Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 62: The Conditions for a Kiss

Top floor of the Disaster Relief Tower.

Ghost Immortal A’Shou was contentedly flipping through the ritual report, with tea and flaky pastries specially prepared by her side.

How satisfying. That malignant tumor, the Huanxi E, had finally been resolved.

Normally, eight rituals would take no more than half a year, shortest being a month. But the Huanxi E could trap its sacrifices for two to three years. The Underworld had to expend enormous ghost power just to maintain the sacrificial bodies in the mortal world.

After Dian Wu returned to the Disaster Relief Tower, she happily approved a full year of paid leave for it. Even Dian’er benefited. Part of its Mid-Autumn Festival fines were waived.

At this moment, Dian’er was rubbing its hands, eagerly awaiting the report feedback. It was grinning from ear to ear, its face completely devoid of gloom and instead full of mortal joy.

A’Shou finished the report and, satisfied, ate a pastry. “Undoing both the Mid-Autumn E and the Huanxi E… This Fang Xiu kid’s not bad.”

Dian’er nodded vigorously. “Exactly! I haven’t seen such a dazzling newcomer in ages. Do you think we should induct him into…”

Halfway through, it caught itself and quickly lowered its head. “Oops, too talkative.”

A’Shou gave it a sidelong glance and said offhandedly, “That depends on how he does in the fourth ritual.”

She knew what the paper figure was implying.

Some humans were naturally clever, highly skilled at undoing the E. They would be selected by the Underworld and designated as “Disaster Resolvers”.

The Underworld would assign these individuals to teams meant to tackle particular E’s, offering them special treatment in return.

It was frustrating, though. The Underworld had sent countless Disaster Resolvers to deal with the Huanxi E, but it was like throwing meat buns at dogs. They never returned.

One such Resolver, “Uncle Hou”, had even turned into one of the Huanxi E’s protectors.

“…If Fang Xiu can resolve four E’s, I’ll nominate him as a Disaster Resolver.” A’Shou took a sip of tea. “But not yet. He’s not even halfway through the rituals, and there are still too many people in his team.”

Dian’er nodded hastily. “Understood, understood.”

“But if you really like Fang Xiu, you can show him a bit of favor. Just don’t overdo it.”

Dian’er was deeply touched. “Yes!”

Seeing how cheerfully the paper figure beamed, A’Shou couldn’t help but laugh.

It wasn’t out of guilt or compassion, but purely because having a star performer under its watch brought it prestige too.

She casually closed the report, preparing to file it, when a strange daze washed over her.

Oh, right… They’d retrieved the sacrificial body from the Huanxi E. Fang Xiu’s body was especially strange. Most of his internal organs were mutated and fused, with only the heart and brain relatively intact…

According to the report… What did the report say again…?

A’Shou rubbed her temples and reopened the last page. She suddenly found herself unable to recognize the familiar characters. Each stroke seemed to twist and writhe on the page like worms.

The meaning of the words bypassed “reading” and drilled straight into her mind.

[■ghost■■possession,■■■■body. ■■magic weapon is■■.]

[The seductive ghost■■possession. Damage■■host’s■■magic weapon is normal.]

[The seductive ghost isn’t good at possession. Damage to the host’s flesh and magic weapon is normal.]

Yes. A seductive ghost isn’t skilled at possession. They damage the bodies they inhabit. This was common knowledge… common knowledge…

A’Shou murmured to herself and closed her eyes.

The Disaster Relief Tower had unique properties. Her will being slightly disturbed wasn’t that unusual. In a tipsy haze, she filed the report onto a wooden rack.

In the dim firelight, the rack extended endlessly into the darkness. Every slot was packed with scrolls and books, like rows of neatly stacked corpses.

A’Shou reached out and lightly brushed her fingertips across the dusty records.

Only “successful resolutions” earned a corresponding entry. If a sacrifice was simply fed to a ghost, nothing would be recorded.

That little scholar in red… How many more times would his name appear here?

……

Fang Xiu’s room on some level of the Disaster Relief Tower.

“You’re bad at possession, so that’s why I had such a strong reaction?” Fang Xiu asked curiously.

Regarding the side effects of their possession-fusion move, Bai Shuangying had simply said he “wasn’t good at possession.” Like birds not suited for swimming, or beasts unsuited to flight, it was just his nature.

Fang Xiu accepted it easily. Everyone had their weaknesses.

“It doesn’t really matter. The main issue was just that this ritual had too many people. Normally we could’ve just hidden together.”

Fang Xiu was understanding. “And being possessed by you wasn’t all that uncomfortable. You’re not that bad at it.”

Bai Shuangying nodded politely. “It was quite comfortable being inside you.”

Fang Xiu: “………………”

Fang Xiu coughed loudly a few times, changing the subject. “Perfect timing. Let’s go exploring before lunch.”

Bai Shuangying gave a neutral “Mm,” his expression unchanged.

Outside, the courtyard was the same as when they first arrived. Only now, three doors were sealed with white strips marked with runes Fang Xiu couldn’t read.

They belonged to three fallen teammates. According to the paper figure, they had likely died suddenly in the real world.

Fang Xiu stood in front of Jia Xu’s door for a while and knocked a few times. As expected, there was only silence inside.

Bai Shuangying: “Are you mourning him?”

“As if.” Fang Xiu shook his head. “I just think it’s a shame Qin Wangshu’s parents never got a chance to take revenge.”

“But Jia Xu is already dead,” Bai Shuangying said, puzzled.

“Even death has value. Jia Xu died too lightly.”

Another incomprehensible concept, Bai Shuangying thought.

To him, death was final, a pure “action”. Once a person died, their karma would gradually fade. Love, hatred, grudges would all dissolve with time.

If even death had meaning…

“So how do you plan to die?” Bai Shuangying asked bluntly.

Fang Xiu froze for a few seconds, then looked at him and gradually smiled.

“Well, I definitely don’t want to die in a ritual. That’d be lame.”

Bai Shuangying knew humans liked to “leave a legacy”, but that was for the living. As for trading death for something…

[One life for that many beasts… Worth it…]

He suddenly remembered that human warrior with eyes similar to Fang Xiu’s.

So he asked, “Do you want to exchange your life for your enemies’?”

Fang Xiu looked at him again, his brows curling into a smile. He scratched his nose and said earnestly, “Why not just wish them dead? Why pay with my own life?”

Bai Shuangying slowly lowered his head, giving up. This human was truly hard to grasp.

Fortunately, Fang Xiu cheerfully dragged him along and skipped the topic altogether.

The courtyard was small. There were only eight rooms and two tables on the first floor. A ninety-year-old could explore the whole place in ten minutes.

Fang Xiu and Bai Shuangying looked around but found nothing unusual.

Soon, Fang Xiu set his sights on the mysterious second floor. Just as they stepped past the incense burner blocking the stairs, Dian’er appeared.

“Where are you headed?” it asked brightly.

Fang Xiu: “Just wandering.”

“Well, the second floor isn’t usually open. If you want a look, I’ll need to take you.”

It rubbed its hands like a fly. “It happens that I’m free right now. What do you say?”

Fang Xiu had originally wanted some time alone with his ghost. He glanced at Bai Shuangying, only to find the ghost looking curious and eager.

Fang Xiu sighed inwardly and didn’t object. “Lead the way.”

Dian’er: “You got it—!”

This was their first time visiting the second floor outside of ritual hours.

Without the Underworld’s “ritual scene overlay”, the second floor revealed its true appearance. Its style matched the first floor, with red lanterns hanging from the eaves.

But unlike the first floor, it had only two doors.

The two antique-style doors faced each other, both with name plaques.

The one they usually passed through bore the characters “Hall of Disaster Resolution”. A brass lock secured it, which looked nothing special.

The other, which was usually hidden, was labeled “Shrine of All E’s”. Its lock was made of bronze, stained with strange filth, and tangled in countless chains. It looked ominous.

That door had always been hidden by illusions, so Fang Xiu had never noticed it.

“The Hall of Disaster Resolution connects to the mortal realm. It only opens during rituals.” The paper figure explained, “We use it to link your ritual grounds, so you can cross between the realms. Right now, it’s just a void out there.”

Fang Xiu stared at the other door. “And the Shrine of All E’s?”

The paper figure hesitated, then forced a smile. “That’s for Underworld personnel only. It’s not accessible to sacrifices. That’s the rules. I can’t open it.”

Sounds like some kind of employee-only elevator, Fang Xiu thought.

But his ghost was very interested in the Shrine. Bai Shuangying stood before it, poking the chains, rubbing the bronze lock, utterly absorbed.

Fang Xiu: “You really can’t open it?”

The paper figure said sincerely, “I really can’t. Last time it opened, it was to welcome a new ghost immortal.”

As they spoke, Bai Shuangying began picking at the chain. A crackling noise erupted, and he instantly pulled back his left hand, brow twitching.

Fang Xiu rushed over and saw his fingertip charred and refusing to heal.

“Does it hurt?” he held Bai Shuangying’s hand and inspected the wound carefully.

Bai Shuangying: “It’s fine.”

When he simulated human form, he fully replicated human senses. It did hurt a bit.

But thinking of what Fang Xiu suffered in the Huanxi E, Bai Shuangying found it too petty to complain.

The paper figure noticed too. “Yikes! You mustn’t touch that! The curse was placed by Lady A’Shou herself. It’s very nasty!”

“How do we treat the wound?” Fang Xiu asked directly.

“Your ghost didn’t use a forceful spell and just touched it. It’ll heal naturally.” The paper figure thought for a moment and added, “If you’re willing to trade a magic weapon, I could get you some Essence Ointment. It’s the best thing for recovery.”

Bai Shuangying declined at once. “Not necessary.”

If it were anyone else, maybe. But with Fang Xiu’s food card, magic weapons were better saved for summoning headless evil spirits.

Seeing Bai Shuangying refuse, Fang Xiu didn’t press the matter. But before they left, he cast a few more glances at that door.

……

Back in their room, Bai Shuangying fell into thought. The exploration had yielded one good and one bad result.

The good news: he’d sensed strong karmic energy behind the door. That karmic aura matched the seal’s, meaning the Shrine and the binding spell were intimately linked.

The bad news: Ghost Immortal A’Shou was indeed powerful. Even with his ability after 73 chains broke, Bai Shuangying couldn’t undo the seal quietly. If he made a move, A’Shou would notice immediately.

He needed another way to investigate the Shrine…

Suddenly, a warm wetness touched his wound. The pain eased and became light as air.

Bai Shuangying looked down. Fang Xiu was holding his hand, gently sucking on his injured fingertip.

Fang Xiu’s eyes were downcast, ears a little red, but his expression was pure. His tongue curled clumsily, nothing like his usual agility when lying.

Bai Shuangying loved this speechless version of the human. After nearly a minute, he asked, “What are you doing?”

Fang Xiu released his finger and pointed to his moist lips. “Healing.”

“The paper figure said in this Tower, my flesh is a manifestation of soul-essence. If essence ointment heals wounds, then so should my essence.”

Blood was essence so saliva probably counted too.

Bai Shuangying raised his hand. The wound was indeed healing. The charred skin was plumping, then turning pale again, as if it was never injured.

Fang Xiu’s treatment worked, almost too well. Was ordinary soul-essence from a human supposed to be this effective?

In rituals, Bai Shuangying had entered Fang Xiu’s body. But that body was a sanctioned magic weapon of the Underworld. It sealed the soul essence like a vacuum pack. He never got to taste it properly.

Now intrigued, he cupped Fang Xiu’s face, intending to sample some essence directly.

But as soon as he leaned in, Fang Xiu blocked his face with one hand.

Bai Shuangying: “?”

He tilted his head, white eyes blinking between fingers. His expression clearly said, “Didn’t you say you liked me? Then why not?”

Fang Xiu answered seriously, “No.”

Bai Shuangying thought he was too formal. So he suggested, “Then I’ll wait till you’re asleep and slip into your mouth?”

Fang Xiu was silent for a few seconds. “Because I like you. That’s why not.”

Fang Xiu understood. Even if he kissed Bai Shuangying, or spent the night with him under the excuse of “feeding soul essence”, Bai Shuangying probably wouldn’t object. He might just treat it like a late-night snack.

The experience was tempting. But it wasn’t the kind of relationship Fang Xiu imagined.

Even knowing it was destined to end, he wanted to treat this seriously instead of using his ghost as a fantasy placeholder.

Maybe Bai Shuangying wouldn’t grasp the nuance, but he did, and that was enough.

And Bai Shuangying had one merit: once Fang Xiu made things clear, he’d accept it quietly with an “Mm”, and would never go against his will.

“Mm.” Sure enough, Bai Shuangying didn’t understand but agreed.

“…Then when will you kiss me?” A few seconds later, he asked bluntly.

Fang Xiu thought for a moment. “When you like me a little too.”

Looks like I won’t get a taste today. Bai Shuangying fell silent.

After a while, he could only “Mm” in reply, regrettably letting the matter go.

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Besides blood and saliva, there is something else Fang Xiu can produce that is also essence. And Bai Shuangying will definitely get to taste that, eventually.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 61: Double Rewards

Upon hearing those words, Bai Shuangying remained remarkably calm.

At the moment, he was in human form. Fang Xiu was merely infatuated with his appearance, just like a scholar seduced by a fox spirit or a seductive ghost. As long as Bai Shuangying returned to his true form, Fang Xiu would snap out of it.

The next second, Bai Shuangying’s body began to melt. His facial features distorted and merged together, dripping wetly downward like a wax statue placed in an oven.

His eyes turned to fluid and slipped through Fang Xiu’s fingers, streaming down the back of his hand. In less than ten seconds, all that remained was a dreamlike “liquid mass” hovering in front of Fang Xiu.

Bai Shuangying squirmed slightly, calmly “gazing” at Fang Xiu.

Fang Xiu caressed the floating creature before him. “…This is just right.”

Then he leaned in again and kissed the blood mole that hadn’t disappeared.

This time, the kiss wasn’t so light. Fang Xiu slightly opened his mouth and gently bit into Bai Shuangying’s core. His tongue brushed over the soft fluid as his heartbeat grew so loud it was almost noisy.

“Looks like I really do like you.” Fang Xiu casually thumped his chest.

Bai Shuangying: “……”

Bai Shuangying: “?”

He could no longer understand this human.

Seeing Bai Shuangying freeze midair like an ice sculpture, Fang Xiu slowly crawled back onto the bed. “I just wanted to tell you. You don’t have to respond.”

Bai Shuangying remained frozen in the air.

“From now on, I’ll probably want to get close to you. I just didn’t want to do it without your knowledge.” Fang Xiu slid under the covers again. “If it bothers you, you can stay away.”

Without the pain or bodily damage, Fang Xiu rolled around beneath the blanket, soon wrapping himself into a soft cocoon.

Bai Shuangying dropped onto the mattress with a splat, flowing mechanically.

Humans had once offered him countless prayers, but even back then, none had dared say they “liked” him.

Fang Xiu clearly believed evil spirits didn’t care about humans. He’d even said they were only crossing paths temporarily and would eventually part ways. Fang Xiu had called him a “perfect friend”… Humans changed too fast!

[Why?] Bai Shuangying couldn’t hold back the question.

Fang Xiu poked his head out of the blanket, leaving just his eyes exposed. “Because it makes me happy.”

[I can’t marry you.] Bai Shuangying stated bluntly.

“I know, of course.” Fang Xiu let out a half-laugh, half-sigh.

Three of the eight rituals had passed; their journey was nearly halfway through. Fang Xiu knew he’d stick firmly to his life plan, and everything else was just an “experience”.

Liking Bai Shuangying was an enriching, novel experience. It even improved his overall condition.

Fang Xiu believed in expression over suppression. If he liked someone, he’d embrace it boldly. Besides, Bai Shuangying wouldn’t reciprocate, which suited him just fine.

Yet, hearing Bai Shuangying say the truth aloud still tugged at something inside him.

It was a sour, itchy feeling that was hard to describe. He savored it quietly before curling completely under the blanket.

“I’m not placing emotional bets. I won’t be obsessing about ‘winning back principal and interest’.”

He mumbled softly. His heart thumped uncontrollably, a numbness spreading from the nape of his neck to his eyes.

Outside the blanket, Bai Shuangying remained silent for a while before slowly returning to human form. The mattress dipped under his weight. He patted the blanket bulge that was Fang Xiu and eventually peeled back a corner to peek inside.

“Since you like me, I should be allowed on the bed too.” Bai Shuangying considered the request very reasonable.

Fang Xiu let out a couple of nervous grunts under the blanket, then wore a serious expression like negotiating terms. “Can I hold you while we sleep? I promise I won’t do anything else.”

“Mm, sharing a bed is enough. No need to invite me to dinner.” Bai Shuangying responded with understanding.

Fang Xiu: “……”

He slowly sealed off the blanket gap, releasing a puff of hot air.

In the end, Bai Shuangying got his wish and lay on the bed.

Compared to the bathtub and the rock-hard ceiling of the Huanxi E, the mattress was far more comfortable, and Fang Xiu was too.

To prevent Fang Xiu from gnawing on him in the middle of the night, Bai Shuangying decided to rest in human form. Fang Xiu kept his promise, curling up like a baby and pressing his forehead against Bai Shuangying’s chest, sleeping soundly while clinging to him.

It wasn’t an intimate gesture.

Bai Shuangying didn’t need sleep.

He quietly observed Fang Xiu in the dark, fingers playing with the other’s hair. Fang Xiu’s hair was very soft, like the winter coat of a wild animal.

The toll of the third ritual finally showed. Fang Xiu was sleeping deeply. His hands clung tightly to Bai Shuangying’s sleeve, and his heartbeat was half a beat faster than usual.

His relaxed yet heightened expression resembled a young beast settling into a new den or embarking on its first hunt.

Each time Bai Shuangying learned more about Fang Xiu, Fang Xiu presented new puzzles.

Strangely, this never irritated or bored him.

Imagining “understanding Blondie to lift the seal”, Bai Shuangying would rather smear his body on a wall like wallpaper than share a bed with that guy.

Not that there was anything to understand. Blondie was just a transparent vulgar thing from the start.

As he mulled it over, Bai Shuangying’s fingers casually pried open Fang Xiu’s lips, feeling the softness of his mouth and the firmness of his teeth.

Fang Xiu mumbled in his sleep but didn’t resist; he just buried his face deeper into Bai Shuangying’s chest, growing even more relaxed.

His human really was different. Though Bai Shuangying couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.

……

In the morning, Fang Xiu nuzzled into his ghost’s chest. “Good morning.”

He spent half a minute marveling at the joy of being alive, basking in a refreshingly pleasant morning.

Compared to several days of constant agony, he felt like the Underworld had turned into paradise.

If it weren’t for the reward collection, he would’ve happily cuddled his ghost all morning. After lazing around for a while, he finally got up to tally the ritual loot.

This time, Fang Xiu’s gains were far less than before…

They only brought back that bonus chip.

The chip was the same as ever, its eyeballs spinning around rapidly, scanning its surroundings.

According to Bai Shuangying, it didn’t even count as a proper magic weapon.

It was just a leftover soul scrap from the Huanxi E’s “parasitic brain matter”, fused with human bone to create the object.

“A specialty souvenir, I guess.” Fang Xiu stared at it for a few seconds, then placed it next to the Mid-Autumn E group photo.

As for new magic weapons, he got none. Worse yet, he’d lost a jade Buddha. At this point, he only had one left.

Shrugging, Fang Xiu packed away the jade Buddha, pulled out Lao Jin’s demon mirror, and loaded up his food card on the spot.

Bai Shuangying: “!”

Fang Xiu explained, “Without Lao Jin’s special skill, this thing’s just dead weight.”

It could detect hostile intent? Whatever. He already assumed everyone was hostile by default.

A headless evil spirit suddenly appeared, and Fang Xiu shoved it toward Bai Shuangying with the nagging tone of Cheng Songyun. “You’ve gone three days without eating. If I take you to eat and you just sit and watch, I’ll lose my appetite.”

Bai Shuangying nodded and prepared to feed, but then noticed Fang Xiu staring at him intently.

Bai Shuangying: “……”

He suddenly realized the side effect of the confession. He now couldn’t help noticing everything Fang Xiu did, trying to figure out what exactly this human’s “love” entailed.

Caught up in it, he forgot how he normally consumed evil spirits.

In the end, Bai Shuangying sulkily reverted to his true form, enveloped the headless evil spirit, and swallowed it whole.

As for the taste, he honestly couldn’t tell.

Fang Xiu looked heartbroken, as if thinking, “Oh no, my ghost was starving that badly”, leaving Bai Shuangying speechless.

Then came breakfast time, and the atmosphere turned even stranger.

Cheng Songyun and Guan He sat at their usual spot, warmly greeting Fang Xiu.

With Jia Xu gone, the other table now only had Blondie and Mei Lan. The courtyard felt empty and quiet.

Blondie peeked at Fang Xiu several times before awkwardly asking, “Fang Ge, where’s J-Jia Xu?”

Other than Cheng Songyun, the other three hadn’t seen the moment Fang Xiu killed Jia Xu.

So Fang Xiu replied, “There was an accident.”

His tone was calm. Guan He immediately believed him.

Blondie’s eyes darted around. “Makes sense, makes sense. He spent all his karma, didn’t even leave a way out. Nothing to be done.”

He didn’t even offer a moment of silence for Jia Xu and just kept glancing at Fang Xiu while speaking, his tone dripping with flattery like a mangy dog showing its belly.

Mei Lan, as always, was silent. She nodded at Fang Xiu and quietly ate breakfast.

Though no one said it aloud, everyone had already come to the same conclusion: Fang Xiu was now, without question, the group’s leader.

“The Huanxi E is gone. Those who removed it shall receive bonus rewards—”

“Fang Xiu removed the E. Many rewards shall be granted—”

The paper figure Dian’er cheerfully hopped onto the incense burner, clearly in high spirits.

“The Huanxi E was a great scourge in the Underworld. Fang Xiu’s efforts benefitted both realms, so an extra reward is added this time!”

Fang Xiu paused, midway through grabbing a tea egg. “An extra reward?”

Even Bai Shuangying turned his head. It was rare for the Underworld to be this generous. Clearly they’d suffered greatly. Two rewards? Missing an extra magic weapon wasn’t such a loss after all.

The paper figure nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! That Huanxi E was beyond repair! Its karma was rolled up like a snowball. You can choose two anomaly skills, no limit!”

Blondie didn’t dare cheer. He seemed to have lost his appetite, eyes glued to the scene.

Fang Xiu had no interest in the Huanxi E’s gambling taboo.

He’d originally been torn between two anomalies. Now, given another shot, of course he wanted both. A responsible adult takes it all.

“For the first skill, I want the Huanxi E’s innate power supply.” Fang Xiu decisively named his choice.

In a horror environment, the scarce essentials were always the same. He now had unlimited food and a nuclear-powered lighter. Next practical necessity: electricity.

The paper figure had long grown used to Fang Xiu’s whimsical requests and looked serene. “Mm-hmm, go on.”

“For the second, I want basic illusion creation.”

He didn’t expect to create a vast illusion like Huanxi world. Just being able to project a phantom was enough. It could be very useful in a pinch.

“Oh wow, excellent choices!” the paper figure said enthusiastically.

“About that ‘power supply’… You can’t use it to zap people or ghosts, but basic charging’s fine.”

“As for ‘illusion creation’, you’ll be able to create untouchable phantoms. They can follow simple commands, make noise, basic actions… That’s about it. Confirm?”

Fang Xiu: “…Confirm.”

He extended his left arm for the skill engraving. This time, the trigrams “Zhen” and “Dui” surfaced together, then sank into his skin.

“The Huanxi E belongs to thunder. Zhen and Dui restrain and harmonize. Same rule applies: these skills only work until all rituals are complete.”

The paper figure rubbed its hands together, its grotesque eyes nearly disappearing in glee. “Three rituals, four trigrams… This is unprecedented! Boundless future awaits—!”

“You flatter me.” Fang Xiu scratched his cheek.

He didn’t care for any “bright future”. He was just assembling the most efficient horror survival loadout.

The way Dian’er fawned was starting to creep him out. Clearly, breaking the Huanxi E had earned the paper figure its own hefty reward.

Seeing Dian’er about to launch into another wave of praise, Fang Xiu hurriedly finished his breakfast and shot to his feet.

Faced with one pair of ghost and four pairs of human eyes, he swallowed his food with difficulty and puffed out his cheeks. “Let’s rest for now. We’ll talk more at dinner.”

Then he dashed back to his room.

First, he pulled out his speaker and charged it, confirming that he really had become a human power bank. Goodbye, battery anxiety.

Then, with a wave of his hand, he summoned another “Fang Xiu”.

The illusion looked perfectly real, identical to the real Fang Xiu. It blinked playfully and smiled. “Bai Shuangying.”

Bai Shuangying stepped forward and grabbed at it. The illusion dispersed like mist.

“Realistic enough but collapses with a touch. It’s a good decoy,” Bai Shuangying concluded.

“That’s exactly what I wanted,” Fang Xiu replied cheerfully. He waved again and summoned a phantom of Bai Shuangying.

“…Fang Xiu.”

“Bai Shuangying” stood with black hair draped down, blank expression, and snowy white eyes devoid of emotion.

Bai Shuangying found it remarkably accurate. Its appearance and voice were exactly the same as his. It felt like looking in a mirror. But Fang Xiu’s smile slowly faded, and his brows knit.

“Why doesn’t it look right?” he muttered.

Bai Shuangying asked, “What’s wrong with it?”

“I don’t know. Just looks fake.” Fang Xiu dismissed the illusion with a sigh. “Forget it. Mine’s flashier making it a better decoy.”

Bai Shuangying found that reasonable and casually changed the subject. “So, what’s your plan for today?”

He wanted to study Fang Xiu further.

Caught off guard, Fang Xiu’s lips curled slightly. “We’ve got nothing to do. How about we go exploring?”

“Exploring?”

“Yeah, we’ve been here so long and never really looked around the Tower.”

He used to avoid unnecessary outings because Jia Xu would always drag him into meetings.

But things were different now. After three rituals, he’d basically united the group.

Guan He and Cheng Songyun were dependable allies. Blondie was the typical bully that would cower to the strong, so he was unlikely to stir trouble anytime soon.

The only uncertain one was Mei Lan.

She barely had a presence—quiet, ordinary, a distant “accessory”-type. And somehow, across three rituals, she’d come out completely unscathed.

Once or twice could be luck, but three times? Fang Xiu was starting to notice.

Especially since, back when confessing their blood debts, Mei Lan hadn’t fully come clean.

Still, she hadn’t done anything to hinder him. Fang Xiu decided to keep observing.

He put the thought aside and returned to the “exploration” topic. “…Since the paper figure’s in a good mood, we might as well learn more about the Underworld.”

Bai Shuangying pondered for a few seconds, then nodded in agreement.

……

Mei Lan’s Room.

After bathing in the soul-nourishing spring, Mei Lan dressed as usual. She wore a fashionable green blouse that was elegant yet practical, dark culottes, and a matching silk scarf.

She loosely tied up her hair with a ribbon, then gently picked up a pendant.

The pendant was made of green jade, carved into a strange shape. At its center were two seal script characters, nearly joined together…

[Guishan*]

*Clarity: (归山). It translates to Return (to the) Mountain.

She put it around her neck, tucked it beneath her scarf, then under her clothes.

With everything in place, Mei Lan knelt before an old altar table. Hands clasped, eyes shut, face blank.

A stream of low chanting spilled from her lips.

Whether it was a prayer or a curse, it was impossible to say.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 60: A Declaration of Love

Uncle Hou was all smiles, his expression surprisingly sincere.

Without the Huanxi E’s illusion to obscure things, his condition should’ve been poor. But he stowed away his hooked scythe, pulled out a pipe, and puffed at it leisurely.

Blue smoke curled around him. Uncle Hou looked as calm as could be.

“My… my magic weapon… give it back…” someone groaned in pain, crawling in Uncle Hou’s direction.

Uncle Hou ignored them entirely and turned back to Fang Xiu. “Don’t be nervous. I just wanted to chat. Get acquainted.”

Fang Xiu studied him for a while and didn’t see any signs of lying.

[How long can you hold the possession?] he asked Bai Shuangying in his mind.

Fang Xiu had begun to feel the aftereffects. His lower abdomen made suspicious sloshing sounds, and some of his organs seemed to have turned into gelatinous meat. And yet there was no pain. It was just a deeply unnatural sensation.

This “burn-it-all” fusion technique was clearly a last-resort move.

Bai Shuangying roiled in his mind: [Right now you’re protected by the Underworld’s ‘Protection From All Evil’. You’re safe… for now.]

Fang Xiu relaxed a little. He turned to Uncle Hou. “You have something to say?”

Uncle Hou wasn’t offended that Fang Xiu hadn’t approached. With two guards at his side, he puffed calmly as he strolled forward.

His eyes swept across the rotting meat disguised as food, over the bones littering the floor, but his brow didn’t so much as twitch. It was as if this place wasn’t a ruined hellhole but the same glittering Huanxi World it used to be.

Two to three hundred people had died in the hall. Most of the rest had their Achilles tendons cut and lay groveling on the floor.

Some reached for him, others cursed him. Some cursed Fang Xiu. But both “protagonists” treated the noise like background ambiance.

When he was about four or five steps away, Uncle Hou stopped. “I just want to clear up some misunderstandings,” he said. “Before, I wanted to kill you, just to keep this place from falling in chaos. The number here stays fixed at 888. Newbies always come and mess things up… Before the illusion broke, I couldn’t tell if you were wrecking things or breaking the E. So I had to act.”

“I helped fend off those trash mobs just now. Think of it as my apology. You pulled it off, broke the E. I ought to be thanking you.”

His calm was so absurd that Fang Xiu couldn’t help but ask, “Why exactly are you thanking me?”

Uncle Hou chuckled, his mummified face crinkling. “We’re in the loan business, not gambling. I didn’t exchange much karma. Kid, my life in the human world is way better than here.”

“Those fools only wanted to stay. Handed me their best magic weapons without even knowing how to hedge their bets.”

At that, a chorus of pleading rose up in the hall, begging him to return their magic weapons. But Uncle Hou kept puffing, completely deaf to them.

Fang Xiu eyed him from head to toe.

No wonder Uncle Hou’s guards weren’t panicking. They still followed his orders.

While the Huanxi E was intact, he used chips to control hearts. Now that it had collapsed, he held a pile of Underworld magic weapons. The actual hard currency.

Unlike Jia Xu, Uncle Hou was a true businessman.

He’d come to negotiate for one reason only…

“You’re good, kid. Played the ‘win by not gambling’ card right out of the gate. Come, pick a few magic weapons. Let’s be friends.”

He grinned, revealing tea-stained teeth, his face the picture of kindly sincerity.

Fang Xiu smiled politely. “No need.”

Uncle Hou didn’t seem surprised. He chuckled. “Cautious type, eh? Good, good.”

“Anyway, long as you understand where I’m coming from, we won’t end up enemies next time we meet.”

He waved and walked off with his guards.

As they left, Uncle Hou really did hand out several magic weapons to his men. They thanked him profusely, stepping over groveling sacrifices like they were kings surveying the battlefield.

Fang Xiu watched his retreating figure. Slowly, his polite smile faded.

After a moment, he sighed and told the paper men to send Cheng Songyun, Guan He, and Blondie back to the tower.

Cheng Songyun was weakened from maintaining the ghost shield. Guan He was still unconscious. Blondie had fainted, looking like a burst blood gourd. Not one of the three had a clear mind so there was no reason to keep them here.

Mei Lan, however, was still lucid. She’d hidden in a corner with the mushroom trio early on.

She’d managed to stay entirely peripheral during the ritual. Come to think of it, she hadn’t even exchanged any karma. She just used chips won with Jia Xu’s “sure-win” dice.

She nodded to Fang Xiu and requested to return to the tower. Her figure disappeared instantly.

She was joined by those who had arrived recently and still retained karma and tools.

Within minutes, only corpses and wailing “scraps” remained in the hall.

The mushroom trio stood out among them.

Uncle Hou had generously handed A’Qing one or two magic weapons. The guy trudged alone toward his former teammates. No one knew where that “negotiation enhancer” he’d taken had gone.

Fang Xiu had meant to go over, but stopped in his tracks.

He watched as Xiao Tian slapped A’Qing across the face, crying and cursing.

Xiao Li turned away to pack up the boat, pretending A’Qing didn’t exist.

Song Zheng’s eyes were red. He talked to A’Qing briefly, hesitated for a few seconds, then shook his head.

A’Qing removed his glasses with trembling hands and wiped his eyes hard. Then he wandered toward the paper men, dazed, and returned to the Tower alone.

Once the trio had calmed down, Fang Xiu approached.

Song Zheng quickly wiped his face and forced a smile. “Heh, the big boss is back! Thanks, Fang Xiu.”

Xiao Li and Xiao Tian echoed their thanks. They still looked sad, but their gratitude was genuine.

Especially Xiao Tian. Now that Fang Xiu had fully revealed his face, she stared openly at him and declared that she must heal her broken heart.

“I vow to go vegetarian for a year if you cut those bangs,” Xiao Tian said solemnly, hands clasped.

Xiao Li choked. “You just said you were too grossed out to eat meat for a year anyway.”

The two started bickering.

Fang Xiu: “…”

Honestly, these three were capable and mentally resilient. Too bad the Disaster Relief Tower didn’t allow group merges, he thought.

“Forget them,” Song Zheng tugged at his lips. “The E’s broken and we have to disperse too. Here. Free info drop, wanna hear?”

Fang Xiu nodded.

Song Zheng gave a bitter laugh and gave his “free info drop”. It was about how A’Qing managed to deceive them under the taboo of the “no scamming chip”.

“He came to us all contrite, said he wanted to rejoin the team. Asked to borrow chips to ‘buy his freedom’ from Uncle Hou. We pooled everything to help…”

A’Qing hadn’t triggered the taboo because, in that moment, his remorse was genuine.

He truly wanted to come back. He hadn’t intentionally deceived them. He just wanted to gamble a few rounds “for the team” before paying off Uncle Hou.

But the second he lost all those borrowed chips, that sincerity vanished too.

“…Fang Xiu, in a place like this, don’t trust anyone. Even if we meet again, keep your guard up.”

Song Zheng looked at the spot where A’Qing had disappeared, his expression even more bitter. “Sounds cynical, but people change.”

“Thank you.”

Fang Xiu had known this already, but still appreciated it.

Song Zheng scratched his head. “Enough gloom. Got anything you wanna ask us? Anything at all. We don’t have much to offer.”

A reward?

Fang Xiu wasn’t interested in demanding magic weapons. With “intuition boost” and “luck boost”, their experiences breaking the E weren’t that useful to him either.

He couldn’t think of anything to gain from them… no, wait.

After some thought. “I want to talk to Xiao Tian. What I want to ask is a bit personal. If you don’t mind, could you two give us some space?”

Xiao Tian agreed immediately.

They picked a corpse-strewn corner. Xiao Tian stood at attention. “Alright, what do you wanna ask?”

Fang Xiu glanced around. The paper men Dian’er and Dian Wu wore expressions like “Take your time. We’re here when you need us.” He exhaled deeply.

“Have you ever been in love?” Fang Xiu asked.

Xiao Tian: “…”

She rubbed her ears. “…???”

Xiao Tian had a sweet face and a love for pretty people, but a clear head. She never veered into “Does this hottie have a crush on me?” territory.

Which made Fang Xiu’s question even more baffling.

Still, she answered, “Yeah, twice.”

Fang Xiu: “If you met someone really, really compatible… how would you tell if it was ‘friendship’ or ‘that kind of’ love?”

Xiao Tian was stunned. “Wait, you’ve never dated? You look like that and you’ve never dated? Fang Ge, who’s your barber? I’m suing…”

“Long story. Please, just answer the question.” Fang Xiu coughed.

Xiao Tian inhaled deeply and replied with conviction: “Think about whether you wanna kiss ’em and sleep with ’em. That’s it.”

Fang Xiu was speechless.

He’d come to Xiao Tian hoping for some deep, nuanced theory of love. Instead, he got something crude… but weirdly effective.

Still silent, Fang Xiu’s brooding drew out Xiao Tian’s curiosity. “So who is it, huh? Someone from the ritual? Tell me, I swear I won’t tell!”

If she never saw Fang Xiu again, she’d die without knowing the tea!

But the cruel Mr. Fang said nothing. He drifted away with a farewell, vanishing with the paper men back to the Disaster Relief Tower.

Xiao Tian stared after him, doubting her luck. While she stood dazed, Song Zheng tapped her arm.

“I’ve got a feeling… We’ll see him again.” Song Zheng’s tone was certain.

Xiao Tian took a few deep breaths and nodded. “Yeah!”

Jokes aside, she needed something to hold onto.

After all, the three of them had agreed. They wouldn’t take A’Qing back.

As for their “negotiation enhancer”, he’d cashed out all his karma, lost all his chips, and committed suicide in despair.

…The only companions she could trust now was Song Zheng and Xiao Li.

If they saw Fang Xiu again, it meant they’d survived until then.

If they saw Fang Xiu again, with someone that strong present, the next ritual would go smoothly.

Whether it was Song Zheng’s intuition or just something he said to comfort her, Xiao Tian decided to believe it.

“To be honest, I think Fang Xiu’s kinda weird.” Xiao Tian mumbled once she calmed down.

Song Zheng and Xiao Li: “What do you mean?”

“Not a bad kind of weird. But I won’t say more. It’s private.” Xiao Tian brushed her hair.

Fang Xiu liked someone. That was a good thing.

Fang Xiu fell for someone during the ritual. She called it love developed from the suspension bridge effect; the intense kind born from shared danger.

But Fang Xiu didn’t act like someone in love. His black eye brimmed with wonder and joy, but no anticipation.

He never said who he liked. He just exhaled with relief and muttered…

“I can’t believe I’m still capable of liking someone.”

Whether it was passionate love or a secret crush, that shouldn’t have been the takeaway, right?

Xiao Tian didn’t get it.

Now, facing her confused teammates, she explained vaguely.

“I think Fang Xiu… How do I put it… There’s a strange contradiction about him. He’s really good at some things, but clueless about others.”

Xiao Li: “Don’t get it.”

Song Zheng shook his head too.

Xiao Tian dropped it. “Forget it. Let’s go…”

Knock knock knock. Knock knock knock. Knock knock knock.

Knock knock knock. Knock knock knock. Knock knock knock.

From far below, at the building’s entrance, came knocking.

Uncle Hou was long gone. The only sacrifices still standing were the mushroom trio. Xiao Tian jumped and grabbed the nearest paperman, Dian Wu. “What’s that sound?!”

Knock knock knock. Knock knock knock. Knock knock knock.

Dian’er and Dian Wu exchanged glances. Dian’er hopped down from above, landed at the entrance, and returned ten seconds later.

“Didn’t find anything. Not even any yin energy,” it squeaked. “…Probably just the evening wind.”

With that, the paper men began teleporting all surviving sacrifices.

In a storm of light and hopeless crying, the empty building sank into the night, silent.

……

Disaster Relief Tower.

The moment they left the Underworld, Bai Shuangying promptly ended the possession. If he held on, he’d damage Fang Xiu’s soul.

Fang Xiu had taken a huge toll. Bai Shuangying expected him to collapse and sleep. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed, staring thoughtfully at him.

So Bai Shuangying sat on the edge too, staring thoughtfully back.

Understanding this human could loosen the seal.

Bai Shuangying’s curiosity had never been higher. It wasn’t just for the seal, but for this man himself. If he figured it out, he could reverse-engineer the Underworld’s spell and destroy the cursed seal.

Until then, nothing could be allowed to happen to Fang Xiu.

The problem was, Bai Shuangying had no idea what Fang Xiu was thinking.

Other humans sought shelter. Fang Xiu told him to stay out of it.

Other humans asked for guidance. Fang Xiu clung to control.

Other humans prayed for love. But Fang Xiu…

What even was this?

Suddenly, Fang Xiu moved.

He clumsily stretched his new limbs, crawled across the mattress, and sat in front of Bai Shuangying.

“Bai Shuangying.”

“Mm.”

“What do you think of ‘love’?” Fang Xiu stared into his eyes, speaking slowly. “It’s fine if you don’t get it. Even a bystander’s view works.”

A tough question, Bai Shuangying thought.

He knew the emotion existed and not just in humans. But he’d never thought deeply about it. No one had ever asked him either.

After a while, he mimicked Fang Xiu’s old gesture. He crossed his index fingers, making an “X” at his chest.

“That’s two lives,” he said seriously. “They could be anything—any relation, any species.”

“They know they’ll part eventually. And still, they choose to lean on each other. That’s what worldly bonds are like.”

Fang Xiu stared at him in silence.

Unable to read those eyes, Bai Shuangying added, “This is just a bystander’s view.”

“I like that perspective very much.” Fang Xiu leaned closer. “Aren’t you curious why I asked Xiao Tian about love?”

“You like someone very, very compatible.” Bai Shuangying recalled. He thought this was simple. “…Cheng Songyun or Guan He?”

Fang Xiu burst out laughing.

He buried his face in the blanket, pounded the bed a few times, then looked up, eyes bright and curved.

“Wow, you’re easy to fool. I said it was a person and you assumed it was a human?”

Bai Shuangying’s gaze gradually turned puzzled.

Fang Xiu reached out his warm hand and pressed it to Bai Shuangying’s chest.

He could feel Fang Xiu’s pulse, his human heart pounding wildly. He was far from calm.

Fang Xiu licked his chapped lips. “Don’t move.”

“Alright.”

The next second, Fang Xiu leaned in.

He paused in front of Bai Shuangying’s face, turned slightly, and kissed the blood mole on his left cheek.

It was soft and careful. His body was hotter than usual. His lips like gentle branding irons that scarred Bai Shuangying’s face.

But Bai Shuangying didn’t move at all. Fang Xiu had once chewed on him all night. Not to mention, he’d just recently slithered down Fang Xiu’s throat. It was just lips on the cheek. That was hardly a big deal.

After the kiss, Fang Xiu rubbed his lips, sighed through his fingers, and caressed Bai Shuangying’s face, then his cold neck and soft hair.

Bai Shuangying stayed still. His white eyes reflected Fang Xiu’s face.

“Xiao Tian was right.” Fang Xiu gently covered Bai Shuangying’s eyes with his palm. “Just in case, I need to give you a heads-up.”

“I’m starting to like you, Bai Shuangying.”

---

The author has something to say:

Xiao Fang realized his feelings—clap clap!

Xiao Bai might be my most fundamentally non-human character to date. Give him time to learn!

Though let’s be honest, Xiao Fang isn’t that normal either, hmm (…Next chapter: reward settlement… finally _(:з」∠)

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 59: In the Ashes

One chain breaking was a gasp for breath.

Eight chains breaking was a moment of relief.

Sixty-four chains broke. Something genuinely changed. Like the flicker of lashes just before a sleeping person wakes.

So that’s how it is, Bai Shuangying thought. His seal had nothing to do with Fang Xiu’s will. It was only related to Bai Shuangying’s understanding of him. The more he saw through this human, the looser the seal became.

Fang Xiu was just an ordinary human. What right did he have to shake a seal built on countless karmic threads?

…Let him get a little closer, then.

In the next instant, Bai Shuangying transformed into his true form and surged toward the blood-soaked Fang Xiu.

The sacrificial players threw themselves at the fire, trying to extinguish it, while Fang Xiu continued to ignite more without pause. The ghostfire blazed, and fewer and fewer red lights remained on the server.

In the flickering light, Fang Xiu’s ears were filled with a sharp ringing.

Cheng Songyun was yelling something anxiously, and Uncle Hou was shouting orders from afar, but Fang Xiu couldn’t hear any of it. It was like he was frozen beneath a lake, all sound muffled by thick ice.

Fang Xiu had only one arm and one leg left, and it was difficult to shift his position. He could only brace himself to withstand attacks. The stench of the sacrificial players, mixed with the smell of scorched corpses and the black smoke from the burning server, made it nearly impossible to breathe.

Blood dyed his vision red. As Fang Xiu turned his bloodied eyes, he caught a glimpse of the fire.

Everything was going well.

The noisy sacrificial players didn’t matter. The pain and dizziness didn’t matter. In this moment, Fang Xiu knew exactly who his true enemy was.

…He only cared about that fire.

Suddenly, something cold enveloped him. Before he could react, it forced its way into his mouth, nose, and ears.

In an instant, Fang Xiu felt like he was drowning.

The foreign substance made his throat convulse with the urge to vomit. But it surged in with overwhelming force, pouring into his body, seeping into his organs and flesh, radiating a strange icy chill.

His whole body went numb. He felt like a leather glove stuffed to bursting by a giant hand, bloated to the point of explosion. The pain across his body dissolved, and after a brief chill, his organs felt as if they were on fire…

So cold it felt like he was being burned.

It was Bai Shuangying. But this time, he didn’t merely flood Fang Xiu. He completely invaded… or soaked him?

But this time, Bai Shuangying’s goal wasn’t just to relieve pain.

Fang Xiu’s left arm and left leg tingled and itched and suddenly, new limbs sprouted. The new skin was snow-white, the hand elegant and beautiful. That was Bai Shuangying’s hand. The leg was the same, a little longer than Fang Xiu’s original.

The blood-soaked body now joined with pristine new limbs, an uncanny blend of coordination and dissonance.

But then, the bloodstains on Fang Xiu’s skin began to vanish, as if being absorbed into the flesh. His sweat dried, and grime turned to dust and drifted away.

The rod struck again, but his new left arm moved on its own, grabbing the rod-like weapon. With a painful crunching sound, the rod was crushed into powder.

His new left leg also acted on its own, practically forcing him upright. Fang Xiu stood, towering over the “human-shaped moths” still rushing toward the flames.

That left hand swung out into the air, and summoned the blossom-drifting Peach Bone Evil. Amid corpses and black smoke, its pale form was especially blinding.

Enduring the bloated sensation, Fang Xiu coughed twice. “Bai Shuangying…”

[Don’t waste time. You can’t withstand my possession. At most, one stick of incense. Then your body will collapse.] Bai Shuangying’s voice sounded directly in his mind, like the tip of a feather brushing against his brain.

[Why?] Fang Xiu responded in thought.

[I told you, as my friend, you don’t bow your head to trash.]

[If you’re determined to risk death, then bear my risk and die standing.]

Fang Xiu remained silent for a full five or six seconds.

Finally, under the firelight, he lifted his gaze, eyes brimming with pure mirth.

“Okay,” he said.

His unnatural left hand gripped the Peach Bone Evil, while his right hand gently covered it. In that instant, the previously ordinary ghostfire surged three feet high, spitting gold and crimson sparks.

Like fireworks blooming on the ground.

Beautiful, Fang Xiu thought. Maybe even more beautiful than the fireworks of the world of the living.

Given his plan, Fang Xiu hadn’t wanted Bai Shuangying to interfere in breaking the E. He’d said in advance “don’t attack”, and thought his ghost would obediently stay out of it.

Fang Xiu had rarely been so wrong.

He thought he’d end this all in humiliation, but here he stood, spine straight.

Whether it was from possession, exhaustion, or something else, Fang Xiu’s heart was racing. Meanwhile, Bai Shuangying’s body surged through his blood and nerves like a second, larger heart.

…A second heart that kept him going.

As sparks danced, Fang Xiu pressed his palm to his chest.

What a surprise. He’d gained more than he expected.

But it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.

What now?

……

The mushroom trio had long pulled Guan He into a corner. Xiao Li enlarged the nuclear boat, and the four of them squeezed into the cabin. The carved wooden boatman stared at the firestorm outside, mouth agape with classical flair.

“No water is one thing, but you set a damn fire? I’m made of wood, you brat! Set a fire, will you?!”

It flailed its oar at Xiao Li, who shrank into the corner in guilty silence.

The wooden monk inside sighed and spun its prayer beads. A thin water membrane rose around the peachwood boat, shielding them from heat and smoke.

Standing in the doorway, Song Zheng looked at Guan He. “Your team’s always been this badass?”

Guan He couldn’t answer. He had never seen Fang Xiu like this…

Fang Xiu had alien limbs growing from one side of his body. His right eye was pitch black, his left pure white, with a blood-red mole beneath.

All the blood and grime on his body had vanished. His slightly long hair fluttered in the heat. At his feet, red ghostfire raged on the wrecked service counter like a living beast.

The flames formed a spectacular wall, erupting and engulfing the approaching crowd, incinerating the corpse-pile into smoke.

All kinds of attacks were launched, weapons of every sort raining down. But whether magic weapons or spell, everything was swallowed by the fire.

It all happened so fast.

That left hand merely lifted the Peach Bone Evil slightly, and the flames rose like a dragon, burning in all directions.

Jia Xu, burned by the fire, burst into tears. He still screamed hoarsely, urging others to attack Fang Xiu.

“He’s not destroying things at random. He’s found a way to break the E…”

“Stop watching and protect Huanxi World…”

“If this continues, it’s going to be a disaster…”

His desperate screams echoed as the luxurious casino flickered, glitches spreading like corrupted game graphics.

The warning messages began stuttering, turning into garbled screeches. The beautiful service staff melted into bright-colored liquid and vanished into the carpet.

Even the smug high-roller chipholders finally screamed, instinctively cramming toward Uncle Hou.

In the crowd, Guan He spotted Blondie.

Blondie hadn’t helped Jia Xu fight the fire. He’d cowardly stayed back to watch. But the stampede knocked him off balance, and he slammed his head on a table, falling unconscious.

As he collapsed, others tripped over him like dominoes. If Uncle Hou’s guards hadn’t been so solid, he would’ve fallen flat on his face too.

Misfortune blanketed the scene like a storm cloud.

Uncle Hou tried to maintain order, but his voice was always drowned out by “coincidentally timed” crashes. His subordinates grew disoriented in the flickering chaos. When they realized the fire-fighters had burned to ash, the front line fell into chaos.

No one dared charge forward. Instead, they scrambled backward, triggering a deadly stampede.

In the confusion and panic, only the fire continued to burn, faster and fiercer.

The circular service counter lost all its luster, burned into a twisted wreck.

Not a single staffer remained. Chips of all kinds scattered across the floor, their numbers spinning madly, screaming silently.

In Guan He’s stunned gaze, Fang Xiu clasped his right hand over his left, gently pressing his lips to the thumb joint.

It was hard to say whether the gesture was a spell, a prayer, or a declaration of victory.

…The next moment, everything fell into darkness.

No, not darkness. Just the light vanishing too abruptly.

There was still moonlight. It wasn’t bright, but enough to see clearly.

Guan He couldn’t help scanning the surroundings again, seeing the ragged sacrificial players, the corpse-strewn floor, and the maggot-ridden blood “congee” to the rotting organs in fruit baskets.

The mushroom trio also scanned quickly, their faces turning pale green.

Seconds later, all four passengers retched loudly on the boat, as the terrified boatman swore nonstop.

……

A dozen meters away, Jia Xu had no time to vomit.

His hands were ice-cold, his heart barely beating.

He saw Fang Xiu standing atop the melted server.

Ghostfire burned calmly. In the charred brain matter and mechanical ruins, only a few flickering red lights remained.

…Jia Xu could guess what that meant.

…The Huanxi E was beyond saving.

The surroundings looked strange. Fang Xiu’s appearance was bizarre. But the information flowed past Jia Xu like water, leaving no impression.

Because half his mind was screaming “It’s all over,” while the other half cried “I don’t want to die.”

Right, Fang Xiu was breaking the E. Once the system stopped completely, he could return safely to the tower.

They were bound teammates. He still had value. Fang Xiu wouldn’t kill him.

Fang Xiu was a rational person. He still had a chance…

He was lucky. He excelled at survival in desperate situations…

Jia Xu scrambled forward, half-walking, half-crawling. “G-Great job!”

Fang Xiu looked at him calmly, only his black right eye blinking normally.

Under the moonlight, the white left eye was especially chilling.

“You have something to say to me.” Fang Xiu stated.

The Peach Bone Evil swayed gently. Several firewalls rose again, sealing off the others.

Cheng Songyun stood alert, still holding up the Resentful Ghost Shield.

Jia Xu’s voice trembled, but he tried to sound confident:

“I only followed Uncle Hou to investigate on your behalf. Classic infiltration… I even invited you earlier, remember?”

“I saw everything tonight.” Fang Xiu smiled. “Including your blood debt exchange.”

Jia Xu choked. He licked his dry lips; his tone became nervous. “Fang Xiu, no need to put it like that.”

“I admit I lost it tonight, did some stupid things, but I didn’t harm you directly, right? You’re fine now!”

“A-And, I lost all thirty-some-thousand chips I won from karma… You destroyed them. We’re even, aren’t we?”

The Huanxi E’s red lights dimmed further, down to just a few.

Jia Xu stretched out a hand, smiling as if to say “let’s let bygones be bygones”, but his hand was shaking.

“If you’re still upset, I sincerely apologize. I’m sorry. Truly.”

“I just got confused. It’s human nature… You still need me. I swear I’ll obey you, alright?”

Fang Xiu tilted his head. “Hmm, I do have something I want to ask.”

“Anything!” Jia Xu brightened.

“In your blood debt, you held gambling parties in your own house. I saw a young man with a green jade pendant. Ring a bell?”

Fang Xiu pointed to his chest. “He usually tucked it under his shirt, but it slipped out a few times.”

No way I’d remember, Jia Xu thought. Gamblers came and went. Many were one-time faces.

But to survive, he nodded despite his uncertainty: “Yes, I remember. His name was…”

“You’re lying,” Fang Xiu said, smiling. Jia Xu’s deception was clumsy. “But don’t be too disappointed. Even if you told me, I wouldn’t let you go.”

What?

Jia Xu swallowed, staring blankly at Fang Xiu.

“I-I didn’t kill anyone! She couldn’t handle losing the cat. That was Du Zhichao, not me!”

Fang Xiu stepped down from the wreckage, walking toward Jia Xu.

The last of the red lights flickered out, save for a pitiful few.

Seeing the flaming Peach Bone Evil, Jia Xu panicked and scrambled backward. “Even the human world wouldn’t give me the death penalty. You-You can’t—”

Fang Xiu stopped and laughed. “When did I ever say I wanted to ‘serve justice’?”

“You’re just not useful enough and too troublesome. Even Blondie’s better.”

His tone was so matter-of-fact that Jia Xu’s blood ran cold.

…He suddenly remembered the scarred man Fang Xiu killed.

…He suddenly realized Fang Xiu was really good at killing, and didn’t mind it.

…He suddenly saw just how abnormal Fang Xiu truly was.

They were standing on a high floor of a skeletal building with just four open steel beams. Jia Xu had nowhere left to retreat.

Desperately, he summoned his painted-skin ghost, but under those mismatched eyes, it never appeared.

He tried to pull out the Luck Borrowing Dice, but his hands trembled too badly, and the die rolled off the edge.

Realizing he had nothing left, Jia Xu collapsed to his knees, snot and tears streaming.

“I helped you with the ghost house, I steadied Lao Jin for you—I, I had a bad attitude, but I’ll change… Please, please…”

Fang Xiu said nothing.

He reached out with his right hand and pressed two fingers to Jia Xu’s forehead, increasing pressure. Jia Xu stared blankly, body tilting backward.

Instinctively, he tried to grab something, but there was nothing.

His body tipped into open air. He flailed, barely catching the ledge with bloody fingers. Jia Xu tried to climb, but he had no strength. He’d eaten poorly for days, his mouth reeking of rotten flesh.

“If you kill me, others will fear you. They’ll definitely fear you…”

His voice was no longer human, hoarse and raw.

“Help… help me, Fang Xiu… I can’t die here… I was going to break the E… I want to go back… I don’t want to die…”

“I have my reasons too.” Fang Xiu sighed, routine and indifferent. “…If you can’t accept it, go ahead and sue me.”

Just before the Huanxi E was completely destroyed, Fang Xiu sparked a fire and lit all ten of Jia Xu’s fingers.

Wind howled behind him. The Huanxi E crumbled entirely.

Too bad Jia Xu didn’t get to see it.

With a dull thud, his body hit the ground far below.

It was exactly 00:00:01.

The E was broken. A tsunami of karma swept through Fang Xiu’s mind. It was vast and chaotic, like scattered sand. There was no coherent thread; just a strong, boring dizziness.

Whether it was the E or humanity, both were shallow and hollow.

……

After karma brushed past, Fang Xiu shook his head hard.

“Dispersing calamity, dispelling the E—protection from all evil. The ritual is complete. Let us return to the Tower—”

Two shrill voices pierced his ears. Everyone was suddenly bathed in golden light.

Paper Figure Dian’er and the “apartment receptionist” Dian Wu descended left and right from the sky.

Dian’er didn’t have time to speak before Dian Wu burst into sobs.

Its five eyes streamed tears as it leapt onto the Huanxi E’s ruins, stomping and cursing wildly, slipping in a few complaints about its vacation.

Dian’er: “…”

Dian’er rubbed its hands ingratiatingly at Fang Xiu. “Oh my, it’s you again.”

It stared at Fang Xiu’s mismatched eyes, showing no surprise, like it hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

Fang Xiu ignored it and scanned the surroundings. With the Underworld’s “protection from all evil” shield, the sacrifices could now pass through his firewall. He had to stay alert, especially for Uncle Hou.

But after more than ten seconds, the outside was unnaturally quiet.

Fang Xiu lowered the firewalls to look.

The moment he appeared, many people began cursing loudly. Their eyes bulged like rabid dogs, clearly unwell. But they were all lying on the ground, blood pooling at their feet.

Song Zheng was still standing, giving Fang Xiu a thumbs-up. But barely three seconds later, he remembered something, and started vomiting against the wall.

The other two mushrooms were stuck to a corner, retching nonstop. Beside the mushroom team, Guan He was lying peacefully. It wasn’t clear if he fainted from puking or simply passed out in relief.

Fang Xiu: “…”

He turned toward Uncle Hou.

To his surprise, Uncle Hou didn’t attack.

Instead, he waved amiably. In his other hand was a hooked scythe, fresh blood still on the blade.

“Don’t worry about that trash. Before the Huanxi E collapsed, I cut all their Achilles tendons.”

He seemed rather impressed, eyeballs swaying in his sockets.

“Not bad, kid. Want to chat with Uncle?”

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The author has something to say:

Finally took one offline… don’t worry, I’ve got plans for everyone who deserves to die (…

Next chapter: goodbye to the mushrooms and reward distribution!

This arc isn’t completely standalone. Anyone who survives could show up again~

Also, just to clarify: there’s no rebirth element in this story. The warrior in the last chapter isn’t Xiao Fang.

It’s not a spoiler. I’m just personally not into that trope. To me, people before and after rebirth are different.

This story is iron-willed 1v1. It’s just my personal preference _(:з」∠)

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