Thank you @Seagull for the Kofi. (1/3)
Xingwang Hotel
Chapter 314: Thank you for the treat
In the damp, shadow-shrouded hotel room, the pitch-black water surface rippled slightly, reflecting faint, shimmering light.
A faint scent of blood lingered in the air.
“So, when exactly did I wake up?”
Wu Zhu stretched his limbs, lazily leaning against the foot of the bed, allowing the human in front of him to thread warm fingertips through his long hair, tilting his head back in response to the other’s touch.
“Let me think…”
Wen Jianyan smiled faintly, casually playing with the other’s icy strands of hair. His narrowed eyes concealed their sharpness, and the slightly hoarse end of his voice rose in a teasing lilt.
It wasn’t at the beginning.
Wu Zhu was a god, an anomaly, not human.
Though he was on the side of “evil,” in a way, he was also arrogant and pure. Such a being wouldn’t resort to weak, deceitful tricks to confuse others…
Besides, the other party didn’t have the acting skills for it.
Blood was the key.
The other’s awakening must have begun with the feeding of fresh blood, the start of “feeding.”
So, when exactly was that?
…
Wen Jianyan leaned forward slightly, his fingers gripping Wu Zhu’s long hair as he looked down at the pale, handsome, and wicked face. He pressed the pad of his injured, no-longer-bleeding finger against Wu Zhu’s pale lips:
“It was when you bit me, wasn’t it?”
Anything before or after was the wrong answer.
Wen Jianyan had confidence in his ability to read people. If the other had regained rationality at any other point, even the slightest change in their state, he would have noticed… except for the moment when the other gently bit down.
Although Wen Jianyan didn’t want to admit it…
He had indeed been slightly flustered at that moment, which was why he missed the signs of Wu Zhu’s awakening.
More importantly, that bite had been too light.
It wasn’t like tearing into prey to extract more blood. Calling it a plea to stay was a stretch, but if the other had been rational, everything would make sense.
“That’s right.”
In the dim darkness, those golden eyes burned brightly.
Even though he knew Wen Jianyan’s earlier fluster was just a ploy to confuse him, Wu Zhu didn’t seem to mind.
The thin corners of his lips curved slightly, revealing a hint of sharp, white teeth. His gaze locked firmly on the prey before him, as if he had grown even more excited.
His cold, broad hand still rested on the young man’s waist. Through the thin, damp fabric, he could feel the warmth and tautness of the other’s skin, rising and falling slightly with his breath, brimming with vitality and energy.
It made him want to explore more.
Before Wu Zhu’s fingers could slide down the curve of Wen Jianyan’s spine, the latter suddenly smiled, then immediately wiped away the smile.
“Let go.”
He issued the command coldly.
Clink.
The Ouroboros ring was pulled by some force in the darkness, compelling Wu Zhu’s hands to release Wen Jianyan’s waist.
Once again, Wu Zhu was immobilized and unable to move.
Watching the other’s restrained form, Wen Jianyan finally exhaled a long breath, standing up with some satisfaction.
“Alright, now answer my question.”
Standing before Wu Zhu, he looked down at him and gestured toward the gaping hole behind him:
“What’s inside?”
“The core.” Wu Zhu answered almost effortlessly, without much struggle.
…And that answer was nearly meaningless.
Wen Jianyan frowned slightly:
“The core of this instance?”
“You could say that,” Wu Zhu replied nonchalantly.
“…”
Wen Jianyan keenly sensed a deeper implication hidden in the other’s words.
He turned his head, his gaze falling once more on the massive hole that seemed capable of swallowing everything. Slowly, he said:
“You have to enter it through other means, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Just like the fifth floor in the Changsheng Building.
If you tried to take a shortcut to enter, you’d never come out again. To truly reach the core, you had to find the path permitted by the rules.
Wen Jianyan lowered his eyes, seemingly recalling something.
After entering the instance, he had glanced at the content of the bullet comments.
He remembered someone mentioning that the Xingwang Hotel instance had been closed before, and it was only reopened this time. Since there was no precedent, the bullet comments had discussed this issue for quite some time.
Why had it been closed?
What was the reason for its reopening?
More importantly…
Since he had received the so-called “task,” could it be that the captain of another team had also received a similar guiding task?
If the answer was yes, then the Gentlemen’s objectives were likely related to this.
So, they were also trying to find and access the “core.”
To prevent losing contact, please remember the backup domain name of this site:
Wen Jianyan raised his eyes again, looking toward Wu Zhu, and slowly asked his second question: “What does this instance have to do with you?”
Wu Zhu didn’t answer.
Wen Jianyan slightly squinted, stepping forward, his smile not reaching his eyes: “God the father, you really are a forgetful one. How come you’ve already forgotten our agreement so quickly?”
“Of course not.”
Wu Zhu tilted his head back, his golden eyes lifting to stare steadily at Wen Jianyan’s aggressive demeanor, seeming even more pleased, “I really like our… ‘agreement.'”
The last two words were drawn out as if he had carefully chewed and savored them between his lips before slowly letting them slip out.
Though he was a prisoner, he seemed more at ease than when he had been a god.
Wen Jianyan: “…”
Damn it, this was a bit annoying.
“My memory is incomplete.”
Wu Zhu raised his hand, shaking the Ouroboros chain on his wrist, making a clinking sound: “Plus, it blocks my perception of the outside world, so I truly don’t know the answer to your question.”
Wen Jianyan withdrew his gaze.
He knew that Wu Zhu hadn’t lied just now.
Wen Jianyan took a deep breath, mentally organizing the information he had just obtained—no matter how he looked at it, his gains from entering the Ouroboros this time were not significant.
This made him feel a bit dissatisfied.
At that moment, Wu Zhu spoke again:
“Unless…”
Wen Jianyan paused, looking up at Wu Zhu.
Unless?
Wu Zhu relaxed his limbs, elegantly leaning against the foot of the bed. His golden eyes shimmered in the darkness as he gazed at the young man before him:
“I go out and search with you.”
Wen Jianyan’s expression remained unchanged: “…”
Hah, dream on.
Not to mention whether Nightmare would notice this bug, which should have been cleared, reappearing, having another person in his streaming team would be impossible to hide from not only Nightmare but also the viewers and other teammates. Moreover, Wen Jianyan couldn’t guarantee that after releasing Wu Zhu from the Ouroboros, he would still be able to maintain control over this guy.
It would be a hundred disadvantages and no benefits.
He smiled coldly, pulling at the corner of his mouth:
“No need, thank you.”
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes and took another step forward:
“Is there no other way?”
“……”
Wu Zhu slightly turned his head, his long, jet-black hair flowing over his shoulder, dampened by the water, sticking to his pale, marble-like chest, resembling a coiled snake.
“Yes.”
“If you’re willing, I can make you sense my presence.”
This description sounded very familiar.
A method that allows one to sense the other’s presence when close, it was almost like…
Wen Jianyan froze, as if he had thought of something, his gaze falling on the dark, intricate runes on the other’s chest: “Wait, you’re not talking about—”
“Yes.”
Wu Zhu seemed to silently smile.
“Impossible!” Wen Jianyan gritted his teeth and replied without hesitation.
He had just barely managed to remove the mark that represented the other’s “name” from his body, and now he was supposed to willingly brand it back on…?!
Not to mention, he knew all too well how painful it had been when that mark was first branded onto him!!!
There was absolutely no way he would agree!!
“Alright then.”
Surprisingly, Wu Zhu did not insist, seemingly respecting Wen Jianyan’s decision.
Wen Jianyan: “…”
He stood there, his expression fluctuating between dark and light, staring fixedly at the other.
Unlike his firm refusal, his overly active mind had already started uncontrollably analyzing the pros and cons: Not just this instance, but in every subsequent instance, he would probably be given tasks to clear the bug remnants left by Nightmare. Plus, the Ouroboros could block everything, meaning that although the mark was once again branded onto his skin, Wu Zhu would not be able to monitor and control him as freely as before. His advantage and dominance would not change because of a mark.
Overall, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
But…
Wen Jianyan glared at Wu Zhu’s damn face, feeling a lump in his throat.
Ahhhhhh!
So infuriating!!!
He took a deep breath, exhaled, inhaled again, and exhaled once more, trying to forcefully suppress his irritation.
Wen Jianyan gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed out from between clenched teeth:
“…Fine, let’s do it.”
Wu Zhu looked up at him.
The corners of his thin lips seemed to curl into a faint, almost imperceptible smile: “Are you sure?”
Wen Jianyan: “…”
He held back the curse words that were about to escape his mouth, forcing a smile that appeared flawless but was actually twisted with frustration: “Of course.”
From that moment on, the invisible force restraining Wu Zhu was released.
With the sound of clinking metal, the man with black hair and golden eyes slowly stood up.
Wu Zhu was very tall.
Even though Wen Jianyan was already considered tall, Wu Zhu still towered over him, creating a sense of physical pressure. As he walked closer, even though Wen Jianyan knew the power was in his hands, when the shadow of the other’s body fell over him, he couldn’t help but feel an impulse to step back.
Wen Jianyan took a deep breath:
“Wait a minute.”
Wu Zhu stopped, tilting his head in question: “?”
“Don’t come over.”
Wen Jianyan curled the corner of his lips, revealing a smile that lacked warmth.
“Go sit on the bed.”
“……”
Wu Zhu complied obediently.
Wen Jianyan took a deep breath, quickly walked to the edge of the bed, tore off a corner of the sheet, and skillfully rolled it into a strip.
Then, he raised his hand, unbuttoned a few buttons at the hem of his shirt from the bottom up, and casually tugged at the edge of his pants.
His entire movement was as fluid as flowing water, without the slightest hesitation.
The thin, water-soaked fabric opened, revealing his pale, firm abdomen, with subtle, graceful lines. The center of his abdomen slightly sank, extending down to the shadow where the fabric covered it. A small patch of skin, dampened by water, tightened, glistening faintly in the dark, rising and falling rhythmically with the young man’s breathing.
Wen Jianyan took a deep breath.
He pressed his hand on Wu Zhu’s shoulder, bit the sheet between his teeth, then closed his eyes and murmured indistinctly, “Start.”
“……”
Wu Zhu did not act immediately.
He raised his eyes and carefully examined the human before him with his golden eyes, which glowed with a strange light.
The young man’s brows were furrowed, his eyes tightly closed, as if he had made a great resolution.
His chest and abdomen rose and fell unevenly, his fingers pressing on Wu Zhu’s shoulder unconsciously tightening, suppressing the slight tremors.
It was as if he had already anticipated the heart-wrenching, bone-deep pain that would soon strike, the kind that would shake his very soul.
……
So beautiful.
Even though he knew how painful and terrifying the brand that would soon be imprinted on him would be, he showed no signs of retreat.
Always rational, clear-headed, and resolute.
The trembling, fearful, yet still gritting his teeth to endure…
So beautiful.
Wu Zhu suddenly smiled.
He bit into his fingertip, and unlike when he bit Wen Jianyan earlier, this time he bit deeply, the sharp tip of his teeth sinking into his finger, almost tearing off a piece of flesh with a vicious force.
Dark golden, metallic-colored, viscous blood oozed from the wound, and then, at a leisurely pace, he touched his finger to the other’s hipbone.
“!”
The cold fingertip touched the warm skin, and Wen Jianyan instinctively shuddered.
He closed his eyes tightly, gritting his teeth and biting down on the cloth strip, his shoulders and back stiffening, almost reflexively trembling, as the pain from the previous brand resurfaced clearly, triggering an instinctive response.
But he still did not give the command to stop.
He had prepared himself to endure.
The icy fingers traced the edge of his hipbone, moving slowly as if drawing some intricate pattern.
“……?” Wen Jianyan, eyes closed, his body stiff, waiting for the coming terrifying pain.
But at the same time, a hint of doubt arose in his heart.
Was it this complicated last time?
Soon, the other’s fingertip paused, just about to sink into the shadow of the fabric, then applied slight pressure—
“Mm!”
A faint, trembling sound escaped Wen Jianyan’s throat.
However, unexpectedly, the slight pain quickly faded.
The cold fingers then withdrew.
“……?!”
Wen Jianyan froze, furrowing his brow in confusion.
Was this… not started yet? Or had it already ended?
It shouldn’t be either way?
Suddenly, there was an irresistible pulling sensation on his side, and in the next second, Wen Jianyan lost his balance and instinctively leaned forward.
Without warning, something cold and wet licked at his wound.
“!!!”
Wen Jianyan shuddered all over, his eyes snapping open as he looked down in shock.
His rapidly rising and falling pale abdomen, near the hip bone, was beginning to show golden-red patterns.
Wu Zhu lay over his lower abdomen, looking up from below, his golden eyes flashing aggressively in the dark, his crimson tongue stained with a trace of blood.
Half gold, half crimson.
He licked his lips and let out a short laugh. “Thank you for the treat.”
