Chapter 20
Shi Xu’s understanding of “strength” and “gentleness” came from his older brother. As far back as he could remember, his brother embodied both qualities.
But their father wasn’t satisfied. He disliked his eldest son’s gentleness, considering it a weakness, wanting him to discard it.
Their father was an extremist, demanding absolute obedience. If his brother wouldn’t willingly comply, he would force him.
His brother loved animals, adopting countless strays. He often took Shi Xu to visit them. Those were the happiest, most carefree days of Shi Xu’s 24 years.
One day, his brother changed, becoming withdrawn and quiet, no longer smiling as readily, no longer embracing Shi Xu or calling him by his pet name.
Shi Xu knew their father was responsible.
He wanted his brother back, hoping his brother’s beloved pets could awaken the person he once was.
He secretly visited his brother’s hidden sanctuary, only to find the animals gone.
Despite being meticulously cleaned, as if nothing had ever been there, Shi Xu found traces of blood on the fence.
He knew then that those adorable creatures were gone forever.
Half a month later, he finally saw his brother again, the familiar smile returning to his face.
“Being Father’s child is such a misfortune…”
His brother’s parting words.
They met again in the rift. His brother, consumed by a Variant, his form distorted, desperately pleaded with him to stay.
“Xiao Xu, I’m so lonely here. I’ve missed you so much. Don’t you miss me?”
“Stay with me. Don’t go back. Don’t go back to Father. Don’t become unhappy…”
“Xiao Xu, you promised me, we would always be together, no matter where. We wouldn’t abandon each other. Have you forgotten our promise?”
Having learned strength and gentleness from his brother, Shi Xu now learned despair and heartbreak.
Despite his carefully guarded emotions, Lin Zhi had glimpsed a part of him.
That glimpse was enough for Lin Zhi to understand his true desires.
Since the age of 17, Shi Xu had foreseen his own fate—
If he continued to obey his father, he too would be consumed by a Variant, just like his brother.
He seemed to be waiting for that day.
That way, he could be with his beloved brother forever.
…
The black threads tightly bound Shi Xu, forming a cocoon. The worm continued to spin, the cocoon growing larger, until it was half the size of the worm itself. Finally, it stopped.
It slowly crawled to the cocoon, its massive body wriggling, encircling the cocoon protectively, murmuring contentedly, “You’re finally mine.”
Its long-held desire finally fulfilled.
In half an hour, a new Shi Xu would emerge, transformed into a monster like itself.
They were meant to be together.
…
The mannequin sprinted through the streets, a blur of motion. Pedestrians only felt a sudden gust of wind.
Despite lacking nostrils, it could smell Shi Xu, the new stench of another pollutant on him intensifying its anxiety.
How could Wife have another pollutant’s scent on him?!
It ran faster, its legs almost breaking by the time it reached the black worm. Seeing the situation, it disregarded its promise to the shopkeeper, leaping onto the worm’s head.
The worm, lost in its newfound happiness, didn’t notice until the mannequin’s left hand pierced its head, splitting it in two.
The force, greater than even Shi Xu’s, stunned the worm, leaving it no time to react as its body was torn apart.
It tried to regenerate, but the attack was too swift.
An unprecedented pressure overwhelmed it as its head was split again, its eyes popping out, rolling onto the debris, watching helplessly as its body was repeatedly torn apart by the monstrous mannequin.
Lin Zhi, having willingly become a host to an S-class pollutant, had spent half a month transforming into a Variant. This particular pollutant was unique, masking his Variant aura, allowing him to live as a normal human.
He thought he had gained immense power, but this creature before him was an even more powerful SSS-class pollutant.
SSS-class pollutants were rare. Lin Zhi knew of only one, the one sealed by Shi Xu.
Was this a new one, or the same one?
Why was it here?
Was it here to save Shi Xu?
Why was Shi Xu involved with a pollutant?
Shi Xu found him disgusting. Was a pollutant-tainted Shi Xu not disgusting?
Countless questions remained unanswered as his body was shattered into coin-sized pieces, then into dust, disappearing completely.
His life flashed before his eyes. Lin Zhi fought against death with all his might.
He wasn’t afraid of dying, only of never seeing Shi Xu again, of Shi Xu finding happiness with someone else.
Shi Xu was ready to die, so he would take him along, in the way Shi Xu desired.
“He’s mine! Mine!!!”
The worm, with its remaining strength, reformed its head, its gaping maw attempting to swallow the cocoon, but the mannequin’s hands pierced its head again before it could reach it.
It exploded, unable to regenerate.
Sunlight streamed down, illuminating the mannequin, covered in black slime. Its face was expressionless, but its golden eyes were brighter than the sun.
“He’s not yours,” it declared, its possessive tone unmistakable.
Since his brother’s death, Shi Xu dreamt of him often. After discovering the truth at 17, his brother’s gentle image in his dreams was gone.
After seven years, the nightmare finally ended, replaced by a pleasant dream.
He was five years old again, his brother holding his hand, taking him to their secret sanctuary, spending a happy afternoon together.
Embraced by his brother, a warm hand gently stroking his head, a gentle voice echoing from above, “Father has agreed. After this mission, he’ll let me go. Xiao Xu, will you come with me? We’ll live together. I’ll protect you. I won’t abandon you, no matter where we go.”
Five-year-old Shi Xu hugged his brother tightly, his childish voice filled with innocent hope. “Yes, I won’t abandon you either, brother. I want to be with you forever.”
Seventeen-year-old Shi Xu killed his Variant brother, breaking their promise.
…
Tears slipped from the corners of Shi Xu’s eyes, gently licked away.
He slowly opened his eyes, met by a pair of dazzling golden eyes, shining even brighter upon meeting his gaze.
“Wife, you’re finally awake. Are you alright?”
Before Shi Xu could react, the owner of the golden eyes continued, “Why are you crying? I’ve killed the one who bullied you. Don’t cry.”
The tears didn’t stop, flowing freely now that his eyes were open.
The pollutant, anxious, kissed his eyes again, its tongue lapping away the tears, gently licking the skin around his eyes.
Warm fingers caught the tears on the other side, gently wiping them away.
Shi Xu felt a flicker of awareness amidst the confusion.
Hands?
