Chapter 60: Catch Me!

    It was not only Nian, but Tang Ye, Xinxin, and the nightmare creatures were also caught off guard by this sudden display of prowess. It was as if the entire world had screeched to a halt at that second as all eyes were transfixed on them.

    "Hahahaha... this is so fun!" Bright laughter spilled out of Jin Jiuchi’s throat as he kicked his legs in midair. The wind blew the messy strands of his hair as he hugged the jade doll closer to himself. "It’s been so long since I got to do this. Ain’t this fun, Nian’er?!"

    Nian, on the other hand, felt like his innards were hanging on a thread from all the ups and downs. He shut his eyes tight and clung onto Jin Jiuchi tighter when the man landed on a small empty space between the horde of dumbfounded rodents, before taking off jumping again, this time higher until he could almost reach the third floor.

    They were getting closer and closer to the huge black spider, and on the third jump, Jin Jiuchi held his waist tightly,

    "Get ready, Nian’er! One, two... three!"

    On the count of three, Jin Jiuchi hurled him toward the black spider like a cannonball as he himself fell straight toward the crowd of rodents who let out noisy squeaks and scrambled out of the way lest they were crushed by the falling body like meat pies. However, one second before Jin Jiuchi’s body touched the ground, he spun himself powerfully in midair and landed right on his feet in a crouching position.

    Standing up, he gave a gentlemanly bow to three directions as if he was a magician performing tricks. "Thank you. Thank you so much for the applause!"

    Above him, Nian was shocked when the nightmare creature was suddenly in front of his eyes. T–Too fast! He had never expected Jin Jiuchi to be so powerful that he did not even give Nian a chance to react before propelling him up like a rocket! He flailed around a bit before his reflex kicked in to summon his needles, transforming them into a thin and transparent blade.

    His sharp gaze was fixed on the stunned nightmare creature. Clamping the book in his armpit, he gripped the blade with both hands and swung it forward with all of his strength. "Give me... the return ticket!!"

    A wave of purple icy energy burst out of his blade to slash the spider right on the middle of its belly where the crack was. It let out a high pitched screech before scrambling to get away, its face was contorted in pain and agony. Amidst the scuffle, a small rectangular thing slipped out of its human hand to flutter in midair, and Nian’s pupils dilated when he recognized what it was.

    —The ticket!

    It was the return ticket he was aiming for. He had to grab it!

    The gravity was starting to pummel him down to the ground. Gritting his teeth, Nian reached out his arm as far as he could, his purple eyes blazing in determination. Please... please make it, he had to...!

    The tip of his fingers brushed against the tiny paper and with a loud cry, Nian grabbed it in his palm and held it to himself! Success!!

    A relieved smile appeared on his face, only to grow tense again when he realized that he was literally heading straight to the ground without any buffer whatsoever. At this rate, he was going to crack his skull and break at least half of the bones in his body!

    Without even thinking, he cried out the name of the only person who could save him from the current predicament,

    "Yang Rouchuan!!" But then he looked down and saw Jin Jiuchi who was still busy bowing to his nonexistent spectators. The fuck was he doing there?! Veins popped up on his forehead. "Catch me, damn it!!!"

    "Uh-oh!" Jin Jiuchi raised his head in time to see a jade doll falling from the sky. "Okay, okay, wait for me—oof!" He ran forward and caught the jade doll securely in his arms, a huge grin spreading across his face. "Isn’t it exciting, Nian’er? Do you want to do it again??"

    "Do it again, your ass!" Still a little out of breath, Nian hurriedly wrapped his arms around Jin Jiuchi’s neck when he saw how Jin Jiuchi was ready to hurl him upward again. "I will pluck all of your hair out if you dare to do it again! Go, go, we have to get out of this place! NOW!"

    The both of them were still quite a distance away from the entrance door. In front of them was a horde of bloodthirsty rodents, and behind them was a flood of poisonous spiders. Above them, there was still an enraged mother spider who was quickly recovering from the previous attack. This was clearly a life and death situation, yet for some unknown reason, Nian felt completely at ease in Jin Jiuchi’s arms. It was as if as long as the man was with him, he would be able to get out of this place alive.

    And indeed, Jin Jiuchi was proven to be reliable at the oddest time.

    He treated the rodents as if they were hurdles to cross, jumping and leaping here and there with grace and agility, while those flesh eating creatures were unable to touch him at all. And the longer it went, the smoother his movements were. It was quite fascinating to watch as if he was performing some kind of sacred dance.

    Nian’s heart rose to his throat when he saw that they were steadily getting closer to the door. Just a little more... just a little bit more and they would be able to escape this Cycle!

    Yet at this moment—

    "AH—!" Xinxin’s cries sounded from behind and Nian turned back in time to see him tripping and falling to the ground. It was Tang Ye who had done that. Knowing that the two of them would not be able to make it with them being swarmed by tens if not hundreds of rodents and spiders, he had made a split second decision to sacrifice the other.

    "Sorry!" He said while rushing to the door.

    Xinxin’s eyes were wide in deep terror as he looked at the rodents and spiders closing in on him. He wanted to scramble up and continue to run, but he was unable to muster even an ounce of strength as his whole body was petrified with fear. And as if the situation was not bad enough, he caught sight of a familiar silhouette standing on the staircase, shrouded by the darkness.

    It was none other than the nightmare creature who disguised himself as Brother Zhi!

    "N–No..." Sensing the impending doom, Xinxin closed his eyes tight and cried out, "No, please... don’t kill me! HELP!!"

    Hearing that, Jin Jiuchi abruptly skidded to a halt.

    "Y–Yang Rouchuan?" Nian had a bad feeling about this, and it was proven the next second when Jin Jiuchi put him down near the door and turned back without hesitation toward the center of the chaos – to where Xinxin was.

    "Yang Rouchuan!!!"