Under Cen Zibai’s licking, Gan Tang let out an involuntary sharp gasp.
And this, apparently, gave that depraved monster the wrong kind of encouragement. The slick tongue pressed against his skin instantly grew greedier, more eager. Like an infant, it sucked relentlessly on Gan Tang’s toes, then slipped its slender tip between them, simulating an act so repulsive it made his stomach churn—thrusting, piercing.
Gan Tang’s face flushed red. He gritted his teeth and desperately tried to pull his foot away, but within those iron-clamp-like hands, all his struggling felt pitifully weak. Worse yet, he had the sickening suspicion that the more he resisted, the more pleasure “Cen Zibai” derived from it.
The proof was in the way that obscene licking gradually trailed up from his toes to his ankle—accompanied by a thick, guttural whimper, like a cat in heat mewling from its throat.
“Cen Zibai” held onto Gan Tang’s legs tightly, wrapping them in his embrace, smearing the freshly cleaned skin until it was slick and filthy once again.
“Stop—stop it, you lunatic—!”
In contrast to “Cen Zibai,” who was murmuring in blissful contentment, Gan Tang trembled violently with disgust. His voice was hoarse with despair as he growled at him. Because they weren’t even in a locked bedroom right now—they were in the living room, where they usually entertained guests and ate meals. If his grandmother happened to wake up and check outside, with just one push of the door, she would immediately see—
Gan Tang, trapped in the chair like prey constricted by a python, completely subdued by the taller, twisted-looking boy, unable to do anything but endure the humiliation.
The mere thought of that scene made Gan Tang feel like he was about to break apart.
But the creature, which only resembled a human on the outside, clearly did not share the same sense of shame as a boy.
It was losing control.
Even Gan Tang could tell by now—maybe it had grown tired of pretending to be human, maybe consuming other organisms had eroded what little willpower it had left, or maybe… maybe the clumsy, singular tongue of a human just wasn’t enough, and it wanted too much, far too much…
Under Gan Tang’s terrified gaze, several thick, wet appendages, covered in tiny pulsating nodules, slithered out from “Cen Zibai’s” parted lips.
They coiled around Gan Tang’s calves, caressing his pale skin as they slowly inched higher—toward his thighs, toward the inside of his thighs.
And at that moment, “Cen Zibai’s” head was still pressed beneath Gan Tang’s sole, his facial features slightly distorted from being stepped on, squeezed.
Thick, viscous mucus dripped steadily from his body.
[“Tang Tang.”]
[“So sweet, Tang Tang.”]
[“I like you so much.”]
[“Like you, like you, I just want to eat you up, hehe…”]
…
Somewhere in the background, Gan Tang could faintly hear countless small voices shrieking and screaming from within “Cen Zibai’s” body.
Overwhelmed by terror, tears welled up in Gan Tang’s eyes.
His chest heaved violently as he rasped at the monster before him.
“You… What the hell are you?”
“Cen Zibai” rubbed his face against the sole of Gan Tang’s foot, smiling in a way that was both eerie and saccharine.
“I told you, I am—”
“You’re not ‘Cen Zibai.’”
Gan Tang cut him off. Cold sweat beaded his face, and as he stared at “Cen Zibai,” even his pupils trembled faintly.
“Answer me. What are you—”
Gan Tang thought he was as calm as he could possibly be, but the sound that forced its way up his throat still carried the hysteria of someone on the verge of breaking, like a madman crying out in despair.
“Cen Zibai’s” brows drooped slightly, as if he was feeling aggrieved.
A moment later, the “tongues” that had been attached to Gan Tang’s body slowly retracted back into him.
“Cen Zibai” remained kneeling at Gan Tang’s feet in a submissive posture.
“I already answered you before. I am him. I have his memories, his thoughts. I love everything he loves, I desire the person he yearned for and deeply cherished… And I also have his body. As for these—”
The boy paused, tilting his head back and opening his mouth. From within the deep red, mucus-laden cavity, grotesque appendages bristling with jagged edges wriggled out, twisting slightly in the air before Gan Tang.
A few seconds later, they swiftly retreated back into “Cen Zibai’s” throat.
“…They’re just my new organs. This form is more convenient for our future feeding and survival.”
“What do you mean?”
Just when Gan Tang thought he had reached the peak of his terror—when he had resigned himself to despair—this thing always managed to introduce a new depth of horror.
He stared unblinkingly at “Cen Zibai,” his skin prickling with goosebumps at the phrase ‘for our future feeding and survival.’
What did he mean by ‘our’? What did he mean by ‘future feeding and survival’?
“Mmm, after the courtship period ends, Tang Tang and I will be going back.”
“Cen Zibai” smiled slightly, speaking with unsettling calm.
“Tang Tang is my mate. We’ll return underground… to begin the next phase of reproduction.”
“……”
“Tang Tang’s physique is perfect for reproduction. Just like I said before, we’ll have a wonderful colony, and so, so many adorable children…”
“……”
“Don’t be scared, Tang Tang. I’m strong. I’ve already prepared plenty of food reserves for the breeding season—you’ve seen them before. You and our children will have plenty to eat. Though, you’ll probably be too exhausted from the high-intensity egg-laying to move… But that’s okay. I’ll help you. My feeding appendages are very efficient, my digestive fluids are potent—I’ll break down all the food reserves into a rich, nutritious slurry and inject it directly into your body through my mouthparts…”
……
Although he had acquired the memories of another species through parasitism, it was clear that “Cen Zibai” still could not fully comprehend human common sense or emotions.
Despite his best efforts to soothe his chosen breeding partner, despite his fluency in another species’ language and his earnest descriptions of their bright and promising future together—
In his vision, the boy’s face only grew paler, and his eyes filled with deeper terror.
This troubled “Cen Zibai” somewhat.
He even began to suspect that this predicament was due to some incompleteness in the brain matter he had absorbed.
After all, when that corpse—or rather, that ‘shell’—fell into the underground, the skull had already been damaged.
Back then, he had been nothing more than a writhing mass of worms without self-awareness. But driven by biological instinct, he had rushed forward and lapped up every last drop of the warm brain matter inside…
And then, he had a name.
Cen Zibai.
He had undergone a resurrection of sorts beneath the earth—though an incomplete one.
But even though he had inherited all the memories and knowledge, he still found himself deeply anxious whenever he was with Gan Tang.
He had never known that courtship could be so difficult. He could never grasp the boy’s emotions, nor understand why he constantly emitted the scent of fear.
He had done everything to demonstrate his strength.
Even among his own kind, not every individual could so easily release such a vast quantity of spores to convert surface-dwelling creatures into future food reserves.
He had also seized every opportunity to display his gentleness and obedience—because according to his memories, this should have been the way to gain Gan Tang’s affection.
And yet, the more obedient and docile he was, the more disgusted Gan Tang seemed to become.
He didn’t know what to do anymore.
……
“Tang Tang?”
“Cen Zibai” gazed intently at Gan Tang, his voice growing softer, more tender.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
He asked cautiously.
“Aren’t you happy?”
Gan Tang’s eyes looked deep and dark in the shadows.
After a long silence, a hoarse whisper suddenly echoed through the hall.
“…You said you’d listen to me very well?”
The voice carried a strange, drifting quality.
As if it came not from the lips of a living boy, but from beneath a thin burial shroud.
“Cen Zibai” did not notice the oddity in his tone. Just hearing a response from Gan Tang was enough to make him happy.
“Mm.”
He answered cheerfully.
“I’m very obedient.”
It said.
Then, Gan Tang heard a soft, lingering command.
“Then lower your head, okay? Don’t look at me, and don’t move.”
“Okay.”
“Cen Zibai” responded obediently, and immediately lowered his head in front of Gan Tang.
The boy’s neck was exposed. Gan Tang stared at it for a moment.
Then, he took a deep breath—
“Puchi—”
Gan Tang did not hesitate at all. Using every ounce of his strength, he drove the scissors he had been hiding in his sleeve straight into “Cen Zibai’s” neck.
The scissors had indeed been sharpened to a razor edge. The blades sank effortlessly into the boy’s skin, piercing through the blood vessel where his artery should have been.
A thick, blackish-red fluid oozed out along with a pungent stench. But it didn’t spurt—it only trickled.
Drip… drip…
Black blood gushed from the wound, though the amount was small.
So Gan Tang pulled the scissors out and stabbed again.
A muffled gurgle rose from “Cen Zibai’s” throat.
After all, the body he was using belonged to a dead person. And since it was incomplete, he had been forced to incorporate parts of another corpse.
In theory, he should have absorbed that body instead. But unfortunately, that corpse had only been in the well for a short time, and every available gap and opening had already been carefully sealed.
Besides, “Cen Zibai” didn’t like the scent of that body. He hadn’t touched that prey.
But the body he did like had been torn to pieces…
So he had to find a way to stitch himself into something whole.
That was what had allowed him to get so close to Gan Tang so quickly. But now, the flaws in his form had been laid bare.
Under Gan Tang’s frenzied stabbing, the crudely stitched-together neck and body finally came apart.
With a dull thud, “Cen Zibai’s” head rolled off his shoulders, tumbling several times across the floor.
……
But the boy did not die.
Even with only a head remaining, his expression stayed as lively as ever.
He looked at Gan Tang in slight distress, then blinked.
“…Why?”
He asked.
“Was it because I didn’t lick you properly just now? Is that why you’re unhappy, Tang Tang?”
The monster asked with a face full of innocence.
Gan Tang did not answer him.
The boy collapsed onto the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.
With one hand, he gripped the severed neck of “Cen Zibai.” With the other, he clutched the scissors in a death grip—
Then stabbed again.
This time, he gouged out “Cen Zibai’s” eyes, turning them into two bloody, pulpy messes.
Now, “Cen Zibai” would never be able to look at him again.
Gan Tang panted heavily, staring at the still-quivering head in his palm, and thought to himself.
