Chapter 12 The Fool Has Nothing (12)

Chapter 12 Fools Possess Nothing (Part Twelve)

Xu Jiu: "...Stop, I said stop."

Noticing his reluctance, Number Six was confused, bewildered, sad, and disappointed, dejectedly pulling back the goose leg.

Xu Jiu: "What is this?"

Number Six examined the goose leg—it wasn’t spoiled and still fell within the human definition of "fresh." After some thought, it tried peeling off the thick slimy layer wrapped around it and offered it again to Xu Jiu.

"Food," it said. "Eat."

Xu Jiu hesitated, but the task briefly took his mind off his sorrow. He pulled away the slimy coating covering the mass and, upon closer inspection, realized the hunks of meat were three plump goose legs, the egg sacs were actually a heap of fried shrimp, and the remains of an unknown animal turned out to be a cold roasted chicken.

Xu Jiu: "…………"

Xu Jiu asked in disbelief, "You stole all this?"

Number Six didn’t understand the concept of stealing. The food was just lying around—if it didn’t take it, someone else would. So why not bring it back to nourish its Homoform? Besides, it had only selected these items rather than going on a rampage in the kitchen. Shouldn’t the humans be grateful for its restraint?

Number Six remained silent, choosing action over words. It figured Xu Jiu wouldn’t want it slimy and tore off the goose leg’s skin.

_Italics_, so picky.

Then it tore off a piece and fed it to Xu Jiu. Caught off guard, Xu Jiu found his mouth stuffed with savory goose meat. After a couple of chews, he forgot what he was about to say.

...It was *so* good!

In Xu Jiu’s memory, even chicken legs were a rare luxury—he could count them on one hand: once during a school anniversary, once at a birthday celebration for a group of top students in his grade, once at a welcome meal when he first got his job, and most recently, at the transfer meal when he was assigned to the polar station.

The cherished meals he had reminisced about paled in comparison to the vivid reality before him. Having grown accustomed to compressed biscuits like sawdust and bitter, pasty nutrient gruel, Xu Jiu finally understood what it meant for something to be "so good it’s mind-blowing."

The goose meat was tender and rich, giving way easily under his teeth, growing more flavorful with each chew—utterly unforgettable. A drop of goose oil gleamed at the edge of his mouth as appetite and ravenous hunger roared in his gut.

Unable to wait for Number Six’s next offering, his eyes lit up as he grabbed the entire goose leg, wolfing down the meat ravenously, stuffing his mouth full.

His eating wasn’t just messy—it was positively ravenous. Number Six watched intently, and suddenly, a sudden, inexplicable rage flared up.

Just moments ago, it had grumbled about how fussy Xu Jiu was. But now, seeing Xu Jiu devour the cold meat it had brought back with such desperation, a surge of raw hatred flooded its thoughts—like the hatred it felt toward that male human who had hurt and trampled on its Homoform.

Its Homoform *deserved* the best.

Number Six seethed, venomous thoughts swirling inside.

*He should live with me in the depths of the ocean, in a nest I build. I will shape a safe world with my body, embedding my nerves into the rock walls and the hard earth, living in symbiosis with him. Prey will surround us, and no predator would dare approach... Or perhaps right here! Let our nest be right here in these steel peaks, and let the humans who made him cry and grieve become the dust that nourishes and worships him.*

*He is mine, mine, mine...*

Number Six’s fluid thoughts suddenly stalled.

Its anger hadn’t faded, but it genuinely began considering another question.

—*Wait, what is he to me now?*

Before, humans had raised it, named it, and Number Six had assumed the role of a child—so logically, the humans were its Homoforms. But now, it had gathered enough strength to hunt on its own, to return to the arena and compete with other Homoforms. Surely, the human’s status as its Homoform no longer applied.

Xu Jiu had already devoured one goose leg and was working on the second. Lost in thought, Number Six naturally coiled around the roasted chicken beside him, peeling off the soggy skin and extracting the best thigh meat to prepare for Xu Jiu.

*Never mind. If I can’t figure it out, I won’t dwell on it.*

Thinking was never Number Six’s strong suit. Even after devouring many humans, including the brains of geniuses, it remained a beast accustomed to acting on instinct, unwilling to change itself for a thin layer of humanity.

Xu Jiu finished another goose leg and got a little choked up. A tentacle quickly lashed out, grabbed a cup, and brought water to his lips.

"...Uh, thanks." Xu Jiu took a few sips, catching his breath. Seizing the moment, Number Six handed him the chicken leg.

Xu Jiu didn’t find it strange, nor did he think Number Six was being unusually attentive today. He thanked it and continued eating.

So tasty, so tasty! The chicken leg was delicious too!

Xu Jiu ate with gusto, his lips buzzing from the strong, spicy seasoning on the roast chicken. The food’s satisfaction quickly washed away his sadness, the tears on his face already half-dried.

"Any more?" He gnawed on the chicken bone, asking Number Six eagerly.

So easily satisfied.

For no reason, this thought flashed through Number Six's mind.

While Xu Jiu ate the chicken, Number Six had already peeled the fried shrimp for him. The huge jellyfish casually tossed the hard shells down its gullet, leaving the tender meat piled up and presented to Xu Jiu.

"Eat."

By the time they went to bed, Xu Jiu's belly was round, and the pain from where the guard had kicked him earlier had long faded. Number Six completely covered the single bed, spreading out additional space beside it. Xu Jiu sank into it like it was an oversized, too-soft jelly.

"There's still a leg and half a roast chicken..." He clung to a tentacle reluctantly, squeezing it in his hand. "Let's save it for tomorrow, okay?"

Number Six looked down at him, the tentacle in his palm itching slightly.

Seeing the caretaker entirely enveloped in its body, this warm, ticklish sensation spread uncontrollably to the tips of every tentacle, making it want to do something to relieve the itch... like gently cradling him in its mouth and giving a soft chew.

It promised to be gentle, and just once.

"No," Number Six said honestly. "Too long, won’t stay fresh."

Xu Jiu quickly retorted, "Once it’s in your belly, who cares about freshness? Besides, we can't waste food..."

"No waste," Number Six said, somewhat confused. "I eat."

Before Xu Jiu could sit up to express his disappointment, it added, "Tomorrow, I’ll bring fresh."

Xu Jiu happily lay back down.

Late at night, the station silent, Xu Jiu was too full to sleep. He pinched Number Six’s tentacle and asked softly, "So, the polar station is filled with your... kind now, right?"

He didn’t ask about the guards' fate, though he remembered the loud crashes when he was barely conscious. The truth was, it was better if they were dead.

"Not kind," Number Six said, its speech more fluent now. "Part of me."

"Oh," Xu Jiu nodded, not quite understanding but not pressing further. "Wouldn’t the research station notice you? I mean, there are surveillance cameras and infrared sensors everywhere."

"This place, hunting ground." In the dark, Number Six's voice carried an almost inorganic coldness, yet its tone remained gentle toward Xu Jiu. "We have agreement, can disguise. Humans won’t see."

Xu Jiu's heart skipped a beat.

He wasn’t a fool. He knew what "can disguise" meant. Number Six had raided the kitchen today and returned half-human in form. What about the stronger jellyfish that had eaten more people? Surely, they could pass for real humans.

Extending the thought, if they had eaten senior researchers and taken their forms... then altering surveillance permissions or covering up unnatural deaths would be no trouble at all.

The polar chill seemed to creep through the door cracks, making him shiver inexplicably.

Number Six instantly noticed the slight movement and wrapped around him even more thoroughly. Only Xu Jiu’s head was left exposed, and the creeping sense of dread was entirely replaced by amusement.

*It’s so cute*, he thought with a smile. *The kid’s all grown up now, even bringing back treats to make me happy… *sigh*.*

After laughing, Xu Jiu fell into thought again.

*What should I do next? What should we do next?*

The plan had been to wait until *he* grew a little bigger and then let it painlessly consume him. But when he first suggested that arrangement, Xu Jiu hadn’t anticipated forming such a deep emotional bond with Number Six.

He shifted slightly, a vague, unnameable unease stirring in him, and suddenly asked with curiosity, "Number Six, do you remember… when I first picked you up…?"

Number Six: "Mm."

"I said I’d raise you, and when you grew a little bigger, you could eat me. Now that you’re this big… do you still want to fulfill that condition?"

Number Six lowered its head curiously and brushed a tentacle lightly over Xu Jiu’s forehead.

No fever—must be another work-induced breakdown.

It needed to hunt down and devour a few higher-ups, to clean things up. Otherwise, they’d keep overstepping, too accustomed to abusing the hollow authority society granted them.

Number Six shook its head silently and answered at once, "No."

"No?" Xu Jiu was surprised—and secretly delighted.

"No," Number Six repeated. "Live. You must live."

The world is boundless. Every creature fights tooth and nail, generation after generation, just to leave traces of its existence upon the mountains, seas, and skies. To put it in human words, I’ve seen hundreds of crimson meteors streak across the horizon; I’ve witnessed volcanic eruptions accompanied by thunderstorms, purple lightning flickering in churning black clouds; I’ve seen inky blue salt flats forming in the abyss, icebergs piercing through currents, beneath which golden-orange magma surges in the abyss…

This world is dazzling, strange, ruthless, and ever-changing. Stay alive, and you’ll see it all—*anything* can happen.

Survival is the foremost prerequisite of evolution.

Xu Jiu said nothing.

He remained silent for so long that Number Six thought he had fallen asleep. Then, in the stillness, his voice came softly.

"Next time… don’t sneak out again," Xu Jiu said.

Number Six answered at once. "Okay."

"If you have to go out, tell me first. I worry about you."

Number Six lowered its head and murmured, "Okay."

It caught sight of the scar on Xu Jiu’s wrist again and, without thinking, coiled around his arm, bringing its feeding appendage close. Countless tiny, translucent tendrils spiraled out like blooming anemones, densely licking into the delicate, sunken skin, sucking until it swelled.

Heat crackled like sparks, instantly setting Xu Jiu’s entire body aflame.

"Hey! You jerk, licking me again—!" Blushing furiously, he yanked his hand away and clutched it to his chest. "How many times do I *have* to tell you? Stop licking this scar—it won’t heal if you keep doing this! You never learn!"

Ever since Number Six had sucked out the lingering toxins, the wound on his wrist had taken on an odd tan discoloration, like a stain embedded in Xu Jiu’s pale skin, standing out like a tattoo.

Xu Jiu didn’t mind—it didn’t hurt or itch, so it could turn whatever color it wanted. But Number Six was obsessed with that dark spot, often seizing any idle moment to latch onto his wrist and suck fiercely, always leaving Xu Jiu spitting mad.

Denied its favorite licking spot and suffering a light smack from the host’s misplaced irritation, Number Six sulked. "...Okay."

Xu Jiu had no more complaints. Number Six’s tentacles were tangled snugly around him, pressing with just the right weight against his chest, leaving him wrapped in warmth and safety.

His anger flared up quickly but faded even faster. With a sigh, he pressed his cheek against Number Six's chest, letting his fingers drift through its smooth tentacles, and soon fell asleep.

Author's Note:

Medium jellyfish: *hisses threateningly, licks every piece of food in the kitchen, grinning wickedly* I'll coat them all with my bacteria! Anyone who eats them except the mother will die!

Others: *enter the kitchen, eat the food, and inexplicably drop dead* Ack!

Xu Jiu: *enters the kitchen, drawn by the food, fails to notice the fallen bodies, and immediately trips* Ouch!

Medium jellyfish: *realizes Xu Jiu has fallen, distraught and crying* Oh no—I’ve harmed the mother!

Still Xu Jiu: *wakes up after fainting for seven minutes and immediately devours all the food* Huh? What just happened? Did I miss something?