Chapter 50 [Bonus Chapter for 15,000 Nutrient Solution Readings]
The flames were dazzling but not blinding, and in an instant they burned the last bit of grayish-white color to ashes.
As if reborn from the ashes, half of the heart suddenly radiated an unprecedented brilliance. Gushing blood flowed through the slender veins, stretching open the wrinkled skin and staining the gray heart red.
It constantly contracts and expands, like a burning furnace, emitting a scorching roar.
Thump, thump...!
[Heart function has recovered: 100%]
The long-lost sound of a heartbeat emanated from Jiang Kaile's chest, rising and falling like a call.
Jiang Kaile gave Xie Xubai and the other person a deep look, and without any hesitation, he reached out and put his heart into his chest.
Half a fresh heart touched the fabric of the clothes against the chest, creating a slight ripple, and in the blink of an eye, it was completely submerged within it.
The two heartbeats merged into one, and Jiang Kaile heard many voices of blessing, from the old and the young, from men and women.
The red phosphorus on his face faded like a phantom, his sharp fangs retracted into his jaw, his long, menacing black fingernails fell to the ground, and his stretched animal bones crackled and tightened, quickly restoring him to the shape of a young man.
Looking again at the gleaming, clean floor tiles beneath her feet, Jiang Kaile saw her former face and couldn't help but look up at Xie Xubai.
The latter smiled slightly at him.
Jiang Kaile laughed along and turned to call out, "Chansheng, let's go get some candy!"
"There's also ice cream, soda, cake, and barbecue—I'll make sure you eat your fill!"
Chan Sheng was worried about Jiang Kaile's condition. Upon hearing the call, he ran over without thinking and was immediately grabbed by the shoulder.
Chan Sheng's vision blurred for a moment, and when he turned his head, he could see the boy's hair flying everywhere, his excited face shining like the sun under the incandescent light.
He couldn't help but grin and say, "Okay, okay!"
Xie Xubai smiled and said, "Go ahead and have fun. Remember to come back before dark."
Jiang Kaile immediately stopped, somewhat puzzled.
—Why does the teacher's statement sound like he wants them to leave the Jiang family? He really wants to leave, but…
Suddenly, Jiang Kaile felt Xie Xubai's finger pointing at the center of the back of his head, causing an itchy sensation as if his hair was being pulled.
In fact, Xie Xubai did not grab Jiang Kaile's hair.
His lips moved silently as he chanted a spell.
If you look closely at Xie Xubai's fingertips, you'll find bright red blood on them.
The blood seemed to have a life of its own, transforming into a thin, red film that adhered to his skin, helping him pick up the invisible threads and gather them in his palm.
Seven joints on the back of the head, eight on the neck, and twenty-eight joints in both arms...
How could Jiang Kaile not feel the threads binding his limbs and bones being picked up?
He stared wide-eyed in disbelief, unable to resist turning back, when he suddenly heard Xie Xubai chuckle and say, "Keep going, young hero Jiang, your teacher has a surprise for you."
The implication of the words is self-evident.
Adrenaline surged, and the heart, which had just recovered, pounded wildly against the chest.
"...Where am I going to go if I keep walking forward?" Jiang Kaile's lips trembled.
"Go to the place you most want to go right now."
Jiang Kaile was still standing there, stunned, when Chan Sheng, at Xie Xubai's prompting, eagerly pulled him forward.
The lecture hall was located in a small villa, outside of which was a wide road.
Along the roadside, there are clusters of flowers and grasses, as well as lush ornamental trees, all trimmed to an extremely neat and beautiful appearance by gardeners.
Jiang Kaile tried to turn back several times, but Chan Sheng stopped her each time: "You can't look back, it won't be a surprise."
Xie Xubai stood in the tiered classroom, his well-defined knuckles slightly clasped together as if to tighten his grip, watching the endlessly extending silk threads in his hands.
To break the bloodline secret technique, one needs the heart's blood of a close relative. Ms. Xu gave it to him voluntarily, and he also asked the Jiang family head and others for some.
Finally, at some point, the silk thread in my hand stopped slipping.
Xie Xubai guessed that Jiang Kaile might be standing hesitating at the Jiang family's gate.
About ten seconds later, the silk thread suddenly moved, like a person who was afraid of a rushing river, finally made up their mind and leaped forward with all their might.
Xie Xubai smiled, a hint of indescribable relief in his eyes.
At the same time, he opened his mouth and coldly uttered the last incantation, carrying a chilling aura that was completely inconsistent with his gentle expression. With a sudden twist of his hand, many threads instantly turned into ashes.
At the entrance of the Jiang Family Compound.
Jiang Kaile had been standing there dumbfounded for a full three minutes since he jumped out of the carved metal door.
Chan Sheng couldn't help but nudge him: "Did you receive Yu You's surprise?"
Why did you suddenly space out?
"It doesn't hurt..." Jiang Kaile looked at the dazzling light of the azure sky, touched his entire body and felt no pain, as if he had been in another world, "It really doesn't hurt at all."
Chan Sheng, quick-witted at this moment, patted his head and said, "You used to have a really tough time. You would feel pain even when you left the house."
Just as Jiang Kaile was about to speak, he suddenly heard an excited roar from behind him.
Turning his head, he saw all the mutated servants swarming up like a flood of beasts, rushing into the Jiang family's multiple main villas!
As the King of Ghosts, Jiang Kaile could vaguely sense all the movements happening on this land.
He paused for a moment, and the heart-wrenching screams of the Jiang family members suddenly rang in his ears.
Interspersed throughout were the sounds of sharp teeth tearing through flesh, blood gushing from wounds, and bones being slowly chewed, which were chilling.
That was a soul that had been oppressed for too long, freely and joyfully settling old scores.
Jiang Kaile's first reaction was to cover Chansheng's ears.
The latter gave him a questioning look.
"It's okay, don't worry about it!" Jiang Kaile whispered in Chan Sheng's ear, "Let's go, let's go get some candy, and we'll be back before dark."
"Not eating at the Jiang family's? Do you have any money with you? I don't have any money, but I can help with the dishes."
Cicadas know that you have to pay for food or do labor.
"Don't worry, when I came out, it seemed like the teacher slipped some money into my pocket."
As Jiang Kaile dragged Chansheng along, he took out the money and counted it carefully.
A stack of money is almost two thousand.
When Xie Xubai was lecturing, he probably taught Jiang Kaile about the basic prices of goods outside.
He suspected that Xie Xubai had given him all the little cash he had on him.
Chan Sheng was deeply moved: "Yu You is so kind."
Jiang Kai said with delight, "The teacher's real name is Xie Xubai, and he is exceptionally kind."
Chan Sheng said, "I know, it's really, really good."
Jiang Kai said with delight, "It's absolutely wonderful!"
The sixteen-year-old boy suddenly became as childish as a seven-year-old, a bandaged man with a dull mind, whose peak IQ was no more than that of a six-year-old.
The two shouted "Good, good, good" all the way until they left the villa area, took a taxi, and arrived at the bustling commercial street.
This was the first time Jiang Kaile had left home without being accompanied by any of the Jiang family's servants.
The incident with Shengtian Group doesn't count, since he was holding the driver hostage at the time.
For the first time, he tried to pay for it himself.
Jiang Kaile led Chansheng to a small supermarket, took a deep breath, and went inside.
The shelves were filled with a dazzling array of snacks, making it hard to choose.
A short while later, Jiang Kaile and Chansheng each took a bag of candy and went to the counter to pay.
When I went to pay, I found it was only 10 yuan, but I couldn't resist getting 6 more packs, bringing the total to 40 yuan.
Jiang Kaile went back and brought two bottles of soda, while Chan Sheng brought two bottles of orange juice, totaling 52 yuan.
They can buy so many things with their money!
The two immediately jumped for joy and ran to the shelves one after the other, picking out two items from each shelf like choosing concubines.
The shop owner initially thought the two brothers were broke because they saw them wandering around like country bumpkins visiting a grand garden.
Before long, the snack bags on the counter piled up more and more, and his speed in packing them couldn't even keep up with the speed of Jiang Kaile and the other person.
Later, looking at the five large bags of snacks in front of him, even the most profit-driven shop owner couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine: "That's enough, that's enough. You two go home and finish them before you come back to buy more. Don't waste them!"
Another major incident occurred when it came time to pay the bill.
When the shop owner saw Jiang Kaile casually pull out a wad of cash, he immediately narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Who uses cash these days? Everyone uses mobile phones to scan QR codes for payment.
Normal shoppers wouldn't get as excited as Jiang Kaile and his companion when they see popular snacks, like mice that have fallen into a granary.
He demanded, "You two didn't steal this money, did you?"
Jiang Kaile reacted quickly, raising her chin proudly and arrogantly: "Look at our clothes and appearance, do we look like people who would steal money?"
The shop owner looked at Jiang Kaile, who was dressed in a white linen casual outfit. The fabric was as smooth as silk and looked high-end. He looked like a rich second-generation heir going out to experience life.
Looking at Chan Sheng again, his black training uniform outlined smooth and firm muscle lines, making him look like a mercenary who had just come from the battlefield.
...Wait a minute, something's not right. Is that blood on this bandaged weirdo's chest?
Is it blood? Huh??
"You seem so surprised, has your parent never given you so much money before?" Jiang Kaile suddenly flung the paper money around with a clatter, her eyes filled with pity.
The shop owner was provoked by his blatantly boastful gaze and instantly forgot to dwell on whether the marks on Chan Sheng's body were blood or tomato sauce.
The shopkeeper's lips twitched: "Young master, what normal parents would give so much cash to a minor all at once?"
"But my parents gave me one," Jiang Kaile started to say rudely. "So you didn't get one? That can't be right, can it? That bad?"
"What am I comparing myself to a kid like you? My daily turnover is more than that."
"But those weren't given to me by my parents."
"My monthly turnover is more than forty times that of yours!"
"But those weren't given to me by my parents."
"Your parents are spoiling you!"
"Yes, that's right." Jiang Kaile finally smiled with satisfaction. "How did you know my parents love me so much?"
Shopkeeper: “…………”
Before the shop owner could fly into a rage, Jiang Kaile quickly paid the bill, then, carrying bags of snacks in both hands, he chuckled and pushed Chansheng away like a mischievous monkey teasing cats and dogs.
As soon as he stepped outside, he took Chansheng to change into a new set of clothes, taking off the training uniform that was covered in dust and blood.
I spent nearly 200 yuan on clothes and nearly 300 yuan on snacks.
The two of them, with smiles on their faces, ate and drank along the way, finding everything new and exciting. They would rush over whenever they heard a vendor's call, and couldn't resist the aroma.
I've had ice cream, mini cakes, sweet rice cakes, beef noodles, and jianbing guozi...
They walked through the wide commercial street, entered the quiet park, and wandered aimlessly along the dense shady trees. They gulped down their drinks and milk tea, and let out a long burp that was a mixture of various sweet flavors.
Finally, the two of them sat lazily on the deck chairs, munching on potato chips, watching the flow of people hurrying by in the twilight, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.
"I'm full." Chan Sheng patted his round belly and sighed with satisfaction. "Let's not go eat barbecue. Barbecue is too expensive, and Xie Xubai doesn't have much money."
Jiang Kaile hummed in agreement and began counting the remaining money.
He had a little over 1,300 left after spending the 2,000. He carefully sorted out the bills and change, and put them neatly into his pocket, intending to return them to Xie Xubai later.
The two remained silent for a moment, and the air grew quiet.
Until the cicada tilted its head, as if listening.
Jiang Kaile caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye and remembered that Chan Sheng had made the same move before suddenly disappearing from his sight. Even though he had expected it, he couldn't help but tighten his face.
Chan Sheng looked at him and suddenly asked, "Lele, are you still afraid of listening to stories?"
Jiang Kaile casually asked, "What, are you going to tell me a story?"
“Yes, if you’re scared, I won’t tell you,” Chan Sheng said. “But I feel that you’ll feel a little better after hearing this story.”
Jiang Kaile gave a lukewarm "hmm".
He turned his head, seemingly indifferent, and looked at the sunset: "Then tell me about it."
Chan Sheng cleared his throat, deliberately lowering his voice, and vividly imitated the theatrical voice of the dungeon completion easter egg.
"Hey, my dear viewers, it's time for our daily fun story time again. Have you heard the story of the dragon-slaying boy? Yes, the famous 'The Dragon-Slaying Boy Becomes the Dragon Himself'!"
"But we're not talking about that today, hahaha!"
Chan Sheng burst into dry laughter, his tone comical, like a child imitating an adult.
Jiang Kaile intended to remain nonchalant, but couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.
"A mysterious prophet predicted that an evil dragon was about to come to the village. The villagers were terrified because legend had it that the dragon was man-eating and cruel. They elected a brave young boy to fight the dragon."
“How could a boy possibly defeat a powerful dragon?” The villagers gathered together and offered him various suggestions.
"The hunter said, 'Dragons can fly, so you must also have strong wings.' So he cut off the wings of the great bat and placed them, dripping with blood, on the boy's back."
"The blacksmith said that the dragon's scales are impervious to water and fire, and you must also have hard scales. So he forged countless scales and inserted them into the boy's skin."
“My mother said that the dragon was as big as a mountain, and you, though small, must also become just as mighty. So she asked someone to bring the flesh and blood of the monster and fed the boy day and night until he grew bigger and bigger each day.”
"The villagers did everything they could to fully arm the boy. The boy went out with their hopes and will, saw monsters, killed them, pulled out his own teeth, shaved his head, and put on their fangs, horns and claws."
"But after wandering around outside, he couldn't find any dragons, so he returned to the village."
"The moment he appeared, those who knew him screamed in terror, everyone shouting, 'The dragon is coming—!'"
"The dragon has arrived?" The boy was utterly shocked.
"He stood up, his enormous shadow covering the entire village. He searched warily, and the earth rumbled with each step he took."
He looked around, where there was no dragon at all, and asked in bewilderment, 'Where is the dragon? Tell me, I'll kill it!'
"Then the boy opened his mouth and let out a deafening roar."
"As if waking from a dream, the boy ran frantically to the lakeside, smashing more and more houses to pieces. He saw a ferocious and enormous dragon reflected on the lake."
"So, the dragon was here all along."
After Chan Sheng finished telling his story, Jiang Kaile remained silent for an unknown amount of time, biting her cheek, her face trembling slightly.
"The story concludes by saying that without the villagers' foolish encouragement, the dragon would not have been born."
"In a land overrun by monsters, people's minds have been corrupted. They should give young people swords and shields, not scales and wings."
Having gone through so much, even a cicada with low intelligence can understand something and say some comforting words.
Chan Sheng said earnestly, "So, it's not the boy's fault."
"..." Jiang Kaile gripped the edge of the chair tightly, gritting her teeth, "How many times are you and the teacher planning to make me cry today? Don't go too far!"
Chan Sheng heard his soft, sweet voice, as if he wasn't angry, so she stuffed a strawberry gummy into his mouth.
It was both to comfort him and to say goodbye.
"Lele, I'm leaving now."
Jiang Kaile froze again, staring at the substitute candy in front of her, her eyes suddenly reddening.
As an A-level Ghost King, he had already realized that this candy was connected to Chan Sheng's lifeline.
But Chan Sheng said, "Don't eat it. Keep it for me. I'll come back for it next time."
The substitute gummy will not be regenerated until it is used or damaged.
Death erases memories, but the memories with Jiang Kaile are precious.
The cicada was reluctant to be wiped out and wanted to preserve it carefully.
At the same time, all players in that instance heard a cold system notification.
[Ding! Congratulations to all players for meeting the completion requirements and finishing this trial ahead of schedule!]
"I will try my best to survive, I will never die, until I see you again."
Chan Sheng's clear eyes peered through the gaps in the bandages, reflecting the scorching afterglow: "Lele, I'm very happy today. Next time, I'll treat you to candy. We made a promise."
Around 8 p.m., Jiang Kaile returned to the Jiang family compound.
A strong stench of blood filled the air. Several exquisite and magnificent buildings in the courtyard had collapsed, and broken flesh and rubble were everywhere. The once prosperous scene was nowhere to be seen.
Xie Xubai and others were at the entrance of the compound.
It was already completely dark, but he looked at the boy with red eyes and all alone, said nothing, and walked over to ruffle his fluffy hair.
The boy stubbornly bit his lower lip, then suddenly threw himself into Xie Xubai's arms, his muffled sobs escaping his lips: "Teacher, Chansheng is gone."
"When he left, he told me a story..."
Xie Xubai responded gently, seemingly unsurprised: "Teacher knows the sequel to this story. Would you like to hear it?"
Jiang Kaile looked up instantly, staring at him expectantly.
Xie Xubai laughed and said, "An old man heard the story of the evil dragon and came to the village. He took the delirious evil dragon to all the places where the boy had lived since childhood, including the training ground where he practiced his sword, the lake where he lazed around, and the wheat field where he slept."
"Looking back at the old images awakened the dragon. It mustered its courage, endured the pain of removing its scales, fangs, and wings, and transformed back into its youthful form, thus returning to the human world."
As they spoke, the teacher and student walked slowly forward, bathed in the pale moonlight.
A series of cracking sounds came from the sky, and the illusion created by the cycle rules shattered in response.
That hazy sense of alienation from the world disappeared, like the curtain falling after a movie, leaving the surrounding scenery clear and bright.
Behind the two, the servants had already returned to their original appearance.
They suppressed their ferocity and stood in a row amidst the pool of blood, bowing respectfully and gratefully to the departing figures of the two men.
In the distance, a bustling crowd mingled, and countless lights twinkled across the sky. The colorful lights of this vibrant world reflected each other, creating a dazzling and enchanting spectacle.
Ping An and the other cats and dogs lay by the roadside, swishing their tails listlessly, maintaining the same appearance Xie Xubai had before entering the Jiang family's ball.
Suddenly seeing Xie Xubai and Jiang Kaile, pairs of eyes lit up in the darkness and rushed over like wild horses.
"Woof woof woof!" "Meow—"
They tried to pounce on Xie Xubai, but there were too many of them, and the boy next to him was also caught in the crossfire and surrounded.
Presumably, the cats and dogs that Xie Xubai would affectionately pat on the head were his future companions. They took the opportunity to cling to the boy, sniffing around to get familiar with his scent.
Jiang Kaile was caught off guard and overwhelmed by the sea of fur, his face filled with astonishment as he frantically caught them: "Wait, uh, don't lick my face! Teacher—"
The boy was out of breath and dared not push them away, so he frantically sought help from Xie Xubai.
But the young man stood far away, watching the spectacle with a forced smile on his face.
Jiang Kaile's eyes widened, filled with accusation: "Teacher!"
Xie Xubai raised an eyebrow: "This is the punishment for breaking a promise. You said you had to be home before dark, and you made the teacher wait for two hours. Do you know how worried I was?"
Jiang Kaile was speechless for a moment, and said guiltily, "I'm sorry."
Xie Xubai walked over, tapped Jiang Kaile's forehead with his finger, picked up the cat hanging on Jiang Kaile's face, and gently but firmly scratched the cat's chin.
The cat purred contentedly and rolled over in his arms.
Xie Xubai lowered his eyelashes, his gentle and melodious voice flowing under the tranquil night sky as he began to tell a brand new story.
"The boy gained the power of a dragon and left the village to embark on a true adventure. Along the way, he made a close friend, and the two promised to meet again after they became stronger. Thus began their legendary chapter."
"Now that you've finished your story, Jiang," Xie Xubai said, extending his hand to the still-stunned boy. "We should go home now."
Before he could react, Jiang Kaile had already reached out and grabbed the hand.
Cats and dogs frolicked around them, playing happily.
Ping An had a gut feeling that something terrible had happened while he was waiting for the young man to get off work. He walked slowly beside Xie Xubai and growled inquiringly.
Although it had only been three days, Xie Xubai felt like he hadn't seen the little ones for a long time, and his heart softened: "It's okay, we'll talk about it when we get back."
Jiang Kaile held Xie Xubai's hand tightly.
The gloomy and dark Jiang family compound was left behind them, growing ever more distant.
The boy continued forward without stopping, when suddenly he heard a loud bus horn pierce the night.
He seemed to wake from a dream, and suddenly looked up. His trembling pupils reflected the bustling night market, and he was finally drawn into the lively and noisy world of human life by the young man.
On the other side, Yan Yue and others who entered the live broadcast hall through the transfer station were immediately overwhelmed by the deafening clamor of discussion.
Countless viewers are passionately discussing Xie Xubai's existence, sparking an unprecedented carnival!
Author's Note:
I wrote "100 km/h" all night, so consider this an extra chapter QAQ. The next chapter will be Xie Xubai from the audience's perspective.
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