Chapter 130

Chapter 130

The death of Xie Ahqi caused shockwaves in nearly everyone's heart.

Bu Jiuzhao was no exception.

Xie Yinxue glanced sideways at the man beside her, only then noticing his odd demeanor.

To be honest, Bu Jiuzhao's expression wasn't much different from usual. Only the corners of his lips were drawn tighter. But in his eyes, which always seemed cold and indifferent as if buried deep in frost, there surged an intense shadow of resentment.

However, upon closer examination, that resentment seemed less like hatred and more like an unwillingness to accept.

It was as if Xie Ahqi's final moments of desperation and desolation, the feeling of being trapped with no escape, were experiences Bu Jiuzhao had gone through himself. Hence, Xie Ahqi's dying inquiries resonated deeply within him, so much so that he could no longer hide his emotions.

Yet, these feelings came and went quickly. Upon sensing Xie Yinxue's gaze, Bu Jiuzhao lowered his eyes, regaining his composure. By the time he looked up at Xie Yinxue, his eyes and expression were as calm as hers.

The only one left in the room who couldn't regain his composure was Liu Buhua.

He turned his head away, unwilling to witness the scene reflected in the inkwell, murmuring, "How did it come to this?"

"If they had both stepped back at the beginning, would it have come to this?"

"Don't they know that doing good deeds in 'Lock of Longevity' would allow them to live longer?"

In the instances Liu Buhua experienced alongside Xie Yinxue, many could be easily passed with a kind heart. This was a principle understood by both of them and others who had passed the fifth or sixth stages. How could Yuan Sining, who had reportedly passed the seventh stage of "Lock of Longevity" and knew more than most, not see it? Why was he so fixated on eliminating competitors?

"They might truly be unaware," Xie Yinxue responded. "How many people like Chen Yun can one encounter in 'Lock of Longevity'? And even if they do, how many of them survive?"

Liu Buhua was rendered speechless upon hearing this.

Indeed, their knowledge of these matters was all thanks to meeting Chen Yun.

Had they never met Chen Yun in their journey, they wouldn't know that kind-hearted individuals, often short-lived in "Lock of Longevity", received the game's favor. The same applied to others — without witnessing it, they would remain oblivious.

"Don't sleep too deeply tonight. Later on, you'll get your final dose of the vaccine," Xie Yinxue advised gently, lightly patting his arm through his clothes. "At first light tomorrow, we'll leave this place."

The individuals aboard the battleship are still participants, not yet transformed into the Hungry Ghost Karmas. Hence, they'll undoubtedly leave the ship after dawn to search for traces of the three 'Karmas' – Xie Yinxue, Bu Jiuzhao, and Liu Buhua.

— Initiating a new round of "hunts."

After all, once the antibody vaccine manufacturing device was destroyed, their only options for passing the level would be to acquire the head of a 'Hungry Ghost Karma' or to negotiate with the ferryman NPC. The latter choice wouldn't even be considered until the seventh day is nearly upon them.

As Xie Ahqi once put it: survival is everyone's instinct. When their desires escalate, human nature will yield to those wants.

Especially now, when the temptation before them is the "eternal life" that countless have coveted for centuries.

"Understood."

Liu Buhua nodded in response to Xie Yinxue's words before retreating to his room.

After he left, Xie Yinxue turned to look at the man seated by the window. Enshrouded in darkness, the man's form was barely discernible. "It's time for us to take our last dose of the antibody vaccine," she remarked.

The moment Xie Yinxue spoke, the man straightened up. The faint moonlight filtering into the room illuminated half of his face, accentuating its contours, casting a cold and forbidding aura about him.

Yet, his tone in response mirrored the compliant one Liu Buhua had used.

He simply said, "Alright."

Xie Yinxue paused for a moment, then interjected as the man was about to extract a syringe, "Wait."

Bu Jiuzhao halted his movement.

The dim lighting made it challenging for Xie Yinxue to discern much around him, but he felt the weight of Bu Jiuzhao's gaze resting upon him.

"I want to taste your essence."

Saying this, he approached Bu Jiuzhao, stopping just at the boundary where the moonlight met shadow, looking intently at the figure on the couch.

The man said nothing, simply acquiescing to Xie Yinxue's request and handing over the syringe without hesitation.

Accepting the vaccine, Xie Yinxue noticed it was still warm from Bu Jiuzhao's touch. He smiled, injecting the substance into his abdomen. A comforting sense of fullness spread within him as the clear liquid inside the syringe depleted.

Bu Jiuzhao inquired, "How does it feel?"

Xie Yinxue hummed in response, "It doesn't seem to taste much different from mine."

"Nonsense, how can you taste any difference that way?" Bu Jiuzhao smirked, shaking his head. "You took my vaccine; shouldn't you let me have a taste of yours?"

Xie Yinxue offered him the vaccine made from his own flesh, "Here."

He quickly added, "But you misunderstood me."

"What?"

Bu Jiuzhao had been gazing at the vaccine in Xie Yinxue's hand. On hearing the response, he looked up just in time to see the moonlit figure lean down from the illuminated realm, descending upon him shrouded in shadows, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips as silently and tenderly as snowflakes on a winter night.

He wasn't sure if it was because the young man was so snow-like, his lips soft but chillingly cold—no different from the frost that had often lingered by his side—that his body involuntarily shivered, or if it was the unfamiliar intimacy of the touch that sent tremors of fear, as if he were being ensnared, coursing through him.

Even if this person didn't possess the warmth he sought, that fleeting touch had filled him with desire and longing. However, insatiable as he was, he tried to reach out and embrace the youth.

Unfortunately, the young man pulled away in that instant, leaving Bu Jiuzhao only able to grasp a strand of hair that had fallen during their kiss, its coldness seeping through his fingertips.

"Does this give you a taste?" Xie Yinxue asked, placing the vaccine into his palm.

Bu Jiuzhao's voice was raspy as he replied, "You're so cold."

Even the syringe handed to him felt icy. It made Bu Jiuzhao think, "If I were to hold you, you'd steal away all my warmth."

Xie Yinxue responded with a smile, "So, is that why you're not as clingy with me as you used to be?"

This wasn't a joke made in passing by Xie Yinxue; it was the truth.

Even if they once shared a bed, once were inseparably close, such proximity was fleeting—like a butterfly flitting between flowers or a dragonfly skimming the water's surface.

Bu Jiuzhao laughed as if the comment struck a chord, admitting, "Perhaps."

"The name Bu Jiuzhao was self-given," he began after their laughter subsided, opening up to Xie Yinxue. "Do you know why I named myself 'Bu Jiuzhao'?"

Xie Yinxue replied, "I can't guess."

"I live in a place where harsh winds and frost reign all year round, a land closed off from the world. There, the sun shines only on the day of the summer solstice."

"That warm and radiant light falls just nine steps away from me, upon the icy surface, yet I can never touch it."

"Endless raging snowflakes have imprisoned me for an eternity, and I loathe this coldness so much."

The man's voice was deep and unhurried. As he spoke, he grasped Xie Yin Xue's hand, and pressed his face against the warmth of his palm, "...Yet I desire to touch you, just as I yearn to seize that elusive ray of light."

Xie Yin Xue couldn't see his eyes, but he could clearly feel a faint warmth beneath his fingers— a slight warmth, yet it seemed to burn its way deep into one's heart.

As he gazed at Bu Jiu Zhao's hair and the desolate shadow the man cast under the moonlight, a sudden pang of emotion overcame him, a feeling he'd never known in his twenty years.

This sentiment was also alien to Xie Yin Xue, and he wasn't even sure of its origin or purpose.

For a fleeting moment, he even forgot his own name.

But soon, Xie Yin Xue regained composure, still seemingly lost in the depth of those feelings, as he leaned down, embracing Bu Jiu Zhao's shoulders, offering the touch the latter so desired.

At dawn on the sixth day, just before the break of day, Xie Yin Xue knocked on Liu Bu Hua's door.

"It's time to leave, Bu Hua."

The young man, standing outside, spoke softly when Liu Bu Hua didn't immediately answer.

They had little to pack from their outdoor camp, save for an inkwell Liu Bu Hua treated like a TV and was reluctant to leave behind. Retrieving it, he hurried to catch up with Xie Yin Xue and Bu Jiu Zhao, asking en route, "Where are we headed, godfather?"

"Nowhere specific. Just keep moving and don't stop," Xie Yin Xue said flatly. "On the day we met Xie Ah Qi and Xiao Xing Xi, we chose an isolated bell tower. Yet, they found us. I have a theory about our whereabouts—"

"That is, after the 'Sura' die, we 'Karmas' out here are influenced by 'lures' and encounter other participants."

This lure could be the human arm initially given by Kurt or the skulls of each participant. In the rules of the duplicate, they all hold great appeal for both the "Preta" Sura and the Karma.

Thus, Sura actively seeks the lure. While participants turned "Karma" might not actively do so, the duplicate can ensure they “coincidentally” encounter other participants. The only good news is that the number of participants they encounter won’t exceed four— or two teams.

Originally, in the rules announced by Kurt, this restriction existed: hunting squads targeting the Preta shouldn't exceed two teams.

They initially assumed this rule was to ensure the hunting process wasn't too easy. But now, it seems it might be there to protect the participants turned into "Karma."

Sadly, no matter how well-intentioned the rule's design might have been, it's of no use to Xie Yin Xue and his group.

Because all three of them are Karmas and always act together, it means the maximum number of warrior participants they'd encounter is twelve.

If it were regular Karma participants, they might choose to hide alone for survival. While Xie Yin Xue wouldn't abandon Liu Bu Hua, he'd be okay splitting from Bu Jiu Zhao. Given Bu Jiu Zhao's abilities, he could easily avoid a four-person assault. But could Xie Yin Xue say this out loud? Wouldn't that get him killed by Bu Jiu Zhao?

Thus, they had no choice but to journey together.

Holding the inkwell, Liu Buhua would continuously update Xie Yinxue about the whereabouts of the individuals inside the meditation chamber. "Godfather, it seems they've all left the warship, and they've taken quite a few mechanical prosthetics with them."

If they hadn't gone to the medical rack in the meditation room for the mechanical prosthetics, Liu Buhua wouldn't have known when they had departed.

"There's indeed a difference between seasoned participants and newcomers," Liu Buhua sighed. "If I had known, we would've brought some spare mechanical prosthetics with us."

Once a mechanical prosthetic is damaged by a machine gun, it can't be used unless replaced with a new one.

Of the participants still alive, almost all of them only have their torsos left untouched by mechanical prosthetics. This includes Xie Yinxue, Liu Buhua, and Bu Jiuzhao.

Regardless of whether it's Xie Yinxue's group or those participants inside the warship, being shot by a machine gun would reduce their mobility. The only distinction is that the latter have replaceable mechanical prosthetics, while Xie Yinxue and his group do not.

From this perspective, Xie Yinxue's group is at a distinct disadvantage.

Fifteen minutes after they set out, they encountered the first group of participants: Zhuo Changdong and Feng Jinshan.

Yet, the silver-gray nano-protective battle suit showcased its advantage at this moment—it blends seamlessly with the concrete structures of the ruined city, aiding participants in hiding amongst them.

Upon hearing any noise, Xie Yinxue, along with Liu Buhua and Bu Jiuzhao, swiftly took cover behind a stone pillar, so Zhuo Changdong and Feng Jinshan didn't detect their presence.

It's also possible that the two were engrossed in conversation, their voices masking the surrounding noises, causing them to miss the hints.

Feng Jinshan, holding a machine gun, complained to Zhuo Changdong, "This city is vast, and since Xie Yinxue's group can't track us down like Kusopobacha, how are we to find them?"

"We have to search, no matter how hard. What's your plan? Wait to die?" Zhuo Changdong, wielding a light sword in one hand and carrying mechanical prosthetics in the other, responded irritably. "Also, keep your voice down. Aren't you just signaling our position to Xie Yinxue and his group? Hide quickly!"

Realizing his mistake, Feng Jinshan nodded, "Alright, alright, I'll shut up."

Hearing this, Bu Jiuzhao smirked, "Not entirely clueless, then."

Xie Yinxue shot him a glance, signaling Bu Jiuzhao to remain silent as well.

On the other side, although Zhuo Changdong and Feng Jinshan stopped talking and maintained silence, they unknowingly moved in the opposite direction from Xie Yinxue's group, unaware that they had just brushed past their very targets.

But as soon as their figures vanished, two more people appeared: Xiao Xingxi and Cui Haocheng.

After Ye Zhou's death, Cui Haocheng took his light sword. With a machine gun in his other hand, he alone could have executed the entire hunt. Yet, he still teamed up with Xiao Xingxi to form a temporary duo.

The likely reason is that he believed, facing Xie Yin Xue, Liu Bu Hua, and Bu Jiu Zhao as a trio, his odds weren't favorable. Hence, he preferred partnering up with someone, and the odds were that Xiao Xing Xi chose to team up for the same reason.

Furthermore, their pairing might be a result of other participants' reluctance to team with them. After all, everyone knew of Cui Hao Cheng's betrayal, where he kept two vaccines for himself after backstabbing Feng Jin Shan and Zhuo Chang Dong. Xiao Xing Xi's attempt to kill Xie Ah Qi with the Kusuo Pachira further cemented their reputation. Who would dare ally with such traitors?

Both probably weren't keen on teaming up with each other to begin with.

After Xie Ah Qi's death, Xiao Xing Xi took her light saber. Technically, she could conduct the hunt solo, but she was all too aware of her poor shooting skills. Teaming up with another participant armed with a gun seemed like a better idea, leading her to Cui Hao Cheng.

Another reason Cui Hao Cheng agreed to team up with Xiao Xing Xi was that she claimed to know the whereabouts of Xie Yin Xue and the others.

He was skeptical of her claim, but as they ventured into a desolate factory district, Xiao Xing Xi abruptly stopped and declared, "Xie Yin Xue is here."

Cui Hao Cheng, eyebrows knitted, asked, "Are you sure?"

"Every time Ah Qi and I went hunting and encountered a Kusuo Pachira, my heart would race," Xiao Xing Xi placed a hand over her chest. "I initially thought it was a natural reaction to danger. Yet, even after the Kusuo Pachira we pursued died, my heart still wouldn't calm down, not until we were far away from Xie Yin Xue and his group."

"Now, my heart's racing again," she questioned Cui Hao Cheng, "Can you feel your heart beating faster too?"

After a moment's reflection, Cui Hao Cheng admitted, "It seems so."

In the past, while hunting Kusuo Pachiras with Feng Jin Shan and Zhuo Chang Dong, his heart rate would naturally increase due to the adrenaline. It's an instinctive physiological reaction.

Who would dive deep into such nuances?

Most wouldn't notice, and even if they did, they probably wouldn't second-guess it.

In the "Locking Immortality" game, everyone was constantly on edge. For a common person without specialized training, occasional heart palpitations in this context were quite expected.

Even now, though Cui Hao Cheng noticed his faster heartbeat, he wasn't entirely convinced. Excitement from Xiao Xing Xi's revelation might have naturally sped up his heart rate. It's an uncontrollable, innate response.

Moreover, Xiao Xing Xi was far from the delicate image she portrayed. Her mental agility was second to none. Sometimes her decisions and actions might make one wonder whether it's her genuine nature or just a facade. More importantly, she had already spotted Xie Yin Xue's group once. So even if her justification seemed far-fetched without strong logical support, they couldn't deny her deduction was right—they were right there.