Chapter 79: The Journey of Life

Chapter 79: The Journey of Life

Even having guessed Number One's possible true identity, when faced with Kong Ju's offer, Chen Shi Jin, after a moment of silence, calmly counter-asked: "What if I refuse?"

"Will you do everything in your power to stop me from initiating world quests, or will you pursue me relentlessly?"

Kong Ju still possessed the appearance of a noble and proud prince, with a face that was notably handsome and charming.

However, after hearing Chen Shi Jin's response, even with the same face and demeanor, the aura emanating from him somehow evoked an unwarranted sense of darkness and fear.

It was as if all sorts of repulsive vibes had amalgamated into one.

"Rejecting me would be a terribly bad decision."

"I don't need to go out of my way to obstruct or pursue you, because as long as I exist, you will never be the first to complete the journey of life."

This noble prince-like youth, leaning against the bed carelessly, stated, "Because only the steps I take are the most correct and perfect path."

"Tsk, but I understand humans are easily swayed and fond of changing their minds. I also know many won't turn back until they hit the south wall, only realizing how ignorant and naive they were after truly suffering a loss."

"So, I allow you to change your mind."

The proud prince stood there, chin up, and even with marks of a fight on his face, his gaze towards Chen Shi Jin was filled with a god-like mercilessness and disdain.

He said nothing more, yet his eyes and expression conveyed everything—

"You will eventually come to me, bowing your head."

"Though I can't do whatever I want in this world, my current power is enough to let me do as I please within it."

Having said that, he carelessly flashed a standard insincere smile: "Jin, would you like a massage? Or perhaps we could lie on the bed and listen to music together?"

Chen Shi Jin snorted, "Massage yourself. Seeing you just kills the mood."

The last sentence was absolutely heartfelt, even if Chen Shi Jin had previously felt Yue Feng carried an aura that clashed with that of the exiles, always finding him either amusing himself with the spectacle or engaging in acts that were both baffling and absurd.

But Chen Shi Jin didn't find Yue Feng annoying or uncomfortable in the slightest, not wanting to stay away at all.

Thinking this, Chen Shi Jin turned to look at Yue Feng and suddenly felt that his already perfect handsome face seemed even more pleasing to the eye.

He walked over to Yue Feng and suddenly snapped his fingers in front of him.

"Instant recovery!"

And just like that, the scars on Yue Feng's face vanished completely.

Then, Yue Feng met Chen Shi Jin's youthful yet smiling face.

The anger that had filled him vanished in an instant, and he found himself amused again.

"So, Sweet Jin, have you decided to take a bath with me?"

Chen Shi Jin rolled his eyes at him: "Go bathe by yourself! Seeing you just—"

Yue Feng squinted his eyes: "What?"

The young Jin thought for a moment: "It's frustrating yet somehow funny."

Just like you.

It's uncontrollable how seeing you can be annoying, yet somehow, it also inexplicably relaxes me.

Yue Feng wasn't very satisfied with these words, but seeing the silent laughter in the eyes of the boy across from him, he too started to smile.

Thus, against the backdrop of these two laughing figures, Kong Ju, sitting on the bed across them, seemed inherently less inclined to smile.

Until Yue Feng, swaying slightly, walked into the bathroom. Under the spray of the cold water, his smile slowly faded as he straightened his lips.

It seems something is not quite right.

Is it too much empathy?

He finds himself laughing more because of that person, but also increasingly feeling that person's anger, frustration, and other strange emotions.

He used to devour those emotions as if they were energy waste, eventually finding everything utterly dull.

Truly, nothing in this world could hold his attention for long.

But now, he spends his time in a world of devouring waste, doing things he never would have wasted time on before.

Just now, he even wanted to kill that Number One waste directly.

Not because he coveted his gourmet food, his prey, his target.

There's another emotion that can turn all life into beasts, robbers, demons.

It's probably... jealousy or perhaps... affection?

The tall youth with an adult's physique chuckled softly in the cold water.

How interesting, jealousy and affection.

How long can such rare emotions persist in his body?

And how much of a mark can they leave on his long journey of life?

Thinking this, Yue Feng brushed back his wet hair from his forehead.

Then, he walked out of the bathroom completely naked.

This caused a tremendous visual shock to Chen Shi Jin, who was waiting outside the bathroom to take a bath.

Chen Shi Jin: "Ah!!!!"

Seeing the young Jin first widen his eyes, then flush red, and finally yell in shock and anger, throwing a towel at him fiercely, Yue Feng, who thought he wouldn't stay happy for long, started laughing again.

"What, is my perfect body not fit to be seen?"

It should be considered among the most powerful and perfectly formed in humanity.

Chen Shi Jin found himself without any thoughts to respond.

Because, to Chen Shi Jin's despair, he saw his favorability score skyrocket from 90 to 99 in just a brief encounter.

Just a little more, and he felt he would lose control and reach out.

But this number was enough to make his head spin and his body heat up.

He dashed into the bathroom, locked the door behind him, and turned on the cold shower, only to be greeted by a series of infuriating notifications on the journey of life, the first of which was about his own predicament—

[Exile #1 and Exile #100 fought over Exile #16 in the dormitory, with #1 being defeated. #100 and #16 shared a laugh, feeling mutual attraction.

#100 showed off his perfect body to #16, causing #16 to blush furiously. Both experienced a surge in affection, surpassing 95, entering a "Romantic State."

A deviation has occurred in the life paths of Exile #16 and Exile #100, please be aware.]

Even with the cold water raining down on his head and face, Chen Shi Jin felt his entire body burning up.

There must be something wrong with these notifications on the journey of life! How much imagination does it take to interpret the notifications like this?!

And since when does a romantic state kick in after a fight and a glance at a naked body?

No initial fluttering of hearts, no confessions in the middle, just straight into a romantic state.

Is the world really not targeting him?

Then, the subsequent notifications he saw made it clear that the world indeed wasn't targeting him specifically.

This damned journey of life is targeting every exile equally.

[Exile #3, feeling lonely and cold, was warmed by Exile #81, who shared the same sentiments. They confided in each other, provided warmth, and together fell into love.

Their mutual affection surpassed 95, entering a "Romantic State."

The life paths of Exile #3 and Exile #81 have deviated, please note.]

[Exile #24 was touched by her deskmate's handsome profile and the gentle tutoring sessions every day, spending half the class time staring dreamily. Her beautiful smile, in turn, overwhelmed her deskmate, their mutual affection surpassing 95, entering a "Romantic State."

The life path of Exile #24 has deviated, please note.]

[Exile #32...]

[Exile #46...]

In just the 5 minutes Chen Shi Jin hid in the shower, dozens of notifications crazily refreshed on the right side of the map.

The rows of pink text actually calmed Chen Shi Jin down, and he finally allowed himself some hot water. He silently counted and discovered that on this very night of opening the dormitory, 37 exiles jumped straight from "Spring Fever" to "Romantic" status.

Their ways of falling in love were truly bizarre and peculiar. Compared to the toilet couple who sparked feelings out of desperation by passing a paper and those who found soulmates in shared peculiar tastes for snail noodles, stinky tofu, and grilled durian, Chen Shi Jin felt that falling in love after seeing a naked body might not be such an unacceptable thing after all.

Chen Shi Jin dried off his hair and body, changed into clean pajama bottoms and a top, and finally chose the bed next to the window and adjacent to Yue Feng to climb into.

He was curious to see what kind of deviations and impacts this "Romantic" status would bring to his high school life.

At most, it might just distract him from focusing entirely on his studies.

Midnight struck.

Chen Shi Jin felt Yue Feng across from him trying to hook their feet together with his own.

He took a deep breath, pulled his legs in, and then kicked out fiercely!

Finally, peace was restored from the other side.

Frustrated and feeling an inexplicable mix of warmth and sleepiness, he grumbled, "Can't one even sleep properly while in love?!"

The next day, Chen Shi Jin personally experienced the dreadful impact of "Romance" on his studies—

Despite his genuine attempt to concentrate and maintain a good learning posture during class, he found himself looking at Yue Feng beside him at least twenty times.

Every time he looked, Yue Feng would eventually rest his head on his arms on the desk, turning to stare back with a pleased smile.

Thus, the life description Chen Shi Jin received that day was: [You spent a day sweetly exchanging glances, learning virtually nothing.]

Chen Shi Jin gasped in shock.

If this state continues for three more days, the exam on the sixth day will be a complete disaster.

However, on the morning of the third day, during the first class, Chen Shi Jin, despite reminding himself and even applying the power of verbal spells on himself,

could not help but look at Yue Feng due to their romantic status, engaging in almost constant eye contact throughout the class because Yue Feng made no effort to look away.

Seeing other exiles in the class struggling with self-control just like him, and Kong Ju, Exile #1, maintaining his composure with even a hint of scorn, Chen Shi Jin decided it was time for drastic measures—

He absolutely could not let this state continue for three days!

What's so scary about being lovestruck?!

A will of steel can solve everything!

So, starting from the second class, Yue Feng found himself staring at the half-person tall steel plate snug against Chen Shi Jin on his left.

Staring at it, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, truly a testament to a will of steel!

Thus, on the sixth day, amidst notifications of [Exile X's grades plummet due to being distracted by love], student #16 Chen Shi Jin, with his will of steel, managed to maintain his grades with minimal decline.

He passed safely.