When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 338: Favorite Book

Chapter 338: Favorite Book

This unexpected and earth-shattering revelation gave Shen Nianzu another big shock and led him to a question he had never dared to contemplate before: Could Jin Jiuchi grow old? Or would he remain eternally youthful and breathtakingly attractive even while Shen Nianzu aged into an ugly and bald old man?

The mere thought of it was so terrifying that Shen Nianzu had to expel the mental image from his mind for the sake of his last thread of sanity.

Nothing was certain yet, he tried to reason. He must not forget that this was a labyrinth of time and space, meaning that any mention of time would most likely be distorted to a morbid degree. It was with that argument that he managed to regain his bearings and released a shaky exhale, beads of sweat forming on his hairline. "I–I see," he stammered. "You’re right, there’s really no meaning in counting your age here."

The two dumplings gave him an identical look which seemed to say ’told you so’.

They proceeded to clean up the blood-soaked mess on the floor and themselves with a snap of their fingers. In an instant, the bloodstains vanished without a trace, leaving them looking as cute and clean as ever.

(Shen Nianzu was definitely not jealous of this convenient skill.)

Silver-haired Jin Jiuchi wiggled his butt and leaped into the bed, making himself comfortable and ready for a post-meal nap. His twin, on the other hand, pulled out a book from his wide sleeves and began to read it with a serious expression. Despite looking like they were born from the same mold, their personalities couldn’t have been more different.

Curious, Shen Nianzu inquired, "What are you reading?"

Wordlessly, he lifted the book to let Shen Nianzu see the cover. It was actually a picture book of... colors? That’s right, it was the kind typically used to teach toddlers about colors for the first time. The corner of Shen Nianzu’s lips twitched and he couldn’t help but comment, "Didn’t you say that you are over a hundred years old?"

The black-haired Jin Jiuchi leveled him with an unimpressed stare. Shen Nianzu could literally hear him saying, ’Human, you don’t know anything.’ And it made him thoroughly amused. He had half expected the little dumpling to make a snarky retort, for he learned that this little one seemed more tsundere than the other, but then he was surprised when the child merely harrumphed and returned his attention to the book.

"So what?" He grumbled under his breath. "This is my favorite book."

Pointing at a purple circle, he continued, "Look, this is your eye color. And..." his tiny finger moved to the orange circle. "Is it true that the sky sometimes switches to this color?"

Shen Nianzu thought back to the peculiar sky he had seen outside this hospital: a pitch-black backdrop with reddish lightning streaks, as well as the clear azure sky he had glimpsed outside the window of this floor. Had the twins never seen other colors? Did the sun never set in this place? Somehow, the mere thought tugged at the corner of Shen Nianzu’s heart. "En," he nodded with a smile. "Not just orange. Oftentimes, the sky can be a mix of purple, pink and blue, especially in the evening."

The child gave him a slow blink, then he returned his gaze to the book as though trying to visualize the colorful image in his mind. "Sounds beautiful..." he murmured.

Was that a hint of longing he heard in the child’s voice? Shen Nianzu’s heart ached terribly in distress, and he replied in a soft voice, "It is."

Don’t worry, he wanted to say. In the future, you will be able to see them with your own eyes. Just wait for a little longer.

Not wanting to dampen the atmosphere, Shen Nianzu shifted his attention to the silver-haired little one who had dozed off in no time at all. "Doesn’t he need to study as well?" He asked, a little mirthful. "Don’t tell me it has always been you doing all the work?"

"Is there any difference?" The black-haired Jin Jiuchi replied without looking up, his head buried in the book. "Both of us will remember it anyway. Brother is lazy, stupid and naïve, so I have to learn more in his stead."

Shen Nianzu couldn’t help but click his tongue. He felt like he could begin to understand why Jin Jiuchi fell asleep almost immediately every time a book was opened in front of him. Turned out it was because he had been coddled by his twin since he was a child. Shen Nianzu’s eyes softened as he gazed upon the earnest and hardworking child. He had always believed that the black-eyed Jin Jiuchi was dangerous and volatile, but looking at him like this, he did not seem half bad?

...if only he could get rid of his stinky attitude.

At that moment, Shen Nianzu felt a little jolt akin to electricity running across his scalp, and he hurriedly told the black-haired Jin Jiuchi, "I’m going to nap for a while. Wake me if you need something."

The aforementioned child merely let out a grunt, and as Shen Nianzu shut his eyes, his surroundings abruptly shifted. He was not met with darkness, however. The vision before him distorted for a bit before it cleared up like hazy fog dissipating, revealing an enormous door towering above him. Or rather, it was because his size had shrunk marginally as he was seeing everything through Aqua’s perspective.

Have you found him? Shen Nianzu asked.

He could tell what Aqua was thinking without her needing to voice it out loud. Apparently, she had scoured through the entire floor. Being palm-sized and invisible helped that she could stick to the wall and continue her mission unimpeded. Alas, it did not change the fact that Aqua was a creature of water, and thus it was difficult for her to travel on land. She had half a mind to travel through the water pipe system, but the water’s sanitation had left her reluctant to take that route. She could only drag her tail slowly across the floor.

Although she had not uttered a word of complaint whatsoever, Shen Nianzu felt guilty nonetheless. Thank you for your hard work. After we leave this Cycle, I will take you to the sea. I promise.

Aqua cheered in delight, and Shen Nianzu smiled as he sensed her renewed spirit. She pointed at the door before her before reaching out to knock on it like the polite mermaid she was.

Tap tap tap.

The rap of her little knuckles was barely audible, but there was no way a powerful player like Noir could miss it. A few seconds later, the door swung open, and Aqua, who was still in the invisible mode, zoomed inside like a little gust of wind.

She had not even taken in the interior of the room yet when she felt goosebumps rising on her arms. Slowly, she turned around and found that Noir was leaning against the closed door with his arms crossed, staring straight at her with an expressionless face.

Shen Nianzu could feel Aqua’s surprise as though it was his own. She was still within her own domain, but this player could actually spot her?

Unaware of her astonishment, Noir parted his lips and spoke, "I have been waiting for you."