The interior of the castle was like a maze. Had it not been for Nol’s astonishing memory, Teest would have almost taken a wrong turn.
Now Nol understood why the two neighbors had no reinforcements.
The guest rooms in the castle had all been converted into something resembling hospital rooms. Beautiful, flat doors were fitted with glass peepholes, and below each door was a slot for delivering meals. This slot was much larger than usual, just big enough to allow an adult to pass through.
Dried, brownish-red stains lingered around the edges of the meal slot, smelling like blood. Suspicious stains also seeped from beneath the doors, something Nol preferred not to dwell on.
After all, some of the monsters in Tahe’s repertoire indeed had humans on their menu—
In those hospital-like rooms, monsters of different races were in slumber. They lay in transparent magic cocoons, floating up and down in the center of the rooms, lifeless like specimens.
Despite no apparent need, all the monsters were dressed in coarsely made striped clothes, their faces bearing complex emotions that didn’t seem to belong to their races—they curled up anxiously, and Nol didn’t see a single smile.
Fortunately, there was no scent of death on them. They were just sleeping.
Two of the rooms were empty, with their doors slightly ajar. Nol cautiously slipped into one and felt a lump in his throat at the sight within.
In one room, there was a coarse cloth on a table with a half-finished cross-stitch. The embroidery was poorly done, and the color selection was a mess, resembling the scribbles of a madman. But Nol could feel the embroiderer’s will to “desperately live a normal life”… A woman’s “hospital gown” was neatly folded and placed beside the bed.
Next to the pillow lay a small painting the size of a mobile phone, prominently displaying a chat interface from a messaging app.
This conversation was with “Mom”. In the imagined dialogue, Mom told her, “Get well soon, my dear daughter. We’ll be home soon.”
The text was in Nol’s native language, the standard language of Country C.
The other room was much more austere. There was an indistinguishable wood carving on the table, with a joking “Morning” carved on it, and the remaining space was filled with rows of crookedly carved “正*” characters. Nol counted them, matching the dates of the neighbors’ arrival.
*Clarity: It’s a way to record tally marks in Chinese. In this case, this symbol resembles 5.
A man’s “hospital gown” was carelessly draped over a chair, and Nol found lizard scales at the foot of the bed.
…These two rooms likely belonged to those two sealed compatriots.
If there was one thing these two rooms had in common—it was the same biting cold, half from the air of despair and half from the omnipresent corruption of the Demon King.
The remaining rooms were completely sealed off by energy crystals, making them inaccessible.
“Can you use ‘Dream Manipulation’ at this distance?” Nol whispered, gazing at the sleeping monsters.
Inside the castle, the power of the anti-magic crystals was even stronger. Even non-aggressive little spells were difficult to use here.
Teest roughly estimated the distance, then frowned as he felt around. “No, the interference is too strong. I can only sense their condition, not get specific information.”
“Condition is enough.” Nol watched those likely neighbors wrapped in corruption.
Teest looked at him for a while, then reluctantly nodded. He reached out towards the sleeping neighbors, his other hand covering Nol’s eyes.
“I can only hold it for two seconds,” he sighed.
Nol hummed in response, closing his eyes in that warm darkness. But in the next moment, he felt a void beneath his feet, as if plunging into an abyss.
Pain was everywhere, spreading throughout his body. It wasn’t intense, but persistent, like a nest of ants building their nest in his limbs—his nerves and flesh being gnawed to shreds.
A tinnitus-like murmur surrounded his ears, an inhuman voice that was intermittent, so noisy it drove one mad. Even with his Player privileges, Nol couldn’t hear it clearly, only feeling a faint wail of a ghost near his ear.
Fortunately, all of this was softened by ‘sleep’, becoming gentle and dull.
Two seconds felt like two centuries. When Teest removed his hand, Nol was still somewhat unsteady on his feet.
No wonder the monsters here chose to sleep. No one would want to endure these sensations consciously.
…Is this what being corrupted feels like?
Not to mention the unaware neighbors. Even if Nol himself were in such a situation, he wasn’t sure he could maintain his sanity.
“I knew it. You’re going to sympathize with them again.” Teest retracted his hand.
Nol didn’t deny it. “The seal can indirectly eliminate the corruption. This could be a bargaining chip for us—at least for now, it seems that the Lord of the Manor holds no malice towards these… monsters.”
Thinking of the tragic state of Balsam Town and Eternal Day City, his tone became uncertain again.
Apart from these peculiar guest rooms, the castle’s defenses were lackluster—rolling stones, traps, laser tripwires, or flamethrowers. It was like a clichéd RPG setup, but without monsters and rewards, and no tense background music, just endless silence.
Walking through the empty corridors, Nol dared not make his footsteps too heavy.
It seemed like the castle’s master tacitly allowed their presence. As the two cautiously explored step by step, they encountered no enemies other than mechanical traps.
Lamps powered by black-red crystals, overly stylish pipe designs, and dilapidated daily necessities not belonging to Tahe. The more Nol observed along the way, the more alarmed he became.
If “black-red crystals” were seen as power equipment, given the interior decoration here, saying the castle was a modern theme park wouldn’t be far-fetched—they even found a flat guide map in the decayed garden.
Nol stood in front of that map for a long time.
The metal guide map looked as ancient as the castle, its edges corroded and covered with corruption. The paint was peeling and cracked making the content blurry and unclear. Only the general routes in the central area and a conspicuous red upside-down droplet-shaped marker remained.
In the marker, it clearly showed [You Are Here].
It was text from Earth.
Nol reached out, touching that piece of civilization from Earth.
The Demon King’s architecture was filled with Earth styles… Did the Demon King from over two thousand years ago come from Earth, or was this place Earth?
Numerous speculations floated in Nol’s mind. Each possibility, upon closer thought, sent chills down his spine.
The Lord of the Manor must have noticed this statement, and the neighbors surely saw it too.
With so many possibilities, why did they adamantly insist this was a game? Was The Lord of the Manor lying and brainwashing, or did he really have more damning evidence…
For a moment, Nol even doubted his judgment about the “reality of the world”. He took several deep breaths to curb his wild thoughts.
‘Seeing this thing in advance had its advantages,’ Nol thought.
With all the peculiarities along the way, he was mentally prepared. No matter what the truth of The Manor was, it wouldn’t break him.
On the corroded signboard, someone had marked an “×” with red-brown paint. It corresponded to the central hall of the castle on the guide map.
After saying this, he hesitated for a moment and took out the medium-range transmission magic talisman. “You hold onto this first. Without anti-magic interference, you can activate it with your ability—just in case.”
Teest wrinkled his nose at the charm, as if he had found a half-eaten insect in his food.
“Alright then.” As Nol expected, the Mad Monk quickly took it.
Teest carefully stuffed the talisman into his chest and extended his hand to Nol. Nol hesitated, then handed over his hand. Teest bowed his head and kissed the back of his hand.
[Betrayal Overture] activated.
“The time limit from last time is almost up. Let’s extend it,” Teest said. “Just in case.”
……
Before the hall lay two massive doors.
The decorations on the doors were unexpectedly exquisite and vivid, but unfortunately, they had been tarnished by the Demon King’s corruption, turning the bright colors dull and ashen, like rotting fruit.
Teest was vigilantly holding onto his “Betrayer”, while Nol prudently armed himself with the rocket launcher. The shadow wolf left its shadows, ears drooping as it lay down outside the door with Mr. Dia Blanco still unconscious in its mouth.
He bit his lip. “I mean, if it really becomes an emergency. Abandon this knight and hide in Teest’s shadow.”
Shadow Wolf Ben lowered its head and nudged Nol’s palm. Nol forced a smile, patting the wolf’s cold, damp nose.
After settling the shadow wolf, Nol went to push the door.
His face was expressionless, but the closer his hand got to the door, the more it trembled. Just as he was about to touch the door, Nol abruptly withdrew his hand as if burned by fire.
For the first time, Nol vividly felt the courage his role as a “producer” had given him along the way.
This was the first time since he arrived in Tahe that he faced such a vast and terrifying unknown.
The “You Are Here” sign kept flashing before his eyes, and Nol couldn’t convince himself that what awaited him was “just a game problem”.
Fear clenched his throat, turning his blood to flowing ice.
“…If you want to give a hint, now is your last chance.” Nol tapped the end of his staff on the ground, causing Kando to open its eyes.
The black candle’s eyes roamed around, showing complex emotions. It seemed to be recalling something, its gaze becoming more sentimental.
“You guys move really fast,” it said softly. “Unfortunately, I don’t have much to say.”
“Honestly, I already feel like giving up. I wish I could turn back and isolate myself with the neighbors in the Lost Tower until the end of the world,” Nol said with a forced smile. “Whatever you say will just help me be more mentally prepared.”
Teest turned his head, silently watching Nol.
“Tell me what you know, even if it’s incomplete information. I’ve guessed that the Demon King is related to my homeland, and this world isn’t as simple as I thought.”
Nol looked steadily at Kando, almost pleading. “I really need to be better prepared, have a more complete plan… I’m not a hero. I get scared too.”
He was an ordinary person, naturally prone to nervousness and making unnecessary mistakes out of fear.
But this wasn’t a game where mistakes could be undone with a reload. There was no second chance—whatever happened next, he had to achieve a perfect outcome on the first try.
Despite gathering courage and the truth being within reach, Nol felt a reluctance. Contrary to his wishes, his feet seemed to be welded to the spot.
“Tell me, okay?” Nol didn’t retreat, repeating with a hoarse voice.
“But from my perspective, you haven’t given up yet.” Kando answered almost cruelly. “And who told you that ‘heroes’ don’t feel fear?”
Nol pursed his lips. “So this is a refusal.”
“Keep going forward, My Lord,” the candle said softly. “Until there’s no way back.”
“Asshole,” Nol cursed under his breath.
“Yes, I am indeed an asshole.” The candle’s tone was unexpectedly gentle.
After a dozen seconds, Nol and Teest each placed a hand on one of the doors.
“You gave instructions to Ben and asked Kando.” Teest suddenly spoke. “It’s not fair. Don’t you have anything to say to your husband?”
“I hope you can survive this,” Nol said without looking up. “Fortunately, I know you will—should a real crisis arise, even without my reminding, you would immediately abandon the shadow wolf, Dia, the siren, and…”
Nol paused for a moment, his grip on the door tightening.
“…and me,” he said. “That’s why I’m very reassured by you, Teest.”
Teest opened his mouth, gazing at Nol’s profile in silence for a long time.
“Right.” Finally, the Mad Monk responded as casually as he could.
Regrettably, his tone didn’t sound very relaxed.
The dim doors slowly moved, and as soon as they opened slightly, a rush of wind eagerly burst forth. A strong, strange stench hit them, and Nol quickly suppressed a gag.
Then the dust swirled, and without further effort from them, the doors opened to their fullest.
Nol looked up.
His first thought upon facing everything in front was that this place indeed resembled a modern-themed castle—
In the center of the magnificent hall, instead of a throne, there was a huge sunken stage. The exquisite floor tiles were covered in dust, the curtains rotted and dull, yet their former vivid red was still discernible.
Opposite the stage, near where they stood, were decaying remnants of seats.
The Lord of The Manor stood on that stage.
This wasn’t to create some dramatic effect—judging by the Lord’s physical condition, it could only stay on this stage.
It was too large.
Nol could barely recognize parts that belonged to a “troll”. Trolls were naturally tall and robust, with the stronger ones reaching over three meters.
The Lord of The Manor seemed to have evolved; his skin was as white as plaster, covered with fine lines, characteristic of the high-ranking troll species—Savage Giant Witches.
These were all settings from “Tahe World”, but Nol couldn’t find comfort in these familiar settings. The Savage Giant Witch from the spine to the waist was completely merged with a pile of machinery.
Dead white skin, dead white material.
The bizarre mechanical legs mixed with bones barely supported that rubbish heap-like body. That “creature” was hard to move, resembling a fat and twisted white centipede.
Its body surface was made of mechanical material that resembled the alien rocket launcher. They didn’t look like they came from Earth but more like retro mechanical designs that would appear in specific works, with a heavier emphasis on design.
On it, Nol saw other damaged rocket launchers, firearms, and more things he didn’t recognize.
Black-red tendons protruded from the gaps in the machinery, burrowing into the floor below or climbing up the walls, bulging like blood vessels. They extended further and further until they disappeared.
“…Welcome.”
In the center of the chaotic wreckage, the monster raised a human-like head. “It’s been many days since anyone came here.”
It spoke in the common language of Tahe and had a friendly tone.
“You…” Nol struggled to lick his dry lips. The rocket launcher on his back suddenly felt like a massive burden. “I come from Earth, Joy Garden in City A. I specifically came to talk to you…”
“I know. I heard you introduce yourself to Zhou Nana.” The Lord of The Manor nodded, smiling. “There are cameras at the castle entrance. Theme parks don’t lack these.”
“Zhou Nana… the ghost lady?”
“Yes.” The Lord of The Manor nodded again. “So that’s called a ‘ghost’.”
Good, Nol’s heart pounded like a drum. At least, this person in front of him seemed capable of normal communication.
“I also live in Joy Garden, Building 7, Unit 1, Room 801.” The Lord of The Manor continued calmly, “My name is Zhuang Shuhang. Have we met?”
“Xu Yue. I live right below your apartment.” Nol blurted out rapidly. “Mr. Zhuang, you’re about 1.9 meters tall, very thin, with a buzz cut and glasses, right? I remember you. They say you work at T Factory. We both work overtime every day.”
“That’s me.” The Lord of The Manor—Zhuang Shuhang said, his tone neutral.
“Alright, let’s end the introductions here.” He continued, “First question, how do you like to die?”
“What…” Nol was momentarily taken aback.
“I’m glad to see you. It means the game has entered a new chapter.”
The Lord of The Manor’s bloodshot eyes widened, his dilated pupils focusing on the void. The walls around them trembled, and ominous bulges appeared on the carpet.
“Out of consideration for a fellow compatriot, I’ll make your death quick.”
Nol gripped his staff tightly, his hands covered in cold sweat. “Wait! Let’s talk first—I have a way to remove the Demon King’s corruption. There’s no need for it to come to this…”
The Lord of The Manor laughed.
“The Demon King’s corruption.” He seemed amused by the term, a smile reaching his eyes for the first time. “Indeed, different factions have different perspectives. Corruption… Haha, is that what you call it?”
Nol bit the inside of his cheek hard, forcing himself to focus.
Negotiation seemed futile, but he had to try to extract more information. He stepped back half a step, imitating Teest, trying to appear as innocent as possible. “Yes, that’s what I’ve always heard humans say—”
“NPCs, that’s all.” The Lord of The Manor murmured casually. “What would NPCs know?”
“Out of consideration for a fellow compatriot, Mr. Zhuang, at least let me die with some understanding.”
The Lord of The Manor cast a murky glance, looking somewhat weary. “One question.”
“Please tell me about the ‘factions’ situation.” Nol held his breath. “From my perspective, The Manor seems to be ‘on the Demon King’s side’.”
“No, no.”
The Lord of The Manor’s massive body shifted slightly. “It’s not the ‘Demon King’… These things are not ‘the Demon King’s corruption’.”
“I prefer to call it ‘the corpse of a god’,” he said.
Did the people of The Manor make it? No, there are only a few people in Country C who can manufacture a rocket launcher from scratch. And that weapon looks very old, with no trace of modification.
So, was it found in this world? But the most advanced weapon here is a cannon. Firearms are rare, let alone such high-end thermal weapons.
‘Where did you get your weapons?!’ Nol asked sternly.
“Of course, our leader gave them to us,” the ghost replied in a flat tone. “Without weapons, we can’t sleep… can’t sleep… ah ah…”
She swung her knife at Nol again, expressionless, her lips trembling uncontrollably.
In Paradise, the neighbors were thriving, not lacking food or clothing. They even gathered to make dumplings and chat, their spirits still relatively stable—compared to them, the two neighbors in front of them were on the verge of madness.
Nol tried asking a few more questions. The answers he got were all repetitive nonsense, piecing together no useful information. The only thing they could ascertain was that all of this was bestowed by the “Lord of The Manor”.
What exactly is going on with the Lord of The Manor?!
The ghost clumsily but tirelessly hunted the two. Teest was agile like a leopard, slowly pursuing step by step. Once they lost sight of their quarry, the lizardman carrying the rocket launcher would always fire at their hiding place, guiding their direction.
A total war of attrition.
They ran around the castle several times. Even during the day, the interior of the castle was eerily quiet, like a deserted city. The absence of reinforcements was both a relief and a source of immense anxiety for Nol.
What exactly were those monsters he sensed earlier doing?
Nol’s hand lingered for a moment on the “Bad News” letter opener but ultimately didn’t use this deadly weapon. Teest withdrew his gaze and frowned.
“I’m tired,” Teest said. “Do you still want to run around the castle? I’ve memorized the terrain. If it’s inconvenient for you, I can take action for you.”
After saying this, he paused meaningfully. “This isn’t your fault. They were the ones who acted first. You just wanted to survive, so you sent out your loyal and faithful knight—”
Nol interrupted him. “I need a large bucket of clean water and half a bucket of olive oil.”
“Ah…?” Teest was choked by his own words.
“You should have these in your waist pouch.” Nol said, “A full bucket of clean water, half a bucket of olive oil… other vegetable oils will do too—just not solid fats.”
Teest looked curiously at the ghost, then at the lizardman.
“Fried lizard isn’t tasty.” Though he said this, he still obediently took out the water and oil Nol requested.
This area was remote, yet still affected by the anti-magic crystal. Only very weak magic like telekinesis and fire-starting could be used—but as long as his magic worked here, it was a “game problem”.
Nol raised his hand, skillfully using telekinesis.
The golden olive oil gathered into a perfect sphere, rotating around Nol. The large bucket of water split into four water masses, twisting into the shape of mirrors.
They floated and moved in the air, quickly adjusting their positions. The focal point of the sunlight relentlessly followed the ghost’s weaknesses, burning her heart and forehead with concentrated light, causing the ghost to emit a sharp scream.
Teest: “……”
What was this? It seemed like light magic, but it felt a bit subtle…
Nol bit his lower lip, but his hands remained steady. The ghost’s skin began to curl like burnt paper, but he didn’t stop. The four water mirrors spun dazzlingly, focusing on the ghost from all directions.
The ghost gradually couldn’t stand. The hem of her skirt fluttered, and she fell to the ground like a wilted flower, dropping her dagger that clattered on the ground. With his teammate injured, the lizardman hurriedly approached, aiming at the dazzlingly white Teest. In the crosshairs, Teest stood alone, shrugging helplessly at him.
But wait, that demon was just by his side!
The lizardman hastily adjusted his view, only to see a large mass of gold rushing towards him. It smeared over him and his rocket launcher. The lizardman instinctively pulled the trigger.
The rocket was fired, then the weapon buzzed, flames suddenly igniting. The oil on the lizardman’s body burned fiercely, and the intense heat instantly incapacitated him.
Nol withdrew his gaze, continuing to burn the struggling ghost with sunlight.
The ghost’s cries of pain, screams, and nonsensical babbling filled Nol’s ears. But he forced himself to watch until the ghost weakly closed her eyes, completely losing consciousness.
Nol opened “The Complete Recipe Book”. The page he turned to sparkled a bit of gold in the sunlight.
It was a complex magic circle with a core stuck to a Player’s earring.
After rescuing Little Piel, Nol reclaimed the earring used as a prop. Using it as the core, he turned “system custody” into a fixed spell.
Nol called it [Soul Seal].
The magic sounded powerful, but it had significant limitations. It required the target to be unconscious and unable to resist throughout, and the caster must have physical contact with the target.
But as troublesome as it was, it was better than killing one’s kin.
Nol held the book in one hand and placed the other on the ghost’s forehead, pouring his magic power against the influence of the anti-magic crystal.
Just like the unconscious Little Piel, golden light quickly spread over the ghost’s body. Her form dissolved into countless brilliant particles in the sunlight.
“Ah, there’s this trick too.”
Teest stroked his chin, glancing at the still burning lizardman in the distance. For some reason, his tone was a bit regretful.
[….Execution error occurred…]
Just as Nol was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the system’s static voice entered his ears. At the same time, the cluster of light particles stiffly danced in place, unable to dissipate quickly.
[….Target contains abnormally formatted messages. Unable to be properly custodied…]
[…Do you want to clear the abnormally formatted message content?]
Abnormal?
The only thing that could be called abnormal about the ghost was the corruption spread all over her body.
It seemed the system was completely incompatible with the Demon King’s corruption. Nol wiped away cold sweat. “Yes.”
[…Forcefully clearing the abnormal message will significantly weaken the target’s attributes. Do you wish to continue?] the system warned again in a staticky voice.
“Yes!” Nol replied without hesitation.
It was okay if the attributes were weakened. These neighbors were really not right, and Nol didn’t want to release them right away. Until the situation was clear, they could sleep in the system.
[…Execution completed…]
[…Looking forward to meeting you again……]
The lingering light particles finally scattered. Several hundred meters away, the lizardman finally couldn’t endure the intense heat and fainted as well. Nol, without even closing the book, walked forward with “The Complete Recipe Book”.
The sunlight pierced through the mist, sparkling gold, and then quietly extinguished.
……
Teest fried some potato chips and potato pancakes with the remaining olive oil.
He seasoned them with plenty of pepper and coarse salt, eating to his heart’s content. While enjoying the potatoes, he boiled water again, making a pot of cabbage and salted meat soup.
After lunch, Teest wiped his mouth contentedly and sighed.
“It seems the neighbors’ relations with The Manor are average.”
He licked his lips, fiddling with the newly acquired alien rocket launcher. “We took care of two people, and there were no reinforcements from The Manor.”
But the air wall didn’t disappear.
Nol bit into a potato chip bitterly. From the game’s perspective, they had just dealt with a “regional boss”. Surely, no new enemies would be refreshed.
But did the Lord of The Manor need to go this far? Or did that person have other concerns…
Bang!!!
Teest successfully fired the rocket launcher, but he had no estimate of the recoil. The barrel trembled, sending the soup pot flying. The shell exploded behind Nol, blasting through the thick stone slabs and sending soil flying.
Nol, holding the half-blown spoon: “……”
Teest slowly put the rocket launcher on the ground, looking aggrieved, as if the launcher had just punched him. “This thing is too hard to control.”
Nol poked the rocket launcher. The energy source, a black and red crystal, had dimmed, probably having been consumed quite a bit in this battle… but the aura emitted by the crystal felt somewhat familiar to him.
Nol pulled out the dagger dropped by the ghost. It also had a black and red crystal embedded, identical to the rocket launcher’s energy source. He frowned, sniffed, and started digging in a nearby pit.
Digging out a small dish of soil, Nol lined up the rocket launcher, dagger, and soil, extending his hand to Teest. Teest looked puzzled at Nol’s palm for a while before placing his hand on it.
Nol held back a laugh and patted the back of Teest’s hand. “Do you still have the monster’s body parts from before?”
Teest hummed. “A good chef always keeps precious ingredients.”
He subtly withdrew his hand, pulling out a piece of monster meat and slapping it into Nol’s palm. “Here.”
“Do you have any purification herbs?” Nol didn’t withdraw his hand.
“……” Teest rummaged for a moment, reluctantly pulling out two semi-transparent herbs. “You’re asking for offerings quite frequently, you know. These are good for stewing meat.”
“I will increase your mission reward,” Nol promised generously.
“Deal.” Teest perked up.
Nol filled a cup with water and stewed the purification herbs and monster meat together. After about ten minutes, the Demon King’s corruption in the monster meat was purified. It floated on the water’s surface, forming a black layer with a barely perceptible deep red halo.
Nol had never closely examined pure contamination before. He isolated it in a test tube and placed it alongside the other items.
The black and red crystal, black and red soil, black and red corruption.
They all emitted the same aura, albeit with varying intensities.
On closer inspection, their power fluctuations were identical. Nol tasted a bit with a spoon; even their flavors were exactly the same.
Nol pressed his knuckles to his lips. The power, weapons, land, and buildings here might all belong to that mysterious “Demon King”… The one said to spread corruption and hatred towards all living beings.
The Demon King not mentioned in the “Tahe” game setting.
According to lore, it slumbered on Desolation Island, also not existing in “Tahe”.
“How about it? Did you find what you were looking for?” Teest asked curiously.
“All these are remnants of the Demon King,” Nol asserted. “Teest, you’re familiar with the information on the Temple of Life and the Eternal Church, right?”
“Ask away.”
“And both religions see the Demon King as a common enemy… ‘The darkness suddenly descended upon the land, and the Demon King awoke from the depths of filth’… Is this ‘descent of darkness’ a general statement, or is there a specific time?”
“The Dark Ages, probably over two thousand years ago,” Teest answered crisply. “It’s not just the ravings of two groups of fanatics. There are many historical records from the Dark Ages, and the Demon King’s influence was much greater back then.”
Over two thousand years ago.
Nol’s fingertips touched the ancient, tarnished rocket launcher, feeling its cool smoothness. A subtle, uncomfortable suspicion arose.
Could it be that his “Tahe” was actually the newcomer?
Seeing Nol silent for a long time, Teest paused and turned to look towards the center of the castle.
“According to the records of both sides, for thousands of years, the Demon King was just a mindless destroyer, and its corrupted monsters rampaged senselessly,” Teest said softly. “I don’t know what you think, but in my opinion, the Lord of The Manor can’t be the ‘Demon King’—that’s a powerful entity that even the combined gods couldn’t eradicate. It has no need, nor the ability, to play these roundabout games with us.”
“True, we’re no match for a ‘god’ who can casually throw meteors.” Nol put away the rocket launcher, barely managing a smile. “I also don’t think the Lord of The Manor is the ‘Demon King’.”
As the two left the campfire, Nol casually said, “If it really was the Demon King from thousands of years ago, it wouldn’t be so adept at the tricks of games from other worlds.”
Teest’s steps slowed.
“Really?” Teest replied just as casually. “But you’re also very familiar with these things—Master Nol, you’re now the leader of the monsters. To some who don’t know the truth, you’re qualified to be called the ‘Demon King’.”
Nol shrugged it off. “What are you talking about? The real Demon King is from thousands of years ago…”
Teest tilted his head in confusion. “Aren’t you from two hundred years ago?”
Nol stopped in his tracks.
That subtle, uncomfortable feeling grew stronger. The will conveyed by [Lost Last Wish] resurfaced from his memory.
I’m scared. Save me…
I don’t want to die like this… My family…
……
Don’t hurt me… Save me… Save me…
Save me…
……
The information he received from [Lost Last Wish] hadn’t changed much. He heard cries, sobbing, and repeated desperate pleas for help.
When he was in Eternal Day City, Nol thought it was the wish of the corrupted old lady. But the last time he used the skill, it targeted only the pure corruption in The Manor, which had no hosts.
So, whose last wish is it…?
[Regrettably, the cries for help have vanished, and you can only chase the echoes. This skill has no effect and holds no value.] Initially, the system defined [Lost Last Wish] in this way.
“Teest, this time I must meet the ‘Lord of The Manor’.” Nol stopped moving, and his voice became frighteningly stiff. “I must find out what that person really knows.”
“Of course, I will follow my God.” Teest, walking ahead, turned around, his long hair lifted by the wind.
“…As long as we’re always ready to flee.” In the sunlight, he winked at Nol.
Nol wanted to return a smile, but he found his mouth too stiff to do so.
……
Black Forest, Lost Tower.
“Xiao Xu hasn’t contacted us at all.” Uncle Ma vigorously mixed the dumpling filling, which made his muscles bulge.
“He helped me place surveillance dolls in Eternal Day City. They’re all still functioning.”
Lynn bit into a freshly baked bun, vaguely looking at the screen. “If something happened to the caster, the magic would react.”
“A couple of days ago, he said he was going to visit The Manor?” Uncle Ma pondered. “I heard it’s all neighbors there. As long as you can talk, there shouldn’t be a problem—how good is our welfare here? Isn’t it better than suffering outside?”
Lynn paused for a moment.
“Not necessarily.” Her tone was a bit heavy. “We’re right under human eyes, and we’re only fine now because everyone’s kept quiet. Once there’s a conflict, it’s hard to say.”
“There’s nothing we can do. To save people, Xiao Xu had to expose himself. Who knows how many unlucky people those two churches are holding.” Uncle Ma clicked his tongue.
“That’s just because Mr. Xu is too kind-hearted.” Lynn finished her bun, wiping her hands thoughtfully. “If it were me, I’d only want to save my sister. If it weren’t easier to find people here, I might not have stayed.”
“Moreover, Xu Yue’s understanding of ‘saving people’ includes good food, comfortable living, medical and entertainment support. Not many people can achieve this.”
Uncle Ma wasn’t a greenhorn. He fell silent knowingly upon hearing this.
“Haa, if I had to take over this ridiculous mess, I would have only one thought—”
After a long while, Uncle Ma sighed heavily.
“Staying alive, being able to keep people alive—that’s already remarkable.”
Just as Ling Xing was entertaining the thought of saying his farewell, the sound of a fight broke out behind him. Turning around, he was surprised to see Jing Yu forcing his way through, breaking into the encirclement, and, with a leap, landing beside Ling Xing.
“You…” Ling Xing wanted to ask, but he didn’t quite know how to phrase it.
“You said I could use it when necessary. I felt you were in danger, so I used it.”
…Could it be that the Lone Star’s instincts were indeed at a beastly level?
Nevertheless, Ling Xing was glad that Jing Yu could come, but then he thought, even if he was a Lone Star, it was unlikely he could stand against so many, and he couldn’t help but worry for him.
“Stay here.” Jing Yu dropped these words and charged back into the fray, fighting the soldiers sent by Long Yin. Jing Yu, directly under Long Yin’s command, should have been comrades with these people from the same military unit, but today, for Ling Xing’s sake, they crossed blades as enemies.
Ling Xing watched anxiously from the sidelines; even if Jing Yu was a Lone Star, he was just a fledgling a few days ago, and his opponents were fully developed, well-trained soldiers. Jing Yu was outnumbered and outmatched; it was impossible for him to be their match.
But gradually, Ling Xing noticed that these people didn’t seem to be using their full strength against Jing Yu; their actions were more like some form of probing.
Indeed, Ling Xing’s guess was correct. After a short skirmish, the men retreated, moving out of Jing Yu’s range of attack. Jing Yu didn’t pursue them but instead retreated to Ling Xing’s side.
“We didn’t come to assassinate him,” the leader among them said.
The Lone Star naturally had no expression, so others couldn’t tell whether he believed them or not.
“Major General Long Yin would like to invite him over for a visit, and he orders you to return as well,” he said to Ling Xing and Jing Yu respectively, using the terms ‘invite’ for one and ‘order’ for the other, clearly having been instructed in advance.
“What does he want me for?” Ling Xing was slightly nervous. The bishop had left with the marshal, and Long Yin had probably targeted this opportunity.
“You’ll know when you get there.”
Given their numbers and strength, Ling Xing had no choice but to be escorted back to the military base by the group.
Long Yin, after hearing the report from his subordinates, realized that commanding the Lone Star to act against his own people was indeed impossible during the Qizi’s ownership establishing period. Thus, he couldn’t order the Lone Star to force a confession from his Qizi.
But it didn’t matter. He could wait. With this in mind, he tempered his sharpness and spoke in as calm a manner as possible to the two who had been brought before him:
“I wanted to congratulate you on your bonding in person, which is why I had my men invite you over.”
Ling Xing said nothing but inwardly sneered, “Who doesn’t know that it was your idea for Jing Yu to bond with me? Before this, you didn’t expect me to survive, did you?”
“According to our previous agreement, you were only to foster the Lone Star until his awakening. Now that he has come of age, he no longer needs a guardian. I think it’s time for you to let him return to the military base, right?”
Ling Xing coldly said, “Returning to the military base is just a matter of your word, isn’t it? Moreover, he has already been recalled by you.”
“That’s good,” Long Yin feigned reassurance. “But it was only him who returned before, and now I’m afraid that won’t do. As his Qizi, you have an obligation to move in with your Qizhu.”
Ling Xing’s face changed. “What do you mean?”
Long Yin took out a card and placed it in front of Jing Yu. “I have specially prepared a double room for you. From now on, this will be your residence. He can no longer return to the church, and neither can you.”
“I’m used to living in the church. I don’t want to move,” Ling Xing flatly refused.
Long Yin lowered his head, fiddling with his fingers. “A Qizi must live with their Qizhu. it’s the rule. For a Qizhu to abandon his Qizi is against the law, and you wouldn’t want to see the Lone Star, whom you raised yourself, break the law, would you?”
Ling Xing clenched his teeth; he was actually using Jing Yu’s name to place him under house arrest, with the motive surely still on the Soul Tree’s seed.
“I’m doing this for your own good.” Long Yin pushed the room card forward again. “You two are newly bonded. How could you possibly make do in such a small room without even a large bed?”
Ling Xing, embarrassed by Long Yin’s words in front of so many people, blushed deeply. Jing Yu, who could only understand the literal meaning, thought it made perfect sense and naturally took the card.
“Then I need to go back and pack my things,” Ling Xing argued.
“You don’t need to go back for anything. People here will prepare everything for you. There is no need for you to return.”
Ling Xing retorted angrily, “Don’t think that by doing this you can search the church for the seed. You won’t be able to find it, and I definitely won’t hand it over!”
Long Yin, not wanting to hear any more, waved his hand, and someone immediately came forward to escort them down.
The home Long Yin had prepared for them was many times larger than the bedroom in the church—a one-bedroom, one-living-room independent living space, fully furnished, looking genuinely suitable for a newlywed couple.
But Ling Xing found no fondness for such a cold apartment. He covertly checked the terminal signal; indeed, while Long Yin “kindly” didn’t confiscate his terminal, he had blocked all communication signals in this area, and the room had no internet connection. It was a completely isolated environment from the outside world.
Jing Yu was allowed to come and go freely, but the two so-called guards outside, purportedly there to ensure Ling Xing’s safety, ensured it by not letting him take a single step outside.
Ling Xing sat on the bed powerlessly; this way, even when the priest and bishop returned, no one would be able to find him.
Jing Yu had no idea what was going on. In his reading, after a husband and wife married, it was only natural for the wife to move into the husband’s home, and this was the house he had managed to secure through his efforts in the military, just like the other Qizhus in the force.
He felt “proud” to be able to create a larger and more comfortable environment for Ling Xing, which also included the primitive sense of achievement a beast feels when building a nest for mating. Therefore, he was even more unable to understand Ling Xing’s feelings, simply following their agreement, three times a night, occasionally breaking the rules by sneaking one in, in the wedding chamber prepared by Long Yin, living their own little life.
Ling Xing had thought he would never see anyone he knew again apart from Jing Yu, but unexpectedly, Ling Xiao managed to sneak in somehow while Jing Yu was out for training, startling him greatly.
“You’re crazy,” he said nervously as he approached the other person and grabbed his arm, then looked around.
“I’ve been living here for so long, I’m not even sure if the room has surveillance, and you just sneak in like this.”
Ling Xiao pulled out a strange device, swept it in a clockwise direction, and a green light lit up brightly. “Don’t worry, there’s nothing. I came prepared. I know that guy Long Yin. Even though he’s domineering and oppressive, at least he won’t spy on your private life.”
What made Ling Xing uneasy wasn’t this. “This is a military area. There are guards everywhere. How did you manage to sneak in without being noticed?”
“Don’t forget, I’m also a military academy student. All these years moving through time and space, I have never neglected my training.”
Hearing this, Ling Xing’s mind eased slightly; only he hadn’t expected that in his lifetime, he, who was against war, would end up enrolling in a military academy in the next life.
“How are things outside?”
“It’s a lot quieter than before. With the marshal and the bishop not in the country, neither the military nor the church are making any moves. The people are waiting for the marshal to return and give an answer, so there haven’t been any big demonstrations recently.”
Ling Xing nodded. “What else?”
“The priest hasn’t returned, and Long Yin’s people have been to the church many times. They seem to be looking for that thing, but obviously, they can’t find it.”
“They haven’t dug up the garden again, have they?” Ling Xing asked anxiously.
“No, they didn’t. It seems their focus is still on your bedroom.”
“That’s good.” Ling Xing sighed in relief. “Fortunately, I’ve destroyed that book, so they won’t find any clues.”
He added after a moment, “In that case, I can rest easy.”
Ling Xiao bit his lip. He cared about the church, the people, and the flowers, but he wouldn’t care for himself. According to the priest, Ling Xing was secretly sentenced to death during his time studying away, which seemed to align with recent events.
“And what about you? Are you at peace with yourself?”
Ling Xing paused, then realized what he was referring to.
“From the moment I stole the seed, I was prepared to face death. The coming-of-age ceremony was supposed to be my end. I am fortunate to have survived, and every additional day I live is a bonus. I’m content.”
But suddenly, Ling Xiao felt unwilling to let this Ling Xing go, impulsively blurting out, “Let me take you away.”
“What?” Ling Xing was startled.
“I’ll take you away from here. You are no longer a fledgling. I’ll take you away from Tianxiu to a place where the military can’t find you.”
Ling Xing’s mouth curved into a small crescent moon. “Leave Tianxiu and go where?”
“To Wolf Star!” Ling Xiao had an epiphany. “The Lone Star created a nation for you on Wolf Star!”
“A… what?” Ling Xing was completely bewildered.
“He must not have told you, right? He owns an entire tribe on Wolf Star; he’s their Wolf King, and you have been their Wolf Queen for quite some time. He has cloned your home there, including that small room in the church and the garden.”
“All of this was… done by Jing Yu?” Ling Xing asked incredulously.
“Yes, you can’t imagine how much he has done for you. If you don’t see it for yourself, you’ll never see it again.”
Ling Xing pondered for a moment, but eventually withdrew his hand from Ling Xiao’s grasp.
“No, I can’t leave.”
“Why?” Ling Xiao was disappointed.
“Because history can’t be changed. Isn’t that what you told me?”
Ling Xing smiled as he caressed Ling Xiao’s cheek. “Besides, if I left, where would you come from?”
“Only if I am reborn will you awaken and meet Jing Yu in the next life. I am still waiting for that day—waiting for my soul and Jing Yu’s to live freely together, without pressure from anyone.”
“Not confined to a small space, nor having to flee to another planet.” He lifted his head, his gaze piercing through the roof as if seeing the vast blue sky. “That is truly a beautiful life.”
Ling Xiao pursed his lips tightly, knowing that everything Ling Xing said was true, yet still unwilling to accept this outcome.
“Go.” Ling Xing gave him a push. “You’ve stayed in this era long enough. Hurry past here, back to Jing Yu’s reincarnation’s side. He is still waiting for you. Remember my request. Pass the item to him, let him keep it safe, so that our existence this time around wasn’t in vain.”
With that push, Ling Xiao’s body began to turn transparent. The familiar sensation finally returned, uncertain of how long this jump would last.
“I’m leaving.” That was all he managed to say.
“Goodbye,” Ling Xing softly addressed the empty air in front of him.
A knock sounded from inside the room. Ling Xing opened the door to find one of Long Yin’s subordinates standing outside.
“The General would like to see you.”
The inevitable had finally arrived. Ling Xing composed himself and followed the man. In the small council hall, Long Yin sat in his usual place, with a piece of paper laid out before him.
“Sign this, and you will be free.”
“Free in body?”
“Free in spirit.”
Ling Xing smiled and lowered his head. He knew what was coming.
Long Yin wasn’t afraid of him knowing. “We have conducted a follow-up medical examination on the Lone Star this past month.”
“Oh.” Ling Xing didn’t know what he intended to say, so he simply responded with an indifferent affirmation.
“Have you noticed any changes in him?”
Upon reflection, Ling Xing realized… lately, he often had the illusion that Jing Yu was getting shorter. He used to have to look up to meet his gaze, but now it seemed they were increasingly seeing eye to eye.
“There’s no change.” Long Yin naturally continued his own line of questioning, “And you, even I can see with the naked eye that you’ve grown taller.”
Ling Xing had an epiphany. “The Lone Star must kill his partner in the coming-of-age ceremony to develop into adulthood. If the partner doesn’t die, he will remain as he is forever.”
“That’s correct. Now do you understand how important your mission is?” Long Yin said sarcastically.
Ling Xing silently picked up the document Long Yin wanted him to sign and couldn’t help but laugh after a brief look.
It was a confession stating that Ling Xing, as a member of the church, didn’t want the military to plant the seed elsewhere and instructed the Lone Star, in his capacity as a caretaker, to steal the seed from the military. The Lone Star, as an individual only capable of obedience and without the power of judgment, was completely unrelated to this matter. Ling Xing alone would bear all the blame.
The confession was crafted intricately, even imitating his tone, showing the military’s think tank had put considerable effort into it.
“This is the best way to solve the problem. You have no choice but to sign. If you disclose the previous events, the Lone Star will be in severe violation of military discipline, and then both of you will be held accountable.”
“Who said I won’t sign?” Ling Xing countered naturally. “Stop threatening me with the Lone Star every time. Even if you hadn’t said what you just did, I was planning to sign.” He picked up the pen. “Where do I sign? Here?”
Long Yin was slightly surprised by his reaction but nodded imperceptibly.
Ling Xing signed his name decisively. Since learning of the future from Ling Xiao, he had nothing left to cling to. Although it was a pity that Jing Yu’s life would be cut short, he felt relieved knowing he would not be exploited by the military.
“It’s signed.” He pushed the confession forward. Long Yin glanced over it; Ling Xing had indeed signed his name. His promptness made Long Yin somewhat suspicious.
“Now that it’s come to this, I don’t mind telling you a bit more about what you’re most concerned about—the whereabouts of the seed.”
Long Yin leaned forward tensely; his ears perked for every word Ling Xing was about to say.
Ling Xing smiled. “I put it in the future.”
Realizing he had been played, Long Yin’s face turned cold, and he called his subordinate.
“Take him to the Nightmare Hall.”
Ling Xing walked ahead without needing an escort, while Long Yin’s men followed from behind, looking as if they were escorting him.
Outside the Nightmare Hall, rows of soldiers stood at attention, and Ling Xing saw through them at a glance—they weren’t there to supervise his execution, but to monitor Jing Yu’s every move.
Jing Yu stood in the center of the formation, expressionless. He knew this was the site of Ling Xing’s execution, something Long Yin had already informed him of—it was a military order. Ling Xing had been found guilty of stealing the seed, and he, as a soldier, was to obey his superiors’ commands unconditionally.
Ling Xing saw Jing Yu from a distance and greeted him with a radiant smile. Jing Yu’s gaze fell on him but offered no response.
Ling Xing didn’t blame him. That was his Jing Yu, who lacked human emotions yet always managed to do things that touched his heart. Jing Yu wasn’t one for sweet talk or guessing your thoughts, but he would trust you unconditionally, believe every word you said, and was willing to do anything for you as long as you made your requests clear and straightforward.
That was his unique Jing Yu. Among so many stars in the sky, how coincidental it was that one Lone star fell into his embrace, belonging to him alone. Could anyone be luckier?
For the last time, Ling Xing was brought before Long Yin. “Even now, you refuse to divulge where you’ve hidden it?”
“I’ve explained many times already—I hid it in the future.”
“If you insist on this, then I suppose you’ll meet it in the future.”
Long Yin raised his hand to give the order, but Ling Xing preempted him.
“May I say one last thing to him?” he asked, referring to Jing Yu not far away.
Long Yin glanced at the Lone Star, seeing this as an opportunity to test his loyalty. “Go ahead.”
Ignoring everyone around him, Ling Xing walked step by step to Jing Yu, his eyes full of deep emotion. He stood on his tiptoes and whispered in his ear:
“Take good care of the item I gave you. Use it to find me.”
After speaking, he stepped back with a smile free of regrets on his face.
Jing Yu still didn’t show any reaction. He watched as Ling Xing resolutely walked into the Nightmare Hall, and Long Yin, observing all this from a distance, nodded in satisfaction.
“Everything is ready,” a subordinate came up to ask for the last time.
Long Yin’s voice dropped. “Carry out the execution.”
Ling Xing got up and took down a book from a very conspicuous place on the bookshelf. After flipping through the first few pages, Ling Xiao realized that the pages at the back were glued together.
“What’s that?” he asked.
Ling Xing didn’t respond. Instead, he carefully peeled away the outermost glued page, turned it over, and to his surprise, a square hole had been cut right in the center of the book, where a peach pit-like seed was securely placed.
He took out the seed. “This is the seed of the Soul Tree. I’ve thought of a way that won’t be discovered by the military, which is to entrust it to you.”
Ling Xiao’s eyes widened at the first sight of the seed. This damn thing… It was actually the seed of the Soul Tree?!
So the thing that Ying Feng held onto, pining for someone, wasn’t the peach pit left over by Ling Xing!
Ling Xing was talking to himself, completely oblivious to Ling Xiao’s unusual expression. “However, I hope you can pass it on to Jing Yu of the future. This is something I took from him; it should rightfully be entrusted to him for safekeeping.”
“But this thing is neither his nor mine. It belongs to the country. I am entrusting it to him in the hope that one day, when the country needs it, he can hand it over.”
“It’s buried,” Ling Xiao muttered softly.
“What?” Ling Xing didn’t catch it clearly.
“No, nothing,” Ling Xiao quickly denied, and then looked out the window at the backyard with a guilty conscience. There was a peach tree there—if he wasn’t mistaken, Ying Feng had buried it there.
The only seed produced by the Soul Tree in four thousand years, they just… buried it… buried…
Wait! Since it’s a seed, it might have already sprouted during the era when Ying Feng lived.
If a Soul Tree grew in the churchyard, announcing it would surely scare a lot of people. Maybe people would think it was the power of God!
Ling Xing solemnly handed the seed to Ling Xiao. “You can help me fulfill this wish, right?”
Ling Xiao, stunned, took the seed, chuckled dryly, raised the seed to his eyes, looked at it from all sides, and sighed.
“Why can’t history be changed? Do you know how much trouble I’ve been through for this little thing?”
“Is there a problem?” Ling Xing asked, puzzled.
“Forget it.” Ling Xiao sniffled exaggeratedly. “Trying to change history is pointless. Give it up, Ling Xiao.”
He placed the peach pit—ah, no, the tree seed—in his left chest pocket solemnly. “Don’t worry, I promise I can deliver it to him in the most special way, ensuring he cherishes and protects it meticulously.”
Ling Xing was reassured. “That’s good, then.”
Footsteps came from outside. Ling Xiao was the first to hear them. “The Long Star is back. I have to go.”
“Why are you afraid of him?” Ling Xing still wanted to introduce him to Jing Yu.
“I don’t want to get beaten up!” Having seen Ying Feng after his coming-of-age ceremony, he was so intrusive that he would intervene even when someone was just talking to another person. If the Lone Star found out he had sneaked into Ling Xing’s bedroom, it would be terrible.
Ling Xiao jumped out of the window he had come through, and Ling Xing quickly tidied up the things on the bed. When Jing Yu entered the room, he only saw Ling Xing sitting back on the bed. He looked around the room, sensing that something had happened, but he couldn’t tell what.
“Did someone come by?” After all, this was a Lone Star; his animal instincts were very strong.
“No one,” Ling Xing lied with his eyes open. Although he didn’t understand the meaning of “I don’t want to get beaten up”, since Ling Xiao was experienced, he must have his reasons for saying so.
Jing Yu always took Ling Xing’s word for it; if he said no one came, then no one came.
“I’ve repaired the garden in the front yard.”
“Is that so?” Ling Xing hadn’t left his room in three days. “I’d like to see it. Help me out.”
Jing Yu stepped forward to help Ling Xing up, but Ling Xing regretted it after only a couple of steps. Going seven rounds in one night really wasn’t humanly possible; he hadn’t walked far before his legs began to tremble, and he leaned more and more on Jing Yu, to the point where it became difficult for the other to walk properly.
Eventually, Jing Yu simply picked him up. Ling Xing was startled and reflexively hooked his arms around Jing Yu’s neck to prevent himself from falling.
The garden had finally been restored to its former glory. Although many plants were missing, the soil had been tended to. It seemed Jing Yu had replanted the seeds, and in no time at all, it would be blooming brilliantly again.
He felt a reluctance to leave. “Put me down. I’d like to stay here for a while.”
Jing Yu set him down, but Ling Xing’s legs were weak, and he could only manage to sit on the steps.
“I’ll go get the lounge chair from the backyard. You can lie down in the yard.”
Ling Xing smiled. “Okay.”
Jing Yu went to the backyard, but someone entered the front yard. It was someone he had never seen before.
“Hello,” Ling Xing said, a bit embarrassed, as he greeted the newcomer. “May I help you with something? If you’re here to pray, you can go straight in from here.”
The man looked around for a moment. “Are you the priest here?”
“I am the cleric here,” Ling Xing explained. “The priest has gone to study doctrines on another planet and will be back after some time.”
The man nodded. “Then I…”
Just as Jing Yu, carrying the chair, came to the front yard and saw Ling Xing speaking with a stranger, he didn’t think twice before jumping in front of them, standing between the two.
“Jing Yu, what are you doing? That’s impolite.”
In the past, Jing Yu would have obeyed Ling Xing’s orders, but today he had no intention of moving aside.
“Go away,” he said expressionlessly to the person in front of him.
“Jing Yu!”
“Leave now,” he said again, driving the person away.
The man, although not intimidated by Jing Yu’s size, was scared off by his emotionless gaze and backed away a few steps before turning to flee. Ling Xing couldn’t understand this behavior from Jing Yu.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “He wasn’t a bad person.”
Jing Yu turned around. “I don’t want to see you talking to him.”
He put the chair down to one side and picked up Ling Xing again, heading back.
“Hey, didn’t you bring the chair so I could sit in the yard?” Ling Xing protested.
“I don’t want to anymore.” Jing Yu kept walking. “There are too many people around.”
No matter how much Ling Xing opposed, Jing Yu insisted on carrying him back to the bedroom and closed the door, feeling relieved only then.
A thought came to Ling Xing’s mind as he recalled Ling Xiao’s words and combining them with Jing Yu’s behavior.
They had learned the most detailed health knowledge at the academy, not only about Qizis but also about Qizhus, which included the period for establishing ownership rights of the Qizhu over the Qizi.
Could it be that the Lone Star also had a period of establishing ownership rights? Ling Xing was puzzled; in Jing Yu’s concept, there was no such thing as ownership. His understanding of things was always divided into what could be moved and what couldn’t.
To teach Jing Yu the concept of mine, yours, and others, Ling Xing spent a whole month pointing out things—yours, mine, others—to help Jing Yu understand what ownership meant, but he couldn’t get him to actively develop the concept of “this thing is mine”.
To test his hypothesis, Ling Xing resumed the previous game. He pointed at the sports drink on the table and said, “Yours.”
Then pointed at a book nearby. “Mine.”
He searched the room and finally found a clock ornament left by the priest. “The priest’s.”
He continued pointing to the upper bunk, “Yours,” then to the lower bunk, “Mine,” and then pointed at himself, silent.
Jing Yu fluently continued, “Mine.”
The guess was confirmed, and Ling Xing didn’t know whether to be happy or worried. It was the first time the Lone Star had the concept of ownership, and the thing he marked as “mine” was him.
Jing Yu was waiting for his confirmation. In the past, if he guessed correctly, Ling Xing would affirm it. Otherwise, he would correct the mistake. But now this… Ling Xing was at a loss for words, and moreover, legally speaking, what he said wasn’t wrong, so he simply nodded, “Yours.”
If the Lone Star could feel happiness, then this was how Jing Yu expressed his joy. He pushed Ling Xing onto the bed, and before Ling Xing could utter a word of protest, his Qizhu’s desire was already conveyed. He had no choice but to surrender on the spot.
In this small and cozy bedroom, sounds not meant for the daylight hours began to intermittently fill the air.
……
“What? That guy isn’t dead?”
The subordinate who was sent to monitor Ling Xing reported truthfully. “After verification, Ling Xing really isn’t dead. But the two did indeed complete the coming-of-age ceremony, and these past few days, the Lone Star has been taking care of the other’s chaotic period.”
Long Yin sat down heavily, his grip on the armrest causing it to creak loudly.
An aide hesitated at his side. “The original order given to the Lone Star was to complete the coming-of-age ceremony with Ling Xing. If we look at just this point, this time he indeed…”
Long Yin glared at him. “I’ve never heard of anyone surviving the coming-of-age ceremony with a Lone Star.”
“Could it be because the two of them have lived together for a long time, and the Lone Star showed mercy?”
Long Yin waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t care whether he showed mercy or not. Even if he survived the coming-of-age ceremony, he is no longer a fledgling. He no longer has the ‘get out of death free’ card. Executing him is just a matter of saying the word.”
“We can’t be so rash,” the aide hurriedly advised. “First of all, he is now the Lone Star’s Qizi. Although we don’t know what caused the Lone Star’s abnormal behavior, the fact is that the situation has changed. According to common sense, the Lone Star has now entered the period of establishing ownership rights, and during this period, the Qizhu’s protective instincts for his Qizi are at their strongest. Trying to harm his Qizi now is basically a death wish.”
“Hmph,” Long Yin snorted contemptuously. “The period of establishing ownership rights—how long does it last?”
“It varies from person to person; as little as a week, as much as a month… it’s hard to say.”
“You want me to wait a month?” Long Yin raised his voice.
“That was just one reason. There’s another. Ordinary people develop through union, the Lone Star develops by killing his partner. Now that the Lone Star hasn’t killed his partner, it’s unclear which developmental path he has taken. If he has shifted to the ordinary developmental route, executing Ling Xing now means that the Lone Star will only maintain the appearance and abilities of his fledgling state, and he will never be able to fully exert his strength.”
Long Yin calmed down; after all, the Lone Star’s combat capabilities were important to them. He needed a fully developed Lone Star, not one in an undeveloped fledgling state.
“I know what to do now.”
Before the aide could speak up with his idea, Long Yin cut him off.
“But before that, regarding this period of establishing ownership rights you mentioned, I still want to test it out, to know how to proceed with the next step.”
……
Ling Xing touched his ear in pain, complaining somewhat discontentedly, “In those documentaries I showed you before, the reason male mammals bite the ears or the nape of their partners during mating is because some female mammals might run away. But I won’t run away, so can you please stop biting my ear? It really hurts.”
Jing Yu clearly heard what he said but turned his head away, showing no intention of complying.
Ling Xing felt frustrated. Ever since the coming-of-age ceremony, he had been increasingly “disobedient”, especially when it came to matters in bed, showing a strong inclination to establish his authority as a Qizhu. It was said that for some Qizhus, the period for establishing ownership rights could last even longer than the dangerous period for the Qizi. Ling Xing was somewhat tearful; he missed the obedient little Jing Yu from the past.
Ling Xing lay in bed for three days. On one hand, Jing Yu was watching him closely, and on the other, he was too exhausted to get out of bed. Fortunately, the supplies left by Ling Xiao were plentiful, saving him from having to gnaw on energy bars every day.
He was about to go stir crazy, but on the fourth day, taking advantage of Jing Yu’s absence, he followed Ling Xiao’s example and jumped out the window. Being outside after so long, breathing the fresh air, everything felt so good, but he hadn’t gotten far before Jing Yu caught him and brought him back.
“How did you find me?” Ling Xing wondered.
“If I want to see, I can see.”
Ling Xing understood; it must be a Qizhu’s skill. “You’re not always monitoring me, are you?”
“It’s not monitoring.” The emotionally detached Lone Star didn’t know what word to use. “It’s caring.”
Ling Xing touched his forehead. “I’m really happy you can say the word ‘care’, but that’s not how you use it. If you care about me, you should understand my feelings, not use your ability to watch me all the time. It makes me feel very insecure.”
“Then I won’t know where you have gone.”
Ling Xing grabbed his wrist. “Look, you have a terminal, right? People invented terminals to contact each other, didn’t they? If you want to know where I am, just call me, and I will tell you where I am. Promise me that you won’t use that ability again unless necessary, okay?”
Jing Yu seemed reluctant to accept this. “But it’s convenient.”
Ling Xing sighed and had to use the previous method again, placing Jing Yu’s hand on his chest. “When you do that, I feel uncomfortable.”
Jing Yu blinked. “Okay.”
The seven-day dangerous period finally passed, and Ling Xing and Jing Yu re-established another kind of relationship—elder and junior, teacher and student, Qizhu and Qizi, family and lover. All of this was built on the foundation that one of them was a Lone Star that completely lacked emotional areas, which Ling Xing found incredible.
Perhaps because the military had swept through the area recently, these days the church saw few visitors. With the priest and bishop gone to other planets, Ling Xing, bored to death, put on the cleric’s robes, ready to go out to preach on the streets.
Knowing that Jing Yu might not agree, he once again chose a time when the other was absent to sneak out through the back way. Since their last agreement, Jing Yu indeed had kept his promise not to use his tracking skill, which made Ling Xing feel much more at ease.
He walked on a secluded path, carrying pamphlets he had printed, when suddenly a gust of wind came at him. He instinctively leaned back to dodge, but a heavy blow hit him from behind.
Ling Xing staggered a few steps, pamphlets scattering on the ground. When he looked up again, four or five figures had emerged from the shadows and were slowly surrounding him.
Once he recognized the uniforms they wore, Ling Xing’s heart tightened—it was the military. Long Yin was finally making his move.
Ling Xing nervously spun in place and frowned. Jing Yu had made a promise not to watch him anymore, so naturally, he couldn’t possibly arrive in time. Was this going to be their farewell?
[System Judgment: Players will not face any more danger and have completed the level ahead of time.]
As the system notification appeared, Zhou Qian realized something and immediately grabbed Bai Zhou’s wrist, seemingly instinctively not wanting him to be tainted by the blood. Just like years ago, he didn’t want Bai Zhou to be present at Zhang Yanjun’s villa.
However, his reaction was too late, and he watched as half of Bai Zhou’s body was stained red.
The young Bai Zhou was covered in blood.
Zhou Qian was instantly reminded of that day more than a decade ago.
That day, Bai Zhou, who had been alone at Zhang Yanjun’s villa and whom he hadn’t seen himself, did he look like he did now?
After a brief moment of distraction, Zhou Qian noticed the bloody scene dissipate, and Bai Zhou’s height and facial features reverted back to those of an adult.
Through the corner of his eye, he realized they were back in the exhibition hall.
Their positions remained unchanged.
He had Bai Zhou’s wrist in his grip, while Bai Zhou’s other hand was still resting on his shoulder.
The distance between the two was close but not overly intimate.
It seemed like they were leaning on each other yet also engaged in a silent standoff.
The underlying tension was palpable, as if on the brink of a breakthrough or collapse in a split second.
At that moment, Zhou Qian didn’t feel like they had just returned from a virtual game to the real-world exhibit hall. He felt like he and Bai Zhou had time-traveled from when they were ten to the present. The setting changed, time and space intertwined.
Yet their gazes remained unchanged throughout, giving Zhou Qian the illusion that not much time had passed between them.
After looking at Bai Zhou silently for a moment, Zhou Qian was about to speak when he was interrupted by a staff member at the entrance to Hall 1.
He turned his head and saw the eerie-looking worker.
She smiled and said, “Exhibition Hall A is closing. Everyone, please leave immediately. There’s a resting area ahead where you can relax. The next hall will open soon. Please wait patiently.”
Without realizing, Zhou Qian and Bai Zhou let go of each other’s hands. Zhou Qian glanced at Bai Zhou, then at Ke Si and Ke Shi, and nudged Bai Zhou’s arm. “Let’s go.”
Three minutes later, Zhou Qian and Bai Zhou left Hall A and returned to the corridor they had first entered.
Previously, there were two signs lit up, marked “A” and “B”.
Now, the “A” hall sign had dimmed, indicating it was temporarily closed.
“B” displayed a sinister red, likely meaning “currently being viewed, no entry allowed”.
Deeper down the previously dark corridor, two white signs illuminated, one marked “C” and the other “Resting Area”.
The long-haired worker in a white dress appeared like a ghost, guiding the players to the resting area.
“Each hall has a limit on the number of visitors. Your group has completed Hall A, but Hall B is still ongoing. Once they exit, if the number meets the requirement, you’ll be guided to Hall C.
“If not, you’ll have to wait.”
After saying this, the lady in white disappeared, leaving only Zhou Qian and the three others who had come from Hall A.
Sitting side by side with Bai Zhou on a couch, Zhou Qian looked at the rows of snack cabinets filled with drinks, snacks, and fruits, along with some boxed fast food. There were even microwaves on the tables.
These items had to be purchased using the universal currency of Blue Harbor City.
In the game, ten gold coins could only be exchanged for one Blue Harbor coin.
Ke Si and Ke Shi, whose real names were Liu Wansan and Jian Erdan, probably feeling hungry and thirsty, approached the snack cabinets but were quickly deterred by the prices.
“These prices are way too high, aren’t they?”
“Exactly! If it was in-game gold, it’d be one thing, but this is Blue Harbor currency! In reality, drinking water costs hundreds of thousands!”
“Forget it. Let’s bear with it. In the next exhibit, we’ll find NPCs for free stuff…”
Hearing this conversation, Zhou Qian turned to Bai Zhou beside him and joked, “Zhou Ge, you’ve been in the game for so long. You must be loaded, right?”
Bai Zhou replied, “You don’t eat fast food. Shall I get you some fruit?”
Zhou Qian responded, “No need. The prices are clearly a rip-off. The system shop has snacks and mineral water.”
“The system shop doesn’t have fruits,” Bai Zhou retorted. “Do you want an apple or an orange?”
“How about one of each?”
“Okay.”
Watching Bai Zhou go to buy the fruits, Zhou Qian smiled.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind him—
“Qian’er?”
“Wuwuwu… Qian’er!”
Hm? Had He Xiaowei and the others finally emerged?
Zhou Qian turned around and indeed saw He Xiaowei.
He Xiaowei ran over with tears streaming down his face. The moment he saw Zhou Qian, tears gushed even more. He rushed over and hugged Zhou Qian tightly, crying out, “Qian’er! I thought I’d never see you again! You don’t understand; that instance was so terrifying! Ahh, a murderous maniac! I almost didn’t escape… Wuwuwu…”
“Calm down, calm down.” Zhou Qian patted him on the shoulder, then looked up to see Hidden Blade coming from behind.
Hidden Blade didn’t look well either. It seemed that the instance was indeed tough.
Behind Hidden Blade was the bald man.
Now, only one henchman was following the bald man. Both of them looked utterly defeated, like they’d been taught a lesson by the instance.
When they reached the rest area and saw only Liu Wansan and Jian Erdan behind Zhou Qian, they realized that everyone else, like Ma Luoluo and Meng Pingping, had died. The bald man almost collapsed but was caught just in time by his last remaining henchman.
They both sat on the floor, looking pale and completely different from when they first entered the instance. Before, the bald man had been the proud leader of the “Invincible Legion.” Now, his arrogance was entirely gone.
Zhou Qian glanced mockingly at the bald man, then turned to He Xiaowei. “So, what happened to you guys?”
He Xiaowei sobbed. “Serial killings… The killer was so twisted. You have no idea…”
Another serial killing? Could it be that in this exhibition, all the criminals had killed multiple people?
As Zhou Qian was about to ask something else, an apple appeared between him and He Xiaowei. It was from Bai Zhou.
Turning around, Zhou Qian looked at Bai Zhou. With a blink, Bai Zhou grabbed his wrist and pulled him over.
Moments later, Zhou Qian was out of He Xiaowei’s reach, seated on a nearby sofa. An apple was thrust into his hand, and Bai Zhou, sitting next to him, said casually, “Eat the apple.”
After glancing at Bai Zhou’s expression, Zhou Qian chuckled.
Without saying anything, he took a bite of the apple, and the number in his mind dropped to 60%. However, before he could take another bite, Hidden Blade came over. He said something to Bai Zhou with a serious face, who then got up and walked away with him, engaging in a quiet conversation.
Zhou Qian glanced at them, took another big bite of the apple, and frowned as the number rapidly increased to 71.2%.
He Xiaowei seemed oblivious to what had just happened.
He moved closer and sat beside Zhou Qian again. When he held onto Zhou Qian’s arm, his hands were still trembling from fear. Zhou Qian comforted him for a while before He Xiaowei finally relaxed.
After listening to He Xiaowei’s story, Zhou Qian got a rough idea about the instance they experienced.
In that story, a killer targeted prostitutes, claiming that all desires in this world were embodiments of sin. His purpose was to rid the world of passion and desire, cleansing humanity.
Zhou Qian snorted in disdain. “This killer is probably a woman-hating pervert. He comes up with high-sounding reasons, but they don’t hold up. Why doesn’t he target the clients?”
He Xiaowei, now a bit recovered, said, “Exactly! If he’s doing the godly work of cleaning up the world, why doesn’t he kill men? Anyway, he’s just twisted.”
“Wait a minute—” Suddenly, Zhou Qian grinned. “So, after entering that instance, you became…?”
He Xiaowei’s face turned red.
Zhou Qian pressed on, “It’s a pity I didn’t see it. Was it fun dressing as a woman, Xiaowei Ge?”
“Ahh, Qian’er! Don’t tease me! I was terrified!”
“The scenes after the murders… I won’t speak of it. Knowing that a killer is after you at any moment is scarier than ghosts! How can some humans become so terrifying?”
After rambling for a while, He Xiaowei seemed to remember something important and looked at Zhou Qian. “By the way, there’s something I never told you.”
Curious, Zhou Qian asked, “What is it?”
He Xiaowei said, “I was afraid of offending some big shot and didn’t dare to tell you. But I’ve come close to dying multiple times. During those moments, my mind was filled with regrets. One of those regrets involves you. I think I should tell you. Just in case you encounter him… If because I didn’t warn you, something happens to you… I would regret it for the rest of my life. I couldn’t bear it!”
Zhou Qian became more intrigued. “What is it?”
Grasping Zhou Qian’s wrist tightly, He Xiaowei said with deep concern, “In the ‘Last Wish’ instance, remember when you fainted? A creature resembling a dragon appeared. After it wrapped you up…”
Suddenly, He Xiaowei stopped talking. Zhou Qian urged, “What? Why did you stop?”
He then noticed He Xiaowei staring straight ahead, mouth agape, frozen in place.
Confused, Zhou Qian instinctively looked back, only to see Bai Zhou and Hidden Blade behind him. Bai Zhou was leisurely peeling an orange, while Hidden Blade chuckled awkwardly. “Haha, I wanted to get a potion to replenish my disciple’s state, but accidentally used the wrong prop and froze him. Ha… ha… ha…”
Upon hearing that, Zhou Qian raised an eyebrow and quickly narrowed his eyes. He swiftly stood up, grabbed Bai Zhou’s wrist, and took him aside, staring intently into Bai Zhou’s dark eyes.
When the two of them were together, Zhou Qian was always the talkative one, while Bai Zhou spoke little.
This time, Zhou Qian remained silent, just staring at Bai Zhou. After a moment, Bai Zhou finally asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Zhou Ge, you’re being sneaky.” Zhou Qian questioned, “What did you do to me?”
Bai Zhou’s gaze drifted to the center of Zhou Qian’s forehead. After observing it for a moment, he lifted his left hand, deliberately pressing his thumb against it. Quickly, he withdrew his hand. Just as Zhou Qian was about to press him further, Bai Zhou popped a piece of peeled orange into his mouth.
Zhou Qian: “…”
Bai Zhou: “Is it still sour?”
Zhou Qian: “……”
On the nearby sofa, He Xiaowei was paralyzed. He glanced down and noticed a system notification flashing before him:
[Player 137 used the prop on you: One, Two, Three, Wooden Statues*]
*This is referring to the game Red Light, Green Light, which has a variety of different names depending on which country you’re in. You can read the rules on Wikipedia.
[Effect: Unable to speak or move. Anyone who makes eye contact with you for more than ten seconds will be infected and turn into a wooden mannequin too, which will be released after 30 seconds.]
[Item Time Limit: 30 seconds.]
Once the effect wore off, He Xiaowei looked at Hidden Blade in horror. “Master…”
Hidden Blade patted him on the shoulder. “Talk less, do more.”
He Xiaowei: “I was just warning my brother! Last time, out of nowhere, a dragon suddenly appeared and kissed him. He was molested—”
Before he could finish, Hidden Blade hurriedly covered his mouth, his face showing a broken expression.
What…what?
What did He Xiaowei say?
What did 137 do?!
My God, he is…?
Why did He Xiaowei tell me this? If something happens, won’t I be implicated?!
It took a full minute for Hidden Blade to calm his internal turmoil. He cleared his throat and seriously said to He Xiaowei, “For the next instance, you must remain silent.”
He Xiaowei: “?”
Hidden Blade: “I am testing your composure. It’s up to you to pass.”
He Xiaowei: “…”
……
In the corner of the rest area on a sofa, the name “Ke Si” above his head had disappeared, revealing the real name Liu Wansan. Pretending to be afraid and despondent, he observed the others.
Not far away, Zhou Qian, 137, Hidden Blade, and He Xiaowei were discussing something. Nearby, their leader, the bald Batu Fei, and his henchman Chen Dami sat on the ground, looking defeated.
After a while, Batu Fei suddenly sat up aggressively, glaring viciously in Zhou Qian’s direction. However, his fury didn’t last long, as his eyes soon filled with fear again.
He entered this instance to pursue and kill Zhou Qian, resulting in the loss of many of his comrades.
So, he directed all his hatred towards Zhou Qian.
He desperately wanted to kill Zhou Qian to vent all his fear, anger, and resentment.
Yet, he was also afraid. He suddenly realized that he might not even have the courage to enter the next instance.
Liu Wansan observed all this with a slight downward curve at the corner of his mouth.
He didn’t speak immediately but rather opened the system panel, preparing for the next instance.
On the system panel that only he could see, his name wasn’t Liu Wansan, but Wen Bin.
In the virtual game at Exhibition Hall A, that night, he jumped from a car to evade a potentially fatal situation. He then ran with all his might, managing to return to the mountaintop villa within the stipulated time.
Of course, he didn’t enter the villa right away but chose to watch from behind a tree.
During this time, he noticed “Ke Shi” Jian Erdan and the real “Ke Si” Liu Wansan coming out.
After the two conducted some checks in the yard, Jian Erdan went to the backyard, leaving Liu Wansan alone in the front yard.
Seizing this opportunity, Wen Bin tried using a particular tool.
There were two paths before Wen Bin at that time.
The first was to openly appear in front of everyone, but that meant he would have to bow down to Zhou Qian and even beg him in every way possible.
Wen Bin knew that if he intended to stir things up, he had a chance to harm everyone. Therefore, Zhou Qian might not necessarily disagree with him joining forces. But Zhou Qian would surely act condescendingly, perhaps even mocking him.
Thus, unless absolutely necessary, Wen Bin wouldn’t choose this path.
His ideal choice was the second path.
But to tread this path, there was a precondition: He had to gamble on whether a treasured prop he had could be used in this instance.
This instance was extremely unfavorable to players. Players who thought they had figured out a way to avoid dangers could easily face death if not careful.
The instance was not only full of traps, but there were also strict restrictions on items.
Offensive items, strong defensive items, life-saving items, and escape items like the Universe Teleportation Mirror were all prohibited.
However, Wen Bin discovered that the tools for private chats between players were still functional. Based on this, he took a gamble and pulled out the [Identity Duplication Camera].
[Item Function: Aim the lens on the card at the target and take a frontal photo to capture their appearance, physique, voice, etc. The photo will slide out after 30 seconds. Place it on your forehead for 30 seconds, and you can disguise yourself as the person in the photo.]
[Disguise Time Limit: 24 hours]
[Note: The camera film is consumable and can only take three photos.]
The private chat prop was for players to use among themselves. So was this identity duplication prop.
Taking a deep breath, Wen Bin aimed the camera at “Ke Si” Liu Wansan, who was wandering around the yard. With a soft “click”, the shutter was pressed. The faint sound quickly blended into the night, carried away by the wind, leaving no trace.
30 seconds later, a photo slid out of the camera, slowly developing like a Polaroid.
Wen Bin pressed the photo against his forehead, and when he removed it, he had transformed into Liu Wansan, even having the title “Ke Si” above his head.
What Wen Bin needed to do next was to completely replace Liu Wansan’s identity. He continued to hide behind the tree, waiting for the right moment. About three minutes later, he seized his chance.
The real Liu Wansan approached where Wen Bin was hiding, which was near the front gate. Seeing this, Wen Bin picked up a stone and threw it towards the gate. As expected, Liu Wansan was alerted by the noise and approached the gate to investigate. Seizing the moment, Wen Bin sprinted forward and pushed Liu Wansan hard from behind.
Caught off guard, Liu Wansan fell forward, his upper body tumbling out of the front gate. Without hesitation, Wen Bin quickly grabbed Liu Wansan’s ankles and shoved him completely out of the gate.
Due to stepping out of the plot’s designated area, Liu Wansan quickly vanished. Fortunately, in this instance, the system didn’t announce players’ deaths in real-time, and Wen Bin breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, “Ke Shi” Jian Erdan ran over from the backyard. “I heard some noise. Is everything alright?”
Wen Bin looked at him, smiling and shaking his head. “It’s fine.”
Shortly after, Zhou Qian pushed open the villa’s main door and walked over. “How did your inspection go? I’ll review it with you once more and then tell you what we should do tomorrow.”
Successfully posing as Liu Wansan, with all his features, including the title “Ke Si” above his head, Wen Bin approached Zhou Qian. “We’re almost done. I’m really nervous. What exactly should we do tomorrow?”
……
Blue Harbor City, 1993.
Ke Family Mansion.
Ke Zheng retrieved the latest newspaper from the mailbox at the entrance. After scouring through it, he found the piece of information he was most eager to know—”According to police disclosures, there has been new progress in the city’s major serial child murder case. Numerous fingerprints have been extracted from the children’s bodies. There seems to be another suspect. The truth remains to be uncovered. Ruan Mei has been acquitted.”
It really wasn’t A’Mei…
He had always said so: How could Ruan Mei commit such a crime? It was impossible.
Ke Zheng let out a long sigh of relief.
By noon, there was a knock at the door.
Ke Zheng immediately opened it, welcoming Ruan Mei inside and holding her tightly. “Thank goodness you’re okay. Welcome home!”
Ruan Mei replied with a smile, “I’m fine. You can go to work. I’ll take care of the house.”
In the afternoon, Ruan Mei saw Ke Zheng off to work.
The only child they had left at home had been sent to Ke Yun for care.
Thus, after her husband left, the house felt eerily empty.
Ruan Mei went to the master bedroom on the second floor and sat quietly by the bed. After a moment, she noticed the straight baseboard at the corner of the wall in front of her bend slightly. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she found herself in Exhibition Hall 7 of the Blue Harbor City 2301 Exhibition Center.
The pitch-black hall slowly illuminated, and all the bodies of infants and children vanished. A short-haired staff member in a red dress approached her.
“Are you satisfied with everything we’ve done for you?” the staff member asked.
“I had already been arrested by the police. I thought I was facing the death penalty…”
Ruan Mei looked at her. “How did you manage this?”
“Because we can change history,” the staff member replied with a smile, handing Ruan Mei a red ribbon. “Please wear it on your left hand.”
Ruan Mei accepted the ribbon and indeed wore it on her hand.
She then heard the staff member say, “Welcome to the Murder Exhibition Hall. Those without a ribbon on their hand can become suspects. When the time comes, we invite you to view them.”
“By then, you can choose a substitute to your liking. They can replace you and become the ‘past’ suspect.”
Note: These are mini extras that the author has written posted separately on JJ. She intermittently updates them, usually on Valentine’s Day and other holidays for her CPs. The translation will be updated when the author updates her blog. You can get updates when translations are updated in my Discord server. Below is a ton of dog food.
2025/29/8
Everyone’s Summer Cool-Down Routines
Another Qixi has come around, and our married couples are celebrating again.
Here are their little everyday tricks for beating the heat—
Shi Jingzhi refused to train in the height of summer.
Spring was lovely with flowers in full bloom, and he would wander among them with A’Ci. Autumn was lovely with golden leaves falling, and he and A’Ci would reminisce.
Winter was lovely with piles of white snow, and his favorite thing was playing in it with A’Ci.
Summer wasn’t lovely—though Shi Jingzhi could regulate his temperature with inner force, the fierce sunlight still left him prickling all over, red as a boiled prawn.
Yin Ci’s constitution was much better. Even in blazing sun he remained carved of ice and snow.
“I’m not going out.” Shi Jingzhi clung to the house, dead set against the door.
“Cultivating the Cold-Weather Heart Technique will do you good,” Yin Ci coaxed. “Master it and you won’t fear the sun. Training in midsummer gives twice the result for half the effort—”
“I’m not going out.” Shi Jingzhi shrank warily into the corner. “Early autumn is fine. A little imperfection won’t kill me.”
Seeing him so determined to resist, Yin Ci sighed and stepped out.
Moments later, Shi Jingzhi caught a fresh, sweet scent. Yin Ci returned carrying a bowl of shaved ice. It was ultra-fine, the color of joyous plum, topped with slivers of candied dried apricot. It looked incredible, whetting his apetitie.
Shi Jingzhi slowly left the corner. “A’Ci, let me have a taste.”
Yin Ci scooped him a spoonful. The shaved ice was mixed with bayberry juice and had an incredibly light texture like fine snow that melted at the touch of the tongue.
Relief washed over Shi Jingzhi, and he pitifully begged for his own bowl. The moment the porcelain reached his hands, the mound collapsed into ordinary ice chips.
Shi Jingzhi: “……”
Yin Ci cradled his own bowl. “It’s too fine. You need the Cold-Weather method to hold it stable—otherwise it collapses in an instant.”
“I’ll practice…” Shi Jingzhi grumbled.
“What? I didn’t hear you clearly.”
“I’ll practice,” he said with a bitter face, heaving sighs at the bowl of ice chips.
Yin Ci couldn’t help laughing and brushed a light kiss on the tip of his nose.
“Good. I’ll make it for you every day.”
“It’s a deal!”
2025/5/20
Everyone’s Birthday Cakes
Congrats to the couple from “Help”on moving into the Married Zone ☆(/ω＼)
This year’s 520 (May 20) mini-extra: couples celebrate their birthdays! It’s a perfect chance to compile everyone’s birthdays~
Shi Jingzhi: October 23rd
Source: A normal birthday. (Frost Descent, 2020)
Cake: [Pastry Feast]
A banquet of pastries made by Yin Ci’s own hands. Shi Jingzhi may order as willful a spread as he likes. There are thousands of pastries in the world, and if it has a name, Yin Ci can make it.
Shi Jingzhi spends a full year thinking over that day’s order and tries to include things Yin Ci might love. It won’t do that he gets to be the only one to indulge himself. He wants to find every last bit of joy in this world with Yin Ci.
※ Yin Ci naturally sees through this subtle intention of his and, in turn, has found several of Shi Jingzhi’s favorites and made them household staples.
Yin Ci values health, so Shi Jingzhi studies herbs and turns them into inventive, tasty signature pastries. His cooking may not rival Yin Ci’s, but he can make up for it with creativity!
He quietly spirited away a number of exquisite pastry boxes from the palace, packed them full of fresh pastries, and presented them like treasures to Yin Ci. The assortment never repeats year to year, making one look forward to the next.
※ Yin Ci long ago forgot his own date of birth. It was Shi Jingzhi who slyly set it on Qingming. “That way, when the people of Great Yun honor their ancestors, it also counts as wishing you a happy birthday.”
2025/2/16
What to Do When You’re Stuck Together
Suddenly stuck together—what should you do?
A belated Valentine’s Day mini joke (?) story has arrived! Time for some sweet, sticky fluff ☆
Shi Jingzhi’s world collapsed.
A’Ci’s hand was stuck. The most delicious breakfast in the world vanished into thin air. His own hand was stuck, and he didn’t even have the chance to imitate A’Ci and make breakfast.
…Both chefs were completely down for the count!
The food sold at the outside stalls could never compare to the meals made at home. Over the years, Shi Jingzhi’s palate had grown incredibly picky—he couldn’t tolerate even the slightest bitterness.
He leaned sorrowfully against the headboard, somehow managing to radiate the atmosphere of someone whose death was imminent.
Yin Ci almost burst out laughing.
“Breakfast isn’t a big problem. I made some pancakes last night. We can toast them this morning and spread sweet osmanthus jam on while they’re hot.”
“I also ordered a top-quality live chicken a few days ago—just a bit of silver to have it dressed. Today I’ll make white-cut chicken, paired with your signature steamed wild greens. Even one-handed, it’s doable.”
As expected of A’Ci—he effortlessly listed off a gourmet meal.
Shi Jingzhi slowly regained some spirit. “And a glass of the finest wine.”
“Mm, a glass of the finest wine,” Yin Ci coaxed.
Shi Jingzhi was revived.
He sat up and touched their joined palms. “There’s no disruption in qi flow, and no discomfort. This is probably just a temporary condition—doesn’t seem dangerous.”
“Having our fingers intertwined like this… it’s a beautiful thing.”
As he spoke, he pressed his cheek against the back of Yin Ci’s hand and sighed softly. “A’Ci, you don’t know—being able to spend a day like this makes me truly happy.”
Yin Ci: “You mean that?”
Shi Jingzhi: “Of course.”
“Actually, I’m happy too,” Yin Ci said gently. “These past years, I’ve seldom been close to anyone. Rather than call this a strange event, I think it’s a heaven-sent opportunity.”
Shi Jingzhi’s previous gloom vanished. His eyes shone brightly. “If A’Ci sees it that way, then even if I have to eat slop today, I’ll do it gladly.”
Yin Ci was surprised. “You mean that too? You’d willingly suffer?”
Shi Jingzhi replied with heartfelt sincerity, “Of course!”
A smile appeared on Yin Ci’s face.
He leaned in, lips nearly touching Shi Jingzhi’s ear. “Just think—our palms are pressed together, inseparable. This level of closeness is perfect for…”
Shi Jingzhi blinked with eager anticipation.
“…perfect for practicing close-combat sword techniques. Truly a heaven-sent opportunity.” Yin Ci smiled faintly.
“A’Ci?!” Shi Jingzhi jumped off the bed like someone had stepped on his tail.
“Wait, A’Ci, don’t—don’t pull me! Let’s take a day off, sit down and have a nice heart-to-heart… Ah!”
“I get it, I get it! I’ll train, I’ll train!”
“The loser washes the dishes with one hand,” Yin Ci said coldly as he retracted his sword.
“…Fine…”
“The winner can do anything they want tonight.”
“Deal—!”
2024/8/13
Everyone’s Favorite Sports
A belated short story for Qixi Festival, with a little Olympic commemoration (*/ω＼*)
Shi Jingzhi: [Practicing External Martial Arts]
Yin Ci is like a living martial arts manual, with unpredictable skills and mastery of any weapon. When it comes to Shi Jingzhi, he never holds back, teaching him everything.
Even so, Shi Jingzhi feels it will take decades to learn all of Yin Ci’s skills. But living and learning as you age isn’t a bad thing—after all, his teacher is his most beloved person. They share a bed at night and practice swordsmanship together in the morning. There’s nothing more beautiful in the world.
Still, Shi Jingzhi insists on maintaining his “Shifu” title.
After all, the “Kushan Sect” represents the best fate that brought them together, and just chewing on these words makes Shi Jingzhi smile his brightest smile.
Yin Ci: [Practicing Internal Martial Arts]
After many years, Yin Ci’s meridians are no longer like sieves, and he can finally practice internal martial arts again.
Thanks to the roots of the Hanging Tree, he and Shi Jingzhi are practically connected by their meridians. Instead of saying he’s re-cultivating his inner force, it’s more accurate to say he’s cultivating alongside Shi Jingzhi. With Shi Jingzhi by his side, Yin Ci’s cultivation is always twice as effective with half the effort.
Warm inner force flows between them as if their bodies are intertwined. This sense of security and fulfillment is something Yin Ci had never experienced in the first half of his life. However, it’s not just the Hanging Tree’s power that makes him love this so much.
To him, with Shi Jingzhi by his side, “love” is worth far more than the “roots of the Hanging Tree”.
A thousand times more.
2024/6/1
Childhood Hairstyles
I suddenly wondered what everyone’s hairstyle was like when they were kids, so I’m sharing this on Children’s Day—
Consider it a little addition to the setting (〃ω〃)
Shi Jingzhi: [Meticulously Groomed Long Hair]
Little Jingzhi’s treatment in childhood wasn’t great, but as a prince, his appearance couldn’t be neglected. There were people specifically responsible for combing and tying his hair. Due to Shi Jingzhi’s special constitution, his hair appeared exceptionally healthy.
Yin Ci: [Simple and Rough Long Ponytail]
During his wandering days, he had no time to worry about these things, so he just tied his hair with a piece of cloth. However, compared to other street children, Yin Ci cared a lot about personal hygiene. His hair, though tied carelessly, was always clean.
2024/5/20
Everyone’s Favorite Fruits
This year’s Married Couple Day on 520* has arrived, so let’s write about everyone’s favorite fruits ☆
*The number 520 when pronounced in Chinese is very similar to [wǒ ài nǐ] (我爱你) I love you. Due to this, it has become a day in China called “Internet Valentine’s Day”.
Congratulations to the couple from [Full Server First Kill] for entering the happy married zone (*/ω＼*)
Shi Jingzhi: [Grape]
When he was still confined in that small courtyard, grapes were the sweetest thing Shi Jingzhi could get. The desserts brought by the maids weren’t very sweet, and the other fruits were mostly mildly sweet. As for crispy candies and other children’s snacks, they rarely made it to his courtyard. Even when they did, these small items were often pocketed by the servants, never reaching his hands.
Only grapes allowed him to understand the meaning of the word “sweet”.
The grapes bestowed were few in number, and if not eaten early, they would spoil and couldn’t be stored to be eaten little by little. So when enjoying these grapes, Shi Jingzhi didn’t need to deliberately restrain his desires. He could simply enjoy them happily.
After leaving the palace, he also liked to carry raisins with him. They were easier to preserve and still retained a honey-like sweetness, making them ideal for a quick snack on the road. As he savored that bit of sweetness, it was as if all the world’s constraints disappeared.
※ “A’Ci even makes wine out of them!” Shi Jingzhi showed off his wine jug.
Yin Ci: [Pomegranate]
Yin Ci favored pomegranates, not because of their association with “abundant offspring and blessings,” but simply because they were a hassle. They were full of seeds with little flesh, requiring careful peeling and meticulous handling to avoid the juice splattering everywhere, leaving hands sticky.
Time passed slowly, and in his endless boredom, Yin Ci mastered the art of peeling pomegranates. With a slight movement of his fingers, the blood-red pomegranate seeds would roll out without any yellow-white membranes sticking to them. After peeling, his ten fingers would remain clean, with no traces of fruit juice.
Once peeled, he would let the pomegranate seeds pile up in a porcelain bowl. He would only eat a little, leaving the rest for his subordinates or giving them to passersby—perhaps a way of protecting himself. He didn’t dislike the taste of pomegranates, but eating too many would turn fondness into fatigue.
However, after marrying Shi Jingzhi, the pomegranate seeds would be gone before they could form a little mountain, as someone would smooth out the top. Sharing the fruit not only didn’t make it tiresome but also added a bit of sweetness.
※ Yin Ci wasn’t too surprised to discover that the taste of food is greatly influenced by the person with whom it is shared.
~~~
Shi Jingzhi’s exuberant energy was comparable to magic.
A few days ago, they had just talked about grapes, and today, when Yin Ci opened his eyes, he saw a grape trellis in the corner of the courtyard. The crafty fox was meticulously watering the grape vines, chatting away with them. If Yin Ci weren’t so used to worldly magics, it would have seemed like this trellis had appeared overnight.
“I got the best grapevine from my elder brother’s garden.” Seeing Yin Ci approach, Shi Jingzhi eagerly gestured. “I used to eat these grapes as a child. They’re sweeter than any others outside. A’Ci must try them. They yield a lot, and the excess can be made into wine…”
“Wine is harmful to the body. It’s better to drink less.” Noticing how Shi Jingzhi was always thinking about grape wine, Yin Ci gently reminded him. “You like sweet and sour flavors, so I’ll make you some pomegranate tea.”
Shi Jingzhi hummed thoughtfully. “So A’Ci likes pomegranates.”
The next day, Yin Ci found a top-quality pomegranate tree in the courtyard. Beneath the tree, someone was carefully tending the soil again.
Shi Jingzhi smiled recklessly. “I dug up the best pomegranate tree from my elder brother’s garden.”
Yin Ci: “……”
Yin Ci couldn’t help himself and reached out to pinch that radiant smiling face.
2024/2/14
Couple’s Pajama Party
Valentine’s Day, of course, calls for a grand pajama reveal (?
And favorite intimate acts (???
~Shi Jingzhi~
[Fine silk undergarments] Light-colored undergarment and underpants set, made from top-quality material required in the palace. It’s several times more breathable than ordinary silk and unbelievably soft to the touch.
※ Fox Shi swipes quite a bit of precious fabric each year to subsidize the household, with the emperor silently enraged but unable to voice his complaints.
~Yin Ci~
[A robe as light as a spiderweb] in a bizarre bluish white, woven from special silk threads, loosely covering the body, making it almost imperceptible.
※ Yin Ci dislikes feeling constricted while sleeping. It reminds him of his time when he was buried alive and the Ghost Skin Robe he wore during turbulent times. However, he’s too proud to sleep naked, so he indulged in this luxury.
Both enjoy adding a bit of light biting to their kisses.
Shi Jingzhi likes to leave his marks on the other. Without the exaggerated power of the Hanging Tree, his marks can last long on Yin Ci’s skin. Yin Ci simply wants to bite this brat—sometimes, Sect Master Shi’s smugness exceeds his imagination.
2024/1/1
Magical Summoning Abilities
New Year’s Mysterious Magic☆ Couple Summoning Technique~10 Seconds Guaranteed~ The effect is magical, comparable to spatial teleportation!
Yin Ci’s magic: Tie up long hair and walk towards the kitchen.
Magic effect: Within ten heartbeats, Shi Jingzhi will appear by the pot.
※ It’d be so much better if his qinggong was always this good. Demonic Lord Yin felt a bit exasperated.
Shi Jingzhi’s magic: Dawdle but take the initiative to walk towards the martial arts training ground.
Magic effect: Yin Ci will definitely be there waiting for him with a long sword in hand.
※ Sect Master Shi: “Although A’Ci is scary like this, he’s also very cute…”
2023/10/31
Got A Pumpkin
~Yin Ci’s Pumpkin~
A pumpkin suddenly appeared on the stove, not sure who sent it.
Yin Ci sniffed the pumpkin, not detecting any peculiar smell. He cut it in half; one half was made into pumpkin crystal steamed cake, the other into pumpkin osmanthus sweet soup. Paired with a rock sugar elbow, wax meat steamed together with a few side dishes. It was just right for a small autumnal meal.
Today’s weather was perfect. Yin Ci warmed the steamed cake on the stove and heated the sweet soup in the pot. But when he turned around after being busy, half of the pumpkin crystal steamed cake was neatly gone.
The kitchen had been raided by a fox!
This kid’s qinggong had indeed improved. Yin Ci rubbed his temples and pretended not to notice—considering that half plate of steamed cake as a reward for him.
When the side dishes were finished, he noticed a bowl next to the steamed cake dish containing a pumpkin stuffed with meat.
…Oh, it was a gift from the fox spirit.
※: “I personally made that stuffed meat!” Shi Jingzhi said, and additionally asked for a piece of steamed cake.
~Shi Jingzhi’s Pumpkin~
The pumpkins were perfectly ripe. Many vendors roasted them with sugar, and others made porridge to sell. The entire street was filled with the aroma of pumpkin. Shi Jingzhi initially went out to buy some spices and live poultry, but he felt hungry after smelling the pumpkin aroma.
What would A’Ci make with the pumpkin?
After some thought, Shi Jingzhi bought two pumpkins, one big and one small, and secretly brought them home. He happened to get the recipe for pumpkin stuffed with meat from the palace from his elder brother. It was time for a pumpkin feast!
While preparing the pumpkin… A’Ci’s side dishes smells so sweet…
While preparing the meat filling… A’Ci’s side dishes smells so sweet…
Indeed, to concentrate, he decided to steal half and try!
※: The next day, Shi Jingzhi made a plate of pumpkin crystal steamed cakes and stole the last piece from Yin Ci’s lips.
2023/10/04
Late Mid-Autumn Festival? National Day? Short joke~(*/ω＼*)
Everyone’s Belongings
~Yin Ci’s personal items~
◆ Life-Death Pill: An upgraded version of the Life-Death Soup, a rapid rescue medication that can revive the dead. The recipe is precious and the production is challenging, but Yin Ci managed to concoct it.
※ “Just in case”, insists the man who once sought death in various ways.
◆ A small pack of pine nut candy: A version added with some medicinal herbs, exceptionally sweet. After teaching Shi Jingzhi sword moves every day, Yin Ci always gives him some. Shi Jingzhi adores this treat but would never carry it himself; he especially enjoys the process of being fed.
※ In truth, Yin Ci also takes pleasure in the act of feeding someone.
◆ A pouch embroidered with an unknown design: Inspired by Yin Ci, Shi Jingzhi attempted to make a pouch but failed miserably with the embroidery.
※ Yin Ci still keeps it close to him. It can’t hold coins, but it’s sufficient for storing some pine nut candies.
~Shi Jingzhi’s personal items~
◆ A carved silver container with ointment: Specially blended, it’s very effective for bruises and has a pleasant herbal aroma.
※ Both apply a little every time after Yin Ci’s training session.
◆ Special fish filets: The fish skin, bones, and innards are removed, the fish meat is pounded into a paste and seasoned, then dried and shaped over fruitwood fire and finely sliced. Folded and wrapped in wax paper, they taste fragrantly delicious when chewed.
※ A recent snack Yin Ci developed, originally intended as a side dish for alcohol, but always gets completely eaten by someone in advance.
◆ A pouch embroidered with a fox pattern: Stylish in design and finely stitched. Filled daily with copper coins and bits of silver, it’s very practical.
※ The pouch was made by Yin Ci, and the fox pattern was also whimsically embroidered by him, but Shi Jingzhi particularly loves it.
2023/08/22
Qixi Scheduled! Perfect to rate everyone’s culinary skills~☆
~Yin Ci’s Culinary Skills ~
Overall rating: ★★★★★
Strengths: He’s seriously studied it and has a natural talent. This is the quality of a former immortal.
Weaknesses: None.
※ Shi Jingzhi: “A’Ci, although you say you’re not a god, I think those restaurants should worship you.”
~Shi Jingzhi’s Culinary Skills ~
Overall rating: ★★★★☆
Strengths: Loves to eat and is eager to learn. Has the world’s best cooking tutor, so his progress is commendable.
Weaknesses: Lacks hands-on experience, but that’s not a big deal.
※ “You’re progressing so quickly; I wish you were as dedicated to martial arts,” Yin Ci said melancholically.
2023/05/30
Indulging in “Tears of the Kingdom” led to postponement of the mini… A small corner of everyone’s daily life!
In the early morning, Yin Ci leaned by the window, engrossed in a book under the brilliant morning light.
Outside, the sky was clear, flowers were blossoming beautifully, and someone was jumping around the courtyard practicing martial arts with a wooden sword. At first glance, it was a delightful scene. But on closer inspection, the practicing Shi Jingzhi had drooping corners of his mouth, obviously not in a pleasant mood.
Yin Ci picked up a piece of pine nut candy and threw it towards Shi Jingzhi. The latter, with a flick of his sword, caught the candy with his mouth.
“Your left hand was off on the tenth move,” Yin Ci commented.
Shi Jingzhi’s just-lifted smile drooped again. “A’Ci…”
Ever since the two were reborn, Yin Ci’s inner force was restored, and the gap between their martial arts skills, once close, widened again. Admittedly, Shi Jingzhi was a genius. But even a genius couldn’t catch up with techniques honed over a century in such a short time.
He understood Yin Ci’s intentions in guiding him. If he died, Yin Ci would die due to a lack of vital qi supply. If Yin Ci died, he would explode due to an excess of vital qi. Any mishap could be fatal for both of them.
But this was just too strict!
“People die easily,” Yin Ci said without sugar-coating. “Especially martial artists. Even if one is the best in the world, a single mistake can be fatal. I can’t always watch over you…”
Shi Jingzhi’s ears filtered out most of the nagging. He knew Yin Ci had omitted various ways to die—from drowning, choking during a meal, to infections, poisoning, or assassinations. His worry-prone partner, after realizing that dying was challenging, began to believe that living a long life was also a formidable task.
Perhaps because Yin Ci was too familiar with death.
Shi Jingzhi swallowed the candy and tried to sound casual. “I wasn’t planning to slack off. Just felt a bit bored, so my mind wandered.”
“Bored?”
“It would certainly be better if a certain master would personally guide me.”
“Last time, we destroyed your favorite flower. You almost built a memorial for it,” Yin Ci reminded him.
If the two were to seriously spar, avoiding bystanders alone would take all their effort, let alone minding the plants.
“People pay thousands of taels of gold for guidance from masters. By that measure, I’m still ahead,” Shi Jingzhi said with mock tragedy.
After a pause, he continued, “How about we set up a protective formation in the courtyard first… We still have some materials left from what Su Si gave us last time. A’Ci, what do you think…”
Yin Ci shook his head, chuckling. “If you’re upset, just say it.”
“I am, indeed.”
Shi Jingzhi looked straight at Yin Ci, his eyes smiling as he replied.
“…But we have plenty of time. We’ll find a way.”
2023/02/15
A belated Valentine’s Day mini: Everyone’s game preference.
~Yin Ci’s Gaming Preferences~
Occupation Choice: DPS, Swordsman class.
Gaming Tendency: Explosive damage output, never makes mistakes. Prefers high attack, low defense/sudden burst skills when on low health. Surprisingly serious about gaming, proactively guiding teammates and covering for their mistakes.
Teaming Tendencies: For convenience, he and Shi Jingzhi established their own small guild, often borrowing acquaintances from other guilds for grunt work.
※The biggest mistakes are usually caused by Shi Jingzhi, but Yin Ci never seems to get angry because of it.
~Shi Jingzhi’s Gaming Preferences~
Occupation Choice: Healer, but with high damage capabilities.
Gaming Tendency: Chaotic player. Starts off healing but suddenly switches to damage dealer. Sometimes, he becomes so focused on dealing damage that he neglects the well-being of teammates (except for Yin Ci). Frustratingly, his gaming skills are exceptional, leaving teammates fuming but silent.
Teaming Tendencies: Plays with the guild’s own team, enjoys crafting various quirky strategies to clear levels.
※He behaves recklessly, backed by the support of Yin Ci. Together, they have set countless terrifying speedrun records.
2022/08/05
Tanabata, Tanabata, Everyone’s Outfit Special Edition~
~Traveling Outside~
After the Kushan Sect grew stronger, the two would wander around wearing the elder robes of the Kushan Sect. Occasionally, they’d also wear the elder robes of the Chigou Sect.
On this matter, the two current sect leaders didn’t dare to voice any objections.
Shi Jingzhi: “A’Ci, do you think this is a case of ‘a fox exploiting the tiger’s might*’ or ‘a tiger exploiting the fox’s might’?”
*(算狐假虎威) Idiom referring to relying on the power of others to bully and intimidate people, similar to how a fox might wear a tiger’s skin to use the tiger’s might for its advantage.
Yin Ci: “…It’s probably more like running amok.”
—
~Resting at Home~
Shi Jingzhi:
[Light-colored deep robes and matching trousers] The style is simple, but the materials used are all top-notch. Sect Master Shi never shortchanges himself.
[Fine cloth boots] Excellent breathability, with delicate patterns on the edges.
※ “Why dress so formally when you can’t see it yourself?” Yin Ci asked.
“But A’Ci can always see,” Shi Jingzhi replied happily.
Yin Ci:
[Dark teal linen shirt with a slightly open chest] Even though Shi Jingzhi had provided lots of high-quality fabrics, Yin Ci still preferred the feel of linen. He no longer knew when he had stopped obsessing over the repressive black robes.
[Hemp shoes that Shi Jingzhi grudgingly worked on] Sect Master Shi didn’t share his comfy cloth boots, so he had to use his inner force to soften the hemp strings a bit more.
※ “It’s an old man’s persistence,” Yin Ci said, and kissed Shi Jingzhi’s forehead. His long hair spilled out, a strand sliding down the open collar, disappearing into the shadows of the folds.
Shi Jingzhi’s dissatisfaction evaporated.
2022/02/13
Valentine’s Day Special: Inexplicable Nightmare Feature ✨
Before Shi Jingzhi went to sleep, he was planning in his heart how to celebrate the holiday with his disciple. Even though the two of them had been married for many years, they still had to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
Unexpectedly, once he fell asleep, he had a genuine nightmare—
His cultivation technique went awry, and without warning, Yin Ci transformed into a frail Hanging Tree, silent and seemingly devoid of consciousness. In the dream, he searched for decades without finding a solution. When he woke up, Shi Jingzhi’s head was full of cultivation theories, and his back was soaked in sweat.
Thankfully, it was just a dream.
“A’Ci, let me hug you—” Shi Jingzhi reached out with his eyes closed, but instead of touching a warm body, he touched the cold branches and leaves of a tree.
Shi Jingzhi was now fully awake. He jumped up and looked cautiously at the green plant beside him.
The tree was leaning against the bed, vibrant green with complete roots and branches, exuding an unusually strong vitality. Even if it were turned to ashes, Shi Jingzhi would recognize this aura.
The Hanging Tree.
It’s over. Yin Ci really turned into a Hanging Tree. Shi Jingzhi sat down in a daze, staring blankly at the plant.
After a while, Shi Jingzhi reached out with a trembling hand, gently touching the fragile plant. Trying to put aside his sorrow and confusion, he took a deep breath. “A’Ci, we depend on each other in life and death. Even if it takes my whole life, I will help you return to human form… Do you trust me?”
The Hanging Tree didn’t respond.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you harm the innocent. Today is a day for lovers to express their affection. I wanted to surprise you, but fate plays its tricks…”
As Shi Jingzhi spoke, he grew more and more upset, quickly putting on his outer garment, sniffling.
“Never mind, I’ll find a nice pot for you first.”
As he staggered towards the door and opened it, he found himself face to face with Yin Ci outside.
Yin Ci held two bowls of wontons with a twisted expression. He seemed moved, but his emotions were mixed with astonishment and amusement, leaving him unsure of what expression to wear.
Shi Jingzhi was stunned. “A… A’Ci?”
“You saw it? That was sent by Shen Zhu from Luojiu.” Yin Ci entered the room and put down the wontons, clearing his throat. “I heard she got a young Hanging Tree, so I bought it. We have a deep connection with the Hanging Tree. If we want to research methods for longevity and health, it’s a great resource… It’s a holiday, after all. I can’t give a shabby gift.”
Overwhelmed by the rollercoaster of emotions, Shi Jingzhi stood frozen, forgetting about the wontons.
“Why did you put it next to the bed?”
“I thought you’d be happy to see it when you woke up.”
“Then, why weren’t you there?”
“Shen Zhu’s subordinate traveled a long distance to deliver it, having rushed overnight. I couldn’t let him go hungry. So here, fresh wontons.” Yin Ci pulled the absent-minded Shi Jingzhi back to his chair and pushed the bowl of wonton towards him. “But why did you think the plant was me?”
“I was groggy from sleep and got confused.” Shi Jingzhi hugged the bowl of wonton, deciding not to explain further. “Ahem, I am happy, A’Ci. Really happy.”
“As long as you’re happy. But for the record, I don’t want a fancy pot.”
“……”
2022/02/01
Spring Festival Special, Everyone’s Specialty Dishes♪
Once again, I wish you all a wonderful Year of the Tiger–! 🎉
~Yin Ci’s Specialty Dishes~
Sweet and Sour Fish: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the dish is both fresh and tangy. It’s one of Shi Jingzhi’s favorite dishes. To ensure the freshness of the fish, Yin Ci’s fishing skills have become increasingly refined. Once the sweet and sour fish is prepared, the whole courtyard is filled with its appetizing aroma. Sometimes, Yin Ci would make an extra one or two to share with the neighbors.
※ Due to frequently cooking this dish, numerous stray cats can often be found wandering around their residence.
Drunken Chicken: A dish Yin Ci is particularly fond of when having a drink. The chicken has a pure and rich flavor, which can be slowly savored with a fine wine. The two often warm up a pot of wine, steam the drunken chicken, and enjoy it while playing a sand table game.
※ To ensure the best dining experience, Shi Jingzhi procured thirty jars of drunken chicken wine from the royal palace.
~Shi Jingzhi’s Specialty Dishes~
Braised Rabbit Meat: The dish has a rich flavor, tender, and well-seasoned, and is very nourishing. Yin Ci is particularly fond of this dish. For this reason, Shi Jingzhi specifically asked for the recipe from the royal chef, and his culinary skills match Yin Ci’s. Unfortunately, catching rabbits isn’t as easy as fishing, so Shi Jingzhi has to buy them from the market. He even found a regular hunter to supply him.
※ The leftover fur isn’t wasted. Yin Ci made two rabbit fur hats out of it.
Chicken Noodle Soup: Stewed chicken soup with enough chili, served with chewy hand-rolled noodles. Shi Jingzhi has a unique attachment to this dish. Every winter, especially during snowfall, he would cook a large pot of it.
※ Instead of Door Gods on their entrance, there are just two lanterns.
2021/11/06
Halloween Extra 🎃
In the evening, at a tavern in the city.
“Hey, have you heard? The Chen family in the east of the city was said to be haunted, right? That mysterious matter was just solved by two heroes a few days ago!”
“Stop beating around the bush. Tell us already.”
“Well, in the end, it turns out there were no ghosts. A relative of the Chen family, with some ill intentions and a bit of magic, deceived the Chens.”
“Sheesh, it was said to be so frightening. Midnight cries of a blood infant, the shadow of a hanging ghost swaying, and some even claimed to see a monster. And it turns out it was all just a scheme for money and murder? I don’t buy it.”
“The two heroes caught the perpetrator red-handed. All the evidence has been handed over to the local officials.”
“When will the trial be? Maybe some of us should head over to the government office to watch the spectacle. I still can’t believe one person could pull off such an elaborate hoax.”
“The ‘blood infant’ was dug up from a grave, the shadows were produced by mechanisms, and the monster… well, that malicious person used magic. You have to admit, they had a wicked imagination, coming up with such terrifying things…”
Not far away, someone’s hand trembles, dropping the piece of fish they just picked up onto the table.
“That magic truly is terrifying… A’Ci, I’m still not over it. How about we stay somewhere lively tonight?”
Shi Jingzhi, with a pale face, tried to pick up the fish, but Yin Ci ruthlessly pressed down on the tip of his chopsticks.
“Don’t eat what’s fallen on the table,” Yin Ci said with a laugh, offering Shi Jingzhi a piece of roasted chicken. “I know you’re scared. We can stay anywhere you want.”
“Mm.”
“Why did you take on this job if you’re still scared of these things?”
After swallowing the chicken, Shi Jingzhi took out a small cloth bag from his chest. Glancing around stealthily, he whispered, “The Chen family has some ancestral medicinal ingredients that even my elder brother can’t get. I specially got a bit of it. I can make it into pills.”
Having said that, he carefully tucked the bag back, acting as if someone might snatch it away at any moment.
Yin Ci, intrigued, asked, “What are you after now? Haven’t you given up on the elixir of immortality?”
“I don’t need immortality, but a few more years to my life wouldn’t hurt—even if it means spending just a moment longer with you, it’s priceless to me.”
Yin Ci paused, not responding with his usual witty retort. After a moment, he offered a gentle smile.
“…Sounds good. Let’s prepare the medicine together tonight.”
2021/08/14
How can we miss the Qixi Festival! Write about everyone in the eyes of a passersby (?
@A Village Kid/Male/10 years old
“Last night, I encountered monsters! Two of them! Peh, peh, I’m not making this up.”
“At night, when my parents went to sleep, I sneaked out to pick mulberries. On my way back, it was very dark, so I took a detour—you know, the moon shines brightly over the eastern end of the village. When I got there, the monsters were sitting on top of the largest haystack! Both of them, close together!”
“I didn’t miss saw it. Don’t I recognize the villagers? Besides, the moon was full last night, and I saw them very clearly. I’ve never seen such beautiful people; even the young ladies from the town don’t compare! Both of them were so beautiful; they surely weren’t humans. And, and besides, if they were immortals, why would they sit on a haystack? I also saw them whispering and holding hands, behaving nothing like dignified beings. They must be monsters.”
“What were they talking about? Hmph, thanks to my short stature, I managed to get close. One of them said, ‘It would be good to spend the night here’, but the other one disagreed, saying, ‘You haven’t fully recovered. Be careful of catching a cold’… See, this is more proof! Immortals wouldn’t catch a cold; they must be monsters making their nest here.”
“Then? The first one laughed for a while, saying the hay was soft and fragrant and the night breeze was refreshing, so it didn’t matter. He also said that if the two of them cuddled closer, it would be fine. I remember clearly, he even added, ‘I bet A’Ci has never laid down in a place like this.’ After that, he hugged the second one tight, and they lay down together.”
“They lay down, and I couldn’t see them anymore, so I hid below and watched. They whispered that the stars were beautiful and then nibbled each other’s ears for a bit. Then they became quiet, seemingly asleep. I… I was full of mulberries and drowsy, so I eventually fell asleep. When I woke up, it was bright, and when I climbed up the haystack, I found this beautiful silver bead! Look, this one! It even has characters on it!”
“I asked the village scholar about it, and he said it’s ‘lodging money’ and told me to keep it safe. Doesn’t this match the stories in the books?”
“…Haa, if only such generous monsters would visit more often.”
He Jiu was just a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy, so no matter how loudly he shouted, his words lacked any real force.
The surroundings were still filled with drifting red leaves, and the sunlight gleamed like gold.
He Jiu paused for a moment, looking confusedly at Qu Linfeng. Qu Linfeng frowned, his legs still a bit weak. Just a touch of hostility from the other party, and he was already drenched in sweat. In the martial world, even a mere thief was this formidable?
“Just now there was someone over there. I’m certain I wasn’t mistaken,” Qu Linfeng stuttered, pointing to the bushes. This time, A’Si didn’t waste any time. With a twist of his body, he stepped through the air, landing precisely where Qu Linfeng had pointed.
“There are threads hanging on the branches. Someone was indeed here. Neither of us noticed right away, so the person must have used some technique. This visitor means harm.”
A’Si became serious, and his demeanor changed dramatically, almost suffocating those around him.
“Tell me, San Zi, has the Kushan Sect offended anyone recently? Simply stealing something doesn’t warrant such a setup. Perhaps the real intention isn’t the flag, but to harm us. Our people can probably protect the children, but capturing the thief might be a challenge. Maybe we should send the kids down the mountain first and then decide our next move.”
The blind attendant touched the threads and remained silent for a while. After a moment, the corners of his mouth twitched. “No, we continue.”
A’Si narrowed his eyes. “Huh, that’s not like you.”
“Splitting up has its problems. Others might not understand, but don’t you?”
San Zi’s tone was even, revealing no emotion.
The two didn’t lower their voices during their conversation, so all the children heard everything. Some immediately shrank back, crying and wanting to leave the mountain. Qu Linfeng remained silent, and though He Jiu was shivering, he didn’t utter a sound.
A’Si glanced at them and remarked, “It’s expected for San Zi to be fearless, but you two aren’t scared either?”
It seemed He Jiu had an issue with A’Si and promptly retorted in a sharp voice, “I’m not scared! Not at all!”
Qu Linfeng said, “The Kushan Sect must have sent a master to lead us. If the thief intends to hold us hostage, it might not be safer to go down the mountain. It’s better to stay close to everyone here.”
“I like that answer.” A’Si laughed, and a small knife appeared in his hand. “Kid, you’re level-headed. The Kushan Sect found a treasure in you.”
Qu Linfeng was sincere. He was afraid, but his fear was subtle, unnoticeable.
From sunrise to sunset, the group followed faint tracks. It was a cool autumn day without the disturbance of rain or scorching sun. Despite that, the rugged mountain road wore everyone out. Apart from those with good physical stamina, most of the young boys and girls were limping. In their fatigue and panic, the red leaves of the mountain became terrifying.
“Those aren’t red leaves; they’re blisters from the soles of my feet,” He Jiu whined. He complained the most, but his agility revealed his genuine dedication to martial arts.
Qu Linfeng, having grown up in a remote village, was well acquainted with such mountain paths, feeling completely in his element.
Along the way, they encountered a flower demon covered in numerous enchanted flowers. With a flash of cold light from A’Si’s knife, the creature was cleanly shaved bald. However, its terrifying appearance frightened several children to the point of foaming at the mouth and fainting for a long duration.
By the time they sensed the presence of the thief, most of the children were too weak to move. Most had cried themselves out and no longer desired to join a reputable sect, only wishing to withdraw from the test. In comparison to the strict and conventional exam methods of other sects, where one could comfortably queue in a courtyard with honey tea to drink, the Kushan Sect seemed overly brutal.
Strangely, among those crying was an adult.
The moment A’Si confirmed the thief’s presence, he attempted to flee but was immediately grabbed by the collar by San Zi.
“San Zi, you betrayed me!” A’Si wailed. “Why? Because I took two of your blankets last time? I occasionally share the bed with you. How could you do this…”
San Zi, the attendant, remained expressionless.
“Yan Qing, you have two talents with you.”
A flag unfurled with a rustle, revealing a young man sitting on a maple tree branch, looking down at them. The man had an exceptionally bright face and appeared to be in his thirties. He looked utterly carefree, his eyes radiating deep amusement.
Qu Linfeng immediately recognized the man’s aura—it was the same individual who had previously released hostile intent. Yet, observing his composed demeanor, he didn’t seem like a caught thief at all.
“I’ve also selected some individuals from my side.”
Another figure appeared. He looked slightly younger and also possessed a breathtaking appearance. He landed on the same thick branch, casually placing a kiss on the head of the person beside him.
Perhaps they were senior disciples from the same sect. Their relationship seemed extraordinarily close, leaving Qu Linfeng mesmerized. Beside him, He Jiu plopped down on a pile of maple leaves. “Yan Qing? Did you just call him Yan Qing?”
Qu Linfeng turned his head in confusion.
“The head of the Kushan Sect is named Yan Qing! Red-eyed Yan Qing!” He Jiu grabbed his collar, his face red with agitation. “Only someone who… definitely someone who…”
Realizing he couldn’t hide anymore, Yan Qing removed his blindfold and tightened his grip on the escaping A’Si.
“He’s the first-generation sect leader, along with his only disciple,” he confirmed Qu Linfeng’s suspicion. “Thank you, Seniors, for your help with the selection process. Please rest here. I’ll send you down the mountain later.”
A pair of ghost eyes appeared, and there were gasps all around. Nobody dared to cause trouble; all eyes were on the two on the tree. Amidst the silence, A’Si’s wails stood out. “San Zi, you plotted against me from the beginning!”
He Jiu turned his head in sorrow. If this person was so intimate with Sect Master Yan, he must be no ordinary man. What kind of great master did he provoke that would stoop to challenging children?
“Su Si, indeed someone followed you up.”
Yin Ci was distributing cakes and tea to the children, and as gentle as his actions were, his tone was icy.
“The person is adept at stealth magic and attempted to sneak into Jingzhi’s room to steal something. We caught him red-handed. We didn’t inform Yan Qing in advance; he deduced it from the thread we left.”
They intentionally left a piece of thread, and Yan Qing, being observant, surely wouldn’t misjudge it. Unlike a certain Patriarch who was clueless, unable to differentiate between a firecracker’s fuse and a shoelace.
“If we hadn’t returned just in time, he might have succeeded,” Shi Jingzhi said, caressing his cherished flag. “My most treasured possessions are all there. You know that. This is just a small lesson since we’ve met.”
It was quite a face-saver for Su Si that the sect selection was used as a lesson for him. Su Si and He Jiu shrank back, not daring to utter a word.
Indeed, Su Si knew about Shi Jingzhi’s most treasured items in the grand hall, having seen them himself. Broken swords, paintings, old wine jars, and sect uniforms; they resembled items from a looted tomb. Yet, Shi Jingzhi collected everything related to the two of them and stored it in the most secluded part of the Kushan Sect, visiting frequently.
In essence, the ‘Medicinal Cures Illness’ flag was the most significant item there. But what was scarier was that Yin Ci seemed to have no objections, almost spoiling him too much.
The affected parties remained silent, so what could outsiders say?
Even if the thief went through great difficulties to enter the room, he would be left clueless. But now, with Senior Yin Ci watching, Su Si felt guilty and didn’t dare to say more.
Yan Qing glanced at Su Si, who didn’t dare to show any hint of defiance, and stepped forward. “There indeed was a lapse in Kushan’s defenses. A’Si and I share the responsibility. Once we descend the mountain, I will accept my punishment.”
The youthful-looking master and disciple duo didn’t seem to want to pursue further. They vanished deep into Kushan, leaving only a few red leaves fluttering down.
Qu Linfeng had just witnessed a grand spectacle, his heart racing, forgetting even to eat his cake.
Sect Master Yan, Patriarch Su, along with Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci, who had long retired from the martial world—these were legendary figures from tales! Although, they differed from his imagination. Maybe this was the so-called “hidden depth”, he thought confidently.
He initially thought they were stern elder figures with long beards, but now they seemed playful and far younger in appearance than his foster father.
Seeing such legendary figures once was enough.
Yet, during dinner, when he saw Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci sitting across from him with their meals, Qu Linfeng was speechless.
People say great figures are rarely seen, so why were these legends of the Kushan Sect everywhere? Qu Linfeng felt a mix of nervousness and helplessness. Beside him, He Jiu was rigid, the chopsticks making a clattering sound against the bowl. Fortunately, Su Si, with a bump on his head, was exceptionally well-behaved.
“Qu Linfeng, where did you learn your stance?” Yin Ci asked calmly.
Qu Linfeng honestly replied, “My foster father taught me.”
“Foster father… Is your foster father missing a right foot?”
“Yes.”
Yin Ci seemed to have an idea about his origin and showed a slightly curious expression. As if afraid to startle Qu Linfeng, he softened his tone. “When you came to the Kushan Sect, did he tell you anything?”
Qu Linfeng shook his head vigorously. “He didn’t tell me anything. He just told me some stories of the martial world. The rest of the time… it wasn’t that close. Senior Yin, do you recognize my foster father? Who is he? He wouldn’t tell me. He only said to judge for myself once I understood everything from back then.”
“To judge for yourself, huh? Seems like he hasn’t let go of the past.” Shi Jingzhi sighed. “But letting you out is a good thing.”
Seeing the varying expressions around, the atmosphere grew tense. Qu Linfeng became more nervous. “I…”
“No worries. Once the Kushan Sect accepts a disciple, we won’t just abandon him.” Yan Qing patted his head. “Your foster father is right. Understand the past and judge for yourself.”
Su Si whispered, “Be careful not to invite a wolf into the house.”
“We have been the most dangerous wolves,” Yan Qing replied calmly.
“That’s true.”
……
Years later, Qu Linfeng, now a junior elder of the Kushan Sect, often recalled that moment. After that day, he successfully stayed in Kushan. He Jiu wasn’t so fortunate—the young master from a wealthy family was crying out, “No Chigou Sect! No Chigou Sect!” and was forcibly taken away by Su Si to Shafu.
When they met again, the former young master had become the famous “He Jiu” of the Chigou Sect, and the two maintained a delicate relationship between good and evil.
Qu Linfeng also learned about his foster father’s identity and the bloody turmoil from years ago. The young boy had become a tall young man, sitting at the table, writing a letter word by word. His foster father never responded, but he wrote from his heart, one letter a year.
[I have come to know about the Hanging Tree incident. A Hero is born for the people and shouldn’t arbitrarily decide life and death. Mortals have their own ways; their rise and fall are predestined.]
[The lineage of the Imperial Preceptor ends here. From now on, there will be no more Imperial Celestial in the world.]
Qu Linfeng put down his pen and blew on the ink. Deep into autumn, it was time, and sure enough, there was noise outside.
“It must be Grandmaster and the others returning. Let’s go and see. Maybe they brought some new techniques,” Qu Linfeng said to the younger generation with a smile.
“Brother, this letter…”
“It’s not urgent. Just a letter home.”
The author has something to say:
A usual tip: Comments from readers who only purchase [extras] or [specific chapters] from pirated sources are not welcomed. If found, I might give random warnings based on the situation. Long stories are hard to write. If you like it, please support the official version. The cost on the app is very minimal; only 30 cents per 1,000 words.
——————
Thank you all for the support!!! I actually persisted in writing this story; it’s a miracle.
This word count is about my comfort zone. In the future, the length will probably be around 600-800k words (although some special themes might be longer).
There are some regrets about this book. Especially in the last period when I was busy looking for a job, updates weren’t that consistent. Sorry for the inconvenience. _(:з」∠)_
I’ve also identified some areas of improvement in my writing, which I’ll work on in the next book!
——————
The next book “Evil As Humans” is a paranormal detective story, tentatively planned to start this year!
The one after that, “Full Server First Kill“, is about a virtual reality game (possibly transmigration?). The preview is out, if interested, you can check it out in the column.
Thank you again for supporting the official version! See you in the next book~.
My biggest letdown in this novel is the fact that Su Si and Yan Qing aren’t a CP. I mean… common, they’re sharing the same bed!
If you enjoyed it, please consider supporting the author by buying the raws. You can use Google Chrome with their auto translate and this guide on how to buy novels on jjwxc. Remember, only with your (financial) support can artists continue to produce more great works. It doesn’t cost that much to buy the entire novel, so please do support the author.
I would also like to thank everyone for your comments, encouragement, help with my translations, and ko-fi donations. It in part fuels my motivation to release so frequently and try to finish this novel as soon as possible.
With that, there is one last treat. This is an extra extra from the author’s blog, where she writes mini updates for her characters (usually on special holidays). It’s not officially on jjwxc, but I’ve decided to translate it. She usually updates this yearly, so check back each year on those special days for a new update.
When the knights returned to the original stone platform, the dawn was faint. Eugene’s deep green cloak had been dyed dark red.
The Lord of The Manor was like an extremely wicked psychopath. Merely fighting in an enclosure would have been bearable, but as Eugene fled downward, he encountered countless tests of humanity.
He had to abandon companions, limbs, and faith… The cruel traps were interlinked, and it was evident that the people of The Manor had a vivid imagination when it came to “torturing the human spirit”.
Eugene, of course, didn’t comply easily.
He escorted Knight Marion and Damori, forcefully breaking through the traps and safely returning them to the starting point.
Compared to the two who only suffered minor injuries, Eugene’s condition was far worse—his left leg was broken twice, his right thrice, and his left arm was severed by a trap. His lungs were pierced by ribs five times, and his abdomen was punctured twice.
The effects of the anti-magic crystals were everywhere, and healing spells were ineffective, so all healing potions were used up on Eugene. In the end, Eugene’s right leg was still limp, and his abdomen bore rough sutures.
Fortunately, they managed to escape back as a whole.
Returning to the main force, they planned to treat themselves with the remaining medicine and then have some hot water with soft bread. This thought helped them endure the night. Their noses were numbed by the smell of blood.
But what awaited them at the bottom was an even more intense smell of blood.
The six knights who stayed at the lowest level were all killed, and Sean was missing.
The knights’ bodies were torn to pieces, their swords still sheathed, not having had the chance to draw them. The chunks of their bodies were left out overnight, becoming cold and shriveled, and the pools of blood turned into a sticky, hardened mess.
Seeing such a scene, Knight Marion swayed on the spot. She kneeled on one knee and began to pray to the Goddess. Damori’s mouth fell open in shock, and he stumbled over the cold bloodstains, falling to the ground.
Eugene stood in silence, bracing his injured leg. Behind him, the sunrise split his shadow nearly in two across the stone platform.
Below the platform, the dark chasm was like a toothless giant mouth, sneering at them menacingly.
“What do we do! What do we do!” Damori said incoherently, struggling to stand up. “Where is Sean? God, Drake isn’t here either… Sir Eugene, Sir Eugene, we…”
“God has led us here, surely not for us to be completely annihilated.”
Eugene spoke solemnly. He hadn’t yet wiped away the bloodstain on his face, and it crossed his right eye like a scar.
After completing her prayers, Knight Marion looked at the scattered remains of their comrades, her face turning pale. “Captain, should we use the emergency contact marker?”
The emergency contact marker, made of special materials, was a colored signal flare.
It exploded in the air into an emerald-green emblem, resistant to the wind and very conspicuous. This device wasn’t triggered by magic but purely by craftsmanship and was thus suitable for such situations.
“No,” Eugene said.
“What?! These knights didn’t even have time to draw their swords, and you’re injured… If The Manor attacks again…” Damori was close to tears when he heard Eugene’s refusal.
“First of all, if I can’t deal with the ambushes here, calling more Investigation Knights would be useless.”
Eugene smiled at Damori.
“Moreover, there are many temporary knights below. They are the eyes of the residents of Eternal Day City.” Eugene continued leisurely, “Running away like a beaten dog in front of them would tarnish the glory of the Goddess.”
Damori looked at him in disbelief. “Can’t we at least try? Have them ready to assist from below? Is the glory of the Goddess really more important than life?”
Eugene: “Yes.”
“But it was you who saved us all the way! You’re so badly injured, you—” Damori’s lips trembled. He even forgot to use honorifics.
“Your lives are extremely precious.” Eugene continued with an infuriatingly gentle tone, “But the trust of Eternal Day City in the Goddess cannot be traded for three lives.”
Marion lowered her gaze sadly, as if she had anticipated the current situation. “Yes, my lord. I will go clean up the camp and collect the remaining supplies. At the moment, it looks like we can hold on for about another week.”
Damori could no longer care about religious reverence. “Wouldn’t Eternal Day City feel disgraced if we were to die trapped here? It’s clear we can’t win. Shouldn’t staying alive be the most important thing?!”
“‘To sacrifice in struggle’ and ‘to run away with tails between our legs’ are two completely different things.” Eugene looked at Damori almost pityingly. “I assure you. If later you are truly afraid, I can kill you without pain. If you are willing to try until the end, I will give you an additional reward of a hundred gold wheels.”
“Lunatic.” Damori stepped back half a step, muttering, “…You’re all mad.”
Unfortunately, he could only step back so far. A few more steps would lead him into the terrifying abyss.
Eugene raised his head, looking towards the splendid morning glow, his gaze almost warm.
“God has led us here, surely not for us to be completely annihilated.”
He repeated, slowly closing his eyes. He made the standard prayer gesture with both hands, his gauntlets stained with mottled blood. “It seems that this time, the one to offer victory to the Goddess isn’t me…”
“Supreme Lady Tilia, thank you for granting me the honor to witness by your side…”
Knight Eugene devoutly kissed the base of his thumb, where he often wore the ring of the holy emblem.
……
Knight Teest pressed a particularly loud kiss on Nol’s forehead.
“Morning… yawn… prayer.” Teest avoided the increasingly strong light, squinting his eyes slightly. “Dear Lord Nol, time to get up…”
In his arms, Nol struggled weakly. He slapped Teest’s shoulder with one arm, as if searching for the snooze button on this person.
“Just a little longer…” Unable to find it, Nol hummed in distress.
“Oh… okay then…” Teest laid his head on Nol’s shoulder, going limp once more.
The [Lost Last Wish] ensured that Nol wasn’t targeted and corrupted by the Demon King, but it couldn’t eliminate all effects.
Last night, like a snake shedding its skin in a frenzy, Nol renewed his flesh three or four times in Teest’s arms until the last trace of corruption was expelled from his body.
Renewing flesh was a time-consuming and strenuous task, and during it, Nol was incredibly vulnerable. Teest stood guard without closing his eyes, only dozing off for a moment in the early morning.
To be honest, Teest didn’t sleep well.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Nol falling on the stone steps.
One second, that person was helping him overcome thousands of obstacles, and the next, he fell on the steps, blood pouring through his fingers. The two images kept interchanging, making Teest feel suffocated, wanting to punch something.
Teest realized a simple and terrible fact—he seemed to have never considered “leaving this place alone”.
The moment he took Nol’s hand to move forward, Teest hadn’t thought about what awaited them, how to preserve their lives, or how to retreat safely—something he should have considered before acting!
It was awful. He shouldn’t be this careless.
The moment Nol fell, panic, helplessness, and fear overwhelmed him. It was definitely because he had no backup plan, Teest solemnly considered.
At the same time, his brain tirelessly replayed the scene of Nol falling.
Thus, the remarkable Mr. Mad Monk still hadn’t thought of a plan for “leaving here alone”. He chose to open his eyes and carefully check Nol’s physical condition.
His complexion was fine, magical fluctuations were normal, and there was no unusual stiffness in his body. Nol, with his face buried in Teest’s chest, was wholly reluctant to get up, looking just like the usual Nol.
“Let’s go back,” Teest said.
Nol immediately pulled himself up, rubbing his eyes hard. “I’m awake. I’m fine.”
Teest deliberately looked him up and down, drawing out his words. “I forgot to say last night, if something happened to you, wouldn’t I be trapped alive here? Too risky. I don’t want to continue—”
Nol paused, his expression ambiguously relaxed. “You ‘forgot to say’ last night.”
“Am I so perfect in your mind?” Teest clicked his tongue. “Everyone forgets things sometimes.”
Nol chuckled. “I thought that was one of the things you cared about the most. Don’t worry. If I dared to bring you up here, I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
Teest looked at him doubtfully.
Nol hummed twice. He pulled out a folded piece of parchment and waved it in front of Teest, then patted the magic staff in his hand.
“I’ve been waiting to tell you—two mid-range teleportation spells. They took me a lot of work, and there’s a spare one in the staff.”
Nol introduced earnestly. “Kando’s movement takes time to prepare, but this can be used to escape instantly. I indeed like to take risks, but I would never storm The Manor barehanded.”
Teest was stunned for a moment. This was one of Nol’s trump cards, and he was talking about it so openly.
“Just like that, you’re not afraid I’ll snatch them away at a critical moment?” he asked bluntly.
“Do you need two for yourself?” Nol raised an eyebrow.
“But there are anti-magic crystals nearby…”
Nol shook his head. “Anti-magic crystals can be temporarily neutralized by ‘a short, intense burst of magical power’.”
“And—” Teest tried to find any safety concerns.
“When did you become so cautious?” Nol looked at him oddly. “With things being so strange, I thought you’d grab me and rush into the castle.”
Teest snapped his mouth shut, looking a bit aggrieved. “Okay, then we won’t go back yet.”
“We’ll keep a low profile and go as far as we can.” Seeing Teest in a bad mood, Nol had to reassure him repeatedly.
The sun had risen completely, and the light piercing through the mist gave The Manor a sacred touch. Unfortunately, there were no green trees or birds chirping nearby; only dead silence, and this hint of divinity became as solemn as a tombstone sculpture, cold and forbidding.
The two returned to the base of the stone stairs.
The closer they got to the center of the castle, the weaker the protection of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” became, and who knows when it would fail. They climbed cautiously, shaking their heads with every step, fearing that enemies might suddenly emerge from any crevice.
The Demon King’s aura here was still strong, but it only swirled in place, not gathering crazily and targeting Nol like the night before.
Oddly, from beginning to end, they seemed less interested in Teest. With just a little protection, he could keep them at bay.
All these phenomena were new, and Nol had to keep a mental note of the abnormalities. Anyway, it was better for him alone to be unlucky than both of them.
They reached the castle gates unscathed.
The castle doors were wide open, with no guards on either side nor the monsters Nol had imagined. After careful confirmation, Nol also didn’t find any suspicious armor or shadows.
He cautiously stuck out his toe, crossing the threshold of the castle gate.
“…Haa.”
A sad sigh sounded in Nol’s ear.
At the moment the sigh was heard, Teest grabbed Nol, and they both jumped to the side. In the place where Nol had been standing, a hand appeared, clutching a dagger.
The dagger was smeared with a black liquid that clearly looked poisonous.
A phantom monster?
No, how could a phantom be so strong?
“You guys dodge quite quickly.”
An ethereal sigh sounded again, and a young woman’s ghost slowly became visible in the air. She wore a spiderweb-like torn and tattered dress. Her silver-white eyes were wide open, making it hard to distinguish the pupils from the whites.
But Nol’s attention wasn’t on her appearance.
Unlike other translucent ghosts, the hem of her garment was gradually turning black, the edges sagging with stringy mucus, like a mature ink cap mushroom. That was clearly the corruption of the Demon King, giving her powers an added eeriness and chill.
The dagger was no ordinary tool either. Its blade was embedded with some kind of black and red shard, emitting an ominous black aura.
Nol had seen ordinary people corrupted, as well as unthinking corrupted monsters like the Thousand-Hands Nightmare and the guard in the garden. This was his first time seeing a creature still capable of communication after being corrupted by the Demon King.
“Don’t hide anymore.” The ghost murmured sadly, with a certain rigidity and neurotic tone. “I don’t want to be too cruel. I don’t want to kill… I just want to go home. I’ve done nothing wrong…”
Her figure flickered for a moment, then suddenly appeared in front of Nol, raising her knife to stab.
Nol crossed his staff in front of him, barely blocking her attack—the ghost’s movements were very amateurish, evidently lacking experience in violence, even on par with Nol, the office warrior.
“Wait!” Nol reflexively protected Teest while saying rapidly, “Earthling? Joy Garden in City A?”
“Ah.” She revealed a desolated smile, her grip slightly lighter. “My own kind, huh? I knew this day would come…”
“We’re all kin. There’s no need for us to fight.” Nol kept his guard up. “We’re looking for a way home. If you’re willing, we could have a talk.”
Even if The Manor’s situation was bizarre, after all, it only rose to prominence in recent months. There couldn’t be that many people. It seemed they still had a chance for negotiation, as long as communication was possible—
“Talk?” The ghostly lady responded with a laugh that was more like a sob. “How sad. You still know nothing… Poor kin…”
She withdrew her dagger and struck at Nol again. Nol narrowly dodged. Behind him, Teest took the opportunity to thrust with his sword—only for it to pass harmlessly through the ghost’s body, causing no damage.
Damn it.
If they had come by the official route, they would be dead or severely injured by now, their equipment thoroughly depleted.
And like will-o’-the-wisps, ghosts were immune to physical damage. The area was also surrounded by forbidden magic crystals, giving the ghost home field advantage to an overwhelming degree.
It was like…
It was as if someone meticulously set this all up, turning it into a one-sided “leveling field”. The planner, filtering through layers, was just waiting for the exhausted high-level prey to fall into the trap.
So very safe, yet extraordinarily cruel.
“I live in Building 7, surname Xu. What’s your name?” Nol’s mind raced as he tried to stabilize the other with kinship. “What don’t we know? Why are you guarding this place alone? You have to tell us first…”
Her gaze upon them grew even more pitiful, and the ghost opened her pearl-white lips, her voice echoing hollowly.
“This world is a lie. Everything is just a game—merely a game.” She spoke solemnly, her gaze empty. “We must clear the game. Only by clearing it can we go home… Only by clearing it can we go home…”
Nol’s pupils shrink. He almost lost grip on his magic staff.
How did The Manor’s people confirm this?!
Even he, the designer, had to expend great effort to understand the situation. Not to mention, the answer derived by The Manor was completely opposite to his!
“Our factions are different. What a pity.”
The ghostly lady picked up her skirt with one hand, curtsying in a bizarre manner, her gaze drifting slightly to a spot. “We must defeat you, Mr. Xu… We all need to level up…”
She said “we”.
This meant she wasn’t alone in guarding this place.
“Teest!” Nol called out directly.
Teest wrapped his arms around Nol’s waist, kicking off with all his might. In an instant, they flew tens of meters away, with an explosion following closely behind—sand and stones flew at the castle entrance, and the entire gate was blasted away.
The stone steps peel away, revealing the dark red “soil” beneath, and the stench of decay in the air grew even stronger.
“…Haa.”
From within the smoke, a light sigh was heard.
The ghostly lady was immune to physical damage. She still stood quietly in her place. Seeing Nol evade successfully, she cast a disappointed look.
Teest sharply turned his head, pinpointing the source of the attack—it was a bizarrely dressed lizardman, shouldering an odd-looking magical device.
Lizardmen were generally of low intelligence, but this one’s gaze held the same sorrow as the ghost. Its tail and arms, revealed from the armor, showed an abnormal black-red color, and the Demon King’s aura on its body was equally intense.
“Give up.” The ghost sang in a low whisper, her voice piercing directly into their ears. “We will chase you day and night… I have my dagger, and he has his artillery. Give up. Let’s all make it easier… It’s just a game, only a game…”
“What to do, honey?” Teest dodged another explosion. “If you insist on not harming them, we’re really going to die here.”
Nol didn’t respond.
The ghost reappeared in front of them, slowly raising her dagger. Nol sidestepped, pulling Teest out of the way.
“Or do you plan to retreat now?” Teest took the opportunity to look back.
Nol still didn’t respond. He looked towards the lizardman; his face never having been so pale.
The weapon of the lizardman was very old. Its material was somewhere between metal and plastic.
There were highly industrialized, neatly designed energy grooves on its surface, within which black-red crystals could be seen. Blue light poured from the crystals, spreading along the patterns covering the weapon.
Its light, pulsating like a breath, was completely consistent with the previous teleportation effects.
The light flickered like breathing, emitting the decay of the Demon King’s corruption. That fluctuation was somewhat close to Tahe’s magic, yet not quite the same. The forbidden magic crystals worked diligently, yet it remained completely unaffected.
Nol didn’t recognize the material of the weapon or the kind of power it wielded, but he did recognize the basic shape of the weapon.
It was a xenomorphic rocket launcher.
The author has something to say:
Following the previous chapter: Not as many as 300 chapters! Should be less than “Stray”?
In the afternoon, there’s a thin layer of clouds in the sky. The strong sunlight fluctuated with the mountains of varying heights. Inside the living room, the air conditioning was turned up high. Technically, it wasn’t sweltering, but after Zhou Qian answered Ruan Mei’s question, Ke Shi’s back was layered with sweat. It wasn’t long before his shirt was completely drenched, as if it had been washed with water.
Ke Shi was waiting. He was waiting for Ruan Mei’s response and also waiting to see if the system would send any prompts. The scythe of Death was already hanging in front of his neck. It all depended on whether Zhou Qian’s guess was right and if he had won the bet.
In fact, it wasn’t until last night, after Zhou Qian explained the rules to him, that Ke Shi realized how terrifying this scenario was.
Then, he and Ke Si, as instructed by Zhou Qian, checked both the front and back yards. After their round, Zhou Qian joined them for another round before returning to the living room.
Zhou Qian leisurely sat down on the sofa. Both Ke Si and Ke Shi looked at him, letting out their long-held question. “How does the death judgment of this instance work? Why did you make us check so many times?”
“Ruan Mei can only kill under certain conditions, that is, she won’t be seen by her husband or others as the murderer,” Zhou Qian began. “So, she needs some objective conditions to mask her killings as ‘accidents’. You know this. But what you know is just part of it.”
Zhou Qian continued, “From another perspective, the key word of this scenario is ‘murderous intent’. If the objective conditions meet Ruan Mei’s criteria to kill the child, she will harbor the intent to kill. Once she has this intent, she will succeed, and the system will judge us as dead.”
“The system’s judgment is based on Ruan Mei’s subjective will. That’s the biggest challenge in this scenario.”
Hearing this, Ke Si couldn’t help but interject, “That’s too overbearing! It’s not reasonable!”
“It might be overbearing, but it is reasonable,” Zhou Qian replied. “In Ruan Mei’s eyes, we aren’t ‘players’; we’re children. You must understand—real children wouldn’t know in advance that Ruan Mei is a killer.”
Zhou Qian looked at Ke Shi and Ke Si’s expressions and further explained, “For example, if Ruan Mei pulled out a knife in front of a child with the intention to kill, it would be too obvious. The child isn’t stupid and would surely hide.”
“Plus, if she did kill the child with a knife, covering up the crime would be harder. She’d have to come up with an excuse like ‘an intruder broke into my house and killed my child with a knife’, which would leave too many inconsistencies.”
“For these reasons, Ruan Mei won’t kill this way. A knife won’t satisfy her conditions for murder, so it won’t trigger her murderous intent. Under these circumstances, the system won’t declare death.”
“But conversely, if Ruan Mei plans ahead, whether she smothers the children in their sleep or tricks them into a car to poison them with carbon monoxide…”
“As long as the objective factors align with what Ruan Mei believes she needs to commit murder, her intent to kill will be activated, and the system will judge us as dead.”
“That’s why I said that the system’s judgment depends on Ruan Mei’s subjective wishes.”
After pondering for a moment, Ke Si and Ke Shi seemed to have understood. They whispered amongst themselves for a bit before looking eagerly at Zhou Qian.
“We know what to do!” Ke Si exclaimed. “By your logic, something like a knife won’t trigger her intent to kill. So, can’t we just confront her with a knife? Even if we don’t have skills, can’t use aggressive items, and our strength is comparable to children, can’t the four of us overpower her?”
However, Zhou Qian replied, “No, you can’t just do that.”
“Why?!”
“Once Ruan Mei realizes our intentions, it will be even more unfavorable for us. Because we would be immediately deemed dead.”
“Why? Based on what?!”
“It seems you didn’t fully understand what I just said. Think carefully about the logic in it.”
After a while, seeing the expressions on Ke Si and Ke Shi, they apparently didn’t get it. Zhou Qian continued, “You forgot the most crucial sentence I said earlier—Ruan Mei’s subjective will determines how the system judges.”
“The example I gave earlier about the ‘knife’ is under normal circumstances. Once there’s a change, causing Ruan Mei’s subjective will to change, the ‘knife’ might trigger her intent to kill.”
“For instance, if Ruan Mei sees us trying to kill her with a knife, alarm bells will go off in her mind—”
“’Did the children find out everything I’ve done? Are they trying to kill me? In that case, I can’t set up so many traps. I have to kill them quickly!'”
By this point, looking deeply into Ke Si and Ke Shi’s eyes, Zhou Qian seriously said, “In such situations, Ruan Mei’s subjective intention and mindset change, and the objective factors triggering murderous intent change accordingly.”
“For us, this situation is the most unfavorable. Not only can things like the ‘knife,’ which wouldn’t normally incite her murderous intent, become something she could use to kill, she might not even need any tools to kill us.”
“Let me give you an extreme example. If Ruan Mei directly grabs a child and throws him violently to the ground and then covers up the act afterward, theoretically, could it all be disguised as an accident?”
“She wouldn’t need the so-called trap and designs anymore. Once the urge to kill arises, she directly throws the child to death, then she can pick up a toy gun and shoot a toy bullet into the child’s eye.”
“Afterward, she can claim that the children were playing with the toy gun, shot each other in the eye, and the one who got blinded accidentally fell down the stairs and died… This is also a type of ‘accident,’ right?”
“Therefore, once we confront Ruan Mei, she will immediately become murderous.”
“In such cases, ‘killing us’ is the top priority, and the illusion of an ‘accident’ can be remedied afterward. In her subjective will, as a mother, she could totally throw her child off a cliff…”
“Once she has this thought, without any additional tools, the system will make an immediate judgment, and we will directly die.”
By this point, Ke Si and Ke Shi were pale faced.
They finally understood Zhou Qian’s meaning—
Under normal circumstances, Ruan Mei wouldn’t choose to directly stab or throw a child to death because the success rate was low, the risk was high, and there would be more loopholes, making it harder for her to evade guilt.
Ruan Mei would prioritize the easiest method for her to kill. Based on that, if she could minimize suspicion, it would be even better.
But if situations became “abnormal,” Ruan Mei wouldn’t care anymore. Her primary goal was to kill, and concerns about evading guilt would only come afterward.
When the thought “I can kill now” emerged in Ruan Mei’s mind, the system would declare the player dead.
On the surface, it looked like players could directly confront Ruan Mei with a knife. But in reality, they couldn’t. In this scenario, players truly had no advantage.
No wonder… so many players failed in this instance.
Ke Si and Ke Shi felt utterly hopeless about clearing this challenge.
The two finally understood why Ke Er and Ke San decided to run. Those two realized this aspect and thought that staying far away from Ruan Mei was the real solution.
Unfortunately, they missed one point—they didn’t realize that the last two bodies in the exhibition hall died because of a “car”. They didn’t expect that Ruan Mei wouldn’t stay in the villa to kill the other children but instead drive after them.
After a long while, Ke Si, having thought of something, asked Zhou Qian again, “Can’t we just hide? If the four of us restrain each other and play hide and seek with Ruan Mei, leading her here and there, and then just pass the remaining time?”
Ke Shi added, “Or, simpler, can’t we just avoid all the traps? Go to the lake? No. Swing? No. Basically, just refuse whatever she suggests!”
Zhou Qian decisively replied, “Neither of your suggestions will work.”
Ke Si and Ke Shi: “Why?!”
Zhou Qian said, “Actually, the logic is the same as what I just said. If all the traps and plans of Ruan Mei are evaded by us, that’s also an ‘unconventional situation’. If her designed methods to kill can’t be used, she can only resort to the simplest and crudest means. She might think, ‘might as well just throw them off and kill them’. Once she thinks this way, the system will immediately determine us as dead.”
“The game of hide and seek is the same. If she can’t find someone, her mentality will change. For instance, she might think, ‘might as well burn down the whole villa’.”
“To sum it up, once Ruan Mei’s mentality changes, her criteria for killing also change. Once her ideal conditions related to killing become flexible, we are more likely to be directly determined as dead.”
Ke Si and Ke Shi felt a shiver down their spines. The more Zhou Qian explained, the more they felt doomed. This wasn’t a strange game; it was directly designed to kill the players.
In the afternoon, under the advice of Ke Er and Ke San, they carefully checked the toys, envisioned all possible traps related to killing, and tried to avoid them. But it turned out they could only hide temporarily. If they managed to dismantle all of Ruan Mei’s traps, she would resort to brute force.
Ke Si even said, “I might as well commit suicide. Who knows what Ruan Mei would do to me? What if she lets me suffocate in a car? Isn’t that torture?”
Ke Shi earnestly looked at Zhou Qian and said sincerely, “Qian Ge, what should we do? We are relying on you! Without you, we would probably die here.”
Zhou Qian said, “Once we see through the way the system determines death, it’s not hard. Ruan Mei’s mindset has two stages.”
“First, in the regular state, she would choose a more secure method, making everything look like ‘accidents’, harming people without a trace, to absolve herself.”
“Second, in an unconventional extreme state, she would kill in a crude way. Once this state is triggered, we’re likely to be directly judged as dead.”
“What we need to do is simple: prevent her from reaching the second state.”
“To achieve this, we should follow three points.”
“First, do not confront her directly. She shouldn’t find out we intend to kill her.”
“Second, don’t just play hide and seek, as she might get angry if she can’t find us.”
“Third, don’t reject all her suggestions, even if we know it might lead us to death.”
Ke Si asked, “I understand the first and second, but what about the third? How do we judge that?”
Ke Shi continued, “Yes, actually I understand the previous points. For example, the first night, there were children in the room, no other adults, there were pillows, which can be the three factors for the system’s judgment.”
“Last night, Ruan Mei was able to drive the children to the supermarket alone, and objective factors also made her feel she could kill.”
“But this situation in the villa is more complicated! There are no adults around now, and the factor of no witnesses already naturally exists! Those toys, swings, and such naturally exist. The reason why the system didn’t make a judgment is because…. Because…”
Ke Shi suddenly became lost for words.
Zhou Qian laughed and said, “Indeed, here in the villa, various factors that could provoke Ruan Mei’s intent to kill objectively exist. The system hasn’t determined it because there are too many ways to die.”
“If there are too many ways to die, the system wouldn’t know how to judge. So, when we choose a single ‘way to die’, we would immediately be judged as dead.”
“For example, if Ruan Mei proposes to go to the swing, once we agree, the system will probably determine that we are going to die immediately.”
Ke Shi exclaimed, “Oh god… I can’t see how we can survive at all.”
Zhou Qian replied, “If Ruan Mei makes suggestions related to the villa facilities or toys, we should decline, or we would be judged as dead. However, if she suggests going to the lakeside, we wouldn’t die.”
Ke Si asked, “Why?!”
Zhou Qian explained, “Agreeing to go to the lakeside won’t cause an immediate death. There are many ways to reach the lakeside, by car or walking. By car, we might suffocate; walking, she might push us off a cliff.”
“Understand? ‘Agreeing to go to the lakeside’ isn’t deadly, which is why we haven’t been judged dead in the villa because it corresponds to various death methods, and the system can’t decide yet.”
Zhou Qian concluded, “Staying in this villa, we might encounter fire, gas explosions, gas poisoning, deadly toys… It’s impossible to guard against it. But if we go to the lake, there are many ways to die, but at least they can be anticipated.”
“In addition, there are children who drowned in the exhibition hall. Going to the lake will definitely be one of Ruan Mei’s suggestions. As long as we agree to this, we won’t have to decline all her suggestions, forcing her to desperately kill us directly.”
“Overall, going to the lakeside is the best choice.”
Ke Si and Ke Shi were eventually persuaded. “Agreed to ‘go to the lake’, and then?”
Zhou Qian said, “After that, before we leave the villa on the way to the lake, before Ruan Mei thinks ‘all the factors deliberately creating the appearance of an accident are in place, I can now start killing’, we will quietly kill her first.”
After this, not only did Ke Si and Ke Shi start to imagine ways to assassinate Ruan Mei, but Zhou Qian was also thinking.
First, spread oil, alcohol, and flammable materials on the road in advance, and then set Ruan Mei on fire when the time comes. But this carried a great risk.
No one could predict the movements of other adults and Ruan Mei the next day. If the trap was discovered in advance, it was likely to lead Ruan Mei to harbor a direct and brutal intent to kill. If the fire didn’t completely surround Ruan Mei and failed to kill her instantly, if she approached and smelled something… all of these could cause her mentality to shift, deciding to directly kill and afterward disguise it as an “accident”.
In that case, the system would determine that everyone was dead.
Secondly, make a bow and arrow overnight, find someone to ambush on the road downhill to the lake, and shoot.
This was also unreliable. Not to mention that players couldn’t leave the villa’s restricted area without interacting with NPCs, the tools in their villa were very limited. It wasn’t easy to create a tool that could kill with one hit.
Now they were all just kids. If the arrow wasn’t shot accurately, or because of craft issues, the arrow wasn’t sharp enough to kill immediately… As long as Ruan Mei was still breathing and harbored the “intent to kill”, the system might still determine that the players were dead.
……
After eliminating all other methods, in fact, only one method remains.
Zhou Qian spoke up, sharing his thoughts with Ke Si and Ke Shi. “This method is both difficult and simple. The ‘knife’ is a double-edged sword. I still hold my previous viewpoint. Under normal circumstances, it won’t invoke Ruan Mei’s intent to kill. Before she discovers everything, stab her with the ‘knife’. This is actually the most effective way to clear the stage.”
Upon hearing Zhou Qian’s words, both Ke Si and Ke Shi fell silent. Given the players’ current physical state, they were almost indistinguishable from real children.
It would be very difficult for them to kill an adult with a single stab. Furthermore, even if the knife pierced Ruan Mei’s heart, if she wasn’t killed instantly and realized what was happening, and harbored the intent to kill, the system, which judged based on her subjective intentions, might deem the players dead.
So, the person who would attempt to stab Ruan Mei must land a critical hit. Otherwise, not only would they be deemed dead immediately, all players would die with them.
Without any MP to use… who could confidently pull this off in the state of a child?
After both Ke Si and Ke Shi raised this concern, a voice responded, “I’ll do it.”
This time, it was Bai Zhou who answered.
Ke Si and Ke Shi turned to see Bai Zhou holding a bowl of shrimp soup, walking from the direction of the kitchen.
With a calm and gentle demeanor, he placed the bowl on the table in front of Zhou Qian. Without looking at Ke Si and Ke Shi, Bai Zhou looked at Zhou Qian and said, “You handle the preparations. I’ll take the final step.”
Zhou Qian scooped up a piece of shrimp and smiled at Bai Zhou. “So, you’re heeding my instructions now?”
Bai Zhou stared back. “It’s not about following your orders, but whether you trust me or not.”
According to Zhou Qian’s proposal, if there was the slightest error, everyone would die. This move required someone who could execute it flawlessly. With this in mind, Bai Zhou’s statement was really a question to Zhou Qian—whether he was willing to entrust his life to him.
“It’s said that a Rank God player is on the verge of entering the realm of the gods. If I were your Shepherd, you’d be my God, right?”
Zhou Qian offered the spoonful of shrimp to Bai Zhou and said with a mix of sincerity and jest, “Then this is my test for you, my God. Let’s see if you can pass.”
The conversation between Zhou Qian, Ke Si, and the others left the virtual hall spectators in shock.
“It’s over. If it were me, I’d definitely be dead.”
“Yeah, the answer ‘going to the water’s edge’ clearly leads to drowning. Everyone would think it’s a death trap! Who would think that it’s almost the only way out?”
“The game designer has a wicked sense of humor.”
“Do you guys feel that this 137 guy is getting weirder and weirder?”
“He’s especially weird towards Qian Ge.”
“Qian Ge is also a bit weird towards him. What did he mean by that? Usually, gods test humans, but he reversed it?”
“So what exactly is the relationship between this 137 and our Qian Ge…?”
……
Time returned to the present.
After Zhou Qian agreed to go to the lake, he looked at Ruan Mei and added, “We really want to go to the lake, but not by car. We want to walk down the mountain. There seem to be many butterflies on the path from the backyard, and we want to walk from there.”
Ruan Mei smiled at Zhou Qian and said, after a pause, “Alright. I’ll get some short T-shirts for you all.”
Hearing this, Ke Shi and Ke Si both let out a sigh of relief, completely relaxing.
Thus, 10 minutes later, Ruan Mei indeed changed the four “children” into short T-shirts. This almost entirely ruled out the possibility of players hiding anything on them.
“Let’s set off now!” Ruan Mei said.
Zhou Qian pointed towards the kitchen. “Could you get some fruit and a knife? We can eat some fruit on the way. I want you to peel an apple for me!”
When Ke Shi heard the word “knife”, his heart, which had just settled, once again rose in anxiety, every hair standing on end.
Last night, when he nervously asked Zhou Qian if everything was really okay, Zhou Qian emphasized, “I’ve said it before, as long as we don’t push her into an unconventional state, a ‘knife’ is fine. The risk of her using a knife on us and later being identified as the murderer is too great.”
“A knife, while looking dangerous and conspicuous, won’t provoke her murderous intent. So, we can use it to our advantage. It’s our key to victory.”
While waiting for Ruan Mei’s response and a system notification, Ke Shi could only reassure himself by repeatedly recalling Zhou Qian’s words. Fortunately, Ruan Mei soon smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll get the knife and fruits.”
Moments later, Ruan Mei, holding fruits and a knife in one hand and a picnic blanket in the other, led the four children to the backyard, planning to head down the mountain from there.
When passing the swing, she asked, “Do you want to swing for a while?”
All four firmly declined. Her smile slightly froze, but she continued walking.
Zhou Qian had a reason to choose the backyard route. The front yard led directly to the downhill path. If Ruan Mei wanted to push someone down, the players would be deemed dead the moment they stepped out.
The backyard, however, led to a large flat area. This area, probably planned by Ke Yun for a garden, hadn’t been worked on and was idle.
This space served as a buffer for the players, far from any steep slopes or potential danger points. Here, the only ways to kill were to throw a child forcibly to the ground or use the fruit knife. Both methods were too conspicuous for a sane Ruan Mei.
Her killing intent would truly be triggered closer to the steep slopes or at the water’s edge. Thus, this place became Zhou Qian’s chosen location to counterattack.
Leading the way, Zhou Qian turned back and signaled Ke Si and Ke Shi. Both, trying to suppress their fear, sat on the ground.
Ruan Mei looked at them. “What’s wrong? You can’t be tired after just a few steps?”
Ke Shi was afraid that their action might provoke Ruan Mei’s sudden intent to kill. But Zhou Qian walked to his side, patted his shoulder, and whispered, “We’ve already promised her we’d ‘go to the water’s edge’, so she can confidently proceed with her plan without any killing intent here. Stay calm.”
Ke Shi swallowed hard, trying to contain himself, and then smiled at Ruan Mei. “Mom, we’re suddenly tired and want some fruit.”
“Yeah.” Zhou Qian walked over and took Ruan Mei’s hand, leading her to sit on the ground. “Mom, you should rest too. You must’ve been so busy these past few days. We’re all worried about you. Can you peel some apples for us?”
With a smile, Ruan Mei sat down and, sure enough, began peeling the apples. Zhou Qian glanced at her and gave a subtle look towards Bai Zhou, who wasn’t too far behind her. Bai Zhou nodded in acknowledgment. Zhou Qian then turned and walked towards Ke Si and Ke Shi, who were sitting on the ground pretending to be too lazy to move, looking as though he wanted to playfully scuffle with them.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Qian suddenly fell to the ground and cried out. “Mom, come help me! It hurts so much!”
Always playing her part and ensuring the children had no suspicions, Ruan Mei immediately set aside the apple and knife, walking over to Zhou Qian and embracing him.
Her initial instinct was to stand up while holding Zhou Qian. However, each time she moved, Zhou Qian cried louder, so she could only remain seated, holding and comforting him.
Zhou Qian deliberately made Ruan Mei sit facing away from the fruits, the knife, and Bai Zhou to facilitate Bai Zhou’s subsequent actions. Given Bai Zhou’s current height resembling that of a child, it would be challenging for him to act if Ruan Mei stood up.
While crying in Ruan Mei’s embrace, Zhou Qian’s gaze passed over her shoulder, focusing on Bai Zhou behind her.
After a while, Bai Zhou picked up the knife, hiding it behind him, and moved silently closer, much like a ghost walking under the sunlight.
He quietly approached behind Ruan Mei and stealthily raised his arm. Seeing this, Ke Si and Ke Shi punched each other, immediately beginning to scuffle, attracting all of Ruan Mei’s attention.
Ruan Mei looked up, her gaze shifting from Zhou Qian to focus on Ke Si and Ke Shi. She immediately chided, “Hey, how old are you two now? Why are you still fighting?”
In the next moment, a hand wielding a knife quickly slid across her throat.
With one slash, her throat was slit. Ruan Mei choked and died instantly.
The moment blood spurted out, Ruan Mei was pushed aside by a hand.
A figure quickly rushed over, put one hand on Zhou Qian’s shoulder, led him sideways, and raised his other hand to cover his eyes.
After a while, Zhou Qian felt the palm in front of him move away. He looked down and saw not a single drop of blood on himself.
The sunlight, the mountain, the villa… All the scenery suddenly disappeared. Opening their eyes, the players returned to their adult appearance and returned to Hall 1 of Exhibition Hall A.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure flashed and appeared out of thin air in the location of Hall 7.
Ling Xing curled up in a corner, shivering uncontrollably even though he was wrapped in two thick blankets.
He buried his head in his arms, recalling three days prior, when Jing Yu, who had already left, returned to the church. Jing Yu had struck unexpectedly, activating the coming-of-age ceremony, and Ling Xing’s heart blood was taken… The entire process was completed in the blink of an eye, so quickly it was unimaginable. Suffering from a phobia of the coming-of-age ceremony, he hadn’t even had the chance to feel fear before the blood pact was sealed.
But the chaotic three days that followed were the beginning of a nightmare. Their generation of students had received the most comprehensive education on the coming-of-age ceremony and was fully familiar with the various conditions of the chaotic period. Precisely because of this knowledge, they had formed an alliance against the coming-of-age ceremony.
However, theoretical knowledge was one thing; to experience it in reality was another. The information from the health doctors was nothing compared to the fraction of the feeling of having another soul invade your body. With one’s own soul being squeezed into a corner, an icy chill emanated from the marrow. The body was constantly feeling as though it was in the process of stiffening.
The door to the small bedroom was pushed open, and Jing Yu walked in, placing a bottle of water next to him.
“Drink water,” he said.
Ling Xing glanced at it. It was the sports drink he had bought for Jing Yu on the first day he came to the church. Since it had just been taken out of the fridge, it was covered in fine, crystalline droplets of water, so cold that even an extra glance could freeze a person solid.
He closed his eyes and turned his head away, showing no intention of touching the water.
Jing Yu thought he wasn’t thirsty. “Are you hungry? I’ll get you something to eat.”
In no time, Jing Yu returned with a packet of plain energy bars, handing it to Ling Xing and urging him to eat. Unable to bear it any longer, Ling Xing grabbed the packet and flung it away.
“I’ve been eating these for three whole days now. What normal person would like this stuff? I don’t want to eat it. Take it away!”
Jing Yu looked at him with his ink-black pupils, observing a side of Ling Xing he had never seen before, wondering why he was so enraged.
After a moment, he understood.
“I get it. Just wait a moment.”
Once again left alone in the room, Ling Xing painfully clutched at his chest. He, who had never been angry with Jing Yu before, had shouted those words. He knew that Jing Yu, being a Lone Star, didn’t understand human emotions, and yet he was demanding that Jing Yu meet human standards. The damned chaotic period made it impossible for him to control his emotions, even misdirecting his anger at an innocent person and hating himself for it.
Amid his unstoppable contradictions and self-reproach, Jing Yu returned and handed something else to Ling Xing.
“Is this what you wanted to eat?”
Ling Xing picked it up, and the familiar packaging reminded him of the scene of their first encounter years ago. The little girl on the pink strawberry bread packaging made Ling Xing smile through tears. How could he have spoken to Jing Yu so harshly? Jing Yu had done so well, trying so hard to make him happy, giving him what he thought was the tastiest thing.
“Yes, you did the right thing. I was wrong just now.” He couldn’t help but move forward to hug Jing Yu. “I like this.”
Jing Yu sat back down on the chair to one side, watching Ling Xing eat the bread wrapped in the quilt. The gray in his eyes was very light, so faint that it would disappear if it lightened any further.
“Why didn’t you kill me?” Ling Xing, seeing the other person observing him, simply asked.
“Why should I kill you?” Jing Yu countered.
“Isn’t that the military’s order?”
“The military’s order was for me to complete the coming-of-age ceremony with you, and I have done that,” Jing Yu stated as if it was the most natural thing.
The military didn’t want to keep him, but they couldn’t kill a fledgling either, so they sent the Lone Star to forcefully conduct the coming-of-age ceremony. This method would allow him to be reincarnated and also enable the Lone Star to come of age. If Ling Xing were in the military’s position, he couldn’t think of a more elegant solution.
But strangely, why didn’t he die? It was certain death for anyone who undergoes the coming-of-age ceremony with a Lone Star, so why did he survive? Even Jing Yu himself didn’t understand, so it was even less likely for Ling Xing to know.
All he knew was that if the military found out he was still alive, they wouldn’t just let it go.
The energy bread still had its benefits. At the very least, it could provide enough energy for a person. After eating a piece of bread, Ling Xing felt a little stronger, and the coldness seemed to diminish slightly.
But there was always a strange feeling spreading around him, and that feeling came from the person sitting opposite him.
“What are you doing?”
He had just asked this when his body suddenly sank downward. If he hadn’t supported himself on the bed with his arms in time, he would have fallen down.
A terror weighing thousands of pounds pressed down from above his head, and cold sweat drenched his back in an instant. His lips paled from blood loss, trembling uncontrollably from the fear.
“What is this?” Jing Yu innocently tilted his head and asked.
It took Ling Xing more than ten seconds to catch his breath again, but it wasn’t even breathing; he had to stop for a long time after each rapid exchange of air before he could continue the next. He tried several times to speak, failing each time.
Finally, Jing Yu withdrew his intimidation, and Ling Xing collapsed on the bed, sweating profusely.
“What’s wrong with you?” Jing Yu asked, not understanding.
It took a while for Ling Xing to calm down, then he opened his eyes and looked directly into the other’s eyes, saying very seriously, word by word:
“I know that right now, for you, it’s like a child getting a new toy. You won’t stop until you try every feature.”
He had to catch his breath for a long time before he could continue, “But you promise me, just use it this once today. Today you can do as you please, but after that, never use it again, okay?”
“Oh.” Jing Yu obediently nodded.
The breathing of the person on the bed went from deep to shallow, and then shallow to long; his eyelids gradually drooped, and a hint of blush appeared on his pale face.
Jing Yu curiously watched his changes. As he increased his control, Ling Xing’s breathing became rapid, his shoulders rose uncontrollably, and his head leaned back desperately, his chin raised high, as if seeking someone’s touch.
His shoulders twitched, and the exposed collarbone at his neckline rose and fell with it. The originally snow-white skin now had a layer of enticing light pink.
There were soft moans and whispers coming continuously from between his lips. His eyes shimmered with tears, full of emotion—it was another posture that Jing Yu had never seen before. He turned his head to the other side, trying to understand what was happening now.
“What is this?” In front of Ling Xing, he was always so eager to learn.
Ling Xing, unable to bear it any longer, reached out his hand. “Come here.”
Jing Yu, without any suspicion, stepped from the table to the bed, even bending down to wait for Ling Xing’s instruction.
Ling Xing slightly raised his body, stretched out his right arm, hooked Jing Yu’s neck, and pulled him down.
Jing Yu’s breath was being eagerly drawn by another, not understanding what was happening, his eyes wide open as Ling Xing did as he pleased.
The kiss went on for quite a while, with one person active and the other passive, until Ling Xing slightly released him.
“Close your eyes,” he said.
Jing Yu immediately closed his eyes, and the two of them kissed again. Jing Yu gradually picked up some technique, kissing back in Ling Xing’s manner, slowly turning passive into active. His hands, not knowing where to rest at first, after touching Ling Xing’s body, found a suitable resting point for this moment’s posture, uncontrollably caressing up and down.
After another long kiss, Jing Yu took the initiative to lift his head, saying very seriously:
“Ling Xing, I’m sick again.”
“Shh.” Ling Xing placed a finger to his lips, signaling him not to speak. “I’ll cure your sickness.”
……
Ling Xing had the first good sleep since his coming-of-age ceremony. When he woke up, the chaos period’s cold, loneliness, and insecurity had all vanished. He lay in a warm embrace, and the soul within him that had been lost found its way home again. The two of them were squeezed together on a bed so narrow that it couldn’t possibly be any narrower, their clothes thrown all over the floor in disarray.
But remembering what happened the night before, Ling Xing couldn’t help but want to bury his head in the ground and never come out again. He, the elder who had taught Jing Yu everything step by step, had finally taught him “every single thing” step by step.
The greatest difference between a Lone Star and ordinary people was their strong animal instincts. Once their nature was released, they would act completely according to instinct, unfettered by any human rules, and a Qizi’s desire for their Qizhu was especially irresistible. After the tossing and turning of last night, his whole body felt like it was falling apart.
It was only because he moved his head that he woke up Jing Yu, who was holding him. Seeing that Ling Xing was awake, Jing Yu immediately flipped over to be on top, ready to continue doing those things that made his whole body feel good.
He had to call out “stop” three times before Jing Yu ceased his movements.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Ling Xing put his palms against Jing Yu’s chest, insisting he not press down any further, although he knew if Jing Yu really wanted to do something, he couldn’t stop him at all.
“Can you just wait a moment and listen to me?” Ling Xing asked.
Jing Yu didn’t really want to, but he held back and said, “Go ahead.”
Ling Xing thought for a moment. “Do you remember what I told you about the biggest difference between humans and animals?”
Jing Yu recalled for a moment, and something seemed to strike him, causing his face to turn an ashen color as he rigidly retorted:
“I don’t want to share you with others!”
Ling Xing was stunned, then his face turned beet red as he stuttered in response, “Wh-what, what are you talking about? I didn’t mean that. How could I possibly…”
Jing Yu’s breathing was heavy, and Ling Xing quickly held him tight, thinking to himself, ‘Oh my, a Lone Star actually getting angry.’ This was the first time in many years that he saw an expression on Jing Yu’s face.
On the other hand, he also deeply regretted. Wasn’t the biggest difference between humans and animals was the fact that humans knew how to share? Wasn’t that their first lesson? He really didn’t expect Jing Yu to remember it so clearly—even he himself hadn’t thought of that.
While gently stroking his back, Ling Xing explained, “I wasn’t talking about sharing, but about restraint. Animals don’t restrain their desires; as soon as they are in heat, they want to mate. But humans can, and that’s a significant difference between humans and animals. I was thoughtless in what I said before.”
Jing Yu looked up, not understanding. “Why restrain? Is having desires wrong?”
Ling Xing looked into his eyes. “Desires are not wrong. We are now lawful spouses, and it’s normal for you to desire me, as I also desire you. But you have to consider the physical endurance of your partner. Mating at the frequency you want, I really can’t handle it. Therefore, I suggest we should negotiate to reduce the frequency—like the seven times in one night we did yesterday—we really can’t do that again.”
Jing Yu seemed to seriously consider his proposal. “Then five times.”
Ling Xing almost wanted to die. “Can we do it just once? I think once is already a lot.”
Ling Xing knew there was no way to get him to compromise further and gave up. “Alright then, as you wish, three times it is. But no more. Really, my body will break down.”
“You’ve said that the Tianxiu people don’t fall sick,” Jing Yu stubbornly pointed out.
Ling Xing covered his eyes in despair.
Ling Xing wouldn’t let Jing Yu proceed, so Jing Yu had no choice but to silently go to the garden to plant flowers. Taking advantage of the time when Jing Yu was in the front yard, Ling Xiao threw a stone at the window. Ling Xing, enduring the soreness all over his body, got dressed, went down to the ground, opened the window, and let the person in. Ling Xiao brought a lot of food, piling it up on Ling Xing’s bed.
Ling Xing let out a long sigh of relief and eagerly grabbed one of the food items. After taking a few bites and swallowing quickly, he finally exhaled deeply.
“It’s good to have a normal person around once in a while.”
“Right? Only I understand what you need. It’s impossible to expect that from him.”
Ling Xing asked while chewing, “You seem to know him quite well, huh?”
“Um…” Ling Xiao rubbed his nose. “Just a bit.”
“How did you get here?”
“Don’t even start. There are more and more watchers around here. I had to mess with a few soul crystals to sneak in.”
“I thought you jumped over again. Where were you the past few days?”
“Wandering around this era. I’ve never been here, so I needed to understand the current affairs.”
“How well did you understand it?”
“It’s a bit chaotic outside.”
“Because of the seed?”
“The seed is in your hands now, isn’t it?”
Ling Xing laughed. “You do know a lot, huh?”
“No way around it. Who would have thought that in my era, your glorious deeds were already known to everyone?”
Ling Xing lowered his eyes. “The military wanted to use Jing Yu to kill me, but I survived. I guess they won’t want to keep me around much longer. They couldn’t sentence me to death when I was a fledgling, but now they probably can.”
Ling Xiao fell silent; what was said was indeed the truth.
Ling Xing finished one pack and then opened another. “I’m almost becoming like you. Just give me some spoilers. In this world, I don’t have any other attachments. There’s only him that I can’t let go of. I’m worried… Can you tell me about his future?”
Ling Xiao pursed his lips. “You don’t have to worry. He will soon join you, and he won’t be alone.”
Ling Xing was stunned. “Really?”
Ling Xiao scratched his head. “Although I don’t know the specifics, our reincarnations woke up on the same day. I guess the timing of our reincarnations shouldn’t be too far apart.”
Hearing this news, Ling Xing didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. “So my reincarnation also knows Jing Yu’s reincarnation. That’s such a coincidence… Is there more?”
Ling Xiao’s gaze drifted to the side, his lips lightly pressed together, and there was a slight upturn at the corners, showing a rare hint of shyness.
“We’re together.”
Ling Xing took a deep breath, his expression changing several times. As he exhaled, his face blossomed with a sincere smile.
“Is that true?”
“That’s unbelievable.”
He repeated the sentiment twice to express the excitement he felt inside.
“Now you understand why I know so much about that guy.”
Ling Xing nodded repeatedly. “I believe you. Tell me more about him. I want to listen.”
Ling Xiao glanced at a bottle of sports drink on the table. “He bought me one of these when I was going through my chaotic period.”
“Ha, that was the first bottle of water I bought for him.” Ling Xing laughed heartily.
“So it was you who led him astray. Look at the poor taste you’ve instilled in him.”
“Look, he even bought me this.” Ling Xing proudly pulled out a pink strawberry bread wrapper from under the pillow.
Ling Xiao glanced at it disdainfully and turned his head away. “Tsk, he bought me a whole box.”
The two of them began to trade jabs back and forth, complaining about Jing Yu and Ying Feng’s various misdeeds, eventually laughing uncontrollably.
Ling Xing wiped away the tears of laughter at the corner of his eyes and said with heartfelt emotion, “There’s a saying, ‘When a Lone Star falls, there are three lifetimes that he’s cold and distant.’ I’ve always been worried that after this life, Jing Yu will face three lifetimes of heartlessness, and I won’t be by his side, wondering what to do.”
He lifted his head. “But if it’s you, I’m relieved.”
Ling Xiao pursed his lips and instead looked down.
Ling Xing said seriously, “Ling Xiao, with their kind of personality, perhaps only we can tolerate them, and only we know their good sides. I’m already used to it, and you must be the same. So, let’s not let him go and cause trouble for others.”
Although Ling Xiao didn’t lift his head, he nodded.
Kinky Translations 