When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 416: Practicing Basic Element

Chapter 416: Practicing Basic Element

In the end, Shen Nianzu gritted his teeth and requested (read: threatened) Jin Jiuchi to heal the marks on his neck where it couldn’t be covered by clothes. After that, he couldn’t wait to take a shower.

And how could Jin Jiuchi pass up on the opportunity to follow him in?

Too exhausted to protest, Shen Nianzu waved his hand and generously allowed the eager husky to join him in the bathroom, thus fulfilling Jin Jiuchi’s lifelong wish to soak in the bathtub together.

The temperature of the water was perfect, and the body behind him was akin to a heated and sturdy cushion, very comfortable to sit on. Shen Nianzu let go of his reservations and shamelessly leaned his whole weight on Jin Jiuchi, who was more than happy to accommodate him.

Humming a random tune, Jin Jiuchi was beaming from ear to ear as he cradled the soft and docile jade doll in his arms. Shen Nianzu looked far too adorable and sexy with his long hair pinned atop his head, allowing a few wet strands to frame his delicate face. Jin Jiuchi’s gaze couldn’t help but land on the wet hair plastered on the back of the jade doll’s swan-like neck, and he slowly latched his mouth there, licking the sweet moisture.

"Hey," Shen Nianzu jabbed him with an elbow and warned menacingly, "Don’t even think of it."

"I know," Jin Jiuchi harrumphed, his mouth not leaving Shen Nianzu’s neck. "I will just stay here, okay? I won’t leave any marks on you!"

Shen Nianzu was satisfied with the promise. On the contrary, it was Jin Jiuchi who grieved inside his heart, having been able to lick but not bite. To soothe his wounded heart, he could only lick a few more times, but he soon grew bored when he couldn’t draw a reaction out of Shen Nianzu.

Propping his chin on Shen Nianzu’s shoulder, he observed that the jade doll was playing with water in his palms with a concentrated look.

"What are you doing, Nian’er?" He asked curiously.

"Remember the advice Grandpa gave us about practicing our basic element?" Shen Nianzu responded in an absent-minded manner, as he was pouring all of his focus on the water cupped in his palms, trying to manipulate it like how Grandpa did. Alas, his efforts so far had been all for naught. Sighing, he dropped his arms, creating a splash on the water’s surface. "I’ve been trying to do it, but it’s difficult."

Was it how people felt when they tried to bend the spoon? Shen Nianzu wondered inside his heart.

His element was supposed to be water, but the water in the bathtub felt stagnant and lifeless to him, and he couldn’t sense the ’energy’ Grandpa had mentioned. He had a hunch that his chances of success would increase beneath the sea, but he couldn’t spoil himself like that – not all Cycles had a large body of water.

If he wanted to master this technique, he had to make even a drop of water become a deadly weapon that could incapacitate his enemies. Taking it a step further, perhaps he might even be able to control liquids beyond water, for example oil or even... blood...

By then, his strength would increase leaps and bounds, and he did not have to fear his weapon would break at a critical moment, as in his last battle with Medeia.

"Hmm..." Jin Jiuchi pondered for a second before blurting out the first thing that crossed his mind, "Why don’t you try doing it in your merman form?"

"No," Shen Nianzu rejected the idea at once, because what difference would it make than being under the sea? But Jin Jiuchi was adamant on changing his mind, even deploying his rare smooth-talking skill.

"Why not?" He argued passionately. "Nian’er, you are the most powerful when you merge with your divine prop. Think about it. Shouldn’t you give it a try and let your body adjust to the sensation first before facing the real challenge?"

Shen Nianzu was surprised by how logical the man’s reasoning was. It seemed like since regaining a piece of his soul, it wasn’t only his strength that increased, but his brain power too. Shen Nianzu had to admit that he was tempted by Jin Jiuchi’s suggestion, but he still harbored a little hesitation. "I don’t know if I can do it in my merman form. After all, my skill card type is illusion and—"

"What’s with the long talk?" Jin Jiuchi squeezed his waist impatiently. "Just do it, Nian’er! How else will you know if you can or not?"

This might be the main difference between them— Shen Nianzu would consider a lot of things and prepare himself for the worst before coming to a decision, while Jin Jiuchi preferred to take action at once and deal with the consequences along the way. But maybe, some things didn’t need to be considered that meticulously, or it would only end up as a failure.

I should learn to be more reckless like him, Shen Nianzu noted to himself, slightly amused.

"Fine," he relented, causing Jin Jiuchi to cheer in victory. "I will listen to you this time."

Shen Nianzu was ready to activate his transformation, but then he suddenly thought of something and turned to Jin Jiuchi, skeptical, "Are you suggesting this just because you want to see me in my merman form?"

"Huh?" Jin Jiuchi gave him an innocent blink. "I don’t know what Nian’er is talking about."

"Hmm..." Shen Nianzu narrowed his eyes, a calculating gleam flashing within. "Then maybe you should go out—"

"Noooo!" Jin Jiuchi’s arms tightened impossibly hard around him, almost squeezing the air out of his lungs. He stuck his whole body to Shen Nianzu like an octopus, even entangling their legs together to make his protest clear. "I don’t want to go out! I won’t! Nian’er, please let me watch!"

"I get it, I get it!" Shen Nianzu slapped his arm in a fluster, wheezing. "Let go of me, I can’t breathe!"

After receiving the verbal promise that he wouldn’t be kicked out, only then did Jin Jiuchi deign to loosen his grip. Shen Nianzu shot him a stinky glare, huffing and puffing. "You’d better not try anything funny."

"I won’t!" Jin Jiuchi readily gave his word, and he even opened his eyes wide toward Shen Nianzu, pointing at them with his fingers. "Look into my eyes, Nian’er! I am very sincere!"

Gazing into those enchanting heterochromia orbs, Shen Nianzu couldn’t resist ruffling the silly husky’s hair. Facing forward, he took a deep breath and declared, "Okay, I will start."

In the next second, he activated his transformation, and his lower half began to morph into a massive tail.

.

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Mini theater

JJ: I am very sincere... or am I? 0.0