When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 651: In Your Arms

Chapter 651: In Your Arms

"I know..." the garuda slowly said, "That’s why I can’t let you pass."

Shen Nianzu wasn’t about to have any more of this nonsense. He was as anxious as ants jumping on a heated pan trying to get to Gu Luoxin before everything’s too late. Besides, this garuda’s condition looked so much worse to wear that Shen Nianzu didn’t think he needed to exert that much effort to knock him down or, taking it one step further, kill him.

But this man clearly knew him; not only that, he had blocked Shen Nianzu’s path on purpose as if he had known what Shen Nianzu wanted to do even though they had not crossed paths at all in this Cycle. And with the man being a garuda, to top it off, gave Shen Nianzu a bad feeling he just could not ignore.

As much as Shen Nianzu wanted to bulldoze his way through, these few points kept gnawing on the back of his mind, compelling him to ask,

"Are you also sent by Shang?"

Apart from this, Shen Nianzu could not think of any other possibility. And sure enough, the other person did not even try to hide it, nodding,

"I’m sorry. He said to leave JJ to him, so that leaves only you..." his words trailed off as he pulled out a dagger out of nowhere, clearly showing his stance to stop the silver-haired siren here no matter what.

His worst premonition had come true, prompting Shen Nianzu’s face to darken in an instant. Damn it, he should have seen this coming! There’s no way someone as shrewd and calculating as Shang would send someone so incompetent to do his bidding; he must have sent in one or maybe two more as an extra insurance!

And based on what this person had just said...

"Did you do something to Xinxin?" Shen Nianzu gritted out each word in barely suppressed anger, his fists clenched so tightly that his sharp nails drew out blood from his palms. "Did you?!"

He had found it odd how the healing prop failed to mend Gu Luoxin’s injuries since it had healed him anew when he had been on the brink of death before. But if there was someone else scheming behind the scene... if this person had tampered with the prop without Gu Luoxin’s knowing, then everything could be explained!

In the face of Shen Nianzu’s fury, a flash of regret and apology touched the man’s eyes as though he genuinely felt remorse for what he had done. "I’m so sorry," he said once more, which was as good as a confirmation. "I have no choice but to do this. Mr. Shang, he knows a way to revive Zhenya... he promised me..."

"Ha..." Shen Nianzu almost laughed out loud in anger. His memory had always been exceptional, and with just that single name, he dug into his mind and easily extracted the other person’s identity. "Jiang Shun. You’re Jiang Shun, aren’t you?" He did not wait for the other person’s response before continuing with a cold and hostile expression, "I don’t care if you are after my life, but you’ve made a grave mistake daring to mess with my people."

"Step aside," he commanded harshly, his tone brooking no room for arguments. "I have no time to play along with you. But keep in mind, if something happens to Xinxin, I will make you regret... even if that bastard Shang fulfills your wish in the future, I will make you regret the day you decided to side with him." Each word was emphasized heavily akin to a blood vow, dripping with murderous intent and simmering fury cold enough to burn.

Jiang Shun smiled, bitter yet helpless. "I don’t know if I will come to regret my decision, but... I can no longer turn back. Come," he beckoned to Shen Nianzu, his eyes hard and determined. "If you want to go past me, you must step over my corpse."

Shen Nianzu’s eyes went bone-chillingly cold.

Why is heaven so dead set on going against them?

Unbeknownst to them, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky—like an elegy, like a cold embrace, like a gesture of apology that came a little too late. It clung to Shen Nianzu’s lashes before sliding down his bloodshot eyes, mingling with sweat and blood as he came into desperate blows with Jiang Shun, who was ready to forsake everything to bring him down with him.

The same rain also fell around Gu Luoxin and Noir, forming a soft curtain that seemed to separate them from the rest of the world. The muted pitter-patter sounded unexpectedly comforting, almost lulling, as Gu Luoxin continued to nestle in Noir’s embrace.

It should be okay to close his eyes just for a while... right?

Just for a while, Gu Luoxin promised. He would wake up again when his teammates were here.

The thing was... he was just so, so sleepy, and Noir’s embrace was far too warm; he wanted to remain here forever, melting between his gentle breaths, in the hollow space between his ribcage, existing along this powerful and unwavering heartbeat.

Ah, Gu Luoxin’s wet lashes fluttered—unknown whether it was due to the tears, blood, or raindrops falling on his skin. If only time could stop at this moment...

He found himself making such a silly wish despite himself.

When Noir placed a hand on his chest, right above his sluggishly beating heart, Gu Luoxin couldn’t suppress the trembling smile rising on his bloodstained lips. It sounded absurd, but now he truly felt like he was about to present his most ardent, raw and bare heart for the emerald-eyed man. He should have been happy that Noir finally decided to heed his last request, and yet the droplets that fell from his eyes were unceasing, and only then did he realize it had been tears all along.

"Se... nior..." he spoke with a faint sigh laced with blood. Don’t make that kind of face, he wanted to say. It’s okay, I’m fine... with you here, I am no longer afraid.

But instead, all he did was smile. A soft and radiant smile bloomed across his face as he caressed Noir’s face with his eyes one last time, gazing at him with longing, with expectation, with reluctance, with love. Blood continued to trickle down his lips as he mustered the last bit of strength he had within him, "To die... in your hands... is my, Gu Luoxin’s... ho... nor...."

At the same time as Gu Luoxin took his last breath, Noir’s skeletal fingers pierced his chest and squeezed his dying heart in a movement so fast that it didn’t cause him even the slightest pain, snatching the death scythe from the grim reaper at the very last moment.

And so, Gu Luoxin’s final smile was frozen on his face forevermore.

He had become the one to end Gu Luoxin’s life and inherited all of Gu Luoxin’s skill card and props from this moment onward, just like the young man had wished.

The rain continued to fall around them, the pitter-patter sounding jarring, so loud and unbearable that Noir could not help but bury his face between the crook of Gu Luoxin’s neck just to block out the sound.

Why is heaven so dead set on going against them?

Why does it have to take this person away... why?

Noir remained in that position long enough that he seemed to have turned into a block of statue, long enough that time itself seemed to have frozen still. Only the distorted bone spurs along the length of his arms, blooming one after another akin to a cluster of pale corals, and the relentless warnings flashing through his body system served as a sign that his consciousness was still, in fact, present there.

[Warning! It has been detected that body temperature and heartbeat has strayed from the normal range. Initiating calibration...]

[Warning! It has been detected that body temperature and heartbeat has strayed from the normal range. Initiating calibration...]

[Warning! Calibration has failed. Anomaly has been detected...]

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

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So noisy, Noir found himself thinking as he held Gu Luoxin’s body close to him. He nestled his face against the young man’s cold cheek, his long eyelids fluttering shut, blocking away the rest of this repulsive world stained with crimson of the young man’s blood. A voice echoed in his mind, growing louder and louder with each passing second until it consumed him entirely—

It would be nice... if everything could just disappear.

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[Warning! It has been detected that the player’s SAN Value has gone below 20. The condition to activate the skill card has been met.]

[The Cycle has restricted the usage of skill cards!]

[The Cycle has... bzzz... bzz... restricted the usage of... bzzz... skill cards...]

[The Cycle has...]

Bzzz...!

[Restrictions overruled.]

[Skill card status: active.]

Skill Card: Absolute Void

Skill Type: Erasure

Skill Level: Joker

Skill description: The God of Death descends, and his scythe will revert all states to null. Before his eyes, life is temporary and only death is beautifully eternal.

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CRACK!