Chapter 124: It’s Okay, Nian’er

    "Wha—" The mummy minister was not even given a chance to react when Lang Zhenya suddenly tackled and pinned him to the ground. "What impudence! Y–You... how dare you— hand it back to me!" His protest went unheeded as Lang Zhenya forcefully seized his blade and tossed it toward Jiang Shun.

    "Nice, Zhenya!" Jiang Shun caught the blade in midair and sprinted straight toward the throne. "Hold him back until I’m done. Xinxin, deal with the mummy soldiers!"

    "Mnhhh!" Xinxin swore his soul was leaving his body when he looked at a horde of frenzied mummies charging toward him. His legs felt weak, and his vision darkened for a split second. Putting aside the bandages around his face, he could not even break free from his ropes! How could they expect him to fight this way?! He wanted to cry but had no tears.

    Meanwhile, as soon as Shen Nianzu saw Jiang Shun racing toward them, he immediately knew what the man was planning to do. But how could Shen Nianzu hand the task over to him? Jiang Shun had no idea that Anubis before them was a player, and he would definitely kill Jin Jiuchi without any hesitation!

    No, Shen Nianzu could not allow anyone to touch Jin Jiuchi. Only he could complete this task!

    "Leave it to me!" He hollered and drew out a dagger – which was given to him by Jin Jiuchi – from the thick folded hem of his robes. There was no time to think; he turned to face Jin Jiuchi and pressed the dagger to his neck, cutting a thin crimson line on his skin. Then he waited.

    One second. Two seconds. Three seconds—

    There was no voice in his ears. The Nightmare still had not announced the completion of the task yet.

    Shen Nianzu’s heart sank heavily, and he pressed the dagger deeper until blood began to trickle down Jin Jiuchi’s neck to cascade down his chest. All the while, Jin Jiuchi remained seated calmly on his ebony throne with a careless smile on the corner of his lips, as if he had truly welcomed death at any moment.

    No. No no no... this could not be happening. Please, don’t tell him—

    Shen Nianzu’s hand began to tremble. Behind him came Jiang Shun’s roar, "What the hell are you waiting for?!"

    "My Lord!" The mummy minister was stricken upon seeing the deity’s blood. "Go!" He ordered the soldiers, almost hysterical. "Behead that impudent mortal who dares to harm our Lord’s divine body!!"

    The sounds of intense fighting broke out between the players and the mummy soldiers, and Shen Nianzu knew that if he were to dawdle here, then all of them would definitely die. They could not use their skill cards and props, and they were no match against the mummies.

    This was the only chance for them to complete the task.

    ’Move!’ Shen Nianzu urged himself desperately. ’Move your hand! It’s not like you have not done this before! Haven’t you promised yourself that you would get rid of him once he’s proven to be a threat?!’ Alas, his body seemed to be immobilized in place by an invisible force. His throat seized, his breathing ragged and his blood in his body ran cold. No matter how hard he kept telling himself to move, his body was locked in place.

    Yes, this certainly was not his first time killing someone, but the one before him was not just ’anyone’ – he was Jin Jiuchi, the one whom he had gone through countless thrilling moments with in the previous Cycle, the one who would cling and whine at him for attention like a puppy, the one who regarded him with nothing but unwavering sincerity and honesty. Who had just kissed his hand and professed that he would die only at his hands...

    How?! How was Shen Nianzu supposed to kill him?!

    Just as his grip on the weapon started to falter, he was taken aback when Jin Jiuchi’s warm hand enveloped his own, causing him to raise his head in shock. That fleeting second when their gazes locked, the whole world seemed to fade away, and all he could see was the smile in the depth of Jin Jiuchi’s silver eyes.

    "It’s okay, Nian’er." The man moved his other hand to cover Shen Nianzu’s eyes, and then—

    With a sudden and decisive pull, he forcefully directed Shen Nianzu’s hand to cut across his own neck. Warm blood splattered across Shen Nianzu’s face and echoing in his ears was the sickening crunch of broken bones.

    Shen Nianzu did not even know if a scream had really escaped his lips or if it was his mind alone that screeched in horror. All the strength drained from his body and the dagger slipped out of his trembling hand, a crystalline droplet of tear sliding down his cheek.

    Yet, Jin Jiuchi’s hand remained on his face, covering his eyes. Until at one point of time, something hard and solid fell onto his lap; the distant part of his brain registered it as the jackal headpiece.

    He had succeeded in acquiring the headpiece, but at what cost?

    [Congratulations to all players for completing the hidden task — ’Scene Reenactment!’ Reward: Anubis’ Golden Blood and Heaven’s Sorrow. You will now be transported back to the temple, and all restrictions on the props and skill cards will be lifted. Please give your best to complete the main task and obtain the return ticket!]

    Jin Jiuchi’s hand slipped from his face, but a split second before Shen Nianzu could open his eyes, an overwhelming vertigo struck his head and a sudden sense of weightlessness overcame him. Gasping, he felt himself being violently yanked back to solid ground, his legs wobbling as he struggled to find his balance.

    W–Where was he...?

    With a muffled groan, he raised his head to see the familiar temple hall in front of him — the exact scene he saw the moment Jin Jiuchi put the headpiece on himself.

    That’s right, Jin Jiuchi! H–How was he?!

    Breath caught in his throat, Shen Nianzu’s frantic gaze scanned the room until it settled on the coffin. There, a faint silhouette of a man could be discerned, lying motionless. Shen Nianzu’s body instantly froze, and beside him, Xinxin slowly rose to his feet and tore off the bandages around his face.

    He looked at the dim ray of sunlight streaming in through the high windows, tears pooling in his eyes. They had entered the separate realm in the middle of the night, and now it appeared to be approaching noon, although the sky remained overcast as if mourning the steep price they had to pay. Thunder rumbled in the far distance, foretelling the arrival of a storm.

    "I–I survived..." Xinxin whispered in anguish. "I completed the personal task from the Nightmare, but why—" he choked on his words and buried his face in his hands, unable to hold back his tears any longer. Why... Why did they have to sacrifice someone to achieve their goal?!

    Shen Nianzu could not even spare a thought to say anything to him. Numbly, he forced his trembling legs to move as he staggered toward the coffin.