~
[134.3 Trillion Viewer Count]. [Barrage Heat: scorching]
~
[Wenya_black: Holding hand has never been so unplatonic before-]
[Rizeft: 666666 this is life, the number of times I get to eat dog food has never been so high]
[black_goldfish: Jajajjaja, can I just say they are acting like fools in love]
[Moriamdade_made_pies: Is it only me who cares more if they are heading into a trap??!]
[intergalactic-war-fanatix: Hunter is the trap himself, you lot don’t need to fret!]
[64th_marshel: Life is already hard, let me see them holding hands again~]
[Mulberry475: The guard looked like he had seen the new world]
[Shentama: Can Hunter stop babysitting the dwarf, for someone like him it feels too embarassing to do so.]
~
The relentless pace of life often left Shen Yu feeling overwhelmed, a sensation he had grown used to over the years.
Even his student life and personal life both failed to bring him any deep satisfaction.
The constant rush of events had become a never-ending whirlwind, and it left him yearning for something more substantial, something that could fill the void.
There was no benchmark, no standard, no subject of study that captured his attention like Kai did. From the very beginning, Kai had been the focal point of his desires, a source of deep admiration, and an unwavering target for Shen Yu.
This hidden admiration had slowly transformed into an obsession over time, like a captivating mystery he couldn’t unravel. He wanted to walk shoulder to shoulder with him, with the same arrogance and unhindered stubbornness.
Beneath his calm exterior, Shen Yu concealed a daily torrent of worries, burdens he seldom shared with anyone.
These concerns had grown heavier over the years, like a weight he carried alone. However, unlike in the past, his thoughts didn’t linger in the entanglement for too long.
As though an invisible wall had risen, blocking any further ill advised contemplation.
“Kitten, are you done?” Kai’s voice pierced the mental fog, yanking him back to the present.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Fqbc ijslcu fsfr bc tlw, Vtfc Te mbeivc’a tfiq yea lcdelgf, “Ljnf sbe wjcjufv ab rfmegf er ibvulcu?” Llr ibculcu obg j kjgw, gfnlajilhlcu yjat, j vffq riewyfg, j oliilcu wfji, jcv atf fjufg jcalmlqjalbc bo j agjlclcu rfrrlbc klat Bjl kflutfv tfjnlis bc tlr wlcv.
Ktf vjs’r rmtfveif kjr qjmxfv, sfa tf ralii tjgybgfv tbqfr bo mjgnlcu bea rbwf alwf ab mbnfgais lcnfralujaf atf abkc obg qbafcalji miefr. Lf ofia atja Bjl wluta offi atf rjwf jr tlw.
In return, Kai responded with a nod and extended his palm over.
Seeing this, Shen Yu promptly discarded the empty packets into a nearby receptacle and clasped Kai’s offered hand with a grip that felt seamless. A small inquiring look met Shen Yu for his haste, but he didn’t respond to it, he didn’t want to.
Kai then took the lead, guiding Shen Yu through a maze of streets, never once relinquishing their hand-to-hand connection as they navigated each twist and turn.
Shen Yu found himself marveling at how willingly he surrendered to being led at Kai’s pace. He meticulously tallied the numerous occasions on which Kai deftly adjusted their speed and direction, the final count reaching an astonishing 54 times.
At last, they came to a halt before an ancient and majestic building, its entrance looming large and dignified. Immaculately attired butlers extended warm greetings to arriving guests.
The establishment exuded an air of opulence more befitting a sumptuous hotel than a simple inn, leaving Shen Yu in awe of their unexpected destination.
“Greetings, gentlemen,” the younger butler inquired with a polite tone, his language more ancient and well articulated, his smile remaining unruffled even as he observed a short elf being led along by a tall human.
“Hello,” Kai replied casually in return. “I’m interested in reserving a room for two nights. Could you please provide information on the pricing and payment process?”
“Certainly, sir. Please, follow me,” the butler courteously opened the door. As they stepped into the opulent foyer, he smoothly introduced, “Morya’s Inn is renowned for its welcoming private baths, cozy bedding, and delectable cuisine.”
“Hm.”
“We also offer a separate relaxation zone, body massages, hot baths, and scented healing options,” the butler elaborated, listing several enticing choices as he guided them to the lady seated at the reception.
She appeared older, yet wore a warm smile when welcoming them. Unlike others who directed their attention solely toward Kai or showed curiosity upon spotting Shen Yu, she maintained perfect politeness towards both guests, discussing pricing and details with equal attention.
“Would you prefer a double room or a single room with two beds?” she inquired, placing a rough paper in front of them while providing comprehensive information on each option. “The single room with double beds is more budget-friendly, but rest assured, it doesn’t compromise on quality. At Morya’s Inn, we take pride in delivering a high-end service and exceptional staff.”
Kai patiently absorbed the sales pitch and, in the end, inquired about a single room with a spacious bed, emphasizing that they were a couple, and separate beds were unnecessary. “If you have such a room, I’d like to reserve it.”
“Absolutely, I’m delighted to offer you three different room options,” the receptionist responded.
Upon finalizing the arrangements, they secured an average room on the second floor. The room featured a sizable central bed, a separate bathing area, carpeted floors, and wooden furnishings.
A wide window next to the bed was adorned with soft white curtains.
“It’s a lovely place,” Shen Yu remarked, running his hand over the soft bed and checking for any unusual odors. He also gazed outside the window, discovering it faced a large auditorium where several people had congregated by the stage.
He paid more attention to the bathroom, and to his surprise, the facilities were not lacking; they even compared favorably to the modern world.
Kai asked, “Do you like the room, my dear?” Observing the little kitten marking the space as his own, he resembled a finicky cat, selective and desiring only the finest of accommodations.
“This is quite good, no odors or dust,” Shen Yu complimented, feeling a bit of contentment that Kai’s four silver ingots had been well spent.
“Then take a bath before resting. I’ll head downstairs to ask about the local customs; it can reveal a lot about the culture here,” Kai suggested.
Shen Yu nodded, and as Kai left the room, he closed the door behind him.
~
When Kai returned, Shen Yu was already seated on the bed, attempting to tie his long hair into a knot. The delicate white ribbon they had purchased for his hair proved tricky to work with, and he struggled to secure it in place.
Kai didn’t say anything as he took the ribbon from his hand and started to arrange the beautiful hair into a perfect braid. In this way, Shen Yu looked refined and proper, not so unkempt like before.
“Is there a looking glass near?” Kai asked, beckoning Shen Yu to inspect his hair in the mirror. Shen Yu complied, vacating the bed, allowing Kai to recline there with his eyes closed.
With the sun still painting the room in its soft glow, everything lay bared before Shen Yu’s discerning eyes. He took note of Kai’s somewhat lazy demeanor but chose not to be bothered.
After checking his hair, and seeing no problem, Shen Yu returned to bed, only to see Kai hogging the entire bed as if sleeping normally would make him itch.
He made no move even after Shen Yu prodded him, so Shen Yu had no choice but to gracefully relocate to the left side of the bed which still had some space left.
He cocooned himself beneath the silken softness of the blankets artfully arranged on the bed, finding solace in the embrace of its luxury.
The day bore a gentle chill, a refreshing departure from the usual warmth. So Shen Yu relished in the comforting embrace of the soft cover that enveloped him.
Unbeknownst to him, the relentless journey had drained him to the point where he couldn’t muster the energy to move, even though sleep eluded him.
It was evident that Kai shared his exhaustion, their unspoken camaraderie uniting them in this shared fatigue, and thus, time drifted by uneventfully.
~
The hotel boasted an array of services, yet room service for meals wasn’t among them. Reluctantly, they ventured downstairs; Shen Yu, being mortal, required sustenance to survive.
Although the hotel’s confines usually offered safety, a silent pact seemed to have formed between the two, as Kai shadowed Shen Yu’s every move, sticking to him like a steadfast guard dog.
Surprisingly, their descent to the dining area unveiled a distinguished stranger.
The man reclined on a low couch, savoring his tea, engrossed in a diminutive book. His spectacles, the air of high gentry conveyed by his long tailcoat and gloves, and the glint of gold pins and buttons on his inner shirt suggested affluence.
Shen Yu couldn’t help but wonder if he was a prominent figure.
When the stranger looked up from his book, he found it very odd to see an unbound, sane elf descending with another distinguished human.
Adjusting his glasses, the man remained seated, patiently awaiting their approach. “I am Luvidel, a Bronze-class scholar,” he introduced himself, flipping his book to a certain page as if by instinct. His keen eyes settled on Kai, who stood behind the small elf. “This, sir, are you headed to the central town?”
Kai acknowledged with a noise of agreement and smirked at the clearly notable presence. “Phoenix Faction?”
Luvidel displayed little surprise, having expected the recognition. “Shadow Faction.”
Caught between the two, Shen Yu felt awkward; they appeared to know each other, and Luvidel was likely another transmigrator. It was hard to recall his real name, but it certainly wasn’t Luvidel.
Factions, like a secret code, denoted to which team the other person belonged.
In this world of transmigration, it was common to mention one’s faction to establish affiliations or loyalties. Real names were reserved for private meetings; in the presence of others, factions were the norm.
Shen Yu had seen various factions, like the righteous ones; Phoenix, Dragon, Black Turtle, 9-headed Serpent, White Tiger, and others. And the Demonic Cultivators; like Blue, Magenta, Violet, White and others.
Kai as well had his own unique faction name, the Shadow Faction, a code name reserved for him alone.
While he had team members, their identities remained hidden, indicating they likely worked for different factions but also collaborated with Kai. It wasn’t uncommon for a transmigrator to be part of multiple factions simultaneously, helping adapt to various mission worlds.
Factions were dynamic, with members changing, while the team leader remained constant.
Shen Yu was currently following Kai but wasn’t sure if he could be considered a Shadow Member.
He couldn’t classify himself as a Shadow Member until Kai approved.
Thus, Shen Yu could only be considered a lone wolf, a novice, and usually, such individuals associated themselves with a faction called the Green Bud Faction. Since they were still inexperienced and didn’t belong to any specific faction, “Green Bud” served as their faction name.
Moreover, those who preferred to work alone categorized themselves under various flora labels, such as Tulip, Rose, Sunflower, Oak, Banyan, Grape Vine, and more.
Surprisingly, as the introduction unfolded, Kai pointed at Shen Yu and also declared his faction for him. “I am Malcum and he is Vinir, also a Shadow Member.”
Luvidel: ?!
Shen Yu: ??!
Viewers: ???!
Ha ha ha Kai just wants to not so subtly kidnap the pretty elf and tie him to his side
but judging by Shen Yu’s attitude he doesn’t really mind either
Is it surprising that I thought the first world wouldn’t be this long? I prepped for 50 chapters and it’s looking like this world will take 100
Thanks for the chapter!
your are welcome dear 🥺💕😊 Hope you enjoy the future chapters as well!!