[Ding.]
[Task for the first world has been successfully completed. Does the host wish to be deployed to the next world?]
Song Yanxing’s vision gradually blurred, but he still looked at his silver haired lover beside him, who had already closed his eyes. “Yes,” he replied.
The system responded: [Understood. Commencing operation now.]
[World loading]
[Operation complete. Dog blood System 886 is at your service!]
He sank completely into darkness as the mechanical voice faded from his ears.
Song Yanxing opened his eyes to total darkness. “System, am I blind?”
The system answered leisurely: [Rest assured, Host, you are not blind. You are simply located in the Endless Abyss where light cannot reach.]
Hearing this, Song Yanxing still found it hard to ignore the strange sensation throughout his body. He asked again, “What kind of creature am I?”
Watching Song Yanxing flailing about, the system’s code formed brow twitched. It consoled him: [This is the host’s original form.]
Song Yanxing began, “But” but the system cut him off.
[Now transmitting plot details to the host]
[Transmission complete.]
In an instant, a novel plot flooded Song Yanxing’s mind.
His original body was Harris, the Evil God slumbering in the abyss. After the protagonist discovered his existence, he purposely came to awaken him with an ulterior motive. Despite being born in darkness and listening to the world’s malice, Harris still craved love. Thus, he fulfilled the protagonist’s wishes while bearing divine punishment alone. The god’s selfishness and actions caused his divinity to fade and his power to weaken.
Finally, the protagonist, who had grown powerful and committed countless atrocities, framed the original body for everything. He led a group of enraged sorcerers under the banner of Exterminating the Evil God, lured the original body into a ritual array, and executed what history calls: The God Slaying.
Song Yanxing: ” ”
Song Yanxing: “How do you find such love brained cannon fodder?”
The system chuckled. [Host, please note: the difficulty of this world is different. There are no character persona restrictions, and you may face many variables. Please be careful.] It paused. [Also, the heavily injured protagonist has already fumbled his way near the abyss. What do you plan to do?]
“Let him die,” Song Yanxing replied without hesitation.
The Lower District of Lavivacy County
“Are all the bartenders here as beautiful as you?” A burly, yellow haired man leaned against the bar, his eyes fixed on the young man mixing drinks with practiced ease.
The youth looked up from the shaker, pushed the finished drink forward, and said calmly, “Your drink is ready.”
Under the dim lights, the youth’s strikingly beautiful, porcelain white face seemed to glow, looking entirely out of place in this gaudy environment. Such beauty was rare even in the Main City.
The man’s gaze became more explicit. As the youth pushed the glass toward him, he seized the opportunity to grab the slender white wrist. Feeling the smooth skin under his palm, he said excitedly, “You will not make big money bartending here. Why do you not follow me back to the Main City!”
At the mention of the Main City, a hint of mockery flashed in Xi Ye’s eyes. He pulled his hand back and laughed softly. “You must be joking, sir. Someone like me is not worthy of the Main City.”
The Main City was inhabited by magical sorcerers and nobles, while the Lower District was simply known as the slums. Under the protection of the gods, the people were divided into three identities: sorcerers, commoners, and the Church. Sorcerers possessed magic similar to the gods and lived longer than mortals. They were targets of noble recruitment. They could be born geniuses or be cultivated through immense resources.
The yellow haired man savored the sensation from a moment ago, swallowed hard, and shouted, “How could” before being interrupted.
“Xi Ye, you can get off work now. Your sorcerer is waiting for you outside,” Newman said, walking into the tavern. Seeing the man leaning halfway across the bar, he understood the situation and stepped in to help.
Hearing the word “sorcerer,” the man’s lust was doused by a bucket of cold water. He twitched his lips; even with a little money in the Main City, he could not afford to offend a sorcerer. He left the bar, looking back with every step.
“Thank you,” Xi Ye said to his colleague. “Where is Barrett? Is it not his turn for the night shift?”
Newman sighed. “Something happened at Barrett’s house again, so I am filling in.” Looking at the youth’s stunning features, he warned, “Go home early and stay safe.” In the chaotic Lower District, beauty was a weapon but also a fatal liability.
“Mmh.” Xi Ye went to the staff room, put on his cloak, and left through the back door.
Faint streetlights lined the narrow path. Houses built of wood and stone stood crowded together, their walls pitted with holes from years of erosion, looking like eyes watching the passersby. The streets were empty. Xi Ye, in his black cloak, did not stand out, merging perfectly with the shadows.
As he turned onto another street, a small figure stumbled toward him. Xi Ye was pushed back a few steps by the impact. Once steady, he realized his thigh was being tightly hugged. The cloak covered him well, but he looked down, revealing a pale, thin chin. “Who are you?”
Even with a child, he could not drop his guard. Xi Ye tried to pull his leg away but found it would not budge. The child made no sound. Xi Ye, helpless, crouched down to eye level. The child let go of his leg only to grab his robes instead.
Xi Ye looked at him and saw a beautiful boy with rare, brilliant gold eyes. His delicate white face was tilted up; he looked like a noble from the Main City.
“What is your name? Are you separated from your family?” Xi Ye asked.
The boy Song Yanxing blinked and said in a childish voice, “Xing.”
Seeing that he only gave a partial name, Xi Ye frowned. “If you ran away from home, I suggest you go back. It is not safer out here.”
The boy said nothing. Xi Ye, lacking patience, stood up and pried the small hands off his robes. He prepared to walk away, but a small hand fumbled to grab his again. He stopped and looked down at the tiny hand holding his.
“Brother, I do not have a home. Can you take me with you? I will be very good,” the boy pleaded, his eyes red and his voice muffled. He pulled a few coins from a tattered pocket, coins he had scammed from the system, and added, “I only have these. I got them from begging. I will make you lots of money later.”
The system, witnessing this: [Host, you are truly shameless, acting cute and selling misery!]
Song Yanxing’s expression remained unchanged. He replied to the system: “If you were not useless, and this body had not lost its divine power and turned into a helpless child after waking up early, I would not have to go this far.”
The system, knowing its own shortcomings, had no rebuttal. It asked curiously: [Why did you choose him?]
“Because” Song Yanxing paused. “He is beautiful.”
The system did not believe him. He was blind; how would he know if the person was handsome?
Xi Ye was stunned. He looked at the coins, then at the boy. “You… can not see?” Standing under the light, he finally noticed the boy’s unfocused eyes.
Song Yanxing lied without blinking. “Yes, I have been blind since I was little.” He squeezed the youth’s hand tighter as if fearing rejection. “Brother, please do not leave me.”
“Then how did you run straight to me? And why me?” Xi Ye asked.
The boy’s voice was certain and devout: “Brother, you smell good.”
After navigating a few streets, they arrived at the second floor of a dilapidated building. Xi Ye led him inside. He took him to a spare room, showed him how to use the shower, and then walked out, suddenly regretting his decision. How had he been charmed into bringing a stranger home?
Since it was done, Xi Ye went to the kitchen to heat up some food. They finished dinner with simple wheat porridge and bread. Guided by Xi Ye, Song Yanxing went to the bedroom. He did not rest but sat quietly on the bed, listening to the patter of rain outside.
System: [Why is the host not resting?]
“Waiting for someone,” Song Yanxing said.
The system was confused but stayed quiet. Before long, there was a knock at the door. Xi Ye, who was organizing things in the living room, frowned. He stood up and went to the door. “Who is it?”
No one answered. Xi Ye remained silent. After a moment, the person outside lost patience. After some noise, a man shouted, “Xi Ye, it is me, Barrett.”
Barrett was the colleague who had taken leave. Xi Ye had given him his address for work reasons previously. “Is something wrong?” Xi Ye asked.
After a pause, Barrett replied, “I finished my family business and went back to the tavern. Newman said you left something there. Since I live nearby, I brought it over.”
Xi Ye searched his memory but could not recall leaving anything. “It is late. Leave it at the door.”
“Just open the door and take it. I am afraid it will get lost,” Barrett urged.
Xi Ye pursed his lips. Sensing something, he refused again. “I am going to rest, Barrett. Leave it at the door, thank you.”
A heavy thud sounded against the wall outside. Barrett let out a cry of pain, filled with fear. “Please, Xi Ye, open the door!” He was coughing blood. Looking at the man holding him, he shouted into the house, “I will die! He will not let me go!”
“Open the door, little Xi Ye. You do not want your colleague to die, do you?” a man laughed softly, holding the bloodied Barrett casually.
Xi Ye recognized the voice. It was the sorcerer who had been pestering him. “Little Xi Ye, I gave you time to think, but you always hide from me. You even shift your work hours to avoid me. You know this door can not stop me. Come out quietly, and I will be gentle.”
Xi Ye’s fingers curled. He stepped back. Even if he knew a bit of magic, he could not escape. He used magic to freeze the door lock and then ran to Song Yanxing’s room. Grabbing the boy’s hand, he whispered, “Follow me.”
He led him toward a secret passage in his room. At the last moment, he pushed him inside. Simultaneously, the front door was blasted open.
“What a surprise. I did not know my little Xi Ye knew ice magic,” a man in black teleported in front of him, pinching his chin. “I told you, you have to be obedient.”
Xi Ye jerked his head away. “This is trespassing. I can report you to the guards.”
The man laughed dismissively. He prepared to wrap an arm around the youth’s waist but was suddenly grabbed. He looked down to see the boy. He sneered, preparing to mock him, but met those brilliant gold eyes. Instantly, an unnameable, infinite terror swallowed him. Those were non human pupils, the gaze of a god!
The man screamed, kneeling on the ground with a distorted expression. A moment later, he bled from his nose and ears and fainted. Simultaneously, the mechanical voice sounded in Song Yanxing’s ear.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for triggering a dramatic plot point: Hero saves the beauty, love at first sight!]
[Ding! Values have changed. Current task completion: 5%! Reward: Host’s adult body restored!]
Following the notifications, Song Yanxing looked at his suddenly grown body. He turned his head stiffly and met the gaze of the person looking at him coldly.
“Hello?”