Chapter 17: Death Acrobatic Troupe 17

Punish…?

The Acrobatic Troupe Leader momentarily misinterpreted the man’s meaning. It chuckled dryly, a meaningful sound, its furrowed brows relaxing.

It seemed this little Player wasn’t entirely useless after all. At least he had a very good-looking face, which matched this Noble Guest’s taste.

It hoped the Guest would severely “punish” this frail youth, to soothe its own displeasure.

The Acrobatic Troupe Leader withdrew, disappearing into the long, deep Hallway.

Only Jian Bumian and the Malicious Ghost were left, confronting each other.

Hearing the Malicious Ghost’s words about wanting to punish him, Jian Bumian felt a strange sense of absurdity inside.

The Ghost, who had always existed in his eyes as food, actually wanted to turn the tables on him?

How should he punish him? Slap his palms? Or take his clothes away so he’d catch a cold?

Jian Bumian stood obediently in place. The black, fragmented bangs on his forehead drooped down. His flesh-pink lips were pressed tightly together. The rims of his ears held a faint, thin red, as if someone had nibbled on them.

Looking at him now, one would think he was just a well-behaved, innocent, pretty youth, waiting to be ordered around.

But no one knew that inside, he was desperately fighting the urge to devour the Malicious Ghost.

He was fighting so hard he couldn’t help but clench his fists.

The Silver-haired Man sat on the sofa, casting his gaze toward Jian Bumian. “Come here.”

His tone held no emotion, nor did he specify exactly how he intended to punish Jian Bumian.

This was undoubtedly the calm before the storm.

But in the eyes of the Viewers, Jian Bumian was already as good as dead.

…Jian Bumian had dared to fabricate the “Noble Guest’s” Letter and create an Attendant identity, landing himself right in it.

If this was to complete the Conquest Mission, it was probably the stupidest, most dangerous method.

The Malicious Ghost narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing the youth. “Tell me, why did you deceive me?”

Huh?

Jian Bumian blinked, lowering his voice. “I’ve been paying attention to you for a long time. I… just wanted to get close to you, to be a little closer.”

So he could devour the other party faster.

Then he could fill his stomach and become stronger.

Jian Bumian had been an NPC in the Infinite World for a long time. Even though he had become a Living person, his inherent nature—his love for devouring and becoming powerful—was hard to change.

Unfortunately, Jian Bumian didn’t voice his true thoughts. The Silver-haired Man was completely deceived by his surface appearance.

The Silver-haired Man raised an eyebrow with interest. “Oh? Then what’s so special about you that would make me not kill you? After all, no matter what, you’ve committed the mistake of deception.”

His pale, slender fingers tapped lightly on the leather armrest of the sofa, creating a rhythmic, muffled beat, like a prelude to Death.

Jian Bumian really didn’t know what was special about himself.

Probably… he could eat and sleep well, all four limbs were intact, and he knew to run indoors when it rained?

But he was certain this answer wouldn’t satisfy this temperamental piece of food.

He thought for a moment, blinked, and said obediently, “I am particularly good at acrobatic performances.”

His identity in this Instance was inherently an Acrobat. Saying this was perfectly natural.

The Silver-haired Man chuckled lowly. His laugh was deep and husky.

“Perfect timing… I suddenly feel like completing an acrobatic performance with someone.”

He stood up. His long silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, draping casually behind him. Black leather shoes stepped silently on the carpet.

He walked up to Jian Bumian, casting a tall, deep shadow.

Although this Malicious Ghost wore a pure white suit, the complete opposite of Jian Bumian’s black, the aura he exuded from head to toe was completely unrelated to holiness or pure white. It was the madness and playfulness of a ruthless Evil Ghost.

The man looked down at Jian Bumian, who was a head shorter than him. He raised an eyebrow, narrowed his eyes, and his thin lips parted slightly. “Shh, don’t move.”

Ah, he had discovered a remarkable secret on Jian Bumian.

Jian Bumian’s body suddenly stiffened.

The man was extremely close to him. Strands of silver hair hung down from above, tickling the sensitive skin of Jian Bumian’s neck. Even a few strands of playful hair slipped into the space covered by the high collar of Jian Bumian’s formal wear.

The scent of red wine grew stronger.

Jian Bumian suddenly felt one of the other’s hands reaching toward the side of his thigh.

His thigh was tightly bound by the strap of a Shirt Garter. The taut fabric of his suit pants clearly showed the contour of the strap beneath.

The man’s ice-cold fingertips inadvertently brushed over this contour.

Like a beast baring its fangs, testingly rubbing against the carotid artery of its prey.

Finally, the man abruptly withdrew his hand. A silver-white Butterfly Knife appeared between his long, pale fingers.

…It was the Item Jian Bumian had obtained during the Tightrope Walking act.

Jian Bumian always carried this knife on him.

This time, because the design of his Tailcoat pocket wasn’t convenient for holding the knife, Jian Bumian had simply secured it at the side of his thigh, ready to be drawn at any time.

He hadn’t expected it to be discovered by the other.

The dangerous, exquisite silver Butterfly Knife flipped and twirled rapidly between the man’s two fingers. Only a blurry silver afterimage could be seen, as if he were merely playing with a toy.

Finally, the Butterfly Knife stopped between his fingers. He gripped the handle. The icy blade lightly tapped Jian Bumian’s cheek. He asked, knowing the answer: “As my Attendant, how could you carry such a dangerous Item? Could it be you were planning to do bad things to me? Hm? Little wildcat.”

The man suddenly chuckled lowly, thinking of a very fun game.

“How about we use this knife… on you instead?”

Jian Bumian raised his head. A flicker of confusion crossed his expression. The bad feeling inside him churned more intensely.

The man took a step back and snapped his fingers crisply.

The floor near the glass wall rumbled, and from below rose a person-sized prop, suddenly and without warning.

This prop was like a vertical bed, enough for a person to stand and lean on.

What was most chilling were the many black straps attached to the prop for binding, hanging down limply with gravity.

It could bind a person to it, preventing escape even while enduring extreme pain.

Simultaneously.

The one-way glass wall, through which the outside couldn’t previously be seen from inside, silently transformed into two-way glass.

Everything in this Instance seemed able to change at this Malicious Ghost’s whim.

The Players in the Circus Hall could now clearly see into the VIP Room through the glass wall.

Luxurious, magnificent, a style completely incongruous with the Circus Hall.

Jian Bumian stood within. Dressed in an exquisite formal suit, his skin snow-white, his entire style blended perfectly with the VIP Room, like a beautiful Doll placed in a noble’s bedroom.

The Players saw him from afar and instantly recognized it was Jian Bumian.

Jian Bumian… how did he appear there?

Could the Roaming-Class Boss be planning to kill Jian Bumian publicly?

It was over.

Jian Bumian didn’t react. He looked at the prop that had suddenly appeared and frowned. “What is this?”

The Silver-haired Man stood behind him. The Butterfly Knife spun rapidly in his slender, pale fingers, finally pausing at a suitable angle, just enough to press against Jian Bumian’s slender, soft waist.

“This is a prop for the Two-Person Blindfold Knife Throwing.”

Two-Person Blindfold Knife Throwing.

One of the most classic acts in acrobatic History.

One person acts as the target, limbs bound, secured to a wall or a raised board, unable to move or dodge.

The other person, blindfolded, holds knives and throws them at the target—

Simultaneously, this was also the act with the highest mortality rate. Jian Bumian thought this acrobatic act was quite interesting.

He didn’t mind playing along with his food for a bit, treating it as a pre-dinner appetizer.

The Silver-haired Man thought Jian Bumian would become afraid upon hearing about this acrobatic act. But he didn’t see the expression he wanted, which only made him find it more interesting.

The man curled his lip, using the tip of the knife to lightly gesture toward the prop used for binding the target. “Tie yourself up.”

Jian Bumian walked over to the prop.

The straps on the prop were perfectly positioned to bind the target’s limbs, forcing them into a spread-eagle “big” shape, completely at someone’s mercy.

Jian Bumian’s movements were a bit slow, not very practiced. He carefully pulled down the straps and fastened them around his waist.

Then his ankles, calves, waist and abdomen, chest.

Finally, his neck.

The cold black strap wound around the youth’s fair, slender neck, covering the faintly visible greenish veins and the small, rounded Adam’s apple.

Slender fingertips pressed the strap buckle, completely sealing the strap against his body.

Jian Bumian was entirely bound to the board. He lifted his head, the only part he could still move, and said calmly to the Silver-haired Man, “It’s done.”

If this wasn’t a life-or-death Infinite Instance, the image of a handsome man and a youth who had willingly tied himself up would evoke thoughts of certain inappropriate, rare hobbies.

What a pity.

The Malicious Ghost stood before Jian Bumian, using the side of the blade to pat his cheek.

“Very good.”

His gaze moved to the table.

Besides a half-finished glass of red wine, there was also a pristine, expensive dining set.

The set contained two dinner knives.

Including Jian Bumian’s Item, the Butterfly Knife, the Malicious Ghost had three knives in hand.

The Malicious Ghost continued:

“If I blindfold myself and throw the knives three times without hitting your body, I will let you go.”

“…………”

“…………”

“……”

The Viewers in the Livestream Room fell into a moment of silence.

This was a Roaming-Class Boss, unaffected by the Instance or its physical constraints. …Even blindfolded, deprived of sight, he could surely still kill a person using any means.

It was likely he just wanted to toy with Jian Bumian, give him a sliver of hope, and then kill him brutally.

Very fitting for the behavior of NPCs in the Infinite World.

…Jian Bumian was certainly doomed.

The Silver-haired Man stared at Jian Bumian for a moment, then used the dangerous tip of the knife to lift his pointed chin, forcing him to meet his own eyes.

“Your eyes are very beautiful. They’re very suitable for crying.”

Jian Bumian’s eye shape, in the view of outsiders, was indeed very suitable for crying. His eyelashes were curled and thick, the outer corners of his eyes slightly drooping, his eye bags delicate and shallow. His eye color was an even rarer caramel color.

If his eyes were brimming with tears and the corners were red, it would surely be a very beautiful sight.

Jian Bumian was a little dazed by this sudden compliment.

By the time he reacted, the Malicious Ghost had already stepped away from him.

The Silver-haired Man loosened his suit tie from his collar and covered his red eyes with it.

—The Two-Person Blindfold Knife Throwing act, begin!