Chapter 296 No matter where you are, I will follow you
8 month 4 day.

Night.

"Bear with me."

Su Ming poured some medicine powder on Sertis' wrist. That place had been deformed before.

But her self-healing ability is also good, and her left hand can move again after a day.

"..."

Su Ming was busy getting clean gauze to change it, while Sertis sat by the bed and stared at him.

"Seven years ago, too, Brother Su Ming would find me."

She spoke.

"Telepathy works like this."

Su Ming smiled.

Telepathy = foresight, reloading = foresight. So, reloading is equivalent to telepathy. It's just that you will feel a little suffocated because the target is dead.

"..."

After changing the gauze, Su Ming took a slightly wet towel to wipe her face.

The hands of Sertis are very slender, and even her arms can be grasped with one hand. In stark contrast, the baby canteens spread out beside her arms. Without the restraint of underwear, the canteens cannot be squeezed together with just a single piece of clothing.

What flashed through my mind was... blood.

The trachea in the throat, or perhaps some artery, was torn, like a broken wire.

The left hand is completely deformed.

I don't know how many times I've been stabbed in the stomach.

It was not as smooth and soft as it is now. But even if it was done to that extent, the Abyss was still fine. It didn't want Thertis to die, so Thertis couldn't die.

"..."

The wiped carcass began to tremble at a certain moment.

It's becoming more and more obvious.

Something cold fell on the back of Su Ming's hand. It slid down his hand to the thigh of Sertis. She was only wearing a plain shirt with a half-open neckline and shorts. After all, everything else was stained with blood and burned.

Maybe she broke down?
In fact, I could have predicted that even if I didn't say it, the Abyss would remain tight-lipped and keep playing house with me, right?

Will not.

It said it very clearly that when it thinks it can defeat itself, it will do it without hesitation.

These days I'm looking everywhere for possibilities.

I thought, couldn't I have helped Sertis get better through kindness before?
But the Abyss is not like that. It doesn't care about good intentions or bad intentions, or being picky about food... It doesn't have any motives, it just wants food.

It's like, which is a more serious problem, cannibalism or littering?

For it, eating humans is an instinct, a necessary instinct. In its view, not eating humans is a problem.

"lark."

No need.

Even if I thought I would become stronger in the future and be able to defeat the 'Abyss' at any time, it was not realistic. The time was not flowing right. One day back home was almost eight years here. Then the next time we met, Yun Que would no longer be Yun Que.

It is already difficult to solve now.

Yesterday, I spent a lot of effort. I read the files many times and thoroughly figured out how to use higher-level immunity with other bonuses, and finally...

"If it really gets completely out of control, I will take action then."

"Ah."

"Compared to hitting someone with a rock or cutting yourself with a knife in a place like that... I can make you lose consciousness without much pain."

Going out to look for things related to the 'Abyss' not only yielded no results. Instead, it attracted more and more people to notice it. Curiosity, greed, hatred... all of these only made her stronger. The more she looked, the harder it was to solve it. So far, it has never stopped at all. It just occasionally went out to hurt someone impromptu, and then quietly watched her perform.

8 month 4 day.

late at night.

Even if Thertis drops the little pearl, it won't help. It will still come out.

"Brother Su Ming is so annoying~"

"My wrist still hurts."

"You are so gentle to Little Skylark, but to me..."

Isn't that a panacea? It was also able to heal the stain on Thertis's cheek.

"It's really amazing. I used all my strength... but in a flash, I was beaten by Brother Su Ming."

"..."

"It's that stinky stuff again. Yuck."

They're not the same thing at all.

"It just so happens that my body was messed up by Xiao Yunque, and I can't resist Brother Su Ming when I face him~ It's even more annoying."

Even though the body is the same.

It is not affected at all and there will be no abnormality.

"Will they really kill people? I'm so scared."

Really.

Already done it...once.

8 month 5 day.

early.

Thetis sat in the corner, hugging her small white knees, with her skirt curled up.

You've been seen, right? Your expression is so gloomy.

After all, I was thinking last night if I could cure it? Maybe it would work?

As a result, he was naturally injured. Now, its ability to pollute could even instantly expose the bones of Su Ming's wrist.

"...Brother Su Ming."

When I handed her the bun, she just took it unconsciously and didn't eat it.

"Can you tell me about Brother Su Ming's wife?"

"which one?"

"..."

"I haven't told you yet. In addition to the one you've met, I have four more. Want to hear An Shiyao's? That's the one you've met."

"……Um."

Being asked so suddenly, Su Ming didn't know where to start for a moment.

8 month 5 day.

noon.

Su Ming didn't go out again and stayed in the hotel.

I sat in the corner for too long and my waist felt a little uncomfortable, so I stood up and moved my joints.

"Yao sometimes tries to be smart and tells some bad jokes."

"… a cold joke?"

"You can understand it as a conversation that you find funny but others find silly. Last time, someone said they found an ancient relic under my bed. Paper from the State of Lu."

"..."

Sertis didn't understand the plot at all. She just stared at Su Ming.

"You don't understand this, right? Then let me change it and you can feel it."

"For example, suddenly saying that he made 300 million yuan."

"She...can earn it."

"No, it's about a loss of memory, a memory, and loving you with caution."

"Brother Su Ming, you're not annoying at all?"

"After all, in this world, there aren't many opportunities to meet someone who is willing to make you feel more relaxed with all his heart."

"I have a bad joke, too."

"?"

Seeing Sertis raise her face.

"Parich, puff puff...Ola."

"What?"

“Some very funny things in the books I’ve read.”

Does this mean that I understand what a bad joke is, or that I don't understand it at all? But it is indeed quite bad.

"We have an appointment..."

"Ok?"

"When there is no way to save Skylark, then take action."

"..."

"I hope that when Brother Su Ming thinks of Yun Que..."

She stretched out her foot slightly. It was just a bare foot, without any extra decoration.

"It's good that you can remember the bow."

"..."

Su Ming couldn't say anything more. It's okay. There will be a way.

8 month 6 day.

noon.

Suddenly, Sertis seemed like a different person.

They just found a restaurant with few people and ate in a private room. But she stretched her legs out from under the table.

"In the books I've read, there are lovers who like to do this outside."

"I think that Brother Ming likes feet... maybe he will like them too."

"..."

rumor.

Has the rumor of foot fetish in Snow Country spread to here?

8 month 6 day.

in the afternoon.

"They were all holding hands normally, not clinging like me."

He no longer used the baby cafeteria to oppress Su Ming's conscience, but just held hands normally.

"They... kissed secretly in the corner."

"..."

It seemed that Sertis had no such scruples and pressed her soft lips against the man's on the busy street.

"Actually, I know that, although she's not as pretty as Brother Ming's wife whom I met before. But she's still...pretty, right?"

"The book says that men should properly assert their sovereignty over women. I think women are the same. They have seen me kissing them recklessly, and since they can't beat me, they will no longer be interested in Brother Su Ming."

"..."

He seemed to have forgotten what happened the day before yesterday, and what he said yesterday about killing her if she couldn't be saved.

"I have stayed in the Dead City for a very long time, but that doesn't mean I know nothing."

"I've touched... kissed."

"You've seen everything. And you still want me to have a baby. If Brother Ming doesn't marry me, he'll be a scumbag who plays with people's feelings as described in the book."

"..."

"So, you will marry me?"

Do you want to marry someone else?
"Hehe... I was once a young lady, and they said that only a nobleman could marry me, or a wealthy merchant could marry me with a sedan chair carried by eight men and at least five boxes of gold coins. They also said that it was impossible to marry me just by love. Which one is Brother Ming?"

"I'm sorry, I'm the third party. Even just love."

Su Ming spread his hands.

"...If this is all, would Brother Ming be seduced by me so easily?"

Where was she touching in public?

8 month 7 day.

Custom made wedding dress.

The wedding dresses here are different from those in Snow Country or other places Su Ming has seen. Very gorgeous dresses... a bit like what Mu Xueer wore to attend the royal banquet. There are shiny ornaments everywhere.

The material world.

"Your wife is so beautiful."

The female clerk probably said this not just because she wanted Su Ming to pay. Sertis is indeed very beautiful now.

"..."

"I don't want black lace. I want white."

"?"

"Ming likes it, white. The one with a bow is even better."

It would have been better if she hadn't interrupted.

Actually, there is nothing unclear.

This is her bucket list.

8 month 8 day.

early.

The beautiful wedding dress was damaged. Although Su Ming intended to keep the dress as unaffected as possible.

But to subdue the Abyss Witch who is getting stronger and stronger, and who cannot be defeated without enchanting weapons, it is really unavoidable to have a few cuts on the clothes...

"The book says that women must learn needlework."

Sertis didn't care at all. She just smiled and picked up the very light pure white dress to check the damaged part.

"Brother Ming, can you teach me how to sew? I may not be able to learn it, just like cooking, but I want to try."

"If brother Ming tears his socks again in the future, I can mend them."

"..."

After going out to buy needle and thread, Su Ming sat on a chair and watched Sertis sew the dress under the light.

She had no sewing skills at all, so it was impossible for her to restore the dress, which required extremely high craftsmanship, to its original state. The thread was crooked and even had a hole.

"If you can sew clothes, 1 point; if you can cook, 1 point; if you can always have something new to offer, 2 points..."

"Out of 10, I'd probably get 0."

The scores are all fake.

Marketing books everywhere are all the same, they just capture people’s psychology and make a lot of sense...but in reality they are nothing.

"Yes, the book also says... If a man is an official, 2 points, if he is rich, 2 points, he can make women happy, 3 points..."

"All told, Brother Ming only has 3 points at most."

"But I think it's a perfect score. Well, one point more than a perfect score."

She didn't feel sad about the damaged dress, nor did she cry because of the new light-colored scars on Su Ming's hands. She just put down the clothes and took the healing medicine that Su Ming had used before to apply to him.

"what."

"I almost forgot, the book says..."

He lowered his head and licked Su Ming's almost unnoticeable wound.

"This is more effective than taking medicine. Brother Ming, do you think it's true or false?"

8 month 10 day.

Night.

A few red candles flickered and illuminated the cramped room.

The wedding ended simply with a scribbled vow.

"It's the same no matter where you are, whether it's a grand manor or a dead city where there wasn't even a blade of grass."

"The important thing is... what Brother Ming said just now. All of a sudden I feel like I can do anything for Brother Ming, but I don't know what to do..."

"..."

"The book says that after marriage... there will be a next step. Do you want to come?"

"The 272nd or 271st time? I can't quite remember. Sometimes I can't tell whether my brother has finished or not... It's completely different from what the book says."

8 month 12 day.

early.

Just a normal day.

A day to continue fulfilling her last wish.

She picked up the ball of yarn and continued knitting. Then it would prick her hand... She should have put it in her mouth and sucked it gently. But she ended up holding Su Ming's index finger.

Then, they will say...it’s salty.

"Brother Su Ming, are you finally tired of it?"

If someone were to be in love with someone normally, this cold reaction would make them feel lonely.

But Sertis smiled softly.

"Well……"

Sertis touched her belly and said, "I don't know what pregnancy is like until the end."

"..."

"Brother Su Ming."

"You're like the one who didn't care at all when Hibari stepped on you at the beginning."

"Paper from Lu. I can probably guess what it means."

"Didn't Brother Su Ming do that?"

"But secretly using Yun Que's clothes as paper... that's too much."

All this is enough for Su Ming, who has locked on this day and has come here many times.

"Am I that good?"

"It will keep Brother Su Ming entertained."

Su Ming's face was buried in the gap between the baby's canteen. There was an indescribable fragrance lingering.

"That's why... Yun Que will pretend not to see it. He just wants to stay with you for a little while longer, even for one more minute."

"I am satisfied."

"The current Yun Que is no longer a monster waiting to die in the Dead City. She is just a woman. A poor young lady who married Brother Su Ming."

"Brother Su Ming must have made a lot of efforts, right? He tried his best... to keep Yun Que."

"..."

"No more."

"Brother Su Ming, you have given me so many... very satisfying memories."

"..."

Su Ming has tried it all.

The game has a fun skill similar to body swapping, but here, you can't use it in the game at all.

I have also tried to subdue it, no matter if I had to kowtow or use all the ways I could think of to make her surrender. Or, I could find anyone or anything that might be related to the abyss and could give me a clue.

It's all in vain...

Just like before, I took the initiative to hold up the loli's feet and offered to lick them to see if I could help. I tried everything I could. The only way was to kill her.

The palms of his hands might already be stained with Sertis's blood.

"According to the custom of my family, when you get married you have to change your name..."

"Brother Su Ming, do you think it's better to add Yun Que's name to her surname or her given name?"

"..."

Sirtis was talking about how she would never wake up again if she fell asleep tonight, but she didn't shed a single tear.

8 month 10 day.

late at night.

"Oh, Brother Su Ming has become so delicious too... Do you hate me so much? Hehe."

"Little Skylark is the same, he wishes I could be skinned and have my tendons pulled out~ so that my belly is full."

"..."

With black air wrapped around her body, Setis stared at Su Ming with a smile.

Next... I can only use all my strength to kill it and then go back.

Because this mission didn't care about the life or death of the target, Su Ming could only reload the save file before the mission ended the next day.

“This is actually not bad.”

"I didn't expect Brother Su Ming to be so desperate and resentful of me... I will be tortured by Brother Su Ming tomorrow."

"Might as well leave it like this."

It flexed its fingers, "Give Brother Su Ming and Little Skylark a chance to meet once a week. How about just being their nutrients forever? No matter how strong I become, I won't kill Brother Su Ming. To take care of Brother Su Ming's feelings... I can only accept stinky things. After all, when Brother Su Ming is like that with me... he gets really angry."

8 month 13 day.

Night.

"It shouldn't be like this."

"I've given up on waking up again... There's no way it will give itself to me."

"Brother Su Ming, what kind of deal did you make with it?"

"..."

Facing the reappearing Sertis, Su Ming said nothing.

Is there a problem?

It doesn't matter how big the boss is in this place. He is not a good person. As long as he doesn't see it, he won't care about anyone's life or death. Anyway, more people will die if they don't come here.

As long as she gave up like this and knew how to get here, Sertis would not become the big boss of the Snow Country, and she could live normally.

"It just wants to feed on Brother Su Ming's negative emotions."

"How can you become kind?"

"One day, when it gets boring..."

Yes.

One day, I won't have to wait for it to get tired of me. I might get tired of it first. And by then, will I have enough power to kill the abyss that has become so powerful?
8 month 20 day.

It was Sertis' turn to come out again.

“It didn’t kill anyone.”

"Beat the person to a pulp, leaving him with a breath. Deliberately let more and more people come here, so that everywhere is filled with... the malice it likes."

"..."

Ok.

Even these things have Su Ming's help. What he said was a week, in his mouth, could be turned into "Do this for me right away" or "Maybe I want to take a nap, so let the little skylark come out for a long time."

"I hate Brother Su Ming now."

Hate it?
The eyes were very gray, and the expression was very cold indeed.

8 month 21 day.

early morning.

"It's over~ Little Skylark suddenly has no intention of resisting at all."

"Even if someone kindly gave her a chance to meet Brother Su Ming, she wouldn't want it. How strange."

"..."

Its black air was stronger than before, and it filled the entire hotel. The town was also covered with a layer of hazy black fog. Just standing in front of it, Su Ming's body was already torn apart.

"Unfortunately."

"Little Skylark, from now on, as long as I don't want her to wake up, she will never wake up again."

"It's the same as being dead. Ah, I gave Brother Su Ming a chance...but he forced Little Skylark to death. How pitiful."

"..."

Su Ming said nothing, but summoned the Blade of Philosophy.

Enchantment.

Can add stronger immunity to weapons. After mixing, it emits a slightly darker blue fluorescence.

"What a scary knife... Why is it glowing?"

"Brother Su Ming, are you going to use this scary thing to kill me? If you kill me, Little Skylark will never wake up again? If I stay with him, maybe there's still a chance to save Little Skylark."

"..."

Enough is enough.

This way, it will not bring any reward or happiness to anyone. It does not care what the skylark wants, but just tortures it in any way it can.

"Yeah, Brother Su Ming is still very strong... But I've been eating a lot recently. I'm still very strong."

After a long enough period of time, the contaminated light of the enchanted Philosopher's Blade will become dimmer and dimmer.

"Pfft-"

Unconsciously, Su Ming had a cut on his ribs, and his internal organs could be seen.

No matter how many times the Abyss Witch has gone through it, she still doesn't learn her lesson, thinking that the Black Mist can resist the enhanced immunity. But then again, no one except herself will know that the save has been loaded.

Just like that, he traded his injury for his life...

"and many more!"

"Brother Su Ming, is she really going to die?"

"I was just lying. Little Skylark is still alive. Look. I can feel the pain of Little Skylark. How could it be dead?"

Seeing Su Ming stabbed its shoulder without hesitation, its expression changed.

"..."

"What the hell are you?! Why are you still alive even with your intestines pulled out?!"

"Why?! I ate so much, but it didn't help you at all?! Was I just pretending?!"

Guessed it.

But there is no reward.

"Pfft..."

Blood splattered all over Su Ming's face again. He should feel relieved after completing the mission. But now...

"If you cut it down again before it recovers, Little Skylark will really die... Brother Su Ming doesn't like Little Skylark anymore?"

"..."

The only response to Abyss's terrified expression was Su Ming's slashing action.

Yes.

Conventional methods would not kill it. You had to grit your teeth and use the Philosopher's Blade, which was enchanted and immune, to finish it off until it could no longer move.

I'm already very skilled at it. I've done it seven times... or was it eight times?

"Monster...Gu, you are the monster!"

8 month 21 day.

morning.

The air in the town was still filled with an inexplicable sense of sullenness. The successive cases of disability and the war frictions provoked... Few people had a relaxed expression on their faces.

"It's him……"

"Go quickly. Don't get spotted."

"..."

Because I helped the Abyss Witch do some things that hurt others for no reason, although I initially wanted to pick on people who were not so clean, but how could there be so many dirty people in a small town? There are not many people in total.

Su Ming doesn't care about these.

Just walking down the street.

"Hey!"

Someone in a guard uniform came over, probably because he received a report... A criminal like me actually came out without any disguise.

People from the Explorers Guild also came.

With someone's support, those who were initially afraid to look Su Ming in the face also came.

"it's him!"

"Our family depends on my husband..."

"..."

People gathered around and pointed.

"Don't move your hands!"

Seeing Su Ming reaching into his pocket, the guard immediately drew his sword. The people from the Explorers Guild also frowned.

"Clap."

But Su Ming just took out all the money from his pocket and put it on the ground.

"Sorry...please take these."

"I'm staying in the hotel in front, room 202, and there's some money in the drawer."

"I'm sorry...please forgive me."

Didn't care at all. No apology to them either.

Although my hands are washed and my clothes are changed.

"What's wrong with this person..."

"Covered in blood, holding... women's clothes?"

"..."

It doesn't matter anymore.

It will be over. I can arrest myself, it doesn't matter where I go. I will get back. It's done.

weather is good.

The warm sunshine feels warm on my face, but I just can't feel happy.

Just like that, I went back and told An Shiyao and the others that I had completely cheated on him and that I had not been able to bring him back. Born like that, I am not even worthy of being an animal. What is the point of reloading the game? Did you get the result?
In this world, Su Ming had nowhere to go. He just had to stay where he was and wait until he was taken to a cell.

8 month 21 day.

Night.

It was very strange. There was no prompt to complete the task. Su Ming huddled in the dark corner of the cell.

Solitary cell.

Is it possible that even if the Witch of the Abyss is drained of her soul, she still won't die?
Have to do it... again?
"vomit."

I haven't felt like vomiting for a long time.

8 month 21 day.

late at night.

It was really strange. Su Ming cut the chain on the cell door.

"W-what are you going to do?!"

The guard was attracted by the noise and saw the translucent weapon in Su Ming's hand. He was so scared that he stuttered when speaking.

"..."

Su Ming ignored him and walked out in a swagger.

Even if there were brave guards or someone came to stop them, they would just be swept away lightly.

"..."

The town outside the prison, perhaps with his capture, had regained some life. Even at this late hour, someone was repairing the house he had burned down.

Thetis's body is at the hotel.

If it's not dead, it won't go far.

8 month 22 day.

early morning.

The hotel. The blood was still there, and the room still had traces of the fight. They had forgotten everything, and after it was over, they tied up the owner and a few other guests, and hung a sign saying they were temporarily closed.

"..."

But Thetis's body was gone. Only a pool of blood.

The notebook was open on the low table where she and Sertis had dinner. The old notebook was a gift from Su Ming. Half of the pages were stained with blood.

【Su】

【bright】

There were only these two extremely sloppy words on the two spread out papers. The handwriting of Sertis should be pretty good, but this one seemed to be written with some kind of restraint.

He reluctantly turned the pages that were stuck with blood.

【elder brother】

【…】

I won.

What does it mean to win?
"..."

Su Ming ran out almost uncontrollably.

That's Sertis.

Not a monster.

If there is still a possibility... we must try again. Who would be willing to kill the lover they have been with day and night? Who would feel happy to get some reward after doing such a thing?
Go to hell.

I shouldn't have given up. Even if I didn't regain consciousness, I should have continued. How could I be born like this? What should I bring back to face An Shiyao and the others?

【mission completed】

[Returning to reality...scores will be settled later]

Where did Sertis go after regaining consciousness? The blood on the page had long dried. Maybe she left in the morning. Everything around me was still.

If there was hope, Thetis shouldn't want to leave here, let alone die.

She also wanted to live. She said that she would follow me wherever I went. If the body could be exchanged, it meant that the consciousness could exist independently... I don't know. Su Ming stopped thinking. There was no way to think anymore, the mission had been completed.

8 month 21 day.

A wood some distance from the town.

"..."

I've been watching.

This is what it does on purpose. The more pain and hatred I feel... the stronger it becomes.

【Why? 】

[You are also a monster... How is it possible that you eat more than me... Monster! ]

But it didn't expect that Brother Su Ming would not care about his injuries and almost won by exchanging his life for another's.

Taking pleasure in Brother Su Ming's pain.

Taking pleasure in his own pain. When he witnessed with his own eyes... the expression on his face as the knife stabbed into the gap between this body and Su Ming's brother's intestines.

If this body is shared, then I am also a monster.

Why can't I be the master?
Fight for?

No, just go to the weak monster and defeat the weak monster that wants to absorb nutrients from you. Pollution can be controlled, so you can pollute yourself. Self-harm is useless, the body will recover.

Then, what about using the pollution ability of this body? If it can use it, so can I. At least after it lost to Brother Su Ming, I can.

Monsters too.

Ordinary women are fine too.

It's fine as long as Brother Su Ming doesn't have to take it again.

So, why aren't you dead yet?

As the body became more and more polluted, the monster inside me completely stopped moving. But I am still alive. Maybe I can only live a little longer?
[You don't want to see him again? Don't you like him very much?! ]

【stop! 】

[You... and him, are both monsters! ]

Isn't it more painful?
I saw Brother Su Ming remained silent after I called him "hateful".

Looking at this body, I said "Skylark" but there was no way, so I handed over the knife.

How do you think I feel?

Than hatred?
Yes, there is an endless supply. You can't finish it, right? Can I have some too?
I won.

This body is already garbage, no one wants it. Don't even think about repairing it, I have control over it too.

Close your eyes.

That's good. No one can use this body to make Brother Su Ming sad again. Let's die together.

But I waited a long time, until the other voice in my head completely disappeared. I was still alive.

Although his body had been corroded and turned into ashes, his consciousness was still there.

Just follow the smell, the familiar smell... follow.

My consciousness is so blurred that I can only remember part of it.

For example, no matter what I become, I want to follow you. No matter how ugly I am, I will not be hated.

For another example, I am married, and my husband is better than any character I have ever read in a book.

'That's strange.'

'The computer screen is on for no apparent reason again... the energy saving mode is on.'

'Female ghost? If she comes to my house, she can't leave.'

When I could see again, it was bright. He would frown...as if he didn't like the fact that I became brighter when I moved to the bed.

I feel like I've forgotten a lot of things.

'Pah, pah.'

But I really like him to press the carrier I deposited, keep ringing, and keep looking at my shiny part. But, he can't look at me all day.

Don't want to be disliked.

So, just take a peek once in a while. There is no malice here, and it is filled with things that make me feel warm.

I found it.

Why did you come here? I feel like if I stay here, I will slowly remember everything. It will make me feel at ease.

(End of this chapter)