Chapter 37 Clueless

Chapter 37: Slow on the Uptake

At this moment, though Mo Xiu was conscious, he found it difficult to speak normally.

Even if he could, he worried that an abrupt word might disturb Mo Qi.

He’d never known before that the pain of absorbing a crystal core and leveling up could actually be shared. He didn’t understand how Mo Qi managed it, but he suspected it wasn't simple.

If he were to speak up now, to stop or interfere, who knew if Mo Qi might suffer a backlash? He didn't understand mystical arts, but he’d seen enough similar novels and TV shows before the apocalypse.

How many villains had seized such moments to disrupt a protagonist's training, causing severe injuries?

So, despite his heart aching for Mo Qi’s condition, Mo Xiu could do nothing but watch helplessly.

Somehow, his mind flashed back to his previous life—to Mo Qi protecting his battered, broken body, being kicked and beaten by the surrounding crowd.

Mo Xiu couldn’t hold back; his eyes reddened once more.

He didn’t understand why Mo Qi was so good to him. It wasn’t as if he had done much for Mo Qi in return. In their past life, were those few pitiful meals truly worth it?

Back then, he was indeed a soft-hearted person and had helped many. But he also knew that with his abilities, he couldn't help everyone.

So, the help he offered Mo Qi, who was practically a stranger then, was nothing more than small, convenient favors.

In this life, though he had treated Mo Qi well since finding him, caring for him diligently, Mo Xiu saw these as merely things within his capabilities—hardly any difficulty at all.

What’s more, while caring for Mo Qi, he himself was seeking more comfort from the other.

But Mo Qi knew none of this. He was the one truly giving without asking for anything back, foolishly devoting himself to Mo Xiu.

Even if outsiders saw Mo Qi as the one benefiting, Mo Xiu knew very well that wasn't the case.

Mo Qi faced him with a sincere heart. Even though his attitude and reactions often defied logic, that was his truest self.

He told Mo Xiu his genuine thoughts, never hiding his secrets, even if those secrets might put him in danger.

He would endure headaches to use his Psychic Superpower to fend off zombies for Mo Xiu, diligently studying talismans and arrays to create large-capacity, lightweight backpacks and protective charms that were like divine artifacts in the apocalypse.

That was a high-level mutant gray wolf—a single strike could take a person’s life!

Mo Xiu felt that Mo Qi might not know this, but he himself was fully aware: the other was literally putting his life on the line for him.

And now, Mo Qi had somehow managed to share a great deal of his pain!

Is it worth it?

Mo Xiu truly wanted to ask: Is it worth it? Is doing all this for him worth it?

What virtue or ability did he possess to deserve such treatment from Mo Qi across two lifetimes?

His emotions surged—not just gratitude and being touched.

Mo Xiu felt that the person before him was repeatedly impacting him on an emotional and spiritual level. Only now did he truly realize that he had long since developed deeper feelings for Mo Qi.

If his kindness toward Mo Qi before was mostly about repaying him for what he did at the end of their previous life, now Mo Xiu was absolutely certain: Mo Qi’s place in his heart had completely changed.

Mo Qi was the most important existence in his heart—even more important than Mo Xiu himself.

Everything Mo Qi had done made Mo Xiu feel that he was a man worth protecting with his own life!

Thinking this, Mo Xiu quickly checked his internal condition.

He discovered that a subtle connection seemed to have formed between him and Mo Qi—their energy was linked, which was how Mo Qi could share his pain.

If that was the case, then couldn't the energy from the mutant gray wolf crystal core he was absorbing also be shared with Mo Qi?

If so, perhaps Mo Qi’s condition could improve a bit, and his pain might lessen while he was helping Mo Xiu.

More importantly, Mo Xiu knew nothing about spiritual sense. So in his mind, Mo Qi wasn’t an ordinary person but a Superhuman with Psychic Superpower.

That meant Mo Qi could also enhance his abilities by absorbing energy.

With this thought, Mo Xiu didn’t hesitate. He began to act, trying to transfer the energy obtained from the gray wolf crystal core to Mo Qi as well.

Just as he predicted, the energy he absorbed could indeed successfully enter Mo Qi’s body.

Although he absorbed less himself, both of them could get stronger.

This way, while Mo Qi shared his pain, he also gained real rewards. Thinking this, Mo Xiu felt a little better about it.

The moment Mo Xiu did this, Mo Qi naturally sensed the flow of energy, but he didn’t try to stop it.

His intention in helping Mo Xiu was pure—he simply wanted to help carry the load—but that didn’t mean he was unwilling to accept benefits. He just didn’t expect Mo Xiu to offer them proactively.

Who would have thought this guy remained a stand-up guy as ever, never letting him work for nothing!

How convenient! His control over his body still needed improvement, and he just needed energy to temper it.

So, while accepting this without guilt, Mo Qi also felt even more fondness and gratitude toward Mo Xiu.

This outcome was both unexpected and yet made perfect sense.

Mo Xiu was still the same—he never forgot to share good things with Mo Qi. He really was a good person!

Mo Qi thought delightedly, almost ignoring the shared pain entirely.

Cultivators were naturally pain-tolerant—after all, they came from a truly cutthroat world. Those who rose to the top were inevitably the most strong-willed.

So bearing this pain was actually no big deal to Mo Qi. And remembering that the pain he was enduring was for Mo Xiu’s sake, while also concretely improving his own physical condition, made it even easier to accept.

Thus, Mo Qi focused most of his attention on absorbing the energy Mo Xiu shared with him and refining his body.

With the experience from absorbing the sunflower core last time, Mo Qi found it much more familiar.

The gray wolf core indeed brought him great benefits. Soon, he felt his body continuously strengthening.

If this continued, his body would become increasingly capable of accommodating his powerful spirit. Perhaps one day, he’d be able to unleash all the strength he’d been suppressing.

When that time came, who in this world could possibly be his match?

This fantasy was still somewhat distant, but it was good to have ambitious dreams. At the very least, Mo Qi could clearly feel his entire body becoming much more cleared up and comfortable.

Though it still couldn’t compare to his formidable, beast-like physique from the cultivation world, at least his meridians were clear.

When everything was over, Mo Qi moved his shoulders, raised and lowered his arms, and tested his grip a few times—there was no more of the previous delay.

Now, he could finally feel like a real person again!

Satisfied, Mo Qi couldn't help but criticize himself inwardly. Indeed, as long as you set your expectations low enough and get used to dire situations, even the slightest improvement can bring joy.

However, he felt a bit guilty toward Mo Xiu. He had absorbed so much of the monster core's energy, which meant Mo Xiu actually absorbed at most half of it. He wondered if this would fall short of Mo Xiu's expectations.

Thinking this, Mo Qi turned to look at Mo Xiu. The young man beside him had also opened his eyes and was now looking at him blankly.

No way, no way—why does he have no expression at all? Is he angry? Was it because I took some of the core’s energy? But wasn't it him who shared it with me?

Even if Mo Xiu did share it, maybe I absorbed too eagerly. Should I have been more polite and held back at first?

Mo Qi frantically wondered what had upset Mo Xiu. Before the other could even say a word, Mo Qi already felt guilty and instinctively gave a pleading smile.

"Mo Xiu..." Mo Qi cautiously reached for Mo Xiu's hand. Thankfully, he didn't pull away and let Mo Qi hold it.

But then, he heard the other speak: "Do you know what you did wrong?"

Mo Qi instinctively wanted to shake his head, but seeing Mo Xiu frown, he quickly nodded instead, adopting a very apologetic tone. "I shouldn't have absorbed the energy from the monster core—at least not so much of it..."

He deliberately put on a pitiful look, like a schoolboy admitting his mistakes.

At first, Mo Xiu was puzzled why Mo Qi referred to the mutant animal's core as a "demon core." But he figured it was just a matter of terminology—whether it was called a core or a demon core didn't really matter.

Hearing the rest, though, made Mo Xiu even angrier.

"You think I'm upset because you absorbed that energy? You think I care about something like that?"

His purpose for coming out was indeed to find the mutant gray wolf and absorb its core to boost his power.

But he wasn't doing this just for the sake of gaining the power to seek revenge—it was also to protect Mo Qi and build a better life.

To put it bluntly, even if all the energy from the core had been absorbed by Mo Qi, so what? After all, this was Mo Qi! He wasn't just anyone else!

"You—!" The furious words almost burst out, but he bit them back hard when he noticed the blood soaking through Mo Qi's shoulder.

Taking several deep breaths, Mo Xiu spoke again: "I don't care about the energy at all! What I care about is your safety—do you understand that? Damn it, Mo Qi, when will that clueless brain of yours get the point!"

Hearing this, Mo Qi froze.

Did he just call me clueless? With my high aptitude, he couldn’t be referring to cultivation. Then what did he mean? How am I clueless?

In Mo Qi's memory, a subordinate had once complained like this to his crush.

So could it be... does Mo Xiu like me?