Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Li Jingtang’s concern for Chen Mo now overshadowed his fear of the darkness. Even with his wrists and ankles chafed raw, he refused to stop struggling. His anxious mind was a chaotic mess; indeed, the relentless cycles of rebirth had already left him mentally exhausted and disoriented.

But now, he had to pull himself together. In the darkness, a man’s low growl echoed intermittently.

Surely Chen Zui wouldn’t actually harm Chen Mo, would he? After all, Chen Mo was his own younger brother. Besides, murder was illegal…

Li Jingtang was truly driven to desperation, reduced to remembering the existence of laws in this world and clinging to them for hope. How much time had passed? Had Chen Zui reached Chen Mo yet? Where had he taken Chen Mo? And where was he himself now?

He had no answers to these countless questions, and the anxiety was driving him to distraction.

Just then, he suddenly heard a scream. He stopped struggling, straining his neck and head, ears perked, listening intently. Was it nearby? Had it already happened?

Damn it!

Damn that Chen Zui—he actually did it!

How could anyone be so utterly devoid of conscience, so inhuman!

Li Jingtang’s breathing grew ragged, his eyes nearly bulging with panic.

"Ah!" he roared, the veins on his neck bulging as if about to burst. He put all his strength into trying to free his right hand.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" he cursed.

The man shouted and roared in frustration.

But then he couldn’t help worrying—why was it silent now? The sudden quiet after that single scream made Li Jingtang’s heart pound with anxiety. What had happened over there? What was the situation now?

This wasn’t just an idle threat—he was truly going to kill Chen Zui!

He deserved to die!

Li Jingtang used the last ounce of strength in his body, soaked with sweat. His exhausted eyes revealed despair and sorrow. Was it his fault? It must be his fault… He was the one who insisted on bringing Chen Mo out, yet he failed to protect him.

He was so useless…

Regret tormented the man.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when the door suddenly swung open, letting in light and startling Li Jingtang, who had been lost in deep self-recrimination. He turned his bloodshot eyes with effort toward the doorway.

"Chen Zui!"

"You’re not human! You’re a beast!"

He cursed hoarsely, a taste of blood rising in his throat, almost making him sick with grief and fury.

Then came the sound of heavy footsteps rushing toward him. In his line of sight appeared Chen Mo, wearing a cream-colored sweater, a mask, and glasses. Li Jingtang was so stunned by the immense surprise that he lost the ability to react.

Chen Mo looked utterly exhausted, stumbling over to him and nearly collapsing by the bed, only barely steadying himself by grabbing the edge.

Li Jingtang stared in disbelief at the person before him, a joy of recovery welling up inside him. Tears fell unconsciously.

"Chen Mo?" he whispered.

Even with the person right in front of him, he still couldn’t quite believe it.

Chen Mo nodded. "It’s me. I’m here to save you."

Those simple words pierced Li Jingtang’s heart.

Ao Tian: [Affection level 50%. Wow~ this plan is flawless.]

Their Dark Transmigration Bureau only required a 70% affection level. But affection between people isn’t limited to just romantic feelings—it exists among friends and family too. However, the Dark Transmigration Bureau doesn't bother with such detailed distinctions to trouble its agents. As long as the subject develops goodwill toward the agent, it counts. The values are cumulative, and even if the subject’s affection drops later, there’s no penalty.

After all, the Dark Transmigration Bureau’s goal is to counter the Transmigration Bureau, not to make things difficult for its agents. Most agents are young people who died unexpectedly—they’ve been through enough. There’s no need to add to their hardships under the guise of giving them a chance at rebirth.

At this moment, Li Jingtang saw someone he thought was dead. The overwhelming relief and happiness of getting back what was lost made Chen Mo precious to him.

Affection level soared.

Chen Zui loosened the bonds binding Li Jingtang. When he saw the raw, chafed skin on his wrists and ankles, an unusual twinge of guilt stirred in his conscience. Was this guy impervious to pain? How could he struggle so fiercely?

The moment he was free, Li Jingtang threw his arms around Chen Zui.

"It’s so good that you’re okay!"

The intense emotional display made Chen Zui a little uncomfortable. He held his hands up awkwardly as if in surrender. Li Jingtang’s hug was tight and fervent—he was relieved that Chen Mo had survived.

Chen Zui felt a twinge of bitterness in his heart—because he was Chen Zui.

After his moment of joy, Li Jingtang looked up. "Where’s Chen Zui? I heard a scream earlier. Are you hurt?" he asked.

Chen Zui shook his head. "I’m not hurt."

His dark eyes locked onto Li Jingtang. "I killed him."

Li Jingtang frowned, as if not processing the words. It wasn’t his fault—after all, in his eyes, Chen Mo was delicate and helpless, while it would probably take a reinforced company to take down someone like Chen Zui.

It was like an ant trying to kill an elephant.

People can’t comprehend things beyond their understanding.

Chen Zui’s tone barely concealed excitement. "I killed him. From now on, I’m free."

Even with the mask covering half his face, he seemed almost unhinged. Helping Li Jingtang up from the bed, he said, "Let’s leave this place. Let’s go home."

Still trying to make sense of it, Li Jingtang followed his lead, getting off the bed and walking a few steps toward the door before stopping. "What did you say?"

Chen Mo turned back to look at him. "Chen Zui is dead."

Li Jingtang’s pupils shrank abruptly. Dazed, he thought: Chen Zui is dead? That Chen Zui...

Memories of Chen Zui flashed through his mind—clashing, deeply intimate, that arrogant and self-assured Chen Zui... dead...

It was inconceivable.

"He... you..." Li Jingtang stuttered, unable to form a complete sentence. It was just too impossible. How could Chen Mo possibly have killed Chen Zui?

"Elder brother is dead."

"From now on, I am free."

"I am the sole owner of this body."

Chen Zui drew himself up, going from eye-level with Li Jingtang to looking down at him.

"You killed him?" Li Jingtang finally asked.

Chen Zui nodded.

Li Jingtang's mind was reeling as he was pulled toward the door by Chen Zui. Chen Zui was dead—killed by Chen Mo. It all felt like a fantastical tale.

His gaze fell on Chen Zui, and though he couldn't place what felt off, as they stepped out of the house into the sunlight, the confusion in Li Jingtang's mind began to lift.

He realized what was odd.

Chen Mo was way too clean.

His clean, milky-white sweater was spotless, not a drop of blood.

If he had wanted to kill Chen Zui, it couldn't have been so easy that he took him out in one shot, could it?

Chen Zui stretched his arms in the sunlight, took a deep breath, and sighed, "So this is what freedom feels like."

Li Jingtang, still confused, asked, "Where is Chen Zui?"

Chen Zui turned around, his eyes curving into crescents as he smiled. "I cut him up and fed him to the dogs."

His tone was casual.

Ao Tian remarked, [I suddenly thought of a saying: A real man must be ruthless to himself. You are a real man.]

Chen Zui replied, [Thank you for the compliment.]

Li Jingtang wondered if he was hearing things. "What?"

996 said, [I'm back.]

996 wasn't clicking with this host. It had originally planned to go offline and discuss with its superiors whether it could bind to Yuan Man instead, but no matter what it said, the higher-ups refused.

So heartless!

Chen Zui reached out and wiped a smudge from Li Jingtang's face. "You heard me clearly, didn't you?"

Li Jingtang's heart skipped a beat. For some reason, he felt like those words should have been followed by two more—"baby."

Not receiving any welcome, 996 plowed ahead, [Although I don't know much about Chen Zui's situation, since I came online, I've formed some opinions about this Chen Mo. His behavior seems very much like split personality.]

Having experienced over eighty small worlds, 996 was experienced.

Its words were like a gust of wind blowing through the fog that had been clouding Li Jingtang's mind.

[What did you say? Split personality?]

[The symptoms are very similar. From his self-talk, it seems he isn't the owner of this body. It looks like other personalities have split off, and the situation is serious.]

[But he's just a side character. Even if he splits into a hundred personalities, it has nothing to do with you. Since you're free now, go find Yuan Man.]

[The bond between you two…]

Li Jingtang didn't hear anything else after that. His mind was completely stuck on the term "split personality."

If this were true…

Which personality had Chen Mo split into?

An unbelievable conjecture arose in his heart. Li Jingtang felt as if a cold wind had swept through him, bringing a bone-chilling breeze that froze him from his bones to his flesh, leaving him frozen stiff.

Why did Chen Mo say he was free after killing Chen Zui? He had originally thought it meant no one would boss him around anymore.

But now, upon careful reflection, dread washed over him.

Come to think of it, he had never seen Chen Mo and Chen Zui appear together.

No.

They had appeared together last night. He and Chen Mo were hiding in the house, while Chen Zui was outside…

Li Jingtang also remembered what 996 had said when it came online: infiltrated by someone from the Dark Transmigration Bureau, and the suspect was Chen Zui.

[Does that Dark Transmigration Bureau have systems too?]

[Can systems mimic voices?]

Li Jingtang's heart was in his throat as he waited nervously for 996's reply.

Chen Zui, noticing Li Jingtang's pale, stunned look, asked, "What's wrong with you?"

996 replied, [Yes, mimicking voices is the simplest thing.]

The winter wind was icy and biting, but to Li Jingtang, nothing was more chilling than 996's answer.

If all of this was fake… what was real?

Chen Zui figured his answer spooked him. Otherwise, why would Li Jingtang's face suddenly become so pale?

He grabbed Li Jingtang's hand. "Let's go back—"

His hand was yanked away.

Chen Zui put on a hurt and confused expression as he looked at Li Jingtang.

Li Jingtang felt like he had emerged from one chaos only to plunge into another.

The mere thought that Chen Mo and Chen Zui might be the same person made him…

It almost drove him crazy, made him want to lose his mind.

He turned his tired, aching eyes to look at Chen Mo standing before him. Behind the lenses, those eyes were filled with sorrow and unease, so vivid they made one feel guilty.

His gaze fell on the mask that had never come off. If everything else could be fake, then perhaps that scar was fake too.

"Chen Mo."

Chen Mo waited quietly for what came next.

So many words swirled on the tip of Li Jingtang's tongue. Should he confront him directly? Or should he first find a way to remove his mask?

Thinking of this, he laughed bitterly to himself. Perhaps under the mask was a face identical to Chen Zui's, and the other could simply say, "We're twins."

He was really being played for a fool.