Chapter 38 Part 2
Pollutants could detect their own kind more easily than humans. He had sensed the pollutant’s presence upon entering the house, but hadn’t considered it a threat.
He could judge its strength by its aura. A low-level A-class pollutant, nothing to worry about. He could protect Shi Xu. What Shi Xu considered “nonsense” was his main concern.
Since Shi Xu didn’t want to discuss it, he dropped the subject.
“Where did you find the… ba…” Under Gu Sui’s reproachful gaze, he corrected himself. “Where did you find the golden egg?”
Gu Sui, satisfied, finally returned to the topic. “In the garbage dump… behind the… clothing market.”
Shi Xu: “Are you sure it was discarded?”
Gu Sui: “Absolutely. It… followed me… home.”
“Why would it follow you?” A thought occurred to Shi Xu. “Is it also a pollutant?”
Gu Sui: “Yes… and no.”
Shi Xu frowned. “What do you mean?”
Gu Sui extended his arms towards him, his voice trembling slightly. “Wife… hug…”
“We’re discussing serious matters.” Shi Xu reached out to swat his hand, but Gu Sui caught it.
“This is a serious matter!” Gu Sui swung their joined hands, his finger hooked around Shi Xu’s pinky. “Wife… sit… on my lap? I want… to talk… like this…”
Shi Xu scoffed. “Pushing your luck?”
“Yes.” Gu Sui nuzzled his face against Shi Xu’s cheek. “Talking… is tiring… Low battery… Need… Wife… to recharge…”
That was a threat. This creature was relentless.
Shi Xu chuckled, not getting angry, complying with his request, sitting on Gu Sui’s lap, his waist immediately encircled by strong arms. Gu Sui’s chin rested on his shoulder, inhaling his scent.
Not satisfied with just that, he expressed his perverted thoughts. “Wife… smells… so good… I like… Wife’s scent…”
His nose rubbed against Shi Xu’s neck.
The friction ignited a fire within Shi Xu. He pinched Gu Sui’s cheek, warning him, “Explain! Or get out!”
Gu Sui became obedient. “Only high-level pollutants can open world rifts. And the higher their level, the less they desire to consume humans. Only low-level pollutants use that method for quick evolution…”
Shi Xu: “Why are you telling me this? You still haven’t answered my question.”
Gu Sui kissed his tense cheek, smiling. “I’m explaining… Wife, listen… okay?”
Shi Xu relaxed, listening to his explanation. “Lower-level pollutants, below S-class, can’t open world rifts. S-class and above don’t need to consume humans. They have no desire to open rifts. It’s the low-level pollutants that want to use humans to evolve, but they lack the ability.”
Shi Xu: “So the pollutants didn’t open the world rifts?”
Gu Sui didn’t answer directly. “You humans know how to open them.”
“I know,” Shi Xu said.
Knowing how to repair the rifts meant knowing how to open them.
Every year, the Anomaly Management Bureau and the Esper Monitoring Department opened the rifts several times, ostensibly to eliminate pollutants, but mainly to search for resources.
“Those things are worthless to us, but you humans are willing to risk your lives for them…”
Gu Sui’s usual simple-minded demeanor was gone, his handsome face now serious and intimidating, his eyes filled with mockery, distant and aloof.
For the first time, Shi Xu truly saw him as a non-human, a creature devoid of emotions, looking down on everything.
Despite being held in his embrace, he felt a distance between them, a strange emptiness.
Gu Sui’s gaze softened, his forehead bumping against Shi Xu’s, his usual demeanor returning. “You’re making me want to kiss you.”
Shi Xu’s eyes flickered, his throat bobbing. “Continue.”
Gu Sui nuzzled his forehead, his voice laced with disappointment. “I… thought… you would… let me…”
Shi Xu urged softly, “Just tell me.”
Gu Sui: “We don’t actually enjoy fighting humans. We didn’t start this.”
Shi Xu understood.
It all boiled down to greed.
Humans opened the world rifts, knowing the dangers, tempted by the treasures within.
One opening led to another, and another…
Human desire was insatiable. Those who died in the rifts, killed by pollutants, were victims of their own greed.
Shi Xu: “Seven years ago, who opened the world rift?”
“I… don’t know,” Gu Sui said. “But… it wasn’t… us.”
Shi Xu: “Do you know when the world rifts first opened?”
Gu Sui thought for a moment. “I… don’t know. I… was… sleeping.”
Shi Xu’s lips thinned, his voice strained. “Do you know if the rifts opened 16 years ago? Or 19 years ago? Were you still sleeping then?”
Gu Sui’s answer disappointed him again. “I… woke up… seven years ago… I met you… as soon as… I woke up… I don’t know… anything… before that…”
“I see…” Shi Xu murmured.
Gu Sui cupped his face, his voice filled with concern. “Is this… important… to you?”
Shi Xu smiled faintly. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
The outcome was decided. He knew who he wanted revenge on. The truth didn’t matter anymore.
Shi Xu: “You still haven’t told me if the golden egg is a pollutant. What does all this have to do with it?”
Gu Sui: “The golden egg… is a product… of the world rift.”
Shi Xu froze. Gu Sui continued, “But it’s not as appealing as gems or gold. Many don’t know its true value. It’s more valuable than any treasure. It can enhance power, a boon to espers. For ordinary humans, it might even grant abilities, heal the sick, its uses are numerous. I don’t know them all, but it’s a treasure.”
Shi Xu: “Are they common?”
Gu Sui: “No, and they’re… hard to find.”
“Others search for it desperately, and you just… stumbled upon it…” Shi Xu was speechless. Should he praise Gu Sui’s luck?
“You knew what it was from the start. You brought it home for me, didn’t you?” His expression turned complex.
“You… found out… haha…” Gu Sui chuckled, his eyes darkening. “But I knew… you wouldn’t… use it… even if… you knew…”
“Why are you so sure?” Shi Xu narrowed his eyes. “Perhaps I would be tempted.”
Gu Sui asked, “Are you tempted now?”
“I wouldn’t consume a child.” He paused, then asked, “How do you consume it?”
Gu Sui: “Don’t worry, they… die… before hatching… I just learned… what hatches… from them.”
If he hadn’t seen the baby, Shi Xu might have been indifferent to the egg’s properties.
“That pollutant was after the egg. After hatching, will it still attract pollutants?”
“Yes.” Gu Sui hugged him tighter, his voice low and husky. “I… will… protect you.”
“You brought home trouble,” Shi Xu sighed.
Gu Sui had picked up the egg out of pity, hoping to gain Shi Xu’s favor, but it ended up competing for his attention instead.
He regretted it now, immensely!
But the egg had already hatched. The creature inside was growing rapidly, soon able to protect itself.
He suggested, “If… it’s… too much… trouble… we can… discard it…”
Shi Xu: “No. I’m not afraid of a little trouble.”
Gu Sui chuckled, kissing his ear. “Wife… so cute…”
Shi Xu pushed his head away. “What does this have to do with being cute?”
Gu Sui’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
So cold on the outside, so soft on the inside. How was that not cute?
His affection for Shi Xu growing, he swayed back and forth, hugging his waist. “I… like you… so much… more and more… I want… to kiss you… now… just one… kiss… okay?”
That “one kiss” wouldn’t be just one!
Shi Xu’s head spun from the movement. He reached out to push Gu Sui’s face away, but Gu Sui suddenly shifted, his hand landing on Gu Sui’s chest. He hadn’t used much force, but it was enough to make Gu Sui stumble backwards, falling onto the sofa, pulling Shi Xu down with him.
Gu Sui let out an exaggerated cry of pain. “Wife… so mean… It hurts… Need… Wife’s kiss… to feel better…”
“Enough!” Shi Xu pushed himself up, his waist still trapped by Gu Sui’s arm.
Gu Sui looked at him with burning eyes, his demeanor changing again.
His handsome face softened with a smile, his hand gently caressing Shi Xu’s cheek. “Wife… pushed me down… Wife… has to… take responsibility…”
Responsibility again. That was all this creature ever thought about.
“Don’t think I can’t see you faking it,” Shi Xu pressed his hand against Gu Sui’s chest.
Gu Sui’s breath hitched, his laughter even more unrestrained, his chest trembling beneath Shi Xu’s hand.
His rapidly beating heart, a clear declaration of his affection.
Shi Xu felt a momentary dizziness. Gu Sui’s finger captured his lower lip, gently massaging it, pleading, “Take responsibility… please!”
“…”
Shi Xu lowered his gaze, his head slowly descending under Gu Sui’s intense stare. Just as their lips were about to touch, a loud wail echoed from upstairs.
“Waaah—”
