrowed his eyes in a moment of doubt—if not for the significant difference in their features and physique, he might have been confused.
“The people will not accept a ‘White Demon’. It’s one of the reasons why I disguised myself to enter the city.” Nol said gravely, “I have no intention of hiding in front of God, nor do I wish to tarnish God’s glory. Please allow me to continue fighting for God in the shadows.”
Eugene narrowed his eyes. “You…”
“I am a distant relative of the Blanco family. Saving Dia Blanco wasn’t out of sheer altruism,” Nol said. “Now you know the truth.”
Beside him, Teest silently grinned.
Eugene hummed. “You initially said you were going to save an acquaintance…”
“He has gone far away.” Nol added mentally, ‘Hopping away on one leg.’
It wasn’t a topic suitable for elaboration, so Nol swiftly changed the subject. “The two with me…”
“Sadly, Mr. Sean died for the glory of the Goddess. We found his remains in the shallow layers.” Eugene sighed. “Mr. Damori is fine, just a bit shocked. We’ll compensate him well.”
Sean went for revenge. Having no relatives in this world, it was unclear whom the Temple of Life would compensate.
Nol grabbed a handful of gold wheels from the tray, slowly releasing them, clinking in front of Eugene.
“This is my personal gesture for Mr. Sean,” Nol said. “If there’s no one to claim it, buy a bouquet of flowers for me.”
“…I still hope you’ll fight for the Goddess,” Eugene said.
“I also hope to maintain a good relationship with you,” Nol replied calmly. “If the Goddess wills, we shall meet again.”
Eugene pulled out a light green crystal from his pocket and added it to the tray.
“If necessary, you can contact me through this. Of course, I might also ask for your help,” he said. “Regarding the king…”
Nol showed no interest. He packed everything from the tray into his backpack and nodded at Eugene.
“May your life be full of vitality.” Nol turned and left.
“May the Goddess’s light forever shine upon you.” Eugene smiled again.
As the door closed, Eugene’s smile slowly faded.
“You’re letting him go just like that?” A knight listening in couldn’t help but speak.
“He’s a peculiar character. Forcing him might backfire.” Eugene said, “Have someone thoroughly investigate the Eternal Church’s Chosen One, reconfirm theTtemple’s oracles, and uncover this man—since the Goddess has shown him to me, She must have noticed him first.”
“Yes! And about this…”
“Don’t interfere, don’t track. Show as much friendliness as possible,” Eugene instructed. “I have a feeling we’ll meet again.”
Meanwhile.
Not long after leaving, the two found a dark alley and jumped back to the Lost Tower through a ring of fire, leaving no chance for anyone to track them.
Nol set his destination to his own room and almost immediately collapsed onto the bed. Kando lay on the carpet, still fussing over its missing candle tears.
Teest rushed to the desk, delightfully counting the spoils of war—mainly skill enhancement stones and a permanent land deed.
“Why is there only one?” Teest shook the deed scroll.
“Oh, the permanent land deed.” Nol buried his face in the pillow. “You can use it to designate a piece of land and expel all visitors if necessary… This one is a small version, not very valuable. In an emergency, it can be used as a small base, to store some items…”
“Give it to me.” Teest weighed the scroll in his hand.
“Take it if you like. I need to rest for a while… I have to explain the situation to everyone tonight…”
Considering Kando’s recent anomaly, he had to interrogate the candle thoroughly; then, he needed to decide how to use the skill enhancement stones and adapt to the body of a Dracolich. The workload awaiting him was immense.
Teest climbed onto the bed, causing a slight depression at the foot of it.
Nol, too lazy to move, closed his eyes, feeling the weight shift around. Teest’s hand caressed his neck, then his spine. Nol hummed twice, still motionless.
Suddenly, a heat of magic ignited behind him. Nol jerked up, flipping over. “What?”
Before him, Teest held a torn scroll, looking earnest.
“I’m following your teachings, looking for useful loopholes.” Teest tossed the damaged scroll away, grabbed the wary Kando, and placed it on Nol’s shoulder.
“Expel!” Teest cleared his throat.
With a whoosh, Kando instantly flew out, accompanied by a scream of “Are you crazy?!”
Nol: “.…..”
Nol: “You didn’t…”
Teest leaned in satisfactorily, his fingertips brushing Nol’s neck.
“My permanent territory.”
His tone carried a hint of pride. “See, it can also become a shield to protect you.”
Sunlight flooded the bed, and the trees of the Black Forest rustled.
‘Thank heavens,’ Nol thought. Now he had a “home” where he could relax completely—at least for tonight, he could sleep without worries, holding the person he liked.
Regardless of the outcome, he loved this moment.
Far away in Eternal Day City, people didn’t notice the hero’s disappearance.
Old Dill brought the oil painting deep into the mansion’s cellar, to a room specifically for storing paintings.
Drake wasn’t the first benefactor whose portrait wasn’t made public. There were hundreds of paintings here.
The temperature and humidity in this room were perfectly adjusted, coupled with enough magic, keeping the paintings vibrant.
The Blanco family was large, with many descendants having some Wilder blood. When members of the Blanco family set out to establish themselves, they often secretly took a benefactor’s portrait to ward off potential misfortune.
Old Dill moved the painting forward, stopping at an empty spot.
There remained faint traces of a hung painting. If he remembered correctly, that painting was gifted to the now-destroyed Flama family. The night the Flama house was destroyed, it was probably taken by the Temple of Life. Who knows if it was destroyed.
Unfortunately, that painting couldn’t avert their disaster.
Speaking of which, who was in that painting? Old Dill furrowed his brows, pondering for a long time, but couldn’t recall. Well, their new painting fit perfectly here—this was the hero of Eternal Day City, sure to dispel the previous painting’s shadow.
The old man bowed slightly to the hero in the painting.
“May you bless the bloodline of the Blanco family,” he said.
The author has something to say:
White Cat Teest: Hmph, I’ll set up a trap to catch my favorite fish!
White Cat Teest: (Busy preparing) (Casting the net finely) (Various temptations)
Fish God Nol: (Struggling) (Contemplating) (Decided)
The cat is still busy with various enticements, only to be swept ashore and caught by the Fish God.
At that very moment, inside the virtual game lobby.
The gamblers belonging exclusively to Zhou Qian seemed a bit stunned.
A moment later—
“Damn, I think he has a point!”
“Who is this gambler? He’s kind of awesome! Isn’t he here?”
“If he’s not watching here in the lobby, he must be one of those gamblers who’ve been following Qian Ge all along.”
After discussing among themselves, many sent these insights to Zhou Qian.
[I think he’s right. This is terrifying!]
[I agree. Also, hey Qian Ge, it’s our fault for not sending you any alerts earlier as your gamblers.]
[Mainly, we feel we aren’t worthy.]
[Yeah, it’s not that we don’t want to help. It’s just hard for us to keep up with your thought process!]
……
Messages flooded Zhou Qian like a snowstorm.
After glancing at a few, he didn’t seem to mind and just looked back at Bai Zhou beside him.
Bai Zhou, catching his gaze, seemed to pick up on something and asked, “What is it?”
“Nothing, just received some tips from my gamblers,” Zhou Qian replied. “Don’t you Rank God players have gamblers?”
“No,” Bai Zhou shook his head, then questioned Zhou Qian. “What did your gamblers say?”
“It’s nothing. Just things I’d already considered.”
Zhou Qian stared at Bai Zhou for a while, then smiled. “However, there is one gambler who’s been consistently helpful, occasionally sending useful tips my way.”
“Who?”
“Someone I know in reality. He takes care of me in the real world too. Sometimes I feel…” Zhou Qian whispered into Bai Zhou’s ear, “He’s a bit like you.”
Hearing this, Bai Zhou didn’t respond. His expression remained unchanged, but Zhou Qian could feel him gripping his hand tightly and noticed Bai Zhou’s jawline tighten subtly.
After a thoughtful look at Bai Zhou, Zhou Qian smiled again and turned his attention to He Xiaowei, who was bouncing over.
Once He Xiaowei reached Zhou Qian, he took a deep breath. “Damn, Qian’er, I finally saw a familiar face. I think I’m going to cry. Did you notice? This building is terrifying!
“I can’t get out, you know! No matter which floor I press, when I come out, it’s always the 11th floor.”
“Ah… isn’t this like the legendary ghost hitting the wall*?”
*Idiom referring to losing one’s way in a maze-like place and ending up back where one started (AKA going in circles).
Zhou Qian looked at him. “Is it? But I’ve been on the 11th floor this whole time, and I haven’t seen you.”
He Xiaowei responded, “That means there are countless 11th floors! Damn, what is this sorcery… Wuwuwu, and I keep seeing this man and woman. The guy’s pretty handsome, and the girl’s in a red dress. They seem to be acting out a scene.”
Ignoring his ramblings, Zhou Qian asked, “Where’s Hidden Blade?”
“I don’t know. We got separated!” He Xiaowei replied.
“How did you lose him?” Zhou Qian inquired.
He Xiaowei explained, “Soon after we got back to our room, I went to take a shower. When I came out, Hidden Blade was gone. I tried to contact him but found I couldn’t send messages, as if there was no signal.”
“Then I received a system notification for a compulsory task. I went to the hallway and saw an old woman who had fallen. She asked me to help her downstairs. So I did.
“When I came back via the elevator… everything was off. I even knocked on your door at 1107. No one was there!”
From He Xiaowei’s detailed account, it appeared that perhaps everyone was carrying out a compulsory system task. Regardless of the task’s specifics, everyone had one thing in common—they had all been to the first floor and, upon trying to return to their own rooms via the elevator, ended up in a lost space.
Zhou Qian pondered for a moment, intending to ask He Xiaowei for more details, when suddenly there was a commotion from the direction of room 1112.
Without hesitation, Zhou Qian, Bai Zhou, and He Xiaowei quickly approached room 1112 to investigate.
Then they heard a very familiar voice.
It was from the chubby Li Yuan.
From behind the door, he menacingly demanded, “Swear your loyalty to Satan!”
“I don’t know any Satan!”
An old, frail voice responded, “I…I don’t understand what you’re saying!”
Li Yuan: “You don’t need to understand. Just repeat after me, or I’ll kill you right now!”
Presumably under some form of torment, the elderly voice, unable to bear it any longer, coughed loudly a few times before weakly repeating the words, “Fine… I… I will worship Satan—be loyal to Satan!”
“Good! Now go to hell and meet him!”
As Li Yuan’s words fell, the sound of a blunt object striking echoed.
Soon after, the old voice was silenced.
Another murder had taken place right under everyone’s watch.
After this, Li Yuan didn’t immediately exit the room.
As Zhou Qian was speculating whether Li Yuan was drawing an inverted pentagram inside, the elevator door opened.
A man and a woman emerged.
The woman was an NPC that Zhou Qian hadn’t seen before. She appeared strong and athletic, with pronounced muscles—perhaps she was an athlete or something similar. Intimately holding onto her was the bald man, Xiong Fei.
As Xiong Fei walked, he conversed with her. “Do you think your grandma will really accept me?”
“Of course. No problem,” the woman replied.
“Alright then. I was a bit worried. By the way, you’ve been competing for so many days, aren’t you tired?” Xiong Fei asked.
The woman shrugged her shoulders, smiling at Xiong Fei. “Tired, yes. But if I hadn’t come to Blue Harbor City for the boxing match and stayed at the Saiya Hotel, I wouldn’t have bumped into you! It’s fate!”
As she said this, the woman approached the door of room 1112.
The sight of blood seeping out from beneath the door caught her eye, immediately alerting her that something was amiss.
In a panicked rush, she quickly swiped her card, opened the door, and burst inside.
“Grandma! Grandma, are you okay? Are you—”
Before she could finish, Li Yuan, who had been lying in wait inside, lunged out and quickly pulled a nylon bag over her head!
“But why does Fei Jing look so much like Ying Feng?” Red Head also raised this question on the spaceship heading to Huoxiu.
“Our appearances are just random collages generated from a database,” Ling Xiao said nonchalantly. “I’ve seen many people with similar faces over the years.”
Red Head covered his face in relief. “Thankfully, I don’t have a common face.”
“That’s because you’re far below average. The system would be embarrassed to lower the average beauty standard that much.”
“How dare you slander someone as handsome as me?”
Red Head was about to grab Ling Xiao by the neck when their quarrel was interrupted by Yu Ji, who was in the pilot’s seat.
“There’s a suspicious signal ahead, likely enemy forces, and quite a few of them.”
Ying Feng also saw the dense cluster of small red dots approaching them on the radar. “Can we avoid them?”
“I’ll try.” As Yu Ji activated the warp engine, he suddenly looked up, and the spaceship, traveling at high speed, braked abruptly. The unprepared passengers nearly fell over.
“What happened?” Bing Can immediately asked after stabilizing himself.
Xiao Hui, in the co-pilot seat, had a clear view. “Someone is completely exposed in space. Is he one of your kind?”
Ling Xiao rushed to the front and took a closer look. “Zhen He?!”
“He’s not Zhen He,” Ying Feng corrected. “He’s just a Lone Star created in the likeness of Zhen He.”
On closer inspection, Ling Xiao saw that the impostor Zhen He’s eyes were identical to those of a Lone Star.
“So, an enemy then?” Red Head, eager for action, rubbed his hands together. “Whoever he is, let me meet him.”
“Don’t be reckless!” Bing Can hadn’t finished warning when Red Head had already disappeared from the cabin. Looking outside, two figures were already locked in combat.
Bing Can shook his head and asked Yu Ji. “What about the enemy?”
“We couldn’t have avoided them anyway.” Delayed by the Zhen He incident, the spaceship would be intercepted before it could accelerate to warp speed.
“Let’s make it a quick battle then.” Bing Can released three soul crystals, activating them one after another. Each activation increased Red Head’s strength and speed by a level. By the time all the soul crystals were effective, Red Head had already improved exponentially from before.
“He’s much stronger than the Lone Stars I’ve encountered before,” Ying Feng observed the battle calmly as he commented on Zhen He.
“But no matter how strong, he can’t compare to a Qizi enhanced by a level ten spiritual soul crystal,” Shuang Feng said admiringly. “A Qizi of that spiritual level is unparalleled in assisting in battle.”
Ling Xiao’s eyes lit up. “If Ying Feng can activate a level ten spiritual soul crystal, then I can do it too.”
“Stay put.” Ying Feng preempted his eagerness.
Yu Ji had already contacted the accompanying Wolf Star allied forces. “Prepare for battle. The enemy is approaching fast.”
“My Thunder Wolf is already ravenous!” Huo Luo’s arrogant voice came through.
“What did he say?” Xiao Hui asked naively.
But no one had time to translate for him. Red Head was beating his opponent back when suddenly, a swarm of black granular substances attacked him, engulfing half of his legs in an instant.
Bing Can quickly recalled Red Head, and the unidentified matter that had just gathered together quickly dispersed again, spreading in the air like a metallic net.
“What is this thing?” Red Head patted his chest, still shaken. “It’s like locusts; scared me to death.”
“It’s Ant Soldiers, a semi-biochemical, semi-mechanical weapon recently developed by the Interstellar Peacekeeping Force.”
The others were surprised by Ying Feng’s comment. “You spend your days holed up in the church tending to flowers, and you know so much?”
Wolf Star’s mechs were already firing fiercely against the Ant Soldiers. A large number of Ant Soldiers were burned to death, but even more swarmed over. Bing Can, who had carried out missions related to this organization, knew more about them.
“The Interstellar Peacekeeping Force, under the guise of galaxy police, has been plundering resources and eliminating dissidents on low-security planets for years. They’ve long coveted our genes, trying every means to capture our kind alive. The hefty bounties from underground trading organizations are their doing.”
In the short time he explained, Ant Soldiers gradually latched onto their spaceship, their view slowly obscured by dense black spots, almost blinding them.
“If this continues, we won’t see anything.” Yu Ji was practically driving blind.
Right after he said this, a burst of dense laser beams swept uniformly from the front, instantly scorching a batch of Ant Soldiers and triggering the ship’s attack alarm.
Yu Ji skillfully rotated twice, shaking off the Ant Soldiers’ corpses, and turned off the alarm while shaking his head. Sure enough, when their view cleared, Huo Luo’s Thunder Wolf’s laser emitter was directly aimed at them, thankfully mitigated by cannon fodder, causing minimal damage to the ship.
“I’m worried about our allies’ overly unrestrained fighting style.” Bing Can sighed.
The spaceship kept accelerating, trying to shake off the pesky trouble, but the sharp-eyed Ling Xiao noticed something.
“Did you notice, their target is only us. They don’t react to anyone else.”
With his reminder, everyone indeed noticed that no matter how the Wolf Star troops attacked them, they couldn’t attract the Ant Soldiers’ hostility. All the Ant Soldiers were tacitly tracking the same target, their spaceship.
“It seems they really are targeting us…” Bing Can’s words were cut off by a violent hit from the left, and Zhen He’s figure flashed into view.
“The small ones are troublesome enough, and now there’s a big one. He’s really fast.”
“This won’t do. I’ll give it a try.” Yu Ji handed over the piloting controls to Shuang Feng and leaped out. The Ant Soldiers, sensing their target, madly rushed towards him. Yu Ji calmly raised his hands and rhythmically tapped a few points in the air, his movements as graceful as if playing some instrument.
“What is he doing?” Ling Xiao was astonished to see the charging Ant Soldiers stop abruptly, the closest one only a centimeter from Yu Ji.
“He’s imitating the language of ants. Since they are biochemical weapons, they must retain some biological instincts,” Shuang Feng explained, piloting the ship not too far away, but circling the opponent.
Yu Ji’s wrist flicked deftly, suddenly pointing aggressively to one side. The bewitched Ant Soldiers immediately changed direction. Zhen He, not far away, was engulfed in an instant, the swarm enveloping him layer by layer, eventually forming a disgusting, spike-covered sphere.
“Well done!” Ling Xiao blurted out.
But Yu Ji returned to Shuang Feng’s side with a troubled face. “I feel like I might have done something wrong.”
“No, look.” Ying Feng interrupted him.
The spike ball, which had seemed so sturdy, exploded apart again. Zhen He, who was engulfed, appeared unharmed, with the Ant Soldiers causing him no damage.
“I guess they didn’t like the taste,” Ling Xiao said.
“Zhen He is one of our kind, and the Peacekeeping Force created this breed to target us, yet they don’t react to Zhen He, who is also one of us.”
“There are two possibilities.” Ying Feng analyzed, “One is that the Peacekeeping Force hasn’t yet had time to include the newly emerged Lone Stars as targets, and the other is that they are only interested in us who possess intelligence.”
“That makes sense.” Xiao Hui naively added, “If there are two communication devices, one an outdated brick phone and the other a new smartphone, I’d also want the new one.”
Ling Xiao earnestly educated him. “How can you look down on brick phones? Brick phones have long battery life, signal everywhere, and most importantly, you can crack walnuts with a brick phone. I used a brick phone in my past life. Have you ever seen me despise it?”
Xiao Hui: “…”
How would I know about your past life!
Yu Ji sighed in relief. “Good thing they didn’t want it. Whether it’s the Lone Star or us, we can’t let more people get a hold of us.”
“We’re approaching the stargate. Crossing it should help us shake them off.” Shuang Feng increased the speed, and the spaceship, with a magnificent tail, sped towards the stargate. The Wolf Star troops followed closely, continuously shooting down the Ant Soldiers tailing them. Only Zhen He, lacking in persistence, gradually fell behind.
“The situation doesn’t look good. Why do I feel like their numbers are increasing?”
Red Head’s concern was proven right. The surviving Ant Soldiers, amidst the Wolf Star’s gunfire, rapidly laid dark insect eggs in space, which quickly hatched and grew, ready for battle in an incredibly short time.
“This is the most disgusting enemy I’ve ever seen. Why doesn’t the Universal Environmental Protection Committee clean them up?” Ling Xiao expressed his disgust.
“They’re reproducing too fast. We’re losing control!” It was rare for Huo Luo to show weakness.
“I’m also helpless against this number,” Yu Ji said helplessly. “I can’t ensure that all the Ant Soldiers see my commands, but if this continues, the ship’s energy won’t be sufficient to maintain.”
“It looks like I have to go out again.”
“I’m going too!” Ling Xiao quickly said.
This time Ying Feng didn’t stop him and handed him a headset. “Wear this, so you can communicate in space.”
Red Head and Ling Xiao exited the cabin one after another, faced with countless black dots swarming towards them.
“Ready?” The two joined hands.
“Of course!”
The perceptive Huo Luo, seeing their action, quickly ordered, “Everyone, clear out!”
All the Wolf Star mechs quickly retreated, and in the space they cleared, a tornado-like phantom appeared in the absolute vacuum, sucking in all the Ant Soldiers that charged into it, disappearing without a trace.
The accompanying Wolf Star people were dumbfounded. “How, how did they do that?”
“Tsk tsk,” Huo Luo, leisurely watching from the side, clicked his tongue. “That’s why I least want to face the Tianxiu people.”
As the vortex grew larger, thousands of Ant Soldiers rushed into it like moths to a flame, gradually forming a rapidly spinning helix. Two figures shot out from the center of the vortex, using a massive circular shield to capture their spoils.
“I need some insecticide!” Ling Xiao yelled.
Shuang Feng appeared from somewhere, pressing his palm against the outside of the shield. Soon, from the point of contact, a large number of transparent crystals rapidly formed. The crystals spread wildly inside, solidifying upon contact with the Ant Soldiers. The two substances mixed and compressed against each other, eventually filling the entire space. The black corpses and transparent particles intertwined, forming a patchy surface that looked like a mini planet from afar.
“It’s easier to clean up such large trash.” Ling Xiao kicked their joint creation, which then drifted away in the opposite direction of the initial force.
“It’s going to become a satellite, huh!” Ling Xiao waved in the direction it drifted away.
Red Head looked at him with disdain. “Have you ever seen such a small satellite? And one made of bugs at that.”
“Don’t relax. We’re not done cleaning up yet.” Shuang Feng prepared for battle against another wave of approaching Ant Soldiers.
“Looks like there’s nothing left for us to do, right?” One of the Wolf Star warriors asked through the communicator.
“Who knows.” Huo Luo scratched his neck, and the Thunder Wolf scratched its ear. “Let’s play cards for now.”
“My soul crystals are almost used up,” Red Head was about to ask Ling Xiao for some when he looked up and saw an unwelcome guest hidden in the swarm of Ant Soldiers behind him. “Watch out!”
A shield appeared behind Ling Xiao, completely blocking an attack from the right rear.
“Wow,” Ling Xiao let out a relieved exclamation, turning to face Zhen He, who had caught up. Ying Feng had just blocked an attack for him.
“Thanks,” he thanked casually through the mic, and then complained about Zhen He. “Why are you so persistent?”
Zhen He, devoid of any human emotion in his eyes, neither heard nor responded but relentlessly attacked Ling Xiao. Just like Ying Feng said, he really wasn’t an ordinary Lone Star. In a one-on-one fight, Ling Xiao might not stand a chance.
But Ling Xiao was full of confidence, as he wasn’t fighting alone. The power surged endlessly from within him, and the energy he received from Ying Feng was fully unleashed on Zhen He.
“You are indeed strong. You must have killed a powerful companion to gain such strength, right?”
Ling Xiao’s punches grew stronger and faster, and Zhen He, who was previously able to parry, gradually became unable to do anything but passively receive hits.
Ling Xiao spoke with each punch and kick. “But, the power obtained in this way, is not at all, something to be, happy about!”
With a flying kick, Zhen He was sent flying far away. “Weapon!” Ling Xiao shouted.
His arm was wrapped in layers of metal pieces, complex and precise parts forming part of a launcher. Ling Xiao clasped his hands together, aimed in the direction Zhen He was kicked, and fired a blue-glowing missile that hit its target squarely.
“Cool!” Even he couldn’t help but praise himself.
“Stop showing off and come help!” Red Head, exhausted by the countless Ant Soldiers and nearly out of soul crystals, called out. Shuang Feng was fighting enemies on another front, and the Wolf Star mech troops had re-engaged in battle.
“Coming!” Just as Ling Xiao was about to head over, he was unexpectedly intercepted again by the badly injured Zhen He.
“You…” Ling Xiao looked at him with a bit of pity. “If you keep fighting, you’ll die!”
“He can’t hear you!” Red Head shouted.
“That’s what Lone Stars are,” Shuang Feng said, taking a breath after wiping out a wave of enemies. “Unaware of pain or fatigue, they fight till the last moment, as long as they’re alive.”
Suddenly, Yu Ji’s anxious voice came through the earpiece. “Ling Xiao, come back quickly! Something’s wrong with Ying Feng!”
“I don’t know. Bing Can is giving him emergency treatment. His temperature is dangerously high!”
Ling Xiao, no longer interested in fighting, tried to teleport back but was repeatedly interrupted by Zhen He, who seemed to have entered a berserk state due to his severe injuries, becoming very difficult to handle.
“You go back first. I’ll handle this!” Red Head came to help him intercept Zhen He, with the Ant Soldiers relentlessly pursuing them.
“But…”
“Stop talking, just go!” Red Head pushed him, and with that force, Ling Xiao bounced several meters away, only a step from their spaceship.
“Qian Si!” Shuang Feng’s shout startled Ling Xiao, who turned to see Red Head hit by something unknown in his spine, reeling back in pain, his face twisted in agony. The suppressed groan was still loud enough to startle Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao’s soul crystal froze in his hand, torn between rushing to Ying Feng and going back to rescue Red Head. Shuang Feng, Huo Luo, and others were rushing towards Red Head. Ling Xiao glanced at the mechs passing by and, with a grit of his teeth, jumped back onto the spaceship.
“Red Head is in danger! How is Ying Feng?” He landed and immediately asked.
Without needing Yu Ji to explain, he saw Ying Feng leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, his face alarmingly red. Bing Can, with glowing hands, was fully focused on treating Ying Feng, ignoring Ling Xiao’s question.
“Ever since he used the soul crystal on you, he’s been like this. We suspect it’s the virus in his body!” Yu Ji pushed Xiao Hui into the pilot’s seat. “I’m going out to help!”
Xiao Hui, unable to fight outside the ship like the others, piloted the spaceship, closely monitoring every move outside while keeping an eye on Ying Feng’s condition.
Ling Xiao rushed to Ying Feng’s side, interlocking his fingers over Ying Feng’s head. Moments later, a faint golden light appeared around them. Ying Feng’s high temperature alarmed him. Ling Xiao continuously offered his spiritual power until Ying Feng’s eyes slowly opened.
Fu Yao’s projection appeared on the communication device. “We’ve resolved the situation on our end. How about you?”
“Things aren’t great here.” Xiao Hui made room. “Ying Feng passed out. Ling Xiao and Bing Can are treating him… Eh? Where’s Bing Can?”
Bing Can had vanished the moment Ying Feng was out of danger. Ling Xiao was equally anxious but couldn’t leave Ying Feng behind.
A signal from the base was patched through, showing Yu Quan’s worried face.
“I’ve monitored Ying Feng’s condition; it’s extremely unstable. What happened?”
“He just used a soul crystal, but he seems better now.”
“Yes.” Yu Quan closely monitored the data. “His temperature is steadily dropping. I didn’t expect this. The virus seems more severe than we thought. He must not use his mental powers again.”
Ling Xiao, exhausted, slumped to one side. Ying Feng’s complexion gradually returned to normal. Xiao Hui looked back and forth.
“Ying Feng is okay now, but…”
He stared ahead, his mouth agape in shock.
“But what?” Fu Yao pressed.
Ling Xiao, already weakened, struggled to stand upon seeing the same scene, staggering forward.
In the battlefield he had just left, a gigantic, spike-covered sphere floated silently, nearly ten times larger than the one that had trapped Zhen He. All the Ant Soldiers had gathered to form this abhorrent object. The Wolf Star mechs, led by Thunder Wolf, continuously attacked it from a distance, unable to make even the slightest dent. Its constituents seemed lifeless but were indestructible.
“Red Head… Red Head!” Ling Xiao blurted out.
“Red Head is inside!” Xiao Hui also shouted.
Ling Xiao clenched his right hand, but nothing happened. Opening his palm, he saw the intact soul crystal. His mental power had been depleted in his recent efforts.
Just as he was about to leave through the hatch, he was forcefully held back. Turning, he saw Ying Feng, who had been on the brink of death moments ago.
“Red Head is trapped in there!” Ling Xiao, worried about his companion, disregarded his own condition.
“You can’t even activate basic oxygen supply. Going out now is suicide.” Ying Feng pointed out sharply.
Ling Xiao was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly thought, “Bing Can! Recall Red Head!”
“Can’t do it.” A low voice came through the earpiece. “The sphere is completely isolated inside and out. Yu Ji and I, even together, can’t break it.”
“This thing is specifically designed against you,” Huo Luo said furiously. “Ordinary weapons are useless against it.”
“What do we do!” Ling Xiao said anxiously. “Are we just going to let them take Red Head?”
“Wait a minute! Look!” Xiao Hui pointed ahead, excitedly.
The seemingly indestructible sphere suddenly cracked. The cracks widened and deepened, and the power that had been brewing inside burst forth, shattering the sphere. Red Head, with bloodshot eyes, leaped out.
“Hahaha, it’s Red Head! He used Ember! He came out by himself!”
Ling Xiao didn’t know how to express his joy, gripping Ying Feng’s arm, almost jumping up. He was too excited to notice Ying Feng’s subtle sigh of relief.
“Remember to purify!” he shouted, regardless of whether his reminder was needed or not.
Bing Can grabbed Red Head, who had just escaped, and kissed him fiercely, ignoring the others. Red Head’s eyes gradually cleared, and he responded passionately, showcasing a dramatic reunion after escaping death in space.
“Don’t do this.” Xiao Hui shyly covered his eyes. “I’m still a virgin wolf.”
Kinky Translations 