“We’ll… always be together…”
Yao Ye’s brow furrowed in restless slumber.
He heard a multitude of voices, both familiar yet strange, all saturated with affection and obsession. Despite their distinct tones, they seemed, eerily, to emanate from a single source.
Who was it? Who was speaking to him?
Confused, Yao Ye’s eyes darted rapidly beneath closed eyelids. His long eyelashes quivered as he tried to awaken.
After what felt like an eternity, he began to regain a sense of touch.
Thump, thump…
In his daze, Yao Ye felt as if he was submerged in warm “sea water.” His slightly parted lips immersed in the liquid, producing bubbles as the taste of iron tinged his tongue.
Was seawater supposed to taste like this?
A creeping feeling told Yao Ye something was off. He struggled once more and finally managed to open his eyes.
A sea of red greeted him; the pungent smell of blood overwhelmed his senses.
Yao Ye shot up from the “sea,” realizing he had been lying in a small pool, two meters squared. Above him were the familiar rafters of a slaughterhouse.
He looked down at himself. He was drenched in blood from head to toe.
The pool was filled with blood, continuously supplied by an external pipe.
All of it… warm, fresh blood.
Was this some kind of sick joke? Or was he dead, in hell?
Yao Ye, pale and weakened, stood up, noticing he was only wearing underwear. Despite being soaked for so long, his skin hadn’t wrinkled. In fact, it looked even whiter.
Where did all this blood come from? Why was he here?
And… where was the big guy?
Yao Ye, still somewhat dazed, tried to recollect his last memories.
Before losing consciousness, the big guy had been right in front of him. Surely he wouldn’t just abandon him?
Taking a deep breath, Yao Ye decided to follow the pool’s inlet pipe, hoping to find some clues.
And even if the big guy—no, Yuan Ping—wanted to sever ties, Yao Ye felt they at least deserved a face-to-face explanation.
White plastic sheets, stained with indistinguishable dark patches, hung everywhere in the factory. Swayed by the breeze, they resembled ghosts.
Pushing aside another curtain of plastic, Yao Ye stared into the empty factory, the sound of his footsteps the only noise. A sense of foreboding filled him.
He was afraid, but his desire to find his big guy was stronger.
That was his only friend. Yao Ye couldn’t believe he’d be abandoned so easily.
Soon enough, Yao Ye found the source of the pipe.
He entered a derelict room with peeling walls and rusted iron doors. Stepping inside, the sight before him left him breathless.
What the…
Stunned and horrified, Yao Ye’s voice cracked.
“… Big guy?”
Blood flowed ceaselessly.
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.
The slicing of flesh was relentless, yet there were neither screams nor whimpers.
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Watching the figure mechanically mutilating himself, Yao Ye’s heart trembled in terror.
He finally understood the source of the blood in those pools—though he would’ve preferred to remain ignorant.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!!”
Yao Ye truly wished he was dreaming, so he wouldn’t have to witness the big guy senselessly self-harming.
What the hell was going on?! Had he lost his mind?
The slicing sound paused momentarily as the man, with his back to Yao Ye, froze in place.
Is this an illusion?
Yuan Ping hesitated, slowly turning around to find Yao Ye’s pale and furious face staring back at him.
“Big guy! What the hell are you thinking?! Trying to give me a heart attack?!!!”
Yao Ye rushed over. The rims of his eyes turned red and his body trembled incessantly at the sight of the exposed bone on the big guy’s arms and chest.
“Stop it now!!!”
Seeing the wounds on Yuan Ping, and the rapidly regrowing flesh which couldn’t cover the damage from the horrifying cuts, Yao Ye’s heart sank. He couldn’t fathom how frequently Yuan Ping had cut himself to outpace such rapid healing.
“Why…why are you…” Tears streamed down Yao Ye’s face as the shock of waking up to this sight overwhelmed him.
“I’m… sorry… Please don’t cry… Yao Ye,” the big guy said slowly. His eyes, starkly red outside of his bandages, gazed unwaveringly at Yao Ye. He feared this might be a dream and that upon waking, his beloved friend would revert to his pale and lifeless state.
“Drop the knife!!!”
Terrified of Yuan Ping making another rash move, Yao Ye pleaded urgently. After a pause, Yuan Ping, realizing the gravity of his actions, threw the knife far away.
He had frightened Yao Ye.
“Don’t be scared… I won’t hurt you,” Yuan Ping whispered cautiously. The blood-stained bandages on his face had long since fallen off and scattered around his neck, revealing a face full of burn marks.
Gazing at the face that still somewhat resembled his friend’s younger features, sorrow clouded Yao Ye’s eyes. “I’m not afraid of you hurting me; I’m afraid of you hurting yourself.”
Gently, Yao Ye touched the undamaged parts of Yuan Ping, his voice heavy. Despite the rapid healing, the sight still suffocated him. He couldn’t fathom how long he’d been unconscious, or how long he’d been submerged in that pool.
He didn’t even want to think about how many times Yuan Ping had mutilated himself to fill up that pool of warm blood.
Even though Yao Ye was delighted at the realization that Yuan Ping had no intention of abandoning him, the brutal reality he awoke to was more than Yao Ye could bear.
“Why are you doing this?”
Choking back tears, Yao Ye’s voice quivered with emotion.
Seeing Yao Ye’s angered demeanor, Yuan Ping hurriedly knelt down, saying, “Please, don’t be mad.”
Yao Ye exasperatedly looked at the rather clueless Yuan Ping, realizing he missed the point entirely.
Tenderly caressing Yuan Ping’s scarred face, Yao Ye pulled him close, wrapping his arms around Yuan Ping’s neck, seeking comfort in his embrace.
Fearing he might harm Yao Ye, Yuan Ping hesitated before embracing him, holding him as if he were the most precious treasure.
“I’m not angry. But you bled so much… It must’ve hurt a lot, right?”
There was so much blood. It must’ve been agonizing…
Yao Ye’s voice was a little hoarse, and his suppressed sobs inevitably contained a soft, cute tone, making him sound aggrieved and sad.
In fact, he could guess that the big guy must be responsible for all this. He remembered being shot before losing consciousness, and him regaining consciousness was definitely due to the big guy’s efforts.
The fresh blood must be the reason he woke up again.
As he thought about it, tears welled up in his eyes.
Yao Ye felt that he was in big trouble. In the past, he was at least pretty tough emotionally, but now, ever since he arrived on this island, he couldn’t stop crying. It was all this big lump’s fault! He was an irredeemable fool!
How dare he mutilate himself?! Why was he picking up all these bad habits?! They were all grown-ups who knew better!
“Doesn’t hurt,” Yuan Ping replied instantly. He genuinely didn’t feel pain, or perhaps he had grown accustomed to it.
For the sake of Yao Ye’s awakening, he would do anything to atone for his past mistakes. The self-mutilation felt more like atonement than torment.
Silent, Yao Ye looked at him with frustration, finally blurting out, “When I say it hurts, it hurts!”
“Okay, it hurts,” Yuan Ping obediently changed his tune.
“That’s right! Don’t you dare do it again!” Yao Ye exclaimed, directing his words at Yuan Ping’s ear.
Yuan Ping remained silent.
If needed, he would do it again.
Seeing Yuan Ping’s stubborn demeanor, Yao Ye was infuriated and flailed about, wanting the other to swear not to ever harm himself again—not even for Yao Ye.
However, Yuan Ping remained silent throughout, even as Yao Ye grew so furious that steam seemed to come out of his ears. He contemplated kicking him hard and even bit him once, yet the big guy endured all of it without resistance.
Only when the infuriated Yao Ye tried to leave Yuan Ping’s embrace did the other gently pulled him back, holding him as if he were the world’s most invaluable treasure, unwilling to let go for even a moment.
To Yuan Ping, Yao Ye was a treasure he had lost and found again. He didn’t ever want to lose this irreplaceable gem.
Yao Ye belonged to him, now and forever.
They would never part again… no one could tear them apart.
Enchanted and doting, Yuan Ping gazed at the raven-haired youth in his embrace, whose face had turned a shade of red from irritation. A trace of a smile appeared on his scar-riddled face.
Eventually, Yao Ye, exhausted from the fuss and knowing the big guy’s stubbornness, resignedly relented.
Held tight by the big guy, Yao Ye’s cheek rested against the resilient muscles of his chest, his face adorned with a hint of red. The bandages around the big guy had come loose, revealing strong and powerful muscles beneath. Despite the mottled scars and slightly rough skin, the intense masculinity was undeniable, enough to make anyone’s heart race if held this close.
“…What on earth were you thinking about?”
After a pause, Yao Ye sighed, his expression a mix of emotions. He thought that Yuan Ping would resent the arrogant younger version of himself. After all, he hadn’t been particularly kind to Yuan Ping back then.
Yet, not only did Yuan Ping hold no grudge, but he also did so much for him upon discovering his true identity.
Why did Yuan Ping treat him so well?
Upon hearing Yao Ye’s question and unsure how to convey his feelings, Yuan Ping chose silence.
Yao Ye was so soft and smooth to the touch.
That was the only thought running through Yuan Ping’s mind at the moment.
“…Why aren’t you speaking?”
When no answer came, Yao Ye lifted his head, which had been nestled against Yuan Ping’s neck, to meet Yuan Ping’s gaze.
Yuan Ping eyes were scarlet. The whites and the pupils were almost indistinguishable and shone with an inorganic luster under the dim factory lights. They gave an illusion of cold-blooded brutality, resembling the eyes of a demon. Anyone else would have been paralyzed with fear upon seeing them.
But Yao Ye was mesmerized, finding their pure hue unparalleled in beauty.
Unlike the lonely black of his younger days, Yuan Ping’s crimson eyes now seemed more mature. Beneath the blood-red, it felt as if an abyss of passion lay, drawing people closer.
“…So beautiful…”
Unable to resist, Yao Ye leaned in, yearning for a closer look. Unintentionally, his lips brushed against the corner of Yuan Ping’s.
A jolt of electrifying pleasure coursed through them, and they both froze, drawn even closer until their lips met. Yao Ye, as if entranced, gently licked Yuan Ping’s beautifully shaped lips.
Feeling Yao Ye’s actions, Yuan Ping’s breathing became erratic for a moment. Guided by instinct, he deepened the kiss.
The intimate sounds resonated clearly in the empty factory.
“Mmm…”
Yao Ye felt as though he’d been melded into Yuan Ping. A pair of large hands were incessantly massaging his waist, rendering him helpless under the man’s fervent advances. It was only when breathless that he managed to shove Yuan Ping away. Only then did the startled Yuan Ping let go of his lips.
“Pant! Pant!…” With a flustered, flushed face and avoidant eyes, Yao Ye pondered on what he’d just initiated.
Had he… just taken the initiative to kiss the big guy?
So embarrassing…
Overcome by shame, Yao Ye buried his face into Yuan Ping’s chest.
Yuan Ping, equally silent, struggled to articulate his excitement—though his strongly-beating heart gave him away.
“…Yao Ye, let’s be together forever, okay?”
He uttered softly, pleadingly. Yet his scarlet eyes told another story. They were filled with an intense, twisted possessiveness.
He feared rejection from Yao Ye, barely daring to voice his feelings and choosing to phrase it gently.
But if Yao Ye did refuse… Yuan Ping couldn’t bear the thought of parting again and would do anything to prevent it.
He knew very well the lengths he, with his depraved nature, might go.
To keep Yao Ye, he would stop at nothing.
Regardless… of the means…
Hearing Yuan Ping’s words, Yao Ye’s heart raced.
Though inexperienced in love, he had been exposed to tales of romances – both heterosexual and homosexual – among the wealthy elite. Strict upbringing and his high standards had prevented him from gaining any personal experience, but he understood these things.
That kiss had clarified the strange feelings he’d been harboring.
Best friends…? What a load of crap. He had already fallen for this endearingly clumsy big guy.
Yuan Ping’s arms tightened as Yao Ye remained silent, his thoughts racing.
Did Yao Ye… want to refuse him?
The crimson of Yuan Ping’s eyes darkened, tainted by profound insanity.
Yao Ye… mustn’t refuse… they must be together forever…
Accompanying Yuan Ping’s change, black, hellish flames began to ignite outside the factory. Nearby spirits, who had survived the previous fire, scurried away in terror.
Help!!! That damned Judge is acting up again!!!!!
Inside, oblivious to Yuan Ping’s mood, Yao Ye leaned in for another kiss.
Then, laughing, he said, “Consider that a seal. You’re mine now. We’ll be together forever, and you can’t escape even if you tried!”
The black flames extinguished with a “poof”.
Stunned, a blush crept onto Yuan Ping’s face.
I think this is one of the cuter arcs where the feelings are more mutual and I’m here for it!! They’re so cute!! 🥹
I liked this arc the best, with the love between the characters more clear and mutual. So fluffy, Thanks for the translation! 🩷