Chapter 085: Beauty 05

Chapter 085: Beauty 05

The issue of dealing with the end was thus swiftly agreed upon between humans and deities, in a surprisingly harmonious manner.

As Yu Bai spoke, he suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

It was Xie Wufang who had asked him the question, yet it seemed as if he was now copying Xie Wufang's answer instead.

Just as he was about to ponder the answer more seriously, their gazes met, and he saw that the tumultuous complexity in the other's gray-blue eyes had faded, leaving only a serene and gentle smile.

He seemed to be in an excellent mood.

Huh.

In this instant, Yu Bai suddenly forgot what he had intended to think about.

Compared to when his expression was deep and inscrutable, this plain and gentle smile was a completely different kind of beauty.

As expected, he had good taste in choosing that black sweater—it complemented him well, able to bring out entirely contrasting qualities and styles.

...Enough!

Why did he feel like a decadent emperor who only saw beauty right now?

It must have been because he had just woken up and his mind wasn't clear yet.

Amused by his bizarre train of thought, Yu Bai couldn't help but laugh, quickly moving his gaze away from the black sweater.

A slightly bewildered question sounded beside him, "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing," Yu Bai said after laughing for a while, finally regaining his composed voice. "...You look good in that."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wufang lowered his eyes to glance at the black sweater on his body, seemingly taking note of something.

Yu Bai reached out to brighten the overhead light, and the flight attendant on board smiled as she served tea and snacks. As time passed, his head became thoroughly awake.

The sky outside the plane's window, which had once been dark, had now regained its brilliant brightness.

Within the Arctic Circle, it was currently experiencing the Midnight Sun—there was no night, only day.

They were almost at their destination. Brother Tian had already arranged for a ship; they could board it right after getting off the plane and sail directly to the North Pole, the end of the world.

It still felt unbelievable.

Such a sudden journey in the real world.

Leaning against the back of his seat, Yu Bai's gaze wandered somewhat dazedly over the unfamiliar sky outside the window, his thoughts drifting aimlessly.

The Arctic must be incredibly beautiful.

Will we see the legendary aurora?

The airplane food is pretty good, though not as good as the chicken wing buns for breakfast.

Sitting for too long has left my butt a bit numb.

Why did Xie Wufang suddenly ask him that question?

A hypothetical question beginning with "if."

He remembered Xie Wufang wasn't one for imagination...

"Sorry to disturb you," the flight attendant approached with a smile, "We will be landing in half an hour, and there might be some turbulence during descent. Also, Mr. Sun has prepared something for everyone—"

Yu Bai's train of thought was interrupted. After a brief conversation with the flight attendant, he watched her patiently lean over to wake Yan Jing and He Xi, who were still sleeping.

Yan Jing yawned and rubbed his belly: "Are we almost there? I've been asleep for so long, I'm really hungry, missing those buns from this morning."

He Xi rubbed her eyes and peered out the porthole: "Wow, it's so beautiful down there!"

The little girl's eyes sparkled, her tone joyful and exuberant, filling the cabin with a lively atmosphere.

Except for the dark luggage compartments.

Despite layers of obstructions, an odd white light seeped through boxes and backpacks, permeating the confined space of the luggage compartments.

In fact, the light also penetrated the outer shell of the compartments, diffusing into the already bright air inside the plane.

But at that moment, everyone was sitting quietly in their seats, waiting for the landing. No one was moving around, and no one looked up.

The ethereal glow drifted further and further away, almost instinctively extending outward, passing through the plane, disappearing into the vast sky and the grand world.

In the pilots' view at the front of the cabin, the clear blue sky suddenly seemed to be swept by dark clouds, spreading a heart-stirring shade of deep gray.

"Hmm? Did the weather change suddenly?"

"Is it a thunderstorm?"

The captain and co-pilot exchanged glances, astonished. While operating the cockpit controls, they didn't forget to warn the passengers.

"...Due to air currents, there may be significant turbulence, please ensure your seat belts are securely fastened..."

Indeed, the plane soon encountered noticeable shaking as it navigated the high altitudes.

Yan Jing, shaken to the point of paleness, said: "This air current is quite strong, I've never experienced such turbulence on a flight before."

The little girl beside him, experiencing her first flight, looked tense but took the initiative to reassure him: "The pilot uncle said this is normal, Brother Yan Jing, don't be afraid."

"I-I'm not scared." Yan Jing immediately straightened his chest, casually stroking He Xi's head, "Don't be afraid either."

"There’s nothing to worry about; the weather at the North Pole might just be peculiar, right Xiao Bai?"

Xiao Bai had no intention of responding to such a tempting fate-defying remark.

The last time he heard words like these was inside that golden elevator.

Yan Jing and Uncle Yuan, with their jinxed mouths, had barely finished speculating if anything could go wrong with the elevator when they were whisked away to an alternate dimension in one fell swoop.

…Let’s hope there won’t be any more jinxing this time.

As the plane’s turbulence grew increasingly violent, Yu Bai wasn’t afraid, nor did he reflexively recall the unsatisfactory aspects of his will on his computer as he used to.

He was merely worried for the others.

Moreover, with Xie Wufang around, even if they encountered some terrifying extreme weather, there was no need to be overly concerned.

This was an aircraft carrying a deity.

Yu Bai subconsciously asked the person beside him, "Nothing should happen, right?"

But when he looked over, he suddenly froze.

Xie Wufang was gazing up diagonally, his eyes icy cold. The gray-blue lake seemed to have frozen over, exuding an oppressive chill.

"You won’t be in danger," he said.

Hearing this, Yu Bai was even more surprised, his pale eyes brimming with bewilderment.

…What did he mean by saying he wouldn’t be in danger?

Following Xie Wufang’s gaze, he looked over.

Above the cabin diagonally was the smooth outer shell of the luggage compartment.

Apart from that, there was nothing else, everything appeared normal.

Wait, the luggage compartment?

In a flash, Yu Bai thought of a possibility and asked urgently, "Is it because of the End?"

The clouds outside the porthole were filled with unease, rapidly spreading outwards at an alarming speed like a terrifying plague.

"Yes," Xie Wufang replied, "I can’t directly intervene, I’m sorry."

Yu Bai had known this for a long time.

If two gods who despised each other got into a fight, Earth would only suffer more.

"What should I do now?" Yu Bai was momentarily at a loss. "What’s wrong with the End? Did it make the weather worse at the North Pole? What about the plane…?"

Xie Wufang was silent for a few seconds before suddenly saying, "You don’t want anything to happen to this planet."

It wasn’t a question.

Because in that alternate dimension where the chessboard was set up, Yu Bai had already earnestly told him how important this planet was to him.

So, it was more like a statement made for others to hear.

At this moment, however, Yu Bai didn’t have the luxury to ponder further, blurting out, "Of course, I don’t want anything to happen to anyone!"

It would have been better if it was just him and Xie Wufang on the plane.

But now, not only were Yan Jing and He Xi aboard, but also the crew members who were unaware of the dangerous luggage they were carrying.

If something really happened to this plane, Yu Bai would never forgive himself.

"If I had known earlier that the End would cause such an accident, I would have brought it to the North Pole alone."

Regret tinged his voice.

And clearly, there was also revulsion and resistance towards that mysterious little ball.

He retracted his gaze from the luggage compartment and whispered to the man beside him, "Can you move the others to a safe place, or is there anything I can do?"

On this side of the transparent porthole, the human leaned forward, his eyes filled with anxiety and concern.

On the other side, amidst the vast expanse of the sky, the originally rampant gray clouds suddenly seemed to come to a halt, ceasing their octopus-like frenzied expansion.

The deep gray light appeared to struggle within the endless layers of clouds, finally taming its aggressively invasive nature with difficulty.

A powerful current that came from nowhere suddenly dissipated without reason.

As the grayish light faded, a few pitiful raindrops fell reluctantly.

The plane soon stopped its turbulence.

In the ground control tower, after detecting the abnormal weather and busily contacting all the planes, the operator blinked in confusion.

In the cockpit, the pilots, looking at the clear sky ahead, were perplexed but relieved from the bottom of their hearts, picking up the intercom directly connected to the passenger cabin.

"…We’ve safely passed through the turbulence, please don’t worry…"

The captain’s voice, mixed with faint static, echoed throughout the cabin, allowing the nervous passengers to completely relax.

Beside him, Xie Wufang’s voice sounded softly, his emotions indistinct and ambiguous.

"You’ve already done so."

This was in response to his question, "Is there anything I can do?"

Immersed in the gradually calming cabin, Yu Bai was momentarily stunned.

His light brown eyes were filled with bewilderment.

He had done nothing.

All he did was ask Xie Wufang anxiously what to do,

And in the process, he came to despise the damned orb.

The bewildered human fell into deep thought, once again gazing at the seemingly ordinary luggage compartment not far away.

Inside was Yan Jing's backpack, and within it, the small square box containing the damned orb.

The god, who wasn't one for imagination, suddenly asked him, "What if a true lifeform were to be born from the sphere?"

…A true lifeform?

!!

Soon after, the plane landed safely at the northernmost airport on the continent.

The polar day was long and strange, with cerulean skies dotted by white contrails.

In the cold temperatures, the group, clad in thick, furry coats, stepped onto this entirely unfamiliar yet beautiful land.

"We can see snow again," He Xi said, having already forgotten the brief peril during the flight. His face was full of curiosity. "How wonderful."

"Yes, everything is covered in white here. It's like a fairyland."

Yan Jing, the timid one, still felt the lingering fear. His legs were a little weak as he disembarked, but his gaze swept over the surrounding scenery he saw for the first time, and he couldn't help but ask Yu Bai, "Xiao Bai, how about we rest here for a bit? Maybe grab something to eat?"

It was his first time here, and he wanted to take plenty of photos to show his parents when he returned.

However, Yu Bai, who was speaking with Brother Tian's local guide, shook his head. His expression was rather solemn. "We'll set sail right now."

"No problem, the ship is already waiting for you at the port. There's a dining area on board."

The local guide smiled amiably in response and took the initiative to carry a piece of luggage that Yu Bai had brought down from the plane.

It was a heavy suitcase, filled with tools such as shovels.

"So eager?" Yan Jing scratched his head, casually slinging his own bag over his shoulder and hurriedly following Yu Bai's steps. "Coming, coming."

The guide also asked enthusiastically, "Shall I carry your bag for you?"

"No need, no need." Yan Jing waved his hand. "This isn't heavy. I can carry it myself."

Inside was a magical blue orb, which he dared not entrust to anyone else.

He had to keep it safe for Xiao Bai.

A short while later, the elegantly shaped small cruise ship left the port, gradually entering the ocean at the polar region. Icebergs of blue surrounded them, shimmering like diamonds under the sunlight.

Yan Jing lifted up the short He Xi, and the two figures gazed at the magnificent and pristine scenery from the deck, both captivated by the sight.

Yu Bai and Xie Wufang also stood at the edge of the deck, but the former wasn't looking at the scenery.

The young man with chestnut hair lowered his gaze to his phone, which was stuck to a heat pack, seemingly engrossed in reading something.

Taking advantage of Xie Wufang's momentary distraction as he looked toward the distant glaciers, Yan Jing had curiously peered over.

The screen was filled with dense text.

It detailed the technical points of excavation and burial in snow and ice layers.

…

Uh.

Xiao Bai really wants to bury the damned orb, doesn't he?

Still, Yan Jing felt a bit regretful.

On the journey towards the pole, Yu Bai, who was buried in studying techniques, would occasionally suddenly ask, "Is the damned orb still in your bag?"

"It is." Yan Jing unzipped the bag, seeing the small square box quietly resting inside, and casually asked, "Do you want me to take out the damned orb for you to see?"

But Yu Bai shook his head repeatedly, immediately averting his gaze. "No, no… Not necessary."

As if avoiding something.

Yet, he would glance at the backpack behind Yan Jing from time to time, or scan the deck around them, where there was no one else.

Yan Jing didn't quite understand this behavior. Considering Xie Wufang's presence, he didn't dare to ask more questions, so he moved aside to whisper with the little girl.

He Xi, looking at Xiao Bai Gege with his complex expressions and peculiar actions, thought for a moment and whispered, "I once found a stray cat on the roadside. I really wanted to take it home and raise it, but I knew my dad wouldn't agree, so in the end, I didn't take it with me."

"When I walked past the cat, I wanted to look at it, but I didn't dare to… Just like how Xiao Bai Gege is acting now."

The analogy from the elementary school student was both wondrous and apt.

Yan Jing instantly understood.

After all, the gift was from a non-human being. Xiao Bai definitely couldn't bear to discard this little ball.

That day at the funeral parlor, he hesitated for a long time before ultimately not placing the damned orb in the cremation furnace.

Would it be the same today?

Yet they had traveled all the way to the North Pole, with Little White silently perfecting his burial techniques along the way, as if he couldn't wait to bury the egg.

After all, it was an uncontrollable and dangerous existence.

Ah, what a tangled mess of emotions.

It left Yan Jing's not-so-bright mind in a knot as well.

Suddenly, he found himself particularly reluctant to see the end of it.

Though it had acted recklessly, it had also given them unforgettable memories.

Yan Jing stared at the motionless square box half-hidden in his backpack, deciding to take one last look at the miraculous "end."

He reached in, opened the box, and glanced over with a somewhat sorrowful gaze.

Then,

that sorrow and sigh instantly turned into intense shock.

So shocked that he forgot about the need to refrain from cursing in front of a child.

"Holy shit!"

Yan Jing rubbed his eyes hard, and when the scene before him remained unchanged, his pupils continued to quake as he muttered, "It's over... it's over..."

He Xi, standing right next to him, paused for a moment, looking over with concern. "What happened to 'end'—"

When she saw the small square box, her words abruptly stopped.

The little girl drew a sharp breath, covering her mouth in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief.

This unusual commotion quickly caught Yu Bai's attention, who was already on high alert.

When he saw the two of them staring rigidly at the backpack, alarm bells went off in his heart, and he reflexively scanned their surroundings.

On the deck were only them and the crew, and beyond the railing was a vast landscape devoid of human presence—a breathtaking interplay of blue and white in the ocean, icebergs, snow, and sky.

Within his field of vision, there were no unfamiliar figures.

When Yu Bai realized that life might have emerged from "end," he was even prepared to see a miniature version of Xie Wufang, perhaps a handsome little boy with curly black hair and gray-blue eyes.

Or maybe brown hair or brown eyes?

Perhaps it really had become a mix.

...Wait, why was he prepared for such absurd possibilities?

No, this wasn't the time to be bothered by that.

There was no way a child could fit inside such a small backpack.

Yu Bai strode over to Yan Jing and He Xi, asking quickly, "What happened to 'end?'"

He Xi blinked her clear black-and-white eyes, answering hesitantly, "Brother Xiao Bai... 'end' didn't come with us."

Yan Jing looked like he had caused a disaster, hurriedly admitting his mistake, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It must have been when I was on the phone taking leave; I wasn't paying attention and grabbed the wrong box. Should we turn back now and get it—"

Realizing that they had arrived at the North Pole without bringing "end" was akin to discovering you'd forgotten your admission ticket upon reaching the exam hall!

He sincerely apologized, but confusion clouded Yu Bai's tense expression. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"There's only one box," he said in surprise. "How could you have taken the wrong one?"

Hearing this, Yan Jing, who was focused on confessing his mistake, paused for a moment before realizing, "Right, there was only one box on the chair."

"Could it be that I subconsciously took 'end' out and put—"

As he spoke, Yu Bai had already decisively taken the open black square box from the backpack in Yan Jing's hand.

Then, Yu Bai's pupils also quaked in shock.

Unable to resist, he removed his sunglasses, which he used to shield against the cold sea breeze, and observed the spectacle that exceeded his expectations with his naked eyes.

Inside the box lay a round,

plump, white, and fluffy.

Bun.

A bun????

Confused, Yan Jing asked, "—did I put the chicken wing bun I was eating in there instead?"

Shaken, Yu Bai exclaimed, "Why is there a bun in here!!!"

Where was the blue ball he had placed in there with his own hands?!

For a moment, Yu Bai felt as if he had returned to the rooftop terrace days ago, where they expected to find a little girl sobbing in the corner but instead saw a watermelon the size of a yoga ball growing in a flower pot.

How absurd.

...But considering his tumultuous and surprising life, it wasn't that absurd.

In a daze, Yu Bai picked up the bun that looked no different from the chicken wing buns they had eaten that morning.

As soon as his slightly cool fingertips touched the surface of the bun, he immediately realized that this was definitely not someone's misplaced chicken wing bun, nor was it Yan Jing's fault.

Because after more than ten hours of flight, this "bun" was still warm.

Like the warmth of something freshly baked, even with a faint mist of steam still rising.

Yu Bai held the steamed bun that had inexplicably appeared in the square box, his eyes widening slightly, filled with astonishment.

The neatly pleated buns slightly bulge, giving the appearance of being plump with filling, looking very appetizing, and they continuously emanate a warm heat.

At the same time, the man behind him furrowed his brows, casting a cold, piercing gaze at the "baozi" (steamed bun) he had picked up.

Thus, the motionless bun seemed to be caressed by the sea breeze.

The soft and fluffy folds of the bun gently trembled as they brushed against the human's palm.