《I and My Husband Sleep in a Coffin》 CH 1 TN: Advertisements Hello everyone, my name is Wang Xiao Mie. I am now sleeping in a coffin, wearing a red wedding ceremonial gown and being reincarnated into a dead-for-a-thousand-years dumpling(zombie). I am very flustered. Not only do I dare not move but I also need to pee. Why is that? Because I realize that that was not the most terrifying thing. What¡¯s more terrifying is that this coffin was not meant for one person¡­ it¡¯s a f**king a double sized bed! Wang Xiao Mie shut his eyes tight. Actually he had woken up for a while now. It¡¯s just that when he woke up, he found that he was not himself but had turned into someone who was wearing an ancient red wedding gown, bracket: someone that¡¯s already dead. Next to him laid a man dressed in a red and black robe. A seemingly alive beautiful male, bracket: he¡¯s also already dead. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes rolled and he lost consciousness due to fright. When he woke up once again, Wang Xiao Mie found out that the big bro next to him actually m¡­.m¡­m..moved!!! Sh*t¡­.!! Wang Xiao Mie kept his eyes shut, not daring to look at the person beside him. So what if he¡¯s handsome?! Even if he¡¯s handsome, he¡¯s still dead! Dammit he even moved! Oh Jade Emperor ¡­.Buddha of Tathagata ¡­Virgin Mother Mary¡­ Scenes of Taoist priests and zombies from the movies flashed through his head. He was afraid his neck would be bitten off in one go by the big dumpling. As a result, the big brother next to him made even bigger movements and a cold chilling touch was pasted on his neck. Ah Ah Ah ¡ª! He tried to hold back his pee and his scream. He could even feel the goosebumps on his neck¡­ eh? Do dead people have goosebumps? Wang Xiao Mie has an illness. The more scared and nervous he got, the more calm his facial expression would be. When he was overly scared or nervous, he would even laugh out crazily. When he was little and had to get injections with other children, the other children would be crying while he would be laughing. The nurse thought that he had become a retard because of the injection. Just as the saying goes ¡°the expression is steady as an old dog, in fact comparable to real panic¡± With his years of experience as the old dog, Wang Xiao Mie managed to bear the itch on his neck and remained still. Feeling the coolness leaving, and before he could rejoice¡­ The handsome dumpling began to pull at his clothes¡­ Em¡­ pulling at his clothes¡­ You stinky hooligan! The icy cold claws are rubbing against my body. If lao zi don¡¯t personally kick you on the knee lao zi will write my surname upside down! ¡­ anyways it¡¯s the same even if it¡¯s inverted. (his surname is Íõ, so you can see even if it¡¯s inverted it¡¯s still the same word) When Wang Xiao Mie wanted to summon up the courage to fight for his moral integrity and dignity, the ancient cosplay handsome dumpling gently hugged him and sighed. A cool breath emitted onto his forehead. ¡°Mian Deng, it¡¯s yet another mortal day. When will you wake up?¡± It turned out that dumplings could even talk. Wang Xiao Mie thought silently, who is Mian Deng? Could it be the original master of this body? It seems this body is only well preserved, it cannot come back to life. As he was thinking about this, a cool breath came close to his mouth, carrying a scent of old eaglewood. He was then kissed tenderly for a moment. Oh sh*t! My first kiss! Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s tears flowed internally into a river. Unbelievably, his first kiss was taken by a stranger dumpling. Even if he¡¯s handsome, he¡¯s still a dumpling! Huuu Huu, the first kiss that I wanted to preserve for my future boyfriend¡­ Although he was sad, nothing was more important than staying alive. Wang Xiao Mie closed his eyes in the dark and didn¡¯t dare to expose himself. The delicate kiss that was left in his mouth gave a feeling of being protected and cherished. He couldn¡¯t help but felt a little shy. After all he was in his youth and this period was the hardest to control one¡¯s excitement. And so Wang Xiao Mie was forced to accept the kisses. He was only glad that this handsome zombie¡¯s cold mouth did not smell like a corpse. If it were those stinky ones like in the movies then he probably would have puked on his kissing partner¡¯s face. Advertisements This kiss lasted for half an hour. If he wasn¡¯t a corpse at the moment, he would have suffocated. Thinking of the tomb¡¯s master and the wedding clothes on his body, and also this intimate action¡­ These two people, could they be ancient fags! I¡¯m an elite modern man living in the motherland and still, I¡¯m single, yet these historical corpses all managed to have lovers. Sigh¡­. After a while, Wang Xiao Mie gradually came to enjoy the kiss. He did not dare to move his tongue and could only accept it with his mouth open. Thinking of how considerate and careful the super handsome dumpling¡¯s actions were, he felt that he and this body must have been a very loving couple. If not they would not have been buried together after death. Even as a zombie he still kissed his spouse everyday. And the kisses were so affectionate. What a good man. Too bad he¡¯s already dead¡­ As his thoughts wandered, Wang Xiao Mie unconsciously swallowed his saliva¡­ The soft and affectionate kiss came to an abrupt end. The cold lips left his mouth and Wang Xiao Mie was in cold sweat. Oh no, it¡¯s over. The atmosphere was diminished. Wang Xiao Mie opened his eyes slightly and peeked using the lights from the luminous night pearls in the coffin. He found that the handsome dumpling was wearing a red and black robe, a red crown and black hair. He has a red spot between his eyebrows, and a soft and angular face. His lips were blue, and both eyes were narrow and long. The black large pupils were looking at him with a complicated and excited look. Damn! Wang Xiao Mie quickly closed his eyes in self deception. The handsome brother then pressed something and the coffin gave out a sound of mechanism moving. Afterwards the lid of the coffin slowly slid open¡­ Boss, even your house¡¯s coffin is an automated model¡­ A dazzling light pierce through. Wang Xiao Mie opened his eyes slowly. He forgot about his concerns and sat up, looking out of the coffin. His surrounding was a huge circular space hollowed out from a mountain. It was extremely large like an Olympic stadium. The giant space attached to the suspended wall created dense pavilions and palaces. Like temples built on cliffs at scenic spots, they were overlooking these buildings. That is to say¡­ In this huge underground hole there stood a large stone pillar in the very centre looking like a mushroom. And on top of that pillar was a platform with an enormous ancient tree whose trunk was so wide that it would take seven people hand in hand to fully hug it. What amazed Wang Xiao Mie was not the large old tree but the pink peach blossom blooming on it. There were only flowers and no leaves. To what extent will the flowers bloom? In full bloom would it be like a burning flame blooming on the tree. The light emitted from the crown of the tree gave a divine feel¡­ And their coffin was placed under the large flowering tree. Wang Xiao Mie was shocked for half a day before coming back to his senses. And when he turned around¡­. With eyes even brighter than the burning blossom tree, the dumpling brother was smiling at him. ¡°¡­¡± They both looked at each other in silence for a while. ¡°Zo¡­zombie AH!¡± Wang Xiao Mie screamed and trembled, then his eyes rolled backwards. Thud! Wang Xiao Mie once again fainted. CH 2 When Wang Xiao Mie woke up, he found that he was lying in someone else¡¯s embrace. Even though his back felt icy cold, the chest he was leaning on was very solid. And to ensure his comfort, the man had adjusted his holding posture. A few flower petals fall on the red wedding dress, like a star fire burning against the red background, a beautiful scene. If an outsider were to see this scene: on a high platform in this magnificent underground palace, a pair of male lovers in red and black robes leaning against the dreamlike peach tree in such a posture, he might even felt a deep thrill. If a rotten woman were to see this scene, she would¡¯ve written a thousand articles in her head. If¡­ if it was not a dead person who was hugging me in this possessive posture, I would be very happy. Not just happy, I might actually want to do it. But Wang Xiao Mie was very scared, so scared that his face had no expression, yet his body was shaking like a Parkinson patient, like the old washing machines that buzzed when washing clothes. A burst of low laughter sounded behind him. Wang Xiao Mie felt the man¡¯s embrace tightened and he was using a certain perverted thing that was cool and soft to rub back and forth on his neck. Preliminary identification, that should be his lips. Wang Xiao Mie widened his big dog eyes. He was shaking so hard that his head almost dropped ¡°Bbbbbig brother, we can talk this over!¡± As long as you don¡¯t bite me, you can do whatever you want! ¡°Mian Deng, why are you so cute in this life.¡± The hoarse voice with a trace of a smile echoed from the chest: ¡°Mian Deng, that damned old immortal really did not lie to me. This acacia tree finally brought you back.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was shaking too hard to understand a word. He only heard the water splashing in his brain. The man waited for a while until seemingly unsatisfied with Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s silence, he turned him over. This move brought them face to face. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s teeth were clattering due to his fear of zombies. The big dumpling brother facing him had a red crown on his head, a red pattern between his brows, and the narrow eyes with the large black pupils seemed particularly ominous. ¡°Mian Deng, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± Just a second ago he was smiling but now his handsome face was ferocious. And yet what scared Wang Xiao Mie most was the powerful yet distorted look in those eyes. It was like seeing a lover coming back from the dead but this was a love that had turned to hatred. They just wanted to take a bite at each other. Wang Xiao Mie finally turned into vibrate mode. Let me take back what I said before. These two aren¡¯t a pair of love birds. This is more like the strangling of an adulterate wife in a fit of anger! Wang Xiao Mie felt pain all over his body from the stare. The brain that was actually emptied started to spout words through the mouth: ¡°Zombie big bro, spare me! I¡¯m not Mian Deng. My name is Wang Xiao Mie. I live in Nan Gang, Wu Tong road. For over twenty years of my life, I have never cheated or picked up any girls. Although I cannot explain why I¡¯m inside this body, but¡­.!¡± After saying the long paragraph, Wang Xiao Mie had to take a deep breath: ¡°Brother, you must¡¯ve mistaken me! Please let me go!¡± Weep¡­ I¡¯d even kowtow to you. Don¡¯t kill me. I haven¡¯t lived enough¡­..besides, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s heart was full of tears, I¡¯m afraid of ghosts! When he finished speaking, the demon-lord-like man¡¯s complexion eased up. His expression was strange, like he had some doubt, and also some joy. He hugged the Wang Xiao Mie who had frozen stiff like a wooden post in his arms. The malicious expression changed into a soft gentle whisper. ¡°Mian Deng, don¡¯t you remember anything?¡± Seeing his amazing face-changing speed, Wang Xiao Mie became even more frightened but he still managed to explain: ¡°I¡¯m¡­.I¡¯m called Wang Xiao Mie, not Mian Deng¡­¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t remember anything¡­.¡± If you had remembered what happened, how could you still let me be close to you? Wen Feng Jin looked at the face of the person he loved deeply. Although his body is still a non-rotting corpse, his soul had returned¡­.that is enough¡­. Maybe him not remembering is a gift from heaven¡­. ¡°Mian Deng¡­.I have kept you under this sacred tree for more than 1200 years. According to legend, through a special condition, this tree can recall a spirit back here after it¡¯s been through 10 reincarnations.¡± On the man¡¯s face was an unhealthy shade of pale blue but this did not affect his appearance. When those strange eyes full of emotions looked his way, Wang Xiao Mie actually felt a palpitation. Covering his crazily beating chest, he quietly opened his mouth: ¡°In this underground palace? For more than 1200 years¡­.¡± ¡°Yes, but all the waiting is worth it.¡± He closed his eyes and put his forehead on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s. It was indeed true love. Even if you don¡¯t need to eat or drink, but to wait for your lover in a tomb to come back, it¡¯s quite touching. At least Wang Xiao Mie was not as scared of him now. After all, such a cheesy story could move anyone. And¡­. I¡¯m the 10th reincarnation of the person named Mian Deng? Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°What about me? Am I dead?¡± That¡¯s not right. He remembered that he was sleeping in his bed. He even had hiccups!! The dark eyes opened and the man said, ¡°That should be it.¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°I was at home, how could I die¡­¡± The man smiled: ¡°Natural and man-made disasters, nothing is impossible. And there are also thieves who would kill for money.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was dazed for a moment. He lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before accepting this fact. He did not happen to see the deep emotion in the man¡¯s eyes. After thinking for some time, he finally sighed and asked: ¡°Me and you¡­.what¡¯s the relationship between us?¡± ¡°You and me?¡± The man half closed his eyes, covered his emotions, and slowly began to tell an old story. CH 3 The man¡¯s name was Wen Feng Jin. He and Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s previous reincarnation, Mian Deng, were disciples from the same sect. Since young, their relationship had always been good and harmonious. According to Wen Feng Jin¡¯s words, they were a pair made in heaven. Originally, the two intended to take a journey together for three years before returning to their sect to perform the marriage ceremony. As a result, the trip caused them to be separated by death. Wang Xiao Mie: Of course there¡¯s death. It¡¯s practically foreshadowed, that¡¯s why I¡¯m here. In ancient times, people were blinded in their pursuit to become immortals. Because of this, many practiced medicines, some caused a lot of troubles, and others wasted away their life and wealth. The emperor and nobles, convinced that this medicine existed, sent a lot of envoys to find the immortality elixir. And the two who were on their journey, luckily or unluckily, happened to save a man who was covered in blood. According to Wen Feng Jin, his previous incarnation, namely Mian Deng, had a cold face but a kind heart. He not only treated the man¡¯s wounds but also fought back the people that came to kill him. But to their dismay, the wave of assassins was endless, and the man still died in the end. Before his death, he revealed that he was sent by the emperor to find the holy elixir. In his death, he passed the elixir to Mian Deng. Mian Deng and Wen Feng Jin knew that this elixir was a hot potato. However, those who sought eternal life will not let them go. Even if the elixir was destroyed, no one would believe them. They immediately set out to return to their sect for help but were surrounded by enemies before they could reach their destination. After all, they were not invincible. By the time they escaped to the mountains, Mian Deng was seriously injured. He was on the verge of dying. Wen Feng Jin was no better. He only managed to persevere through the will to save Mian Deng. The pursuing army was playing tricks on them like a cat and mouse game, watching how they relied on each other for survival. Speaking to this point, Wen Feng Jin strengthened his arms¡¯ grip around Wang Xiao Mie. He seemed to be deeply immersed in memories as his eyes turned scarlet. Wang Xiao Mie was scared speechless. Wen Feng Jin continued. In order to live, they decided to use the elixir. Even though they did not know whether it was authentic or not, they were at the end of the line. If one of them could survive, that was good enough! At that time, their feelings for each other were deep, and neither wanted to live alone. It was not easy for them to finally decide that Mian Deng should be the one to live. But as it turned out, Mian Deng deceived Wen Feng Jin and passed the elixir to him using his mouth¡­ The elixir was real but ascending to immortality was not as glorious. Just take a look at the ending of those who sought immortality throughout history. Although Wen Feng Jin survived, Mian Deng died. And Wen Feng Jin, he had turned into a corpse-like monster with no heartbeat, immune to pain, and unable to die. He killed all the assassins, carried Mian Deng¡¯s body, and disappeared from human sight. Advertisements Many years later, a vengeful Wen Feng Jin resurfaced with his own organization and began to scour and plunder the land for precious treasures and medicines. Especially those rumored with the tag ¡®resurrection¡¯ attached, he had to get it by any means. In the end, his wealth grew exponentially. He then ordered an underground palace to be built where he had found the legendary acacia tree. No one really knew if the tree could bring Mian Deng back. However, having tried every other means and method, Wen Feng Jin, without hesitation, accompanied a corpse to lay down in a coffin deep in the underground tomb¡­ Under the acacia tree for ten lifetimes in painful longing¡­ At present, Wang Xiao Mie had really come back to this body, after ten reincarnations where he finally woke up¡­ Having listened to the story, Wang Xiao Mie was not sure how to react. Subconsciously, he did not doubt Wen Feng Jin¡¯s words. The pain and hatred in his eyes when he talked about Mian Deng¡¯s death did not seem fake. And the resolve to live down in the tomb also dispelled Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s suspicion. But¡­ ¡°I really do not remember that past¡­.and my name has always been Wang Xiao Mie. Even if you call me Mian Deng, I still ¡­¡± I still will not get excited and go ¡®honey, I¡¯m back. It must¡¯ve been hard on you! weep!¡¯ ¡°No matter.¡± Wen Feng Jin drooped his head and showed a shallow smile: ¡°what I desired most has already come back to me. No matter what identity you have, in any shape or form, it¡¯s still you¡­¡± ¡°We can make a fresh start¡­¡± There was something profound about the zombie boss¡¯s smile. But Wang Xiao Mie just wanted to cry. Boss, we¡¯re both dead, what¡¯s the point of dating? So we can be called a couple of dumplings? Wait, that¡¯s not right. Wang Xiao Mie suddenly recalled one thing: ¡°After taking the elixir, aren¡¯t you an immortal? That means you¡¯re not a dumpling?! Then do you have a way to make me human again?¡± Wang Xiao Mie was almost scared to death when he realized that he had no body heat or heartbeat. He did not want to become a zombie. There¡¯s no way he can return to the surface being a zombie. ¡°Dumplings?¡± Wen Feng Jin tilted his head: ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Oh, dumplings refer to zombies. Sorry, I read too many novels.¡± Wang Xiao Mie scratched his head. ¡°Zombie?¡± Wen Feng Jin frowned and the red mark between his brows moved. ¡°After taking the elixir, I¡¯m as good as dead. I don¡¯t need to sleep or eat. My wounds heal quickly but I¡¯ve lost my heartbeat and body heat, almost like a dead man. And you, through the nurturing from the sacred tree and the tomb, you have become a non-rotting corpse. For the time being, I have no way to revive your body.¡± So¡­I¡¯ll remain a zombie? Wang Xiao Mie lowered his head in despair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even as a dumpling, you¡¯re still the sweetest one.¡± Wen Feng Jin wrapped Wang Xiao Mie in his arms. He used the tip of his nose to smell, then used his lips to feel his skin. Ah¡­ Men, they all say that it¡¯s a blessing just to meet but in reality, they can¡¯t wait to pin you down on the bed and work hard. Wang Xiao Mie gawked at the boss¡¯s handsome face that was ranked up there with the demon lord¡¯s beauty¡­.he valiantly raised his hand ¡­.and ¡­.placed it on the boss¡¯s chest! When life gives you lemon, make lemonade! Only an idiot will not take advantage of this beauty! Although Wang Xiao Mie was still confused about the whatevers of his previous life, but then ¡­.but then in the twenty years of his life, this first beauty that he had landed, it¡¯s just a waste not to touch! Wang Xiao Mie put his hand into the boss¡¯s clothes and molested to his heart¡¯s content! At first, Wen Feng Jin was stunned. But after that, the pair of eyes were shining bright. He even bent over in compliance to let Wang Xiao Mie feel him. Mian Deng¡­. To think there¡¯s a day that you have desires for me¡­.. Feeling the gentle stroking on his back, Wang Xiao Mie who was shelved by his friends in the gay circle even after being bent for so many years, had a little thought: if death meant that I will have such an affectionate (most importantly, with an incredibly high face value) dumpling husband, then it¡¯s actually not bad. It¡¯s just¡­.can zombies get ha~rd¡­.? I¡¯m just gonna have a look¡­..keke, no other motive, just out of curiosity¡­¡­.. Wang Xiao Mie lowered his head and secretly stole a glance at the boss¡¯s crotch. Even in such loose clothing, he could still see that that area had a slight bulge¡­¡­ CH 4 Holding on to Wang Xiao Mie, Wen Feng Jin was not aware of his dirty thoughts and how bold the current generation in the outside world had become (advice to pretty boys, you have to protect yourself when you¡¯re outside) In his hoarse and magnetic voice that could impregnate anyone¡¯s ears, Wen Feng Jin coaxed: ¡°Mian Deng, call my name¡­¡± What¡¯s with this sexy voice and pretty face, Wang Xiao Mie was dazed. All he knew was that one side of his shoulders was numbed. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s face turned red hot in a beat: ¡°Feng¡­.Feng Jin¡­¡± What the hell am I blushing for? To think that I¡¯ve been a BL addict for six years, what haven¡¯t I seen before?! How can I fall for a face so easily? No, I can¡¯t¡ªbut¡­.but this dumpling is too beautiful! ¡°Then¡­then you should call me Wang Xiao Mie.¡± being addressed as Mian Deng made him feel like a substitute. Wen Feng Jin tilted his head. The peach blossom in the background shined. Black hair, red crown, the red pattern in between his brows, the narrow eyes filled by the large dark pupils, just like the demon boss in his online games. The big boss opened his mouth: ¡°Xiao Mie.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡­.this name in the boss¡¯s mouth sounded like a joke. Wang Xiao Mie sighed: ¡°¡­.forget it. Just call me Mian Deng.¡± Just as the big boss wanted to say something, a lyrical sound echoed from the surrounding. Like the sound of a woman singing in a low voice, especially in this deep underground palace, it gave a chilling sense of terror. Wang Xiao Mie gave a start and subconsciously grabbed the big guy next to him. Then he realized the one next to him was also dead, and he himself had turned into a zombie, what could be scarier? And so he let go of his hand, looked around and asked: ¡°What was that sound?¡± Could there be someone else living in this underground palace? Wen Feng Jin shook his head. One hand around his waist, Wen Feng Jin single-handedly helped Wang Xiao Mie up. He flicked the long sleeves as his face sank. He said: ¡°It¡¯s the graverobbers. They¡¯ve triggered the mechanism in the underground palace.¡± ¡°Graverobbers?¡± subconsciously, Wang Xiao Mie pictured the scenes he had seen on tv and read in the novels. There was a time when he was obsessed with this genre. ¡°That¡¯s right. In order to revive you, I¡¯ve searched the edge of the world for exotic treasures. There are countless legendary artifacts and also common things like gold and silver in this underground palace. I wanted them to be buried together with us. Since we couldn¡¯t get married when we were alive, after our deaths, these are my betrothal gifts to you¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin said as he turned and gently raised his hand to rub the side of Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s face. ¡°But now that you¡¯re awake, I have no use for these things¡­.¡± After saying this, his expression remained gentle but in those eyes were distorted killing intent, ¡°however, today is the day you finally woke up, they are too insensible¡­.¡± ¡°Mian Deng, don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m going to get rid of them cleanly, alright?¡± The boss said this in a gentle tone with a delicate smile. Wang Xiao Mie couldn¡¯t hold back his shivers and he turned into vibrate mode again! Oh f**k! Mommy, there¡¯s a psychopath here! The Wen Feng Jin in front of him was like a dark and terrifying evil spirit in a horror movie. His mannerism was too ghastly and spine-chilling which would cause anyone to feel numb. It was as if he was born to be superior, to sit on the throne, and laughed as the people below trembled in fear. ¡°Now, can you wait here for me?¡± Wen Feng Jin pointed to the coffin, ¡°After I¡¯m done with them, I¡¯ll come back immediately to accompany you.¡± ¡°I have to sleep in the coffin again?¡± Wang Xiao Mie frowned. This thing really caused the hairs on his back to stand. ¡°Um¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin creased his brows, ¡°originally, you can come with me but you seem to have forgotten the martial arts you¡¯ve learned before. And your body is not the same as mine, it¡¯s still a corpse. It¡¯s best if you just stay here to absorb the energy from the tree. If you leave the tree for too long, your body might rot.¡± Rot? Wang Xiao Mie looked at his bluish-white hands and then touched his face. In the end, he submissively turned around, climbed into the coffin, then waved his hand towards Wen Feng Jin. Bye bye big boss, I won¡¯t be seeing you off. ¡°Ah~¡± Wen Feng Jin let out a low chuckle. He stood and gazed at Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s silly look for a while before stepping off the towering stone platform. He then hopped onto a large iron chain that connected the palace to a distant pillar. In a few light jumps, he leisurely left the place. Advertisements After Wang Xiao Mie laid back in the coffin, he watched the peach-blossom-filled tree and felt a tranquilizing sense that usually goes with ¡®haa¡­the weather¡¯s great today¡¯. In his head, he was puzzled with things about his last life, what Wen Feng Jin had told him, and also the days to come. As his thoughts wandered, he unconsciously closed his eyes. An exquisitely carved red coffin lodged under the huge peach blossom tree. The person in it had long black hair, soft and sleek, strewn across his body like a flowing waterfall. The soft light was reflected by the golden and red lustrous coffin lining. The jewels encrusted crown made with gold firmly positioned on top of his head. The beautiful boy has snow colored velvet skin and with the falling petals, the sleeping face was becoming more alive. The red and black wedding gown was slightly creased. As peach blossom petals float down into the coffin, even if my body remains in this secret underground palace, I still wish to kiss awake the waiting bride¡­ ¡­ Meanwhile, a group of dust-covered individuals in military outfits, with flashlights in their hands and large backpacks on their backs were sitting on the ground to rest. All of them were uncouth looking men and some were even armed with guns. Not a group to be meddled with. The middle-aged leader took out a map and listened to the person next to him. ¡°Uncle, where are we now? Why haven¡¯t we seen the motherload yet?¡± the fellow next to him asked in a low voice. The middle-aged man who was being questioned frowned: ¡°We¡¯re currently at this position.¡± He pointed to a certain point on the map and said: ¡°This underground palace occupies the area of three mountains. The identity of the tomb master to this day is still a mystery. Countless lives were lost to obtain this map. Now we¡¯re only at this point, eighteen thousand away from the main mausoleum! Where we¡¯re at now is just the courtyard of their front door!¡± TN: I¡¯m not sure 18000 what, the author did not mention the unit of measurement. ¡°Ah?!! But we have already lost seven people! Are we going to lose out on this one?¡± ¡°Lose out?¡± the middle-aged man raised his brows, ¡°Let me f**king tell you, even if we only pick up a piece of stone behind the big gate, we¡¯re still going to make a profit!¡± ¡°For a long time now, this tomb is no longer a secret. Many have entered but other than one or two who could run fast, the rest all perished here! But it¡¯s thanks to the one or two with quick feet who managed to record down the inscription at the entrance. That¡¯s how they can sell us at such a price!¡± The middle-aged man used his hand to gesture a number and sneered: ¡°Haha as long as we can enter the gate, we¡¯re rich! We can put behind this business and enjoy our life!¡± The middle-aged-man deliberately did not lower his voice, allowing the surrounding group to listen with their eyes filled with excitement. They stared at the middle-aged-man, eager to hear more. Knowing that they already had too many deaths, the man worried that these fellows would turn cowards. Hence, he continued to show off his knowledge regarding the inscriptions. CH 5 ¡°According to the inscription, this magnificent mausoleum entombed two bodies. One dead¡­one alive!¡± ¡°Ha? Haha, Uncle, is that a joke? A living person buried in the soil will still be a dead one.¡± Several others laughed as well. The middle-aged man shook his head, ¡°No, the inscription stated that it¡¯s truly a live person. It is recorded that the tomb master and his fiancee once received an immortality elixir which was also the reason they were chased by countless forces. The tomb master and his fiancee were driven to the edge. Many wanted them dead so they could get their hands on the elixir. After his fiancee was killed, the tomb master drank the elixir and became an invincible monster.¡± Speaking to this point, he lowered his voice, giving off a suspenseful vibe: ¡°But, on the other side of the inscription, it revealed that the person was not his fiancee. The tomb owner had an unrequited love towards the person and in a dispute, killed his love by mistake during a struggle for the elixir¡­ only after his love¡¯s death did he regret it.¡± ¡°Many years later, after the tomb master had his revenge, he summoned all those with talents to search the earth for treasures and magic that could revive the dead, at the same time, amassing mountains of gold and silver. But in the end, he went mad when he failed to revive his love. He began a killing spree, leaving a river of blood in his track. His enemies and those related, young or old, were caught and hanged in this very tomb.¡± ¡°Then those mummified corpses at the door¡­.¡± ¡°It should be those mentioned in the inscription¡­¡± ¡°This.. ¡° one of the graverobbers swallowed his saliva. Remembering the densely packed mountain of bones he saw at the gate as he suddenly felt the chilling air rise from the depths of the tomb. In their line of work, a few skeletons were not enough to scare them. However, the same can¡¯t be said with the heaps of bones on the ground and the hanging corpses that filled the ceiling, swaying like wind chimes, making clanking sounds as the wind passed through them. There was obviously an evil presence around and several of their brothers even died here. ¡°And it was said that he used some sort of concoction to turn many of his subordinates into monsters, guarding the palace tomb for him while he and his love slumber under the sacred tree. The inscription stated that the tomb master¡¯s gold and silver can even form a mountain; there are even legendary artifacts that can whip up a storm in the outside world!¡± When it comes to treasures, everyone¡¯s faces lit up brightly. The middle-aged man saw that the atmosphere was right and said: ¡°This time our sponsor wanted something called ¡®fish pearl¡¯ in this tomb. As long as we can get it¡­¡± His eyes sparkled and a broad grin spread across face as he thought of the amount the other party had promised him. . ¡°But the girl who the tomb master took a fancy to sure was unlucky. That guy did not seem like he was easy to deal with.¡± The guy from before came over and murmured. He then kicked his partner on the ground, ¡°Wei! Wake up! Damn it! Do you think we¡¯re here on vacation?¡± The middle-aged man smiled slightly and stood up: ¡°Who said it was a girl? According to the inscription, it stated very clearly that the tomb master was in love with the shixiong (elder martial brother) from his own sect!¡± ¡°Ha?!¡± There were a few with a disgusted look on their faces. They spit and said: ¡°so it was just a couple of fags. This tomb master sure is a pervert.¡± ¡°Two men, how can there be any fun?¡± ¡°Hey hey, you¡¯re just too ignorant. There are many ways to enjoy.¡± ¡°Tsk! Get lost!¡± The group of men with equipment on their backs joked and laughed. Under the watchful eyes of the middle-aged man, they calmed down and continued the exploration. Wen Feng Jin was standing close by. Next to him, a muffled breathing could be heard echoing from an eerie pitch dark passageway of the tomb. The sound came from a man lying on the ground by his feet like a lizard, but if only that could still be called a ¡®man¡¯¡­. Advertisements Because the ¡®man¡¯ had no skin or hair, what could be seen were similar to that of muscles and tendons. But on a closer look, the layer of muscles was his skin, with red blood running through and a layer of mucus covering his whole body¡­ The lizard-like creature emitted clicking sounds from his throat which Wen Feng Jin seemed to understand as he gave a cold smile. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. Guide them to the tomb¡¯s passage. Other than the middle-aged man, leave no one behind¡­¡± ¡°Click click click¡­¡± The red lizard-like creature had incredible speed. In a flash, it had left to execute Wen Feng Jin¡¯s order. Half an incense stick later (TN:15mins), heavy staggering footsteps were heard coming along the tomb¡¯s passageway. The middle-aged man had long lost his composure and complacency. His right hand was almost ripped off by something and he was holding the terrifying wound with his left hand. His whole face and body were covered with blood. ¡°Damn it! Damn it!¡± the middle-aged man endured the excruciating pain but in the end, he fell on the ground as the blood loss and panic took over. The impact from the fall tore off his heavily wounded hand. ¡°My hand! AHHHH!¡± The man clutched his severed hand as he stumbled on the ground, howling in pain. Suddenly, a pair of black boots with golden soles appeared in his sight. The pair of shoes were beautifully crafted but it was obviously not something a modern-day man would wear! Moreover, no graverobber would wear this when exploring tombs! The middle-aged man forgot his howling. He was in cold sweat and the face that had lost too much blood turned even whiter than a dead man¡¯s. The man donning the exquisite shoes crouched in front of him. A cold hand with slender and long fingers pressed firmly on his head, raising his entire body upwards, until his sight finally focused on a man in red and black ancient clothes. The man was very handsome. He had one hand behind his back and the other was holding him up. Like watching something interesting, the man had a smile at the corner of his mouth. A red light rose from the center of his dark black pupils! It¡¯s a zombie! There really are zombies!! The middle-aged man wanted to open his mouth to scream yet he found that he was unable to move at all. Even talking was not possible! ¡°Insignificant thing, how did you get in here? Hm?¡± The man struggled desperately but it was all in vain, as if something was taken away from him. ¡°Answer me, how did you and those mice get into my underground palace?¡± Wen Feng Jin added a little force and the man¡¯s skull was almost crushed! The man opened his mouth widely and let out a scream with all his might: ¡°There¡¯s..there¡¯s a map! I have a map!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in my backpack! It¡¯s true! Please let me go! Let me¡ª¡± The next sound was muffled as liquid splattered on the walls and a sweet smell of blood wafted throughout the tomb. The headless body fell to the ground, convulsed twice then became motionless. Wen Feng Jin shook his hand and the sticky liquid trickled off his white and slender fingers, making plip plop sounds. He then turned the corpse and retrieved the map from the backpack. He looked at the back with an indifferent expression before using it to wipe his hands. All of a sudden, a tremble swept over Wen Feng Jin¡¯s whole body! ¡°Mian Deng, please don¡¯t be mad!¡± The cold looking handsome man said to the air in panic: ¡°I don¡¯t kill anymore alright? It¡¯s because they bullied me, that¡¯s why I had to kill them¡­¡± Then, for some reason, his brain fixed itself and the handsome man calmed down. He told himself happily: ¡°I know you won¡¯t be mad at me. They¡¯re all outsiders. Only you and I are the most intimate.¡± Wen Feng Jin suddenly turned psycho, talking to himself while smiling gently at the air. TN: the crazies are called sh¨¦n j¨©ng b¨¬ng (Éñ¾­²¡) but the author used a homophonic sh¨¥n j¨«ng b¨©ng (Éî¾®±ù) which literally means ¡®deep well ice¡¯ to describe Wen Feng Jin here. I think both terms do indeed describe him If Wang Xiao Mie was to see this scene, he would be scared sh*tless and scurried away as fast as he could. After quite a while, Wen Feng Jin calmed down. Almost as if he switched into another personality, he said: ¡°Inscription? It seems the craftsmen who built the tomb were dishonest. They even dared to record this down.¡± Wen Feng Jin lowered his head and said to the corpse on the ground: ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that you let me know. What if this thing was seen by Mian Deng?¡± ¡°Moreover, Mian Deng likes polite people, so I will have to reward you well.¡± He crouched down and held the corpse¡¯s hand like a well-mannered gentleman, then smiled at the dead body and said: ¡°Thank you very much.¡± He stood up with an unchanged expression and said towards the empty passageway: ¡°Mu Yi, destroy any place with an inscription. And also make sure to reward our guest. He liked gold and silver so take his body to the side courts where those things are stored to satisfy his wishes. Do not be stingy, got it?¡± Two clickings echoed from the dark emptiness of the tomb. ¡°Look Mian Deng, did I do well?¡± Conversing by himself, his face turned red abruptly. He bit his lips and said: ¡°Shi Xiong, you don¡¯t have to praise me, you¡¯re the one who¡¯d taught me well¡­¡± He raised the corner of his mouth and spoke to the nothingness. And then as if receiving someone¡¯s approval, he became slightly shy and turned to leave. His shoes, stained with blood from the ground, left a row of red prints behind. And at the moment he turned to leave, the corpse on the ground also disappeared instantly. Mian Deng is still waiting for me. He has returned to my side. This time¡­ This time¡­ I will never let him run away ¡­ The author has something to say: how normal can someone who laid down with a corpse in a underground palace for over a thousand years be? CH 6 Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary: Today is my second day of being a newly wedded wife in an underground palace¡­.. ¡­..I¡¯m hungry. Standing under the big tree, watching the falling petals, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes glowed green with hunger. He swallowed his saliva, ¡°Can this thing be eaten?¡± ¡°For the time being, this ancient tree is interrelated to your body. If the tree is damaged¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin asked with some confusion: ¡°Shixiong, why do you ask?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m hungry!¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked at the only possibly edible thing and shed tears of grief. This was already the second day he had been here. Why was he feeling hungry even when he was already dead? And the hunger felt worse than when he was alive. The sense of lacking and needing to eat was driving him mad! However, within this proximity in this underground palace, the only solution was to gnaw on the tree bark. And because he had entered the ¡®family tree¡¯ and became ¡®Wang Tree Man¡¯, leaving the tree for too long will cause his skin to turn greyish-green, a very frightening sight. He felt that he should solve his hunger asap as his instinct told him that something bad will happen if he didn¡¯t. Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his saliva wildly and squatted on the grounds, biting his nails. He was unaware that his eyes were gradually covered with a layer of ferocious scarlet glow. I¡¯m hungry¡­..I¡¯m very hungry¡­..I want to eat¡­.. Advertisements Seeing this scene, Wen Feng Jin slowly hooked the corner of his mouth. He changed to a gentle expression and embraced the man squatting on the ground. He said softly: ¡°This underground palace was originally a tomb, there is nothing to eat here. In the ancient books, there was no record that the resurrected will feel hunger. This is all my fault. I¡¯ve let you suffer¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s head was foggy but he was still partially sane, he waved his hand and thought: He¡¯s not to blame. I also did not think that zombies can get hungry. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault¡­¡± Covering his stomach, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s mouth kept salivating. ¡°Mian Deng¡­.you¡¯re still as considerate as ever.¡± Wen Feng Jin said: ¡°But your symptom is strange, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s good to let this go on¡­. There is one more thing you can have in this underground palace.¡± There¡¯s food?! ¡°What is it?!¡± Wang Xiao Mie widened his eyes. The narrow eyes with those large black pupils bent. Wen Feng Jin pulled aside the cumbersome collar to reveal his ivory white neck, then his nail extended and cut deep into the skin like a knife. The gushing of blood one would have imagined did not happen. Such a deep wound but only a little blood was oozing out. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please go ahead.¡± The hell! Drink¡­blood?! ¡°I¡¯m not drinking it!¡± How can humans drink human blood? He¡¯s not a man eating monster! The logic in his head denounced the idea but the famished stomach burned with anxiety. Wang Xiao Mie did not know that the crimson glow in his eyes intensified as he was staring at Wen Feng Jin¡¯s blood. The smell alone was enough to make his palms tremble. The originally beautiful face was now ferocious and monstrous with greyish pale skin and scarlet red eyes, with blue veins and blood vessels spreading across the translucent skin. Especially in his red wedding clothes, this appearance was all the more fearsome. Is this still a human? It¡¯s clearly a heart-attack-inducing monster! But even to such a Wang Xiao Mie, Wen Feng Jin was still indulgent and gentle. His palm went through Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s long hair and with a slight force, pressed his head towards the wound on his neck. ¡°We are husband and wife, making sure you¡¯re full is my duty as a husband.¡± The rasp voice and slight chuckles carried an unspeakable bliss. As for Wang Xiao Mie, his consciousness blacked out the moment his lips touched the blood. All he knew now was to satiate the painful hunger that was torturing him! Wang Xiao Mie, who had never even killed a chicken and would even tremble when watching a horror movie, was now biting firmly into fwj¡¯s neck, trying to suck out large gulps of blood. Like a crazed animal, he even stuck out his tongue deep into the wound to lick it! Wen Feng Jin narrowed his eyes as he embraced the demon in his arms that only knew to suck his blood. His back against the full bloomed peach blossom tree, he closed his eyes and hummed a tune in happiness, as if enjoying this very act. When the tongue touched his neck, a red hue appeared on his face, making him place his hand gently on the back of Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s head. He pressed down a little harder¡­ ¡°Oh Shixiong ~, oh Mian Deng, look at you. You used to hate me touching you before, and now? You even voluntarily came to me. I¡¯m so happy, Shixiong¡­.¡± ¡°Go ahead and drink¡­is it good? Be addicted to my blood and never leave me¡­.it¡¯s me who brought you back¡­.¡± The scarlet pattern in between his brows gleamed brighter and the frightening black pupils were glowing with excitement. ¡­ ¡°How did I fall asleep?¡± Wang Xiao Mie scratched his head and looked straight at the blooming tree above. He reached out his hand and sat up from the coffin. The last thing he remembered was him biting his nails in hunger under the tree, how did he end up waking up in the coffin? Damn! Did I faint from hunger?! Wang Xiao Mie knew that sometimes he would get low blood sugar but now that he¡¯s a dumpling, can one still get that? Wang Xiao Mie unconsciously sipped his lips and suddenly felt odd. Hm? There¡¯s a strange flavour in his mouth. A little bitterness with the fragrance of medicine, and also a slight trace of sweetness. He covered his stomach and kneaded, realizing that he was no longer hungry, Wang Xiao Mie was a little flustered. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± A familiar male voice came from beside him. Wang Xiao Mie turned his head and found Wen Feng Jin lying in the coffin. His clothes were in disarray and his face was pale but the smile on his lips remained as gentle. Since the first time they met, Wang Xiao Mie did not happen to see many other expressions from him. And now whenever Wang Xiao Mie saw him, he always felt a particular sense of intimacy and warmth, like a beauty filter was added. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Seeing how Wen Feng Jin looked as though he was sucked dry, Wang Xiao Mie asked him curiously. ¡°Call me Feng Jin. Just now when Shi Xiong was asleep, you kept putting your hand into my clothes, no matter how I pulled, it won¡¯t come off.¡± Wen Feng Jin had a teasing expression on his beautiful face as he gave Wang Xiao Mie a profound look. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡± Zombies don¡¯t blush, otherwise, his face would have long been red as a monkey¡¯s butt! Pick up your integrity, it¡¯d fallen all over the floor! Wang Xiao Mie spat on himself in his heart. Doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re a face fanatic or never had a boyfriend for over twenty years, control yourself! ¡°Feng Jin, about that, I¡¯m sorry. Ha ha. I tend to move about when I¡¯m asleep.¡± Wang Xiao Mie explained awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s very comfortable when you touch me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± You¡¯re behaving like a ruffian, aren¡¯t you, aren¡¯t you? Interrupted by this, Wang Xiao Mie, who had initially wanted to ask Wen Feng Jin why his hunger was cured, just attributed it to the fact that he was a zombie now and sleeping can eliminate his hunger. But this is strange. Why is there such a taste in my mouth? Wang Xiao Mie asked himself in confusion. Could it be¡­..because I didn¡¯t brush my teeth??? CH 7 Since after Shi Xiong died, I¡¯ve killed all the people involved, and tortured our enemies to death at the front gate of the tomb. As a reward, I let my abled subordinates use the failed elixirs made by the taoists priests to become powerful guardians for the entire tomb palace. In order for the sacred tree to summon Shixiong, the main tomb had to be located at the very core of the palace. The four corners surrounding the main tomb were divided into countless stories of tall vaults, tombs and monuments, creating a labyrinth of catacombs that even I have not visited. There are built in traps, mechanisms, underground gardens, towers and side palaces, underground rivers, streams and fountains, mountains of treasures and gold and silver¡­ ¡­as if the whole royal palace was brought underground. It is this level of grandeur that is worthy of being our wedding room. Uhm, that¡¯s right, I am going to dress Mian Deng in wedding clothes in this underground palace. Even if death has taken him away, he will still sleep in my arms, become my bride, and sleep with me in the same coffin. The black gold-gilded shoes slowly walked past the bloodied passage of the tomb, under the gaze of the monstrous tomb keepers who were once humans. He carried the sleeping person and walked across the suspended metal chain as if walking on solid ground, and towards the giant blooming acacia tree¡­ ¡­where they were finally buried together. In the dark coffin, I gazed at the sleeping Mian Deng and felt a small sense of bliss. Only in death would he be willing to be with me. He won¡¯t reject my touch, he won¡¯t talk to me with those cold eyes, he won¡¯t call me a demon, he won¡¯t choose to go from place to place to avoid me¡­. ¡°Shi Xiong, I really like you. From the time you replaced shi fu in teaching me¡­.I¡¯ve always been the most special in your eyes, isn¡¯t it? So what if I killed shi fu and those so-called clansmen? They refused to let us be together, how can I not retaliate?¡± ¡°They all looked down on me and hated my origin. Although Shifu took me in, he had never seriously considered me as his apprentice! And those fellow students? Oh they all deserve to die! All of them!¡± ¡°Only you, shixiong, only you. You¡¯ve never isolated me, never looked at me with any disgust. You selflessly impart everything you¡¯ve learned to me. When I was young, you even coaxed the timid and shivering me to sleep.¡± ¡°Why did this all change¡­.you clearly said that you will stay with me forever, why did it change?!¡± There was a sound of twisted laughter and someone questioning in a restrained voice. But all that doesn¡¯t matter now. Shixiong must have been wrong, he must¡¯ve misunderstood me. He was just mistaken. He actually loves me. Look how happy he is lying next to me. Wen Feng Jin raised himself with a smile and started pulling at Mian Deng¡¯s wedding clothes. ¡°All that doesn¡¯t matter now. We¡¯re getting married. I¡¯ve always been dreaming about this day, you also feel the same right? I¡¯m really happy.¡± With countless miracle herbs and treasures, the body was preserved so perfectly that it looked alive, seemingly able to open its eyes any minute soon. The braided waist rope and pearl necklace were removed and set aside by thin and long fingers. The girdle at the waist and jade beads were scattered all over. The red large wedding dress was like an exquisite sweet wrapper and peeling it off will reveal the soft and sweet delicacy inside. The cold and rigid, yet smooth and slender body was lightly covered by another slightly fresher one. ¡°Shixiong, you¡¯re really beautiful. The most beautiful person I¡¯ve ever met. I¡¯m so happy ¡­you finally belong to me. Shixiong¡­¡± [lights out and harmonious music] CH 8 Wang Xiao Mie diary: today I¡¯m underground picking up garbage, huuuu¡­. I seem to have forgotten a lot of things. Like a piece of white cloth was placed over my father, mother, and my former life. Yet even when I¡¯m clearly in the dark, there was a satisfaction of being ignorant. Wang Xiao Mie looked indifferently at his strange self in the huge bronze mirror. A good-looking face with a pair of gentle eyes, even when showing no emotion, the appearance was still easy on the eyes. Wang Xiao Mie frowned. He died, became a zombie, had a thousand years old lover, and was now living in an underground palace. He just felt that he had accepted all these too quickly. Even when he saw something out of this world, he was no longer scared or suspicious, as if he had lost this emotion¡­ But this is too just unscientific! ¡°Am I under a spell?¡± Wang Xiao Mie stood in the vast open hall, looking at the mirror and laughing to himself. The surrounding candles flickered and the atmosphere gave off a sense of terror. In the past, he would¡¯ve peed but now, he only felt a familiarity as if he had lived here for hundreds of years. Wang Xiao Mie muttered to himself: ¡°This isn¡¯t right¡­¡± what¡¯s wrong with me? ¡°Shixiong, what are you doing?¡± a pair of hands grabbed his shoulders as a gentle smiling face came close to his ears. The image reflected from the yellow mirror sets off a chill. Wang Xiao Mie could feel that the claws on him had exerted a lot of force. The slender fingers were like hooks clinging onto him. If he wasn¡¯t a corpse right now, he would have screamed in pain. Were it someone else in this situation, being grabbed forcefully all a sudden like this, they would have slapped the hand away and some might even react with ¡°what the f*ck? Are you sick?¡± But Wang Xiao Mie just could not get angry with the face in the mirror, not even a tiny bit annoyed. He obediently let the person behind embrace him. ¡°Shixiong, be a good boy. When I wake up and don¡¯t see you, I¡¯ll get worried. In the future, you cannot be too far from me, got it?¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s tone was overly indulgent as he helplessly heaved a sigh. His cold palm combed through Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair. He looked just like a perfect lover. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s fingers twitched. Seeing Wen Feng Jin looking at him in such a way, he was a little agitated. In his head, he thought: What¡¯s it to you? These few days I¡¯ve been stuck to you almost like a belt! But his mouth sweetly said: ¡°Ok, there won¡¯t be a next time.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡± When did I become such a hypocrite?! ¡°Why did you come here today?¡± ¡°No reason. Just walking around.¡± Advertisements At first when he saw the mountains of gold bars and pearls in one of the side halls, he could still jump up and rejoice, thinking he was finally a wealthy man. But now he only played with them with a dead expression. This underground tomb was too dormant and quiet like it would swallow away any sound. It¡¯s depressing to death. ¡°If only there¡¯s internet and a smartphone that I can play games with¡­ I haven¡¯t played for so long.¡± Wang Xiao Mie let a long wolf howl that echoed along the halls. Wen Feng Jin said: ¡°Are you referring to the props that the humans of today use? If it¡¯s those little things, there are plenty in another side hall. They were left by some grave robbers who died in the traps of the tomb. The little ones that I raised here carried them to the side hall.¡± ¡°Come, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Wang Xiao Mie followed Wen Feng Jin past several towers and stone passageways where he would sometimes open with a hidden switch. Perhaps feeling that it was too quiet, Wang Xiao Mie asked softly: ¡°What about the bodies?¡± Wen Feng Jin glanced back and winked. He then smiled and said: ¡°I ate them.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­d¡­does it taste good?¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°Heh, that was a lie.¡± ¡°¡­¡± why do I feel like it¡¯s true. When they reached one of the outer halls, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s mouth was agape. He was shocked speechless looking at the equipment bags waiting to be looted on the ground. There were modern-looking ones, old and even antique ones. Some might be from the nineties while the older ones were in tatters and seemed like they would turn into ash with a touch. Wang Xiao Mie also found many ancient weapons such as a katana. He wondered if these were used by the modern graverobbers to cut dumplings or they were the weapon of choice for the ancient graverobbers. Wang Xiao Mie picked one up and wiped the dust off. He unsheathed it and his eyes sparkled. After so many years, the blade was still shining like snow! Other than this, he quickly shifted his interest to the newest looking backpacks. Like a hamster after stealing food, he screamed with excitement as he laid out the items on the ground. ¡°Wow! Flare sticks, flashlights, lighters, diaries! And there are even canned foods and biscuits! And they are still edible! Yay!¡± Wang Xiao Mie also found several smartphones that were off. He eagerly turned them on only to find out that they were password protected. There was one that he could use but after fumbling with it for a while, the battery died¡­ Wang Xiao Mie looked at the sacrificial phone and shed tears of grief. That said, digging and looting for treasures was quite addictive. He finally understood why so many gamers would risk so much just to loot items. He opened one bag after another and gathered the food that was still edible, especially biscuits and jerky were all the more tantalizing. The other personal items such as watches, photos, and so on, he placed them back neatly in the bag. As he was doing this, he mumbled to himself: ¡°Why does the owner of this bag carry so many beef jerky. Isn¡¯t it heavy? This one is almost expired! Have to eat soon! Oh, I should get more pens and notebooks. I¡¯m going to write about my experience and post it online. Hehehe I might become the next Robinson Crusoe!¡± The next item that Wang Xiao Mie touched was a soft and red item. He pulled it out and blushed instantly. ¡°What the hell is a grave robber doing with a lady¡¯s bra?! Were you trying to ward off evil spirits with this?!¡± He quickly put back the undergarment. In the next bag, he found several donkey¡¯s hooves, alcohol blocks, and an alcohol pot. ¡°Not bad, not bad at all. I can stew the donkey¡¯s hooves! Ah! Wait! I¡¯m a zombie now! Is it safe to eat these?¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked up at Wen Feng Jin, waving the donkey hoof, he asked: ¡°Feng Jin, can I eat this?¡± (TN: according to superstitions, a donkey¡¯s hoof is effective against zombies) Wen Feng Jin had been squatting in front of him all this time, happily gazing at him looting things. He touched his chin and said: ¡°Those graverobbers always carry those. It¡¯s actually useless, you can eat it.¡± ¡°Great! I¡¯ll stew them today!¡± ¡°Oh? This guy even brought some hotpot seasonings. And it¡¯s even homemade¡­ but I don¡¯t see any meat or seafood, were they planning to only drink the broth?¡± Wang Xiao Mie felt a pain in the chrysanthemum. Someone who dared to drink the hotpot stew directly, how tough is their chrysanthemum! (TN: the assumption here is that hotpot stew tend to have a lot of spices and most likely will induce a laxative-like effect) Wang Xiao Mie, the garbage collector, was happily collecting ¡®junk¡¯, acting like a good Samaritan, even though he was looting for his own benefits. He then shed tears of pity for himself: ¡°To think that a foodie like me who is a VIP on Meituan (TN: food delivery service) would be reduced to picking up food from the trash. Hu Huu¡­¡± ¡°Wow! Someone even brought a self heating hotpot! It smells great!¡± Wen Feng Jin looked at the mouse storing rice on the ground and showed a faint smile. He¡¯s so cute Bracket: I kind of want to mate. CH 9 Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary: Today, I¡¯m having a hotpot in my own grave. A misty river flowed along the artificially excavated river channels and rockeries. A rocky cliff beside a stone bank with a red-tiled pavilion, exactly alike those at scenic spots. On top of the stone walls were inlaid with luminous pearls and mermaid lamps that shone across the whole landscape, making the place bright as day. Wang Xiao Mie pulled up the hem of his cumbersome ancient wedding wear and tucked it into his waistband. He rolled the long sleeves all the way up to his shoulders. Like an aristocrat eating a popsicle, he squatted by the river and began making his hotpot. He placed the seasonings and donkey¡¯s hooves found from the graverobbers¡¯ backpack into the pot. The lava-like stew was bubbling. Wang Xiao Mie stared at it greedily as he swallowed his saliva. He partly felt the pain for his chrysanthemum, partly couldn¡¯t wait to dig in. ¡°Feng Jin, don¡¯t wash anymore. Come here. Have some hotpot.¡± Wang Xiao Mie shouted. Wen Feng Jin had his hair tied up and his clothes rolled up, just like Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s. One look at the messy handiwork and it was obvious whose it was. The devil that at one point could strike fear into the hearts of people with just his name, was now squatting by the riverbank and doing laundry with a gloomy face. A long time ago, he trusted the words of his wood-brained subordinates and chose the most flamboyant wedding clothes and had several sets of spares made. As it turned out, after Wang Xiao Mie knew that he could get a change of clothes, refused to put on the old one again unless it¡¯s been washed. ¡°These were worn for over a thousand years and never washed?!¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s disgust was too obvious. Wen Feng Jin could only swallow back the words on the tip of his tongue: the clothes are all dust-proof. But in order to see Wang Xiao Mie change, he still gladly brought over the new garment. What happened after only proved that there is no good ending for a hooligan. When Wang Xiao Mie finished changing, he handed the dirty laundry to him with one hand pinching his nose: ¡°boss, do you know how to wash clothes?¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­¡± As the mighty historical figure who could summon the wind and call forth the storm, how could he possibly¡­. not know how to do this! Once upon a time, the initially poor little Wen Feng Jin, from a very young age, already knew how to wash his own clothes. Although it was a very long time ago, he could still remember. Looking at the pitiful expression Wang Xiao Mie was making, Wen Feng Jin nodded with a stiff face. In conclusion, he was urged by the cheering Wang Xiao Mie to find a wooden basin from the side hall, squatted down, and began doing the laundry by the river. The invincible demon lord listened to Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s chatter as he rubbed the clothes: let¡¯s bring the rack for the decorations into the side hall where we¡¯ll use as the laundry room. The rack is good for drying clothes. Wen Feng Jin: ¡­.. That¡¯s not a clothes hanger, it¡¯s a weapon display. Advertisements Hearing Wang Xiao Mie calling him, Wen Feng Jin glanced at the mahogany basin and stood up quickly. He tidied up his clothes and went over to him. ¡°Don¡¯t pull down your sleeves yet! You¡¯re not done washing!¡± Wang Xiao Mie hurriedly stopped him. ¡°¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin looked at his shriveled sleeves and submissively rolled them back up. Two people who were full of historical elements squatted in front of a hotpot. It was a comical scene full of discrepancies, as if Tan Seng and his three disciples (TN: the main characters from Journey to the West) squatting on the roadside and smoking cigarettes. Wang Xiao Mie breathed in the scent from the hotpot and thought: what would a graverobber think when he sees two big dumplings eating donkey¡¯s hooves in the tomb? Good tomb robbers, please bring more donkey hooves the next time you come! A few days ago, he never would have thought that he could eat hotpot in this underground palace. Wen Feng Jin watched the steaming pungent cuisine that was the bubbling red liquid and felt uneasy: ¡°This thing is like the vermillion concoction of those Taoist priests, is it really edible?¡± Wang Xiao Mie took out two washed cans and spoke as he added food for him: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, these are delicious. Nowadays, people can¡¯t live without spicy food! Here you go, have a try!¡± Wang Xiao Mie shoved the chopsticks and food to him. He then eagerly stuffed the scorching hot food into his mouth. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s mouth was numbed and his eyes turned moist from the savory stock and the spiciness that rushed to the skull, this long lost taste made him feel alive again. ¡°Gosh, was this tomb robber from Sichuan!? Too spicy!¡± Seeing Wang Xiao Mie who was in tears but did not stop eating, Wen Feng Jin eyed at the can in his hand and stared at the poignant piece of meat. In the end, he still pincered a piece with his chopstick and placed it in his mouth. Wang Xiao Mie at this point began to observe Wen Feng Jin, from the point when he started chewing slowly to his face turning slightly red, then his nose started twitching due to the spiciness. Finally, he disregarded the etiquette and swallowed it quickly. The beautiful and elegant face showed a distorted expression. Wang Xiao Mie held his can and LOLed: ¡°So you¡¯re not good with spicy food.¡± Wen Feng Jin suppressed the spiciness with some difficulty. He frowned and said: ¡°I¡¯ve always preferred sour food.¡± ¡°I dread sour food.¡± He was fine with soy sauce and vinegar, but not with fruits, it would cause his teeth to fall. The two of them blew the steam and slowly ate the tendons of the donkey¡¯s hooves. At some point, Wang Xiao Mie said: ¡°I¡¯ve turned into this living corpse, I don¡¯t intend to leave anymore. I¡¯ll stay and accompany you. After all, my relatives don¡¯t like me. And my parents would probably just pay someone to deal with my body after they realized I was dead.¡± ¡°Although I still don¡¯t fully believe everything you said before, seeing how you¡¯re alone, and I¡¯m also alone. I won¡¯t hide this from you but I¡¯m gay, that¡¯s ¡®broken sleeve¡¯ in your language. If you can be honest and upfront with me, then we can start as friends and live together in this underground palace. Therefore, you don¡¯t have to deceive me¡­¡± ¡°Lately, I realized that I¡¯m getting more and more unusual. Does this have something to do with you?¡± Wang Xiao Mie voiced his thought in one breath but his chopsticks did not stop moving. It was nerve-wracking for him but he wanted to create a casual atmosphere so he could easily test Wen Feng Jin. After all, the other is a thousand-years dumpling, one wrong move and he could gnaw me to death! What past and present reincarnation, to him who only had his twenty-something years of memories, was not very convincing. Unless he could one day recover his memories as Mian Deng, otherwise, it was extremely hard for him to become someone else. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hand that was holding the chopsticks froze for a second. He looked up at Wang Xiao Mie. Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his saliva in jitters. After a moment of silence, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s face turned gloomy. He bit the side of his lips, drooped his brows and eyes, then said: ¡°I¡¯m happy you¡¯re willing to stay and accompany me. Don¡¯t worry, I will not hurt you. I also did not do anything to you.¡± Wang Xiao Mie frowned suspiciously: ¡°You really didn¡¯t do anything?¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hands clenched. He lowered his head and a tuft of hair fell over his cheek. ¡°I¡¯m not mistaken. Mian Deng, you are who you are. I am certain you are the one I¡¯ve been waiting for.¡± Then he said with a self-mocking smile: ¡°and you, even in your previous life, you still doubted me like everyone else because of my peculiar pupils. Why is it that even till now¡­ I still cannot have your total trust?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve waited for you for so many years! How could I bear to hurt you?!¡± His voice was trembling and hoarse like he was crying. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­.¡± At this very moment, I feel that I¡¯m such a scum. CH 10 Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary: What I want is not much. A spicy hotpot will do ~~~ Wang Xiao Mie was not able to see Wen Feng Jin¡¯s twisted and hideous expression when he lowered his head. Scarlet blood veins spread to the dark black pupils which had fully occupied the eye socket. That old waste of space! He dared to lie to me! Why is Shixiong wary of me? Why why why! The ritual I did was perfect! That useless old thing must¡¯ve lied! Wen Feng Jin bit his lips, trying to suppress his heavy breathing. If that old geezer had not been dead for a long time now, he would have tortured him to death! ¡°That¡­ I really didn¡¯t mean anything by that.¡± Wang Xiao Mie hurriedly put down his food and went over to him. Like flies rubbing their hands, Wang Xiao Mie began to coax: ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean it. You¡­you¡¯re a big guy why are you such a maiden gong??? Wait a minute! Could it be¡­. You¡¯re a shou?! No! This is not good! Spring is not possible for two little shous!! Even though Wen Feng Jin did not know what gong and shou were, he could still guess from context. He looked up and said: ¡°Mian Deng, you¡¯re overthinking¡­¡± That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. You just scared the hell out of me. Wang Xiao Mie cleared his throat and said with a little embarrassment: ¡°As I was saying, I might die if I¡¯m apart from the sacred tree, so I can¡¯t leave anyway.¡± As he was now the Wang Treeman who ¡®with one minute of charging, could operate for two hours¡¯, every time he was away from the tree for too long, he would have to rush back to the tree to replenish his energy. Now that he could eat hot pot and enjoy good food was thanks to charging under the tree for half a day. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have anything or anyone I¡¯m nostalgic about up there. Since you¡¯re sure it¡¯s me, then let¡¯s live together in peace. If I were to recover my memories, then we¡¯ll truly be together. Or if one day you discover that I¡¯m not the one you were searching for, then we¡¯ll break up.¡± ¡°How about that?¡± Wang Xiao Mie asked tentatively. Wen Feng Jin shook his head: ¡°There will never be such a day. I¡¯ve said before, I¡¯m certain it¡¯s you.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was puzzled and asked: ¡°How can you be so sure?¡± He kept quiet and stared silently at the bright red hotpot, apparently not wanting to say why. Wang Xiao Mie grew up with his grandmother. His parents did not care about him ever since he was a child. His relatives kept telling his grandmother that he was a burden. Whenever he made a mistake, his teacher would always say: ¡°Oh, it¡¯s that child again.¡± Perhaps it was this upbringing that from childhood, he could always see things clearly. He had nothing and hence, was not afraid to lose anything, at the same time, he was also quick to accept anything strange. There were times when his grandmother would ask him some questions during their heart-to-heart talks and he would get tongue-tied, just like Wen Feng Jin at this moment. What did grandma do at that time? ¡°Let¡¯s just eat¡­this matter, as long as you know what you¡¯re doing, it¡¯s good enough.¡± Wang Xiao Mie used his chopsticks to knock on the can and smiled helplessly. He heaved a sigh: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this! Us men will be codependent on each other in the future. And hey, I¡¯ve never been with anyone else before!¡± His grandmother was only with him for two years before she was not around anymore. Wang Xiao Mie actually felt quite blissful that in this life, he was able to find a person, no, it¡¯s actually a dumpling, that would accompany him through life. Rather than having a lonely life followed by a lonesome death, spending his days stuck underground with a companion was much sweeter. The creepy ¡®daily lives of two dumplings eating hotpot¡¯ was not something that he would even dream of. Therefore even if this was just some fantasy he was having on his deathbed, or that he was only borrowing the body of another, Wang Xiao Mie would still cling on to this opportunity despicably until the day he had to let go¡­ Damn! Why am I getting sentimental?! Wang Xiao Mie berated himself mentally. He then continued to eat the tendons and also picked some for Wen Feng Jin. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry! My taste buds are starting to get numb! This must be because I¡¯ve left the sacred tree for too long.¡± Wen Feng Jin looked at the meat in his bowl and then at a Mian Deng that was different from his previous life. As if he was in a trance, he let the hot and pungent steam hit his face. He thought: how long had it been since Mian Deng was willing to warm up to him, get close to him, and how long will these precious days last? At this time, he was willing to be by his side and treat him with care in a different yet familiar look. Wen Feng Jin put the piece of meat in his mouth and felt the heat on his tongue for a long time. A serene smile slowly spread across his face. This smile was different from the ones he usually put up to hide his true feelings. It was the kind that one would inadvertently show when they felt a warmth in their heart. ¡°Mian Deng, in this life, as long as you don¡¯t do me wrong, I definitely will live to be worthy of you.¡± Wen Feng Jin suddenly put down his chopsticks and said. Wang Xiao Mie smiled and blinked twice: ¡°Do you know that you have a habit? When you¡¯re happy, you would call me Mian Deng. When you¡¯re unhappy, then it¡¯s Shixiong. That¡¯s why I deduced that our relationship from last life wasn¡¯t as perfect as you claimed. But it¡¯s alright, you could wait for me for so long, even if I recover my memories, I think I¡¯ll still be able to once again get to know and accept you.¡± Wen Feng Jin looked at Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s smiling face, he was surprised and dazed. Then his smile widened and he agreed softly: ¡°Alright.¡± One big dumpling and one undead fake dumpling gathered around the steaming hotpot, trying their best to experience the love that they missed from one another, and at the same time, couldn¡¯t help being addicted to this feeling. This experience unintentionally had brought the two little pitiful souls closer. Advertisements In this regard, Wang Xiao Mie later gratefully thanked the grave robber who had brought them the homemade hotpot seasoning! Sichuan hot pot rocks! Homemade hotpot seasoning rocks! Wang Xiao Mie: I, as the co-owner of this tomb, welcome all grave robbers to come and play. Remember to bring food. You¡¯ll be given a free gold piece for a fresh donkey¡¯s hoof! Feng Jin, say something! Wen Feng Jin: Welcome welcome. We have a lot of gold to give away. (heh~ you can¡¯t get out once you enter anyway.) Graverobbers: ¡°¡­¡­¡± as if we¡¯ll believe the words of two big dumplings! After they finished their meal and Wen Feng Jin was done with his laundry, they went back to the sacred tree. The veins had begun to show on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s arms and his skin had also turned bluish pale. He clicked his tongue and complained: Stingy tree, can¡¯t even give me a second more. Wang Xiao Mie rolled up his sleeves and hugged the eternally blooming tree and began his daily tree-bonding routine. This tree was amazing. Just by staying close to it, he could sense the energy beginning to gather. Where his skin touched the bark, there was a vivid sensation of energy rushing into his rotting body and revitalizing it. After staying for five minutes, the fully charged Wang Xiao Mie climbed into the coffin. That¡¯s odd. Whenever he entered the coffin to lay down, the big guy next to him would carry a big smile on his face and lunged over to cuddle. And now, after they had their heartfelt talk, the big guy had turned bashful?! His body laid straight as a piece of wood. Even his hands were behaving and placed on his abdomen. Looks like there¡¯s no taking advantage of him today. Wang Xiao Mie felt a little pity as he laid in down and smacked his lips. That¡¯s right! Every time Wen Feng Jin came over to cuddle, Wang Xiao Mie would put up an expressionless face but inside, he was actually smiling all the way. He even pretended to put his hand out to resist but that was only a ruse he used to get a feel of Wen Feng Jin with his paws. By now, he was already aware of how many abdominal muscles Wen Feng Jin has! Wang Xiao Mie: That¡¯s right! I am this type of animal! So what?! The Wang Xiao Mie who righteously claimed his shamelessness laid on his jade pillow and dozed off. CH 11 Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary: How should I say this¡­.sigh¡­. ¡­as a zombie, I can still have diarrhea. Who would have thought¡­ Wang Xiao Mie was lying in his coffin, snoring and snoozing on the solid jade pillow. Until midnight, a familiar pain suddenly burst from his stomach! Wang Xiao Mie sat up with a twisted face and his hand covering his stomach. ¡°Mian Deng, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Wen Feng Jin never slept. Every time he laid down, it was just for show. Hence, with the slightest movement, he would react immediately. ¡°I, I, I¡­think I¡¯ve spoilt my stomach! Sh*t! Why do zombies still have to go through this?!¡± Wang Xiao Mie hugged his stomach and cried without tears, ¡°quickly, open the coffin lid!¡± Wang Xiao Mie couldn¡¯t wait to climb out. Yet after opening the coffin, Wen Feng Jin frowned and said to him: ¡°But there¡¯s no toilet in the entire underground palace.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Oh, that¡¯s right, who would build a toilet inside their tomb. Let¡¯s not even talk about the building of the ancient latrines in an underground palace, who would actually use the toilet in a grave underground?! How were they to know that the tomb owner might wake up in the middle of the night to use the toilet when they¡¯re already buried in the ground?! ¡°Then¡­then what to do¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie just wanted to cry. He was covering his butt and clamping his legs. The pretty face was scrunched together. ¡°Boss, do something!¡± He was almost at his wit¡¯s end if they didn¡¯t solve this soon¡­ This was also the first time that Wen Feng Jin encountered such a situation. He looked at Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s ¡®savage¡¯ expression and coughed gently, pinched his chin, and said: ¡°There are too many contraptions here. We can take a look at the outermost areas of the tomb. The craftsmen of that time should¡¯ve built a latrine near the tomb passageway to¡­cough, cleanse their system.¡± Damn you! Did you think that I wouldn¡¯t see your gloating smile when you covered your mouth¡­ Wang Xiao Mie ground his teeth and said: ¡°Then what are we waiting for?! Hurry!¡± ¡°But¡­..because the palace is extremely vast, even with a horse carriage at full speed, it still takes two hours. As for human walking speed¡­¡± At this point, Wen Feng Jin saw that in Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes, he had turned into a life-saving beam of hope. He then changed the topic: ¡°Although the palace is that big, I can personally escort you and it will only take half an hour.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie did not know if he was shaking due to anger or him trying to hold in. ¡°Why do you even make this place so big?! Quickly! Take me there! I¡¯m almost¡ª¡± speaking to this point, Wang Xiao Mie could not go one. He clamped his legs as Wen Feng Jin picked him up in a princess carry and dashed out. The surrounding landscapes passed them by exceedingly fast. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair was blown in disarray as he laid in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s embrace. When he was put down, he patted Wen Feng Jin on the shoulder and supported himself against the wall. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re a great driver¡­..ughh¡­.¡± the speed was 200 miles per hour! My mood was in a mess¡ªugghh I feel like throwing up¡ª! After vomiting, Wang Xiao Mie waved at Wen Feng Jin¡¯s confused expression and said: ¡°Boss, you can go now. I¡¯m going to have a ¡®squat meeting¡¯. In case I can¡¯t find anything to wipe my butt, can you go to those graverobber brothers¡¯ backpacks and see if there¡¯s any white paper?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Wen Feng Jin nodded and turned to leave when he froze on his tracks. He turned his neck and looked at Wang Xiao Mie with a smile: ¡°Shixiong, you wouldn¡¯t do things like pretending to have abdominal pain to deceive me and leave the tomb, right?¡± Wang Xiao Mie who was frantically pulling up his clothes and gathering them into his waist was stunned for a while before he shot back an expressionless look and gave him the middle finger. ¡°Get lost! Or I¡¯ll do my business in front of you! Believe it or not, that¡¯s how I can actually get out of here! By disgusting you to death!¡± Wen Feng Jin chuckled and left. But before leaving he said: ¡°It¡¯s dangerous everywhere in the tomb, I¡¯ll call Mu Yi to accompany you. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s one of the tomb keepers. Amongst the little things that I keep, he can be considered the cutest.¡± Wang Xiao Mie began squatting as he chattered. What bs?! That¡¯s just because you just don¡¯t trust me! Hmph! But what¡¯s with this cute little Mu Yi? Can he be as cute as me? The shameless Wang Xiao Mie babbled away. A few seconds later, his body turned stiff as he remembered something ¡­. Didn¡¯t Wen Feng Jin mention that there are no normal living creatures in this tomb¡­ and what kind of pet can a big dumpling keep? Is it a knight? That¡¯s actually scary! Wang Xiao Mie gathered himself into a ball in fear. He gave out a silent scream in his heart, calling back the big boss. But even after ten minutes, boss Wen did not return. At this time, the big guy was being held up by the toilet rolls wrapped in waterproof bags. Please excuse him, he had never seen what a toilet paper roll looked like. Advertisements Meanwhile, Wang Xiao Mie was in a cold sweat. He had to pinch his arm to stop himself from screaming. One of his special abilities came into play at this very moment: the more terrified he was, the calmer he would look. And at this moment, it could be said that he was scared sh*tless. In front of him was the blood-red lizard man known as the ¡®cutest¡¯ whose skin looked like it had been peeled off. He stared at it and fell into a deep meditation. Even his ¡®business¡¯ was put on hold. After half a beat of silence, he looked towards the lizardman who had climbed up the wall above him. With clattering teeth, he whispered timidly: ¡°Mu Yi?¡± The lizard man¡¯s smile extended from the left ear to the right, splitting its face in half. It then let out a laughter that sounded like clicks and swung its tail happily¡­. This is cute?! The f**k this is cute! Your house pet is frightening!!! But this was not the most frightening. When he was shivering from being scared by the thing in front and the struggle with the problem at his backdoor, there came a loud noise from overhead and the whole place began to tremble! Mu Yi the little cutie on the ceiling was making a creepy howl like the female ghost from The Grudge. It was wiggling around on the ceiling while staring at Wang Xiao Mie with a meaningful look, as if trying to tell him something. It roughly translates to: Hey buddy! Why aren¡¯t you getting up? Can¡¯t you see there¡¯s danger?! Wang Xiao Mie who was squatting with his buttocks bare: ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Buddy, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to get up, it¡¯s that I don¡¯t have any paper. Wang Xiao Mie grabbed his belt. He was hesitating whether to be killed by an earthquake or by his own stench. When Wang Xiao Mie had decided to abandon his integrity and was about to stand up, a loud bang from above came increasingly close. At this moment, a stone slab half a meter away suddenly opened up. A hole appeared as a light shone into the darkness, and the shrill cries of a strange man could be heard. A big brother rolled down from the hole and landed less than twenty centimeters from Wang Xiao Mie! ¡°Ow¡­..why are there even traps on the side of the tomb¡­.¡± that big brother had a strong built, he did not pass out from the drop. He squinted his eyes, then propped his body up. As a result, he came face to face with a certain dumpling that was about to pull up his pants. The two faced each other. They started a staring contest. He stared at me, and I at him¡­. They kept on staring¡­. Wang Xiao Mie awkwardly grabbed his pants: ¡°hey¡­. Big buddy there, do you have any paper?¡± The handsome looking brother: ¡°¡­¡­¡± They then continued to stare at each other in silence for half a day before the stranger suddenly issued a deafening scream! ¡°My dear mother! A dumpling wearing red clothes! It even speaks¡ª! Brother save me!!!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie whose eardrums almost burst: I was using the toilet in my grave when a big brother came down from above. He started screaming and whining, scaring me to the point that I can¡¯t carry out my business anymore. Tell me, who should be the one in distress??? CH 12 A woman¡¯s weeping sound like none other erupted from the side hall. It was the same as the last time the graverobbers intruded. This came from one of the creatures Wen Feng Jin kept. Every time a graverobber managed to enter the tomb, she would issue this warning from the position of the intruder. Hearing the woman¡¯s cry, Wen Feng Jin was able to quickly deduce location from the sound. His face turned murderously dangerous! Mian Deng! The graverobbers are heading for Mian Deng! In the meantime, Wang Xiao Mie was staring speechless at the man sitting on the ground and waving a black donkey¡¯s hoof at him. He was screaming and crying excessively. Buddy, you¡¯ve been doing that for ten minutes already, aren¡¯t you tired? Wang Xiao Mie opened his mouth and was about to say: ¡°I¡­.¡± I¡¯m not a bad guy. But before he could finish his sentence, the other party cried: ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer! Ah¡ª!¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie was squatting awkwardly. He tried to adjust his position and at the same time pulled down his clothes to cover up. Although we¡¯re all men, he still couldn¡¯t let him see. Perhaps his action caused the other person to misunderstand. The man with a dirt-stained face yelled out a battle cry ¡®I¡¯m gonna get you¡¯, then sent out an intimidating attack with the donkey¡¯s hoof right on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s forehead! Dong! ¡°¡­..¡± The absolutely fine Wang Xiao Mie stared back at him with dead fish eyes. The attacker started shaking: ¡°How¡¯s this possible?! Why is this zombie not affected?! It must be because I haven¡¯t used enough strength!¡± with that, he raised the weapon high and made a skull-splitting chop! Wang Xiao Mie who was close by could even hear the swish of the wind made from the incoming donkey¡¯s hoof! What the f**k! Are you trying to impale or smash this innocent dumpling?!! His facial expression changed drastically. Even though as a zombie, his skin was hardened considerably and could withstand a beating, and also resistant to pain, this did not mean that he would be immune to the impact from the hoof! What if his skin wasn¡¯t thick enough and his head was punctured. Wouldn¡¯t he be disfigured?!! In his horror, the donkey¡¯s hoof even looked like it was shining with a cold light. The lizard man Mu Yi was waiting for his command that did not come in time. Seeing the man¡¯s assault, its eyes flashed red and in a split second, with its wide-open jaws, pounced forward to chomp off the man¡¯s head! When Wang Xiao Mie saw the creature¡¯s movement, he grabbed the donkey hoof and unexpectedly, was strong enough to pull it out of the man¡¯s hand! ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Wang Xiao Mie yelled. The monster crawling at the top stopped. The man, oblivious to the fact that he had just barely escaped death¡¯s door, looked at his empty hand and turned pale. I¡¯m done for. This dumpling¡¯s cultivation is too high. Even the hoof was taken away! Advertisements Seeing that the graverobber was about to faint, Wang Xiao Mie, who still had no paper to wipe his butt, announced in a loud voice: ¡°Don¡¯t panic! You don¡¯t have to fear me! Rest assured, I won¡¯t hurt you. I was just using the toilet and god knows how you fell from above and came here. Buddy, I¡¯m very much in need of toilet paper at this moment. Give me some toilet paper and I¡¯ll give you back the donkey¡¯s hoof! I¡¯ll even tell you the way out of here! How about that?¡± The man¡¯s mind was blown away. He glanced at Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s standard squatting posture and the obviously abnormal clothes and skin color, then asked with some difficulty: ¡°Zombie¡­.still needs to use the toilet?¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..why not. Don¡¯t you discriminate against zombies!¡± The man was speechless for a long time reconditioning his mentality. He wiped his dirtied face with his hand, making it even blacker. At last, he opened his backpack and pulled out a brand new bag of tissue and passed it to Wang Xiao Mie. ¡°Thank you!¡± This dude is not bad, he actually believed me. Wang Xiao Mie took the tissue with immense gratitude. The grave robber who saw a dumpling opening the packaging with proficiency and preparing to use it: ¡°¡­..¡± If his face was big enough, the words ¡°Who am I? Where am I? Why does a zombie know how to use toilet paper?¡± would be written all over it. Wang Xiao Mie was finally about to clean himself when he felt awkward from the unblinking gaze. ¡°Buddy, with you staring at me like that, I¡¯m a little embarrassed. Can you turn around?¡± ¡°Oh ok!¡± the man turned quickly, also with a little embarrassment. Wang Xiao Mie was relieved. When it was finally done, he stood up with the hoof and walked out of the doorless latrine towards the man. One good thing about being turned into a zombie: no leg cramps even after squatting for so long. After some deep thinking, the man suddenly patted Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s shoulder and laughed: ¡°I finally got it! You were hired by my brother to scare me in the tomb, isn¡¯t that right?! This is to prevent me from exploring the tomb with them, right?! Hahaha, I¡¯m so clever!¡± How can a zombie speak so fluently? How can a zombie have a bowel movement? How can a zombie not attack a live person? Therefore this guy must be my brother¡¯s lackey hired to scare me off. ¡°Haha, you¡¯re someone from my brother¡¯s shop, aren¡¯t you? It must¡¯ve been hard on you, having to squat here all this time. Give me back the donkey¡¯s hoof, I have to find the fish pearl.¡± Wang Xiao Mie laughed with his white teeth showing, wondering what the man had supplemented his brains with. But now that he thought Wang Xiao Mie was human, things should be less complicated. He gave the man back his donkey¡¯s hoof. After he passed over the item, Wang Xiao Mie noticed that his hand was smudged with black paint! ¡°What the! Your black donkey¡¯s hoof was dyed? And I was wondering why your face would get blacker the more you wiped it.¡± Wang Xiao Mie had black lines over his head: ¡°Buddy, no matter how poor we are, we shouldn¡¯t dye a donkey¡¯s hoof black to deceive others.¡± Tut tut, who are you trying to fool? Do you think that zombies are stupid? The man was stumped for a while before scratching his head and smiled: ¡°I, I¡¯m also not sure about this. We¡¯re out of stock at home so I ordered it from Bing Xi Xi¡­¡± (TN: the actual name is Pin Duo Duo, it¡¯s something like Amazon.) Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± Hehe, you¡¯re quite amusing. Wang Xiao Mie discerned that this guy was still young and with one look, he could tell that he was a gullible one. ¡°By the way, are you my brother¡¯s new employee? How come I¡¯ve never met you?¡± He asked casually. ¡°I don¡¯t work for your brother. I¡¯m Wang Xiao Mie, and I don¡¯t know your brother either.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m Zhen Bei. if you¡¯re not sent by my brother then who are you? Could it be¡­..¡± he became alert and said: ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re also a graverobber?!¡± No, I¡¯m the unfortunate homeowner who¡¯s being robbed¡­. CH 13 And your name is Zhen Bei, how unfortunate. Buddy, with such a name, you still have the guts to be a tomb robber. (TN: Zhen Bei¡¯s name is Õê±±, it sounds the same as Õæ±³, which means very unlucky.) ¡°¡­..whatever. Just treat me as a grave robber.¡± Wang Xiao Mie sighed. He had not forgotten about the little monster Mu Yi drooling above Zhen Bei¡¯s head. ¡°Let¡¯s talk somewhere else.¡± Wang Xiao Mie led him out of the room and advised him carefully: ¡°Zhen Bei buddy, I see you¡¯re still young, you shouldn¡¯t be disturbing the graves of the ancestors. There will be retribution. Later when my hus.. cough.. my friend comes back and tells you the way out, you should leave quickly.¡± ¡°You have a partner?¡± Zhen Bei¡¯s black face lit up. ¡°But that won¡¯t do. My brother¡¯s eyes were poisoned and blinded. Only the legendary fish pearl from this tomb palace can save him. Thank you for the warning but I have to get the fish pearl for my brother.¡± ¡°Blinded by poison?¡± Wang Xiao Mie eyed the valuable equipment and props that he was carrying. Many of them looked professional. Most likely this was a family business. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Sure enough, Zhen Bei stuttered and couldn¡¯t go on explaining. He gave a dry laugh and stopped talking. Wang Xiao Mie knew that everyone has secrets and so he did not ask further. He then began to rummage his memories. Advertisements Fish pearls? Wen Feng Jin had let him play with every priceless artifact and treasure there was in the tomb but why had he never heard of fish pearls that could restore one¡¯s sight? ¡°Do you even know what it looks like and yet you came to such a dangerous place to look for it?¡± Wang Xiao Mie asked. ¡°Of course I know! I¡¯m not an idiot!¡± He pulled out a picture from his backpack and showed it to Wang Xiao Mie. ¡°Look, I secretly copied this photo from my second brother. This is the pearl we found last time, but it¡¯d been used by someone.¡± We¡¯ve only met and you¡¯re already showing me important information¡­ Do your brothers know that you¡¯re this trusting? Wang Xiao Mie squinted at the picture. The pearl in the photo was not very big, it was white and about the size of a mung bean. Its only distinctive feature was a black dot in the center which made it look like fish eyes. This thing¡­¡­why does it look so familiar? Oh, that¡¯s it! Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s left hand hammered into his right palm. He pulled the long embroidered red ribbon that was used as his hair tie up to their eye level. At the end of the ribbon was a string of beads looking just like the one in the photo. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Zhen Bei¡¯s mouth was agape and his eyes almost popped out. He pointed excitedly at the hairband in Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hand, unable to utter a word! Wang Xiao Mie was tidying up his hair because pulling down the band had caused it to fall loose from the crown. He twitched his mouth and said: ¡°You¡¯re sure these little things can save your brother¡¯s eyes?¡± Aren¡¯t these just decorations for his hairband? ¡°That¡¯s it! That¡¯s the fish pearls! Aaaaahhhhh! My god my god!¡± Zhen Bei jumped wildly. ¡°This is my family business, how could I not know! These are fish pearls! And there are so many of them! My god! My brother¡¯s eyes are saved! Hahaha. And why do you have so many of them? Can I have one? Can I can I? I¡¯m desperately begging you, the kind that people would go down on their knees to beg!¡± Heh~ Then go on, kneel down and beg. Wang Xiao Mie was laughing inside when he saw him clasped his hand and prayed to him with pitiful eyes, like a puppy begging for food. There was no way he could refuse. Besides¡­.. I have a whole trove of these hairbands! Wang Xiao Mie thought of the huge trunk of hair ornaments, from jade crowns to men¡¯s hairpins, that Wen Feng Jin would open when he helped him to comb his hair every day. But seeing Zhen Bei¡¯s hysteria over just the one bead, he decided to mute the sentence. Under Zhen Bei¡¯s yearning eyes, Wang Xiao Mie broke the string and the beads fell into his palm. He picked the biggest one and gave it to Zhen Bei. Why didn¡¯t he give more? Because he knew the saying ¡°the precious stone will land its innocent possessor in trouble.¡± with Zhen Bei¡¯s character, having too many of these will cause him more harm than good. Fortunately, Zhen Bei was a cute little silly. He was not at all dissatisfied with Wang Xiao Mie only giving him one. Instead, he was happy as a dog that got thrown a bone, he held the bead happily and his face was full of gratitude. ¡°Thank you Xiao Mie! If you ever go to S City, come to look for me, I¡¯ll definitely take you to have fun! Really!¡± As if. Wang Xiao Mie silently thought: you¡¯re such an innocent idiot, the only place we¡¯ll end up in is the dustbin. Just when his thought wandered, the overly excited Zhen Bei came over and gave him a big bear hug! As fate would have it, before Wang Xiao Mie could push him away, he saw Wen Feng Jin standing opposite in the tomb passageway with a twisted and murderous look. He would make a forced smile but the other side¡¯s eyes were already bloodshot and the black pupils were looking even more distorted! Wang Xiao Mie almost peed due to fear. He numbly looked at Zhen Bei clinging on him. Ooohhh, sh*t. The big scene of catching the adulterate wife in bed! Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Feng Jin ah¡­¡­.you, you have to hear my explanation¡­..¡± Zhen Bei got down from his body and looked back in confusion: ¡°Xiao Mie, who are you talking to ¡­ wow! When did that man come in? You know him? Then that means he¡¯s your friend?¡± After saying that, he even had to give it one last stab: ¡°haha, your friend¡¯s expression is so strange!¡± It¡¯s strange, right? It¡¯ll even be stranger when he chops us both up into minced meat dumpling¡¯s fillings¡­..Wang Xiao Mie covered his face. Wen Feng Jin sneered coldly and said: ¡°Friend? Oh, is that how Shixiong addresses me? Shixiong is ever as eloquent with everyone. But did you forget that we¡¯re already married? Even in this tomb, you¡¯re getting intimate with others, how improper for a spouse!¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡­¡± The hell is improper for a spouse!? Zhen Bei (stupid and cute emoticon): ¡°What? What just happened?¡± Looking at the cheating wife (did no such thing!) and the damned third party (I¡¯m the most innocent here), Wen Feng Jin decided to shut the door and release the beast: ¡°Mu Yi, what are you waiting for?! Tear that thing into pieces!¡± CH 14 ¡°Wait! Feng Jin just wait! He only came here to find something! Look! It¡¯s this¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie raised his hand and shook the end of the hairband. He barely managed to stop him just in time before the click click sounded. And once again, Zhen Bei, in a bubble of ignorance, escaped death¡¯s door. He did not know why his new little friend would quarrel with his partner but human instincts told him that the newcomer was not someone to trifle with. Zhen Bei stuffed the fish pearl into his bag and hid behind Wang Xiao Mie, poking out half a head to observe the commotion. Wen Feng Jin saw Wang Xiao Mie waving his hairband and instead of calming down, his expression was all the more horrifying. According to the customs of ages ago, from whence Wen Feng Jin came from, a man giving away his hairband, a woman giving away her handkerchief or hairpin, all represented a show of affection. On the contrary, asking for such items also implied an active pursuit. But this, Wang Xiao Mie was clueless about. He looked at Wen Feng Jin in horror as he suddenly smiled. He said in a low voice: ¡°Shixiong, I¡¯ve changed my mind. I don¡¯t want Mu Yi to kill him¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was relieved: ¡°As long as you underst¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin tilted his head and widened his grin: ¡°Um, don¡¯t worry Shixiong, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Phew~ then I don¡¯t have to worry ¡ª¡ª my ass! Wang Xiao Mie saw Wen Feng Jin lifted his hand and the two-toned sleeves puffed even without a blowing wind. His red clothes fluttered, his ink-black hair was adrift, flowing across the pale white face, giving off a spellbinding sense of beauty. Even at a time like this, Wang Xiao Mie was thinking to himself: Damn¡­..he¡¯s so dreamy! In the next second, before Wang Xiao Mie could even react, he was pushed back by a sudden gust of air. Before today, he never believed that anyone could actually hurl a person against the wall with a wave of his hand. In the blink of an eye, he was sitting on the ground and Wen Feng Jin had appeared between them, grabbing Zhen Bei¡¯s neck! Woooww! Flash?! ¡°You think you¡¯re worthy of my Shixiong¡¯s hairband?!¡± Wen Feng Jin pinched Zhen Bei¡¯s neck and could break it with little effort. Zhen Bei was now writhing painfully in mid-air as he tried desperately to pull off Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arm. ¡°Shixiong, don¡¯t be scared, I know you hate him too. I will finish him off for you, alright?¡± When he asked ¡®alright¡¯, the end tone was of a higher pitch, like that of a youth asking ¡®can I eat this candy?¡¯ He could kill someone on one hand and turn to smile at Wang Xiao Mie on the other. Wang Xiao Mie was scared silly by the powerful murderous intent yet in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s mouth sounded like it was nothing. He leaned against the wall in a daze and watched Zhen Bei struggling. Such a broad man struggling with all his might yet was unable to do him any damage! He was not joking, he will kill Zhen Bei, this fact Wang Xiao Mie could clearly perceive. ¡°Er¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie snapped back to his senses when Zhen Bei¡¯s throat gave out a painful groan. He quickly got up and hugged Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arm vigorously with his trembling body, screaming: ¡°It¡¯s not the hairband! It¡¯s the beads on it! Look! It¡¯s these¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie showed Wen Feng Jin the beads in his hand frantically. Wen Feng Jin frowned as he looked at the beads on the bluish-white palm. ¡°He said that his brother¡¯s eyes were blinded and needed the fish pearl, that¡¯s why he came here to search for it! Please let him go! Let him go¡­¡­I beg you¡­..please¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie is an ordinary man, this point he admits. He was scared of dying, of murder, death, and also of criminals¡­.. Even if he was regarded as a coward, he refused to witness a human life being snuffed out like this. I¡¯m just an ordinary man¡­¡­ Zhen Bei¡¯s resolve was beginning to weaken. Wang Xiao Mie quivered and his voice was close to crying, he begged the man that had seemed so ordinary the day before. When Wen Feng Jin bared his fangs, Wang Xiao Mie then understood what Wen Feng Jin was, what he himself was¡­.. They couldn¡¯t be considered humans anymore¡­.. His eyes could no longer shed tears. How could a body which had lost it¡¯s life force and abandoned by time have tears? Advertisements Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes widened. He was overwhelmed facing the man who was about to cry. A Mian Deng who was in tears begging him¡­..this scene overlaps with the one from the past. It was the same as that year. He had killed his hypocritical clansmen one by one, and his Shixiong, with the same look of despair, was begging by his feet. And then what happened? He still turned those people into ice-cold corpses. And Shixiong never came back. Wen Feng Jin never again saw him¡­. Wen Feng Jin panicked. He threw Zhen Bei aside and like an entirely different person, his face turned fear-stricken and despondent. He kneeled on the ground and hugged Wang Xiao Mie. Wang Xiao Mie was slightly trembling being hugged, but Wen Feng Jin only held him tighter. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid Mian Deng, don¡¯t be afraid¡­.I misunderstood you, I was wrong. Please don¡¯t be mad at me, alright? Please don¡¯t leave me. I¡¯ll let him live, I¡¯ll let him go, alright? I¡¯ll give you anything you want, don¡¯t go..¡­¡± ¡°You will definitely forgive me, right? You¡¯ve always been so understanding. You¡¯re also soft-hearted¡­¡­. Mian Deng, I was wrong, I¡¯ll carry you back¡­.¡± ¡°Mian Deng, why aren¡¯t you talking to me?¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s horror could not be concealed even with his expressionless face. He was like a lamb feigning death due to extreme fright. As for Wen Feng Jin, there seemed to be a filter in his brain that had removed the previous occurrence. He smiled, then picked Wang Xiao Mie up and carried him back. On the way back, he occasionally dropped his head intimately to rub Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair and used the tip of his nose to sniff. Wang Xiao Mie laid in his cold embrace, swallowed his saliva, and dared not move. ¡°¡­¡­see, you¡¯re angry with me again. Why aren¡¯t you talking to me for so long.¡± Wen Feng Jin bowed his head and complained softly and a few strands of hair slid down as the two beautiful faces got close to each other. The black pupils then twitched, and after he pulled his lips into a grin, his eyes had turned blood red¡­. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I, I¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie could not control his shivering. The ¡°I¡± was stuttered between his trembling lips and clattering teeth for a long time and nothing else was said. But Wen Feng Jin replied as if he did hear something: ¡°I know, I know. I will let Mu Yi escort him back to the tomb¡¯s passageway. He came with others and I will tell Mu Yi to drive them out as well. You don¡¯t have to be concerned. Ha ha ~ Mian Deng, wasn¡¯t my work good?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± I¡¯m certain now, the big guy is definitely sick! And his sickness belongs to the psychiatric department! But how would Wang Xiao Mie dare to refute, he quickly went along and replied: ¡°Yes.¡± The frown on Wen Feng Jin eased up completely as he strode on happily. The road continued for a long while, and Wen Feng Jin was holding onto him tightly the whole time like he was fearful Wang Xiao Mie would run off. Just as the jittering Wang Xiao Mie who dared not even breath saw the familiar palace, Wen Feng Jin froze on his tracks. Wang Xiao Mie looked up. He saw Wen Feng Jin¡¯s perfect chin and the psychotic smile had disappeared. In its place was a cold look of indifference. Wen Feng Jin lowered his head and asked: ¡°By the way, Shixiong, did he come in when you were using the toilet?¡± ¡°Yes¡­..¡± ¡°At that time, was Shixiong covered?¡± ¡°Not everything¡­.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do¡­..I will be fatally jealous if Shixiong was seen by someone¡­.¡± When every strand of hair on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s body was standing up, Wen Feng Jin continued: ¡°Therefore¡­.. I have to give Shixiong a small little punishment oh~¡­..¡± CH 15 In the tomb passageway, several cylindrical light beams were shining on the ground. A group of people who had just chased away a long-haired monster was leaning against the tomb wall to rest. All of them were wounded to some degree and the one with the heaviest injuries had already blacked out, lying on the ground and breathing heavily. The man who had accompanied them knelt down on one knee. His hand gripped the handle of an ancient bronze sword, plunging it into the ground to support his weight. If it wasn¡¯t for the ancient sword that was normally used to repel evil spirits, he wouldn¡¯t be able to chase away the terrible monster that attacked them just now. But when the monster was pushed back, his brother Zhen Bei had also fallen into a trap door! His fingers groped the ground and an anxious look took over the cold face. ¡°Second brother, Xiao Ju Zi¡¯s treatment cannot be delayed any longer¡­¡± Another wounded man said impatiently: ¡°This is only the tomb palace¡¯s entrance and already we¡¯ve met with such danger. It¡¯s already not a job for only a few men like us. If we stay here any longer, I don¡¯t know what else will come out!¡± The second brother, namely Zhen Mu, frowned and said: ¡°So we¡¯ll just let Zhen Bei wait here for his death?¡± ¡°¡­..of course that¡¯s not what I meant. But ¡­¡± but this place is so dangerous, can you even survive after falling into a trap door?! But he could not be so blunt with his words. The strong-looking man sighed as a hint. He then squatted down next to the seriously injured Xiao Ju Zi to feed him some water. Looking at the youngest guy of the group, Zhen Mu clenched his fist and punched the ground. He mulled over the matter for a while before standing up with his sword in hand, he said to his underlings: ¡°¡­.alright, let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll send Xiao Ju Zi out for treatment. Then I¡¯ll come back here with the people above the ground. No matter what, even if he¡¯s dead I still have to see his corpse.¡± The group was a little relieved. They packed in a hurry, carrying their injured ones and prepared to leave. Zhen Mu carried his backpack and followed behind with a sullen look. Advertisements Suddenly, a succession of clicking sounds like someone was being choked encroached from the tomb pathway! ¡°Something is coming!¡± Zhen Mu shouted, his sword was already drawn. When the group was frozen in panic, a red lizard-like monster hurled a humanoid object towards them! Before Zhen Mu could react, the monster had turned and left. ¡°Ow my waist¡ª!¡± the thing on the ground cried out in pain and tried to stand up with some difficulty. He hugged his waist and spat. ¡°Pei pei! I swallowed a mouthful of dirt! Oh? Second brother! I finally get to see you!¡± ¡°Zhen Bei?! Why are you here!?¡± Zhen Mu helped his brother up with a surprised look. Before he could say anything else, Zhen Bei became excited like a child and took out a small bead from his bag, ¡°Brother! I found the fish pearl!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡­ ¡°This is the punishment you were talking about?¡± Wang Xiao Mie was wearing a white unlined garment and his pants were removed and left to one side. He squatted and dipped his butt in the basin. All he needed now was a bottle of feminine wash and he could finish his hygiene care in the span of a song. Wang Xiao Mie who had thought that he was going to be beaten or hanged was washing his buttocks with an expression he would use to attend a funeral. Damn it! What the hell?! ¡°Why? Shixiong feels this is not enough? Do I have to do something to you so you will feel satisfied?¡± Wen Feng Jin laughed with ridicule and assumed a posture like he was going to grab his clothes, ¡°since it¡¯s Shixiong who wanted this, I will comply¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The moment he put down his hand, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s whole body gave a slight startle. Because he was scared silly by Wen Feng Jin before, even when he smiled now, the fear still lingered in his heart, preventing Wang Xiao Mie from acting mischievously in front of him like always. The peaceful interactions between the two disappeared in a flash. In fact, Wang Xiao Mie was now much more fearful towards Wen Feng Jin than when they first met. Seeing Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s listless look as he dropped his head. Wen Feng Jin took back his smile and the hand that was lowered clenched into a fist¡­.. The Wang Xiao Dumpling who was squatting and scrubbing was suddenly embraced by the other person. He kneeled close and held the back of his head with one hand and the other slid into the water basin and pressed on the cold and soft place where the water was bubbling. Uhm??? Uhm!!! ¡°There¡¯s no need. No need! I¡¯ll do it myself¡ªdamn it, don¡¯t touch me! I¡¯ll do it myself¡ª Aaah!¡± Wang Xiao Dumpling gave out a pathetic cry. My god, the big dumpling is acting up! He flopped like a mud fish in the arms of the big dumpling but he could not slide away from the iron-like shoulders. In the end, he gave up and laid like a salted fish, obediently letting the paws of the big dumpling gently scrub him clean. After washing for a long time, every part of him was scrubbed over by the big dumpling. He pulled the little dumpling up like a child and gently wiped the water droplets on him with a cloth. ¡°I don¡¯t want Mian Deng to be touched by anyone. I also do not allow anyone to see your body. If Mian Deng was seen, then his body will be stained¡­.¡± ¡°The dirty parts have to be cleaned up.¡± ¡°If the stain is on the skin, then we¡¯ll wash it off. If it¡¯s in the flesh and bones, then we¡¯ll tear it down, if it¡¯s in the heart ¡­..then we¡¯ll pull it out and throw it away¡­¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re clean now Mian Deng¡­.¡± Wen Feng Jin threw aside the cloth and hugged the pantless Wang Xiao Mie. He loosened his outer garment and lunged forward to paste his chest close. Through the thin white fabric, they could feel the cool temperatures transmitting where their skin touched. ¡°Mian Deng, you smell so good, I want to eat you up. Can I have a bite?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Ha~ I¡¯m just kidding¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s chest was a degree colder. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s chest was also cold but there was a weak series of heartbeat underneath. Wang Xiao Mie looked at the crazy infatuation and stubbornness in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes and swallowed hard. Whoever tells me that this guy ain¡¯t¡¯ sick I¡¯ll have a bone to pick with him! How is this normal? This is clearly the last stage of an incurable mental disease! ¡°Shixiong, are you hungry?¡± ¡°I¡­. I¡¯m not hungry. I just ate¡­.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re hungry. You need me.¡± Wen Feng Jin shifted his head and looked at him with a smile. The black pupils dilated and the blood-red symbol in between his brows dazzled, inducing a sense of dizziness. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s head swayed back and forth, feeling incredibly sleepy. He couldn¡¯t help dropping his eyelids. In his daze, he vaguely saw Wen Feng Jin pulled down his collar and revealed his neck. The long fingernails cut deep into the skin¡­.. Isn¡¯t that painful¡­.. ¡°Mian Deng, go ahead and eat. Look at you, you never speak your mind. You keep saying things to provoke my anger. Ha~ but I can never be mad at you. When you wake up, you will once again accept me like before¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s lips touched the soft skin and he gave it a lick. Hmm, it¡¯s bitter¡­. CH 16 Mists and clouds hovered over a mountain ridge, passing through a black pagoda covered in fog. A handsome and bright youth in light blue clothes was holding a rolled-up book. His gentle eyes looked at the radish heads spinning in their seats as they recited from their textbooks. As he swept his gaze across and paused on one of them, the child¡¯s evasive eyes and face turning blue caused him to smile helplessly. ¡°That¡¯s it for today.¡± He put down his book and the short radish heads became rambunctious and started to gather around his feet, calling: ¡°Da Shixiong, Da Shixiong.¡± After he coaxed the mischievous children away, the light blue sleeves scented with pine wood, drifted towards the remaining boy who was older than the rest of the other children. The expressionless boy was packing his books. Because of his soft features and special pupils that gave off a gloomy feel, he was particularly unsociable. His eyes would carry a demonic vibe as he looked at anyone, making them feel queasy. At such a young age, he was isolated even in this secluded mountain school. But the Da Shixiong who was approaching adolescence was not at all repulsed by the boy. He looked at the scrawny boy with his head down and once again smiled uncontrollably. The boy continued to act indifferent but his cheeks were gradually turning red. He blinked twice and murmured in low voice: ¡°I won in that fight¡­.¡± ¡°Right, right, right, but you didn¡¯t even gain anything.¡± ¡°Mian Deng Shixiong!¡± The child finally raised his head and yelled angrily, revealing his one black eye like a panda. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ha haha haa!¡± ¡°Shixiong!¡± The little boy was angry with embarrassment. He clenched his fist and lunged right into the embrace of the youth with the warm and gentle smile, clutching his slender waist. The lighthearted youth was tightly hugged by the small arms. ¡°I hate Shixiong the most!¡± Although these were the words of the little brat who buried his head into Mian Deng¡¯s chest, the way he rubbed his cheeks against Mian Deng and the reddening ears said otherwise. ¡°It¡¯s almost your eleventh birthday, what do you want? Hm?¡± Mian Deng lowered his eyes on the kid. His jade white face was filled with tenderness as he dotingly combed through the back of the boy¡¯s head, picking out the bits of leaves sticking on it. No doubt, he must¡¯ve been rolling on the ground during the fight¡­. ¡°I can ask for anything?¡± the boy in his arms raised his head and asked. His narrow and long eyes with the large black pupils were bright and full of hope. ¡°I can really have anything I want?!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± He said. The little boy was instantly jubilant as if he had just received everything in the world. He said: ¡°Then I want Shixiong to be my wife! I must marry Shixiong when I grow up. Mian Deng Shixiong, is that ok?¡± The stunned Shixiong started laughing again. ¡°There has to be Yin and Yang in everything. Little fool, two men cannot get married. Do not speak such unorthodox things again, got it? Don¡¯t make Shifu angry and punish you again.¡± The furious boy yelled: ¡°Shixiong is a liar. Shixiong said I can wish for anything! If the world doesn¡¯t allow it, I will change the rules to my liking in the future.¡± The smiling Shixiong turned pale, ¡°Quiet! Anyone can say that in private but you can¡¯t. Do you hear me? You absolutely cannot say such things!¡± Tears began to swell up in the boy¡¯s eyes. Mian Deng only saw those evil looking eyes as those of a deer, he couldn¡¯t help but feel tender towards it. ¡°Shixiong lied¡­¡± The boy did not cry when he was bullied for his weak appearance and background. He did not cry when pressed on the ground and hit till he bled. Every time that he was humiliated or punished, he would only stare obstinately. And yet at this moment, he silently let the golden droplets fall. Mian Deng¡¯s heart melted into a pool, he held him close and said helplessly: ¡°Fine, fine, I agree. Happy now?¡± When you grow up, see if I don¡¯t use this to make fun of you. The boy was happy again. He rubbed his tears with his sleeve and said with a serious face: ¡°Mian Deng you have to wait for me! I will definitely marry you in the future!¡± Shixiong knocked on his head: ¡°Little rascal, address me as Shixiong!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! Mian Deng, promise me quickly!¡± ¡°Fine fine fine, I promise you¡­¡± ¡°I will wait for you, Feng Jin¡­¡± I will always wait for you. Until you grow up, until you have the power to protect the ones important to you¡­ Until then, I will continue to open my arms for you. You have to live on¡­ Feng Jin. In the coffin, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s two-tone wedding clothes were loosened and pulled down to his elbow. Red love marks were imprinted on his skin from behind the ears to the chest and even lower¡­ The bare shoulder was covered with kisses from the beautiful lips. The long hair scattered and intertwined with each other. Advertisements Wang Xiao Mie woke up in a daze from the pain of being bitten. For a moment, he was confused as to where he was. ¡°Feng Jin¡­ I think I just had a dream.¡± The person on top of him paused and spoke in a low hoarse voice that tickled his ears: ¡°I also had a dream. And it was a good dream¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie could not stand the man¡¯s smile and shrugged his shoulders to gently push him away. ¡°Stop doing that¡­.¡± Wen Feng Jin responded with an ambiguous ¡®uhm¡¯. Every time the flat abdomen was pressed, this person would make minute trembles, arousing his interest to continue. The view below the neckline was even more beautiful but Wen Feng Jin did not continue. For today, this was the limit that Wang Xiao Mie could accept him. He neatly closed the loosened collar. ¡°This will be the last one¡­.¡± Any other sound from Wang Xiao Mie was muffled as Wen Feng Jin raised his head and used his lips to gently pinch Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s lower lip. The act was filled with an unwillingness to let go. The shuffling sounds from the clothes eventually died down. The man pressing on him turned the mechanism inside the coffin and the huge lid slid open. The tree with the bright burning blossoms loomed into view and its charming fragrance wafted in. Wang Xiao Mie raised his hand to cover his mouth. He was most alike a living person the closer he was to the tree. His eyes were spirited and his face was blushing red from the afterglow of the intimacy. The bea CH 17 Wang Xiao Mie sat up and took the cold outstretched hand. He stepped out of the coffin and started stretching his back, following behind Wen Feng Jin. He was then carried across the metal chain into one of the side halls. Standing in front of the bronze mirror, Wang Xiao Mie stood still and let Wen Feng Jin tie his waistband and groom his clothes. He smacked his lips and sighed with satisfaction: ¡°What a good man!¡± Next, he was seated on a stool. The man¡¯s robe was loose as he stood behind him to skillfully comb his hair. After a few strokes, his hair was perfectly styled. Wang Xiao Mie rubbed his thumb and forefinger to show the figure behind him. ¡°Honey, let¡¯s make a heart shape.¡± Wen Feng Jin spread his lips and chuckled with the mesmerizing pale blue face. He then returned his focus to tying Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair. The slender fingers wound around his hair with meticulous care for fear that it would hurt him. Heh, heh~~ What luck to have met such a handsome and considerate husband in this life. This was definitely unobtainable when he was alive, he did not even dare to dream. Unexpectedly after his death, he could live in a big house loaded with gold and silver and someone to care for him¡­. Weep I can die a happy death¡­. Oh wait, I¡¯m already dead¡­. Wang Xiao Mie sat happily on the round stool and said: ¡°Oh that¡¯s right. If it wasn¡¯t for the man named Zhen Bei, I wouldn¡¯t know that the beads on this hairband are so precious. It¡¯s better to put them away lest I lose them.¡± He then asked: ¡°Did you not know about their value?¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°Of course I know what they are.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Then why do you use it as an ornament for a hairband?¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°Fish pearls are usually worn to bless the wearer with clear sight.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­.. you¡¯re wasting away precious treasure.¡± Boss, I have perfect eyesight, I don¡¯t need this thing. ¡°Shixiong deserves the best.¡± As Feng Wen Jin said this with no second thought. He was done tying the red hairband inlaid with gold dust and proceeded to put a jade crown on him. ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie sat on the stool with a straight face. Awww¡­. I think I¡¯m in love. Wang Xiao Mie stood up after his hair was done. Wen Feng Jin did not go on to dress himself but hugged him from the back with his chest bared. From the bronze mirror, he could see the man sentimentally latched himself to him and buried his head on his shoulder. ¡°By the way, do you remember what happened that day with the tomb robber?¡± Wang Xiao Mie was feeling itchy on his shoulder and was tempted to touch the hair on the other person¡¯s head. He responded in surprise: ¡°Why are you asking about this? Of course I remember. I was using the latrine and suddenly a man dropped down. Umm¡­ he did not look like a bad person. In order to restore his brother¡¯s eyesight, he came to look for the fish pearls which I gave to him in the end. But I know outsiders are not allowed in the tomb palace so I wanted Muyi to send him away¡­.¡± ¡°Something wrong?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s nothing¡± ¡°To tell you the truth, I was quite touched ¡­. That day when we ate hotpot, although I said I¡¯ll stay with you, I did not expect you to trust me unconditionally. I know the tomb palace is our house, they may have their difficulties but it is still stealing after all. And yet you weren¡¯t even mad at me when I let him off¡­.¡± ¡°Thank you Feng Jin.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Whatever it is that you want, I will never refuse.¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s gentle face that was hidden behind Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s shoulder showed a sinister smile. The black ominous pupils were filled with delight¡­. Advertisements And I thought he was a big dumpling with a gloomy disposition, turns out he¡¯s unexpectedly kind¡­.Wang Xiao Mie thought with a tinge of guilt. Because Wang Xiao Mie felt that he had wronged Wen Feng Jin by siding with outsiders, and also giving away the treasure Wen Feng Jin gave him, he was very accepting of Wen Feng Jin¡¯s advances for the following days. And the face fanatic Wang Xiao Mie was never shy to begin with. He couldn¡¯t wait to get intimate with Wen Feng Jin on a daily basis. Before the day even ended, he would heh heh heh and hid in the coffin, waiting for Wen Feng Jin to ¡®tackle¡¯ him. A good husband with a good face, understanding, compliant, and super indulgence. I¡¯m an idiot if I let him go! After all, we¡¯re both grown men, what¡¯s there to be shy about? Wang Xiao Mie thought in his heart: So we are at the dating stage now? Wen Feng Jin: In my heart, we¡¯re already at the stage of having babies (smirk). ¡°By the way, Mian Deng, what did you dream about today?¡± Wen Feng Jin asked out of the blue. Wang Xiao Mie recounted the entire dream for him, then asked with uncertainty: ¡°Say¡­ will I really turn into someone else?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t turn into someone else, you¡¯ve always been you.¡± Wen Feng Jin said with unshakeable faith. ¡°You¡¯re only remembering the little parts. Later, more memories of our past will come back.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie nodded but was still carrying a frown. The dream was too realistic. He was conflicted whether it was his past memories or the memories of this body. Wen Feng Jin: ¡°But today is indeed my birthday¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Ha?!!! Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?!! A birthday ¡­. Ai, we can¡¯t get a cake now and there¡¯s nothing to eat in the tomb palace¡­.¡± let alone do something romantic. Want to blow a candle and make a wish? Haha, sorry but the lights in our tomb are all mermaid lamps that have not been burned out even after more than a thousand years! Seeing Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s disappointed look, Wen Feng Jin said: ¡°Since today is my birthday and you¡¯ve also been cooped up in here for too long, I planned to take you outside to have a look.¡± ¡°Go out!?¡± Wang Xiao Mie widened his eyes. ¡°Boss we¡¯re zombies now! Big dumplings! The kind that bites and kills people in movies. What if we¡¯re caught and experimented on?!¡± Even if they weren¡¯t caught, both of them have been living on a mountain of treasures, what if someone came and took away their home when they were out¡­. But he did want to go¡­ ¡°Above our tomb is an expanse of mountain ranges with dangerous terrains. Also, the surroundings should now be covered with dense desolated forests. We¡¯ll only go for a couple of hours¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin slowly combed his fingers through the hair of the person in front of him. ¡°Besides, I really want to watch the sunrise with you again¡­. Is that ok?¡± he smiled gently at Wang Xiao Mie. Wang Xiao Mie: yes yes yes! Gasp~ this dumpling is just too beautiful! CH 18 The round moon was hanging in the dark blue sky with the sparkling stars of the Milky Way sprinkling across, and unlike the sunbeam, these lights gently existed with the coolness in the air¡­ Thick mists and clouds surrounded the mountains and a black building was covered with dew droplets from the deep night. They wore flaming red clothes embedded with gold thread that reflected in the moonlight. Tiny dew droplets formed on the glittering fabric and slid off. Wang Xiao Mie stared in a daze at the overgrown stone path that led to a structure made of rotten wood which could still be recognized as an age-old building. ¡°Mian Deng, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Someone enveloped him from behind and tightly embraced him in his arms. It was Wen Feng Jin. He was also looking at the abandoned ancient ruins. His eyes were at peace with a smile. ¡°Nothing. I just feel a sense of familiarity with this scene¡­I didn¡¯t expect there was such a historical building on top of our tomb.¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked at the burned marks left on it and felt an unexplainable sadness. A stream of emotions was stuck in his throat, it wouldn¡¯t come out or go down. It was a sense of hurt. ¡°This place is similar to the one in my dream¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. Shixiong, have you forgotten? When we were killed, our sect was still fine. How could they be in any trouble?¡± He faced Wang Xiao Mie and said: ¡°This place is surrounded by powerful auras and situated on a dragon vein. Pity, it was originally occupied by a group of scums. Later, I took care of them and built the underground palace here.¡± ¡°Shixiong, do you think I did a good thing? Well?¡± Wang Xiao Mie glanced at the dilapidated building and nodded absentmindedly: ¡°¡­.it¡¯s indeed a good thing.¡± Wen Feng Jin slowly widened the corner of his lips. A ferocious and morbid smile appeared on the pretty face. His eyes fixated on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s frown. He could see his sadness but Wen Feng Jin could only feel a sense of satisfaction when looking at the ruins! Shixiong, look. Those scums who went against us are dead. I burned those filthy things to ashes. I built the underground palace here so they will have to witness our happy-ever-after even in their deaths¡­ ¡°Mian Deng, don¡¯t look anymore.¡± The dark night hid the devil¡¯s proud expression. Using an evil look to express the most gentle words, he said: ¡°There¡¯s nothing to see here, it¡¯s dirty and messy. Shall we wait for the sunrise over there?¡± ¡°Hm? Ok.¡± Wang Xiao Mie rubbed his chest and was beckoned towards a big tree by Wen Feng Jin. Under the tree were several stone benches and a broken stone table. Wen Feng Jin took out his handkerchief and wiped the dust. They both then sat side by side. The big tree at one point was flourishing but now it was left in a withering state. The branches were widespread and thick, most likely able to withstand the weight of someone climbing it. The wind from the mountains drifted over. Wang Xiao Mie breathed in the fresh scent of vegetation and the depression gradually vanished, returning him to his uplifted spirit. For some reason, sitting under this tree was very cooling, as if air-conditioning was pouring out from it. ¡°Feng Jin, what kind of tree is this? It¡¯s giving off a cool and refreshing aroma like a mint tree!¡± Wen Feng Jin thought for a while and a flickering smile flashed by as he swept a glance at Wang Xiao Mie. He raised his finger to his chin and the wide sleeves fell to reveal the pale bony wrist. He replied in a soft tone: ¡°This is just an ordinary tree. The cold sensation that Shixiong is feeling is probably because¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Because?¡± ¡°Because this tree was where I hanged the group of scums¡­¡­all one hundred and seventy-three of them were hanging here, drifting in the wind. There was another gigantic branch but it broke due to the weight. Oh yes, at that time, after their necks were broken, their head would droop and look down at the people below the tree. Umm, it was quite an interesting sight. Hah~¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡­¡± I, I¡­¡­ Damn! A cold breeze blew from behind and he felt a gaze on his back. Wang Xiao Mie screamed and gave a jump. He was already in a sprinting position when Wen Feng Jin stretched out to grab his waist into his arms. Wang Xiao Mie wanted to break free when he heard Wen Feng Jin laughing out loud. ¡°That was a lie.¡± He said. The large black pupils were focused on the man in his embrace acting like a panicking fawn. A strong sense of sympathy and love surged inside. ¡°Ha ha, you¡¯re so cute.¡± Cute my ass! Wang Xiao Mie rubbed down the goosebumps popping up all over his body. ¡°You know that people can be scared to their deaths!¡± ¡°But Shixiong, you¡¯re already dead.¡± ¡°¡­..believe it or not I¡¯m gonna bite you to death.¡± What the hell is wrong with that mouth of yours?! Woof Woof Woof! Wang Xiao Mie bared his fangs and grinned at him, waving his fist which was caught by Wen Feng Jin. Wen Feng Jin kissed the jade green and cold fingertips with interest and blinked at him. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Where do you want to bite?¡± Why are you looking forward to it?! Advertisements He could not break free from Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arm. He laid in his embrace and heard his voice rang through his head: ¡°Mian Deng, there¡¯s another reason why I brought you here. Look at this.¡± A pair of scissors and a red hairband was placed on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hand. ¡°Have you heard of jia fa?¡± (TN: hair binding to signify marriage) ¡°An endless life was not what I wanted. What I want has always been to be your one and only spouse¡­.¡± ¡°¡­.to be inseparable from you. No matter what we become, we will not abandon each other. We¡¯ll always have the other person in our hearts. Shixiong I told you to wait for me, I will certainly come back to marry you.¡± ¡°I made it. Now, are you willing to fulfill your promise and marry me?¡± The thick mountain fog was dancing like the turbulent seawater. The stars in the night sky began to fade with the moon. A few rays of orange light dispelled the coldness and illuminated their red wedding clothes. The Wen Feng Jin at this moment was showing a face filled with warmth and the cruelty in his eyes was replaced with a beauty that could bedazzle anyone. Wang Xiao Mie was in a trance. It was as if he saw in him the child in the classroom insisting on marrying his Shixiong. At this moment, he had an illusion that he had loved this man for a long time¡­. ¡°You must¡¯ve planned this from the start.¡± Wang Xiao Mie sighed and received the pair of scissors. ¡°It¡¯s my obsession to openly marry you under the sun. Everything I did was for the day that you will wake up and fulfill our promises.¡± Wen Feng Jin lowered his eyes and for the first time, Wang Xiao Mie saw him showing a genuine smile that was almost filled with sadness. He looked at Wang Xiao Mie like he was about to cry. In fact, Wen Feng Jin may not even be aware that his expressions, even when they were hugging or kissing, always carried a tint of aggression. This was also true when he smiled. It was as if he was preparing for the next second should the illusion disappear and ready to plunge himself into despair again. Wang Xiao Mie knew from the start that this was not a gentle person but he was helplessly addicted to the crazy infatuation in his eyes when Wen Feng Jin looked at him. I¡¯m just a face fanatic longing for love. Wang Xiao Mie had a bitter smile. He gathered a few of their long hair and tied them with the hairband, intertwining the crow black strands. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair was soft and thin and Wen Feng Jin¡¯s was harder to the touch. There¡¯s a common belief that people with soft hair have good temperament while those with stiff hair are more domineering. The sun finally rose and revitalized the earth. The leaves and grass shone jade green as dewdrops were like pearls slipping, off the surface. The clean fresh air carried across the clear chirping of the birds¡­ Golden orange light lit up the sky¡­. A man was hugging the person sitting on his lap, burying his head deep in the nook of his neck. He swayed his body slowly and sang an old tune in a low hoarse voice. His eyes stayed on the person in his embrace who was using his thin fingers to twirl around the locks of hair, braiding them together. Golden scissors snipped off the hair and the thin fingers tied it with the red ribbon. The singing stopped. Wen Feng Jin wrapped one hand around his body and the other grasped the braid tightly. ¡°Mian Deng, call me Feng Jin¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie was a little shy but he still complied: ¡°Feng Jin¡­.¡± ¡°Mian Deng, say you love me¡­.¡± the hoarse voice seemed to have changed its tune. Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his words for a long time before spitting out the sentence: ¡°I, hmm, that hmm¡­¡­I love you.¡± The last two words were not audible. The other person did not respond for quite some time. When Wang Xiao Mie thought that Wen Feng Jin couldn¡¯t hear him, a droplet and another fell on his face and shoulder. Hm? Rain? Wang Xiao Mie opened his palm to test the rain and said: ¡°Feng jin, it¡¯s rai¡ª¡ªning.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look!¡± A cold hand covered Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes. Wang Xiao Mie bowed his head. The visage just now replayed in his head over and over. The face that no matter the circumstance, would show an indifference had lost its usual camouflage. Instead, there was a look of grief and despair of being pushed into a cliff. And those dark black eyes were filled with transparent liquid¡­ Wen Feng Jin cried. But those weren¡¯t tears of joy. Why? He had clearly said it, didn¡¯t he? Why? After a good while, the man finally let him go and stood up. He placed the braid carefully into his clothes. He once again put on the look of tenderness and said: ¡°Shixiong, let¡¯s go. We should be heading back now¡­.¡± After being led back for a while, Wang Xiao Mie bit his lips and asked softly: ¡°Do you want Mian Deng¡¯s feelings¡­¡­ or mine¡­..¡± The person in front stopped and strengthened his grip on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hand. ¡°What are you saying. You are you, Mian Deng. We¡¯re home.¡± Looking at the broad shoulders in front, Wang Xiao Mie sighed. His heart had turned completely cold. CH 19 Back underground, Wang Xiao Mie was leaning against the tree with a dampened spirit. There was a conflict in his mind. And a strange sense of unease. His rationality and sensibility were like two little people arguing in his head. Little White said: Does he like me as I am or that I¡¯m Mian Deng¡¯s reincarnation? Little Black said: That¡¯s a stupid question. Isn¡¯t the answer obvious? What are you? His painstaking pursuit that eventually turned into an obsession was all for his shixiong Mian Deng, not you Wang Xiao Mie! Little White said pitifully: But Mian Deng is me, and I¡¯m also Mian Deng¡­. This is making me feel like I¡¯m a substitute. Little Black rolled its eyes: Heh! How is that the same? Even if you are him, have you experienced the intense feelings they have for each other? Can you replace that? What Wen Feng Jin sees in you are past memories, not the present ¡­ The sentence was like a knife piercing his heart. The knife was attached with barbs and when pulled out, his broken heart was bleeding profusely. The unwilling Little White said: But Feng Jin always smiles at us tenderly, so are his eyes when looking at us. Little Black sneered: Feng Jin? Why are using such an intimate way to address him?! Wang Xiao Mie, you have seen the fickleness of human nature. Are you used to acting dumb that you can¡¯t see that he¡¯s cruel and dark? Smile? It¡¯s all fake, ok? Don¡¯t say that you can¡¯t see it! His smile was even faker than those of your pretentious relatives. Who knows he might be hiding his dislike of you behind your back. Idiot! Little White was admonished till he cried. Little Black dominated and was arrogant. Wang Xiao Mie with his back against the tree dropped his head and smiled bitterly. Whoever said that people who often smiled will not feel pain when they were hurt. Whoever said that cheerful people will stay strong even after a loss. Nonsense. I¡¯m so sad I could die¡­. Advertisements ¡°Mian Deng, what¡¯s wrong? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?¡± The overly beautiful face came into view and the glowing red mark on his forehead sobered up Wang Xiao Mie. Seeing Wen Feng Jin frowned in concern, Wang Xiao Mie answered habitually: ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Wang Xiao Mie said hypocritically in his heart: I¡¯m only heartbroken and want to hang myself and die. You don¡¯t have to worry about me. Smiling ironically. ¡°How can it be nothing? Mian Deng, what¡¯s the matter? You look like you¡¯re about to cry¡­.¡± Wen Feng Jin took his hand. He moved closer and placed a loving kiss on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s forehead. ¡°Is it something that I shouldn¡¯t know?¡± He paused momentarily, then lowered his voice and asked: ¡°Mian Deng, did you remember something else?¡± Looking at the overflowing love in his eyes and the caring touch of his hand, Wang Xiao Mie shook his head: ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything.¡± ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t be impatient. Even if it¡¯s a memory, it could still be false. If you remember anything else, you have to tell me ok?¡± Wen Feng Jin said with a faint smile. ¡°Got it¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie felt that Wen Feng Jin¡¯s attitude towards him recovering his memories was somewhat queer and contradicting. Sometimes he was happy, sometimes he was on alert. Seeing his smiling face, Wang Xiao Mie felt irritated for some reason. It was like that face was a cast that he put on. He had a feeling the real Wen Feng Jin was not like this person who was gentle, caring, and never angered¡­ His feelings took over and Wang Xiao Mie said: ¡°Don¡¯t smile anymore. Your smile is so fake¡­¡± As soon as he said the sentence, he regretted it right after. And Wen Feng Jin¡¯s widened eyes and frozen smile further made him shudder! The two were silent for a moment, turning the atmosphere heavy and hard to breathe. Wen Feng Jin lowered his head and Wang Xiao Mie could not see his expression¡­. He seemed to be quite upset¡­. It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over! Which brain circuit of mine went haywire?! Wang Xiao Mie quickly said: ¡°Sorry ¡­ that was¡­.my brain was offline. Don¡¯t take it to heart¡­.¡± He frantically shifted the topic and said loudly, ¡°Oh that¡¯s right! Where¡¯s our hair braid? You didn¡¯t lose it, did you?¡± Wen Feng Jin lifted his head and showed a fading smile. His eyes were deep and cold, so cold that Wang Xiao Mie was in jitters. Then suddenly, he laughed heartily: ¡°Shixiong don¡¯t have to be afraid, today is our happy day, how could I be angry with you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Then can your highness retract your fangs when you say that? Not angry? You always call me ¡®Shixiong¡¯ when you¡¯re angry. Wang Xiao Mie complained internally. ¡°I stored it in the box inside the coffin. That box contains my most precious items.¡± At the mention of the box, the boss¡¯s flare simmered down. The most precious items¡­..Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes sparkled. Wen Feng Jin said: ¡°Shixiong, do you want to see it?¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Uhm, I do want to see it¡­.¡± He smiled and nodded: ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t show it to you.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Boss, are you that vengeful?! Or are you keeping a private safe from your spouse! I¡¯ll make you kneel on the washboard if it¡¯s true! Don¡¯t you know that money is only safe in the hands of the wife?! You just exchanged solemn vows with me and now you¡¯re hiding a secret stash. Weep, I¡¯m so miserable. Big dumpling is heartless, hmph! When Wen Feng Jin had laughed enough, he reverted back to being a good man. He went to fetch water to wipe Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s face and hands, then to his feet. The big hands rubbed his sole with a cloth and when Wang Xiao Mie was ticklish, Wen Feng Jin let go. ¡°Go to sleep. I¡¯ll always be by your side.¡± Wen Feng Jin tidied himself up and laid in the coffin with Wang Xiao Mie. The precious box was on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s side of the coffin. Because there was no entertainment in the underground palace and also Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s frequent lethargic state, they mostly spent their time in the coffin sleeping. When he was enveloped by the waft of bitter fragrance, Wang Xiao Mie positively thought: Who is this embrace for? It might actually be for me. After Wang Xiao Mie gradually dozed off in the pearl-lit coffin, Wen Feng Jin slowly opened his eyes. Using the faint light, Wen Feng Jin propped up and positioned himself on top of Wang Xiao Mie. He supported himself with one arm and raised the other to his mouth and bit down on his wrist. He then gently placed it on the mouth of the person below him. The body that was used to receiving blood as its lifeforce began swallowing. After a while, Wen Feng Jin took back his hand and dotingly brushed his beloved¡¯s face. His infatuated eyes depicted the yearn to kiss his nose and forehead. He lovingly rubbed his lips using his thumb. The mask that carried the fake smile was pulled off and revealed a cold expression, making the pretty face all the more cruel and tough. But the pair of strange pupils retained its gentleness without any pretense or hypocrisy. He was like a fallen devil who had switched to the good side. Cold, ruthless, and forever obsessed with the only one person who could give him warmth, this was the real Wen Feng Jin. ¡°Shixiong, did you remember something else today?¡± When he was with Wang Xiao Mie, he would raise his voice, trying to make it sound cheerful. But due to the influence of his personality, this became contradicting and made him somewhat of a perverted clown whose laughter was scalp-numbing. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s voice when alone was hoarse and deep. His speech was neither fast nor slow, capable of making one feel enticed. After he stopped talking, the sleeping Wang Xiao Mie instantly opened his eyes which had turned blood red. His pupils stared motionlessly at the ceiling. He answered slowly, word by word: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why wasn¡¯t Shixiong happy today? What are you hiding from me?¡± ¡°I was¡­ worried¡­ the person¡­ you like¡­ is Mian Deng.¡± ¡°I want¡­the person¡­you like¡­to be Wang¡­ Xiao Mie¡­.¡± Wen Feng Jin shook his head, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. The person I like has always been you. Shixiong you don¡¯t understand. It wasn¡¯t because there was a Mian Deng that you¡¯re here, but because of you that there was the Mian Deng that I loved.¡± ¡°The one I love is you, it has always been you¡­.¡± But I¡¯ve said too many lies and did too many things that I don¡¯t dare to tell you. So now I¡¯m trying my best to be the kind of person you like, so you won¡¯t be able to leave me first¡­ ¡°Oh one more thing,¡± Wen Feng Jin touched his face and said with a strange expression: ¡°Is my smile really that fake?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t Shixiong say you like people who are always smiling? ¡­.you liar¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin slightly hooked his lips. He put his hand over Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s face to close those scarlet red eyes. ¡°Shixiong, go back to sleep. I¡¯m truly happy today.¡± Wen Feng Jin laid down on his side. He put his hand on top of his heart and calmly closed his eyes. CH 20 Maybe because of the bundle of hair that Wen Feng Jin dreamt of the past. Cloaked in red with a beautiful yet icy appearance, Wen Feng Jin hovered above and looked at the little boy watching his father being paraded through the street to the beheading ground. Once the prince regent of the Northern Empire, assisting the king to his throne and regarded as the incarnation of a god amongst the people, now was charged with the crime of colluding with an enemy state¡­. ¡°His Majesty decreed, the son of the guilty minister will be sent to Xuan Feng Academy. However, the next three generations shall not be given any status¡­¡± A groundless yet ironclad proof of the regent¡¯s crimes was pinned on the several hundred people residing in the regent estate. The storytellers spread the words with indignation and the public who wanted to carve his father¡¯s name on a monument now swore at him as a traitorous dog. They praised the emperor for his benevolence in leaving the dog a descendant to light his incense stick. But was that mercy or malice¡­ Leaving a four-year-old boy to watch his family beheaded one by one? And what kind of mercy was it to send the boy to Xuan Feng Academy where one could learn all the knowledge but would never be able to excel for three generations. Wen Feng Jin looked at the four-year-old boy that could only cry when watching his parents being cut under the rise and fall of the blade as the crowd cheered and threw dirty things at him. Later, the despised child was sent to Xuan Feng Academy deep in the mountains. A place for academics achievement? The four-year-old was called a traitor the very first day. Someone pressed him down and tried to push his head into the latrine. A group of students not much older than him was clapping and laughing. ¡°Make him drink! Hahaha make him drink! Look at his eyes. How can humans have such eyes?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why he¡¯s the traitorous dog¡¯s son hahaha¡­.¡± And that was how the young child lived for half a year. His bed was always splashed with dirty water or something else. His food was always knocked over and the teachers would always punish him to stand outside the classroom during lectures. But the skinny and dirty child still attached his ears to the wall to secretly learn¡­. And when he was caught, it was punishment with a bamboo stick¡­. Advertisements Black hair drifting like a waterfall, Wen Feng Jin watched the scene without any emotion, not even a trace of anger. The child lived a stumbling life until the age of seven. When he went to the back mountain secretly to collect wild fruits to fill his stomach, he saw the dean and their Da Shixiong. This Shixiong the child had only seen once because he did not study in the same group. But their Shixiong was gentle as jade and even at such a young age, he had the reputation of being an unrivaled gentleman. The person was always carrying a smile and wearing robes of sky blue like a cloud floating along the mountainside. When they first met, Little Feng Jin was blushing for a long time. He heard the dean said: ¡°How is the plan coming?¡± Da Shixiong smirked: ¡°It¡¯s already been three years. That child is quite lucky. But I¡¯ve already instructed the other children and teachers. Mentor, you can rest assured. He will never be better nor will he ever rise above.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Watching this scene, the adult Feng Jin gazed at the smiling Mian Deng with a look of disgust. An unexplainable sneer appeared in his face. Since then, the small little Feng Jin turned cruel and isolated. He was no longer tolerant and would retaliate even if it would cost him an arm and a leg! And then a year later, he once again met the ¡®jade-like gentleman¡¯ Da Shixiong. It was under the newly planted ginkgo tree that he saw Da Shixiong sitting on the stone stool, smiling as he admired the tree. And when he turned around and saw him, there was a dumbfounded look on his face¡­. The wind rose and the long black hair and light blue clothes fluttered gently. There was a radiant smile on the handsome face and an untainted sparkle in the pair of clear eyes. This time, he was not like the clouds on the mountainside but like the wind after the rain. Witnessing the whole scene, the red mark between Wen Feng Jin¡¯s brows glowed brilliantly and the indifference in his eyes and face was swept away. He raised his hand and nostalgically wanted to touch the lighthearted youth¡­. Shixiong said: ¡°Little one, who are you¡­.¡± The child clenched his fist and glared at him with the eyes of a wolf cub: ¡°Don¡¯t you already know who I am?¡± He was stumped and there was a little embarrassment on his face: ¡°Ah¡­.ha, there are so many children in this place, er, isn¡¯t it normal for me not to remember? Let¡¯s get to know each other one more time. I¡¯m Mian Deng. What about you? What¡¯s your name¡­..¡± After asking, he then stood up and under the child¡¯s guarded look, bent forward. The smell of pinewood engulfed the surrounding air as he put his hand on the child¡¯s head and rubbed with a bright smile. ¡°I did hear they were saying that there¡¯s a child in the outer court who has very peculiar eyes.¡± Little Feng Jin slapped his hand away heatedly. He covered his eyes in shame and abasement but in the next second, his hand was pulled back. In front of him was the person who had been the root of his nightmares for three years. But now he seemed to have changed into someone else. He said: ¡°What a pair of unusual pupils¡­.¡± ¡°Throughout history, many outstanding figures had things that were different from ordinary people.¡± ¡°You will definitely be an exceptional person in the future¡­.¡± Maybe the sun was too dazzling that day, maybe the air was too fresh, or maybe that person¡¯s smile was overly gentle¡­. ¡°Come on~ tell me your name one more time. This time I will never forget.¡± Little Feng Jin was stunned for a long time. The red-robed adult Feng Jin stood behind him and smiled. In unison they said: ¡°Mian Deng Shixiong, you remember well, my name is Wen Fen Jin¡­..¡± And with that, a special person fell into a dark abyss and at the bottom, he found a child named Wen Feng Jin and became the eternal light in his heart. There is a person who resides my heart. He likes people who can smile, so I often smiled. He likes people who are kind, so I mastered my disguise to become one. He likes people who are strong, so I put on my armor. He likes people who are righteous, so I stripped off my wolf skin and replaced it with that of a pure lamb. But I was born to drink blood and eat meat, so I could only cover his eyes with lies, time and time again, to experience the warmth of being loved by him. I¡¯ve never pitied myself. I¡¯m very blissful. I love him, but the lies will one day be torn down. So I did everything, regardless of means, even if the light will be stained with dirt, I will still want to firmly imprison it in my heart. Wen Feng Jin woke and turned to look at the person beside him. His white skin was firm and a radiant line could be drawn from the smooth forehead to the tip of his nose, giving his face a soft delicate look. His closed eyes were covered with thick and curly eyelashes. A pair of tender lips whispered: ¡°Mian Deng, it¡¯s already a new day on earth.¡± From the moment you opened your eyes and disconcertingly said that your name was Wang Xiao Mie with pristine eyes; when you called me Feng Jin as I requested, it was then that I knew. You have returned¡­. Wen Feng Jin lowered his head and held on to the person¡¯s lips with extreme care as if it was a melting treasure until the act woke the sleeping person. Wang Xiao Mie agitatedly opened his eyelids with some difficulty. ¡°Uhm¡­. what are you doing! Trying to seduce me into a dream!?¡± ¡°Mian Deng.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°I want it.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie with a wooden face: Want what? Do you want to die? What the hell is an undead like you thinking?! But Wen Feng Jin glued to him tightly. There was a new expression on his face. It was neither psychotic nor gentle but like a cat putting aside its ego and trying to please its master for the first time. Other than rubbing his body close, he was also silently grabbing at his clothes. Can¡¯t you at least meow. Furthermore, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a cat, more like a big wolf! Why does it seem like the boss has gained another personality?! Could it be that I¡¯ve slept for another year?! And can¡¯t you read the mood? I was giving you the cold shoulder before I slept! Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hand and feet struggled to press down his clothes that were being messed up by Wen Feng Jin. ¡°Did I miss an episode or you had deliberately fast forward?! Stop pulling damn it! I know you¡¯re a beast that loves your shixiong Mian Deng! I¡¯m Wang Xiao Mie! This geek refuses to be oppressed¡ª if you keep this up I will scream!¡± ¡°I refuse to be a stand-in!¡± Wang Xiao Dumpling was having his leaves stripped off as he made one last roar for his integrity! But it was of no use¡­ The undead big dumpling remained uncooperative and continued with his birds and bees thoughts. There was no expression on his face but his eyes were filled with sparkling stars as he devoted himself to removing the dumpling¡¯s wrapping. And at the moment he was bitten, Wang Xiao Mie raised his hand and with a pa hit him hard in the face. His clothes were disarray, his face showed anger, and his fist clenched tightly. ¡°You¡¯re a big liar! You said you can accept us starting from the beginning but the one you miss when looking at me is your Shixiong!¡± ¡°Wen Feng Jin, you clear your head and decide who I am!¡± Wang Xiao Mie did not want to be unreasonable but he was firm about this. If Wen Feng Jin could accept this entirely new him, then he was willing to start afresh with him. But if the other party was only looking for the Mian Deng from his past using his body, then he could not allow that! We men have dignities too you know! I would rather starve to death than pick up what others have eaten! ¡°Ha, ha ha ha¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin tilted his head and started laughing. There was a twinkle of excitement in his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s the same. This slap was the same as back then!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Oh no, I¡¯ve broken him with my fist. Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his saliva. The person on top of him suddenly turned gentle again. His lips were bent and the strange pupils were densely filled with affection. Just as Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair was standing on end, Wen Feng Jin lowered his eyes and they both looked straight at each other. He said: ¡°This outer form, I have never liked it. But ever since you entered this body, everything was different.¡± ¡°Since this is bothering you so much and even affected our relationship, then let me tell you this, there was never a past or present life, the one I love has always been you¡­.¡± The unruly devil vigorously reeled in their line of sight. Wang Xiao Mie looked at his reflection in the man¡¯s eyes. A finger was placed on his chest. His lips moved as he said: ¡°More than a thousand years ago the man I loved was called Wang Xiao Mie.¡± ¡°You said I¡¯m a liar, but you¡¯re the biggest liar!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°You¡­. what do you mean?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Wen Feng Jin pulled him up and opened the coffin. He reached for the box by the pillow. It was unknown what he did but the box opened with a click. Still in a daze, Wang Xiao Mie saw their hair along with several other little things and also two old and tattered books. Wen Feng Jin removed the top book and quickly closed the box. He then handed the booklet to him. ¡°Have a look.¡± ¡°This¡­ this is¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie blankly took the book that could easily be ripped apart with little force. He turned to the first page and after reading the words on top, he was immediately taken aback! ¡°This¡­ how is this possible?!!!¡± CH 21 Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s head was emptied as he reached for a leather notebook under his pillow with shaking hands. This was a notebook he found in a backpack left behind by the tomb robbers in the side hall. Because he was alone in childhood with no friends or close relatives, he had a habit of writing diaries to ward off his loneliness. From time to time, he would look through it to past time and have a good laugh. The two books were completely different. One was obviously ancient, while the other was modern. The only similarity between them was the big letters spread across the cover: Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary ¡°¡­..¡± The childish doodles were similar to that of a kindergarten kid and the handwriting that was too ugly as if it came out of a drunken beetle crawling on the page¡­¡­ ¡­..yup, no doubt, that¡¯s my writing. Wang Xiao Mie, with a wooden expression, flipped open the two booklets. The first sentence on his left: Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary: Today is my second day of being a newly wedded wife in an underground palace, I¡¯m hungry¡­. The first sentence on his right: Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary: Today is my second day of wearing as someone else¡¯s shixiong, I¡¯m hungry¡­.. Ai~ Wang Xiao Mie closed the diary with a snap and shook like a Parkinson¡¯s patient. That¡¯s not possible, how could I write something like? Something that at first glance seemed like the writing of an idiot. I¡¯m such a cool and handsome guy, how can I let my image be stained with this? I definitely have never traveled to ancient times or met with Wen Feng Jin before this, much less have these memories¡­. Calm down, Wang Xiao Mie, you have to calm down! And so he flipped to the next entry of his diary. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary: in order to prevent others from reading my diary, I decided to use pinyin! Why not English? That¡¯s because I don¡¯t know English hahaha! Ain¡¯t I super smart? Wink~ ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Calm down, you have to calm down¡­. The hell I can calm down #%£¤#@%& Wink my ass! Not minding the secret that was revealed by the diary, Wang Xiao Mie was instead painfully affected by the girlish teenage accent that was written on the page. He covered his face in embarrassment. Wen Feng Jin was next to him. He blinked and said: ¡°This is your penmanship. I do not know most of the words on it and there are some weird symbols as well. At that time, I gathered every professor and expert, even those from foreign nations who excel at languages to decipher this. Over the years, countless people have studied this book for a long time but none could tell what was written on it. Now that you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you read it to me?¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡­¡­that many people + open discussion = public humiliation. I want to burn myself with this. I¡¯ve died for so long, but today I want to die again. Wen Feng Jin: ¡°Shixiong, what¡¯s wrong? Why aren¡¯t you reciting?¡± Wang Xiao Mie lowered his head to read another entry: Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s diary: the food in the academy is just too wonderful! I want to write a poem about it: ³ø·¿Ê¦¸µ³øÒÕ¸ß (chu fang shi fu chu yi gao) The kitchen chef has great skill ¹ð»¨ÌDZýºÍ´ò¸â (gui hoa tang bing he da gao) Sweet osmanthus cakes and rice cakes ÒªÎÊ»¹ÓÐÄÄÄÜÌô (yao wen hai you na neng tiao) I wanted to ask what else is there to pick À´ÅÌ»ç²ËºÃ²»ºÃ (lai pan hun cai hao bu hao?) How about a non-vegetarian dish? Tut tut, I¡¯m so talented. Miee hahaha! Farewell! Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Stop reading! Close your eyes! This fool is not me! Not me! On the other end, Wen Feng Jin was still urging: ¡°Since Shixiong refused to read it out loud, did you actually discover something?¡± ¡°I did discover something.¡± Wang Xiao Mie said. ¡°Oh?¡± Wen Feng Jin smiled sweetly and asked: ¡°What is it?¡± Wang Xiao Mie smiled and shed two rows of tears: ¡°That I¡¯m indeed an idiot.¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Shixiong is again saying things that Feng Jin does not understand. But after you¡¯ve read this, you should have a grasp of what happened, don¡¯t you?¡± Wang Xiao Mie nodded solemnly. He flipped over to the next few pages and extracted information from the paragraphs: I saw the child today. How can this be the future world-destroying villain? Ai, I realized that I¡¯m unable to reveal that thing¡¯s existence, whether through writing or speech. But I¡¯ll carry out my mission well. Failure will lead to memory deletion and death, do you have to be so serious¡­..¡± And also: the little shota is too kawaii! I have to raise him to excel in the art of morality, intelligence and physique, an all-around development! And what¡¯s with this scenario: raise the big villain from young to become his white moonlight?! Oh how stupid is this ¡­¡­ Stupid XX! Wang Xiao Mie read till half of his diary before putting it down and cowering his head for several hours. Wen Feng Jin was by his side the whole time. Wang Xiao Mie shook his head. Although this was confusing and unthinkable, after combining the texts in his diary and all the transmigration and rebirth literature he had read, he could deduce that for some reason, his previous self was bound to a system. The ¡®thing¡¯ and ¡®stupid XX¡¯ mentioned in his diary should be referring to that system. And his task was to cater love and care to the villain when he was miserable and educate him to become a kind person. ¡­¡­ At this point, Wang Xiao Mie raised his head and glared at Wen Feng Jin. Cloaked in red and black, with dark eyes and a scarlet mark between his brows, Wen Feng Jin revealed a smile after sensing his gaze. He gave off a ¡®this lord wants your life¡¯ look. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡­.. The art of morality, intelligence and physique huh. Boss, which of these do you think you can pass? Sigh¡­ needless to question, the system was not blind. Once it saw what the big guy had turned into, with a wave of its hand, his memories were gone and he was sent back to the present. Maybe the reason he died was also because of the system. And Wen Feng Jin said that after he died, the silly thing began to construct this underground palace, collected rare treasures, planted the sacred tree, and waited for him in this palace for over a thousand years. For Wang Xiao Mie, going to the past and back was just a snap of the finger. Therefore, there was also a possibility that he was killed in this life right after failing the mission and then was summoned here by Wen Feng Jin who had been waiting for a long time¡­. The more he thought about it, the more he felt like they were in the BL version of the movie ¡®The Myth¡¯. And if things were as he had guessed, then he had it easy, having the system done all that to him¡­. But what about Wen Feng Jin? How did he get through the thousand years living with his corpse? And with his understanding of himself, he most likely approached Wen Feng Jin carelessly to complete his mission and become his white moonlight, thus resulting in this ambiguous relationship¡­. And also Wen Feng Jin¡¯s paranoid infatuation. If their places were switched and he was left alone underground with a corpse¡­. Wang Xiao Mie rubbed his arms. Let alone a year or two, he might not even last ten days! He would probably even pay a grave robber to stay and chat with him. It¡¯s no wonder Wen Feng Jin has a different expression every day and acted almost like a schizophrenic. How life forces one to adapt~~ Advertisements He flipped to the end and saw that the last entry was about Wen Feng Jin¡¯s coming of age ceremony. The pages seemed to have been ripped off by someone. Wen Feng Jin by his side narrowed his eyes. He reached out and took back the diary from Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hand. He said: ¡°The booklet was already this way when I got it. Now that Shixiong has seen it, I¡¯ll continue to preserve it back in the box.¡± Wang Xiao Mie scratched his head: ¡°But isn¡¯t this my diary? And there seems to be another one in the box, isn¡¯t it? Can I read that too?¡± But who knew that after he asked that, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s expression changed drastically. The smile that he glued on his face was withdrawn squeaky clean and the dark pupils were suppressing something sinister. He wanted to stay gentle but the chill in his voice was all the more terrifying. ¡°Does Shixiong have to divide things this clear-cut with me? And you¡¯re mistaken, that book is not yours, it¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°But I clearly saw a ¡®Wang¡¯ on the cover¡­..¡± ¡°Shixiong.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Do not make me angry alright~¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± I¡¯ve lived for so long and this is the first time I¡¯ve heard someone say ¡®alright¡¯ with such a murderous aura¡­.. ¡°Shixiong, back then when you came to replace the real Mian Deng in this body, I¡¯ve already noticed the changes. So from the time I was seven, the one I wanted to be intimate with, the one I desired, was a soul of unknown origins. But I did not care. I prayed that you would stay forever. I was worried that you were just a ghost borrowing this body so every day I had to help you cover up your exposed tail and kept your secret hidden.¡± And when the dean discovered your abnormality, he requested the dark guards sent by the emperor to kill me to take care of you as well. On the day I came of age, the guards that my father left for me had taken them out, including the dean. What went wrong was that that day, you happened to witness the onslaught¡­. That was probably when you began to distance yourself from me¡­¡­ Wen Feng Jin placed his hand on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s face and fixed his gaze on him. In Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair raising state, his straightened lips bent upwards. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve known this secret, Shixiong, do you still reject me? Do you still think that the one I loved is this body¡¯s owner?¡± Wang Xiao Mie shook his head vigorously. He was worried that if he took too long to respond, the boss would be tempted to perish them together. Furthermore, nothing was worse than finding out that your current boyfriend was actually your ex-boyfriend. And also an outsider would probably think that he was scum for cleanly forgetting someone who had painfully waited for him for so long. He even gave him a slap and told him not to treat him as a substitute! Wang Xiao Mie swallowed hard: Wen Feng Jin¡¯s temper is actually quite good. Just as he thought so, he heard Wen Feng Jin said: ¡°Shixiong, it¡¯s been hard on me these past years¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..I was wrong! Plus I did not have my past memories. I, I couldn¡¯t have possibly known. Oh that¡¯s right, why didn¡¯t you tell me this earlier?!¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s expression shifted for a bit before he eased up and said: ¡°Those days you have just finally woke up. The memories of your death were too painful, I did not want you to remember them.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Wang Xiao Mie remembered what Wen Feng Jin recounted for him before. Near his end when they were hunted for the elixir, he seemed to have been tortured. And his death to both of them was a huge blow. No wonder he did not want me to remember. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s tiny brain was muddled with the series of events. He sat in the coffin with a headache, trying to straighten out the logic. Seeing Wang Xiao Mie swiftly trusted his words, Wen Feng Jin deepened his smile. Back then, the blood ritual was incomplete and he did not have the full control brought by it. If Shixiong remembered the things I did, what would I do if he leaves again? And also¡­..a Shixiong with a sense of guilt towards me and wholeheartedly dependent on me¡­.. I quite like it. But I have to be restrained, or else I would probably hurt him. CH 22 Wen Feng Jin¡¯s initial thought was: after Shixiong knew the portion of truth that he deliberately revealed, he would be so guilt-ridden that he completely let down his guard, relying on him wholeheartedly. And then eventually, he would entrust his heart and body to him and they can live the lovey-dovey life of ¡°Feng Jin I¡¯m cold¡± and ¡°Shixiong let me warm you in my arms¡±! However, as an ancient relic, our little gong Wen Feng Jin obviously did not know about the modern day¡¯s dating rituals¡­. As for Wang Xiao Mie¡­ Before knowing the truth: A scaredy-cat who could cry a river when bullied. Wang Xiao Mie after knowing he was the boss¡¯s white moonlight: The corner of his mouth raised to form a smirk as he snobbishly laughed in his heart! His change was as drastic as the in-laws before and after marriage. ¡°Xiao Wen Zi, it¡¯s time to wash the clothes.¡± (TN: wen zi means mosquito in Chinese. It sounds the same as Wen Feng Jin¡¯s surname, so Wang Xiao Mie gave him this nickname) Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Wen Zi??? ¡°Xiao Wenzi, I¡¯m using that weapon display as a clothes rack.¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­.. where is my Liao Yue sword?¡± ¡°Ha? Oh, I threw it on the floor!¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Xiao Wenzi! Mu Yi stole the snack I left here! Tell him to return it to me!¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Xiao Wenzi, you said that the mermaid lamps cannot be extinguished even after so many years, then why don¡¯t I use it to cook my hotpot¡­.¡± ¡°Wah! Fire! Quickly put out the fire! Xiao Wenzi!¡± Wang Xiao Mie who had set the place on fire was wailing and running in circles. Wen Feng Jin sighed and expelled the evil expression on his face. He quickly flew over to the puppy-like Wang Xiao Mie and held him in his arms. With a wave of his hand, the stone slab on the ground broke and the shattered pieces instantly put out the fire. Wen Feng Jin looked at the weeping little thing in his arms with a tuft of frizzy burnt frontal hair and an innocent look on his face. Wen Feng Jin frowned and before he could say anything, Wang Xiao Mie glared at him with puffing cheeks! ¡°What are you staring at? Are you going to be violent with me!¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± Well, all I¡¯m going to do is love you to death. Wen Feng Jin felt helpless and amused. As he looked at the daring expression on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s face, he felt his teeth itch and could not help but pinched his nose and took a bite of his cheek, feeling the cold but soft skin of his cherished beloved. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s heart was filled with a certain type of warmth. Lately, Wang Xiao Mie found that Wen Feng Jin was not smiling as much. But the smile that disappeared was the twisted and paranoid kind. Now, whenever Wang Xiao Mie called him Xiao Wenzi, he would drop everything he was doing and turned to look at him with a helpless smile that one would show a child. His brows were frowning, but he was actually happier than any other time. The Wang Xiao Mie who had deliberately caused trouble was laughing secretly at the vivid change in his expression. If you¡¯re sad, I¡¯ll give you my everything to warm you up. I am making a ruckus because I don¡¯t want you to be so lonely¡­. There is a kind of angel in this world, while others called them goblins and ghosts, would always grant you a kiss after making their mischief. To deal with these mischievous beings who would cause your heart to sprout, you don¡¯t need violence. All you have to do is kiss him real hard. ¡­.. At night, the little goblin who used to secretly touch the big guy¡¯s chest before sleeping was now doing it openly. His hands would even reach down to grope the southernmost part and give it a pinch before going to sleep. Looking down at the head leaning against his chest and the thighs that were nonchalantly placed on top of his belly as soft teasing grunts were made, Wen Feng Jin was having a very hard time enduring. And yet, his efforts were rejected. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Why isn¡¯t your gun loaded?! I¡¯m almost at my limit!¡± Hmph! How hateful! (TN: In case the more innocent readers do not get this, Wang Xiao Mie is actually questioning why Wen Feng Jin isn¡¯t getting hard) Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± Buyer beware, actual product may differ from packaging! On the label: a warm and desirable Shixiong, actual product: a mischievous Wang Xiao Mie full of dirty thoughts. Wen Feng Jin could not bear it a second more and had to push Wang Xiao Mie away, causing him to bare his teeth and said: ¡°Do you not like me anymore? Ha? Just say it! Wan wan wan!¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..Xiao Mie, stop making barking sounds.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­.. wan wan wan!¡± I¡¯m getting a bite of you! Without him realizing it, Wen Feng Jin had called Wang Xiao Mie by his name. He just could not look at the mischievous thing and call him Shixiong or Mian Deng. And so with his dark and black pupils filled with absolute sweetness and indulgence, he changed from the man who had been looking at his Shixiong with admiration to an ¡®old¡¯ man who helplessly fell in love with a little rascal. ¡­.. On a certain day, Wang Xiao Mie was kneading the mud out of boredom. The underground lacked so many things, namely electricity and the internet. Only gold, treasures, and soil are abundant. Wang Xiao Mie once asked Wen Feng Jin: ¡°Shouldn¡¯t there be fishes in such a long underground river?¡± Wen Feng Jin hesitated: ¡°Back then I did throw in a few fishes that could survive in it. But their role is to prevent graverobbers¡­.¡± ¡°Wow! There¡¯s fish?! Then we can finally eat grilled fish!¡± Wang Xiao Mie was in high spirits as he suggested they do some fishing. He completely ignored Wen Feng Jin¡¯s last sentence. When Wang Xiao Mie actually caught a big fish with a human head and long hair that was grinning at him, he had nightmares for two days straight. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± I was stupid for thinking that there is normal fish in this place! Since then, Wang Xiao Mie never spoke of fishing or grilling again. He sat quietly by the river molding the mud. His finished products were two ash urns, one for himself, and the other for Wen Feng Jin. If they were ever discovered by scientists and dug out from the mud later on, the urns are ready to be used. ¡­.. From time to time, Wang Xiao Mie would dream of the past and whenever he woke up, there would be a bitter taste in his mouth. But he just attributed it to the strange tree. And maybe because he was recovering his past memories, the duration he could stay away from it was extended. Advertisements He also got to know the ¡®little cuties¡¯ that Wen Feng Jin kept. Those unique looking little things ¡­. In comparison, the blood lizard Mu Yi was indeed the best-looking one. Wen Feng Jin gestured his hand to introduce each of them to him: ¡°This is Mu Er.¡± A female ghost with long hair and a ferocious expression who lived in the water. Wang Xiao Mie: she can easily steal Sadako¡¯s job (TN: Sadako is the female ghost in the Ring movie) ¡°This is Mu San.¡± This one did not even look human. It was almost like a mushroom that grew hands. From afar, it resembled a walking *cough*, you know, the thing all men are familiar with¡­. Wen Feng Jin told him never to touch the mucus on his body. It would turn any living person into a pool of water, leaving behind only their clothes. ¡°This is Mu Si.¡± ¡°This is Mu Wu.¡± ¡°This is¡­..¡± (TN: Basically, Wen Feng Jin just added numbers to the word Mu (ľ=wood), and that¡¯s their names.) In one go, Wang Xiao Mie was introduced to the ten protectors of the tomb palace. Wen Feng Jin said with a smile: ¡°Aren¡¯t they cute?¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­.um, very cute.¡± Perfect to start a horror movie franchise with the most terrifying monsters. Wen Feng Jin rubbed his head gently: ¡°Bring them along when you¡¯re going for a stroll, got it? The location of our tomb is not entirely hidden, the number of grave robbers that appeared is becoming annoying. Don¡¯t ever let yourself be hurt.¡± Bring them along? How about they walk in the front while I hold a leash at the back? We¡¯ll either be walking our pets or two onmyouji with their demons. Oh and what would the graverobbers think when they see our grand family?! Wang Xiao Mie stared expressionlessly at his monstrous family members: ¡°I refuse, they¡¯re too ugly.¡± The group of monsters began sobbing with different sounds. Aw, it sounded quite pitiful¡ªAs if! It¡¯s f**king sending chills up my spine! Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­. can you not get too serious with your acting?¡± The group of monsters: ¡°We can¡¯t. The master is watching!¡± Wang Xiao Mie raised his head and saw Wen Feng Jin grinning. See, he¡¯s staring at us! ¡°Xiao Wenzi¡­.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Get down!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± On that day, Wang Xiao Mie not only rode on the back of the grimacing Xiao Wen Zi, he was also escorted by ten monster bodyguards to tour the underground palace. Wang Xiao Mie who had found his joy began this habit of walking around their tomb palace every night before going to bed. Ten days later, Wen Feng Jin had lost a lot of weight. During this time, Wang Xiao Mie also discovered an interesting phenomenon. It seemed the lizard Mu Yi and the mushroom Mu San have a rather bad relationship. Whenever they went for their walks, Mu Yi would hang on the tomb wall and secretly spit at Mu San¡­. Mu San tolerated him for the first two times. But when he saw that Mu Yi was giggling at him as he continued to provoke him, the mushroom began to secrete its corrosive mucus, making Mu Er and Mu Si next to him screech¡­ ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to mind them. Mu Yi and Mu San had been at loggerheads even when they were still alive.¡± Wen Feng Jin whispered to the Wang Xiao Mie on his back. After which, he gave the gang of monsters a glance. Mu San immediately stopped expelling his acid and Mu Yi jumped off the wall and walked alongside the rest obediently. The group of rowdy monsters was like a bunch of mutated huskies. They marched back in line and continued to walk along the dark and gloomy pathway after being reprimanded. ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie thought it was quite amusing and began to tease Wen Feng Jin: ¡°The children¡¯s dad, you¡¯re too fierce.¡± Wen Feng Jin was stunned. He widened his eyes in surprise: ¡°What did you call me?¡± Riding on his back, Wang Xiao Mie could not see the expression on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s face. He smiled and said: ¡°The children¡¯s dad! Look at us two and the ten of them, don¡¯t we look like a family of twelve?¡± Wen Feng Jin stopped walking and stayed silent for a long time. The monsters in front looked back in curiosity and so did Wang Xiao Mie who stretched his neck to look at Wen Feng Jin. ¡°Xiao Wenzi, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Wen Feng Jin seemed to come back to his senses. He bumped up Wang Xiao Mie on his back and continued walking in silence. ¡°Feng Jin, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­.. Xiao Mie¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°The children¡¯s ¡­ mother.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± The hoarse voice which carried a hint of happiness swept gently into his ears. Wang Xiao Mie blushed instantly. Although the atmosphere had returned to its soundless state, this time it was filled with sweet silence. Back on the high platform, Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin returned to their coffin. They laid on their backs and neither slept. This night, Wang Xiao Mie also did not let his hands run wild. In their silence, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s soft breathing was amplified infinitely. The opened casket allowed them to watch the scenic fiery peach tree in full bloom. A cold and bony hand lightly covered Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s colder one. ¡°You¡­.¡± ¡°You¡­.¡± The two turned and faced each other. It was almost as if the air was filled with thick honey, intensely sweet and breathless¡­ Wen Feng Jin suddenly laughed. The evil and handsome face was strangely tranquil for the first time as he moved closer. Wang Xiao Mie closed his eyes in silent anticipation. The two pairs of cold and pale pink lips finally touched¡­ CH 23 Wang Xiao Mie collapsed in the coffin, staring at the intricate carvings on the inside the coffin wall. His limbs were spread apart and his eyes unfocused. His clothes were taken off, revealing the little naked dumpling inside. Strawberry marks sprinkled across his body from head to toe like tattoos. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡­.. I was almost turned into a crippled dumpling! And the culprit was sitting on the edge of the coffin wearing only the bottom half of his flaming red robe. His bare muscular back and long ink-like hair were facing Wang Xiao Mie. He hummed an old tune as he tapped on the coffin with his fingers. To put it simply, he was in a wonderfully good mood!!! Wang Xiao Mie looked at his hollowed out and disheveled self, then stared back at the elated dog whose waist was not in pain and shoulders were not aching! A tiny flame called envy ignited in him¡­ He gritted his teeth and called out: ¡°Xiao Wenzi¡­..¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Wen Feng Jin turned back and Wang Xiao Mie was almost blinded by his brilliant smile. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± Boss, are you that happy? Your character design is collapsing!! Wen Feng Jin got up from his sitting position. He knelt down beside the coffin and reached in to gently touch Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s cheek with the utmost affection. He almost had an urge to press him against his chest. ¡°Xiao Mie, yesterday¡­.¡± At the mention of yesterday, Wen Feng Jin strained his face and tried to stay in character but still could not hold in his ecstatic smile. His eyes sparkled as he held Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hand tightly: ¡°I was very happy yesterday. I will take care of you for eternity. I will definitely take responsibility for you. I will never let down your trust and feelings!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. We have long been married. Hah ha ha.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± The beautiful demon did not suppress his somewhat foolish laughter. Boss, please don¡¯t do that, you¡¯re scaring me. Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his saliva and heard Wen Feng Jin said: ¡°On the wedding night, after the women from our homeland¡­ do it for the first time, it was customary to have a bowl of red bean rice. Although there are no red beans in the tomb, I¡¯ve found an alternative from what the grave robbers left behind. Come, I¡¯ll help you get dressed and then I¡¯ll cook some for you.¡± He supported Wang Xiao Mie out of the coffin and dressed him attentively. After being clothed, Wang Xiao Mie was lifted into a princess carry. His long black hair cascaded down onto the red wedding dress like a soft brocade. Steady arms wrapped around his shoulders and thighs as Wang Xiao Mie laid compliantly in his embrace, feeling deeply touched. My husband is super hot and super caring! When they got to the riverside where they used to wash clothes, Wen Feng Jin put him down carefully, ¡°Wait for me here.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Wang Xiao Mie blinked twice and nodded. He observed Wen Feng Jin with anticipation as he went ahead and cleaned the pots and utensils before lighting up the alcohol block to cook the rice. But when Wen Feng Jin started cooking, he became secretive and tried to block Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s view. When he was allowed to look, the beans and rice were already boiling in the pot with a tight lid on top. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s heart was smitten. He grinned and pretended not to care: ¡°Che~ there¡¯s no need to be secretive, I¡¯m not curious.¡± Wen Feng Jin did not respond. He only smiled after hearing his words. After that night, they could not help but see pink blossoms popping up as they looked at each other. Wang Xiao Mie blushed and turned away. Wen Feng Jin chuckled and his eyes were filled with affection. Cooking rice took a long time and as the atmosphere grew stagnant, Wang Xiao Mie got impatient and stole a glance at Wen Feng Jin. As it turned out, heh heh, Wen Feng Jin was also staring at him heartily! Ai yo~ the look that stole my first time! Wang Xiao Mie sprang up: ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m going over there to play with the mud!¡± Wen Feng Jin nodded with a smile. Wang Xiao Mie marched towards the river bank and squatted down to play with the mud. As he molded the clay into different shapes, he replayed the scenes from last night in his head. His face was blushing red from embarrassment but he still couldn¡¯t help giggling. Slurp~ Wen Feng Jin¡¯s waist is so strong ~ Slurp~ last night ~ Miee heh heh~ When he snapped back and looked down, the clay in his hand had turned into Wen Feng Jin¡¯s ¡®big brother¡¯. ¡°¡­..¡± Ah ah ah! Wang Xiao Mie pounded the item into the ground with his palm. Smoke was rising from the top of his head and he wanted to drill a hole to hide in. His face was heated and he had to use the back of his hands to hide his red cheeks. Oh my, the uncontrollable mind of a man who had *beep* for the first time! Unknown to him, the not-so-far-apart Wen Feng Jin was looking at his ashamed expression and biting his lower lip¡­ Um, how very cute. Um, how I want to *beep*. The mind of the millennial undead virgin who had tasted *beep* for the first time was even more uncontrollable. As the air was filled with the pungent smell of love, the porridge was also done, adding a delicate fragrance to the mix. Wen Feng Jin opened the lid and stirred with a satisfied look. ¡°Xiao Mie, come and have lunch.¡± ¡°Ok! I¡¯m coming!¡± Wang Xiao Mie rubbed the mud off his hands. He washed his hands using the cold water from the river and happily went to Wen Feng Jin. Hmm, red bean rice. Other than his grandma, this was the first time someone cared and cooked for him! Wen Feng Jin served him a portion of hot, well-cooked rice. He blew and said softly: ¡°This is my first time making this. At least give it a try. And don¡¯t scald yourself.¡± Wang Xiao Mie gazed at his gentle face and giggled: ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll finish it!¡± ¡°Ok, but be careful of the heat.¡± Wen Feng Jin blissfully passed the rice to him. Wang Xiao Mie accepted the bowl with sparks in his eyes. When he lowered his head to eat¡­ Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin had already taken a bite when he saw Wang Xiao Mie sitting still as a piece of wood. He frowned and asked: ¡°What¡¯s wrong Xiao Mie? Is it not to your taste?¡± ¡°¡­..no, you said before that you couldn¡¯t find red beans so you used an alternative, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie scooped up a spoonful of green peas from his bowl with a wooden expression, ¡°So you used green peas instead?¡± Wen Feng Jin tilted his head: ¡°Green peas are also good for your health, is there something wrong?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie quietly picked up from the ground the packaging used for the peas. The label read: Specialized green peas for graverobbers! Soaked in professional holy water for 7,7, 49 days. Can be used as food as well as exorcising zombies. A discount of two yuan on your next purchase for writing a good review smooch~ (TN: This is actually a reference to the game Plants vs Zombies. Anyone who had played it would know that the first plant you get is a peashooter that shoots green peas to kill zombies) ¡°¡­..¡± Specialized green peas?! Soaked in holy water for 49 days?! It¡¯s just regular water right, you swine! And soaked for 49 days, have you asked about the peas¡¯ feelings. The poor thing couldn¡¯t even sprout! Negative review! negative review! He looked at the green pea that seemed to cry: ¡°I¡¯m very green! You¡¯ll turn green too if you eat me!¡± Wang Xiao Mie covered his face and shed two rows of tears. The day after our first *beep*, my husband made me, a zombie, a bowl of holy green pea rice. Can I burn him, will I be arrested after burning him? Waiting online, it¡¯s urgent! (TN: While red bean represents love, green refers to someone cheating in a relationship.) ¡°Xiao Mie, why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Wen Feng Jin urged. ¡°Xiao Wenzi¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Do you know what ¡®wearing a green hat¡¯ or ¡®you¡¯re greened¡¯ mean?¡± The ancient tyrant Wen Feng Jin frowned and shook his head. Wang Xiao Mie smiled graciously and picked out all the green peas and gave them to him: ¡°You¡¯re the one who had to work hard yesterday, you should have more. I¡¯ll just have rice.¡± Thinking of yesterday, Wen Feng Jin once again beamed with delight, he scooped the peas and put it back in Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s bowl: ¡°You have to eat more too, after all¡­.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie did not reject him anymore and ate the peas. After chewing down a few, the beans¡¯ heat diffusing effects soothed his heart¡­. Advertisements It was unclear whether zombies weren¡¯t allowed to eat green peas or that the peas were really soaked in exorcising water but that night, the familiar feeling once again erupted in Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s stomach. He sat up and with a black face and stared at Wen Feng Jin who was absolutely fine! Injustice! Why is it that we eat and drink the same thing but I¡¯m the only one getting fatter, ah no, I mean I¡¯m the only one getting diarrhea! ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing his discomfort, Wen Feng Jin asked in concern, ¡°Xiao Mie, say something, don¡¯t scare me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie bit his teeth and covered his stomach: ¡°I need to use the toilet.¡± Wen Feng Jin was briefly stunned. He remembered the event from last time and immediately went to get the toilet paper they had found. He then quickly carried Wang Xiao Mie to the latrine from before. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the door.¡± Wang Xiao Mie grabbed the toilet paper and rushed in. He groaned in pain and squatted down with a bitter face. Sooner or later, I¡¯ll be poisoned to death by Wen Feng Jin! But this time, there shouldn¡¯t be a person falling from above, right? Wang Xiao Mie looked up at the stone slab and thought of how he had met Zhen Bei the last time he was here. Haha, how can this be? Not only had he found the fish pearls but how could a person fall in the same trap twice? Wait! This feels like the dialogue to activate a really strange flag. He couldn¡¯t possibly fall down right now and prove me wrong, right!? Wang Xiao Mie looked up with fear but even after his business was done and he had wiped his butt, nothing strange came falling down¡­.. Hah! Like I said, how can there be so many coincidences in this world~ With that, he re-attired himself properly but just as he got to the door, Wen Feng Jin was suddenly right in front of him. He pulled him behind and raised his head to stare angrily at something overhead! At the same time, the stone slab on the ceiling gave out a familiar sound and abruptly opened! ¡°Uwahhhh!¡± A familiar person gave out a pitiful scream and with a plop, dropped on the ground. After saying ¡°Oww, my waist¡±, he got up quickly and shook his head. His movement was a little fuzzy like he had a concussion. He ¡®pei pei pei¡¯ to spit out the dirt in his mouth as his hands patted his body to remove the dust on his clothes. It took him a while to finally settle down and observe his surroundings. As their eyes locked, the three of them were rooted in place. Zhen Bei was dumbfounded at first, then a big smile spread across his face! He even dared to flash his sunny smile and wave his hands like a big husky! ¡°Hey! Xiao Mie! I¡¯m back again! Did you miss me?!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie gawked at Zhen Bei. There was a long silence. He raised his hand slowly to his mouth and gave it a light slap: you just have to jinx it! And¡­ what is this place?! A summoning ground?! CH 24 The summoned being Zhen Bei said hello with an amiable face but Wen Feng Jin sneered back at him: ¡°It¡¯s you, you still dare to come back!¡± After finishing his sentence, he moved in and was about to kill Zhen Bei in one swipe. Wang Xiao Mie quickly held him back and Zhen Bei frantically waved his hand and said anxiously: ¡°This time I¡¯m not here to steal from you. I¡¯m here to pass along some secret information to you!¡± Secret information? Wang Xiao Mie blinked: ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense. This person could even avoid Mu Er to enter this place, he is not that simple. Xiao Mie, stand aside, I don¡¯t want you to get hurt. Trust me, I will clean this up swiftly.¡± Wen Feng Jin glared at Zhen Bei like a cold-blooded viper, but as he turned to pat Wang Xiao Mie on the head, his eyes soothed as he tried to coax him with gentleness. By now, Wang Xiao Mie was already familiar with the ruthlessness beneath his gentleness. The ¡®clean this up swiftly¡¯ he mentioned was the kind that won¡¯t even leave a single strand of hair behind! ¡°Mu Er? Who is that?¡± Zhen Bei waved his hand and said: ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that first! Listen to me! I really came to repay your kindness. I have important news to tell you! And you guys are the owners of this tomb who have laid dormant for more than thousands of years, right? Hah ha. When I told my brother what happened, he speculated that you both are the ones depicted in the inscription. You are the Shi Xiong who died in the struggle for the elixir and you must be the dark lord who decided to perish with his Shi Xiong.¡± He pointed at Wang Xiao Mie, then to Wen Feng Jin, and finally, rubbed his nose with pride. ¡°But I¡¯m not afraid of big dumplings and Xiao Mie doesn¡¯t look like a bad guy to me. You saved my brother so I owed you this debt. Now, there¡¯s this jerkface who has been threatening my brother to organize an expedition to dig up your tomb. There¡¯s not much else I can do but the very least, I should inform you about it!¡± ¡°Perish for love? ¡­.Dark Lord?¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked up at Wen Feng Jin¡¯s back. Wen Feng Jin turned stiff. He coughed lightly and said: ¡°Those inscriptions are carved with nonsense, do not believe it.¡± Such a grand mausoleum, how can anyone inscribe nonsense about it? Wang Xiao Mie sighed and covered his head. Forget it. After reading the diary, it was obvious this thing had grown up to be crooked. And what concerned Wang Xiao Mie was the news that Zhen Bei just broke to them. He grabbed Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hand and asked Zhen Bei: ¡°What is this big news you¡¯re talking about? Who is going to dig up our grave? And why is that you could fall in front of me with such accuracy¡­¡± And I thought I managed to obtain some ridiculous summoning magic. Wen Feng Jin stood between the two of them. When Wang Xiao Mie held his hand, he hesitated but did not push away the cold hands. He stared icily at Zhen Bei and commanded: ¡°Answer my Shixiong¡¯s question, you little thing.¡± ¡°Little thing?¡± Zhen Bei¡¯s eyes bulged out and he pointed at himself, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-four!¡± Wang Xiao Mie rolled his eyes: ¡°I¡¯m over one thousand three hundred. He is also over one thousand three hundred. With our age alone, we are qualified to be museum exhibits.¡± Zhen Bei: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­ fine then.¡± Zhen scratched his head and moved towards them slightly, ¡°Actually I¡­¡± ¡°Do not come any closer!¡± Wen Feng Jin gave him a menacing stare, ¡°Unless you want your head and limbs to be located in different places.¡± Advertisements Graverobbers are insidious and cunning by nature. A desperate man does not mean he is not dangerous. Throughout the thousand years in the tomb palace, several men had indeed managed to infiltrate the depths of the tomb. When they were caught by Wen Feng Jin, they did not hesitate to throw away their dignity and begged for their lives. However, once he relaxed his guard, they would seize any opportunity to fight back. They would even use their companions as bait to kill the creatures guarding the tomb. Zhen Bei looked at Wen Feng Jin staring at him with an ice-cold and poisonous expression and his neck froze as sweat dripped from his forehead. He was nervous to the point of suffocating. That¡¯s a zombie! One that had lived for more than a thousand years. The last time, he tried to strangle him without any hesitation! The trauma from almost being killed by Wen Feng Jin made his legs numb by just staring at his weird black eyes. But ¡­ Zhen Bei thought of his purpose. He swallowed his saliva and moistened his coarse throat due to the tension. With a stiff smile, he said: ¡°I truly do not mean you any harm¡­ If you don¡¯t believe me, I can throw my backpack away!¡± After hearing his words, Wen Feng Jin continued to stare daggers at Zhen Bei and sneered at his silly and bright smile: ¡°Good, then you¡¯d better get rid of your coat, the dagger in your boot, and also the talismans under your clothes.¡± ¡°¡­.. Damn, how did you know this?!¡± Zhen Bei immediately covered his chest. It was a confession without much interrogation. Wen Feng Jin seized the chance to make a mockery: ¡°Xiao Mie, you see, these graverobbers are shameless. You shouldn¡¯t believe their lies.¡± Wang Xiao Mie chuckled: ¡°Feng Jin, let¡¯s just hear him out.¡± Wen Feng Jin snorted softly. He turned and continued to stare at Zhen Bei with impatience. Wang Xiao Mie yawned: ¡°Buddy, please hurry. I have to go back to sleep. We didn¡¯t close our coffin lid just now. It¡¯s really annoying if any strange bugs were to enter. ¡°¡­.no¡­. Someone is coming to dig your grave and you¡¯re going to bed?!¡± ¡°Otherwise? Do you know how many people come here in a year? If it was possible for me to collect entrance fees, I would¡¯ve set up a tourist attraction spot ok?¡± You could tell how frequent their visits were by looking at the mountain of bags left by them in the side hall! Mu Er, the little sister who resembled a female water ghost, would give out a sobbing sound whenever there were intruders and Mu Yi would collect the bags and bring them to the side hall. He had now turned from a lizardman to a hoarding hamster! ¡°I have to say, did you guys read too many novels? Why don¡¯t you guys find a decent job instead of disturbing others¡¯ graves? And most of you guys can¡¯t even get past Mu Er to enter the inner chamber, why do you keep coming here and risk your lives? Isn¡¯t it foolish?¡± Every time he was woken up by the Mu Er alarm and prepared himself for a battle with the graverobbers, Wen Feng Jin would only appease him and said: ¡°Go back to sleep, Mu Er had already dealt with the problem.¡± Wang Xiao Mie stared at Zhen Bei and said: ¡°Attacks on a game¡¯s dungeon boss is not even as diligent as you guys.¡± Zhen Bei listened to his complaints and could only scratch his head and said timidly: ¡°That¡¯s only because you guys have so many precious things here.¡± Wang Xiao Mie said in resentment: ¡°Nonsense, we don¡¯t have anything precious here. You guys on the surface can watch TV and surf the net. When you¡¯re hungry you can even order takeout!¡± What about us? We don¡¯t have internet or even a mobile phone. We¡¯re still using candles as lighting! We can¡¯t even have proper meals and have to scavenge leftovers from equipment bags. Sob~ ¡°You, you even know how to use the internet¡­¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯m a dumpling who knows how to keep up with the times.¡± ¡°Oh¡­. but with the fish pearls you have, you should be able to have a good life if you sell them.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie and Zhen Bei looked at each other in envy. Alas, one man¡¯s trash is another¡¯s treasure. If Wen Feng Jin was not standing in between, they would have given each other a consolation hug. ¡°How about I give you the stuff and you can sell it for money and place cell towers on the mountain above us. Oh and also send me some generators and the likes¡­.¡± ¡°Alright! I can also get you some snacks online!¡± ¡°Buddy, you¡¯re a good person!¡± ¡°Hehe you¡¯re welcome. Let¡¯s add our WeChat.¡± ¡°Ok¡­. I don¡¯t have a phone.¡± ¡°Ha¡­. don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll bring you one the next time I come.¡± ¡°Good brother!¡± Just as the two were about to get close and give each other a brotherly hug, Wen Feng Jin pulled Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s back collar with a blackened face. With a smile and gritted teeth, he called: ¡°Shi, Xiong!¡± Wang Xiao Mie realized that he had gone off-topic due to his excitement. And Zhen Bei who was very natural in front of Wang Xiao Mie also saw Wen Feng Jin¡¯s grimacing look. He took a step back in silence as his danger radar was ringing intensely. Wang Xiao Mie obediently gave Wen Feng Jin a sweet smile and blinked twice, trying to sell meng. Wen Feng Jin snorted coldly but his complexion was much more at ease: ¡°Do not talk about irrelevant things.¡± ¡°Ok, I know!¡± Wang Xiao Mie stuck out his tongue at him. He was less vigilant against Zhen Bei and after talking for a while, they went back to the main topic. ¡°Firstly, how did you get past Mu Er and entered this place? I haven¡¯t seen anyone who could enter here lately. And why is it always when I¡¯m using the toilet that you would appear?¡± Zhen Bei scratched his head in embarrassment: ¡°I have not seen the Mu Er that you mentioned but while walking in here, I did feel someone following me. When I turned back, there was no one there. But as I walked on, something suddenly came at me and I took off. I arrived at a strange place and thought I was going to die when I realized that this was the same place I got separated from my brother the last time! So I searched for the mechanism which I had accidentally touched before and here I am!¡± ¡°Heh heh, I did not expect my luck to be this good. I thought I¡¯ll have to walk a long way but I met you guys as soon as I got down here. After all, this time, I¡¯m mentally prepared to die here!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie was expressionless listening to his words. He looked at Wen Feng Jin: ¡°Do you believe him?¡± Wen Feng Jin looked at the trap door and said: ¡°This chamber and the latrines inside were constructed by the builders of the tomb palace. There is a possibility that they not only built the latrines but also made an escape route. Mu Er may have tried to finish him off by herself and did not sound the alarm. But she did not expect him to fall into a trap and most likely assumed he was dead so she did not pursue.¡± Wen Feng Jin thought of something else and told him with a little annoyance: ¡°After your death, I have met people like him. I can¡¯t completely defeat them nor can I kill them no matter how many times I tried. It seemed bad luck would always befall them but they would always prevail and come out a winner with some twists of fate!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± That¡¯s¡­ you¡¯re probably describing a protagonist¡­. What the¡­. Wang Xiao Mie looked at Zhen Bei: ¡°Buddy, this luck of yours contradicts your name!¡± Zhen Bei scratched his head shyly: ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s no big deal.¡± ¡°This time I¡¯m here because one week from now, that jerkface is coming here to dig up your graves¡­..¡± Next, Zhen Bei explained to them in earnestly: His family had been in the antiquity business for generations. They specialized in appraising artifacts and had accumulated a good reputation and a lot of wealth over the years. They were a well-known family in the antique circle. And their eldest son was particularly gifted in this aspect. His eyes could see the authenticity of an item even without the use of equipment! One day, a jerkface gentleman paid him a visit and showed him a wooden box. When he opened the box, poisonous smoke shot into his eyes and rendered him blind. They wanted to catch the guy but his brother stopped them. In turn, the jerkface gave them a copy of the map to the inner palace of this tomb, telling them where to find the fish pearls. The last time, he came here secretly with his second brother and a group of their comrades. He was lucky to have met Wang Xiao Mie, a little dumpling who bore no malice towards humans and also received the treasured fish pearls from him. When he returned and retold the situation to them, both his brother and the jerkface was ecstatic. They asked him to repeat his story many times over. They were particularly interested in Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin¡¯s appearance and whether they seemed human or just soulless beings. Out of curiosity, he went to eavesdrop on his brother and found out that he had planned to enter the tomb with that jerkface. Zhen Bei clenched his fist and said in a low voice: ¡°My brother had been obsessed with precious antiques and mysteries of the catacombs since he was young. I only knew then that my brother had sent a lot of people into this tomb but none were successful. That was until that jerkface came to look for him!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how he did it, but he managed to persuade my brother to join the expedition himself and gathered a large group of people. I heard that guy said he does not want any of the treasures. All he wants is the tomb master¡¯s heart.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie squinted at Wen Feng Jin: ¡°Explain yourself! Is it your peach blossom debt coming to knock on our door?!¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± Before Wen Feng Jin could explain, Zhen Bei corrected him: ¡°It¡¯s not that heart! It¡¯s his literal heart! He wants to eat the heart of the immortal tomb master! It is said that eating it can give him the tomb master¡¯s powers and eternal life!¡± What the f**k! Digging out my man¡¯s heart?! CH 25 ¡°That¡¯s insane!¡± ¡°En¡­ and my purpose is quite simple. I don¡¯t think that man is a good person and this tomb is not that easy to enter¡­¡± Not to mention the big monsters guarding the place, the man named Wen Feng Jin is almost like an immortalized demon! In their previous encounter, he did not even see his movement and before he knew it, he was almost killed! Zhen Bei touched his neck and said to Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin: ¡°If you can, I hope you would spare my big brother on behalf of me coming here to inform you guys!¡± Wen Feng Jin chuckled softly. He slowly approached Zhen Bei, making his face paler by the second. The eyes with the large dark pupils bent and asked with interest: ¡°You want us to let him go?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Advertisements Right after replying, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a paralyzing and malicious pressure. Zhen Bei¡¯s eyes widened as he gasped for air. Breathing was becoming strenuous let alone making any movement. His pupils turned to look at Wang Xiao Mie. Wang Xiao Mie was not in any discomfort, instead, he was wondering why Zhen Bei had stopped moving all of a sudden. Am I the only one affected? Zhen Bei watched helplessly as Wen Feng Jin used his index finger to tap at a point one centimeter from his right eye. ¡°What makes you think that I will help you, hm?¡± Wen Feng Jin in red clothes and black hair was just like a sinister spirit! The pressure around him was getting tighter and Zhen Bei was close to being suffocated! At this time, Wen Feng Jin used a voice that could only be heard by the two of them. It snorted and with disgust, said: ¡°And the truth is, you don¡¯t want me to spare your brother at all, am I right?¡± Zhen Bei kept his painful expression and looked at Wen Feng Jin with confusion in his eyes. ¡°What¡­ are¡­ you¡­talking about? Cough!¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s face was emptied of expressions. ¡°Gratitude? Tipping us off? Heh~ You do indeed want us to know this, but why? Let me guess¡­. Because the last you were here and saw my Shixiong, you found that he was just an ordinary person with too much kindness.¡± ¡°He was not the savage and bloodthirsty monster like the others in the tomb. On the contrary, he actually seemed weak¡­.¡± ¡°And then you realized that you could even leave the tomb in one piece even after your encounter with me¡­.¡± ¡°How can such a tomb master help you to kill¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin pointed right in the middle of his forehead. He raised his chin and said in a voice of frost: ¡°You got worried that your brother might be able to leave here unscathed as well, which is why you came here to disclose their information to us. This way, I¡¯ll pay extra attention to him and even if I don¡¯t kill him, I won¡¯t let him off without punishment either.¡± ¡°And when the time comes, a heavily injured person in this deserted underground is bound to be at the mercy of anyone¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s words were like the whispers of the devil, exposing the deepest and darkest secrets in a person¡¯s heart. He then gave a wanton laugh of ridicule. It was at this moment that the fear on Zhen Bei¡¯s face faded like a tide. His face was turning blue due to suffocation but with much difficulty, he managed to force out some words: ¡°You¡¯re going to kill me in front of him¡­¡± ¡°Of course. The familiar smell from you makes me sick.¡± A red glow emerged in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s peculiar pupils, ¡°It will cause me a little trouble but even if I do kill you now, he won¡¯t remember a thing tomorrow.¡± He won¡¯t remember? Why? Are the legends true? The master of this tomb has powers besides immortality?! So that¡¯s how it is¡­ Haha, that¡¯s it¡­ ¡°You can¡¯t kill me! I know¡­¡± Zhen Bei quickly whispered something in a low voice, causing Wen Feng Jin¡¯s pupils to constrict. ¡°As long as you help me, I will send it to your doorstep!¡± By now, Wang Xiao Mie had noticed something was not right. He frowned and put his hand on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Feng jin, what are you doing?¡± In a flash, the scarlet hue in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes dissipated and the oppressive force around Zhen Bei was also lifted. He fell to the ground, covered his throat, and started coughing and gasping desperately for air. His sudden ordeal gave Wang Xiao Mie a fright. ¡°My god! Buddy, are you having an asthma attack?!¡± Wang Xiao Mie hurriedly tried to help Zhen Bei but was pulled into an embrace by Wen Feng Jin. He overexerted his strength and Wang Xiao Mie was slightly staggered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him.¡± Wang Xiao Mie wondered if it was just his instinct or that Wen Feng Jin¡¯s words had a chilling effect. It was only a long time later that he realized it was Wen Feng Jin¡¯s effort in trying to suppress an extreme murderous intent. But looking at Zhen Bei¡¯s distressed look, how could Wang Xiao Mie not care. The dude¡¯s complexion was just frightening. Wen Feng Jin stopped him from moving but he could still call out: ¡°Zhen Bei, Zhen Bei, are you ok?¡± After retching for some time, Zhen Bei remained kneeling on the ground and waved his hand: ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Maybe because of the intense coughing that his voice had changed. Wang Xiao Mie responded with an oh and before he could say anything else, he was fully wrapped in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arms and his sight was blocked by his chest. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dirty, don¡¯t look.¡± ¡°Ha?¡± Wang Xiao Mie pouted. What¡¯s dirty? Well, they were indeed standing in front of the toilet entrance for a while now. Is Zhen Bei affected by the fumigation?! After some time, Zhen Bei stood up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His complexion had somewhat recovered and he managed to flash his sunny smile: ¡°I¡¯m alright. And just now, this sir had given me his word!¡± ¡°Wen Feng Jin promised to let your brother go?! When did you guys agree on that?¡± Wang Xiao Mie was confused, ¡°Exactly what did you guys do just now?¡± He looked up at Wen Feng Jin¡¯s bulging Adam¡¯s apple and chin, ¡°Feng Jin, you really promised him?¡± Wen Feng Jin made an ambiguous um sound and said: ¡°You don¡¯t like bloodshed so I¡¯ll order Mu Yi and the others to drive them out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just not used to it¡­.¡± Since he had turned into a zombie, it was inevitable that he had to fight with graverobbers. Moreover, the human¡¯s heart is always biased. He whispered softly: ¡°But we can¡¯t just let them trample all over us. And Zhen Bei said that man is very bad and also powerful. He¡¯s trying to get your heart, we should do what we have to do!¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes twinkled as he pursed his lips, ¡°Even if we did something to him, it¡¯s still self-defense. We¡¯ve been dead so many years, the law doesn¡¯t apply to corpses.¡± Upon hearing his words, Wen Feng Jin was a little stunned. The grip on his body relaxed then tightened again, but this time with a touch of gentleness. ¡°Shixiong, did you forget that I¡¯m not actually dead?¡± Wen Feng Jin teased. Fine fine fine, you¡¯re an immortal. Wang Xiao Mie rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re already over a thousand years old, I don¡¯t think they¡¯d have the heart to put a thousand years old elderly in prison.¡± ¡°If you work hard enough, you could outlive the millennial turtle! We might even get a Guinness World Record!¡± Wang Xiao Mie giggled as he pictured their future in his head. Seeing his delightful smile, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes eased and he also smiled. ¡°Do you get it? I¡¯m not an open-handed person. If they really hurt you, I will stand on your side no matter what you do to them!¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked at him firmly and said: ¡°So don¡¯t hide from me anything that you¡¯re planning to do, got it?¡± Wen Feng Jin gazed into his eyes. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s words made his fingers twitched and the corner of his mouth hooked, ¡°¡­.I won¡¯t deceive you, Shixiong.¡± I¡¯m sorry Xiao Mie, even this sentence is a lie. Hearing Wen Feng Jin¡¯s promise, Wang Xiao Mie smiled again. Zhen Bei was glaring at their backs in silence. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s bizarre ability caused him to feel nauseous from the chest pain and dizziness. The master of this tomb is indeed powerful. Fortunately, he could be used. But a mutated corpse and an immortal monster behaving intimately like two living beings¡­. Zhen Bei smiled to himself. How disgusting¡­ Ugh~ Ughh~ it¡¯s so disgusting I feel like throwing up. Zhen Bei displayed a broad smile on his face. ¡­.. After Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin finished talking, Zhen Bei scratched his head and shyly approached them. ¡°Thank you both. I did not expect that you¡¯ll agree to my request, I really don¡¯t know how to repay you. And this kind sir¡­ thank you. Please remember to spare my brother.¡± He looked at Wen Feng Jin with clear eyes. Wen Feng Jin forced a faint smile and said: ¡°Fine, I will spare your brother.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Zhen Bei showed a bright and excited smile, looking much like a golden retriever. However, Wang Xiao Mie was getting an odd vibe from him. Like looking at an ocean from above, the surface is visibly tranquil but something dark is lurking underneath. Zhen Bei said: ¡°Although the dig is scheduled to be a week from now, they will come here and set up camp two days in advance. At that time, I¡¯ll be tagging along.¡± Wang Xiao Mie blinked. He broke away from Wen Feng Jin¡¯s embrace and asked: ¡°You want a map?¡± Zhen Bei shook his head: ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯m satisfied with you guys agreeing to my unreasonable request. And even after hearing that I¡¯m coming to steal from you, you did not kill me¡­.¡± He looked down then up again at Wang Xiao Mie and said seriously, ¡°Thank you Xiao Mie.¡± After which, he started giggling, ¡°Haha, sorry, I just can¡¯t take your name seriously.¡± (TN: The mie in his name is an onomatopoeia for a sheep¡¯s call, like baa baa in english) ¡°My grandmother said that a humble name is easy to raise¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was angry from embarrassment, ¡°Your name is no better than mine!¡± Wen Feng Jin raised his hand and stroked his head, comforting him: ¡°Your name sounds good.¡± And Zhen Bei said: ¡°My mother told me my big brother gave me that name.¡± ¡°Ha?¡± Wang Xiao Mie was speechless. ¡°Your brother is really daring, and your mom is quite gutsy to actually keep it.¡± ¡°Right¡­.¡± ¡°Anyway, I should get going now. I¡¯ve sneaked out for a few days already. If I don¡¯t return soon, I¡¯ll get an earful from my second brother!¡± Zhen Bei remembered something and hurriedly went to pick up his backpack. He rubbed his nose and said with some embarrassment: ¡°Err, I don¡¯t know how to get out. Do you think you can ¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie was about to answer him when Wen Feng Jin beat him to it: ¡°I will tell Mu Yi to send you out.¡± ¡°Ah? That huge lizard?!¡± Zhen Bei shrunk his neck in fear. Wang Xiao Mie comforted him: ¡°Mu Yi is particularly obedient to Wen Feng Jin. Rest assured, he won¡¯t bite you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡± A foreboding sensation flashed in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes as he glanced at Zhen Bei¡¯s smiling face. He turned and eyed the empty passageway. After a short while, clicking sounds could be heard coming their way. The blood-red lizardman Mu Yi crawled in front of them. When Zhen Bei was following the lizard to leave, he turned back and said to Wen Feng Jin: ¡°After my brother comes out safely, I will repay you.¡± With that, he turned and left with Mu Yi. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes following his back were covered by a big hand. ¡°Stop looking at him.¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s face was cold. Wang Xiao Mie thought he was being jealous and snickered: ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I just think that his personality is not bad. Although he is a little dense, he came here alone and risked his life for his brother. Say, if my personality is like his, won¡¯t you like it better¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Gah! Boss! What¡¯s with that expression?!¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡­. I feel like puking. CH 26 Ever since Zhen Bei¡¯s visit, Wang Xiao Mie had discovered a super fun hobby. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Wow, Zhen Bei is such a great guy! I think¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin bit his lips as his face turned blue. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°What do you say if we have a kid like Zhen Bei¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin clenched his jaws and his larynx shifted up and down. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°If we¡ªhmmm hmmm!¡± Wen Feng Jin was blocking his mouth. After calming down, he said: ¡°Xiao Mie ¡­ stop talking.¡± Wang Xiao Mie came out of his arms grinning despicably. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me why you hate Zhen Bei, I will keep talking!¡± Wen Feng Jin had a hatred for Zhen Bei was something Wang Xiao Mie discovered yesterday. Otherwise, there was no reason for his disgusted look at the mention of his name. But the two of them had no prior encounter apart from the two times they met inside the tomb. Why would Xiao Wenzi have such a reaction? Wang Xiao Mie was itching all over with curiosity. But no matter what method he used, not excluding *cough* seduction, Wen Feng Jin refused to tell him anything. Looking at his lover with the twinkle in his eyes saying ¡®I¡¯m dying of curiosity¡¯, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s mood was lifted. The deep disgust for that person had turned into somewhat of a humorous prank on his beloved. After keeping quiet for a while, he said: ¡°Xiao Mie, stay away from him. He¡¯s definitely not as simple as you think.¡± ¡°But if you don¡¯t tell me what¡¯s wrong with him how am I supposed to know if he¡¯s good or bad!¡± Wang Xiao Mie rolled his eyes. ¡°You really want to know?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Come here.¡± Wen Feng Jin was sitting leisurely under the sacred tree with one leg bent. He raised his hand and gestured Wang Xiao Mie over. Wang Xiao Mie sat down next to him and leaned into his embrace. Wen Feng Jin wrapped his arms around him and in a disgusted tone, began telling the story of a hardworking boss trying to resurrect his love when somehow from somewhere there was always someone coming to knock on his door screaming ¡°Time to die, Demon Lord!!¡±. And the most persistent of them had left an unforgettable psychological shadow on Wen Feng Jin. ¡°In total, I¡¯ve killed him twenty-nine times. Threw him down a cliff six times, pierced through his heart seven times, destroyed every meridian on his body ten times, and several times, I was so close to cutting his head off.¡± ¡°But it was all useless. After falling down the cliff, he would always discover a hidden treasure or secret. After stabbing his heart seven times, I discovered that his heart was on the right side. After his meridians were destroyed, there would always be reclusive all-knowing physicians to help him recover. After that, every time we met I would try to kill him with a fatal wound¡­ but it was useless.¡± ¡°No matter what I did, he would always meet up with some miracle and come back for me over and over again.¡± Speaking of this, Wen Feng Jin bit his lips as a nauseous sensation swelled. Even Wang Xiao Mie was creeped out with goosebumps popping up all over his body. WTF! Isn¡¯t this a protagonist halo?! And it¡¯s not even a regular one, it¡¯s eight levels of VIP! It can¡¯t even be considered a halo anymore, he¡¯s almost almighty! No wonder even with Wen Feng Jin¡¯s personality, he still found it hard to swallow. Opening the door to find the person he had killed reappearing in front of him time and again was indeed terrifying! This is worse than being haunted by a vengeful ghost! A normal human would have been broken after coming close to death that many times but that man seemed to have no fear. It was like he was born to go up against Wen Feng Jin. Wen Feng Jin said: ¡°He doesn¡¯t even seem human to me. More like a puppet from someone¡¯s twisted creation. That thing would always smile regardless of the situation it was in, like a mindless freak who was only motivated by justice.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°And the human called Zhen Bei bares a lot of resemblance to that person. Even the nauseating smell was very much similar.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± This new information stumped Wang Xiao Mie. It suddenly occurred to him that since he had been selected to educate Wen Feng Jin to be a person of high morality, then what happened after he failed his mission? Could that person be a manifestation created by the system to kill Wen Feng Jin?! Damn!!! This is too terrifying to think about ¡­ ¡°¡­.but you still managed to get rid of him, that¡¯s incredible.¡± Wang Xiao Mie said but Wen Feng Jin shook his head. ¡°I did not get to kill him even to the end.¡± ¡°Ha?! Then how are you¡­¡± alive and not been torn apart by him? Wen Feng Jin smiled: ¡°Because I don¡¯t age or die. When I was only a hundred and fifty years old, his life span was already depleted.¡± ¡­..so you won by outliving him. Wang Xiao Mie remembered an interesting snippet he read somewhere: the old lady with a cigarette in her hand said: ¡°The doctors who advised me to quit smoking are all dead!¡± That was¡­ an anti-climatic ending, sigh¡­ ¡°But Xiao Wenzi, what did you do after my death¡­¡± That made the system send me back to your childhood to straighten you up and after that failed, sent a death-defying protagonist to kill and sicken you. Wang Xiao Mie looked at Wen Feng Jin curiously. Wen Feng Jin froze for a second then turned to him and said with an innocent smile: ¡°I don¡¯t know, all I did was find ways to resurrect you.¡± Yeah right~ in addition to that, he also orchestrated mass killings of the entire sects, affiliated sects, clans, and tribes~ and finally, enshrouded the whole Northern Empire in darkness and tyranny for a hundred years before settling down underground! Wink~ ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie who kicked the bucket when he failed the mission: I¡¯d rather p**p upside down than believe you. In essence, Wang Xiao Mie understood the gist of it. Wen Feng Jin was haunted by the protagonist with a bulked-up halo during those years which cast a psychological shadow in his heart. He did not hate Zhen Bei (Wen Feng Jin: No, I hate him) but only felt the similarities between him and the adversary he had faced many years ago, causing his head to throb. Like the saying once bitten twice shy. With his curiosity satiated, Wang Xiao Mie yawned in comfort: ¡°Zhen Bei said they will be coming to ransack our tomb in a week.¡± Sigh, in what dimension are they living in that tomb robbers actually made an appointment before they come. ¡°Um.¡± Wen Feng Jin nodded like it was not an issue. He adjusted his posture to ensure Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s comfort in his arms: ¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep for a while?¡± ¡°Ok¡­ I am getting a little sleepy. Lately, I feel that my ¡®charging tree¡¯ is not as effective.¡± Wang Xiao Mie nodded. Before, it was ¡®charge for five minutes equals two hours of talk time¡¯, now he had to sleep at least half a day. ¡°But they¡¯re coming to raid the tomb.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already had this figured out.¡± Wen Feng Jin smiled and held him firmly. The aromatic fragrance from the peach blossom enwrapped them, igniting warmth. Its petals sprinkled on their long black hair, creating a beautiful ornament. The person in his arms had gone into a slumber. He had no heartbeat nor breathing, relying on the sacred tree to maintain his earthly look. In truth, he was already a corpse. Slowly, blue and red veins emerged on the snow-white skin and a patch of discoloration appeared from his neck down. Lividity was setting in. The old man said before: ¡°A corpse without a soul is fragile and cannot be cultivated. Even if it can move, it will still rot. It¡¯s possible if you simply want to keep the body from decaying, but the Corpse Beads and Sacred Tree can only maintain his appearance, once he leaves¡­. If the tree managed to call back his soul and place it in this body, with luck, he might be able to wake up but won¡¯t be able to move, but if luck forbids, his body and the Corpse Bead will turn into ashes along with his soul¡­¡± ¡°How to make this body ¡®alive¡¯ again?¡± ¡°You need a certain medicine.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin hummed softly an old tune of the Northern Empire. He placed the lifeless man whose face had now been covered with blood vessels on his leg. He loosened his collar and cut deep into his neck. The bitter medicinal fragrance was mixed with the subtle sweet scent from the peach blossoms. The man in his arms opened his scarlet eyes and quickly buried his head into Wen Feng Jin¡¯s neck and began to suck. The ancient tunes sung in a hoarse voice drowned out the savage swallowing grunts. As he was turning weak, Wen Feng Jin stopped humming and closed his eyes. The long and bony finger slowly interspersed into his lover¡¯s long dark locks, gently combing through it. After a while, the man in his arms regained his lively complexion. The red ferocious eyes closed shut and he peacefully laid back in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arms. Wen Feng Jin wiped the bloodstains on his lips with his finger and used the back of his hand to feel his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s alright, It¡¯s fine now. When they enter the tomb, I will get what we need and we don¡¯t have to stay underground anymore. You want the boundless sky or endless oceans, wherever you wish to go, I will accompany you¡­¡± He eased his eyes and pasted the side of his cheek on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s forehead. A red sinister glow began spreading from the iris of his strange eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Shixiong, I have to lie to you again. Those people, I will not let any of them live!¡± ¡­.. The Zhen House As soon as Zhen Bei, with this backpack on, entered the old street leading to his ancestral home, he stopped, adjusted his expression, and pasted on a big and silly smile. ¡°Second brother!¡± Behind the bright red gate was Zhen Mu standing by. He was dressed in close-fitting black clothes. The wind blew and ruffled his short black hair. After seeing Zhen Bei, the sharp eyebrows bent as he showed a gentle smile. ¡°Now you¡¯re willing to come back? Where did you go without leaving a word? I told you not to go underground with those people and just stay at home to study the antiques.¡± Zhen Bei smiled and said: ¡°Aren¡¯t you also the same? Besides, don¡¯t we have big brother to appraise the antiques? I don¡¯t have his talent so why waste the time?¡± ¡°Nonsense. You¡¯re very talented as well.¡± Zhen Mu¡¯s smile faded slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll be accompanying our big brother for the expedition in a few days so let¡¯s have a meal together, we might not get the chance in the future.¡± Zhen Bei narrowed his eyes and jabbed his brother at the chest, ¡°Why are you talking like you¡¯ll be gone forever?! But if we¡¯re eating out, it¡¯ll be your treat!¡± Zhen Mu laughed helplessly. He raised his scar-filled hand and rubbed his little brother¡¯s head. ¡°Stinky boy, when did I ever make you pay? Hm?¡± ¡°Haha! Second brother is the best!¡± Zhen Mu accompanied him to greet everyone and they left the old and dark Zhen house in cheerful chit chat. Advertisements In the guest room. A man was sitting on a wooden chair. His face was emotionless like the mask he was wearing. Accompanying him was a refined gentleman of roughly thirty-something but looked exceptionally young and graceful at first glance. That man was Zhen Hao. ¡°How certain are you?¡± Zhen Hao questioned the man about the map and characters embroidered on the silk brocade. The man nodded: ¡°Worry not. Whether this map is authentic or not, I¡¯m sure you can tell. The pieces in their possessions are all fake, the only genuine piece is this one which was left to me by my master.¡± ¡°Your two younger brothers had managed to enter the place and came back alive with the fish pearls. And if he wasn¡¯t lying and the two tomb masters are conscious beings, then the legends are all true. There should be countless treasures buried in there. With my group of men and your second brother, there absolutely will not be a problem. The main issues at hand are the traps and the monsters guarding the place. But with this map, we should be able to avoid those dangers.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had the first-hand experience with what the fish pearls could do.¡± ¡°And there are other artifacts you have never heard of or only seen in ancient scriptures. Most of which are tens of thousands of times more precious than the fish pearls and they are all waiting for you inside that tomb¡­ Don¡¯t you wish to see them?¡± The expressionless man hooked his lips. Hearing this, Zhen Hao clasped his hands. Joy filled his eyes as he said: ¡°Let¡¯s get ready, we¡¯ll leave as soon as possible.¡± The man nodded with satisfaction, ¡°By the way, take both your brothers with us. They won¡¯t betray us, will they?¡± In the face of wealth, even father and son would turn against each other not to mention siblings! Zhen Hao snorted: ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯re all my dogs. Very obedient.¡± The man took back the silk map and gave him a brief glance. ¡°Good for you¡­¡± CH 27 Underground Wang Xiao Mie stood at the entrance of one of the halls with his sleeves rolled up. He looked at the mound of gold flowing past the door not with joy but annoyance. With utmost seriousness, he began dog-paddling through them. All the gems and gold were brushed aside. What he needed now were weapons! ¡°Xiao Wenzi, come help me quickly!¡± Wen Feng Jin came along and saw his sweet little dumpling jutting out his butt and digging into the ¡®soil¡¯. The corner of his mouth hooked, ¡°Xiao Mie, don¡¯t lift your butt so high.¡± Wang Xiao Mie turned and glared at him with black lines coming down his face: ¡°Stop being a hooligan. Come and help me. Which big boss in the movies doesn¡¯t carry a weapon? Our tomb is going to be dug up in two days and yet you¡¯re being too carefree.¡± ¡°You and I cannot leave the tomb palace, so the only thing we can do is stay here and wait.¡± Wen Feng Jin said so but he still lifted his sleeves and joined the search. ¡°But we have to at least be prepared. What if you can¡¯t beat them?¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s still Shixiong you.¡± Wen Feng Jin said with a smile. ¡°How can I be of service? Do you want me to dial the cops or call the ambulance?¡± Wang Xiao Mie continued to bury his head into the treasure heap. His eyes suddenly lit up as he pulled out a little undershirt made of gold thread??? ¡°What the hell is this?! You even collect people¡¯s undergarment? This is insane! Did you strip the person of his clothes to get this just because it¡¯s made of gold?!¡± Wen Feng Jin stayed silent for a while before saying: ¡°Xiao Mie, that¡¯s a golden light armor.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± Gold¡­ golden armor? The super incredible armor that can withstand bullets and knives? He folded the vest and added it to his pouch. Ke, keke, I¡¯m keeping it. A somewhat embarrassed Wang Xiao Mie continued dog-paddling through the treasures. ¡°Ai ya, so many good items and weapons, why didn¡¯t you keep them separately in a different hall? Now they¡¯re lumped together with ordinary jewelry and we have to scour through them.¡± Wen Feng Jin pinched his forehead and sighed: ¡°Xiao Mie¡­¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked at him with wet puppy eyes. ¡°Did you forget that you were the one who used the weapon display as a clothes hanger? You also changed the weapon storeroom into the clothes drying room.¡± Wen Feng Jin lowered his head and looked at him, ¡°Those weapons were thrown here by MuYi at your request¡­¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie remembered his past behavior with little remorse. He looked at Wen Feng Jin with a grin. ¡°I did that! So what? Are you gonna get fierce with me?! Wan Wan Wan!!!¡± He was unrepentant with an arrogant and ferocious attitude that made even the big Boss Wen itch. Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± My family¡¯s little dumpling likes to make dog¡¯s sounds, what should I do? It¡¯s actually quite cute, can I do him? After doing it will he get better? Facing the fuming and ¡®cute to the point I want to have *cough*¡¯ Wang Xiao Mie, Boss Wen decided to bow down to him and quietly accompany him to scavenge. After a few minutes of metal crashing sounds, someone asked a question: ¡°My Liao Yue sword¡­¡± ¡°Why are you so petty! I will dig it up for you in a moment! Hmph!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Even with the additional help of Mu Yi, they toiled away the whole day before finally assembling back all the precious weapons into the weapon storeroom. Sitting on the smooth stone floor, Wang Xiao Mie was exhausted to the point that he simply laid on the ground. Wen Feng Jin was leaning against a pillar with droopy eyes, clearly, he had also used up quite an amount of effort. As for the poor Mu Yi, he did not even have the strength to latch himself on the wall. The big lizard fell to the ground with his tongue sticking out. Without his heavy breathing, Wang Xiao Mie would¡¯ve thought the thing had killed itself. Advertisements After taking a break, Wang Xiao Mie sat up and looked wearingly at Wen Feng Jin: ¡°That should be all of them, right¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin nodded: ¡°Most of it. There are probably several buried further down but these should enough¡­.Xiao Mie, I said you don¡¯t have to worry about anything, I¡¯ll think of a way to deal with those graverobbers.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Wang Xiao Mie put his hand on Mu Yi¡¯s grotesque head and patted it like a dog. The hideous Mu Yi was trying to act cute by whining coquettishly. ¡°I just want to cover all my grounds. It¡¯s better if I don¡¯t know when they are coming. Now that I know, every day feels like a countdown to my end. And I keep having a very bad premonition¡­¡± As the day approached, the unrest in his heart was getting stronger. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes stayed on him: ¡°Xiao Mie¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie interrupted his words and said with a smile: ¡°I get it. I don¡¯t doubt what you¡¯re going to do or that you can¡¯t handle this. I¡¯m just worried about the man Zhen Bei mentioned. A person who¡¯s able to say that he wants to eat your heart must have something to back his words.¡± He had a nightmare the previous night. He dreamt that Wen Feng Jin was captured and had his heart ripped off. The bloody scene shocked him awake. His hands kept shaking for a long time until he felt the familiar embrace, only then did he calm down. Wen Feng Jin came up to him and knelt down on one knee. He placed his palm on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s cheek and gently rubbed the corner of his eye. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, I don¡¯t age or die, no matter what, I will live.¡± Wang Xiao Mie dropped his head, ¡°Even if you¡¯re immortal, doesn¡¯t mean you don¡¯t have a weakness. Can your heart grow back after being torn off?¡± Wen Feng Jin smiled. When his large black pupils fully reflected the face of his beloved, he said: ¡°I¡¯m a little happy.¡± ¡°Happy with what? That someone else wants your heart?¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked up and stared at him. Wen Feng Jin laughed softly, ¡°I¡¯m happy that you care about me and worried for my sake.¡± After doing the things that I did, I dared not dream that you would once again give me this warmth. ¡°With this, I¡¯m more determined not to let them have the upper hand.¡± Wen Feng Jin gently took Wang Xiao Mie into his arms. Feeling the strong embrace and reciprocation of emotions from Wang Xiao Mie, he sighed with bliss. His eyes closed and his smile deepened. Finally¡­.. finally, there comes a day that my wish is fulfilled¡­ No one can stop me from being with you. Whoever dares get in our way, I will give him a life worse than death! ¡­.. The Zhen House In the age-old solemn mansion, several individuals with diverse characteristics sat in groups at the reception hall. They carried themselves with grace and politeness but none would give anyone else a second glance. On the patriarch seat were the Zhen family head and his wife. On his left were Zhen Hao and the masked man, on his right were Zhen Mu and Zhen Bei. (TN: I forgot to talk about the three brother¡¯s names. Zhen Bei, as mentioned, sounds like the word bad luck. Zhen Mu (ľ=wood) refers to someone who¡¯s dense, quite alike his personality. And Zhen Hao, which sounds like ÕæºÃ, meaning great or wonderful.) ¡°Everyone here is an expert in the same circle. Your presence gives us great honor and we¡¯ll never forget this debt. And you, Mr. Yan, my son Zhen Hao had mentioned you many times to me.¡± The Zhen patriarch looked at the man next to Zhen Hao. He showed no expression and only nodded slightly. He was told that the man received a fatal wound a long time ago and now was not able to show any expression on his face. Thus, he dismissed his discourtesy and continued his speech. The other tomb robbers were still very respectful towards their big sponsor and listened quietly. A brazen woman who brought along a young man of twenty-something glanced at Zhen Mu with a smile. Zhen Mu titled his head in avoidance when he felt the laser-beam eyes aiming at him. The woman snickered and began to fiddle with her fingers in boredom. The young lad behind her stared at his mentor with a helpless sigh. As the meeting was about to end, Madame Zhen who had been quiet suddenly spoke with some sadness in her tone: ¡°Zhen Mu, Zhen Bei.¡± Zhen Mu and Zhen Bei looked at her. Madame Zhen said: ¡°I can¡¯t stop your brother from wanting to go underground. I have no idea why he insisted on going to such a dangerous place but Zhen Mu, you¡¯re used to that kind of job, make sure to take care of him when you¡¯re there, do you hear me?¡± Zhen Mu lowered his eyes. Under the fiery visage was actually a calm and gentle soul. Even under his mother¡¯s obviously biased instructions, he still nodded with grace. Seeing that Zhen Mu had agreed, Madame Zhen smiled with satisfaction. She had absolute trust in the second son¡¯s abilities. ¡°And Zhen Bei.¡± When she saw Zhen Bei¡¯s simpleton smile, she frowned and reproached him: ¡°Look at your silly appearance! You¡¯re so old and still had to rely on your big brother! Don¡¯t give your big brother any trouble when you¡¯re in the tomb, got it?¡± Zhen Bei shrunk back and Zhen Mu was a little upset. In a rare occurrence, he spoke against her: ¡°Mother, Zhen Bei is not stupid. He¡¯s been a sincere child since birth, don¡¯t keep reprimanding him.¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°Alright! Alright!¡± The Zhen patriarch interrupted his wife who was fuming, ¡°We¡¯re talking about serious business here! You¡¯re getting off-topic and making the guests look at us as a joke!¡± Madame Zhen snorted and turned her head. Zhen Hao then comforted his mother by saying: ¡°Mother, I know you¡¯re worried about us but father is right. I¡¯ll accompany you for a while before I leave.¡± Madame Zhen smiled again and the Zhen patriarch eased up after hearing his favorite son¡¯s words. He exchanged a few pleasantries before leading his wife away. The man with the facial paralysis known as Mr. Yan gestured to everyone to gather around him. He and Zhen Hao then relayed the plan to them, assigned tasks, and what to prepare when they go underground. The group hurdled and discussed, deliberately disregarding Zhen Bei and Zhen Mu. Zhen Bei twitched his brows and whispered to Zhen Mu: ¡°Second brother, don¡¯t you think that Zhen Hao is quite unwise? Although all these people are skillful, they¡¯re not affiliated with us. And with Zhen Hao isolating us on purpose, if that jerkface Yan betrayed him, the three of us are done for.¡± Zhen Mu eyed the contemptuous Zhen Hao smiling in the crowd. When Zhen Hao saw him looking over, he smirked and looked back at them with disdain. Zhen Mu drooped his eyes. He patted the back of Zhen Bei¡¯s head with his scarred hand. ¡°It¡¯s ok, brother will protect you. You¡¯re my first priority.¡± Zhen Bei flashed a brilliant smile and nodded with an oomph. He looked at Zhen Hao and Zhen Hao mouthed the word ¡°idiot¡± at him. Zhen Bei kept smiling and scratched his head as if he was clueless while Zhen Hao laughed at himself for being bothered with a fool. The time of departure was soon fixed and the supplies and equipment would be arriving right on schedule. Advertisements Back underground Wen Feng Jin was leaning against the sacred tree with his arms folded. He smiled sweetly at Wang Xiao Mie who was playing with a short and sharp dagger. ¡°Xiao Mie, compared to this dagger, I think you should use the other one.¡± Said Wen Feng Jin. Wang Xiao Mie looked at the dagger in his hand that shined like snow and the black and rusty one on the ground, ¡°No matter how you look at it, this one has got to be more powerful!¡± ¡°The grade of a blade is not determined by how shiny it is. Only decorative blades are clean and shiny, this is called ¡®zei guan¡¯. The truth is, real weapons are heavy and strong which sometimes makes them seem dull but they have incredible cutting prowess and only after being used for a long time will their ¡®bao guan¡¯ appear. The only exception is the sword.¡± (TN: zei guan Ôô¹â, direct translation is probably trick light, it usually used in ceramics and refers to a piece that is more modern and its shine is different from those of aged ones which tend to have bao guan ±¦¹â, meaning a precious shine. I¡¯m not fully knowledgeable with this aspect so please correct me if I¡¯m wrong) ¡°Oh, I see.¡± The illiterate Wang Xiao Mie looked at the dagger imbued with jewels and the word gaudy flashed all over it. He then picked up the black and rusted dagger on the ground and continued slashing at thin air with it. Like a puppy baring its fangs, he practiced as if he was ready to go all out against the group of intruders! Wen Feng Jin slowly raised his hand and covered his giggling mouth. Nai xiong, nai xiong, Shixiong¡­. (TN: Nai xiong is describing something small and cute, like a baby animal, trying to act tough which rhymes with Shixiong. I don¡¯t know how to translate this sentence to make it rhyme and sound cute as the author intended so I¡¯m leaving it as it is) CH 28 On the morning of the fifth day, in the quiet mist-covered barren mountains, a group of people was setting up a tent on the wild overgrown grass. Boxes of equipment were being transported and put into place. A thin and weak looking youth was meticulously spraying insect repellent powder around their living quarters. He turned back and saw his Shibo her highness sitting on a stone and leisurely using a cloth to wipe a short and flat point sword. ¡°Shibo, it¡¯s so hot out here, why don¡¯t you go inside the tent?¡± ¡°This tent is too green.¡± The woman admired the weapon in her hand and answered absentmindedly. The youth choked a little then sighed: ¡°Shibo, just say so if you don¡¯t want to go in with them. This is a green tent, not a green hat. You still have to sleep in it at night.¡± The woman glared at him: ¡°How dare you bicker with me. Is it because I haven¡¯t given you a beating in a while that your head¡¯s filled with grease?! Listen well, stinky boy, except for Zhen Mu that simpleton, do not believe anyone else, they¡¯re all living ghosts that are capable of swallowing you.¡± The young man named Xiao Luo respectfully nodded and happily replied: ¡°I understand. Other than Zhen Mu and Zhen Bei, and also Shibo, I will not be bothered with anyone else.¡± ¡°Not Zhen Mu and Zhen Bei, only Zhen Mu.¡± ¡°Ha? Why?¡± Xiao Luo was surprised. The woman squinted: ¡°That kid Zhen Bei¡­. I always feel that he¡¯s evil.¡± Xiao Luo scratched his head and thought: Ai, this is probably a woman¡¯s sixth sense. Even so, he treated her words with importance. After being taught by her for so many years, he trusted her the most. Advertisements With that, he packed their secret insect repellent powder and went back to the tent to check their equipment. As for the woman, once she saw Zhen Mu coming out of the tent with his bronze sword, she beamed brilliantly: ¡°Zhen Mu! Second son of the Zhen family! Come, come! We haven¡¯t seen each other for so long yet you don¡¯t even come and say hi. Here, let me check your Chang Feng!¡± Zhen Mu was a little evasive towards the woman but hearing her request of checking his weapon, he came forward with a straight face and greeted softly: ¡°Lei Jie.¡± (TN: jie is a form of address towards an older female. I¡¯ll be referring to her as Lei Jie instead of sister Lei.) Lei Jie had a wide grin on her face as she cast aside the knife in her hand and took over the bronze sword from Zhen Mu. She carefully stroked the body of the sword named Chang Feng. Lei Jie¡¯s family had been swordsmiths for many generations. The craftsmen in the family were all crazy about creating the perfect sword to the point of sacrificing everything else. This was also the reason for her fascination with ancient weapons and why she joined this particular line of work. ¡°Long time no see, and you¡¯re still beautiful as ever¡­¡± Lei Jie said tenderly to the sword. Its masters¡¯ love did not cause the sword to become weak, its blade remained sharp as it had always been even after so many years. Lei Jie was only given the chance to repair it twice and if it wasn¡¯t for Zhen Mu¡¯s unwillingness to part with his beloved sword and that he had saved her disciple, she would have tried to get it from him at any price! Lei Jie took her cloth and carefully wiped the sword, cleaning every nook and cranny. As her special cloth slid along the edge, a light buzzing sound could be heard from the friction. Zhen Mu sat quietly on the boulder beside her as she admired the sword. After some time, she asked: ¡°Your family¡¯s eldest son Zhen Hao¡­. Did he receive some kind of injury when he was young?¡± Surprise sprang up on Zhen Mu¡¯s sharp and handsome face. He earnestly recalled and said: ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be.¡± Lei Jie let out an oh and said: ¡°Then why is it that I find him stupid?¡± Zhen Mu: ¡°¡­..¡± Lei Jie squinted as she carefully observed the sword while saying: ¡°I¡¯ve always been straightforward, don¡¯t mind my rudeness. I¡¯m an old lady and maybe my eyesight is getting worst but everyone in the circle knows how treacherous that old dog Yan can be. He can swallow your brother whole and not even spit out his bones. Not to mention his lawless and unruly underlings. Your brother is so stupid that he gives the man everything. The way I see it, sooner or later he¡¯s bound to be killed!¡± ¡°And that rotten luck mother of yours still wants you to protect him. Are you sure you can do that? It¡¯s already a big fortune if you can get out of there alive.¡± Zhen Mu grimaced in silence before saying: ¡°I know you¡¯re looking out for me, thank you Lei Jie.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Lei Jie knew he had wood for brains and did not say much. She handed back Chang Feng to him with much hesitation and said: ¡°Advice is not well received by those who deserved to die. Also, beware of that little brother of yours.¡± As swordsmiths, they were very sensitive to the sharpness and auras of weapons, the same goes to people. ¡°My little brother¡­¡± Zhen Mu shook his head, ¡°My little brother is a good kid. Lei Jie, you¡¯re overthinking. And one more thing, if something happened to me, you can have this sword but please look after my brother and get him out. Please?¡± Lei Jie gazed up and down at him: ¡°Ai Yo, what are you talking about. I wasn¡¯t trying to drive a wedge between anyone. Besides, if you can¡¯t even survive then how am I capable of saving your brother?¡± Zhen Mu smiled: ¡°Lei Jie, others may not know it but I¡¯m fully aware of your skills. And also your sole purpose here is for those famed weapons, not the treasures, there¡¯s no lost trust between us.¡± Lei Jie glanced at him then at the Chang Feng sword in his hand. In the end, she listlessly gave him her word. ¡°Ai~ If I could so much as peek at Liao Yue sword and Kai Ming this time, I¡¯ll gladly die in there!¡± Having received her promise, Zhen Mu also smiled with relief. In the tent, Zhen Hao was sitting motionlessly while fanning himself with a fan. He had his eyes half-closed as he listened to Mr. Yan giving out instructions. ¡°Xiao Li, you have good martial arts, you¡¯ll stay in the front with Zhen Mu. If you sense anything wrong, send a signal to retreat.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Tiezi and Chunlei, you¡¯ll be protecting Mr. Zhen.¡± The two named Tiezi and Chunlei nodded with a smile and said: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother Yan.¡± ¡°Finally, I¡¯ll tell you the positions to avoid the traps. One more person will stay above ground just in case. Ah Shui, you¡¯ll stay here.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± ¡°Oh right, what about that woman and her apprentice?¡± Zhen Hao opened his frowning eyes and asked. The man¡¯s face remained expressionless: ¡°They will follow us down. That woman and her apprentice are powerful. Just let them do whatever they want. Regardless, they still have to follow our instructions for safety.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhen Hao reluctantly nodded. ¡­.. Underground Wen Feng Jin treated Mu Yi in front of him like the former subordinate of many years ago as he gave out orders. ¡°If you can¡¯t tell your opponent¡¯s strengths, feel free to test them out or just kill them. But Mu Yi, remember this, those bearing the scent as the person before are not to be killed. Absolutely not, understood?¡± Click click click. Mu Yi made sounds from his throat, indicating he had understood. The few monsters behind him did the same. ¡°Very good.¡± Wen Feng Jin nodded with satisfaction, ¡°Go on to your respective position. And remember my words.¡± The troop of ferocious-looking monsters turned and in a flash, disappeared into the tomb¡¯s passageway. When he turned back, Wang Xiao Mie was standing behind him. ¡°Xiao Mie?¡± Wen Feng Jin froze for a second. He lowered his face, then looked up with a smile, ¡°How long have you been here? I didn¡¯t hear you come in.¡± Wang Xiao Mie rubbed his sleepy eyes: ¡°I only just came. I woke up and didn¡¯t see you so I came here to look. Mu Yi and the others already left? What did you tell them to do?¡± Wen Feng Jin narrowed his eyes and went up to Wang Xiao Mie, pulling away his hand that was rubbing his eyes. He gently used his thumb to rub his eyes for him. ¡°Don¡¯t rub so hard, it¡¯ll hurt your eye.¡± ¡°Oh~¡± Wang Xiao Mie did not mind Wen Feng Jin not answering the question. He stood with his hands hanging and chin raised, obediently allowing himself to be wiped. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, they will come down here tonight to scout but won¡¯t go too far in. You have to carry your dagger at all times.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Wang Xiao Mie turned his head and slowly opened his eyes, feeling much better. He reached into his clothes and pulled out the dagger. The weapon was simple in design and black in color. There were no intricate carvings and only the words ¡®Kai Ming¡¯ was etched on the handle. ¡°I always have it on me.¡± Wen Feng Jin took back his hand and slowly walked him back. Wang Xiao Mie waved his dagger and sighed: ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the use of this thing? It¡¯s sooo short. An inch shorter, an inch more dangerous. This will be the death of me. The attacker is already at my throat and I can¡¯t even reach his stomach.¡± (TN: What he meant is that because the weapon is short, he had to get closer to the opponent to kill him, making it more dangerous) Wen Feng Jin chuckled and explained to him: ¡°This Kai Ming dagger is considered a godly weapon back in those days. It was forged by a master swordsman and later, passed on to an assassin to kill a tyrant king. Because it carried the hope of getting rid of tyrants and opening up the world, it was given the name Kai Ming. This dagger is extremely sharp. It is capable of cutting through heavenly soldiers and has killed countless cold-blooded kings and nobles. As long as it senses an evil person close by, it will give off heat as a warning.¡± ¡°Ha? It¡¯s that incredible?!¡± Wang Xiao Mie immediately saw the dagger in a new light. Its black color was like a soothing design choice and even the tiny scratches were proof that it had been through many battles. He suddenly thought of something and asked Wen Feng Jin: ¡°You said it will turn hot when it¡¯s near bad people. You¡¯re by my side now and nothing¡¯s happening! Are you lying to me?!¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..Shixiong, I¡¯m actually a good person.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie was speechless. He eyed Wen Feng Jin from head to toe in his black and red robe. Wen Feng Jin unconsciously tried to paint himself in a gentle light with a smile but with his black eyes and the scarlet mark on his forehead, the smile only added a touch of evil to his perfect villain appearance. ¡°¡­..tell me the truth.¡± Wang Xiao Mie pressed the dagger to his chest. ¡°¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin stood his ground, ¡°I¡¯m a good man. Look, even Kai Ming approves.¡± The dagger touching his chest gave out a hum¡­..it was turning hot. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked away from Wen Feng Jin. The devil¡¯s face was too beautiful, he dared not look. ¡°I¡¯ll say this again, tell me the truth.¡± The mesmerizing boss Wen finally gave in to Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s questioning and told him the truth. ¡°Alright¡­..¡± ¡°When I first got hold of Kai Ming many years ago, I was quite intrigued by it. For fun, I would keep it on me through the winter¡­..for warmth.¡± Kai Ming, the legendary dagger, was becoming increasingly hot as if crying out to Wang Xiao Mie, telling him its grievance of after being used as a portable heater for so many years, it was too lazy to produce heat in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s presence and could only cry silent tears. CH 29 At night, the dozen or so tomb raiders prepared to enter the previously excavated passage to the underground tomb. After letting down the rope, Zhen Mu and Xiao Li who were in the front threw in several flares. The weak light fell straight down and a faint sound could only be heard after a relatively long time. The people above ground looked down and saw a tiny dot of light. ¡°My god, how deep is this?¡± ¡°Under here is a thousand-year-old palace that spans this entire mountain range. Imagine the depths of such a magnificent building.¡± For easy access, the hold was not dug vertically down and hence the view below was mostly blocked. Peeking into the deep tunnel, Zhen Hao¡¯s excitement was unrestrained. He urged the two men squatting beside him: ¡°What are we still doing here?! Get down there quick!¡± Xiao Li smiled at him and remained in place until Mr. Yan gave him a nod. He said: ¡°Alright! I¡¯m going.¡± He then strapped himself and slowly slid down the rope. When it was Zhen Mu¡¯s turn, Zhen Bei grabbed him and put something in his hand: ¡°Brother, this is for you.¡± Zhen Mu was briefly surprised as he looked at the small sachet in his hand: ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Lucky amulet.¡± Zhen Bei said with a smile: ¡°I especially went to have it blessed.¡± Zhen Mu was touched with the small lucky charm and his eyes were filled with warmth. He rubbed Zhen Bei¡¯s head, ¡°Thank you Xiao Bei.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± When Zhen Mu began his descent, Zhen Bei squatted at the entrance with a worried look. ¡°Hey, you gave Zhen Mu an amulet but not to your big brother?¡± Zhen Hao looked down at Zhen Bei and asked with a smirk. Zhen Bei raised his head and anxiously said: ¡°No, no. I brought one for you too! Look!¡± He took out several small bags from his pocket, ¡°I worry for both of you. Big brother, you also have to come back safely.¡± He held the straps sewn to the sachet and intended to attach it on Zhen Hao. As Zhen Hao looked at the grey sachet and Zhen Bei closing in with his idiotic smile, he slapped his hand away in disgust. With a pa sound, Zhen Bei¡¯s backhand was reddish and the sachet fell to the ground. Mr. Yan glanced at the scene coldly and turned back to stare at the cave while his subordinates scoffed with malice. ¡°This thing, it¡¯s better for you to keep it.¡± It¡¯s grey and dirty with unknown origins! ¡°Oh¡­¡± Zhen Bei lowered his head sadly like a kicked golden retriever. He bent to pick up the sachet but another hand picked it up for him. It was Xiao Luo who could not standby and look any longer. He handed the sachet to Zhen Bei and whispered: ¡°Don¡¯t be upset by your stupid big brother. You should keep it for yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Zhen Bei shyly smiled, and instead of taking it back, he pushed it to Xiao Luo, ¡°You take it, it¡¯ll definitely keep you safe!¡± Xiao Luo laughed and nodded. He placed the item into his chest pocket and gave it a tap. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll keep it with me.¡± ¡°En!¡± Zhen Bei nodded happily. Zhen Hao stared at them coldly and rolled his eyes, ¡°Idiots.¡± The small incident was quickly cast aside when two high pitched whistles were heard from the ground. The man with the facial paralysis smiled awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s ready! Let¡¯s go.¡± His group dropped what they were doing and one by one, slipped down the rope promptly, leaving Zhen Hao behind. After Zhen Hao finally made it down, only then did Lei Jia signaled Xiao Luo to follow suit and she after. The last person to leave was Zhen Bei. He stood at the entrance and looked down with cold eyes as a ghastly smile filled his face. Ashui who was made to stay above ground inadvertently saw this sinister look but in the blink of an eye, it was switched back to the airheaded face! Thinking he was somewhat unnerved by the big fool, Ashui kicked Zhen Bei¡¯s ass angrily, ¡°What are you standing there for?! Get down there you big fool!¡± Zhen Bei staggered and looked back at him with a scared and silly smile: ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m still a little scared. Ha ha. I¡¯ll go now.¡± Seeing Zhen Bei¡¯s hesitation and his anxious look, Ashui eased up a little and murmured a few dirty words while he checked the rope. After assuring everything was fine, he went back to the tent and took a nap. ¡­.. Deep inside the large expanse where looking up would give a feeling of being in another world, a giant stone gate stood in front of the group, seemingly connecting heaven and earth. They gawked in front of the majestic gateway as if it was the Wailing Wall, unable to see the top even with their necks stretched upwards. A sense of awe and unease crept in and even the timid ones were eager to stop and observe. ¡°This¡­ this is the thousand years mausoleum of legends?¡± Zhen Hao¡¯s hands were shaking as he stared fixedly at the stone gate and touching the carvings on it. Mr. Yan behind him was holding his breath and even Zhen Bei and Zhen Mu who had been here before were still filled with wonder when they looked at the stone gate. ¡°How the hell did they construct this? It¡¯s freaking high¡­ can all ancient people fly?¡± Chunlei asked Tiezi with his mouth gaping. Tiezi rolled his eyes. He looked firmly at Mr. Yan, waiting for his instructions. ¡°There¡¯s only a giant door here and yet I¡¯m feeling oppressed. Inside¡­ it won¡¯t get easier, would it?¡± ¡°Hey! If you¡¯re scared then go back. When it¡¯s time to split the haul, there won¡¯t be any for you!¡± ¡°Get lost! That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± The group of men joked as they were about to unveil a mystery. Lei Jie, on the other hand, was pinching her apprentice¡¯s hand tightly with eyes staring straight at the door! Xiao Luo gritted his teeth in pain: ¡°¡­Shibo, we¡¯re not inside the door yet and you¡¯re using me as a sacrifice?¡± Lei Jie calmed herself and released his arm. She slapped him on the back of his head: ¡°Shut up! Sacrificing a close one to heaven does give immense power. Careful or I¡¯ll really burn you!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­Let¡¯s go in!¡± On a rare occasion, Mr. Yan waved at the group with excitement. One by one, they crept through the hole drilled by Zhen Mu the last time he was here. Advertisements Walking in the front were Zhen Mu and Xiao Li with one hand holding the flashlight and the other firmly on their weapons. Zhen Hao and the others were following closely behind. Xiao Luo asked Lei Jie in whispers: ¡°Shibo, did we just enter the gate to the tomb palace? Why does it feel easy?¡± Lei Jie sneered: ¡°Gate to the palace? Ai, what you just walked through was like the city gate. Besides, there were so many who had passed through here before, there shouldn¡¯t be any mishap. And I¡¯m sure many died just so we can have a safe passage now. You¡¯re probably stepping on their bones right now.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Xiao Luo kept his mouth shut but his eyes were alert. At this moment, the skinny youth began to show a sword-like sharpness in his eyes. After their silhouette disappeared into the dark and empty stone path, somewhere in the shadows, a water-like pillar rose from the ground. It began to shapeshift into two transparent humanoids. The two hurdled together as they murmured. ¡°Did you smell which of them carry the scent Mu Yi was talking about?¡± ¡°I did. There¡¯s a total of three.¡± ¡°Is it the one in the front with the sword, the tall and thin one, and the short melon next to the woman?¡± ¡°No, no. He¡¯s not a melon, he¡¯s a bean sprout. He¡¯s not fat.¡± ¡°Yes yes, Mu Shi is so smart~¡± ¡°Hee hee, Mu Jiu is also very smart~¡± ¡°What about the rest?¡± ¡°We kill them of course!¡± The two jelly-like entities shifted back to a transparent liquid and seeped into the walls. ¡­.. Petals fell under the ever-blooming Peach Blossom tree like sparkling stars floating down. In this abyss stood a platform where a blossoming tree and a red coffin endowed a beautiful love story. And beneath the tree was the protagonist of that beautiful story¡­ barbecuing a piece of meat. Here¡¯s the thing, ever since Wang Xiao Mie knew that his Kai Ming could emit heat, a brilliant idea popped up. He gathered the vacuum-sealed beef and lunch meat, washed Kai Ming cleanly, and let Wen Feng Jin hold it. Seeing Kai Ming turning increasingly hot, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes twinkled and an evil grin bloomed across his face. With a sizzling sound, a piece of meat was placed on the body of Kai Ming. Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± For a moment there, I actually felt sympathy towards a dagger. Wang Xiao Mie used a pair of self-made chopsticks to pick up the piece of meat and put it in his mouth. Yum! What a great smell! He did not neglect feeding Wen Feng Jin as well. Wen Feng Jin with his soft and beautiful face, gently open his mouth to be fed. Feeling the incredible heat even through the thick cloth, Wen Feng Jin felt as though he was eating his own conscience. And Wang Xiao Mie with his inquiries was not helping: ¡°Aiya, look at Kai Ming, it¡¯s heated to the point I can cook with it! Tell me, how many bad things have you done?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Both: How can there be such a shameless person on this planet! Wen Feng Jin looked at his puppy of a Shixiong and for the first time thought that he was quite outrageous! Kai Ming: ¡­¡­ I¡¯m going to blow up this couple! After the meat was gone, Wang Xiao Mie threw his chopsticks along with the emptied cans and packaging. With a smug, he reclaimed Kai Ming and began wiping off the oil stains on it carefully. In his hand, Kai Ming had slowly cooled down. ¡°You¡¯re such a useful little thing~¡± Wang Xiao Mie stroked the dagger adoringly. Kai Ming hummed, as though giving Wang Xiao Mie a dog bark. Wen Feng Jin smiled as he watched Wang Xiao Mie. He then looked in a certain direction and the smile on his face suddenly changed. That was the outermost area where the graverobbers were situated, which was also protected by Mu Shi and Mu Jiu. It¡¯s better not to kill on the first day. What if they give up and leave? Wen Feng Jin dropped his head to hide his sinister laughter. ¡°Xiao Mie.¡± ¡°Ha?¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes soothed: ¡°It¡¯s time for us to sleep.¡± CH 30 In their two days of exploration, the man named Yan had managed to lead them safely past the traps on the route that Zhen Mu had been to, proving the authenticity of his map. On the seventh night, everything was ready. The group entered the tomb again. ¡°This is the farthest we¡¯ve been to.¡± Zhen Mu stopped and looked behind. ¡°It was here that we met a long-haired ghost-like monster, up ahead¡­¡± Several people looked at Mr. Yan. ¡°Boss, what should we do?¡± Xiao Li snickered as he turned to ask. The man¡¯s face stiffened. He took out the map and studied it attentively. Zhen Hao frowned: ¡°Of course we keep moving! Mr. Yan, didn¡¯t you say that those things can be avoided? Didn¡¯t we not see anything the last two days?.¡± ¡°That thing is not an ordinary zombie or the wicked things in the tomb, it¡¯s a tomb guardian.¡± ¡°But do not worry.¡± The man gave Zhen Hao an emotionless look but because of the stiffness of his face, his expression seemed particularly cold. He nodded to Xiao Li and Zhen Mu, ¡°Let¡¯s press on. According to the map, there are only a few traps in this area. Although the tomb guardian is not marked on the map, this is not the first time we tomb raiders have come across such a situation. There were many other tombs without maps that we have raided. This little problem shouldn¡¯t hold us back.¡± The calm and definitive tone effectively motivated the fretful men. Zhen Hao looked at Mr. Yan with a straight face and kept quiet, following behind the team as they continued forward. Lei Jie, standing in the rear position, squinted and sneered. After hearing his mentor¡¯s soft laughter, he looked at Zhen Hao and the usually gentle eyes were filled with a touch of irony. ¡°Shibo, he¡¯s going to be troublesome. This is a dangerous place, he might hold us back¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch him, stinky boy.¡± ¡°¡­oh.¡± Xiao Luo lowered his head. Lei Jie placed her palm on his head and gave it a rub. How long had it been in her line of work that she last saw a man whose discontent and arrogance were clearly written on his face? Lei Jie narrowed her eyes, in other words, it¡¯s just plain stupidity. ¡­.. ¡°This underground palace is so big. Look how long we¡¯ve been walking?¡± Chunlei whispered. Tiezi nodded: ¡°And we have to avoid the traps and watch out for attacks from the creatures of the tomb.¡± ¡°Are there really tomb guardians? We haven¡¯t even seen anything resembling the ghostly woman yet.¡± Tiezi touched his face. ¡°Hm? Are we that deep underground? Why are there water droplets dripping on me? F**k! It¡¯s in my mouth!¡± Water droplets? Well, it¡¯s plausible. This is within the mountain, there¡¯s probably a river running through it, making the air dense enough to form the droplets. Chunlei rolled his eyes at him: ¡°That¡¯s because your mouth is too big, you idiot!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Tiezi tried to spit out the water. He took a thermos from his backpack to gargle. Zhen Hao who had been following behind barged through them with an irritated look, almost causing Tiezi to drop his thermos. ¡°Step aside, don¡¯t get in my way!¡± Tiezi¡¯s face immediately turned hostile. He wanted to speak up but was held back by Chunlei:¡± Don¡¯t make any trouble!¡± Chunlei shook his head slightly and his eyes hinted that their boss was looking at them. The angry Tiezi cursed at Zhen Hao¡¯s back and spit. He bit his teeth and whispered: ¡°Damn it, see what I¡¯ll do to him when Zhen Mu is gone!¡± As he said this, another droplet fell on his head. Tiezi¡¯s anger was too prominent to care about the little things anymore. At this moment, Xiao Li and Zhen Mu announced: ¡°It¡¯s a dead-end ahead!¡± ¡°Dead-end¡­¡± Mr. Yan stepped forward. He touched the wall and was about to say something when Zhen Hao interrupted him: ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Yan?! Did your map show us the wrong way?!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± As soon as his words were said, there was only one thought in everyone¡¯s mind: This man is an idiot, is he really questioning the real person in charge of this group? Zhen Mu frowned with a sigh and Lei Jie all the way at the back snickered. The others looked at each other and thought: Is the boss going to kill him? Mr. Yan¡¯s expression was frigid. He lowered his eyes and reached for his map, ignoring everyone else. He caressed the wall, feeling for a hidden mechanism on it. ¡°Tsk!¡± Chunlei and Tiezi were somewhat disappointed. As for Zhen Hao, he was clenching his fist, thinking: How dare that Yan guy disrespects him, he¡¯ll make him pay when they get out! Standing in a place where no light could reach, the quiet Zhen Bei looked up at the dark ceiling of the tomb, slowly showing a chillingly silly smile. Ah~ Here it comes. ¡­.. ¡°By the way, who is guarding the outermost part of the tomb?¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked back at the man embracing him from behind. ¡°Hm? It¡¯s Mu Shi and Mu Jiu.¡± Wen Feng Jin whispered as he continued to press his lips on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s neck. Wang Xiao Mie was a little irritated and pushed him away. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the two that look like jellyfish?¡± They¡¯re soft and can even make the boing boing sound, it¡¯s actually quite cute. ¡°They can turn themselves into water and penetrate the skin. People who are infiltrated by them will not feel any pain but¡­ their insides will slowly be consumed, starting from the stomach to the intestines, then to the blood and flesh. Strangely though, they don¡¯t eat the skin so in the end¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s left is only a piece of skin¡­¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his saliva. I¡¯m a fool to think that they¡¯re cute. The pale lips hooked up. Wen Feng Jin hugged Wang Xiao Mie with force. His gorgeous face was plastered to his neck, the tip of his nose pressed close to feel and sniff his skin. ¡°¡­ Say, why are you so annoying today! You keep sniffing me, do I smell of something?¡± Wang Xiao Mie turned around and tried to grab Wen Feng Jin by the neck. Wen Feng Jin lowered his head as he quietly gazed at him. This look coupled with the sparks in his eyes made Wang Xiao Mie blush. Wang Xiao Mie could not hold his breath and succumb: ¡°You, what did you want to say? And stopped dog-sniffing me like I¡¯m a piece of bone.¡± ¡°¡­quite an accurate metaphor.¡± Wen Feng Jin moved Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hand on his neck to his lips and gave it a lick, ¡°But I don¡¯t know if Shixiong is willing to give me a bone~r¡­¡± The words that will lead to a broken waist¡­ Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± my Xiao Wenzi is definitely possessed by something, that must be it! ¡°Stay away! Even Kai Ming is getting hot! What evil thoughts are you having?!¡± Wang Xiao Mie shouted as he ran around the coffin. Wen Feng Jin chuckled a few times, following behind him slowly. It¡¯s not an evil thought, it¡¯s just desire. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s elongated eyes swept over the sacred tree then back to Wang Xiao Mie who was staring at him on high alert. ¡­..come here quickly. I¡¯m getting impatient. The one who wants my heart¡­ you¡¯re just in time, my Shixiong is also in need of a new sacrifice. ¡­.. The outermost area of the tomb ¡°Xiao Li, go with Zhen Mu to check the nearby walls.¡± Mr. Yan put his backpack on the ground and retrieved a piece of paper from it. It was the inscription that used to be on the stone tablets. Xiao Li and Zhen Mu looked at each other and went to look separately. There were two rows of alcoves with unlit candles along the walls of the passageway yet no one ever suggested lighting them. In this tomb, the candles were most likely rigged with some kind of trap. It was safer to look to with a flashlight. Advertisements Seeing Mr. Yan¡¯s undivided focus on finding the trigger, the group assumed this would take some time. Chunei and Tiezi sat on the tomb floor to rest and reserve their strength. Zhen Hao stayed quiet for now. He stood in a distance with his arms folded, leaning against the stone-cold tomb wall. Nonetheless, the docile facade could not hide his anxiety. Lei Jie was sitting to one side with her arm¡¯s length knife in her hand. Her eyes studied the wall in front of them. It was engraved with wavy lines. Generally speaking, the gates inside a tomb would be carved with symbolic beliefs or ferocious beasts to scare graverobbers away. Rarer were the ones carved with the life story of the tomb master weaved into a fairy tale of some sort. This is too strange¡­ Xiao Luo did not put down his backpack or sit down to rest. He looked around cautiously then walked to Zhen Bei who was squatting on the ground. Although his mentor said that there was something wrong with this man, seeing him squatting harmlessly without uttering a word, Xiao Luo decided to give him a pat on the shoulder. Zhen Bei looked up at him with surprise, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­¡± After patting him, Xiao Luo did not know what to say so he took his hand back awkwardly. After scrambling his brain, he said: ¡°It¡¯s dangerous here¡­ be careful.¡± Zhen Bei was taken aback. He blinked then flashed a brilliant smile. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll keep it in mind.¡± Xiao Luo assumed that those words were to thank him for his warning but little did he know that his small gesture of kindness had saved his mentor¡¯s life¡­ ¡°Woah, why are there more and more water dripping down?¡± Chunlei touched his arm. Even though there was a layer of fabric over his skin, he still felt an itching pain where the water came in contact. ¡°True¡­¡± Tiezi raised his neck and looked up. Another droplet fell directly into his right eye. ¡°F**k!¡± He rubbed his eyes vigorously. At the same time, the sound of mechanism moving vibrated through the place! Even Zhen Bei and Zhen Hao switched from their resting state to an attack mode! However, after a closer look, it turned out that Zhen Mu and Xiao Li had managed to find the hidden switch on the wall. Mr. Yan with the inscription in hand nodded gently. With the switch triggered, the plain wall carved with wavy lines slid down, revealing four indentations, each corresponding with a rotating wheel etched with numbers. (TN: something like a 4-digit padlock) ¡°A pin? Ha ha ha! The owner of this tomb is quite modern! And here I thought we could use Chunlei¡¯s demolition skill. And a passcode lock? It¡¯s like they are actually going in and out as if this is a house.¡± Xiao Li grinned. Everyone had now gathered in front of the strange-looking device. ¡°Mr. Yan, we don¡¯t know the code, if we make any mistakes¡­¡± We could die. Just as Zhen Mu finished asking, a loud rumbling screeched over their heads. Even the ground felt like it was trembling. ¡°What¡¯s going on?! The wall is collapsing! We are sinking! Ahhhh! What¡¯s happening! Ah¡­¡± Mr. Yan shoved the panicking group aside and approached the source of the commotion. His pupils constricted when he saw what was on the ground. Even Lei Jie and Zhen Mu were in a cold sweat. A piece of human skin in a set of clothes was lying on the ground! And the clothes definitely belonged to Tiezi! ¡°Tiezi¡­¡­ is dead¡­.!¡± ¡°What happened before this?! Did no one see what happened? How on earth did he get like this?!¡± Mr. Yan roared at the frozen Chunlei standing beside him. The others subconsciously moved away from the emptied human skin. Chunlei frantically said: ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. We were just standing next to each other a moment ago, looking at the wall. My¡­ my stomach, why is it so hot? My throat¡­ I¡­ arrr¡­¡± His eyes widened in extreme desperation to open his mouth, gasping for air through his throat but in an instant, in front of everyone¡¯s eyes, his body flopped down as his insides disappeared, leaving behind a rug of human skin¡­ CH 31 Someone died right before their eyes. With a face depicting terrifying agony and fingers scraping into his throat, the light in his eyes disappeared as he stared at them with despair. Mirroring a deflated balloon, a body that had lost its flesh and bones would lose its shape, leaving behind a bag of skin and clothes that laid flat on the ground. Those who were still alive looked on with horror. Whether or not one was a veteran tomb robber who had raided several tombs, no one had truly witnessed such a gruesome scene! The most they had seen were simple trick candles, rising corpses, fire ceiling, and door-sealing quicksand. The top of the list would be traps and ghostly activities. However, all of them were merely fooleries, parlor tricks hoaxing the faint-hearted to leave the tombs. And these were only seen in tombs of emperors, the ones belonging to first-rate generals or anyone lower would not even have the luxury of those traps. At most, it would take them three hours to empty the place and leave. But this time, this time they were not even at the palace gate yet and the tomb master had already sent them such a big gift! Behind Mr. Yan, Zhen Mu and Lei Jie exchanged glances. Mr. Yan looked at the two sets of skin in silence. The booming sound was still ringing all around them when suddenly, a bulge formed in the skin and started circling them! Have you ever seen little children putting adults¡¯ clothing and running about? This was it! The two unknown objects were moving around in their comrades¡¯ skin. They were even making eerily cackling sounds of children playing! It was at this moment that everyone¡¯s hair shot up! ¡°Zhen Bei!¡± Zhen Mu unsheathed his Chang Feng as he rushed for Zhen Bei, guarding him behind himself. His sharp eyes remained on the things moving on the ground. And Xiao Luo also rushed forward to shield his mentor. He grabbed his bag and had one hand in it, ready for an attack. Mr. Yan had a vacant expression as he stared at things on the ground. A second later, a sneer broke out and Xiao Li, his last henchman with prevailing kung-fu, drew his daggers as he got closer to his boss. He looked at the skin of his kinsmen without being perturbed. There was even a smile on his face. How can there be any sense of camaraderie between these men? They died because of their impotence and too early, after all, he was prepared to cut them down himself. In just a few seconds of crisis, everyone¡¯s true standing was exposed. Only Zhen Hao screamed pitifully as he saw the monster closing in! ¡°Ah! Ahhhh! Yan you jerk, are you blind?! Quickly save me!! Quickly!!¡± ¡°Zhen Mu, you idiot! Come here now! Ahhhhhhh!¡± Mr. Yan had not spoken yet but Xiao Li was chuckling: ¡°Zhen Mu, your master is calling you~¡± He had been tolerating Zhen Hao for too long and hence, deliberately taunted Zhen Mu. No matter how one looks at it, Zhen Mu was a dog the Zhen family raised for Zhen Hao¡¯s sake! He wanted to see if Zhen Mu could swallow his insult and save Zhen Hao or standby and watch the deadweight die! However¡­..Xiao Li laughed like a notorious hyena¡­.. regardless which of them die, to us, it¡¯s a good thing, right boss? He looked towards his boss but was stunned by the man¡¯s delighted expression. Was the boss that dissatisfied with Zhen Hao? Any man would have been angry with such humiliation but although Zhen Mu was born with a valiant fierceness, he was also gifted with a golden heart, strong and tolerant as a mountain. He held Chang Feng with a deadly grip. His jaws were clenched tight and veins appeared on his cheeks. He shut his eyes and hampered his anger. As he was about to step forward to save Zhen Hao, two pairs of hands grabbed him from behind. Zhen Mu looked to his left, Lei Jie was standing behind him. With a lack of sincerity, she said: ¡°Oh, sorry. I almost tripped, good thing you¡¯re standing here.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Zhen Mu looked to his right, Zhen Bei was holding on to his sleeves with tears in his eyes. Like a pitiful dog so frightened that his fur was standing on ends, he said: ¡°Brother, I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Zhen Mu was stopped for a moment. And it was at this moment that the two things on the ground giggled and rushed at Zhen Hao. As he was squealing like a mouse, the human skin was blanketed over his face and body. When the skin bag was placed over him, it muffled his screams. Like a broken cassette, his cries were intermittent and eerie. Finally, with a thud, his eyes turned white as he lost consciousness. Zhen Mu leaped forward. His pupils constricted having seen the two things that lurked inside the skin. It was a human-shaped monster with movements like a jellyfish. Though transparent, their facial features were that of two teenagers, giggling mischievously at them. Zhen Mu raised his sword, preparing himself for a fierce battle but as things turned out, the two tomb guardians were befuddled instead. They ceased their attack and even took a step back. ¡°¡­ jiii jii?¡± This man carries the scent! ¡°¡­..ji ji!¡± Can¡¯t kill, can¡¯t kill! The master will be angry¡­. The two tomb guardians whispered intelligible words under the aghast gaze of everyone in the room. In Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes, the two young lumps were quite lovely but to the people present, talking monsters were many times more terrifying! ¡°Shibo¡­¡± Xiao Luo¡¯s hand was stuck to his weapon inside his backpack, ¡°Those things are freaky, if we don¡¯t destroy it now, they could kill us later!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Lei Jie pressed his shoulder, her sight never left the two monsters. She whispered: ¡°Look!¡± Xiao Luo quickly looked over and found that the two blobs suddenly shrank as if something had scared them. They melted into a puddle of moving water then disappeared into the ground. ¡°!!!¡± None was able to relinquish their concern towards the tomb¡¯s ceiling descending upon their heads, they just stared at Zhen Mu in bewilderment. When did this guy get so powerful?! ¡­. in actuality, Mu Jiu and Mu Shi were scuttering away because they were fearful of the repercussion from Wen Feng Jin should they kill the wrong person. Unaware of why they ran away, Zhen Mu was also baffled. But it was always a good thing that the monsters ran away. The biggest threat was gone and an exit was also revealed. Advertisements Zhen Mu did not hesitate and went to pick Zhen Hao up. He yelled back at the man surnamed Yan: ¡°Mr. Yan, are we getting out of here or not?!¡± Mr. Yan looked at him with calculations in his eyes, ¡°Why are we leaving? The code is not hard to guess. According to what¡¯s written on this silk scroll, the tomb master had set the code to the year most important to himself¡­¡± ¡°In the year 1326 of the ancient calendar, he graduated from the Academy. 1328, he rounded up his father¡¯s men and formed the dark guards. 1330, he persecuted countless courtiers for revenge. In the same year, he was given the title of Dark Lord. 1334, he found the immortality elixir and was attacked. That year, he fled back to the Academy with his Shixiong but that did not work out and his Shixiong died. It was then that he took the elixir and became immortal. The following year, he killed his master and fellow disciples. Next, he began to eliminate enemy clans and dignitaries, forcing the current emperor to abdicate and supported a new emperor¡­ 1445, the tomb palace was completed and the coffin was ready. He buried himself in the same coffin as his Shixiong, perishing for love¡­¡± ¡°Woa, this person was quite passionate, doing so much for his Shixiong¡­. He¡¯s definitely a good man!¡± Zhen Bei blinked: ¡°I guess the most important year to him is 1334, when his Shixiong died or 1445 when they were buried together.¡± Lei Jie nodded in agreement: ¡°But we still can¡¯t tell which one is most important to him. One wrong move¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re only half right.¡± Mr. yan interrupted. ¡°Half?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The code indeed has something to do with his Shixiong but it has nothing to do with what I just read to you. The real answer is¡­¡± ¡°¡­his Shixiong¡¯s year of birth, the year 1308.¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­..¡± What the! So why the hell didn¡¯t you say so?! The roof is coming down and turning us into a paste and yet you¡¯re giving a historical lecture?!!! And what¡¯s with this tomb master?! It¡¯s like setting a phone password to that of his girlfriend¡¯s birthday, are you a high schooler?! Damn it! Zhen Mu and Lei Jie were grinding their teeth as they looked at the Yan guy harshly. A little embarrassed, Mr. Yan coughed lightly and looked at Xiao Li. It took a while but Xiao Li eventually understood his boss¡¯s cue! He said: ¡°Boss, you¡¯re so knowledgeable!¡± Mr. Yan¡¯s mouth twitched and said: ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a little research I did.¡± Zhen Mu, Zhen Bei: ¡°¡­..¡± Lei Jie, Xiao Luo: ¡°¡­..¡± Is their intelligence also being attacked in this tomb? After they knew the code, the big gate was hastily opened, allowing them to leave the collapsing room. Zhen Mu carried Zhen Hao on his back and Zhen Bei followed closely behind. Beyond the gate was a whole different layout. The walls were etched with painted carvings and even the floor they walked on had special totems sculpted on each brick. To better compare, envision the interior design of a peasant¡¯s home in contrast with that of royalties! Mr. Yan glared at the paintings on the wall. His hand formed a fist then immediately relaxed. He stroked the wall gently. Wen Feng Jin, I¡¯m finally here¡­ Oh how I want to see the look on your face when you see me. Wen Feng Jin, I will get what I want by all means! Because that is what you owed me! ¡­.. In the depths of the tomb Wen Feng Jin reached into the coffin and caressed the face of his sleeping bride. With ivory skin and rosy cheeks, his love donned a red ceremonial gown as he laid inside the coffin. His hair, sleek and soft like a spider¡¯s thread, spread out from beneath him. ¡°¡­..Shixiong has always been beautiful.¡± ¡°Ever since I was a teenager, I¡¯ve longed for the day when I¡¯m able to touch you like this every time I wake up in the morning¡­.. I¡¯ve already let them in. Soon, you¡¯ll be able to get rid of this shackle, you won¡¯t have to suffer anymore¡­¡± In his deep slumber, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes quivered under his eyelids and flickered his lashes, but he was not able to wake up. ¡­.. For the latter part of their journey, the tomb intruders were like tourists who had bought their tickets, wantonly cruising through the magnificent underground palace with no tomb guardians to stop them. The wintry cold tomb palace was the resting place for the dead. Its soundless desolation could make one long for a hug. A majestic structure such as this could not be fully illuminated by a mere flashlight, making them feel like ants that had fallen into an abyss by mistake. A sense of unease was always lurking in their hearts as they feared that monsters could appear at any moment¡­ ¡°Shibo, why is it that my heart keeps thumping even though nothing has happened?¡± Xiao Luo asked Lei Jie discreetly. Lei Jie gave him a glance but before she could say anything, all the lamps suddenly lit in succession. The thousands of light rays illuminated the whole tomb, making the place bright as day. Two rows of monsters of all shapes and sizes were lining up on both sides of their path, eyeing them without blinking. Lei Jie: ¡°¡­¡­my dear disciple, did you just activate the voice command to turn the light on?¡± Xiao Luo: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°What are you waiting for?!¡± Xiao Li readied his daggers and looked at the monsters in a cold sweat, ¡°Damn it, which one of you stepped on the trigger?!¡± At this critical moment, Zhen Mu put the unconscious Zhen Hao on the ground and pulled out his Chang Feng. He looked troubled but still kept his calm. Mr. Yan, on the other hand, had witnessed a strange light coming from the main palace and a grin appeared on the stiff face. ¡°Xiao Li, put down your weapons. It seems the tomb master has invited us in!¡± CH 32 What¡¯s it like being watched by a group of drooling monsters as one marched towards someone else¡¯s tomb? It¡¯s like a student sitting in the last row being called to the podium for a speech. The bitterness in their heart was hard to put into words. After all, no tomb master would let just about anyone enter his tomb freely. They had planned for heavy casualties but never thought it would end like this. If it weren¡¯t for the row of monsters to the sides eyeing them hungrily, they might actually feel like standing on the red carpet. The man surnamed Yan strode forward. Xiao Li was turning pale right behind him. He used his peripheral vision to stay on guard. Xiao Luo was sweating bullets as he tightened his grip on the item in his hand. He finally pulled out the secret weapon from his backpack and muttered: ¡°I currently have the urge to turn tail and run.¡± Zhen Bei was walking behind him and looked up when he heard his words. But the second he saw the weapon Xiao Luo was cradling like a baby in his arms, he pointed at it with a stiff expression. ¡°What is that?¡± Xiao Luo gave the slender weapon a wave: ¡°Oh this? It¡¯s my Physical Holy Sword!¡± Zhen Bei: ¡°¡­..¡± Physical Holy Sword? ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a crowbar¡­..¡± Xiao Luo¡¯s expression changed and in a serious tone, he said: ¡°No, its name is Physical Holy Sword. It¡¯d been blessed by the temple.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Even the double-faced Zhen Bei was at a loss for words. Right behind them, a boney and cocooned palm slapped on Xiao Luo¡¯s head with a pa! Lei Jie moved in between them and said to Zhen Bei: ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to this chuuni. This thing can even get drunk with fake wine.¡± ¡°Shibo! That¡¯s not true!¡± ¡°Huh? How dare you yell at me? Want me to use the physical sword to separate you and your genitalia?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Zhen Bei discreetly hastened his steps towards Zhen Mu, hiding his disdain from Lei Jie. ¡°Please, wait, a moment.¡± A shrill voice echoed from the group of motionless monsters, sending a chill in everyone¡¯s spine. A long-haired female ghost was staring at them with her gruesome eyes wide open. She dragged her feet and stood in front of the group. The frosty air and moldy scent were giving the man surnamed Yan extreme discomfort. Xiao Li¡¯s pupils shrank and the fickle brain that was already in chaos ordered for an attack! Spat! ¡°Ahhhh! My hand! Ah! Boss!¡± Xiao Li clutched his right hand which was corroding into his wrist. He knelt down and howled in agony. In a flash, his right hand was completely dissolved and melted onto the ground. And the perpetrator behind this was one of the monsters that had now gathered around them: a giant mushroom-like creature that disintegrated Xiao Li¡¯s hand with its spit! The group quickly had their backs against each other in a small circular formation. The hands holding on to their weapons were clamming wet. No one could afford to avert their attention to Xiao Li who was squirming on the floor and whose scream was overshadowed by the fear that was causing their hearts to beat like thunder! This is it. Is this going to be where they die? Was all that before just a trap so they could be killed here?! So many monsters¡­ why did we come here?! This is not a place for the living! ¡°You people, so rude¡­. Hi hi hi¡­Our master said only four can enter. Decide amongst yourself, who can enter, who is to stay¡­¡± The female ghost gave a screeching laugh and announced: ¡°But those who stay will become our food.¡± ¡°Food~ Food~ ha ha ha~¡± The two jellyfish monsters which left them with only the skin of their companions were cheering like children: ¡°The ten of us will eat you first~ We want the viscera! Internal organs are delicious!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have the head¡­¡± ¡°Gu gu¡­..¡± I want the hands. ¡°I¡­ want¡­ eyeballs.¡± ¡°Click click click!¡± Don¡¯t have to argue, everyone will get a share! The group of monsters now had a distorted look on their faces. Their scarlet eyes depicted a thirst for blood like a famished predator. Even without understanding their language, one could tell the excitement in their tone and the longing to tear up the ones chosen to stay behind. ¡°Only four?¡± Mr. Yan looked at Xiao Li curled up on the ground without a hint of emotion. In a swift motion, he kicked Xiao Li into the monsters¡¯ reach and said gently: ¡°You can have that one first.¡± His tone and attitude were like talking about an object rather than a human being, furthermore, that man was his subordinate! Zhen Mu and Lei Jie were flushed of color. They shifted their guard towards the man behind them instead of the monsters. Although Xiao Luo was young and green, he still felt the irony looking at Xiao Li¡¯s angry and frightened expression. The man surnamed Yan and his men were birds of a feather, stone-cold and notorious. Any one of them could betray everyone else in the blink of an eye. It¡¯s better that they die off, saving him the trouble of having to look over his shoulder. As for Zhen Bei, he grabbed on to Zhen Mu¡¯s coat in horror as a guise to prevent Zhen Mu from getting in the way. ¡°What are you doing?! Yan, you animal! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Xiao Li helped himself up. Rage filled his face as he swore like a ferocious beast. He picked up the dagger with his good hand and rushed at Mr. Yan with every intention to share his peril! But before his attack could land on Mr. Yan, his entire body was pulled back by the tomb keepers¡­ The sounds of chewing and screaming were intermittent and only lasted for a minute but it could never be unheard. Even the silence from the aftermath chilled them to the bones. Zhen Mu¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple kept sliding as the smell of blood filled the air. Lei Jie and Xiao Luo had their eyes shut and Mr. Yan was keeping a straight face with a tint of smug. ¡°Ou¡­¡± Zhen Bei squatted down retching. Advertisements Maybe the noises from before had woken Zhen Hao up. And the moment he took in his surroundings, he let out another barrage of deafening screams! ¡°AHHHHH!!!¡± It had to be said that the scream was too sudden that even Mr. Yan was slightly startled. Xiao Luo¡¯s reaction after the shock was to give Zhen Hao a kick, ¡°The hell are you screaming for?!¡± ¡°You dare to kick me?!¡± With his initial panic subsided, Zhao Hao got up from the ground to settle the scores with Xiao Luo. His hand was almost to Xiao Luo¡¯s neck when the crowbar got in his way. Xiao Luo flashed him a sarcastic smile as he raised his weapon. He had long been dreading this fool¡¯s presence and since only four could live, he could not wait to throw him to the monsters! Lei Jie smacked her forehead and cursed: ¡°Does that thing have any brains? Does he still think that he is in charge?¡± ¡°Big brother, what are you doing¡­¡± Zhen Mu¡¯s sharp brows were kneaded together. He came between them and tried to stop Xiao Luo from hurting Zhen Hao. Pa! A merciless slap whipped across Zhen Mu¡¯s face! Zhen Mu was dumbfounded and Zhen Bei¡¯s eyes narrowed as he clenched his fist. Zhen Hao sneered at him: ¡°You traitorous dog. How dare you try to stop me instead of helping me deal with him? You¡¯re supposed to protect me and now look at this. Zhen Mu you better get me out of here safely!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± The satiated monsters stood and watched like they were some kind of show. Mr. Yan, Lei Jie, and Xiao Luo fell silent after he was done talking. After a while, they couldn¡¯t help but laughed. Lei Jie looked at Zhen Mu: ¡°Tell me why are you still tolerating him? Let¡¯s just decide on him.¡± ¡°¡­ No.¡± No matter how outrageous and stupid Zhen Hao was, he was still his brother. They had a blood bond. And despite the urge to give him a beating, he was still unable to watch him torn up by the group of monsters. ¡°Tsk! This personality of yours¡­ But let me be blunt.¡± Lei Jie chuckled: ¡°If we can¡¯t meet the monsters¡¯ demand, we¡¯ll all die. We have to choose two more from the six of us¡­ Zhen Mu, who do you think should stay behind?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly think to pick from the three of us, do you? Haha.¡± Of the six, only the two Zhen sons, Zhen Hao and Zhen Bei, were the most powerless. It was an obvious choice to leave them behind. Zhen Mu¡¯s frown deepened. He looked at Zhen Bei and quickly pointed his Chang Feng at the others, fending Zhen Bei behind him. ¡°No one is allowed to touch my younger brother! Or else¡­ or else you¡¯ll have to stay behind with me!¡± Zhen Bei cringed and looked at everyone in bewilderment: ¡°Brother¡­¡± Zhen Hao was getting agitated: ¡°What are you talking about? Why aren¡¯t you all worried about the monsters? Zhen Mu, Zhen Bei, answer me.¡± At this point, no one paid him any heed. After all, Zhen Mu had made his choice very clear through his actions¡­ Zhen Hao was destined to die. ¡°Second brother¡­¡± While Zhen Mu was keeping guard against the others, Zhen Bei suddenly called out to him. ¡°What is it¡­¡± Without warning, Zhen Mu crouched down in astonishment and coughed. He saw a fist pummeled into his chest as his breathing strained and his eyes began to blur. Just before his consciousness faded, he was staring at Zhen Bei in disbelief. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Second brother, you¡¯re such a nuisance~¡± Zhen Bei had a broad smile across his face: ¡°You better keep your eyes shut or I¡¯ll have to hurt you even more¡­¡± ¡°Zhen Mu¡­¡± The skittish tone that called out his name was followed by devilish laughter. With a thunk, Zhen Mu fell to the ground. Zhen Bei smirked and with little effort, he put the man over his shoulder. He turned to grin at the Lei Jie who was also smiling sarcastically. ¡°You already knew, didn¡¯t you? I hate smart women the most. Disgusting.¡± Lei Jie patted her stunned disciple to comfort him and responded to Zhen Bei: ¡°A twisted monster wearing human skin like you is even more disgusting. Your entire body reeked!¡± ¡°Haha haha ha!¡± Zhen Bei¡¯s bright face was splashed with a sunny smile as if it was basked in sunlight, making the man appear kind and warm but when he glared at them with his peach blossom eyes, the words he said were disturbingly heinous. ¡°You three should go ahead. We brothers are going to have to settle the scores. Especially with my big brother. I just can¡¯t wait to see him torn into chunks of meat. Ahh ha ha.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Mr. Yan turned around and left indifferently. Lei Jie did the same. ¡°Where are you going?! Wait!! Zhen Bei you dumbass, don¡¯t you dare touch me! What are you doing?! ¡ªAh!¡± Zhen Bei spread his palm and grabbed Zhen Hao by the hair. Under Zhen Hao¡¯s ear-piercing screams and desperate struggle was Zhen Bei¡¯s sweet and gentle smile. He slammed Zhen Hao¡¯s head into the ground and took out a butterfly knife¡­ Xiao Luo curiously looked back at the scene and witnessed Zhen Bei¡¯s sadistic smile widening the more Zhen Hao screamed. He even licked his lips in excitement¡­ The Zhens are such a twisted family! Xiao Luo shook off the numbness in his scalp and hurried after his mentor. CH 33 The door to the main chamber closed again. Mu Yi, the head of the monsters grinned with a bloody smile. The ten tomb guardians already had their bellies filled. They surrounded Zhen Bei only to sniff and gawk at him as though they were watching a movie. After all, he emitted quite a similarly vicious smell as themselves~ Zhen Bei threw Zhen Mu to one side. He then skillfully flicked the butterfly knife in his hand and squatted down to observe Zhen Hao. The man¡¯s face was now painted with blood from the beatings he received. Zhen Bei smiled at him warmly like a gentleman, almost as if he was pulling out a handkerchief for Zhen Hao. But what he pulled out was another knife¡­ Zhen Hao finally felt the imminent danger and ceased his swearing. He dragged himself backward in fear while Zhen Bei followed him slowly, step by step, with his head tilted and a smile that never left his face. The exact image of a psychopathic killer. ¡°Big ~ Brother~~~ Let¡¯s have some fun~ Ha ha ha ha.¡± Zhen Hao bumped into a monster but now that he looked back, the brother who he had been calling an idiot was more terrifying! The beautiful butterfly knife was raised and lowered. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Zhen Bei squatted down and rested his chin on his right hand: ¡°It¡¯s only one hand and brother, your scream was so loud! But¡­.. that makes me so happy!¡± ¡°Let me go¡­..Zhen Bei¡­. Please let me go, when we get out¡­.¡± Zhen Hao was in so much pain that tears and snot were pouring out of his eyes and nose. He forced himself to negotiate with Zhen Bei under intense fear. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Zhen Bei interrupted him: ¡°You¡¯re not getting out of here~ Big, brother.¡± ¡°You!¡± Zhen Hao¡¯s face was distorted as he vented through a torrent of abuse: ¡°You¡¯re just a dog! You¡¯re all my dogs! I ¡ª hmm!¡± ¡°You seem to not want your tongue anymore.¡± Shaking off the blood on the knife, Zhen Bei¡¯s three fingers swung the butterfly knife nimbly. ¡°Oh right, we have to straighten out our differences. I still remember that you spent a lot of hard work honing your appraisal skills but one year, you failed to identify a replica Zhen Mu made. Ha ha ha! That was the first time you made such a big fool out of yourself.¡± Zhen Bei was laughing out loud one second and the next, his face turned murderously cold. He patted the knife on Zhen Hao¡¯s face: ¡°But that was because you were blind. And yet you called Zhen Mu to your room and gave him countless slashes on both his hands. Big brother, do you think I should just cut your hands off right now?¡± ¡°Wu wu¡ª!¡± ¡°And also, Zhen Mu is so much more talented than you and so you ordered him to risk his life in the tombs instead. As for me, I only showed a little knowledge in antiques and immediately you told everyone to cast me aside and called me an idiot.¡± ¡°Hai~~ ai! The more I think about it, the angrier I am¡­. Hah!¡± ¡°Wooo¡ª!!¡± The red liquid spurt over and over again. Mu Yi and the others whispered and laughed amongst themselves. A group of monsters encompassed a human and yet, the man in the center was more terrifying than any of the monsters¡­. Like a show, they stood and watched the man¡¯s ¡®performance¡¯ and listened to the screams of his ¡®co-actor¡¯. After a long, long time. Zhen Bei, drenched in blood, stood up with a big smile. His peach blossom eyes blinked as red droplets dripped along his cheek to his chin, like tears of blood. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough fun.¡± He threw away the butterfly knives stained with the sticky red substance, then took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands gracefully. He lifted his sight and looked at the monsters: ¡°Oh that¡¯s right, send my thanks to your master. He kept to his word, and so will I. This guy¡­¡± He nudged Zhen Mu¡¯s back with his feet, ¡°I still have to send him out.¡± Mu Yi and the others took one last glance at the man then turned around and disappeared out of sight. Zhen Bei ignored them. He removed the grey sachet tied to Zhen Mu. The sachet was made with his clothes, it contained his scent. This was the agreement he made with the tomb master: do not attack anyone who carried his scent. After tossing the item, he put Zhen Mu on his back and bumped him up. ¡°But¡­ I¡¯m gonna come back~¡± A glint of malice filled his drooping eyes as he looked at the direction the tomb guardians disappeared into. ¡°¡­.. after all, as the mantis stalks the cicada, the yellow finch lurks in the shadow~¡± Meanwhile. Coursing through the magnificent tomb, one would feel as though he had traversed back to the glorious imperial palace of ancient times. Stone railings sculpted into dragons pathed the way and polished marble shiny as a mirror lined the ground they walked on. To the sides were rows of giant vermillion pillars etched with carvings of rising dragons. It was hard for a regular joe to fathom this majestic architecture. Whenever they thought that had reached their destination, a light source would ignite as guidance, telling them that they still had a long road ahead. ¡°This underground palace is as big as ten imperial palaces! Who exactly is this Wen Feng Jin?¡± Xiao Luo was gawking obsessively at a vase that was bound to cost a fortune. Even the roof beams were inlaid with jewels. Before Lei Jie could say anything, Mr. Yan cut in: ¡°Hmph, these are just the tip of the iceberg. Back then, the man could even cover the sky with his hand. That was how he ruled over the Northern Kingdom and areas further out. From the moment he came into power, whether it was the common people or powerful magistrates, everyone was thrown into the chaos. It took him only five years to reach the position of the ruler without even needing the crown! With a wave of his sleeve, no one dared to oppose him. He was practically worshipped as a god. The number of people willing to do crazy things for him was countless.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± And how did you know so much¡­. was what Xiao Luo wanted to ask but he kept it to himself in the end. Ever since the man fed his subordinate to the monsters, Xiao Luo only felt his hair tingling whenever he looked at him. But very soon, his thoughts would be occupied by something else. Because they had exited the final hall and came to a large stretch of the terrace. The dim guiding light indoors was replaced with a bright array illumination. The moment he cast eyes on the scenery ahead, he was speechless. And he knew his mentor and the man were having the same shock. ¡­.. In front of them was a vast space as large as the Olympic stadium. Along the walls were numerous protruding platforms with pavilion palaces constructed on them, just like scenic spots of cliffside temples. And the three were standing on one of those red pavilions with a bottomless chasm under their feet. In the center of this colossal crater was a massive pillar of towering heights with chains as thick as a man¡¯s waist connecting it to the walls. At the top of the pillar was a platform where a giant ancient tree stood. A mystical tree with no leaves and only flowers. What was more intriguing was the crimson blooms that crowned the tree like a scarlet fire. The glow emitted from the tree kindled a sense of divinity. And their final goal, the coffin they came here for, was under the burning blossom tree. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Looks like it¡¯s time to go up.¡± Lei Jie licked her dried lips. She turned and looked at her apprentice: ¡°After this point, things will only get worse. It¡¯ll be hard to stay alive. You¡¯re my apprentice and yet I¡¯ve led you to your death, do you hate me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xiao Luo shook his head and said resolutely: ¡°Without you, I would¡¯ve been a gangster my whole life¡­. But Shibo, we really can¡¯t turn back now?¡± ¡°Turn back? What kind of situation do you think we¡¯re in? Do you think those things will let us out? Our skills are not even worth mentioning in the face of such absolute power. I can deal with one or two of those monsters, but a group, that¡¯s not possible.¡± Lei Jie observed the man who had stepped onto the chain without hesitation. She whispered: ¡°Ever since he got here, it¡¯s like he¡¯s been possessed. He must have something up his sleeves. Xiao Luo, remember this, when we get up there, we must not initiate anything, just stay behind him.¡± ¡°Yes! Shibo!¡± The way up was the path of no return and below her feet was an abyss of definite death. Looking at the thick chains that linked the decisive platform, Lei Jie hooked her lips and took a leap¡­ The man surnamed Yan twitched his face into a strange expression as his eyes sparkled with incitement! A millennium! It¡¯s been a millennium! He was finally able to see that man again! Wen Feng Jin¡­.. With that in mind, he could not help but hastened his footsteps. Even if the chain shook turbulently, even if a misstep could send him down a bottomless pit, he still treaded on fearlessly. Following closely behind him were a master and her apprentice. The moment they set foot on the platform, winds raged from the abyss, beating against their sight and ruffling the branches of the burning tree, bringing it to life. Brittle petals floated off their branch and rose into the air like stars rising in the night sky! The scene was sacred and magical! Under the sacred tree where swirling petals gradually drifted towards gravity, laid a coffin large enough for two. Next to it was a man admiring the tree with his hands linked behind his back. The petals danced around him as the wind rustled through his extravagant red and black robe fitted with a girdle that outlined his fine waist. His black hair was adorned with a red crown and only a patch of white skin from his neck could be seen¡­. ¡­.the image of an immortal. Advertisements The silence that followed gave birth to a strange sense of oppression so strong that none of them dared to breathe. Lei Jie and Xiao Luo were dumbfounded. Having laid eyes on this man, they no longer had any doubt about the elixir and what was written on the inscription. Only the thought ¡®oh, so this is an immortal¡¯ remained. On the other hand, the man surnamed Yan had his sight locked on to the man¡¯s back. His eyelids and muscles twitched as he bit down his lips. Even his fingers were clenched into a fist. A moment later, he abruptly opened his mouth and breathed out three words: ¡°Wen , Feng, Jin.¡± The words were like mosquitoes buzzing but it got the man¡¯s attention. The man turned to look at them callously. He had a graciously beautiful visage but it bore an aggressive expression. And the eyes with the large obsidian pupils showed a lack of emotions as he looked at the ants in front of him. The man surnamed Yan took a breath and they locked eyes. Out of the blue, he laughed hysterically. ¡°It¡¯s really you! It¡¯s really you¡ª¡± His eyes then landed on the coffin next to Wen Feng Jin and his laughter got louder. In a crazy tone, he said: ¡°Ha ha ha. You¡¯re still watching over a dead man after so many years! What sacred tree? What resurrection? It¡¯s all a hoax! Ha ha ha! This is retribution ¡ª Your retribution for abandoning me¡ª!¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Wen Feng Jin frowned at the man. Why is this face quite familiar? Mr. Yan did not answer. He pointed at the coffin with hatred in his eyes! ¡°What is inside that coffin? A corpse? Or a handful of ashes? Ha ha ha. I¡¯ve won after all! I won!¡± As soon as these words came out, a figure suddenly popped up from the coffin. They stared at each other awkwardly. Mr. Yan: ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± The man¡¯s boisterous laughter stopped midway! His eyes were opened so wide the eyeballs could fall out! Wang Xiao Mie had goosebumps the longer he was stared at by him. ¡°Errr¡­¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t¡­ I just lie back down???¡± CH 34 ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡­ Impossible! I took half of it, why are you still alive? How could you wake up¡ªMian Deng¡ª!¡± The man shook his head in disbelief. When he called out this name, Wang Xiao Mie was a little surprised. He looked at the man then back at Wen Feng Jin. ¡°You there, do you know me?¡± Wang Xiao Mie pointed to himself. The name he called belonged to his previous life, were they connected somehow? ¡°Feng Jin, do you know him?¡± Wen Feng Jin shifted his sight from Wang Xiao Mie to the man. There was a trace of expectation in the man¡¯s eyes but Wen Feng Jin only gave him a cold passing glance. ¡°No.¡± Wen Feng Jin said: ¡°I do not know this man.¡± Upon hearing this, the man¡¯s features twitched wildly as he looked at Wen Feng Jin with maddening eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t know me¡­..¡± He burst into laughter and pointed at Wen Feng Jin: ¡°You don¡¯t know me? Liar! You must¡¯ve remembered me!¡± Seeing his eyes that resembled that of a malevolent ghost¡¯s, Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his saliva. ¡°Xiao Wenzi, if you really know him, just admit it. I get the feeling he¡¯s going to come for us at any minute now.¡± Those bulging eyeballs were staring at them like they had killed his entire family. But Wen Feng Jin only shook his head without even giving the man a second glance. He went to the coffin and gently caressed Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s cheek. ¡°Shixiong, you¡¯re awake. I¡¯m going to have to deal with some noisy mice. Why don¡¯t you sleep a little longer? Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be over soon.¡± ¡­.. Hey hey, people are listening. Wang Xiao Mie then took another look at the man¡­ Oh f**k! Don¡¯t your eyes hurt opening them that big?! Advertisements But Wang Xiao Mie noticed something. The way the man looked at him: Jealousy and resentment! The way the man looked at Wen Feng Jin: Love and hate¡­.. The man looked at him again: Jealousy and resentment! The man looked at Wen Feng Jin once more: Love and hate¡­.. My lord! How is it possible that one could have such differing emotions in his eyes by just changing targets! Wang Xiao Mie had a feeling this was how the wife would look at the mistress and her husband after they ditched her. He could even hear the line ¡°you green tea bitch! I¡¯m gonna kill you!¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡­. too much drama. Even Lei Jie and Xiao Luo who had tried to reduce their presence felt like they had come to thrash the adultery couple with their good sister. ¡°¡­¡­you should give it some more thought. I think he really knows us. But we¡¯ve lived for so long, how could we be acquainted?¡± Wang Xiao Mie brushed Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hand away and whispered to him. The man kept his glare on him, making him feel increasingly uncomfortable. Wen Feng Jin responded with a noncommittal um. He rubbed his thumb on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s cheek one last time before standing up straight to face the man: ¡°Are you the ones who want my heart?¡± ¡°No. Not them. Only me.¡± Mr. Yan gave Wen Feng Jin a piercing look and spoke in a sarcastic tone: ¡°Wen Feng Jin, you¡¯re just as they say, cold and heartless. Back then, all you ever cared for was your useless Shixiong. And when he died, all you think of is that rotting corpse. I¡¯ve done so much for you and yet you don¡¯t even recognize me.¡± There was a slight change in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s expression. ¡°Oh? Did you finally remember?¡± Under the man¡¯s eyes filled with a renewed expectation, Wen Feng Jin half-closed his pitch-black ones. The scarlet mark between his brows glowed red as blood. He looked down to his shoulder and gently flicked several petals off. The gesture was an implementation that the man¡¯s words and his existence were like dust on his shoulder, not worthy of his nostalgia. Finally, he picked up the last petal and dropped it to the ground. The pink and seductive lips opened and said the words: ¡°What are you to deserve this lord¡¯s attention?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± That pretentious attitude is so cool~ Wang Xiao Mie, sitting in the coffin, took out his small notebook and jotted down. I learned something new today. The man clenched his fists. He gritted his teeth so strong that veins emerged from his cheeks. But soon after, he relaxed his nerves and even under that much facial paralysis, pulled up a smile again. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t remember me, it¡¯s good enough that I remember you, Feng Jin.¡± There was a horror in his laughter and perversion in his voice: ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have gotten the elixir if it weren¡¯t for me. But then again, if it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t have to stay underground even after he was awake.¡± ¡°Let me guess the reason why you both did not go back to the surface. Ha ha. Because when he leaves this tree, leaves your blood, he will die, isn¡¯t it?! Ha hah ha.¡± The man turned and pointed at Wang Xiao Mie who was poking his head out of the coffin to watch the excitement, ¡°Mian Deng, you¡¯re just a living corpse. It must be pretty painful to smell the rot on your body every day, isn¡¯t it? Hmph! That is because years ago, I took half of the concoction that was meant for you. Look at me, I¡¯ve also lived for so many years. Do you know what that concoction was made of? It¡¯s ¡­..¡± A strong gust of wind rose and Wen Feng Jin appeared right opposite of the man with his palm squeezing his neck, cutting him off mid-sentence. ¡°It¡¯s you! You still have the guts to appear in front of me!¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s crow-black pupils turned red instantly. He brutally exerted more force until a crack, the sound of bones breaking, was heard. When Wen Feng Jin let go of his hand, the man fell lightly to the ground. Without even looking at the corpse, he turned to the coffin and said to the wide-eyed and gaped-mouth Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Xiao Mie, give me my sword.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was a little confused looking at the lifeless body of the man who just seconds ago was still talking like a maniac. This was somewhat unreal. He was expecting something more. The man was spouting incomprehensive words but he gave off a vibe that he was not easy to defeat. And then just like that, he was killed¡­ It was quite anti-climatic. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s disappointment was also felt by Lei Jie and Xiao Luo. Their lower jaws almost touched the ground. ¡°¡­..Shibo, didn¡¯t you say he had something up his sleeve?¡± Xiao Luo pouted. ¡°¡­..Maybe that something was the bunch of rubbish he was babbling about.¡± It¡¯s just a pity that his opponent was the ¡®piss off, I don¡¯t give a hoot¡¯ type. Lei Jie covered her face. ¡°Wait, that¡¯s it? And what was he talking about? What concoction? What body odor? Why don¡¯t I know anything?¡± Wang Xiao Mie eyed at Wen Feng Jin suspiciously. He had a hunch that the man was about to say something that would rebuke his previous understanding and Wen Feng Jin had deliberately shut him up. As the thought occupied his mind, the man on the ground suddenly moved! ¡°Sh*t! The corpse is moving!¡± Xiao Luo shouted out his inner dialogue. He watched in horror as the corpse on the ground twisted and turned. Briefly after, the man rose up like zombies in the movies. The man held his neck and gave it a tweak. With a crisp bone cracking sound, he adjusted his neck back in place. Wen Feng Jin tapped lightly on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s forehead: ¡°Xiao Mie, snap out of it. Pass me my Liao Yue sword.¡± ¡°Ah? Oh ok ok!¡± Wang Xiao Mie quickly reached for the Liao Yue sword inside the coffin and handed it to Wen Feng Jin, ¡°How is he alive?!¡± ¡°He can¡¯t be killed by regular methods. This is a little troublesome, you should hide in the coffin. That man is crazy. When this is over, I will answer all your questions.¡± Wen Feng Jin was very gentle with his words. He did not give the newly reborn monster any attention. His eyes only reflected Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s restless expression and there was an excitement in him that Wang Xiao Mie could not understand. Slowly, he unsheathed his Liao Yue sword and said softly: ¡°It seems that Zhen Bei was not lying. Soon, I can truly revive you, Xiao Mie.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was taken aback: ¡°What does that mean¡­What do you mean by truly revive? Ain¡¯t I a zombie now? Ain¡¯t I already revived?¡± However, Wen Feng Jin did not answer him. He raised his sword and let the scabbard fall to the ground. His long dark hair fluttered as a red murderous aura emanated. When it appeared, the powerful force field was like an invisible fist pressing on one¡¯s chest and creating a sharp boom in one¡¯s brain! Behind him, even Wang Xiao Mie was feeling the pressure, not to mention the man at whom the force was targeted at. He stumbled and almost fell to his knees. Lei Jie and Xiao Luo at the rear were not spared either. They grabbed at their chest and knelt on the ground with bleeding noses. But the man was only taken by surprise. He gradually became accustomed to the pressure and finally, sent out his own energy that was similar to Wen Feng Jin¡¯s! ¡°¡­.. you say that I¡¯m crazy?¡± The man¡¯s clothes were blown rumpled by the intense force. He sneered as his face and skin turned bluish-gray at the speed visible to the naked eyes! Veins and muscles were vividly shown coursing through this skin. The pair of regular black eyes had also turned blood-red like Wen Feng Jin¡¯s. ¡°Wen Feng Jin, tell me, who is the crazier one, you or me? Did you forget all the killings that you orchestrated? Have you also forgotten the slaughter you did on your own sect?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Wen Feng Jin held his sword in one hand and drew the bright blade into a crescent. He slashed forward mercilessly! The man was unable to dodge in time and so he used both hands to catch the blade! ¡°Woah! Empty-handed sword block?!¡± ¡°Woah! You think you¡¯re Guo Jing?!¡± (TN: protagonist of the renowned novel Legend of the Condor Heroes) The two exclamations were shouted at the same time. Wang Xiao Mie and Xiao Luo looked at each other from a distance. Fellow readers! Wait a minute. Xiao Luo was stunned. Isn¡¯t he a thousand-year dumpling? How does he know this reference? But before he had time to ponder over this, the fight was getting so intense that it grabbed everyone¡¯s attention. After the initial attack, the man¡¯s arm was almost cut off. However, it healed immediately. He then proceeded to pull out a soft sword from his belt. Wen Feng Jin continued his duel with him. Light beams were reflected from the swords as sharp clinking sounds were heard as the swords clashed. To a mortal like Wang Xiao Mie, this was like witnessing a fantastical fight. He was dazzled by the body movements and the afterimage. If he were in this fight, he probably would not last long. Wen Feng Jin was especially ruthless with his attacks, each strike harbored a tenacious killing intent. On the other hand, his opponent relied on his powerful healing ability, dodging what he could and taking in the damage when he failed to avoid it. It was strange that every time Wen Feng Jin made a big wound, there was not much blood surging out. It¡¯s almost like¡­..Wang Xiao Mie held Kai Ming against his chest¡­. It¡¯s just like Wen Feng Jin. Once again, the stabbed man ignored his wounds and relentlessly tried to inflict damage on Wen Feng Jin. It was an all-out battle. CH 35 ¡°Looks like you¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll reveal something. Ha ha. Let me guess why.¡± Under the strike from the sword filled with murderous intent, the man dodged an attack meant to cut his head off. In a malicious voice so loud everyone present could hear, he said: ¡°Because he doesn¡¯t have his memories, isn¡¯t it? Ha ha, I¡¯m too familiar with the power of the elixir. You used blood and the concoction to sustain him and at the same time, gained control over him. Otherwise, how could the man who hated you to the bones back then have such a submissive attitude towards you?¡± Control? Hate? Weren¡¯t they a harmonious pair of Shixiong and Shidi? Wang Xiao Mie felt a loss for words looking at Wen Feng Jin. And Wen Feng Jin kept up with his attacks calmly as though the small talk did not affect him. Seeing his words were ignored, the man endured several blows to his body and retaliated with a barrage of relentless sword dance and was finally able to immobilize Liao Yue sword. Were Wen Feng Jin a second later to dodge, his fingers holding the sword would have been cut off! ¡°Haha! Wen Feng Jin, you pitiful man! I stole the concoction that should have belonged to your beloved Shixiong! You want it back? Alright! Kill me and take my heart, then you¡¯ll have the other half of the concoction!¡± ¡°But¡­ If I killed you instead, I can get rid of this ugly appearance and restore my looks.¡± ¡°You need my heart to fully revive your Shixiong and I need your heart to be normal again.¡± The two men once again distanced themselves from each other. Because both had accelerated healing, the damage sustained could only be judged through their clothes. The man¡¯s attire was now tattered all over while Wen Feng Jin had cuts on his right arm, shoulder, and waist. ¡°Feng Jing!¡± Wang Xiao Mie anxiously took out his Kai Ming. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Wen Feng Jin looked at him and comforted. He then turned to the man in front: ¡°You won¡¯t be able to defeat me. Yan Chun, you came here for me to kill you!¡± ¡°Ha ha. You think so? Wen Feng Jin, back then you deceived me and gave away the immortality elixir. These thousand years, do you know what I had to go through before I could endure the power of the concoction and stay alive? What kind of monster have I turned into?¡± ¡°Tut tut tut, you finally remember my name.¡± Yan Chun touched his disfigured face and sneered: ¡°How could you be so cold to your former ¡®wife¡¯? Oh? Did you not tell your Shixiong what our relationship was?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes were wide apart: ¡°What wife?! Ha?¡± He took a closer look at the facial features of the man named Yan Chun: a square shaped face, the stiff corpse-like expression, the lines of wrinkles that appeared along with the years, the little mustache¡­.. ¡°Shixiong, I can explain, I¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin frantically turned back to appease Wang Xiao Mie but he found that Wang Xiao Mie did not have the look of jealousy, anger, or even a trace of disappointment that he had expected. Instead, in a tone filled with disgust, he said: ¡°Woah, you have weird tastes¡­.¡± Even the mentor and her apprentice watching by the sidelines showed the same icky expression. ¡°Yii.¡± ¡°Bleh.¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin remained speechless. He then rushed straight at Yan Chun with a savage look in his eyes: ¡°I will kill you!¡± After that, they continued the sword fight. This time round, Wen Feng Jin was mercilessly aggressive, very soon, the man would not be able to withstand any more of his attacks. Advertisements As the deadly duel was being played out, Lei Jie had a secret discussion with Xiao Luo. The details are as follows: ¡°Wow! Liao Yue sword!!! Liao Yue sword!!! Oh f**k! Kai Ming!!! Kai Ming!!! Divine weapon Kai Ming! F**k! F**k! F**k!¡± ¡°Shibo, calm down! Stop staring at the weapons. Look at how powerful that big dumpling is. Let¡¯s not watch anymore and quickly get out of here!¡± ¡°No way! You can leave without me. Even if I die, I have to at least touch Kai Ming¡¯s face~~tut tut tut, I have to touch it!¡± ¡°¡­..Shibo, we could lose our lives at any minute. Let¡¯s run while they are still fighting¡­¡± ¡°Yes yes yes! While they are still fighting let¡¯s go around to the back. I sensed a clean aura from the zombie in the coffin. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s sick in the head like the other two! Let¡¯s go grope!!!¡± ¡°Even if I die I have to die under Kai Ming!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± You¡¯re just saying that because that zombie looks like a pushover. My Shibo¡¯s obsession with legendary weapons is incurable. Back to the other side, everything seemed to have been settled. Yan Chung fell to the ground with Liao Yue deep in his chest and a red liquid stained his lips. His sword was also cut in half. As though he could not feel the pain and his impending death, he stared repulsively at Wen Feng Jin who was looking down at him. His hand reached for something but because he was nailed to the ground and the man standing over him showed a complete lack of compassion, the hand was cut and fell motionlessly. ¡°Ha, hahaha.¡± ¡°Wen Feng Jin, when I was young, I was ordered to search for the elixir. And you, for your Shixiong, you baited me. You gave me the right to stay with you¡­ because there were too many who worshipped you, do crazy things for you, so I thought I was the special one. I thought disobeying the emperor¡¯s order and joining you was the best way to make you like me. I thought I made the right choice.¡± ¡°But you took the elixir from me and gave it to your dying Shixiong. When I knew the truth the hatred almost killed me! But who knew, after that day, he still died¡­¡± ¡°Cough!¡± Yan Chun coughed violently as blood spilled from his mouth. The heart was the lifeblood for those who took the concoction. Being wounded in the chest, his strength was long gone and he was approaching his death. Wen Feng Jin lowered his head. ¡°Such beautiful eyes, like looking at ants from above.¡± Yan Chun laughed: ¡°But I don¡¯t want to be an ant, I want to be just like your Shixiong, someone who can stand beside you.¡± ¡°¡­. when he died that year, I was overjoyed he passed the elixir to you. He must¡¯ve wanted to punish you. After all, you not only imprisoned him but you also killed everyone he cared about.¡± ¡°Seeing you go crazy in self-punishment, my heart ached but I was also happy.¡± ¡°You finally get to taste the pain of yearning for a love you can¡¯t have! To him, you¡¯re even worse than me!¡± He made several waves of maniacal laughter. At the same time, Wen Feng Jin had already kneeled down. He removed the sword and opened up the wound on Yan Chun¡¯s chest. Yan Chun¡¯s throat was making gasping noises but he used the last of his strength to convey a millennium of obsession and madness¡­ ¡°¡­..then you found the old man and a way to preserve the body. Nothing changed, your eyes, your heart, your feelings, your everything was poured into resurrecting your Shixiong.¡± ¡°But I heard his word¡­.. Ha ha ha! I heard it all! The old man¡¯s words.¡± The old man said before: ¡°a corpse without a soul is fragile and cannot be cultivated. Even if it can move, it will still rot. It¡¯s possible if you simply want to keep the body from decaying, but the Corpse Beads and Sacred Tree can only maintain his appearance, once he leaves¡­. If the tree managed to call back his soul and placed it in this body, with luck, he might be able to wake up but won¡¯t be able to move, but if luck forbids, his body and the Corpse Bead will turn into ashes along with his soul¡­¡± ¡°How to make this body ¡®alive¡¯ again?¡± ¡°You need a certain medicine.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s your heart!¡± Yan Chun used the last of his strength to clutch Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hand which was now at his chest, breaking off the veins to his heart in order to retrieve it. ¡°That concoction requires half of your heart which was fused with the immortal elixir! And yet you were willing to give it without hesitation!¡± ¡°What is so good about him? Why could you go to such lengths for him? Why?!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, but so what if you¡¯re willing to give, I still stole half of it. After taking it I turned into half a corpse, neither am I a man nor a monster! I was buried in the earth like a dead body and when I lost my appearance, I swore that I would make you and your Shixiong pay!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t make you love me, I won¡¯t allow anyone else to have you!¡± ¡°How can I let you guys off so easily? I¡¯ve been searching for you all these years. Wen Feng Jin, I have to witness you losing the only thing you ever love once again!¡± Wen Feng Jin frowned and shook off Yan Chun¡¯s hand. After he finally had the complete heart in his hand, he heard Yan Chun shouting towards a certain place: ¡°What are you waiting for?! Kill them! Kill them all!¡± Two ear-piercing sounds broke the air! Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes widened in panic as he quickly looked back. Under Yan Chun¡¯s triumphant laughter, he screamed: ¡°Shixiong¡ª¡± Advertisements A minute prior. Wang Xiao Mie was holding on to Kai Ming while Yan Chun¡¯s words echoed in his head. The story he told was completely different from what Wen Feng Jin said. Head¡­ too painful. Wang Xiao Mie grabbed his head and gave it a shake. As his head turned, behind him were two shady figures about to sneak up on him. The three of them locked eyes! ¡°What are you doing?!¡± The scared Wang Little Puppy shivered as he pointed Kai Ming at the tomb robbers, shouting: ¡°Honey! Our coffin is being hijacked!¡± But at this time, Wen Feng Jin was separated too far from him by Yan Chun. Wang Xiao Mie picked up his courage and raised the weapon in his hand. He tried to toughen up with the hooligan-like speech he learned from TV: ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer or I won¡¯t be polite with you!¡± The delicate face in the cumbersome costume only made his movement seemed all the less threatening. Xiao Luo: ¡°¡­.¡± Not only was he not scared but also felt humorous. As for Lei Jie, her eyes were fixed on the dagger, almost drooling over it. ¡°Hey Hey ~ Little precious ~ Let me touch you ~~¡± She rushed over with her large sword in hand! Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡­¡­ Xiao Wenzi! There¡¯s a pervert here! Ya Mie Die¡ª! (TN: It¡¯s to replicate the Japanese word yamete which means stop it) It was then that two gunshots erupted in the circular space which amplified the explosive sounds like that of thunder. At that moment, he heard Wen Feng Jin¡¯s panicked call! ¡°Shixiong¡ª¡± That howl was the very picture of someone crying tears of blood. Before this, Wang Xiao Mie could never imagine someone with so much arrogance and pride like Wen Feng Jin could make this desperate trembling voice filled with despair¡­ Wang Xiao Mie looked at him in a daze. As though time had stood still, all he could focus on were the two bullets riveting through the air and Wen Feng Jin¡¯s face¡­ Lei Jie who was closest to him reacted immediately. She rushed over and raised her sword over Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s forehead. Bang! Clang! A bullet that should have shattered his skull was embedded into the sword Lei Jie used to block him with while another bullet went to his chest, leaving behind an irregularly shaped hole. The tremendous impact caused him to stagger back where he was supported by someone behind. Time seemed to flow again. The bleeding that was delayed now had blood gushing out from the wound on his chest as the pain entailed. He fell into the arms of the person behind who was shouting something he could not make out. There was a deafening ringing in his ears. As he was losing consciousness, he could clearly feel being pulled frenziedly into someone¡¯s embrace, and a series of heart-wrenching cries followed. ¡°No, nooo¡ª!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t ¡ª Shixiong¡ª!¡± CH 36 It had all been a big lie. From the beginning, those beautiful things he heard were all made up¡­.. Wang Xiao Mie looked down from above with indifference at the assassins lying on the ground, and also a certain Shidi of his. The child he doted on and treated like a little brother as he watched him grow was holding a sword dripping with blood. There was extreme panic in his eyes as he looked at the frozen smile of his Shixiong who happened to pass by the scene. That was the year Wen Feng Jin came of age. It was also then that he discovered the disappearing students were spies sent by the emperor and the filthy truth behind the happy facade of the Academy. Everyone was hiding secrets¡­ He watched as Wen Feng Jin dropped his sword and rushed to him, holding him while desperately trying to explain. The men tasked with cleaning up the bodies retreated to the shadows humbly and skillfully. Clearly, they had done this many times. ¡°Shixiong, I, I did not want to kill them. It¡¯s the treacherous emperor who wants to kill me! It¡¯s the truth, it¡¯s the truth¡­. Don¡¯t ignore me¡­..Shixiong.¡± Looking at the fear and desperation in the teenager¡¯s eyes and the tears that flowed from it, Wang Xiao Mie turned softhearted again. He hugged the killer and looked at the corpses on the ground in fear. Like any ordinary person after knowing their loved one was a murderer, Wang Xiao Mie was in disbelief and torment. His mind was blank but deep down, he was telling himself: he¡¯s a good kid, he didn¡¯t want to do this. He made all kinds of excuses and forced himself to forget. ¡°It¡¯s ok¡­.. I know they are all assassins. Don¡¯t be scared, I won¡¯t tell.¡± This is ancient times, the child was just protecting himself. He¡¯s already terrified¡­ I have to help him, I have to protect him¡­ The young Wang Xiao Mie was scared himself but he felt that as the older one, he had to be brave. He hugged the shivering youth in hope of comforting him with his warmth. But this was where he made his mistake. The youth hugging the past Wang Xiao Mie rested his head against his shoulder. His face was void of tears and panic. What remained was a smile and darkness deep as the abyss in those peculiar pupils. And all this was just the beginning. The year was 1328. Advertisements Maybe because the supreme emperor was still not satisfied with just killing Wen Feng Jin¡¯s entire clan and sending him to the Academy to be tortured, he decided to revoke his hypocritical kindness and wipe Wen Feng Jin from this earth. Naturally, Wen Feng Jin was not a feeble little pitiful who would tolerate this. He had gathered his father¡¯s troops a long time ago. It was this year that Wen Feng Jin left the Academy and entered jianghu, establishing his covert military. The two who were separated for the first exchanged letters through pigeons. The system continued urging Wang Xiao Mie to complete his task or it would kill him. Wang Xiao Mie had always been a simpleton but he was not that stupid. He knew all along that Wen Feng Jin left to kill for revenge. On his back were more than two hundred lives that perished. The child had to watch his parents and relatives killed and then sent to be bullied by the children and teachers in the Academy. Why did his little Feng Jin have to endure all of these tortures and humiliation? And even so, this did not mean that he would be a mass murderer when he grows up! At such a tender age, Wen Feng Jin had to live in hatred and nightmares¡­ He often dreamt of returning to that blood-drenched scene. So until he was ten, Wang Xiao Mie would carry the skinny to the bones child with the fire in his eyes to his room and soothed him into slumber. At that time, he had learned a nursery tune of the Northern Kingdom to sing to him. Later when Wen Feng Jin was older, he could still occasionally hear him humming the song ¡­ So how could Wang Xiao Mie not love the little guy? His heart is made of flesh and blood after all. From the moment he started to care for the child, from the moment Wen Feng Jin looked at him with sentimental and trusting eyes¡­ Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s heart was already on his side. He would constantly persuade Wen Feng Jin not to kill and not be cruel but he knew deep down that the violent hatred in his heart had turned him into a demon. With his father, the regent¡¯s legacy, Wen Feng Jin quickly grew in power. In just a few years, he changed the world to his favor and killed the officials responsible for revenge. It was then that he was given the title of Dark Lord. The ill-favored revenge was met with a formidable counterattack. Mighty as Wen Feng Jin was with his inherited legacies and world-shifting talents, the emperor and members of jianghu had their own accumulation of power. Wang Xiao Mie who was awaiting his death back in the Academy overheard that Wen Feng Jin had been stabbed and heavily wounded. His current whereabouts were unknown. And hence, Wang Xiao Mie left the Academy in a hurry. For that, the dean looked at him and said: ¡°Mian Deng, you were my favorite student but you have disappointed me. How could you even think of leaving to help that beast? If you leave now, do not ever come back! Once you stepped out of this door, you¡¯re no longer my disciple!¡± ¡°Teacher, he¡¯s not a beast, he¡¯s a human being.¡± Wang Xiao Mie took one last look at the Academy and the angry face of his mentor then departed with resolve. How did he manage to find Wen Feng Jin after that? It all came down to the system which had been with him all these years, consistently imploring him to do his task. How it wished it could give him wings to get there faster. With the guidance system, Wang Xiao Mie quickly located Wen Feng Jin at a brothel. That year, Wang Xiao Mie stood in front of a bevy of seductive girls turning green from anger! F**k you! Here I was worried sick while you¡¯re having fun at a brothel?! But when he showed his token and was brought to the basement, his anger vanished instantly after seeing Wen Feng Jin with a bandage over his chest. There was a bitter medicinal smell in the air. When Wen Feng Jin saw him, his eyes lit up brightly. Then his mood changed from joy to anger. ¡°Shixiong, what are you doing here?! Do you know how dangerous it is!¡± ¡°You still realize that I¡¯m your Shixiong? Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you¡¯re badly injured?! Do you know how f**king worried I was?!¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want you to be in danger!¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want you to die somewhere without me even knowing. If so, I would rather be by your side! We¡¯ll die together if that¡¯s what to come!¡± Wen Feng Jin and Wang Xiao Mie both refused to step back. After some time, Wen Feng Jin softened and his eyes were filled with a gentleness which then flashed with a darkness that made Wang Xiao Mie jump. ¡°I¡¯m not going to let you die.¡± ¡°En¡­.. I know!¡± This was where it started. The two treasured each other with the budding feelings of first love. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s crush for Wang Xiao Mie was transparent to the point that even the dull-minded Shixiong was aware of how his Shidi felt for him. For Wang Xiao Mie who only recently discovered his sexuality, there were still reservations in his heart. While he was still going back and forth in indecisiveness, the emperor had sent his dark guards to pursue them. Their hideout in the brothel was discovered. What happened after was just as Wen Feng Jin had told him. They were being hunted like prey. One by one, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s subordinates died, and eventually, only the two of them were left alive. Perhaps it was the emperor¡¯s sadistic tastes, every time they were at death¡¯s door, those assassins would let them live. Not a patch of skin on Wen Feng Jin that did not have a wound. The internal injuries and fractures turned his breathing laborious. Half of his arm had its flesh cut off, exposing the dense white bone. Even if it was treated, a terrible scar would still remain. The gash on his stomach was getting bigger with each step he took carrying Wang Xiao Mie on his back. No amount of cloth could block the blood gushing from it. Wang Xiao Mie was no better. Other than its navigational function, the garbage system had only one other used which was to repeatedly threaten him with his death. Wang Xiao Mie blocked an oncoming attack from a dark guard for Wen Feng Jin. The weapon injured his lung. With both his legs broken and his internals badly ruptured¡­ He did not have long to live. Advertisements At the same time, the system also quietened down, most likely it had given up on him. Only Wen Feng Jin endured the humiliation of being played with by the dark guards and carried him back to the Academy. The blood dripping from their bodies were like rain droplets, staining each stone step they passed by. The dazzling sun focused its rays on them and the condensed air was preparing for a downpour. Wen Feng Jin had long reached his limits. The will to save Wang Xiao Mie was the only thing sustaining him. He carried Wang Xiao Mie and the two were like miserable walking corpses. ¡°¡­..Shixiong, it¡¯ll be fine¡­..we¡¯re almost at the Academy. It doesn¡¯t matter if they don¡¯t welcome me, as long as you are saved¡­..¡± ¡°Shixiong, don¡¯t sleep¡­.. Don¡¯t sleep¡­.. Fen Jin is begging you¡­¡­¡± Not hearing a response from him, Wen Feng Jin cried. The prideful Wen Feng Jin who was bent on revenge and never accepted defeat no matter how the heavens and earth oppressed him, tortured him, and forced him to his death, was shedding with tears. He said: ¡°Please, I beg you, please don¡¯t sleep, Shixiong¡­..¡± The bitter drops flowed down his bloodstained face, leaving a clean trail. Wang Xiao Mie longed to raise his hand and pat his head but he was too weak. He decided to make a joke to stop his crying and tell him that he had not closed his eyes yet. But when he spoke, blood gushed out and sprayed on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Shixiong?!¡± ¡°En¡­.¡± He could only respond using a soft nasal tone but it was this sound that became all of Wen Feng Jin¡¯s strength. He sped up his steps even with the agonizing pain that could drive a person crazy and the pouring of blood that rained on the stone floor. Halfway through, the brewing rain finally poured down like frost added to the snow and fuel to the fire. It was as though even the heavens wanted them dead. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyelids were drooping due to the cold rain, his pupils were losing focus. He couldn¡¯t hold on much longer¡­.. Wen Feng Jin could also feel his lifeforce waning. He wanted to put Wang Xiao Mie down and hold him in his arms but his hands were injured to the point his bones were visible as the blood was being washed by the rain. Wen Feng Jin dared not stop. Now he only depended on his own perseverance to go on, stopping here would mean that he may never stand up again. Against the imposing mountain rain piercing through them, Wen Feng Jin finally carried him to the Academy on the mountain top. ¡°Shixiong, we made it! You¡¯re saved. Don¡¯t be afraid, you¡¯ll be saved soon!¡± Wen Feng Jin carefully placed him on the ground and struggled to stand up. He pounded desperately on the door. CH 37 It was a boy who opened the door. He looked at the two men soaked in rainwater and blood like monsters that just crawled out from the grave and screamed. Wen Feng Jin grabbed the boy and his blood dripped onto his body. ¡°Call the physician! My Shixiong¡­.. Mian Deng Shixiong, he¡¯s heavily wounded¡­..¡± ¡°Mian Deng Shixiong?!¡± The boy knew of the Academy¡¯s Mian Deng Shixiong. Although afraid, he took a peek at Wang Xiao Mie lying on the ground. When he recognized the face covered with dried blood and wet hair, he exclaimed: ¡°Ah! It¡¯s Mian Deng Shixiong!¡± ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll go get help!¡± The boy frantically ran inside. Wen Feng Jin leaned against the gate to sit down. He pulled Wang Xiao Mie into his arms. The eaves of the door screened out the rain. His fingers were rigid but with the most gentle movement, he cleared the strands of wet hair on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s face then held his head to his chest. He lightly pressed his cheek against his forehead. ¡°You¡¯ll be better soon, bear with it a little longer. Those people hate me but they will still help you¡­¡± ¡­..what about you? ¡­..can this body still withstand the persecution from the dark guards and leave this mountain? ¡­..clearly you intended to die alone! Wang Xiao Mie struggled to tug at Wen Feng Jin¡¯s clothes but he did not even have the strength to keep his eyes open. Wen Feng Jin held him and said: ¡°As long as you can live, I¡¯m willing to do anything¡­..¡± No! Wang Xiao Mie only managed to shake his head slightly with the last of his strength. Tears rolled down his cheeks as his senses began to fade. Feeling powerless, he finally closed his eyes. But they were both wrong. That day, neither of them received any help from the Academy. The boy did go to get help but the person he called was the dean. He looked heartlessly at Wen Feng Jin and the disciple he once favored. ¡°I said before, once you step out of this door, you¡¯re no longer my disciple!¡± The opened door was closing again. Wen Feng Jin went berserk and banged erratically at the door with his fists. Each strike left the door with a stamp of blood. ¡°Save him! Isn¡¯t he your Shixiong?! Save him, I beg you ¡­.¡± Wen Feng Jin looked desperately at the closing door and knelt down¡­.. ¡°Save him.¡± As the dignified head slammed against the muddy ground, the door stopped. The dean slowly raised the corner of his lips. The boy behind him couldn¡¯t bear to look any longer. ¡°Teacher, Shixiong, he¡¯s already¡­.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± The dean waved his hand. He turned and left with a sneer. The door between them slammed shut with a bang! The frigid rain continued its boundless downpour. The wounds strewed across his body, the immense pain, the humiliation along the way, and the hope that was heartlessly denied from him¡­ Wen Feng Jin kept his head down. His fingers clawed into the hard ground, leaving scratch marks of blood! In his destitute state, a twisted and psychotic smile appeared on his face as the black peculiar pupils turned bloodshot! It was on that day that he completely lost his humanity. What remained was a twisted soul pushed to the brink. ¡°I will not let any of you off¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin hugged Wang Xiao Mie. He looked straight at the door with a sinister smile: ¡°I will absolutely show you no mercy!¡± ¡°Ah Ah Ha ha ha! Even if I die, I will remember the humiliations my Shixiong and I received today! I will kill all of you! ¡ª everyone single one!!!¡± ¡°I want you all to be buried with my Shixiong and me!¡± Deep-seated desperation materialized in his eyes which had now turned scarlet. Tears fell as it stared fixated at the door, yearning to break it open. He said word by word: ¡°Were I to live, I will decimate every one of you here! I will never show any mercy again. I want the whole country to experience my pain!¡± ¡°Aahhh¡ª¡± Wang Xiao Mie hovering from above looked at the roaring Wen Feng Jin. His lips trembled but words were unable to come out. In its place were irrepressible tears that flowed from his eyes¡­ These are his memories. The ruthless truths. Those years were too bitter. Even when they had each other to rely on, they could not survive the hostility of the world and the fickleness of the human heart. That year, the lone Wang Xiao Mie who was abandoned and forgotten by all went back to ancient times. Fate had him meet up with Wen Feng Jin who was also despised and isolated by the world. The two sad souls licked each other¡¯s wounds and exchanged their warmths. Tragically, they could not overcome one last time of having their hope shattered¡­ Advertisements The memories before him then shifted further along. Wang Xiao Mie woke up in a room filled with a bitter fragrance. They survived after all. Later, Wen Feng Jin told him that they were supposed to die that day but maybe fate had other plans. Mu Yi, Mu Er, and Mu San managed to reach them in time. They killed off the emperor¡¯s dark guards and used the best medicine to treat them. Wen Feng Jin and himself had their roots damaged but Wen Feng Jin had a sturdy foundation, so he was only unconscious for some time. The same could not be said for Wang Xiao Mie. He was of sub-par health and a feeble chicken to begin with. Even if he woke up, which he did after a month of coma, there was no saving him. The day he woke up, Wen Feng Jin silently placed his hand on his face. At that moment, Wang Xiao Mie knew Wen Feng Jin had changed. He had bandages around his neck, head, and fingers. He smiled sweetly and said to Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Shixiong, let me avenge you¡­¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Six months thereafter, Wen Feng Jin carefully escorted Wang Xiao Mie up the stone steps to the Academy once again. But this time, their positions were swapped. They were high above on sedan chairs looking down on the countless lives waiting to be hanged. That day, they were the ones listening to the helpless cries of those in the Academy. The dean was personally tortured by Wen Feng Jin until his last breath. In a horrified state, Wang Xiao Mie shivered as he covered his ears and closed his eyes. He could not bear to look at the desperate faces condemned to die. Only Wen Feng Jin was laughing, appreciating the purgatory. His fear of Wen Feng Jin hence began. He did hate those who mistreated them but this was an indiscriminate massacre, more was the number of innocents killed. And what about the ignorant children of the Academy? Wang Xiao Mie just could not accept it. Very soon, Wen Feng Jin was aware of his resistance and fear. At this point, Wen Feng Jin was no longer gentle and obedient towards him. He was radical, domineering, and ruthless on his quest for revenge where countless innocent lives were taken. Blinded by hatred, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s words could no longer dissuade him. And because of Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s defiance and decision to leave, Wen Feng Jin resorted to keeping him locked up. Wang Xiao Mie did not have much longer. He was fed with medicine every day but with each dose, the drug¡¯s efficiency decreased. Eventually, the physicians were at a loss. It was time for him to go¡­ And yet Wen Feng Jin still dared to do that to him¡­ Wang Xiao Mie who was watching his memories pass by was red with anger, he gritted his teeth and exclaimed: ¡°The shameless!¡± Now that that was behind him, Wang Xiao Mie did not mind it as much. But back then, to the two who were already in disharmony, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s domineering compulsion was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. What happened after that was a blur to him because he was bedridden with his death looming. Then came another memory and he finally remembered that he had met Yan Chun before. But the Yan Chun he met did not look like this at all. He was a gorgeous man, alluring and dignified. He had an arrogant look in his eyes as he stared at Wang Xiao Mie on his deathbed, whispering something Wang Xiao Mie could not make out. He was then led away by Wen Feng Jin. And after that meeting, Wen Feng Jin came to possess the immortality elixir. Maybe it was a common trait of people who were awaiting their deaths. As Wang Xiao Mie stayed idle in bed, he thought back to all the times he spent with Wen Feng Jin and what they had gone through together. In fact, even back then, he did not hate Wen Feng Jin. Death was coming and his heart was clearer than ever. The crucial point was that the system had long determined that failing to accomplish the mission would result in his death. Hence, when Wen Feng Jin fed him the elixir, he passed it back to him. When Wen Feng Jin had that desperate look again, Wang Xiao Mie tried to explain his ordeal but in the next second, the system had erased his memories and ejected him from that world¡­ The scenery had now faded into darkness. The floating Wang Xiao Mie thought to himself: After my death, Xiao Wenzi probably thought that I gave him back the elixir as a punishment. Sigh¡­ Wang Xiao Mie stretched out in midair then closed his eyes and waited for his second death. The lights had been snuffed out, it seemed his death was imminent. Some time later¡­ The floating Wang Xiao Mie frowned in the dark. Some more time later¡­.. Wang Xiao Mie couldn¡¯t help giving his head a scratch. Some more time later¡­. Wang Xiao Mie: What the hell?! The death god this year is not doing a very good job! I¡¯ve been floating here forever! Why aren¡¯t you taking me away?! Just because I was resurrected and became a zombie I don¡¯t deserve your service?!! Negative review!!! Hm? Why is there a medicinal scent? It smells familiar. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s consciousness faded as he took in the familiar fragrance. Advertisements ¡°Tut tut tut, how affectionate.¡± Zhen Bei looked at the man whose hands were riveted through by a sharp weapon, pinning him to the giant tree. Within his proximity were Lei Jie and Xiao Luo, both of whom were laying flat on the ground. A pool of blood fanned out under them, their fate was uncertain. What remained where Yan Chun once laid was a pile of rags and something that looked like white sand. Wang Xiao Mie was leaning against the coffin with his eyes closed and his lips smudged with blood. On his chest was a bullet wound whereby the disrupted skin tissues were now regrouping. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for that nosy b*tch, between these two bullets, one would have cracked his skull, and the other turn his insides into mush.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re indeed worthy to be called an undead. Even with Yan Chun¡¯s attack and that blood transfusion, you still managed to injure me.¡± Zhen Bei laughed and spit out a mouthful of blood surging from his chest. He had a broken leg and a large indented wound on his left chest but he was still very much alive, leaning against his weapon. This weapon was a long instrument with a bronze coating. The barrel was as long as that of a rifle and one end had a palm-size cylindrical metal piece attached, making it resemble a disproportionate hammer with an elongated handle. It was thanks to this unique weapon and the fool Yan Chun that he could successfully inflict serious damage to the two disgusting monsters. ¡°I know~ ha~ I know the fatal weakness of your kind. The heart is most vital to monsters like yourselves. But I¡¯m surprised. Even having to endure my attacks, you¡¯d still risk your life to feed him your blood and Yan Chun¡¯s heart. Lucky for me you¡¯re dumb, otherwise winning against you is almost impossible¡­¡± He swayed his uninjured leg and stood upright, pressing the weapon on the chest of the man nailed to the tree. ¡°Am I right, Wen Feng Jin¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hands were hammered to the tree by two thick nails. The red crown was broken and his clothes were in a mess. His long hair dark as coal had now turned white as snow!!! Wen Feng Jin raised his head feebly and his blanched hair fell over his paled cheek. The only color left on him was from his red eyes and glowing scarlet mark on his forehead. A large self-inflicted incision over his trachea had impeded his speech. ¡°Humans are meant to be greedy. The world is filled with people like me, hypocritic, selfish, and will not hesitate to hurt others for their own gain.¡± With unblinking eyes, Zhen Bei stared down at him. The corners of his mouth spread out in a malicious grin, almost reaching his ears. He bent down and said with an evil tone: ¡°Rest in peace, everything in this tomb palace will belong to me. And you both?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to turn to dust just like Yan Chun. And so will your Shixiong!¡± Here¡¯s the author¡¯s clarification as to what happened: Wang Xiao Mie was shot twice. The attack to his brain was blocked by Lei Jie or else he would really have been snuffed out. Another shot was to his chest where his heart was. At this point, Yan Chun¡¯s heart alone cannot save him so Wen Feng Jin had to cut his neck open to give him his blood. He did all this while having to endure attacks from the shameless Zhen Bei. When that¡¯s done, they both fought it out but Wen Feng Jin had lost too much blood and sustained too many injuries, Zhen Bei managed to gain the upper hand and nailed him to the tree. CH 38 ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll stop with all this rubbish talk. It¡¯s time to send you off!!!¡± Zhen Bei, who was in a similar dilapidated state, had to struggle to lift his weapon. He pointed it at Wen Feng Jin whose hair had turned white due to blood loss. Too weak to move, Wen Feng Jin could only let himself be mocked by Zhen Bei. Everything slowed down at that moment¡­ Smiling like a maniac, Zhen Bei raised the unique weapon and pressed it against Wen Feng Jin. His skin that was in contact with the weapon turned gray as blood spilled from the new wound. The wind was still raging, stirring up the petals of the peach blossom tree. The intoxicating fragrance from the flowers was mixed with a nauseating smell of blood. ¡®Ah ~ all this blood on him. This miserable appearance is making me so happy~¡¯ Zhen Bei was snickering away when all of sudden, a hand pressed on his shoulder. ¡°Young man, have you ever watched a basketball match?¡± A ghastly voice rang through his ears. Zhen Bei turned stiff with the big grin frozen on his face. ¡®Impossible! How could someone be behind him? He was sure that he had eliminated every threat!!¡¯ Just as he turned around, the person behind him said, ¡°If you have, then you must know of something called a Buzzer Beater!¡± Bang! A powerful fist flung across Zhen Bei¡¯s face. The overwhelming force instantly twisted Zhen Bei¡¯s face and a crisp sound of bones breaking could be heard! He was lifted off the ground and plummeted a few meters away. The weapon that fell from his hand was kicked far away and dropped off the platform! As he was receiving the punch, Zhen Bei saw his attacker¡­ The person was cloaked in a crimson red gown with long pitch-black hair. He stood like a soaring fire within a whirling gust of dancing petals. It was Wang Xiao Mie. Advertisements The second owner of the tomb had been revived. Wang Xiao Mie scoffed. He looked at Wen Feng Jin being nailed to the tree and his fingers curled into a fist. He turned and spit out some blood that belonged to someone else. ¡®Again. This, again. Why does everyone want them dead? Can¡¯t they live their lives in this underground palace in peace? Don¡¯t they deserve it?!¡¯ Wang Xiao Mie briskly walked up to Zhen Bei and gave his waist two kicks. He then rested one foot on his body and stared down at him. After the fight with Wen Feng Jin, Zhen Bei¡¯s strength was greatly depleted and with the unexpected blow just now, he was almost at the end of his tether. His face was now swollen with bruises that made it difficult for him to open his eyes. The worst part was that he no longer had his weapon, the key to his victory. ¡°Xiao Mie¡­ listen to me. It¡¯s not how it looks¡­ When I arrived, Mr. Yan had already turned into ashes. You, you were injured and Wen Feng Jin was protecting you from behind. It was then that he changed! Lei Jie and Xiao Luo tried to fend him off¡­¡± Zhen Bei frowned and had a mournful look. He looked at Wang Xiao Mie and said earnestly, ¡°Lei Jie told me to run. She said because of your injury, Wen Feng Jin went crazy. He wanted to kill everyone!¡± ¡°Lei Jie and Xiao Luo risked their lives to nail him to the tree¡­ I, I have no choice, Xiao Mie,¡± Zhen Bei¡¯s eyes turned red with sadness. ¡°I¡¯m fatally wounded as well. I have to do it! When he recovers, we¡¯ll all be killed by him¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie only looked at him with cold eyes. At this moment, Wen Feng Jin was able to regain a bit of his strength. He feebly raised his head and fixed his scarlet eyes on them. ¡°Shi¡­ Xiong¡­¡­Kill¡­¡­him¡­.¡± ¡®He¡¯s not a good person. Shixiong, don¡¯t trust him, he¡¯ll kill you¡­¡¯ Unfortunately, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s speech was impeded by the nasty wound on his neck. Those were the only words he managed to force out. ¡°Look! He¡¯s crazy! He will kill anyone!¡± Zhen Bei cried in fear. Wen Feng Jin stared at the deceitful Zhen Bei and struggled to twist off his wrist. He would not let anything happen to his Shixiong¡­ He was willing to tear off his hand to break free. The bulging red pupils and hoarse groans coming from him were like that of an agitated wild beast. But when Wang Xiao Mie frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯ve recovered my memories¡±, Wen Feng Jin ceased his movements and the light in his eyes disappeared¡­ Shixiong, he remembered everything? He remembered the past that I desperately wanted to bury¡­ Shixiong, he will never believe me again¡­ Like a sudden rain that doused a dying fire, Wen Feng Jin slumped into a state of desolation. Although he did not know what Wang Xiao Mie was talking about, Zhen Bei was relieved to see Wen Feng Jin turn lifeless and seceding into sorrow. He looked up at Wang Xiao Mie with innocent eyes like those of a wounded stray dog. ¡°Xiao Mie, I wasn¡¯t lying to you. I know you don¡¯t want to believe it but it¡¯s all true. Why don¡¯t we do this? Since you¡¯re already up, if you¡¯re not willing to kill him, then let¡¯s just take Lei Jie and Xiao Luo and get out of here!¡± If he could get out and had time to recuperate, this disgusting monster would die at his hands! Zhen Bei looked at Wang Xiao Mie and pleaded. Wang Xiao Mie sighed. He spread his legs and squatted. He grabbed his collar with one hand and under the bewildered look on Zhen Bei¡¯s face, Wang Xiao Mie pulled out something and pasted it on his face. He said with a dead expression, ¡°Even if everyone else lied, this thing won¡¯t. Buddy, feeling burned yet?¡± Zhen Bei moved his head away as he felt scorching pain on his cheek. The divine dagger Kai Ming was plastered to his face! ¡°Honestly, Zhen Bei, you¡¯re really good at acting.¡± Wang Xiao Mie put the dagger away. With a grin, he raised his fist and aimed it at the deceitful face! ¡°Your father, I, will have to teach you how to show some sincerity!¡± Smack! Left hook! ¡°F**k you! How dare you hit my family¡¯s Xiao Wenzi!¡± Smack! Right hook! ¡°F**k you! How dare you attack him so dishonorably!¡± Triple strike with both left and right hooks! ¡°How dare you deceive me! Your mother doesn¡¯t know what kind of man you are but your father Kai Ming does!!!¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill you, you jerk!¡± Countless fists were struck at a rapid rate. Have you ever seen your cat punches? It was just like that. When Wang Xiao Mie staggered to stand up as he was out of breath and his hands were worn out, Zhen Bei was already lying motionless on the ground. ¡°Damn his face is strong,¡± Wang Xiao Mie muttered as he shook his numb and aching hands. He then strode towards Wen Feng Jin who had lost the will to live. He reached for the nails and pulled. With the nails removed, Wen Feng Jin leaned against the tree and slid into a sitting position with his still head hanging down. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Wang Xiao Mie patted him on the face. ¡°Don¡¯t look so dead. Because I¡¯ve recovered my memories, that¡¯s why I¡¯m certain of one thing.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s heart was in ashes. He raised his head and looked at Wang Xiao Mie. Wang Xiao Mie crouched in front of him. He held his chin with one hand and the other was placed on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s side face. His eyes curved and his lips stretched into a brilliant smile. He said, ¡°I¡¯m certain now. I¡¯ve already forgiven you a long time ago. And whether it was me from a thousand years ago or the present me, I¡¯ve always liked you. Xiao Wenzi, let¡¯s stay together from now on. This time, we¡¯ll never be separated!¡± ¡®At that time, we had kept each other warm through the bitterness. And now we¡¯ll do the same for the unseeable future.¡¯ Under the giant tree where peach blossoms fluttered by, Wang Xiao Mie spread his arms and held Wen Feng Jin tightly. The vibrant petals fell on their wedding garments and also on the black and white hair. Leaning his head on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s shoulder, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes were opened wide. Then he closed them and clamped on to Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s back with his wound-filled hands. The two hugged each other in silence for a long time. With the nails removed, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s wounds were healing at a speed a hundred times faster than that of ordinary humans. When he was fully healed, Wang Xiao Mie let go and rubbed his nose in embarrassment. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes were brimming with too much emotion that Wang Xiao Mie had goosebumps the longer they stared at each other. Wen Feng Jin suddenly frowned and said, ¡°Shixiong, don¡¯t look at my hair.¡± ¡°Why? It looks good, not ugly at all.¡± ¡®I have a silver hair fetish! This is the perfect look, ok!¡¯ Wang Xiao Mie was drooling as he touched the lock of hair. ¡®Woah, it¡¯s silver~¡¯ ¡°As long as you like it,¡± Wen Feng Jin hugged him again. He rubbed his chin on his hair. After all the ups and downs, he finally knew his Shixiong had never hated him. Wen Feng Jin just wanted to wrap himself around Wang Xiao Mie and never let go. He was like a big wolf that suddenly grew out from Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s body. As for Wang Xiao Mie, he did want to indulge his family¡¯s wolf with love. But¡­ The woman on the ground suddenly coughed. She reached out her hand and looked at both of them. She said, ¡°Cough cough¡­¡­ You, whoever you are¡­. I think¡­. I think I still ¡­..can be saved.¡± And with that, she fainted again. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Wow, she¡¯s still alive¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°En¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°She¡¯s quite persistent¡­..¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°En¡­..¡± There was a brief silence before Wang Xiao Mie jumped up abruptly! ¡°En my ass! Quickly go save her!¡± Advertisements Wang Xiao Mie pulled Wen Feng Jin over to help the woman and the young man who was with her. At the same time, he also took out a rope from their backpack to tie up the whackjob¨C Zhen Bei. He still remembered that when Zhen Bei shot him, this woman had used her weapon to block the bullet for him. Otherwise, he would have died. Wen Feng Jin added, ¡°When Zhen Bei came, she and the person next to her held him back for a while.¡± ¡°She¡¯s our savior then. I can¡¯t believe she helped us. And¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie was not dumb, he took Kai Ming and tried it on her. It did not turn hot. ¡°Save her!¡± Wang Xiao Mie decided promptly. Wen Feng Jin was now in a superb mood. If not, he wouldn¡¯t be bothered with the life and death of others. He took a cloth and wiped the bloodstain on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s chest then smeared it on the woman and the young man¡¯s mouth. ¡°¡­..¡± What kind of treatment is that? Wang Xiao Mie stared wide-eyed at Wen Feng Jin. Wen Feng Jin explained, ¡°Our blood carries the rejuvenating power of the elixir. For ordinary humans, even a small amount is enough to help them recover.¡± Indeed, their blood had a medicinal fragrance but he did not think that it was this OP! Wang Xiao Mie looked at the red dye on their clothes due to the painful flesh wounds they had to endure. He wanted to strip them and preserve these garments for future use. The two who were injured consciously licked the blood on their lips and began to recover. Wang Xiao Mie sighed with relief. ¡°Alright, they are saved and we¡¯re still alive. Next is to deal with him¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie walked up to the corpse-like Zhen Bei and asked, ¡°What are we going to do with him?¡± ¡°Of course we¡¯re not letting him leave the tomb palace alive.¡± Wen Feng Jin was filled with disgust looking at Zhen Bei. He was about to turn his heart cold when Wang Xiao Mie held him back. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± Wang Xiao Mie stopped Wen Feng Jin. ¡°Xiao Wenzi, promise me you¡¯ll never kill anyone again!¡± Even if the person was Zhen Bei. Wen Feng Jin sulked and withdrew his hand, dissatisfied with the fact that he could not kill his enemy. ¡°Then what do you suggest we do?¡± ¡°Well, I have a plan for this¡­¡± It was not because he was kind but he realized that the reason why the system and protagonist halos existed back then was because of Wen Feng Jin¡¯s rise to power and no one was powerful enough to stop his killing spree. And now that they were in modern times, if they wanted to live on the surface, Wen Feng Jin couldn¡¯t kill just anyone that annoyed him! Wang Xiao Mie looked at Zhen Bei on the ground. He patted his pig head and cackled. ¡°It¡¯s just nice that I want to set a good example for my Xiao Wenzi. I¡¯ll use you as practice!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure to give you a perfect arrangement!¡± CH 39 At three in the morning, a commonly seen white van stopped in front of a police station in a small town. The trunk at the back was opened and, as if kicked by something, a large object flew straight through the station door. The van then sped off into the dawn and only a stream of exhaust fumes was left in its track. Wang Xiao Mie was sitting in the back of the van playing with a polaroid while leaning on Wen Feng Jin. ¡°The photos of his crime and the weapons with his fingerprints were all included.¡± ¡°Robbing graves, killing, illegal gun possession¡­ I think we¡¯ll be able to see him on the news tomorrow or so.¡± For someone who loved to wear a mask, what¡¯s better than exposing his true color in public, and at the same time, keeping him locked up and making him pay for his crimes? The people in this profession were not afraid of death but they were afraid of entering a place more terrifying than death: a place of no return. Xiao Luo who was sitting in the passenger seat turned and looked back at the giggling Xiao Mie with a bit of a chill. Although he was mystified as to why a thousand years old dumpling would know of the modern-day means, his master and him were saved by them. Now he could only fear them in silence. Only his Shibo could happily sing while driving with a pair of zombies in the back of their van! Advertisements As for why they had become this strange band of four, it all started two days ago¨C That day, they woke up in the underground palace and found out that the psycho Zhen Bei was beaten into a pig¡¯s head and wrapped up like a mummy and Yan Chun had turned to ashes. They stood dumbfounded and stared at the big dumpling behaving like an ordinary family who had just been burglarized, guiding the monsters to clean up the grave. Those bloodthirsty creatures were like the distorted version of Santa¡¯s elves, rearranging the rocks, repairing the traps, and even wiping the footprints off the floor. The scene was eerily ordinary. And as they watched Wen Feng Jin frowning when he stared at the footprints on the floor of his glorious palace, Lei Jie and Xiao Luo felt a little guilty. ¡®Sorry¡­ If we knew the tomb owner was so particular about cleanliness, we would¡¯ve brought our own slippers. But¡­ how were we supposed to know that they cleaned the floor after chasing the tomb robbers away?!!!¡¯ On top of that, the man in charge, named Wen Feng Jin, who had changed his attire and tidied up his silver hair into a crown only cared about the stains on the floor and not the two out-of-place intruders. They felt like two vases collecting dust and the homeowner could not care less. Lei Jie and Xiao Luo: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡®Why do I get a feeling we¡¯re a disgrace to the tomb-robbing industry?¡¯ The two ignored souls shrunk into a corner, watching the monsters do their chores and Wen Feng Jin with the ¡®do not talk to this Lord¡¯ look. They dared not ask or say anything. After they spent their idle time checking the fully healed wounds on their bodies, the other tomb owner appeared. Wang Xiao Mie was dressed in a new red gown and his hair was slightly drenched. He was carrying a teapot and walking towards them. ¡°Fantastic! You guys are awake! Thank you for helping me and my family¡¯s Xiao Wenzi. Have some hot water. Ha ha, there are no tea leaves in this underground palace. I just brewed some petals, I hope you don¡¯t mind. Here, have a try!¡± Wang Xiao Mie gave them a gentle look and a warm smile. He even poured them two cups of hot water¡­ ¡®A zombie is serving us tea??? He¡¯s also smiling at us???¡¯ ¡®Disciple, where are we? It feels more like a visit to a relative.¡¯ ¡®Shibo, wake up. We don¡¯t have relatives who would serve us tea in beautiful thousand years old porcelain!!!¡¯ Lei Jie and Xiao gawked at the museum exhibit in their hands and remained speechless. Wang Xiao Mie did not understand the reason for their silence. He said, ¡°Drink it. You¡¯ve been asleep for so long, you should have some water and eat something.¡± Seeing Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s pure and harmless jade-like eyes, Lei Jie bravely took a sip first. Seeing his master drinking the hot water, Xiao Luo did the same. The hot water slid from their mouths to their stomach, warming up their whole body and reducing their tension. ¡®Disciple, this zombie is very kind.¡¯ ¡®Yes yes, he¡¯s more human-like than Zhen Bei.¡¯ Right at the moment they mentioned him, Zhen Bei, who was still alive and tied up uttered a soft hum. It seemed he was about to wake up. Before they could react, Wang Xiao Mie stood up. With the smile remaining on his face, he lifted the hem of his gown and gave Zhen Bei a kick to the head! Zhen Bei¡¯s eyes rolled over and he fainted again¡­ Seeing this scene, Lei Jie and Xiao Luo almost burst out laughing. And then, like an angry housewife complaining to her husband that the water pipe was leaking again, he stepped on Zhen Bei and said to Wen Feng Jin, ¡°Feng Jin, why is he awake again? His healing power is quite strong. How annoying.¡± Wen Feng Jin left behind the cleaning supervision job and walked away. The indifference on his face immediately disappeared and a loving smile was formed. ¡°He must¡¯ve taken some of Yan Chun¡¯s blood but the effect should disappear soon¡­ Xiao Mie, don¡¯t lift your clothes up like that. And dry your hair properly.¡± He then told Mu Yi to hand him a towel which he personally wrapped around Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair to dry it for him. ¡°Ok~~~,¡± Wang Xiao Mie responded in a dragged out lazy voice. He then leaned back on Wen Feng Jin and rubbed his wet hair against Wen Feng Jin¡¯s chin. Wen Feng Jin picked up Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair and rubbed gently with the towel. He was somewhat itchy but his eyes showed boundless indulgence. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Lei Jie put her cup down and thought, ¡®I don¡¯t want to eat this dog food.¡¯ Xiao Luo finished his drink and nodded. When the two zombies were bored with flirting, only then did Wang Xiao Mie remember his house guests. He went back to them and asked, ¡°By the way, why did you help us?¡± Lei Jie thought for a second while playing with the teacup. ¡°Because I¡¯m not good with orders. I do what I want to on a whim. Simply put, I don¡¯t use my brains much.¡± Xiao Luo, with his arms folded, nodded wildly. As a result, Lei Jie gave him a slap on the head without even looking at him. Xiao Luo, ¡®You see, my Shibo has a third eye!¡¯ ¡°My intuition is very accurate. It saved my life many times. That¡¯s why I did not hesitate to save you. Compared to Zhen Bei who I knew was off from the start, my chances are better with you two.¡± Lei Jie smiled with a sense of maturity and feminine toughness. ¡°It seems that my intuition has saved me once again.¡± Wang Xiao Mie smiled with her. He was fond of her strength and independence. Someone who could always shrug her shoulders and move on. ¡°Let¡¯s have an exchange,¡± Wang Xiao Mie said to Lei Jie. And so, he went into the details about their deal. The main idea was that they wanted to go to the surface but Wen Feng Jin and he had no identification. Furthermore, they had been removed from society for so long, they had no place to go. What they did have was a mountain of treasures and gold. Therefore, he wanted Lei Jie to help him find a place to live and get them some form of identification so that they wouldn¡¯t get deported accidentally. In return, Wen Feng Jin would let Lei Jie choose an item from their pile of treasures. And at the same time, she could also help them sell the gold in exchange for cash. Advertisements Lei Jie was considering Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s deal while Wen Feng Jin was staring at the two humans with severely menacing eyes. To outsiders, he did not show any trace of gentleness or consideration as he did with Wang Xiao Mie. ¡®If they refused Xiao Mie¡¯s proposal, I¡¯ll just make them stay here forever,¡¯ Wen Feng Jin thought to himself. ¡°Oh right!¡± Wang Xiao Mie exclaimed out of the blue, jolting the others out of their thoughts. They watched as he pulled up his pants and took big strides to a corner of the room and picked something up. Perhaps due to its length, Wang Xiao Mie had to drag it back while struggling with his long attire. It was like a puppy dragging its oversized toy and could topple at any moment. The item clanked against the ground several times all the way till he reached them. Seeing Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s bright face and sweet smile, Wen Feng Jin could not hold back his affection and reached out to touch his cheek. He¡¯s too cute! Wang Xiao Mie tilted his head in confusion. This only encouraged Wen Feng Jin to do more. He raised both his hands and pinched his cheeks. Sorry, but I can¡¯t stop. Maybe a little more¡­ In between their weird interaction, Lei Jie suddenly screamed like a fangirl at the thing that Wang Xiao Mie brought over. She looked at the item as though her eyes could shoot lasers! Wang Xiao Mie who was having his cheeks pulled out of shape said, ¡°About that, I saw that you like Kai Ming a lot, but I can¡¯t give Kai Ming to you. This sword was scratched after the fight with Zhen Bei. I¡¯ll give it to you.. Hehe, feel free to take it.¡± ¡°Xiao Wenzi, shop pulling my mouth. My.. faliva fi flowing out. Iss.. dripping out! Suck suck! It¡¯s dripping out!!!¡± Wang Xiao Mie sipped back his saliva and pushed Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hands away. His moist lips were pouting and his cheeks were glowing with a pinkish blush. Wen Feng Jin: ¡­.. That seductive look was not helping at all. Wen Feng Jin was getting more clingy towards Wang Xiao Mie. All he wanted was to hide his precious and cuddle with him. Wen Feng Jin covered Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s mouth and gazed deep into his eyes This time, there was nothing between them¨C no secrets, no lies, and no life-threatening nemesis. CH 40 Lei Jie went mad by just hugging the sword. ¡°Beep beep beep!!! Liao Yue! F**k! It¡¯s really you! Give it to me!!! Beep beep beep!!! Liao Yue!!! Ahhhh!!!¡± Xiao Luo looked at his master¡¯s maniacal laughter and smacked his forehead. Have you ever seen someone winning the five million yuan lottery? His master¡¯s craziness was like someone winning a hundred million yuan! ¡°Liao Yue AHHHH! I can¡¯t take it anymore!!! I need some heart medicine! It¡¯s mine! Liao Yue, you¡¯re mine!!! Ohhhh god, I can¡¯t take it anymore! Ahhh! I¡¯m willing to be your slave!!! Ah ha haha!!!¡± Lei Jie hugged the sword and continued to moan and rave ecstatically. Like a bride on her wedding day (and night), she was bursting with enthusiasm and fulfillment! For the sword, let alone help them to live on the surface, she was willing to help even if they wanted to live in the sky! ¡­.. Wen Feng Jin and Wang Xiao Mie ordered Muji (#7), a monster who could consume minerals and produce a liquid that would form a sturdy stone wall, to reinforce the damaged areas. He was also ordered to forage for Zhen Bei¡¯s strange weapon. Wen Feng Jin said that this weapon was very special. This was how Zhen Bei could injure Mu Yi and the others to break into their chamber. That¡¯s right, Zhen Bei did not just sneak back in, he charged right through and almost killed Mu Yi to Mu Shi. It was thanks to Wen Feng Jin giving them his blood in time that they could survive. Wang Xiao Mie frowned, ¡°One person against the ten of them, Zhen Bei is really something.¡± Wen Feng Jin shook his head. He took the long hammer-like weapon and clutched its handle. Aiming at one of Mu Liu¡¯s broken tentacles, he gave it a quick slash. It was just a normal attack but the tentacle made a sizzling sound and instantly turned to ashes! Wang Xiao Mie: ¡­.. ¡®Something that could turn physical attacks into magical attacks really exists!! I couldn¡¯t have transmigrated into some weird world, could I?!¡¯ ¡°This is a mysterious weapon that has been customized. According to my memories, only that old man was capable of creating this. Although I don¡¯t know how he got this, whoever he got it from is no ordinary human,¡± said Wen Feng Jin. But very soon, this issue was cast to the back of Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s brain to accommodate something more disturbing. After they had packed a few items for the road, Wen Feng Jin told Mu San to carry their coffin to the surface. The act not only baffled the eccentric Lei Jie who was acting as their guide but Wang Xiao Mie was also shocked silly. ¡°Wait! Why are you moving the coffin?! We don¡¯t have space for that where we¡¯re going!! Besides, it¡¯s not like they don¡¯t have beds on the surface.¡± ¡°No.¡± Wen Feng Jin was unexpectedly stubborn. ¡°Shixiong and I have been sleeping in this coffin for a thousand years, we can¡¯t give that up.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re not coming back¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked at the coffin and made one final struggle. But Wen Feng Jin only shook his head and said, ¡°¡­..No, this coffin is the best.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± If there was ever a need, Wang Xiao Mie felt that Wen Feng Jin would be the most suitable spokesperson for people who could not sleep in an unfamiliar bed with the slogan: ¡®Wherever you go, just bring along your favorite coffin (bed).¡¯ It seemed like in this life he would not be able to escape the fate of having to sleep in a coffin. A tear fell silently. Advertisements With no other choice, Lei Jie had to switch the Land Rover she drove to a mini truck to fit the queen size coffin. ¡­And this brings us back to where the story left off. After dropping Zhen Bei at this place to be sentenced, they left the town. In order to avoid unwanted attention, they traveled non-stop along the countryside for two days and finally reached Lei Jie¡¯s house in city B. Trucks were not uncommon in these parts. After all, this was not a place of commerce. More often than not, there would be online deliveries of furniture for the residents. Most importantly, the reason why someone like Lei Jie would choose to live here was that the neighbors were also people of shady background. No one would be bothered about another¡¯s business. The only rule here was mutual non-interference. The security guard recognized Lei Jie and nimbly opened the gate. Lei Jie could finally relax once they arrived at the villa. She said to her fellow passengers of three days, ¡°Here we are. Let¡¯s get unpacked quickly.¡± She then jumped out of the truck and opened the door for Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s absolutely safe here. This house will be left to you for future use. There¡¯s a lot of privacy here, no one will ask you anything personal. But that coffin of yours¡­¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, it was made with a type of precious wood. It¡¯s heavier than steel, we can¡¯t lift it by ourselves. Do you want me to have someone move it for you?¡± Lei Jie asked attentively. Wang Xiao Mie heard her and excitedly crossed his fingers and began chanting in his head, ¡®I want to sleep on a bed. I want to sleep on a bed. I want to sleep on a bed.¡¯ To his dismay, Wen Feng Jin shook his head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± He then went to the back and opened the door like how Xiao Luo had shown him before, exposing the coffin covered with a white cloth. Wen Feng Jin raised his hand and a roar blasted through the air as his sleeves began to flap under a non-existent wind! Wen Feng Jin placed his palm on the coffin and, like a magnet, the one-ton coffin was attached to his hand and lifted off as though it was weightless styrofoam! Despite having his hope squashed, Wang Xiao Mie was amazed at what Wen Feng Jin did. It was like those martial artists using their internal force in those movies he used to watch! Wen Feng Jin who was carrying the queen-sized coffin like a plastic bag looked at the petrified three and frowned. ¡°Stop standing there. Move aside, it¡¯s quite heavy.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± They ran to the door and opened it for him. Wang Xiao Mie followed behind Wen Feng Jin and carefully guided him up the steps. They had to be careful since their ¡®bed¡¯ was so heavy it might destroy the marble floor. Xiao Luo lagged behind them and quietly tugged at his master¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Shibo.¡± Lei Jie looked back at him, ¡°What?¡± Xiao Luo secretly whispered to her, ¡°Shibo, should we be doing this? Look at how powerful he is. They¡¯re thousand-year-old zombies. What if they have a sudden craving for blood and human flesh? And then those they bite will turn into zombies which will then infect others¡­ Eventually, in just one night, everyone in this city will turn into zombies!!! What will we do then?!!! We will become the sinners that doomed humanity!!!¡± After listening to him, Lei Jie replied in a whisper, ¡°Xiao Luo¡­¡± ¡°Did you¡­ watch ¡®Train to Busan¡¯ behind my back?! I told you to stop watching those zombies movies! Now look at you what you¡¯ve become! Sigh¡­ it¡¯s hopeless, just hopeless.¡± Xiao Luo: ¡®I¡¯m not the one overthinking this! My Shibo has already been brainwashed by them! This must be it!!¡¯ *Sob sob.* CH 41 ¡°This is a mobile phone. It can be used to communicate with people thousands of miles away and also order takeout. Oh right, ¡®takeout¡¯ is having someone deliver food to you¡­¡± ¡°These are instruction manuals to the home appliances. Well, I also bought several children¡¯s books from the mall. I think you¡¯ll need them. Here¡¯s a poster of one hundred Chinese characters. You probably won¡¯t be able to understand modern Chinese, do you¡­¡± ¡°Here are some clothes Xiao Luo and I bought. These are canned food and snacks.¡± ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s also this card! It¡¯s under my name and there¡¯s half a million yuan in it. I know it¡¯s a drop in the bucket compared to Liao Yue but just take it first. The pin is ¡­¡± Lei Jie was teaching Wang Xiao Mie about the household items with motherly care and patience while Xiao Luo was showing Wen Feng Jin how to use the TV, refrigerator, washing machine, etc. Wen Feng Jin half-closed his eyes and folded his arms, ignoring him in disinterest. Of course, if it was Wang Xiao Mie doing the explanation, he would be happy to listen about all these strange items while cuddling with him. But now? The Dark Lord was staring at a sweating Xiao Luo who thought that his explanation was not good enough and had begun to redo the whole presentation. Wen Feng Jin: Hmph. Xiao Luo: ¡­¡­. Is he looking down on me? Sob! It must be so! Advertisements On the other side. Wang Xiao Mie was nodding to Lei Jie, ¡°Ok, I got it.¡± He took over the card and phones which he switched on with ease. Lei Jie watched in astonishment as he began downloading apps. ¡®Yo! He¡¯s even having pesticides and chicken!¡¯ (TN: I did not know this but strangely, these are slangs referring to when one plays the mobile games Honor of Kings and Battlegrounds respectively.) If Lei Jie wasn¡¯t looking, Wang Xiao Mie would¡¯ve already logged on to his account and gone on a spending spree! ¡°You¡¯re a quick learner!¡± Lei Jie praised him earnestly. Wang Xiao Mie, who was originally from the modern era, smiled gleefully with pride, making Lei Jie forget the fact that he was actually a big dumpling and gave his head a gentle pat. Although Wang Xiao Mie had a calm and mature appearance, his high spirited ways tended to make him seem like a silly little puppy, earning the trust and pampering of others. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about us. We¡¯ll get used to it soon, don¡¯t underestimate the wisdom of the ancients,¡± Wang Xiao Mie said and Lei Jie smiled at him. ¡°Alright, you guys should rest up for today. As for those¡­¡± She pointed to the parcel on the floor, ¡°I will quickly deal with the treasures from the tomb. Once I receive the money, I will transfer everything to your card.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was stunned. ¡°Why?¡± Lei Jie shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ve already given me the Liao Yue Sword. To me, it¡¯s the greatest treasure of all. I¡¯m a swordsmith and would even be willing to give my life to find legendary weapons in underground tombs. Now, not only did I get to see the treasure, but I also get to keep it. It¡¯s not good to be greedy lest you risk losing yourself.¡± ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s never enough no matter how much I repay you,¡± Lei Jie patted Wang Xiao Mie on the shoulder, ¡°To tell you the truth, I don¡¯t think of you two as zombies or monsters. I think we can be friends. By the way, send my thanks to that guy over there regarding the sword.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Wang Xiao Mie nodded. Facing Lei Jie¡¯s smile, Wang Xiao Mie could feel that there was still goodness in this world. There are good and bad people. If fate permits, even if you live deep in darkness, these rays of light will still reach you. Seeing his master gesturing to him, Xiao Luo, who was on the verge of tears having to talk to Wen Feng Jin, dashed out like he was running away from a fire. Lei Jie grabbed the bag of treasures and waved goodbye to Wang Xiao Mie. ¡°We¡¯ll be going then. Call us if you need anything. It¡¯s that button. And remember to charge your phone,¡± Lei Jie pointed at the charging cable and Wang Xiao Mie nodded. Before leaving with Xiao Luo, she looked at Wen Feng Jin standing behind Wang Xiao Mie and gave a humble nod to the tomb master who had maintained his noble demeanor from the moment they first met. When the front gate closed, Wang Xiao Mie could finally loosen up. His eyes twinkled as he jumped into Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arms. ¡°Weee! I finally have a phone! Ha ha ha. I finally have the internet!!! I¡¯m gonna play all the games I missed, watch all the anime I haven¡¯t watched!¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll order lots and lots of milk tea, hamburgers, Coke, fried chicken, shrimps, and there¡¯s more! We have so much money now, we can travel all over the world, to places we¡¯ve never seen before!¡± The jubilant Wang Xiao Mie laid in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arms, chirping away excitedly with his arms around Wen Feng Jin¡¯s neck and his legs swinging up and down. Wen Feng Jin was holding on to his butt, smiling with him. ¡°Oh but wait, I almost forgot to ask, can I even eat those?¡± Wang Xiao Mie lowered his head and asked Wen Feng Jin, looking like a puppy waiting for a snack. And Wen Feng Jin felt like he could even see the imaginary pair of ears drooping, were he to say ¡®no¡¯. ¡°You can,¡± said Wen Feng Jin. Instantly, the pair of expectant eyes sparkled and the non-existent ears stood up. If he had a tail, it would have shook like a propeller and carried him off into the sky. Wang Xiao Mie let go of Wen Feng Jin¡¯s neck and shook his hips in a hysterical laugh then went back to his phone and frenziedly tapped the screen to order his food. ¡°Milk tea, fried chicken, Coke, shrimps, burger! Miee heh heh heh¡ª Wan wan wan!¡± Carrying Wang Xiao Mie in this position, Wen Feng Jin had full access to his sprightly little butt. He did not know what those dishes were but seeing Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s joy, he couldn¡¯t help but smile with him. ¡°Xiao Mie, no barking.¡± ¡°Wan wan wan.¡± ¡°Hm hm¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin let out a hoarse and sexy chuckle. He looked at his surroundings¨C the buildings, the cars, the weird appliances, they were largely different from where he came from. But having this little mad man in his arms, everything was a lot easier to adapt to. And of course, there was no way Wen Feng Jin could get used to all this at once. Even Captain America felt out of place after sleeping for seventy years, what¡¯s that compared to Wen Feng Jin staying underground for over a thousand years? On the way here, Wang Xiao Mie looked at the flow of traffic and referred to themselves as two ancient relics that were just unearthed. That sentence could not have been more apt! ¡­.. That night, Wang Xiao Mie took a bath with Wen Feng Jin simply because he was worried Wen Feng Jin would not know how to turn on the hot water. When they were together in the bathroom, Wen Feng Jin saw his butt naked little dumpling and was tempted to do something. Just as he reached out¡­ A purple shower gel was squeezed into his palm. Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­¡­What is this?¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Hm? Didn¡¯t you want some soap? Or did you want shampoo?¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Oh, I get it!¡± Thinking that he knew what his hubby wanted, Wang Xiao Mie changed their position. He sat behind Wen Feng Jin and had him lean back against his chest. He then chucked half a bottle of shampoo onto his head. ¡°You don¡¯t know how to use shampoo, do you? It¡¯s very easy to use, I¡¯ll show you this time.¡± With that, he held down Wen Feng Jin¡¯s head and scrubbed vigorously. Wen Feng Jin sighed as foam covered up his face. ¡°Ai! Don¡¯t lower your head. The foam will get in your eyes,¡± as soon as he said that, Wen Feng Jin felt a stabbing pain in his left eye. The fragrance and irritation made him close his left eye. With his right eye, he saw Wang Xiao Mie frantically go to take a towel and gently wipe his left eye. In the steamy atmosphere, Wang Xiao Mie became flustered after he cleaned off the white foam because there was not a trace of displeasure on that beautiful yet domineering face. The one eye that could open was looking up at him with immeasurable adoration. Despite how much it hurt, he believed this person would always look at him the same way. ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie lowered his head, puckered his lips, and placed them on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s. Under the hazy and aromatic vapor, they nibbled as the plump and soft lips touched and when they separated, it left an enchanting aftertaste¡­ And ¡­ Wondrous sweetness. Wang Xiao Mie raised his head and covered his face but he was not able to hide his flushing red ears. Wen Feng Jin hooked his lips and closed his eyes. He leaned on his lover¡¯s belly and let go of his guard, showing his vulnerability. ¡®This is already a dream fulfilled. If I can be by his side, this is satisfactory¡­¡­ But I can¡¯t help but be greedy,¡¯ Wen Feng Jin thought as his hands reached into the water, causing a splash along the edge of the bathtub. Advertisements After washing, Wang Xiao Mie made Wen Feng Jin change into nightgowns before he excitedly brought him to the table full of his favorite food that he had ordered. Wen Feng Jin frowned at the excessive and overbearing smell. In fact, since ancient times, people were already health-conscious about what they ate. Wen Feng Jin normally had a very light diet with no oil and minimal salt. Luckily, he did not require food to survive and hence, put down his chopsticks after only a few bites. Wang Xiao Mie who was immersed in his little world of delicious food did not notice. After filling his stomach, he shifted his attention to his phone. He wanted to listen to music, play games, watch movies, etc. He just wished he could split himself up and plunge into these addictions. Time passed and Wang Xiao Mie who was still deeply engrossed in his game suddenly had his eyes covered. He screamed in surprise. When he turned back, he saw Wen Feng Jin looking at him with a gloomy expression. Initially, he had an urge to lash out. But when he saw Wen Feng Jin¡¯s ice-cold stare, he completely erased that thought and asked in a softer tone, ¡°What, what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s late.¡± Boss Wen was looking at him with a stern face. Wang Xiao Mie sobered up and looked out the window. The sky was pitch black and the room had turned dark. He was lying in the coffin not knowing how or when he got in. He looked at the time and gosh, it was almost morning! Only then did he realize that his phone was hot and almost out of battery. And worst of all, he was so addicted to the game that he had completely ignored Wen Feng Jin¡­ He looked at the man carrying the scary expression on his face and felt somewhat guilty. He went back to society and, like a fish in water, got carried away doing his own things while leaving out Wen Feng Jin who had come here for the first time. And he even patiently sat by his side all this time¡­ Thinking back, Wen Feng Jin did not eat much at dinner either. The taste was probably not to his liking¡­ Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s guilt was multiplying. He placed the phone on the floor outside the coffin¨C which they had decided to put inside a study with a spacious balcony and french windows. ¡°I was wrong¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie pursed his lips. He lowered his head but kept his puppy eyes looking up at Wen Feng Jin, doing his best to sell meng, ¡°Are you angry with mieee?¡± Wen Feng Jin was still sulking and refused to speak, clearly indicating that he was angry. He glared at the thing called ¡®phone¡¯ and his likeability of it was now a perfect zero! Wang Xiao Mie bumped his head into Wen Feng Jin¡¯s chest and lightly rubbed back and forth. ¡°I was wrong. I was wrong, I was wrong¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s wooden face did not last even a minute before he finally smiled. The little dumpling caught it and giggled back at him. His hair now resembled a chicken coop due to the rubbing which he continued to shamelessly do against Wen Feng Jin¡¯s neck and face. Eventually, the misbehaving head was held down by Wen Feng Jin. He curled his finger and gave his forehead a knock. Smiling, he said, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time to sleep.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± Wang Xiao Mie settled down in the coffin and clung to Wen Feng Jin like a bug. As he took in the bitter medicinal fragrance from his body, his perverse hands slipped into his clothes and nestled on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s chest. With his memories restored, the invisible barrier between them had disappeared completely. The two of them now shared a mutual understanding like that of an old couple. They hugged each other and fell into a dreamless slumber. CH 42 Edited and Proofread by KitKat The next day, Wang Xiao Mie, who had thought that things would only get better from here, realized that he was being too optimistic. The reasons were as follows: Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Today, we¡¯ll be learning how to integrate into modern society. The times now are not like what it was back in the Northern Empire. We have peace and security. We don¡¯t have to worry that something will happen, the most would be someone stepping on your feet on a crowded bus or getting into a fight with a drunkard on the roadside.¡± Wen Feng Jin: £þ¤Ø£þ Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Of course there would be occasional emergencies like your handphone being snatched. When that happens, Feng Jin, promise me to stay out of it. One slap from you can split his skull and give the bystander a view of his brain.¡± Wen Feng Jin: £þ¤Ø£þ Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°Also, we have to keep our abilities hidden! And we have to do good deeds! In order to prevent something like the system from appearing again, we must not kill people. En, if we see someone in trouble, the right thing to do is call the police. Wen Feng Jin: £þ¤Ø£þ ¡°What¡¯s that look you have? What exactly do you want to say?!!¡± Wang Xiao Mie, who could no longer tolerate him, slammed his fists on the table in anger. Wen Feng Jin thought a while then said, ¡°No killing. When there¡¯s trouble, call the police. I understand.¡± Wang Xiao Mie twitched his eyebrows in suspicion, ¡°You really understood?¡± Advertisements And hence¡­ At the mall¡­ Donning a black coat with a pair of jeans, a man with sharp and handsome features and long silver hair tied into a ponytail was standing in the center of a screaming crowd and snapping photos of him. He frowned and pulled a handphone from his pocket. ¡°Hello, is this the police?¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Brother, are you cosplaying? Brother, do you have Weibo? AH so handsome!¡± ¡°Is that your real hair? Oh my god, it¡¯s too pretty!¡± ¡°Brother, where are you from? What are you both cosplaying as? Wah! They¡¯re holding hands!!!!¡± Wen Feng Jin was very displeased but when he was about to make a move, he remembered Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s words and endured. He was about to grab him and leave when the crowd began to scream loudly again. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­..¡± A few girls were staring at Wen Feng Jin and sipping back their saliva. The man¡¯s face and white hair were just too attractive! And when the group of girls saw them holding hands, a certain ¡®I¡¯ll pay money to see them get married¡¯ thought started creeping into their heads. They kept taking photos of the pair and followed behind them. Even people who were there for a celebrity¡¯s event joined the group of girls and some even took videos. As the crowd got larger, Wang Xiao Mie had to give up his shopping plan and walked a long way with Wen Feng Jin to throw off the crowd. Passersby who saw them wanted to snap a photo as well but one look at Wen Feng Jin¡¯s ¡®I will split your skull open¡¯ expression, they restrained themselves. When they reached home, Wen Feng Jin still had a scowl on his face. He asked, ¡°Why did those women attack me?¡± Wang Xiao Mie laughed at his distorted expression and said, ¡°Hahah, that¡¯s not attacking you. They just think that you¡¯re super good-looking and wanted to know more about you. Being photographed and asking for your WeChat are all expressions of admiration. You should be happy about it, ordinary people don¡¯t get that treatment.¡± If you were stopped by a girl trying to get your number, you could brag about it for the whole of your college years! However, the failure to do any shopping also made Wang Xiao Mie realize one thing ¨C Even in regular clothing, they were still too eye-catching. They could cover their faces with sunglasses but someone who could even make a black coat and jeans look classy like Wen Feng Jin would only get a boost in appearance by putting on sunglasses. And so, in the evening, Wang Xiao Mie took out a pair of scissors and said to Wen Feng Jin, ¡°Let¡¯s cut our hair short!¡± ¡°Our body is given to us by our parents. Cutting off our hair is akin to decapitation. I¡¯m not cutting and I won¡¯t allow you to either.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Never had Wang Xiao Mie seen Wen Feng Jin as an ancient person more than at this moment. In ancient times, cutting off one¡¯s hair was an act of humiliation towards that person. No one did that even in death. ¡°Unless I die, I won¡¯t let anyone cut your hair, that includes yourself.¡± The dark black pupils burned with a fiery dominance. Wen Feng Jin locked his eyes onto Wang Xiao Mie and grabbed vigorously at the pair of scissors in his hand. Wang Xiao Mie had no choice but to let Wen Feng Jin take the scissors away and let this strangely stubborn man hug him and stroke his long dark hair. Wen Feng Jin then kissed the top of his head. ¡°Getting a haircut is a very common thing. Didn¡¯t you see all the men on the street have short hair¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie mumbled. ¡°I don¡¯t agree. Furthermore, they are not the person I care about.¡± Wen Feng Jin repeated in a threatening tone, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to cut your hair or let anyone else touch it. Otherwise, I won¡¯t hesitate to do something to them.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was still unconvinced but there was a small sense of joy, seeing how the man said he cared for him. Wang Xiao Mie condemned himself for being soft-hearted even as he snuggled his nose into the man¡¯s neck, taking in the bitter fragrance emitted by him. ¡°Do you understand?¡± Wen Feng Jin frowned as he continued stroking his hair. ¡°I got it!¡± Wang Xiao Mie exclaimed, ¡°Tyrant!¡± Wen Feng Jin stayed silent even after being called a tyrant. And so, their first outing was a complete failure. They stayed at home for the next two days. During which, Wen Feng Jin studied modern Chinese, traffic rules, how to use money, etc. Lei Jie called and asked how they were adapting and also informed them that the items had been auctioned and the money would be transferred to them in the afternoon. To celebrate, Wang Xiao Mie searched for the best restaurant on his phone and planned to take Wen Feng Jin there. Before leaving, he had also written down the important phone numbers in a pocketbook for Wen Feng Jin to take with him. When everything was ready, they left with masks covering their faces. But¡­ With Wen Feng Jin¡¯s distinctive eyebrows and long silver locks, they were still being photographed by passersby thinking that they were some famous celebrities or cosplayers. Fortunately, this time their destination was a high-end restaurant rather than the mall. The crowd behind them scattered as soon as they entered the building. This restaurant had private cubicles for each table and the service was exceptional. Even Wen Feng Jin¡¯s appearance did not attract unnecessary looks from the waiters. A young waitress in uniform came to greet them, ¡°Welcome. Would you like a table for two? Do you have a reservation?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Wang Xiao Mie showed her his reservation on his mobile. The waitress confirmed his reservation and brought them to a private room upstairs where Wang Xiao Mie ordered the dishes with great enthusiasm. After the waitress left, Wang Xiao Mie pulled off his mask and breathed. Wen Feng Jin did the same and although he was still silent, his mood had improved a lot. ¡°It is said on the internet that the food here is light and the ingredients are always fresh. Their vegetable and meatball soup is a must-try! And the bass is also recommended by many!¡± ¡°As long as you like it.¡± After the scuffle with Yan Chun, Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s body had become more alive, just like Wen Feng Jin¡¯s. As the weather had gotten hotter, he was even sweating. Wen Feng Jin saw the droplets on his nose and gently wiped them off for him. ¡°Is it very hot?¡± ¡°En. It is in the beginning. After all, I¡¯m keeping this long hair in such weather.¡± Wang Xiao Mie used his sleeve to wipe his forehead. He looked up and said, ¡°This room has air-conditioning, it should get cooler in a bit.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the washroom, you coming?¡± Wen Feng Jin shook his head. Wang Xiao Mie went to the toilet alone. He washed his hands and face with cool water and when he was trying to pull out a tissue from the dispenser, someone patted him on the back. Wang Xiao Mie had water in his eyes and could only squint while turning back to look at the person. He saw a blurry silhouette of a man waving to him apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I saw you have long hair and thought it was a girl who had entered the wrong toilet. Haha, my apologies.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s alright.¡± Wang Xiao Mie wiped his face and did not think much of it. Men with such long hair were rare and easily mistaken. After returning to the table, he sat lazily next to Wen Feng Jin and began to dig in. He picked up the chopsticks and grabbed at the food. Wen Feng Jin suddenly pinched at a small piece of his clothes on the shoulder. He frowned and said, ¡°Who did you meet just now?¡± ¡°What?¡± Wang Xiao Mie had just bitten into a piece of fried shrimp and the tail was sticking out his mouth as he talked. Wen Feng Jin looked at the funny picture and smiled. He loosened his clothes and flicked the spot with his fingers like sweeping away dust. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, we¡¯ll talk about it when you¡¯re done eating.¡± The ignorant Wang Xiao Mie continued stuffing his mouth with food but he did not forget to serve Wen Feng Jin as well. Advertisements After they were done with the meal, Wen Feng Jin picked up the teapot and poured it into a cup. He handed it to Wang Xiao Mie and said, ¡°Someone wants to keep track of you.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was stunned. ¡°Ha? Track me? Why?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. This is not done by someone ordinary, but he¡¯s also not difficult to deal with.¡± Wen Feng Jin sipped his tea, ¡°He probably sensed something different about you and wanted to make sure.¡± Wang Xiao Mie widened his eyes, ¡°Is it a demon hunter? Did he discover that I¡¯m a big dumpling?!¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no such thing as a demon hunter.¡± Wen Feng Jin laughed, ¡°They¡¯re all craftsmen with peculiar skills. I¡¯ve already broken his tool. When we leave tonight, he will definitely follow.¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s fear was increasing, ¡°They all do this?¡± Wen Feng Jin smirked, ¡°Yes. They all lack intelligence.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Wang Xiao Mie did not expect that they would be discovered so soon. His butt couldn¡¯t stay seated on the chair and his fingers were curled up. The word ¡®scared¡¯ was clearly labeled over his face. Like a scaredy-cat, Wang Xiao Mie just wanted to nestle into Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arms. And hence, Wang Xiao Mie was in a cold sweat all the way till night time. When they left the restaurant, he had held tightly onto Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hand and kept turning his head like an owl to see if anyone was following them. Seeing his frightened appearance, Wen Feng Jin was secretly smiling. Once they entered a small alley, Wen Feng Jin patted Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s head and turned around. ¡°Alright, here he comes.¡± ¡°W, What?¡± Wang Xiao Mie stared unblinkingly at the alley entrance. Just as his words landed, a silhouette appeared against the light. Wang Xiao Mie realized that he was the man he had met at the washroom. The man narrowed his eyes and he had something in his hand. He suddenly laughed, ¡°Hmph! A strange scent emits from you two, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not simple humans. I¡¯m a true disciple of the Zheng Jing Ba Ben, you¡¯d better surrender obediently!¡± Wang Xiao Mie who had never been exposed to such things was shivering while Wen Feng Jin only sneered. When the man heard his sarcastic smile, he turned red and took out a small black iron pestle and began to perform a ritual. ¡°Ho! Shining White Crane¡¯s Wings!¡± ¡°Ho! Black Tiger¡¯s Heart!¡± ¡°Ho! Great Hawk Wings Spreading!¡± He made a final pose and yelled, ¡°Hah! Die!¡± The man charged at them. Wen Feng Jin pushed Wang Xiao Mie to one side and slightly lifted his leg. Swish The moment his leg moved, the man coming at them screamed as he was tossed into the air. After spinning 360 degrees, he landed straight into the trash can. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin: ¡°All bark and no bite.¡± CH 43 After the kick, boss Wen patted Wang Xiao Mie on the head and gently said, ¡°Did you see that? That¡¯s all you have to do,¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie stared speechlessly at the struggling man with his two legs sticking out of the garbage can. The funny part was the word ¡®non-recyclable trash¡¯ was written on it. Though it was a boss battle, it turned out to be just a lackey. Thanks to him, Wang Xiao Mie had been panicking all day. ¡°How are we going to deal with him? He knows about our identity.¡± ¡°Inconsequential. He¡¯s just an ordinary man, he doesn¡¯t really know what we are. The item in his hand is nothing but a toy.¡± Wen Feng Jin had a smile on but his eyes were cold as he stared at the noisy man still struggling to break free. ¡°With skills as inferior as his, he still dared to provoke us. It seemed that these are indeed peaceful times.¡± ¡°So we just leave him like this?¡± Wang Xiao Mie looked at the legs pointing skyward with an indescribable feeling. ¡°Um.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With his hand over Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s shoulder, Wen Feng Jin led him away from the trash can and out of the alley. As their footsteps got closer to the garbage can, the legs stiffened and stopped its air-pedaling. Once they left the alley, it dropped down and the vivid sound of exhaling could be heard. Advertisements The pair washed up once they got home. Wang Xiao Mie put a thick mattress and pillow into the coffin and laid leisurely inside. He patted his belly and let out a long sigh, ¡°This is so nice~¡± A low laugh came from above his head. Wen Feng Jin had a book in his hand as he bent over the edge of the coffin to look at Wang Xiao Mie. Part of his long silver hair fell into the coffin and formed a curve. Wang Xiao Mie grabbed his hair and placed it close to his nose. The hooligan took a whiff and said, ¡°Hehe, pretty lady, come here and accompany this lord to bed!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin was not at all mad at his teasing. He indulged him by putting away the book and laid in the coffin with him. The frollicking Wang Xiao Mie rolled into Wen Feng Jin¡¯s embrace. He used his body as a nest and shuffled back and forth till he was in a comfortable position. When he finally snuggled into place, his round and bloated stomach let out a burp. Wen Feng Jin lightly kissed his hair and held him close. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s up with that man today?¡± Wang Xiao Mie placed his chin on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s chest, ¡°Does he have anything to do with the craftsmen you mentioned before?¡± ¡°Um.¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hand swept through Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair, ¡°I¡¯ve met a group of people in the Northern Kingdom who specialized in making tools. They used mysterious methods and materials to create things incomprehensible to the common minds. They¡¯re few in number and were highly valued for their talent. But¡­ Most of them were dull and simple-minded.¡± Wang Xiao Mie thought of the person they met. How was that dull and simple-minded? He¡¯s clearly an idiot! While listening to Wen Feng Jin¡¯s explanation, Wang Xiao Mie was getting drowsy. Maybe because the person had left such a hilarious impression of himself that Wang Xiao Mie was no longer anxious. He soon fell asleep in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arms. However, Wang Xiao Mie soon realized that he had been too optimistic once again. He may have gotten him out of his head but it was not true vice versa. The following day, when they left the house, the man could be seen sneaking behind them. In this scorching weather and yet he had covered himself from head to toe; even his face was hidden by a big mask and sunglasses. The way he had wrapped himself made him more of a dumpling than they were. Wang Xiao Mie pondered if he would get a heatstroke. Wang Xiao Mie was speechless as he looked at the man trying to be inconspicuous when he was only standing three meters away, holding a phone and pretending to be a passerby. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s face was blackened and he was already scanning the area, probably searching for a trash can. ¡°Leave him be.¡± Wang Xiao Mie grabbed hold of him, ¡°There are people around and there¡¯s also surveillance. He can¡¯t touch us anyway. If he wants to follow us then just let him, it¡¯s not like he can get through the villa¡¯s security.¡± Wen Feng Jin pressed down the blue vein popping up from his forehead and ignored the man. He then gave him a death stare as a final warning when they reached the villa gate. The tightly wrapped stalker turned tail and fled. They thought that that would be the end of their encounters but the man appeared in front of them again and again like a next-door neighbour. And each time, Wen Feng Jin had kicked him straight into a trash can. This happened several times a day but the frequent visitor of the trash can was still relentlessly following them. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡®In him, I seem to be able to see a certain light called perseverance, it¡¯s so touching, Amen. This must be what they call ¡®not turning back until you hit the north wall¡¯ (TN: The proverb means that one does not give up until they hit a dead end) But the ¡®little relentless¡¯ was seriously testing Wen Feng Jin¡¯s patience. He had wanted to give him a more severe warning but was always held back by Wang Xiao Mie. Wang Xiao Mie just wanted a normal life with Wen Feng Jin. He wanted them to live the life of a regular couple, eat together, shop together, buy groceries together, go traveling to different places, etc. And once they were bored, they would return to the underground palace. After all, they have all the time in the world to be together. Their lives were too chaotic and hopeless back then. This time, Wang Xiao Mie wanted a simple life with Wen Feng Jin not as the immortal and undead but as a couple of good and normal people. Wang Xiao Mie was not stupid. He had been on his own from a young age and he could tell, beneath the silliness was a strong and resilient heart. He did not feel any malice from the man and he knew Wen Feng Jin felt the same because even when he hated being followed, he did not seriously injure him. But why would the man consistently tail them? Could it be out of curiosity? A few days later, Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin were returning home from the supermarket when it started to rain. Wang Xiao Mie had checked the weather forecast beforehand and had prepared two umbrellas for them. Halfway back, he suddenly remembered about their tenacious stalker. He turned back and sure enough, there was a soaked through man following behind them. When he saw Wang Xiao Mie looking over, he frantically took out his phone and acted like a lost tourist. ¡­ Oh please, how many times have you used this method!!! Wang Xiao Mie continued to watch as the man panicked and wiped the screen of his phone. It should be because of the rain and also that his phone was quite old (Wang Xiao Mie happened to have seen it close up and found that it had a lot of scratch marks). After wiping for a long time, the man¡¯s phone remained unresponsive and eventually shut down. This time, he no longer cared if Wang Xiao Mie had recognized him. He hung his head low, looking at the departed phone in sadness. The rain got heavier and thunder was roaring. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡­ Why the hell does this scene look so heart-wrenching?!! Wen Feng Jin only gave the man a cold stare. He held up the umbrella for Wang Xiao Mie and when he found that Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s toe had gotten wet, he frowned and said, ¡°We should go now.¡± ¡°I know. Wait for me here.¡± Wang Xiao Mie opened up his umbrella and ran over to the man whose only visible features were his eyes filled with bewilderment. He tried to scurry away but Wang Xiao Mie grabbed him and handed him the umbrella. ¡°Take it. You don¡¯t have to return it to me. You should go home for the day or you¡¯ll catch a cold in this weather.¡± Wang Xiao Mie flashed him a smile and before he could say thank you, he covered his head and ran back under Wen Feng Jin¡¯s umbrella. ¡°Ok, let¡¯s go.¡± Wang Xiao Mie said with a smile. ¡°Why did you give him the umbrella?¡± ¡°Because he looks too miserable. And I don¡¯t like rainy days one bit.¡± It was in this heavy rain centuries ago that one person had been carrying another on his back, climbing up a long long mountain trail¡­ At that time, the person on his back had wished: If only I had an umbrella to cover him. But in the end, no one came to help them from the piercing rain¡­ Since then, Wang Xiao Mie had hated the rain. Wen Feng Jin lowered his head to look at Wang Xiao Mie. A pair of kind and caring eyes met that of a cold and dark one. They looked at each other in silence and Wen Feng Jin subtly tilted the umbrella towards Wang Xiao Mie¡­ Advertisements The man watched as both of them walked away. He clenched the handle of the umbrella and looked at their backs with complicated thoughts. He stayed silent for a while before walking into the heavy rain in the opposite direction¡­ Since then, Wang Xiao Mie had stopped seeing the man following behind them. ¡­.. A month later¡­ Wang Xiao Mie was wearing a sky blue apron, cooking in the kitchen with a wooden spatula. Wen Feng Jin did not like the heavy taste of the take-outs and they couldn¡¯t always dine at restaurants so Wang Xiao Mie, who had some cooking skills from his time of living alone would whip up something for the both of them. While preparing the stew, Wang Xiao Mie picked up the salt container and realized that it was empty. ¡°Feng Jin! Feng Jin!¡± Wang Xiao Mie called out from the kitchen. Soon, Wen Feng Jin strode into the kitchen in a loose nightgown. ¡°What is it? Did you burn it again?¡± The pretty face grimaced. In the next second, he bent down to gather Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s long hair and neatly tied it back. He then proceeded to check it carefully for burn marks. ¡°It didn¡¯t happen again. Last time was only because I wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡± Wang Xiao Mie stepped back and showed him the empty jar, ¡°We¡¯re out of salt.¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s brows eased and he let the long black strands go, ¡°I¡¯ll go buy it.¡± ¡°Ok, make it quick. I still have to prepare the soup.¡± Wen Feng Jin nodded and left to get changed. Wang Xiao Mie was no longer worried about letting Wen Feng Jin go out by himself. They had stayed here for almost two months and Wen Feng Jin¡¯s learning ability was extraordinary. He had now mastered the basic Chinese characters and was fully proficient with the cellphone. Furthermore, with Wen Feng Jin¡¯s speed, a round trip to the nearest supermarket would only take twenty minutes. And so, in the same black jacket and jeans with matching boots, Wen Feng Jin left the house with his hand in his pocket. The close-fitted clothes perfectly outlined the man¡¯s sexiness. From the shoulder to his waist, from his waist to his calf, the outlines could only make onlookers stare in reverence. With each step, the silver hair tied into a ponytail behind his back would sway lightly. However, the sharp and handsome face was gradually scowling as more people gathered to take his picture. His brows creased and his eyes darkened, an expression that clearly stated ¡®if you dare disturb this lord again, I¡¯ll show you!¡¯. If Wen Feng Jin had this look on a thousand years ago, countless people would¡¯ve been paralyzed with fear. But now¡­ ¡°Wow! He¡¯s so handsome!!!¡± ¡°Woah! That¡¯s a really cool cosplay!!!¡± Wen Feng Jin: £þ¤Ø£þ The dark lord, who once upon a time could even make babies stop crying with the mention of his name, angrily picked up a bag of salt and quickly checked out. Outside, the street lights had been lit. Wen Feng Jin stopped on his track and turned to look at an alleyway slightly protruding out into the road. A familiar fishy smell wafted towards him with the cool night breeze. Wen Feng Jin stood and stared in that direction for a long time. A minute later, he placed his hand into his pocket. His lips curve into a smile. The long silver hair rustled as the wind blew and the mark between his brows glowed red. He stood under the night sky like the devil. He lifted his boots and stepped into the pool of red liquid. Slowly, he dragged something out of the alleyway, forming a long bloodstain on the ground. The large black pupils looked at the hideous mess of a man on the ground and the blood that was surging out from him¡­ ¡°You¡¯re about to die,¡± Wen Feng Jin said. The darkness helped to conceal the sight of the now shapeless body. Only minute movements could be seen as his chest undulated. He reached for Wen Feng Jin¡¯s ankle. Blood gushed out as he opened his mouth. ¡°Save me¡­¡± But the words were inaudible as it cluttered in his throat. Wen Feng Jin stood with his hand in his pocket and watched a life nearing its end like a god from high above. However, there was no sympathy in his eyes towards the dying man, only a certain sense of satisfaction in thinking that he would soon be praised¡­ Moments later, the desolate man saw through his gradually disappearing vision the devil taking something out from his pocket. Wen Feng Jin looked at him and said, ¡°Alright. I will save you.¡± CH 44 When I told my husband to go buy a bag of salt and he brought back a wild human, the kind that was covered in blood, my inner imagination goes¡­ Wang Xiao Mie was wearing a blue apron and holding a wooden spatula as he stood at the door staring unblinkingly at Wen Feng Jin carrying in the large lump. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡®Um, good job, it¡¯s still bleeding and looks fresh, should be ready to be slaughtered.¡¯ AHHHH! Wang Xiao Mie held the wooden spatula and almost fainted! H, h, h, he¡¯s d, d, d, dead!!!! He stared in horror as Wen Feng Jin dropped the package on the ground with a puff. Wang Xiao Mie was even more shocked when the lump began to move. Oh sh*t! It¡¯s still alive!!! Wang Xiao Mie quickly threw away the wooden spatula. He squatted down and poked at the bloody gourd-like bulge with shaking fingers. ¡°Wu¡­ stop poking¡­¡± The man raised his hand strenuously. ¡°Oh! Sorry, sorry! Does it hurt a lot? Ambulance! Ambulance! Feng Jin, call the ambulance! So much blood! ¡­ Brother, you¡¯re quite sturdy.¡± Wang Xiao Mie immediately withdrew his finger and frantically reached for his cellphone in the apron pocket. But before he made the call, he suddenly thought of something. ¡°Um¡­ Feng Jin¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie watched as Wen Feng Jin pulled out a piece of tissue and wiped his bloodstained hands with indifference. He swallowed his saliva and said, ¡°He wasn¡¯t beaten up by you, was he?¡± ¡°If the police were to come¡­¡± They won¡¯t have to waste time finding the killer. ¡°No.¡± Wen Feng Jin said, ¡°I only picked him up.¡± He then reached into his pocket and showed something to Wang Xiao Mie. On a closer look, Wang Xiao Mie saw that it was a pocketbook flipped to a certain page. On it was a crooked line of words in very unsightly handwriting. [Guide to become a good man: Help the injured] It was Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s handwritten ¡®Samaritan Guidelines¡¯ for Wen Feng Jin. Wang Xiao Mie kept staring at the small pocketbook in his hand until Wen Feng Jin also squatted down to his eye level and a bitter medicinal fragrance drifted to his nose. He said, ¡°I listened to you and saved him.¡± He could not put it into words but Wang Xiao Mie looked at Wen Feng Jin¡¯s expressionless face and wanted to give the devil¡¯s head a good rub. And he did put this thought into action. Wang Xiao Mie placed his hand on Wen Feng Jin¡¯s head and rubbed it back and forth. He even said, ¡°Yo xi ~ yo xi ~¡± You¡¯re such a good boy! En!!!¡± (TN: It¡¯s to imitate the Japanese word ¡®yoshi¡¯, not sure if that¡¯s how it¡¯s spelled and it¡¯s not the dragon in Mario. The word means good job or well done, it¡¯s pretty commonly heard in anime.) Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s paws froze once he realized what he had done. Did he just treat Wen Feng Jin like a puppy?!!! Just as he thought that Wen Feng Jin would get angry and shove his hand away.. Wen Feng Jin smiled. It was a subtle hook of the lips, like a stubborn kid who was feeling proud of being praised but did not want others to see his happiness. As if space and time were in disarray, Wang Xiao Mie once again saw the coquettish teenager from that year who would jump into his arms after class. The paws moved again but this time, it was stroking the sleek silver hair gently. He whispered softly, ¡°Well done, Xiao Wen Zi.¡± Boss Wen: £þ¤Ø£þ Wen Feng Jin pursed his lips and tried to stay indifferent. Wang Xiao Mie patted his head and tried to conceal his laughter. After giving the wolf the reward it had anticipated, Wang Xiao Mie turned to flip the man over. He went to the kitchen and came back with a basin of water to wipe the blood off his body. The blooming flowers above Wen Feng Jin¡¯s head disappeared at once. He stared coldly at the man on the ground then went to pick up the bag of salt. He said in an icy tone, ¡°Let¡¯s ignore him first, I¡¯ve already fed him blood. Xiao Mie, I want to drink soup.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡± Hearing such inhuman words, the body on the ground moaned louder and began to wiggle. Wang Xiao Mie was startled and quickly turned to look at him. ¡°Make another sound and I will kick you out,¡± Wen Feng Jin said heartlessly. The groans immediately turned into whimpers. The big brother on the ground clearly demonstrated what it was like to be both scared and angry. Advertisements ¡°Alright,¡± Wen Feng Jin looked at the man and nodded in satisfaction. He turned to look at Wang Xiao Mie with a smile plastered on the ice-cold face, ¡°Xiao Mie, I want soup.¡± There was a tenderness under the icy appearance, and in that tender was a slight coyness. After failing to wipe the thick and dried blood stains on the man, Wang Xiao Mie gave up and sighed. He confirmed that the man¡¯s wounds were healed by Wen Feng Jin¡¯s blood before asking Wen Feng Jin to put him in a bathtub and soak him in warm water, hoping to rinse off the bloodstains. And then? And then Wang Xiao Mie picked up the spatula and went back to frying his vegetables and making his soup ¡­ What about the patient? Let¡¯s just stew him first¡­ Ah, no, it should be let him soak in warm water first. But after considering that the man might be too weak to support himself and to prevent a drowning accident in his bathtub, Wang Xiao Mie locked Wen Feng Jin inside the bathroom to watch over him. ¡°Keep an eye on him for a while, I¡¯m going back to cook.¡± As the door closed and the humming sound faded, Boss Wen¡¯s smile disappeared. He turned and gave the man an icy stare. The man: ¡­. Huhuu I¡¯m so scared! Half an hour later, Wang Xiao Mie had finished making dinner and went to inform them. It was then that the man¡¯s face popped out of the water and became visible after all the blood and dirt had been cleaned off. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°It¡¯s you! The stalker!¡± The man who had come back to life uttered a ¡®thank you¡¯ and nodded awkwardly. Wang Xiao Mie wondered if this was actually why Wen Feng Jin was willing to save him. Wen Feng Jin on the other hand obviously did not think much of this man. He went into the kitchen and began bringing out the dishes. Once the man saw that Wen Feng Jin was glancing his way with menacing eyes, he shivered and stood up stiffly. ¡°Let me help you carry that!¡± At the dinner table, Wen Feng Jin was eating his soup gracefully with a spoon while the man was looking at the dishes on the table with the eyes of someone who had not eaten for eight hundred years. From the beginning, Wen Feng Jin had no intention of letting the man stay, much less serve him food. In his opinion, he had fulfilled the guideline written in the pocketbook, there was no need to keep the man any longer. ¡°Those dishes were made for me,¡± Wen Feng Jin said. His eyes were ferocious, like a wolf protecting its food. ¡°We¡¯re all acquaintances here, it¡¯s just another pair of chopsticks¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie scratched his head looking at the man salivating over the food on the table. His clothes were no longer wearable and Wang Xiao Mie had to lend him one of his bathrobes. ¡°Let¡¯s just keep him for dinner, is that ok?¡± Wen Feng Jin had his arms crossed and exhaled a puff of cold air. He then went into the kitchen and came back with a bowl. He placed the bowl on the floor and said, ¡°Then let him eat here.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­¡± What kind of monster are you?! Blue veins were popping out from Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s forehead. He grabbed the bowl and placed it on the table. ¡°He¡¯s eating here!¡± See how you¡¯ve bullied him! At last, the three ate at the same table. Wen Feng Jin completely ignored the man while Wang Xiao Mie looked at him chomping down the food like it was some high-class delicacies, making him feel like a great chef himself. The way he ate looked too appetizing. While eating, Wang Xiao Mie secretly observed the man¡¯s appearance. The times that they had met before, the man was fully cloaked or had his head in the trash. After Wen Feng Jin rescued him, he was covered in dirt and so Wang Xiao Mie had always thought that that was why he could not see the man¡¯s face. But now he realized, that was not the case at all. It was because the man was too dark¡­ In order words, his skin was black, truly black. And it was not the black color of our international friends but more like a naturally born dark skin with added tanning of ten to fifteen days. Wang Xiao Mie raised his line of sight and stared down the man¡¯s neck. Ai ya, my god, from his neck down it was still the same color. ¡®Other than our international friends, it seems we also have people who could be born with this naturally dark skin. Incredible!¡¯ Wang Xiao Mie thought silently. Wen Feng Jin was flaring when saw this scene. With very judgemental eyes, he scanned the man up and down. ¡®En, not as good-looking as me.¡¯ Wen Feng Jin rested his heart and continued to drink his soup. ¡®But still, even if he¡¯s ugly, Shixiong can only look at me!¡¯ Tasting a slight sourness in his mouth, Wen Feng Jin sneaked one hand under the table and lightly sent a force forward ¡­ The voracious diner suddenly felt like he was being trampled by an elephant! His eyes were almost popping out and he coughed violently! Wang Xiao Mie immediately poured him a bowl of soup. ¡°Drink this. What¡¯s the hurry, eat slowly. We still have plenty.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you.¡± Although he did not know where the sudden pain came from, he looked at Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s kind eyes and was moved to tears. ¡°You¡¯re a really good person, hix hix.¡± ¡°Heh heh.¡± Wang Xiao Mie rubbed his nose tip with embarrassment, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, go on, drink it.¡± ¡°Umm!!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin took his hand back and stared at the bowl of soup the man was holding. Since then, the blacklisted cellphone in his heart had finally welcomed another friend ¡­.. After dinner, the dark-skinned man took the initiative to wash and wipe dry the dishes and also cleaned the table. He then cautiously sat on the sofa holding a cup of tea that Wang Xiao Mie had brewed. He timidly glanced at Wen Feng Jin who was giving him a disturbingly cold look. ¡°Tell us,¡± Wang Xiao Mie was sitting opposite of him, ¡°What happened to you? How did you end up in the alleyway like that?¡± The dark-skinned man blinked and showed the sharp contrast between black and white with his eyes. He spoke softly, ¡°Thank you for your help. I, I¡¯m¡­ my name is Baiyu.¡± (TN: Baiyu (°×Óñ) means white jade) ¡°Pffft!¡± Wang Xiao Mie covered his mouth and tried to suppress his laughter so hard that his whole body was shaking, ¡°S, sorry, please continue¡­¡± Baiyu: ¡®I know my skin and name are like antonyms but please give me some respect!¡¯ The black ball Baiyu widened his eyes but shrunk back after he caught a glimpse of Wen Feng Jin staring at him. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m just a fresh graduate¡­ What I said last time about being a disciple and all that was just a bluff¡­ I learned those from a picture book left behind by my grandfather. I¡¯ve only started delving into these strange crafts and facing you that day was also my very first time putting it into practice¡­¡± ¡®Did we happen to be his first opponent?¡¯ Wang Xiao Mie was not sure who the more unfortunate one was. CH 45 ¡°I study these crafts to find my family. My grandfather has been missing since I was a child. At that time, I did not know that my family was in this trade. After my tenth birthday, my father became the second person to disappear. He did not even return for my mother¡¯s funeral.¡± Baiyu drooped his head. The black face had a dark look, making the man seem all the more depressing. Wang Xiao Mie remembered a black Labrador named Briquette belonging to a girl who used to live below his floor. That Labrador was very lively and human-like. Whenever it made a mistake, it would look at its owner with a sad and pitiful expression. Wang Xiao Mie was about to comfort him when Wen Feng Jin said apathetically, ¡°We only want to know why you were attacked. We¡¯re not interested in your background.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡­ Someone who can stab others with his words, that¡¯s my Xiao Wenzi, no doubt about it. Baiyu was taken aback by his words. He looked at Wen Feng Jin with grievances in his eyes. If it wasn¡¯t for the face that was too black for any expressions to be seen, he could¡¯ve sold some meng. ¡°La, later, to find out the truth, I¡¯ve searched for all the ancient books in my house and took on this job!¡± Baiyu sighed, ¡°When I met you both, I felt that my grandfather and father¡¯s disappearances must have something to do with the mysterious race mentioned in the books. That was why I followed you both in hopes of learning something!¡± When he finished, Wen Feng Jin not only looked at him with a pair of condescending eyes but also said, ¡°You were in way over your head.¡± Even Wang Xiao Mie had wanted to give him a piece of his mind. Just a greenhorn and yet so daring. He was fortunate that the ones he met were them, hmm, to be more specific, he was lucky to have met Wang Xiao Mie. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve been dead with a wave of Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hand. Baiyu too knew that he had been reckless and unwise. He reflected while glancing at them timidly. ¡°When I faced you for the first time, I was scared silly¡­ And then you let me go. And when I followed you, you still did not do anything to me. You even gave me your umbrella. That¡¯s why I thought that your kind were all friendly.¡± He then added a silly laugh. ¡°Hehe.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: Hehe?! Is your brain empty? Have you forgotten the countless times you were kicked into the trash can? Wang Xiao Mie took a walnut and cracked it open. He placed it in front of Baiyu and said with kindness, ¡°Here, have some.¡± It¡¯s good for your brain. Baiyu¡¯s eyes widened and turned tearful. He gratefully ate it and said, ¡°Thank you, you¡¯re a really good person!¡± ¡°Keep talking.¡± Wen Feng Jin closed his eyes and disregarded the man opposite. He pulled a blanket over Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Oh oh.¡± Baiyu swallowed the walnuts and quickly continued with his story, ¡°After I stopped following you, I found someone else with a scent similar to you guys and he was even living close by! I¡¯ve been following him these past few days. I don¡¯t think he realized it in the beginning but today, he took a longer route and I followed him all the way back¡­¡± As he spoke, Baiyu had a deathly look of panic on his face. His hands clenched and cold sweat was pouring out from his forehead. Even his body was beginning to shiver¡­ ¡°And then¡­ And then¡­¡± Advertisements In the dark of night, the yellow street light could only illuminate feebly a small stretch of road. The man had walked into a small alley and he had followed. But once he had entered the alley, it had seemed empty. When his eyes had constricted and the pain began to invade his brain, he had heard a hoarse and grim voice from behind. A pair of emotionless eyes and the excruciating pain were the last things that were carved into his head. No one could have accepted such an abrupt death, especially one that had been so violent. So when Baiyu lapsed back into that horrible scene, his breathing and body had turned alarmingly unstable. Wang Xiao Mie grabbed his hand and exclaimed, ¡°Baiyu!¡± Baiyu woke from his recollection and looked at Wang Xiao Mie in a daze. Only after Wen Feng Jin pulled back Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hand grumpily did Baiyu recover. But his fear still lingered and his body was still shaking. His shoulders shrunk and Wang Xiao Mie could tell that he was in a very bad shape. Wang Xiao Mie did not want to meddle in others¡¯ affairs but maybe because Baiyu¡¯s current state was too pitiful and his brain was too inoperative that Wang Xiao Mie felt sympathy towards him, ¡°Don¡¯t think about that anymore. And you really shouldn¡¯t provoke strangers.¡± Baiyu remained silent and nodded. Suddenly, Wen Feng Jin stood up and squinted at the window. His movements were so abrupt that the already skittish Baiyu jumped from the sofa in fright. Wang Xiao Mie frowned and looked out the window and into the small courtyard outside. ¡°What is it?¡± Wang Xiao Mie asked Wen Feng Jin softly. Wen Feng Jin closed his eyes and a few seconds later, looked towards Baiyu and said, ¡°That person is here.¡± The person who wanted to get rid of Baiyu had returned to the scene out of vigilance and had consequently been led there by the blood trail. Not only did Baiyu feel a mortal fear that he would have to die a second time but Wang Xiao Mie was also shocked. He even followed him here?! ¡°It¡¯s ok.¡± Feeling Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s anxiety, Wen Feng Jin raised his hand and stroked his hair. He said in a gentle voice, ¡°I won¡¯t let him lay one step into the courtyard¡­ The mess, it¡¯s too troublesome to clean.¡± A suppressive and murderous aura filled the air and Wang Xiao Mie was no longer afraid. He even wanted to scream: My man rocks! ¡°But I have no obligation to take you in.¡± Wen Feng Jin said to Baiyu, ¡°You can leave now.¡± Baiyu¡¯s eyes widened and he was on the verge of crying. ¡°I, I, I¡­.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do that!¡± Wang Xiao Mie frowned, ¡°You said it yourself that the man followed him here, if we drive him out, it¡¯s no different from sending him to his death.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we let him stay for the night?¡± Baiyu¡¯s eyes lit up as he looked towards Wen Feng Jin. ¡°No, I will not let any other man sleep next to you and me,¡± Wen Feng Jin grimaced and the mark on his forehead was creased up. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s not like he¡¯s sleeping with us in the coffin. We¡¯re just letting him stay in the living room for one night.¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°W, wait, what did you say that you sleep in?¡± Baiyu asked with his jaws shivering. ¡°A coffin.¡± Having gotten used to sleeping in the coffin, Wang Xiao Mie answered as though the whole world was sleeping in one. Only when he saw Baiyu shivering even harder did he remember.. Oh right, normal people do not sleep in coffins. Those are either for vampires or¡­ Baiyu also had the same thought. And as soon as it hit him, Baiyu fell straight to the ground. After almost dying, Baiyu finally fainted due to fright¡­ ¡°¡­ I told you, let¡¯s not sleep in the coffin anymore. Look what happened?¡± Wang Xiao Mie complained to Wen Feng Jin, ¡°Now we can¡¯t kick him out even if we want to.¡± They couldn¡¯t just throw out an unconscious person. Wen Feng Jin stared at Baiyu lying on the ground. After a moment of thought, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s castrate him.¡± That way he¡¯s no longer a man, heh. Wang Xiao Mie: ¡­ CH 46 Ding Ding ¡°Wu. Who is it this early in the morning?¡± With messy bed hair, Wang Xiao Mie sat up with his eyes closed. He reached outside the coffin and felt for the ringing phone. Once he touched the vibrating phone, a small slit opened between his eyelids and he accurately pressed the green button. ¡°Hello,¡± Wang Xiao Mie said lazily after a long yawn, ¡°Who is it?¡± Lei Jie on the other smiled at his listlessness and said, ¡°It¡¯s me, Lei Jie, I ¡­¡± A pair of moist and red lips got close to the phone. To be exact, it was approaching Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s ears. Its owner, still in a lethargic state, leaned his chin on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s shoulder and hugged him. His silver hair flowed down and covered them both. ¡°Who is it? Shixiong¡­¡± As though the husky and magnetic voice carried an electric current that could course through the phone, transferring the man¡¯s sexiness and hormones right to the listeners¡¯ ears and into their brains¡­ Even someone like Lei Jie felt a jolt and had to shift the phone from her left to her right. She rubbed her ears and her cheek turned slightly pink. ¡°Cough, did I disturb anything?¡± ¡°Um? No.¡± Wang Xiao Mie did not get her question. He took a look at his phone, ¡°It¡¯s already half-past six, we¡¯ll be up in a minute.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was oblivious but Wen Feng Jin was well aware. He slowly puckered his lips and deliberately clamped onto Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s ears. Slurp Right next to the phone and earlobe, the sucking sound was infinitely amplified. Wang Xiao Mie froze while Lei Jie rubbed the tip of her nose awkwardly. Why would you let this old lady who has been single for over thirty years hear these things? Curse you pair of male lovebirds! ¡°Stop messing around!¡± Wang Xiao Mie blushed and covered his ear. He gave the man leaning against the coffin full of smiles a warning to stay away. The man closed his eyes and snickered. The low laughter made Wang Xiao Mie annoyed. He turned his back to him and continued to talk on the phone. Wen Feng Jin snorted and kept looking at him with hungry eyes. It¡¯s been quite some time since they last did it. Wen Feng Jin rested his elbow on the edge of the coffin and placed his chin over his hand. His chest was fully exposed under the loose clothing and the silver locks were spread out over the red drabs of the coffin. A mind-numbing beauty but unfortunately, his target did not appreciate it at all. Advertisements ¡°Lei Jie, did you want to tell us something?¡± Wang Xiao Mie asked. Lei Jie took some time to digest the dog food then said, ¡°Zhen Bei was sentenced to death and was executed yesterday.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was shocked. His sleepiness disappeared instantly. At the mention of Zhen Bei, Wang Xiao Mie could still remember his cheerful face and twisted personality. ¡°¡­En. I see.¡± ¡°The Zhen family is now a mess. Zhen Hao was killed by Zhen Bei and Zhen Bei was sent to jail. There¡¯s only Zhen Mu left which puts everyone in a complicated mood. When Madame Zhen heard that Zhen Hao was gone, she went mad and even accused Zhen Mu of being the killer and wanted him locked up as well.¡± Lei Jie remembered the scene where Zhen Mu was kneeling on the ground crying when Zhen Bei was being executed. Aside from raising a brainless son like Zhen Hao, they raised a vile being like Zhen Bei. And now they wanted to send away the only decent son they had. ¡°The Zhen family is just a bunch of idiots!¡± Lei Jie cursed, ¡°Damn that stupid woman!¡± Wang Xiao Mie was speechless at the news. What¡¯s with spoiling your eldest son while suppressing your two other sons? It¡¯s indeed ¡®the same rice that feeds all kinds of people¡¯. (TN: Ò»ÑùÃ×Ñø°ÙÑùÈË A proverb meaning we could eat the same thing but would turn into very different people) ¡°What happened next?¡± Wang Xiao Mie frowned and asked. Lei Jie sighed and said, ¡°I¡¯m somewhat close to Zhen Mu. When those crazy people become unscrupulous, of course I have to step in. But then everyone knew that I, Xiao Lou, and Zhen Mu were the only ones who had survived. This could be a little troublesome even for me¡­¡± Before Wang Xiao Mie could say anything, Lei Jie laughed and said, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not afraid of anyone! All these years tempered by hardships, I¡¯m not some pushover! Xiao Lou and I are resting in a friend¡¯s resort. With the Liao Yue sword by my side, I¡¯m now satisfied. I could always do something else to earn a living¡­ Oh that¡¯s right!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sold most of the things you had handed to me through the auctions. My lord, you don¡¯t know how much money they have fetched. Just your teacup alone is enough for me to live in luxury for ten years.¡± Wang Xiao Mie thought of the balance in his card and laughed. I¡¯m now a wealthy man. Heh hehehe¡­ Lei Jie was happy to hear his laughter. She just could not see Wang Xiao Mie as a big dumpling from a mausoleum. To her, he was almost like a child at home whom she couldn¡¯t help but want to give his head a rub. ¡°One more thing, regarding the weapon you told me to research, the one that Zhen Bei used, I have some leads.¡± ¡°Ha?!¡± Wang Xiao Mie quickly asked, ¡°You know who made it?¡± ¡°Yes. Weapons of that kind appeared twenty years ago. Those who went underground would equip themselves with it. The person who made it is named Bai Cheng. But then those weapons and Bai Cheng suddenly disappeared and it was there that I couldn¡¯t find any further information.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± It seemed that those weapons were specially made to work against people like Wen Feng Jin and himself. Wang Xiao Mie wasn¡¯t sure if he was overthinking but there was always a feeling of unrest lurking in his head. Now that the trace was lost and even Lei Jie could not find anything else. Lei Jie comforted Wang Xiao Mie and he smiled, ¡°I might be worried for nothing. By the way, Lei Jie, after the storm has passed, can I trouble you again?¡± Lei Jie sniggered, ¡°What¡¯s there to trouble? Just tell me what you need!¡± Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s eyes softened, ¡°I want to build a temple on that mountain¡­ The cost does not matter. And the name of the temple is Xuan Feng.¡± Back then, the place he transmigrated to was Xuan Feng Academy. The saplings that he planted and the children he had taught were all deeply imprinted in his memories. He hated the Academy but not everyone in it. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s anger and despair that year had made him lose all kindness and tolerance, resulting in the merciless massacre of Xuan Feng Academy¡­ Even though Wen Feng Jin was smiling more frequently and a lot more gentle now, Wang Xiao Mie could still see through him after he had recovered his memories. Those smiles and kindness were all a show for him, like fulfilling a task in a game. Wang Xiao Mie did not like killing so Wen Feng Jin sheathed his sword and changed himself. Wang Xiao Mie wanted an ordinary life so Wen Feng Jin willingly stayed above ground to accompany him, whether it was for a simple meal or a daily trip to the supermarket¡­ But Wang Xiao Mie was certain, if he were to die, Wen Feng Jin would reveal a whole different face. Wen Feng Jin did not change, he just got used to disguising himself. Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s death and rejection a thousand years ago had left him in irreparable despair. Now, it had turned into an instinct for him to be the perfect person in front of Wang Xiao Mie. I¡¯m the flawless replica of what you want, you can only choose me. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s love was exclusive, possessive and lustful, multiplied by countless times. Saving people and abiding by the law were choices Wen Feng Jin had made just to please Wang Xiao Mie, just like playing a strategy game. Outside the game, Wen Feng Jin was still the same cold and indifferent person whose smile was as scarce as hen¡¯s teeth. Wang Xiao Mie turned and looked at the man smiling at him devilishly. It¡¯s not that he hated it¡­ It¡¯s just a little tricky. After exchanging a few more words with Lei Jie, Wang Xiao Mie hung up. The man with the medicinal scent lunged over. Silver hair overlaid the black ones as soft lips came crashing together. The hand holding the cell phone was caught and the fingers intertwined¡­ After the kiss, Wen Feng Jin put the gasping Wang Xiao Mie in his embrace and kissed his hair. ¡°I kind of want to do it.¡± ¡°No way. There¡¯s someone downstairs, have you forgotten?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± ¡°¡­..Quickly get up.¡± Wang Xiao Mie got out of the coffin and Wen Feng Jin helped him to dress before buttoning up his own clothes that he had loosened up from before. He had heard that Wang Xiao Mie wanted to build a temple on the site of the former Xuan Feng Academy but he did not care. Cold fingers carefully buckled up Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s belt¡­ He had no time to remember the dead. Advertisements Downstairs, Baiyu was already up. He had wrapped himself in a blanket and was sitting on the sofa. He wanted to leave¡­ But there was probably someone outside waiting for him. To stay¡­ There were two people of an unspeakable species who slept in a coffin. ¡®Why is life so hard?!¡¯ Baiyu was shedding tears internally but before he was done with his self-pity, he could hear footsteps coming from upstairs. Baiyu¡¯s hair stood on end as he stared at the two coming down. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake.¡± Wang Xiao Mie gave him a casual greeting then went straight to the bathroom. Wen Feng Jin followed right behind. Baiyu, who thought that they would do something to him, was staring at them wide-eyed. ¡®That¡¯s it? Don¡¯t you want to shut me up? Not even a threat?¡¯ Baiyu continued to stare at them even after Wang Xiao Mie came out of the bathroom and entered the kitchen. ¡°You¡­¡± Baiyu raised his hands warily. ¡°You¡¯re just gonna let me go just like that?¡± Wang Xiao Mie who was preparing breakfast looked at him curiously, ¡°Or else?¡± Baiyu: ¡°¡­.. At least threaten me a little. What if I expose your existence?!¡± Before Wang Xiao Mie could say anything, Wen Feng Jin put down the bowl in his hand. He glanced at him and sneered. Baiyu immediately shrunk back his neck. ¡°Ah, I see.¡± From that reaction alone, Baiyu could feel countless knives called irony stabbing at his heart. ¡®Sorry, I¡¯m such a chicken.¡¯ CH 47 ¡°Da Bai, don¡¯t just stand there. Come and eat.¡± Wang Xiao Mie called them to have breakfast. Baiyu stared in surprise, ¡°Who is Da Bai?¡± Wen Feng Jin glared at him. Baiyu withered, ¡°I¡¯m Da Bai.¡± [TN: ´ó°× Da Bai means cabbage but the immediate translation of the word itself is big white] Wang Xiao Mie tried hard to hold back his laughter. After setting up the table, he poured a bowl of porridge for Wen Feng Jin and himself and another for Baiyu. Frankly, he did not find Baiyu hateful. On the contrary, he was quite fond of him. Just like those silly college roommates, he felt that Baiyu was inexplicably sincere. Seeing that there was something to eat, Bai Yu¡¯s eyes lit up. After shrinking back for a while, he still decided to come out of the blanket and sat by the table then picked up the bowl and began eating. Advertisements At the breakfast table, Wen Feng Jin, whose certain desires were not fulfilled, was giving them free air conditioning while eating. Wang Xiao Mie, who was freezing, picked a piece of vegetable and fed it to his Xiao Wenzi, ¡°Come, have some vegetables.¡± Wen Feng Jin looked at the off-putting food for three seconds and stopped releasing cold air. He opened his mouth to take in the food but continued to bite on the tip of the chopsticks. His red lips were slightly ajar and the powerful teeth held on to the chopsticks. He rested his face on his palm and looked at Wang Xiao Mie. Half a minute later, Wang Xiao Mie blushed and mumbled repeatedly, ¡°I get it, I get it, I get it!¡± Wen Feng Jin released the chopsticks and his expression lightened up. Baiyu watched them as he was filled up with porridge together with a serving of dog food. After the meal, Baiyu took the initiative to help them clean up and his fear had also disappeared. ¡°Well, thank you for saving me and taking me in. I will not divulge anything about you two. It¡¯s getting late, I should get going now.¡± Baiyu picked up the blanket and folded it neatly before placing it on the sofa. He scratched his head and said awkwardly to Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin, ¡°Are my torn clothes still around? My cash and phone are still in it. This place is quite far from my house, I can¡¯t ride a cab without money¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, those clothes are still here.¡± Wang Xiao Mie ran to get a bag from the bathroom, ¡°Your clothes were all bloodied so I gathered them together in this bag, see if anything¡¯s missing.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you.¡± Baiyu opened the bag and flipped his clothes over. A few pieces of rags fell out and an iron rod dropped on the ground with a clang. Baiyu quickly picked it up and put it back in the bag. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Wang Xiao Mie asked curiously. ¡°This? This is a weapon I made according to an ancient book. Due to a lack of materials and tools, I could only craft something of this caliber. But don¡¯t underestimate it. Look,¡± Baiyu took out the black rod and showed it off to Wang Xiao Mie. ¡°Raise it up like this and aim at the cloth¡­ Those rags were stained with the scent of the bad guy from before, so¡­¡± When the iron rod hit its target, a sizzling sound could be heard as though something had been dissipated by the blow. When the iron rod was removed, the blood-stained cloth remained unchanged but something was definitely removed from it! Zhen Bei¡¯s weapon! Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s pupils contracted. He turned to look at Wen Feng Jin who now had a dark expression. Baiyu, who did not notice their changes, giggled and continued to boast, ¡°What do you think? Isn¡¯t it incredible? Hehehe. Right now the iron rod could only do so much but I¡¯ve read from the notes left by my grandfather and father, it said that my grandfather once made these weapons of the highest quality. Black is the weakest while the gold ones are capable of disintegrating those things with just one blow!¡± Baiyu was still praising his baby with pride when Wen Feng Jin pinched his neck and pinned him against the wall. ¡°Cough! You, what are you doing¡­¡± Baiyu¡¯s feet were lifted off the ground while his veins and eyeballs were bulging out, ¡°Let me go! Help!¡± Wen Feng Jin was unmoved. His eyes turned scarlet and his voice turned ice-cold, asking him word by word, ¡°Do you know Zhen Bei?¡± Back in the underground palace, Zhen Bei had shot Wang Xiao Mie twice and almost killed Wen Feng Jin. Although he had gotten what he deserved in the end, Wen Feng Jin was still unable to swallow the anguish. If Wang Xiao Mie had not stopped him, he would¡¯ve fed Zhen Bei to Muyi and the others. ¡°Feng Jin!¡± Wang Xiao Mie was startled and quickly stepped forward to grab Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arm. Da Bai¡¯s eyes are turning white! ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty, he might be innocent!¡± An idea popped into his head and hurriedly asked Baiyu, ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with Bai Cheng?¡± Baiyu breathed with much difficulty as he tried to speak, ¡°Bai Cheng, Bai Cheng is my grandfather¡­¡± ¡°I knew it¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie was starting to have a headache. This was too much of a coincidence, so much so that it was as though someone had planned for this to happen. ¡°Let him go¡­ He¡¯s not the one who gave Zhen Bei the weapons, it was probably his grandfather.¡± Wen Feng Jin glanced at Baiyu who could not hold on much longer. He snorted with disdain and loosened his grip. Cough! Cough! Baiyu knelt on the ground and coughed violently. He looked up at Wen Feng Jin and asked with caution, ¡°How did you know my grandfather¡¯s name? Have you seen him?! When?¡± Wang Xiao Mie sighed seeing him staring at them with large expectant eyes. He nudged the immensely unsatisfied Wen Feng Jin, ¡°Feng Jin, go bring Kai Ming over.¡± Wen Feng Jin did not move and glared at Baiyu sitting on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s ok, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Wang Xiao Mie reassured him and only then did Wen Feng Jin go upstairs to fetch Kai Ming. It¡¯s not that he wanted to doubt anyone but this was too much of a coincidence. They had made inquiries about the weapons and someone related to it was brought to them. It was as though a pair of eyes were watching them in the dark. And after witnessing Zhen Bei¡¯s inconceivable face-change, Wang Xiao Mie was truly once bitten twice shy. For all he knew, this person could be another big boss in a good man¡¯s skin. Wang Xiao Mie squatted down. Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, ¡°We have not met your grandfather but we had seen a strange hammer-like weapon in golden metal. Someone had almost killed us with it.¡± The seemingly always smiling face turned solemn as the layer of kindness faded from his eyes and was replaced with coldness. Wang Xiao Mie looked straight at Baiyu and said, ¡°After that, we found out that the maker of that weapon was called Bai Cheng.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for overthinking,¡± Baiyu was in a cold sweat as Wang Xiao Mie continued, ¡°I¡¯m now no longer a good person, I have to protect the person I care for.¡± What a sudden change in attitude! Baiyu looked at Wang Xiao Mie morphing from the affectionate boy in a cooking apron to a man whose eyes were keen and sharp as a blade, very much similar to the man just now! Baiyu opened his mouth but did not say anything. In his impression, his grandpa was a kind and loving man but he couldn¡¯t be certain whether he had helped others to harm the person in front of him. So he chose to stay silent. Seeing the big guy wilt before his eyes, the menacing expression on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s face faded. Damn, it¡¯s really not fun to copy this skill from Wen Feng Jin, staring like this hurts my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s all right, you don¡¯t have to worry. Even if your grandfather had made those weapons, as long as he¡¯s not involved in the hunt, we¡¯ll still let you go.¡± Baiyu¡¯s eyes lit up under his black skin, ¡°Really?! You¡¯ll really let me go?¡± Instead of murdering me to vent your anger? ¡°Of course. After all, we¡¯re not evildoers.¡± Having said that, Wang Xiao Mie immediately felt that something wasn¡¯t right with this sentence. Just then, Wen Feng Jin came down with Kai Ming in his hand. When Wang Xiao Mie received Kai Ming, it was scorchingly hot. If Kai Ming could speak, it would definitely scream at Wen Feng Jin to stay the hell away from it! After waiting for Kai Ming to cool down, Wang Xiao Mie plastered the blade on Baiyu¡¯s face. Baiyu froze, ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± Wang Xiao Mie asked, ¡°Is it hot?¡± Baiyu shook his head, ¡°No, your house has air conditioning.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was dumbfounded, ¡°¡­ Is the dagger hot?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s quite cool. How can a dagger be hot?¡± Baiyu asked as he sat in a daze with Kai Ming attached to his face. ¡­ Looks like there is no problem here. ¡°It¡¯s ok now, Da Bai, we can trust you.¡± Wang Xiao Mie pulled him up, ¡°Now, can you tell us about your grandfather?¡± ¡­.. Li Man Man had just completed her shift which had started at 2 a.m. On top of being vexed and tired, her boyfriend had recently given her the cold shoulder. Watching the screen of her phone go dark, Li Man Man cursed, ¡°Bastard dared to ignore my texts!¡± At the front step of her house, she angrily tossed the phone into her bag and pulled out a pink hairball keyring. Behind her came a clang, the sound of something dropping on the ground. Li Man Man turned around and saw that on the front step of the house opposite lay a golden ring. Her eyes widened as she picked the ring up. The ring was plain in design but on the inside was a finely engraved ¡®bai¡¯ word. This shine and the engraving, this has to be real gold! Li Man Man excitedly spread out her fingers and tried the ring on each one. After finding the perfect fit, she rubbed the surface of the ring happily. Bai? She remembered that the person living here has the last name of Bai but who cares, finders keepers! It¡¯s your own fault for losing such a valuable item. You only have yourself to blame. Besides, the ring looked simple while exuding a beautiful shine, clearly it was meant to be worn by someone with beautiful fingers like hers. She wore the ring unquestioningly and entered the house, thinking to herself that one of these days, she should visit a jewelry shop to have the inscription erased. ¡­. At 4 p.m, Baiyu was walking with Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin wearing clothes that Wang Xiao Mie had lent to him. Wang Xiao Mie walked between him and Wen Feng Jin who was not at all shy to hide his disgust for the dirty path they were currently traversing on. Someone had left their withered flowers and cardboard outside, the whole place reeked of a pungent sour smell, the walls were drawn with ugly graffitis decorated with gum and other substances, and even the handrails were covered with a thick layer of dust. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s brows were tightly wrinkled together. He walked behind and held his silver hair in one hand while the other was used to lift Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s swaying black hair which had almost swept over the dust. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you guys to come with me.¡± Baiyu was panting as he climbed the stairs, ¡°Up ahead is my place. My grandpa¡¯s notes are all there.¡± Wang Xiao Mie had an inexplicable suspicion in his heart. He couldn¡¯t leave this matter alone and decided to follow Baiyu home. ¡°I also did not expect you to agree to lend us your grandfather¡¯s notes. Isn¡¯t it your family secret?¡± ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s not a big deal. Honestly, I don¡¯t understand a lot of what¡¯s written in it. If you both can figure anything out, I would in turn like to learn from you!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Arriving at the door, Baiyu took a deep breath before opening it. His house was roughly 60 square meters with one bedroom and two living rooms which had been neatly tidied. After entering, Baiyu went straight to the bedroom and brought out a paper box. Inside were some miscellaneous items and several books which looked like it was written in ancient scriptures. ¡°Feng Jin¡­¡± Before Wang Xiao Mie could finish his sentence, Wen Feng Jin had already picked up a book and began reading. Wang Xiao Mie raised his hand to rub his neck and Baiyu inadvertently looked over. For a quick second, he thought that he had seen something red flash by from Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s excessively white neck and disappear in the blink of an eye. Was he seeing things? Baiyu scratched his head questioningly. TN: Chapter 48 is a little snippet of WFJ¡¯s psyche which is inconsequential to the plot. I will translate it some time later with the extras. Sorry about that CH 49 Wen Feng Jin was flipping through the antique books one by one. As he reached a certain point, his fingers froze for a second and there was a slight change in his expression which he immediately covered up. He picked up another one and said to Baiyu, ¡°These books are incomplete. There is a date and numerical order written on the last page of each one.¡± ¡°You should have a total of thirty-one books, there are only seventeen here.¡± ¡°What? There are so many missing?¡± Baiyu picked up a book and turned to the last page but realized that the date and number mentioned were all written in special characters which he had initially thought were the author¡¯s signature. ¡°If you couldn¡¯t understand the words, how did you manage to practice your crafts?¡± The black-as-charcoal Da Bai flashed his white teeth and smiled proudly, ¡°I guessed of course!¡± Wang Xiao Mie thought to himself, it must¡¯ve been hard growing up. Advertisements ¡°Oh right, Feng Jin, since you can understand what¡¯s written, is there any mention of the weapons?¡± Wang Xiao Mie leaned over to have a look. Wen Feng Jin rolled up the book and gently tapped on Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s head, ¡°Only several materials were listed and the rest of the notes are written in special texts. By the way, I saw that you kept rubbing your neck.¡± A sturdy and cold hand pinched the back of Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s neck like the act of carrying a kitten and began rubbing, ¡°Does it hurt here?¡± ¡°Wa!¡± Wang Xiao Mie screeched and reached backward to push Wen Feng Jin¡¯s hand away. ¡°Stop pinching, it hurts! it¡¯s probably just a stiff neck.¡± A smile was hidden in Wen Feng Jin¡¯s eyes as he let go of his hand and placed the book back into the box. At that moment, a loud bang erupted from the living window. Something that resembled a large bat was plastered to the windowpane, staring at them with unblinking eyes! ¡°F*ck!¡± Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu screamed in unison. They jumped in shock and Wang Xiao Mie frantically leaped into Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arms. While Baiyu wanted to do the same, he realized there was no place for him and could only hug the box of books on the floor. Grandpa, watch over me! Cloaked in dark clothing with a head of greasy hair, the face pressed forcefully against the glass. Its body twisted in a deformed manner as it tried to fit into the window, blocking out the light and dimming the room. The two frightened pups shivered as the figure continued to watch them without making any movements. The black eyes rumbled in its sockets like the sound of glass marbles colliding. After he decided to take a peek, Wang Xiao Mie realized that the thing was staring straight at him while slowly pulling up a smile¡­ Oh mother!!! Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his saliva in fear. Wen Feng Jin was hugging him tightly with one hand while also staring back at the creature which was now grinning broadly at him. Wen Feng Jin responded with an ice-cold smirk. Feeling a little braver, Wang Xiao Mie asked optimistically, ¡°Da Bai! Da Bai! Look, why isn¡¯t he moving? Could he be a tenant upstairs who accidentally fell down?¡± Baiyu was almost in tears, ¡°I live on the top floor! How can anyone be living above me!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie made another guess, ¡°Say, could this be some kind of Spiderman cosplay?¡± ¡°¡­ I have never seen anyone doing things like this to cosplay Spiderman¡­¡± Baiyu took a closer look at the ¡®oversized bat¡¯ and his whole body shivered intensely, ¡°B, b, but look. C, c, can you see what he¡¯s holding? Doesn¡¯t it look like my grandfather¡¯s book?¡± Wang Xiao Mie took a quick peek, ¡°Nope, it doesn¡¯t look like it¡­¡± Baiyu was relieved, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie facepalmed, ¡°¡­Because it is it!¡± Baiyu instantly changed his expression. He stared back at the figure angrily and scolded, ¡°No wonder I felt that there were too many missing! So they were stolen by you, you thieving scum!¡± The ghastly figure turned to look at him and Baiyu¡¯s spunky attitude was hastily withdrawn. His voice turned timid as he shrunk back behind the box. At this point, Wen Feng Jin had begun to move. It had to be said that his family¡¯s Xiao Wenzi is indeed worthy of being called a big boss. After all, he was someone who had raised a group of monsters and even had the nerve to call them cute. Seeing that Wang Xiao Mie was no longer scared, Wen Feng Jin carefully placed him behind himself and stepped towards the window. When it saw Wen Feng Jin approaching, the strange creature broadened its grin and cast a provocative look before letting go of its grip and dropped down. This is the sixth floor! Biayu and Wang Xiao Mie were shocked by its actions. ¡°Xiao Wenzi!¡± Wang Xiao Mie called out to Wen Feng Jin. ¡°It¡¯s ok, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Wen Feng Jin turned and walked towards the window. His hair fluttered as he opened the window and jumped down. Wang Xiao Mie nervously approached the window and looked down. Baiyu was most likely impoverished and could only rent a place in the most dilapidated part of the city. The buildings were close together and the majority of them were falling apart, causing the narrow alleyways to be clogged up with debris. The strange figure was like a ninja, fluttering as a feather between buildings. Wen Feng Jin was hot on his tail and after a while, they entered an alley and disappeared from sight. Baiyu watched with Wang Xiao Mie and exclaimed, ¡°My God, those two can fly! Now what do we do?¡± ¡°What can we do other than wait?¡± Wang Xiao Mie frowned with worry. He tilted his head and the discomfort in his neck reemerged. ¡­.. In the circuitous and dirty alleyway, the figure on the run suddenly stopped in his tracks. As though being pulled by something, he dived head down into a pile of garbage bags. The descended figure got up from the ground with unbroken limbs. He leaned against the wall and looked up at the sky. Seconds later, Wen Feng Jin landed from above. He squinted at the figure and said, ¡°Not running anymore? Give me the book and tell me where¡¯s the person who ordered you to steal it.¡± The person in the corner stretched his lips into a wide grin. He clearly resembled a human being but there was a sense of abnormality. Wen Feng Jin saw through him and frowned, ¡°Looks like it¡¯s pointless no matter what I say to you, a lowly product under someone else¡¯s control.¡± Wen Feng Jin disappeared from where he was standing and the man immediately assumed a defensive stance. Invisible projectiles violently struck at his raised arms. However, the sound it made was not the piercing of flesh but of wood being cut. The two then engaged in a speedy battle. Wen Feng Jin¡¯s every strike was quick and brutal! Finally, he attacked with one powerful slash that could fell a tree. The man bent his knees under the pressure but he managed to deflect his sword with both hands. Even so, his body¡¯s movements had become heavily restricted. Ten claws rushed ferociously at Wen Feng Jin which he managed to dodge while using one leg to kick the other party into the wall. The rumbling noise of things crashing was heard. The man struggling to get up had his head restrained by Wen Feng Jin. The sharp claws were aimed at Wen Feng Jin¡¯s thigh this time but before it could act, a distinct sound erupted from the body; it was the sound of wood breaking. The headless body slumped back onto the floor. Wen Feng Jin had a faint smile on his face as he raised the head to his eye level. Two pairs of eyes stared straight at each other but the one without a body was still eerily grinning! There was not a drop of blood on the broken body, only a few strands of straw were seen falling out. Wen Feng Jin crushed the wooden head in his hand and dropped the remnants to the ground. He then bent to retrieve the stolen book from the motionless body. Flipping open the book, Wen Feng Jin¡¯s pupils constricted into a straight line! The pages were blank. This was a diversion! No one was stealing those books, they were probably missing from the beginning! ¡°Xiao Mie!¡± Wen Feng Jin clenched his fists and his eyes turned bloodshot. He hurriedly turned and rushed back¡­ ¡­ After watching Wen Feng Jin jump out of the window, Wang Xiao Mie sat back on a chair in the living room and rubbed his neck. Baiyu had just finished packing up the box when he noticed his discomfort and said, ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll go get two cans of cold beer. Maybe you¡¯ll feel better after applying it to your neck.¡± ¡°Ok, thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Baiyu laughed and went to fetch the beer from his refrigerator. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Baiyu was about to move when Wang Xiao Mie waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯ll open it. It¡¯s probably Feng Jin.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Baiyu did not give it much thought. The only other people who would knock on his door would be the bill collectors or his landlord. Wang Xiao Mie got up from the chair and went to open the door. Outside stood a woman whose lowered head was swaying slowly. She was wearing a purple silk nightdress and seemingly without undergarments. Wang Xiao Mie looked up and dared not let his eyes wander. ¡°Hi there, pretty, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Ring¡­¡± the woman muttered. She staggered like a drunkard and raised the back of her hand for Wang Xiao Mie to see, ¡°This¡­ ring¡­ has the word ¡®Bai¡¯¡­ is it yours?¡± Wang Xiao Mie saw the ring on her finger and shouted to the kitchen, ¡°Da Bai! There¡¯s a pretty girl wearing a gold ring with the word ¡®Bai¡¯ asking if it¡¯s yours!¡± Da Bia laughed, ¡°Haha, I¡¯m poor almost to the point of having to eat dirt, how could I own a gold ring¡­ What the!¡± Baiyu abruptly changed his tone, ¡°Get away from her!¡± ¡°What?¡± The moment Wang Xiao Mie turned his head, the woman at the door rushed at him, plunging him over quite a distance! ¡°Ah!¡± Wang Xiao Mie covered his head in pain. Just as he was about to get up, the woman with the crazed expression on her face picked up a pillow on the sofa and pressed it over his face. ¡°How dare you neglect me! How dare you ignore my texts! I will kill you!¡± This erratic person was Li Man Man who had previously picked up the ring. She was now wearing a semi-transparent nightdress and sitting on the struggling Wang Xiao Mie. She had an iron grip on the pillow and was suffocating him to death. With his sight covered in darkness and his breathing blocked, the pain caused by the pillow brushing against his skin was maximized. Wang Xiao Mie panicked. Human instincts prompted him to use his hands and shove her away. It did not matter if it was a woman, it was important to survive! At the same time, Baiyu was rushing over and stood behind her. But looking at her skimpy nightdress, he wavered with where it would be appropriate to place his hands. Forget it! Baiyu closed his eyes and clenched his teeth as he reached under her arms and tried to pull her away. But who knew that the woman who seemed so delicate was impossible to budge. Baiyu used up all the strength from the milk he had consumed but still could not move her. At this point, Wang Xiao Mie, being pressed under the pillow, had stopped moving¡­ !!! Baiyu¡¯s eyes widened and he cowered on the floor: It¡¯s the end, he¡¯s not moving¡­ As he thought of the worst, the motionless Wang Xiao Mie suddenly grabbed his ankle! ¡°Woah woah woah!¡± ¡°Woah my ass!¡± Wang Xiao Mie, who laid under the crazy woman, bent his knees and violently pushed her away. After getting up from the ground, he looked at her with vigilance! Seeing him alive, Baiyu shouted joyously, ¡°You¡¯re incredible! A normal person would¡¯ve been dead by now!¡± That¡¯s right, a normal person would have suffocated by now. But¡­ Wang Xiao Mie who had been smothered suddenly remembered one important point. He¡¯s a dumpling! They don¡¯t need to breathe! I must¡¯ve filled my brain with water when I washed my face this morning. As Wang Xiao Mie came to this realization, the woman rose up and charged at him screaming, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu: Damn! Here she comes again! CH 50 The erratic woman charged at them. Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu began a game of cat and mouse with Baiyu hiding behind Wang Xiao Mie, screaming and grabbing at his clothes. Wang Xiao Mie used the martial arts he had learned from his previous life and the slightly stronger than normal human strength to deflect the attacking woman time and again. However, the woman was like a tireless machine. Every time she was pushed away, she would always rush back with a strange look on her face. After a few repetitive rounds, Wang Xiao Mie was starting to get worn out. And Baiyu behind him was still screaming away. Wang Xiao Mie turned back and glared at him, ¡°Stop shouting! And you¡¯re about to rip my clothes off! Come and help!¡± ¡°No no no, she¡¯s a lady after all. I can¡¯t lay hands on such a delicate woman!¡± Wang Xiao Mie: ¡°¡­ You still want to be a gentleman in this situation?! Open your eyes! Look at her! What delicate woman will scream ¡®I¡¯ll kill you¡¯ and then chase you around with a fruit knife?!¡± Hm? Wait a minute¡­ A fruit knife?!!! Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu were flabbergasted when they faced the crazed woman whose hair now dangled messily over her face. Somehow she had managed to acquire a fruit knife from the kitchen and was currently staring at them with murderous eyes. Wang Xiao Mi: ¡°¡­¡± Baiyu: ¡°¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie, ¡°This is the delicate girl you were talking about? This looks more like some sort of sickness, the kind that killed Makoto.¡± [TN: I¡¯m not familiar with the franchise but from what I found, I think Xiao Mie is referring to the Makoto from ¡®School Days¡¯. If you don¡¯t know about School Days and are curious, please be warned, it has a pretty disturbing plot] Baiyu, ¡°¡­ forget I said anything.¡± Advertisements ¡°I¡¯ll kill you¡­ heh heh heh¡­ It¡¯s all your fault¡­¡± The ¡®delicate¡¯ girl raised the shiny knife in her hand and charged at them. ¡°Ah!¡± Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu could not fight back. They ran to the tea table in the living room and the crazy woman chased after them, all the while waving the knife erratically. The three ran in circles around the tea table. Several times, Biayu¡¯s butt had narrowly escaped the blade of the knife! Feeling the sharpness of the blade against his butt, Baiyu yelled at Wang Xiao Mie running ahead of him, ¡°Can you please run faster! My butt¡¯s going to split! Ow! My pants!¡± After he said that, his loose pants were slashed open, exposing the floral design underpants. The psychotic woman behind him smiled vulgarly like a pervert after he had torn off a girl¡¯s clothing. Wang Xiao Mie saw the scene and couldn¡¯t help giggling. It was also then that the girl had caught up to Baiyu. Baiyu¡¯s expression drastically changed as the knife was coming down on him. Wang Xiao Mie hurriedly turned back and gave Biayu a harsh kick, plunging him into the sofa and escaping from the fatal knife stab. Baiyu, who had almost kicked the bucket, rubbed his shoulder which had been rendered numb from the kick. Still fearful, he rolled to one side and hid behind the sofa, all the while chanting, ¡°Escaping death will bring good fortune, escaping death will bring good fortune¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie was frantically recalling all the swordsmanship he had learned from his previous life. With some hesitation, he picked up the slender item on the table and pointed at the woman in a suave-looking attacking pose. The crazy woman was stumped. She gripped her kitchen knife while looking at the item aimed right at her: a back scratcher [in some places, it¡¯s also called the ¡®Don¡¯t need your help¡¯] Wang Xiao Mie faced the dangerous woman heroically but Baiyu had a grim look staring at the back scratcher in his hand. Wang Xiao Mie was putting on a brave front but internally, he was panicking. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer or I¡¯ll let you have a taste of my Xuan Feng Swordplay!¡± At this moment, Wang Xiao Mie was hoping that the woman was crazy enough to not realize that he actually had a back scratcher in his hand. The crazy woman did stop but before he could relax, he heard her sneering. Wang Xiao Mie, ¡°¡­¡± Miss, aren¡¯t you supposed to be crazy?! Now I just look ridiculous! Baiyu in hiding suddenly shouted, ¡°Take the ring off of her! It¡¯s my grandfather¡¯s relic. It can mutate a person¡¯s negative emotions and turn them violent. Removing it should wake her up!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say this earlier?!¡± Baiyu said with guilt, ¡°¡­ I was being chased all over the place, all I could think of was trying to stay alive.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: I really have to hand it to you! Wang Xiao Mie ignored him and turned to face the woman. ¡°Pretty miss, please calm down. Whatever resentment you have, you can share with us! We¡¯ll talk it through!¡± Wang Xiao Mie was only trying to buy time but who knew the woman really did stop. Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu looked at each other. Not daring to stimulate her, Wang Xiao Mie consoled her in a soft and sincere voice, ¡°That¡¯s it, tell us and we¡¯ll listen. It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re short of money or a boyfriend, we¡¯ll help you fix it.¡± Baiyu muttered from behind the sofa, ¡°I don¡¯t have money or friends who are single¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie, ¡°Shut up! I have money! And aren¡¯t you single?!¡± Hearing his words, Baiyu said bashfully, ¡°No way! I want feelings that develop over a period of time! We¡¯ve only just met.¡± Wang Xiao Mie: I really want to hit you with this back scratcher. The woman suddenly spoke, ¡°Resentment?¡± Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu, ¡°Yes, yes, yes. You¡¯re so pretty, what¡¯s there that can bother you?¡± The woman then tilted her head and shouted angrily, ¡°So what if I¡¯m flat-chested?! How dare you despise me for that! How dare you ignore my calls! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Breaking news: A woman broke into her neighbor¡¯s house in broad daylight and chased two innocent young men with a knife because her boyfriend disliked her flat chest.¡± Does this sound reasonable?! Out of curiosity, Wang Xiao Mie took a quick glance at the woman¡¯s figure behind the shriveled night dress¡­ I didn¡¯t notice before but it¡¯s indeed flat¡­ The crazy woman caught Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s undeniable expression and went berserk. She charged at him with maximum killing intent. Wang Xiao Mie had nowhere to run and had to face her with sword techniques he learned from his previous life. But in his hand was after all a back scratcher, he dared not use strong attacks and could only try ways to flick the fruit knife off her hand. As the fight was getting aggressive, Baiyu became anxious and stood up to look for weapons while trying to appease her, ¡°Miss, take it easy! He¡¯s innocent! You should know that his boyfriend¡¯s chest is totally flat!¡± Wang Xiao Mie was insulted, ¡°Nonsense! Don¡¯t think that my Xiao Wenzi only looks pretty on the outside, underneath those clothes is an incredible body! With an eight-pack and a sexy mermaid line! His chest is definitely more defined than hers!¡± Hearing those words, the woman screamed in rage and waved the fruit knife violently! Baiyu, who had just found a badminton racket, was dumbfounded, ¡°Can you at least try not to agitate her?!¡± The back scratcher was chopped but Wang Xiao Mie had also managed to hit an acupoint on her arm, disabling it and causing her to drop the knife. Wang Xiao Mie was finally able to breathe. He retorted, ¡°No way, my hubby is the best!¡± Baiyu, ¡°¡­¡± Without the knife, the woman stretched out her other hand and resorted to fighting close range. Her bright manicure shimmered under the sun as it reached for its target, replicating the ¡®Jiu Jin Bai Gu Zhao¡¯! [TN: ¾ÅÒõ°×¹Çצ, directly translated as Nine Yin White Bone Claws. Couldn¡¯t come up with a better translation for this so I¡¯m leaving it as is. It¡¯s a martial arts technique from the Legend of the Condor Heroes] Wang Xiao Mie was reluctant to hurt her. He guarded her tackle only to be knocked down by the force. The woman¡¯s clothes were now out of place while Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair had come loose. They both frolicked back and forth on the ground. Baiyu stood flabbergasted holding a racket, ¡°Woah, this is so exciting.¡± Wang Xiao Mie placed his elbow against the woman¡¯s neck to prevent her from biting him. ¡°Come help me quickly!¡± ¡°Ha? Oh! I¡¯m coming!¡± Baiyu quickly went to get a skipping rope from the shoe cabinet and tied up the woman. When he had managed to tie most of her hands and before he could feel safe, she turned and bit him on the arm! ¡°Ow ow ow! That hurts!¡± Baiyu cried miserably. ¡°It¡¯s ok, let me help you!¡± Wang Xiao Mie held back the woman¡¯s mouth and stuffed something in it. The beer in the can gushed into her mouth as she crushed the can with her teeth. Baiyu took this opportunity to pull off the ring on her finger. Having the ring taken off, the woman struggled a little before turning motionless and fainting. By now, Wang Xiao Mie and Biayu were both exhausted. They looked at each other and sat back on the ground breathing heavily. ¡°Will she be ok?¡± Wang Xiao Mie asked. ¡°It¡¯s alright, she only fainted,¡± Baiyu responded. ¡°Can you please put these kinds of things in a safe place? We¡¯re dead if there are two more of them!¡± Baiyu shook his head innocently, ¡°That¡¯s not right. I clearly put the ring together with my grandfather¡¯s things in a large box and kept it hidden in my bedroom wardrobe. How did she get hold of it? That¡¯s just too weird¡­¡± The two mulled over this matter for a while before carrying the unconscious woman to the sofa. Looking back at the scene: a woman in minimum clothing was tied up and gagged with a beer can with two big men sitting beside her gasping, if a neighbor were to see this scene, they couldn¡¯t clear their names even if they had ten mouths. Oddly enough, with all the ruckus that they made, no neighbors came knocking on their door. Baiyu explained, ¡°There are no other tenants on this floor. And the only other people living here are the grannies and uncles who stayed on the first or second floors.¡± The two continued to rest in the messy living room when there was a knock on the door again. Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu were nervous, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me there¡¯s another one.¡± But only a few seconds after the knock, the door was kicked open and Wen Feng Jin rushed in. He went straight to Wang Xiao Mie and pulled him into his arms. His eyes swept the surroundings and landed on Baiyu sitting next to the unconscious woman. Feeling the hostility in his stare, Baiyu raised his hands to show his innocence. Only then did Wen Feng Jin ignore him and turn his attention back to Wang Xiao Mie. He reached under his clothes and slowly touched about. ¡°Were you hurt anywhere?¡± ¡°No.¡± Wang Xiao Mie leaned on Wen Feng Jin and feeling the strong muscular chest, his anxiety eased up considerably. Just as he became free of worries, his impish nature emerged. Wang Xiao Mie looked at Baiyu with full-on smugness as he patted on his Xiao Wenzi¡¯s chest. Wang Xiao Mie: See! There¡¯s meat! Baiyu: ¡­ Wang Xiao Mie went on to snuggle into Wen Feng Jin¡¯s arms. Thinking that he was still in fright, Wen Feng Jin gently kissed the top of his hair and rubbed his back. Wang Xiao Mie: See! This is boyfriend power! Baiyu: ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ CH 51 ¡°What happened here?¡± Wen Feng Jin asked when he saw the woman. Wang Xiao Mie simplified the story and told Wen Feng Jin about the ring and the woman. ¡°She should be an ordinary human. The problem is with the ring Da Bai¡¯s grandfather left for him.¡± Wang Xiao Mie sighed, ¡°Da Bai, stop hiding and take that little trinket out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a trinket¡­¡±Baiyu looked at Wen Feng Jin and held back his words, ¡°Here it is.¡± A plain golden ring with the word ¡®Bai¡¯ engraved on it. It emitted a simple luster as it laid in Baiyu¡¯s palm. Two bony and sharp fingers pinched onto the ring. Wen Feng Jin held it up to his eye level and examined it in silence. Advertisements Wang Xiao Mie got out his embrace and went to cover the girl lying on the sofa with a piece of cloth. After all, she was in her skimpy pajamas and they were all male, it wasn¡¯t good to just let her lay there like that. Baiyu saw Wen Feng Jin observing the ring and said, ¡°I had definitely kept the ring well hidden. I don¡¯t know how this sister got hold of it. And I¡¯ve seen her before. She seems to rent the room opposite of me.¡± ¡°She lives opposite of you but you only recognize her now?¡± Wang Xiao Mie turned to look at him. Baiyu was quite dumbfounded. He defended himself, ¡°She¡¯s usually wearing heavy makeup. Removing your makeup is just like changing your face. If it weren¡¯t for the mole on her face, only ghosts would know who she is!¡± ¡°¡­¡± This is probably why people would advocate the benefits of having natural looking makeup. After a bottle of makeup remover, one might think that their wife had been swapped! Wang Xiao Mie rubbed his neck and stood up straight, ¡°But aren¡¯t we just unlucky? She wore that ring but didn¡¯t go after her boyfriend who provoked her. Instead she came here to chase us around. Your ring¡­ could she have stolen it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin interrupted before he could finish his sentence. ¡°It¡¯s not her. Someone had secretly planned this. The person I chased after was a doll, not a human. The books in its hands were also fake.¡± Wen Feng Jin threw away the ring and Baiyu rushed over to catch it and carefully wrapped it in a paper towel. Wen Feng Jin continued without much emotion, ¡°Your house has long been used by someone else. Even those books and tools have been raided.¡± Baiyu froze. He took a look around the living room, ¡°Really? But that¡¯s not possible. My locks are all new. And I always leave a wooden stick at the door and check for marks whenever I come back.¡± These were common anti-theft skills he learned from the internet. If it were an ordinary thief, he would not notice these things. Even those who were not familiar with Baiyu couldn¡¯t tell that this seemingly brainless simpleton would bother to guard against burglary. Wang Xiao Mie contemplated and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it was done by a stranger. Could it be someone you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the only one left in my family. After my dad and grandpa disappeared, all my relatives couldn¡¯t be more eager to distance themselves, much less be bothered with me.¡± After all, a child without parents simply means that money will have to be spent, both for school and food. Generally, relatives would not want such trouble. Baiyu felt sad having to talk about this. He covered it up and went to tidy up the living room. Wang Xiao Mie wanted to comfort him but did know the words to use. When he was little, his parents divorced and wanted nothing more than for him to disappear so as not to burden them. His grandmother had taken care of him but she had died a few years later. As such, his and Baiyu¡¯s life experiences were quite similar. And Wen Feng Jin would not comfort Baiyu in a million years. Other than Wang Xiao Mie, no one else had ever received his consideration. Besides, he had long since become an ¡®even if you don¡¯t bother me, I still want your life¡¯ demon who could very likely laugh at the misfortunes of others. There was also his bloody and harsh childhood where he had to watch every member of his family beheaded, even a chicken or dog left unspared. Compared to them, Wen Feng Jin had it worse¡­ These thoughts dimmed Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s mood. What are we? The unfortunate trio? ¡°It could be that your father or grandfather had come back.¡± Wang Xiao Mie could only think of this. Baiyu¡¯s hand froze slightly. He muttered, ¡°I wish¡± and continued to clean up. Wang Xiao Mie did not say more. He turned to ask Wen Feng Jin, ¡°Feng Jin, what doll were you talking about? That man?¡± Wen Feng Jin responded with an ¡®en¡¯. He then looked at Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s chicken nest like hair and frowned. He approached him and used his slender fingers as a comb to untangle the locks and tidy up his floor-sweeping long hair. Wen Feng Jin said with little care, ¡°That man was just an inferior prop that someone made, he¡¯s not alive.¡± His words not only startled Wang Xiao Mie but also Baiyu who had even forgotten to pack the things in his hands. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a human?!¡± The man they had seen at the window had not only smiled but had also shown several expressions on his face. His skin and facial features were exactly like that of a human being¡¯s. Even with that level of realism, it had only been an inferior product? ¡°If he¡¯s not human, then what is he? A robot?¡± Baiyu asked with awe. ¡°No.¡± Wen Feng Jin did not know what a robot was and explained, ¡°His insides were made of straw. This is something created by a certain clan of weaponsmiths. They were quite common a long time ago. These craftsmen would build wooden dolls to help them with collecting and refining materials; they¡¯re somewhat like an assistive tool.¡± Baiyu: ¡­ Mother, this thing can be made with a refiner?! Wang Xiao Mie: ¡­ So artificial humanoid helpers already existed even in ancient times? Wait, something is not right! Wang Xiao Mie asked Wen Feng Jin, ¡°How did you know that the doll is made of straw?¡± Da Bai was also scurious and looked over. Wen Feng Jin continued to focus on the black hair in his hand while saying, ¡°I saw it after twisting its head off.¡± Wang Xiao Mie and Da Bai: ¡°¡­.¡± They looked at each other. Da Bai: In my entire life, I have never been this afraid of anyone. Your husband is definitely the first! Wang Xiao Mie nodded with mutual understanding: Me too. After Baiyu had finished tidying up the place, Wen Feng Jin had also neatly adjusted Wang Xiao Mie¡¯s hair and clothes. The trio then turned their attention to the unconscious woman on the sofa. Wang Xiao Mie was concerned, ¡°What should we do with this sister?¡± If it were the bad guys, they could just clean it up but she was clearly just an innocent passerby with quite a bit of bad luck. Baiyu was also worried, ¡°The problem is why hasn¡¯t she woke up yet?¡± Wen Feng Jin said, ¡°It¡¯s too troublesome. Let¡¯s just bury her.¡± Baiyu, ¡°¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie , ¡°¡­ I beg you, please shut up.¡± Everytime you open your mouth, it just urges others to call the police! Wen Feng Jin stopped talking and Wang Xiao Mie and Baiyu, two people with non-psychotic brains, discussed whether to call an ambulance or take her directly to the hospital. After all, they were partially responsible for her current condition. The two decided unanimously to call an ambulance but they couldn¡¯t simply let the paramedics come upstairs, that would raise a lot of questions. And so, the only choice was to carry her downstairs and wait. Needless to say, unless they wanted to see Wen Feng Jin throwing her out the window, it was impossible to make him carry her, absolutely unimaginable in this lifetime. Carrying Wang Xiao Mie was the only consideration he¡¯ll ever make. Wen Feng Jing wouldn¡¯t carry her and refused to let Wang Xiao Mie do it either. So in the end, it all came down to Baiyu. Under the hot summer sun, Baiyu had to carry an adult woman down six flights of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, Baiyu collapsed on the ground and breathed heavily, unable even to speak. Feeling apologetic, Wang Xiao Mie ran to a small shop he remembered they passed by on the way and bought him a few bottles of cold beverages. ¡°Thanks for your hard work. I¡¯ll make lamb chops tonight to compensate you.¡± Wang Xiao Mie told Baiyu while also looking at Wen Feng Jin. It was obviously unsafe at Baiyu¡¯s place and seeing how much they have in common, Wang Xiao Mie was moved and wanted to take Baiyu in temporarily. His concern was that Wen Feng Jin would not agree. Seeing that Wen Feng Jin did not react, Wang Xiao Mie pulled him aside and whispered, ¡°Feng Jin, I want¡­ to let Baiyu stay with us for a while. He clearly can¡¯t stay in his apartment anymore and the doll¡¯s behavior before wasn¡¯t anything kind either. Plus his life is quite sad, he probably¡­¡± ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°¡­ has nowhere else to go¡­ hm?!! What did you say just now?¡± Wang Xiao Mie stopped talking and stared at him in surprise. Wen Feng Jin had agreed too readily, making him wonder if the man in front of him was possessed. ¡°I said ¡®fine¡¯, he can bring those things over, however¡­¡± Wen Feng Jin¡¯s handsome face showed neither joy nor anger, ¡°He has to let me take charge of them for the time being.¡± Wang Xiao Mie was baffled, ¡°You want his stuff?¡± Wen Feng Jin denied, ¡°Those are useless to me but it was obvious that these people came here for it. Letting him keep them will bring a lot of trouble.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Wang Xiao Mie did not doubt his words. They both don¡¯t age nor die, what was there in this world that could move Wen Feng Jin? And so he nodded, ¡°Let me discuss this with Baiyu, those books were left to him by his grandfather after all.¡± Wen Feng Jin agreed without saying anything else. Wang Xiao Mie returned to Baiyu to discuss. Baiyu was embarrassed staying over at their house and repeatedly shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be shy about. You know about him and I.¡± Wang Xiao Mie smiled and pointed to himself and Wen Feng Jin, ¡°None of us are human so as long as you¡¯re not scared, it¡¯ll be fine. The thing is, for safety¡¯s sake, Feng Jin said that you should let him keep those things for now. But, you can take them back whenever you want.¡± ¡°What happened just now was quite dangerous. Someone had planned this¡­ So something might happen if you¡¯re alone.¡± Wang Xiao Mie said no more. Certain things shouldn¡¯t be forced. Extending kindness is good but it also depends on whether the person really wanted it. Wang Xiao Mie sat with Baiyu for a while before hearing him say, ¡°Thank you both. I¡¯ll have to trouble you in the future¡­ I¡¯ll try to find another place as soon as possible and I¡¯ll pay you rent every month!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t. The one thing I don¡¯t need the most right now is money.¡± Wang Xiao Mie laughed. Baiyu was also happy with the decision and looked at him with envy. Standing behind them, Wen Feng Jin watched with his eyes as dark as the night. When the ambulance arrived to send the girl to the hospital, they claimed that they only happened to see her faint at the entrance. The doctor did not suspect that the three men had done anything to her. After all, other than the dark-skinned fellow, the two men with long hair were a lot better looking than the girl lying on the stretcher! Even though one of them had a pair of scary pupils and long silver hair, he did not think too much of it. The youngsters of today could be seen wearing elaborate makeup and wigs, there was nothing he had not seen before. By the time Wang Xiao Mie had paid the hospital fee, left his number, and taken the cab back to Biayu¡¯s apartment to pack up his stuff, it was already three in the afternoon by the time they began their return trip to the villa. Back home, Wang Xiao Mie prepared a guest room on the first floor for Baiyu and just as he turned to look, Wen Feng Jin had already gone upstairs with Baiyu¡¯s box of scriptures. He probably went to get a change of clothes. Wang Xiao Mie knew that Wen Feng Jin was a neat freak. He smiled and went to grab a few ingredients from the fridge to prepare dinner. He made a bowl of spinach and meatball soup together with two side dishes and a big plate of fried lamb chops. After giving it some thought, he finally decided to take out the frozen dumplings and made a portion specially for Baiyu. He used to see parents making a bowl of soup dumplings for their children when they had to leave home for a long time. He wasn¡¯t sure where Baiyu came from or that he had this custom but he still decided to make it anyway. At the dinner table, the food gave off a mouthwatering fragrance. The scrumptious lamb chops and side dishes were enough to make one¡¯s stomach growl. But Baiyu was stunned when he saw the bowl of dumplings in front of him. ¡°Eat.¡± Wang Xiao Mie and Wen Feng Jin had begun to eat while Baiyu started to slowly sip from the warm bowl of dumpling soup. The clearly visible pair of eyes against his dark skin were turning red, filled with a layer of mist. Wang Xiao Mie saw it but he did not say anything. Back then, he was just like Baiyu, yearning for heartwarming food and lively laughter that he¡¯d heard drifting through the walls of someone else¡¯s house¡­ But now, he has a partner. Wang Xiao Mie looked at the pair of chopsticks picking up a piece of meat and placing it in his bow. He smiled at Wen Feng Jin and did the same for him. This is good. He thought: It would be good if they could spend the rest of their lives this way. After eating, Baiyu went to clean the dishes without saying anything. The trio then went to watch TV with a plate of fruits before Baiyu and Wang Xiao Mie said goodnight to each other. Standing in the bathroom after taking his bath, Wang Xiao Mie lifted his wet hair and walked towards the mirror. Looking at his reflection, he suddenly froze! His pupils shrank as he observed the marks growing from his heart over to his whole shoulder! The big mass was spreading sporadically! Wang Xiao Mie looked at the mirror and muttered in utter disbelief, ¡°What the hell is this?!¡± CH 52 Chapter 52 Believe it or not, I¡¯ll hatch eggs for you! ¡®Clomp clomp clomp!¡¯ ¡®Clomp clomp clomp!¡¯ The sound of running came from the stairs, which were approaching quickly from afar. Wen Fengjin frowned and looked at the door as he changed into his nightgown and prepared to lie in the coffin. The door swung open the following second, and a wet and slick dumb guy stepped into Wen Fengjin''s line of sight. The fool¡¯s eyes were wide open and his hair was sticking out randomly as he shouted in panic and horror. "Xiao Wenzi! I¡¯m growing hairy!" "..." For a brief period, Wen Fengjin remained quiet, his long and narrow deep eyes slowly dropping, tracing the water drops running down from the pink fruit over the smooth belly to the sunken navel. They eventually landed on the little thing, which was likewise dripping wet and dangling a little due to racing... "Yeah." Wen Fengjin observed, "It''s long and looks beautiful." {WXM says "ÎÒ³¤Ã«ÁË" The word ³¤ can mean chang: long and also zhang: head; grow; increase. ë=hair} Wang Xiaomie, who was terrified enough to turn into a hamster, was taken aback when he noticed Wen Fengjin''s gaze. He lowered his head and noticed his little brother shivering from the chill caused by the air conditioner. "..." "Ah~!" Wang Xiaomie''s face flushed, and he reached for the nightgown draped on the chair next to him, putting it on regardless of whether he was wet or not. He''d simply hurried out, his mind blank from fear, and had completely forgotten to put on his bathrobe! Wang Xiaomie, who had flown into a rage due to embarrassment, cried after wrapping up the clothing, "I''m not talking about that hair! It''s my chest! CHEST! I just saw in the mirror that my chest and shoulders are completely red with a feather-like veined pattern!" "Zongzi is also a corpse! Fengjin, do you think I''ll keep growing hair after the expiration date? yingyingying¡­" Wen Fengjin: "..." Wang Xiaomie, seeing that Wen Fengjin was silent and didn''t speak, assumed that he''d guessed correctly and became even more terrified: "Everything was fine before. Why are there so many red tattoos popping up all of a sudden? Is it because it''s too hot in the summer? Will my body rot in a matter of days...forget it. Let me die." Wang Xiaomie let out a loud cry as he remembered the zombies in horror movies with hideous faces, jet-black nails, and covered in black hair from head to toe. Wen Fengjin frowned, stepped out of the coffin, and approached Wang Xiaomie. With one hand, he grasped Xiaomie''s damp hair and swept his palm over the long, dripping hair, creating a white mist to rise as the hair dried and turned fluffy. Wang Xiaomie''s nightgown was softly lifted by the other hand''s fingers. The loose nightgown slipped off, revealing rounded shoulders and a prominent collarbone that outlined a beautiful arc, as well as smooth skin that was soft and youthful with no extra lines telling the story of the infinite vitality concealed beneath this slow-beating heart. There was no evidence of the red feather pattern that Wang Xiaomie had complained about. The icy, pointy fingertips pushed against the flesh, pressed a small indentation, and glided down the thin chest along the collarbone before resting over the heart and covering it with the full palm. Wang Xiaomie flinched in fear. Wen Fengjin''s long and narrow eyes hung low as he examined the body he''d expertly nourished and found no problems. "Zombies do have a layer of hair on their skin, and the color of the hair can indicate the age of a zombie." Wen Fengjin let go of his palm and pinched Wang Xiaomie''s chin, lifting his anxious face. The clear eyes reflected a man with silver hair that cascaded down his shoulders, gorgeous enough to be a little sharp. Wen Fengjin''s mood improved when he looked at himself in those eyes, and his thin rosy lips curved at the corners. "But you are not a true zombie. You were raised by my blood sacrifice. Even after obtaining that portion of Yan Chun, your heart continues to beat slowly. Xiaomie, you''re the same as before. Are you certain you''re not overly nervous today? "It shouldn''t be, I saw it..." Wang Xiaomie carefully recalled what he saw in the mirror just now, but the mirror was fogged by hot water at the time, so he was skeptical after hearing what Wen Fengjin stated. "That thing is like a tattoo," Wang Xiaomie remarked. "It''s red and like a feather." Wen Fengjin thought for a while after hearing this, "What were you doing just now?" "I didn''t do anything; I just took a hot bath." "Hot water..." Wen Fengjin suddenly swung his arms around Wang Xiaomie''s waist. Wang Xiaomie stumbled and bumped his forehead into Wen Fengjin''s chest. Something soft touched him behind his ears and sucked hard before he could ask a question. "!!!" Wang Xiaomie extended out his fingers and tightly clutched the soft nightgown on Wen Fengjin''s chest, closed his eyes, and controlled himself while blushing, his brilliant and clean forehead pressed against Fengjin''s muscular chest. A half-minute had elapsed. Overhead, a hoarse bass pierced his skull and brain. "Okay," Fengjin remarked at this point. Okay? What exactly did he mean? Wen Fengjin pulled Wang Xiaomie away with his shoulders, but there was no tenderness or smile on his face. Those dark eyes were staring coldly at his neck. Wang Xiaomie cocked his head to glance at his shoulder. "F*ck, it''s there again!" He noticed blood red and thin lines wrapping over his left chest and shoulder and spreading all the way up to his neck, forming a slew of feather-shaped totems. Wen Fengjin''s face sank, and he felt the same smooth skin when he pressed on the pattern. There were no protrusions in the area, nor was it a simple tattoo inscribed on the skin, but rather a red line buried in flesh and blood. "Does it hurt?" Wen Fengjin squeezed on the bit of skin. Wang Xiaomie shook his head: "It doesn''t hurt. I''m not feeling it at all. I didn''t have anything like this before. Is it because of Zhen Bei and that Yan Chun dude?" "This is not certain, and it could be related to the elixir''s efficacy. After all, it is one-of-a-kind and has no written records, let alone predecessors who know what would happen if the elixir is consumed." When Wen Fengjin saw this feather design, the first phrase that came to his mind was ''Ascension to Immortal[1],'' and something beyond his control made his face look ugly, and his fingers stroked over that spot. He stated: "Let''s wait a night and see what happens. If it is the elixir''s effect, we can only observe it gradually." Wang Xiaomie nodded, and the lines on his body vanished after a while. They were both lying back in the coffin. The room was dark after the lights were turned off, and Wang Xiaomie hugged Wen Fengjin firmly and sobbed, "Xiao Wenzi." A moment later, he called out, "Fengjin." Wen Fengjin was not irritable. He let Wang Xiaomie rest his head on his shoulder and leisurely kissed the whorl of his hair. "Go to sleep; I''ll watch over you." The mesmerizing voice gently reassured Wang Xiaomie, giving him a great sense of security. "Hmm." He responded, closed his eyes, and napped for a time, but couldn''t stop peering at his shoulder or looking up at Wen Fengjin''s jaw in the dark. A cool kiss brushed on his eyelids suddenly. The eye that was subjected to the external force closed automatically, leaving only one large eye that blinked uncomfortably. "Xiao Wenzi..." "Yeah?" "Will I grow feathers all over my body and become a birdman?" "...No." "Xiao Wenzi." "What?" "In case¡­if by chance I really become a birdman, will you still..." "Yes." "...So resolute? No hesitation at all?" "Um." "...After turning into such a big bird in the future, what if I want to sleep in a bird''s nest rather than in a coffin?" "We¡¯ll make our way back to the underground palace. The acacia tree is a good place to put a bird''s nest." "What if I lay eggs?" "As you wish." "How about we eat those eggs? Boiled or fried? Steamed egg custard with salt is my favorite." "Hatch, don''t eat." "...Hatch a nest of little bird people? When I think of my kids eating worms and flying around the house on a daily basis, I don¡¯t want to raise them. I won¡¯t bring them up." "I¡¯ll raise them." "......" For a brief while, Wang Xiaomie was strangely silent. He yanked open Wen Fengjin''s loose pajamas and buried his face in them, murmuring, "Won''t you find them repulsive? Think about it, birdman!" Wang Xiaomie didn''t hear Wen Fengjin say anything. He waited for a long time and was about to raise his head in puzzlement when he heard Fengjin exclaim bluntly, "...Disgusting." Wang Xiaomie: "..." You''re done for, you''re toast, laozi will kick you in the crotch and turn you into a childless scumbag! Wang Xiaomie scowled and prepared to bite Wen Fengjin. He was on the verge of opening his mouth and biting the flesh in front of him. "If you hatch them, I won''t (think them disgusting)," Wen Fengjin added. Wang Xiaomie halted, closed his mouth, wiped the saliva from it quietly, and silently stuffed his face back. "...Xiao Wenzi." "Yeah?" "I''m worried that I won''t be able to sleep. I don''t want to become a birdman." "I''ll accompany you." "Then sing a song for me. I might fall asleep if I listen to it. " Wang Xiaomie remarked this casually. He was surprised to hear Wen Fengjin hum an old Northern Kingdom nursery rhyme. He muttered to himself, ''I taught you this,'' and then ceased speaking. Wen Fengjin''s voice was really nice to listen to. The raspy, cold voice had a unique magnetic bass. It would make people''s ears itch as soon as it came out of his throat. There was no additional light in the dim coffin, and the illuminating night pearl was removed and covered up with the double phoenix red quilt. Wang Xiaomie closed his eyes and listened to the nursery rhyme singing near his ears. He finally fell asleep after a few tries. When he awoke the next morning, it was already bright, and he was still in Wen Fengjin''s arms. Wen Fengjin opened his eyes as soon as he moved: "Awake?" "Umm, didn''t you sleep last night?" Wang Xiaomie questioned, stretching his stiff waist. "I don''t need sleep." Wen Fengjin put his hand on Wang Xiaomie''s neck and observed it when he finished speaking, but there was still nothing on it. After being apprehensive for the entire night, this thing didn''t hurt or itch, and they had no idea what it was. Wang Xiaomie simply ignored it and resigned himself to fate. As a result, he comforted Wen Fengjin and continued to do what he was supposed to do. Whatever happens tomorrow, life must go on for now. Bai Yu, who was downstairs, had already gotten up early and had taken care of the cleaning conscientiously. Wang Xiaomie went downstairs after washing up and into the kitchen to start breakfast, while Wen Fengjing stood in front of the small desk with Bai Yu''s cardboard box upstairs. He picked up a book and opened it, the bottom of his droopy eyes shimmering with an odd light. Wang Xiaomie frequently made jokes and indulged in buffoonery with Bai Yu after he moved in. Despite the fact that his memory had been restored, Wang Xiaomie was more impressed by the carefree college life. Bai Yu was a classic little sand sculpture[2], and the two could giggle until their tummies hurt while watching TV together. Wang Xiaomie didn''t inform Bai Yu about the situation on his neck, but he did observe it for a day. But nothing happened today! Is it truly a side effect of the pill? Wang Xiaomie couldn''t figure out what was going on. When it came time to cook dinner, he wanted to saute steak, but they''d used up all of the butter. They could have used olive oil instead, but they didn''t have any on hand! "Fengjinnnn, we''ve run out of butter!" shouted Wang Xiaomie at the top of his lungs. "You''ve run out of butter? I''ll go out and get it!" Bai Yu poked his head out the kitchen door frame. Wang Xiaomie pondered it and stated, "Let Fengjin purchase it. These items are available at a grocery near our home. You may not know it, and Fengjin is faster." "Yeah, you''re right," Bai Yu said, scratching his head as he remembered Wen Fengjin''s "leaping onto roofs and vaulting over walls" style. Boss Wen, King Xiaomie''s ''errand boy,'' soon appeared downstairs. He''d already changed his clothing and picked up the keys and phone from the table to go purchase butter. Bai Yu quietly sighed as he noticed no displeasure on his face at being treated as an errand boy: It looks like Wang Xiaomie is still at the top of the food chain in this family! After ten minutes. Wang Xiaomie, who was busy in the kitchen, heard the doorbell ring. He went outside and spotted Bai Yu, who had also heard the doorbell, exiting the room. Bai Yu was ready to answer the door, muttering, "He¡¯s back so soon. This speed is astounding." Wang Xiaomie frowned when he heard this. Something isn''t right. Wen Fengjin generally took twenty minutes to make a trip there. "Wait! Don¡¯t open the door just yet." "Huh?" Bai Yu instantly let go of the door handle and spun around to inquire, "What''s the matter?" Wang Xiaomie''s heart was filled with an inexplicable feeling. He didn''t say anything, but hurried to the villa''s door and twisted off the cover over the peephole. Because it was night and the man had his back to the light, he could only see that he was a very ordinary-looking man, dressed in home clothes, like a neighbor knocking on the door, but they rarely saw neighbors nearby, and when they did, they departed quickly, without stopping to talk. "Could it be that I think too much... Da Bai, take a look. Why do I think this person is weird?" Wang Xiaomie gave Da Bai his position. Bai Yu leaned in suspiciously to see through the peephole. "What''s the problem? Isn''t it Boss Wen?" Wang Xiaomie watched Bai Yu fix his gaze on the peephole for a brief while before abruptly ceasing to move. When he turned around, he had a terrified expression on his face. "It''s that man¡ªit''s that man!!!" he cried, his voice quivering. Wang Xiaomie frowned: "That man? Which one?" Bai Yu''s pupils were dilated and his face was pallid. He fell apart and whisper-shouted, "It''s the monster[3] that almost murdered me previously!" while gripping Wang Xiaomie''s shoulders and retreating to the sofa. "!!!" F*ck! This dude actually knocked on our door! Wang Xiaomie''s expression changed as well, but he then remembered that he still had Wen Fengjin! His Xiao Wenzi was so domineering everyday, and he would blow this thing away in minutes! Thinking of this, Wang Xiaomei''s lofty dreams and lofty goals were instantly rekindled, and he calmed the terrified Da Bai. "How dare he drop in! Da Bai, don''t be afraid. I¡¯ll let my Xiao Wenzi beat him to death!" "Boss Wen is really great." Bai Yu covered his face, "But he''s not at home right now!" "..." Oh, he¡¯d forgotten about it. "...What should we do now?" Bai Yu said. "I guess we can be afraid now," Wang Xiaomie sighed. Bai Yu: "..." Footnotes: [1] yu hua deng xian: An idiom that means a person attains Dao and ascends to immortality. Describes individuals who are detached from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It can also allude to the end of one''s life. [2] An Internet buzzword. It rhymes with silly di*khead in Mandarin, so basically "dumba**." [3] The term used here is y¨¬ z¨², which translates literally as "different tribe." It is used to describe foreigners, as well as animals and plants that are not human. Given Bai Yu''s dread, I chose "monster" in this context. Translator: Hello, readers! I¡¯m taking up IHSC from Translating Boredom. They did an excellent job. I hope you find my work enjoyable as well. Please leave a comment and share your thoughts/suggestions. I adore Xiaomie, and I''m sure you do as well. Let''s see where WXM and WFJ''s journey takes us. I translate as I read, so no spoilers please. I hope to see you again! Have a wonderful weekend! CH 53 Chapter 53 Sailor Moon The man outside the door continued to ring the doorbell. It appeared he would keep pressing it until they opened the door. The shrill doorbell sounded repeatedly. The two scum with barely five combat power[1] trembled and huddled together inside the door. "Brother, brother...Do you think this looks like The Ring[2]?" Bai Yu¡¯s teeth clattered. Wang Xiaomie was silent for a minute as he peered out the window at the pitch-black night and the doorbell ringing ceaselessly at the door. Stop talking! Shit, it''s really quite similar. "...Let''s go upstairs and hide. We just need to hold out until Fengjin comes back!" Wang Xiaomie lowered his voice and murmured to Bai Yu, "Go, be quiet." Bai Yu nodded fervently, and the two crouched behind the sofa, cautiously moving towards the stairs. The harsh doorbell abruptly ceased ringing at this point. When the large room suddenly quieted down, Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu froze in place and glanced at each other. Da Bai swallowed and turned to face Wang Xiaomie, asking, "Why didn''t he keep pressing it...is it possible that he left?" "I don''t think that¡¯s possible." Wang Xiaomie straightened up slightly and glanced at the porch, "Wait a minute! This thing won¡¯t come in, right?!" "F*ck, don''t scare me!" Bai Yu''s usually dark complexion turned pale with fear as he glanced back and forth with wide black eyes after hearing what was spoken. He could likely scare himself to death without even waiting for the monster to come in. While checking the room, Wang Xiaomie consoled him: "Don''t you know how to refine weapons? You''ve also tracked others. You have no need to be terrified of a monster!" "I wasn''t scared before because I thought I could beat him," Bai Yu muttered. Wang Xiaomie, who had looked around but had not found anyone, heard this and shrank back to inquire, "What about now?" The dark and swarthy Bai Yu admitted honestly, "Now I think I thought too much." "..." Wang Xiaomie was speechless. The corners of his mouth twitched as he sat with his back to the sofa, not daring to move. Bai Yu huddled up to the side as well. ''Knock, knock, knock.'' ''Knock, knock, knock.'' "Da Bai, can you stop trembling? Your feet are shaking like pile driving," Wang Xiaomie said, turning his head. "I''m not trembling," Bai Yu said, perplexed. Wang Xiaomie: "You say you''re not trembling, so what''s that pounding sound?" Bai Yu: "You are trembling?" Wang Xiaomie glared at him: "Nonsense! Even if I tremble, my slippers can''t create this sound." "But, I''m also wearing slippers!" "..." When they looked at one another, they could see the panic in each other''s eyes. "If it''s not you or me, who is it? Could it be..." ''Knock, knock, knock.'' ''Knock, knock, knock.'' When he heard the sound so close by, Bai Yu almost burst into tears. Wang Xiaomie''s expression changed dramatically as well. He listened intently for a time and discovered that the sound was coming from the French window opposite the sofa in the living room. Wang Xiaomie extended his hand and poked Bai Yu next to him, gesturing, ''It''s the French window over there - let''s take a look together-'' Bai Yu nodded with pallid lips; Wang Xiaomie counted softly, "1~2~3!" Two heads, one black and one white, popped out from behind the sofa to peer out the French window. When they noticed a grinning man in home-wear staring at them and knocking on the glass with a bent finger, their hair ''raised'' and a film of cold sweat appeared on their backs! "F*ck, f*ck, f*ck!!!" Bai Yu screamed and drew Wang Xiaomie behind the sofa. Wang Xiaomie''s heart was pounding as he gasped in shock. "Why hasn''t Boss Wen returned yet¡ª¡ª!" Bai Yu wanted to cry but had no tears as he stared at Wang Xiaomie. "Brother, you are a good person. The other party is out to get me. I''ll open the door and rush out in a moment. You, you flee to the second floor and hide. I''ll eat the steak you cooked in the next life." Wang Xiaomie had not expected the cowardly Bai Yu to be courageous at this moment. His loyalty touched him, but when he heard that despite his anxiety, this chap didn''t forget they were eating steak tonight, he couldn''t help but laugh. Wang Xiaomie had this problem. The more nervous he was, the more terrified he was, the lower his bar for humor would be, so he couldn''t help but laugh out loud. The pressure was relieved significantly after laughing. He patted Da Bai on the shoulder: "Don''t worry, we''re not going to die. Think of what happened to that girl''s affair yesterday. Didn''t we come out on top? So, your weapon is on the first floor, and my dagger is on the second. Let''s rush to our rooms and then come downstairs to kill this sonofabit*h!" Moreover, Wen Fengjin would return in five minutes. No matter how, they had to brace themselves until that moment. Bai Yu wiped the cold sweat from his brow and nodded emphatically: "OK!" They quietly changed their positions after nodding at each other, ready to leap out at any minute, but then a blood-curdling screech erupted from outside the window! Then came the dull and violent sound of combat! Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu''s eyes lit up as they heard the sound: could it be that Wen Fengjin had returned? The two slowly stretched their heads outside, only to discover that the man outside the French window had vanished. Wang Xiaomie hesitated before saying, "Wait for me here, I''ll take a look." After speaking, he picked up the little teapot next to the sofa and was about to go over, but Bai Yu grabbed him and said, "Brother, don''t go, I''ll go first! If there is anything, I can run faster than you." But I''m immortal! Do you have an endless ''save file''? You will be thoroughly dead once you die. However, sensing Da Bai''s determination, Wang Xiaomie could only answer, "Let''s go together, it''ll be safer." "Okay." So the two of them, one holding a teapot and the other a vase, walked softly towards the French window, twisting their ''weapons'' in their hands. The sound of the struggle progressively became clearer, while at the position outside the window where the man had stood a minute before was a pool of a black paint-like substance, most likely blood. The battle appeared to be taking place in the villa''s courtyard. Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu were almost dumbfounded when they stuck their noses to the French window and gazed over at the people fighting together. After a while. Wang Xiaomie rubbed his eyes and questioned Bai Yu blankly: "Is it possible that I''m going blind? Why do I think I''ve seen Sailor Moon?" Bai Yu''s throat bobbed as he foolishly stated, "I haven''t seen the Sailor Moon animated series... But if you call the girl wearing a blue and white short skirt with golden double ponytails, a moon headband on her head, and a blood-stained magic wand in her hand knocking hard on people''s heads Sailor Moon, then yeah..." "......" "......" Wang Xiaomie buried his face in his hands. It¡¯s really Sailor Moon! What a strange Sailor Moon! What Day is it today? Tandem Play? Shouldn''t it be some Lin Daozhang[3] or Mao Daozhang who defeats this type of zongzi? I know costumes are expensive, but did you have to cosplay as Sailor Moon to tease us? And it''s a f*cking manic version, too? Is it fun to have blood flying into the air with the ponytail? Are you using Sailor Moon''s magic wand as a brick wheel?! That ferocious-looking man had been beaten and had vomited blood! "Ahhh - I''m going to kill you - ah ah ah!" The ferocious-looking man on the ground, his skin and meridians exposed, struggled frantically. The man had scarcely finished threatening when he was repeatedly pounded into miserable shrieks by ''Sailor Moon''s'' staff, who was expressionless yet was unusually savage. A small pool of blood had formed on the ground. The dull thumping sound made one feel the same pain. Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu couldn''t help but frown. They couldn''t bear looking straight at the sight and covered their eyes with their palms, peeking between their fingers. And it was clear that it was a one-sided thrashing. The strange and beautiful girl was clearly far more powerful than the freakish man. The man or monster on the ground soon ceased to move, and she shook off the blood on the magic wand. Her sweet face and her entirely indifferent demeanor as she stood up did not match at all. Her attractive eyes met Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu coldly, and she moved over without saying anything. When Wang Xiaomie noticed the viscous black liquid running down from the somewhat childish magic wand, he quickly pulled Bai Yu and took a step back. Ghosts knew what this strangely dressed but ruthless ''Sailor Moon'' who appeared at the house door in the middle of the night would do! Bai Yu recovered his senses as he glanced at the girl who was slowly approaching them, backing away uneasily while warning with complete lack of confidence. "What, what are you doing?! I warn you: don''t think because you''re a girl that I won''t strike you!" ''Sailor Moon'' on the opposite side froze for a moment and then stopped, just as Wang Xiaomie was about to say, ''It would be great if they didn''t beat us up.'' Wang Xiaomie: Huh?! Did it really work?! "F*ck, is my domineering aura already so awesome?" Bai Yu was clearly surprised as well, and he laughed a bit smugly. The puppet-like blank ''Sailor Moon'' opposite them shuddered from head to toe before he could finish being complacent. Her appearance startled Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu. Wang Xiaomie frowned and hesitantly called out to her: "Hey, little girl, are you alright? Hello?" "She can''t be hurt or sick, can she?" Bai Yu was nervous as well: "You know what? Even touching porcelain[4] don¡¯t play like this!" "Why don''t we go see her?" Wang Xiaomie expressed this. "But, what if she''s a bad person?" An ordinary human couldn''t possibly have beaten that monster into this state, could they? Bai Yu looked at Wang Xiaomie with some hesitation. But before they could reach a decision, the lovely girl collapsed to her knees with a thud, right in front of Wang Xiaomie. Wang Xiaomie: ...Aiqing[5], please rise. I don''t have a red envelope. They noticed Wen Fengjin standing behind the ''beautiful girl'' and lightly raising his right hand when she half-knelt down. Wen Fengjin grasped the shopping bag in one hand, the fingertips of the other slightly curled, and the red pattern on his glabella became even more vivid due to his black attire and silver hair, while his deep pupils flashed crimson and gloomy. The pretty girl on the ground embraced her body even harder in pain when his lifted hand moved slightly. The unseen wind stirred, and the difficult-to-breathe atmosphere reminded Wang Xiaomie of Wen Fengjin''s dealings with Yan Chun and the others in the underground palace. "Xiao Wenzi!" "Boss Wen!" When Wang Xiaomie spotted Wen Fengjin, he immediately felt relieved, and his face brightened up with joy. Wen Fengjin, on the other hand, shook his head just as Bai Yu was ready to go outside. "Is the thing on the ground yours?" he asked, turning his head to look at the corner where the darkness was not illuminated by the dim light. Something moved in the shadows and gradually materialized in their line of sight. It was a man with a long braid and jacket in his early years. He appeared to be under thirty years old, with a young and attractive appearance, like a gentle scholar from a distinguished family. His dark hair, however, was peppered with gray, like people in their 50s and 60s. With his hands clasped behind his back, the corners of his mouth perked up slightly. His long, narrow eyes should have given him the appearance of a fox, but he looked gentle. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Guys, don''t be angry. I''m also a ''craftsman,'' and this foolish child in my family has been following this zombie for quite some time." He cupped his hands in greeting to Wen Fengjin: "For the sake of saving those two, please spare my child." This man possessed a maturity and stability that belied his appearance, like an aloof self-cultivating elderly sage. His smile appeared genuine, and his voice was sincere enough that it was difficult to be upset by him. A great pressure and powerful force slammed past him just as he finished speaking. It could instantly crush a person''s internal organs and send him to the hospital, yet the man standing opposite did not even change his smile, remaining in the hands cupped posture. "Save?" Wen Fengjin gave him a half-smile and let go of the hand that was controlling the strange female on the ground. "You can take her away, but the only thing you can bring back the next time I see her ''saving'' anything from here is her head." "I will absolutely keep it in mind," the man nodded and said as he straightened up, his demeanor unaffected. The man lowered his hands after speaking, the smile on his serene and intelligent face faded, and he walked to the girl''s side. With one hand, he picked up the girl who was lying still on the ground and held her in his arms as if she were his daughter. He also tapped the tip of the young lady''s nose. "Let''s see if you''re still naughty and proud. You''ve been taught a lesson, haven¡¯t you?" He appeared to be reprimanding, but his tone was quite soft. He straightened up and was about to leave with the child in his arms when he caught sight of the person on the other side of the glass window. The man''s face seemed astonished, and his slender eyes widened slightly. He seemed to take two unintentional steps forward, his forehead brushing against the glass. He instantly came to a halt, however, as a slow-moving line of blood emerged on his white neck, a little scarlet oozing out from the inside and staining the jacket''s collar. "Take your eyes off him," Wen Fengjin said from behind him. "That belongs to me," his eerie voice crept into the two men''s ears. "I''ve truly¡ªoffended." The man curled his fingers, took a step back, and resumed his friendly and cheerful demeanor. "However, you have a really good collection. That is to say, he may run into a little trouble. I''ve dealt with similar situations before, so you can come to me at any time if you need help." The man carefully placed a business card on the ground after tapping his shoulder with his finger. "Then, see you later." The man in the jacket who was holding the strange girl disappeared outside the villa. Sharpened fingers twirled the card on the ground after finally regaining calm. Wang Xiaomie jumped atop Wen Fengjin after opening the French window. He hurriedly recounted the thrilling scenario that had just occurred, while Bai Yu breathed a sigh of relief and replaced the vase. The other side. A handsome man with graying hair in a braid and wearing a jacket strolled down the silent road, holding a girl in his arms. He supported the girl who was slipping again, smiled affectionately at the person in his arms, and asked, "Isn''t he wonderful? Even better than the visitor we had?" "Did you also disobey my orders because of him?" "..." "You can''t do this again. We can¡¯t afford to offend the person beside him." "..." "Okay, okay, don''t be grumpy. Soon..." The man raised his head to gaze at the moon hanging in the dark night sky. "He¡¯ll definitely come looking for me..." Footnotes: [1] A Dragon Ball reference. It means they''re terrible at fighting. [2] A 1998 Japanese suspense thriller film based on Suzuki Koji''s suspenseful science fiction novel "The Ring." [3] Daoist/Taoist priest. [4] Refers to a widespread fraud in PRC involving deliberately crashing cars and then demanding compensation. [5] The Emperor''s term for his subjects. It basically means, "My dear officials." During the Song dynasty, aiqing was a word used to describe a brothel woman. I''ll leave it up to you to figure out which one Xiaomie means. Personally, I feel he is using "dear official." Translator: A new character! What do you think, guys? Friend or foe? He''s a craftsman, so perhaps he''s Bai Yu''s future shifu? CH 54 Chapter 54 Honest kids get to eat ¡®candy¡¯ A month later. When Wang Xiaomie peered in the mirror, he saw the red feather design snaking up from his chest. His fair complexion accentuated it, and the tattoo, which resembled a painting of linked capillaries, emphasized the sense of beauty like a rose in the snow. Wang Xiaomie stroked his finger on the left side of his face along the curve of his chin, and red sharp buds appeared, half a finger''s length longer than a month earlier. The rounded finger measured the distance between the left eye''s corner and the blossoming scarlet bud. ...It''s gotten closer to my eye. Furthermore, the tattoo appeared to be entangled with his body and became inextricably linked with him, despite the fact that they remained two completely separate entities. It was similar to a pregnant woman. The two lives are so connected that they can clearly feel the presence of the other. The round fingertips pressed down hard, and the feather lines under his fingers emitted an incomprehensible sensation and acute agony. Wang Xiaomie frowned and loosened his grip, biting his bottom lip. His expression turned a bit ugly. Not only is this thing strange, but it¡¯s also... Wang Xiaomie returned to the upstairs bedroom. His gaze was drawn to the person seated at the desk in the room as soon as he entered it. At that moment, it appeared as if a filter had been placed over his eyes. His eyes sparkled with an incomprehensible light, and ''greedily'' swept over the man with crossed legs leaning back on the chair, one hand holding a book, and his long and narrow drooping eyes. The room was filled with a bitter and astringent medicinal fragrance unique to the other party. Wang Xiaomie appeared to have switched perspectives at this point. From the standpoint of a stranger, he returned to a God-like view of the man who slept by his side every day. His eyeballs rolled slowly, as though they were floating away from that slender yet powerful figure. The other person had just finished bathing, and his long silver hair was spread out gorgeously and nobly. Some strands dropped on his shoulders and flowed down to his lower abdomen, forming a silver circle, while others simply hung down from the sides of his face, their ends squeezed behind his back, but the majority of them went past the back of the chair and onto the velvety carpet. The nightgown was too big to hide those long, straight legs. If you felt with your hands, you''d think the stretch between the knee and the ankle would never end. Wang Xiaomie blinked as though scorched when the legs suddenly moved. He was a little embarrassed, but his long eyelashes obscured his pupils and his inexplicable perspective insisted on roving up. Wang Xiaomie''s gaze was fixed on the other party''s chest. The man had a great physique. After all, he was a martial arts practitioner and was known as the "No.1 person" back then, therefore his chest would not be as thin as Wang Xiaomie''s. Every bit of flesh was covered in supple skin and carried a great explosive force, which was full of beauty when not moving, and full of wildness and formidable might when it burst! He lowered his eyes and crouched quietly, like a resting silver fierce beast. When he pounced, he would rip everything apart, exposing its flesh and blood, heart, and most secret darkness to the air... Wang Xiaomie bobbed his throat as he quietly expelled the breath he was holding and raised his hand to cover his nose and mouth. From the blazing red pattern between the brows to the long brows and sunken eye sockets, the face with silver hair was serene and sumptuous, with a proud beauty... A circle of shadow formed the bridge of the nose, making it high and straight, while the mouth below the nose had exquisite lips. They were bright red and moist. The upper lip was thin, and the lower lip was just right. When they smiled at people, they seemed to exude the aloofness of a king. From his vantage point, he peered up and down sneakily and slowly. In fact, he had only been there for a few seconds when the other party noticed him. He was flustered and looked away when the pair of long and narrow eyes with black pupils that took up most of the eye sockets peered at him. Am I sick? What just happened? Wang Xiaomie bowed his head and pretended to use a towel to dry his hair. From the corner of his eye, he noticed two legs tread on the velvety rug. As the other party came to a halt in front of him, the dark blue fluff sank and popped up with each stride. The other party leaned over and buried his cool huge palm into his wet hair on the back of his head. Wang Xiaomie habitually let go of the towel to let him dry his hair. Sharpened fingers slid through the black hair, lightly brushing it. Wang Xiaomie''s nose was only a few centimeters away from the other person''s neck at this point. As his prominent collarbone and defenseless neck laid bare to his gaze, he inhaled the deep bitter aroma coming from the man. Wang Xiaomie clenched his teeth and stared straight at it. "What''s the matter with you today? You have not said a single word." A man''s deep, low voice rang out from above his head. These words appeared to have shattered something. Wang Xiaomie stared blankly for a moment, with nothing in his eyes. He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes, puzzled as to why he seemed to be bewitched just now. "...It''s nothing, I¡¯m just a little sleepy." "You¡¯re lying to me." He laughed softly, "We don''t actually need sleep." "I''m used to sleeping every day," Wang Xiaomie added with a laugh. "And what about that pattern on your body?" "Oh...that." I mustn¡¯t tell him. If it doesn''t hurt, I mustn¡¯t tell him. "It''s okay," Wang Xiaomie smiled and said, touching his shoulder. "Really? Let me have a look." "No need. Let''s lie down in the coffin for a while, okay? It''s time to go to bed." "Alright." A few minutes later, Wen Fengjin turned his head and sighed quietly inside the red double burial coffin, covering Wang Xiaomie''s eyes with his palm. "Aren''t you going to sleep, why are you staring at me?" Wang Xiaomie blinked, sweeping his long eyelashes across Wen Fengjin''s cool palm, producing a tingling itch. "I don''t know. I just suddenly want to see you today." Wen Fengjin was surprised for a moment by his honesty, but then the corners of his lips slowly perked up in a joyful arc, and his gaze warmed up. Wang Xiaomie was virtually speechless as he finished speaking. He had no idea why he was acting as if he had taken Veritaserum[1] today. Usually, he''d think about it in his head at best, and take some small advantage secretly. He was too shy to say corny words even if he and Wen Fengjin had known each other for two lifetimes. He''d be stuck running into an actual person, no matter how much he liked them on the Internet or in his heart. "Don''t you like it when I stare at you?" questioned Wang Xiaomie bluntly. Inwardly, he was thinking: What the hell am I talking about? Wen Fengjin softly laughed as he heard the words: "I like it." Wang Xiaomie: "I like it too. I like looking at you, and I like it when you look at me." ¡ªDeath through disgrace! What¡¯s up with my out-of-control mouth! F*ck, I''m dead! Wen Fengjin withdrew his hand from blocking Wang Xiaomie''s vision, and the two pairs of eyes locked gazes. Wen Fengjin half-smiled and stretched his tone after a long time, "Hmm~" With his silver hair flowing over his shoulders, his half-closed eyes were full of smiles and unknown meanings. He looked wicked and dishonest. "So~ Is it really what I think it is?" Wang Xiaomie''s palm was held by a somewhat cool hand, and their fingers were clasped together, caressing the soft thenar. In his heart, Wang Xiaomie shook his head crazily: ...No, no, no! But in reality, Wang Xiaomie nodded honestly: "Yes, I want it." ...I must be possessed, I have to be. Wang Xiaomie wanted to cry but had no tears. Wen Fengjin laughed as he finished speaking, appearing even more like a devil who wanted to enjoy his dessert. "You usually refuse me, so I thought you didn''t like it." Wang Xiaomie was terrified, and his back broke out in goosebumps, but on the surface, he murmured sweetly and arrogantly. "It''s not that I don''t like it. I have to be a little reserved, and I''m shy. If I refuse you once, you can ask a second time. Did I truly turn you down? I wanted you to tell me how much you liked me every time, but you back down after being refused once. Humph! Are you a man?! Aren''t you going to make an effort?! Don''t you understand the simple principle of ''surrendering after making a show of resistance''?!" Wang Xiaomie wanted to run over Wen Fengjin headlong as soon as he made these remarks. I don''t get it, I truly don''t get it! Ahhh, I can''t tell what I''m doing anymore! F*CK---! Is what I am saying human? If I want to save face, I need to SHUT UP--! He''d already realized he was out of the ordinary today. He was merely staring at his ''roaring drunk'' self soberly. My old face has been lost!!! Wang Xiaomie wanted to cover his mouth with his hands, but they were clasped together with Wen Fengjin''s, and he couldn''t pull them apart. So he could only stare at Wen Fengjin''s increasingly intrigued smile and fall apart while listening to his chat with Wen Fengjin. Wen Feng laughed: "Oh~ so that¡¯s what you think?" Wang Xiaomie (No! I don¡¯t!): "That¡¯s right! You¡¯ve been reading those ancient books and ignoring me lately¡ªhumph! You¡¯re either indifferent or you can''t get it up!" Wen Fengjin smiled as he cocked his eyebrow: "Can''t get it up? Would you like to put it to the test?" Wang Xiaomie (no, no, no!): "Okay." ...Ahhh, I''m dead. The man leaned in and pressed against Wang Xiaomie''s head, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Wang Xiaomie felt that he had never longed to explode on the spot so badly in his life. "Have you been drinking?" "No." "You miss me so much?" "Yeah." The little sweet zongzi f*cking nodded, "...You haven''t talked to me recently, so lonely." As for Wang Xiaomie¡¯s inner voice¡­it was already dead and buried. Wen Fengjin thought today''s Wang Xiaomie was odd as well. He sniffed as the tip of his nose crept close to Wang Xiaomie''s neck and rubbed the vein lines on the palm of their interlocked hands, smiling. As their eyes met in the dim light, Wen Fengjin remembered: this was not a fake, this was his senior brother, his sleep lamp[2], his Xiaomie[3]. The eyes in the dark were still clear and limpid, but there seemed to be a thin layer of crimson on the cheeks and ears. So, had he really been ignoring him lately? Wen Fengjin bit Wang Xiaomie''s lips. However, he discovered that today''s senior brother was surprisingly honest, so Wen Fengjin murmured wickedly next to his ear: "Whatever you want, I''ll give it to you. So, what do you desire? Hmm?" The person below responded in hushed tones, and Wen Fengjin''s smile intensified as the bitter medicinal aroma filled the air. "Okay." He said, "Your wish is my command." ¡­¡­ [Fade to black] [Please read the author''s comments] ¡­¡­ Wang Xiaomie propped up his disheveled head the next morning, his face expressionless. He wouldn''t know how he lasted till the morning if it weren''t for his excellent repair ability. More importantly, he had no idea what dirty stuff he had eaten the day before, making him court disaster by saying such words to Wen Fengjin! But he soon discovered something even scarier. He couldn¡¯t lie! [The author has something to say: this thing has many side effects, but it has a lot to do with their blood.] Footnotes: [1] A magical truth potion from the Harry Potter universe. [2] The author has used ÃßµÆ which means "sleep lamp" i.e night lamp here. It could be slang for something, but I''m not familiar with it. [3] The ''mie'' in Xiaomie is ßã which means "the bleating of sheep." It''s possible that the author meant it as a pun. WFJ may be thinking to himself, "He is my little lamb." I hope I''m not overthinking things. lol Translator: Dear Author, your readers would have appreciated some genuine ''candy.'' ( ?~ ?? ?¡ã) Right, guys? CH 55 Chapter 55 Truth bug You must say some insincere words as a civilized person throughout your life, such as white lies, malicious deceit, and polite remarks when socializing. ''I''m busy right now; let''s discuss later.'' ''You look fantastic in this as well.'' ''Long time no see, you''ve lost weight.'' ''Don''t be afraid; things will get better.'' ''I don''t care.'' ''We are best friends.'' ''I''m always there for you.'' We can all tell small lies casually, over the screen of our phones, to strangers, to people close to us, and even to ourselves. In fact, this not only serves as a form of protection for ourselves, but it also allows others to relax. However, Wang Xiaomie learned today that he had lost this ability... To be more specific, it had been this way since the previous night. Wang Xiaomie sat cross-legged on the sofa, his eyes closed, and folded his arms across his chest, recalling the events of the day before. Of course, he was not recalling that!!! Rather, why did he start talking...strangely soon after the feather pattern on his shoulders started to grow? Maybe... Wang Xiaomie waved calmly to beckon Da Bai, who was seated at the other end of the sofa, holding a phone and laughing foolishly with the girl on the phone screen. "Da Bai." "What''s up?" Bai Yu asked, his face blank. Wang Xiaomie gave him a wooden look: "Ask me a random question. Hurry up!" "Huh?" Bai Yu was stunned, "Do you want to play Truth or Dare?" "Cut the crap and ask!" "Oh...let me think about it. Then..." Bai Yu pointed to himself and asked a little shyly, "Am I, am I handsome?" Handsome, say handsome! Wang Xiaomie mumbled in his heart a few times, took an anxious breath, and opened his mouth¡ª¡ª "You¡¯re too dark for me to see clearly." Wang Xiaomie: "..." That¡¯s not what I want to say! Bai Yu: "..." I don''t believe your nonsense, ying ying ying[1], I''m not dark! "...You ask another question." Wang Xiaomie buried his face in his hands: "Please!" Bai Yu muttered, ''You must have done it on purpose'' and hesitantly said, "Then let me ask another question." "Ask it, ask it, ask it quickly." "You asked me to ask! Don''t laugh at me! Hehe... What do you think of me? I mean, my personality and so on. I recently chatted with a new girl, and we often play games together! Her voice is mind blowing[2], you know! She also said that I''m a good man, hehehe." Bai Yu blushed and covered his face coyly, asking, "Do you think if I ask her to meet, she¡¯ll agree?" After speaking, Bai Yu stared at Wang Xiaomie in anticipation, his eyes like saucers. "Your character¡ª" "Mm-hmm!" "I think you are a good man as well. You can try to ask the other party; perhaps you will succeed." "Really?! Wow~~~~" Wang Xiaomie''s smile was soft and friendly as always, giving people a sense of healing and gentleness. But the next second, just as Bai Yu was about to jump up and down with excitement, that gentle smiling face suddenly froze, and his lips twitched twice... "Did you expect me to say that?" Wang Xiaomie''s expression changed as he said, "Idiot!" Bai Yu: "..." "¡ª¡ªdumb, foolish, dunce, honest. Despite the fact that you''re a good man, I''ve been ordering ''six walnuts[3]'' online every day since you arrived." "As for the Yujie voice in the game? Hehe, don''t be ridiculous. Will a genuine Yujie play games on working days? There is definitely an unemployed foot man[4] on the computer over there, using a sound card to con a little idiot like you hehehe-" "And Benxian[5]? Don''t just float away because someone sent you a good person card. Believe it or not, he¡¯ll say, "Okay, okay, little brother, I''ll come to you!" and then, within minutes, he¡¯ll ask you to help pay the taxi fare. Once he gets the red envelope, he¡¯ll block your username, and say ''See you in Jianghu from now on[6]!''" Wang Xiaomie, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, raised his right hand to prop up his chin, tilted his head, and narrowed his eyes at Bai Yu, adding with a sneer: "Are you stupid?" Bai Yu: "..." ''Pff!'' a knife stabbed firmly into his heart. Wang Xiaomie: "Fool, fool, fool..." Bai Yu: "..." ''Pfff! Pfff! Pfff!'' He was stabbed three times since once wasn''t enough. This was not Truth or Dare at all; it was obviously a black belly[7]! Bai Yu smiled bleakly, squatting alone in the corner, tears in his eyes, licking his wounded pure and young heart. Wang Xiaomie, who had regained his control, held his head in his hands and sank into the sofa cushion after delivering those words. He wanted to cry but didn¡¯t have any tears.[8] He was clearly holding back just now! But then there was a sharp pain in his neck, and Wang Xiaomie began saying things he didn''t want to say, as if he had transformed into a different person. I''m done for¡­ F*ck! Won¡¯t I be beaten to death if I go out like this?!!! This must be some kind of curse... "Da Bai, don''t cry..." Wang Xiaomie rubbed his neck and turned his head, his eyes lost their usual spirit. "Ying, ying, ying..." "Don''t cry, you little idiot! Go ask Wen Fengjin to come down. I have something to tell you guys. Something major has happened..." Two minutes later. Wen Fengjin sat next to Wang Xiaomie, his legs crossed, the V-neck of his casual sportswear displaying a small part of his collarbone, while Bai Yu sat on the opposite side of the sofa, holding a blue throw pillow in his arms. Their gazes were fixed on Wang Xiaomie, who was hiding his face in his hands and doubting his life. "According to what you stated, you can''t speak as tactfully as usual, simply the truth?" Wen Fengjin frowned, "What if you don''t say it?" "If I don''t say it, the feather pattern on my neck hurts like hell," Wang Xiaomie replied. "That''s not the truth at all, but rather a poisonous tongue! A poisonous tongue!" Da Bai complained as he clutched his little heart, which had been stabbed into a hornet''s nest. "Da Bai is right..." Wang Xiaomie struggled up from the sofa, feeling hopeless, "I''ll undoubtedly piss off people if I open my mouth now, and what I want to say in my heart is obviously not so, but in the end, what I say always becomes something else." Wen Fengjin: "So it''s ''heart and mouth at odds[9]''." "No, that¡¯s not it." Wang Xiaomie scratched his head: "Except for the harsh words, what I say is actually what I genuinely think." "Wah~" Bai Yu sobbed, hugged the pillow, and retreated to the corner to lick his wounds when he heard this. "Alas..." Wang Xiaomie sighed and covered his neck. "And I suspect that the cause of all this is the feather pattern on my neck." Bai Yu poked his head out and asked curiously, "What feather pattern?" "That''s it..." Wang Xiaomie told him about the strange stuff that had appeared on his body the other day. After hearing it, Bai Yu was perplexed. "This does not appear to be an infectious disease. Maybe it''s a gu insect[10], just like the ones described in novels, the kind that can manipulate people and such." Wang Xiaomie frowned, "In fact, I also doubted it, but I haven¡¯t been in contact with outsiders..." "That¡¯s true..." Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu fell silent. At this point, Wen Fengjin abruptly dropped his crossed legs and asked Wang Xiaomie, "Aside from this, is there anything else?" "Anything else?" Wang Xiaomie asked, bewildered. "It''s just..." Wen Fengjin grasped Wang Xiaomie''s chin and forced him to look at himself in the eyes, his narrow and clear eyes abruptly pulling away. "You''ve been avoiding me since this morning. Why?" "I¡¯m not... I think you''re too close..." The face that was so close at hand, made Wang Xiaomie evade his gaze, his big eyes whirring around in confusion. He gazed up and down, but he wouldn''t look at Wen Fengjin. What was he supposed to say? That this lousy feather pattern also came with a ''beauty is in the eye of the beholder'' buff? When he looked at Wen Fengjin now, it was like adding a million beauty filters or the flashing ¡®take care¡¯ hearts[11] on Bilibili? Wang Xiaomie''s deliberate evasion made Wen Feng''s face sink, his glabella pucker, and the surrounding air pressure drop. Bai Yu didn''t dare to talk nonsense. He hugged the cushion and peered around the corner with puppy eyes, secretly peeking like a kitty. "What are you hiding from me?" "I haven¡¯t, I have!" Wen Fengjin said, "Is it because last night I..." "You¡¯re not allowed to bring up last night!" Wang Xiaomie blushed and shoved him away. He¡¯d rather tell lies and bear the pain than tell the truth. After all, Da Bai is still eavesdropping from there! So can you please stop talking! Wen Fengjin squeezed his palm against his chest to indicate his reluctance as his face grew ashen, but then he burst out laughing. Those strange pupils grew chilly, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a sharp arc. Although Wen Fengjin possessed a flawless face, such beauty came with its own poisonous thorns. Wang Xiaomie was terrified and got a horrible feeling when he laughed. Wang Xiaomie spun around and rushed down the back of the sofa to escape as his crisis alert went off, but he was caught by the waist. His world spun as the silver hair hit Wang Xiaomie''s face coolly, and by the time he recovered, Wen Fengjin had already overpowered him. Wen Fengjin narrowed his eyes, carried Wang Xiaomie on his shoulder, and said to Bai Yu with the smiling face of a mad pervert in a thriller: "Get out of my sight. Now." With a whoosh, Bai Yu scooped up the cushion and dashed into his room. The only thing Wang Xiaomie saw was him running as if his a$$ was on fire and the securely closed door. Wang Xiaomie: ...From now on, I don''t have a brother like you. Our friendship is over. Wen Fengjin lowered his long and narrow eyes and walked slowly to the bathroom after withdrawing his smile. Wang Xiaomie, who was on his shoulders, fought valiantly. He was like a milk dog who couldn''t scratch people and could just bare his teeth. When he realized he was in danger, he became terrified and began kicking his legs and beating Wen Fengjin on the back. He bit Wen Fengjin''s back through his clothes out of desperation. With one hand, Wen Fengjin squeezed the person on his shoulder, while the other grasped the doorknob. The pain in his back made him laugh, "You can keep biting, I''ll let you bite enough in a moment." "......" In an attempt to eliminate criminal evidence, Wang Xiaomie silently loosened his teeth and stretched out his claws to smooth the wrinkled clothing. "Heh." The opened door shut again. The bottles and jars on the washbasin''s marble countertop were pushed away, and the buttocks wearing the branded black sweatpants landed heavily on it, the not-yet-dried water spots dampening the pants. A few strands of long black hair fell into the circular sink. The delicate white palm frantically searched for support points, knocking down the nearby hand sanitizer. The long legs fell to the floor, and his toes barely brushed the floor because the slippers he''d been wearing had vanished somewhere while he was kicking confusedly. A man stood in front of the sink, preventing his legs from closing. Wang Xiaomie glanced at Wen Fengjin, who was smiling but not smiling, and then bowed his head to examine his slim feet, thinking of a meme. Feet shoeless, it¡¯s hopeless[12]. [The author has something to say: Catch bugs later, today is a double update.] Footnotes: [1] onomatopoeia for crying. [2] The author used the term "yujie," which means "royal elder sister." In Internet language, it refers to mature and strong, beautiful and seductive women who create the impression of an elder sister. [3] Áù ¸ö ºËÌÒ: Six Walnuts is a walnut vegetable protein drink. Walnuts are said to be the best nut for brain health... [4] Not a footman, who is a liveried servant. On the Internet, a "foot man" is a male who poses as a woman. [5] An online buzzword. It refers to the transition from online virtual love to offline real love. [6] This expression indicates, "From now on, we''ll meet if fate permits." Essentially, Xiaomie is declaring Bai Yu will never hear from the other party again, a definitive farewell. [7] A two-faced individual; literally, a poison tongued two-face. [8] I¡¯m sure you¡¯re familiar with this. He wanted to cry but was unable to shed a tear. A metaphor for deep melancholy or helplessness. [9] Idiom: expressing one thing but implying another. [10] If you read fictional historical novels, you''ve probably come across this word. A gu is a fabled venomous insect used to poison, bewitch, and drive people insane, among other things. [11] Basically, it''s a cute gif with flashing heart symbols that says "take care." [12] It implies an automobile accident. If a person gets hit by an automobile and his or her shoes come off, it is assumed that the person is dead. When someone witnesses an automobile accident, if the person''s shoes come off, it signifies it is a hopeless situation since the impact is too great. Translator: I think WFJ knows exactly what is going on with WXM. 12 footnotes! Some of them are known to CN readers and you may find them needless, but I constantly wonder what if this is a reader''s first CN. Someone new to C-novels may become perplexed. However, if you find all these footnotes to be irritating and you''d like me to paraphrase for smoother flow, please let me know in the comments. CH 56 Chapter 56 When there is no deception in love "Can you only speak the truth now?" "Yeah..." Wen Fengjin bowed his head and leaned over to press Wang Xiaomie''s forehead with his sharpened fingers, forcing Wang Xiaomie to raise his head. They locked their gazes on each other. Wen Fengjin was like an evil dragon with his own BGM, and Wang Xiaomie was like a foolish prince whose height wasn''t even as tall as the evil dragon''s legs. After a brief pause, Wen Fengjin abruptly extended his ''hmm'' intonation, the sound filled with evil glee. Wang Xiaomie trembled immediately. It is said that it is wrong to admit one''s shortcomings but fail to remedy them. A wise man submits to his circumstances, and it was right to be cowardly in the first place! Saying something pleasant now could spare his life, but Wang Xiaomie ignored the ''truth curse'' bestowed upon him by the feather pattern. As a result... "I was wrong!" Wang Xiaomie said. "But I''ll still dare it next time!" he added. One second he admitted his mistake, yet couldn''t help but tell the truth the very next instant. In short, he was too awesome! Heh. In this regard, Wang Xiaomie: "......" Sonofabi*ch!!! Wang Xiaomie almost put a zipper on his mouth as he saw Wen Fengjin''s smile grow bigger and bigger. In a panic, he covered his lips, but Wen Fengjin quickly clasped his two wrists in one hand and forced them against the glass on top of his head. "It¡¯s time to speak the truth now." Wen Fengjin stated as he approached him. Their eyes were locked and their noses were almost touching, each breath laden with the scent of the other party. Wang Xiaomie shouted in his heart that he was done for. Wen Fengjin pressed his finger just as he was about to tolerate the pain and say rubbish, and the tingling pain in his forehead caused Wang Xiaomie''s gaze to sink back into those deep eyes. "I¡¯ll know if you put up with the pain and tell lies." The man stated: "It won¡¯t be something that pain can fix at that point. Be obedient. Got it?" Wang Xiaomie: "..." Do I have other options besides saying yes? Wang Xiaomie burst into tears[1]. So, in the bathroom, they launched the most genuine ''Truth or Dare'' ever. "Are you keeping anything regarding the feather pattern from me?" Wen Fengjin half-smiled and stared at Wang Xiaomie as if he was stalking his prey. Wang Xiaomie: "...Yes." "What are you hiding?" "I¡ª it was strange when I looked at you. I desperately wanted to be close to you, and I was inexplicably wishing¡ª" "Wishing what?" "To bite your throat." The red and moist lips pursed up and rose even more joyfully. "What after biting it, did you want to drink the blood inside?" Wang Xiaomie¡¯s face grew pale as he struggled to suppress the answer, but he was frightened by the warning gaze. "...I did." He had no idea why he had such evil thoughts. Wang Xiaomie''s grasped palm clenched slowly. "I''m not going to be angry." Wen Fengjin cut Wang Xiaomie''s self-blame short, removed the hand from Wang Xiaomie''s forehead, and pried apart the milk dog''s lips to reveal the tiny tiger teeth. "On the contrary, I''m looking forward to it." Wang Xiaomie: "..." "I''m very satisfied with this question. Before proceeding to the next question¡ª" Wen Fengjin gave Wang Xiaomie a quick kiss. The lips pressed against each other and parted swiftly. "Good children need candy and rewards." Wen Fengjin cocked his brows, his eyes flashing with light. ''Boom!'' Wang Xiaomie''s face reddened instantly, and not even his neck and ears were spared. Wen Fengjin thoroughly enjoyed this scene, and his questions became increasingly wicked. "Which areas of my body do you like?" "...Face, chest muscles, and¡ª" Wang Xiaomie held back for a long time before blurting out, "and that." "Oh~ Were you satisfied with my performance yesterday?" "...Satisfied." "Was it comfortable?" "...Comfortable." "My that..." "Can you not talk about stuff that is inappropriate for children!!!" Wang Xiaomie blushed and almost exploded on the spot. "All right, one last question." Wen Fengjin promised. "Do you love me?" "..." "No lying, I said. Don¡¯t make me angry. Xiaomie, what''s your answer?" Wang Xiaomie was forced to sit on the cold sink, and his hands were restrained as well. He wanted to escape but was unable to do so. He felt like he was being bullied. He was ashamed into anger and also feeling wronged. He pursed his lips tightly and twitched the tip of his nose without saying anything. Wen Fengjin kissed his lips once again. This time, he was gentle and encouraging. "Tell me what your answer is." "...I love you! Satisfied? Now let me go!" Wang Xiaomie was like a small animal backed into a corner. He was no match for his opponent, and he wanted to cry because he was upset with himself. He yelled, and then let out a few sobbing sounds of frustration. Wen Fengjin pressed his nose against the red apple-like cheek, as if he could smell the fruit¡¯s sweet fragrance through the thin skin. He straightened up, closed his eyes filled with tender love and affection, stored the Demon Lord¡¯s softest feelings in his life, and let go of the other person''s restraint before pressing the back of his head into his chest. In that chest was an overly calm heart that throbbed solely for one person. A muffled voice came from his arms. "You a$$hole! Sonofabi*ch! You are a big bast*rd!" "Then do you like it?" Wen Fengjin inquired, agreeing quietly with closed eyes. Wang Xiaomie''s eyes were red, and he wanted to say he didn''t like it. In fact, he opened his mouth and said, "I like it." "..." Ahhhh!!! This freaking truth bug!!!!! Wang Xiaomie roared as he fell apart. But a gentle voice with a soft smile came from above his head. "I love you too. I like you the most." "..." "I love you so much." "..." Bast*rd! Wang Xiaomie muttered, shrinking into Wen Fengjin¡¯s chest. They hugged quietly for a while. "Oh, that''s right." Wen Fengjin kissed the top of his head and added suddenly, "I haven''t given you your final reward yet. Do you think it''s okay to give it here?" Wang Xiaomie: "!!!" Reward? What a great reward! The chubby milk dog pushed away the big bad wolf on his body and was about to run away, terrified, when he was caught again by the back of his neck. "I just want to study your feather pattern." The big bad wolf said as he easily removed his clothes and studied the milk dog all over. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Bai Yu, who had been condemned by his guilty conscience after withdrawing into his room, intended to intervene in the fight and had just placed his hand on the doorknob when he heard Wang Xiaomie¡¯s scream. Bai Yu: "..." ...Forget it, a poor Daoist does not die for the sake of a dead pathfriend[2]. We¡¯ll see each other again in the next life, brother! [Censorship has turned off the lights.] The author has something to say: Catch the bug later. Footnotes: [1] l¨¨i b¨¥n: It means "tears run down involuntarily like a flowing river" in slang. It''s an exaggeration used to indicate surprise, anxiety, relief, and so on. [2] ËÀµÀÓѲ»ËÀƶµÀ: When someone says this, it indicates that they are extremely selfish. When a conflict of interest or life is at jeopardy, they would rather sacrifice their friend to protect themself, even though both the close friend and themself are "cultivators" aka Daoists. As a result, this phrase is commonly said after the incident, rather than in front of friends. If it''s in front of friends, it must be that their friendship is strong and they can mess around. CH 57 Chapter 57 Eaten by you? A fabulous crimson quilt draped over the two men reclining in the coffin. Wen Fengjin embraced the sleeping person with one hand while holding an ordinary white business card with the other. The white business card had no name or phone number, only a line of address. Two little silver characters were stamped on the reverse of the business card: ''Eliminate Evil.'' The white piece of paper was slowly spun around in the cool white slender fingers, soaring up and down like a white butterfly before coming to a gentle stop between the finger seams. The long and narrow eyes were deep and dark, brimming with unknown things. The chaotic rolling in those eyes came to a halt when his line of sight dropped on the person resting on his shoulder. Wang Xiaomie had been tormented so badly that he''d dozed off in the nest of quilts. His skin was still flushed, and he had two or three strands of black hair on his fair cheekbones and chin. The quilt had slipped off his shoulders as a result of Wen Fengjin''s motions in the nest, exposing the slight depression on his collarbone. Wen Fengjin touched his shoulder and discovered it was quite cold, so he pulled up the quilt and covered it, as if forgetting that the other party no longer required such care. Then he kissed his brow. Wen Fengjin had already guessed the feather pattern that appeared on Wang Xiaomie''s body, as well as the repercussions caused by this feather pattern. His sacrificial practice was impeccable, and he wouldn''t allow Wang Xiaomie to have any flaws or damage. Similarly, Wen Fengjin was not as serene and indifferent as he appeared. Shixiong[2] belonged to him. Every single inch of him. Even if the thing parasitized in his shixiong¡¯s body was a pattern, it was a mark and a provocation in Wen Fengjin''s eyes! The body and soul he cherished with utmost care had been defiled by the mark of others. It was just like leaving a stinking fingerprint on the most perfect work (of art) of a master painter¡¯s life. He couldn''t tolerate it! The feather pattern was bright and gorgeous, but Wen Fengjin felt he¡¯d smelled something nauseating and wanted to puke. Wang Xiaomie was still sound asleep. Wen Fengjin pushed his palm against his left shoulder, and his countenance shifted from soft to icy, gradually becoming twisted and crazy. After discarding the gentle face, the soul within glared at that patch of skin with venomous paranoia, yearning to rip it off! Scarlet filled the dark pupils that occupied most of the eye sockets. "I shouldn''t have let him die so easily." Wen Fengjin caressed the top of Wang Xiaomie''s head with his face... "My mistake... Do you blame me for not protecting you well, shixiong?" With his eyes half closed, Wen Fengjin talked to himself. He wasn''t looking anywhere in particular, but the frigid air surrounding him had become suffocating. At this point, Wang Xiaomie in his arms sensed danger and panicked, fidgeting with a murmur. "Xiao Wenzi..." "It''s so cold..." He whispered a few words in his sleep, but he seemed to have broken some fantasy, and Wen Fengjin''s paranoia and insanity vanished like smoke in thin air... In the dim space, Wen Fengjin was still smiling affectionately at Wang Xiaomie when he opened his blurry eyes a chink. "Did you have a nightmare?" "Seems like it..." "Don''t be afraid, I''m here." "Mn. Ha~~~" Wang Xiaomie yawned and arched back into Wen Fengjin''s arms. The mild body temperature was full of security while skin-to-skin. Wang Xiaomie drowsily closed his eyes again. When Wen Fengjin looked down and saw his peaceful sleeping smile gradually fade away, the person whose expression was obscured by the darkness remained quiet for a while before adjusting his posture and closing his eyes. The white business card was placed on the pillow beside him. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Wen Fengjin took out that business card the next day. "Let''s go to this location." "What''s this?" Wang Xiaomie accepted the business card and flipped it over with interest. "A business card? But why isn''t there a name and a phone number? And it''s quite familiar." "Isn''t this the business card left behind by that man last time?" questioned Bai Yu, stretching out his head to look at it. "Which one?" "The one wearing the mandarin jacket[1] and carrying Sailor Moon!" "........." "Why the hell are we looking for him?" Wang Xiaomie asked, stunned. That boss was out of this world! "He knows how to remove the feather pattern on your body." Wen Fengjin looked at Wang Xiaomie, who asked with wide eyes, "Really?" Wasn¡¯t that feather pattern a side effect of the elixir? Wen Feng kept mum. Wang Xiaomie silently held the business card for a while before patting Bai Yu on the shoulder. "Da Bai, we''re going out. Do you want to come along with us?" "Of course," Bai Yu said. "I''ll change my clothes right away." "Okay." Wang Xiaomie returned the business card to Wen Fengjin and, like Bai Yu, went back to his room to change into his outerwear. The three men called for a car from the villa. The destination address, however, was along a succession of old-fashioned small commercial streets. The driver informed them that there were various stalls inside, and that there were so many pedestrians that cars could not enter. So they had to get out of the car and ask the owners of several small stores along the way, and then follow the direction indicated by the owners, slowly seeking for the address. It had been three hours by the time they arrived at the address on the business card. The majority of the wholesale shops in the rows had prominent signs in colors such as red and blue, but only one establishment had no signboard and simply hung a small black flag on the door. And, despite being a sliding glass door, it was covered with a thick black film similar to that found on car windows. You couldn''t tell what was going on inside from the outside. The swarm of people arriving and departing was noisy and congested, since they had all driven their cars to the wholesale grocery stores. This modest shop, with no one stopping by, was just as conspicuous as Wen Fengjin among the crowd. Passers-by surreptitiously assessed the three of them, with the majority of their attention focused on Wen Fengjin and Wang Xiaomie. "Is this the location?" Wang Xiaomie was uncertain. Bai Yu scratched his head: "I¡¯m not sure but I think this style of doing business without a name on the business card is quite similar to running a small store without a brand. Maybe they¡¯re just regular grocery sellers?" The two debated whether they should go in and inquire. Who knew that when Wang Xiaomie raised his head, Wen Fengjin had already opened the door and walked in. Wang Xiaomie grabbed Bai Yu quickly and followed him closely. The small black flag at the door fluttered gently as the three of them entered, displaying thin scrawled inscriptions... After going through the sliding door, they discovered a drawing room that took up the full space of the property, complete with an antique wooden counter, a couple of sofas, and a small coffee table. Wang Xiaomie was surprised to see on the coffee table a tea set that his grandmother used at the time, the kind with a red design on a white backdrop and the word "Exultation" embossed in Chinese characters! Mandarin jacket, braid, Sailor Moon, and this retro decor... Wang Xiaomie felt as if his aesthetics had been shattered. He turned his head to gaze at Bai Yu and noticed that their expressions were identical. Because light couldn''t enter through the black-film-covered door, a chandelier was suspended from the ceiling. The warm yellow light gave the entire antiquated and retro drawing room a time filter lens, giving the impression that entering through that door was like passing through a century. There were numerous small photo frames hung throughout the drawing room, and Wen Fengjin, who entered first, stood in front of the wall opposite the door. Wen Fengjin was glancing at the photo frames on the wall, expressionless, and frowned suspiciously when Wang Xiaomie approached him fast. "Why are you acting so strange today? What are you looking at?" He raised his head and followed Wen Fengjin''s point of view when he finished speaking. Wang Xiaomie''s eyes widened as he noticed the individuals in the picture frame on the wall. "What''s the matter with you two? Why are both of you frozen?" Bai Yu smiled and patted Wang Xiaomie''s shoulder, gazing at the photo they were staring at. "Isn''t it just a photo? What''s the problem?" "......" "Zhenbei, Yan Chun?!" Wang Xiaomie said in disbelief. Surprisingly, the photo on the wall was a group shot, and the third person posing for a photo with Zhenbei and Yan Chun was the man they had seen the other day! That man knew Yan Chun and Zhenbei! "Gentlemen guests appear to enjoy my photographs." Suddenly, a cheerful male voice could be heard. Wang Xiaomie''s hair nearly exploded, and Bai Yu leaped in fear. Wen Fengjin took a few steps aside to hide Wang Xiaomie behind him, his long and narrow eyes riveted on the man who appeared beside the counter. "You did it on purpose." "What are you talking about? I don''t quite understand." The man tilted his head, and the neat and tidy braid with less black and more white on the back of his head, combined with the light blue mandarin jacket, harmonized him with the surrounding retro setting. A kind teacher, for example, or the eldest young master of a scholarly family in the 1960s and 1970s. Wen Fengjin narrowed his eyes and unleashed an earth-shattering burst of power! Bai Yu, who was standing next to him, felt as though he had been bludgeoned and suffered a concussion. His chest felt stuffy and achy, his head was dizzy, and he opened his mouth to hurl. Wang Xiaomie drew Bai Yu quickly to his side, reasoning that it was far preferable to hide behind Wen Fengjin. Even Bai Yu, who was a little closer, was uneasy, so there was no need to mention the man directly in front of Wen Fengjin. He was still smiling as he retreated a few steps back, his slender eyes fixed on Wen Fengjin. "Why are the guests so angry? You and the person behind you are not human, but neither are you rigid. A small business like this, operating on a shoestring, cannot afford to offend the two of you. If you have any dissatisfaction, please do not hesitate to bring it up." "Playing dumb?" Wen Fengjin scoffed, his expression ice-cold. "If you know Yan Chun, you know who the feather pattern belongs to. Don''t tell me you don''t know what happened to Yan Chun now that the feather pattern is on my shixiong''s body." The feather pattern is Yan Chun¡¯s?! Wang Xiaomie curled his fists behind Wen Fengjin, but before the shock wore off, the man across them began speaking... "Oh! So you''re upset because of my previous clients. I don''t know those two very well," the beaming man in the mandarin jacket said, cupping his hands together, and then putting his hands inside his sleeves, and looking at the group picture on the wall. "Merely business, that''s all." "I''ll take a picture with the client I''m working with and hang it on the wall. Every photo on the wall is of a customer who has done business with me." "I''m also acquainted with the feather pattern. It is indeed something from my previous customer, whose name is Yan Chun... But that was a long, long time ago." After he finished speaking, the man gave a humble salute with his hands in his sleeves and a sincere smile. Wen Fengjin gave a half-smile but said nothing. The intense pressure from the magic, however, was also erased. Wang Xiaomie sneaked a glimpse from behind Wen Fengjin, astonished to find the man so calm and composed in the face of Wen Fengjin''s pressure, but when he looked closer, he could clearly see the beads of sweat on the man''s temples. This guy was unable to overcome Wen Fengjin''s incredible power, yet fought valiantly. Wang Xiaomie was a little impressed. That man also noticed Wang Xiaomie, who had stealthily cropped up, and his smile deepened. "However..." He stated, "The feather pattern is a small plaything that you raise in your heart. It has many effects and will die if it is removed from the host. Very few people can successfully remove it, let alone transplant it. Now it can actually emerge so completely on your back..." "So I can guess Yan Chun''s fate." The man seemed to be asking Wen Fengjin, but his gaze was fixed on Wang Xiaomie. He stretched his intonation, and his slender eyes bent. "Dear~ guest, was Yan Chun eaten by you?" Footnotes: [1] In Chapter 53: Sailor Moon, I simply used ''jacket'' for ''magua'' and referred to its Wikipedia page. To distinguish it from modern jackets, I''ll translate ''magua'' as ''mandarin jacket'' from now on. [2] senior male fellow student or apprentice. CH 58 Chapter 58 Yi Yan Yan Chun¡ª Was he eaten by you, guest¡ª The eyes and corners of the lips of the slender-eyed man in the mandarin jacket were curved. For a split second, Wang Xiaomie felt as if innumerable spotlights were blazing down on him, accompanied by a scary and eerie background music reverberating in the air. The atmosphere made him nervous, and the brilliant red feather pattern started to burn. That indescribable feeling of being out of control returned, startling Wang Xiaomie and causing him to jaw-drop. He stood motionless for a few moments before rising to his tiptoes and laying his chin lightly on Wen Fengjin''s shoulder. This action made him appear docile, but Wang Xiaomie returned the man''s gaze steadily. "Yeah, I ate him." There was not the slightest bit of haze in that pair of clear eyes as he added, "He was quite delicious." Ha! So what? You wanna bite me? You¡¯ll have to first defeat my family¡¯s Xiao Wenzi! You Squinter, if you have the ability, open your eyes and talk to me! "..." The man was surprised by the response and was dumbfounded for a moment, but his smile quickly deepened. "...I¡¯ve indeed not misjudged." He muttered to himself: "You really are the best." It''s uncertain whether Wen Fengjin heard what he said, but he must have because his expression was awfully scary and he cracked his large hands'' knuckles. They would have been able to observe Boss Wen''s superb head-popping skills again today if the man on the other side wasn''t still of use to Boss Wen. "Standing here won¡¯t do. If you walk to talk about the feather pattern, go up to the second floor and sit." The man chuckled and moved to the old counter, which had a door behind it. He opened the door and smiled back, and as he turned around and walked in, he remarked, "By the way, you can all call me Yi Yan or Boss. I''m the owner of this small shop." Wen Fengjin sneered at such a comment, saying, "Hehehe, what a respectable businessman." Yi Yan, dressed in a light blue mandarin jacket, walked out the door. Wen Fengjin glanced at Wang Xiaomie and followed. Wang Xiaomie pursed his lips. In fact, he gave himself a fright after saying those words a moment earlier. He''d purposefully neglected the issue of consuming that piece of heart. He''d never thought of hurting someone, let alone eating them... Even if the other party had already turned into an inhuman monster... The feather pattern compelled him to tell the truth. Did that mean in his heart of hearts he thought the flesh and blood with the bitter medicinal flavor so delicious? Was it nauseating? No, not really. This was probably the first time that he had made it clear-cut that he was no longer human. Wang Xiaomie''s unsightly expression and depressed mood didn''t last long, because as soon as he turned around, he saw the petrified Bai Yu with vacant eyes. Bai Yu: "You, you, you, you truly eat people!!!!" Wang Xiaomie burst out laughing as he saw Bai Yu, who was already scared to tears. "That''s right!" Wang Xiaomie deliberately grinned like a big pervert, exposing a mouthful of small white teeth: "I eat people!" "..." Bai Yu almost pissed his pants in fear. Wang Xiaomie: "Hahahaha!" Bai Yu: "Waah waah waah¡ª" It''s a lot of fun scaring people~ Wang Xiaomie felt he had suddenly opened the door to a new world. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ The dull yellow light illuminated a stairway with iron rails and flaking paint behind the door. Their steps made a ''boom boom boom'' sound as they walked up. They went up to the second story and discovered that the space was split into multiple partitioned-off areas by white barrier curtains, similar to those used in hospitals. They could see through the cracks in the covering material that there were iron beds inside. It was exactly like a shady clinic that no one knew about. Bai Yu''s eyes had been stuck on the wall near the stairs, which had a built-in cabinet with rows of grotesquely shaped objects sealed in glass, ever since he spotted the row of materials. Like Tang Seng[1] chanting the Binding[2] spell, a slew of strange nouns flew out of his mouth madly! And his drool was going to spill as a result of his greed! Wang Xiaomie deduced that the stuff must be prized materials used by craftsmen to produce things, and spreading it on a wall was akin to proclaiming I''M GRAND. As they passed by an iron frame bed divided by a curtain, Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin noticed a thick plastic sheet with a heap of thoroughly cooked meat, knives and tangled equipment piled into a tray, and stripped bones next to it... "It''s human." Wen Fengjin said calmly as he moved the curtain back. Wang Xiaomie broke out in a cold sweat when he saw the mound of things. Dutiful businessman? What an awesome dutiful businessman! "Ah! That¡¯s the business I was taking care of just now. The nearby medical school has commissioned me to divide the bones into skeletons." Yi Yan sat behind a work desk at the end of the compartments and explained with a smile. Different people had different opinions[3] on whether it was true or false. "Please come in and take a seat." Yi Yan motioned for them to take the seats next to him. Bai Yu was still leaning forward on the cabinet, staring inside and drooling after Wen Fengjin and Wang Xiaomie sat down. Yi Yan: "The feather pattern is Yan Chun''s - as you¡¯ve already guessed - but the feather pattern was not at all on Yan Chun''s body from the beginning. It¡¯s truly a very special thing... You should feel deeply, and it should also be convenient for you in some way." Yeah, damn convenient! Wang Xiaomie only wanted to mock, but Wen Fengjin, who was sitting next to him, was silent for a time and then nodded after recalling God knows what. "..." Wang Xiaomie: What are you thinking! Don''t even think about that! "However, let me explain the details to the two guests," Yi Yan continued with a smile. "I met Mr. Yan Chun twenty years ago." What?! Twenty years ago?! Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu(who was nearby) both gazed at him blankly. "How old are you?" Yi Yan, who appeared to be barely thirty years old, grinned as he brushed the creases on his sleeves. "Age cannot be determined solely by looks. Women are like this, and so are men. I''m afraid the two guests'' ages are even more incredible than mine." Wen "Old bast*rd and living antique over 1300 years old" Fengjin: ...... Wang "Old bast*rd and living fossil who slept for more than 1300 years" Xiaomie: ¡­¡­ "That year, I met him on a mountain somewhere. He was an interesting individual. His blood had an enviable scent of treasures all over it, but his soul was nasty and already corrupted." Yi Yan smiled, "If it¡¯s not a human, it doesn''t deserve to live in a human form, so I truly wanted to kill him at that time, but let him go for the sake of the priceless blood available for use in his body..." "He was really weak at that time, and his body was incapable of controlling such formidable power. His flesh and blood kept collapsing and falling, just to grow anew..." "So mismatched¡ª I''m still wondering why I didn''t get rid of that thing." Yi Yan leaned on the table, his chin resting on the backs of his crossed hands. That face had a calm and kind aspect under the warm light that transcended age and belonged to the precipitation of time. But what he said made one nervous as hell! "I''ve spent my entire life refining tools and dealing with those inhuman monsters. Everyone must go all in towards achieving the things they¡¯re dedicated to." His gaze swept across Wen Fengjin- -then it fell on Wang Xiaomie, and what was hidden behind the narrowed eyes was fleeting. "...At the time, he became my client because of my appreciation and need for his blood. I made the feather pattern specifically with Yan Chun''s blood in order to stabilize his body and assist him regulate the force in his body." "You made the feather pattern?!" "Yes." "Because the feather pattern¡¯s purpose is to help that trash- ah! It¡¯s not good to scold a client like this, hahaha." Yi Yan waved his hand, "So it will be phagocytic against the blood in your body, but the basic ability will not change after the transfer." He told Wang Xiaomie: "You don''t need the feather pattern since your body can withstand that much power. The voracious feather pattern will only grow stronger in your body, taking your life." "However, the energy in you, and previously in Yan Chun, comes from this guest... To the feather pattern, this person is equivalent to a sweet cake. If you don''t get rid of the feather pattern and don''t want to be injured by it, you can only rely on the blood of this guest next to you as a medicine to take on a regular basis." "Even if it has switched to a new host, I''m not sure if it will entirely control you in the future to consume him." "It''s like devouring Yan Chun¡ª" Wang Xiaomie was taken aback. Looking at Wen Fengjin next to him, he couldn''t help but fall into contemplation... So the filter through which I see Wen Fengjin isn''t actually ''beauty is in the eye of the beholder,'' but ''fried chicken in the eyes of a foodie''??? F*ck! Is that what I''ve been imagining?! "Could you tell me about the additional effects of the feather pattern?" Yi Yan asked Wen Fengjin, curious. Wen Fengjin briefly discussed the developments that occurred after the feather pattern grew. After listening, Yi Yan closed his eyes and thought about it for a minute - although Wang Xiaomie believed that there was little difference between his opening and closing his eyes. "It''s a little bothersome." Yi Yan sighed and strolled to the iron frame bed next to him, his hands in his pockets. "Come on. Lie down and I''ll see if I can peel it off." On the surface, Yi Yan appeared apprehensive, but Wang Xiaomie''s keen eyes caught the excited glow in his slender eyes, as if he had said so much and the true purpose was only the current one! Wang Xiaomie''s bones ached as he glanced at a tray of surgical instruments on the iron frame bed. "Peel off...how?" "Is there any need to ask?" Yi Yan smiled. "Naturally, dissection~" "Hahaha, don''t be afraid. I am the most professional craftsman, as well as a doctor with a business license who graduated from S Provincial Medical School - albeit as a forensic doctor, hehe. The tools and anesthetics are also imported. I''ll call my assistant and ask her to return right away." "Um...where will you begin studying it?" "Why start from other places? Isn¡¯t it just peeling off the feather pattern?!" Wang Xiaomie''s eyes widened: "You really are a shady clinic here! I must report you! Xiao Wenzi, I don''t want to go up!" Wen Fengjin frowned slightly. He wanted to get rid of the feather pattern, but he didn''t like the man in front of him, let alone allowing the other party to lacerate his shixiong''s skin¡ª Yi Yan had already started to urge. "Quick, quick, quick!" Yi Yan patted the bed. That impatient and cajoling tone was like an eccentric scientific researcher who escaped from a mental institution! "Quickly lie down. I''ll cut you open perfectly and peel off the feather pattern. After all, I''m the one who created it~~~ Relax; don''t be afraid." Wang Xiaomie: "..." Yi Yan tilted his head: "What''s the problem? Why don''t you lie down?" Wang Xiaomie: "..." Wang Xiaomie turned to Wen Fengjin, saying, "Laogong[4]." Wen Fengjin: "Yeah?" "Beat him!" "..." [1] Buddist monk and a central character in the 16th century novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng''en. [2] ½ô¹¿Öä translates to Band-tightening spell. It is a spell used by Tang Seng to subdue Monkey King, which could shrink the hoop on Monkey King''s head and cause a splitting headache. [3] Idiom: The benevolent sees benevolence, the wise sees wisdom. It is a metaphor that different people have different views on the same issue from different standpoints or angles. [4] Husbando. CH 59 Chapter 59 Monsters don¡¯t need to work hard Can a corpse feel pain if it contains a soul? Wang Xiaomie was unable to provide a clear answer to this question as well. He wasn''t sure if he was a zombie or a living dead. He could feel warmth and consume normal food, and he had the sentiments and soul of a human, but he was also aware of his own changes, strength, and other abilities that came from the body. Some of his emotions were deteriorating, the kind of feelings that could lead to awe or terror of things and creatures. For example, a regular person''s heart would be terribly panicked and fearful if they saw a ferocious criminal or a corpse, but Wang Xiaomie was considerably calmer in this regard. Although he felt terrified, it was to a far lesser extent. Perhaps it was the result of his own changes, or perhaps it was the result of getting his past life memories. After all, in his past life, he had lived in an era when his life and dignity were meaningless. Wang Xiaomie was lying on the ice-cold iron frame bed, his jacket removed, but he was covered by a layer of cloth starting from his chest. Because the anesthetic was ineffective for him, the badly battered[1] Yi Yan smiled and picked a small incense burner from the cabinet. Light purple smoke floated up from the incense burner''s many little holes, slowly ascending into the air. Wen Fengjin scowled and held his breath before turning to face Yi Yan, who stood opposite him: "You actually have this." "After all, I work in this field. After a long period, one always gets his hands on something nice." Yi Yan got a rag towel soaked in something and put it around his mouth and nose. When he heard Wen Fengjin''s comment, he smiled like a fox. "However, keep in mind that using this will cost you." "You know very well how rare this item is." "I know." Wen Fengjin indifferently said, "Go ahead and use it." The valuables in his tomb palace were stacked up into mountains, and the treasures that many people had spent their entire lives crazily looking for were a dime a dozen in his hands. This was why so many people were fascinated by the tomb palace. Yi Yan''s slender eyes were bent and sharp. "As one would expect from you. Today appears to be a good day for me to make a lot of money." Wen Feng ignored him. As he gazed at Wang Xiaomie on the bed, his lanky and straight shoulders sagged and his long silver hair flowed down the back and dropped down on Wang Xiaomie''s stomach. His haughty and indifferent expression contained a hint of tenderness. "Are you scared?" Wang Xiaomie pursed his lips tightly and shook his head. The instant he finished shaking his head, a cool palm covered the side of his face, a thumb pressed against his lower lip, and Wen Fengjin looked Wang Xiaomie in the eyes. "Talk." "I''m a little worried." Wang Xiaomie sniffed and stared at him expectantly. Wen Fengjin laughed quietly. "Then I''ll just stand here and let you look at me, all right? Good?" "Good." Wang Xiaomie smelled the aroma at the tip of his nose, curious about the incense''s composition. Even the anesthetic wasn''t working very well, but he was now sleepy, his head wasn''t hurting, and the sensation of Wen Fengjin stroking his palm across his face had vanished. To say he was terrified was incorrect, but to say he was fearless was also untrue. He had never even had an appendix operation from childhood to adulthood. He was harmed in ancient times, but is that the same as being detained in a "shady clinic" and allowing a weirdo to put a knife on him?! To be honest, he couldn''t put his trust in Yi Yan. Some people may look each other in the eyes and immediately realize, ''This is not my type.'' Wang Xiaomie kept having the impression that Yi Yan was odd, living freely and gracefully, but ruthless and decisive. Once such a person validates his theory, even if you try to communicate with such a guy, he can politely bring you tea and carefully listen to all you say, then turn around and continue to behave at his own pace. In short, he was a difficult individual. Wen Fengjin nodded to Yi Yan, "Proceed," when he noticed Wang Xiaomie slurring his words. "It''s time to begin," Yi Yan turned around and murmured to the silent girl behind him. The girl standing behind Yi Yan was the ''Sailor Moon'' they''d seen previously, but she was dressed cleanly and her hair was dyed black. She appeared to be a sweet junior high school girl going to start senior high school. Yi Yan made a call and invited her to come over. Wang Xiaomie was intrigued by this young girl''s connection with Yi Yan, but lacked the courage to inquire further. The little girl was silently holding a tray. She quietly began to prepare various things after hearing what Yi Yan stated. She appeared to be quite skilled and professional. Wang Xiaomie stared at Wen Fengjin''s face, becoming increasingly sleepy till he passed out. Before falling asleep, he heard Bai Yu cheer him on from outside the cubicle. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ The surgical light''s illumination made the man on the bed''s already fair complexion even whiter. Wang Xiaomie had his eyes closed, his lashes casting little shadows. Wen Fengjin remained standing beside him, holding his dangling hand and gently looking at his face. Yi Yan''s narrow eyes skimmed over him, his smile deepening on the corner of his lips. He turned around and got a bottle of clear liquid medicine from the tray held by the girl. Wang Xiaomie''s uncovered left chest received a few droplets of liquid from the glass bottle with a pointed mouth. What Yi Yan mentioned about dissection and what not moments ago was entirely intended to tease Wang Xiaomie. The extraction of the feather pattern was actually quite simple, at least before the feather pattern was transmitted to a second host. The deathly pale skin turned blood red on a wide scale the minute a few drops of the colorless and odorless liquid pierced the skin''s surface, and the feather pattern spread rapidly and even surged like a reaction! More liquid poured from the bottle, and more medicine spilled onto it. Those red lines that had only recently begun to appear on the skin actually popped up! The red feather pattern looked as if silk threads or gu worms had drilled into the skin, and because of the medicine, the red things were twisting and swaying like a drunk person. "Wow, this is even wilder than I expected." Yi Yan was stunned and then added with a little deep meaning: "This body appears to be more suited to this little thing than Yan Chun''s. Look at how long it is; it almost reaches the cheek." His tone was soft and helpless, as if he were a relative referring to the family''s extremely obese child. Wen Fengjin''s deep pupils reflected the scarlet color, and his revulsion was palpable. Yi Yan lightly touched the red ''silk strands'' with his fingers. "You dislike it? Actually, this is one of my most spectacular works." "Remove it." Wen Fengjin turned to face Yi Yan. Yi Yan looked at Wen Fengjin as well. "...Your aura has changed." Yi Yan erupted in laughter. "It appears that calling him a ''collectible'' is quite inaccurate, but this is the first time I have seen such a perfect form of sacrificial practice as he. His physique and mentality are identical to those of humans. It is absolutely the most flawless work of art I pursue." "The child next to me is my creation as well." Yi Yan patted the girl who was holding the tray on the head. The girl kept holding it with no expression or emotion. "I obviously cherish this thing a lot, and it took me many years of diligent care to give it a human-like life. I assumed that this technology had already achieved its pinnacle among craftsmen." "Until I saw your creation..." "As expected, the soul is the key..." Yi Yan asked, "Can you give it to me or let me study¡ªoof¡ª" Due to friction on the floor, the iron frame bed made a harsh sound, which was accompanied by the ''clatter clang clank'' sound of objects colliding. Bai Yu, who was still ogling the rare materials outside the cubicle, was shocked into jumping and looked to the cubicle. However, there was no strange sound coming from it. "Did you hit the tray by accident?" Bai Yu scratched his head and continued to drool over the materials. If only all of these treasured materials were mine! ¡­ ¡­ ''Drip, drip'' ''Drip, drip'' The bright red liquid splattered on the floor, splitting into little flowers. Yi Yan covered the right side of his face with his hand, blood dripping from the seams of his fingers. He grimaced in pain, and his normally beaming face bore no indication of a smile. His hand and the majority of his face were covered in sticky blood. When Wen Fengjin, who was standing opposite him, made his move, he didn''t even notice until he was already injured. One eye''s vision was blurry, and it reflected a figure emitting terrifying pressure on the opposite side. "Remember the agony now, and never again make me unhappy by probing." Yi Yan''s wretched appearance seemed a bit joyous in the deep eyes that were staring fixedly, and the lips curved sharply in a sinister and murderous manner. Wen Fengjin didn''t have to hide in front of the unconscious Wang Xiaomie. The previous insufferably haughty ''Demon Lord'' was only gazing, but he clearly despised Yi Yan. Wen Fengjin''s strength and longevity enabled him to command the life or death of others at will. After all, any calculation in the face of unlimited power is pointless. Do you feel horrible about stepping on an ant and crushing it to death? Absolutely not. So killing undesirable people was the same for Wen Fengjin. "I don''t mind your purpose because I''ll kill you before you strike my shixiong with your cunning thoughts, and then I''ll rip out your entire brain." "Do you understand? Get rid of the feather pattern right away." "...I understand." Yi Yan remained motionless for a few moments before picking up the bandages and bottled medicine next to him and expertly handling the savage wound that ran from the corner of his eye to his chin. The girl next to him stood motionless in her spot from the time he was attacked until he was hurt. Like a machine that seems to be unable to function in the absence of an instruction. Yi Yan''s smile faded when he finished treating his wound. He examined the red pattern, which had already consumed the medicine and was no longer struggling. He took a pair of slender gold-and-copper-colored scissors from the tray, opened them, and covered the blades with the medicine before plunging them into the feather pattern''s root. Wen Fengjin''s gloomy and icy power was wrapped around Yi Yan''s neck like a venomous snake, as if he only needed to press down the scissors with a little force for his neck to be broken instantaneously, and his entire head torn off and blood spattered on the spot! And this was nothing more than the pressure of Wen Fengjin¡¯s power¡ª How many people have to be slain for such a frightening aura of death to exist? The feather pattern under his control emitted smoke as if splashed with sulfuric acid and wrung wildly, producing a burning sound of ''hss hss''. Even when the feather pattern was totally removed, the person on the bed remained silent. But he was alive, and Yi Yan could feel his heartbeat via his fingers even when separated by the scissors! In contrast, the masterpiece he was most proud of next to him was practically a failure... Yi Yan, too, had made sacrifices to create a human-like puppet, but in the end, it either became a tool capable of killing people beyond recognition, or it didn''t have a human shape at all. The special blood... It''s truly incredible... How many years of sacrifice did it take to create such a flawless work of art? How much blood was needed? "It''s done." Yi Yan walked over to the basin next to him, expressionless, to clean the scissors. He bowed his head to hide the intense emotions that were burning in his eyes, while lightly rubbing his fingers, which had just felt the heartbeat. What ordinary people had to strive hard for to get all their lives, those monsters could get it easily. Yi Yan thought: This is precisely why I hate these creatures so much. These monsters are not human and have no right to exist in this world. They are the ones who disrupt the order and rules of existence! These monsters could surpass others without effort! "Your payment will be in your hands tomorrow." Wen Fengjin stated indifferently, assisted Wang Xiaomie, who was on the bed, put on clothing, and carried him neatly before turning to leave. He didn''t even look at Yi Yan from start to finish. If you lose your value, you¡¯ll be ignored at once. Yi Yan clenched his fists fiercely as soon as the sounds of him heading downstairs faded. [1] Looks like "Laogong" really beat him up! hahaha Translator: Yup! Final Boss alert. CH 60 Chapter 60 What did you say?! When they departed to return home, it started to rain again. Yi Yan''s purple smoke was quite potent. Wang Xiaomie didn''t wake up until after midnight. When he awoke, he immediately tore off his clothing and examined his chest. Wen Fengjin, who was resting near him, sat up quietly as well. Except for a tiny red mole, the white and delicate skin was as spotless as tofu. Although the feather pattern was normally invisible, Wang Xiaomie could sense that it had vanished. To verify it, he decided to tell a lie and try it out. But what should he say? After a brief period of thought, Wang Xiaomie whispered to the air, "Bai Yu is exceedingly fair." Wang Xiaomie didn''t feel any pain after a minute. Click! His eyes instantly glowed like two light bulbs in the dark night! "Xiao Wenzi, Xiao Wenzi! Look, that thing on me is gone!" He quickly turned on the small night lamp next to the coffin, drew his collar open, and leaned in front of Wen Fengjin. "Look!" "It¡¯s vanished!" Wen Fengjin''s face was tinged with indolence, and his gorgeous face was cast in a circle of shadows cast by the warm light, making his deep eyes appear even darker. He leaned up close to Wang Xiaomie''s chest, opened his palm, and smoothed his tangled silver hair back. "How is it? Is it gone?" Wang Xiaomie was overjoyed that the unlucky thing had finally disappeared. Due to his excitement, his face was flushed, and he didn''t notice that the tip of Wen Fengjin''s nose was too close to him, puffing the mildly frosty breath from his nose on him. And he was getting closer... Closer and closer~ closer and closer~ A few seconds later, Wang Xiaomie suddenly quivered from head to toe, dully stared down at the silver-haired roguish head, and realized only then that Wen Fengjin had two hair whorls. The older generation folks often said that people with one hair whorl were good and those with two hair whorls were bad. ...The ancients did not deceive me. Wang Xiaomie''s smile faded as he raised his palm and ruthlessly slammed it down. With a low chuckle, Wen Fengjin drew back in time, his already moist and full lips becoming even glossier! "I''ll kill you, stinky rogue!" Wang Xiaomie reddened and pounced on Wen Fengjin in the coffin to ''beat'' him. Simply put, Wen Fengjin was holding back the laughter that threatened to escape from his lips as he was pummeled arbitrarily. He encircled Wang Xiaomie with his arms and let him bite and hammer while hugging him. Wang Xiaomie was so tired after beating him for a long time that he wanted to stick his tongue out, and his hands hurt a little, but Boss Wen looked like it was fun. Wang Xiaomie: ... I''m pissed off, but I can''t do anything about him. Wang Xiaomie huffed his way out of the coffin to get himself something to eat. "What are you going to do, hmm?" An arm tightened around Wang Xiaomie from behind as Wen Fengjin asked in a deep voice, "You''re angry?" "No, let me go. I''m starving to death. I¡¯m going to make myself something to eat!" Wang Xiaomie slapped him on the arm. Wen Fengjin''s arm strength was so enormous that he struggled for a long time without breaking free. Wen Fengjin ultimately let him go when he finished speaking. Wang Xiaomie flipped over the coffin and escaped. Taking advantage of the fact that Wen Fengjin, who was ready to stand up and follow him, hadn''t done so yet, Wang Xiaomie showed him his middle finger before swiftly opening the door and slipping away before Boss Wen could catch him and beat his a$$. Behind him, Wen Feng laughed softly. Wang Xiaomie''s back felt chilly when he heard that chuckle, and he nearly stepped on air and flew out, face planting on the stairs. A faint sound floated in the air as he walked past the sofa into the kitchen. "...Are you planning on cooking?" "Fu*k! Ghost!" Wang Xiaomie leapt three feet in the air, shivering. "Are you going to cook..." The feeble voice persisted. Then, from their living room sofa, there was a rustling sound of fabric, and a white shirt hung in the air like in horror movies. Wang Xiaomie abruptly realized at that moment that his slow heartbeat could one day sprint so fast! The lights flickered on. Wen Fengjin had walked down swiftly after hearing Wang Xiaomie''s shriek and turned on the light with a frown. Only then did Wang Xiaomie understand that the clothing was not floating in the air, but rather that Bai Yu was there in front of him dressed in white! Wang Xiaomie covered his palpitating heart: "...Brother, didn¡¯t I say that you should whiten your skin, ah? I''ll pay whatever it costs, but you need to buy some facial masks for your use." "...Are you going to cook?" Bai Yu stared at Wang Xiaomie with empty eyes and said the same thing. Bai Yu''s eyes welled up as soon as Wang Xiaomie nodded. "Please, Big Brother, cook quickly! I''m starving! I''m dying of hunger. Everything in our refrigerator is raw, and don''t get me started about ordering takeout! The delivery rates that those delivery services charge to deliver food at this location are totally ridiculous!" "Ying ying ying, I''ve almost finished all the fruits." Bai Yu hadn''t eaten lunch or dinner that night, and he was a big eater to begin with. His stomach hurt because of acidity when he was hungry. Unfortunately, his cooking skills could cause a kitchen explosion, thus the only thing he could safely make was boiled eggs. However, Big Boss Wen did not eat after returning home, and Bai Yu did not dare to eat alone. Furthermore, Wen Fengjin had strictly warned him not to go to the second floor. Bai Yu, who didn¡¯t have enough intellectual capacity in the first place, sat on the sofa blankly, tearfully eating grapes because he was too hungry, and debating whether to go upstairs and call Wen Fengjin. He sat like this till late at night... After listening to Bai Yu whining and complaining tearfully, Wang Xiaomie¡¯s mouth twitched as he patted Bai Yu on the shoulder, an old father¡¯s fondness named ''I have a dumb son'' surfaced in his heart. "Clean up the peels on the table, I''ll cook." Wang Xiaomie looked at Wen Fengjin, "Fengjin, do you want to eat?" Wen Fengjin nodded slightly as he leaned against the wall, arms folded. "Okay." Wang Xiaomie sighed, "Just wait for me; we''ll eat delicious food right away!" Bai Yu cheered and shouted, "Xiaomie, you¡¯re like a second parent[1] to me!" "No way!" Wang Xiaomie was terrified: "I can''t have a son like you!" Bai Yu: ¡­[heart congestion[2]].jpg ¡­ ¡­ When he got to the kitchen, Wang Xiaomie opened the refrigerator and took out a bunch of ingredients to celebrate¡ªwhatever he wanted to celebrate. In short, there will be a hundred ways for foodies to rejoice and eat delicious food. Wang Xiaomie spread poison[3] in the middle of the night and prepared a variety of dishes. As soon as Wang Xiaomie started stir-frying in the wok, Bai Yu sniffed the aroma and drooled as he gripped the kitchen door and peered inside. Wang Xiaomie was amused by the eager little eyes. After over an hour, the food was finally brought to the table. Wang Xiaomie preferred highly seasoned foods, whether spicy, sour, or salty. The more stimulating the taste, the better. This was in line with the preferences of most modern teenagers, and Bai Yu was no exception. However, Wen Fengjin disliked seasonings such as onion, ginger, and garlic, which left an aftertaste in the mouth, as well as oily and salty cuisine. As a result, Wang Xiaomie went overboard and made two versions of everything. One large and one small serving. Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu ate from the large portion, while Wen Fengjin ate the small one. Bai Yu, his eyes burning red with hunger, grabbed a small ceramic bowl with cherry blossoms painted on it and filled it with rice. He took up the chopsticks and started stuffing himself. He made time to offer Wang Xiaomie a thumbs up while he was busy eating. Bai Yu: Like[4]! Nom nom nom. Bai Yu was overjoyed to eat, his dark face was filled with pleasure, and little flowers danced on the top of his head. To be honest, watching him eat gave Wang Xiaomie a sense of contentment, and he could eat a bowl of rice more than usual. With such a feast, Wang Xiaomie picked up his chopsticks and shoved the delicious food into his mouth as well. Only Wen Fengjin''s table manners were elegant among these three individuals. Even when he used chopsticks, he carried himself with a blend of dignity and recklessness. It was almost as if a leader and two small pigs were eating at the same table. Wang Xiaomie sat opposite Bai Yu on the sofa after finishing his meal and stroked his tummy comfortably. Wen Fengjin referred to it as "Ge You¡¯s paralysis." Wen Fengjin and Wang Xiaomie didn''t require sleep, whereas Bai Yu frequently went to bed in the early morning hours after playing with his phone or fiddling with his research. Wang Xiaomie went to the refrigerator to grab three popsicles because none of them wanted to sleep right after eating. Because Bai Yu had consumed all of the fruit, they could only eat popsicles for dessert. As a result, the three of them opened the French windows, sat on the small platform beneath said windows, and began sucking popsicles while gazing at the moon. The moon: ... The cool breeze after the rain was really refreshing at night. Naturally, it was impossible for Wen Fengjin to lick a popsicle. Even if he wanted to, he¡¯d find a deserted spot and face Wang Fengjin to...ahem! In short, Wen Fengjin only took a few frowning nibbles, and the rest of the popsicle went into Wang Xioamie''s stomach, who leaned on Wen Fengjin''s shoulder and slowly licked it, dribbling on Boss Wen''s arm. Fortunately, he was not beaten. The two whispered sweet nothings. Wang Xiaomie would giggle whenever he said something, whilst Wen Fengjin remained expressionless, but the atmosphere around them could drown anyone. Bai Yu sucked on his popsicle while getting stuffed on dog food, almost singing to the moon: ''This hatred will never end[5].'' After he finished sucking the popsicle, Bai Yu exclaimed with the popsicle stick in his hand: "Sigh, thank you again for your patronage." "When you look in the mirror, you should be able to see how dark your face is." Wang Xiaomie earnestly advised him, "If you want to get out of Africa and into Europe, you still need to buy a lot of facial masks." "...What you said is somewhat reasonable," Bai Yu nodded silently. "Then the question is, who will pay for the facial masks?" "Of course, the organization will provide it!" Wang Xiaomie patted him on the shoulder, "Don''t worry! I''ll order two boxes of the best facial masks today!" Bai Yu was moved to tears: "Big brother~" Wang Xiaomie held his hand: "Second brother!" Wen Fengjin, who was sitting nearby and watching their antics[6]: "..." "Ahem!" Boss Wen¡¯s face sank, "Hand!" Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu''s expressions changed, and they let go swiftly. Wen Fengjin frightened them both. Wang Xiaomie promptly returned his hand to Wen Fengjin''s, while Bai Yu grasped the popsicle stick timidly, not daring to be mischievous. At this point, Wen Fengjin stated to Bai Yu, "I''ll give you a box tomorrow. Bring it to Yi Yan and tell him it''s his payment." He never expected to be able to run errands for Boss Wen, and Bai Yu was stunned for a second before nodding and agreeing, feeling elated. He''d only said a few words to Boss Wen since arriving, and Bai Yu was awestruck by the presumably all-powerful Wen Fengjin. Furthermore, even if it was a minor affair, being able to assist others gave Bai Yu a small sense of happiness. I¡¯m such a good guy, right... Bai Yu acted as a profound thinker, sighing deeply at the moon. I am so exceptional and perfect. How is it possible that someone as good as me exists in the world? Hehe... Bai Yu was sleepy after another half-hour of sitting. He went to his room after saying goodnight to Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin. "Let''s go to sleep too." Wang Xiaomie inquired of Wen Fengjin. Wen Fengjin uttered a ''mn'' but did not rise. He instead raised his head to face Wang Xiaomie. His deep eyes were studded with light spots by the moonlight, and his wonderfully flowing silver hair looked stunning in the cool light. The handsome man who looked down on the world smiled, and he stunned the moonlight as well as Wang Xiaomie. In a trance, Wang Xiaomie stared blankly at his face. "Xiaomie," Wen Fengjin called out, his smile deepening. "Uh?" "Let''s return to the tomb palace." "Uh-huh." Uh-huh¡­¡­Huh?!!! Wang Xiaomie''s eyes widened: "What did you say?!" Footnotes: [1] Like a second parent is an idiom which means "my great benefactor." [2] The word used here is xinse. It''s an Internet word used to express distress, and translates to "my heart feels stuffy". [3] It refers to late-night uploading of mouth-watering food photos on Moments, which can easily result in stomach cramps, excessive drooling, and poor sleep quality among friends, family, and foes. It is particularly lethal in the middle of the night, when its killing power is at its peak. In Moments, this and PDA are referred to as the 2 key cancers. What a funny explanation! I found it on Baidu. [4] as in a Facebook post, for example. [5] A line from "Song of Everlasting Sorrow." It was composed by the poet Bai Juyi and describes Emperor Xuanzong''s love for Yang Guifei (one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China) and his perpetual grief over her death. [6] ch¨­u f¨¥ng: spasm; convulsion. It is used in netspeak when a person behaves abnormally, making it difficult to understand them. Frequently used to insult/roast others. CH 61 Chapter 61 Zombies also pay a visit "Return to the tomb palace?!" "Why?! Don''t we live well!" Why do you wish to live in the underground palace? There is no electricity, Internet, other people, or tasty food. Whatever you consider, being on the ground is better, right? Wang Xiaomie clenched his fists and stared in disbelief at Wen Fengjin. Wen Fengjin remained silent for a minute before asking, "Aren''t you willing to accompany me back to the tomb palace?" I''m willing to accompany you to the ground, but you''re unwilling to accompany me back? Wang Xiaomie appeared to see this sentence in Wen Fengjin''s eyes. He stiffened, and then, like a deflated balloon, the incredible eagerness in his heart to refute Wen Fengjin was entirely shattered. He didn''t even dare to look Wen Fengjin in the eyes. "I- I don''t- not want to go back. But can you tell me why?" Wang Xiaomie squatted on the ground, his dismayed head about to fall to the floor. When Wen Fengjin saw him like this, the smile on his face vanished at once. The exquisite beauty under the moon transformed into an Asura[1] devil who wanted to eat people once his face grew gloomy. With a single tug, he hauled the squatting Wang Xiaomie over. Wang Xiaomie cut a miserable figure as he tumbled into Wen Fengjin''s arms because Wen Fengjin''s strength was great and Wang Xiaomie didn''t react. For a long time, he waved his hands furiously before being restrained and having his wrists crushed against Wen Fengjin''s chest. In the summer, the thin fabric couldn''t keep out the soft tactile sensation of the skin. Wang Xiaomie was in a complex mood since he had been startled, which was accompanied by emotions such as guilt, anxiety, unease, and so on¡ª In a nutshell, his hair had exploded[2]. "Did you hit me?!" He asked, his eyes wide with anger, and without waiting even a second for Wen Fengjin to respond, he swiftly convicted the man, "You hit me! You hit me!" He promptly escalated the offense after condemning the man. "You domestic violenced[3] me!" Wen Fengjin: "..." "I didn''t..." "You did! You domestic violenced me!!" Wang Xiaomie''s face flushed red, his eyes filled with glistening teardrops, and he yelled, sounding both aggrieved and asking for a beating: "I want to domestic violence you too!" Wen Fengjin: "..." He awoo-ed and jumped at Wen Fengjin when he finished speaking, twisting back and forth when he couldn''t free his hands, and even wanted to give Wen Fengjin a headbutt with his forehead. He had the appearance of a girlfriend who was far more brutal than a terrorist. A terrorist could at the very least communicate, but an angry little zongzi was entirely incapable of communicating. Wang Xiaomie almost hit Wen Fengjin''s chin with his headbutt several times, forcing Wen Fengjin to tilt his head back. Then, when Wang Xiaomie used dishonest means to wriggle free, Wen Fengjin tilted backwards more and more, almost toppling. Boss Wen, whom no one had ever tried to disobey, was likewise enraged in this way. When Wang Xiaomie rushed over, he let go of Wang Xiaomie''s hand and pushed his head with a finger. Wen Fengjin had slender limbs and was taller than Wang Xiaomie, so when he pressed one finger against Wang Xiaomie''s forehead, Wang Xiaomie howled and yelled, "I''ll kill you, I''ll kill you!" He brandished his clenched fists in front of Wen Fengjin, his arms swinging like a propeller, but he didn''t even touch Wen Fengjin. Instead, his "fried hair" appearance while howling was both clumsy and adorable. When Boss. ''Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'' million filter lenses preloaded. Wen saw this scene, the anger that had surged up in his chest dissipated a lot. However, it was time to straighten out a certain someone. Wang Xiaomie was lifted up by his armpits and turned upside down before he could react to what was going on. He turned into a figure whose stomach was resting on Wen Fengjin''s legs and his upper body on the floor. "You¡ª! Fu*k! Don''t pull my pants! What are you doing! Ah, ah, ah, domestic violence, ah! You''re a hooligan!" At this moment, Bai Yu, who had most likely been awakened by the noise, opened the door sleepily, "What''s the matter Xiaomie... what time is it... what a fu*king thrill!" When he spotted Wen Fengjin had yanked Wang Xiaomie''s pants, he gave a nasty smile and said, "Hehe, I know everything, everything~ Sorry to bother you; please continue." Bang! He slammed the door shut after speaking. Wang Xiaomie: ...You don¡¯t know shit! Help me! The sweatpants down to the knee were ripped off. Wen Fengjin held Wang Xiaomie''s waist firmly with one hand, raised his head to avoid Wang Xiaomie''s wildly kicking legs, and then raised his palm high¡ª "Pa!" "Ow!" "My a$$¡ª!" This smack was merciless. Wang Xiaomie screamed, feeling that his tailbone had been broken. "Speak, are you willing to accompany me back to the tomb palace or not? Huh?" Wen Fengjin frowned and asked him in a low voice. Wang Xiaomie struggled, tears in his eyes, but he kept his mouth shut. "Pa!" "Ouch! Wen Fengjin, your uncle! Wait for me to go upstairs and burn you to death with Kai Ming!" "Answer me! Are you ready or not!" Wang Xiaomie lay straining on the ground, like a small turtle unable to turn over. While fighting back tears, he managed to send a greeting to Wen Fengjin''s relatives. Wen Fengjin frowned, but he didn''t have the heart to slap Wang Xiaomie hard, so he spanked him lightly. He struck him a few times, but Wang Xiaomie refused to submit. The two snowy mounds were completely red. Wen Fengjin''s raised hand was lowered again, and after a few moments of silence, he released him. He said, "You don''t have a conscience." Wang Xiaomie was enraged by this sentence, and he simply stopped getting up. He rubbed his swollen a$$, turned to face Wen Fengjin, and shouted, "I have no conscience?! I have safeguarded you so much in my past life, carried a knife for you, and worried about you because I don¡¯t have a conscience? I have no conscience, so the first thing I do when I regain my memories is forgive you?" "If other people had encountered a two-faced big pervert like you, they would have run away!" After Wang Xiaomie finished yelling, he sniffled and his voice weakened, "Besides, even if I don''t want to go back, hate to give up a modern and comfortable life, and can''t bear to part with a mobile phone, computer, WiFi, air conditioner, takeaway fried chicken and coke BBQ, Marvel animation and games, and..." "..." Wen Fengjin¡¯s forehead vein was cross-popping, his face getting darker and darker. He was going to say something when he heard Wang Xiaomie say¡ª "As much as I hate to give those up, if you want to go back, I will absolutely follow you." He reached back with his hand to cover his hurting a$$. Although his voice was low and his mouth was full of reluctance, he still said: "...I¡¯ll naturally go wherever you go, and about you claiming I have no conscience¡ª I¡¯m going to call the police to arrest you!" When Wen Fengjin heard this, the low air pressure around him gradually dissipated, and his brows smoothed out. "Ouch! It¡¯s killing me..." Wang Xiaomie¡¯s a$$ was burning with pain, and he glowered angrily at Wen Fengjin. Wen Fengjin, on the other hand, showed a smile, "So you are not unwilling to return with me?" "Of course I don''t want to return!" Wang Xiaomie mumbled, "But there''s no way...if you go, I''ll go too..." Although he preferred a modern and convenient lifestyle, he did not want to be apart from Wen Fengjin. Wang Xiaomie was very clear about this point. Wen Fengjin chuckled. He then drew Wang Xiaomie''s pants up and massaged his buttocks for him. In a flash of rage, Wang Xiaomie pushed his hand away and remained still on the ground like a salted fish, refusing to turn over. "...When are we leaving?" Wang Xiaomie raised his head and inquired after some time. "We''ll be gone for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow." Wen Fengjin, who was waiting for the inquiry, remarked at the time, "But it''s not like we''re not coming back." "What?! We''re coming back?!" Wang Xiaomie was stunned. "Yes." Wen Fengjin nodded and added, "I mentioned that I wanted to return since in a few days it will be 40 years since my old friend and I agreed to reunite for drinks. A person''s word must be kept. I''m not going to betray my promise." "So we¡¯ll come back later?" Wen Fengjin nodded again. Wang Xiaomie: "..." "Why didn''t you say so earlier!!!" Wang Xiaomie cried out loud. Why the hell did I get this beating?! Ah, my a$$! Wait a minute! Wang Xiaomie stood up from the floor, looking suspiciously at Wen Fengjin. "When did you have a close friend?" Wen Fengjin having a close friend was almost as miraculous as a rooster laying eggs! Others were unaware, but how could Wang Xiaomie be unaware? Boss Wen had never had any close friends since he took up duty as a ''Demon Lord'' in his previous life. In regards to his ''taking your dog life'' cruel off the charts index, practically everyone would turn around and flee when they heard his name. Could it be a modern-day friendship? That was even more impossible! They were both ''newly unearthed'' cultural relics. He had seen everyone Wen Fengjin had met. How could he have a friend who promised to drink with Wen Fengjin in 40 years? Is it possible that¡­ Wang Xiaomie struggled to put it into words, "That friend of yours isn¡¯t a zombie as well, is he?" Wen Fengjin: "He is." Wang Xiaomie: "..." Great. Nowadays, zombies couldn''t slumber peacefully in their own graves; they had to stroll to other people''s graves and knock on their door. "His way of dealing with things is very similar to mine." Speaking of this friend, Boss Wen actually showed some admiration in his eyes. "Although the age difference between him and us is 200 years, his strength is greater than yours." "What does this have..." Wang Xiaomie pouted, "Even Yi Yan¡¯s ''Sailor Moon'' is more powerful than me." "But the way of doing things is similar to yours..." Wang Xiaomie tutted and sighed, "It looks like another scum." Wen Fengjin: "..." "All right, let''s go back." Wang Xiaomie rose to his feet, groaning and moaning while clutching his buttocks. The more it hurt, the more he felt that it wasn''t worth being inexplicably beaten. It was all because Wen Fengjin didn¡¯t explain things clearly to him. Humph! "...I¡¯m curious how Sister Lei¡¯s temple repair is coming along. When I return, I¡¯ll take a look." As Wang Xiaomie wondered about the temple repair, Wen Fengjin went up behind Wang Xiaomie and reached out to embrace his shoulders, but was rebuffed by Wang Xiaomie''s glaring eyes. "Don''t touch me! Look at the spanking you gave me!" Wang Xiaomie yelled, like an angry soft and cute puppy. "There is no good end to a domestic abuser! I want to get divorced from a man like you! We¡¯re breaking up!" "Drink? Bah!" "..." Wen Fengjin cocked his brows and was about to say something. Wang Xiaomie realized that it was not good and turned around to flee after that "bah!" His supple movements as he escaped made Wen Fengjin see there weren¡¯t any injuries on his buttocks at all. All of that miserable shouting just now appeared to be a ruse. Wen Fengjin followed him to the second story, smiling and shaking his head. The next morning, Wen Fengjin handed a box to Bai Yu, and said with some deep meaning: "If he proposes something, remember to promise him." Bai Yu was startled and confused. But because Wen Fengjin didn''t intend to explain, Bai Yu was forced to carry the small box and return to Yi Yan''s shop by the route they took yesterday. And he soon understood what Wen Fengjin meant¡­ [1] Malevolent spirits in Indian mythology. [2] "Fried hair" is a word used to describe "hair standing on end" to signify shock, anger, etc. I think this includes hair on one¡¯s head. [3] Sorry for using incorrect grammar. I wanted it to sound a little amusing. "You abused me" sounds far too serious. WXM is obviously messing around, and in most C-novels, "domestic abuse" has a humorous connotation. CH 62 Chapter 62 I''ll wait for you to return It was still the store with the old-fashioned decor. Yi Yan was wearing plastic gloves and handling skeletons in the second-floor partitioned area. The odor of the liquid medicine was mixed with that of rotting meat. The girl next to him had her sleeves rolled up and washed the instruments at the sink. There was an unhealed wound on the right side of Yi Yan''s ever smiling face. It was a nasty and frightening cut that ran from the corner of his eye to his chin. It appeared to be slathered with a special medicine. Despite the fact that it was not bandaged, it healed swiftly. Bai Yu looked at his face in surprise. He had no idea that the wound was Wen Fengjin¡¯s work. He hadn''t seen Yi Yan since Wen Fengjin walked out with Wang Xiaomie in his arms the other day. Looking at the wound, Bai Yu couldn''t help saying, "Your face..." "Ah, yes." When Yi Yan saw him arrive, he smiled and laid down his work, removed his gloves, and replied nonchalantly, "It''s simply a remembrance of an improper probing. It''s a minor wound that will heal quickly." "..." This is a minor wound?! However, as a craftsman, Bai Yu was totally confident that Yi Yan could heal his wound without leaving any trace. He handed the little box over. "This is what Boss Wen asked that I send over. He stated that this is payment." "Mn." Yi Yan took the box and opened it, his uncovered eye astonished, "This is truly...a generous remuneration," he said. He shut the box and turned to the girl behind him, saying, "Take this box to the hidden cupboard, Xiao An, and make two cups of tea. I want to entertain this visitor." The expressionless girl nodded, dried her hands, hurried over to grab the box, crouched down in front of the cabinet, opened the bottom cabinet to reveal a safe, and prepared to place the small box down. That row of precious materials had been arranged at random, but the small box handed by Boss Wen had been placed in the safe below, and Bai Yu couldn''t help but wonder what Boss Wen had taken out as recompense. When he heard Yi Yan was going to entertain him, Bai Yu quickly motioned with his hand, "No need, no need, I''m just running an errand." "Haha, are you afraid of me? Don''t worry, I''m not going to hurt you." Yi Yan smiled with a maturity that transcended time and the gentleness of growth. There were tiny wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, but they added a lot of approachability. "I''m also tired of being here. You arrived just in time to accompany me on a little rest. I''m not sure why, but your face looks quite familiar to me." He placed his hand on Bai Yu''s shoulder and led him downstairs to the living room very politely. Bai Yu found it impossible to resist such a gentle person, so he had to bite the bullet and sit down somewhat stiffly. Yi Yan sat down and pushed the fruit bowl closer to him, clothed in a mandarin jacket. "Little Friend, what''s your name? Last time I saw you, I noticed you were highly interested in my materials. Don''t tell me you''re also a craftsman." Bai Yu laughed stupidly, responding, "My name is Bai Yu. I am not a craftsman... I learned it by myself. My paternal grandfather was one, but he went missing later." "Missing?" Yi Yan frowned slightly, "The circle of craftsmen is limited, and most of the famous ones know each other. If you tell me, I''ll see if I''ve met your grandfather." "Really?!" Bai Yu was so excited that he was going to say something, but he stopped himself after opening his mouth. He was not familiar with Yi Yan. Furthermore, Wang Xiaomie and Boss Wen were wary about approaching Yi Yan. What if the other party was a bad guy? What should he do if Yi Yan intended to fish for information and then act?! Before Bai Yu could finish his brain tonic[1], the man sitting across from him burst out laughing and exclaimed cheerfully, "Pfft! You''re far too amusing, kid. Everything you think is written on your face." "Are you worried about what I might do to you? Hahaha, don''t be afraid; I won''t hurt you." Yi Yan appeared to be both kidding and serious in his response: "My hands are covered in blood, but it is monster blood. I''ve never killed people. I never have and I never will." Bai Yu''s face was red from being seen through. He felt a little embarrassed to look Yi Yan in the eyes. "...You have a particular hatred for monsters?" "Hatred? Yes...you can say that." Yi Yan stopped smiling, "Those monsters are not human and should not be allowed to live among us. They will cause harm to the human race sooner or later. Besides, their strength is formidable. If they refuse to abide by human laws, how many people will pay with their lives as a result?" "But there are also good monsters..." Bai Yu retorted quietly, remembering the umbrella Xiaomie had given him and the dumplings he had cooked; even Boss Wen, who appeared cruel, had saved his life. "If there are good and bad humans in our world, then monsters must also have good and bad." Yi Yan smiled and nodded, "What you stated also makes sense, but we can''t tell the difference between good and bad monsters. Their very existence is a time bomb for the human race. Can you really live in peace if I bury a landmine in your house and promise you it won''t explode?" Bai Yu: "I..." Yi Yan moved in close to Bai Yu and closely observed his expression, adding, "Monsters are dangerous, Bai Yu. This is something you must keep in mind at all times." "Perhaps those monsters themselves also don¡¯t realize it, maybe they don¡¯t mean to, but once they go crazy, the kind of power they have is enough to destroy many happy families." "Existences that violate the rules are unnecessary existences." "Those who are not of my race will undoubtedly have different hearts[2]; there are no exceptions." Bai Yu: "..." Bai Yu: I want to refute but don''t know how. He was well aware that what Yi Yan said was incorrect, but he couldn''t come up with any analogies or other explanations. Bai Yu rubbed his head, feeling even more uneasy. And when Yi Yan noticed him feeling uneasy, he sat up straight with a sigh, his eyes and expression softening. "I''m sorry; I said too much." Yi Yan softly apologized. "...It''s okay," Bai Yu said, shaking his head. "This topic is far too serious... Let''s move on to something else." Yi Yan smiled, "You said your surname is Bai, right. In that case, among the craftsmen I know, only Bai Cheng is the most suitable. Is it possible that he is your grandfather?" Bai Yu, who had planned to slip away, suddenly locked his wide gaze on Yi Yan! "Yes! Have you met him? Have you ever met my father, Bai He?!" "You really are Teacher Bai Cheng''s grandson." Yi Yan''s head shook slightly: "I am familiar with Teacher Bai Cheng, and I have studied beside him for a time. Your grandfather is an exceptional man with a talent for refining tools, and he has spent his entire life studying this area of work. I''ve learned so much from him that I can be called his half disciple..." "Really?" Bai Yu was ecstatic, but Yi Yan¡¯s next words doused him like a pail of cold water... "He disappeared. I haven''t seen him in 20 years, and as for your father, I¡¯ve never heard Teacher Bai Cheng mention him," Yi Yan added. "I, too, have been looking for him for years, but we often have to travel to remote locations to gather materials or fight hordes of creatures. Someone told me that a monster with never-before-seen power had been discovered in the location where he last appeared..." "Maybe..." Maybe he is no longer alive. Bai Yu''s brow was drenched in cold sweat. Despite the fact that he had been preparing for this for many years, hearing it pierced his heart. All of his close relatives were gone. He was the only one left. A pair of young hands reached out and pressed on Bai Yu''s knee-mounted hands. Bai Yu looked up and saw it was Yi Yan. "Don''t worry; I¡¯m just stating the possibility. Rest assured that I will not give up my search for Teacher Bai Cheng." Yi Yan''s smile was very comforting, as if an elder was consoling the younger generation, giving a firm sense of security. Bai Yu''s expression relaxed. He pursed his lips and nodded. They then discussed a variety of topics. Yi Yan''s knowledge was exceptional, whether it was about conversation style or tool refinement. After putting aside his prejudice against those monsters, he could effortlessly win someone''s favor. The same was true for Bai Yu. They had already talked in great spirits until dusk by the time he reacted. It wasn''t until Bai Yu''s stomach growled in hunger that he realized it was late. "I''m sorry for bothering you for so long." Bai Yu blushed as he rose up and apologized several times. Yi Yan also rose up and looked at him with crescent eyes, full of tolerance as he shook his head: "It doesn''t matter; I only discovered it now. By the way, Bai Yu. Since you want to enter this line right now and Teacher Bai Cheng isn''t here, why don''t you learn from me and become my disciple?" "Ah?" Bai Yu was dumbstruck, opening his mouth wide. "This, this is not good." All craftsmen aspired to pass on their skills to their own lineage, and it was even said that it was passed on to men but not to women. Even if Yi Yan was acting for the sake of his grandfather''s honor, he couldn''t simply agree to take him on as an apprentice?! "Huh? Is it possible that you don''t want to be my disciple?" Yi Yan frowned and appeared a bit sad. "I don''t want to brag, but I am well-known in my circle. You''re sure you don''t want to?" "No! I''m just thinking..." Bai Yu hurriedly explained, then expressed his reservations. "As you can see, my real age is actually much older than my appearance," Yi Yan said indifferently after listening to Bai Yu. "but I don''t have a wife and family by my side, and I believe it is difficult to have any heirs." "And you, too, have no family and are the grandson of Teacher Bai Cheng, who once taught me... Isn''t this the best of both worlds?" Bai Yu was overcome with emotion. Yi Yan was certainly being modest when he said he was "a famous person in the circle." After all, with those valuable materials and the means he saw that day, it was no exaggeration to claim he was a ''leader.'' But he remained hesitant. Yi Yan¡­ Should I believe him after all is said and done? At this point, he was hit by a brainwave and remembered what Wen Fengjin had said: "If he proposes something, remember to promise him." F*ck me! Boss Wen is too awesome. How does he know Yi Yan wants me to be his disciple? Bai Yu¡¯s mind was stunned for a long time. Yi Yan put his hand on Bai Yu¡¯s shoulder. Because of the height difference, he bent down and smiled slightly as he approached Bai Yu, and a few strands of hair that had fallen out of the braid dropped on his brow. "Promise me, Bai Yu." Bai Yu clenched his teeth and nodded firmly. Yi Yan''s smile became more genuine in an instant, fine lines narrowed from the corners of his eyes, and when the corners of his lips curled up, the entire person warmed up, like an empty oil lamp being lit, and the whole person and his surroundings got brighter. "I''m very happy," Yi Yan said. "I''m really very happy." Bai Yu was dazed by his smile and became a little bashful. Yi Yan walked him to the door as they chatted again. Bai Yu was ready to turn around and leave when he felt a warm palm press down on his head and ruffle his short hair. When he looked up, Yi Yan had already pulled his hand back, saying, "I''ll wait for you to return, Bai Yu." "......" Bai Yu, who had gone far away, looked back at the little shop hidden right in the city center with a smile that he didn''t even notice. The next moment, he turned back and briskly walked away. Footnotes: [1] ÄÔ²¹: An Internet buzzword, it usually refers to mentally supplementing certain plots and fantasizing about scenarios in comic books, novels, and reality that you wished would happen but did not. [2] f¨¥i w¨¯ z¨² l¨¨i, q¨ª x¨©n b¨¬ y¨¬: Those who are not of our own clan must not be of the same mind as us. z¨² l¨¨i can mean race or clan. Race obviously fits better in this context. Translator: So Yi Yan is gonna be Bai Yu¡¯s shifu?! CH 63 Chapter 63 Happy dad Bai Yu returned and repeated the story, looking at Wen Fengjin, who was reading a book with his legs crossed, and Wang Xiaomie, who was dressed in homewear and had a slightly astonished expression. "What do you guys think?" "...Yeah, that sounds good. You don''t have to worry about him trapping you if he truly knows your grandfather and has such a relationship with him." After all, Bai Yu had nothing except himself. "But are you sure he''s telling the truth?" Xiaomie asked. "I am sure," Bai Yu nodded. "He told me a lot of things about my grandfather, many of which are consistent with my memories of him." Wang Xiaomie stroked his chin and said, "That''s great. What do you think, Xiao Wenzi?" Bai Yu and Wang Xiaomie turned to look at Boss Wen with anticipation, hoping for some solid suggestion. The book sank slightly, exposing Wen Fengqin''s long and narrow eyes, which were cool and disinterested as he nodded perfunctorily, "Mn." Bai Yu: "..." Wang Xiaomie: "...What does ¡®mn¡¯ mean, you devil! I¡¯m going to hammer you to death[1]!!" Wen Feng sighed and threw the book on the coffee table, closing it with sharpened fingers. "Yi Yan will not harm you." Wen Fengjin looked at Bai Yu and suddenly half-smiled, "He teaches you, and you learn." What exactly did he mean? Wang Xiaomie and Bai Yu were both perplexed. Just as they were about to ask Wen Fengjin again, Wen Fengjing stood up and walked around the sofa, but when he passed Wang Xiaomie, he stooped, pressed his lips close to Wang Xiaomie''s earlobe, and smiled: "Didn''t you see the flag on Yi Yan''s door before? Um? Little fool." The words ''little fool'' were raspy and playful, like a piece of popping candy jumping about from the tip of the tongue. It made Wang Xiaomie cover his ears and blush for a long time. When he came back to his senses, Bai Yu, who had been forced to eat a mouthful of dog food, was staring at him with a sour expression, and the sound of Wen Fengjin¡¯s footsteps had already faded upstairs. "Ahem." Wang Xiaomie blinked in embarrassment, "Don''t mention it. In any case, it makes no difference what we think. Even though Yi Yan is a weirdo, he has stated that he will not harm humans, and he appears to like you... F*ck! Why are you blushing?!" "Hehehe," two red clouds soared across Bai Yu''s dark face as he shook his head. "I was scared you guys might disagree," he explained. "Why would we disagree?" Wang Xiaomie blinked again. "Well¡­ You see, you and Boss Wen obviously dislike Yi Yan, but we''re also pals, so..." Bai Yu scratched his head, "I shouldn''t get too close to him either." "Pfft!" Wang Xiaomie couldn''t hold back his laughter. "Hahaha, do you think we¡¯re a trio of high school girls?! Hahaha... Do you have to be unanimous and learn not to like something or someone if we don''t like it? Hahaha, you are too funny, Da Bai." Bai Yu: "..." Wang Xiaomie held his stomach and laughed for a long time. Then he stood up and sat next to Bai Yu again, putting his hand on his shoulder and patting it. "Don''t overthink things and don''t worry about what other people think. If you like it, you like it; if you dislike it, you dislike it. Da Bai, just do what you think is right..." Bai Yu bit his bottom lip and nodded heavily, his eyes somewhat red. He thought it was fantastic to run across Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin. It was so fantastic that he seemed to have endured a lifetime of ill luck for the sake of his current good fortune. He thought silently: I want to be BFFS with them! Wang Xiaomie suddenly slapped his forehead: "Ah, that''s right!" "Huh?" Bai Yu was still immersed in his own thoughts when the silly fufu[2] looked up. Wang Xiaomie said earnestly, "I forgot to tell you something. Wen Fengjin and I are planning to return to our burial ground." "Pfff cough cough!" Bai Yu''s shock was so great, his jaw almost dropped to the ground, "What? What ground?!" Wang Xiaomie: "The burial ground." Bai Yu''s brain crashed: "What burial?" "..." Wang Xiaomie couldn¡¯t decide whether to laugh or cry, "You do know what a burial ground and a cemetery are?" Bai Yu nodded dully. When Wang Xiaomie beheld Bai Yu''s expression, his lips twitched. "It can''t be. You''ve been living with us for so long, and I''ve also told you that we sleep in a coffin, yet you still don''t know the true identity of Wen Fengjing and I?" Of course not. Bai Yu might not be the brightest cookie but he knew this much. Bai Yu tightened his fists and inquired eagerly, "...So you''re truly zombies, and you''re heading back to your cemetery soon. Then¡­ Then will you come back?" "We¡¯ll come back." Wang Xiaomie added, "It may take around a month, but we will definitely come back. I¡¯ll bother you to look after the house this month. I¡¯ll leave you some money so you can pay the electricity and water bills." "That''s good..." Bai Yu felt relieved. When he heard what Xiaomie said next, he waved his hand, "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll do it. Don''t worry, I¡¯ll keep the house clean." Wang Xiaomie was relieved indeed. He and Bai Yu chatted about Yi Yan again and the myriad matters at home after they left. They intended to buy a vehicle for their trip on the third day. After all, there had to be no direct public transportation to a remote location like the tomb palace. And men, well, they all like beautiful cars. Wang Xiaomie had intended to acquire a stylish Land Rover or something similar. That was a car a man should drive. But he didn''t purchase it. Not because he lacked funds. The money on their bank cards was enough to buy multiple cars, and it also wasn''t because the car salesmen didn''t sell them. After all, the automobile wasn''t a limited edition. Rather, it was because Wen Fengjin¡ª¡ªhad the brilliant idea of bringing their coffin! Wang Xiaomie: ... Big Brother, exactly how much do you like this coffin? Tell me. Should I order 8 or 10 customized ones!? Boss Wen stood motionless beside the coffin, his attitude firm, his handsome face frowning, and a faint look in his eyes. "I''m taking it with me." Wang Xiaomie: "..." Is it your wife or am I your wife?! F*ck! Why do I feel as if I''m not as important as a coffin? Could the coffin be Wen Fengjin¡¯s main body?! Wang Xiaomie stood still and silent. If Wen Fengjin¡¯s main body is a coffin, wouldn''t I be sleeping in his stomach... F*ck me! My goosebumps are tingling! "Boss, why do you want to take it with you? We¡¯ll be there for just a month. Aren''t the scores of palaces and beds in the tomb palace enough for the two of us to sleep?!" Boss Wen: "My shixiong and I have shared the bed[3] in this coffin for more than a thousand years." Wang Xiaomie: "...So the coffin is the third person[4] between us?" Boss Wen: "...No." Wang Xiaomie: "Hehe!" Kidney deficiency could sometimes be caused by an overwhelming desire to beat up someone[5]. Wang Xiaomie rubbed his brow. At the moment, his overwhelming ¡®desire¡¯ was to unleash a torrent of military boxing and Tai Chi skills on Wen Fengjin. Bai Yu, who accompanied them to the car dealership, nearly peed his pants with laughter. They ultimately decided on a white pickup truck. Wang Xiaomie''s hands trembled as he paid the money, not because of the money, but because he felt sorry for himself, who wished to sleep on a bed. However, after purchasing it, Wang Xiaomie had another thought. He didn¡¯t have a driver''s license. Wang Xiaomie: ... Died laughing. He didn''t think about the driver''s license earlier because he passed the test in university as Wang Xiaomie, and then he entirely forgot to change his identification these days, resulting in this blunder. And it was next to impossible for Wen Fengjin to have a modern age driver''s license. Bai Yu weakly raised his hand just as Wang Xiaomie was about to cry. "I have a driver''s license, I''ll drive you there. I can still pick you up when you return." Wang Xiaomie stared at Bai Yu''s dark face. He would have launched himself at Bai Yu and given him a bear hug, shouting, "My wonderful brother!" if Wen Fengjin hadn''t grabbed the back of his collar. "Da Bai deserves to be called Da Bai! My sweet baby!" Bai Yu puffed out his chest and laughed proudly. The car was bought, and everything was arranged. In the afternoon, the three of them set off for the tomb palace. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ The wild, mountainous country was peaceful and uninhabited; the trees and weeds rustled, the damaged stone pavement showed indications of man-made repair, the nearby abandoned ruins had also been cleaned up, and there were still piles of sand and muck after cleaning up its debris. The little temple was still unfinished, but it had begun to take shape. Wang Xiaomie remembered his past life as he looked at the stone road climbing right to the summit of the mountain. He''d traversed that long stone path step by step back then, carrying a man on his back, blood streaming from their bodies like rain. It was excruciatingly painful. Even remembering made some areas of his body ache dully. That kind of never-ending agony and despair at not reaching his destination no matter how much further he staggered was crushing. "Shixiong." Wang Xiaomie jolted back to his senses. Wen Fengjin bent his head and gazed at him, his large icy hand covering the left side of his face and his thumb tenderly caressing. "It''s all in the past." "...Mn." It''s all over now. Wang Xiaomie smiled as he rubbed his side face against Wen Fengjin''s palm. He was reassured by the deep feelings in Wen Fengjin''s dark eyes and his ice-cold palm. Bai Yu, who had been driving on and off for two days, yawned drowsily and narrowed his eyes as he followed them. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Wang Xiaomie and Boss Wen disappearing into the thick forest, hand in hand. Boss Wen was still carrying a coffin in his other hand at the time. Bai Yu remained motionless for a minute, contemplating: Am I watching my friends go hand in hand into the grave of love? One that comes with its own coffin? Hmm... It''s really romantic... For some unknown reason, Wang Xiaomie''s heart unexpectedly welled up with the feeling that he had just returned to his hometown from his mother''s house[6] with husbando carrying a coffin(?) when he returned to the tomb palace. Especially when the large blood lizard slobbering blood-like saliva, the giant human-faced tree mushrooms rolling and rumbling as they rushed forth, long-haired water ghosts, and the two "jellies" with transparent bodies and half their heads embedded in the walls of the tomb passage all rushed over from the tomb passage directly in front of him just as he stepped into the deep tomb passage¡­ That feeling was even stronger now - what the hell!!! He would have turned around and fled if Wen Fengjin wasn¡¯t leading him by the hand! Wang Xiaomie burst into tears in his heart as he stared blankly at the army of creatures racing towards them. Do you think you are the little cuties who gather at the entrance and want to be hugged, kissed, and held high as soon as the door opens? After being surrounded by everyone from Mu Yi to Mu Shi, the several large monsters joyfully circled around them, considerately picking up the packages and coffin in their hands. Those happy looks were simply overkill. Wen Fengjin, who was utterly indifferent to humans, showed a glimmer of joy on his handsome face when he saw them. "You''re all really good," he nodded, his lips curving. Mu Yi and the others were even happier, and they all stared expectantly at Wang Xiaomie with eager eyes. Wang Xiaomie hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "Uh... you''re all good." Mu Yi and the others'' scarlet bean-like eyes all lit up instantly. Wang Xiaomie: "..." For some strange reason, he kept having the feeling that he was a happy dad[7]. Footnotes: [1] This is the literal translation, however the underlying meaning is WXM condemning WFJ for his perfunctory response. He means, "You''re just blowing us off with a ''mn,'' you devil?! Give a proper answer!!" [2] Hatsune Miku''s Muppets are called silly fufu because they look silly. [3] fig. to get married. He¡¯s saying it¡¯s their marriage bed. [4] the other woman/man. [5] As CN readers are aware, excessive sex or masturbation causes kidney deficiency. TCM naturally lists other factors, but CN focus on overindulgence. WXM is likely joking that they have sex regularly, but it would be the result of his extreme "desire" to beat up WFJ. [6] ni¨¢ng ji¨¡: refers to the home of a MARRIED woman''s parents. [7] ϲµ±µù: This term is mainly used to mock the situation in which a man finally catches up with a goddess, but the goddess is pregnant with someone else''s kid, and the man has no choice but to take over. CH 64 Chapter 64 The drought demon An Kai When Wang Xiaomie opened his eyes, the vigorously blooming peach flowers blinded him. He couldn''t tell where he was at the time, and it took him a while to recollect that he and Wen Fengjin had returned to the underground palace. Someone next to him stretched out his arm and placed it on his lower belly, causing his back to press into the man behind him''s chest and lower abdomen. There was also a ''third person'' between them. Wang Xiaomie''s mouth twitched, and the Iron Fist of Justice[1] was lifted up and slammed down. The man behind him moaned in agony, leaning his chin on Wang Xiaomie''s shoulder and saying hoarsely and stickily: "It hurts." "You broke it." Wang Xiaomie sneered: "Unlikely. Given our ability to heal, even if it is broken, it can grow back!" Wen Fengjin''s breath was cool, and he laughed as he asked in a husky voice, "What if it grows crooked?" Wang Xiaomie looked back and glared at him: "It wasn''t straight in the first place!" It was so bent that it had turned into a mosquito coil[2]! "Let¡¯s get up. Isn¡¯t this the day your friend is coming to see you? Even if we¡¯ve turned into zongzi, we must clean up. What would our guest think if he finds us lying in the coffin in disheveled clothes!" Wang Xiaomie said this, but his hand crept inside Wen Fengjin''s loose robe collar, feeling the hard muscles inside. Wang Xiaomie was startled, coughed dryly, and groped several times before nonchalantly climbing out of the coffin. Wen Fengjin narrowed his eyes and relished the sensation of skin to skin contact. When that frisky hand left, Wen Fengjin''s deep pupils dilated slightly, and he rubbed his tongue against the sharp end of his teeth in silence. Wang Xiaomie sat on a round stool after changing into new fiery garments, and Wen Fengjin lovingly brushed his long and cumbersome hair with a cow horn comb before tying it up with a headband and donning a jade crown hairpin. Wang Xiaomie brought Wen Fengjin to the bronze mirror to arrange his clothes, then closed his eyes and summoned Mu Yi and the others, just as Wen Fengjin did. Mu Yi and the rest had arrived at the side palace hall by the time Wen Fengjin was ready. "Hmm...how shall we entertain our guest?" Wang Xiaomie paused for a moment before beginning to assign tasks one by one, from Mu Yi to Mu Shi. "The tomb palace has many mechanisms. Mu San, go turn off everything that can be turned off. It will be embarrassing if the guest walks to the door and falls to a corner. And those merman lights, light them all up and make them as bright as possible..." "We have a lot of beautiful cups in the side palace hall... I don''t know where to entertain the other party when they arrive." Wang Xiaomie turned his head and asked Wen Fengjin. "Where did you drink wine the last time?" Wen Fengjin, who was listening to Wang Xiaomie''s arrangements with great interest, chuckled, "Right under the tree." "Okay..." Wang Xiaomie thought for a moment before saying, "Xiao Wenzi, you take down the coffin and put it away in the side palace hall first. It¡¯s not good to have a ''bed'' while drinking. Then, Mu Wu, you put up the small table and futon cushions from the side palace hall, as well as those beautiful wine cups." "Right! Speaking of drinking, how come I didn''t know that there is wine in our tomb palace!" Wang Xiaomie glared at Wen Fengjin, "Are you still keeping wine hidden behind my back?" "Some bottles were buried at the time of burial. I rarely drink it." Wen Fengjin couldn''t stop himself from laughing. "You really have the air of Madam Wen," he observed with a smile, looking at Wang Xiaomie, who was seriously ordering and racking his brains to organize the tomb palace. Wang Xiaomie: "...Bah." Who is the Madam? You are the Madam! If you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll take my pants off and show you! Wang Xiaomie rolled his eyes at Wen Fengjin and told him to haul a$$. Mu Yi and the others cheerfully accepted their orders and sprang up to do their own thing. They seemed to think it was fun and saw it as a game. Wang Xiaomie even ordered Wen Fengjin to labor, and he did it with such enthusiasm that it perplexed Wang Xiaomie. He had no idea how serious and attentive he appeared to Wen Fengjin, as if he considered the tomb palace his home and felt a sense of belonging to it. After Wang Xiaomie''s frenzied work was finished, the entire tomb palace appeared spanking new¡ªno, not really, but the bright lights would give people the warmth of a home. It also gave Wang Xiaomie a sense of accomplishment. He was about to ask Wen Fengjin when that person would arrive when he heard him remark, "He''s here." Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin were standing arm in arm in the pavilion on the cliff linking the high platform at the time. Wang Xiaomie stood up straight and looked outside when he heard this. Rows of everlasting merman lights lit up the entire side palace hall, and a group of people soon arrived in their line of sight... It was a young man dressed like a military general and holding something in his arms, with a beast head belt tied around his waist and soft armor on his body. He wore a long sword around his waist, and his copper-inlaid boots created a ''tinkling'' sound when he moved. He didn''t wear a helmet; instead, he wore his hair up with a headband and a long feather crown. He moved with broad strides, unrestrained yet calm, and his entire physique appeared light without being burdensome, like a small general in a certain game. In terms of age, he appeared to be around nineteen years old. Wang Xiaomie: ...He could of course have been nineteen when he died. As for how many years he¡¯s been nineteen... I heard Wen Fengjin say it has been a thousand years. After nearing the side palace hall, the ''people'' who were vaguely accompanying him did not leave. Only that young general was still on the move. The other party''s appearance was not as horrifyingly ugly as a zombie in Wang Xiaomie''s imagination, but rather like a living human. When he came closer, Wang Xiaomie realized what he was holding in his hand was not something, but a person. A person who was tightly bound and lacked legs... The other party obviously noticed them as well. He smiled heartily at Wen Fengjin without losing his respect. He was astonished and flabbergasted when he looked at Wang Xiaomie, who was standing arm in arm with Wen Fengjin. Soon after, he raised his brows. Before Wang Xiaomie could say hello, he approached them and said, "Senior Wen, congratulations! Is this Madam Wen? I wasn''t expecting to see the day you awoke." His gaze glanced over the two men''s linked arms, a hint of envy in his tone. "Unlike my wife and me, you two are incredibly affectionate. He simply serves to irritate me." "Shixiong is really considerate to me," Wen Fengjin said with a smile in his eyes, showing off without a trace. Wang Xiaomie:... Who is considerate? Just this morning, didn''t my Iron Fist of Justice guarantee you won''t have children? And Madam? Wang Xiaomie surreptitiously examined the tightly wrapped figure in the young military general''s arms and asked, "Uh, is this your wife? Why doesn''t she speak?" "Speak?" The young general grinned, "You were raised by the demon lord¡¯s blood sacrifice, which is why you have such a sound body and consciousness. My wife and I both gradually evolved from ordinary zombies. In the first two hundred years, I also lost my red hair and was done being a ''drought demon[3],'' which restored my full consciousness as a human and the ability to move freely. As for my wife, her practice is very slow and she can''t speak yet." He loosened the plain white cloth that was enveloping the person in his arms, displaying needle-like purple hair and shriveled hands with black nails inside, almost making Wang Xiaomie leap up in terror. Wen Fengjin seamlessly drew him in closer, causing Wang Xiaomie to gulp and settle himself. The young military general in front of them didn''t think his ''wife'' was odd in the least. Instead, he held the person in his arms tenderly with one hand while clasping the ghost hand with the other and kissing it. Wang Xiaomie: ...! F*ck! Did you have to do that? Are your lips not pricked by the hair? I f*cking believe in true love again! Wen Fengjin was someone who kept his calm in the face of the unexpected. He pulled the stiff Wang Xiaomie and led the young man to the small low table set up beneath the acacia tree to take a seat. The hot wine was already simmering on the small table. Under the heat, the wine that had been hidden for many years released its own wine aroma even more strongly. As soon as he sat down, the young military general smelled wine and said, "Good wine!" multiple times. Despite the fact that there were only three futons and the young general was greedy for the wine, he did not put down the ''wife'' in his arms. Wang Xiaomie did not summon Mu Yi or the others as a result. "Xiaomie." Wen Fengjin suddenly called him. "What''s up?" said Wang Xiaomie, hurriedly sitting up straight. "I haven''t officially introduced you yet," Wen Fengjin remarked with a smile. "This is the friend I mentioned to you. Two hundred years after you and I died, he was the general of the state of Great An. His name is An Kai, and he is accompanied by his wife, An Chengjing." Wang Xiaomie nodded immediately to An Kai. "As for my shixiong, you already know him, so I won''t introduce him too much," Wen Fengjin remarked to An Kai. "Madam, I saw you the last time I came here, even if you weren''t awake." An Kai sat the person he was guarding between his crossed legs and said, "I''m a military attache. I once told Senior that you and Senior are famous people in history. I''ve always yearned for feelings like the ones you two share. I didn''t expect to see folks I couldn''t see when I was living after I died. I''m grateful to Senior Wen for getting to know the two of you." "...Hehe, you¡¯re flattering us." Famous figures in history? Are you sure it''s not infamous figures in history? Wang Xiaomie''s mouth twitched, recalling the things Wen Fengjin did before and after his death. It seemed odd that Wen Fengjin didn''t blow up the emperor''s palace. Wang Xiaomie thought blankly: As for our feelings, what kind of relationship did Wen Fengjin and I have back then? Oh, it''s the kind of melodramatic romance where we abused each other and then I died and Wen Fengjin sacrificed himself for love? Ha ha. F*ck you! What exactly was there to yearn for? No matter how much Wang Xiaomie mocked An Kai in his heart, when confronted with Wen Fengjin''s friend, Wang Xiaomie couldn''t show the same lack of respect he showed to Wen Fengjin. It was their first meeting, and Wang Xiaomie wanted to behave better in front of Wen Fengjin''s friend. As a result, Wang Xiaomie attempted to sit dignified and smile elegantly. In truth, gatherings of friends in ancient times were easier than eating and drinking with close friends today. Even though An Kai was a general, he would never brag about it. Instead, he utilized beautiful rhetoric and poems to discuss business with Boss Wen, and he would occasionally drink wine and discuss popular ditties from back then. Wang Xiaomie was bewildered by their exquisite phrasings. After a brief conversation about the past, he realized that An Kai was the grandson of Duke Qing. Even if he eventually became a military leader, he was born into an aristocratic family and had naturally received a good education. Even though he was a zongzi, he was Mr. Perfect among zongzi. However, wealth and rank were more significant than feelings in ancient times. The parents arranged 90% of the weddings based on the standing of the two families. Wang Xiaomie peered over the ''madam'' in An Kai''s arms. He didn''t expect to find a good man who was so faithful to his wife even after he became a zongzi in such a background environment. Hadn¡¯t Wen Fengjin also stated that An Kai was similar to him? Where was the resemblance? That they were both men? Wang Xiaomie secretly gave the wild man in his family the middle finger. Footnotes: [1] From Kung Fu Panda to anime and manga, there are far too many references for this... I''m not sure which one the author is talking about. [2] "Bent" is a slang term for "gay/homosexual." WXM claims that WFJ (his c0ck) is so gay that it has already bent into a coil. [3] He says that for the first two hundred years, he was a drought demon, with red hair all over his body. CH 65 Chapter 65 Devil¡¯s love "Drought demon... What exactly do you mean by that?" Wang Xiaomie inquired, perplexed. Wen Fengjin and An Kai turned to face him. Before Wen Fengjin could respond, An Kai answered openly, with a hearty smile and a carefree attitude, "Ahh~ It¡¯s a kind of corpse transformation." "The corpse will be the same as it was while alive, but it will bring drought and the vegetation will dry up wherever it goes." "Oh!" Wang Xiaomie nodded. So that¡¯s how it is. An Kei altered his sitting position and set aside the small blue cup filled with wine on the low table. He supported himself on the low table with one hand while embracing the person in his arms with the other. The young general''s face was as handsome as it had been at first glimpse, and his wine-stained lips were drawn in a curve. "Madam has been in a deep sleep for thousands of years, nourished by the demon lord''s blood sacrifice, and has preserved your former appearance after waking up, so you don''t understand this point very well. In fact, the requirements for a transforming zombie to become a drought demon are exceedingly stringent." "Is that right," remarked Wang Xiaomie, frowning. "Then how did you develop into a drought demon?" "That''s a long story, but there''s wine and company today, so I''ll tell Madam about it." An Kai''s lips twitched, "The world was in upheaval following the fall of the Northern Kingdom. Several short-lived little countries emerged one after the other, only to crumble. At the same time, the Great An kingdom was created, and it was engulfed in war and civil strife... I won''t get into it." "When I was younger, as a descendant of Duke Qing, I was a prince''s study companion and got along well with the Third Prince..." Although the little kid was born into a noble aristocratic family, his elders warned him before entering the palace to befriend which prince to secure a good position in advance, but how can people''s hearts be so easily controlled? Especially when a person is still in the grip of childhood ignorance? An Kai''s brows and eyes softened, showing a reminiscence look. An Kai, who didn''t understand anything yet, merely believed what he saw. It was impossible to effectively defend against the palace women''s trickery. The waters in the harem were far deeper than those in the imperial court. Despite being the eldest son, Eldest Prince was not born to the empress. His mother was an imperial concubine with no power who died of illness quietly in the harem conflict. The empress thus raised the eldest prince. The mother appeared to be loving and the son filial, but everyone knew that the prince who would eventually sit on the throne in the future would not be Eldest Prince, but Second Prince, the empress''s biological son. Furthermore, the empress was supported by her powerful clan, so Second Prince''s succession to the throne was already a foregone conclusion. What about Third Prince? His mother was the Virtuous Imperial Concubine, and her family was likewise solid, but the ministers privately deemed Third Prince to be a ''short-sighted, sissy boy, incapable in managing people.'' Simply put, he was delicate like a woman, lacked the imposing style of a monarch, and lacked knowledge and experience. He was weak, gullible, and didn''t have the credibility to recruit allies. But when the seven-year-old An Kai beheld Third Prince, who was five years his senior, he was immediately captivated by the androgynous prince''s gentleness. An Kai could only judge people based on their appearance because he had not yet learnt or seen anything of the world. The youngster''s heart was left with an unforgettable memory of that startling glance back. Unmanliness had transformed into gentleness, cowering had transformed into tolerance, and ignorance had transformed into tenderness. He reasoned that the ministers must be blind. An Kai smiled emotionlessly, his fingers pressed on his face, and the tip of his little finger pressed against his pale lips. Wang Xiaomie was a bit stunned when he heard this. Why did he feel that¡ª An Kai seemed to like that Third Prince¡¯s appearance?! No, no, no! How is this even possible? It must be my rotten eyes that I see gays everywhere! Wang Xiaomie knocked himself on the head and continued to listen. Wen Fengjin, who had caught this scene out of the corner of his eye, licked off the wet wine stains on his lips, cocked his brows, and smiled wickedly. An Kai couldn''t help but disobey his family''s orders and kept in touch with Third Prince. He eventually sided with Third Prince, which enraged the powerful empress and Second Prince. It was young love, but back then, boys married at the age of thirteen, and An Kai, who was eleven years old at the time, knelt in the ancestral hall for three days and refused to give in. The Duke Qing''s household, which had only this one descendant, had no alternative but to be a neutral faction with whom scores would be settled at the appropriate moment. An Kai was freed of his responsibilities as a study companion and asked to return home to reflect. But he never stopped communicating with Third Prince. The two depended on palace staff to trade messages and express their longing in secrecy. An Kai was immersed in the sweet loveliness day after day, year after year, and every night dreamed about that gorgeous face... Wang Xiaomie: ... The more I listen, the more I get the feeling that the two were secretly in puppy love! What''s going on!!! After a couple of years, the imperial palace had undergone even more changes. In correspondence, Third Prince frequently expressed his fear that his Second Brother would murder him when he ascended to the throne. "So, when I was thirteen, I traveled to the border. That was the quickest way to excel and rise in power." An Kai''s head was filled with ideas about obtaining power and pushing Third Prince to the top at the time. He gave up the comfortable and opulent life of the aristocracy, and several times he tried his hardest to die on the battlefield, entirely unconcerned that he was the lone descendant of the Duke of Qing and nearly killing him out of rage! As he scoffed at himself, An Kai lowered his eyes, snorted, and smiled sadly. "My mind was preoccupied with the person I was interested in at the time. Who had the time to think about family, parents, and whatnot?" The young general drenched in blood grew up, and beneath his hearty exterior was a heart of steel and ruthlessness. Killing the enemy and spewing hot blood over and over had long separated him from the past. The tender part behind his stony shell had been surrendered to the imaginary beauty in his heart. An Kai, at the age of nineteen, was already the youngest general. He forcibly pushed Third Prince to the throne with the support of his military might and Duke Qing. "......" As I thought... Sure enough, he¡¯s also gay!!! If this isn¡¯t true love, laozi will live-stream himself eating a keyboard!!! Wang Xiaomie lowered his face and pinched Wen Fengjin''s thigh, who was smothering his laughter beside him. Wen Fengjin simply cocked his brow and leaned close to Wang Xiaomie¡¯s ear, and smoked red Wang Xiaomie¡¯s face with a deep sexy male voice smelling of the sweet wine. He said, "Shixiong, I hurt~" "......" Wang Xiaomie gnashed his teeth and muttered quietly, "Don''t blow air into my ears! I''ll make you hurt even more, believe it or not!" The Iron Fist of Justice was raised and ready. Wen Fengjin chuckled cheerfully and sat inclined in a somewhat frantic manner, drinking down the cup of wine, without going over to molest Wang Xiaomie. "As expected, I''m still so envious..." An Kai also drank up the wine and sighed as he poured another cup. "You too, uh, it''s pretty good." Wang Xiaomie cast a glance at An Kai and the person he had been holding in his arms all along. "Aren''t you two already together now?" He didn''t expect An Kai to burst out laughing when he heard it. "Together? In that case, I wouldn¡¯t have turned into a drought demon." Wang Xiaomie: Huh? But An Kai didn¡¯t go on with his story, just like the fairy tales that always come to an end when ''and at last the prince and the princess lived happily ever after.'' Because even storytellers understand that what came after intense love was not necessarily happiness. The same was true for An Kai. The self-delusion in his mind that was older than him, incredibly kind and pure, with all imperfections erased by his brain, was the ''Third Prince'' he had always loved. And how could the real Third Prince possibly take a child''s love seriously? The Duke of Qing, who was behind An Kai, was what mattered. After tasting the sweetness of An Kai''s favor, the Third Prince deliberately tried to please An Kai. The Third Prince and his imperial concubine mother researched all of those sweet notes and hints in the notes An Kai received. That so-called secret love had long been dragged out and dissected countless times. The Third Prince was five years older than An Kai, and when An Kai went to the battlefield at the age of thirteen, the Third Prince was eighteen and should have been married. But both the Third Prince and his imperial concubine mother knew that with the empress¡¯s suppression at the time, how could a girl from a powerful family marry the Third Prince? So the Third Prince simply did not marry, and a few clean palace maids were arranged to ¡®attend¡¯ to him temporarily, claiming that it was for An Kai¡¯s sake... "Actually, it wasn¡¯t the ministers who were blind, but me." An Kai''s frank smile remained as he ripped open the bloody dark fairy tale to a stupefied Wang Xiaomie. Whenever An Kai returned from the frontier and wanted to be intimate with the Third Prince, the Third Prince was coy and said bashful words to avoid An Kai. But An Kai was blinded by his own fantasies at the time and didn''t doubt him. Later, as soon as he established the Third Prince on the throne, the border requested emergency aid. Some of his information suggested that the occurrence was suspicious, but he nevertheless went for the sake of his beloved''s country. Surprisingly, immediately after arriving on the battlefield, the Third Prince, who had now become Emperor, executed the entire clan of Duke Qing on bogus charges! Then he turned around and severed An Kai''s army''s supplies and vanguard, trapping him in the enemy''s encirclement... Efficient and decisive, as if he''d been looking forward to this day for a long time, barely falling short of pushing him on the final journey. "......" Wang Xiaomie also picked up the wine cup and took a sip in silence. Too tragic. F*ck, it''s too tragic, isn''t it? After annihilating An Kai''s whole army, the newly appointed general commanded the army to immediately settle the war situation. They all thought An Kai was dead, but An Kai survived and relentlessly returned to the Imperial City like an evil spirit, despite his injuries, which surprised everyone. The Duke of Qing''s Mansion was in ruins because of his ''love''. An Kai sniffed the smell of blood on his chest expressionlessly, and sneaked in through the secret passage that he had originally used to hang out with the Third Prince in the palace. So, while the new emperor was celebrating, An Kai strangled all of the newly crowned princes and princesses (he had no idea the Third Prince already had children), as well as the concubines, palace maids, and court eunuchs. They were all cleanly dispatched! The commotion quickly drew notice... It was still the imperial palace, no matter how cautious he was. An Kai came in front of the new emperor while he was being hunted, and using his ample resentment and hatred as the driving force, he captured the new emperor despite his innumerable lethal wounds. In truth, An Kai was already dead at that point, but his mind was foggy and he didn''t realize it. After executing the largest vengeance murders in history, An Kai grabbed the Third Prince, who was scared witless, and dragged him to the border without shutting his eyes, with assassins pursuing him. An Kai omitted the ups and downs of that journey, just stating that the Third Prince still felt like struggling to kill An Kai during the process, but An Kai''s body had already mutated and resisted the knife. Instead, An Kai pulverized the Third Prince¡¯s legs with rocks! An Kai''s body gradually developed livor mortis. His eyes turned scarlet, his body began to stink, and he sprouted very long red hair. Even the assassins and chasing soldiers were terrified by his appearance and refused to approach. Everyone believed that General An had already perished on the battlefield, and that his raging resentment had transformed into a demonic entity. In this way, An Kai also brought the Third Prince to the battlefield where all of his subordinates had died, and killed the Third Prince with his own hands before killing himself... "Now that I think about it, I understand it wasn''t death..." An Kai stated: "The innumerable grievances and slaughter on the battlefield at the time shaped me into this monster. Later, fearing that I would do something evil, the newly chosen child emperor listened to the Taoist priests'' advice and instructed the Taoist priests to bury me in Qi Mountain." "They knew the score of how I died, so the child emperor erected a sign for me and my murdered brethren and placed it in the Martyrs'' Shrine to placate popular sentiment." An Kai downed his wine and hugged the person in his arms. "I love him, and he loves me too. But if he makes a mistake, I will correct him." "Even if it means shattering his bones, I will correct his mistakes... he can¡¯t move, can¡¯t speak, but that¡¯s okay because he¡¯s the one I love." An Kai laughed loudly and heartily before using a rough palm full of scars to grab the head and neck of the person in his arms through the plain white fabric and kissing him. Gods only know if it was Wang Xiaomie''s imagination, but he seemed to see the white cloth bundle trembling. Even if the white cloth bundle didn''t tremble, Wang Xiaomie was sure as hell on the verge of doing so. He was wrong... This man was way too similar to Wen Fengjin okay! Wang Xiaomie glanced at An Kai''s candid smile, and his intimate actions with the person hidden behind the white cloth made his scalp feel numb. It wasn¡¯t that An Kai didn¡¯t understand reality; rather, even if he did, it didn''t matter! He liked the Third Prince in his memory, and if the other party did not match his memories, he would just knead the other party into the appearance he preferred. Murder all your children and then break your legs, turning you into a crippled zombie unable to run away or speak, and papapa have sweet sex with you even after you die, making even suicide impossible... Dead but not at peace, this paranoia was absolutely perfect! Wang Xiaomie was so shocked that his jaw was about to drop, but Wen Fengjin nodded in appreciation, "Not bad." "Senior is too kind." "Hehehe." "Hahaha." The two men exchanged smiles, touched their cups, and continued to smile and sip the wine. "......" Wang Xiaomie cast a solemn glance towards An Kai''s white bundle. He had the impression that Friend White Bundle had long switched into vibration mode... Then he continued to glance at Wen Fengjin and An Kai in turn. One was more handsome than the other, and one had a brighter smile... F*ck me. What the heck is this unique devil¡¯s love? Divorce, must divorce! *** The author has something to say: [Small Theater] Wang Xiaomie: My mother was right; a handsome man is a tiger! Third Prince: Wuwu! Wang Xiaomie: Divorce, must divorce! Third Prince: Wuwu!!! Wen Fengjin: Hehe. An Kai: Haha. What? An Kai is not buying soy sauce[1]. Everyone will understand in the next chapter okay! And a little cutie even guessed An Kai''s love story, hahaha! CH 66 Chapter 66 A man''s lifetime job The wine was flowing freely. Wang Xiaomie pondered how such wonderful wine was made. It had been so long since it had been brewed, but it was still fresh and mellow, with no turbidity, and quite strong to boot. Wang Xiaomie played with fire and drank a cup in one go. As a result, he nearly spewed a blue-red flame. Wang Xiaomie: ...F*ck! Is this the water of life, vodka? Wang Xiaomie felt his stomach was hot, his face was heated, his head was dizzy, his eyes were fluttering, the expressions on his face got less and less, and he was absent-minded after drinking a couple of small cups. He realized he was drinking too quickly, so he hastily put down his cup and sat up straight for fear of making a fool of himself in front of An Kai and company. Wen Fengjin and An Kai were really good at drinking, having already finished three small jars. Not only were there no signs of drunken insanity, but the minimal intoxication also increasingly revealed the ancient romantics'' arrogance and recklessness. It''s just that drunk men are prone to talking about things that make them feel proud about themselves. So Wang Xiaomie, who let out a straight-faced hiccup that smelled like wine, heard Wen Fengjin and An Kai begin to brag about their respective lifetime jobs ¡ª wife. Wang Xiaomie: ... An Kai began spouting poetry and flowery phrases at first, stating, "When I came, I noticed thousands of lights in the underground palace, as well as the spotless main hall and entrance, and I thought it didn''t fit Senior Wen''s style. I suppose that was Madam''s doing." Wang Xiaomei pursed his lips, wishing to hiccup once more. When he heard the words, he nodded foolishly. An Kai stated, "Madam is a model of virtue. Senior Wen is quite lucky." "He is really good and behaves spoiled every day," Bigshot Wen hooked his lips. Wang Xiaomie flushed: You''re talking nonsense, I don''t! "But, my family''s Chengjing also occasionally acts spoiled." An Kai raised his glass in salute and drank all the wine, triumphantly declaring, "He strangled my neck because of my intimacy the day before yesterday, forgetting that I don''t need to breathe anymore. He''s so cute, hahahaha." "......" Wang Xiaomie''s lips twitched: ...he genuinely wants your life, you moron. Wake up, brother! You''re making me wonder if I even know what the term "spoiled" means anymore! And cute? To hell with your "cute"! "So, you rarely take the initiative," Wen Fengjin said as he nodded and threw a sidelong glance at Wang Xiaomie. ... Did I mishear something? Why do I believe Boss Wen is jealous as well? Wang Xiaomie remained silent for a moment before gritting his teeth: "My bad. Don''t worry, the next time I''ll buy the toughest rope and wrap it around your neck every day until you''re gone!" "All right, I''m looking forward to it." Wang Xiaomie''s ears itched when Wen Fingjin laughed softly. Wen Fengjin smiled and raised his head to take a swig of the wine. A few drops spilled from the corner of his mouth, slid across his elevated Adam''s apple and collarbone, and sunk into his spread collar. "My shixiong is very tolerant and indulgent to me, even though he won''t take the initiative." Wen Fengjin abruptly added. Wang Xiaomie was stunned, coughed a few times, and lowered his head, his ears going bright red. An Kai glanced at the person in his arms who was covered in white fabric. "Indeed, the more I see, the more I envy. Chengjing has poisonous purple hair all over his body and doesn''t even blush. Alas, he has way too much hair... I can''t see his face properly, and it pricks my mouth. Fortunately, it doesn''t grow there." Wang Xiaomie: "..." F*ck! Where is there, ah? We are decent people, please don''t spew nonsense! Wen Fengjin had just opened his lips to say something, but Wang Xiaomie covered his mouth with a "slap"! "I''ll kill you if you say anything needless!" Wang Xiaomie, who was red-faced, uttered word by word from between his clenched teeth, and Wen Fengjin''s long and narrow eyes smiled. They gazed at each other for a while, then Wang Xiaomie''s palm got damp. "......" I''m going to beat you to death today!!! Nobody can stop me!!! Wang Xiaomie, who was on the verge of committing domestic violence, told himself, "You can''t do it when outsiders are here," before releasing his clenched fists. He took the wine cup and began "Glug, glug, glup" downing the scorching liquid facing the acacia tree, simply thinking "out of sight, out of mind." The black-bellied Boss Wen and An Kai proceeded to brag about their wives over there. Boss Wen: "My shixiong is kind-hearted and beautiful, a noble and upright gentleman like jade." An Kai: "My family¡¯s Chengjing has a poisonous heart, but he¡¯s really good-looking." Boss Wen: "My shixiong is older than me and has taken excellent care of me since my most down and out childhood. He¡¯s done a lot for me." An Kai: "My family¡¯s Chengjing is older than me and has exploited my feelings since my most naive childhood. But he¡¯s really good-looking." Boss Wen: "My wife can also take care of the housework." An Kai: "My wife is really good-looking." Boss Wen: "My wife can cook." An Kai: "My wife is really good-looking." Boss Wen: "My wife is considerate and lovely." An Kai: "My wife is really good-looking." "My¡ª¡ª" "My¡ª¡ª" After a half-hour of flaunting, the two men toasted each other with immense satisfaction, looked at each other, and smiled. Wang Xiaomie, who observed the entire process: ¡­¡­¡­¡­ I get Wen Fengjin, but An Kai, what the hell are you satisfied with?! Seriously. Face cons are beyond redemption. ¡­ ¡­ ... Wang Xiaomie, dejected, began to drink wine ''glug glug glug'' once again, entirely forgetting that he was a three-cup waste. So, after an hour¡ª Wen Fengjin silently adjusted his sitting posture as he smiled at Wang Xiaomie''s rosy little face from the corners of his long and narrow eyes. This drink''s potency was extraordinary. Wang Xiaomie was sitting extremely straight, but the moment he felt something next to him, he quietly leaned a little bit on Wen Fengjin''s shoulder, his little face expressionless and flushed. An Kai and Wen Fengjin both noticed his sneaky little move. "Hiccup~" Wang Xiaomie smacked his lips and hiccuped, his eyelids half-drooped, and he rubbed the shoulder under his head lightly with his forehead after leaning in. An Kai and Wen Fengjin couldn''t resist laughing. "Hahaha..." "Envious! I''m really envious!" An Kai casually tossed the small cup in his hand into the abyss beneath the platform, then took a long drink from the wine jar under the low table. Wen Fengjin, on the other hand, remained leaning against the acacia tree, its red peach blossom petals falling on the black table and into the wine cups. "But Senior Wen, I have something to tell you." An Kai suddenly kissed the man bound in white cloth in his arms, set down the wine jar, and stated solemnly, "I encountered a unique human about twenty years ago. He has great malice towards ''people'' like us and refers to us as people who break the natural laws." Wen Fengjin paused as he was about to take a sip of wine. An Kai went on: "In Qishan, where I dwell, there are numerous corpses buried. Because most of them did not have a fortunate chance, their thoughts were clouded, and they ended up eating a few humans." He said it indifferently, as if he had no fear or discomfort with the corpses devouring people. Wang Xiaomie was drawn to his words, and the silly fufu looked up. "At first, that person who came to Qishan might have been following clues to get rid of those poor ba$tards." As An Kai gulped the wine, the liquid collided in the jar and the long feather crest in his hair band swung. "His weapon is a peculiar golden-copper-colored small hammer with a long handle. It''s indestructible to zombies, so the wretches soon died for real." Long-handled golden small hammer¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! Wen Fengjin put down the blue cup calmly, and Wang Xiaomie had mostly sobered up from the liquor. An Kai shook the wine jug and said, "One of those who failed to get a lucky chance happened to be one of my former subordinates. He exposed my existence to that person before he died. Soon after, that person organized a group of tomb robbers, handed the weapon to them, and began excavating graves all over the place. Heh~ He actually managed to track me down. I was already a drought demon at the time, and while the weird weapon annoyed and wounded me, I almost killed him..." "It goes without saying that he was going to die... he should have died... but..." The wine jar smacked on the table with a ''bam,'' and An Kai''s smile was wiped clean. "However, after swallowing unusual blood, he exploded with immense force and escaped. The smell of that blood is extremely close to that of you and your wife, Senior." "I wonder if you could explain it to me?" When An Kai dropped his smile, Wang Xiaomie finally realized how terrible An Kai was, who went on the battlefield at the age of thirteen, died of hatred after years of bathing in blood, and even transformed himself into a zombie with his resentment. Those eyes and the aura around him were sharp enough to cut wounds on exposed skin! The air was thick with the fishy and sweet odor of blood, and a dreadful pressure rushed across the wine table, where cheers, chatter, and laughter had been heard only seconds before. "Knock, knock." The gorgeous Wen Fengjin, his silver hair writhing across the splendid flaming red suit, narrowed his long pitch-dark eyes and remarked lightly, "You scared him." Then he asked, "Is it that you think your head is pretty firm?" Wang Xiaomie was relieved when the bitter and astringent medicinal aroma instantly dissipated the bloody odor. An Kai remained still for a moment under Wen Fengjin''s gaze before abruptly grinning, "I''m a military man who was just joking after drinking too much. Please excuse me, Senior Wen and Madam... But that person, as well as the blood, exist." "That human is a lunatic. There¡¯s no knowing what he¡¯ll do to kill me, or rather, ''people'' like us." "I''m only reminding you out of kindness." An Kai drained a large mouthful from the wine jar, spilling the extra wine on his body, and looked up with an incomprehensible smile in his eyes, "After all, we are all the same monsters..." Wen Fengjin was noncommittal about this sentence. Wang Xiaomie, on the other hand, remained silent for a few moments before asking, "What does that person look like... Do you know what his name is?" "Mn... Let me think," An Kai said. "He wore a peculiar cyan robe, his hair was mostly gray and braided, and I heard the tomb robbers call him¡ª" "Yi Yan." "What!!!" Wang Xiaomie''s eyes widened in astonishment. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ It was late at night, and the wholesale market had finally become deserted and silent. Bai Yu, who was carrying a rucksack, first snatched the lock in Yi Yan''s hand and locked the shop, then turned around and scratched his head in embarrassment when he saw Yi Yan''s smiling face. The two men walked side by side in silence and harmony on the lane. It had rained, and the night remained cool. Bai Yu was wearing half sleeves and rubbed his arms. The next thing he knew, a warm hand wrapped around his bare arm in the air and pushed him aside with a slight force. Yi Yan stood calmly in the windy position, shielding him from the chilling night breeze. The two men walked on, as if oblivious to the little incident. But Bai Yu peeked at Yi Yan¡¯s profile, who was looking straight ahead, and hastily turned his gaze away, a little red blooming on his dark face. [The author has something to say: [Small Theater] Wen Fengjin: A man¡¯s lifelong job. An Kai: Wife.] Is Big Gray Wolf back? CH 67 Chapter 67 Oh, because he~ On both sides of the road, the restaurants and apparel businesses that had not yet closed for the day shed a light. Even though it was becoming dark, there were still a lot of people walking around window shopping and conversing about their lives. "You''re by yourself today, right? Would you like to eat with me?" Yi Yan suddenly inquired. "Ah!?" Bai Yu, who was lost in his own thoughts, was taken aback and felt he had overreacted. He was flustered as he peered at Yi Yan''s countenance. Yi Yan was constantly smiling, but this moment he was more tolerant and gentle than normal, which helped to alleviate his awkwardness. He was dressed in a mandarin jacket, primarily-gray-with-some-black hair pulled back into a pigtail on the back of his head. He resembled someone from the Republic of China era, which drew a lot of attention from pedestrians, but he didn''t care. His soft gaze was fixed on Bai Yu. Bai Yu felt valued at this time. He was being appreciated, as if someone cared deeply about him. "...Okay." Bai Yu nodded, unsure where to put his hands and feet. In his thoughts, he was letting his imagination go wild. Teacher... Aren¡¯t you too concerned about me? Why are you so nice to me? He not only accepted him as an apprentice, but he also took great care of him... He had been Yi Yan''s student since Wang Xiaomie and Boss Wen left and referred to Yi Yan as his teacher. Ten days had passed, and he had been quite good to Bai Yu during that time. So good that he prepared hot milk for him every morning, so good that he had especially made room in the refrigerator that only contained materials and odd bones to store a lot of fruit candies, beverages, and snacks for Bai Yu. Yi Yan wished him good night on WeChat in the evening, and in the morning, while wishing him good day, he also shared the day''s weather prediction, urging him to bring an umbrella and dress warmly when it was expected to rain. So nice that Yi Yan had previously invited him to see a movie. Bai Yu couldn''t stop laughing when he imagined Yi Yan dressed up like this and watching The Avengers with 3D glasses while carrying a Coke and popcorn. They headed to the amusement park after watching the movie. Before leaving for home, Yi Yan took the ticket and swapped it for an amusement park key chain as a souvenir for him after conquering all of the rides. He was enjoying cotton candy bigger than his head at the time and almost cried when he spotted the keychain in Yi Yan''s palm. It was only the second time in his life that he had eaten cotton candy. His grandfather vanished while he was a child, and his father was obsessed with finding him. His father later disappeared as well. His mother became ill in bed after a few years of searching and died soon after. The family''s bad luck was constant, and everyone was too busy and stressed to properly raise a child. Because Bai Yu was a male, it was all the more easier for everyone to ignore him. As a result, he had rarely had such a sweet feeling since he was a child. In some ways, Yi Yan had used these ten days to fulfill all of his boyhood dreams... Yi Yan afterwards purchased clothes and shoes for him and gave him red envelopes via WeChat for various reasons. As though he had foreseen Bai Yu''s refusal, the amount was never substantial. Nominally, he was asked to run errands to buy various types of food, then he was told that the leftover money was the payment for running errands. The snacks also ultimately entered Bai Yu''s tummy... What does it signify when a man is so wonderful to you while simultaneously invading your life using various reasons? Bai Yu covertly went online that day to seek the wisdom of the vast number of netizens. Netizen A: "Of course he likes you!" Netizen B: "Tsk, another dog food spreader!" Bai Yu: "..." Could it be that Teacher truly has feelings for me? He made the mistake of following Yi Yan to KFC. The guests and servers in the store were astonished by this unusual duo. Bai Yu had no idea Yi Yan would bring him to enjoy fast food. After all, Yi Yan didn''t appear to be the type to eat this sort of food. Further, Yi Yan ordered him a children''s set meal. "Uh..." "Teacher... I.. I''m in my twenties!" Bai Yu exclaimed, staring blankly at the hamburger with the small flag and soft little lion toy on the table. Forget the kids'' meal, you even asked the salesperson for a toy! The salesgirl is looking at me and laughing! "What, you don''t like it?" Yi Yan asked with a frown, even more surprised than he was. "It''s not..." Bai Yu scratched his face with a curled finger. "All of these are toys for children. I don''t need..." Yi Yan brows relaxed and smoothed out. He reached over and rubbed his stiff, short hair with his warm palm. "In my eyes, you¡¯re also a child who deserves to be cherished." With a ''clink,'' the ice cubes in the coke melted. Bai Yu snapped back to reality, and his face turned red. Given his dark skin, his moist black and white eyes stood out even more, and he abruptly buried his head, eating quietly. And Yi Yan was uninterested in those foods as expected. He simply smiled and remained by his side as company. Most guys eat quickly, and Bai Yu was the sort to wolf down his food. Yi Yan nonchalantly said as he popped the last piece of hamburger into his mouth: "Stay at my house till they return." "Cough, cough, cough!¡± "Eat slowly. Are you choking? Quickly drink some water." Yi Yan handed Bai Yu the iced Coke and added, "I thought you said they¡¯d be gone for a month. Will you cook for yourself or order takeout this month?" Bai Yu: "...Order takeout." Yi Yan sighed, "It''s fine to eat fast food occasionally, but try to cook as much as possible at home. You are my disciple, and I cook every day anyway, so why not live with me for the time being?" Bai Yu opened his mouth to object: "But..." "There is no need to discuss," Yi Yan narrowed his eyes and declared, "It''s settled." Bai Yu: "..." ¡­ ¡­ ... Bai Yu followed Yi Yan home. When it comes to dealing with bothersome people, there are a plethora of reasons to refuse or ignore them, even if it is as simple as sharing a meal or chatting on WeChat. But, in the face of someone you like and trust, even if he says, "Come home with me," you won''t feel the other party is being rash. Instead, you''ll blush, your heart will race, and you''ll secretly anticipate it. Bai Yu held the unfinished Coke and walked behind Yi Yan, his head bent, his face flushed like a monkey''s butt, and peeking at Yi Yan''s tall back. He felt like a girl going home for the first time with her boyfriend. He liked Yi Yan very much... ¡­and also had some delusions about Yi Yan. Persons who lacked family warmth as children are more likely to admire mature, gentle, and tolerant people who are older than them. They long to be loved, after all. Previously, Bai Yu expected to find a mature yujie[1], but after so many years, he discovered that girls were more like gold bars in a treasury, and far more difficult to obtain than said gold bars... And Yi Yan seemed to have ¡®that kind¡¯ of feeling towards him. It meant that Bai Yu, who was in his twenties and waiting for his better half, was both tangled and hopeful. The straw''s vacuum hunted down the last few droplets of Coke with a fierce slurp.[2] Vague actions and ambiguities will inevitably make people miserable. After much deliberation, Bai Yu decided to not fool around and just be forthright to see if the other party meant what he thought. However, it was better to make insinuations first. It would only embarrass both of them if he had misunderstood. So Bai Yu first psyched himself thoroughly and questioned, "...Teacher, why are you being so good to me?" The man walking in front of him came to halt. Yi Yan did not turn around. "Because you are my disciple," he whispered, his footsteps accompanied by only a soft voice. "Even though I''m your disciple, you''re being too good... You''re about to completely spoil me like a child." He was still carrying the lion toy figurine in his rucksack at this time. "Um... I guess I am." Yi Yan cocked his head slightly, a faint gleam buried in the corners of his narrow eyes. "Maybe because you are so well-behaved, I can''t resist caring about you when I see you and think it''s alright even if I spoil you all my life," Bai Yu couldn''t tell if he was joking or serious. Bai Yu: ...... This means that you like me, right!? That¡¯s what you¡¯re saying, right!? Bai Yu, calm down! Don¡¯t be anxious; chill. Check out your straight serve! Bai Yu blushed and murmured, "Is there a girl that Teacher likes?" He was too preoccupied with shyly bending his head to notice that Yi Yan''s face had stiffened and his fingers curled and extended after he asked this question. He recovered and smiled again, but his eyes were filled with what appeared to be a painful memory as he answered, "There is." There is... There is... Bai Yu accidentally crushed the Coke paper cup in his hand, causing the plastic cover to pop up with the straw. He tossed the cup in the nearest garbage can after a few drops of brown liquid dropped on his hand. F*ck! Dumped before dating. Bai Yu was heartbroken. "Hehe, so you already have someone you like. So how come I haven¡¯t seen her come over? Is she a non-local?" Bai Yu remarked casually, not wanting to disgrace himself. The two resumed walking, and this time Bai Yu felt as though his footsteps were loaded with lead. Yi Yan, who was walking in front, shook his head, "No, that''s not the case. She has passed away. She¡¯s been dead for a long time." Bai Yu: "!!!" For the first time in his life, he secretly rejoiced in the death of another person. Bai Yu silently spurned himself, but small red flowers danced over his head. "Speaking of which, you two are strikingly similar, with the same large eyes, skin that tans more easily than average people, and the same cute and silly personality." Yi Yan remarked, smiling. What?! What does this even mean? Don''t tell me I''m a stand-in?! Bai Yu now realized why the buddies who have lovers constantly have heart-saving meds on hand. Shit! Who can stand these ups and downs that were like riding a roller coaster? "So you take me as her substitute?" "No, of course not." Yi Yan turned around, surprised. "Why do you think so? You are you, she¡¯s she. I won¡¯t be confused. She¡¯s been dead for many years, and my memories of her are mostly nostalgic." "Then, then, then..." Bai Yu stammered excitedly for a long time. "Then what?" Yi Yan inquired, amused. "Then, do you like me?!" He yelled loudly and immediately regretted it. He wished he could drop everything and flee as he saw Yi Yan turn around. If Yi Yan showed a disgusted expression, Bai Yu thought he¡¯d jump into a river and drown himself. But there wasn¡¯t. Yi Yan was neither disgusted nor repulsed, nor was he overly surprised. He was simply stunned for a moment before smiling softly, reaching out his hand and lightly booping Bai Yu''s glabella... "I''m honored," he said. "......" At that moment, the spring flowers bloomed and a hundred birds chirped. Bai Yu plunged into his arms right away. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ "It''s over." "Mn." "It''s all over!" "Mn." "......" "Can you please stop mn-ing! Shouldn¡¯t we hurry back? God knows what Yi Yan''s intention is! What if he took Bai Yu on as an apprentice solely to deal with us?!" Wang Xiaomie was really quite apprehensive. An Kai had already left, but he had left a bunch of clues, claiming that killing ''monsters'' had become Yi Yan''s insane obsession. Even after twenty years, he still traveled to Qishan frequently with the aim of killing An Kai. Wouldn''t Yi Yan be even more eager to get rid of him and Wen Fengjin, these monsters who''d appeared on his doorstep? In light of this, even the reason why the other party accepted Bai Yu as his apprentice had to be considered. Wang Xiaomie was nervously running in circles, while Wen Fengjin was rubbing Mu Yi''s large lizard head and seemed to be in a strangely happy mood. "Wen. Feng. Jin!!!" Wang Xiaomie snarled, prompting Mu Yi to turn and run. Wen Fengjin''s hand hung in the air, and his only reaction to Wang Xiaomie''s anxiety was to pull back his hand, tilt his head, and murmur indifferently "Mn" once more. That¡¯s it. Bang! Bang! Bang! Wang Xiaomie exploded in anger. What a perfunctory response! Wang Xiaomie: ...you''re dead meat! Prepare to be beaten to death! Seeing that Wang Xiaomie was really pissed off, Wen Fengjin lazily beckoned the little monsters in the distance, and after Mu Shi came over, Wen Fengjin stated while patting it, "He indeed wants to deal with us, but it¡¯s also true that he will not hurt Bai Yu." Wang Xiaomie frowned, "Why?" Wen Fengjin sneered. "Oh, because he..." Footnotes: [1] "The royal elder sister" type. It refers to mature and strong, beautiful and seductive women who give the impression of an older sister. This term also appeared in Chapter 55. [2] This was supposed to be a simple "the straw sucked in air and produced a ''hululu'' sound," but I love sucking those last drops noisily and got carried away. lol Translator: I have a bad feeling about this. What do you think is going on, guys? CH 68 Chapter 68 The end of gentleness It was early summer, and the sun had just begun to rise. The refreshingly cool wind swept in through the gauze drapes. Bai Yu rose from the soft bed, dressed in a white vest and hot pants. "Xiao Bai, it''s time to eat," a dull-eyed and blank-faced girl whispered as she opened the door slightly and stuck her head in. "Uh, Xiao An, can you please stop calling me Xiao Bai? That was the name of the hamster I used to keep." Bai Yu couldn¡¯t decide whether to laugh or cry as he walked to the door and rubbed her head. Xiao An was the ''Sailor Moon'' who had previously accompanied Yi Yan. Yi Yan had already told him that Xiao An was a puppet[1] he had created, but even knowing this, Bai Yu couldn''t treat such a real Xiao An as a robot. Xiao An swiftly nodded in response to Bai Yu''s comments, "Da Bai, it''s time to eat." She turned and hurried to the dining room after releasing the door handle. Bai Yu skilfully opened the door and strolled to the dining table, again trapped between laughter and tears. The neatly dressed Yi Yan curled his finger and flicked Xiao An''s forehead, who was circling him, with a smile on his face. He took a cup of hot milk and placed it in front of Bai Yu. "Drink it. I don''t have an appetite in the morning, so I went downstairs and purchased some porridge and pickles. If you get hungry, you can eat something from the store''s refrigerator." "Mn." Bai Yu bowed his head to drink the porridge, but his eyes carefully peeked at Yi Yan, who was eating quietly with a spoon. It had been three days since their last conversation, and he had also stayed three days in Yi Yan''s house, where the other party had taken care of him as well as before. So much so that their interactions had become much too familiar¡ªhe almost felt like he was becoming a relative. It wasn¡¯t bad; it was just... There was a sense that he was being treated as if he were a child, similar to Xiao An. Bai Yu ate the porridge silently, always feeling something was wrong. Was this the love that everyone was so hung up on? Are you making fun of my lack of dating experience? Alas... "Bai Yu." Yi Yan suddenly called out. Bai Yu, who was deep in thought, raised his head and stared blankly. Yi Yan couldn''t help but laugh and shook his head at his silly appearance. "In a couple of days, I''ll be in Qishan. There is a particularly powerful creature there; a drought demon." "Drought demon!?" Bai Yu was so scared by this explosive news that he nearly knocked his bowl to the ground. "Isn''t the drought demon just folklore?! How could it appear in this world?" Although there were zombies, some undead, and walking corpses deliberately refined by humans, but a drought demon? Don¡¯t be ridiculous! What hard criteria, how stringent the appropriate time and place, in addition to ten thousand people''s blood sacrifice and deep resentment... How did all of these conditions come about if there really was a drought demon? "War..." muttered Bai Yu to himself. "Yes, it was indeed a war." Yi Yan¡¯s face showed admiration. He clasped his hands on the dining table, his typical smile vanished, and Bai Yu saw a never seen before apathetic and cold expression on his face, "I''ve viewed him as the most difficult obstacle under the rules ever since I discovered him. I will not let up until I have gotten rid of him, whether it takes ten or twenty years." Bai Yu: "¡­" "Can¡¯t you understand? It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t understand," Yi Yan smiled and shook his head. "After all, it¡¯s my long-cherished wish." "There was that drought demon twenty years ago, but... hehe. Let''s not mention that. To be honest, the two people you lived with before are monsters that are even rarer than a drought demon. A drought demon is actually slightly inferior compared to them." "......" Bai Yu remembered Wang Xiaomie, who made a lot of food every day and was like a college roommate, and Wen Fengjin, who was icy arrogant and didn''t get close to people much, but never appeared savage. "Perhaps there''s a mistake somewhere¡­," he laughed dryly. "Bai Yu!" Bai Yu shivered from head to toe as he noticed Yi Yan frowning at him in disapproval. The black pupils flickered with a certain emotion, but it was fleeting. Before Bai Yu could determine what it was, Yi Yan went on to say: "Not only that, but according to my investigation, they have some kind of relationship." Yi Yan¡¯s lips curved in a half-smile, "Don''t tell me they haven¡¯t told you?" He laughed when he saw Bai Yu''s blank expression. "Hehe, it appears they don''t trust you~" This sentence was delivered with a light teasing tone but with a hint of sarcasm. Bai Yu''s fingers twitched slightly on the dining table. "It''s not like that. They¡¯re really nice to me!" "Hehe¡­ Monsters like them will not be so friendly to ordinary humans unless it''s profitable or just for fun. That''s all." Bai Yu frowned, "But..." "There¡¯s no need to say anything else." Yi Yan interrupted him, unclasped his hands, supported his chin with one hand, and continued to exert invisible pressure on Bai Yu. "I have another piece of bad news for you. It¡¯s also where Teacher Bai Cheng was last seen before disappearing, and the other craftsmen I hired a few days ago also replied to me..." "Actually, Bai Yu, I don''t want to tell you." "Teacher Bai Cheng, he might have...died at the hands of that drought demon." "......" The young, upright, and honest face was immediately covered in cold perspiration and panic, and the falling beads of water contained deep anguish. Xiao An sat in the chair and stared at them incomprehensibly. The air gradually condensed into an awkward atmosphere, and Yi Yan looked at him silently with a frigid expression for a long time. The young man on the opposite side cried more and more sadly. Yi Yan sighed suddenly, and the coldness and pressure he exuded crumbled and disappeared. He reached across the dining table and stroked Bai Yu''s cheek. The skin that was darker than average people was healthy and full of youthful elasticity. The wet water marks vanished as the white palm stroked and wiped it clean, the wet water spots adhering to the fingers before fading. "Forget it..." Yi Yan didn''t know who he was talking to, and powerlessly sighed in a low voice, "Forget it..." He stood up and came to Bai Yu''s side, comforting him by pressing the quietly crying young man to his breast, a slight smile on his face again, mixed with some unfathomable frustration. "Is my grandfather truly not going to return?" Bai Yu choked on his sobs as he grasped Yi Yan''s garments tightly. Yi Yan shut his eyes. "No, he will not return, nor can he return." "Wu..." "Don''t think about it. I will handle those things, and I should do them alone." Yi Yan muttered: "I¡¯m the one who lost my head to tell you this. As long as you live the life you want¡­ My only..." "Only what?" Bai Yu raised his head from his arms, failing to hear Yi Yan clearly. But Yi Yan just shook his head and hugged him again. "No, it''s nothing." ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Deep in the mausoleum, Wang Xiaomie was squatting alongside the man-made underground river, holding a cloth towel, while Wen Fengjin stood behind him. The blood-colored large lizard and the other big freaks were tearing at each other in the river, growling and howling loudly, baring their fangs and flashing their claws. Because of their movements, the entire underground river was constantly overflowing and smacking against the stone slabs. The scene appeared terrifying, but it was actually lion cubs making threatening gestures while under the protection of the pride. It was pure fun. God alone knows who rolled up Mu Shi, who was as soft as jelly, and threw it into the air, causing it to soar towards the shore. Water droplets sprayed in the air as Wen Fengjin expressionlessly lifted his arm to grab it. ¡®Boing~¡¯ Due to inertia, the soft jelly bounced a few times in the sharpened five fingers before being tossed down. Wang Xiaomie, who was squatting, scooped it up without even looking back. He wiped the soft jelly with the cloth towel while holding it in his arms. "Jiji~" Mu Shi laughed strangely as he rolled around softly on his knees like a pampered child. A small monster was flicked out of the water the following second. Wen Fengjin seized it and tossed it to Wang Xiaomie, who was squatting on the ground, with chilly disdain. Wang. Mama. Xiaomie twitched his lips, put Mu Shi on the ground, opened the cloth towel to pick up the other small monster, and wiped it. Mu Shi turned around and scampered off towards the water with its "jijiji," diving back into the river. Wang Xiaomie, whose face had been doused with water: "..." Unfilial son! "Haha..." Wen Fengjin burst out laughing, overjoyed by his appearance. In the next second, a water saturated cloth towel smacked his face with a loud "pa," which sounded painful simply hearing it! Wen Fengjin: "..." Wang Xiaomie sighed and stood up after placing the little monster on his knees on the ground and saw it rejoin the play as he had predicted. Wang Xiaomie closed his eyes and leaned back as the bitter and astringent medicinal aroma behind him approached. Oh yeah, these pecs are perfect: strong and wide. "What happened to you recently? Why is your expression so ugly?" Wang Xiaomie could feel the man behind him sniffing his hair with the tip of his nose. His expression must be delighted, right? After all, the top of his hair repeatedly felt the touch of soft lips. Mischievous ''kids,'' a troublesome partner, and friends to talk to. Wang Xiaomie, who had experienced two lives, had been relentlessly chasing all of this. Wang Xiaomie had been thinking about Yi Yan ever since he heard An Kai and Wen Fengjin discussing him the other day. Are humans born greedy? You will be happy when you obtain what you desire. To preserve your happiness, you will cling to what you like with everything you have. To keep it, you''ll continue to plunder and fight, uncaring about even hurting others. It was similar to how Yi Yan felt about ''other beings,'' how Wen Fengjin felt about him, and how he felt about ¡ª all this happiness in front of him. When a gentleman with a stately and jade-like appearance wears a crimson robe with black hair hanging down, he looks extremely gorgeous. Wen Fengjin was fascinated and immersed in this look, yet when the gentle spirit, whose face had always worn a soft smile in his memory, revealed a dark side, he found it equally heart-pounding. "I keep having the feeling that something bad is going to happen." "This is the first time in a long time that I''ve got such a strong portent that we¡¯re mortal." Wen Fengjin''s kissing movement came to a halt, and the corners of his lips hooked slightly, his long and narrow peculiar eyes containing the same smile as he said, "Shixiong, are you worried about me? I''m overjoyed." Wang Xiaomie shook his head and cast a sidelong glance at him. "Fengjin." "Yeah?" "Are you going to die?" "..." Wang Xiaomie half-closed his eyes and lowered his head, his fingers catching Wen Fengjin¡¯s silver hair falling from his shoulders, and he twisted it around his slender finger a few times. "I''ve been thinking lately that if you knew Yi Yan''s true identity, knew that his actions were premeditated, and knew An Kai... So you and An Kai came to an agreement but didn''t tell me?" "Hehehe..." Wen Fengjin laughed in a muffled voice as he bent down and nipped Wang Xiaomie''s ear. "You are so sharp today that you scare me, shixiong." "Don''t try to fool me!" Wang Xiaomie''s expression darkened. He turned around and grabbed Wen Fengjin''s long hair, stating word by word in the man''s wide-eyed and surprised gaze: "No matter how weak and ordinary people are, when their bottom line, which cannot be crossed, is touched, they will become fierce and unyielding!" "I¡¯m the same, you know!" "Fengjin, kill Yi Yan." "..." The pupils of the long, narrow eyes constricted. Wang Xiaomie continued with an indifference on his face that he didn¡¯t even notice: "If he really wants us to die, then we can only kill him." He had everything including a ''family'' in the underground palace. He did not wish to die. He also insisted that if others do not offend him, he will not offend others. But if the other party had long planned to deprive him of his happiness, all he can say is "Go to hell!" The strange pupils in the long and narrow eyes burned scarlet as if a flame had lit when the cold and cruel words were pronounced, reflecting the figure that seemed to have shed its scabbard to display its sword light¡ª The end of gentleness was actually so cruel and beautiful¡ª Wen Fengjin was out of breath as he lifted his trembling hand, then violently crushed Wang Xiaomie into his chest the next second! "Oof!" His hold caused Wang Xiaomie pain. He scowled and shoved him. "Hey! What are you doing?" "Let me hug you for a while¡ª Shixiong¡ª Mian Deng Shixiong¡ª" He was too excited. He could only hold Wang Xiaomie''s head firmly on his shoulder since the gentle mask could no longer hide his madly morbid eyes and the corners of his mouth that were constantly curving up. Dyed... He took a sniff of the scent on the black hair. Finally got dyed... He¡¯d dyed his shixiong into a look that belonged exclusively to him! Footnotes: [1] This actually translates to a doll, a humanoid toy puppet to be exact. CH 69 Chapter 69 The journey Wang Xiaomie returned his gaze to the tomb passage behind him, where a few little monsters had come to a halt in despair, crying in muffled voices to indicate that they did not want to part beneath Wang Xiaomie''s gaze. "Whine~" "Whimper~" Wang Xiaomie glanced at the gathering of monsters that people may term ugly and horrifying, and displayed warmth that he didn''t even notice. He knelt, and the monsters from Mu Yi to Mu Shi rushed over to him, rubbing and circling around him. Wang Xiaomie waved to them, rubbing their large heads one by one. "Now, now, go back." "Whine~" Wen Fengjin smiled as he bowed his head. He''d already seen that it wasn''t just Mu Yi and the others who were coquettishly intertwined, but Wang Xiaomie was also reluctant to leave them, so he didn''t drive the little monsters away. Instead, he mocked Wang Xiaomie, saying, "Children¡¯s mother[1], it''s time to go." Wang Xiaomie unwillingly stood up and walked outside the tomb palace, hand in hand with Wen Fengjin. One step and three turnarounds[2]. Every time he turned around, Mu Yi and the others raised their claws and moved forward a little to try to follow him, but they were forced to stop in the same spot in the end due to the command that must stay in the tomb palace to protect it. Several sets of wet scarlet beanie eyes stared at his back. Wang Xiaomie: "..." F*ck, I want to cry. He resolutely took a few strides forward and didn''t glance back. He silently squeezed his fist after taking several large steps alongside Wen Fengjin. "If you are certain, Fengjin, it doesn''t matter even if you sacrifice someone else. We must live and return." Wen Fengjin''s unusually long and narrow eyes flashed, and his lips curled up, "Naturally." His shixiong will always remain in his grasp as long as the blood sacrifice between them exists, no matter when or where. In another way, the deepest shackles were also the safest assurance. When they eventually arrived at the surface, Wang Xiaoie took over the backpack that Wen Fengjin had been carrying the entire route. Inside, there were a few changes of clothes and a mobile phone portable charger strewn about with miscellaneous things. They changed into modern clothes, and Wang Xiaomie booted up his phone from the power bank while looking up and questioning the man whose eyes were always on him. "What happened to bringing the coffin this time? If you make a mistake and miscalculate, it''s easier to bury me right away," half-jokingly, he said. With a half-smile, Wen Fengjin seized Wang Xiaomie''s collar, forcing the other person to look up. He bowed down in front of Wang Xiaomie''s astonished eyes. Their lips connected, and Xiaomie''s lips were fiercely crushed. It was a fast and hard kiss. The softly gorgeous man''s head was covered in silver hair that fell like a waterfall and felt cool on his face. Wang Xiaomie was having trouble breathing as a result of him, so he swallowed several times too quickly, causing his mouth to become numb. Wang Xiaomie¡¯s Adam''s apple slid up and down, and the man lifted him up like a toy, sucking and nipping the round throat bone. Wang Xiaomie bit his bottom lip but made no sound. He couldn''t help but wipe his neck after they parted since it felt itchy. "I didn''t bring it since I''m certain we''ll return here. And even if I make a mistake, I''ll still be able to let you return here. Understand?" He inquired. Wang Xiaomie''s face was a little red, and he couldn''t help beep beep at him, "Bullshit! As if I don''t already know you? If you kick the bucket, the person you¡¯d want to kill as you drag your last breath would be ME!" Wen Fengjin''s smile broadened. His lips were moist from the kiss, and he cocked his brows in a perplexed expression. "Shixiong, how can you believe that? Don''t you know I adore you?" "Haha!" Damned freak, it''s because you f*cking adore laozi that laozi''s terrified, okay? Do you think I''ll relax my guard just because you pretended to be a lazy toothless tiger for a few days? Bah! Wang Xiaomie rolled his eyes: "Can you let me live alone as, err, a zongzi? You can let me do things you don''t know about in places where you can''t see me? Perhaps you''ll find someone to be your "wife''s friend"? You think I''m stupid, Wen Fengjin!" He had recently ignored Wen Fengjin and thought that Wen Fengjin had changed into a good guy, but last night, while he and Wen Fengjin were discussing a strategy, he tossed and turned in the coffin, feeling more and more suspicious the more he pondered. He knew everything about Wen Fengjin after regaining his memory, and Wen Fengjin was truly¡ª Nothing good even as a teenager! Devoid of conscience and by nature sinister, dissolute, unruly, and anti-social. He was a white dumpling with sesame filling and would smash Yi Yan without saying a word. It was basically saying "I love you~" in the same tone as "You dog, I''ll blow your head off~" What Wen Fengjin, who made a comeback after dying, enjoyed watching the most was revealing his cloven foot[3] a bit to those righteous people, and then giving the other party the greatest despair when the other party is exhilarated thinking that the ''devil'' is about to be slaughtered... [What could be more thrilling than watching your opponent''s hope turn to despair?] Wen Fengjin said this while standing in a pool of blood. Those besieging the Demon Lord thought their spy had discovered Wen Fengjin''s base camp, but the spy was killed by Mu Yi on the first day he arrived after being skinned and interrogated to death. People with overflowing confidence and hope ambushed them, but they were swiftly slaughtered by the overpowering cold arrows. Wen Fengjin then walked into the pool of blood while holding him, who was already very ill. The man, who was as sweetly gorgeous as the devil, smiled contentedly. He squinted and smiled as he stared at the individual on the ground who was still breathing and glaring at them with angry and unwilling eyes. Wen Fengjin had instructed him to pay close attention... He stated, "Shixiong, listen. Isn''t this shattering sound wonderful to hear?" Wang Xiaomie realized he was referring to the sound of hope shattering. Wang Xiaomie was holding back at the time, or he would have peed on his leg. At the time, he confirmed one thing. Wen Fengjin should rename himself Wen Lunatic[4]. "Wait a second!" Remembering this incident, Wang Xiaomie went wide-eyed and clutched the tip of Wen Fengjin''s long silver hair, questioning, "Since you''ve known Yi Yan''s identity since you went to Bai Yu''s residence that day, did you purposefully let Bai Yu..." Wen Fengjin¡¯s pale pink lips were hooked like a sickle. Everything was self-evident. Wang Xiaomie: "...Wicked, you¡¯re too wicked!" Damn! He''d been wondering how Wen Fengjin, who had initially refused Bai Yu living in his home, had suddenly changed his mind! So he was conspiring at the time! Wang Xiaomie yanked his hair viciously and bared two zombie puppy teeth. I badly want to bite him! "Are you going to learn how to bark?" Wen Fengjin asked with a smile, raising his eyebrows. "And you want to bite me as well? Oh no~ I''m going to experience domestic violence~" Wang Xiaomie: "..." There! There¡¯s that cute darkness! Between biting him and then being beaten, or restraining himself and not being beaten, Wang The Timid decisively chose the second option. He sprang up, furious, and grabbed the phone to call Bai Yu. He had contacted Bai Yu the day before yesterday to ask him to drive over, but he had no idea where he was now. "Xiaomie," Wen Fengjin said abruptly, "if Bai Yu..." "Alright! I know; I¡¯ll be on guard!" Wang Xiaomie cut him off, not wanting to be too suspicious. "How can Bai Yu, who is such an upright guy, help Yi Yan in doing those things?" "Do you have that much faith in him? Even more than in me." Wang Xiaomie''s mouth twitched as he noticed Wen Fengjin''s quickly cooling expression. "Are you a buddy of dear old vinegar? In a nutshell, be pleasant to others. I''d rather trust my pals than doubt them." "You will be let down." Wen Fengjin stated unequivocally. Wang Xiaomie exhaled a sigh. In his heart, he had already calculated the worst. He''d always thought Bai Yu was a good person, but what if Yi Yan was deceiving him? The call was answered. "Hello, Da Bai? It¡¯s Wang Xiaomie." ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ A white pickup truck was parked at the foot of the inaccessible mountain road, but there were numerous track marks nearby, and Bai Yu had also come across a few middle-aged men bringing construction cement to the summit. They claimed that a wealthy individual insisted on constructing a temple on the peak. They were all hired laborers from neighboring villages engaged by the contractor. "That boss has promised to pay for the repair of the nearby mountain roads in addition to building a temple. The old man in our village who guards the ruined temple is also welcome to relocate here." "I''m not sure who wants to spend money on our poor valley!" The tanned middle-aged men joked and continued to carry the goods to the mountain. Bai Yu''s gaze was stunned as he looked at their laboring backs as they walked away. Isn''t Xiaomie the one who was constructing a temple on the mountain? Humans are thinking about harming humans, whereas zombies are thinking about temples and road repairs. What the hell is going on here? The mobile phone near Bai Yu rang as he rubbed his reddish eyes. He felt something pressing against his throat as he looked down at the phone and noticed that the caller ID said ''Xiaomie.'' "Hello." "Hello, Da Bai? It¡¯s Wang Xiaomie. Where are you?" "Ah, I''m at the foot of the mountain. The car won¡¯t go up, so I''ll wait for you here. Do you have a lot of stuff with you? I''ll come over and help you carry it." Bai Yu opened the car door while holding the phone. "No need, no need, Wen Fengjin says we¡¯re almost there. We¡¯re not carrying any stuff this time." On the other end of the phone, Wang Xiaomie laughed openly and kindly as usual, "Just stay there and wait for us. We''ll be there in ten minutes." "Okay..." He replied, then the phone hung up. Bai Yu''s face was frowning. He set down his phone in a daze and picked up the water bottle next to him, as well as a common small plastic prescription bottle from his pocket. The small medicine bottle bore a Vitamin B2 label, and upon unscrewing it, there were also regular yellow pills inside. But Bai Yu just stared at it, as if it were some great scourge. While in a trance, he seemed to have returned to that day, when Yi Yan informed him that his grandfather had been killed by a drought demon. His last hope had vanished, and he had sobbed bitterly in Yi Yan''s presence, abandoning his usually strong demeanor. "Don''t think about it. I will handle those things, and I should do them alone." Yi Yan muttered: "I¡¯m the one who lost my head to tell you this. As long as you live the life you want¡­ My only..." "Only what?" Bai Yu raised his head from his arms, failing to hear Yi Yan clearly. But Yi Yan just shook his head and hugged him again. "No, it''s nothing." "........." "By the way, Bai Yu, can you... do me a favor?" Yi Yan fixed his gaze on him. "For the sake of humanity''s future stability and to avenge Teacher Bai Cheng, I must destroy the hidden danger of the drought demon. You get what I''m saying, right?" Bai Yu was unable to refute him. His grandfather was the one Yi Yan wished to avenge, thus he should be grateful and assist him. "What do you want me to do? I''ll help!" Yi Yan¡¯s face was full of joy when he heard this, and he pushed Bai Yu away slightly. Bai Yu felt relieved to see Yi Yan finally face him without a serious expression, but what Yi Yan said next struck him like lightning. Yi Yan: "What I need you to do is very simple. Bai Yu, I¡¯ll give you a bottle of medicine, and you¡¯ll put it in the water that Wang Xiaomie drinks six times. Don''t worry, it¡¯s unique. Even Wen Fengjin can''t find it." "No way!" Bai Yu''s eyes widened, and his voice rose instinctively, "Why are you dragging Xiaomie into this?! I can''t do it!" "Calm down and pay attention to what I''m saying." Yi Yan frowned and calmed him in a relaxed manner. "How could a strong craftsman like your grandfather die in obscurity back then? Wen Fengjin and his companion are familiar with the drought demon. Do you dare to guarantee that he wasn''t involved?" Bai Yu lowered his eyes: "I..." Yi Yan continued, "This medicine is not lethal. Bai Yu, I''m going to kill the drought demon this time. Isn''t it asking too much of me to be passive instead of taking precautions to contain Wen Fengjin just in case?" "Can you guarantee that if I don''t do this, I won''t become another casualty like your grandfather?" "I must exact my revenge! And monsters must also perish!" "The journey to Qishan is extremely risky. If I lose contact... Everything in this place is yours. I''ve written a suicide note..." The early morning light softened the man in the cyan robe and immaculate braid in front of him, and the years had bestowed a calm and peaceful halo on this attractive man. Bai Yu couldn''t imagine the scene where he was brutally murdered. He could also not guarantee that Yi Yan would not be the next victim. But he was aware that he didn''t want Yi Yan to be harmed... "It truly won¡¯t hurt him?" Bai Yu heard himself ask in a weak and trembling voice. "Of course not." Yi Yan hugged him hard, "Trust me once!" "Okay..." I trust you. Footnotes: [1] A colloquial term used by Northerners for addressing a child''s mother. [2] An exaggerated expression of reluctance to part. It essentially implies "looking back three times for every step." [3] Unmasking one¡¯s nature. [4] Îŷ羡(Wen Fengjin) and ÎÅ·è×Ó(Wen Fengzi). Fengzi means lunatic/madman. CH 70 Chapter 70 Bad choice Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin walked down the mountain hand in hand. Xiaomie opened the pickup truck¡¯s front passenger seat door and got in. "Bang." The door was shut, and the trinkets on the dashboard rattled slightly. Sitting in the co-pilot seat, Wang Xiaomie stretched and groaned: "Hey, let¡¯s go back! I didn¡¯t get to eat anything delicious living here this month. I had to nibble on black donkey hooves[1] everyday. Damn, my taste buds have died[2]!" Bai Yu was originally depressed, but hearing this sentence made him laugh. "Why didn''t you bring the coffin this time?" he wondered as he looked about. "Oh, that! I forbade Wen Fengjin from bringing it," Wang Xiaomie said, rubbing the tip of his nose. "Why the hell does he need to bring a coffin with him when sleeping on a bed is so comfortable, right?" "That''s right." Bai Yu grinned, revealing a row of dazzling teeth. Wang Xiaomie''s eyes narrowed: "Da Bai, please don''t smile so brightly at me. I''ll think of black person toothpaste[3] as soon as you laugh." "..." Bai Yu put away his smile, feeling wronged, and started the vehicle. He stated, "I went to the supermarket and got a lot of goodies. You and Boss Wen can eat them on the road." Wang Xiaomie''s eyes lit up. He promptly reached inside the car seat side pocket and took out a hefty packet of food. The words XX Supermarket were emblazoned in large characters on the plastic bag. He rummaged through it, pulling out various snacks: "A chocolate bar, pineapple cakes, spicy beef jerky, smoked sausages...wow, you got pickled chicken feet as well! Damn good, buddy!" Wang Xiaomie fixed his gaze gravely on Bai Yu, who was driving. "Don''t worry, Da Bai. I''ll take care of your whitening masks for the rest of the year!" "..." Bai Yu struggled hard, "No, I''m not dark." Wang Xiaomie sighed in sorrow and shook his head as he observed Bai Yu''s refusal to admit the truth. "Alright, fine. You''re not dark; you have simply reached the level of absorbing sunlight. It''s no surprise that I don''t feel particularly hot next to you." "..." Biu~ A knife steadily penetrated Bai Yu¡¯s heart, causing him to choke silently. Bai Yu, you have to hold back. You mustn¡¯t cry! Wang Xiaomie was uninterested in the other snacks. He first unsealed the pickled chicken feet and beef jerky, then turned around and held the first piece to Wen Fengjin¡¯s lips. Wen Fengjin, who had planned to close his eyes and rest, glanced at the pale chicken feet oozing a spicy aroma in front of him and remained silent for a few moments without taking a bite. Wang Xiaomie: "You don¡¯t want it?" Wen Fengjin: ...Disgusting. Wang Xiaomie snorted coldly: "Do you realize how much love and value you need to embody to make a foodie let another have the first bite of their own food?" Wen Fengjin: "......" "Tut!" Wang Xiaomie snorted coldly, looking at Fengjin''s raised brows and still closed mouth. "Okay then, don''t eat. I''ll offer it to Da Bai." He withdrew his hand after speaking and presented it to Bai Yu. But then his chicken feet-holding hand was caught, and the movement of pulling away came to a halt. Wang Xiaomie turned around and looked over. Wen Fengjin had lowered his head and was biting the chicken feet''s upper half. The long, narrow eyes with black pupils that virtually filled the entire eye sockets looked bottom-up. Wang Xiaomie stiffened when their gazes connected. "Crunch." The meat and bones of the chicken feet were chewed off with a crisp sound. Trapped in the man¡¯s gaze, Wang Xiaomie felt as if Wen Fengjin had bitten his fingers. Wen Fengjin''s indifferent and gloomy eyes were as dark as the abyss, and Wang Xiaomie understood what he meant. He was asking: Do you dare? Wang Xiaomie: ... Protect food! You don''t eat it, and you don''t allow others to eat it?! Wang Xiaomie suddenly spun around holding the chicken feet, as if to say, "See if I care!" The fingers on the hand that was clutching the chicken feet remained numb. He examined the bitten chicken feet and saw that Wen Fengjin had not bitten it at the joints, but rather from the bones, and the bones within were fragmented. The ''crunch crunch'' sounds of Wen Fengjin chewing bones sounded from behind. Wang Xiaomie''s hair stood on end. ...Who, who are you showing off those teeth to! I, I''m not scared! He opened his mouth purposefully to chomp on the spot where Wen Fengjin had bitten, and ate numerous pieces. His mouth was on fire from the heat, and he was sucking in cold air. Bai Yu inquired at this time, "What''s the matter with your neck, Xiaomie? Why is your throat red?" Wang Xiaomie hesitated, remembering the location Wen Fengjin had sucked on when they were in the mountains. "Um... I was suffering from excessive internal heat yesterday, so I pinched it to reduce internal heat," he bluffed, a little embarrassed. Wang Xiaomie clutched the pickled chicken feet in his hand and wanted to force it into Wen Fengjin''s mouth when he heard a sneer from behind. What are you laughing at! It wouldn''t have been purple if you hadn''t worked so hard, resulting in a red mark that hasn''t healed yet! Bai Yu said "oh" and continued driving. His voice was a touch shaky as he said: "Is it spicy? Have some water." Then he found the time to pass over the mineral water in his possession. "Yeah, it''s rather spicy." Wang Xiaomie grabbed the bottle and unscrewed the cap, raising his head to take a few mouthfuls of the water. Bai Yu fixed his gaze on the road ahead. Hearing the sound of swallowing next to him, he squeezed the hand gripping the steering wheel reflexively. His palms were coated in cold sweat, and his fingers were stiff and cold from the tension, but he wasn''t aware of it. Wen Fengjin, who was sitting in the rear seat with his eyes closed, opened his eyes a chink, and when he saw this scenario, the corners of his mouth hooked up, and he closed his eyes again. Shixiong, you lose. Wang Xiaomie, the front passenger, bowed his head and screwed the cap back on the water bottle before continuing to munch on the chicken feet. Long strands of jet black hair hung down from his shoulders, forming a semicircle and concealing his expression. Bai Yu''s taut nerves relaxed as the water bottle was properly returned, and cold sweat trickled down his dark cheeks. Wang Xiaomie glanced at him. Bai Yu, in truth, was not at all ugly. He had large, round, deep-set eyes with double eyelids like a cat. He had typical facial traits, with a straight and small nose, and appeared delicate. His cheekbones were not angular. Rather, he had a round face and a pointy chin. His lips were full and had upturned sides. He had messy black curly hair, and despite his dark skin, he had the liveliness and vitality of a cat, and he readily produced a favorable impression on people, making them feel that the more they looked, the better he appeared. Facts had proven that dark and ugly were not always relevant. Such a person was more distinct and impressive than the ''popular male god,'' but how did he resemble Yi Yan in the end? Is he aware... "How are you and Yi Yan doing, Bai Yu?" Wang Xiaomie inquired. For a brief moment, Bai Yu was stunned. He pursed his lips and seemed a little agitated before replying, "We... We''re all right. He is my grandfather''s disciple, so he takes good care of me." "I now call him Teacher, but..." He clutched the steering wheel fiercely, as though summoning courage. "But I like him! I, I''m already living with him at his place!" he said loudly after a few seconds. Wang Xiaomie: "......" Wen Fengjin: "......" F*ck me! Wang Xiaomie vigorously turned his head to look at Wen Fengjin, and was a little astonished to see that Wen Fengjin had raised his eyebrows as well. He swallowed his spit and returned his gaze to Bai Yu. Bai Yu was coy, nervous, scared, and a bit shy, like a big boy who had revealed his romantic love to his family. But that''s besides the point! The point is! "How can you be with Yi Yan?! He admitted you are a couple?" Wang Xiaomie''s three views were broken[4], and he felt as if his brain had crashed. "He took fantastic care of me after you left. On that day, he invited me to stay in his home temporarily, and I conveniently ¡ª confessed. I believe he agreed." Bai Yu''s sad face creased, "I know you have a bad relationship with him... But..." "That isn¡¯t why..." Wang Xiaomie had a headache and interrupted him, "It¡¯s because..." "Xiaomie." Wang Xiaomie turned around when he heard Wen Fengjin abruptly call him, and found that the Demon Lord''s evil smile was overflowing with charm. "It''s interesting, isn''t it? We''ll just remain quiet about their affairs." Bai Yu had no idea what Wen Fengjin meant. His face was awfully grateful, thinking he was speaking for himself. But Wang Xiaomie knew. Wen Fengjin''s point was that this must be an accident caused by misunderstandings, but Yi Yan was in an antagonistic relationship with them, so why not see a joke if they could? Oh dear... Wang Xiaomie glanced at the bottle of water he drank just now, swallowing the words on the tip of his tongue, and he didn''t say anything very clearly in the end, "The thing is, you have to be very careful while looking for a partner. Everyone has their own preferences..." However, some people begin by choosing what should not be chosen. Bai Yu did not speak, but nodded silently. No one said a word for the rest of the journey, and it seemed awkward to talk about anything after Yi Yan was involved. The trio ultimately returned to the suburban villa area two and a half days later. Wang Xiaomie''s expression improved after returning to his own territory, and a smile appeared on his face. He stretched his stiffened waist after sitting in the truck and said to Bai Yu, "Thanks for your trouble. Hurry to your room and lie down for a while. Fengjin and I will also go upstairs to freshen up." "There''s no need. I''m...going back to Yi Yan''s place," Bai Yu said, waving his hand like a pendulum, frowning and lowering his head to avoid his gaze. "........." When a son grows up, his mother is no longer able to make decisions for him. Bai Yu bent his head in shame as he heard Wang Xiaomie sigh. He wished to defect from the organization and run into the arms of the wild man[5]. The villa''s entrance opened and closed. Wen Fengjin stood behind Wang Xiaomie, his lips slowly lifting as he glanced at the closed door. "Don''t think about it." Wen Fengjin retracted his gaze. Wang Xiaomie quivered when an ice-cold palm brushed his nape. That hand pinched his chin and forced him to turn before he could react. "Don''t look at it anymore," Wen Fengjin said in displeasure. "I''m tired. Accompany me upstairs to rest in the coffin." Wang Xiaomie had intended to shove him away, but was stunned when he heard these remarks. His brows rose and his lips bent the following instant. "Hehehe, a coffin? You forgot we didn''t bring the coffin? Hahaha." Wen Fengjin: "..." Wang Xiaomie shoved him aside and ran upstairs, laughing wildly. "Simmons[6], here I come! Aroo!" ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ "Did you drug the water?" Yi Yan asked, narrowing his eyes: "Are you sure he drank it?" The first floor of the retro-styled building was bathed in a warm yellow light. Xiao An was seated in the corner, silently toying with something. Bai Yu''s head drooped low, and after a lengthy pause, he mumbled "mn." Yi Yan''s pupils glowed with intense excitement and joy. He softly reassured Bai Yu by holding his hand, "You¡¯ve done well. Thank you for everything you have done for me. Don''t worry, I will avenge Teacher Bai Cheng!" "Did I make a mistake?" Bai Yu abruptly remarked. "Of course not." Yi Yan frowned and added, "We are doing all this to rid the world of the drought demon and to eliminate hidden threats to humanity¡¯s future safety. They are all monsters outside the rules and shouldn''t exist in the world in the first place." Bai Yu didn''t say a word, and Yi Yan¡¯s expression softened. "We are not wrong. Even if there is any problem, I swear I¡¯ll stand in front of you." After speaking, he hugged the glum Bai Yu firmly, slightly swaying his body, his palms soothing his back like a kid. "You did well... you did very well..." Bai Yu wrapped his arms about Yi Yan''s neck, his tightly closed eyelashes twitching, his lips gently smiling unseen by Yi Yan, his slender eyes shimmering with a mysterious light. You did very well. Really well! Warm baby is extremely caring[7]. Footnotes: [1] According to legend, a black donkey hoof can keep zombies at bay. The tomb palace must have a ton of these hooves from all the dead raiders. I believe WFJ and WXM ate black donkey hoof hotpot in Chapter 8/9. It''s a rather bizarre myth. You can read the Baidu entry for black donkey hooves here. [2] According to what I read on Baidu: "Water Margin" hero Lu Zhishen uses the foul words ×ì°Í¶¼µ­³öÄñÁË(a bird can fade out of mouth!) It means that the mouth has no taste. As you may know, bird is modern slang for penis. It sounds strange in English, so I rephrased it to try to convey the meaning. Please leave a comment if you know how to say it better. [3] ºÚÈË ÑÀ¸à: Chinese name for the brand Darkie toothpaste. It was renamed Darlie starting March 2022. It''s an interesting read so make sure you read the Wikipedia entry. [4] Humorous way of saying WXM was shocked. Titbit: Three views stand for one''s world view (ÊÀ½çÓ^), values of worth (ƒrÖµÓ^), and philosophy on life (ÈËÉúÓ^). [5] Not like Tarzan, y''all. It''s someone whose thoughts and actions are unruly. The polar antithesis of a gentleman. [6] Refers to the mattress manufactured by the Simmons Bedding Company. [7] ů±¦±¦ºÜÌùÐÄ. I thought this was a meme, but it''s not. I''m not sure what it means, so I''ve translated it literally. Translator: Ahhh¡­. I believe I''ve figured out who Yi Yan is! You''re screwed, Bai Yu. The author has an unhealthy obsession for white skin... If you enjoy the xianxia genre, I totally recommend "Love Between Fairy and Devil." It''s 36 episodes long, and I loooove the first half. Great CGI, and the music is fantastic. I watched the ones subbed by iQIYI and I have to say the English subtitles suck big time. You can wait for Netflix to catch up. Hopefully, they will improve on the subtitles. I''ve just finished watching this. You should give it a go!! CH 71 Chapter 71 Love is a light, and it''s so green A strange furnace was burning in the dark underground. Even with the furnace outlet open to the outside of the wall and the air vent running, the room was still sultry. Iron racks covered the surrounding walls, with labels attached under rows of unusual ores, and many wooden boxes and glass bottles were also organized in this manner. Yi Yan sat on a chair with his legs crossed in front of the furnace, silently watching the flames. The orange fire and the ''crackling'' sound of wood burning threw a warm glow on him. "The next step is to add the dragon bones." He spoke suddenly. Bai Yu nodded, held a booklet in one hand, and walked to a certain iron frame on the wall, followed the labels, and came to a halt in front of a specific wooden box, opened the wooden box, and discovered two small white bones inside. "Dragon bone is a unique snake bone that has been alive for 50 years. Bai Yu, you must remember what I''m going to do next. Making a copper-colored ''tool'' requires great care. There is no scope for even an iota of error when it comes to time or heat controlling the materials." After he finished speaking, Yi Yan rose up, opened the small door in the middle of the furnace with a hook, and jerked his chin to signal Bai Yu to put the dragon bones in. Monsters could be restrained with bronze. With just one weapon, it was possible to kill zombies whose strength and powers greatly exceeded those of mortals. Such weapons were extremely valuable, and Bai Yu had only seen them a few times in his grandfather''s home. Later, after joining the craftsmen circle, he recognized that being able to create a copper-colored ''tool'' was a high point that some craftsmen would never attain in their lifetime. Even if the craftsman dies, the production method will not be divulged to the public, and it was only passed down to males and not females. If the successor lacked skill, the craftsmen would rather take the knowledge to their grave than pass it to outsiders. And now he had access to the craftsmanship that countless second-rate highly skilled craftsmen had pursued for a lifetime! Bai Yu suspected that, though Yi Yan did not express it explicitly, Yi Yan wished to pass on his skills to him. He expected this to happen many years later, but Yi Yan surprised him by teaching him in a month! Does he believe in me so much? Bai Yu, visibly touched, glanced at Yi Yan and hurriedly threw in the dragon bones where Yi Yan had indicated. Yi Yan returned his gaze and smiled: "I know what you''re thinking. Didn''t I mention I cannot guarantee I''ll be able to return alive from my expedition to Qishan..." He placed his palm on top of Bai Yu''s head and gently caressed it. "I''ll give you everything I''ve got..." The slender eyes and the raised smile were extremely gentle. There were no lies in that moment. Bai Yu understood Yi Yan had become obsessed with getting rid of monsters, and that he... wanted to exploit him, but he was also quite nice to Bai Yu at times, and Bai Yu could see the strong emotion in Yi Yan''s eyes when he looked at him! It is this type of candy, mixed with a sour taste, that makes children who have never tasted sweets find it difficult to let go. Even if it contains a steel nail, as long as it does not hurt the tongue, they want to keep it in their mouth before it causes them to bleed. People are unscrupulous for the sake of that little bit of sweetness, and most of the world''s feelings are similar. A pair of tongs was used to extract the red-hot weapon, which emitted an ear-piercing sizzle when submerged in the water filled with various potions. Yi Yan took Bai Yu''s hand and brought him to the water while white mist billowed around them. "You have a lot of talent. Even with my guidance, completing your first job in a mere month is tough." Yi Yan dangled Bai Yu''s palm over the water, saying, "This is your very first gold tool. Do you like it?" "Yeah!" He gave a firm nod. Bai Yu''s hand glided up and down in the air, as if to touch the magical weapon again, while a golden sheen gradually spread over the red-hot weapon in the potion. A few minutes later, the brilliant gold turned into a heavier and simpler copper-gold. That golden color fell into his eyes in the orange fire of the furnace, revealing his obsession... On the other side, the villa. Two pajamas tossed on the fur carpet, long jet-black and silver hair entwined on a double bed. The bed shook slightly. Wen Fengjin was firmly pressed against Wang Xiaomie''s chest. Wang Xiaomie laid on his back on the bed, the corners of his eyes red and damp from the discomfort. His collarbone was severely sunken, and he started gasping for air as if something had relaxed. As he looked up at the roof, his eyes were foggy, and his glabella was creased into a deep groove. "I know it hurts, but you bear with it." When the narrow and long peculiar eyes saw Wang Xiaomie''s uncomfortable appearance, they became gloomy, and Wen Fengjin''s chilly hand continued to exert power. "Feel for the blood tie between you and me, and you''ll be much more at ease." Wang Xiaomie nodded slightly and chewed his lips so hard that they turned pale. The next moment, the narrow and long strange eyes suddenly flooded with red! "Ah!!!" Xiaomie''s tightly closed eyes snapped wide open, and his moist pupils were instantly engulfed with dense wisps of scarlet that nearly obscured his eyes! His body hurt so horribly that he shuddered and almost flipped over, and cold sweat almost saturated his forehead and body, but he was firmly pressed down by the man''s large palm on his chest! "It hurts! Ahhhh¡ª! It hurts, my head¡ª ahhhh!" On the bed, Wang Xiaomie opened his mouth and let out a miserable wail, his fingers dug into his hair as he screamed frantically, ripping out countless strands of his long black hair, and kicking his legs hard when he couldn¡¯t move his body! "Ahhhhhh, Fengjin, it hurts. It hurts so bad! Please let me go¡ª let me go!!!" His sweat drenched the bed sheets as though they had been dipped in water in a matter of seconds. Fortunately, they had been properly prepared, and neither of the two men was dressed. Wen Fengjin sat astride Wang Xiaomie''s stomach, not allowing him to move. Wen Fengjin''s face was black enough to spill ink from seeing Wang Xiaomie in such misery, and he''d squeezed his free hand into a tight fist that was quivering. "Bear with it, it will be over soon, Xiaomie, don''t hurt yourself!" Wen Fengjin yelled at him, but Wang Xiaomie was only concerned with his pain and looked insane. Wen Fengjin clenched his jaw and gripped Wang Xiaomie''s hands firmly. Taking advantage of Wang Xiaomie''s struggle, he gripped Xiaomie''s wrists with one hand while continuing to hold Wang Xiaomie down with his right! An unseen force whirled around the surroundings. The long and narrow eyes with dark pupils that occupied the eye sockets almost completely became scarlet as a result of this tremendous power. Wang Xiaomie''s strength was also depleted; his rising chest created an arc as it rose off the bed, and his spine nearly snapped. The cyan blood vessels concealed in the flesh and blood all over his body erupted under the thin skin in a matter of seconds, bulging like strips of plastic cannulas! And the fair-skinned body, which had infinite vitality, began to dry up as well. Wang Xiaomie stared at the roof, his bloodshot, unfocused eyes wide open. His face was covered in raised veins... This scene seemed to show Wen Fengjin''s hand on his chest draining the vitality from his body. "It hurts, I¡¯m in pain; Fengjin, I¡¯m in so much pain..." As two streaks of tears flowed down his cheeks, he mumbled hoarsely. The individual who had been struggling fiercely had lost his strength and collapsed on the bed as if dead. Wang Xiaomie''s appearance was far from his normal handsome and genial appearance at this time. It would be an understatement to say he was a terrifying mummy. He was in excruciating pain. Wen Fengjin was aware of this. He swore he would never let his shixiong be hurt while he lived in the hollow of his palm. Even if he were a corpse, he would sleep like a real human. YI YAN... Wen Fengjin, livid, let go of Xiaomie, who''d lost strength. His fingernails caused deep slashes in his wrist, dripping blood down and into Wang Xiaomie''s lips. In an instant, the bitter and astringent medicinal aroma permeated the entire bedroom. Wang Xiaomie was dazedly staring at the roof, and when his lips were wet with thick blood droplets, he lowered his gaze slightly. "Drip, drip, drip." Wang Xiaomie stopped mumbling "it hurts" as blood leaked into the crack of his lips. His eyes turned red as he calmed down and became docile. The blood contract was fed and showed its effect. Because of his regenerating power, he''d made multiple cuts ten minutes later. Blood continued to drain, and the smell of medicine in the bedroom threatened to suffocate people. Wen Fengjin''s face was turning pale, as if he''d suffered a terrible setback. Wang Xiaomie eventually twisted wildly, holding to the side of the bed, and "Blargh!" vomited red liquid on the carpet at this point! Wen Fengjin instantly stopped the blood contract and scooped up the man who was gripping the foot of the bed and wrapped in his arms after he vomited. His love was undiminished and perhaps more enduring as he hugged the person in his arms tightly and kissed the ugly corpse''s forehead with his lips. He pressed his lips on Xiaomie''s brow, calling out Wang Xiaomie''s name, until the corpse''s flesh and blood were well-rounded, as if air had been breathed into it, and the face restored to its prior appearance. Xiaomie''s torn black hair was spread on the side of the pillow, and sweat had formed the shape of him on the pillow and dark sheets. Wen Fengjin carried Wang Xiaomie to the bathroom to bathe after his condition had stabilized. He brought him to the second bedroom because the bed in their bedroom was filthy. He never let go of his grip for a second. Wang Xiaomie opened his eyes in the dark with pain all over his body. "It hurts," he murmured, opening his mouth. Wen Fengjin caressed his face with his palm and softly rubbed his eyes'' corners with his thumb. His voice was light and low. "It''s okay, it''s all right." "Mn." Wang Xiaomie took a deep breath, looked at Wen Fengjin, was dazed, and responded quietly. Wen Fengjin had no idea how vicious and morbid his own eyes were. They caused fear, and the hand that grabbed Wang Xiaomie''s shoulder was clutched so tightly that Wang Xiaomie''s nerves, which were no longer as sensitive, felt the pain. Almost crazy. This was the first thought that came to Wang Xiaomie''s mind when he looked at Wen Fengjin. "I''m fine, Fengjin." Wang Xiaomie gulped and comforted him. Wen Fengjin hugged him quietly without saying anything. Wang Xiaomie was afraid to stimulate him. He was wrapped like a silkworm in the quilt, revealing his little head and admiring his man''s gorgeous face. Wen Fengjin appeared to have sobered up after another half hour. Wang Xiaomie noticed that his expression had calmed down and he had returned to being indifferent to everyone and asked quickly: "How did it go? Did you get rid of the thing I drank? Damn, it''s this painful the first time, and I''m not sure how many times he wants me to drink it. Shit!" Xiao Wenzi anticipated how many tactics Yi Yan would use to deal with them while in the tomb palace, so they understood whether the water in the bottle was poisoned or not. If Yi Yan intended to employ poison but delay its flare-up and also avoid it being noticed by Wen Fengjin, he needed to divide it into many doses and force it out before the attack. Bai Yu was sure to look for Yi Yan, and Wen Fengjin had predicted their actions with God-like accuracy. He had done a blood sacrifice for Xiaomie tonight in order to force the poison out. But he had no idea this poison would be so deadly! Laozi was seriously hurt! Wang Xiaomie cursed Yi Yan seven or eight times. "I don''t believe he doesn¡¯t want to kill with the poison. F*ck, he''s so cruel..." "I changed my mind." Wen Fengjin suddenly said, his tone icy. "I''m going to kill him right now!" "Don''t be rash! Didn¡¯t An Kai tell you Yi Yan is definitely not a simple character?!" cried Wang Xiaomie, twisted in his arms like a silkworm a few times, and added anxiously, "Do you know how many dolls like that girl he has, not to mention the weapon he has to restrain you?!" "He was able to cause An Kai to suffer a significant loss and flee effortlessly twenty years ago. And An Kai is a drought demon! God only knows what that man became! Even if you kill him, you won''t be able to escape unscathed!" Wen Fengjin''s countenance remained gloomy after Wang Xiaomie finished speaking, indicating that he had not abandoned his plans. Wang Xiaomie, enraged, shouted at him, "Go! If you want to turn laozi into a widower, you go right ahead!" "A widower¡¯s door is full of troubles, and I¡¯ll cuckold you everyday! I¡¯ll let your memorial tablet shine green!" "You dare," Wen Fengjin said after a brief silence. Wang Xiaomie laughed at him: "You¡¯ll be dead by then, see if I dare!" "Hehe." He pouted and sang, "Love is a light[1]~ green until you panic~ la la la la la~¡± "......" Wen Fengjin silently squeezed his face and flicked his noggin. "I¡¯ll kill you!" The author has something to say: I¡¯ll link together the plot in the next chapter and everyone will understand. CH 72 Chapter 72 Dalang, it''s time to take your medicine Bai Yu returned on Thursday. With a secret, he felt like a bigtime traitor, therefore he was overcautious when he entered the door. But this time, the first thing he saw when he returned was Wen Fengjin, who was going to take water upstairs, not Wang Xiaomie, who was sitting on the sofa playing games or watching a drama. He wasn''t sure if it was his imagination. He felt as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of him in an instant after entering the door, transforming him into cooked food in a vacuum-packed bag. An ice-cold something skated across his neck, pausing on the carotid artery, causing Bai Yu''s arms to erupt in goosebumps. He trembled, and just as he was about to catch the unfathomable coldness, it vanished. So he didn''t realize that within a hundredth of a second after he entered the door, Wen Fengjin intended to strangle him, then remembered Wang Xiaomie''s remark, ''There is much trouble in front of a widower''s door; love is a light,'' and chose to guard against him for the time being. Bai Yu, who was wandering around the death line with nothing but goosebumps, thought big-heartedly: Today''s air-conditioning is excessively cold. "Mr. Wen." Bai Yu said hello quietly. Wen Fengjin''s scary eyes made him nervous in Wang Xiaomie''s absence. "Mn." Wen Fengjin replied indifferently, those weird long and narrow eyes staring at him silently. Bai Yu held his breath like a frog marked by a snake. The intense pressure caused cold sweat to drip down his brow, and he had the illusion that what he had done had been found a long time ago. But how is that even possible?! Would he still be alive if it was discovered that he poisoned Wang Xiaomie? He reasoned that if such were the case, Boss Wen would have wrung his head off by now. "He''s resting." Wen Fengjin spoke up abruptly. Even though the god-like indifferent and gorgeous silver-haired man didn''t raise his head even slightly, his glance skimmed across Bai Yu''s face as if he was looking down at him. When the other side became increasingly desperate to flee, he took the water glass and walked upstairs. "Don''t bother him today." The final sound was mingled with ice shards and drifted through the air. The footsteps sounded distant as Bai Yu gasped, raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow, and ran back to his own downstairs room. Wen Fengjin entered the bedroom, shut the door, and placed the water glass on the bedside table. He sat on the bed''s edge, and the enormous soft bed sank and bounced. Wang Xiaomie, who didn''t seem well, opened his eyes and was taken aback by Wen Fengjin''s expression. He promptly touched his chest and felt relieved to feel his heartbeat, which was slow but still strong. "Hey, aren''t I still alive? What''s with the expression? Are you going to turn into a huge monster and destroy the world to add to Ultraman''s burden, buddy?!" That¡¯s the victim''s family''s expression! You scared me into thinking I¡¯m dying when I opened my eyes. The strange long and narrow eyes were half-closed, their black lashes thick and lengthy. Wang Xiaomie always imagined himself plunging into his eyelashes, which threw a shadow over his already dark eyes. Oh, my goodness! Wang Xiaomie smacked his lips and cautiously asked Wen Fengjin, "Are you blackening?" "..." Wen Fengjin snorted with a faint smile, pinched Wang Xiaomie''s cheek, and pulled the soft flesh in his hand. "He''s here." He? Wang Xiaomie stared blankly for a moment, then realized, and his face turned bitter. He saved his pinched cheek and said carelessly: "Oh, Bai Yu has returned. It looks like I''ll have to drink poison again." "I almost died the day before yesterday. I haven''t totally recovered yet, but I''ll drink it again today." Tragic and solemn, Wang Xiaomie swatted away Wen Fengjin''s paws that were rubbing his face, turned his head, and shrank under the covers, "It''s too cruel. Yi Yan is really too cruel." "Regret it?" Wen Fengjin spoke casually, but a sinister light flashed in his eyes, as though the instant Wang Xiaomie expressed regret, he would snap Bai Yu''s neck! The next instant, Wang Xiaomie turned back without warning and caught Wen Fengjin''s expression. "I knew it!" Wang Xiaomie rolled his eyes, "What are you thinking about!?" "Nothing." Wen Fengjin was not at all nervous about getting caught. The malice vanished in the blink of an eye. Rather, he smiled warmly and whispered, "I''m thinking of you." Wang Xiaomie didn''t become irritated because he didn''t admit it, but instead laughed exposing his small tiger teeth. He said: "Widower~" "..." Wen Fengjin''s smile stiffened. Wang Xiaomie smirked again: "Love is a light~" "..." Wen Fengjin was silent. Wang Xiaomie: "Green..." "Shut up!" "Pfft! Hahaha!" Wen Fengjin gritted his teeth and raised his slender brows high, ready to lash out at the little ba$tard who was rolling on the bed laughing, but he showed a helpless smile in less than three seconds. Leaning forward to push down on the twisting figure, the brightly smiling peach blossom eyes were as clear as the sky after a storm, and the warm face smiled. Xiaomie''s lips were pale, as if something had taken a heavy toll on him. His vigor had been depleted by the blood sacrifice. He was seriously weakened after the near-death experience, and his eyes had lost their luster. Wen Fengjin¡¯s heart ached. Shixiong didn''t want him to be too aggressive, so he was joking despite his pain. His shixiong, his Mian Deng, his Xiaomie¡­never made inappropriate jokes. He will only attempt to make people happy and warm. From the Millennium Northland''s greed to the putrid tumultuous era, he sought to like everyone in the academy. Be it the insignificant lady who served him extra vegetables in the academy''s dining hall; be it the unfortunate him he''d given his life to... Sir Demon Lord had been merciless his entire existence, having felt all of the world''s anguish and loss, as well as bestowing pain and despair on countless people, but that didn''t mean he wouldn''t feel sorry for anyone. He did. His heart was quivering and twitching right now, and it hurt so much that he wanted to keep the person who was working hard to jest in the mausoleum''s coffin, or eat the person directly into his stomach, so he couldn''t escape and no one could harm him. And also let himself be free from this agony. But it was impossible. Sir Demon Lord had failed in the past. He forced himself to imprison the love in front of him, engrave it on his soul, etch it in his bones, and even become a person who had been obsessed with it for thousands of years. However, his previous life was bleak; it was the end when he desired to start anew. Wen Fengjin bent his head and suckled and kissed Wang Xiaomie''s lips. Xiaomie''s lips were dry and his mouth tasted bitter. Wang Xiaomie, still a little shy, raised his head and closed his eyes. Wen Fengjin eventually let him go. The deathly pale face that stung his eyes had finally dyed crimson. He hooked his lips and said, feeling a little better: "I told Bai Yu that you needed to rest today so he will find you tomorrow. I''ll give you twice as much blood today and lie down with you, okay?" Wen Fengjin laid on his side on the bed, supported his head with one hand and dropped his head to stare at the guy gasping on the bed, while using the other hand to smooth the tangled hair on Wang Xiaomie''s cheeks and tuck it behind his ears. His lanky form was emphasized by his black fitting trousers and gray V-neck shirt. Wen Fengjin is so beautiful... Wang Xiaomie covered half of his face with the quilt as he gasped slowly from the kiss. His cheeks were flushed as he smacked his lips a few times. "Fengjin, hehe." Boss Wen could tell his lover was going to be foolish by his giggling. He was silent for a second before responding. "Mn." Wang Xiaomie hehe-ed in a low voice. "Um, I want to papapa." "......" Wen Fengjin¡¯s lips twitched: "No, your body can''t take it." "I know, I''m only thinking. Just let me satisfy my mouth addiction, hehe." Wang Xiaomie hid his face behind his hands and mumbled shyly, "papapa." "......" "Papapa, hehehe, papapa." "......" "Hehehe, pa..." ''Tch!'' Wen Fengjin quietly unzipped his trousers: "You said you just want to satisfy your mouth addiction?" {T/n: Depending on context, mouth addiction/craving can mean different things. Here, WXM just wants to talk dirty but WFJ takes it literally to shut him up.} "......" "......" I suspect you want to drive[1], and I have proof! When Wang Xiaomie noticed Wen Fengjin''s strong desire to remove his pants, he panicked and hurriedly shouted: "Don''t want to, don''t want to! Goodnight!" Sleep is critical for a dog¡¯s life! {T/n: Not sure I got this right.} Wen Fengjin softly chuckled as he noticed Wang Xiaomie wrapping himself into a dumpling on the bed. After being assaulted by that hoarse bass, the tips of Wang Xiaomie''s ears turned red, and he was hugged by the man behind him. ''Little Sweet Dumpling'' squirmed, and he was softly spanked. Wen Fengjin whispered: "I''m not going to touch you. I''ll hold you while you sleep. Go to bed." Little Sweet Dumpling rolled, went into the man''s arms, adjusted his posture to seek a comfortable position, nestled securely on the strong chest, and closed his eyes. Wen Fengjin closed his eyes and tightened his arms to slumber after admiring the sleeping face of the shy little sweet dumpling. The two large dumplings that didn''t need to eat spent the day sleeping. Bai Yu was seated on the sofa with an awful look when they went downstairs the next day. The dark face that could absorb light appeared to be ''white.'' It was clear that his mood was quite agitated and restless at the time. The sound of his heartbeats was so strong that Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin could hear it, as if he were a rookie spy. Wang Xiaomie''s heart felt much less dissatisfaction with Bai Yu after seeing him like this. Bai Yu had no idea he''d revealed every day that he was scared and on edge, and he already knew and had calculated everything. This feeling... ...was a pleasure. It was like a TV show hero who was extremely smart. Wang Xiaomei pursed his lips to keep his laughter in check. Bai Yu sensed footsteps and hurriedly turned to look over when he went downstairs. Bai Yu''s heart shook as he noticed the unhealthy look on Xiaomie¡¯s formerly fair face. It was undoubtedly the drug''s effect. The foul stench of long-term illness reminded him of his mother, who died of illness at the time. The smell of ''death'' emanated from the bones. Bai Yu was all too familiar with it, and Boss Wen had also mentioned yesterday that Xiaomie was unwell... It''s entirely my fault... Bai Yu''s nose stung, and he almost wept. He hung his head and approached Wang Xiaomie. Wen Fengjin sneered silently as he passed by his side, the corners of his eyes sweeping across his reddish eyes. What a hypocrite... "Xiaomie¡­ Are you feeling unwell?" Bai Yu tried holding back but failed. "Why don''t you go to the hospital for a checkup?" he mumbled. Go to the hospital? What if it¡¯s exposed, silly boy. Wang Xiaomie''s lips twitched. He never expected that one day he¡¯d be poisoned and he would have to lie for the poisoner criminal. He lied, "No need. It must be a bad stomach from eating black donkey hooves at the tomb palace." Bai Yu tightened his fist: "Still..." "I really don''t need it." Wang Xiaomie was scared that Bai Yu would reveal everything. In that scenario, their plan with An Kai would be futile, so he swiftly changed the subject. "Are you hungry? I haven''t eaten anything delicious in a long time, you know? Are there any ingredients in the refrigerator that you purchased, Da Bai?" "Ah? Buy, I actually bought..." Bai Yu was interrupted and unable to handle this curve. "That''ll do." "You and Wen Fengjin wait here for me to cook," Wang Xiaomie remarked with a smile, patting him on the shoulder and pushing him to the sofa. He turned around and rushed away after speaking. "I..." Bai Yu was ready to say something when Wen Fengjin shot him a fleeting glance. Bai Yu, who saw the words "shut up" in the look: "..." The refrigerator was opened and closed, and the kitchen was filled with the noises of pots and pans, meat and vegetables being chopped, seasoning bottles clinking, and stirring. The aroma of stirfry wafted over after a while. It warmed up the living room''s chilly atmosphere. Wen Fengjin ceased behaving like an air conditioner, and Bai Yu''s tense back relaxed as well. These familiar sounds and scents represented everyday life and the comfort of home. Bai Yu began to choke again as he ate the familiar food at the dinner table. He walked to the kitchen by himself and served Wang Xiaomie a bowl of soup. The ¡®special ingredient¡¯ added to it was obvious. However, he looked at the soup for a moment before looking at Wang Xiaomie. He looked at the soup again, and looked at Wang Xiaomie again. He looked... "............" Tsk! Wang Xiaomie was worried for him. Isn''t it a joke for Yi Yan to let this little idiot poison me? Wang Xiaomie glanced at Wen Fengjin. Perhaps it''s ''your own kind looks good no matter how you look at it.'' Wen Fengjin returned a light glance. ''What a pain in the ass,'' Wang Xiaomie''s eyes said. Finally, Bai Yu handed Wang Xiaomie the bowl of soup that had gone cold. "Xiaomie, you should drink some soup..." Bai Yu''s expression was tragic and touching, as if he were the one about to swallow poison. So much so that Wang Xiaomie had a feeling of "Dalang, it''s time to take the medicine..." (He¡¯s that f*cking Pan Jinlian[2]!) The author has something to say: [Small theater] Bai Yu: I¡¯m not Dalang! Wang Xiaomie: If I¡¯m Pan Jinlian, who is Wen Fengjin? Oh! He¡¯s Ximen Qing, hahaha¡­ Wen Fengjin: ¡­¡­ Footnotes: [1] Driving is euphemism for sex. [2] Here¡¯s the story: Pan Jinlian is married to Wu Dalang, who is short and ugly, while Pan Jinlian is renowned for her beauty. As a result, many people feel that the couple are a mismatch. Pan Jinlian, dissatisfied with her marriage, has an extramarital affair with Ximen Qing, a handsome womanizer in town. Wu Dalang eventually discovers the affair, but Pan Jinlian and Ximen Qing murder him by adding poison to his food. CH 73 Chapter 73 Love¡¯s real name is ruin Wang Xiaomie was restrained by Wen Fengjin for the blood sacrifice even before dark after consuming a bowl of the ''immediate death'' soup. This time, however, it was even more tragic. Previously, he was deprived of his vitality and could scream his lungs out. But now he was worried because Bai Yu was downstairs, and he naturally didn''t dare to scream. Wang Xiaomie, who was sweating profusely as if he had just been fished out of water, was lying on the bed. The red liquid he''d vomited was under the bed. He stared at the roof, his eyes vacant, without an inch of thread, and the cloth towel with tooth marks and traces of blood on it was set aside. He''d bitten so hard that his gums had burst out. Wen Fengjin lifted him up from the bed with one arm, as if he were a puddle of mud. Others would have pushed him away in disgust since he was coated in sticky perspiration, but this man was buried deep in the roots of his black hair, licking his temples. Wang Xiaomie was in a stupor from the agony when he was jolted awake by the next wave of much more intense pain. He thought he was going to die, but when he finally got through the torment, he sank into the familiar hug and felt immensely secure. Wang Xiaomie''s nose turned sour as he remembered Wen Fengjin riding on his lower abdomen just now, pressing his chest expressionlessly and refusing to break the blood contract. He scolded Wen Fengjin in a raspy whisper, even though he knew it was for his own good. "Scumbag!" he cried. Wen Fengjin paused for a second before responding with a blank expression. "I am a loser, that''s why I let you suffer like this." Wang Xiaomie''s dry lips pursed and trembled, and his red eyes welled up. "Don''t talk about yourself like that!" My man is the best! As if he¡¯d be a loser! Wen Fengjin laughed and gently kissed away the tears gathered in Xiaomie''s eyes with his soft lips, his gentleness making Wang Xiaomie squint. Wen Fengjin then slashed his wrist, sucked a mouthful of his own blood, and dropped his head to feed it to Wang Xiaomie in his arms. The aftereffects of the blood sacrifice had not yet worn off. Wang Xiaomie''s pupils were dark red, and the blue arteries or veins on his deathly pale skin stood out like brush strokes. He was fed a mouthful of blood. Bitter, astringent, and somewhat sweet. Hmm... Brand Wen Fengjin¡¯s Nongfu Spring[1], awesome! Even a zongzi''s body with exceptional healing ability couldn''t take the prior consumption. After being hugged quietly for two hours, Wang Xiaomie''s eyelids were drooping and his thoughts were foggy. At this point, Wen Fengjin abruptly stated: "I won''t expel all of the poison from your body. We have no idea what this poison is. Yi Yan may realize that you are not poisoned if it serves another purpose." Wang Xiaomie gave a nod. "I know." Something flashed in Wen Fengjin''s eyes as he lowered his gaze. He finally leaned down and sucked the lips stained with his own blood, softly biting and kissing. "Hmm..." Wang Xiaomie hummed twice, his last ounce of strength depleted. When they parted, there was a small ''mwah'' sound, which made the gasping person''s cheeks hotter. Before standing up and walking downstairs, the man''s strong arms easily hugged him from the quilt. Bai Yu had been having difficulties eating and sleeping ever since he did that thing. Bai Yu, who felt as if his heart was being cooked on an open flame, sat motionless on the sofa in the dark night to clear his head. Steps from upstairs were heard at this time. He jumped up and stared at the steps, startled. In the dark, the silver-haired man in loose pajamas resembled the Moon Laurel Prince. He walked downstairs, hugging the man in his arms who was likewise dressed in pajamas. Even with the lights turned out in the living room, Bai Yu could see a few strands of black hair hanging from Wen Fengji''s arms, as well as a little portion of Wang Xiaomie''s face. That face was too pale; so pale that Bai Yu thought Wen Fengjin was carrying a silent corpse. "What''s wrong with Xiaomie?!" His pupils constricted, and he yelled impulsively. The sudden sound made Wen Fengjin''s expression shift in an instant and a powerful sword-like aura pierced into the dim living room! "Who¡¯s there!" He didn''t see anyone when he went downstairs! That man took two steps aside at the critical moment, exposing a dark face. The powerful invisible blade vanished in an instant. A squall from nowhere ruffled Bai Yu''s hair on his forehead. He stroked his brow, not realizing that half of his head had been nearly severed. Huh? Where did the wind come from? Forget it; it doesn¡¯t matter. He worriedly inquired of Wen Fengjin, "What''s the matter with Xiaomie? Is he¡ª" Is it because he''s been poisoned that he''s gotten so frail? What else did Bai Yu wish to snoop about? The feminine and handsome face was icy and ruthless, and those long and narrow black eyes blazed with a bloodthirsty and vicious glint. Bai Yu stiffened in place with a single glance and dared not ask any further questions. Wen Fengjin''s expression eased just as Bai Yu thought he was about to be slain, and he replied casually, "It''s nothing. He''s exhausted because I worked too hard." "Huh?" Bai Yu''s face was blank at first, then he went bright red as if he realized something. "I, I, I¡ª¡ª cough, cough, cough!" Wen Fengjin looked at the young man, whose actions were messy due to embarrassment, and turned to continue carrying the person in his arms to the bathroom, but as he reached the door, he abruptly turned his head and remarked to Bai Yu, "The masks Xiaomie gave you¡ª" "Yeah?" Bai Yu naively looked up. Wen Fengjin''s look was rather indescribable. "You remember to use it frequently," he continued. After speaking, he turned his head and walked into the bathroom, locking the door by himself, leaving a perplexed Bai Yu behind. He had no idea what Boss was talking about. When the door to the bathroom was shut, the calm space was filled with uncontrollable laughter. Wang Xiaomie''s entire body trembled with mirth as he winked at the man with the ashen face. "You were scared just now, weren¡¯t you; hahaha, Bai Yu, hahaha, he¡¯s dark and you couldn¡¯t see him at night, pfft! Hahaha!" Wen Fengjin''s face was covered in ice slag (t/n: Night King, heh). "I wasn''t!" he said, lowering his voice and gritting his teeth. "Hahaha¡ª" Wang Xiaomie''s stomach ached from laughing. "When we came downstairs, you thought there was no one there, but suddenly a ghost appeared, pfft! Hahaha! You say you weren¡¯t scared but you still exploded like a furball! I didn''t expect you, too, to be scared one day, hahaha, cough, cough, cough!" "........" Boss Wen remained silent for a long time before attempting to recover respect. "He''s too dark," he said. Wang Xiaomie: "Pfft¡ª!" "¡­¡­" For the first time, Wen Fengjin understood that hearing your beloved''s laughter can make you want to beat someone! ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Seven days passed in this manner. Bai Yu grew increasingly silent after Xiaomie drank the poison five times. Wang Xiaomie held up the bowl of poisonous drink in a candid, heart-rending manner, and appeared to have a courageous spirit, and then at night, he rested in Wen Fengjin''s arms, shedding a torrent of tears, wailing and howling in anguish. The poison he threw up gradually changed from red liquid to white, and upon closer observation, it didn''t appear to be liquid at all, but rather a kind of transparent silk thread. When Wang Xiaomie, who had just finished vomiting, saw that thing, he went silent for a while before asking Wen Fengjin about it. "Am I spitting silk?" he questioned. "I''ll be Spider-Man soon, a good citizen of New York, and enjoy a passionate night with a beautiful, sexy, and kind girl?" Wen Fengjin: "......" The man''s face sank, and the beautiful, hot, and cruel Boss Wen gave this moron who fantasized about seducing beautiful women something wet and salty to ''eat'' at night. He also gave him some calcium-fortified milk in passing. After nearly losing half his life, the young man with long black hair vowed never to flirt with girls again (not even say it). Wang Xiaomie wasn''t sure if they''d be able to carry out the plan smoothly, so he spent the rest of his free time running around. They visited the amusement park, the city''s famed temples, and numerous Internet celebrity snack bars, challenged rafting and bungee jumping, then also went to the aquarium and watched giant monsters swim overhead with their heads raised. One photograph after another was developed. There was the warmly smiling Wang Xiaomie, the constantly glum Wen Fengjin, and Bai Yu, whose expression progressively calmed. He began by purchasing a photo frame, but he couldn''t stop himself and eventually purchased a photo album. Wang Xiaomie was leaning into Wen Fengjin''s arms, giggling incessantly at the amusing clips in the album. His complexion was extremely poor, and there was a palpable black aura of illness surrounding him. Wen Fengjin responded softly, holding him even tighter in his arms, as if the world''s horrors were sealed away in that embrace. Bai Yu bowed his head and clenched his fists tightly as he spied on the contents of the photo album. On the first floor of the villa, a picture of the trio was set in a blue frame inlaid with shells and displayed on the bar counter. A thin piece of paper had frozen time and sentiments, and the dazzling smile was the cruelest mocking for Bai Yu. He returned to Yi Yan''s shop after leaving the villa. He tightened his grip on the backpack straps, stared at Yi Yan''s profile, who was focused on research, and bitterness spread through his heart. Is happiness still called happiness if it is obtained through hurting others? I¡¯m a sinner. I¡¯m damned. Let me go to hell. As long as it could eliminate evil for the man he loved, he was willing. Bai Yu gave a bleak smile before throwing himself into Yi Yan''s arms after making the final decision. He still couldn''t let go of this man or his first relationship. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ September 17th. Wang Xiaomie consumed the final dose of poison. Bai Yu, who was leaning against the street lamp, raised his head and closed his stinging eyes as a moth flew towards the street lamp, which barely cast a ray of light. "It''s the sixth time; he drank it," he told the person on the phone. Then, regardless of what the person on the phone said, he hung up, slid down as if his legs had lost all strength, and sat with his legs bent against the streetlight. Poverty and a miserable childhood did not mold him into a vile villain. But it was his need to cling to love and want that accomplished it... Entanglement, guilt, and finally resigning himself to the mistake till the bitter end... Humans are a tangled mass of contradictions. After doing something unforgivable, you still need to feel sorry for yourself? Despicable enough to make people laugh. Bai Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed and he really burst out laughing. Not only for himself, but also for his distorted and abnormal feelings. He will pay the price! There was nothing to be confused about; he understood and was waiting! Yi Yan did not express any dissatisfaction as he listened to the beeping sound in his ear. His lips curved up as he gave the phone to the adorable Xiao An who stood next to him. "Success." He stated, his smile widening into a full-fledged grin. He beamed as he headed to the basement, followed by Xiao An. He approached the wall and activated a button, causing the row of iron frames to slide away, revealing a small space resembling a utility room. In the small room, there was a table with a fairly basic puppet with movable joints, bound by layers upon layers of white silk. Yi Yan''s slender eyes flashed a dark light as he glanced at it. "You are now mine." He gently picked up the puppet and petted it softly while closing his eyes and lightly rubbing its cheek. "My pride, my finest work." With that, he pressed his slender fingertips against the knife that was standing on the wooden table. The blade was still smeared in dried blood. He ignored the pain that shot through his finger as bright red flowed down. Yi Yan disregarded the cut and pinched the silk threads on the puppet with his injured hand. It was like ripping the ribbons in anticipation of a gift. The white silk was torn apart, the hands were opened, and the marionette launched into the air, being pulled by the silk threads and bouncing in the air. Yi Yan bowed his head and chuckled at the puppet. He commanded, "Good boy, rip the man beside you to shreds, and then..." "Come to my side." "......" Meanwhile, on the other side of the villa. Wang Xiaomie slowly opened his eyes in the darkness¡­ The author has something to say: Entanglement, guilt, and finally resigned to the mistake¡­ Humans are a tangled mass of contradictions. This man, Bai Yu, has transformed from white to humanity¡¯s most realistic color. Doing is doing. He is well aware that if he chooses love over friendship, he will have to bear the cost of hurting others and giving up. Footnotes: [1] A Chinese beverage and bottled water company. Translator: Love''s real name is fall... CH 74 Chapter 74 I''m out of the cabin and feel good My body feels so light, almost too light. Wang Xiaomie''s mind was still fairly logical and sober, but the information his brain provided him was hazy and slow. It was similar to skipping frames while watching a film. Wang Xiaomie felt like he was on the bed one second, but the next he noticed that the bed was a mess, and the bedside table and the cups on it had gone flying all over the floor. He was astride Wen Fengjin, who was writhing on the floor. His clipped smooth and round nails were fully sunk in Wen Fengjin''s neck, suffocating him. He clenched his hands around the slender neck. Wen Fengjin, however, did not struggle hard. He was well aware that Wang Xiaomie was out of control and extremely powerful at the moment. Wang Xiaomie''s two arms would be broken if he tried to break free from Wang Xiaomie''s grip. The cracking sounds of fracturing and healing made by the neck under his control were incomparably horrifying to those who heard them. Wen Fengjin did not resist even though his face was pale and his throat was unable to make a sound. When Wang Xiaomie awoke, he observed this scenario, and his foggy brain almost experienced another power outage. What the f*ck! "I¡ª I can''t control myself!" He clenched his teeth and desperately squeezed out these words before fighting to mobilize his body as if his life depended on it. He moved his fingers away from Wen Fengjin¡¯s neck and pressed them again, as if they were cramping. Someone was vying with him for control of this body somewhere. "I don''t want to¡ªbe a husband killer¡ª!!!" Wang Xiaomie let out a roar and seized control of his body. He tumbled to the ground and hit the back of his head on the floor because he battled too hard. It made a loud ''wham!'' sound even with a rug on the floor. Wang Xiaomie got the sensation that a large bun had developed on the back of his head almost instantly! He sorely wanted to reach out and rub his head, but found that his body was out of control and like a marionette, trying to stand up in an awkward stance. Wang Xiaomie: OMG! Seriously!? "Xiao Wenzi!" Wang Xiaomie yelled at the top of his voice: "Hurry, hurry, hurry! I''m going to stand up; I''m going to stand up!" Wen Fengjin instantly turned over and stood up after Xiaomie fell to the ground, tilting his neck left and right twice, emitting mild noises of bone friction. When he saw Wang Xiaomie''s body starting to rise again, he charged over like a ferocious tiger without saying anything! A long leg swept across! Wang Xioamie, who was twisting and zombie-like, was promptly kicked off his legs, and the entire person fell to the ground with a ''thud!'', the back of his head slamming on the floor again. Wang Xiaomie felt a smaller bun appear on the big bun on his head after a burst of acute pain in the back of his head. Sss!... Am I a f*cking double-scoop ice cream?! It wasn''t finished yet. Wen Fengjin pinned his entire body on him in the next second, his arm firmly wedged on his neck, his free hand squeezing his thin wrist and grabbing Wang Xiaomie''s two flailing hands, and his legs parted and pressed on both sides of Wang Xiaomie''s legs. The panicked eyes and the long and narrow eyes with weird pupils met. Yi Yan noticed the puppet suspended by silk strands trembling slightly and unable to move in the basement. As he moved the finger connected to the other end of the silk threads, he snorted contemptuously and smirked. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ The man beneath his body twisted frantically and because of his posture, Wang Xiaomie''s thighs, which were soft to the touch and radiated his warm body heat through the thin clothes, were continuously grinding neither softly nor heavily against a certain region of Wen Fengjin. Wen Fengjin''s face darkened: "Don''t move!" "I¡¯m not¡­I didn¡¯t! You may not believe it, but my body has its own thoughts." Wang Xiaomie''s old face turned red, and he wanted to cry but couldn¡¯t shed a tear. You truly can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Wasn¡¯t this Yi Yan a little too obscene? He actually manipulated him into doing such a thing! Wen Fengjin remained silent and continued to restrain him. After a long wait. Wang Xiaomie sensed a certain big brother stand up full of vigor with a sluggish look on his face after Boss Wen let out a muffled groan. "......" Boss, shouldn''t you have extraordinary endurance as the male lead?! Perhaps it was because Wang Xiaomie''s eyes were too astonished, but Wen Fengjin''s ruthless and gorgeous face revealed a rare look of shame. He said: "This should be the result of the thing Yi Yan asked Bai Yu to make you drink. It¡¯s probably a drug with a control effect. Since he unleashed it today, one needs to drink it six times." Wang Xiaomie was silent for a moment before looking up and asking. "Are you... changing the subject?" Wen Fengjin: "......" The man gave him a feather-light look. Wang Xiaomie, upon receiving that look, quivered and murmured, "...See through, but don¡¯t reveal. My bad. Please continue." "......" Wen Fengjin pursed his lips and remarked, "This drug is remarkable. After being forced out by so many blood sacrifices, it could still have such an impact. That means he must have intended to erase your consciousness and completely transform you into a puppet from the start. Besides being controlled, do you sense anything else?" "No." His body had practically twisted into a pretzel, but his brain had zero awareness of its own movements. This experience was both bizarre and amusing. "I still know who I am, and my memory is not chaotic," Wang Xiaomie said, shaking his head. "That''s good." "Yi Yan must see that I won''t hurt you," Wen Fengjin said, "therefore he wants you to do your best and give me a wound that is temporarily difficult to heal and then take you away." "This is close to what you assumed at first." Wang Xiaomie¡¯s brows wrinkled. "So what now? Isn''t it pointless to have duped him if the drug has the effect of controlling the body?" Wen Fengjin gave him a look. Wang Xiaomie felt uneasy being gazed upon by those abyss-like black eyes. "Um¡­ Why are you staring at me?" "Enduring it." "What?" Wen Fengjin smirked at him, which confused Wang Xiaomie, but the next instant, a powerful and familiar agony struck his brain! "F*ck¡ªme¡ª¡ª!!!" God damned blood sacrifice!!! Aroo¡ª A scream echoed over the villa area under the curved full moon, and several neighboring families roused from their dreams. They dazedly covered themselves back with their blankets and continued to sleep after some thought. Everyone in this villa neighborhood had their own secrets, and they didn''t care about things they shouldn''t. In the moonlight, a werewolf-like figure sprang down from the villa''s second level and exited with a few leaps. After being controlled, the body''s potential was activated, and the body that would never age or die and held infinite power was just like being wrenched open like a key. It was truly like being able to leap onto roofs and soar over walls. His soles stepped on the street lamps and continued to leap. Wang Xiaomie, a patient who was scared of heights, waltzed through the air, his gaze fixed on the height under his feet. I''m out of the cabin and feel good[1]. I¡¯ve launched successfully. Over. A black crow swooped down and landed on his shoulder, beating its wings. Wang Xiaomie was taken aback, but upon closer inspection, he discovered that the crow''s eyes were red, like glass beads flashing inorganic light. This crow was also most likely Yi Yan''s puppet. Xiaomie stayed silent and let the crow follow him till he finally arrived at Yi Yan''s shop as anticipated. His body stood at the entrance, the crow cawed three times, and the door was pushed open a split second later. Yi Yan, mature and gentle in his trademark cyan Mandarin jacket, smilingly opened his arms and hugged him. "My best work, welcome back!" He was beaming, and behind him was the expressionless Bai Yu. He then grabbed Wang Xiaomie''s hand in his and stepped in. Wang Xiaomie walked in obediently, pretending to be glassy-eyed and controlled. The door was locked. The living area was filled with many boxes. Yi Yan appeared to have intended to shift his location immediately after kidnapping him. The older man''s gaze was a touch absent-minded as he walked into the lighted hall. He placed his hand on Wang Xiaomie''s cheek and gently rubbed it, who was staring at him with dull eyes. "How beautiful." Yi Yan sighed softly, as if he was overcome with whatever emotion. "You are my life¡¯s most beautiful work..." He kept his hand on Xiaomie¡¯s cheek while rubbing his thumb back and forth on his lips, which were stained with a lot of blood that had been fed to him after being urged by Wen Fenjin¡¯s blood sacrifice. "He did not pursue you. You appear to have successfully injured him." The man with the unique temperament and the face worth a second glance approached. His and Wang Xiaomie''s faces were only a finger''s width apart. Yi Yan smiled and bowed his head, wiping the blood from Xiaomie¡¯s lips. "So obedient." "......" F*ck you! Rogue! Wang Xiaomie, who was pretending to be a fool, broke out in goosebumps all over, and just when he couldn''t help biting the paw that was taking unfair advantage, Bai Yu made a sound. "Teacher," he said. Yi Yan was startled by the call containing a warning. Soon after, his lips rose in a tiny smile, and he let go of Wang Xiaomie. Wang Xiaomie sighed in relief and noticed Yi Yan turn around and whisper something to Bai Yu. Xiao An looked lovely in a lilac singlet, a short skirt, and a white lace top. Her legs swayed back and forth as she sat quietly on a suitcase. The whispered conversation came to an end quickly. Bai Yu''s face was terrible, as was Yi Yan''s. After a few minutes of the two men staring at each other, Yi Yan changed the subject and said, "We must leave quickly to avoid a direct confrontation with Wen Fengjin." "I will leave a letter in the hall to guide Wen Fengjin¡¯s pursuit of us into our trap. Bai Yu... We''ll talk about those things later. You and Xiao An put our belongings in the car, and I''ll bring Xiaomie over in a minute, okay?" Yi Yan placated in a warm voice, raising his hand and rubbing Bai Yu''s head. Bai Yu didn¡¯t say a word. He glanced at the glassy-eyed Wang Xiaomie and walked up to Xiao An, saying: "Let''s go." "Mn." Xiao An leaped to the ground. She easily lifted two large boxes on her own. Bai Yu picked up the rest and moved over to Wang Xiaomie''s side, held Xiaomie with his free hand and led him out. At the moment of turning around, Wang Xiaomie saw Yi Yan place a letter on the coffee table, then turn to follow them with a chuckle. The shop was not locked, perhaps to make it easier for Wen Fengjin to catch up. The luggage was thrown into the trunk. Xiao An smartly opened the front passenger seat door and climbed inside, while Bai Yu guided Wang Xiaomie to the back seat and sat next to him. When he saw the soulless eyes of the person who had taken such good care of him in the past, Bai Yu suddenly opened his mouth, shocking Wang Xiaomie. He said, "I have no regrets." "I''ve let you down, Xiaomie. I''m no longer a good person. Betraying you may be the biggest mistake of my life... You and Boss Wen are so kind to me..." "But I don''t regret it..." "People are selfish and change... If I die at the hands of Boss Wen one day, I¡¯ll be relieved[2]." When Bai Yu finished speaking, he turned to Wang Xiaomie and straightened his messy clothes. Wang Xiaomie felt apprehensive. Wen Fengjin strapped the dagger ''Kaiming'' to his inner thigh, which was hidden by his loose casual attire, before he left. Fortunately, after tidying up his clothes a little, Bai Yu saw he wasn''t wearing shoes and frowned, moving to put a towel beneath his feet. It was bedtime at the time, so his clothes were appropriate. His slippers had already dropped someplace as he was flying. The car door opened and then slammed shut. The car rocked a couple times inside. Bai Yu stopped talking when he saw Yi Yan getting into the car. The wide Land Rover started, left this small city overnight, and drove fast in a certain direction. Not long after, the unhurt man with long silver hair and all-black attire stood in the deserted shop, opened the thick letter, and smiled. The shadows obscured his gloomy appearance. He plainly did not speak or move, but he instilled a morbid and twisted horror in people, similar to being trapped in a dark alley by a homicidal maniac who dismembered victims. "Yi Yan." Wen Fengjin bent his head, and his low laugh got louder and louder. "Wait for me¡ª" As a bloodthirsty and icy light flashed in his dark pupils, he raised his head. "You¡¯re looking for death, and I¡¯ll gladly help you!" [The author has something to say: [Small Theater] Wang Xiaomie took a look at the height beneath his feet and, after a brief silence, said: I¡¯m out of the cabin and feel good. I''ve launched successfully. Over. Boss Wen: Speak human. Wang Xiaomie: Ying[3]! (Wang Xiaomie is terrified of heights.) Footnotes: [1] It was the first sentence spoken by the Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang during his 2008 spacewalk. I''m guessing the next two lines are as well. [2] ji¨§ tu¨­: to absolve of; to get free of. I think he means "I''ll be free (of my sin)." [3] A crying sound. CH 75 Chapter 75 The truth is terrifying The car zoomed the entire journey. It did not stop except to restock food and water and to take care of physiological needs. Wang Xiaomie fought to hold back when he needed to use the restroom the entire ride. After all, he was now an obedient puppet. Who knew if he could or couldn''t speak? It would be disastrous if he unintentionally exposed himself. Yi Yan, thankfully, did not ignore him. Bai Yu assisted Wang Xiaomie in going down to take care of bodily needs whenever they took a break. Their group was highly noticeable. Wang Xiaomie had a kind and attractive appearance. He was plainly a male, yet he sported long black hair and a dead expression... Furthermore, Yi Yan appeared to have just left the Republic of China Theater. Yi Yan explained to the curious, without panic, with a smile, "This is my younger brother. He was born with a brain problem." Wang Xiaomie: "......" YOU have a brain problem! Your whole family was born with brain problems! Passers-by averted their gaze in embarrassment. They dragged Wang Xiaomie back into the automobile after easily resolving the suspicious passers-by. The car finally exited the highway after stopping at who knows how many rest stops. The roadside scenery got progressively overgrown, and the vehicle jolted slowly. Wang Xiaomie surreptitiously gazed out the window and noticed that their current location resembled a barren mountain. The roads were all dirt, there were rocks everywhere, and the leaves of the weeds that had been cut off on both sides of the road were still fresh, indicating that this road had only just been constructed. For half an hour, the car bounced along the road, scattering dry loess everywhere, and the white car was covered in dust and ash as it swayed by a stele. The stele should have had such-and-such village or so-and-so site inscribed on it, but this section of country they drove through was desolate, and even the new worn stele appeared to have been recently cut from a quarry. The car came to a halt as they approached the village. Bai Yu drew Wang Xiaomie from the vehicle and followed Yi Yan and Xiao An. The black eyes were expressionless, yet when no one was looking, a spark of light shot through them. Wang Xiaomie rapidly scanned the village''s layout. The houses were built in a random pattern, with little regard for their proximity to one another. They were all two-story wooden log structures. The four people strutted into the village, and the sound of their activities was audible, but no one came out to see. The doors remained securely closed, as were the windows. A desert mountain, new roads, a desolate village... Uh, this place isn¡¯t haunted, right? A shudder ran down little zongzi Wang¡¯s spine. Although he was a zombie, he was a fake! Who said he wasn¡¯t afraid of ghosts?! The teary-eyed Wang Xiaomie: I miss my wild man the day after I left, boo-hoo. Yi Yan approached the gate of a small wooden building, took out the key, and opened the door. "We live separately and stand watch separately," he said, turning his head and smiling at Bai Yu. He handed Bai Yu another key and tilted his head, indicating that Bai Yu should go to the two-story wooden house next to them: "This is where Xiaomie and I will be staying. The ''puppet silk'' must be refined in a timely manner. Others will be here in a few days to accompany me into Qishan. I''ll hand this over to you at that time." "You want to avoid me?" Bai Yu glanced at the key in Yi Yan¡¯s hand and looked up with a calm expression. "Why? Because I¡¯ve already lost my exploit worth in your eyes?" Wang Xiaomie, who was standing behind them, twitched his lips: ...Da Bai, your question is too direct! When confronted with such a straightforward question, ordinary people show some of their true sentiments, regardless of whether they have a guilty conscience or harbor ill intent, yet Yi Yan''s smile remained unchanged. He stated, "Whether you believe it or not, I will never harm you, let alone assess your worth. You are and will always be my closest person." Bai Yu bowed his head in silence. And Yi Yan pulled Wang Xiaomie, who was acting stupid, and stepped into the house. The wooden door was closed, keeping outsiders'' prying eyes at bay. Bai Yu''s palms clenched slowly and he exhaled. He instantly turned around with a cold expression and walked into the cabin next door, grasping Xiao An''s hand. Yi Yan took Wang Xiaomie''s hand in his and led him to the stairs. Yi Yan''s palm was unlike Wen Fengjin''s, which was ice-cold and slender. Yi Yan''s hand looked beautiful, but it had several hard scars on the palm. Wang Xiaomie wanted to rip the warm and dry palm apart. "Watch the steps," he whispered as he turned to see if Wang Xiaomie would fall. His voice was light and soft, and his facial features were tender and loving to the point of dripping, as if he were tending to his incomparably precious frail flower vase or his most treasured baby daughter who was prone to falling down. Wang Xiaomie felt sick at the bottom of his heart while pretending to be an idiot. He''d never been fond of this Yi Yan guy. Although the other party appeared gentle and kind, as if he were an older generation teacher who treats people well, once such a person recognizes his own ''path,'' he will do whatever it takes to persevere to the end, rejecting all other ''paths.'' He who desires nothing has few friends. The more aloof people, such as Yi Yan, are, the more terrifying they are. Take the dagger KaiMing for example. Wang Xiaomei''s enlightened artifact could sense people''s malice and murderous intent towards its holder, and it would also radiate heat to warn of those who commit the most terrible crimes. Despite being so near to Yi Yan, KaiMing had not overheated. What did this imply? It suggested that even though Yi Yan poisoned him to obliterate his awareness and turned him into a puppet, Yi Yan believed in his heart that he was doing it for Wang Xiaomie''s good, not evil, but good! So much so that even if his hands were stained with monster blood, it was to protect mankind, which was also virtuous! This type of person...is too scary... The man led Wang Xiaomie upstairs, who was becoming increasingly terrified. Yi Yan draped dark blue flannel over the chair and sat Wang Xiaomie on it. Wang Xiaomie was dressed casually in light gray trousers and a short shirt. His eyes were large and sparkling, his brows were thin, and his eyelashes were thick. Plump pale pink lips sat below his high, straight nose. Because his facial contours were not sharp, he looked like a gentleman. He sat obediently in the chair covered in dark blue flannel at this time, like an expensive luxury item in a glass cabinet - exquisite and lovely. Yi Yan, it seemed, agreed. His feelings for Wang Xiaomie, however, were significantly more. Yi Yan crouched in front of Wang Xiaomie on one knee, his narrow eyes flashing, and he stretched out with both hands to inspect. Wang Xiaomie struggled to keep his eyes open due to anxiousness. Those hands didn''t do anything to him, but they spooned the back of his head. Xiaomie''s scalp moved slightly when the rubber band that held his hair in place untied, and his long ink-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Yi Yan''s lips curved up as he grasped a strand of hair. He abruptly stated: "I shall be able to possess you once I have allowed the puppet silk in your body to grow and refine thoroughly. I know what traits you ''people'' have, hehe." "Neither old nor dead, appears human but is inhuman, seems stiff but isn''t stiff." Yi Yan lowered his gaze and twisted Xiaomie''s black hair with his fingertips. "When it comes to the reason why I can create the most flawless masterpiece of my life with you, I want to thank my former client Yan Chun. Did I mention I met Yan Chun 20 years ago while collecting herbs?" "Twenty years ago... I was the central figure in the craftsmen''s circle. I am proficient at refining tools and creating puppets, and I have the ability... even without a puppet like Xiao An, I have the power to battle a drought demon!" Wang Xiaomie''s face was expressionless, but his heart was pounding with horror. Yi Yan could combat Drought Demon An Kai while unarmed and defenseless?! Is this guy still human?! He processed this fact while listening as Yi Yan continued, "When I met Yan Chun that year, he recognized that I had the capacity to kill him as well as save him, so he wanted to strike a bargain with me..." "How dare a walking corpse who cannot even control the power in his own blood dare to talk to me like that?" he sneered. "Heh~ I made a show of promising him to extract his blood for long-term research. The feather pattern¡ª is actually just the first version of puppet silk. A monster who thinks highly of himself and only seeks vengeance, he had long been under my control but was unaware of it. Truly stupid!" "........." "Later, in order to solicit my help, he told me a story from a thousand years ago..." Yi Yan brought his face close to Wang Xiaomie''s, causing their breaths to blend. His voice was clear as he added, smothering his laughter: "So, Wen Fengjin and Mian Deng¡­ I already knew about your existence¡ª Did you ever think your burial place was a secret back then, and Yan Chun became a living dead and crawled out of the earth for so many years without finding your tomb location, so why Yan Chun suddenly find out?" "It¡¯s naturally since I told him~" Yi Yan smiled, his affectionate face tinged with a touch a lunacy that made people shiver. This pervert! Wang Xiaomie was terribly frightened, wishing to shout and cry for help from Wen Fengjin, but he could only sit on a chair like a puppet in the end. "...When I was cleaning up those filthy monsters in Qishan after I met Yan Chun and collected the blood, I came upon the drought demon." Yi Yan''s smile faded as he stated this, as if he were caught in a flashback. "The drought demon and I were fighting to the death," he mumbled involuntarily. "I badly hurt him, and he seriously hurt me... I drank a tube of Yan Chun''s blood out of desperation..." "I knew Yan Chun''s blood had the power of resurrecting the dead, but I didn''t anticipate it¡ª to make me look like this." He let go of Wang Xiaomie''s hair strand and reached out to touch his own face. "Who can believe that my body and time have actually returned to my youth?" "I couldn¡¯t use my ID card. Who would believe that a man in his forties, on the verge of old age, had become a resentful silly boy aged less than 20? I couldn¡¯t go home, and my son and my grandson could no longer recognize me!" "Do you know that kind of pain?!" Yi Yan''s face got increasingly hideous, and he yelled at Wang Xiaomie! "I am Bai Cheng! Yes, me!" "But I could only become a homeless and aimless vagabond watching my son rush about to find me! See my son die at the hands of monsters due to an accident! See my daughter-in-law die of illness! See my poor grandson grow up alone and without support!" "I couldn¡¯t even pretend to help them as their relatives! I could only send them money in the dark!" "My wife was also killed by monsters... She was a good woman, and I loved her more than a craftsman loves refined tools¡ª but that day, I brought back the corpse of a baby who had been turned into a demon, intending to save[1] it out of good intentions... but it instead confused and killed my wife!" "Damn it all! Monsters don¡¯t deserve mercy; they must all die!" Yi Yan, or rather Bai Cheng, was gasping for air. His pupils were blood-red from hatred and anger, and his gentle face and temperament were distorted and menacing! Wang Xiaomie was scared enough to pee. Why are you yelling so loudly! Roar at my family¡¯s Xiao Wenzi if you dare! Wang Xiaomie, who was about to bawl, saw Yi Yan finish venting his rage, panting and gradually calming down. His expression and breathing finally eased after a long time. "Did I scare you? Sorry." He forced a smile, but it was even scarier than the devil''s smile in Wang Xiaomie''s eyes. "I won''t get upset at you like this again." Yi Yan extended his hand and stroked Wang Xiaomie''s cheek. "I lost track of the drought demon after I was hurt in combat with it and this happened. He changed his dwelling place, but I can''t forget that he¡¯s the reason I¡¯ve fallen to this point, so I vowed to kill him!" "I began by spending a lot of materials to produce golden tools, and then I distributed these monster-restraining items to the tomb raiders, who frequently went to the underground tomb. They were greedy for money, and my goal was simple: locate the drought demon! It could even eliminate the zombies in the grave with minimal effort." "I looked for a long time. I have visited your tomb palace as well. I entered your underground palace and saw the inscription with the records. Only then did I realize how close your legend was to what Yan Chun had told me." "I didn''t know what you were capable of, so I retreated to be safe. I planned to sell this information to Yan Chun and let that moron find the way." When Wang Xiaomie heard this, he yelled in his heart, "F*ck!" He¡¯d wondered how Yan Chun discovered them; he even had the map of the underground palace in his hand! It turned out to be you, dog thief[2]! [The author has something to say: Yi Yan is Bai Yu''s grandfather, Bai Cheng, who was severely hurt in a battle with the drought demon An Kai and drank a lot of Yan Chun''s blood. As a result, he changed from an old man to a youth, and no one in his family recognized him.] Footnotes: [1] as in help in transcending; perform a religious ceremony to help the soul find peace. [2] G¨¯uz¨¦i refers to individuals who are worse than pigs and dogs. They''re really hypocritical and corrupt. It''s similar to calling someone a swindler/brigand as an insult, but not as ¡®satisfying¡¯ as dog thief, don¡¯t you think? Translator: The title of the chapter directly translates as "The truth is like thunder." Quite apt, huh Congratulations if you guessed Yi Yan''s identity without MTLing! Here''s your badge CH 76 Chapter 76 Explosion Yi Yan abruptly unlocked Mode: Chatterbox and continued to babble after disclosing that he was a 60 or 70-year-old Uncle Bai, forcing Puppet Xiao Wang to accept his grace. "......" Uncle, are you a little princess[1] who likes talking with her Barbie doll? In other words, the uncle who dresses up his doll as Sailor Moon¡­ Wang Xiaomie''s mouth corners twitched. Sir, you are far too trendy. "When Yan Chun and Zhen Bei did not return, I knew they had failed. But it makes no difference. Aside from them, I have many other clients." Yi Yan rose up, took the luggage, placed it on the table, and opened it. It didn''t have any clothing in it. Instead, it was crammed with things Wang Xiaomie couldn''t make sense of. "Actually, I had no intention of doing anything to you at all. Although you and he have been alive for a very long time, I believe it is within the scope of mankind. And I never take a living creature''s life." Wang Xiaomie wanted to punch him in the face when he laughed! You really don''t kill! But what you do is even worse than murder! "It was my puppet who first found you on land," Yi Yan continued, unable to hear Wang Xiaomie''s thoughts. "I left a puppet to protect Bai Yu. That child is extremely gifted. Actually, I don''t want him to join the craftsmen''s circle, but he keeps researching on his own. I''m powerless to stop it and was forced to protect him in this manner. I didn''t anticipate him to provoke you at such an opportune time, and he also forged a fate with you... afterwards, you rescued him from the monster and took him in..." "At the time, I thought this might be an opportunity." Yi Yan lowered his head and sorted his belongings while adding softly, "Afterwards, the crazy woman and puppet you encountered at Bai Yu''s house were all done by me, and I disposed of the monster that broke into your home to have a reason to approach you." He abruptly tilted his head and grinned at Wang Xiaomie, who was immobile on the chair. "Your body is truly the most beautiful handicraft in the world, and it is simply the best for making a puppet." "......" I also find your skull is smooth and round, so why not let me twist it off! Wang Xiaomie gritted his teeth. So that''s why, when they were at Bai Yu''s house that day, he was nearly hacked to death by the girl! It''s no surprise that they later encountered further zombie attacks and Yi Yan unexpectedly appeared. It turns out that this man had planned it for quite some time. Wen Fengjin, however, discovered this as soon as possible. Wen Fengjin mentioned seeing an essay in the ancient book carried by Bai Yu that said, "If you meet a monster surnamed Yan, collect his blood." Wen Fengjin also stated that he noticed the word ''Bai'' written in the craftsmen''s unique script on the little flag at Yi Yan''s shop door. Yi Yan (Bai Cheng) probably did not expect anyone to identify the craftsmen''s script, but after Wang Xiaomie died, Wen Fengjin recruited talents with bizarre means from all over the world, including craftsmen and Taoist priests, in order to resurrect Wang Xiaomie. Wen Fengjin had also studied their works. However, Wen Fengjin simply guessed that Bai Yu and Yi Yan were related, probably father and son. Wang Xiaomie was so shocked that his chin almost hit the floor when Wen Fengjin told him about his hunch, and after learning from Bai Yu that Bai Yu actually liked Yi Yan, Wang Xiaomie''s heart only had a row of ellipses... Surprisingly, Yi Yan now claimed to be Bai Cheng, Bai Yu''s grandfather... Wang Xiaomie: ...What an amazing grandpa! What an awesome twist! F*ck! Love between father and son was shocking enough. Now you¡¯re f*cking telling me it¡¯s Grandfather-grandson love? Grandpa-grandson love!! Thinking that this was probably Bai Yu''s first love, Wang Xiaomie: ¡­ Despite being bitterly disappointed that Da Bai had betrayed him, he felt strangely sympathetic. This is a truly disastrous relationship, Amen. May there be no Lao Bai in heaven~ Wang Xiaomie''s brain suddenly froze after observing three seconds of silence in respect. Right! Given Yi Yan''s kindness, it''s natural for Bai Yu to misunderstand. After all, Yi Yan was Bai Yu''s grandfather, and it seemed reasonable and natural for a grandfather to spoil his grandchild. Yi Yan didn''t notice Bai Yu''s feelings at first, or perhaps he was simply too old to think about it at all. What about later on? If you can''t find it after ten or twenty days, how about a month or two? How could the astute Yi Yan miss Bai Yu''s clear desire to be intimate with him? Wang Xiaomie believed that Yi Yan must have discovered it after hearing what Yi Yan had just stated when he and Bai Yu were to stay in different rooms... Tragic! He personally bent his sole heir and broke the burning joss sticks. Wang Xiaomie desperately wanted to interview Yi Yan''s current inner feelings if it weren''t for the fact that he couldn''t say nonsense. Was it super sour and energizing[2]? Ahem, I¡¯m not gloating. Wang Xiaomie grinned secretly to himself: I¡¯m really not, hehe... Yi Yan simply placed the puppet materials in the room''s wooden cabinet. Wang Xiaomie was drawn to an unlocked lacquered red mahogany box. Wang Xiaomie was fortunate enough to get a few looks as Yi Yan opened it and examined its contents. Inside was a miniature puppet with movable joints and covered in transparent silk threads. Wang Xiaomie''s eyes lit up as he realized it was the thing used to manipulate him. Yi Yan swiftly closed the wooden box and placed it in the cabinet, locking it. "I¡¯m going to use that thing to control you and make Wen Fengjin deal with the drought demon for me." Yi Yan''s mouth corners were hooked, his brows and eyes slim like a fox¡¯s[3]. "In a few days, I''ll travel to Qishan with a group of tomb raiders to kidnap another zombie that the drought demon adores. Tell me, who will win if I use you and that zombie to threaten the drought demon and Wen Fengjin into fighting? Which of you or that zombie will survive, depending on who wins? Hehe~" F*ck you, insidious uncle! Wang Xiaomie thought that when the time came, Wen Fengjin, in order for him to live, and An Kai, in order for his family''s Purple Hair to live, would undoubtedly fight to the death. Neither of them were easy to deal with, and the one who was left behind would almost certainly be gravely wounded. Ultimately, wouldn''t it merely give Yi Yan the final say? Wang Xiaomie gritted his teeth but made no sound. Yi Yan approached him and stroked his hair like a dog. "Good boy~" Wang Xiaomie: To hell with your good boy, scumbag! Someone suddenly called from downstairs. "Looks like they are here." This "they" was referring to Yi Yan¡¯s hired tomb raiders. He checked the quartz clock on the wall and mused, "Wen Fengjin will need at least four days to catch up here. That gives me enough time." Yi Yan was beaming as he headed downstairs after remarking this, certain that Wang Xiaomie couldn¡¯t escape. And Wang Xiaomie was indeed unable to make any superfluous movements. He could only obediently sit there motionless. ...Won¡¯t my thighs get numb after an hour of sitting like this? Puppets don¡¯t have any human rights. Wang Xiaomie was in tears. He had no idea what Yi Yan had told this group of people. The wooden building''s sound insulation was poor, and Wang Xiaomie''s ears were keen, allowing him to detect the presence of several tomb raiders. They were in the dozens and had awful voices. Several of the men spoke aloud, and Wang Xiaomie could even hear Yi Yan handing each of them a golden tool... Wow! One per person... It''s too bad for An Kai and Little Purple Hair. The clock was ticking. Yi Yan had considered everything, and after calculating the time it would take Wen Fengjin to catch up, he decided to set off immediately. Yi Yan came upstairs late at night to force Xiaomie to attend to nature''s call and made him sit on the chair. The group''s chaotic sounds faded away, and Wang Xiaomie never saw Yi Yan again. Wang Xiaomie had been given a blood sacrifice for the last time before Yi Yan made his move. As a result, he could move his fingers and body slightly, but he stayed put to avoid getting caught by any surveillance monitor or whatever was in the room. Meanwhile, Bai Yu appeared the next morning with a suitcase. Wang Xiaomie, who had sat all night, was convinced he now had a herniated lumbar disc, frozen shoulder, and cervical spondylosis. Bai Yu used the little key to unlock the cabinet door and remove the wooden box. He used the inside puppet to make Wang Xiaomie rise up. Wang Xiaomie could clearly hear the ''creak creak creak'' whining from his joints the instant he got up. "......" Fortunately, he couldn''t feel the area below the neck too well because of the drug. Otherwise, how sour and energizing it¡¯d be! Bai Yu''s abilities were not as honed as Yi Yan''s. Wang Xiaomie had to perform a number of convulsive stances before he could manipulate Xiaomie properly. Wang Xiaomie, who had cleansed his face, was helped back to his chair after using the toilet. Wang Xiaomie: ¡­.. You¡¯re indeed grandfather and grandson! Can¡¯t you just let me lie down for a while?! Even standing for a while will do! What a pity Bai Yu was oblivious to Wang Xiaomie''s inner voice. He knelt on the floor, organizing the suitcase. There were many Mandarin jackets in cyan or light blue, as well as some personal accessories. It''s no surprise that Wang Xiaomie didn''t see any toiletries in Yi Yan''s suitcase yesterday! They were all here. Wang Xiaomie sighed in his heart as he sneaked a peek at Bai Yu''s serious profile as he tidied Yi Yan''s clothes. Oh Da Bai, do you like him that much? Abandoning friends, sensing the other party''s alienation yet following him without hesitation... In the eyes of Wang Xiaomie, who had experienced love in two lifetimes (Shura Field[4]), Bai Yu''s first relationship was truly a clean and strong love, but it was later twisted by Yi Yan and mixed with a lot of other things. For example, sadness after being estranged from the person you like, and obstinacy toward the initial feelings. It must be difficult to let go if you really love deeply. There would not have been as many stupid men and resentful women[5] since ancient times if this had not been the case. This is understandable, but... Wang Xiaomie wanted to cover his face. Yi Yan is your grandfather, Da Bai! Your own (flesh and blood) grandpa! He simply didn''t dare to think about what would happen when Bai Yu discovered the truth. Wang Xiaomie imagined a conversation between the two following Bai Yu''s confession someday. The content was as follows: Da Bai: Yi Yan, I like you. Let''s be together! Yi Yan: Impossible. Da Bai: Why? Yi Yan: Because I¡¯m your grandfather, grandson. Da Bai: ...... Wang Xiaomie, who had finished fantasizing: Too scary, it¡¯s really too scary. I want to shed a few sad tears for the terrifying love story of Lao Bai and Da Bai. Something made a tinkling sound just as Xiaomie was thinking about this. Wang Xiaomie stealthily looked over and found that when Bai Yu lifted a piece of clothing, a pocket watch fell out of the inner pocket, and the round silver watch spinned about on the floor a few times before settling flat. Bai Yu stared blankly, then picked up the pocket watch. The pocket watch''s surface felt smooth to the touch. It appeared to be frequently played with in the person''s hand. It was clearly a personal item. Something with such a sense of time still fell from Yi Yan''s pocket, so it couldn''t have come from anywhere else. Perhaps it was inadvertently left in the inner pocket while changing clothes. Bai Yu brushed the surface of the pocket watch with a faint smile on his face before opening it. A clock hand that was no longer moving was inside the pocket watch, and on the other side was a circular photograph. Because men''s pocket watches are relatively large, the picture was a miniature photo of two people. The photo was already fuzzy, and it was only vaguely visible that it was of Yi Yan and a woman. In the black and white image, the woman appeared somewhat darker than the male next to her. She had round eyes, a small and delicate nose, naturally curled corners of her mouth, pouty lips, a face full of boundless vitality, and she looked beautiful. At first glance, it was evident that she was the cute and playful type. Wang Xiaomie took a closer look and discovered that this woman resembled Bai Yu! Bai Yu examined it for a moment, and his smile suddenly froze. With an expression of disbelief, he flipped over the photo. The location of the photo on this pocket watch was definitely custom-made, and the small round frame could still be opened. It was the reverse side of the photo after opening, with a few tiny characters scribbled on it. [To my wife.] "......" Wang Xiaomie: Oh no, it''s all over. "How is this possible?!" Bai Yu murmured to himself, then raced out the door, as if recalling something. Wang Xiaomie heard him running up the stairs a few minutes later, holding a wrinkled photo in his hand. He arranged the photo and the pocket watch next to each other on the ground. A playful smile, a delicate and lovely appearance... The woman in the photo and the woman on the pocket watch were obviously the same person! "Grandma..." Bai Yu sagged to the ground, his eyes blank. "How is this possible...how is this possible!?" The author has something to say: Yi Yan avoided approaching his family because he does not want his family to walk on his path. Back then, it took him a long time to recover from his injuries. People from the same trade or some of the tomb raider clans, as well as the monsters Yi Yan had dealt with, could have come to the door. So he simply feigned death. As for Yi Yan''s feelings for Wang Xiaomie, they¡¯re similar to when we play card games and draw the best hand. There are no other feelings. He simply feels that Xiaomie¡¯s body is a good material with which to create his best masterpiece. Footnotes: [1] A moniker given to some men by netizens. The most distinguishing quality of this type of man is that he has a girlish heart (not sissy). [2] "This is sour and refreshing," has become an interjection to express an unexpected emotion, such as ecstasy, or to be mildly satirical. WXM is naturally mocking YY. [3] Obvious but still. "fox" refers to a sly and treacherous individual. [4] Originally interpreted as "tragic battlefield." It is now used to describe complex interpersonal relationships. People involved have multiple connections or have unequal identities. Source: Baidu [5] ch¨© n¨¢n yu¨¤n n¨·(idiom) refers to men and women who are deeply in love but are not emotionally fulfilled. CH 77 Chapter 77 You¡¯re here, brother? Another crazy one. Wang Xiaomie sighed heavily as he saw Bai Yu in front of him go from shock and disbelief to murmuring guesses to himself before erupting in a hysterical roaring. In the eyes of others, he was a puppet with no self-awareness and no ability to speak, thus he became the best outlet for venting. Bai Yu''s tears flowed down his cheeks as he knelt beside Wang Xiaomie''s chair, clutching the photo and pocket watch to his chest. He appeared to be struggling to breathe. Wang Xiaomie saw how wretched he was and sighed, observing a moment of silence for him: his husband has become his grandfather in the blink of an eye, and his love rival is his grandmother. Nobody can stand it. Bai Yu wept for a time, then seized Wang Xiaomie''s paws and sobbed heart-wrenchingly: "Why! Why! No way! How could it be¡ªahhh!" Wang Xiaomie: "..." Paws, paws hurt! Bai Yu broke down completely, crying and raging from the depths of his soul: "He¡¯s actually my grandfather, he¡¯s actually my grandfather! Why didn''t he tell me? Why not tell me!" Wang Xiaomie: Tragic, too tragic. Bai Yu: "I see him as my beloved, but he regards me as a grandson!" Wang Xiaomie: ......... Wang Xiaomie: We puppets are professionally trained. We¡¯ll not laugh no matter how funny, unless¡ª "Worse, I have to call him Grandpa..." Bai Yu, the genuine grandson, sobbed even more sadly. "Pfft!" Bai Yu was stunned for a second before abruptly raising his head. Wang Xiaomie sat there with a blank expression on his face and vacant eyes, staring at God knows what. Did I mishear it? Bai Yu''s forehead furrowed before lowering his head and continuing to sob broken-heartedly. He missed seeing Wang Xiaomie''s face contort in an instant as he bowed his head, his face pinched with suppressed laughter. "He accepted me as an apprentice, taught me the craftsman¡¯s work without reservation, provided me with all basic necessities, gave me warm milk every day, and even washed my clothes. He took me to the amusement park as well as the movies... He has recently been increasingly distanced from me, and what he stated..." No wonder... no wonder! He''s known for a long time, but he''s been keeping it from me... Bai Yu was sobbing so hard that his entire body shook. It was no surprise to him that Yi Yan was kind to him. It turns out that he was the one who got it wrong. Yi Yan had never shown that sort of interest in him, always loving him as the younger generation. He only began to alienate Bai Yu after discovering his intentions... Inexplicable shame, anger, and pain all laughed at him. It was as if someone was scoffing in Bai Yu''s ear: ''So ridiculous. You actually fell in love with your elder.'' That trumped up voice was like the devil whispering in Bai Yu''s ears, and his heart welled up with hate, but he was confused once again. Who did he hate? Hate Yi Yan? Yi Yan had only loved him as his grandchild and had never considered him to be interested in himself. Hate Xiaomie & co? What had this got to do with them? Nobody was wrong, nobody was wrong... So what went wrong? As he knelt on the ground, Bai Yu''s face was covered in tears and his expression was bewildered. "I didn''t think twice about poisoning Xiaomie to help him, betraying my good friend, and this is how I ended up? I just want a home... I just want to spend the rest of my life with someone I like and have a complete family..." Bai Yu suddenly started laughing, his laughter becoming increasingly loud. His eyes were red and puffy, and his face looked lifeless, as if he was insane. Wang Xiaomie''s laughter vanished when he saw him like this and shook his head in his heart. It is said that fate conspires against you and that you overreach yourself. He used to watch soap operas and read novels with the plot of ''the person I like turned out to be my relative.'' He was still laughing about it at the time, thinking, "They dare to film and write anything nowadays. This plot is just crap!" What was the outcome? A live enactment was taking place in front of his eyes. Yi Yan, in the opinion of an outsider such as Wang Xiaomie, was to blame for this fiasco. What was Yi Yan trying to conceal? Even if he didn''t say it earlier, he should have said it when he accepted Bai Yu as an apprentice. But he didn''t say anything! You did a great job bending your grandson! Wang Xiaomie sighed: What do you call this... Bai Yu sat for a long time, sobbing and laughing hysterically. After a few hours, he lurched to his feet, his face dead behind the eyes. After sitting for so long, he was undoubtedly numb and limped away without glancing at Wang Xiaomie. Wang Xiaomie blinked and exhaled a sigh of relief after he left. He didn''t have to pretend any longer. Despite everything, he gazed at the top of the flight of steps, a little concerned for Bai Yu. He was disappointed and upset with Bai Yu to be honest, yet he didn''t hate him to the point of death. Wang Xiaomie felt sympathy when he saw Bai Yu in such a state, and he was also worried that Bai Yu might do something dumb in a moment of melancholy. Bai Yu, after all, appeared lighthearted and foolish, but he was actually rather stubborn. At a glance, you could tell he was an expert at banging his head against a brick wall. One day passed. Bai Yu''s upper eyelids were red and swollen the next day, like two blisters. His round eyes had only a seam remaining, and the bottoms of his eyes were bruised bluish black. He had clearly cried all night the night before. Moreover, his face was sullen, and he was no longer as cute as he used to be with a goofy smile that revealed his white teeth, as if he were a different person. After he came upstairs, he manipulated the puppet to allow Wang Xiaomie to take care of bodily functions, then turned around and silently left. This type of Bai Yu startled and panicked Xiaomie. He asked himself: When Yi Yan returns, Bai Yu won¡¯t fight with him, will he? Yi Yan returned after another day and a half. A thumping sound came from the second story of the wooden building. Bai Yu came upstairs and manipulated him down the steps without saying a word. Wang Xiaomie went downstairs and discovered a filthy Yi Yan seated on a wooden chair on the first floor. Yi Yan was sipping tea and there was a large white sack beside him. There was some type of unfathomable putrid odor on his body, like the scent of blood, soil, rust, and other messy smells combined together, and even a bitter and astringent scent was evident. Additionally... Wang Xiaomie took a quick look around the living room and outside the open door; all of the other cars appeared to be missing. There was no one else around. Only Yi Yan made it back from among the more than twenty tomb raiders... Wang Xiaomie was chilled. What surprised him even more was that Bai Yu was still standing by Yi Yan''s side. He didn''t appear to have fought or argued, despite the fact that he wasn''t that intimate. Didn''t Bai Yu tell Yi Yan that he had discovered the truth? Why? Wang Xiaomie was unable to figure it out. "Did anything happen during my absence during the last couple of days?" His tone was gentle, but it was exhausted. He asked Bai Yu softly, turning his head. "No." Bai Yu shook his head. Yi Yan nodded, "I''m a little injured and tired. You instruct Xiao An to carry them to a room and lock them up. When I¡¯ve finished tending to my wounds, I¡¯ll prepare to welcome the guests." "OK," Bai Yu said. Yi Yan rose up and walked upstairs, putting down the teacup. Bai Yu walked out of the door with a cold face and summoned Xiao An. He controlled Wang Xiaomie, while Xiao An carried the large white sack. They went to a nearby room, stuffed Xiaomie and the sack inside casually, and left. The wooden door squeaked when it was locked, and the duo outside withdrew after the door was locked. Wang Xiaomie perked his ears and blinked as soon as the footsteps were no longer audible. His dull eyes seemed to encompass the starry sky in an instant, bright and spirited. He called out to the large sack on the ground in hushed tones, "Hey, are you okay? Still alive?" The sack moved slightly, and a withered hand covered in purple bristles emerged from the mouth of the sack, which had been purposefully loosened a little. Sure enough... An Kai''s family¡¯s little emperor was also captured. "You¡¯re here bro[1]~" Wang Xiao whispered, raising his lips. The awful hand with purple hair froze, then waved furiously a few times, causing the sack to shake. The sack''s opening was small, and only one hand could fit through it. The person in the sack was at a loss for what to do. Little Purple Hair inside scratched it for a long time with his fingernails, but it had no impact. "Roar¡ª" Purple Hair roared anxiously and nervously. Wang Xiaomie was afraid that his roars might summon their captors, so he quickly appeased him. "Don''t be scared, don''t be scared! An Kai and Wen Fengjin will definitely come looking for us. That man won''t hurt us for the time being; please bear with me!" Purple Hair''s struggling movements became smaller. "Roar¡ª" It snarled again, this time in a low voice, and started making strange noises, as if speaking to Wang Xiaomie. Wang Xiaomie sighed, "Sorry, buddy. I know I''m a zongzi too, but I really don''t understand the zongzi language. Don''t worry, though. We¡¯ll definitely go out." "Roar..." Purple Hair sounded disappointed, and the sack also stopped moving. It was pitiful to witness. Wang Xiaomie stopped acting when he saw no one was watching. He moved his body with difficulty and parked his buttocks beside Purple Hair, comforting him by patting his shoulder. He was depressed as he looked at the sliver of light streaming in through the small wooden door. "Iron gates, barred windows, iron chains[2], yingyingying, Xiao Wenzi, where are you..." "Sigh~" ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Wen Fengjin glanced at the thick letter left for him by Yi Yan at his place that day and threw it away. It was nothing more than a jumble of clues leading him to Qishan. Wen Fengjin, who had long foreseen everything, raced to An Kai''s tomb without hesitation. As a result, he arrived at his destination in three days rather than the minimum of four days predicted by Yi Yan. Wen Fengjin did not immediately go looking for Wang Xiaomie. He instead proceeded to An Kai''s underground tomb. He spotted signs of messy hidden weapon mechanisms, as well as some equipment abandoned by tomb raiders, in the moss-covered tomb passage. Even though this tomb palace was not as huge or as magnificent as Wen Fengjin''s, it was nevertheless a joint burial tomb for a general and an emperor. The inside space was not small, and the design was sufficiently complex. The crimson robe swung in a leisurely arc as the gold threaded black boots stepped over the bodies and blood puddles on the ground. Wen Fengjin raised his pink lips and smiled when he noticed An Kai sitting on his knees resting against the coffin, his body propped up by the pike in his hand, as well as the dead zombie soldiers and tomb raiders around him. He stopped and asked lightly to An Kai, who had his head down and his eyes closed, "Are you dead?" An Kai raised his head, his armor covered in blood and scars, and the young general smiled as candidly as before. "No. I still have a breath," he remarked. The golden armor jangled as An Kai rose up with the help of his pike and stretched his waist, his eyes as cold as frost beneath his smile. "My family¡¯s little emperor was taken away." Wen Fengjin: "Mn. So was my shixiong." The two men who¡¯d lost their wives looked at each other and sneered. "According to plan?" "Yes." "That''s good... I must kill him this time to avoid future troubles. Otherwise, wouldn''t we suffer a double loss after trying to trick the enemy?" An Kai''s tone was slightly heavy. He leaned against the coffin, pike in hand, and turned his head to look at the man next to him. He arched his eyebrows when he noticed Wen Fengjin was silent. "Aren''t you in a hurry? So calm." "Of course I''m in a hurry." Wen Fengjin leaned against the coffin as well, his expression turning icy, his long and narrow eyes sharpening, and the blood-red pattern between his brows becoming more and more vivid. "Shixiong has been away from me for nearly four days..." he muttered. "Tsk! Calm down, don''t go crazy on me. I still have an unhealed hole in my stomach." "When shall we set off?" questioned An Kai, rubbing his chin. Wen Fengjin turned to face him. "Tomorrow." "Good!" Footnotes: [1] l¨¢i la l¨£od¨¬: an Internet buzzword. A BBQ stall lady on Douyin uses this phrase to greet regular customers. It was grabbed from a Douyin user''s video. Read more on Baidu. [2] "Tears Behind Bars," a popular prisoner song by Chi Zhiqiang. Translator: Do you hate/pity Bai Yu? CH 78 Chapter 78 L¨£o ru¨° b¨¬ng c¨¢n[1] Wang Xiaomie had a dream. In the dream, he returned to the period when he was chosen by the system for the first time to travel back in time a thousand years. "Take advantage of the villain''s youth and be his little padded jacket[2]!" yelled the system. Wang Xiaomie was compelled to use love to influence the Big Boss villain, to be his white moonlight, his heart mole, and to let the villain develop a comprehensive moral, intellectual, physical, and attractive look. If he failed, Wang Xiaomie and the villain would perish. Wang Xiaomie, who accepted this misfortune as fate, dreamed that he painstakingly fed, ahem, brought up Wen Fengjin, raising him from a little wolf pup to a handsome young man, enduring all sorts of hardship. A gust of wind blew over Wang Xiaomie just as he was feeling proud of himself. He closed his eyes and opened them again to find that Wen Fengjin was still as handsome, but he now had gray wolf ears on his head and a wolf tail dangling from his a$$! Wang Xiaomie, on the other hand, had two little sheep horns on both sides of his head, like two croissants glued to his head. Wang Xiaomie was dumbfounded as he stared at Wen Fengjin. A odd sensation on his buttocks was followed by a bad premonition. He swiftly turned his head to look over and discovered a small fluffy snow-white tail sticking to his a$$... The little tail wagged: bilingbiling~ Surprise, mie[3], tee hee! Wang Xiaomie: ... When he turned his head, the academy and the seats behind him transformed into large red mushrooms! He was now in a house made of a big mushroom, staring out the door¡¯s circular glass insert towards Wen Fengjin. Wang Xiaomie: ... Died smiling. I¡¯m giving this dream a bad review. "Little Rabbit, Little Rabbit!" Outside the mushroom, Wen Fengjin smiled like a flower at Wang Xiaomie inside, his too good-looking handsome face almost twisted. The wolf ears moved, the wolf tail swished madly above the ground, and Wen Fengjin¡¯s two sharp fangs were exposed when he grinned, which contrasted horribly with his beauty. Yikes! Big Brother, this is you wanting to eat people. Wang Xiaomie gulped, and just as he began to shake, Wen Fengjin started singing affectionately. "Darling bunny, open the door; I can¡¯t open it, I can¡¯t open it, Mama didn¡¯t come back~~~"[4] Wang Xiaomie: "..." "F*ck you! Devil!" Wang Xiaomie, who had fallen asleep unintentionally, awoke with a start, gasping for air. He was so terrified that he swiftly felt his head and buttocks while sweeping his gaze around the room. "Whew~ it''s okay, it¡¯s okay; no horns on the head and no sheep tail on the buttocks. The house hasn¡¯t turned into a giant mushroom either..." Wang Xiaomie exhaled a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his brow. He was still in the gloomy log cabin; it must have been dark outside. Little Purple Hair from An Kai''s family stirred and moved around in the sack. Wang Xiaomie clutched his chest and trembled all over, remembering Wen Fengjin singing the bunny song in his dream, and mumbled quietly. "Thank goodness it was just a dream." "This dream is far too magical..." Wen Fengjin singing Little White Rabbit with a soft and cute face, resembling the novel''s great devil king? Wow. Wang Xiaomie rubbed his arms, which were covered in goosebumps. Feeling that it was almost time, he patted the dust off his body and stood up from the ground, returned to the corner where he had been standing at the start, stopped speaking and moving, removing all expression from his eyes and face, and began to ''AFK''. He was considering his next move. Thanks to Wen Fengjin''s blood sacrifice, he was temporarily under control but not fully unable to manage his own body. Yi Yan would undoubtedly take him and Purple Hair out to threaten Wen Fengjin and An Kai when the moment came. Then Yi Yan would also take out the puppet that manipulated him... What if I stood behind him and stabbed him? Kill him when he''s off guard? Wang Xiaomie tapped his inner thigh with his dagger, KaiMing. KaiMing was an artifact, and its lethality was unrivaled. It was like cutting tofu, even if the opponent was rough and tough. But, knowing Yi Yan''s vigilance and inhuman strength stats, could a weak chicken like him succeed? Yi Yan was normally all smiles, as if he was unprepared, but Wang Xiaomie guessed that if he did take out his weapon, he would be caught immediately, and then there was Bai Yu... Wang Xiaomie recalled the scene he witnessed that day while thinking of Bai Yu. Bai Yu didn''t appear to be intending to expose the truth, and Xiaomie had no idea what Bai Yu was thinking. Was he planning to play dumb and live this way with Yi Yan? Wang Xiaomie''s mind raced, conjuring up all sorts of messes. He was no match for Yi Yan. And he didn¡¯t dare trust Bai Yu now. Then there was Little Purple Hair without legs beside him... Oh, Jesus! Oh, Mary! Please have pity on your poor child! Wang Xiaomie''s head hurt from all of his anxiety. Wang Xiaomie felt at ease again when he thought of Yi Yan''s actions, which had been pretty much guessed by his family''s Xiao Wenzi, so much so that he had considered several possibilities and solutions. Sure enough! This was a duel between two bigshots, and a little trash like him had no business guessing. From a personal standpoint, Wang Xiaomie was certain that his family''s Xiao Wenzi was more powerful, but what was this annoying disquiet... Wang Xiaomie pressed his chest with stiff hands, the restlessness and gloomy foreboding he''d felt earlier in the tomb palace flooding up again, making his chest stuffy and causing misery. Xiaomie remained withered like this until daybreak, when the wooden house suddenly filled with a series of sounds of something being dragged, accompanied by a huge clanging of metal slamming against wooden sticks or something. It was as though there were dozens of individuals outside who couldn''t speak but were working hard at the time. Wang Xiaomie frowned. "Is it the villagers?" In other words, he didn''t see any villagers when he arrived here. The sounds outside were becoming louder and closer to the log house. The wood building''s doors and windows were all pasted with white paper in the antique style, making the house exceedingly dark after they were closed tightly. The poor lighting hindered eyesight and improved hearing, and the noises of dragging became increasingly clear to Xiaomie''s ears, as if he were dragging his eardrums on the gravel-covered ground. Xiaomie¡¯s hair stood up one by one. Wang Xiaomei pursed his lips and glanced at the large sack on the side, his black pupils gradually contracting. Purple Hair was most likely injured and had been resting since their exchange. The sounds were really close, but he didn''t hear anyone speaking, only dragging noises. Rubbing his arms, Wang Xiaomie moved his body laboriously and staggered towards the wooden door step by step. The sound became clearer as he approached... What could it be¡­ Wang Xiaomie took a deep breath and came to a halt in front of the wooden door lightly. His face moved steadily closer to the wooden door, where a piece of paper on the recently pasted door''s edge was not stuck. He cautiously lifted it with his fingernails and peered out. At first glance, he noticed a light that was brighter than the room, forcing his black pupils to constrict and dilate rapidly. After adjusting to the brightness, he saw a staggering figure on the right side of his line of view, his head violently shaking as he wandered around his door. That person was dressed in an ordinary navy blue striped T-shirt and pants that cost roughly $20 a pair on the market. He wore a frayed belt around his waist and leaned to the right, as if carrying something heavy. The sound of metal scraping against sandstone was enough to make people''s teeth ache. The hole next to the dusty white paper showed an eye, closely examining the situation. When the figure approached, those black pupils blinked as he realized what was in the person¡¯s hand¡ª It was a copper-gold broadsword with a three or four centimeter thick blade and the width of a saber. It would probably reach a person''s waist if raised upright. So that¡¯s why you¡¯re dragging it around! Such a big knife must be hefty! Wang Xiaomie then looked into the distance and spotted many such villagers dragging their broadswords around the wooden buildings without saying anything. Both men and women were wandering about with their heads down, circling where they resided. Wang Xiaomie examined their weapons with trepidation and murmured: "Aren''t golden weapons the hardest to refine? How come Yi Yan appears to be running a mass production line here?" He believed his voice was low enough, but as soon as he finished speaking, the villager who was walking around outside his door abruptly halted! F*ck! What¡¯s the deal with this hearing! Wang Xiaomie was going to move away from the entrance when he caught the man raising his head in his direction... "!!!" Wang Xiaomie''s mind went blank after seeing his face fully, and his lips trembled a few times. Faceless... That man''s face was as flat as a piece of wood! It had no mouth, nose, or brows, and only one huge blood-red eye that took up virtually the entire face!!! That blood-red eyeball was now swiveling and staring at Wang Xiaomie! "Sss¡ª" Wang Xiaomie sucked a chilly breath, his hands and feet turning ice-cold as he took two stiff steps back and almost screamed. Monster! He immediately turned and hurried back, rushing to Little Purple Hair''s side, grabbing the sack and dragging it to a corner, panting and pallid as he huddled in the corner, peering intently at the entrance. There was a reflection of a human figure on the door. Wang Xiaomie was so nervous that even his slow-beating heart was about to leap into his throat. The monster remained still. The door was locked from the outside, and Wang Xiaomie didn''t hear the sound of it unlocking. Outside, the monster stood motionless. Wang Xiaomie didn''t dare to blink as he stared at the door, his palm clenched over Little Purple Hair''s sack. Time seemed to have slowed down. The shadow on the door eventually vanished after dozens of minutes or only a few minutes. He¡¯s gone... Wang Xiaomie sagged on the ground, his hands and feet freezing, and slowly wiped the sweat from his brow. In his thoughts, the empty face and the massive blood-red eyeball kept replaying. Wang Xiaomie pursed his lips but couldn''t stop himself from cursing: "F*ck! Damn pervert!" What demonic aesthetics does he have to create such a puppet?! No wonder I didn''t see any villagers! So these terrifying puppets built this village temporarily. How can I play when this entire f*cking village is full of monsters wielding dragon-slaying swords?! Wang Xiaomie clenched his fists and began counting: Wen Fengjin (old), he (weak), Little Purple Hair (disabled), and An Kai... After meeting Yi Yan, who had brought so much equipment and tomb raiders to fight, and bringing his own ''Since ancient times, Spearmen are lucky E''[5] buff, he already belonged to ''the sick.'' ...Well, seeing that our foursome is made up of the old, the weak, the disabled, and the sick, could you please tell me how we kill a village full of monsters holding dragon-slaying swords and Yi Yan whose strength stats are off the charts? By adding funds[6]?! Wang Xiaomie: Hello, customer service? Give me a V8 Noble[7], the kind with a halo that can shake people. This f*cker doesn''t have a halo, what do I do?! Wang Xiaomie gazed at the door, deeply concerned. The sultry air crept in, the cicadas chirped anxiously, and the air smelled like rain. "Fengjin..." Originally, there was a 70% chance of winning, but now this 70% chance is expected to be cut in half! Wang Xiaomie shut his eyes. His thick black eyelashes trembled. His mouth was bitter. [The author has something to say: [Small Theater] Wen Fengjin: Why am I the elderly in l¨£o ru¨° b¨¬ng c¨¢n, huh? Wang Xiaomie: You¡¯re over a thousand years old. Doesn¡¯t that make you old? Wen Fengjin: Xiaomie, you¡¯re also a thousand... "Pow!" Boss Wen, covering his legs: ¡­ ] Footnotes: [1] The title of the chapter is a four-character idiom that translates as: the old (elderly), the weak (as in young children), the sick, and the disabled. [2] The Chinese use this expression metaphorically to allude to daughters, who are often attentive and heartwarming, and are thus compared to a "padded jacket in winter" for parents. The system basically urged WXM to be attentive and caring to WFJ. [3] Bleating of a sheep which is also the "mie" in Xiaomie. [4] These are the lyrics to a children''s song called "СÍÃ×Ó¹Ô¹Ô" by СÝíÀÙ×éºÏ. [5] This was apparently an anime meme inspired by Fate/Stay Night. If I''m not mistaken, it indicates that melee fighters who use spears and the like have E level Luck, which means they''re unlucky. [6] This refers to spending money to level up in games. [7] There are eight noble, or VIP, levels in the game Glory of Kings, with V8 being the highest. V8 will cost you approximately 5400 yuan, which is a significant sum. Translator: Final battle... CH 79 Chapter 79 Waiting for a fight The sun lingered in the sky indistinctly, as though isolated by something. The sultry hot air turned everyone into rice cooking in a rice cooker, and the weed-infested village was as silent as the dead. The cicadas screeched piercingly, and the heat crimped the green leaves at the edges. In the gloomy sky, a thunderstorm was forming. A vast expanse of dark clouds quickly dominated the sky in the afternoon, and the sky became overcast in a matter of seconds. The heated wind swirled up the loess and blew all over the sky, while tiny sandstone "clattered" against the door and windows. Something was in the wind as it filled the building... The first thunderclap arrived from the horizon half an hour later. As he lay flat on the ground, he wore a golden beast-headed belt around his waist and gripped a jet-black pike inlaid with fine iron rings in his hand. The young general wore merely a headband embroidered with patterns on his forehead instead of a helmet and his long feather crown. He was at ease and hid outside the sleepy settlement behind a large tree and unkempt grass. The village had just recently been established and was bordered by woods, grass, and rocks. Wen Fengjin, who was masking his presence, stared at the village with an indifferent expression. "Haha, it seems that he hasn''t been idle for the past 20 years. There are so many puppets and weapons." An Kai tsk-ed twice. The young man had thick brows, big eyes, and a grin on his face, yet his eyes were frighteningly dark. He cocked his head to look at Wen Fengjin, who was standing next to him. "Senior Wen, what do you think? This is far more serious than we anticipated." Wen Fengjin remained silent. His long and narrow eyes had peculiar pupils which were fixed ahead, the mark on his glabella was bright red, and his silver hair poured down from the red jade crown, which was exceedingly gorgeous. After a few moments of silence, his thin and slender hand reached into the inner pocket of his long sleeve, pulled out a small medicine bottle, and tossed it to An Kai. "Take it." "What¡¯s this?" An Kai effortlessly caught it and shook the green jade bottle. Wen Fengjin: "This is one of my tomb palace''s treasures. You can basically recover if you take it when you are about to die. It was refined by an alchemist I found back then in order to resurrect my shixiong. However, my shixiong and I drank the elixir, so it has minimal effect on me. It contains a total of seventeen pieces." That year, he acquired all of the world''s treasures, countless unique artifacts, and hired talented people from all over. The mausoleum was gorgeous and massive, built over a wholly unbroken leyline, and the rare treasures inside were numerous; the countless golden pearls were like grains of sand. Wen Fengjin had even utilized the fish beads that could restore vision as accessories for Wang Xiaomie''s hairband. Wen Fengjin''s long and narrow eyes squinted, and his already red peculiar pupils turned as he looked askance at An Kai from the corners of his eyes, his lips hooked up in a smile. "That¡¯s enough for you to die seventeen times." An Kai whistled softly. "Good stuff." No wonder even the royal family of a hundred years later was not extravagant! So this guy had robbed all the good stuff a hundred years ago. "With this thing, it doesn¡¯t matter how much those weapons subdue me." An Kai smiled brightly, and his eyes shone with a fierce fighting spirit. He was a warrior, and nothing made his blood boil faster than battling! Certainly not wealth! "Remember to keep one." "Don''t put it in the bottle, hide it somewhere else," Wen Fengjin advised. An Kai was startled, then burst out laughing. He stated, "I admire you brainy people, but I also hate you brainy people the most. The chess game is over in your eyes before the opposing party can even make a move." Wen Fengjin gave him a blank stare and said nothing. "Haha, my family¡¯s little emperor is the same. If he hadn¡¯t tricked and lied to me and had honestly followed me back then, he wouldn''t have had his legs broken by me today and become a Huangquan couple[1]." An Kai stashed his smile and exuded a burst of valor all over his body. He didn''t mind that he had concluded the conversation on his own. He bent his head, uncorked the medicine bottle''s stopper, and poured a little pill into his palm. The little pill was scarlet, with a fishy and spicy odor. An Kai hooked out the red rope around his neck with his finger while mumbling ''good stuff.'' An old pouch with mandarin ducks embroidered on it hung from the red rope. The gold thread had fallen apart in a few places, and the corners were ragged, yet An Kai still lovingly wore it next to his flesh. An Kai tied and put back the red rope in place after the small pill rolled into the brocade bag from the slanted palm. Thunder rang out from all directions. "All right, let''s go." Wen Fengjin''s face sank as he prepared to rush out when An Kai grasped his sleeve frantically. "Wait! Wait!" "What''s the problem?" Wen Fengjin frowned as he brushed off his hand. An Kai scratched his face while shaking the medicine bottle in front of the two of them. "I just thought of a problem. This medicine won¡¯t expire after a thousand years, right..." "......" Wen Fengjin sneered at An Kai''s large eyes, turned his head, shook his sleeves, and dashed towards the nearest puppet in the village. An Kai rubbed the tip of his nose awkwardly as he felt those ice blade-like eyes rake over him, and saw Wen Fengjin turn around and begin his assault. He grinned, flashing his gleaming teeth, and rolled his pike out in a flourish. His motions were unaffected by the lightweight armor. The easygoing young man transformed into a ferocious warrior the instant he extended his pike. "Senior Wen, wait for me!" He yelled with laughter, brandishing his pike, and pounced like a tiger in the twinkling of an eye on another monstrous puppet! The thunder was becoming louder. Blue-purple lightning flashed through the thick clouds. The door to the small wooden building was wide open, the living room was facing the outside, and many one-eyed puppets patrolled around with their heads lowered and their weapons pulled behind them. Yi Yan sat in the master seat, looking out, with a smile on the corner of his mouth, as hot tea was placed on the tall teapoy. Xiao An, the young girl, was dressed in a white Doraemon half-sleeve, a blue vest, and a short skirt. She sat on the wooden chair off to the side, shaking her legs and clutching a pink long ''magic wand'' in her soft small hands. Bai Yu made no eye contact with her or Yi Yan. With a blank expression, he clutched the puppet representing Wang Xiaomie in his palm, and his eyes drifted somewhere without focusing. Wang Xiaomie and Little Purple Hair, who was wrapped in a sack, sat with their backs against the wall behind him. Little Purple Hair growled quietly to the side, while Wang Xiaomie''s warm and delicate face remained expressionless. His eyes, which had formerly blazed with warmth and a lively spirit, were dull and gazed forward, as if he were a normal man who had lost his wits and had a mental disease. In fact, Wang Xiaomie''s heart was on fire with anxiety, as if it were being roasted. There are so many one-eyed monsters outside; I hope Xiao Wenzi and An Kai will be okay... Bai Yu took him and Little Purple Hair to the log house where Yi Yan was located not long after he found that the so-called villagers were all monsters created by Yi Yan. Wang Xiaomie''s feelings were identical to the weather outside on seeing Yi Yan''s confident appearance, especially because he always had an indescribable ominous feeling. Even with a rush of wind, the sultry air remained hot, and the gloomy sky left people breathless. Yi Yan''s tea-drinking action came to a halt. The gray braid with black hair hung down the back of his head, and a few strands of hair had escaped and fell across his brow, softening his shrewd appearance. He moved the corners of his mouth and placed the cup of tea on the teapoy. His gaze was drawn to the site of the village entrance. "They¡¯re here," he announced calmly, his slender eyes curving into crescents. They¡¯re here? Wen Fengjin and An Kai are here?! Wang Xiaomie surreptitiously took advantage of their backs to him and glanced out. Little Purple Hair beside him seemed to realize something, and his roars became weaker. He shifted uneasily in the sack. The door was wide open and faced the outside, allowing a quick glimpse of the broad area outside. The odd puppets outdoors, like Yi Yan, appeared to detect something. They were dragging their massive machetes with their heads down a moment earlier, but now they had all straightened up and eerily raised their heads in the same direction, showing the single giant red eye that took up their entire faces. The inorganic eyeballs swiveled, and both hands clutched the blade''s handle, the knife''s tip hitting the ground. Yi Yan and Bai Yu were both looking in that direction. The cute little girl Xiao An, on the other hand, had no expression on her delicate little face as she leapt down from the chair, holding the super girlie pink ''magic wand.'' Her valiant posture and the aura that exploded all over her body made the pink magic wand she was carrying look like she was raising a brick. Wang Xiaomie believed that he might be knocked out in less than ten bouts under the girl''s Balala** Magic Fairy Wand. Everyone was in a range of moods as they waited for a gory, life-or-death combat against the backdrop of dark clouds, thunder, strong winds, and lightning. "Crack!" Blue-purple lightning flashed in the black clouds, appearing to tear a large hole in the sky! It was followed by deafening thunder that made everyone cringe! He''s here... In a daze, Wang Xiaomie glanced in that direction. It wasn''t anything specific, just a feeling. Sure enough, the crisp metallic sound of a knife pierced the silence in the next second! Two one-eyed puppets flew in from the outside and collided with the hall''s door frame! The limbs were torn, and blue liquid oozed from within. The puppets collapsed to the ground as if they were flesh and blood bodies, their parts flying everywhere as if they were body parts! Something else, God knows what, rolled to Wang Xiaomie''s finger. But Wang Xiaomie didn''t have time to look down, and his gaze was fixed on the approaching figure. "Fengjin..." Wang Xiaomie called out his name in his heart. Who knows if it really was the so-called heart-to-heart connection[2], but Wen Fengjin''s gaze was drawn to him at that very moment. Despite the fact that Xiaomie was in a room more than 50 meters away, crouched behind someone else. Such a small gap, yet they still locked gazes. Wen Fengjin''s lips moved silently. Don''t be scared. He said soundlessly: Shixiong, I''m here to take you home. Only gods know what transpired at that precise moment. Wang Xiaomie''s chest felt stuffy and painful, tinged with an aching that made him want to cry. It was like going back in time to when a wolf pup, unaware of the immensity of the world, piggy-backed him on an unattainable mountain path for survival and uttered the same thing. "Shixiong, I will absolutely make you survive," he said. "......" I''ll wait for you. I believe in you, whether it''s then or now. I''ve always known there''s a man, an obsession named Wen Fengjin, who can overcome thousands of mountains and rivers, life and death, and time to eventually stand by my side... There was a clapping sound. Yi Yan applauded Wen Fengjin and An Kai: "Welcome! My guests, there have been numerous grievances between us over the last two decades. However, today is a good time. Everything will end today, regardless of which of us dies here. To commemorate the occasion, I have specially prepared plenty of small gifts for you." He politely greeted Wen Fengjin and An Kai with the gentleman''s salutation of yore, extended his fingers, and snapped them after speaking. A sharp sound was heard. The doors to the surrounding wooden structures slammed open, and the one-eyed puppets stared at Wen Fengjin and An Kai in the dark with red eyes. "Let''s get started." Yi Yan chuckled as he picked up his teacup. Footnotes: [1] lit. Yellow Springs. It''s the underworld of Chinese mythology; the equivalent of Hades or Hell. Huangquan couple refers to a folktale. You can read it here. However, in An Kai''s situation, it is the literal meaning. After they both died and transformed into monsters, he ''married'' Little Purple Hair. [2] A meeting of minds. It was a metaphor for two people in love, and it is now a metaphor for both sides to understand one another''s ideas. In short, tacit understanding. **Balala, Little Magic Fairy is a Chinese magical girl metaseries. CH 80 Chapter 80 Since ancient times, Spearmen are lucky E It is said that when hot weather abruptly shifts, it will be followed by heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. Thunder snakes darted through the sky, and lightning split cracks in the dense dark clouds. "Boom¡ª" Thunder blasted into the ground, unleashing nature''s wrath. Those piled clouds seemed to close the gap between the sky and the earth, pressuring and making people breathless, an incomprehensible awe spreading from the bottom of their hearts. On this forgotten land, the sound of violent metal collisions occurred one after the other. Wang Xiaomie almost couldn''t hide his expression. His puppy eyes widened and his jaw dropped open as he gazed outside the door at Wen Fengjin and An Kai battling the one-eyed puppets in the open space of the village. Today''s Wen Fengjin wore a red and black robe, with snow-white and silver hair cascading down his back. Even on an overcast day, it seemed as if every strand of hair was reflecting light. The brows flew into the temples, the face was frosty with long, narrow eyes, and there was a vivid red pattern between the brows. Despite his good looks and beauty, he was possessed by a demonic soul filled with violent and decisive cruelty! The red-and-black wide-sleeved robe swung hard as he whirled and wielded his sword, like the yellow fireworks bursting between heaven and earth. Violent, stunning, and savage. Wen Fengjin, who used to arch his lips into a chuckle, and lean against the acacia tree to drink with clothing wide open, turned out to be like this... Wang Xiaomie was stunned. The ice-cold hand that caressed his hair now held the hilt of a sword, and wherever the blade passed, it looked to be able to chop off invisible things, and the narrow sword tip could stab people''s eyes. In the hands of the demon king, the soft sword transformed into a snake with a gaping maw and deadly fangs! A one-eyed puppet''s head launched into the sky, and blue blood was splattered all over the ground. Wang Xiaomie was perplexed as to how it was created because it was still twitching and struggling to stand. The next second, its chest was crushed by the gold-lined black boots. The long and narrow sharp eyes were so indifferent that they rushed onto another puppet in the following second. If you are free, you can drink wine and chat about the world, and if you walk, you can wield a sword and shake the world. This is the man who killed to eliminate suffering and dominated the world! Wang Xiaomie''s eyes seemed to be filled with that gorgeous furious light, and his body was burning hot when he stared at Wen Fengjin''s figure! He shuddered with excitement. An Kai clothed in golden armor exuded the aura of a mighty army. His heroic spirit suggested that even ten thousand warriors could not force the gate open when this man was protecting it! The plain black pike became a divine weapon in his hands! His fierce spirit pierced the heavens as he laughed loudly. Facing the terrible one-eyed puppets and the weapons that could hack people in half, he nimbly leaned back to dodge the attack and swung, the sound of it slicing through the air accompanied by a little chilly light and a swish as it swept into a half circle with afterimages! A bunch of puppets came to a halt when a large gash opened in their abdomens and blue blood gushed out. An Kai snatched up his pike and killed one per second, taking advantage of these few seconds! The wind and clouds were rushing, and it was ready to pour. The dazzling cold light and the ferocity with which hundreds of people were slaughtered gave people goosebumps, made their hearts beat like thunder, and made their blood boil! Wang Xiaomie thought he was watching a god-level movie. The gloomy earth and terrible monsters served as the best backdrops, while the awe-inspiring roars served as the best background music. And Wang Xiaomie felt truly saved at this point. Wang Xiaomie: ... Seriously, my man is so cool! Little Purple Hair surprisingly calmed down when he heard An Kai''s voice, making faint growls and clicks. He appeared to be looking forward to it. Wang Xiaomie was taken aback when he saw this. He assumed he must hate An Kai and want for an accident to happen to him, yet he unexpectedly cared deeply about An Kai. "Have you seen it clearly, Bai Yu?" Yi Yan asked Bai Yu quietly, even unhurriedly, with a tilt of his head. "Mn." When Yi Yan called out to Bai Yu, he came to his senses. Obviously, he was also astounded by the practically one-sided furious struggle that was taking place right now. "These are the characters who have been famous for thousands of years." Yi Yan''s smile had dimmed significantly. "I would only admire them if they were ordinary individuals, but they are already dead people. They will hurt humans once their minds are muddled. How many families will be shattered if we don''t stop them?" "I know how dissatisfied you are with what I¡¯ve done and think I¡¯m no different from those murderers and superfluous people, but Bai Yu, aren¡¯t you scared after seeing their fighting power? Do you have any idea what will happen if you stand in front of them? Would they be nice to you, and would you be able to overcome them?" Bai Yu bowed his head, turned his face to the side, and continued to look out the door without responding. Yi Yan didn''t put any pressure on him either. When Yi Yan saw that the battle outside was almost ended, he said to Xiao An, who was clutching a magic wand, "Go, Xiao An, you go and try." "Okay." Xiao An''s lovely small face bore no expression. She nodded obediently and raced up, waving the magic wand in her palm that was as tall as her. Wang Xiaomie vividly heard the wind when she waved her wand! ...How heavy is this magic wand! Wang Xiaomie gulped. Xiao An deserved to be the puppet Yi Yan referred to as "the greatest masterpiece" (although Yi Yan planned to make him the greatest masterpiece later). When she joined the puppet army, everything changed. Wang Xiaomie clearly saw the difference between miscellaneous soldiers and a minor BOSS. Wen Fengjin and An Kai were initially at ease dealing with this troop of one-eyed puppets that felt no pain and knew no fear, despite the puppets wielding extraordinary weaponry. An Kai''s skills were excellent, allowing him to evade the majority of the blades. But, in comparison to zombies like An Kai, Wen Fengjin was an immortal who had consumed an elixir, not a zombie. Even if the weapon struck him, it was merely a physical effect, not to mention that Wen Fengjin''s body was capable of self-healing. So, after a bloody battle, puppet limbs, heads, internal organs, and blue blood were all over the floor. These puppets were made of an unknown material and resembled human bodies. Wang Xiaomie''s face was distorted by the fresh flesh and blood, yet he couldn''t vomit. He shifted his gaze away from the ground and up a little higher. Xiao An''s movements were as quick as a cat''s. She waved her magic wand about, attempting to split An Kai''s skull apart like a melon. Wen Fengjin, who was standing close beside him, didn''t even get a look from her. "Tsk!" An Kai kicked a one-eyed puppet away, raised his hand and hoisted the pike, and with the pike body, intercepted the pink magic wand falling from the sky. "Dong!" A heavy sound was made when the metal and ebony collided. An Kai''s palm became numb, and he struggled to keep it up. "This little girl is quite strong!" An Kai clenched his teeth and smiled viciously like a wolf, and swung the pike violently. Xiao An leaped back and fell lightly on the ground, her face expressionless. A few one-eyed puppets silently made way for her, and attacked Wen Fengjin in the blink of an eye. An Kai looked her in the eyes. The two fought together again in an instant. The two moved fast in Wang Xiaomie''s sight, and the weapons in their hands morphed into pink and black afterimages, and the weapons hit together one after the other, creating "dong dong dong¡ª" sounds. It was dazzling, like driving twice as fast. After a few minutes, the two figures - one golden and one blue - leaped back. The clothing on Xiao An''s shoulders were torn, revealing a large gash half a palm wide as blue blood oozed from within, and a shallow bloodstain on the neck. The wound was in such a fatal position that it was obvious how perilous it was just now. But there was no hint of pain on Xiao An''s face. She stared at An Kai with soulless eyes as she grasped the pink extended ''Magic Immortal Wand'' in her soft hands. And An Kai clearly did not have the upper hand. He was wearing gold soft armor all over, so Wang Xiaomie couldn''t see any injuries on the surface, but as he was fighting with Xiao An, he had to find time to deal with the one-eyed puppets who were trying to hack him up. A calf was slashed without the soft armor, and because of the weapon''s restricting nature, there were spurts of white smoke from the wounded area, as if boiling water had been poured on it. An Kai looked at the little girl opposite him with dark eyes, and his face turned solemn. It sounded ridiculous, but he knew that the little girl opposite possessed the strength that could rival a drought demon¡¯s, albeit it was limited to strength. It would be scary if she cooperated with other one-eyed puppets. While silently swallowing a mouthful of viscous blood, An Kai caught a flash of red and silver from the corner of his eyes, and his lips twitched. He couldn''t help but grumble as he stared at the beautifully hunting Wen Fengjin beside him. "I say... Why is this little girl so intent on bashing me? And why haven''t these one-eyed puppets been eliminated yet? Senior Wen, you¡¯re not being intentionally accommodating, are you?" And your wife received preferential treatment after being kidnapped, whilst my wife was kidnapped and stuffed in a sack? Wen Fengjin came to a halt abruptly, his long silver hair and red-black robe swung in an exhilarating arc, and the soft blade in his hand trembled slightly. When he heard this, he pursed his lips and squinted his long, narrow eyes. "Spearmen are lucky E since ancient times. Haven''t you heard about it?" An Kai: "..." Lucky what? Huh? What the hell is this saying? Wen Fengjin''s smile grew, and An Kai felt mocked for some reason. Wen Fengjin dodged in front of him the next moment, and the surrounding air got more oppressive. The unseen thing seemed to weigh a ton, and the puppets around them slowed down. Even Xiao An on the opposite side held the ''magic wand'' tightly, and her back slowly bent down, unable to move, as if a mountain was pushing down on her. An Kai''s eyes widened as he saw the sight and swung the pike in his hand, "They''re not human, but they''re still affected by coercion?" An Kai frowned and attempted it as well. The air was filled with the odor of blood, and the coercion typical of a drought demon spilled forth in torrents, yet the puppets around them didn''t seem to notice. The golden weapons in their hands buzzed, clearly restricting the drought demon''s power. "Mine is useless?" It seemed that these puppets and weapons truly suppressed zombies, but the power of elixir was not evil, so they couldn''t resist it? An Xi sighed, took out a pill and swallowed it. The wounds on his chest and elsewhere began to heal. "If you have such a method, you should use it early~ Senior Wen really..." "It has a limit." Wen Fengjin cut him off. The usage of power caused his eyes to glow scarlet. "This power has a time limit and a restriction. When I control others, my own mobility also suffers. Moreover, Yi Yan can walk under my coercion. An Kai, kill her!" "Okay~" With a swing of the pike, An Kai curled his lips and charged at Xiao An, who was temporarily unable to move! CH 81 Chapter 81 Tools can be replaced The long black pike swung down, accompanied by the sound of air being pierced and a flash of icy light. Wang Xiaomie turned away as he saw Xiao An ready to be stabbed through the throat, but Yi Yan lowered his face and yelled, "Xiao An!" at this moment. In that crackling second, Xiao An, who had been restrained, straightened up in an instant! "Dong¡ª" The swinging weapon was knocked off by the pink magic wand! The petite girl abandoned her attack on An Kai and charged right for Wen Fengjin! What the hell is going on? Wang Xiaomie looked over in surprise and was stunned for a minute. Xiao An''s skin, which was indistinguishable from human skin, was actually chapping in a succession of tiny fissures, which covered her exposed legs, arms, and neck. Just looking at it hurt. Blue blood sprayed forth when Xiao An was struck hard with the weapon. Wen Fengjin stabbed her in the chest with his sword. Xiao An''s movements came to a halt, and her body swayed a few times, blue blood bled from her eyes, and her head shook as if her neck couldn''t support it. Xiao An expressionlessly pulled the soft sword penetrating her chest with gentle hands, so powerful that even Wen Fengjin had no alternative but to withdraw his might and retreat. "What''s going on?" An Kai approached Wen Fengjin and inquired. Wen Fengjin''s expression went chilly, and he didn''t respond, instead sneering at Yi Yan. People who spend their days yelling about evil and monsters are far crueler than the monsters! Wang Xiaomie, on the other side, observed Xiao An battle with An Kai and Wen Fengjin again as if she had made a great move. The one-eyed puppets took advantage of the situation to make matters worse, and the gold weapons proved too dangerous for An Kai. An Kai''s abilities were exceptional, yet he couldn''t keep the swarms of ants from biting the elephant to death. Furthermore, it was as if he had drawn hate, and he was always the one who was battered. Wen Fengjin would change positions to block the crazy Xiao An when An Kai couldn''t hold on, so that An Kai had time to take the medicine. In this way, the ones who were suppressed and beaten turned out to be Wen Fengjin and An Kai! Wang Xiaomie didn''t know how Xiao An was resisting Wen Fengjin''s coercion right now, but seeing Xiao An like that made him realize it wasn''t a good thing. As expected. Bai Yu''s face grew pale as he saw this scene. He turned his head and stared at Yi Yan, asking in disbelief: "What are you doing?! Xiao An¡¯s core will be completely damaged if she continues like this and she will die!" Yi Yan''s easy smile disappeared, and his slender eyes were drawn to Bai Yu. He stated: "It is not yet time. The drought demon and Wen Fengjin have yet to be consumed to the extent that I desire." Bai Yu couldn''t contain his rage and stared wide-eyed. Because he was angry, he spoke quickly and quietly: "We can use Xiaomie and that purple-haired zombie to make them kill each other right away! Anyway, in the end..." "Bai Yu!" Bai Yu''s words became lodged in his throat as a result of the indifferent voice, and his face grew red from the discomfort. Yi Yan was like a gentle teacher, but when he became enraged, he made young people like Bai Yu nervous. Yi Yan chastised: "Wen Fengjin is an immortal monster, and the drought demon is also a violent creature that feeds on countless resentment and blood in order to grow. If we can''t consume them, even if we let them battle until only one is left, we might not have the last laugh! Can''t you see how tenacious a monster''s vitality is and how formidable its abilities are?!" "But Xiao An..." "Bai Yu!" Yi Yan and Bai Yu locked their gazes on each other. "Xiao An is my masterpiece, my best puppet, yet a puppet is nothing more than a tool." Yi Yan looked away from Bai Yu''s bewildered gaze to watch the people fighting outside and remarked lightly. "Tools need to be replaced..." Wang Xiaomie, who could hear everything: ...Beast. That young girl was an individual no matter how you looked at her. Even though she was essentially a created puppet, she could still speak and live like a human. She had been with Yi Yan for so long that he should at least have some affection for her. But he abandoned her so easily... Extreme rationality is just cruelty... Even Wang Xiaomie, an outsider, felt bad, let alone Bai Yu. Bai Yu gazed at the man he thought was the gentlest, most considerate, and would provide him with a happy family, but he never imagined this man to be his blood relative. And now he''d spoken something like that, shattering all his fantasies and expectations! Bai Yu smiled dismally as he replayed the memories of getting along with Xiao An in his head. "I¡¯ve always treated that child like my younger sister. She¡¯s a part of our family... Isn''t it correct that you won''t let her withdraw because you already have a better ''masterpiece''?" Yi Yan''s face was frosty, and he didn''t respond. He wouldn''t allow anything to go wrong with the plan he''d been working on for over two decades just because of Bai Yu''s sorrow. Wang Xiaomie sighed sympathetically from the bottom of his heart as he looked at Bai Yu''s back. Oh, foolish Da Bai~ Bai Yu tightened his fists and turned to look outside the door. An Kai took the medicine one by one, while more and more one-eyed puppets broke around him. Xiao An''s right arm was severed, and a steady stream of blue liquid ran from it, staining the white cartoon shirt, blue vest, and skirt. The crimson and gold figures worked together to blaze dazzling rays of light across the air. Xiao An was stunned as she saw herself flying towards the sky filled with dark clouds. She blinked her big eyes and felt as if she had turned into a cloud and was floating in the air. A white glare exploded, perplexing the inorganic eyes, and she fell down and saw her own body... The headless girl shook her body a few times, knelt on the ground, and eventually joined the broken puppets. They''d all turned into piles of junk in the dump. Creak, creak... Bai Yu averted his gaze from the lifeless eyeballs. He sat stiffly in the wooden chair, his teeth clenched. The wounds on Wen Fengjin''s body were beginning to heal, as seen through the cut garments. An Kai sat on a heap of puppet bodies and flipped the medicine bottle upside down. It only had one pill left in it. He grumbled as he gulped the medicine, "These puppets are so annoying. There are more than 200, if not 300, and even if there is medicine to heal the body, it is mentally draining." He lowered his voice: "Senior Wen, if you guessed correctly, it will be the two of us who will fight in a while. This ba$tard was extremely insidious more than 20 years ago. According to the plan, you should be cautious in the end." An Kai changed the subject with a bitter smile: "I will entrust my and my family¡¯s lives to Senior Wen. Please remember not to actually murder me!" "Of course I remember," Wen Fengjin said, raising the corners of his lips and nodding. When he heard the words, An Kai stopped talking and began to rest. "Looks like you¡¯re done." Yi Yan smiled in satisfaction as he noticed the wounds on Wen Fengjin and An Kai. He approached Wang Xiaomie and Little Purple Hair. Wang Xiaomie hurriedly resumed a lifeless expression, and then Yi Yan carried them in front of everyone. Wang Xiaomie stood on the ground, but the agitated Little Purple Hair growled and struggled before being nonchalantly dumped at his(WXM) feet. "Roar¡ª" The white fabric sack flailed around a few times, perhaps from the pain of the fall, and Little Purple Hair wailed out in a low voice, sounding very feeble. An Kai''s eyes went bright red as he saw this scene. The cheerful young man''s face was fierce and menacing. He stared at Yi Yan as if he¡¯d lost his mind and was about to leap forward and eat Yi Yan alive! "Do these two look familiar to you?" Yi Yan stood behind Wang Xiaomie with a crooning laugh, turned his face sideways, and caressed Wang Xiaomie''s side face with his hand. Wang Xiaomie almost shivered when Yi Yan touched him. And the expression on Wen Fengjin''s face was almost identical to An Kai''s. "Bai Yu." Pleased with their reactions, Yi Yan called out to Bai Yu, "Keep an eye on the puppet in your hand. If anything happens, break the puppet''s neck." Bai Yu responded quietly. Yi Yan lifted Little Purple Hair''s cloth sack, lightly flicked off dust on his cyan Mandarin jacket with one hand, and smiled at Wen Fengjin and An Kai. "Now these two you cherish are in my hands, and I can control their life or death at any time. I can kill both of them at once, or I can let one go... Understand?" Wen Fengjin sneered at him. An Kai''s face went blue, and his veins protruded. ''Your women are in my hands,'' Wang Xiaomie ridiculed in his heart. ''I can spare one if you are obedient.'' Who could not comprehend such simple words? Little Purple Hair was still raging in the cloth sack. An Kai almost revealed the actual nature of a zombie. His sharply lengthening fingernails were jet-black, and he was about to charge up with his pike, but Yi Yan chuckled and said, "If you take one more step forward, I will kill him." An Kai''s footsteps stopped dead in their tracks, and he cursed, "F*ck!" Wen Fengjin did not speak, but Wang Xiaomie had never seen Wen Fengjin make such an expression before, save when the two of them were being hunted down in the past. "Only one can live." Yi Yan said with a chuckle, his thin lips slightly raised and his eyes full of condescending banter. "It doesn''t matter whether you believe it or not, I only need one of you two to remain. The hostage in my hands becomes useless and dies when you do. Whoever survives can stay... Don''t even try to deceive me. Drought Demon, failing to kill you twenty years ago is the greatest regret in my life, and now it¡¯s time to make up for it..." Wen Fengjin and An Kai didn''t move. Yi Yan didn¡¯t mind. He cocked his head indifferently and applied a light pressure with his palm, causing Little Purple Hair to screech. Wang Xiaomie couldn''t help but seize his own neck and begin to exert force... "Are you sure you don''t want to begin?" Wen Fengjin and An Kai exchanged glances as the man''s laughter filled the air, then took a few steps back and raised their weapons. The bloody stench of the life-or-death struggle filled the air, and a few raindrops fell, wetting the loess on the ground. Wang Xiaomie was exceedingly nervous. "Drought Demon, throw away your medicine bottle," Yi Yan ordered as the fight of the titans was about to begin. An Kai''s expression twisted. He spat violently and tossed the pill bottle to the ground. Yi Yan smiled and nodded, "Good." F*ck! Luckily, Wen Fengjin anticipated this. An Kai grit his teeth as he remembered the pill in his brocade bag, swung his spear with flair, and stabbed Wen Fengjin with full force... Thunder broke out once more, and rain finally began to fall. Raindrops the size of beans fell heavily and fast to the ground, while the wind continued to howl. The sky was a dull yellow, and Wang Xiaomie couldn''t see the two of them clearly. He could only see bursts of chilly light through the rain that were extraordinarily bright! He was on pins and needles, and Yi Yan averted his gaze when he saw they were indeed battling intensely. "Bai Yu, get ready. Even if one of them lives, it will be nothing more than an arrow at the end of its flight. I''ll kill the survivor, then we''ll burn this place down and leave immediately!" Wang Xiaomie heard all of this and conveyed a heartfelt greeting to Yi Yan''s eighteen generations of ancestors, planning how to stab him while he was distracted. "Understood." Bai Yu responded lightly. He raised his eyes to glance at Wang Xiaomie''s side face when Yi Yan was not paying attention. Wang Xiaomie wondered if it was his imagination, but he kept having the feeling that Bai Yu''s glance meant something more. But the sound of flesh being sliced open and the muffled groans soon stole Wang Xiaomie''s attention to what was going on outside, and there was no time to worry about Bai Yu. Translator: I''m so done with this... CH 82 Chapter 82 If you must stab, stab the kidney The heavy rain muffled the sound of a man grunting in pain and the sound of flesh being cut. Wang Xiaomie was terrified since he couldn''t determine who it belonged to. Even though he knew Wen Fengjin and An Kai must have plans, he was nevertheless worried! Wang Xiaomie repressed his anxiety and kept a wary eye out. The bean-sized raindrops descended hard and fast, forming a little stream on the ground and turning the loess on the ground into mud. Wang Xiaomie''s heart plummeted when he peered a bit through the rain curtain. An Kai was hurt... An Kai took a step back, swung his pike out in a semicircle, and deflected Wen Fengjin''s second sword assault in the downpour. A lot of blood was shot out of his arm when he moved, and it landed in a pool and diluted. The heavy rain seemed to have chilled their hearts, and water trickled from the tips of their hair, sleeves, corners of their garments, and even their chins. Following a little break, the two rushed straight at each other again. The pike rushed in to poke Wen Fengjin''s knee, and Wen Fengjin''s entire body jumped into the air lightly by pushing one foot on the ground. The crimson robe was like a red oiled paper umbrella that repelled water. The pike was close behind, and An Kai also sprang up, holding the weapon with one arm. The pike tip was a little frigid, but the soft sword was tough and durable despite its softness. It flashed through the air as the long and thin palm wrapped it around the body of the pike, leaving deep imprints on it and even binding it inside. But An Kai refused to let go, roaring and stabbing forward even harder! Would the pike snap in the next split second? Or would the pike stab Wen Fengjin in the chest? Through the torrential rain, Wang Xiaomie and the others all watched wide-eyed. "Scrape¡ª" The people who collided split in a matter of seconds, fell to the position where the other party was standing a moment ago, and retreated somewhat! Who''s going to win?! Everyone held their breath and stared at the two immobile and quiet people. An Kai suddenly sank to his knees on the ground, thick blood spilling from his neck, and the heroic man in bright clothes collapsed into the muddy water and didn''t move... Wen Fengjin gripped the pike head pierced into his chest, the veins on the back of his hand bulged, and with a muffled grunt, he pulled out the weapon embedded in his ribs, accompanied by a strong astringent smell of medicine that diluted as it met the air. At the vital moment, he took the jab and shattered the pike''s body... "Dong!" Wen Fengjin''s face was deathly pale as he tossed the blood-stained silver spear head to the ground, and his corpse-like complexion was tinged with bluish-gray. For immortals like them, the heart was the most important place. Blood oozing from his white fingertips, red and dazzling, he covered the wound. "Dead..." Yi Yan''s eyes widened and his pupils contracted as he gazed at the drought demon''s corpse with ecstasy on his face. He couldn''t stop the corners of his mouth from perking up crazily and taking two steps forward. "Dead!" Yi Yan stared unwaveringly at the scene outside. "Hahaha, twenty years! Twenty years! Good death! Hahaha!" He raised his head and laughed wildly, his fists clenched. As if his long-cherished wish had come true, he narrowed his eyes, his excitement visible, and took a deep breath. "I got my revenge... I finally got my revenge!" Bai Yu gazed indifferently at Yi Yan''s excitement, but Wang Xiaomie couldn''t tell if it was Wen Fengjin and An Kai''s act or if something horrible had truly happened, and he didn''t dare to look away. Little Purple Hair next to him seemed to have discovered something at this time. Inside the big white cloth sack, there was a sound like a puppy sniffing something, followed by a loud growl! "Roar!" There were scratching sounds from the cloth sack, and the ghost hand coated in toxic hair extended out the bag and waved around. The fabric bag rolled back and forth on the ground as it strained and howled in misery. This noise also roused the unreasonable Yi Yan. His expression froze, then slowly reverted to that calm demeanor. "He''s dead, so you''re useless." Yi Yan approached Purple Hair''s side, trod on Little Purple Hair, and exerted some force on his foot... "Roar!" Purple Hair shrieked in pain. Wang Xiaomie clenched his teeth and quietly brushed his thigh with his palm, preparing to stab this b*tch with KaiMing! "Don''t step on it." Bai Yu, who had been silent until now, added softly, "Purple-haired zombies are also a good material. I want to take it back." Yi Yan relaxed his strength, and the corners of his slender eyes swept over Bai Yu''s face. They looked at each other for a while before Yi Yan took his foot away, agreeing. Bai Yu stood up and dragged the struggling Little Purple Hair to the place where Wang Xiaomie had been standing earlier, where it was tied to a pillar. Heavy footsteps came through the layers of rain, and Wang Xiaomie watched Wen Fengjin move closer and closer until he finally approached him. His nose was sour, his phony lifeless face almost crumpled, and tears welled up in his eyes. "I won; now it''s time for you to keep your promise." When Wen Fengjin entered the wooden house, his entire body was soaked, his clothes were plastered to his skin, and there was soon a puddle of water under his feet. "Of course, I will keep my word." Yi Yan smiled lightly, his slender eyes ran over Wen Fengjin''s bloodless face and his slightly trembling hand holding the sword. "After all, it''s a drought demon, so it''s a tough win for you; even if you have the power to heal, your ability will diminish with your frequent healing...right? Hehe~" "That has nothing to do with you; return my shixiong to me." Wen Fengjin''s face was as white as ice, his tone was flat and indifferent, and his long and narrow unusual pupils remained scarlet and frightening. With the brilliant red pattern between his brows and a head of wet silver hair, he resembled a terrifying devil. But, in Yi Yan''s opinion, all of this was Wen Fengjin''s bluff. He must have been severely injured... Yi Yan''s lips and eyes were curved, and he had shallow wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. "Let''s start with the promise. How do I know if you¡¯re telling the truth?" Yi Yan''s astute gaze moved across Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin, as if he had uncovered something. The terrified Wang Xiaomie became even more terrified, but when he noticed that Wen Fengjin''s demeanor remained unchanged, he calmed down and listened to what they were saying. "I''m not a greenhorn youngster, and I''ve always had the habit of taking precautionary measures to avoid future troubles," Yi Yan laughed softly and motioned to Bai Yu. "Bai Yu, go see if the drought demon is truly dead!" F*ck you, old fox! Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin exchanged glances, and Xiaomie plainly noticed Wen Fengjin blinking his eyes slowly. On the surface, it appeared as if rain had fallen into his eyes, but how could Wang Xiaomie, who had been with him day and night for two lifetimes, not recognize Wen Fengjin''s "pondering over" expression? Wang Xiaomie: I knew you guys were acting! What now? Damn! He won''t be found out, right? Or I''ll stab him in the kidney right now! Wen Fengjin: I¡¯m waiting. Wang Xiaomie: ... During their brief eye contact, Bai Yu also stood up, picked up the umbrella at the door and opened it, walked into the heavy downpour, and slowly squatted down in front of An Kai''s ''corpse.'' Bai Yu examined An Kai''s body and discovered that Drought Demon An Kai''s eyes were wide open, his neck wound had healed, and he was caught as he tucked the small brocade pouch into his collar with his fingers. The drought demon''s face was awkward, and he rolled his eyes, pretending to die with a remaining grievance. (i.e. die with your eyes open.) Bai Yu: "..." An Kai: "..." An Kai: You didn''t notice, you didn''t notice, I''m dead, I''m dead... Bai Yu: ...Are you kidding me??? The air seemed to condense a few seconds before Bai Yu opened his mouth as Yi Yan stared at Wen Fengjin with a bright smile, who also looked at Yi Yan with an expressionless face. The two men''s eyes crackled with murderous intent. As if to say, "You''ve been seen through by me," and "No, you haven''t." Wang Xiaomie was caught in the midst, and the two men in front and behind were more murderous and oppressive than the other. He didn''t dare to move, and he certainly didn''t speak. He was about to pee. At this point, Bai Yu''s voice broke through the heavy rain and yelled, "The drought demon is indeed dead!" His voice was a little distorted due to the pounding rain, but it had a kind of power about it that dissipated the condensed air in the room in an instant. After a while, Bai Yu returned with the umbrella, put it away, and nodded to Yi Yan. Yi Yan''s lips were raising uncontrollably. He looked exceedingly happy. "Remove my shixiong''s control, then give him back to me," Wen Fengjin said calmly, raising his sword. "Ah~ this." Yi Yan lowered his hands and said, "No rush!" After he finished speaking, two golden dagger-like small knives slipped from his cuffs and landed in his palms. The light cyan figure rushed in front of Wen Fengjin. Wen Fengjin dodged with his head tilted, and a few strands of silver gleamed as they flew up. The next instant, the golden knives had become entangled with the soft sword! Yi Yan''s assault was near to the body, and his supple physique was just like an uncatchable loach. Wen Fengjin knitted his brows as his soft sword danced like a silver ribbon. "Ding ding ding¡ª" Sparks flew as the short knives collided with the sword, and one of the short blades was blocked from Wen Fengjin''s face. Yi Yan twisted his waist violently, drawing a large circle with his body nimbly. The weapon in his palm was plunged into Wen Fengjin''s back with one arm open! "Squish¡ª" The small knife pierced the flesh cleanly. Wang Xiaomie''s eyes widened. He couldn''t believe regular people could hurt Wen Fengjin. The last time Wen Fengjin was hurt was in the North, and it was only because he was too focused on saving Xiaomie to resist. Wen Fengjin kicked Yi Yan away before he could stab him again or expand the wound. He soared upside down for a few seconds before landing on his toes, stabilizing his body. He threw his weapon out without giving Wen Fengjin a chance to breathe. Wen Fengjin just moved sideways to avoid being hit, and when he turned around, he found himself face to face with Yi Yan. The two men were locked together while they fought, and Wang Xiaomie finally understood the reason for An Kai''s nervous vigilance when he mentioned Yi Yan... Is this a f*cking human?! Wang Xiaomie observed Yi Yan''s strikes, which had a changeable trajectory similar to that of a ninja in an anime, and his movements, which appeared to be overlapping images to the naked eye! As if the motherf*cker possessed a shadow clone! F*ck, Yi Yan is the sweeping monk[1] with unrivaled martial arts in the movie, isn¡¯t he?! Can this ability be human?! Oh my god, you''re afraid you''re not cheating me! Wang Xiaomie noticed that both Wen Fengjin and Yi Yan were gradually becoming injured, but Yi Yan was clearly difficult to deal with. Wen Fengjin''s expression became more and more sinister, and his pupils became redder and redder. Wang Xiaomie, fearful that something awful would happen, cast a sly glance at Bai Yu. In order to avoid accidental injury, Bai Yu hid behind a pillar and peeked, so didn¡¯t notice him. The timing is perfect! Wang Xiaomie discreetly opened his pants to reveal an 18cm... ahem, his dagger KaiMing. Wen Fengjin had just used Yi Yan to leap back at this point. Yi Yan took a few steps back and came to a halt beside him. Excellent chance! Wang Xiaomie aimed at Yi Yan''s waist, grasping KaiMing and thrusting in! Come on, kidney-poking artifact! KaiMing: ... Footnotes: [1] A character from Demigods and Semi-Devils, wuxia novel by Jin Yong and its TV and screen adaptations. Translator: Is it just me, or did the author drag this arc out? CH 83 Chapter 83 Backhand Who knows if it was unhappy because it was dubbed a kidney stabbing artifact, or if his dagger KaiMing detected his fighting spirit, because the dagger KaiMing suddenly emitted heat, with a dark light streaming from its root to its tip. Wow~ Wang Xiaomie''s puppy eyes widened, as if the dagger KaiMing in his grasp was telling him, ''Youngster, you have been strengthened. Go and see him off!'' Youngster Wang: Cool! He slowly dog-sneaked[1] behind Yi Yan, and after fighting, Yi Yan and Wen Fengjin came to a brief halt in front of him. That¡¯s it...now! Wang Xiaomie held his breath, his brow drenched in cold sweat. He hummed "Hallelujah" in his heart because he was afraid Yi Yan would detect any murderous aura on his body. After all, that''s how movies worked. So long as you launch a sneak attack, a so-and-so hero will undoubtedly notice the murderous aura and exclaim, "Who''s there!" Yi Yan was about to assault Wen Fengjin again after a little pause, but Wen Fengjin''s face turned pale, and a large coercion erupted from his side, the soft sword in his hand slightly quivering. Wen Fengjin had been glancing in Wang Xiaomie''s direction the entire time, and Wang Xiaomie also realized he didn''t have time to send any secret signals, so he blinked hurriedly at Wen Fengjin, shouted in his heart to cheer himself up, lifted KaiMing, and stabbed! Someone seemed to have pressed the time deceleration button. The sweat on his brow slid down and clung to his lashes, the back of the cyan Mandarin jacket man in front of him became closer and closer, and KaiMing''s body emanated a blood-drinking dark glow¡ª "Tss¡ª" Wang Xiaomie grimaced and turned his face aside, his eyes closed. He didn''t want to look too closely. Even he was flabbergasted when he felt something in his palm. I really did it? No way... Wang Xiaomie blinked his eyes open. He had both hands on the dagger KaiMing. To avoid detection, he moved slowly and deliberately, not daring to apply too much force. He hadn''t expected KaiMing to be so sharp. He had pierced Yi Yan''s left waist with a light thrust like slicing tofu. The soft long jacket was split apart, revealing the exquisite silk lining within, and blood saturated the Mandarin jacket in a flash, gradually spreading... Wang Xiaomie swallowed, his crown stinging with pain. He cautiously raised his head and glimpsed Yi Yan''s chilly expression. His eyes were like a knife piercing his head, and the corners of his mouth had abruptly hooked up. Wang Xiaomie: ... "Xiaomie! Get out of the way!" Wen Fengjin suddenly let forth an anguished roar. Wang Xiaomie had never heard him speak so loudly before, but when he spoke, Wang Xiaomie reflexively withdrew the dagger, promptly squatted down, and covered his head with his hands, protecting his head and soft abdomen. The next thing he knew, his shoulders and arms were in excruciating pain, and a kick sent his entire body flying making him crash into the chair and tall teapoy. He smashed the wooden chair, and teacups and other assorted stuff crashed down with him, creating a jumble. "Ow, ow! My shoulder¡ª" Wang Xiaomie rolled on the ground in agony, his right hand gripping his left shoulder. He was unable to lift his full left shoulder and arm. Even though the pain was dull, his bones and flesh hurt like hell. Oh f*ck! This kick directly broke his bone! At the same time, Wen Fengjin over there launched an attack on Yi Yan. The soft sword was excessively flexible, and it would shudder a few times as it came into contact with the short blades, cutting your hand if you weren''t cautious. Yi Yan intended to kill him, but Wen Fengjin intervened. Wang Xiaomie endured the discomfort and crouched, fleeing to a corner. The artifact in his palm, KaiMing, was designed to assassinate ancient monarchs. The dagger had a bloodletting groove. The sides were thin, while the center was thick. When it was buried in the body, it ripped a large hole in it, and it was impossible to save the stabbed individual with ancient medical techniques. So when Yi Yan was wounded, even if he was cruel to others and himself, he could hold back the pain and continue to battle fiercely, albeit he was no longer as graceful as before. As matters stood, Wen Fengjin didn''t pretend to be weak. He raised the corners of his lips in a half-smile. Yi Yan''s arm was severed with a sweep of the long sleeve. "You''ve all deceived me!" There was nothing else Yi Yan could realize now that things had progressed to this point. He was a smart man. He practically guessed everything after a little thought, but he also seemed to grasp that Wang Xiaomie had not taken the drug completely. His face sank, and he yelled, "Bai Yu! Twist off the puppet''s neck!" Even if they were immortal, their heart was the most vital organ. However, Wang Xiaomie would lose control and strangle his own neck if they destroyed the puppet. He couldn''t believe these monsters could survive without their heads! Everyone''s gaze was drawn to Bai Yu, who was hiding behind the pillar, when Yi Yan said this. Bai Yu maintained a serene demeanor while slowly raising the puppet in his palm. "Don''t act like you''re dead; the situation has changed!" Wen Fengjin frowned, moved his feet, and swiftly approached Bai Yu. Just as Yi Yan was going to stop him, the sound of something cleaving the air rang out through the rain, and two stones brushed against his ears and soared by! Yi Yan could only stop his actions when he saw An Kai, who had just died, appear at the door. An Kai flung away the water on his hair and body while grinning at Yi Yan. "Yo~" Yi Yan''s typically calm face showed disbelief with slender eyes slightly widening. He turned his head subconsciously to glance at Bai Yu, who returned his gaze. The round cat eyes had become icy and a little carefree, no more lively and innocent, open and joyous. An Kai interrupted Yi Yan before he could open his mouth to question. When Bai Yu saw Wen Fengjin approaching, he was unafraid and lightly tossed the puppet over, saying, "Here you go." Wen Fengjin''s long and narrow eyes ran over Bai Yu''s expressionless face as he held the puppet in his slender and fair hands. He didn''t kill Bai Yu, and he had nothing to say to him. This human deserved to die since he poisoned his shixiong. But if he took action, his shixiong would undoubtedly be upset, and he might even be at odds with him. He also most likely assisted in the cover-up of An Kai''s situation right now. Choosing to ignore Bai Yu, Wen Fengjin turned around and came to Wang Xiaomie¡¯s side, and tore off all the strings on the puppet. Xiaomie''s body immediately relaxed as a peculiar feeling swept over it. Wang Xiaomie returned to the familiar embrace, sniffing the bitter and astringent odor of medicine and the moist scent of water while tightly clutching Wen Fengjin. "Don''t be scared..." Wen Fengjin softly kissed Xiaomie''s forehead while running his cool fingers through his hair. His shoulder wound was itchy, inflamed, and a little painful as it healed. Wang Xiaomie burst into tears, convinced that this had to be the reason, and not because he was effeminate! "Xiaomie?" Wen Fengjin called him softly. Wang Xiaomie wiped his tears on Wen Fengjin''s chest, but Wen Fengjin''s clothing were soaked, and now Xiaomie¡¯s entire face was soaked. "I''m all right." Wang Xiaomie raised his head, his nose and eyes bright red. The ice-cold silver-haired man was startled, then smiled, "Crying?" "Am not!" Wang Xiaomie glared at him. After hearing Wen Fengjin laughing in a muffled voice, Wang Xiaomie was shamed into anger and hammered him. "Hey¡ªI said¡ª" Suddenly, a helpless male voice came over. An Kai was smiling wryly: "Can Senior and Madam put off public displays of affection for a bit? Come and help me first!" Wang Xiaomie: "..." F*ck, I totally forgot about it. He quickly shoved Wen Fengjin, who put away the smile on his face, reluctantly picked his sword, rose up, and helped Wang Xiaomie to the side. An Kai could fight Yi Yan to a standstill or even win, but An Kai was too worn out from the previous fights. Yi Yan¡¯s expression became ugly as Wen Fengjin joined the fight. "Both of you are famous figures in history. Isn¡¯t fighting two against one too much?" Yi Yan said through gritted teeth. "Nope! Don¡¯t you know that in history, I was an a$$hole who committed the crime of rebellion?" An Kai looked at him with a grin. "In history, I was known as the Demon Lord," Wen Fengjin, too, curled his lips. In short, he was not a good person and was actually a villain. Yi Yan: "......" Because communication was ineffective, they could only confront each other, and the three of them engaged in another battle royale. Wang Xiaomie gave Bai Yu a wary glance. He nervously switched his focus to the three of them, seeing him in a daze, as if he''d lost his soul. Experts always exchange blows at breakneck speed. There was nothing too fancy to show off, let alone a verbal brawl and shouts of ''XX sword-play!'' Yi Yan was stabbed in the chest a few minutes later, and with blood foaming from his mouth, he slumped unmoving to the ground with his eyes wide open... We won?! Wang Xiaomie exhaled a sigh of relief, and An Kai and Wen Fengjin¡¯s faces relaxed as well. An Kai had his Little Purple Hair in his heart and immediately turned to look at his wife, while Wen Fengjin frowned and thought about something. "Is he dead?" Wang Xiaomie inquired quietly, clutching his arm. "Mn, should be," Wen Fengjin answered. ...What the hell is "should be dead"? Wang Xiaomie''s mouth twitched, but he understood what Wen Fengjin was thinking. After all, Yi Yan appeared to be nothing like an ordinary person, so it was natural to be surprised that he''d been dispatched in this manner. Wen Fengjin glanced at Yi Yan''s body on the ground for a few seconds before raising his head and looking at Wang Xiaomie''s face. Wen Fengjin''s frigid visage finally thawed, and he turned and headed towards Wang Xiaomie, holding the soft sword in his hand. An Kai over there had already let Little Purple Hair out and was cradling him in his arms like a treasured possession, with barely a smidgeon of Purple Hair revealed. He lowered his head to examine Little Purple Hair''s wounds. And Bai Yu... After Yi Yan fell, Bai Yu''s face contorted, and all kinds of emotions twisted into a palette on his face, until everything vanished, leaving only two lines of tears pouring in obscurity. Everyone got the impression that the dust had settled. But the next moment, Wang Xiaomie looked in horror as Yi Yan''s body seemed to twitch. "Fengjin, look quickly! He f*cking moved!" Wen Fengjin and An Kai''s expressions changed, and they turned to look at Yi Yan''s body, which was lying on the ground. The other party''s body abruptly transformed dramatically. The black-gray hair became fully black, the fine lines around the eyes and brow smoothed out, and the wounds on the chest and other regions gradually healed¡­ {T/n: I guess the author forgot the severed arm.} The slender eyes suddenly opened under Wang Xiaomie''s terrified gaze! "My god! It¡¯s zh¨¤ sh¨©[2]!" "No, it isn¡¯t zh¨¤ sh¨©!" An Kai put down Purple Hair and quickly wrapped him in the cloth bag, then rushed over, "It¡¯s that same f*cking trick! He must have used that blood again!" He had seen it once before, twenty years ago, and had suffered a severe loss at the time. This was a scene that An Kai would never forget! What?! Wang Xiaomie watched as Yi Yan rose from the ground, his head full of black hair, his face ruddy and at least 10 years younger, and the corner of his mouth twitched. He not only looked fine, but also transformed into a beauty. Yi Yan, who had transformed into a young man of twenty, bent his head like a ghost and said, "Do you believe you''re the only ones who would leave a backhand[3]? Hehe~" Wang Xiaomie: "..." Wen Fengjin and An Kai exchanged glances before rushing towards Yi Yan without saying anything further. Why waste words? They¡¯d just kill him again! Footnotes: [1] ¹·¹·ËîËî: refers to an emoji of a husky watching on the sly behind a wall. [2] A corpse becoming animate. It has a humorous ring to it because it translates as "fake/fraudulent corpse." [3] A defensive position in chess. CH 84 Chapter 84 End Yi Yan covertly hid a lot of Yan Chun''s blood. Wang Xiaomie squatted in a corner and observed as the main villain Yi Yan repeatedly enacted what it meant to die and "Hey, I''m alive again." An Kai had now entirely transformed into a drought demon. His whole body was purple, his eyes were bloodshot, his face was sinister, and a set of fangs protruded from his mouth. He was panting unknowingly, and the weapon in Yi Yan''s palm caused a large gash on his stomach. The wound did not heal as a result of the weapon''s subduing nature, but instead released white mist. Wen Fengjin was the only one left to battle Yi Yan when An Kai rested against the wall by leaning on his hands. Even Wen Fengjin had several wounds on his body in the blink of an eye, and two piercing wounds on his thigh and arm were slowly healing on their own. "Mr. Wen will die..." Bai Yu suddenly approached Wang Xiaomie and stated this. Wang Xiaomie''s brows knitted together as he stared up at him. "I¡¯m not sure how to defeat him, but if the blood is so omnipotent and has no side effects, he won''t keep it from me." "So I assume this thing must have time and other constraints," Bai Yu said, lowering his gaze. "If they can hold out for a while, perhaps things will turn around." Wang Xiaomie clasped KaiMing hard, and his eyes, which had been fixed on the struggle, returned to Bai Yu. "Why are you telling me this?" Bai Yu remained silent for a moment before grinning, showing a smile without smiling. "I knew I was wrong, but I didn''t anticipate the mistake to be so extreme. I once thought that Teacher Yi Yan''s long-cherished wish was to kill the drought demon, so that when he finally kills the drought demon, I could persuade him to give up hurting you and Mr.Wen, and then leave here with him to live somewhere else..." "But now I realize it''s impossible. He wants to use your body as a material to make a puppet, won''t give me a family, and doesn''t care about Xiao An or anything else from the past. I''m already confused and unsure what to do next. Now I just want to put an end to it all, let everything end here... Even if Yi Yan is my grandfather..." Bai Yu remained silent for a while after speaking till this point. "Cheer up, Da Bai... First love will inevitably die a little tragically," Wang Xiaomie said sympathetically as he rose up and patted him on the shoulder. Although your first love''s death is a particularly melodramatic tragedy... Finally, there was light in Bai Yu''s eyes, and his smile became more genuine, "Thank you, Xiaomie, for still being willing to treat me kindly and comfort me at this time." "Don''t say that..." Wang Xiaomie shook his head. What had he not seen in his previous life? During that time in the Northland, family who had a close relationship with you could also plot your death with outsiders behind your back, and your most trusted subordinates could be spies sent by the enemy. He and Wen Fengjin were both victims and perpetrators. Wang Xiaomie had seen and experienced a lot, yet he didn''t seem to mind. He was used to having a positive attitude toward others, and he was also used to accepting people showing their bad side calmly. Human nature is not black and white. When Bai Yu betrayed him because of his feelings, he and Wen Fengjin devised clever countermeasures, but there was little sadness. The battle situation changed while they were conversing. Wen Fengjin had his chest stabbed. His feminine, handsome, and evil face was as white as a female ghost''s, his silver hair was dust-stained, his full lips were blue, and only the pattern on his glabella and his eyes remained vivid. On the surface, Yi Yan appeared uninjured. He even raised his hand and tossed his long black braid behind him, smiling and gently staring at Wen Fengjin with his young and ruddy face. "No good!" "It seems that we can''t wait for them to drag it, so we can only go up to help," Bai Yu frowned. Wang Xiaomie almost hurled himself at Wen Fengjin after noticing his injury. When he heard Bai Yu''s remarks, he hurriedly nodded and was about to rush over when Bai Yu grabbed his wrist. Wang Xiaomie: "What''s wrong?" Bai Yu was silent for a moment before asking, "I''ve actually been wanting to ask...Xiaomie, you and Mr. Wen are both from the same period, and you are Mr. Wen''s shixiong, so do you...know martial arts?" Wang Xiaomie: "...No." Bai Yu: "..." Wang Xiaomie: "F*ck you! What¡¯s with that look?! So what if I don¡¯t? I''ve been dead for over a thousand years; isn''t it normal for me to forget about fantasy things like martial arts!" What''s more, he was cheated when he passed the kung fu test system! Bai Yu: "...Ahem, I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. If you don''t know how, you''ll just run up and deliver yourself. As such, I''ll stop my grandfather and buy you some time. You see if Boss Wen has any ideas." Wang Xiaomie took a look at Bai Yu''s incredibly young and beautiful grandfather who could take on ten men, and said: "...Take care of yourself, Da Bai." "I know." Bai Yu nodded and dashed over to Yi Yan. Wang Xiaomie, on the other hand, ran to Wen Fengjin, quickly supported him, and promptly told Wen Fengjin what Bai Yu had indicated. An Kai placed a hand over the hole in his stomach and silently reached out to dab his hand in Wen Fengjin''s blood before sending it to his mouth. An Kai: "Ahem, can¡¯t waste the healing blood." Wang Xiaomie: "..." "If what he said is true, then we have no choice but to drag it." Wen Fengjin turned to face Yi Yan and said: "Previously, An Kai and mine consuming method was poor. The red pills are quite powerful, and the side effects are severe." An Kai and Wang Xiaomie nodded, and An Kai continued to freeload the blood surreptitiously. Wen Fengjin covered his chest wound silently, his pale face terrifying Wang Xiaomie. On the opposite side, Yi Yan frowned at Bai Yu, who was blocking his path, and asked, "Bai Yu, what are you doing?" Bai Yu''s face was darker than Yi Yan¡¯s as he stated coldly, "Can''t you see I''m stopping you¡ª Grandpa!" For a moment, Yi Yan was stunned, his eyes evasive: "You know everything?" "Hehe, yeah, are you disappointed that you can''t deceive me for the rest of your life?" Bai Yu''s fists were clenched. "Is it fun to toy with me! Are you deliberately exploiting my feelings... You already know what I think of you, right!? Aren''t you disgusted!" "...¡­" Bai Yu and Yi Yan had a heated argument, and Bai Yu''s face became more contorted as he talked. He thought of Xiao An, who he considered his younger sister, and Yi Yan¡¯s concealment from him. The feelings he so carefully cherished, and the deep affection that drove him to betray his friend without scruples, had become a kind of shame that made people laugh their heads off when spoken aloud! Apart from Yi Yan''s initial shock and discomfort in the face of his interrogation, there was no zero justification, and he essentially acquiesced. Bai Yu''s face was flushed with rage and excitement, and his eyes were filled with resentment as he fixedly glared at Yi Yan. "I must eliminate the monsters. Your granny was slaughtered by these monsters, as was your father. Bai Yu, get out of the way," Yi Yan replied after a brief pause. Bai Yu sneered, "Even if you initially wished to avenge Grandma, what happened later?! You were simply venting your anger! You''ve been missing for so long, my father died searching for you, my mother died of illness in bed, and I''ve been left all alone, while you just stood by and watched coldly. Have you seen these things and considered our feelings? Did you care when you took advantage of my feelings?" Yi Yan remained silent. Bai Yu snarled at him, "You cold-blooded monster, bring Xiao An back to me! Give her back!" "I said she''s just a tool I made!" "She''s a person!" The heavily panting Bai Yu suddenly calmed himself, flashed Yi Yan a crazy smile, and said: "You think others are monsters, but look at yourself; you are the monster. If you say Xiao An is a tool, I will turn you into a tool one day! I''ll let you know how she feels!" "I''m going to kill you...you¡¯re not my grandfather, and neither are you my teacher...you¡¯re a cold-blooded monster." Bai Yu mumbled in a low voice before bursting out laughing and racing towards Yi Yan, clutching a teacup fragment he had picked up at some point in his palm and prepared to slash at Yi Yan''s throat. Yi Yan raised his hand to block the piece of porcelain with his palm as he glanced at his sole descendent. Bai Yu''s face was full of elation as the piece of porcelain pierced the palm of his hand and a blood-red liquid spilled out. He wanted to pull out the porcelain piece, but Yi Yan grabbed his hand and yanked it away. Bai Yu staggered a few steps forward before fainting when Yi Yan hit the back of his neck. Gently helping Bai Yu to the wall behind him, Yi Yan¡¯s gaze paused for a moment on the quiet face, then he stood up and headed back steadily towards Wen Fengjin and the others. Wen Fengjin pushed Wang Xiaomie behind him, raised his sword, and stood tall, while An Kai stood silently by him. "Fengjin..." Wang Xiaomie looked at his back and called softly. "It''s okay." Wen Fengjin did not look back. His low, hoarse voice was not heavy but rather had a hint of a smile as he said: "I¡¯m not going to die. I still have to build you a nest on the acacia tree and watch you hatch a flock of chicks." Wang Xiaomie curved the corners of his lips in an attempt to force a smile when he heard Fengjin recall the joke he made while growing the feather pattern but failed. The man in front of him vanished in the twinkling of an eye, and the spacious hall filled with the crisp sound of metal impacts. Wang Xiaomie opened his eyes wide, his vision soon blurred by tears, yet he refused to look away. No matter what, he would witness it. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Yi Yan was seriously strong. Even if he had previously utilized crowd tactics on Wen Fengjin and An Kai, and Xiao An and ''Choose One'' had been exhausted, he was not an ordinary human being after all. Yi Yan could hold his own against the two of them. He initially focused on fighting An Kai, and even after being wounded multiple times by Wen Fengjin, he did not back down. "Old fox!" cursed An Kai, who had a large gash in his stomach. He swiftly retreated with an ugly face. Wang Xiaomie supported him and looked nervously towards the center. Wen Fengjin¡¯s red and black robe fluttered, and the snake-like soft sword in his grasp cut the air like some omnipotent weapon. Yi Yan grabbed the small blades with both hands and expertly and rapidly struck different spots of the soft sword. For a brief period, the soft sword trembled and rushed towards Wen Fengjin, but Wen Fengjin flicked it as hard as he could, straightening the soft sword. "You can''t hold on much longer." Yi Yan grinned as he glanced at Wen Fengjin''s chest. "I''ll send you the same statement," Wen Fengjin said, raising the corners of his lips. Their gazes locked, and their bodies moved in unison the next second. The frigid light flashing everywhere was bigger than the rain outside, rushing to disturb people''s hearts and vision. A burst of wind blew through, the rain poured in, and the bean-sized raindrops were cut into several fragments in an instant. A short golden knife pierced Wen Fengjin''s shoulder, while another short knife blocked the dagger aimed at Yi Yan''s throat. "It''s over." Yi Yan sneered and sliced the short knife hard at Wen Fengjin¡¯s throat! "Fengjin¡ª" Wang Xiaomie yelled, and Wen Fengjin intended to block it with his hand as well. At this point, Bai Yu, who was supposed to be knocked unconscious, sprang onto Yi Yan''s back, strangled Yi Yan''s shoulders, and leaned back forcefully! Yi Yan faltered and raised his head, taken off guard, with an astonished expression on his face. Wen Fengjin, of course, did not pass up this opportunity and threw off the soft sword and wrapped it around Yi Yan''s neck. "Slash¡ª" The black pupils dilated. The torrential rain muted the faint sound and blood sprayed everywhere. Bai Yu dropped to the ground, wiped the blood from his face with a numb expression, stared at the corpse laying next to him, his entire face distorted, and then burst out laughing like a madman. Wang Xiaomie stared at this scene in disbelief, and he didn¡¯t come to his senses until he was embraced by Wen Fengjin, who was covered in blood from the wounds all over his body. It''s all over... Wang Xiaomie remembered the time they narrowly escaped death as blood beads fell from Wen Fengjin''s body like rain. He embraced Wen Fengjin tightly and couldn''t help laughing as he heard the man grunt softly in pain. "It''s over¡ªwe won!" "Mn." "We all made it, Fengjin¡ªwe all survived¡ª" Wang Xiaomie couldn''t stop crying. Wen Fengjin clasped the back of his head with his palm and pressed Xiaomie into his arms, not saying anything... An Kai grinned, limped over to Little Purple Hair, and hugged him with one arm. It was raining furiously outside, pelting the messy puppets. "Xiao Wenzi." "Mn?" "Let''s go back to the tomb palace." "Okay." We shall be by each other''s sides this time, no matter how many thousand years pass¡­ Translator: The main story has concluded. We have 9 extras, 3 for the main CP and 6 for the side CP. An Kai''s story doesn''t spark my interest, so I won''t be translating it unless I can get some kofis to keep me going~ Extra #1 will be ready in a few days. See you soon! CH 85 Chapter 85 Follow-up "There is a mountain god on our mountain." An old man sat on a cloth-covered seat in a wet mountain forest, smoking tobacco in a pipe and looked out at the heavy rain, and said this statement intentionally or unintentionally. And the three men with backpacks who had taken shelter in the temple from the rain exchanged glances. The oldest one shook his head, while the other two strong young men squatted together, pretending to be dumb. The heavily forested mountain ridge was twined, and the mountain''s heavy fog lifted. When it was going to rain, the trio made their way to this temple halfway up the mountain. The bluestone slabs were freshly paved, and the little temple''s paint and decorations were brand new. It appeared to have been built only a few years ago. They had no idea where the rich folks who''d lost their heads from idleness had come from to pour money to build a temple here. The economy of the village at the mountain''s foot was similarly rather backward. They didn''t even have a cell phone, and the temple was solely guarded by an elderly man who posed no threat to them. Furthermore, the mountain god mentioned by the elderly man sounded like pure nonsense to them. The mountain rain soon stopped, and the peak was a rich emerald green surrounded by moisture. The scenery was surprisingly stunning as seen from the small temple''s gate. When they saw that the rain had ceased, the three men with backpacks waited for a while, then rose up and prepared to set off. "Thank you," the oldest man said softly to the old man guarding the modest temple before departing. The elderly man lifted his dark and wrinkled face, sucked on his pipe, and slowly exhaled. "The mountain beyond this temple is off-limits. Young men, this mountain has a mountain god. This old man will not lie to you." "I see. Thank you, sir." The middle-aged man gave a tiny smile before turning and leaving the modest temple. The old man shook his head as he saw them walk up the mountain, lightly tapping his pipe on the door rail. "Sigh, young people don''t listen to advice...alas..." "What was that old man nagging so deeply about, Uncle Tai?" In a hushed voice, one of the hefty men who had ventured into the forest and was drenched asked. The middle-aged man called Uncle Tai shook his head, saying, "Nothing, just feudal superstition." "Oh." The man responded, and asked again: "Uncle Tai, do you think we can hunt the goods?" Uncle Tai responded, saying: "Of course we can. The information I got is very accurate. Someone once saw Siberian musk deer (an endangered species) on this mountain. Even if there are no Siberian musk deer, there are countless mountain monkeys and other rare animals in such a vast ??undeveloped forest area, which is reason enough for us to take a trip." "You are right." The young man paused and stated coldly to the man next to him, who had been silent the entire time: "It''s a good time. The rain has just stopped, so the animals will come out to hunt for food. Let''s quickly set up the traps, and when we succeed, we''ll descend from the other side of the mountain. Someone will meet us there." After he finished speaking, the three of them quickly followed the traces of vegetation, expertly carried their bags to uncover the tools within, and then split off to begin setting traps around the mountain. They worked swiftly, and the traps and steel wires for common small animals were ready in no time. They were all excellent survivalists in the wild. They chose a sheltered spot with elevated rocks, lit a fire beneath the pot, and waited silently. Siberian musk deer with short forelimbs and long rear limbs, small hooves and huge ears, barely the size of a sheep, scampered through the dewy grass after the rain. They sniffed the scents in the air with their black noses, their fawn-like eyes reflecting the woodland in which they dwelt. The Siberian musk deer chased each other, issuing soft calls, having never encountered any other danger save wolves and other carnivorous animals. The absence of the odor of ferocious beasts in the air put them at ease. But then one of the deer knelt down on the ground and screamed. The trap savagely grabbed its forelimb, and the serrations sunk into its flesh, fracturing its bones! The hornless fawn-like Siberian musk deer cried in pain. It struggled to break free, but the steel jaws clamped down even tighter. Because of its struggles, that leg was nearly broken, and the flesh attached to it was sticky, with viscous blood flowing on the emerald green foliage. The other musk deer that was following its partner bolted in terror. But after a while, it realized there was no predator and returned, knelt on the ground with its forelimbs, and pressed its head on the body of its companion, not knowing what to do. It tried to get its companion to stand up. However, the musk deer caught in the trap lost a limb and was unable to stand up normally after rising many times. It could only lie there, tears spilling from its large dark eyes. Surprisingly, the other musk deer followed it and lay down, licking its companion''s body and keeping warm with it. As they cuddled together, the two little creatures emitted faint cries, their necks interlaced, and they trembled. The stench of blood was overpowering, and it would undoubtedly draw other predators. But they never separated... It was dark, and the three poachers gazed outside at the weather. "Let''s go. Close the net and have a look. If there''s nothing, we¡¯ll check the other side of the cliff." "Alright." The trio swiftly walked through the knee-high shrubs and separated to close the net. They reunited half an hour later. The middle-aged man was empty-handed, until he pulled a clear box from his rucksack. Inside was a snake with gorgeous markings and vivid colors, as well as a soldering iron-shaped head. Even though it was locked in the box at the time, it stretched its jaws wide and made a biting motion. "Oh my God! Such a good ''mountain product''! How did you catch it on a rainy day, Uncle Tai? This is too awesome!" The two young men showed awe and surprise. "There''s a snake hole in the cliff over there," Uncle Tai said, raising the corners of his lips. "I targeted it when I was collecting the net. What''s so awesome about it? You¡¯ll understand after a few more visits with me." "How much does it sell for..." The young men mumbled a few times as they displayed their harvest. One of the two strong young men reaped nothing, but the other carried a white fox with a gorgeous blood-stained coat. The fox was around the size of a medium-sized dog. Despite the fact that its fur was damp, it was clear that it would be quite glossy after cleaning. "Lao Er[1], where''s your wild product?" The constantly cold-faced young man asked with a frown. Lao Er scratched his head and smiled: "I caught a wolf cub over there. It¡¯s dangerous to provoke things like a wolf, so I strangled it and threw it away. Don''t worry, I used medicine to mask the odor." Uncle Tai remained silent, but the cold-faced young man snorted. "Let''s head to the other side of the cliff where we set traps. Only, expecting to catch musk deer on the first day is too naive. I guess we''ll have to spend a few days in the mountains." This was Uncle Tai''s opinion. But when they saw the two Siberian musk deer in the dark night, they all froze. Their greedy eyes bulged with eagerness as they stared at the small animals whose necks were entwined and dependent on each other, as if these two lives had become mounds of banknotes stacked up in front of them! "Shush!" hissed Uncle Tai. He lowered his voice and grabbed the two excited young people. "Lao Er, anesthetic injection!" "Yes!" Lao Er, fearful of agitating the ''money'' over there, silently rummaged in his backpack and extracted a metal box. When it was opened, it revealed blowpipe anesthetic needles. The night forest was unsettling and frightening. The trees were tall, and only a few beams of moonlight spilled through, which was almost useless save to provide a creepy atmosphere. A metal pipe was aimed at the small animals nestled against each other. "Whoosh!" The leaves behind the three of them suddenly rustled without wind, and the trio instantly looked back vigilantly. Someone stood undetected behind them at some point! And in the dark night, a few strands of their long silver hair slanted down looked to shine. The crimson period clothing moved on its own, and the unreal feminine and handsome face was quite pale. The most scary thing was that this person''s long and narrow eyes had terrifying scarlet pupils, occupying the entire eye socket! The scarlet pattern between the brows was as vivid as snow, reminding people of the evil red ghost and the man-eating monster in the deep mountains! Especially when he slowly raised the corners of his mouth to display a smile as the trio looked back... The three pairs of dark pupils instantly shrank into pinpricks! It was also at this moment that Uncle Tai remembered what the elderly man had said: There is a mountain god on our mountain. A pair of slender palms obscured their view before they could yell... "Crack, crack, crack." The bones produced a nice crisp sound. The red and black robes swept over the three guys lying on the ground and passed through the weeds and bushes, and the cloth was exquisitely embroidered with old patterns. Water drops dripped on the fiery red garments and couldn''t be entirely absorbed, so they rolled down to the ground. The Siberian musk deer was so terrified that it leapt up and ran away, but not far, staring at them with round black eyes. The mountain god¡ªalso known as Wen Fengjin, knelt beside the injured musk deer. Compared to humans, small animals have always been more sensitive to danger and fiercer existences. The same was true for this little musk deer, which obediently laid on its stomach, slightly trembling but not daring to struggle. The steel animal trap was easily broken by two seemingly weak and boneless hands. Wen Fengjin sliced his palm and let the blood drip on the damaged leg of the deer. The broken area of the body healed swiftly. "Go." He said softly as he watched the little thing stand up and scamper towards its companion, then turned and walked towards the three individuals who were lying on the ground... The door of the small temple on the mountainside opened at daybreak the next day, and the elderly man retracted his foot before it landed on the ground. He sighed as he glanced at the three people who were lying at the temple''s entrance and had only been there the day before. "Young ba$tards, don''t listen to advice!" While sucking on his pipe, the old man turned around and expertly hauled out a brazier. God knows what he tossed into the fire after igniting it, but red smoke rose. The villagers in the settlement at the mountain¡¯s base laughed when they saw the red smoke on the mountain. "It''s the three backpackers who climbed the mountain yesterday. I saw them pose, but they always looked like thieves to me! Our mountain god has captured the poaching sonsofb!tches!" The other men followed suit, with some going to the county to notify the police and others following the village chief to the mountain to tie them up. To be honest, this has happened innumerable times. More than a dozen poachers had been apprehended in this mountain region in just a few years, attracting the attention of many people. Locals had even marketed the mountain god''s fame, which had steadily risen... There was a chill on the man who hurried back from outside to the tomb palace. His face was expressionless, yet he walked rapidly along the long tomb passage, arriving at the lively and splendid palace. As he approached a little pavilion on a cliff, silver silk floated aloft, and his look softened, as if a glacier was melting. His odd eyes were tinged with warmth, and he cracked a smile. A chain as thick as a man''s waist linked the platform in the middle of the hollow to the red acacia tree that had been blazing silently for thousands of years. Suddenly, the head of a large red lizard appeared on the platform, and on its back rode a small soft child wearing a little tiger hat. "Daddy! You''re fat[2]!" When she spotted him, the child''s grape-like limpid and clear eyes filled with joy, and she screamed out to him with her half-toothed mouth. "Mn." Wen Fengjin responded softly, landing on the platform with a few light jumps, then picking up the baby, his face softening even more. "How is your mother today?" The little girl''s speech was unclear: "Liangqing, I''m going to kill you[3]!" Telling tales... Wen Fengjin stepped to the side of the double coffin, hugging the child who was super soft and smelt like milk. A gorgeous man lay on his side inside the coffin, his soft cheeks submerged in layers of cloth. His brilliant red robes were loose and messy; tassels and fish beads dangled from loose black and red ropes, and his long black hair was fanned out and very attractive. "Liangqing! I''m hungry[4]!" The child looked at the person in the coffin and called to him in a babyish voice. Wang Xiaomie was dazed from sleep in the coffin. He sat up in a stupor and, without opening his eyes, reached out and felt for the small child, hugging her to his bosom before lying back down. Mu Yi, who had been caring for the kid for a long time, yawned tiredly as low laughter rang out. The baby was warm and cuddly. Wen Fengjin sat on the coffin''s edge and bent down, his silver hair like a cold blanket covering the two persons inside. His pink lips pressed on Wang Xiaomie''s careless sleeping forehead. Wang Xiaomie mumbled a few times in his sleep when the man''s breath enveloped him, but he didn''t wake up. The little girl giggled and covered her mouth, and Wen Fengjin also laughed. He pecked Xiaomie¡¯s eyes, his lips lightly brushing the long eyelashes. After a while, the fast-asleep man finally awoke. Wang Xiaomie struggled to sit up with the child in one hand, rested lazily against the inside wall of the coffin, and glared at Wen Fengjin. "Don''t touch me in front of the child!" Wang Xiaomie pulled a face, "You''ve corrupted our family¡¯s Goudan[5]!" He actually said the word goudan. The little girl who was blinking and snickering instantly lost her smile and pouted at her vicious mother. Wen Fengjin was silent for a few moments before saying, "...She is a girl." "You chose this name." Wang Xiaomie looked heartlessly at the baby, "If you want to blame someone, blame your dad. Your dad was the first to say it!" The little girl looked at Wen Fengjin with tears in her eyes. "......" Wen Fengjin had given his adopted daughter such a name two years before because of an unexpected mistake. Under his daughter¡¯s aggrieved eyes and his lover¡¯s fierce sneer, his face sank and he chose¡ªto change the subject. Little daughter: "..." I¡¯m looking for a stepfather. "...Three days ago, I received word from An Kai that the purple-haired zombie buried with him has successfully turned into a red-haired zombie." "So fast, didn''t you say it¡¯ll take three or four years the year before last?" Wang Xiaomie was surprised. It had been six years since their ordeal with Yi Yan. They adopted a child in the last six years, and An Kai also returned to Qishan to live in peace with his Little Purple Hair, but he sent news every now and again. As for Bai Yu... He had only received one letter from Bai Yu in the previous six years, and it contained only a photograph. Bai Yu was smiling in the shot, sitting in the middle of the bright sofa in the house. On his right was a puppet that looked exactly like Xiao An, and on his left was a puppet that looked exactly like Yi Yan... One man and two puppets joyfully smiled at the camera, as if they were the happiest family on the planet. And Wang Xiaomie, who received this photo, had his hair standing on end and demanded that Wen Fengjin destroy it right away. Footnotes: [1] The second child or brother (or sister). [2] I believe the child intended to say "n¨« hu¨ª l¨¢i le" (you''re back), but instead says "n¨« f¨¦i l¨¢i le" (you''re fat). [3] ¡°Á¹Ç࣬¸øÎѽ«¹Ê˹ÁË£¡¡± The baby''s lines make little sense. I believe she is parroting what she overheard WXM say, but the characters she used are all wrong. If I''m not mistaken, "Liangqing" should be "Fengjin". Is there any reader who knows Mandarin well? Please let me know if I got this right. [4] ¡°Á¹Ç࣡ÎѶöÁË£¡¡± [5] literally "dog egg/testicles". A name given to children in poor rural areas in the belief that they will be easy to raise. It''s now a nickname akin to "baby, puppy" when applied to close relatives, lovers, and best friends. A stranger calling goudan is a curse/bad word. CH 86 Chapter 86 A room of light Six years passed. Bai Yu chose to turn the corpse of the person he loved the most into a human skin puppet, weaving a beautiful ending for the family and continuing to live in endless self-deception. Bai Yu, who used to laugh and be as active as any other young man, ultimately became a part of the fallen world. And he and Wen Fengjin adopted the abandoned baby girl. He was tortured beyond recognition at first by this little thing who was always hungry, wet the bed, and cried every day. Wen Fengjin, who loved eating vinegar, gave the child a baffling name like ''Goudan'' with a frigid expression. He gave the baby his undivided attention because she was so young and needed care. That year, the neglected Wen Fengjin practically transformed into a berserk Boss Zongzi. He not only thrashed the grave robbers in the tomb place to vent his anger, but he also ventured beyond the tomb palace to beat up those poachers, earning them the inexplicable moniker of Mountain God. Demon Lord Boss Wen, who had been laid off and re-employed, had found a new position. Until the second year, when this little guy who began speaking late addressed Wen Fengjin as "Daddy"... From the millennium-old legendary Demon Lord to daughter con, Wen Fengjin¡¯s transformation took only one word and three seconds... Wang Xiaomie sat under the acacia tree, with black hair hanging from his shoulders and coiled around his hands, smiling as he watched Wen Fengjin holding their child in one arm and going to collect the peach blossoms flowering on the tree. The acacia tree was messed up by the wind circling up from the hollow, as though petals of pink sparks were fluttering down, and the crimson robe and silver hair flew up. Their little girl giggled and reached for the peach blossoms that were adorning the tree... A tiny one landed on the blood-red lizard Mu Yi''s nose and it sneezed violently. Wang Xiaomie raised his head and closed his eyes, allowing the invisible things to fall on his eyelids. Wen Fengjin was stunned for a second as he unwittingly looked sideways, then his lips curled up. He leaned closer, holding his daughter in his arms, and took off the petal with his slender fingers. The bright black pupils and the narrow and long odd pupils exchanged affectionate glances, reflecting the most precious existence in each other''s eyes. Kisses, touching, or poignant verses were unnecessary. In this gentle glance were intangible, warm things... [I¡¯ve been through dark years] [I¡¯ve pushed through on a mountain road with no return] [I¡¯ve stopped over beneath the ageless acacia tree] [ When you open your eyes and look at me here, I know where my home is] The smiling eyes were bent. "I want to kiss you." "...Our daughter is still watching, stinky rascal." "She won''t be able to see this way." Wen Fengjin lifted their daughter by the rear collar of her clothes, moved her to one side, leaned over with his head tilted, and puckered Wang Xiaomie''s lips. The cool lips pressed up against the soft flesh of the lower lip. Wang Xiaomie¡¯s old face turned red and his eyes blinked rapidly. The man''s close face was flawless, and his half-closed eyes were provocatively looking at him. Wang Xiaomie trembled and closed his eyes when his lips and teeth were pried open, and his neck and ears were flushed... As for little friend Wen Mian, who was in her father''s arms just now and was held by the back of her neck to face the wall in a second, she expressed: ...Dad and Mom are true love, and I was just an accident, ying ying ying. Mu Yi yawned lazily once more. ¡­ ¡­ ... Little friend Wen Mian had to go to school in the second year. When other children go to kindergarten, they all grab their parents'' clothes, weeping loudly and refuse to enter, but Wen Mian, the vivacious and outgoing little friend, was perfectly fine. When she saw the children in the kindergarten, her eyes were as brilliant as two light bulbs. Wen Fengjin and Wang Xiaomie took the teacher''s brochure and planned to take her to sign up. When they looked up, they saw their family''s husky-like silly little girl, who somehow got into the kindergarten¡¯s children''s entertainment area, snatching a football from a bunch of little boys and laughing loudly as she declared herself the kindergarten¡¯s hegemon. Wen Fengjin: "..." Wang Xiaomie: "..." At this moment, Wang Xiaomie expressed: I can already foresee that I will undoubtedly be a regular visitor to the teacher''s office in the future. Dang! You little devil! The fourth year. At the parent-teacher meeting, little comrade Wen Mian, who dominated kindergarten and subsequently the entire elementary school, read her short composition aloud in front of all the parents and children. "The topic of my composition is my father!" The small girl turned around and waved her hands towards Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin. The other parents'' friendly gazes fell on them, and Wang Xiaomie was excited as well, like an old father who thinks, ''my daughter has grown up,'' and they all smiled for a time. Then they heard their family¡¯s little girl continue reading: "I have two fathers!" Wang Xiaomie: "Hic!!!" Wen Fengjin: "..." Everyone: "Huh?!!" Little Girl: "We¡¯re a family of three. I don¡¯t have a mother, but I have two fathers. When I was very young, I called Wen father Daddy and called my Daddy Mother, but Daddy was very unhappy and insisted on me calling him Daddy. My Wen father likes my Daddy very much. He teases my Daddy coolly and handsomely everyday. They are usually very affectionate and extremely kind to me." "But I also have my troubles because I discovered a big secret! That is, my Wen father often beats my Daddy at night! My Daddy screams "Oh" so miserably¡ªwhat¡¯s even more hateful is that Wen father even laughs! This is domestic violence, definitely, so I decided to include it in my composition and inform everyone!" Wen Mian''s little face was resolute after she completed reading, as if she were a little hero. While the rest... "Oh~~~~" Everyone''s teasing and surprised gazes landed on the handsome couple, as if they understood something. Wang Xiaomie''s face was buried in his hands: Suffocating! Wen Fengjin, whose face was as dark as charcoal, blasted chilly air like a swishing aircon. Worse, Wen Mian, the little girl, added another sentence: "Don''t be scared, Daddy! Just tell the truth, and I''ll have the teacher help you!" "..." "Tea...Teacher can''t help," the young and inexperienced male teacher instantly reddened. Wen Fengjin was about to explode when he saw this scene! Wang Xiaomie: ...You treacherous child! Unfilial! Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin had not attended another parent-teacher meeting since that memorable first one. Wang Xiaomie: "My whole life¡¯s face was lost on that day, so why f*cking bother!" Later, An Kai, who had also relocated to the surface and became their neighbor, heard about this incident and nearly died of laughter. A man in a wheelchair beside him, as pretty as a girl and with short, ear-length hair, also smiled softly. Except for his cheeks, there was a layer of barely noticeable red fuzz on the skin exposed to the air when the sun shone on him. He gazed at An Qi with reliance and talked very shyly, not at all like the insidious emperor in An Kai''s story. And, in fact, he was not. Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin suspected there was another person in that body a long time ago. It was impossible for An Kai not to know. Having experienced the betrayal of his lover, An Kai realized that what he loved was really an illusion created by his heart''s fantasies, thus he was willing to adore a zombie companion who obeyed him and could not betray him. He needed this vessel. He didn''t care who replaced him in the body. It''s only... When Wang Xiaomie saw An Kai''s hearty smile and the truth in his eyes, he smiled. As expected, even if there is only an obsession remaining, no one can refuse that kind of longed-for happiness if that obsession becomes true and a partner who is kind, gentle, who also loves and relies on him becomes a reality. Although they didn''t know where his soul originated from, the new An Chengjing should have replaced him when he transformed into Little Purple Hair. Wang Xiaomie and Wen Fengjin exchanged glances. The long, narrow eyes were cold and indifferent. They froze for a second when they met his gaze, and then the right eye winked gently. Wang Xiaomie couldn''t stop himself from laughing. After going around, finally getting what you''ve been desperately wanting to get. "By the way, that little girl Wen Mian is a regular person," An Kai added abruptly. "Aren''t you going to turn her into one of the same?" The implication of his remarks was obvious, but Wang Xiaomie shook his head. "She has her own life. There is nothing wrong with being an ordinary person. We have no way of knowing whether the elixir truly makes us immortal or simply prolongs our lives." "Immortality does not imply eternal happiness or eternal loneliness and misery." "She is both our daughter and her own person. Fengjin and I will protect her until the last moment..." "Yeaahh, but in a few decades, when her life comes to an end, won''t your heart hurt like hell?" An Kai asked. "There''s nothing we can do about it." Wang Xiaomie blinked a few times. He had already prepared his heart for it. "This is the price of immortality, that''s why I don''t want her to pay it." "Makes sense." An Kai burst out laughing. After the laughter died down, he propped his chin, his handsome face wrinkled. "I say...the four of us, a Demon Lord, the Demon Lord''s shixiong, a general, and an emperor...the men who dominated history back then actually ended up living a life of retirement. Why don''t we take action? Establish a new dominant country, or something along those lines?" An Kai: "Senior Wen, don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t want¡­" "I don''t want to," Wen Fengjin interrupted coldly. An Kai: "¡­" "I''ve been fighting for thousands of years, but all I want to do is be with my shixiong," Wen Fengjin added softly. An Kai''s mouth twitched: "...Isn¡¯t Senior¡¯s dream too unpromising?" Wen Fengjin sneered at him and asked, "Forever with your Chengjing or endless battlefield, what do you choose?" "..." After a little silence, An Kai declared emphatically, "Choose forever." Wen Fengjin sneered. Wang Xiaomie and Chengjing, who were sitting next to him, smiled and shook their heads. "I''ll make what you want to eat tonight," said Wang Xiaomie to Chengjing. "I''m sorry to trouble you," Chengjing stated softly. "It''s no trouble," Wang Xiaomie said, shrugging. He stood up and headed for the kitchen. Wen Fengjin went to pick up Wen Mian when he saw the time. Chengjing rested softly on An Kai''s shoulder in the living room... The evening was approaching. Wen Fengjin returned after picking up his young daughter. She made everyone laugh at the dinner table by talking about what happened at school. The lights were switched on, and the mood in the room was so lovely in the dark night that no one wanted to leave. All it takes is a lifetime''s pursuit, a lifelong desire... [The End] Translator: And they lived happily ever after...