Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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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.

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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—

“A business trip in the middle of summer?” Yin Ren dabbed at nonexistent tears. “Minister Fu, do you have any humanity?”

Fu Xingchuan watched the performance, unmoved. “None.”

“But they do have a famous local braised-meat specialty. It was featured in a documentary.”

Yin Ren: “Got it.”

The next day they took a high-speed train straight to the mission location.

The site was an old, ill-omened house with unusually rich evil qi nearby. Yin Ren found a snack stall close by and blew some evil qi to cool himself down, feeling so comfortable that every pore opened up.

The hunched stall owner slowly simmered the signature braise. The rich aroma lifted the lid, threaded into Yin Ren’s nose, and turned into a steaming sense of bliss.

“More of this kind of assignment would be great,” Yin Ren sighed.

“Mm,” Zhong Chengshuo nodded. “I’ve never been out here. There’s plenty of new samples to collect.”

As the sun neared the horizon, the stall owner rolled his cloudy eyes and stared at them with ill intent.

“Meat so fragrant, meat so fine,” he set down two bowls and cackled, “fragrant as little boys and girls… you a piece, me a piece, tomorrow we’ll go snatch the babies…”

“Truly fragrant. No wonder it made the documentary,” Yin Ren praised.

Stall owner: “……”

“Elder, that phrasing invites misunderstanding.” Zhong Chengshuo prodded a chunk with his chopsticks. “This isn’t human flesh. Human fat is yellow.”

Stall owner: “…………”

“Really,” Yin Ren blinked. “I never paid it much mind before, but I suppose it is yellow.”

Stall owner: “?”

“This is very fresh pork, lightly seasoned—quite healthy,” Zhong Chengshuo announced solemnly.

“Shame I like heavy flavors.” Yin Ren casually tugged a sooty lump off the stall owner’s brow, dropping it into his own pot. “Mm, that’s about right.”

Zhong Chengshou, completely used to it by now, leisurely ladled a spoon of clear broth.

The stall owner seemed to jolt awake from a dream. He looked them over, startled, and said a bit sheepishly, “My head gets foggy… Did you two pay?”

“We did,” Yin Ren said. “Elder, why set up your stall here?”

“It’s nice and cool,” the old man beamed.

“Tomorrow it’ll get warmer nearby,” Zhong Chengshuo said seriously. “Foot traffic isn’t great here. Try the market.”

“Alright!”

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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~

Yin Ren: January 20th

Source: A gift from Zhong Chengshuo. (29th day of the 12th lunar month, Renyin year; Great Cold, 2023)

Cake: [Deluxe Wedding Cake]

Yin Ren has a very odd “hatchling imprinting” fixation (?). Even Zhong Chengshuo feels it is a bit inappropriate to order a wedding cake every single year.

So Comrade Xiao Zhong carefully studied recipes from home and abroad, threw himself into it with a lab-experiment spirit, and produced a near-perfect multi-tier cake—he even crafted fondant toppers modeled on Yin Ren and himself.

※ Yin Ren always polishes off the entire cake and also casts a spell to preserve those fondant figures. The “husband-and-husband” figurines wear different outfits every year, but they are forever smiling.

Zhong Chengshuo: April 20

Source: A normal (?) birthday. (Grain Rain, 2022)

Cake: [Apple Cake]

A recipe Yin Ren hunted down. It uses lots of apples yet needs no excessive oil or sugar making it very healthy and up to Zhong Chengshuo’s wellness standards.

He even took time off to study at home, carefully comparing apple varieties, and made it especially tasty. It became one of Yin Ren’s few signature dishes.

※ When it’s time to share the cake, Yin Ren especially likes to feed Zhong Chengshuo a few bites by hand. After so many years, he can finally share sweet apples—and sweet happiness—with that black rabbit and do it with a smile.

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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 ☆

Q: What should you do if you wake up in the morning and find your hand stuck to your partner’s?

A: Take leave from work first.

Zhong Chengshuo truthfully reported the abnormal incident and even submitted a leave request for Yin Ren while he was at it—

The Ghost King himself discovered their hands were stuck together, groggily cheered, “No work today!” then promptly fell back asleep, throwing a leg over Zhong Chengshuo’s waist for good measure.

Zhong Chengshuo melancholically swung his sole remaining free hand and made a decision that defied common health advice. He picked up his phone and used his left hand to order delivery.

According to his research, waking Yin Ren with noise didn’t work well; kisses or the smell of food were far more effective. However, kissing only happened when they were heading to work together. Now that he was stuck in bed too, there was no chance Yin Ren would get up voluntarily.

Only the food offensive remained.

Zhong Chengshuo, well aware of Yin Ren’s tastes, ordered from three different restaurants to ensure their breakfast was aromatic and appetizing. Sure enough, the moment the delivery driver arrived, Yin Ren instantly snapped awake.

“Fresh soy milk.” He sniffed the air and sat up happily. “And tofu pudding, stuffed pancakes, and egg burgers.”

Before the driver even knocked, Yin Ren had already flashed to the door.

Wake-up mission: perfectly accomplished. Zhong Chengshuo pushed up his glasses in satisfaction.

After washing up, the two of them moved to the dining table like conjoined twins, inspecting this inexplicable hand-holding anomaly. By now, both of them understood their own physical conditions well enough to know the situation wasn’t dangerous.

However, Shian was very concerned about this bizarre leave excuse, and Fu Xingchuan’s questions were practically flooding their chat window.

“This feels kind of fun.”

Yin Ren decisively grew another arm, completely unbothered by the anomaly. “Why not make up a reason and send it over? Minister Fu seems really spooked.”

Zhong Chengshuo shook his head. “There’s no need to lie to him.”

“No no no, it’s not lying—it’s reassurance.”

Yin Ren waved his chopsticks. “‘Although we don’t understand it, it seems harmless’—that kind of explanation is too vague. Minister Fu will definitely get anxious. We should consider his emotional state. If it’s still unresolved in a couple days, then we can have a serious talk.”

He was familiar with anomalies.

Not understanding the cause wasn’t a big deal—if it wasn’t harmful, just let it be. It might disappear on its own. He had seen this sort of thing countless times. Nature is just that magical.

And this anomaly… was actually kind of cute!

A rare chance to skip work openly—why not go on a hand-in-hand date around the city?

While Zhong Chengshuo replied dutifully to messages, Yin Ren was already efficiently searching for nearby events.

The rest of the day went just as he’d hoped. Their hands didn’t separate, but it didn’t hinder them either. The two of them went to the largest museum in Haigu and joyfully spent the whole day exploring.

Ever since Zhong Chengshuo sent that message to Fu Xingchuan, Yin Ren’s phone had stopped receiving new alerts. Well… Comrade Xiao Zhong was quite reliable after all.

Late at night when they returned home, Yin Ren stuffed a huge bag of snacks into the fridge and, for the first time in a while, opened the work group chat.

[Final Fruit: Yin Ren and I both think it’s fine.]

[Pray For More Talismans: No no no, your case is special—even if it’s fine, it still deserves attention!]

[Pray For More Talismans]: Do you guys have any theories?]

[Final Fruit: [sigh]]

[Final Fruit: Yin Ren and I are the same species. If we interpret ‘stuck together’ as a biological phenomenon, then considering common scenarios, this could be a form of same-species mating.]

[Pray For More Talismans]: ?]

[Final Fruit: The specific situation still needs further observation.]

[Pray For More Talismans: ???]

Yin Ren: “……”

Yin Ren closed his eyes, trying his hardest to erase that memory.

Wow, the next workday just became even less appealing.

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2024/8/13

Everyone’s Favorite Sports

A belated short story for Qixi Festival, with a little Olympic commemoration (*/ω＼*)

Yin Ren: [Tree Climbing]

The Ghost King has a special fondness for tree climbing. 

In the past, when the forests were dense, he loved climbing to the highest tree, lazily basking in the sun. Even with countless seals on his body, Yin Ren could still feel the warmth of the sun, like an embrace—though at that time, he didn’t really understand what a true embrace was. 

After settling in Haigu, Yin Ren had to give up this hobby. The reason is simple—climbing the greenery on both sides of the city is too undignified, and climbing trees in the park isn’t quite appropriate either. Only when he goes on mountain trips with Zhong Chengshuo can Yin Ren happily climb trees again. 

Fortunately, he has the perfect substitute for his daily life. 

When he sleeps, Yin Ren likes to drape himself entirely over Zhong Chengshuo. He always gets a warm hug, just like basking in the sun

Zhong Chengshuo: [Shooting] 

Rather than saying Zhong Chengshuo likes shooting, it’s more accurate to say he’s good at it. 

Shooting is an excellent way to exercise. Controlling your breathing, heart rate, and muscles, and even considering wind speed—every detail must be taken into account. Attacking a moving target requires calculating its trajectory. To Zhong Chengshuo, this sport is equivalent to a mathematical problem in motion. 

After marrying Yin Ren, Zhong Chengshuo rarely practices shooting anymore. He prefers to spend time with Yin Ren, and he’s found a good substitute. 

When Yin Ren is asleep, Zhong Chengshuo can catch the unconscious flapping of his wings—controlling his breathing, heart rate, and muscles still requires precision. 

Perfect.

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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〃)

Yin Ren: [Extremely Long Hair]

Considering that long hair had many uses, young Yin Ren paid great attention to hair care. Besides hunting, eating, and sleeping, he had limited entertainment, so playing with his hair was a good way to pass the time.

Zhong Chengshuo: [Standard Student Cut]

Since both of his parents were police officers, young Comrade Zhong had the most standard short haircut for a good student. His hair grew a bit longer while he was in school, but the length was limited, making him look like a well-behaved child.

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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＼*)

Yin Ren: [Apple]

There were wild apples in the mountains too, mostly small and sour, pecked at by birds and full of pits, so Yin Ren rarely ate them. The villagers of Yin Village weren’t wealthy, and any palatable fruits had long been dug up and cultivated by the villagers. The remaining fruits were either bitter or poisonous, with a fishy, astringent taste.

But the villagers would offer him sweet and delicious apples, the aroma of which was absent in mountain fruits and less cloying than cold pastries. Yin Ren always saved them for last.

After waking up in the modern world, Yin Ren was surprised to find that apples could be prepared in so many ways—apple chips, candied apples, apple soda, apple jam desserts, baked apples, and more.

The Ghost King, who was used to eating raw and cold food, now enjoyed them immensely.

※ “Apples have a lively, festive feel!” Yin Ren said, crunching on a candied apple.

Zhong Chengshuo: [Apple]

That was the first bite of food Zhong Chengshuo tasted in the human world. Strictly speaking, his action couldn’t be called eating, nor was his sense of taste normal. But this act of taking food into his body through a crack, coupled with the food’s strange flavor, deeply shocked the bizarre black rabbit.

Later, the words spoken unintentionally by the Great Celestial Master were taken as a wish. Ever since Zhong Chengshuo started living on his own, his fridge never lacked fresh apples, and there was always a bright red one on his table.

Zhong Chengshuo attributed his preference for apples to a kind of “imprinting”—in more ways than one.

Apples are the best fruit. Zhong Chengshuo firmly believed this—fresh apples and apple juice were his favorite fruit-flavored foods. It wasn’t until he started living with Yin Ren that he began trying other forms of apples.

※ Zhong Chengshuo: “Apples are good for your health.”

~~~

“Ready?” Zhong Chengshuo asked seriously.

“Ready.” Yin Ren touched the blindfold covering his eyes, his tone equally serious.

Zhong Chengshuo took a deep breath and picked up the small plate in front of him—the dining table was neatly lined with sixteen small round plates, each holding a perfectly sliced piece of apple with a toothpick.

“Sample number one.” Zhong Chengshuo speared an apple slice and carefully brought it to Yin Ren’s mouth.

The latter bit down, quickly chewed, and swallowed. “Seven points. Next.”

“Sample number two.” Zhong Chengshuo swiftly recorded the score and picked up the second plate.

“Eight points.”

“Sample number three.”

“Ugh, this one’s tasteless… two points, no more!”

…

“Why don’t you try them yourself?” After the tasting, Yin Ren asked, biting into an apple slice.

“I’m not good at tasting, and the flavors would linger in my mouth, making it hard for me to judge objectively,” Zhong Chengshuo replied as he organized the score sheet. “You can completely absorb them without interference.”

“But the flavors I like might not be to your taste.” Yin Ren mumbled, “I don’t want you to go out of your way to accommodate me.”

“No, what you give me is always the best,” Zhong Chengshuo stated firmly.

“Always the best.”

Yin Ren blinked and broke into a bright smile.

“So are you.” He bit into a piece of fruit and pressed it against his lover’s lips.

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2024/2/14

Couple’s Pajama Party

Valentine’s Day, of course, calls for a grand pajama reveal (?

And favorite intimate acts (???

~Yin Ren~

[Self-made red gauze clothing] formed from Yin Ren’s own power that’s almost imperceptible. Not that the Ghost King wants to display his majesty, he just refuses to change clothes twice a day.

※ So, does this count as naked sleeping? Yin Ren ponders.

~Zhong Chengshuo~

[Blue-striped pajama set] The ultimate standard pure cotton striped pajamas, with even more standard round buttons. Zhong Chengshuo has seven sets, changing daily. The fabric emits a clean laundry detergent scent.

[Boxer briefs] so ordinary it brings tears to your eyes. It’s surprisingly comfortable since it’s made of cotton. Comrade Xiao Zhong carefully checked all fabric parameters.

[Nightcap] A classic pointed nightcap with a pom-pom.

※ Zhong Youde once brought home an illustrated fairy tale book. After reading, the young Zhong Chengshuo firmly believed a nightcap was an essential sleep accessory.

Whether awake or asleep, skin contact enhances a person’s sense of happiness.

If possible, Zhong Chengshuo would try every means to grab a warm wing orb to keep with him. If possible, Yin Ren would try every means to stuff a warm winged orb over. Shian employees always find a suspicious black line between the two.

“Don’t bother,” Minister Fu Xingchuan tiredly says. “That’s the red thread of their marriage. Just pretend it’s so red it turned black.”

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 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 Ren’s magic: Release a winged orb near Zhong Chengshuo.

Magic effect: The orb will be accurately captured by Zhong Chengshuo, firmly embraced.

※ “I captured him,” Yin Ren confidently states.

Zhong Chengshuo’s magic: Place a plate of freshly fried chicken in a ventilated area of the house.

Magic effect: Within three seconds, Yin Ren appears next to the fried chicken.

※ For some reason, the health expert Comrade Xiao Zhong’s cooking skills for fried chicken keeps getting better and better.

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2023/10/31

Got A Pumpkin

~Yin Ren’s Pumpkin~

“Zhong Ge, let’s go out and play!” Yin Ren suggested joyfully. “Many people are dressing up strangely today. We can’t lose out.”

He got a particularly large pumpkin, hollowed it out meticulously, then stuffed Yellow Millet inside. The Great Celestial Master reverted to his usual red attire and sat on the pumpkin. The Yellow Millet pumpkin began to sway and flew up.

“Look, it can even glow manually!”

Yin Ren flew around the room, patting the pumpkin. Yellow Millet let out a puff and a light appeared inside the pumpkin.

“Very impressive,” Zhong Chengshuo said seriously. “Will Shian be okay with this?”

“Don’t worry, everyone will think it’s a magic prop.”

“Well…um…can I sit on it?”

“Of course!”

※: Zhong Chengshuo was on edge, ready to answer questions. But to his surprise, everyone indeed thought it was a magic prop.

~Zhong Chengshuo’s Pumpkin~

Zhong Chengshuo stared at the pumpkin on the table for almost ten minutes.

Yin Ren’s costume was all set, but he had no ideas. Comrade Xiao Zhong had always lacked experience in “going against the norm”.

Yin Ren said it should be weird… Yin Ren said it should be a bit scary… The theme was pumpkin…

That evening when they went out, Zhong Chengshuo was dressed as usual, but with an orange-red pumpkin the size of a fist on his head.

Facing Yin Ren’s puzzled gaze, Zhong Chengshuo firmly stated, “I put the pumpkin on my head, then control my muscles and movements, so it won’t fall…weird, scary, and the theme is pumpkin.”

Yin Ren reached out and adjusted the pumpkin slightly, then suddenly kissed Zhong Chengshuo’s cheek. The latter blushed slightly causing his body to move a bit, but his head remained as steady as if nailed in the air.

Yin Ren: “…Pfft!”

Yin Ren: “Trust me, you’ll be a hit!”

※: It was crowded at night. With Zhong Chengshuo’s odd maneuver of keeping his head stationary while dodging with his body, he successfully made a dozen people scream.

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2023/10/04

Late Mid-Autumn Festival? National Day? Short joke~(*/ω＼*)

Everyone’s Belongings

Yin Ren’s personal items:

◆ Shian Employee ID: A very important identification card, the sad label of a wage worker.

※ Even more importantly, wearing it grants access to Shian’s cafeteria!

◆ Dog Thing: Serving both as a mobile phone and pseudo-AI, Yin Ren sometimes delegates some trivial text work to it.

※ Even though it’s a metaphysical life form with research value, it acts just like ChatGPT…

◆ Gold ring: A wedding ring and undoubtedly Yin Ren’s most treasured item over the past few thousand years.

※ He secretly takes it off to admire it during idle times and occasionally flaunts it to some lost spirits.

~Zhong Chengshuo’s personal items~

◆ Shian Employee ID: A very important identity proof, a waiver for certain research activities.

※ Yin Ren secretly drew a black rabbit wearing glasses on the back of Zhong Chengshuo’s ID.

◆ Red baseball cap: When wandering in unfamiliar environments and eating out with Yin Ren, sometimes it’s necessary to cover Yin Ren’s overly conspicuous face.

※ It’s strange, Yin Ren looks like a trendy store model when wearing it, but when he wears it, he’s often teased by Huang Jin for resembling a psychotic killer. Maybe it’s because of the look in his eyes?

◆ Gold ring: A wedding ring, a testament to a blissful marriage.

※ Every morning when Zhong Chengshuo wakes up, he can’t help but gaze at the ring for a few seconds. He cherishes the warm feeling it brings.

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2023/08/22

Qixi Scheduled! Perfect to rate everyone’s culinary skills~☆

~Yin Ren’s Culinary Skills~

Overall rating: ★☆

Strengths: Edible and not bad.

Weaknesses: Loves to explore new things… uh, you have to give an ancient evil(?) time to learn…

※ Zhong Chengshuo: “Don’t add too much oyster sauce and soy sauce at the same time… Ah, don’t add more salt…”

~Zhong Chengshuo’s Culinary Skills~

Overall rating: ★★★☆

Strengths: Excellent learning ability, inherited the true essence of Father Zhong’s kitchen.

Weaknesses: Overly focuses on health, often at the expense of flavor.

※ “I will definitely corrupt him!” Yin Ren is very determined.

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2023/05/30

Indulging in “Tears of the Kingdom” led to postponement of the mini… A small corner of everyone’s daily life!

Two sets of changeable clothes, a laptop, a power bank, disinfectants, energy bars, an umbrella, an emergency light, a compass, climbing rope…

Zhong Chengshuo stood by the bed, repeatedly confirming the items in his suitcase while ticking them off on his phone’s memo. Yin Ren had just taken a hot shower and was walking out, drying his hair with a towel. Seeing the increasingly absurd content of the luggage, he remained silent, unusually, for a couple of seconds.

“Zhong Ge, we’re just going to the neighboring city.”

“I know,” Zhong Chengshuo answered seriously.

“And it’s not a business trip, or a battle. We’re just going on vacation.”

“I know.”

“There’s currently no threat to us. If there’s any emergency, we can instantly go straight home using the gaps.”

“I know.” Zhong Chengshuo’s tone remained unchanged.

“So why is there climbing rope?” Yin Ren tried to maintain his smile. They were merely planning to attend a music festival in another city. But by Zhong Chengshuo’s packing, it seemed like they were embarking on a dangerous mission in the wilderness.

“This is my first time actively deciding to travel.”

“So?”

“It’s not for sampling, not a mission taken by ‘King Yama’, and not for Shian’s work,” Zhong Chengshuo elaborated. “Last time I traveled short distance, an authority provided clear advice. This time, there’s none.”

“So, you’re packing based on the last trip?”

“Last time was a spring outing organized by my elementary school.” Zhong Chengshuo might as well have written “Are you sure?” on his face.

Yin Ren: “…Let’s just forget about that.”

“You haven’t been to a music festival either. It’s a completely new experience, so we need to be fully prepared.”

Yin Ren picked up the hefty climbing rope and weighed it in his hand. “Hmm, let’s look at it from a different perspective.”

Zhong Chengshuo paused in his packing.

“You’ve played those games where you’re limited in starting equipment, right?” Yin Ren said persuasively. “Consider this a challenge, an adventure with limited items. It’s so exciting! This is truly a new experience.”

Even if they were managing their own luggage, Yin Ren didn’t want to see such absurd items in his sight. For heaven’s sake, they were going to have fun!

Zhong Chengshuo furrowed his brows, clearly pondering the suggestion. After about half a minute, he nodded, and began to repack.

Problem solved. Yin Ren quickly pecked Zhong Chengshuo’s cheek, sighing in relief. “I’ll go blow dry my hair.”

The next day, Yin Ren stared in disbelief at the bulging suitcase before him.

“Didn’t we agree yesterday…”

“I indeed didn’t bring the climbing rope,” Zhong Chengshuo earnestly clarified.

“……”

Yin Ren slowly covered his face.

‘This must be what they call the “marital adjustment phase”,’ he thought.

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<<< || Table of Contents ||

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 249: Daily Exercise

Yin Ren looked at Zhong Chengshuo’s face with great interest.

Zhong Chengshuo’s features remained the same. He currently wasn’t wearing glasses, dressed in a long black robe, and his temporary long hair was loosely tied at the back of his head. At a glance, he didn’t look like a science post but rather like some wicked creature dug out of a coffin.

It had been twelve years since the Divine Descent, but Zhong Chengshuo’s physical age hadn’t continued to increase. According to Zhong Chengshuo himself, this was probably related to his awakened “God” ability. In the first few years, it was manageable, but when they had to go on missions, the two of them had to undergo certain disguises—

Beside Zhong Chengshuo, who had lost his glasses, Yin Ren’s long hair was transformed into short hair, and his red eyes were covered with a layer of brown. This person now looked like an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old, dressed in a red pullover, exuding a youthful vibe that shouldn’t exist.

Their appearances hadn’t changed much, and they couldn’t fool familiar faces. However, it was more than enough for a joint investigation with Shian.

Just a few days ago, Yandu had initiated a collaboration request.

A highly dangerous group of evil beings had appeared in a cave on the outskirts of Yandu. The interior of the cave was complex, with numerous branching paths, and they didn’t have enough experts to handle it. Coincidentally, the Haigu Branch was dealing with a major case and desperately wished they had eight hands each. The department heads couldn’t leave, so the two troublemakers became the best choice.

At this moment, the two troublemakers were sitting in a corner of the cave, taking a rest. It didn’t take long for two young special agents to approach them.

“This is our first time participating in a joint investigation. We haven’t seen you before, Linnan… No, the Haigu Branch, right?” The girl with short hair asked curiously.

“Are you a corpse servant? The corpse is well-preserved, just like a living person.” A bald young man pointed to Zhong Chengshuo.

Comrade Xiao Zhong had always had an expressionless face, but without his glasses to buffer it, his black eyes became somewhat intimidating. Sitting properly in the corner, he did seem lifeless.

Yin Ren suppressed his smile and coughed. Zhong Chengshuo slowly turned his head and extended a stiff hand towards the bald man. The bald man shook hands in response and exclaimed, “Can a corpse shake hands? …Holy shit, it’s warm?!”

He stumbled in place, almost falling.

“We are indeed from the Haigu Branch. Call me Xiao Yin, and this is my partner, Zhong Ge,” Yin Ren introduced seriously. “He has a rather special sense of humor.”

Zhong Chengshuo nodded in agreement with a serious expression.

The bald man rubbed the goosebumps on his body. “Oh… by the way, it’s my first time working with the Haigu Branch. I haven’t seen the department head in person yet.”

“Something happened, and there isn’t enough manpower,” Yin Ren said truthfully.

“We are partners from the Yandu Branch; our names and ranks are here.” The girl with short hair patted her chest, where her name tag was. “It’s a pity. I heard that the minister of the Haigu Branch is particularly formidable. I haven’t seen them in person yet.”

“Which minister? I remember Haigu has two senior departments,” the bald man interjected.

“It must be Director Huang from the Emergency Management Department. I remember the Special Management Department of Haigu isn’t allowed to go on missions… but I’ve heard that the two ministers of the Special Management Department are very strong, and they’re both women.” The girl with short hair showed a fascinated expression.

“Yes, they are indeed strong.”

Yin Ren recalled Lu Xiaohe roaring at him and Ge Tingting constantly challenging him to practice—ever since the higher-ups at Haigu found out about his identity, only the members of Special Investigation Unit 9 dared to treat him like that.

“Speaking of which, it would be great if Director Huang could come,” the girl with short hair sighed. “Xiao Yin, have you met him? I heard from a friend at Haigu that Director Huang is handsome and has a special melancholic aura.”

Yin Ren: “…He is quite melancholic.” Probably because he hadn’t submitted his resignation for ten years.

During private gatherings of the former Special Investigation Unit 9, Huang Jin would start crying when he drank too much.

He would cry about wanting to provide the best support for his wife and needing to earn money. Then he would cry about wanting to give his wife and child a top-tier life, and he still needed to earn money. As time passed, the tearful Huang Jin became a minister, but he never managed to resign successfully—his “God summoning” ability was so rare that the higher-ups arranged an elite detective as his partner for the science post just to deal with his file issues.

At this rate, Minister Huang would definitely be working until retirement.

“Well, I thought I could see Minister Huang this time…”

“Isn’t our Minister Fu good enough?” The bald man glanced at his own partner. “That Huang is almost forty, while Minister Fu is in his early thirties. It’s obvious who has the advantage.”

“Not the same.” The girl with short hair vigorously shook her head. “Our Minister Fu has too strong of an aura, as if he had seen the world. He feels like an old man in his eighties or nineties, just one step away from reaching enlightenment.”

Zhong Chengshuo, who was reading a book on his phone, lifted his head at the sound, and a trace of astonishment flashed across his face.

“People can change so much?” he whispered in a low voice.

His impression of Fu Tianyi was still stuck on the arrogant youth who liked to pick fights.

“It’s probably some kind of post-traumatic stress disorder,” Yin Ren casually remarked. “We caused him quite a lot of trauma.”

“Really?”

“Just a guess…”

The two of them hadn’t finished whispering when the cave suddenly trembled. Rocks fell from the ceiling, creating a clattering sound and kicking up countless dust. Bone-chilling cold air blew out from the depths of the cave, and mist crawled along the ground, gradually engulfing the feet of the people present.

In the dark corners at both ends of the cave, hundreds of red lights lit up one by one. The fierce spirits almost materialized, causing a suffocating sensation even from a far distance, as if they were being swallowed by a swamp.

“What’s going on?! With so few people assigned, isn’t this route relatively safe?” The bald man’s face turned pale.

“They’re targeting the team with fewer people first. Maybe it’s highly intelligent evil spirits,” the girl with short hair said with a serious expression as she tapped her earpiece. “Hey, Minister, anomaly in corridor 31! Requesting backup!”

“What’s the situation?” Fu Tianyi’s voice came from the other end of the earpiece.

“There are confirmed to be over a hundred high-level evil spirits surrounding us. In the team, there are 8 people from Yandu, 2 from Haigu, and 2 from Linnan. Requesting backup!”

There was silence on the other end of the earpiece.

“Minister?”

“You just said there are two people from Haigu?” Fu Tianyi’s voice carried a strange numbness.

“Yes, Xiao Yin and Xiao Zhong…”

“Then it’s fine.” Fu Tianyi dryly laughed. “Take care of it yourselves. Even if I die, nothing will happen to you guys.”

“What—” Before the girl with short hair could finish her sentence, her body swayed.

In an instant, only two out of the twelve members of the team were left standing. The others lay scattered on the ground in various positions, sound asleep. Only the girl with short hair managed to prop herself up, panting heavily. “What… happened… Why did you suddenly… attack your teammates…”

“Yandu indeed has talented individuals. Ordinary spells can’t knock them out.” Crouching down, Yin Ren patted the girl with short hair on the head. “You must be a high-level science post, with a promising future.”

“You guys…”

Yin Ren smiled faintly; his brown eyes fading to crimson. “Anyway, that kid Fu Tianyi will handle the aftermath. Just don’t run around.”

The girl with short hair lifted her eyelids and stared intently at the two “traitors”.

Yin Ren didn’t say anything more. He took out an old-fashioned mobile phone and entered something on the screen. The next moment, two figures clad in red and white robes, exuding a dense aura of blood, appeared beside him. They were wrapped in black chains, floating in mid-air.

The girl with short hair swallowed nervously. She knew how exceptional she was, and if she, as an outstanding science post, could see them, then they must be extremely dangerous fierce spirits with physical forms.

And those two young specters, covered in multiple layers of chains, were clearly…

“Xiang Jiang, Xiang Hai. Protect all living beings and do not fail.” Yin Ren’s voice turned extremely cold. A wave of pressure surged through the cave, causing even the distant swarm of evil spirits to retreat.

“Yes,” one of the ghosts responded indifferently.

Yin Ren snorted and turned around.

“Zhong Ge, let’s see who can catch more,” he said to Zhong Chengshuo, his eyes shining with a playful smile, as if the previous pressure was just an illusion.

“I’ll take this side,” Zhong Chengshuo said while holding a dagger in his right hand and the Karma Lantern in his left. His long hair slid down, almost covering half of his face, and he fumbled for two seconds, which was rare for him.

“Then I’ll choose this side. The loser cleans up.” Yin Ren tugged on the Yellow Millet pendant hanging from his phone and winked at Zhong Chengshuo. “Get ready—begin!”

The two of them turned into two blurry figures and instantly merged into the darkness.

The girl with short hair: “…”

The following scene was more like a one-sided slaughter than a battle.

In less than two seconds, the murmurs of the evil spirits turned into screams, and neither group of evil beings dared to approach the center. With the flying flesh and blood of the evil spirits, they fled in opposite directions, leaving trails of urine and excrement in their wake. The two individuals completely disregarded their partner’s combat techniques and chased after them alone. The nearby mist dissipated rapidly, and all she could see were the red lights growing further and further away.

What’s going on? Weren’t they partners? Can science posts really charge into the frontline like this? …She couldn’t understand. Which one of them was the science post!

The cave quickly returned to tranquility. Near the unconscious teammates, there were only two ghosts floating silently.

She suddenly felt that it would be better to faint. This must all be an illusion. She had seen Minister Fu personally in battle, and these two guys had surpassed the capabilities of humans.

Unfortunately, before the girl with short hair could faint, those two things, which she didn’t know what they were, returned.

“518,” Yin Ren announced with excitement.

He lazily leaned on Yellow Millet; his clothes without a speck of dirt.

“517.” Zhong Chengshuo gestured.

“That’s not all. You definitely hid some samples,”

Zhong Chengshuo grabbed the tips of his hair and averted his gaze.

“Quickly tell me where you hid them. I’ll cover for you later.” Yin Ren squeezed Zhong Chengshuo’s face with both hands. “Fu Tianyi isn’t like Fu Xingchuan. He’s very indecisive in this aspect. With so many people here, we need to be prepared in advance.”

“Um, we shouldn’t break the rules together… I can handle it myself…” Zhong Chengshuo struggled to speak.

“I’ve talked to Fu Xingchuan. There won’t be a problem. Shian won’t be able to confiscate them.” Yin Ren increased the strength in his hands.

“Fu Xingchuan is traveling abroad. There’s a time difference…”

“I’ll wake him up during the interval.”

Ah, it really was an illusion. The girl with short hair revealed a weak smile and successfully fainted.

In any case, the atmosphere gradually calmed down, and it was safe here.

And it would remain safe for a long time.

---

The author has something to say:

As usual, a small reminder: I don’t welcome comments from pirated readers who only buy the “Extra” or “Specific Chapters”. In that case, I will randomly issue warnings depending on the situation. Writing a long novel isn’t easy, so if you like it, please support the official version, where you get thousands of words for only 30 cents on the app.

——————

Thank you all for your support and understanding along the way—

This book turned out to be longer than planned, and there were three major real-life upheavals during the later stages, with battles at work and the double impact of COVID-19, which somewhat affected my writing state. There’s no other way; next time, I’ll just have to save more drafts (^ρ^)/

Actually, each book is an attempt at something new, and this one made me realize my shortcomings, so I will continue to work hard!

——————

The next book, “Full Server First Kill”, is a pseudo MMORPG-style Western fantasy adventure and leveling story. It is tentatively planned to start in the first half of the year~

Pre-orders are available in the column, so if you’re interested, you can start collecting them—

Once again, thank you for supporting the official version! See you in the next book ☆

---

Kinky Thoughts:

This marks the end of the novel.

I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please consider supporting the author by buying the raws. You can used 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, especially works like this that are extremely long, well thought out, and well written. It really doesn’t cost much.

I’m quite excited to read Nian Zhong’s latest work (a throwback to Stray with western fantasy)… so I picked it up. You can read it here: Full Server First Kill.

Once again, thank you everyone for your comments, encouragement, help with my translations, and ko-fi donations.

If you have become a fan of Nian Zhong, do check out her other works that I have worked on. You won’t be disappointed.

Finally I do have 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.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 248: Possibilities

Near A University, in a certain café by the window, Zhong Chengshuo was sitting there blankly.

He had planned to finish his paper by 5 p.m. and go on a date with Yin Ren nearby. However, before 4 p.m., he had already achieved his goal. Faced with this unexpected situation, Zhong Chengshuo felt a bit lost—Yin Ren was currently busy checking on Sun Qi’an’s condition and definitely didn’t have time to chat with him.

Surrounded by chattering customers, Zhong Chengshuo deeply experienced the feeling of “boredom”.

Outside the window, a scoop of ice cream fell onto the pavement, and a group of ants systematically explored the treasure. Zhong Chengshuo obediently leaned on the table, fixating his dark eyes on the ants.

The army of ants made its journey smoothly, except for a minor incident—soon after, a fly leisurely landed on the ice cream cone.

Zhong Chengshuo frowned.

The elder of the Zhong family had taught him that “life is precious”, but Zhong Chengshuo didn’t particularly like flies and mosquitoes that spread diseases. He extended his hand, and the tips of his five fingers lightly touched the glass as darkness surged within his pupils.

Fear dominated.

The fly kicked its legs, and its body rolled off the ice cream cone.

Zhong Chengshuo withdrew his hand and took a sip of juice. Recently, he had become more skilled in using his abilities. Shian had specifically calculated it; with his current power and the help of the Karma Lantern, he could destroy Haigu within two minutes. Under excessive fear, everyone would choose to end their own lives at the first opportunity.

Zhong Chengshuo had no thoughts on the matter.

He had no special liking or disliking towards humans, especially since Yin Ren had a special preference for humans—to the point of harboring the power of corruption while tirelessly protecting them.

He didn’t want to oppose his lover.

Furthermore, using emotions to drive people to self-destruction, Qi Xin, as “Sorrow”, could do that too. But Qi Xin couldn’t force flies and mosquitoes to death, nor could she help exterminate cockroaches in the neighborhood. For lower-level creatures, the most primal “Fear” was effective.

Thinking of this, Zhong Chengshuo’s blank expression became smug without showing it. He carefully savored and tasted this emotion, then glanced at the time—there was still half an hour before Yin Ren arrived.

The flow of time had undoubtedly slowed down, Zhong Chengshuo solemnly judged.

In the next moment, accompanied by screeching brakes, a heavy wave of fear erupted nearby.

Zhong Chengshuo looked out of the window and happened to see the scene of an accident. A dirty stray dog had been hit by a car and was lying on the roadside, bleeding. The driver confirmed that it wasn’t a pet and drove away without hesitation.

The little dog lay quietly on the roadside, and the deep red blood spread slowly on the ground. The viscous blood covered its dirty and matted fur, and the trembling body in the center of the bloodstain wouldn’t stop.

A few passersby stopped to look for a while and then walked away. The stray dog’s bones were broken, and its organs were exposed. No professional knowledge of zoology was needed to know that its life was coming to an end.

The smell of fear grew stronger.

Zhong Chengshuo stared at the puddle of blood for a moment. A few seconds later, he closed his laptop and stood up.

……

The stray dog lay motionless on the roadside.

It wanted to move, but its emaciated body wouldn’t respond at all. Everything became unfamiliar and cold. Besides panting and trembling, it couldn’t do anything. Intense pain exploded within its body, and countless monstrous creatures swept past it. It had never been so terrified before.

Suddenly, a massive shadow stopped beside it. The newcomer carried a refreshing scent of vegetation, completely devoid of the stench of sweat.

Human? …There seemed to be something not quite right, but it didn’t have the strength to distinguish. Anyway, humans weren’t good creatures. In its terror, the stray dog bared its teeth and let out a weak growl.

The person bent down.

The stray dog could feel the person’s gaze, as well as the slight movement of the shadow and the scent—it wanted to bite him with all its might the moment he touched it.

“Whether it’s humans or other creatures, their reactions are similar when they’re dying,” the person said.

The stray dog trembled even more.

“I’ve encountered someone who looks a lot like you before. Like you, I didn’t know his name… He was my enemy, abandoned by his comrades, destined to die.”

The voice continued steadily.

“That was the first time I used this ability for something else.”

With these words, a hand gently landed on the stray dog’s head.

“…This time, I’ll do better.”

It should bite him hard, the stray dog struggled to turn its thoughts. Strangely, it seemed to have suddenly forgotten the reason for attacking.

The intense pain remained, the coldness remained, and the smell of blood was everywhere, as if nothing had changed. But the despair and fear disappeared without a trace, leaving only a gentle calmness.

Perhaps this was the safety and tranquility that it had never experienced in its entire life.

Its vision gradually faded, but its body no longer trembled. The hand on its forehead was incredibly warm. With great effort, the stray dog pondered for a moment, mustered its last bit of strength, and slowly closed its eyes.

“Good night,” the human softly said.

……

Zhong Chengshuo packed up the remaining food, bought a paper box and cloth from the café, and cleaned up the stray dog’s body. The cloth covered the blood-soaked body, and it lay peacefully as if sleeping. Zhong Chengshuo placed the paper box in the cleanest corner of the trash bin, and after a moment of contemplation, he took out a small cake and gently placed it next to the body.

At this moment, Zhong Chengshuo was very certain of two things.

First, Yin Ren was surprisingly softhearted and definitely wouldn’t mind one missing piece of cake. Second… he indeed preferred using his power like this rather than destroying the world.

Just like Yin Ren.

It was now 4:53 p.m., and he couldn’t be late for his date.

“Goodbye,” Zhong Chengshuo bid farewell to the small body.

On the other side, at Haigu Municipal Hospital.

“Well, there’s no problem. But if you experience any abnormal emotions, be sure to contact us immediately.”

Yin Ren stood up from the couch and stretched lazily.

“Love’s” seal in Sun Qi’an’s brain was still stable. However, better to be safe than sorry, Yin Ren would still give Dr. Sun a monthly check-up.

“What do you mean by abnormal emotions?” Sun Qi’an neatly combed her hair.

“You’ll feel it yourself more quickly.” Yin Ren extended his index finger and tapped Sun Qi’an’s brow.

He released the power of “Love” into Sun Qi’an’s brain, which lasted for about five seconds. Within those five seconds, Dr. Sun’s eyes went from confusion to madness, and then back to confusion. After removing his finger, her gaze was filled with shock.

“That’s probably how it feels.” Yin Ren coughed twice in a seemingly serious manner.

“It’s really scary.”

“Isn’t it?”

“It’s terrifying. It’s supposed to be a strong love… but I always feel like I want to destroy something, and my mind can’t function properly.” Dr. Sun rubbed her temples in pain.

“I totally understand. You must remember this feeling.” Thinking about his own history of being affected, Yin Ren’s eyes almost teared up. Even after all this time, Zhong Chengshuo’s voice recordings related to Innocent Thoughts still remained.

Despite wearing an innocent face, that kid was quite frightening in certain aspects.

Dr. Sun’s face turned pale as she sat on the couch, poured herself half a cup of tea, and finally caught her breath. “Have you also experienced these things? Without going crazy?”

“… ” Yin Ren shifted his gaze to the corner of the wall, feeling guilty.

Fortunately, Dr. Sun didn’t think too much about it and drank another half cup of tea, still trembling slightly. “No wonder you’re a master in Shian. If someone as skilled as you went crazy, the level of destruction would be outrageous. Does Shian have any special countermeasures?”

Yin Ren’s expression froze for a moment.

At present, he and Zhong Chengshuo could be considered Shian’s “countermeasures”, but there weren’t any before. At that time, Shian was only entangled with Sunken Society, and their research on the Other Side had been at a standstill. If…

If on that rainy night, he hadn’t met Zhong Chengshuo.

He wouldn’t have joined Shian so quickly, and it would have been impossible for fate to push him forward. In that state of ignorance, once the Elementals discovered him, he wouldn’t have been able to resist. A lone person, manipulated by emotions, would become a weapon for Sunken Society… No, the Other Side.

Shian would be caught off guard and combined with Zhong Chengshuo, who couldn’t delve deeper into the research on the Other Side, they would absolutely have no ability to resist.

“Haha.” Yin Ren suddenly burst into laughter.

Dr. Sun poured herself another cup of tea. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.” Yin Ren rubbed his face.

It was just that he realized he had almost become the world-destroying Demon King.

Humming a tune, the Great Demon King left and casually bought a bouquet of flowers from a nearby shop.

Sunlight poured through the glass into the flower shop, and the vibrant colors overflowed with vitality, making one’s eyes sore. The colorful bouquet was wrapped in colorful wrapping paper, with water droplets rolling on the petals. Unfortunately, this delicate atmosphere was soon destroyed—

Yin Ren had the stewed rice box prepared by Zhong elders in his hand, as well as the brand of sandwiches that Zhong Chengshuo liked. The bouquet was squeezed in between a few bags, looking particularly pitiful.

“Hello? I understand, Mom, it’s alright, I’ll deliver it soon… Yes, yes, we’ll eat together.” Yin Ren floated in the sky, having a serious conversation. “I remember. I’ll definitely bring back the lunch box.”

After finishing the call, he turned into a trail of shadows and disappeared into the air.

It was 5:57 p.m.

Yin Ren landed silently and immediately saw Zhong Chengshuo in front of the café. He had a laptop bag in his left hand and a pastry in his right hand with eyes filled with clear anticipation.

As the sun set, there was a bustling crowd around Zhong Chengshuo. People passed by him, heading in different directions. Zhong Chengshuo stood among the crowd, and that sense of detachment had disappeared without him noticing.

He looked like one among the countless beings.

Yin Ren stepped out of the alley, unable to hide the smile on his face. He stopped by Zhong Chengshuo’s side and sniffed lightly. “You smell like blood.”

“Mm…” Zhong Chengshuo began to carefully organize his words.

“But it’s ‘good blood.'” Yin Ren couldn’t help but free one hand and ruffle the other’s soft hair. “Although I don’t know what you did, you did a good job. Let me praise you first.”

“Really?”

“I’ll make it up tenfold if I’m lying.” Yin Ren shook the lunch box. “Our parents made something special for us again. Let’s have dinner first and talk while eating.”

Zhong Chengshuo skillfully extended his hand and pulled out the bouquet from a pile of plastic bags. He held the flowers against his chest and a smile appeared on his lips.

“Okay.” Zhong Chengshuo took two steps forward, leaning close to Yin Ren.

“Don’t get so close. You might crush the sandwiches—”

“I like it crushed.”

---

The author has something to say:

World destroying Demon King A + Demon King B, it’s so great that they’re getting along peacefully! (×

There’s only one more chapter for the extras, and it will be completed in the next few days! Thank you all for waiting so patiently—

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 247: Hunting

Ma Yan, a biology Ph.D student at A University.

In two days, there would be an academic exchange conference at D University. As one of the two representatives from A University, Ma Yan was quite nervous—

D University was located in a remote area, close to several ancient tombs. Recently, a new burial site was discovered, and strange occurrences have been happening since then. Based on Ma Yan’s experience, those rumors weren’t just idle talk—he had interned at a special department in Shian and knew some inside information.

As the bus departure time approached, Ma Yan took off his backpack. While swinging the backpack, he accidentally hit the person next to him.

“Sorry Zhong Chengshuo,” Ma Yan apologized as he put the backpack on his lap.

“It’s okay.” Zhong Chengshuo nodded without turning his gaze.

Indeed, he’s such an odd person. 

Zhong Chengshuo was considered the most highly regarded student in the department. It was said that he wandered outside for a few years before returning to pursue his Ph.D. He rented a place near A University and didn’t participate in any student group activities. This guy didn’t even eat in the cafeteria—he always went back to his rented house for meals. Ma Yan wondered what he was so dedicated to.

Currently, there were three seats in a row, but Zhong Chengshuo had left the one by the window empty.

“Waiting for someone?” Ma Yan looked at the time, trying to start a conversation.

Zhong Chengshuo: “Yes, a family member.”

Ma Yan took a deep breath. This conference allowed attendees to bring their family members. But this person Zhong Chengshuo… Wasn’t that ring just for fun? Who would choose such a strange wedding ring?

Considering his behavior of running back to his rented house, Ma Yan solemnly pondered. “Taking care of a relative’s children?”

“My partner wants to come along.” Zhong Chengshuo’s voice became slightly louder. He finally turned his head, and his black, hollow eyes fixated on Ma Yan.

Bachelor Ma Yan: “…” He’s not happy.

Speaking of which, Zhong Chengshuo was quite good-looking. Even if he was an eccentric person, there would definitely be girls who liked him. Ma Yan wondered what kind of person his partner would be like…

“Zhong Ge!” A figure swiftly jumped onto the bus. The person was wearing a black shirt and a red duckbill cap. Their long hair was tied up in a ponytail. Above the mask, a pair of red eyes formed a smiling curve.

The person strode over to Ma Yan. “Brother, excuse me.”

They took the empty seat by the window, wearing the same ring on their ring finger as Zhong Chengshuo.

So, it really is a wedding ring?!

Ma Yan is shocked. “Wait, a guy?”

Zhong Chengshuo nodded. His expression remained unchanged, but the atmosphere around him seemed to have brightened by 10%. The person sitting down removed their mask and took a deep breath.

After seeing the other person’s appearance, Ma Yan was speechless. The more beautiful a “person” was, the more dangerous they were, as Ma Yan learned during his internship. His mental tension instantly escalated.

“Zhong Chengshuo’s classmate? I’m Yin Ren.” Yin Ren extends his hand in a straightforward manner.

“Ma Yan.” Ma Yan shook their hand, trembling.

Fortunately, Yin Ren only exchanged a simple greeting. Not long after getting on the bus, he yawned loudly and immediately rested his head on Zhong Chengshuo’s shoulder, falling asleep.

……

D University was in a remote location, and the nearby shops and hotels were at a small-town level. Most of the conference participants stayed on campus, but Zhong Chengshuo, with his family member, had booked a room in a hotel.

After some contemplation, Ma Yan chose to book a room at the same hotel. Just in case there were real problems with the nearby burial site or if Zhong Chengshuo’s boyfriend was indeed suspicious, it would be easier to contact Shian.

The first two days went smoothly.

Zhong Chengshuo acted as usual, while his partner, Mr. Yin, simply wandered around various street food stalls nearby. Ma Yan felt relieved, thinking that maybe he was overreacting.

Until midnight of the third day.

In the cheerful background music of the game, Ma Yan poked at his phone while playing a video on his computer. He was going back tomorrow, so there wasn’t much to worry about.

Swish.

Amidst the music and dialogue, a strange sound suddenly appeared.

Swish, swish.

Vague noises came from beneath the floor, sounding like digging in the soil. Ma Yan turned off the game and video, but the strange sound became even clearer.

Swish, swish, swish. The floor was trembling.

Ma Yan’s room was on the third floor, with an empty guest room below. There was a simple layer of reinforced concrete in between, which couldn’t explain these digging-like noises.

Stay calm, it’s a minor thing. There must be some scientific explanation behind it. Ma Yan tightened his face.

Outside, the night had grown dark, and no lights were visible. In the silence, apart from the sound of digging, there were eerie whispers. Ma Yan walked a few circles in the room, making sure it wasn’t his own illusion or dream.

Ma Yan couldn’t decide whether to go outside or not. The occupancy rate here was low, and he was the only one on the third floor. Moving around casually might be even more dangerous.

Swish, swish. A faint, foul odor filled the air.

The digging and whispers were getting closer. Ma Yan anxiously stared at the source of the sound. In the hotel’s dim yellow light, a small clump of soil faintly appeared on the tiled floor.

Ma Yan swallowed his saliva, shifting his gaze towards the door—

Knock, knock, knock!

“Ma Yan, want to have a drink together?” Right at that moment, Yin Ren’s voice sounded from outside the door.

The digging sound abruptly stopped, and even the soil on the floor seemed to retreat at a rapid pace, as if trying to escape.

Ma Yan: “…?”

“We came to find you.” Outside the door, Yin Ren continued to call out. “Zhong Ge can’t drink, and it’s boring if it’s just me. It’s livelier with more people.”

Ma Yan approached the peephole. In the dim corridor, Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo were indeed standing there. The problem was that he barely knew Zhong Chengshuo, and it was his first time meeting Yin Ren. It was suspicious for them to suddenly come from another floor to drink in the middle of the night.

Taking a step back, something about his room felt off, and he couldn’t involve innocent classmates in this.

Ma Yan cleared his throat. “I’m about to sleep. Let’s meet up after I return to the city.”

Swish.

Just as Ma Yan finished speaking, there was a cautious sound beneath the floor.

Yin Ren: “Ah, what a pity…”

In an instant, the hotel’s door slammed onto the ground. Yin Ren stood at the entrance with a smile, still in the motion of pushing the door.

“Sorry, the door isn’t sturdy.” Yin Ren’s eyes glowed red in the darkness.

Sturdy my ass! Ma Yan jumped up and grabbed his phone. Something was definitely off with this guy, and he had to report it to Shian.

Zhong Chengshuo was holding a strange-looking lantern as he approached. “Should we show it to him?”

“No need to erase his memory. Fu Tianyi just sent news that this person has good potential.” Yin Ren murmured to himself, tilting his head. “The science post values cognition, right? If his cognition collapses here, he won’t be of much use.”

“I understand.” Zhong Chengshuo nodded solemnly.

With a terrified gaze, Ma Yan watched the two of them chattering. His heart almost exploded. What on earth was going on with these two? Could it be that Zhong Chengshuo was being controlled by a monster? It had already been so long; why hadn’t Shian’s people arrived yet?

In Ma Yan’s frightened gaze, Yin Ren casually walked to the center of the room and knocked on the floor. “Why not keep digging?”

The room fell into complete silence.

“You were having so much fun digging just now. You were only one step away from singing the ‘most glorious labor’.” Yin Ren gently raised his right hand, then struck the floor. Strangely, the tiles showed no damage, and Yin Ren’s hand sank into the ground as if it were sinking into mud, straight into the floor.

In an instant, he pulled his hand, and a desiccated, skeletal arm emerged.

Below the arm, there were brownish-black bones and intertwined tree roots that seemed inseparable from each other. Yin Ren pulled it out like he was pulling a water hose, while Zhong Chengshuo carefully arranged the part that was pulled out, meticulously stacking it against the wall.

For some reason, the monster being pulled out trembled slightly, without any resistance. When it was being arranged in a circle by Yin Ren, it even cooperated by adjusting its position.

This is insane. Ma Yan slid slowly to the corner of the wall.

The monster itself was one thing, but these two people… He couldn’t come up with any explanation.

After pulling for about twenty minutes, the monster beneath the floor was finally completely pulled out. It occupied one-third of the room and was piled up like stacked tires. The monster wriggled, and the dust on its body fell to the ground.

Zhong Chengshuo examined the monster for a while, and a look of joy appeared on his face. Ma Yan had seen that expression before; every time his father caught a fish, he had the same satisfied look.

“Corpse intestine from an ancient tomb. The corpses have different years, most of them are sacrificial, and a few should be tomb raiders or…” Yin Ren wiped his hands with a wet towel. “Or people who were recently attacked.”

He pointed to the fresh part of the monster’s body, where it looked like tender shoots growing from withered tree branches.

“Thank you for the reminder.” Zhong Chengshuo took out a sample bag and a small knife from his pocket.

“Wait! You can’t just…” Ma Yan exclaimed.

The flesh and blood of the monster might have unknown effects, and it was strictly forbidden for ordinary people to privately obtain and study it under Shian’s regulations. With the situation happening right in front of him, Ma Yan couldn’t ignore it.

Zhong Chengshuo slowly turned his head, and Ma Yan was so scared that he covered his head. However, Zhong Chengshuo didn’t say a word, and his eyes just showed a hint of grievance.

Yin Ren raised a smile and spoke deliberately slowly. “We caught it, so naturally, we have the right to deal with it.”

Before he could finish his sentence, the monster let out a faint whimper and trembled, causing the floor to shake. If it weren’t for how disgusting the thing was, Ma Yan might have felt sorry for it.

“And guess why Shian hasn’t arrived yet?” Yin Ren’s smile became even brighter.

……

Before leaving the room, Yin Ren even left two cans of beer for Ma Yan. If he hadn’t left behind nearly half of the room filled with monsters, Ma Yan might have been even more grateful. The stimulated monster obediently remained still, playing dead alongside Ma Yan.

The good news was that five minutes after those two guys left, Shian’s personnel arrived at the door.

“Ancient tomb intestine, more than a thousand years old.” Fu Tianyi’s face showed no expression.

“Mr. Fu!”

Ma Yan instantly felt relieved. This was a top-notch expert from the Yandu branch, but he seemed particularly listless and in a bad mood.

Fu Tianyi absentmindedly picked up a can of beer and took a few sips.

“I’ll arrange for you to change rooms later, and Shian will handle this thing.” After putting down the can, Fu Tianyi sent a message while talking. “Not being shaken by seeing this thing, you’ve done well.”

Ma Yan had nothing to say. He actually wanted to be shaken, but unfortunately, the monster gave in too quickly, and his emotions hadn’t had time to brew.

Thinking about it, Ma Yan hesitated for a moment. “Two people took…”

“It’s safe here.” Fu Tianyi interrupted loudly. “No issues at all.”

“Just now, two people…”

“No issues at all.”

“Just now—”

“No issues at all!” Fu Tianyi drank half a can of beer, and a sense of despair appeared on his face.

Ma Yan: “…Alright, since the Fu family says there are no issues, I have no position to question further.”

……

One week later.

[BOOS Supreme Devil Emperor: Lao Jiang is selling ancient tomb corpse hearts!]

[Xinxin Dog Kennel: Where can you even get corpse hearts now? They’ve all been plucked clean.]

[BOOS Supreme Devil Emperor: That new burial site.]

[Lao Zhang Pancake Stall 028: The corpse heart is guarded by corpse intestines. Corpse intestines with high cultivation will devour people on their own. They are extremely dangerous.]

[No Head: That place has been around for thousands of years; it’s tough. Dealing with a five-hundred-year-old corpse intestines would require about a hundred people.]

[BOOS Supreme Devil Emperor: It must be King Yama.]

[No Head: Here we go again.]

[BOOS Supreme Devil Emperor: Didn’t he get a partner? It must be them.]

[yamagald: Guess?]

“Don’t worry too much. ‘King Yama’ won’t expose himself,” Zhong Chengshuo said as he embraced Yin Ren from behind, sounding drowsy.

“The ministers probably have an idea in their hearts.” Yin Ren chuckled as he looked at the chat room flooding with messages.

“I haven’t left any evidence.” Zhong Chengshuo’s tone instantly turned serious.

“You don’t need evidence for this kind of thing. It’s not like we’re going to court.” Yin Ren playfully ran his hand through his partner’s hair. “Trust me. Even if they do find evidence, they’ll pretend they didn’t see it.”

After all, having King Yama as a convenient scapegoat was much more convenient than admitting that “there’s someone in Shian who can’t be controlled”.

“I don’t understand.”

“I’ll teach you slowly in the future.”

“…Alright.”

---

The author has something to say:

King Yama, a sham company (…

Two people making extra money with their salaries, laboring to become wealthy!

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