Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 192: Answer

“Do you want to use that wooden talisman to send me to the Other Side?”

Yin Ren smiled, causing his brows and eyes to curve.

But beneath that smile, Zhong Chengshuo faintly sensed a warning. Although he wasn’t adept at social affairs, as King Yama of the Nightwalkers, Zhong Chengshuo was always sensitive to changes in “enemies”.

“I don’t think so.” Yin Ren’s smile grew even brighter. “You must have been too careless, right?”

The subtle warning became even more apparent.

Zhong Chengshuo slowly lowered his arms. “No, I really wanted you to touch the wooden talisman.”

“Oh, I remember. Before I took the medicine, I did let you create a control plan on your own… Zhong Ge, your plan can’t be that simple, right? Just a hug?”

Yin Ren took a half-step back, allowing his hair to slide casually on the wooden floor, leaving deep marks.

“This plan is really adorable. How could I not sense the Evil Force carried by the wooden talisman?”

“I still need to test it anyway. It seems that ‘Innocent Thoughts’ doesn’t have much impact on intelligence,” Zhong Chengshuo muttered. “It only affects thought patterns…”

“Well, I like this state. My mind is much clearer. It’s strange, though. Why did I resist that pill before?”

Seeing that Zhong Chengshuo stubbornly refused to wear his nightcap, Yin Ren concluded that he wouldn’t be going to sleep anytime soon. He simply sat on the sofa without blinking as he looked at Zhong Chengshuo.

“Since you’re so insistent on experimenting with that stuff, I’ll be straightforward. Until the situation is clear, I don’t want to take risks by testing the wooden talisman myself.”

“There’s still some stewed lamb soup left. Do you want to eat lamb noodles?” Zhong Chengshuo didn’t answer directly, keeping the wooden talisman hidden in his sleeve and pretending nothing happened.

Yin Ren’s expression stiffened for a few seconds, and his eyebrows furrowed. His blood-red eyes stared intensely at Zhong Chengshuo, but after a few seconds, he smiled as if nothing had happened.

“No, I won’t eat. Didn’t you say late-night eating is unhealthy? Then I won’t eat either.”

Yin Ren stretched lazily on the sofa, keeping the tablet and phone he used to watch shows far away from him, showing no intention of touching them.

In the dim light, through that familiar face, Zhong Chengshuo saw the past Yin Ren.

While he used to go to sleep early, Yin Ren liked to watch movies or TV dramas in the living room by himself. He wasn’t particular about his posture, often lying on the sofa in various positions, sometimes even upside down. When he had seen enough, Yin Ren would quietly climb into bed. Sometimes, even after getting into bed, he would still play with his phone quietly.

During his half-dream state, Zhong Chengshuo had once felt Yin Ren lean forward and gently kiss the top of his head, whispering a goodnight.

When they woke up the next day, they would always be close together, absorbing each other’s warmth.

Zhong Chengshuo used to think that it was the most ordinary state when they were together. But now, it felt so sweet and warm, yet so out of reach.

“…Then I’ll cook my own portion since you don’t want to test it yourself. I’ll have to come up with a new experimental plan.”

As Zhong Chengshuo said this, he didn’t look at Yin Ren.

He stood up, tied on an apron, and casually flicked off the broken line on the “Big Shot” as if jokingly, then plucked it off.

Yin Ren remained motionless, right where he was, but a clear hum escaped him, and his expression became even darker than before. Zhong Chengshuo, on the other hand, walked into the kitchen as usual and began simmering the leftover lamb soup from the previous night.

He simmered the soup on the lowest heat and heated a cup of milk for himself. Efficiently completing these tasks, Zhong Chengshuo returned to the table with a mug in hand. He held a book and a pen, lowered his head, and started reading an academic book on neuroscience.

Throughout, his gaze never turned towards Yin Ren, as if there was no one else in the room.

“Since there are arrangements, you can focus on your tasks first, and when you’re done, we’ll sleep together.”

Seeing that Zhong Chengshuo no longer responded, Yin Ren stopped smiling, and his tone carried a hint of suppressed anger.

Expressionless, he sat in his original spot, and his black hair climbed along the table. It carefully avoided the position of the wooden talisman and reached Zhong Chengshuo’s arm, then moved closer to his cheek. Zhong Chengshuo glanced sideways—the grape-sized crimson eyeballs at the tips of the hair were looking at him from multiple directions.

Still, Zhong Chengshuo remained silent. He clenched his fist cautiously, his palm sweating.

The delicious aroma of the lamb soup wafted from the pot. In the past, Yin Ren would have already rushed to the kitchen to steal a taste. But now, Yin Ren remained firmly seated on the sofa, showing no intention of standing up.

The crimson eyeballs at the tips of his hair seemed alive. They dragged their nerve-like dark hair, floating near Zhong Chengshuo’s hand. Whenever Zhong Chengshuo lifted his pen, several eyeballs would roll over and brush against the back of his hand.

Cold and wet; the sensation was akin to touching an ice cube dipped in water.

For a moment, the atmosphere indoors felt less like a “home” and more like a battlefield filled with ominous energy.

The usual scene of one person drinking milk and reading a book at the table while the other snacked on the sofa and watched shows had lost its casual atmosphere. The occasional small talk seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Zhong Chengshuo had never experienced such an uncomfortable silence before.

“I don’t want to be bothered by those trivial matters of the Other Side anymore. If those Elementals continue to cause trouble, we might as well move away from Haigu.”

Yin Ren seemed to dislike the silence as well, and he was the first to break it.

As soon as he spoke, dozens of eyeballs suddenly approached Zhong Chengshuo, almost reaching his face, and the connecting hairs at the tips of the eyeballs stood stiff. Zhong Chengshuo wondered if these eyeballs would try to enter his mouth if he didn’t respond.

“I still have the wish to ‘protect the descendants of those children’, and that wish has no limits. As I understand it, the descendants of those descendants children are included,” he said, clearing his throat, his tone devoid of emotion.

“You’re so stubborn. If I revoke the wish, then it’s fine.” Yin Ren played with his long hair.

Zhong Chengshuo’s response wasn’t unexpected. He silently turned a page and continued to plan his next move in his mind.

“What about the answer?”

For a moment, Zhong Chengshuo didn’t react. “What?”

When he looked up again, Yin Ren had already flashed to the opposite side. His black hair cascaded to the floor, like flowing shadows. A pair of crimson eyes brimmed with amusement sent shivers down one’s spine.

The tips of the hair scratched against the floor, emitting an uncomfortable and sharp sound.

“I said I can revoke the wish, but you haven’t answered me.” Yin Ren rested his cheek on his hand. “Zhong Ge, what’s your answer?”

“…I don’t want to discuss this matter for now.”

After saying that, Zhong Chengshuo took a sip of milk and made a few more notes in his book with the pen.

“That won’t do. Weren’t we always so in sync?”

A few strands of hair wrapped around the pen, forcibly stopping Zhong Chengshuo’s movements. The crimson eyeballs slid along Zhong Chengshuo’s skin, lightly brushing against his Adam’s apple.

“Since just now, you’ve been ignoring me. Well, let’s do this: you must answer immediately to everything I say.”

The air in the room became increasingly heavy, and the feeling of oppression was suffocating. There was no hint of killing intent in the pressure, but it still rendered one immobile. Even during the days when they had just met, there was never such a tense atmosphere.

Zhong Chengshuo stared at Yin Ren intently.

Back then, he had split half of his power with Yin Ren. As he fused into a human body, his aura “disappeared”. The power took root and merged within Yin Ren’s body, giving birth to a brand new and formidable Primordial Elemental.

He had lost half of his power, and even if he could recover it, Yin Ren, who had received that half of his power, would also grow.

…Grow into a stronger, more exceptional new generation; growing into the very enemy that should swallow him—the most dangerous one.

For the first time, Zhong Chengshuo vividly realized how bloody their relationship should have been.

Crackle!

Before his thoughts had finished processing, the book in Zhong Chengshuo’s hand burst into flames without any external source. Dark flames surged three meters high, instantly turning the pages into ashes. The black flames licked Zhong Chengshuo’s fingertips, colder than ice and snow.

“You still haven’t answered my question.” Yin Ren leisurely formed hand seals with his fingers.

Zhong Chengshuo exhaled slowly. “That was my book.”

“I can see that. It’s not like it’s some rare edition. Anyway, I’ll buy you a couple more tomorrow—who told you to ignore me just now?” Yin Ren’s tone was as gentle as before, but it carried a hint of grievance. “Zhong Ge, are you angry?”

Zhong Chengshuo touched the ashes on the table, leaving distinct marks with his fingertips. He sighed, finished the now cold milk in his cup, and briskly stood up.

The cup was placed back on the table, producing a faint but distinct sound of impact.

In the next moment, Zhong Chengshuo felt a slight constriction on his limbs, neither light nor heavy. “Zhong Ge, you still haven’t answered me… Are you angry?”

“Are you angry?”

The strands of hair transformed into the familiar texture of wings in Zhong Chengshuo’s perception. They were warm and soft as usual, but quickly bound his limbs, rendering him immobile.

Those soft strands of hair slipped into Zhong Chengshuo’s pajamas, gliding against his skin. Yin Ren’s tone was gentle, like usual, and Zhong Chengshuo momentarily struggled to determine whether Yin Ren was angry or acting spoiled.

Yin Ren took a step closer, and the oppressive atmosphere in the room felt like an unfrozen swamp in winter. The lush green plants in the living room quickly withered and turned black; their shriveled leaves covered in a layer of frost. With a snap, the warm glow of the ceiling lamp suddenly burst, plunging the room into darkness.

Moonlight spilled through the window, casting everything in the room into shadows. Zhong Chengshuo stared directly into those familiar crimson eyes, and in the darkness, those eyes resembled two drops of blood.

Zhong Chengshuo moved his lips, but ultimately didn’t utter a single word.

Once or twice could be attributed to carelessness or unintentional actions, but Zhong Chengshuo was sure that the current behavior was undoubtedly deliberate. This was the first time they experienced a cold war, and Yin Ren’s expression became extremely unpleasant to look at.

He took two steps forward, placing his palm on Zhong Chengshuo’s chest, which was scorching hot. The strands of hair crawled on Zhong Chengshuo’s body like serpents, entwining more tightly.

Zhong Chengshuo slowly lowered his gaze. His right hand, hiding the wooden talisman, subtly accumulated power. In the next instant, he struggled to break free from the entangling hair, swinging his hand towards Yin Ren. This time, Zhong Chengshuo’s speed was extremely fast, using all his strength. Yin Ren didn’t have time to react, and the strands of hair left bloody marks on Zhong Chengshuo’s arm.

Under the moonlight, blood splattered.

However, his speed was ultimately no match for Yin Ren, who was the “Ghost King”. Yin Ren’s hair turned into whips, lashing fiercely at Zhong Chengshuo’s right wrist. Stimulated by the attack, Zhong Chengshuo’s grip loosened. A blurry and faint shadow flew out of his palm, making a light tapping sound as it landed in the gap behind the sofa.

The black hair directly restrained Zhong Chengshuo’s wrist, forcing him to open his five fingers, revealing the blood-stained palm.

“So that’s how it is.”

Yin Ren’s fingertips brushed over the fine wounds in Zhong Chengshuo’s palm while their chests pressed together. They were of similar height, and now their breaths intertwined, carrying a sweet and bloody scent.

“When you went to the kitchen just now, you cut your palm to stain the wooden talisman with blood. After weakening its aura, you planned to take advantage of the situation and attack me… Zhong Ge, I’m so disappointed.”

Yin Ren’s tone was soft, as he lifted his bloodstained fingertips and brushed them over Zhong Chengshuo’s lips. Yin Ren’s fingertips were scorching hot like embers, and the blood on them became stickier as they moved away from the wound. Zhong Chengshuo instinctively closed his lips, and the strong scent of blood instantly filled his mouth.

It was his own blood.

“Since you want to deal with me, I thought you would come up with more interesting moves.”

As Zhong Chengshuo turned his head in response to Yin Ren’s words, Yin Ren’s fingertips made another shallow cut on the corner of his lips, leaving a trace of blood.

“For Advanced Primordial Elementals like us, they seem to assume that the new ones should consume the old ones, right? It’s rare that our relationship is stable, so please don’t ruin this hard-won peace, okay?”

Yin Ren’s last sentence was almost a whisper, like murmuring in a dream.

Zhong Chengshuo was like a butterfly caught in a spider’s web, being entangled by thread after thread. Yin Ren leaned closer, lightly biting Zhong Chengshuo’s earlobe with his teeth.

Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes moved like dry ink. His breathing was steady, and he remained silent as usual.

Yin Ren sighed softly, using a bit more force with his teeth. Crimson droplets of blood seeped from the soft earlobe, coiling into Yin Ren’s mouth. The taste of fresh blood made Yin Ren’s heartbeat suddenly accelerate. Through the thin fabric, Zhong Chengshuo could even feel the pounding of his heart.

Maintaining their close proximity, with sticky strands of hair, Yin Ren pressed his fingers gently against Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes, then moved along his nose bridge, lightly gliding over his lips.

Pausing at the bloodstained lips for a moment, his fingertips slowly continued to move towards Zhong Chengshuo’s throat.

“I don’t like my previous self. There were too many distractions, and I overlooked the most precious thing to me.”

At some point, two additional arms appeared on Yin Ren’s body, emerging from under his ribs and encircling Zhong Chengshuo’s waist ethereally.

“I’ve never been this clear-minded before. Maybe I was too indulgent and lazy in the past, but it’s okay if you don’t like my current state. Given time, you’ll get used to it.”

Yin Ren slowed his breathing, pressing a kiss with a mix of blood and sweetness onto Zhong Chengshuo’s lips. Then, another strand of hair wrapped around Zhong Chengshuo’s throat, directly enclosing it.

“How does the pressure feel? Isn’t it uncomfortable?” Yin Ren touched the point where flesh and hair met, as if caressing the most fragile silk. “I just don’t like it when you’re silent like this… This won’t do, Zhong Ge. If there’s any problem, you have to speak up for it to be resolved.”

With each word Yin Ren spoke, the strand of hair around Zhong Chengshuo’s throat tightened a bit more.

But Zhong Chengshuo remained silent.

Yin Ren’s pupils contracted. Zhong Chengshuo instinctively tensed his muscles, but the restraint around his neck didn’t tighten. In the next moment, the earth shook, and all the hair on Zhong Chengshuo’s body straightened, propelling him instantly a half step away from Yin Ren.

The closeness between the two disappeared, replaced by a half-step distance, allowing a clearer view of each other.

Zhong Chengshuo’s Adam’s apple slid as he voluntarily raised his head, meeting Yin Ren’s gaze. His heart thumped against his ribcage, and there was no sign of retreat in his eyes.

Zhong Chengshuo seemed to have turned into a true flesh puppet, completely sealed off, determined to defy Yin Ren’s demand for an answer.

The crimson light gradually intensified in Yin Ren’s eyes as the strands of hair wound tighter and deeper into Zhong Chengshuo’s flesh.

His limbs were imprisoned, making it difficult to maintain balance. Zhong Chengshuo simply straightened his back and unexpectedly bumped into the table. The table legs moved slightly, emitting a faint scraping sound.

Countless strands of hair crawled on his body like creeping vines, disheveling his once neat pajamas. The cold breeze passed over his exposed skin, and the delicate and warm entanglement made his head spin. Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t stay still, but as soon as he moved, his shirt almost slipped off.

Zhong Chengshuo had a tight and firm physique, with fair skin. In the moonlight, contrasted by the pitch-black hair and those lifeless eyes, his presence was as sharp as a blade, making people hold their breath.

Sensations continuously traveled through the strands of hair. This strange and powerful person was firmly held in his grasp, yet his skin felt so warm.

Yin Ren couldn’t help but move closer. This time, he didn’t act recklessly; instead, he cradled Zhong Chengshuo’s face with both hands. Zhong Chengshuo remained silent, but his eyes followed Yin Ren’s every movement, exuding the only hint of vitality.

“Do you know, I really like you.”

Yin Ren sighed softly. He gazed at those familiar eyes and affectionately brushed his fingertip over the corner of Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes.

“Having lived in the mortal world for hundreds of years, I thought I understood the ways of the world. But watching from the sidelines is completely different from experiencing it firsthand, being consumed by the flames. Before, I used to think it would be better if you weren’t a mortal… Then we could stay together for a long time, whether in peace or conflict, it would still be better than being rootless and adrift.”

“But now, I no longer think that way.”

Yin Ren lowered his hand and, through the strands of hair, caressed the spot where Zhong Chengshuo’s heart was. His extra pair of hands still rested on Zhong Chengshuo’s waist, and his beautiful face was now filled with a sinister air, almost devoid of Yin Ren’s original “human” aura.

“Now, I want you to be a mortal. I want to witness your life, your death. Your entire life held in my hands—wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Yin Ren rested his head on Zhong Chengshuo’s shoulder. His action resembled that of an affectionate beast intertwining with its mate.

“Now, I am following my instincts by consuming you. It can be seen as fate, merging our blood and bones… But if I consume you, you won’t be able to speak to me anymore. Thinking about that, I hesitate.”

His lips pressed tightly against Zhong Chengshuo’s neck; his scorching breath touched the skin with each exhale, while his idle hand slowly brushed over Zhong Chengshuo’s chest and abdomen.

“But then again, I thought, if you never speak to me, it wouldn’t be any different from being consumed by me.” Yin Ren’s voice carried a cold, chilling smile. “Wouldn’t you agree, Zhong Ge?”

Once again, a horrifying silence fell over the living room.

“…Forget it, forget it.”

Yin Ren muttered. For a brief moment, Zhong Chengshuo even thought that this person had returned to normal.

“After all, I just ate the ‘Innocent Thoughts’ not long ago, so it’s only natural that you’re not accustomed and want to show some defiance. As long as you’re willing to make a sound today, I won’t eat you—”

Yin Ren released his grip on Zhong Chengshuo’s waist and abdomen, returning to his usual human form. He made a casual gesture, causing Zhong Chengshuo to stumble and fall onto the sofa, pulled by the strands of hair.

This time, Zhong Chengshuo didn’t hide his anger on his face. His mouth was tightly pursed, and his breathing became rapid.

Yin Ren remained calm and unaffected, while the strands of hair gently moved around Zhong Chengshuo. The eyeballs at the end of the hair transformed into familiar wings and flowed down to the ground.

Yin Ren approached as usual, embracing his stiff lover tightly. His fingers slipped into the gaps between the hair and skin, feeling the tension in the other’s muscles. He then commanded the hair to relax, capturing Zhong Chengshuo’s injured right hand and biting down on his fingertips.

His tongue was scorching hot as it lightly swept over the bloodstained fingers.

“I remember very clearly. Your finger bones are quite beautiful,” Yin Ren said softly. “If it doesn’t work out, I can keep a small part as a memento. Do you think it would be better as a ring or a necklace…?”

Before he finished speaking, Yin Ren suddenly chuckled.

“Ah, I thought you were really angry with me tonight. At least it would require some effort from me.”

Above their skin, Yin Ren’s hair and ten fingers moved together. His tone became much more relaxed, with a hint of cunning satisfaction.

“Zhong Ge, you seem quite interested after all.”

Yin Ren’s face was covered in shadows, leaving only his joyful, blood-red eyes. The aura of the Ghost King was entwined with desire, smelling like bone-chilling syrup. Zhong Chengshuo’s breathing became slightly more rapid.

Yin Ren leaned down, lazily resting on Zhong Chengshuo’s chest, and once again bit down on his lover’s knuckles. “How about we make a bet? Let’s bet on when you will make a sound for me—as for me, it will be before dawn.”

After saying that, he bit Zhong Chengshuo’s neck. Zhong Chengshuo groaned softly, feeling a burning pain on his neck.

Previously, Yin Ren liked to lightly bite, but this time his strength was terrifying. The skin was pierced instantly, and fresh blood gushed out. If this person hadn’t held back his strength, Zhong Chengshuo had no doubt that Yin Ren would have torn off that piece of skin without hesitation.

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t have time to react before the strands of hair on his limbs suddenly tightened, firmly securing him to the sofa.

“Oh, by the way, the wooden talisman is still nearby. Can’t have you picking it up,” Yin Ren said nonchalantly.

A few strands of hair wrapped around Zhong Chengshuo’s wrist, functioning like handcuffs, and also entangled Yin Ren’s wrist. Even if Zhong Chengshuo gained his freedom, he couldn’t move freely.

“As an extra precaution, I’m sure you can understand.” Yin Ren licked the blood off his teeth. “This way, there won’t be any problems.”

After saying that, he touched Zhong Chengshuo’s lips and sat down.

Zhong Chengshuo had experienced the stimulation of human desires before, but he had never mixed it with fear and oppression. Poison gas mixed with fragrant flowers, poisoned wine with excessive sugar. Various stimulations brewed into a strong acid, surging through his veins, corroding his heart with a hissing sound.

Every muscle in Zhong Chengshuo’s body tightened, and his entire nervous system trembled. He couldn’t help but lower his gaze, staring at his madly possessive lover.

Amidst the intense entanglement, Lord Ghost King’s eyes were half-closed, and his scorching gaze remained glued to the edge of Zhong Chengshuo’s lips. His hands lightly caressed Zhong Chengshuo’s chest, and a strand of hair consistently and steadily tightened around Zhong Chengshuo’s throat.

The sofa emitted regular vibrations from the weight, and Zhong Chengshuo’s fingers clenched and released, revealing a noticeable redness due to the restraints. Warm sweat mixed with a little blood flowed over the skin, blending into a shimmering light red. The pale red liquid seeped into Yin Ren’s black hair, eventually staining the soft sofa fabric.

Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t sense evil qi in the room, but he could feel the turbulent airflow stirred up by Evil Force. The withered green plants trembled incessantly, and the dried-up leaves fell lightly, making a soft sound.

He had never stepped into such a frenzy of sensations before, and for a moment, Zhong Chengshuo almost lost his sanity.

Only the clock in the living room dutifully continued to tick.

An hour passed, with bloodstains dotting the sofa and writhing clusters of wings scattered on the floor.

“I like you.” Yin Ren gasped, his scorching breath carrying a strong smell of blood.

He kissed Zhong Chengshuo’s lips, but the other’s mouth remained shut like a clam, showing no signs of cooperation.

“…I like you.” Despite this, Yin Ren repeated with a smile.

Two hours passed, and the moonlight was shrouded by dark clouds, leaving the interior nearly pitch-black. The two of them fell to the floor, knocking the coffee table askew. Yin Ren held Zhong Chengshuo tightly, like a drowning person clinging to the last piece of driftwood within their field of vision.

“I like you.”

Yin Ren’s fingertips brushed against the taut strands of hair, as if a musician were caressing the strings of a violin. At the end of the hair strands, Zhong Chengshuo’s hand intertwined with Yin Ren’s other hand, and his nails dug deeply into the other’s flesh.

“Answer me, please…”

Zhong Chengshuo remained silent, turning his head away.

……

In the late night, the crescent moon finally emerged from behind the dark clouds.

After a while, Yin Ren stopped demanding an answer. He only murmured vague words of love while his body trembled as he left bloody bite marks on Zhong Chengshuo’s body.

Zhong Chengshuo’s hands, bound by the hair, had already loosened slightly, no longer tightly clenched. His wrists were still tied to Yin Ren’s, restricting his freedom of movement.

“I can’t see through you, but I like the enigmatic you… If only you were a mortal, I could protect you as I pleased… But why do you treat me like this…”

There was no oppression, no hostility. In the faint scent of blood, Yin Ren’s whispers carried genuine sadness and confusion.

His fingertips swept over the oozing wounds, and in the pale moonlight, his eyes glistened with a hint of moisture.

“I like you. You must have noticed… Why did things have to escalate like this over a few mortals you don’t care about? I can’t understand…”

As another biting episode ended. Zhong Chengshuo could suddenly move his arm.

One moment, Yin Ren was immersed in his words of love. The next moment, he froze like a vigilant beast, immediately halting his actions.

In the unbearable stillness, Zhong Chengshuo stretched out his arm and lightly touched Yin Ren’s lips, then gently tapped his own.

His eyes remained dull, but there was a hint of helplessness and tenderness in Zhong Chengshuo’s expression. He didn’t even glance at the sofa where the wooden talisman was, instead, he focused his full attention on Yin Ren.

“Well, it seems like I’m going to win.” Yin Ren’s tone suddenly became cheerful, as if he had won a small game.

He leaned down once again, kissing Zhong Chengshuo’s lips.

With the smile of a victorious person, he licked the remaining bloodstained lips. Zhong Chengshuo didn’t tightly seal his lips this time. Instead, he tentatively extended his hand and held the back of Yin Ren’s head.

Yin Ren eagerly deepened the kiss, and Zhong Chengshuo tilted his head in response, cooperating with his lover’s movements. Yin Ren’s tongue ventured forward, but instead of encountering hard teeth or a soft tongue, it touched a warm, moist wooden object.

As soon as Zhong Chengshuo’s lips parted, a chilling and fierce power burst out from between his teeth.

It was the wooden rabbit talisman.

“Ugh!!!”

Yin Ren tried to dodge, but his head was forcefully held down by Zhong Chengshuo. The wooden rabbit talisman was pushed by Zhong Chengshuo’s tongue into Yin Ren’s mouth. Yin Ren’s hair stood on end—upon contact with the wooden talisman, the surroundings instantly became distorted and blurred, as if a liquid was constantly surging.

No, I’m disappearing!

In this crisis, Yin Ren had no time to think about whether he liked this state or not. He immediately released the spell of the “Innocent Thoughts”. As expected, as if the fog had dispersed, the familiar living room returned to normal clarity.

Yin Ren felt a moment of confusion, then met Zhong Chengshuo’s complex gaze.

Yin Ren: “…………”

Zhong Chengshuo: “…………”

Zhong Chengshuo watched as the expression in his lover’s eyes changed from confusion to horror, and then to explosive embarrassment. Yin Ren’s face turned almost the same color as his eyes, and he immediately gathered up his scattered hair, wanting to awkwardly get up—however, given their current intimate position, this movement was quite difficult.

So Zhong Chengshuo kindly reached out his hand and pressed down on Yin Ren, who wanted to slip away.

Yin Ren immediately made a muffled sound, and his mouth opened and closed repeatedly. His body trembled slightly, and his face seemed to change like a kaleidoscope.

“This is… seduction!”

The dignified Lord Ghost King had long lost his previous air of dominance. He tried to take the initiative, but his confidence was clearly hollow.

“Zhong Chengshuo, how could your control plan be so… so—”

He couldn’t continue speaking.

“We are accomplices, and I had to choose a method you absolutely couldn’t anticipate.”

Zhong Chengshuo’s limbs had already regained their freedom, and his palm slid over the strands of hair soaked with sweat. The clusters of wings stiffened for a moment and then shrank into a ball. However, someone with a vengeful mindset held onto one of the clusters, kneading it gently.

“Well, umm…” Yin Ren sniffed and slowly pried Zhong Chengshuo’s hand away. “The experiment went quite smoothly, so let’s stop here… Uh!”

Zhong Chengshuo readily released the cluster of wing balls, but his hand returned to Yin Ren’s body.

“Well, um, the thing that I knocked away just now… um…”

“You can find out for yourself.”

Amidst the jolting, a strand of black hair wiggled and poked into the depths of the sofa. After a few minutes, it trembled as it hooked out a blood-stained pen cap. Looking at the table, there was still a pen lying on the surface—the very pen that Zhong Chengshuo had used for annotations just now.

Yin Ren’s mind had long been free from the distractions of uncontrollable affection, and he instantly understood this person’s intentions—

Zhong Chengshuo deliberately reduced communication and “sealed” the wooden talisman in his mouth. Then he used blood to stain the pen cap, impersonating the wooden talisman, and pretended to entice Yin Ren to knock it away.

Finally, all Zhong Chengshuo needed was to request a kiss in an atmosphere that wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

For the lightning-fast King Yama, even the magic tricks of mortals were no different from spells in his hands.

Truly cunning.

The entanglement was not yet over. In his gradually fading consciousness, Yin Ren made an effort to lower his body, burying his burning face in the nape of Zhong Chengshuo’s neck.

……

As the clock approached five in the morning, the two of them squeezed into Zhong Chengshuo’s bathtub. Yin Ren had half of his face submerged in the water, blowing bubbles with a melancholic expression.

“Are you sure you’re a Primordial Elemental and not a rabbit monster?” Yin Ren suddenly emerged from the water with a stern face. “Stop laughing. You’re just reveling in my misfortune.”

Zhong Chengshuo pointed to the numerous bite marks all over his body.

Yin Ren immediately deflated like a balloon, making a couple of deflated sounds as he gently touched the scabbing wounds. “I’m sorry. I’ll help you apply medicine later.”

“It’s okay. The wounds are shallow.” Zhong Chengshuo pinched a strand of Yin Ren’s hair—at the end of the hair, a small, withered wing hung limply, making it difficult to tell whether it was pretending to be lifeless or not.

“I… Even though I asked you to prepare in advance, to be honest, I didn’t expect it to turn out like that.”

Yin Ren hung his head in dejection; his entire being turned into the color of a thoroughly cooked crab, as if steam would come out from the top of his head.

“I thought that as long as I liked you so much, nothing bad would happen. That state was truly terrifying, like losing my mind and becoming fanatical.”

It was only because Zhong Chengshuo wasn’t affected by memory spells. Otherwise, Yin Ren would have wanted to erase all memories of tonight—regardless of whether they were in Zhong Chengshuo’s mind or his own.

Lord Ghost King was embarrassed to the point of wanting to dig a three-foot hole and sleep for another thousand years.

However, Zhong Chengshuo just calmly looked over, absentmindedly rubbing the little wing between his fingers. That pitiful soft wing trembled and almost dissolved into a squishy liquid.

“At least the experiment was successful, and our hypothesis was correct. The missing people are all of the type who rely on ‘love’ as their life support. Once it’s daylight, we’ll synchronize our findings. Maybe we can find a stable method to enter the Other Side.”

Zhong Chengshuo analyzed seriously while piling a ball of foam on top of Yin Ren’s head.

“For now, I don’t want to discuss this. We’ll talk about it tomorrow, for real this time,” Yin Ren weakly stated. “I won’t touch that thing even if you beat me to death next time. What kind of rotten idea did Hu Tao come up with…”

“It’s already ‘tomorrow’,” Zhong Chengshuo pointed out mercilessly.

This time, Yin Ren submerged his entire head underwater, exhaling bubbles filled with despair.

“Yin Ren.” Zhong Chengshuo continued observing Yin Ren as he continued to blow bubbles underwater and called out to him.

Yin Ren pretended not to hear and remained submerged, shutting himself off from the world.

“Yin Ren, come out. I have something to tell you,” Zhong Chengshuo urged.

Yin Ren finally resurfaced; his entire body was still pink from the water. When he spoke, there was a sense of resignation in his voice. “…Go ahead, tell me.”

“To be honest, I’ve been thinking today that maybe I don’t like you as much as I thought.” Zhong Chengshuo pushed aside the wet hair on Yin Ren’s face; his eyes still resembled two dry wells.

The pink hue on Yin Ren’s skin immediately faded, and he froze in place, gradually turning pale.

“But tonight, I realized that I actually like you more than I imagined,” Zhong Chengshuo continued, enunciating each word distinctly.

Then he opened his arms and, without waiting for Yin Ren’s reaction, embraced him. Their skins pressed against each other, and the water temperature was just right. Yin Ren was stunned for a few seconds before tightening his embrace.

“You did it on purpose,” he said, encircling Zhong Chengshuo’s neck and gently biting his ear.

This time, Yin Ren left only a faint mark.

A warm atmosphere filled the air once again, bringing a comforting tranquility. In this reassuring sense of fulfillment, Zhong Chengshuo closed his eyes.

“You won,” Zhong Chengshuo whispered softly. “You bet that I would make a sound for you before dawn, and you won.”

“…Please, spare me, Zhong Ge. I’m begging you, don’t bring that up again,” Yin Ren pleaded, pressing his forehead against Zhong Chengshuo’s, feeling utterly embarrassed. He even submerged himself completely in the water again.

Zhong Chengshuo leaned against Yin Ren’s forehead, unable to contain his laughter any longer. The latter, filled with both anger and humiliation, lowered himself, allowing the water to completely submerge him.

Watching Yin Ren’s powerless and wriggling hair, Zhong Chengshuo closed his eyes.

He still remembered the scene when he first obtained the pill.

After receiving the clues provided by Hu Tao, he immediately searched for information. “Innocent Thoughts” was a metaphysical prescription that had emerged in recent years. It could make people lose their sanity, lose interest in food and drink, and fill their minds with adoration for the target. This thing wasn’t really popular. According to the seller, most buyers were infatuated men and women who used this medication for revenge. There were also a few “black widows” and “black widowers” who used it to control wealthy elderly people.

Thinking about it, there were no normal couples in love buying these things.

Zhong Chengshuo, in fact, found this somewhat perplexing.

Experiencing a very pure emotion firsthand, wasn’t it a good thing? If it weren’t for him being unaffected by these metaphysical items, Zhong Chengshuo would have loved to experience that feeling of “pure love” himself.

At that moment, the two of them were flying in the air. Zhong Chengshuo looked at Yin Ren’s face. In the next moment, Yin Ren seemed to sense his gaze and playfully narrowed his eyes at him.

However, Zhong Chengshuo’s mood wasn’t as relaxed as it seemed.

He did care about Yin Ren. When they were apart, he would worry, and when they were together, he would long to touch him. Being together made his emotions lighter and brighter than before.

But it was only limited to that.

Compared to the probing and underlying currents before they got together, now that they were truly sharing their lives and meals; seemingly everything was somewhat mundane. Especially since Yin Ren was skilled in navigating social interactions and had a sense of propriety, they rarely had sharp conflicts.

Zhong Chengshuo was certain that he liked Yin Ren a lot.

He was the first person Zhong Chengshuo reached out to in the vast emptiness; the first of his kind that he encountered during these lonely years in the mortal realm.

But was his liking a genuine expression of love, or had he mistaken their prolonged intimacy as adoration?

He couldn’t feel the fervent love described in those narratives. Previously, Zhong Chengshuo claimed not to care about these “meaningless” details, but recently, with the unrest in the outside world, he couldn’t stop his thoughts.

“Zhong Chengshuo, why do I feel like you’re somewhat enjoying this situation?” Yin Ren had asked when he was about to take the pill.

At that time, Zhong Chengshuo didn’t answer Yin Ren.

In truth, he wasn’t enjoying it, but rather, he had a slight desire to try it. “Innocent Thoughts” wouldn’t blindly stimulate love but rather remove other emotions and purify the purest feelings. Only then would everything become clear. With a definite result, he wouldn’t have to worry so much.

Yin Ren was different from him. He firmly believed that he would be affected by uncontrollable love, but he had no concerns about the nature of their own relationship.

How did Yin Ren determine what “like” meant?

As for himself? Would he be like he was a thousand years ago, merely assuming an innocent facade and using that person to achieve his own goals? …If Yin Ren were to be replaced by another strong and compatible person, would he also “fall in love” with them?

Now he had an answer.

Uncontrolled Yin Ren was just as strong and acted in harmony with him. If Zhong Chengshuo wanted, he could also calmly cooperate with Yin Ren. However, as he looked at Yin Ren in that state, his heart was filled with a hollow emptiness and an indescribable sadness.

Zhong Chengshuo gently tousled Yin Ren’s hair.

“How about having lamb rice noodles?”

“Yes!” Yin Ren immediately resurfaced from the water and instinctively exclaimed, only to realize afterward. “Wait, didn’t you only cook one serving?”

“I just overcooked the soup. The rice noodles don’t need to be cooked for too long.”

Zhong Chengshuo rested his chin on Yin Ren’s shoulder, carefully feeling his body temperature.

“I’ll add some more meat and eggs. It’ll be perfect for breakfast.”

“Sure, go ahead.” Yin Ren took a deep breath, deciding to put this unbearable night behind him.

Anyway, they had found the cause of the disappearances, and it was worth exchanging his embarrassment for such valuable information. Besides… Although he lost control, tonight’s experience was still quite thrilling and exciting. He did feel sorry for Zhong Chengshuo, who ended up with marks all over his body from his biting.

Thinking about this, Yin Ren shook his head vigorously, hoping to shake off the overwhelming shame in his mind.

Zhong Chengshuo’s special lamb soup must have been stewed for a long time, and it must be delicious. A bowl of warm and tasty lamb rice noodles would help put the past behind!

Unable to dodge in time, Zhong Chengshuo, whose face was splashed with water: “……”

Zhong Chengshuo: “Oh, by the way, there’s one more thing. I thought it was necessary to let you know.”

“What is it?”

“To ensure a complete record, I used an anti-evil qi recording pen to capture the audio from last night.” Zhong Chengshuo maintained a solemn expression. “Do you want to listen to it?”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

In the morning, amidst the sound of the audio alarm clock saying, “Is work more important than me?” Yin Ren, who usually liked to sleep in, jolted up as if he was blasted. A few sob-like sounds escaped his throat.

When he went to Shian today, he should also ask about “how to make a science post forget”.

……

“Well, your information is very useful.”

Li Nian pretended not to notice the bite marks on Zhong Chengshuo’s collar that couldn’t be concealed.

“If your conjecture is correct, the victims won’t be in immediate danger. I will start a project on my end to find a way to “stably disappear” and quickly establish a pathway.”

“How long will it take?” Yin Ren coughed dryly twice.

“According to Minister Jiao, if we only consider constructing the pathway, it will take five days. Finding a safe method for round trips is the more time-consuming part.”

“…I see.”

Yin Ren contemplated for a moment.

“Great, you guys keep up with the research. As for us… well, since we have nothing better to do, let’s go check on those who haven’t disappeared.”

After all, Qi Xin had promised them that if Yin Ren could kill Mr. Le, they could officially establish cooperation with her.

Yin Ren wasn’t sure about the intentions of the Primordial Elementals, and although he wanted to rescue Lu Xiaohe’s missing mother, he didn’t want to involve Zhong Chengshuo in any danger. Qi Xin’s original form should still be on the Other Side and having a “local” to assist would be better than stumbling around blindly.

“Besides, the police station has been overwhelmed recently, and they happen to be short-staffed.”

At some point, Fu Xingchuan appeared leaning against the doorway. He held some documents, and his tone wasn’t as relaxed as usual.

“You’ve been in contact with Officer Sun before. He’s currently dealing with a live burial case, and the atmosphere in Haigu has been off lately. It would be better for you to go and take a look.”

“No problem.”

Yin Ren responded quickly. It was like being offered a pillow when feeling sleepy; he was actually looking for an excuse to investigate a “non-disappearance case”.

“We’ll go today.”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 191: Shelf Life

Zhong Chengshuo stood in the kitchen, holding a slotted spoon, and for the first time in his life, he had serious doubts.

Since Yin Ren brought up the issue in the taxi, he hadn’t uttered a word. The moment he returned home, he opened the refrigerator door. Lord Ghost King leaned against the refrigerator partition with a deep gaze and focused on the inside of the refrigerator.

Zhong Chengshuo tied on his apron as usual, which had “Dangerous Person” written on it. Only now did he realize that someone had added an extra stroke to the apron, changing “Dangerous Person” to “Big Shot”*.

*Yin Ren added a line across (人) in person (人物) changing it to (大) Beast (大物) (transliteral would be “big thing”).

“……”

He glanced at Yin Ren, who was intimately close to the refrigerator, and silently adjusted the modified apron. He decided to make a lamb stew. Thirty minutes later, Zhong Chengshuo’s foam had been skimmed off ninety-nine times, but Yin Ren still had his head in the refrigerator. The aroma of the lamb drifted into the living room, but it didn’t seem to affect him.

Finally unable to bear it any longer, Zhong Chengshuo covered the stew pot and walked over to Yin Ren. Mimicking Yin Ren’s movements, he leaned forward and rested his chin on the refrigerator partition.

It was cool, but nothing special. Lately, they hadn’t been at home much, and the eggs were no longer fresh. Zhong Chengshuo’s gaze swept over rows of ingredients as he quickly calculated in his mind.

Two grown men squeezed in front of the refrigerator, creating a scene that defied description.

To the point that when Hu Tao happily crawled back to the living room, she let out a high-pitched scream. Only then did Yin Ren snap out of his daze and tilt his head slightly. “What are you doing?”

“Just see if you’ve noticed anything.”

Amidst the bubbling sound of the stew, Zhong Chengshuo focused on the inside of the refrigerator.

“…” Yin Ren pulled his head back and reached for two bottles of soda. “Let’s go to the sofa.”

Hu Tao looked at the two seemingly insane people, while floating silently on the ceiling. Yin Ren glanced at her, unusually not shooing her away. He squeezed onto one end of the sofa and made room for Zhong Chengshuo. “Come.”

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t even bother taking off his apron. He obediently sat cross-legged on the other end.

“Based on your current conjecture, the Other Side is like the ‘internet’ composed of the brains of countless organisms. The Elementals are like ‘programmatic’ creatures living within it. They have their own food chain and their own feeding criteria.”

Yin Ren struggled to make an analogy.

Zhong Chengshuo held the soda bottle tightly in his hands and nodded silently. On the other hand, Hu Tao’s expression became even more bewildered, and her neck was about to twist ninety degrees.

“One thing you mentioned earlier caught my attention. You said that human emotions can’t be used as a benchmark.” Yin Ren shook the soda bottle.

Zhong Chengshuo nodded more vigorously.

Yin Ren no longer leaned against the sofa. He leaned forward and placed the soda in front of Zhong Chengshuo.

It was apple juice soda that he specifically bought. Zhong Chengshuo didn’t like these overly industrialized products, whereas Yin Ren was the opposite. After negotiations between the two Primordial Elementals, they finally reached a certain consensus, compromising between taste and health.

The transparent bottle was adorned with vibrant packaging paper, and the ingredients were relatively simple and healthy. However, the shelf life was longer than that of freshly squeezed juice.

Yin Ren turned the side with the shelf life information towards Zhong Chengshuo. “Since human conditions cannot be used as a benchmark, why don’t we just forget about those subtle standards of love and affection… What if we look at it from the perspective of a Primordial Elemental?”

Zhong Chengshuo’s gaze was blank for a moment, then gradually became sharper. The next second, he turned his head to look at the refrigerator.

The refrigerator stood silently in its place, emitting an almost inaudible hum.

“Human bodies can be preserved for a longer time on the Other Side. When Gao Mengyu disappeared for a few weeks initially, she was just a little weak when she was rescued,” Zhong Chengshuo muttered to himself, holding the chilled beverage. “This is physical preservation.”

“But according to Jiao Lian, the human mind can’t last for long on the Other Side. Even strong-willed individuals will go insane after spending too much time there. Those people turned into furniture by Bai Yongji didn’t remain clear-minded for long.”

Yin Ren shook the soda in his hand, causing countless bubbles to escape from the juice.

“Even madmen have emotions, but it’s hard to determine the category of those emotions, right? Even if the body can be preserved, the quality of food will deteriorate. If it were me, I would want chilled soda—with a long shelf life and a consistent taste.”

But that was all he could think of. Yin Ren knew he had grasped the right clue, but he always felt like he missed something.

Zhong Chengshuo suddenly got up from the sofa. He quickly dashed into the bedroom and soon came back, holding his tablet in his hand.

“These are the people who didn’t meet the ‘good personality’ criteria.”

He directly grabbed Yin Ren and swiftly scrolled through the screen.

Several small gangsters had poor reputations, but they all had a peculiar commonality—

They only had one family member left.

Young siblings, parents with only one person remaining, or lone grandparents.

That street vendor, who was infamous for being stingy, worked from dawn until night, earning money for her deaf daughter’s surgery.

They also met the criteria of “love”.

“According to what you said, it’s indeed possible that it has nothing to do with the intensity of love,” Zhong Chengshuo said softly, sliding his fingertip across the screen. It stopped at the profile of Lu Xiaohe’s mother, “He Huan”.

“If it’s for the sake of ‘shelf life’, then all of this makes sense. Yin Ren, you thought I was dead. During that time, would you have gone crazy or wanted to die?”

“Huh?” Yin Ren was taken aback. “I just wanted to find your body, maybe go into seclusion for a few hundred years while holding you. But if you’re talking about really going crazy or wanting to die, I…”

“I would still live my life well, but I would always remember you.” Yin Ren pondered for a moment and gave a firm reply.

He really was past the age of <Romeo and Juliet>, so he wouldn’t go crazy or die for love on the spot. What was going on? Could it be that he wasn’t chosen by the wooden talisman because his mind wasn’t consumed by love?

“You like me, but I’m not your ‘main reason to keep living’. You have much more experience than me, so you’re not that naive. Someone like you, if trapped on the Other Side, it wouldn’t necessarily be ‘love’ that supports you.”

Yin Ren pondered and couldn’t deny it.

Once thrown into the Other Side, he couldn’t say for sure if he would be one-third curious, one-third sorrowful, and one-third longing for Zhong Chengshuo, with the remaining reminiscing about various modern delicacies.

Zhong Chengshuo nodded.

“But these people are different.”

“The lives of these gangsters are a mess, and their loved ones are their only concern. That street vendor sacrificed her own life in exchange for her child’s health… Lu Xiaohe’s mother is seriously ill, and her concern for her child is her greatest support. Zhong Chengfeng truly loves her work and life; her faith comes from her love for ‘others’.”

“Huang Jin is even easier to explain. He had genuinely sought death. When Ding Lizi pulled him back, she, in a certain sense, became his obsession.”

Yin Ren’s eyes lit up as he tightly gripped the bottle. “That’s it! If these people were trapped on the Other Side, what would keep them clear-minded is undoubtedly intense ‘love’—long shelf life, high purity, perfect food.”

Zhong Chengshuo placed his tablet aside and picked up his bottle of apple soda, tapping it against Yin Ren’s bottle.

“Yes,” Zhong Chengshuo said as he adjusted his glasses. “But so far, it’s just speculation.”

“Indeed, but it can only be tested with different people, which is also difficult to verify.” Yin Ren deflated quickly.

“…Boring, I thought you were going to say something else.” Hu Tao’s voice echoed faintly from the ceiling.

“In the end, it’s still about the case; not exciting at all. Xiao Yin, come on, find something interesting for Sister to watch. It’s time for a break.”

“This case is quite important.” Yin Ren opened the juice and took a sip. The aroma of apples instantly filled his mouth, bringing a sense of refreshment.

“Huh? Is that how you put it?” Hu Tao floated closer, wearing a gossipy expression. “What case? What case? Can I go on a business trip? You haven’t called us recently.”

“Missing people case, which is likely related to the disappearance cases from twenty-eight… twenty-nine years ago.” Faced with Hu Tao, who had a contract with him, Yin Ren didn’t bother hiding it.

A peculiar expression of curiosity froze on Hu Tao’s face and her complexion turned somewhat grim.

“Oh, the cases from twenty-nine years ago.” Her tone was cheerful but slightly peculiar. “Those should be thoroughly investigated.”

After saying that, she brushed aside her overgrown bangs, and her dim eyes locked onto Yin Ren.

“Uh, I don’t really understand the Other Side and all, but if you want to obtain ‘intense love’, I might have a way.”

……

Dawn at the Haigu Public Security Bureau.

“Hey sweetie, Dad won’t be coming home tonight.” Officer Sun sent a voice message to his daughter, then vigorously scratched his head at his desk.

Since Shian mentioned “a little trouble,” there had been many challenging cases in Haigu. The cases themselves weren’t particularly sensational and solving them wasn’t difficult. The trouble lay in the fact that these cases always sparked a significant amount of online public opinion.

Several unemployed young individuals anonymously posted criminal threats online, then proceeded to splash sulfuric acid on fashionable girls in the city center. Another aimless hoodlum lurked in the commercial district alley and slit the throat of a young boss.

Nighttime assaults, random arson, homemade bomb injuries… one crime after another, all indiscriminate.

Although the cases were solved, the impact they brought couldn’t dissipate quickly. The negative influence didn’t diminish; instead, it grew larger. Just as they apprehended the inept acid-splashing imitator, another person emerged on the streets, slashing people. Seeing the situation gradually worsen, the pressure from higher-ups also increased significantly.

Officer Sun forcefully rubbed his face, feeling as if he had aged ten years.

“Everyone’s gone mad.”

He wearily patted the case files, unsure of what to do.

Compared to these inexplicable cases, previous incidents of bloody street brawls and domestic violence seemed “ordinary.” Judging by recent public opinion, many people no longer regarded the previous cases of harm to acquaintances as a big deal.

Not to mention that some cases were “contagious”. Allowing them to spread freely, causing panic and imitation. However, if the information was tightly controlled, suspicions of “covering up” would arise. Given the current state of public opinion, no matter what they did, people would find fault with it.

Unfortunately, the police force had been stretched thin recently, with each officer essentially doing the work of two. Officer Sun felt a throbbing pain in his head, and the cursor on his computer had been blinking after the word “proposal” for half an hour, yet not a single word had been written.

“This can’t go on. If we don’t handle it properly, who knows what Haigu will become…”

Officer Sun took a sip of strong tea, a tinge of blue appearing in his eyes.

“Lao Sun, something’s happened!”

Officer Sun almost choked on his tea, still halfway through drinking.

“What happened? Tell me!”

“There’s an incident at Haigu Junior High. A young girl was buried alive!” Another officer gasped for breath. “When she was found, she was still breathing and was rushed to the municipal hospital for treatment… Regardless of whether it’s murder or attempted murder, it’s our case.”

Officer Sun grabbed a handful of his hair and pounded it against the thick stack of case files.

“Damn it!”

At the same time, a red dot appeared in the upper right corner of his WeChat.

[Let Me See Your Heart: Dad, it’s alright. I can’t come back either. There are patients to save.]

[Let Me See Your Heart: One of my previous patients, a girl with congenital heart disease, claims she was buried alive.]

[Let Me See Your Heart: This is absolutely insane!]

Well, at least he could see his daughter.

Officer Sun stood up and put on his leather jacket. Just as he was about to leave, he paused and grabbed a handful of chocolate candies from the drawer.

……

Between his fingertips, Yin Ren held something resembling a chocolate candy with a complicated expression that was extremely delicate.

“…Is this progress in society? No, is this even considered progress?”

Sitting upright on the couch, Zhong Chengshuo didn’t answer him.

“I’ve heard from the Nightwalkers that it’s guaranteed to work,” Hu Tao assured, patting her chest. “It doesn’t harm the body, and apparently, it tastes good too.”

“Oh.” Yin Ren continued to observe the chocolate-like substance. “Safety certification from Shian is unquestionable, while certification from Sunken Society is undoubtedly problematic. As for what the Nightwalkers can certify, that’s truly a mystery. No one knows how effective it will be.”

This was the “intense love” that Miss Hu Tao highly recommended.

Following the instructions of this formidable Miss Hu Tao, the two of them went to the Ghost Market at night. They used up half of Yin Ren’s savings to buy a single pill. Considering the need to keep the progress of their investigation as discreet as possible, they probably couldn’t submit a reimbursement for this item.

Gazing at the object, Yin Ren felt a strange mixture of gain and loss in his emotions.

The Nightwalkers gave it an elegant name, “Innocent Thoughts”. But according to Zhong Chengshuo’s summary, it was more like a “rationality-evaporating agent”. Unlike those “aphrodisiacs” that primarily targeted physical attraction, this potion was mainly used for psychological attraction.

In Hu Tao’s words, it could turn anyone into a youth brimming with vitality, consumed by the desire to live and die for love. While the user’s fondness for the object of their affection wouldn’t actually skyrocket, all other emotions, thoughts… even morals and principles would vanish.

Theoretically, the effect of this substance was permanent. For Lord Ghost King, it would take a minute to erase its magical influence. However, erasing aside, the process… there had to be a process.

The hand holding the pill trembled slightly. Zhong Chengshuo innocently blinked his eyes while his face was still expressionless.

“You were previously worried that your level of love wasn’t enough, so this will allow you to experience it,” Zhong Chengshuo said sincerely.

“You also said before that we didn’t need to use human emotions as a benchmark.” Yin Ren frowned and retorted. “Would anyone really give this thing to someone they liked? I think it’s more suitable for poisoning enemies.”

He really wanted to stuff it into Wei Huaqian’s mouth from Sunken Society, which seemed more useful.

The chocolate coating on the pill began to melt, but Yin Ren kept it far away from his mouth.

“You tested it on yourself before, so it will serve as a very useful reference. As long as we can gather data, our hypothesis can be properly verified,” Zhong Chengshuo said with a touch of earnestness in his tone.

Lord Ghost King sneered twice. “Zhong Chengshuo, why do I feel like you’re reveling in someone else’s misfortune?”

Zhong Chengshuo slowly turned his head, not answering.

Whether he advanced or retreated, he would still be in danger. As Yin Ren leisurely brought the pill to his lips, Zhong Chengshuo quickly turned his head back, and his eyes shined with curiosity.

This person rarely showed such vivid emotions. ‘If only this was in a different situation, that would be great,’ Yin Ren thought sorrowfully.

In the cozy living room, the two of them silently locked gazes. A desolate atmosphere lingered around Yin Ren, carrying a chilling sensation reminiscent of a cold river.

“This is a metaphysical item. It won’t work if I consume it,” Zhong Chengshuo heartlessly added.

“I know. I’ll take it. I’ll take it… Damn it, can this count as a work-related injury?”

Yin Ren’s throat choked with two sobs, and with his mouth open, he swallowed the pill the size of a malted milk ball.

Hu Tao floated in the air without moving, while Zhong Chengshuo sat on the couch like a stiff statue. Yin Ren stood in the center of the living room. His head was slightly bowed, and his long hair casually cascaded. After a long while, Yin Ren made a move. He slowly raised his face, but there was no obvious change in his expression.

“Is that it?” Hu Tao was greatly disappointed. “This thing cost nearly a hundred thousand yuan. What a waste of money.”

Unfortunately, Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t hear her complaints. He simply stared at Yin Ren, waiting for his reaction.

“No special reaction, huh?” After observing Zhong Chengshuo for quite some time, Yin Ren finally opened his mouth, sounding as if he had let out a sigh of relief. “It’s getting late. Let’s go to sleep.”

Zhong Chengshuo took out the wooden rabbit talisman. “Let’s test it first…”

“Why test it?” Yin Ren lightly said, “It’s already so late. You should pay attention to your health and not sleep so late.”

Zhong Chengshuo: “But—”

“Let’s sleep.” Yin Ren instantly teleported and appeared in front of Zhong Chengshuo. He held Zhong Chengshuo’s hands and smiled like a gentle spring breeze. “We can talk tomorrow.”

His crimson eyes sparkled in the lamplight, and Yin Ren’s tone carried a hint of the commanding authority typical of an elder. His hair gradually entwined around Zhong Chengshuo’s limbs, gently but irresistibly pulling him down onto the couch.

It was Yin Ren’s face, Yin Ren’s voice, but it didn’t feel like Yin Ren.

Those eyes were tender and fervent, yet apart from an overwhelming sense of love, there was nothing else.

Zhong Chengshuo never expected that even now, he could experience the uncanny valley effect with his lover. Instinctively, Zhong Chengshuo tightened his grip on the couch, feeling goosebumps rising on his back.

“What’s wrong?”

Bending down, Yin Ren raised one leg, knelt on the couch, and opened his arms, enveloping Zhong Chengshuo entirely.

“Aren’t you sleepy?” Yin Ren asked, then lightly kissed the corner of Zhong Chengshuo’s mouth.

Zhong Chengshuo blankly glanced at the empty living room. He had never longed for a little clairvoyance as much as he did now. After all, Miss Hu Tao was at least a teammate. At this moment, he could only struggle to hide himself within the couch. If it weren’t for the resilience of human bones, he would have wished to flatten himself like a pancake on the couch.

“Why are you hiding?”

Yin Ren furrowed his brows slightly, opened his mouth a little, revealing relatively sharp canine teeth. The tip of Yin Ren’s finger touched Zhong Chengshuo’s skin. It was a rough and warm sensation, but it sent shivers down Zhong Chengshuo’s spine.

“Yin Ren, I don’t like this.”

He nestled further into the couch.

“According to the plan, we need to gather data,” Zhong Chengshuo dryly stated.

“It’s just a few mortals. If they die, they die. They wouldn’t have lived long anyway,” Yin Ren casually replied. “Tomorrow, I’ll resume my normal work. I’ve already shown them some face… Now that you and I understand the situation, we don’t need to worry about them.”

He held Zhong Chengshuo tightly, as if hugging a large doll.

Zhong Chengshuo dared not move.

“Well… if you’re worried, we can hide your parents in a safe place. Then we can find a way to cause some trouble on the Other Side and look for Zhong Chengfeng. In this way, you can fulfill the wish, and then we can do whatever we want.”

Yin Ren chatted casually as his fingertip traced back and forth on Zhong Chengshuo’s tender neck.

“Do you like this plan?”

Zhong Chengshuo, always honest, replied, “I don’t like it. I’d rather test the data right now.”

It was simply terrifying. In this moment, he fully agreed with Yin Ren’s viewpoint. Such a cursed object should be used to poison enemies.

Zhong Chengshuo wanted to break free, but he didn’t want to attack Yin Ren. He could only forcefully shrink his head, attempting to squeeze out of Yin Ren’s embrace.

Yin Ren sat still on the couch, gradually revealing a deeply hurt expression.

“You used to be so indifferent to the mortal world.” He looked at Zhong Chengshuo in disbelief, his tone filled with sadness. “Do you consider work more important than me?”

“Hahaha!” Hu Tao couldn’t help but burst into laughter, rolling in the air. “Why didn’t I record this with my phone?”

Before Hu Tao could finish laughing, a beam of light grazed her ear, and the residual aura of magic was bone-chilling, carrying a warning from top to bottom. It felt as if something was gripping her throat, and Hu Tao’s laughter abruptly ceased.

In panic, she swiftly flew to the next room, not even staying for half a second.

“And you, what’s your answer?”

Yin Ren turned his face again, looking at Zhong Chengshuo, who seemed to want to stick himself to the wallpaper.

“Why don’t you want to go to the Other Side together? Is Shian really that important to you?” Yin Ren expressed with sadness. “Ah, I remember now. You even covered Huang Jin with a blanket… Do you really like him?”

After speaking, a faint killing intent actually emanated from Yin Ren’s surroundings.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you answering?” Yin Ren continued, “Forget it. It doesn’t matter. I will make him disappear. I know your personality. It definitely wouldn’t be your fault.”

As Yin Ren spoke, he laughed again.

His smile had never appeared so much like an “Evil Spirit”.

“You’re acting so unusual today; you must be too tired. Am I right? Let’s discuss it again tomorrow morning…”

Zhong Chengshuo took a deep breath and opened his arms. “Yin Ren.”

“Hmm?”

“Hug me,” Zhong Chengshuo said while hiding the wooden talisman in his sleeve and trying to maintain a calm expression.

Yin Ren’s eyes curved, and he walked gracefully towards Zhong Chengshuo. But just one step away from Zhong Chengshuo, he stopped.

“What are you hiding in your sleeve?” he asked gently. “Could it be that you want to use that wooden talisman to send me to the Other Side?”

The author has something to say:

The vixen Hu Tao: ?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 190: Standards

After everyone finished making a fuss, in the end, no one backed out.

The true strength of Unit 9 shouldn’t be revealed publicly, so the “secret test” was indeed the best method. To Yin Ren’s surprise, Professor Li remained unmoved. As one of the highest leaders in the Shian Haigu branch, he should have prioritized his own safety.

However, he simply stood firmly in his place, with half of his face illuminated and darkened by the screen on Jiao Lian’s body.

“Can we start? I have a meeting afterward,” Li Nian said.

Yin Ren remained silent for a moment, then raised his hand and drew several paths of light in the air—

Fear, satisfaction.

Hate, sorrow, joy, love.

…

He crookedly wrote down various emotions and marked a red cross on a few of them.

“Whether it’s the Divine Descent twenty-eight years ago or the present, only a few individuals have disappeared after exposure to corruption. If the premise of ‘mental resilience’ is correct, we need to determine which ’emotion’ triggers the disappearances.”

Yin Ren brought over a chair and sat in front of Jiao Lian.

Zhong Chengshuo naturally stepped forward, placing his hands on the back of a wooden chair.

Yin Ren slowed down his voice. “Last night, I conducted some tests. We only need to test a few emotions… We don’t need to test ‘satisfaction’. Next, we will experiment with fear. Minister Jiao will monitor the other side, while I will observe the situation here.”

“That sounds feasible.”

Fu Xingchuan glanced at Zhong Chengshuo a few times as he spoke, and the latter made an effort to look innocent, resembling a large hanging decoration behind Yin Ren’s chair. Fu Xingchuan looked on fruitlessly, then withdrew his gaze after a while.

“When it comes to manipulating emotions, I have a quick method. Time is limited, so let’s go with this.”

Fu Xingchuan took out a box of sticky note-like objects from his pocket and swiftly tore off several pieces. “These are illusion talismans, ready-made good stuff. I will evoke your corresponding memories.”

Once the memories were in place, it wasn’t difficult to trigger emotions. When the situation called for it, Shian personnel used similar methods to soothe those involved. Fu Xingchuan held the expensive talismans between his fingers and skillfully distributed them among the group.

When it came to Li Nian, Fu Xingchuan hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t give him a talisman.

“You won’t be affected much by it so just imagine it yourself,” Fu Xingchuan said softly.

Yin Ren looked around. After Fu Xingchuan completed his round, everyone in the dim room, including Zhong Chengshuo and Li Nian, as well as Yin Ren himself, had a square piece of talisman-like sticky note.

Lord Ghost King didn’t hold back and stuck the talisman on his face like a strip of adhesive. Fu Xingchuan simply stuck it on the back of his hand, performing the action with equal ease.

Lu Xiaohe and Ge Tingting held it solemnly in their hands, while Huang Jin wore a troubled expression, reluctantly pinching it with his fingertips.

First was fear.

Fu Xingchuan began by testing Yin Ren. When the other party’s fingers approached, Yin Ren decisively withdrew his defenses and allowed the other to perform the spell.

The illusion wasn’t powerful, but it was intricate. In an instant, the scene in front of Yin Ren receded, and familiar images entered his eyes.

The setting sun, steps, the exit of the Fu residence’s basement.

Sudden gunshots, splattering blood, Zhong Chengshuo’s bewildered gaze.

…And right after, the head suddenly exploded in front of Yin Ren.

Although he knew that the person was right beside him, the blood in the illusion felt sticky, warm, and the strong scent of blood assaulted his nose. The touch, the temperature—everything felt unbelievably real.

The blood of Zhong Chengshuo.

Even though he knew it was all an illusion, Yin Ren’s heart raced madly, and his nerves stretched to the point of pain. The panic and helplessness of that moment felt like a torn wound, oozing putrid pus.

Yin Ren felt a bit dazed. The subsequent search, battle, and reunion, including the present moment, were all just grand illusions. Was it because he couldn’t accept Zhong Chengshuo’s death that his mind conjured up these subsequent bizarre fantasies?

As this thought arose, boundless fear descended upon him.

In the next moment, Yin Ren’s vision darkened. The old steps under the evening sun vanished, and he found himself back in the secret room of the Shian building. If he hadn’t forcibly steadied himself, Yin Ren would have almost fallen to the ground.

“Haa… Haa…” Regardless of dignity, he struggled to regulate his breathing, feeling a tumultuous churning in his stomach.

He thought that once Zhong Chengshuo returned, the impact of this scene would dissipate. However, when it reappeared before him, Yin Ren realized that he could hardly think straight. His head buzzed, and the blood in his entire body turned icy cold, as if submerged in ice water.

Yin Ren subconsciously wanted to grasp the hand Zhong Chengshuo had placed on the chair back, but he ultimately held back. He quietly extended a small, wing-like appendage the size of a finger joint and slid it down the chair leg, disappearing into the shadow and crawling up Zhong Chengshuo’s pants until it reached the person’s chest.

Sensing the rise and fall of Zhong Chengshuo’s chest, feeling the warmth of his body, Yin Ren finally calmed down.

“The Evil Force in the wooden talisman doesn’t have any special reaction,” he said, clearing his throat.

“There’s, no special reaction, either,” Jiao Lian dutifully reported.

“Then, let’s move on to the next one.” Yin Ren handed out the wooden rabbit talisman he held.

He had intended to hand it to Fu Xingchuan, but Professor Li intercepted him midway. The professor tightly clenched the rabbit wooden talisman in his palm, closed his eyes, and pursed his lips tightly.

That already serious face appeared even more devoid of emotion.

As a top science post, Li Nian couldn’t rely on talismans. No one knew what kind of terrifying memories this impassive individual had unearthed.

In less than five seconds, Li Nian’s face began to pale, and a thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead. His hand trembled as he held the wooden rabbit talisman left no doubt that he was enduring profound fear.

“No special reaction,” Yin Ren said.

“Same,” Jiao Lian concisely added.

Fu Xingchuan, Ge Tingting… and finally, it was Huang Jin’s turn. They didn’t know what Huang Jin saw, but he seemed to want to pack himself into a box. Unfortunately, as the wooden rabbit talisman made its way around the group, it remained unresponsive, devoid of any special fluctuations, like an ordinary object.

Disgust, no special reaction.

Sorrow, still no special reaction on either side. Yin Ren looked around cautiously, fearing that Ms. Qi might suddenly appear for a meal in some corner.

“The next one is…” Yin Ren’s memory was a bit hazy. He took out his phone, attempting to look up Shian’s emotional classifications.

“There’s no need to continue.”

Tortured by three negative emotions three times, even someone as strong as Fu Xingchuan’s complexion turned slightly bluish.

“Didn’t you say that the more primitive the emotion, the stronger the Primordial Elemental? If you’re shamelessly snatching people, surely you won’t snatch someone away to feed minor characters on the Other Side.”

“That’s true, but I did test satisfaction before.” Yin Ren frowned. “Satisfaction, joy, and love…”

“How did you test it?”

Fu Xingchuan hesitated several times before speaking, but before he could say anything, Li Nian preempted him.

For some reason, even without the aid of talismans, Professor Li’s reaction was greater than anyone else’s. After three rounds, his hair was completely drenched in sweat, and he seemed on the verge of fainting at any moment.

But his voice remained steady.

“Could it be an experiment using a living person?” His sharp gaze was fixed directly on Yin Ren.

“Not to that extent. I have my methods.”

Thinking about the massive fortunes destroyed by Miss Qi Xin, even if they weren’t his own belongings, Yin Ren couldn’t help but feel a surge of overwhelming sadness.

“So, can you confirm that the experimental materials are not flawed?” Faced with this senior who had traveled through time, Li Nian remained composed, showing no mercy. “I suggest verifying it again. Satisfaction is a positive emotion that everyone should find easier to accept.”

“Well, technically, it’s possible…”

But theoretically, Zhong Chengshuo’s ability to simulate emotions with data should yield better results than the effects of illusions. After all, these people were at least considered his friends, and illusions ultimately affected people, tormenting their hearts and minds.

They didn’t have much time now, and it was not suitable to waste their energy on detours.

Just as Yin Ren was about to explain the situation, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

[You can save them. But a small suggestion, don’t use the pile of brains from just now… They have defects that will conveniently lead you astray from the correct answer.]

Wait a minute.

“Lead you astray from the correct answer…” Yin Ren tightly clenched the talisman paper in his hand, murmuring under his breath.

There were a relatively large number of brains there. What unified flaw could they possibly have? Even serial killers were still humans. Whether it was fear or satisfaction, they would always have corresponding perceptions, unless… unless…

Amidst the haze, Yin Ren seemed to have grasped something.

Satisfaction.

Joy and love.

“They mostly lack the capacity for ‘love’.” Zhong Chengshuo lowered his body, his gentle breath brushing against the skin by Yin Ren’s ear. “Although you haven’t researched this, you must have seen plenty of related films and TV shows.”

Indeed. Mr. Qiu corresponded to “disgust” and Ms. Qi Xin corresponded to “sorrow”. Mr. Qiu was already dead, and Ms. Qi Xin was someone who actively sought her own sustenance. The only advanced elements remaining were “joy” and “love”. Combined with what Zhong Chengshuo just said…

“We can retest if you want. Let’s try ‘love’ first.” Yin Ren made a decisive decision.

After speaking, he once again placed the sticky note on his face.

The illusion started for the fourth time.

Yin Ren saw Zhong Chengshuo, wearing a rabbit mask, shooting a string of bubbles in the abandoned amusement park. He also saw his lover, deeply asleep and breathing softly, leaning on the table.

Light and shadows flowed, and the illusion turned into caresses and warmth. The touch on his skin felt incredibly real, almost scorching his brain.

The wooden rabbit talisman in his palm moved.

“There’s a reaction,” Jiao Lian said. “The space on the other side is vibrating.”

Yin Ren ended the illusion with a slightly dazed expression and turned to look at Zhong Chengshuo. There was a reaction, but he himself didn’t disappear like Lu Xiaohe’s mother.

For some reason, this discovery left him somewhat disheartened. Yin Ren’s mind was filled with mixed emotions, and he couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of his disappointment.

“I’ll go next!” Fu Xingchuan, oblivious to the subtle thoughts of his elder, sounded a bit joyful in his voice.

Unfortunately, Fu Xingchuan, who had been single for over forty years, couldn’t perform any miracles. Compared to Yin Ren’s turn, both the wooden talisman and the response from the Other Side were weaker.

Fu Xingchuan: “…”

“You work too much overtime,” Minister Jiao Lian pointed out seriously. “Life is barren. What did you see just now?”

Fu Xingchuan struggled, considering that it wasn’t easy to converse with Minister Jiao. Nonetheless, he bravely gave his answer. “…When I was a child, I went to the beach with my whole family to sunbathe. My mom bought me three scoops of ice cream.”

Jiao Lian: “Hehe!”

The screens all over her body gleefully flickered. Yin Ren’s emotions eased slightly. Despite Minister Jiao’s unfavorable circumstances, her personality was quite… different from what he had imagined.

With this little interlude, the previously tense atmosphere finally loosened slightly.

Ignoring the sympathetic gazes from everyone, Fu Xingchuan handed the wooden talisman to Li Nian. However, Li Nian, who rarely showed any emotion, didn’t take it. “I’ll go last.”

He didn’t explain why.

Since the higher-ups indicated postponement, Ge Tingting was the next to grab the wooden talisman. Unfortunately, the level of abnormality she caused was almost identical to Fu Xingchuan’s, leaving it unclear who was more deserving of sympathy.

Next was Lu Xiaohe.

The moment the illusion started, tears welled up in Lu Xiaohe’s eyes and streamed down her cheeks. She held back from making any sound, but the tears continued to flow. The wooden talisman emitted a chilling aura, and Lu Xiaohe’s feet turned into phantoms. She appeared as if she were a living ghost.

“Stop!” Yin Ren formed a gesture, and the wooden talisman flew out in response. Lu Xiaohe’s feet instantly solidified, and she collapsed to the ground.

Her sports shoes vanished without a trace, leaving behind a pair of clean, bare feet.

“The reaction from the Other Side is stronger.” Jiao Lian’s speech speed quickened. “I need more data.”

“Same here,” Yin Ren agreed. He took a long breath and felt the strange sense of disappointment weighing heavily on his heart.

“Bring it here.” Huang Jin, wearing a pained expression, walked up to Yin Ren and obediently took the wooden talisman. “Don’t hold too much hope. I… Ahhhh!”

Before the illusion even started, as if sinking into invisible seawater, Huang Jin’s lower body instantly disappeared.

Terrified, he flailed his arms and grabbed hold of Yin Ren’s hair. His rough pulling nearly yanked Yin Ren to tears.

There was no brilliance of spells, no strange sounds—only the Evil Force on the wooden talisman was rapidly surging. Seeing this person’s body quickly vanishing up to his chest, Yin Ren made a decisive move. In front of everyone, he extended a strand of hair and dug out the wooden talisman from Huang Jin’s hand. In the next moment, it was completely sealed within the dark mass of his black hair.

Fu Xingchuan swiftly rushed forward, activating dozens of spells in an instant. Lu Xiaohe and Ge Tingting hastily reached out, grabbing hold of Huang Jin’s clothes, pulling him out together as if pulling out a radish.

“Fuck, fuck, take it easy! It hurts, ahhhhh!!!”

Huang Jin had an expressionless face as he frantically clawed at the things around him, resembling a person about to be swept away by a torrential flood. After more than ten seconds, everyone finally managed to pull Huang Jin, who had nearly disappeared, back. The suction force from the other side was extremely stubborn, and the whole process was more difficult than rescuing someone from a swamp.

Even Zhong Chengshuo had a stern face and grabbed a bed sheet to cover the lower half of Huang Jin’s body—while Lu Xiaohe only lost her shoes, Huang Jin’s clothes, from his chest down, completely vanished without a trace.

After being pulled out, Huang Jin trembled and shrank into the corner, wrapping himself tightly in the bedsheets.

“This is unscientific!” Huang Jin leaned against the corner of the bed; his voice nearly cracking. “How is it possible that my situation is worse than Lu Xiaohe’s?!”

“Maybe you really like Ding Lizi Jie,” Ge Tingting objectively speculated. “And besides, this is not within the realm of science.”

Huang Jin’s face turned pale and then green. He looked around at his superiors and colleagues, ultimately pulling the bed sheet up to cover his head as well. He then turned his entire body towards the corner of the room, indicating that he didn’t intend to speak again.

“The reaction from the Other Side is very strong,” Jiao Lian commented.

“We have enough data, but it can still be supplemented,” Yin Ren added.

Upon hearing this, everyone’s gaze turned to Li Nian. It was said that it could be supplemented, and he was the only one left to be tested.

“I won’t need it,” Professor Li said indifferently, without touching the ice-cold wooden talisman.

Fu Xingchuan looked at him for a while and said, “…Okay.”

“Why?” Huang Jin, inside the bed sheets, muttered with a voice that wasn’t too loud. “You just said you wanted to be the last one.”

“Because I’m different from you.”

Li Nian maintained his calm and plain tone.

“If it were me, there would be a more than 90% chance that I would disappear instantly. I still have work at Shian, and it’s not the right time yet.”

Huang Jin finally emerged his head from the bed sheet and looked at Li Nian with a hint of surprise.

“Then let’s end it here for today.” Upon hearing these words, Yin Ren stood up with an expression that wasn’t too great. “Everyone needs rest, and Minister Jiao and I have gathered enough data. Minister Jiao, when you have results on your end, remember to have Fu Xingchuan and the others inform me.”

With that, he, unusually, didn’t wait for his companions and was the first to leave the room.

Zhong Chengshuo quickly followed suit and walked out second.

“There are still three hours until the end of work. We can go home first, and you can request to work from home.” Zhong Chengshuo habitually discussed the day’s plan. “We made great progress at Shian today, which is suitable for us to study together.”

“Sure, okay…” Yin Ren replied with little enthusiasm.

“I can make your favorite food at home.”

Seeing that his lover was in a bad mood, Zhong Chengshuo blinked his eyes and took out his top-ranked response plan from his mind.

“Do you have any thoughts about what just happened?” Yin Ren smoothly stepped into the elevator and pressed the “1” button.

Zhong Chengshuo looked around, and they were the only two people in the elevator, but the atmosphere wasn’t as gentle as usual.

“The reason for those people’s disappearance may be related to the emotion of ‘love’. However, the specific conditions and whether they are consistent with the incident from twenty-eight years ago will need to be determined after examining the specific data.”

So that’s it. Yin Ren was probably focused on considering the case. After pondering for a moment, Zhong Chengshuo confidently gave his opinion.

“Is that all?” Yin Ren turned his face, and his visible disappointment was unmasked.

Zhong Chengshuo’s thoughts raced frantically, unable to think of any overlooked aspects. He shook his head sincerely. Yin Ren let out a sigh, and the mini wings that were attached to Zhong Chengshuo’s chest slipped out and reverted to ordinary strands of hair.

“Are you angry?”

Zhong Chengshuo, following the fine tradition of a science post, asked when he didn’t understand.

“No.” Yin Ren stopped by the roadside, staring at the busy traffic in the afternoon.

“But you’re in a bad mood. Is it because of me?”

“You could say that…”

“I understand. It’s because I covered Huang Jin with a bed sheet and saw him without clothes.” Zhong Chengshuo began analyzing the accumulated themes of romantic works. “So you’re unhappy.”

Yin Ren looked at him in shock. He touched his own forehead, then touched Zhong Chengshuo’s forehead, his face filled with even more perplexity.

Fortunately, at that moment, the taxi they had called in advance arrived, preventing Lord Ghost King’s medical examination behavior from escalating further.

“…I just thought that maybe you should be angry.”

Once they got in the car, Yin Ren immediately opened the window. The autumn air carried a strong scent of osmanthus flowers, filling the car in an instant. Zhong Chengshuo tilted his head slightly and appeared a bit confused.

“Why should I be angry?”

Yin Ren glanced at the driver in front and began typing on his phone.

[The reason for the disappearances is related to “love”, but these rules have a very mild effect on me, slightly stronger than Fu Xingchuan and the others.]

[Ge Tingting is young and has little experience. Fu Xingchuan thought of a family trip to the seaside. As for my feelings for you, they don’t seem to be as strong as you think. Upon reflection, the things I’ve done for you sound remarkable, but they are all based on the premise that “I know I am strong”. It’s not that extraordinary.]

Zhong Chengshuo lowered his gaze, quietly reading the text. After spending some time in the modern world, Yin Ren’s typing speed had noticeably increased.

[You have always been quick-witted. How could you not have thought of this? But you don’t seem to care about it either. I have a strange feeling, as if it’s not right for me to be mad at myself, nor at you.]

[I’m worried.]

After typing those words, Yin Ren’s fingers paused for a moment. His strands of hair swayed gently, and the warm afternoon light flowed slowly through his black hair. Lord Ghost King sighed for a few seconds before resuming the movement of his fingers.

[I’m worried that our approach to love is off, and I don’t know how to do it. I’m supposed to be the one guiding you, as I understand social conventions better than you.]

Zhong Chengshuo blinked his eyes, reached out his hand, and slowly pulled the little device from Yin Ren’s hand.

[I can’t answer that.]

In the refreshing and sweet scent of osmanthus, he earnestly typed his response.

[I can only tell you that this experiment hasn’t been thoroughly analyzed yet. In theory, Lu Xiaohe’s “love” for her mother should not be weaker than Huang Jin’s “love” for Ding Lizi. I believe emotions are complex, and there are many variables in the experiment.]

[The “intensity of love” may be just one of the conditions. Until we have more certain conditions, you don’t need to feel discouraged.]

Zhong Chengshuo typed that sentence very slowly. Yin Ren couldn’t help but shift his gaze and look at Zhong Chengshuo, who was typing seriously.

Zhong Chengshuo was sitting on the side facing the sun. As the sunlight poured in through the car window, it cast a golden-brown hue on his black eyelashes.

“Are you trying to comfort me?” Yin Ren forced a smile, dissipating some of the confusion. However, it still lingered like a layer of dark clouds in his heart.

Zhong Chengshuo turned his dark eyes and shook his head firmly.

[This is science.] He emphasized seriously.

“Well, I hope I’m just overthinking.”

Zhong Chengshuo was still the same Zhong Chengshuo, explaining the situation with such rationality that it was exasperating. With important matters at hand, Yin Ren decided to set aside this mysterious emotional issue and focus on finding a solution on his own.

“Anyway, let’s focus our energy on the experiment… Huh?”

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t stop there; he seemed to have noticed something and started typing seriously again.

[Personally, I think it doesn’t matter if we choose the wrong way of love or if our emotional intensity isn’t as strong as others. In this aspect, I don’t need your guidance.]

[You are judging guidance based on human emotions as a benchmark, but we are not humans, and those benchmarks may not be applicable.]

After typing this sentence, a subtle sense of satisfaction appeared on Zhong Chengshuo’s tense face.

[Objectively speaking, we are each other’s only kind.]

“That’s true.”

Yin Ren was taken aback, then chuckled. Looking at the vivid satisfaction on Zhong Chengshuo’s face, for some reason, most of his distress dissipated in an instant.

“I didn’t expect it, Zhong Ge. You’re quite eloquent… Wait a minute.”

Yin Ren’s expression suddenly froze.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 189: Each Takes What They Need

Zhong Chengshuo silently tightened his grip on Qi Xin. Ever since this person appeared, he hadn’t exchanged any eye contact with Yin Ren.

Yin Ren tried to calm his emotions. With Qi Xin’s allegiance still uncertain, he couldn’t casually reveal that “Zhong Chengshuo is a powerful Primordial Elemental”. After all, when they met in Gengsheng Town, she only focused on him and called him a “cub”, seemingly unaware of Zhong Chengshuo’s special nature.

“Alright, it’s not a flesh puppet.” Yin Ren adopted the demeanor of the Great Celestial Master of a thousand years ago, speaking calmly and casually. “But you should also know that Zhong Chengshuo was killed by Mr. Qiu, and I don’t have the ability to resurrect the dead.”

Since Qi Xin knew that Yin Ren killed Mr. Qiu, she must have some understanding of Mr. Qiu’s attack on the Fu residence. As expected, her expression remained unchanged upon hearing that Zhong Chengshuo was killed.

“As for what this is, it has nothing to do with you.”

Yin Ren continued reluctantly. He casually pulled over an interrogation chair and sat down with an indifferent posture.

“You come and go mysteriously without speaking human language, and now I have to explain everything to you in detail?”

Qi Xin’s gaze shifted between Zhong Chengshuo and Yin Ren. Suddenly, her neck twitched like a snake, and she leaned forward to sniff the back of Zhong Chengshuo’s neck. Zhong Chengshuo remained motionless, as if he had turned into a wax figure on the spot.

After sniffing, Qi Xin moved her restrained wrist, and her expression became even more puzzled.

“We have already determined that Primordial Elementals exist in a food chain system. The higher up the food chain, the more primal and purer the emotions, and the fewer the number of individuals within the species.”

Zhong Chengshuo suddenly spoke with a flat tone.

“Mr. Qiu represents the emotion of ‘disgust’, while the emotion you possess is ‘sorrow’. Both of you are top-tier Elementals in the food chain, and it is highly likely that only one of each exists. After the original dies, a cub will appear.”

Qi Xin stopped struggling. She stood calmly in place, examining Yin Ren once again with an almost scrutinizing gaze.

Yin Ren chuckled softly. “This is the result of my investigation. Surprised?”

God knew how many facial twitches he suppressed behind this relaxed smile.

He himself was surprised! Zhong Chengshuo didn’t mention anything about “the death of the original individual and the birth of a new offspring”! This guy must have secretly studied something and hadn’t had a chance to tell him yet.

Feigning ignorance while keeping his eyes open, this was probably the essence of being an accomplice.

Fortunately, the intelligence Zhong Chengshuo provided was indeed useful.

“Interesting. You can have your puppet release me now. I can listen to what you have to say.” Qi Xin raised her chin. “Of course, I won’t guarantee cooperation.”

“Release her,” Yin Ren ordered.

Zhong Chengshuo finally released his grip on Qi Xin’s arm. Qi Xin disregarded the shattered glass on the table and sat cross-legged on it. Zhong Chengshuo remained standing in his original position. It must be said that he was truly suited to play the role of a puppet, reaching the pinnacle of acting skills.

Yin Ren pressed his temples and quickly assessed the current situation.

[’You’ are still alive. No… No, it should be said, ‘You’ are back… I knew it would be like this…]

[You have to grow up quickly. Come back soon and kill us well.]

That was what Qi Xin said when they met in Gengsheng Town. At that time, she was devouring the Semi-Evil Spirit old mayor with overwhelming strength that was truly shocking.

At this critical moment, Zhong Chengshuo wouldn’t waste words. If he wanted to intimidate Qi Xin, he would surely mention information that they both knew so as not to disrupt Yin Ren’s “performance”. But he deliberately chose information that Yin Ren was unaware of, so there must be some deeper meaning to “targeting Qi Xin” within it.

Yin Ren’s mind had never worked so hard before. In a flash of lightning, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

The death of the original individual and the birth of a new offspring… The “You” that Qi Xin mentioned, who could kill many Primordial Elementals, was likely a representation of the top-tier species in the food chain. After all, “top-tier Primordial Elementals are highly likely to exist as the only one”.

Literally speaking, there was once an Elemental on the Other Side that had killed countless others and was extremely formidable. If Qi Xin wasn’t mistaken, this “You” likely referred to Zhong Chengshuo.

However, Yin Ren couldn’t see how this science post, who even haggled at the market, could match the image of a “killer of many”. Even in the role of King Yama, Zhong Chengshuo demanded payment for his services.

And aside from that, why would Qi Xin yearn for “death”?

Mr. Qiu was annihilated, indicating that Primordial Elementals could be completely destroyed. If Miss Qi truly desired death so much, she could simply ask her companions to tear her apart.

However, this Primordial Elemental representing “sorrow” had appeared just minutes ago, seeking something to eat, showing clear concern for the quality of life.

It was too contradictory. Could the phrase “kill us” be some mysterious symbol? Yin Ren wished he could pry open her mouth and make her speak more intelligibly.

But all he could do was think in his mind.

In less than ten seconds, Yin Ren resumed the conversation.

“Now I have some understanding of the Primordial Elementals and have the means to suppress them. Of course, all of this is based on my exploration using human technology. As for your so-called Primordial Elemental skills in combat, I simply cannot comprehend them out of thin air.”

For the former Great Celestial Master, adopting the tone of a superior came naturally.

“Since our encounter in Gengsheng Town, your attitude toward me has been rather strange… Since you have a favor to ask, your attitude should at least be a bit better.”

Qi Xin’s neck had returned to its original state. She remained silent, only eagerly observing Yin Ren.

“Of course, I also have a favor to ask of you. How about we each take what we need and make a deal?”

“…Hmm, what should I do?”

Qi Xin’s fingers rubbed her lower lip, her tone full of playfulness. She toyed with the shards of glass on the table with her fingertips, but her delicate fingers showed no signs of any wounds.

“If I were to reveal secrets that should not be revealed, in human terms, I would be a ‘sinner to my race’. I still need to operate on the Other Side, and it wouldn’t be cost-effective to offend all of my kind for an immature cub.”

Zhong Chengshuo opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak, but Yin Ren gently shook his head at him.

“I only have two questions I want to ask.”

Yin Ren said.

“I guarantee you that these questions are very ordinary, and no one would suspect that it was you who asked them.”

Qi Xin stopped playing with the shards and said, “Go ahead, ask.”

“The first question: I know that recently, people who have gone missing have been sent to the Other Side. I want to know if, with the resources we currently have, we can rescue them?”

Yin Ren tapped his fingers on the armrest of the interrogation chair, his palms slightly sweaty. His tone was slow, attempting to make every word clear to Qi Xin.

“The second question… The corruption source of slight Evil Force shouldn’t have such a significant impact on the mortal realm. Behind the recent chaos, there must have been the intervention of your ‘friend’. What I want to ask is, if I can disrupt Sunken Society’s plans and kill your friend, would you be willing to cooperate with me?”

“You have few questions, but many doubts to clarify.” Qi Xin chuckled, but her smile was extremely stiff, like a mask carved by an amateur. “Indeed, these questions won’t cause me any trouble.”

Her neck extended once again, and her plain and lackluster face leaned toward Yin Ren.

“For the first question, you can save them. But a small suggestion, don’t use the pile of brains from just now… They have defects that will conveniently lead you astray from the correct answer.”

“For the second question, if you can kill Mr. Le, I am more than willing to cooperate with you. I will keep a close eye on you, little cub.”

With that, Qi Xin stood up, preparing to leave.

But just as she was about halfway through disappearing, her wrist was suddenly grabbed by someone with a loud snap.

“What is the meaning of this?” Ms. Qi Xin’s smile carried a hint of hidden anger as she looked at Zhong Chengshuo’s hand.

“These models are precious, valuable relics left behind by Zhong Chengshuo.” Zhong Chengshuo stated seriously. “You destroyed all of them, and you need to compensate.”

Qi Xin was straightforward. “How much?”

“It’s priceless and can only be exchanged for intelligence.” Zhong Chengshuo tightened his grip causing Qi Xin’s joints to crack. “Provide more information about saving people.”

Qi Xin raised her brows, and her expression gradually turned meaningful.

“It seems your understanding of the Other Side is still limited.” Qi Xin smiled uncomfortably. “Don’t you have a readily-made helper, Shian?”

After speaking, she broke each of Zhong Chengshuo’s fingers one by one and vanished into thin air.

The basement was once again a mess. The soy milk mixed with glass shards had turned cold. It was already 6:30 in the morning, they had no experiments to do, no time for a complete rest, and could only face the blown-up experimental equipment in sadness.

“Can those models be restored?” After a while, Yin Ren cautiously spoke.

“The basic data is backed up,” Zhong Chengshuo said gloomily, walking heavily towards Yin Ren. “But those instruments were specially made and very expensive.”

“You can use my bank card.”

Zhong Chengshuo glanced at Yin Ren, not saying a word. The emotions in his gaze were subtle, and even Yin Ren became disheartened.

“Alright, I understand. No need to say anything.”

So, it turned out that what was blown up just now was not only the precious models but also the fortune accumulated by King Yama over the years, far surpassing Shian’s compensation. Yin Ren’s tone was filled with infinite regret, almost tempting Qi Xin to come over again.

The two melancholic figures sat together on the chair, silently listening to the ticking of the second hand.

“We still have over two hours before work,” Yin Ren said.

“Yeah.”

“Is there still time to conduct any research or verification?”

“No materials.” Zhong Chengshuo rubbed the back of his head, and he spoke with a hint of bitterness in his tone.

It was rare to see him so listless. Yin Ren pondered for a moment, glanced at the clock, and suddenly had a brilliant idea. Wings rustled and covered the floor as Yin Ren leaned close to Zhong Chengshuo’s ear. There was a hint of amusement in his serious tone.

“It just suddenly occurred to me that we can still conduct a research study. Time might be a bit tight, but we should have enough time.”

Zhong Chengshuo turned his head with confusion. Yin Ren happened to lean in front of him, so their noses almost touched. Several warm wings gently brushed past him.

“Do you want to study whether the same species of Elementals can reproduce?”

……

As the memories faded, Yin Ren rubbed his slightly darkened eyes and looked at Unit 9 in front of him.

Lu Xiaohe wore an anxious expression. In just one day, she looked much more haggard. Yin Ren sighed inwardly and decided to make the hint more explicit—to ensure that they wouldn’t draw attention to Zhong Chengshuo, they needed to appear “normal.”

“Speaking of which, I still think this case is similar to the Bai Yongji case.” Yin Ren sat on the sofa in the office. “Although in that case, it was because I was accidentally… well, not entirely accidentally—kidnapped, that it was solved. Now, thinking back, this disappearance case clearly involves the Other Side. It’s unlikely that there has been no reaction from the higher-ups at Shian.”

Since Qi Xin asked them to seek help from Shian, there must be a reason behind it. For someone as clever as Lu Xiaohe, giving her a clue should be enough to prompt her.

Sure enough, Lu Xiaohe raised her face, stiff as a board, and a hint of light appeared in her lifeless eyes.

She seemed to recall something, and her lips trembled slightly.

“Encrypted report! The Bai Yongji case had an encrypted report from the Emergency Management Department… The number, let me think… SA8729948719.”

She murmured to herself and rushed to the console.

Today was different from the past. Now, Lu Xiaohe had the authority equivalent to that of the Emergency Management Department. She typed on the keyboard with great force, almost smashing it. In the silent gaze of everyone, she swiftly accessed that high-level report. Lu Xiaohe even forgot to enlarge the text, lowering her head and quickly scanning through the dense words.

One name that appeared multiple times quickly caught Lu Xiaohe’s attention.

Current Minister of Foreign Object Identification Department, Minister Jiao, Jiao Lian.

Twenty-eight years ago, during the Divine Descent incident, she was a “Charon” in the Emergency Management Department, dedicated to researching the Other Side. The report indicated that if they wanted to determine the victim’s location as soon as possible, they could seek help from Jiao Lian.

Lu Xiaohe swallowed her saliva.

Without discussing with any of her colleagues, she immediately called Fu Xingchuan.

“Minister Fu.”

Her voice was hoarse as she spoke.

“I think… No, this case requires the support of Minister Jiao.”

Fu Xingchuan, on the other end of the phone, remained silent for a long time. “Jiao Lian?”

“In the Bai Yongji case, she assisted Shian in locating the victims.” Lu Xiaohe tightly closed the office door and activated the speakerphone. “She can access the Other Side, right? As long as she can find the person, we will definitely…”

“Definitely what?” Fu Xingchuan’s tone was somewhat complicated.

“Definitely… definitely…” Lu Xiaohe choked up.

In the end, she pursed her lips and fell silent.

“In the Bai Yongji case, all the victims had only half of their bodies sent to the Other Side. In other words, they were all stuck in place. These people have completely entered the Other Side, so they naturally would move around before dying, making it difficult to track them.”

Fu Xingchuan sighed.

“I’ll be frank with you. When Minister Jiao searches for someone, she needs the precise thoughts of the missing person. And as long as the person is found, we can ‘pull them back’ through the remaining half of their body in the human world… Your cases have completely disappeared from the human realm, with no thoughts as clues. Even if we can find them, except for a true Charon, no one can bring people in and out of the other side.”

“But… But the previous Archive… the memory world…” Lu Xiaohe instinctively retorted.

“Those places are similar to interstitial spaces, but they’re not the real Other Side,” Fu Xingchuan patiently explained. “In Minister Jiao’s case… she can no longer send people to the Other Side. Personally, I think it’s better for you to search for the conditions that triggered the disappearances.”

Having experienced ups and downs, Lu Xiaohe slumped back in her chair, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She still held the phone in her hand, her mouth moving silently.

It seemed like she was saying, “Mom.”

On the other end of the phone, Fu Xingchuan didn’t hang up, patiently waiting for her to catch her breath.

“…I understand.” After about half a minute, Lu Xiaohe forced out a smile. “If Minister Jiao could easily find people, Minister Meng Huai wouldn’t have been out of touch for so long. I’m sorry, my mind was clouded, and I didn’t think it through.”

After speaking, she stared blankly at the screen of her phone. Fu Xingchuan didn’t say anything; the only change was the duration of the call with each passing second.

“The rear command shouldn’t act so recklessly. Perhaps I shouldn’t be in charge of this case. I should…”

Before she could utter a trembling “recluse”, Yin Ren snatched the phone from her hand.

“I also want to meet Minister Jiao,” Yin Ren said.

“Why?”

“Because I have a hypothesis that was halfway verified yesterday before the equipment was damaged. If we want to verify it more accurately, we can only ask for Minister Jiao’s help,” Yin Ren replied.

“…” Fu Xingchuan fell into silence for a long time. “If you just want to try to find someone again, I can tell you clearly, it’s useless. Every method you can think of to find someone has been tried before.”

“No, it’s not about finding someone. You’ll know when the time comes.”

……

In the dim room, the “blood and flesh wires” of the neural network crawled up the walls, and a malformed monster leaned against the headboard with frantically flickering screens embedded in its body. They were tangled together, and indecipherable patterns quickly flickered and changed on the screens. In front of the soft bedsheet, a phone was in the middle of a call.

Li Nian stood on the left, and Fu Xingchuan stood on the right, both beside the bed. Their expressions were unusually serious, with their gazes fixed on Yin Ren.

The air in the room was dry and pleasant, at a temperature that was most comfortable, yet Lu Xiaohe shivered. The “monster” in front of her emitted an oppressive feeling that was hard to bear, causing goosebumps to cover her entire body. Huang Jin and Ge Tingting, who were following behind her, were even more nervous. Ge Tingting plugged her ears, while Huang Jin didn’t know what he had seen and simply closed his eyes.

“Why did they ask us to come too?” he even muttered softly.

In front of Lu Xiaohe, Yin Ren stood with Zhong Chengshuo. He looked up at the glittering “pile of monitors” and fell silent.

“Alright, everyone.”

They stood in place as a synthesized voice sounded from the phone.

“I am, Jiao Lian. What do, you guys need?”

Yin Ren took a deep breath and took a step forward. “Hello, I am Zhong Yi. I believe you have heard of my name.”

The flickering on the screen stopped at that very moment. Even Fu Xingchuan turned his head, looking over with a hint of surprise.

“During the Divine Descent twenty-eight years ago, many people went missing. Now, due to the corruption caused by Evil Force, disappearances have occurred in Haigu once again. After studying these disappearance cases, we have a hypothesis.”

The flickering on the screen stopped at that very moment, and even Fu Xingchuan turned his head, looking over with a slightly surprised expression.

“Twenty-eight years ago during the Divine Descent, many people went missing. Now, in Haigu, there are once again disappearances caused by the corruption of Evil Force. After conducting research, we have a hypothesis regarding these disappearance cases.”

“……”

Jiao Lian remained silent, but her screen began to flicker again. It was clear that she was listening. This time, it was Professor Li Nian, who was usually as steady as Mount Tai, who turned his body and fixed his gaze on Yin Ren.

“All the missing individuals are mentally resilient. Most of them have good personalities; it’s simply an expression of their mental health and strength… This characteristic allows these people to survive longer on the Other Side.”

“Yes, they should go, ‘mad’ later. Going ‘mad’ later, means dying later.”

Jiao Lian finally responded, but her synthesized voice didn’t reveal any emotions.

“Just like me.”

Yin Ren hummed with a complicated mood. “These people were sent into the other side by Primordial Elementals. These beings enjoy consuming emotions. Perhaps there is some commonality in emotions among them… Unfortunately, my materials were damaged yesterday, and I couldn’t find that common point.”

He opened his palm, revealing a wooden talisman in his hand.

“I have another hypothesis that needs to be verified. Can you help me?”

“How can, I help?”

“Next, I will use this wooden talisman to influence the people around me.”

Yin Ren took a step back, his gaze sweeping around.

“The people here are relatively mentally resilient. I will conduct further experiments with them. I kindly request that you observe any activity on the Other Side… I believe that if we find the ‘trigger’ for the disappearances, there will definitely be a reaction on the Other Side. Please help me keep an eye out.”

Even Ms. Qi had to tear open a space to find food and accessing the Archive and Memory World required using magic and energy as mediums. People couldn’t pass through the cracks between the human realm and the Other Side without leaving traces.

In the face of these mind-boggling statements, everyone else remained silent, except for two individuals who spoke almost simultaneously.

Huang Jin: “Who are you going to experiment on?!”

Ge Tingting: “I’m willing to help Xiaohe Jie!”

The rest remained silent. With Ge Tingting’s response, Huang Jin couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. Even so, he still firmly displayed his cowardice.

“It’s not me, but this person… This person must have had a problem while crossing the Other Side, which caused them to end up like this, right?” Huang Jin pointed at Jiao Lian on the bed with a pale face. “Her thoughts are fragmented and disjointed, but she’s still trying to hold on. There are many thoughts mixed in her that don’t belong to her, it looks incredibly… incredibly…”

Just like Frankenstein’s monster, stitched together from the corpses of various minds.

“I also want to save Lu Xiaohe’s mother, but I have people to take care of too. What if—what if that wooden talisman really…?”

“Then you can go last.” Ge Tingting reassured him with confidence. “With your bad personality, it probably won’t succeed.”

Huang Jin: “…”

“It’s okay. Once anything unusual happens, I will inform Zhong Yi and stop.” Jiao Lian’s voice came from the phone. Perhaps it was an illusion, but her voice had a faint hint of amusement. “Don’t be afraid, young man. I’m not trying to hold on, either.”

A low and mournful sound escaped from Huang Jin’s throat.

“Xiao Huang, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to participate.”

Lu Xiaohe stepped forward solemnly.

“It’s not your obligation, so you can completely refuse. It won’t change how I see you.”

Huang Jin: “I…”

His handsome face, now clouded, contorted slightly.

“Forget it. I have a bad personality. It’s fine.” He turned his head, keeping a distance. “It’s settled. I’ll go last.”

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