Chapter 106
Xie Xubai's mind was somewhat sluggish due to drowsiness.
The woman gently rubbed his head, again and again, her eyes appearing and disappearing in the hazy light, as if reflecting on him across a distant time.
A thin, ordinary face, eyes that bore the marks of many hardships, gently curved when looking at him... A familiar face gradually became clear.
Xie Xubai suddenly stopped, his pupils widening inch by inch. Before his mind could react, his hand had already reached out forcefully.
During this process, his hands suddenly became very small, as small as the hands of a six or seven-year-old child, tender and weak.
The furnishings in the room suddenly seemed to rise higher; even the dining table was half a head taller than him, and the bed in front of him was right up to his chest. He had to stand on tiptoe and lean forward to barely grab the woman's arm.
The woman's petite body had grown larger; she could reach out and grasp his entire head, but that large hand was even weaker than his, cold and thin, and it slumped down heavily.
Xie Xubai's mind went blank for a moment.
He suddenly realized something, and kept rubbing the woman's palm, trying to transfer his body heat to her, and desperately begged the woman not to close her eyes, while the whole room was filled with the cries of children.
The woman laboriously reached out to wipe away his tears, her pale lips moving as if giving a warning or instructions. Her weary words huddled together, becoming a buzzing, discordant sound.
...The soul has weight...Death is not the end...Mom will become a star.
...The monster is coming... Hold on...
The next second, Xie Xubai was forcefully pushed towards the door by the woman. He staggered two steps and looked back in panic, only to see a scene that terrified him.
The woman propped herself up, and crimson lines of blood crawled up her cheeks like a spider web, cutting through her skin and flesh.
Those eyes looked at him with undisguised worry, but the next second they popped out of their sockets, his entire face shattered, his bare white bones exposed, leaving two dark, blood-soaked eye sockets.
"Aaaaaaahh ...
Xie Xubai's eyes widened in fury, and he uncontrollably rushed towards the woman.
Immediately afterward, the earth shook violently, and the ground transformed into a bottomless black hole. Countless twisted claws emerged from the black hole, grabbing his hands, feet, and body, and pulling him downward with all their might.
Xie Xubai struggled desperately, his arm was torn apart by sharp claws, and blood was everywhere.
One after another, ferocious claws pressed down, covering his body and blindfolding him, layer upon layer, like a cage trapping him inside, the unbearable weight pressing down on him so he couldn't lift his head.
He strained to see through the last crack, biting his gums until they bled, but he could no longer see familiar faces or familiar scenery. All he could see was a dense, impenetrable white fog that threatened to engulf him.
Xie Xubai was almost suffocating.
Suddenly, he felt light, and the claws that were dragging him were shredded. Several thick tentacles coiled him back, forming a protective barrier in front of him, and he leaned back against a solid chest.
The air became humid and sticky, and the salty, bitter smell of the sea filled my nostrils.
Two strong arms embraced his trembling body, and then spread out their broad palms to cover his eyes.
It was a man's hand, the palm covered with calluses, radiating a burning heat.
...
Xie Xubai suddenly opened his eyes, his forehead drenched in sweat, and propped himself up, looking around in surprise and uncertainty.
The gauze curtains by the bed fluttered in the breeze, and two or three potted plants sat on the table. There was no one in sight; it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The scene in Xie Xubai's dream where Xie Yuchun turned into a skeleton was so shocking that it took him a long time to recognize that this was his dormitory.
He stayed by Pei Yuheng's side last night, and I don't know who brought him back.
Xie Xubai rubbed his forehead hard. When he moved, something tugged at him. Looking down, he saw that the black glasses' temples were wrapped tightly around his body like snakes.
Xie Xubai: "..."
His lips twitched twice, and he suspected that this was the reason why he dreamed of tentacles.
With a sigh, Xie Xubai carefully pried open the temples of his glasses. But just as his fingertips touched them, a wrung-out wet towel appeared in front of him, waving back and forth.
Xie Xubai looked up and met the two reflective, transparent lenses of his glasses, as if he were being stared at by the man's deep eyes.
"...Thank you." Xie Xubai took the towel and noticed that it was still steaming.
As I wiped it on my face, the cold air was dispelled, and my entire face was enveloped in a warm glow. The last trace of palpitation and panic brought on by the nightmare faded away.
This thoughtfulness was unexpected for Xie Xubai, as Yan Shuo didn't seem like the type to cater to people. He asked, seemingly casually, "Have we met before?"
The gold-rimmed glasses player shook the lenses.
Seeing that it didn't directly deny it, Xie Xubai knew it meant uncertainty. He fell into deep thought, trying his best to search his memory, but unfortunately, his faulty memory couldn't provide any answer.
Throughout the entire process, the man with the gold-rimmed glasses maintained his taciturn and aloof demeanor.
If Xie Xubai hadn't put down the towel and then immediately started scratching at his palm with his glasses, he would have actually been fooled by this gentlemanly demeanor.
For some inexplicable reason, Xie Xubai didn't tear it apart.
The clone may not know the answer, but the real one might.
However, twenty years later, Yan Shuo looked around but could not find the little black octopus anywhere.
Judging from the timeline, it seems that the little black octopus disappeared after he shrunk and opened his heart to Pei Yuheng.
In the past, the little octopus would occasionally go out for some fresh air. With its strength, it could move freely throughout the entire South New District, so Xie Xubai was quite at ease. In addition, he was busy those few days and didn't think much of it.
Now, combined with the dream, Xie Xubai finally realized something was amiss.
He wasn't close to Yan Shuo, let alone dependent on him, so there was no reason for him to dream about him constantly. Dreaming about Yan Shuo was more like a projection of past fragments, meaning he most likely knew Yan Shuo when he was a child.
Looking at the sudden departure of the little black octopus, could it be that he did something when he was a child that prompted the other to leave? But even if they really knew each other, Xie Xubai couldn't imagine what kind of ability a child the size of a radish head could have to provoke a profound and unfathomable deity.
Xie Xubai asked, "Do you know why the original entity of this time left?"
He asked the right person.
The gold-rimmed glasses bent one temple, curled up, melted, and deformed, transforming into the approximate shape of a small black octopus. Then, it extended the other temple, turning into the shape of a child.
Then, the child lowered his head and kissed the octopus's forehead.
Just as they were about to kiss, the man with the gold-rimmed glasses suddenly stopped.
It belatedly realized the unfairness. Why did it have to beg and plead to hold hands with the adult Xie Xubai, while little Xubai would take the initiative to kiss the original body?
This jealousy prevented the full scene of the kiss from being shown. The man with the gold-rimmed glasses perfectly captured the anger at the time, manipulating the child avatar to viciously punch the little black octopus avatar.
With a thud, the octopus's head was smashed to the side.
Xie Xubai: "…………"
His pupils trembled.
That can't be right. What grudge could there be that would cause your childhood self to punch Yan Shuo upon seeing him? Were their relationships that bad before? So, did Yan Shuo leave silently while holding back his anger?
Just in case he had misunderstood, Xie Xubai asked, his teeth aching, "Did I really do such a thing?"
The man with the gold-rimmed glasses waved his tentacles, looking indignant.
Xie Xubai was in a daze.
Faced with the accusation from the man in the gold-rimmed glasses, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty, his eyes darting around: "Otherwise, should I let you hit me back?"
The gold-rimmed glasses were a little puzzled as to why the young man had asked it to hit him, but that didn't stop it from sensing the other's softening and seizing the opportunity to lean in and kiss him.
No, just one kiss from you will make me feel better.
Xie Xubai choked up.
He looked through the two clear, colorless lenses of his glasses and saw a look of eager anticipation in his eyes. He couldn't help but recall that night when he stared at the small pink and white flower offered to him, his pupils trembling slightly, forgetting to react.
For some inexplicable reason, he realized that Yan Shuo might want more than just to get him into bed, yet he also felt that this conjecture was somewhat presumptuous. Could a clone, driven by primal desires, replace the will of the original? Xie Xubai couldn't say for sure.
Xie Xubai remained silent, but the gold-rimmed glasses did not discourage him. He put them on the young man's face and quietly served as a normal pair of glasses.
The gold-rimmed glasses remained still, but their slight weight pressed firmly against the bridge of the nose, constantly asserting their presence.
Xie Xubai suddenly felt somewhat despicable.
The fact that Glasses indulged him countless times indirectly proves that Yan Shuo is not a cruel monster who would tear people apart when he gets angry.
Perhaps he should find an opportunity to return the glasses to the other person and clearly express his refusal, instead of taking the benefits offered by the man for granted without giving any response.
But he...
Xie Xubai recalled entering Yan Shuo's sea of consciousness before. The man stood under a sky full of thunder, his clothes fluttering in the wind, but he remained motionless.
Its crimson eyes were more beautiful and pure than any monster's, casting a single glance from the sky without any emotion, seemingly able to pierce through all barriers, arrogant and aloof, looking down upon the world.
An indescribable feeling spread from the back of his tongue. Xie Xubai exhaled deeply, dismissing those chaotic thoughts, and frowned as he fell into deep thought.
—Monster Game.
After waking up, many details from the dream became somewhat blurry, but Xie Xubai remembered the word Xie Yuchun mentioned very clearly.
Was it his mother appearing in his dream, or was it a self-warning from a sense of crisis? If it was the former, why didn't she come forward to meet him?
Xie Xubai counted on his fingers, not dwelling on the matter for too long, focusing instead on recalling the content of the monster game. Because of his memory problems, he didn't have much hope, but after a while, he actually remembered a little something.
It all started when he was bored at home alone, or perhaps for some other reason. One day, Xie Yuchun suddenly bought a lot of monster toys. Each monster had its own characteristics and weaknesses. Some of them could cry out in eardrums, and some could turn into liquid.
Those toys were particularly demanding, and Xie Xubai often felt sleepy. Sometimes, after playing for five minutes, he could fall asleep for the entire afternoon.
Later, Xie Yuchun realized this problem and would gently tap his forehead with her fingertips, and then he would feel less sleepy.
Looking back on his past self, Xie Xubai now realizes that many things he once took for granted have a strange and mysterious quality.
First of all, what kind of toys would drain a child's energy? Xie Xubai strongly suspects that those aren't toys at all.
And after he fell into a coma once, Xie Yuchun often said—
"Quick, go check! There seem to be people at the base entrance! They're in uniform, from the Alliance government!" "Could it be the rescue team? Let's go, hurry!"...
Hearing the commotion downstairs, Xie Xubai was startled and quickly changed his clothes before rushing to the base entrance.
The entrance was packed with people, completely blocking the road. A dispute had erupted, and Dr. Li's furious roar could be heard: "Fuck you! When we were cut off from water and food, there wasn't a single piece of support, and now they're telling us they're sending in a manager? Tell me, what gives him the right?!"
A uniformed man stepped forward and stopped the red-faced Dr. Li, repeatedly advising him: "Sir, are you Mr. Li? Calm down. The situation is not optimistic. Don't be impulsive! Do you know that three districts and counties outside have already become highly polluted areas? If it weren't for the Fu Group... Mr. Li! Not a parachuted-in person in charge, the Fu family only sent a medical team to support us, they had no other intentions!"
The Fu researcher in white next to him chimed in casually, "That's right, it's all for the sake of saving people."
The person behind him immediately looked at the base behind Dr. Li. Although he didn't say anything, his contemptuous eyes revealed a strong sense of sarcasm, as if to say: Is it really necessary to be so nervous about such a lousy, cobbled-together place?
Dr. Li clenched his fist and swung it upwards, but was stopped by the uniformed man. However, the latter clearly underestimated the unity of the people at the base. Instantly, the crowd surged forward and secretly kicked the Fu family employees several times!
What a joke! After fighting tooth and nail in the underworld for so many days, do you really think they're just sitting around doing nothing?
The Fu family employees screamed in pain, never expecting these survivors to be so brazen, daring to attack people right in front of the Alliance's political executives.
Seeing that trouble was about to break out, the officers felt a chill run down their spines and placed their hands on the pistols at their waists.
Surprisingly, before the gun was even drawn, everyone fell silent in unison, took a big step back in unison, and looked at them with innocent expressions: "Okay, okay, calm down, let's all calm down."
Seeing this, the people from the Fu Group immediately understood that their kicks and punches were intentional, not impulsive. They gritted their teeth in hatred and said, "Let's go! Let these lunatics wait here to die!"
Upon hearing this, the enforcement officers were unwilling to cooperate and hurriedly chased after them, trying to appease them with kind words, then turning back to glare angrily: "Have you made enough trouble yet?!"
"The situation outside is dire, I'm not kidding. Do you know how much risk we took to get here?" He took a quick breath and pointed directly at Dr. Li. "Mr. Li, the last rescue team was completely wiped out... killed while crossing space! If it weren't for our commander's dying instructions, we wouldn't have come—"
"Something happened to them? What happened?" Pei Yuheng strode in.
"Because the current methods of entry and exit would put a huge burden on the human body and could not withstand two crossings, it would either be one-way in and out or one-way out and in no way in. This was only discovered after the entire rescue team was wiped out... In addition, each crossing would come at a great cost, and everyone... has become somewhat disheartened."
The staff member wiped his face, pointed back at the people from Fu's Medical Group, and said with great distress, "They knew they couldn't go out anymore, but they still bravely followed us in to help everyone. And yet you came in and started cursing and even physically assaulting them. Are you trying to discourage them?"
Everyone was completely taken aback by this inside story, including Dr. Li, who immediately lowered his head in shame.
Pei Yuheng, who was the only one who knew about the despicable things the Fu Group had done, frowned, surprised and puzzled.
Just as he was about to say something, a cough suddenly came from behind one of the Fu Group employees. The cough sounded weak, and the person said in a low voice, "Sir, just tell them directly."
The officer turned around, instantly tense, and stepped forward to support the man: "Young Master Fu? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Don't call me 'Young Master' outside. Here, we are all volunteers serving the country and its people, and we are all the same."
The man smiled; it was Fu Zong. He said apologetically, "I'm sorry. I suddenly ran out of breath while crossing space and have been resting in the car. I couldn't come out to see everyone right away. If our people have offended anyone, I apologize."
As he spoke, he coughed violently a few times. The officers didn't dare to breathe loudly, and their attitude showed that they were completely on Fu Zong's side.
As for the others, knowing that Fu Zong and the others risked their lives to rescue them, how could they possibly criticize them?
Meeting Pei Yuheng's instantly cold gaze, Fu Zong shook his head, looking at the personnel with feigned helplessness, and continued, "We can't hide it any longer. Explaining it in advance will give everyone a heads-up and make them realize the seriousness of the matter."
The officers, at a loss, turned to look at everyone at the base and finally spoke heavily: "Just a few days ago, the higher-ups decided that if the pollution cannot be contained within a week, they will take drastic measures... a full-scale crackdown."
"The notice was issued directly from the Alliance headquarters, and the communications officer was tasked with delivering it to all departments on-site to ensure everything goes smoothly. At that time, the Chengnan New District, along with the five surrounding districts and counties, will be reduced to ashes." Fu Zong added, smiling as he looked at Pei Yuheng. "Even so, are you going to shut us out because of personal grudges?"
The moment Pei Yuheng's eyes met Fu Zong's, he was completely shaken.
The tone and attitude of the people around him had changed, especially after Fu Zong said that the Fu Group had developed the first-generation vaccine. The breathing of the crowd became heavier, rising and falling, and the emotion was visible to the naked eye.
"Director..." "Director!" "They said they have a vaccine, could it be true?"...
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Pei Yuheng felt an indescribable pressure.
Something was wrong with him. The moment he met Fu Zong's gaze, his thoughts suddenly became very chaotic, and drowsiness washed over him like a tidal wave, ravaging his fragile nerves.
At this moment, only one thought echoed in Pei Yuheng's mind: he had to give an accurate and appropriate response in public. He couldn't faint, he absolutely couldn't faint! Otherwise, Fu Zong might very well use his physical discomfort as an excuse to make trouble.
The next second, Fu Zong walked over. His footsteps were silent, yet they struck Pei Yuheng's heart like a heavy hammer, gradually shattering his already crumbling mind.
With a snap.
With one hand supporting Pei Yuheng's back, golden light streamed in, dispelling the confusion in his mind.
"...Pei Yu! Don't look him in the eyes!" Pei Yuheng shouted as soon as he realized what was happening.
He spoke too late; Xie Xubai stepped between the two, inevitably making eye contact with Fu Zong.
In that instant, he precisely caught a glimpse of crimson blood in Fu Zong's eyes. Like a storm passing by, Xie Xubai's pupils contracted, and his thoughts fell into unprecedented chaos.
Xie Yuchun's earnest admonitions echoed in his ears.
...The monster is coming...Stay awake...
Xie Xubai suddenly pinched his fingers, gathering his spiritual power at his fingertips, and placed his palm on his brow.
When he looked up again, his eyes were clear, and Fu Zong's smiling expression froze on the spot.
Author's Note:
Happy National Day! Wishing our motherland prosperity and strength! There's a small red envelope for comments on this chapter within 24 hours!
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