Bao slithered into the ruined home, his small ruby-red eyes immediately landing on Zixin.
The man's normally straight, ramrod back had completely slumped as he sat there, hugging his little brother's corpse tightly against his chest.
His head was lowered, and his shoulders trembled every few seconds, but he made no attempt to move from where he was sitting.
Above his head, a bright red system notification light blinked repeatedly. Bao stared at it for a moment before the color suddenly changed from red to green.
It only read:
{Congratulations. You have reached Level 5, one of the select few who have passed the Beginner's Trial with the highest level. System rewards will be calculated upon arrival.}
Bao stared at the notification before slowly looking back at Zixin.
The timing couldn't have been worse.
With a quiet sigh, Bao moved closer and gently crawled up onto Zixin's neck. "Zixin..."
The man was silently sobbing, tears continuing to roll down his face even though his expression remained almost completely blank.
His eyes were wide open, but there was no light in them anymore. It was as if everything inside him had simply gone dark. He looked utterly lifeless despite still breathing.
"Zixin..." Bao called again, moving around his neck until his tiny face was closer to the man's cheek.
He had no idea what he was supposed to say.
Usually, Bao always had something to say. He could tease Zixin, annoy him, complain about his terrible decisions, or throw some sarcastic remark at him whenever the man started acting stupid. But right now, none of those things seemed appropriate. Looking at Zixin's devastated face, Bao couldn't even bring himself to make a joke.
So he simply pressed his small body against Zixin's cold cheek and gently nuzzled him.
Zixin's lips trembled.
A broken sob escaped him, and after sitting there for another long moment, he finally began to move. He carefully adjusted Lin Jing's body in his arms, holding his younger brother as gently as possible before slowly standing up.
His legs were unsteady, but he didn't seem to notice.
Without saying anything, Zixin started walking toward the broken staircase. His footsteps were slow and heavy as he climbed over the shattered pieces of concrete and debris, carrying Lin Jing as though the boy were only sleeping.
Bao remained wrapped around his neck, silently watching him with a worried frown.
When they finally reached the terrace, Bao lifted his head.
The sky above them had turned completely red.
That strange light spread across the clouds, bathing the ruined village in an eerie glow. The red illumination fell across Zixin's face, making his pale skin look almost bloodless.
He…he looked half-dead.
Zixin slowly lowered himself onto the ground and carefully placed Lin Jing down. His hands lingered around the boy's shoulders for a moment, as if he couldn't bring himself to let go even now.
Then he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against his brother's pale cheek.
"Ge... Ge will join you soon," he whispered, his voice barely holding together. "Don't be scared. I'll be with you."
He stayed there for another few seconds before slowly straightening.
Then he walked toward the edge of the terrace.
Zixin placed both hands on the broken wall and climbed onto it.
For a moment, Bao didn't understand what he was doing.
Then his eyes widened.
"Zixin, stop this madness! You—"
Before Bao could finish, Zixin jumped.
The world seemed to shift in front of Bao's eyes.
His tiny body instinctively coiled tightly around Zixin's neck, but there was nothing he could do. He could only watch the ground rush toward them.
A huge thud shook the ground.
Dust rose around Zixin's body.
Bao slowly loosened himself and looked down.
Zixin was lying in the crater his body had created.
His eyes were still wet with tears.
But he was alive.
Bao stared at him in disbelief.
Zixin slowly pushed himself upright and looked down at the ground beneath him. The fall should have killed him. It should have at least broken every bone in his body.
Instead, apart from some pain and bruising, he was completely unharmed.
His expression twisted.
"No..."
He shook his head, staring at his hands.
"No... no!"
A broken wail escaped him as he suddenly jumped to his feet and ran back toward the stairs.
"Zixin, stop! Wait! There is a way to—"
Bao shouted, but Zixin barely seemed to hear him.
He rushed back up the broken staircase, climbed onto the terrace again and, before Bao could reach him, jumped.
His body slammed into the ground.
Once again…..he survived.
Zixin lay there for a few seconds, staring blankly at the red sky.
Why?
Why was he still alive?
He slowly pushed himself up, gripping his aching head as tears continued to fall from his eyes.
"Why can't I die...?"
His voice came out broken and exhausted.
"Just let me die..."
He curled onto his side, his fingers tightening against his hair as silent sobs shook his body.
"Lin Jing will be so lonely..." he whispered. "He must be all alone. I have to join him. He must be waiting for me..."
His voice cracked.
"He must be waiting for me."
A sharp sting suddenly struck his cheek.
Zixin flinched and looked up.
Bao was wrapped around his neck, his little tail repeatedly smacking against Zixin's face with surprising force.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Bao shouted furiously. "Why won't you listen to a single word I'm saying?!"
Zixin froze.
His tear-filled eyes slowly settled on Bao's tiny ruby-red eyes.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then Zixin lowered his gaze.
"I have nothing left to live for," he murmured. "Why should I live?"
"For fuck's sake, will you listen to me?!" Bao snapped, moving anxiously around his neck. "There is a way to bring him back!"
Zixin's head shot up.
Before Bao could say anything else, he grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down. The little white snake immediately coiled his body around his wrist, his little face scrunching up as the man's fingers tightened around him.
"What do you mean?" he demanded, his voice suddenly desperate. "I can bring him back? Alive? How?"
"C-can you not strangle me while we're having this very important conversation...?" Bao managed to squeak out, looking pitifully up at him.
Zixin loosened his grip almost immediately.
"How?" he asked again, his entire body trembling with anxiety. "How can I bring him back alive?"
Bao took a small breath before answering.
"If you can pass the Fifth Trial, you'll get a wish."
Zixin stared at him.
"A wish..."
"Yes." Bao nodded. "You can use that wish to bring Lin Jing back alive. But for that to happen, you need to stay alive first."
Zixin's fingers tightened slightly around him.
"The Fifth Trial..." His breathing became faster. "How do I pass it? What do I need to do?"
"shit I don't have much time…" Bao hesitated for a moment before continuing. "But at least understand this much. Even your ridiculously strong body can't withstand being thrown from a ten-story building over and over again, okay? So just stop doing that!"
Zixin barely reacted to the scolding.
His eyes remained fixed on Bao.
"Fifth Trial..." he whispered. "I can bring Jing back if I pass it."
"Yes, but—"
"Then tell me how to pass it."
Zixin suddenly shook him.
Bao's tiny body jerked from the movement.
"Tell me!"
"Zixin, wait—"
His body suddenly convulsed.
The snake's eyes widened, and his body went stiff in Zixin's hands before another violent shudder ran through him.
"Bao?"
A faint hiss escaped the snake's mouth.
Then his body went limp.
Zixin stared at him.
"Bao?"
The system notification appeared immediately.
{Protocol Breach Detected.}
{Unknown Species: Bao has been punished for revealing a prohibited spoiler.}
Zixin's expression changed.
"No..."
Another notification appeared.
{Punishment: Cryo-Sleep for Two Lunar Cycles.}