Chapter 121: Are You Crazy?!

    The Nightmare was akin to an omnipotent being. In its eyes, players were nothing more than ants or worms — creatures of no significance whatsoever. Would you care about stepping on ants when you were walking? No, because their life and death did not concern you whatsoever. It was probably how they were in the Nightmare’s eyes; amusing playthings, but not important enough to warrant more attention.

    Yet, the same Nightmare had appeared in Shishen Apartment which was a low-level Cycle, and Shen Nianzu’s intuition told him that Jin Jiuchi was the main reason for it.

    After all, had it not interfered during Jin Jiuchi’s last battle with the shadow creature?

    Even though it had not reappeared in this Cycle, the hidden task indicated that Jin Jiuchi was in an extremely unfavorable position right now. Almost as if the Nightmare wanted to use a discreet way to get rid of him. But why?

    All of these questions swirled in Shen Nianzu’s mind, making him dizzier the more he thought about it. His head felt muddled, and a tingling sensation ran down his spine as Jin Jiuchi diligently cleaned each of his little fingers clean of dirt. "Are you done?" He asked, slightly taken aback when his voice came out breathy. "How many minutes has it been? I should go out soon, or else I will faint."

    He made a move to get out of the pool, but Jin Jiuchi’s grip around him prevented him from doing so. "Jin Jiuchi!" Shen Nianzu seethed in a low voice. "Now is not the time to play around!"

    "Hmph, who said that I am playing around? Hold on tight," it was the only warning Shen Nianzu received before he was carried out of the water. Gasping, he wrapped his arms tightly around Jin Jiuchi’s neck, shivering as the cold air embraced his wet skin and clothes. He could not help but press closer to the source of the warmth that was Jin Jiuchi’s body.

    "Cold, aren’t you?" Jin Jiuchi sounded extremely smug when he said that, eliciting a fierce glare from the jade doll.

    Alas, he could not deny the fact that he had been drawing comfort from Jin Jiuchi’s presence, for in this Cycle where he had to keep his guard up against Jiang Shun and Wind, Jin Jiuchi was the only person with whom he could share his honest thoughts with.

    ...but of course, it did not include the black-eyed Jin Jiuchi who looked at him like a prey to be devoured.

    — "What do you mean by ’unlike me’? We are one and the same, so if there’s something I can do... he will do it as well. Don’t tell me, have you been deceived by his harmless appearance?"

    The man’s mockery words suddenly flashed through his mind, jolting Shen Nianzu back to his senses. He shut his eyes tight and bit down on the inside of his cheek, until the pain was sharp enough to sober him up.

    Oh God, what was he doing? He had entered this Cycle to keep watch over Jin Jiuchi and discover what he truly was. Indeed, he felt like he was slowly inching closer to the answers he was seeking for, but... he had not expected himself to let his guard down around Jin Jiuchi so much... almost as if he would trust the man with his life! How ridiculous!

    Putting aside the man’s mysterious background, Shen Nianzu could not say for certain if what the black-eyed Jin Jiuchi told him was the truth or if there were some lies mixed within. But one thing for certain — the person whom he must be the most cautious of was not Jiang Shun or Wind, but Jin Jiuchi!

    Shen Nianzu silently reconstructed the barrier around his heart, higher and more impenetrable. He must not allow himself to get swept away again no matter how sweet and affectionate this man was.

    Why should he hesitate to tell Jin Jiuchi about the murals? Wouldn’t this be the best opportunity for him to observe whether Jin Jiuchi was truly a nightmare creature or not?

    Jin Jiuchi gently put him down when they reached the area where the towels and fresh clothes had been prepared. He draped a fluffy towel over Shen Nianzu’s head and intended to dry his hair for him, but Shen Nianzu swiftly sidestepped to avoid his touch and stated, his voice tense, "I need to talk to you about the hidden task."

    Jin Jiuchi would not give up anyway and continued to chase after the jade doll until Shen Nianzu had no choice but to let him do whatever he pleased. "Hmm?" he asked as he clumsily tried to dab the water from Shen Nianzu’s silver hair. "Are you talking about the scene on the murals where you have to kill Anubis, aka me?"

    Shen Nianzu’s eyes widened in shock. Without thinking, he grasped Jin Jiuchi’s wrist and looked up at him, his words tumbling out in disbelief, "Y-You knew...?!"

    Jin Jiuchi raised an amused brow. "Didn’t you guys discuss it back in the hall earlier? I heard everything, you know. Hurry up and change out of your wet clothes. I don’t have any clothes your size here, so you should make do with this, okay?" He picked up a black satin robe and handed it over to Shen Nianzu.

    However, Shen Nianzu did not move to receive it as his mind was still reeling in shock. "You... how..."

    The fact that Jin Jiuchi had superb hearing had totally slipped off his mind. But if the man knew the truth, why did he not say anything? Why could he still stand here – preparing a warm bath for Shen Nianzu, helping him cleanse his body, wearing such a dazzling and carefree smile – when his own life was at stake?!

    The more he looked at Jin Jiuchi’s easy-going attitude, the angrier he was. It was as if he was the only one who got anxious on his own, while Jin Jiuchi did not even care at all! "Are you crazy?!" He shouted, unable to contain the hot fury pulsating through his veins. "It’s your life and death we’re talking about here! We have to obtain your headpiece even if it means cutting your head off! But you—"

    Knock knock knock!

    "My Lord, is everything alright?!" A mummy soldier’s urgent voice echoed from outside, causing Shen Nianzu to freeze in shock.

    Damn it, he had gotten too caught up in his emotions and forgot to keep his voice down! To think that just moments ago, he had warned himself not to get swept up into Jin Jiuchi’s rhythm anymore!

    Jin Jiuchi’s face darkened in displeasure. It was not easy for him to secure this time alone with his Nian’er, and now someone dared to intrude on them?! "How annoying," he murmured, glaring at the closed door. Then with a louder voice, he snapped at the soldier outside. "What could have happened to me? Get lost!"

    "A–Apologies, my Lord!" The soldier was quick to beg for forgiveness and scurried away from that place before he occured the deity’s wrath.

    Only when the footsteps grew distant did Jin Jiuchi turn back to Shen Nianzu. Gone was the domineering presence he exuded earlier as he puckered his bottom lip into a pitiful pout, "Nian’er is angry at me? Why?"

    Shen Nianzu was rendered speechless as he witnessed this swift transformation. Perhaps the black-eyed Jin Jiuchi was right — he had indeed been deceived by this man’s harmless appearance.