Chapter 20

“Why don’t you just give it to me straight?”

　　The cave was cramped and confining, barely offering enough room to stand. Yet, within its walls, Duan Chi’s eyes beheld an uncharted cavern beckoning to be unraveled.

　　Cradling the injured person in his arms, he made his way to the river bank and lifted their arm, revealing a mere one-inch gash on the wrist. It was fortunate that it did not appear too deep, so it ought to cease its crimson flow in no time.

　　Despite that, his eyes swiftly roved over every inch of Jing Xi’s body, searching for any other injuries. Taking advantage of the incessant ringing as the perfect distraction, he drew the person closer in a bold move, enclosing them in a protective embrace.

　　The thick veil of darkness that enveloped the cave in obscurity rendered even the slightest sight of one’s own hand impossible. Jing Xi’s Class-S genes, though extraordinary, were still limited by the inherent limitations of his race, which left him with mere glimpses of hazy silhouettes.

　　Even so, the absence of light in this inky abyss amplified all their other senses. Every breath became a pulsating rhythm, every exhale a scorching brush against the skin, igniting the nerves with electrifying sensations. His heart thumped, and at that moment, he instinctively raised his elbow and pushed against the other.

　　An agonized groan escaped from Duan Chi’s throat as he made a desperate attempt to wrench the other’s arm backward and regain control. However, Jing Xi was no pushover, simply refusing to yield an inch. With a quick step back, he evaded Duan Chi’s maneuver, as his mind raced to search for the perfect angle to turn the tables.

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　　Unfazed by Jing Xi’s demand, Duan Chi got down to brass tacks. “Are you trying to set Xiuwen together with Jin Yumeng?”

　　In a heartbeat, thoughts were whirling around Jing Xi’s mind. Nevertheless, he reckoned that admitting it was inconsequential, as his actions were entirely justified by the intention of ruffling his younger brother’s feathers. Before any words could escape his lips, Duan Chi wasted no time firing his second question.

　　Duan Chi wondered, “Did you somehow stumble upon the fact that Jin Yumeng’s blood holds some mysterious effect on Xiuwen?”

　　Jing Xi blinked as his disbelief echoed in his voice, “How could that even be possible?”

　　As the air crackled with suspense, Duan Chi hurled his third question at him. “Are you really Yi Zhou?”

　　At this juncture, System found itself overcome with a sense of withdrawal and disheartenment, as the rejection of its resignation letter had taken a toll on its spirits. Just as it began to succumb to a sea of desolation, Duan Chi’s series of questions grabbed its full attention. However, it was the third question that gave it quite a jolt, causing an involuntary gasp to escape its lips.

　　In contrast, not a ripple disturbed Jing Xi’s countenance. “Of course, I’m Yi Zhou. We can always confirm my identity through DNA testing if you have doubts, but why would you think otherwise?”

　　“My intuition,” Duan Chi stated, “tells me that you two are just too different.”

　　A tantalizing pause hung in the air, the weight of suspense palpable as Jing Xi heaved a sigh. “You see,” Jing Xi began, “when I first discovered the truth of what transpired in the past, I was consumed by a violent internal turmoil. On top of that, my fear of being exposed drove me to bury my emotions beneath a cold facade. When I found myself pursued by 2 Lupinus Mutants and teetering on the precipice of life and death, a revelation struck me like a thunderbolt. It dawned on me that one must fully embrace themselves for who they are to lead a full and happy life, so I decided to set myself free.”

　　Duan Chi’s gaze fixed on the individual before him, searching for answers within their eyes. Meanwhile, Jing Xi mirrored his unwavering stare with a solemn expression.

　　In the silence that followed, Duan Chi released his grip on Jing Xi before brushing away the damp strands of hair that clung to his forehead. His touch carried undeniable traces of fondness and exasperation. “Little liar.”

　　With a gentle tug, Duan Chi guided the other to a nearby rock and took a seat. “Since we won’t be heading out any time soon, let’s have a chat, shall we?”

　　Much to Jing Xi’s surprise, the lingering warmth on his head grew more pronounced in the damp and chilly environment. Instinctively, he reached up to touch the spot before transitioning from a passive listener to an active participant. “Alright, I’m all ears. So why don’t you start by enlightening me on your suspicions regarding me?”

　　With no intention of mincing his words, Duan Chi began listing out his peculiarities one after the other.

　　Jing Xi explained, “I’m afraid I can’t explain what had occurred to my genes completely, either. I was under immense stress at that time, and before I could fully comprehend the situation, the pain had already robbed me of rational thought. As for the drastic change in my temperament, as I’ve mentioned earlier, it was a direct result of the life-and-death experiences I went through, which ultimately contributed to my personal growth and maturity. Additionally, I sought the assistance of a skilled hacker to obtain the recording. Anything else?”

　　Duan Chi queried, “Oh, but I’ve had the opportunity to converse with those two Lupinus Mutants, and they asserted that it was you who compelled them to abandon you and engage in combat with one another. So tell me, can you hypnotize people?”

　　Astounded by what he had just heard, Jing Xi’s mind raced as he swiftly crafted a response to defend himself. “… I’m just an ordinary university student, so how could I possibly possess knowledge of such wondrous things?”

　　Duan Chi pondered aloud, “I’ve been trying to figure out how you managed to ensure Jin Yumeng’s arrival, given your awareness of their whereabouts and plans for that day. It would have been far simpler if you had some knowledge of hypnotism.”

　　“Let’s be rational, CEO Duan.” Jing Xi’s voice was laden with distress, as he tried to reason with CEO Duan. “I merely underwent a sudden change in my genes, and it’s also something that I never wanted or asked for. So holding me accountable for everything solely because of this inexplicable change is unjust. I truly am…”

　　Before he had the chance to finish his sentence, the person before him closed the distance between them all of a sudden. 

　　Their breaths mingled, lips but a hair’s breadth away from each other.

　　In a split second, the word “heartbroken” he wanted to say was stuck in his throat.

　　Duan Chi halted his meaningless words and straightened his posture before asserting, “If you are unwilling to speak about it, just be straightforward with me.”

　　He continued, “I concede I have no valid reason to doubt you. In actual fact, I could have conducted a slow and cautious investigation, but my darling, I’m utterly dependent on your blood. Since our fates are irrevocably entwined, I desire nothing more than to be completely honest with you…”

　　As he said so, an overpowering scent of metallic blood permeated the air, invading their nostrils. 

　　Without further ado, a certain individual lifted their injured hand, bringing it closer to his nose in a desperate attempt to identify the source of the scent.

　　At this juncture, he could not help but halt mid-sentence.

　　Imitating his gestures, Jing Xi found himself effortlessly silencing his words before retracting his hand.

　　“I must say, CEO Duan, you’re quite the actor,” he remarked lazily, “Here you are, painting yourself as this pitiful, vulnerable soul. Does my blood hold that much sway over you?”

　　In the depths of the darkness, their eyes met in midair in silence, and immediately right after, they unanimously broke into gales of laughter.

　　At that moment, Duan Chi’s heart raced with a realization — there was no other soul in the vast expanse of the world that could ignite his passion quite like him.

　　As if sensing his inner turmoil, his bracelet began pulsating against his skin. He firmly grasped the other’s chin in a crescendo of ear-piercing buzzing, allowing a flicker of his assertive nature to shine through. “Blood holds no comparison to your significance.”

　　On that note, he took this chance to ask the question that had consumed his every thought. “To be utterly honest, my eldest brother and his beloved wife were ruthlessly taken from this world by my sworn enemies, leaving Xiuwen as the sole survivor of their bloodline. As a result, I’ve relentlessly pursued those accountable and managed to vanquish most of them along the way. Yet, 2 enemies still managed to slip through my fingers. Despite my tireless pursuit over the years, I have been unable to uncover any significant leads. And now, by some twist of fate, you’ve appeared in my life. So tell me, were you sent by them?”

　　This matter held paramount significance to him, consuming his thoughts and emotions.

　　After all, he was at the forefront, followed closely by his nephew, both intrinsically linked to this young man.

　　Yet, with every encounter, the other always seemed to avoid him effortlessly, but he could not shake off the worry that it was not mere happenstance but a deliberate ploy to mislead. Deep down, he feared that a bigger and deeper conspiracy lay hidden behind this mysterious and powerful young man with an extraordinary physique.

　　Jing Xi locked eyes with him and answered, “No, I wasn’t.”

　　In a matter of seconds, Duan Chi could discern the unmistakable sincerity etched in his eyes, confirming that he was indeed telling the truth.

　　“That’s great.”

　　So long as this individual was not an enemy, they could always find a way to resolve all else, and there was also no need for him to dwell on those lingering doubts.

　　Rather than releasing his grip, Duan Chi inched somewhat closer. “Why don’t you just give it to me straight, my darling? What is it that you truly desire? Who knows, I might just be of help?”

　　After a brief bout of silence, Jing Xi freed himself from Duan Chi’s grasp before leaning forward and resting his chin in his hand. “Really? You mean I can wish for absolutely anything?”

　　Upon hearing that utterance, Duan Chi instinctively sensed that whatever Jing Xi had in mind might not bode well for him. Nevertheless, he prompted, “Go on, tell me.”

　　“The one thing I desire more than anything right now is to leave this place as soon as possible.” Jing Xi divulged, “So if you could just calm down and allow the transformation suppressant to wear off, wouldn’t you be able to transform into your original form and dig a hole?”

　　Duan Chi muttered, “… I won’t be able to fit in this space.”

　　After careful consideration, Jing Xi suggested, “How about just transforming a specific body part? Say, your claw or something?”

　　System could not help but chime in and explain, “If Duan Chi were to transform whilst in his humanoid form, the change would be limited to sharpening the tips of his human hand.”

　　Instead of providing any explanation, Duan Chi questioned, “Do you want to see my ears transform?”

　　Gritting his teeth, Jing Xi endured and held his ground, determined to endure a little longer. Eventually, his patience wore thin, and he could no longer hold himself back. “Sure, go ahead,” he conceded.

　　System remained silent, seemingly processing the unexpected turn of events. ‘Hold on a second. How did you go from being at odds with each other to checking out his ears without any logical transition? Is this even normal?’

　　Amid their exchange in the cave, pandemonium had taken hold beyond the small cave’s confines.

　　Scarcely a moment after the premises succumbed to darkness, the backup power supply and emergency systems promptly sprang to life, bathing the cave once more in a renewed glow.

　　On the wooden plank path, a throng of people huddled closely together, causing some to be pushed over the edge in moments of overcrowding. Consequently, some found themselves desperately clinging to jagged rocks, grappling with the raging current that threatened to engulf them. Meanwhile, unfortunate souls who had collided with unforgiving rocks lay motionless on the ground, with their fates hanging in uncertainty.

　　Wide-eyed and trembling, the people let out blood-curdling screams as their eyes locked onto the unimaginable sight that unfolded before them.

　　Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the quick-thinking staff members at the scenic area sprang into action. Their voices boomed through the loudspeakers as they orchestrated a methodical evacuation of the frantic crowd, while calming their frayed nerves. With the help of artificial intelligence, they ensured no one would be left behind in the cavernous depths.

　　Outside, the rain continued to pour relentlessly as people sought refuge in nearby shelters. Without any moment’s delay, the leader swiftly conducted a headcount, only to discover that the heartthrob was missing. In a split second, his face settled into a concerned expression before inquiring, “Weren’t you guys always together?”

　　Duan Xiuwen responded, “No, we were a distance away from him at that time.”

　　His gaze swept over their faces once more before a sense of unease gripped his heart. “Oh no, he might still be trapped inside.”

　　As his voice faded into silence, the rest of the group quickly sought out the staff members to relay the situation. 

　　During that lapse of time, Duan Xiuwen spotted a familiar face amidst the crowd. As he approached his uncle’s assistant, he caught fragments of the assistant’s recount of a distressing matter. “There was a student named Yi Zhou who was squeezed out of the crowd and fell into the lake. Without a second thought, my boss leaped after him to save him. I’m from the Celestial Lupin Clan, and I’ve been keeping my eye on that spot ever since the lights went out. However, they’ve yet to resurface.”

　　A gasp of horror escaped the lips of the adventure club members, as their eyes widened in disbelief, and their voices merged into a collective cry of shock and concern. “—What did you just say?”