When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 226: Too Harsh?

Chapter 226: Too Harsh?

Perched upon a small platform located at the top of a mast on the ship, Jin Jiuchi’s gaze was fixed on the far distance across the sea, though his whole attention was focused on the merman at his side.

After Gu Luoxin and Noir left, Shen Nianzu suggested they climb up – of course, it was Jin Jiuchi doing the climbing while carrying the jade doll behind his back – so that they could have a full view of the sunrise without obstruction. Jin Jiuchi could not fathom why Shen Nianzu wanted to see the sunrise when he himself shone as brilliantly as the sun, but because it was Shen Nianzu’s wish, he sensibly kept mum, not a word of protest escaping his lips.

His eyes involuntarily traced the smooth and toned expanse of Shen Nianzu’s abdomen where flesh melded seamlessly with scales. Beneath the sun’s radiance, those silver scales gleamed and shimmered like molten gold, so bright that it almost bedazzled him. Going down, he followed after the length of the merman’s tail, the swaying translucency of the flukes, and the elegant motion of the purple caudal fin that swung back and forth, as if the man was swinging his legs.

Nian’er must be in a very good mood, he thought with joy. When he recalled how he woke up to find Shen Nianzu trapped in a different body, injured and desperate, Jin Jiuchi almost could not control his urge to obliterate everything that stood in his way. Fortunately, he trusted his instinct rather than the ultra realistic imposter of Shen Nianzu, otherwise he would not be able to see this version of the jade doll— pretty and happy.

Seeing that the man remained silent, Jin Jiuchi took the initiative to ask, unable to hold his curiosity at bay, "How does it feel to be a merman, Nian’er?"

"Hmm..." Shen Nianzu squinted his eyes against the glare of the sun, and Jin Jiuchi’s attention was immediately captured by the fluttering moves of those cream colored lashes. Even though they had only spent five days in this Cycle, it felt like an eternity had passed since he last saw Shen Nianzu’s true appearance, for he had concealed his striking hair and eye color with a prop.

"Kinda weird, you know?" He raised his tail for Jin Jiuchi to see. "After all, I have gotten used to two legs, and now I have to cope with a tail. But it’s also natural at the same time like I have owned it forever. Do you get it?"

"I do," Jin Jiuchi answered at once. When Shen Nianzu cast him a questioning look, he elaborated with a hint of mirth in his tone, "Nian’er, have you forgotten that I can also shape-shift? Well, even though my legs become four, somehow it’s very natural like they have always been mine."

As if on cue, Shen Nianzu’s mind automatically drifted to those fleeting yet enduring seconds when he toppled off the ship. At that time, he caught a glimpse of a huge pure white beast rushing towards him, it was like seeing a dazzling beacon amidst the darkness. He reckoned that he would not forget that mesmerizing scene for the rest of his life. "Ah, right," he cleared his throat, his ears feeling warm all of a sudden. He casually switched the topic, "You ate Ariel, didn’t you? How is it? Is there some kind of difference?"

Alas, he had overlooked the fact that the structure of his body was different right now. While previously he might have been able to hide his blushing ears, now his fin-shaped ears peeked through his hair, each thin capillary tinged in a pretty crimson hue. Jin Jiuchi couldn’t bring himself to look away, too enamored by their delicate and exquisite form.

"Nian’er, can I touch?" Even though he said that, his hand was already hovering near the tip of Shen Nianzu’s ear.

"What are—ah!" Shen Nianzu flinched in surprise when Jin Jiuchi’s fingers made contact, tracing the smooth texture of his delicate ear and mapping the line of his bones. Shivers ran down Shen Nianzu’s spine, causing his tail to react with a slight thrash. "Jin Jiuchi!" He moved to catch Jin Jiuchi’s misbehaving paw, but the man quickly withdrew his hand and put it in front of him.

"Oops!" He grinned with an extremely satisfied look. "Nian’er, your ears are turning red. How pretty."

"...!" Shen Nianzu shot him a glare, half flustered and half mortified.

His entire body was so pale that any color would stand out conspicuously. Jin Jiuchi’s gaze swept from his fin-shaped ears and flushed cheeks, down to the pale column of his neck and his chest. He couldn’t help but run his tongue over the tip of his canines. If he were to touch that pristine expanse of skin, would it blush the same rosy hue as his ears? What about his silver tail? Could he make them flush in an exquisite flush of crimson too?

What to do? He really wanted to find out...

Shen Nianzu felt the familiar weight of Jin Jiuchi’s intense stare on his tail, and his fish instinct reared its head. "Y–You are not allowed to touch!" He blurted out without thinking. Having only broken out of the cocoon, he could tell that his entire body still felt tender and sensitive to the touch. Not to mention, this was a foreign body to him as well. Who could predict what would happen if he gave Jin Jiuchi permission now?!

Jin Jiuchi’s plan was thwarted. But not only did he not feel a shred of embarrassment, he even pouted and attempted to appeal, "Awww, I can’t? Not even once?"

"No!" Shen Nianzu gritted out angrily. He turned his head away with an indignant huff, but a few seconds later, he glanced back only to find Jin Jiuchi still gazing at him with his eyes narrowed in contentment, as if he was entirely satisfied with only bickering back and forth like this, even if he ended up being ignored.

A subtle ache crept into Shen Nianzu’s chest, and for some reason he recalled that moment during the test when Jin Jiuchi did not spare him a glance. Back then, he was desperate for that gaze to return to him, and now that it finally did...

It felt bittersweet. He was happy, yet a trace of sadness lingered as well. He couldn’t help but reflect on himself. Had he been too harsh on Jin Jiuchi? Too cold or indifferent? What if one day, Jin Jiuchi decided that someone else was more interesting and chose to chase after that person with the same fervor he had directed at Shen Nianzu? Just the mere thought of it was enough to make him feel even sadder. Goodness, why did he become so sentimental? This must be the residual influence of the Goddess that lingered within him!

"Nian’er, what’s wrong?" Jin Jiuchi’s smile faded a bit, having sensed that the jade doll’s mood suddenly turned for the worse. "Are you sad?"

Shen Nianzu shook his head. He wanted to say that he was not, that this was the Goddess affecting him, but when he opened his mouth, what came out was, "Actually, there’s something I have been meaning to ask you since we were keeping guard on top of the watchtower, before the Goddess appeared."

Albeit puzzled, Jin Jiuchi still responded, "What is it, Nian’er?"

"If..." Shen Nianzu parted his lips. He snuck a glance at Jin Jiuchi before lowering his gaze, fixed on a random scale on his tail. "I know it’s silly to ask this question now when we have already gotten to this point, but somehow I really want to know." He took a deep breath to brace himself and raised his eyelids, asking, "If I had really become infected without any hope of a cure, what would you have done?"