Chapter 28: The One You Should Erase Most Is Me

Chapter 28: I'm the One You Should Erase the Most

The torrential rain gradually subsided at some point, leaving only the smell of wet earth permeating the air.

Rong Hua didn't know how long he had been running until a looming, derelict factory came into view.

He stopped, ragged breaths tearing from his throat. He was simply too angry—his rage at being betrayed and trampled was incinerating his reason.

A thick, green-black vine covered in barbs, as thick as a wrist, burst forth with devastating force, viciously flinging aside a chunk of discarded rebar and concrete. Massive chunks of concrete crashed to the ground, sending up clouds of dust.

After unleashing his ability in a violent outburst, the frantic blaze in Rong Hua's bloodshot eyes slowly cooled.

Why?

Why did he have to be the one to back out?

He'd bared his whole heart without reservation, only to end up fleeing like a dog with its tail between its legs, letting that bastard Mu Ye come out on top?

No.

Absolutely not! He was going back to take Shu Hanqing away.

Just as his bitterness and rage surged again, Rong Hua's muscles suddenly tensed.

The keen instincts of a High-Level Ability User made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He whipped his head around, his fierce eyes locking onto a dark, misshapen shadow cast by a shipping container not far away.

"Who's there? Get out!"

No one answered.

Playing games, huh.

Rong Hua sneered, a murderous glint in his eyes. He snapped his arm, and the vine lurking in the mud shot out like a striking viper, tearing through the air with a whistle as it lashed fiercely toward that blind spot in the shadows.

The expected sound of flesh tearing never came.

The vine slammed into what felt like an iron wall and was knocked back.

Then, four or five tall, masked figures stepped out at a leisurely pace from the shadows, their faces completely hidden.

The leader stopped, raised a gloved hand, and casually pushed back his hood.

The moment Rong Hua saw that face, his pupils contracted sharply: "...It's you?"

Meanwhile, back at the residence in the safe zone.

Shu Hanqing, a formidable ability user, was currently laid up in bed, looking thoroughly undignified.

His superpowered energy was draining away at an alarming, irreversible rate.

Without his ability to protect him, his body was frail. Exposed to the post-apocalyptic rain, illness came crashing down on him like a tidal wave, leaving him burning with fever and delirious.

He was freezing, curled into a tight, shivering ball.

A warm, dry hand pressed firmly against his feverish forehead. Then, his lips were gently pried open, and a pill was washed down his throat with warm water.

Bitter.

The taste spread from the tip of his tongue, making Shu Hanqing's brow furrow. He instinctively turned his head away, petulantly burying his entire face into the blanket.

"Hanqing, still feeling unwell?"

A worried voice murmured by his ear.

"...Cold." Shu Hanqing murmured, eyes still closed.

Mu Ye grabbed Shu Hanqing's hand, lifted the blanket, and climbed into bed, pulling the shivering man entirely into his embrace.

Mu Ye was a rare top-tier fire-type ability user. His chest was broad and scorching hot, and a steady wave of heat seeped through the thin fabric of his clothes, like a human furnace.

Shu Hanqing instinctively pressed closer to the warmth, wrapping his arms tightly around Mu Ye's waist, and finally, enveloped in that familiar heat, fell into a deep sleep.

By the next morning, the fever had broken. Shu Hanqing opened his eyes, his body aching and weak, his mind slightly clearer.

But before he could fully recover, a cold, robotic voice echoed deep in his mind: "Anomalous data purged. Anomalous data purged."

Shu Hanqing was confused: "...What does that mean?"

"You'll know soon enough," the Plot System's tone was lofty and godlike, as if it were looking down on ants. "You never should have gotten mixed up with them from the start. The plotline won't tolerate such deviations again. The world will intervene."

A sudden, ominous feeling surged through Shu Hanqing. He frowned, trying to press for more details, but no matter how he questioned, the Plot System fell completely silent, as if it were dead.

Shu Hanqing's intuition was almost terrifyingly accurate. At this moment, his right eyelid twitched uncontrollably.

He knew Rong Hua's volatile temper all too well. He feared that stubborn fool might overthink things and do something reckless and self-destructive.

Just as anxiety gnawed at him, the door swung open, and Mu Ye walked in carrying food.

Seeing the expression on Shu Hanqing's face, Mu Ye asked, "What's wrong? Feeling sick again?"

Shu Hanqing asked, "Is Rong Hua back?"

Mu Ye nodded: "He's back."

Shu Hanqing: "Where is he?"

"Don't worry. He's with Lei Zheng's military unit right now," Mu Ye said, looking at him. "In a few days, they'll muster and head out, officially leaving the Third Safe Zone for the Central Base."

Shu Hanqing stood there, frozen, and after a long pause, managed to mutter, "...I see."

Mu Ye didn't reply. He just sat down on the edge of the bed.

He raised his hand, gently stroking Shu Hanqing's cheek, his voice low and resolute, as if making a vow: "Yes, he'll leave. From now on, I'll be with you."

Shu Hanqing didn't respond.

Mu Ye knew when to back off—unlike Rong Hua, who was pushy. He said his piece and didn't push for a response.

A few days later, Shu Hanqing was finally back on his feet.

One afternoon, someone knocked. Shu Hanqing went over and yanked the door open.

Standing outside was Lei Zheng. He was in a crisp, severe military uniform today, ostensibly there to pick up the last of Rong Hua's belongings.

Shu Hanqing hesitated for a moment, then said he'd gather the things.

Lei Zheng didn't step inside immediately. Instead, he tilted his head and leaned one broad shoulder against the doorframe, looking relaxed. His gaze drifted slowly across the cramped entryway and living room, taking in the place with unhurried curiosity.

After all, they'd lived under the same roof for so long—traces of their life together were still everywhere.

Shu Hanqing took out a duffel bag and began packing.

Lei Zheng stepped inside to take a look.

A pair of matching slippers sat crossed together on the shoe rack, matching toothbrush cups sat side by side at the sink, and even the throw pillows on the bed gave off an intimate, tangled closeness.

Lei Zheng's gaze probed deeper. Though some items had been hastily and covertly shoved into the corner of a cabinet, his sharp eyes still caught several private, intimate items between adults.

"Breaking things off with Rong Hua worked out well for you," Lei Zheng said, withdrawing his gaze with the smug arrogance of someone in power. "That kid's naive—he even said he'd take you along. Did he ever think about what his father is like? How could he ever allow his son to be with a man? And on top of that—"

"And you're not just tangled up with him either."

Shu Hanqing listened in silence.

That smug look on Lei Zheng's face, that contemptuous tone, like he was judging some nobody—Shu Hanqing had heard this kind of talk way too much in his past life, just not aimed at him.

Lei Zheng used that tone for most people.

It wasn't targeted at him specifically.

Shu Hanqing shot Lei Zheng a cold glare. "Everything's here. Take your stuff and get lost. Cut the crap."

But Lei Zheng acted like he hadn't heard the dismissal, standing there like a rooted iron tower. After a long pause, he said in a low voice: "I've always wondered, Shu Hanqing—what exactly did I do to piss you off? From the very first time we met, you've been extra hostile to me."

Shu Hanqing curled the corner of his mouth. "Definitely not in this lifetime. Maybe in the last one."

Lei Zheng's face was aggressively handsome—sharp brows, piercing eyes, chiseled features. When he didn't smile, he looked downright sinister.

At those words, his eyes narrowed dangerously, dark ferocity churning deep within them.

Bang!

Lei Zheng kicked the open door shut. At the same time, he grabbed Shu Hanqing's shoulder and slammed him against the wall without a word.

Shu Hanqing, just recovered from a serious illness, couldn't resist at all.

Before he could struggle, Lei Zheng's big hand shot out roughly. With a loud rip, he tore open the collar of Shu Hanqing's shirt.

Shu Hanqing's shoulder and part of his back were bared to the air, and across that skin coiled several vicious, serpentine purple Thunder Marks, writhing like living things.

As Lei Zheng, a source-type superpowered, got extremely close, those dormant Thunder Marks seemed to answer a powerful call, suddenly flaring with a startling, violent purple glow.

"Ugh!" Shu Hanqing winced in pain, brows knitted tight, glaring at the man in shock and fury. "What the hell are you doing!"

"You still haven't realized it, have you, Shu Hanqing?" Lei Zheng pressed in close, his scorching breath pounding against the hollow of Shu Hanqing's neck. "As long as these Thunder Marks stay, they'll slowly eat away all your mental energy and completely suppress your powers. This is my source power."

Lei Zheng stared at that eerie purple glow, tilted his head, and leaned in close to Shu Hanqing's ear, his tone laced with malicious coaxing: "If you'd just stop being so stubborn and honestly tell me how you got these... I might consider doing you a favor and removing them for good."

Disgust flickered in the depths of Shu Hanqing's eyes. He suddenly erupted with fierce strength, shoving the oppressive man away.

"I won't trouble Officer Lei," Shu Hanqing said with no room for negotiation.

Lei Zheng stumbled back half a step, but didn't seem annoyed. He simply stood there, his gaze sweeping over the man with predatory interest.

The torn shirt covered the Thunder Marks again, but faintly outlined Shu Hanqing's lean collarbones, rising and falling with his anger.

Lei Zheng felt something deep in his chest—like a cat's paw had lightly scratched him. An inexplicable itch spread through him.

In Lei Zheng's eyes, Shu Hanqing had no idea how good he had it.

If he'd just soften up, yield, admit defeat, Lei Zheng wouldn't have minded doing him this life-saving favor at all.

Seeing that this man's mental energy was already being shredded by that violent external force, his powers stuck at a bottleneck, unable to break through—who exactly was he showing off for, and what was he holding out for?

If he didn't care about his own life, why should Lei Zheng?

Lei Zheng: "Want to go down and say bye to Rong Hua?"

At the sound of that name, a flicker of complicated emotion quickly crossed Shu Hanqing's otherwise cold face.

"I don't mean anything by that," Lei Zheng said, catching every shift in his expression. "Just thought I'd tell you—you're the one who dumped him cruelly, but he's young, after all. A few days ago, he looked like he was falling apart, like the sky was crashing down. Yet just two days later, he's already acting like nothing's wrong. He must have thought it over and realized you're not worth his grief. Actually, he came to me today and asked me to grab everything he left at your place. My advice: don't play with people's feelings so casually next time."

Shu Hanqing stared at Lei Zheng's smug face.

He had to admit—Lei Zheng had a sickening talent for easily stoking a person's rage and irritation. Like now.

Lei Zheng said his piece, grabbed the stuff, turned, and strode out of the room with long, quick steps.

Shu Hanqing swore under his breath. Looking at his torn clothes, he couldn't help but walk to the balcony and look down.

A jeep sat there, silent and still.

Rong Hua leaned against the cold car door, head slightly bowed, idly playing with a sidearm in his big hands.

Shu Hanqing looked down at him, noticing Rong Hua's black hair had grown a bit longer, and at the ends on both sides, two strands had been boldly and flamboyantly dyed a striking red.

As if sensing the gaze from above, Rong Hua paused and abruptly looked up.

Shu Hanqing didn't even have time to look away. His gaze collided head-on with Rong Hua's.

But there was no anger in those eyes—only a calm like a lake after a storm. Utterly serene.

Rong Hua quickly looked away, that glance no different from how you'd look at a complete stranger.

Lei Zheng, who had just loaded the luggage and was about to get in the car, also looked up sharply. From a distance, he shot Shu Hanqing a sharp glance. Then the two got in, and with a harsh roar, the jeep spat exhaust and sped off.

Shu Hanqing's fingers, gripping the balcony railing, started trembling uncontrollably.

In the past, when Rong Hua looked at him, those wild, defiant eyes always burned with scorching, intense possessiveness.

A carnality and dominance that only showed when he looked at something he owned.

Shu Hanqing always acted like an elder, always scolding him for being an immature kid. But that fool Rong Hua genuinely saw himself as Shu Hanqing's stalwart man, giving everything without reservation.

Every time Shu Hanqing was caught in that burning gaze, he'd curse the man a pervert on his lips, but his heart would inevitably stir with a searing, uncontrollable flutter.

He even had to admit to himself—he truly loved, and reveled in, that look of being the world's sole object of affection.

But now, none of that remained.

This was what the Plot Master called the world's intervention.

A bone-chilling cold swept over Shu Hanqing: "...What did you do to him?"

Plot Master: "...I warned you long ago, Shu Hanqing. There was never going to be any future between you two."

Shu Hanqing's fingers nearly dug into his palm, bringing a piercing pain: "...Just because I'm cannon fodder? Just because I'm cannon fodder destined to make way for the protagonist?"

"Everything that exists beyond the predefined framework is an unstable factor in this world and may be eliminated."

Shu Hanqing: "...Then I'm the one you should erase first."

The voice in his mind didn't respond to his challenge, only guiding him: "Go find Yan Shenyun. He can help you remove the Thunder Mark from your body."

His mind went quiet once more.

Shu Hanqing felt as if a great net of destiny hung over him, tightening its grip on his life.

He lifted his head, dazed, staring upward—yet there was nothing there.