Sheng Rufei coughed lightly a couple of times. He had drunk too quickly and ended up choking slightly. He set the soup bowl down to the side. The young man fed him candied fruit, and a trace of sweetness lingered between his lips and teeth.
“I already told you not to rush,” Lin Shijin found this a little amusing. “No one is going to snatch that bitter medicine from you.”
Lin Shijin stuffed two pieces of candied fruit into the blockhead’s mouth. His fingertips brushed against warm lips and teeth, and Sheng Rufei ate the sweets.
The pain-relieving medicinal herbs had already been taken. Lin Shijin pinched Sheng Rufei’s palm. “Shixiong, does it hurt?”
Sheng Rufei’s fingers twitched slightly. Meeting the young man’s expectant gaze, he could feel the force of the pinch; it had left a clear mark in his palm.
“It won’t take effect that quickly.”
Lin Shijin then waited a little longer at the side and told Sheng Rufei about the situation in the nearby villages.
“Then we’ll wait a bit longer,” Lin Shijin said. “Shixiong, when I went to gather the pain-relieving herbs, I also went to a nearby village. There was no one left there…”
Lin Shijin continued, “I also encountered villagers who had become demonic. Fuheng told me that the evil curse prolongs the process of demonic transformation, and during that time they have to keep eating people.”
Those villages could only be described as utterly tragic.
If things are already like this outside the city, it is impossible to know what the situation inside the city is like.
“I am a little worried about what is happening in the city,” Lin Shijin said, feeling increasingly restless. One matter had not yet been resolved before another arose.
“There are Scourge-Slayer Envoys guarding the city, and many disciples from the immortal sects as well. There is no need to worry too much.”
Lin Shijin gave a soft “mm” in response. What he was most worried about was actually Sheng Rufei. Now that he needed to find a way to break the curse, and with the possibility of having to travel through all fifty cities across the Three Thousand Worlds, the situation became even more complicated. At present, Sheng Rufei had been afflicted by the curse, and entering the cities might become a major problem.
In any case, he could not give up.
During the remaining time, Lin Shijin removed Sheng Rufei’s bandages and reapplied the medicine. While doing so, he carefully observed Sheng Rufei’s complexion, which looked noticeably better than a few days prior.
This indicated that the blood-stopping medicinal herbs were indeed effective.
At night, in order to prevent what had happened before from occurring again, Lin Shijin emphasised it three times to Sheng Rufei.
“Shixiong, if you touch me randomly again, from tomorrow onwards we will sleep separately.”
Originally Sheng Rufei had intended to meditate, but Lin Shijin would not allow it. Given his current injured state, he naturally had to rest properly; proper rest would help his wounds heal more quickly.
Sheng Rufei gave a low “mm” and, looking at his profile, softly said “alright”.
When the candlelight went out, they had originally been lying with some distance between them. Lin Shijin had not intended to sleep yet when an arm was placed across his waist.
That arm circled around him. He turned his head slightly to look. Sheng Rufei’s eyes were faintly closed; he was only holding him and doing nothing else.
So he turned back again, half opening one eye and closing the other, pretending not to notice.
In the deep silence of the night, just as he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly felt a fleeting sense of threat, as though a cold, oppressive gaze filled with terrifying possessiveness was fixed upon him.
That gaze seemed intent on tearing him apart completely, sending a chill down his spine.
Behind him was only Sheng Rufei. His fingertips touched Sheng Rufei’s wrist, carrying a faint comforting intention. Gradually, Sheng Rufei quietened down. Half-asleep, he suddenly felt something warm and wet brush against his cheek.
Sheng Rufei was licking him.
Lin Shijin endured it for a moment. He opened his eyes, just about to speak. Before he could even say the words “Sheng Rufei”, Sheng Rufei, seeing he had pushed things far enough, let go of him and closed his eyes as though pretending to sleep.
He grabbed Sheng Rufei by the ear and tugged slightly. “Sheng Rufei, don’t forget what you promised before sleeping. Sleep properly. If you mess around again, I’m leaving.”
As soon as he spoke, Sheng Rufei’s eyelashes trembled slightly. He did not respond, but instead tightened his hold around him, silently resisting and refusing to let him leave.
The latter half of the night was peaceful. Lin Shijin only slept for half an hour and, still uneasy, kept watch until dawn.
When he woke, his neck felt sore. At daylight, he checked and found a bloody bite mark on his neck.
Lin Shijin looked at the wound in the water mirror, then at Sheng Rufei beside the bed. At that moment, Lin Fuheng suddenly spoke from the side of the bed.
“Go and look at his teeth.”
Lin Shijin’s fingertips moved slightly. He stood there for a long time, staring at Sheng Rufei’s profile somewhat dazedly, before stepping forward and gently parting his lips.
The youth was not sleeping peacefully. Cold sweat had formed again on his forehead, as though he were enduring extreme pain. His thin lips were parted, revealing fangs unlike anything seen before.
Those fangs were extremely sharp, their tips reflecting a cold silver light.
Lin Shijin froze slightly. The clouds outside thickened at that moment, as though not a single ray of light could pass through.
His fingertips trembled faintly. A buzzing sound filled his mind and his entire body turned cold.
He recalled the monster he had seen in the village. That creature also had extremely long fangs, fed on human flesh, and was consumed entirely by the curse. It was neither human nor ghost, having long since lost all humanity.
Now Sheng Rufei was also gradually becoming such a monster.
“He will slowly lose his mind, and in the end become a beast driven purely by instinct. You cannot save him.”
Lin Shijin’s palms broke out in cold sweat. For a moment his heartbeat seemed to stop. A heavy, icy sensation filled his entire body, blurring his vision. After a while, he finally recovered.
“I will not let go…” Lin Shijin tightened his grip slightly, forcing out the words. He held the youth’s hand on the bed and touched his forehead, trying to smooth away the furrow between his brows.
Sheng Rufei had always stood in front of him. He had forgotten that Sheng Rufei was actually younger than him.
He slowly withdrew his hand and stood by the bed for a long time. The cold air outside soaked into his clothes. Then his figure vanished from the room.
After he left, the room fell silent. The youth on the bed opened his eyes, imitating what had just happened, slowly lifting the corners of his lips and exposing his teeth.
His fingertips touched something cold and sharp.
Qiushui had been watching from the side. It was just about to speak and threaten the “demon” again, warning that resistance was useless and he would eventually become a ninth-tier demonic beast.
Before it could speak, a faint sound like tendons being torn echoed through the air. A streak of dark red flashed before its eyes. Blood stained the youth’s fingertips.
He had actually ripped out his own two fangs.
The youth’s mouth was a mess of blood and flesh. Silver hair fell loosely around him. He glanced sideways at it with a cold and oppressive gaze.
Qiushui screamed internally and instinctively retreated two steps in fear. It thought, this seductive ghost really dares to threaten me, it must be deliberate. It wanted to say that removing them was pointless because they would grow back, but under that gaze, it chose to stay silent.
It retreated to the side and stood there obediently, pretending it had seen nothing.
Sheng Rufei looked at the two fangs in his palm, slightly dazed. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead from the pain. His fingertips were pale, and his throat was filled with the taste of blood.
He slowly crushed the fangs in his hand. A fresh wave of pain spread through his mouth and teeth, as though something new was beginning to grow.
……
Lin Shijin went to the city gate area to investigate the situation inside the city and learned that all fifty cities of the Three Thousand Worlds had already established inner city zones.
The so-called “inner city”, together with the original city gate, formed two checkpoints, creating a three-layered closed system.
Anyone infected by the evil curse would be directly expelled. Those who had come into contact with infected individuals could only remain within the second layer. The third layer… contained the remaining humans.
There were barriers at the city gates and Scourge-Slayer Envoys stationed to guard them. To enter, one had to pass through the Spirit-Testing Platform. This platform, abandoned a thousand years ago, had reappeared due to the curse and was now used as the most basic inspection.
Inside, layers of Scourge-Slayer Envoys stood guard. Outside, cries of misery echoed constantly as they periodically purged those who had turned into demons.
Black mist coiled around the city gates. The entire city seemed sealed within it, blocking out the sun and moon, leaving no trace of light.
Outside the city was a desolate, grey wasteland.
Lin Shijin waited near the gates for about half an hour. The Spirit-Testing Platform had originally been abandoned due to numerous flaws and the need for repeated verification. In some cases, special materials could interfere with it.
Before his thoughts could settle, he was interrupted by a voice beside him.
“You intend to bring him into the inner city?” Lin Fuheng said. “He is already afflicted by the curse. To the entire city, he is a risk. Are you planning to destroy an entire city because of him?”
Lin Shijin slowly clenched his fingers. What Lin Fuheng said was correct. Infection was probabilistic, but highly contagious. He could not guarantee Sheng Rufei would not infect others.
He himself did not mind and had the right to choose for himself, but he did not have the right to gamble with other people’s lives.
From within the distant black mist came cries. Half the sky was stained blood red. The city before him seemed to overlap with the illusion he had once seen.
It was slowly losing all life.
Lin Shijin saw Cui Haoxue not far away. He lowered his hat and vanished from the spot.
His previously low mood disappeared instantly upon seeing the youth in the courtyard. He forced himself to focus, remembering what he had previously told Sheng Rufei, that problems should be spoken about properly.
Yet when he met Sheng Rufei’s gaze, he found himself unable to speak.
Sheng Rufei stood in the courtyard, his complexion still pale. At some point he had become like this, often appearing weak and thin, much slimmer than before.
He was practising with the Yinbing Sword to test the recovery of his wrist, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. From the moment Lin Shijin appeared, although the movements were subtle, he could tell.
Sheng Rufei was waiting for him.
The cold gaze shifted slightly. The moment he saw him, it was as though still water had come back to life. And suddenly, the words would not come out.
Lin Shijin wanted to say that he would go out during the day and return before nightfall, asking Sheng Rufei to wait for him.
“Shixiong,” Lin Shijin said softly, “when did you wake up?”
Qiushui had not informed him. He glanced at it, and it looked innocent, slowly moving to the corner without explanation.
Lin Shijin’s gaze softened. He touched Sheng Rufei’s fingertips, which were slightly cold, likely from standing outside for some time.
“Not long,” Sheng Rufei replied, holding his hand tightly. “Where did you go?”
“Just outside the city,” Lin Shijin allowed him to hold on. “Your injuries are mostly healed. We should set off.”
“You plan to bring him into the city?” Lin Fuheng asked again.
Lin Shijin did not respond. He knew Lin Fuheng preferred that he abandon Sheng Rufei, but he could not do that.
This was their last night in this small courtyard.
That night, Lin Shijin said nothing further. He allowed Sheng Rufei to hold him as he lay there, eyes closed. In the deep night, he once again felt that familiar cold, oppressive gaze.
He opened his eyes and met Sheng Rufei’s gaze. It was cold and scrutinising, filled with possessive, beast-like intent, as though he were nothing more than an object.
Those eyes were deep and dark, faintly overlapping with the beastly eyes from his memory. A voice echoed in his mind.
“The eyes of a ninth-tier demonic beast are extremely rare…”
“Shixiong, do they look like your eyes?”
“You think they don’t? I think they do. I like Shixiong’s eyes.”
His wrist was grabbed. A cold sensation pressed against his neck. Sharp fangs were at his skin. He could feel it clearly: the youth wanted to bite through his fragile throat and swallow him whole.
Yet Lin Shijin was only slightly dazed. Normally he would have been afraid, but now he felt no fear at all. Something unfamiliar surged within him.
He met Sheng Rufei’s gaze in the darkness. The youth seemed to be resisting something intensely, veins bulging at his wrist, expression tight with pain.
Lin Shijin felt his heart tighten. He touched the youth’s hair and extended his wrist, placing it by his lips.
“Shixiong… I am not afraid of pain. Bite me,” he said softly, gently.
He did not want to see Sheng Rufei suffer.
As soon as he spoke, a cold wind slipped through the window crack. The youth remained motionless for a long time, his sharp fangs not yet pressed down.
A drop of warm liquid fell onto his wrist.
