When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 334: I’m a Newbie

Chapter 334: I’m a Newbie

Shen Nianzu’s eyes widened upon seeing Noir in front of him. How? How could this man be here when he should have been with Gu Luoxin in another attraction? Had Shen Nianzu spent too much time in the ’Echo of the Past’, causing Noir and Gu Luoxin to arrive here ahead of him?

He opened his mouth, ready to question the baffling situation, but then it struck him that something was terribly amiss with Noir.

There was no trace of surprise in Noir’s expression when he saw Shen Nianzu. His emerald eyes remained as calm as the surface of a frozen lake, devoid of any ripples of recognition. It was as if he was looking at a... stranger.

Things did not end there.

Now that Shen Nianzu scrutinized him closer, he noticed that the man looked a little different from the Noir he remembered. For starters, he seemed a few years younger, his hair slightly longer, and his physique not as muscular. He gave off a totally different aura, so much that Shen Nianzu could only gape at him like a fool as he couldn’t wrap his head around the current situation.

After studying him for two more seconds, Noir’s gaze shifted to the twins by his side, and then he calmly turned away, walking down the corridor.

"What the hell was that?" Shen Nianzu murmured under his breath as Noir turned into a corner and disappeared from sight.

The silver-haired Jin Jiuchi tugged on his fingers and asked, "Nian’er, do you know him?"

"He’s new around here," the black-haired one added. "Only got here around two months ago."

"T–Two months?!" Shen Nianzu almost choked on his saliva out of shock. It had not even been a week since they entered the labyrinth— no, he shouldn’t measure time here by normal standards. This was the labyrinth of time and space, after all. One day outside might equate to a week in this peculiar realm, he’d never know.

However, Noir’s oddness kept gnawing on his mind. Could this place be the same as the ’Echo of the Past’ where their memories would be tampered with? Shen Nianzu’s expression turned grim at the mere thought of it. If that was the case, then he must act as quickly as possible to achieve his purpose. He also had to confront Noir and confirm his doubt.

"Nian’er?"

Shen Nianzu was brought back to the present and found two adorable dumplings peering up at him with a curious look. He huffed out a laugh and shook his head, "Nothing, let’s go."

They walked down the corridor and rounded a corner, but Noir already vanished without a trace. Instead, Shen Nianzu saw a few people bustling about. Some were chatting, some playing chess, some simply wandered aimlessly. With a rough count, there were about fifteen individuals present, not including the ones inside the rooms.

Surprisingly, the scene looked normal, if not for their blurry faces that seemed as though someone had obscured them with a mosaic. Shen Nianzu stood there, his mind drifting in a daze. Somehow, the hushed conversations, indistinct faces, and the dazzling sunlight sent a surge of shiver down his spine, making him feel as though he was floating through a surreal dream.

Shen Nianzu lowered his head and squeezed the children’s small and fleshy hands.

In this realm full of unknown mysteries, only the two children’s visages remained clear and vivid in his eyes. Somehow, this provided him with a sense of comfort. "Don’t worry, I’m fine. Just a little lost in thought," he reassured them, already knowing what they were about to say.

Their voices drew the attention of the two people engrossed in a chess game nearby. One of them rose from his seat. "Yoo~" he began with a mocking tone that furrowed Shen Nianzu’s brows. Even though he couldn’t see the other person’s features, he could tell that the man was scrutinizing him. "Look who is here? A newbie?"

As if an unseen switch had been flipped, the tranquil atmosphere morphed into one filled with tension, and even the sun outside the window seemed to hide behind the clouds. The hushed chatter died down as all eyes fixated on them, but it was as if the man did not realize anything as he continued to say, "Shouldn’t we welcome the newbie as per tradition?"

Tradition? Shen Nianzu knitted his brows. His instinct told him that it was not anything good.

It was unknown who started it, but a chant began to echo through the crowd, "Welcome him! Welcome him!"

The expressions on the two dumplings shifted into one Shen Nianzu had never seen before. They stepped forward and positioned themselves in front of Shen Nianzu, their voices seething with defiance, "Don’t touch our Nian’er!"

"Don’t?" The man challenged. "But it’s the rule of this place, no?"

"Rules," the two children echoed with a mocking sneer.

Shen Nianzu sensed that things were rapidly spiraling out of control, but before he could intervene, all of a sudden, the man who had confronted them disintegrated into a mist of blood as though he was no more than hazy smoke carried away by the wind. It happened so suddenly that no one could react. Gawking, Shen Nianzu lowered his head and saw that the two dumplings had their fists clenched tightly in front of them, it was as if they were using that one gesture to pulverize the man’s body.

In an instant, the atmosphere broke into chaos.

"Ahhhh, the twins are at it again!"

"They killed another person!"

"Officer, where’s the officer?!"

Shen Nianzu pulled the two children behind him as he sensed a formidable presence coming their way. The crowd parted, giving way to a person whom he could tell held a high authority in this place, despite having a blurred face. The officer halted and gazed down at the twins who poked their heads out from behind Shen Nianzu, without acknowledging him at all.

"You’re causing trouble again? This is the fourth time this week. You do realize what it means, right?"

"Hmph!" The silver-haired Jin Jiuchi was unrepentant. "So what? He’s practically begging for it."

"Even if you punish us, we will not change," the black-haired Jin Jiuchi asserted with a gloomy face.

However, the officer acted as though he had heard nothing at all and turned away, stating, "Let’s go." With a sweep of his eyes, the crowd who was watching the fun instantly scrambled away like a flock of chickens.

The two children began to walk after him, but Shen Nianzu stopped them. "Wait," he uttered through clenched teeth, anger coursing through him.

This was the officer, the one who had meted out ridiculous punishment over the two little Jin Jiuchis and treated them poorly. Shen Nianzu’s frame shook with the force of his fury, and a few needles materialized quietly between his fingers. He was ready to launch a surprise attack as soon as the man turned around, but at that moment, a gentle touch landed on his hand, stilling his movement.

Shen Nianzu’s pupils quivered as the two children quietly shook their heads at him. All of a sudden, he recalled what they had said to him earlier – ’Our residents are a bit introverted, so you must not reveal the fact that you’re human, okay?’

What would happen if his identity were to be exposed here?

Shen Nianzu’s gaze swept over the people who were peeking at them from afar, and it felt as if his chest had been blocked by cotton. He wanted to thrash this place so badly, but he had to hold himself back. Patience, he told himself. Success will come to the one who strikes at the right time. And now it is not.

"What’s the matter?" The officer’s gaze bore down on him, his voice gruff.

Shen Nianzu changed what he intended to say at the last seconds, his needles vanished without a trace. "I’m the reason why the twins took action against that man. If you want to punish someone, just punish me."

Shen Nianzu stared right into the blurred features where he believed the eyes were, and he heard the officer say, "I’ve never seen you around..."

He answered seamlessly without batting an eyelid, "I’m a newbie."

A silence stretched for what felt like half an eternity.

"Very well," the officer said in the end, and although Shen Nianzu couldn’t discern his expression, he could somehow tell that the man was sneering. "I despise unruly newbies like you the most. You shall serve as an example to prevent others from following suit."

And that was how Shen Nianzu found himself confined in a small windowless room, restrained to a bed alongside the twins.