The Picked-Up Little Tentacle Begs Me to Take Responsibility 44p2

Chapter 44 Part 2

Qi Yu rushed over, seeing a group of espers gathered around a large hole in the living room floor, staring down in shock. The one who called him was the calmest among them, but he looked just as disturbed.

Qi Yu looked down, his own expression mirroring theirs.

The basement was filled with black worms, Shi Yan’s pale face the only spot of color, his eyes forced open by the worms’ tentacles, his gaze fixed on them, having given up struggling, his eyes filled with hatred.

His rage made him oblivious to the commotion above, his humiliation exposed to countless eyes.

The realization shattered his remaining pride, extinguishing his will to live.

He wanted to close his eyes, to pretend this wasn’t happening, but his eyelids were forced open, his tormentor still controlling him, forcing him to endure the humiliation, effortlessly crushing everything he valued.

Qi Yu, snapping out of his shock, remembering Shi Yan’s hateful gaze, looked up, seeing Shi Xu and Shi Mu on the second floor.

Shi Xu’s right hand was held by Shi Mu, his expression cold and distant, as if in a trance, his gaze fixed on Shi Yan like a predator eyeing its prey.

The dagger in his hand glinted. Shi Mu whispered something in his ear. Even from this distance, Qi Yu could sense the sudden surge of killing intent.

Did Shi Xu want to kill Shi Yan?

The thought wasn’t unfounded. He knew Shi Xu had considered it before.

No, he couldn’t!

Not in front of so many witnesses! It would ruin him!

As the dagger moved, Qi Yu shouted, “Shi Xu!”

The dagger stopped, Shi Xu releasing Shi Mu’s hand, his eyes clearing, his voice calm. “What?”

Qi Yu, his breath ragged, his legs shaky from the shock, said, even though Shi Xu had already stopped, “Calm down.”

“I am calm.” Shi Xu chuckled, turning to look at Shi Mu, whose smile had vanished.

No one saw how he moved, but Shi Mu’s chin was suddenly in Shi Xu’s grasp, his fingers digging into his flesh.

“Who told you to do this?”

Shi Mu, like a statue, didn’t resist, his gaze fixed on Shi Xu.

“Tell me.”

Shi Mu obeyed. “You did, brother.”

Shi Xu scoffed. “I don’t recall giving you such an order.”

Shi Mu: “You don’t need to. I know your thoughts. I’ll eliminate your enemies, anyone who threatens you…”

Shi Xu tightened his grip, disliking his words.

The more he hated something, the more it seemed to attract it. This was the third person who tried to read his mind.

Blood trickled down Shi Mu’s cheeks, but he didn’t react, not even flinching.

“You’re not going to resist?”

Shi Mu’s breath hitched, his expression unchanged. “You’re my brother. I won’t disobey you.”

Shi Xu: “Did Shi Yan also instill that in you? You never respected me this much before.”

Shi Mu: “Father is gone. You’re the only person I respect, my only family.”

After my brother died, my sister was all I had.

“Anyone you want dead, I’ll kill. Anything you want, I’ll get it for you. We’ll be together forever.”

Sister, wasn’t I good enough?

Why did you choose Ah Cheng?

Couldn’t you stay with me?

We shared the same fate, inseparable.

Couldn’t you stay with me forever?

Blood covered half of Shi Mu’s face. He smiled faintly. “Are you satisfied, brother?”

At that moment, Shi Xu wanted to kill him, to kill the second “Shi Xu” created by Shi Yan.

He knew Shi Mu wouldn’t resist, that a single command would make him end his own life.

He had been so delusional, so pathetic.

His resolve wavered, but he released Shi Mu.

He didn’t know how it ended, but when he came to his senses, Shi Yan and Shi Mu were being taken to the hospital.

“Shi Xu.”

He turned, seeing Qi Yu’s worried face.

“What?”

Qi Yu: “…”

Qi Yu: “Are you okay?”

The golden tentacle in his pocket poked out, its tip rubbing against his hand, calming him.

“I’m fine.”

Qi Yu: “What happened? Why did Shi Mu… why did he do that?”

Shi Xu: “He became another me.”

“What do you mean?”

“If not for you and Gu Sui, I would have ended up like him.”

Qi Yu’s heart clenched. He grabbed Shi Xu’s hand. Shi Xu, seeing his concern, said, his tone light, “I’m not like him. I won’t become like him.”

His casual tone reassured Qi Yu, but he continued to observe him.

Shi Xu’s gaze towards Shi Yan had been terrifying. He thought Shi Xu would kill him. He had to prevent Shi Xu from doing anything rash.

“But why did he attack Shi Yan? He always respected him.”

From Shi Mu’s words, Shi Xu understood the reason—

“When we were young, Shi Yan always told us that a father is powerful, that we must obey him. He instilled that in all his children.” A sarcastic smile curved Shi Xu’s lips. “The day I brought Gu Sui home, Shi Mu saw Shi Yan’s pathetic state.”

“Faith takes time and effort to build, but it can be shattered by a single, insignificant event. A father is strong. Shi Yan never questioned his own strength. He trained countless espers, but he himself was just an ordinary human, his power derived from others, inherently weak and fragile.”

That day, he had broken free from Shi Yan’s control, tearing away his carefully constructed facade, revealing his weakness to Shi Mu.

That day, Shi Mu’s faith crumbled.

And Shi Xu replaced Shi Yan as the object of his reverence.

Shi Mu, the second most promising human weapon after Shi Xu, thought he understood Shi Xu’s desires, using Shi Yan’s teachings to enact revenge on his behalf.

Qi Yu’s expression was complex. “Shi Yan brought this upon himself, didn’t he?”

Shi Xu’s eyes turned cold. “Perhaps.”

Qi Yu hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Shi Yan might be guilty of harboring a pollutant, but Shi Mu still attacked him. And we need to investigate how he controlled the pollutant. What are you going to do?”

“What can I do?” Shi Xu’s indifference was chilling. “Do what you must. I won’t interfere.”

He felt nothing for Shi Mu. He wouldn’t save someone insignificant.

Even if that person worshipped him.

He didn’t consider himself a god. Faith was a dangerous thing, a monster that devoured people’s hearts.

Blind devotion, followed by disillusionment, only led to ruin.

Shi Xu went to the Anomaly Management Bureau with Qi Yu for routine questioning. The bureau was unusually empty, most personnel deployed on missions.

The remaining staff were unfamiliar.

Qi Yu explained, “Many people left after you resigned.” These new recruits had just joined.

“Left” had multiple meanings, including resignation and death during missions. To avoid unpleasantness, they used the vague term “left.”

Even though he had resigned, his presence lingered. Half of the new recruits were his fans, surprised and excited to see him, lingering outside the interrogation room, hoping for a chance to speak to him.

“Should I get rid of them if they’re bothering you?” Qi Yu asked.

“No, they’re my fans.” Shi Xu finished his water, standing up. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Qi Yu stood up too. “Where are you going?”

“The hospital,” Shi Xu didn’t hide it. “Let me know the results of Shi Mu’s investigation. Thank you.”

Qi Yu rolled his eyes. “So formal.”

Shi Xu smiled. He bumped into a few new recruits on his way out, greeting them. One of them, trembling, offered him a notebook.

“Captain Shi, I-I’m your fan! Can I have your autograph?”

He signed for everyone, exchanging a few words before leaving.

He didn’t leave immediately, standing at the entrance, looking up at the bureau’s large sign, a sarcastic smile curving his lips.

“Shi Xu?”

He turned, seeing Lin Quan. He waved. “Long time no see, Captain Lin.”

Lin Quan: “…”

That same infuriatingly sarcastic tone.

He wasn’t angry. He was so used to being called “Vice-Captain Lin” that “Captain Lin” felt strange.

He must be crazy.

Lin Quan: “Are you here to see Qi Yu?”

Shi Xu: “No, I’m here for questioning, regarding an incident.”

Lin Quan’s expression was complex. “You’ve left the bureau, yet you still attract pollutants.”

Shi Xu couldn’t deny it. He not only attracted pollutants, but he was also sleeping with an SSS-class one.

He wondered what Lin Quan would do if he knew, whether he would arrest him, or pretend to be oblivious like Qi Yu.

Lin Quan shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You look terrible,” Shi Xu smiled. “What, is the job that difficult?”

Lin Quan: “…”

He finally had the position he coveted, but it came with immense pressure.

Besides the mountain of paperwork, he had to train his subordinates, guide the new recruits…

He felt like a spinning top, constantly whipped, no time to rest.

There had been several pollutant outbreaks lately. He had worked two consecutive all-nighters, finally returning to submit his report, exhausted, only to be seen in his most pathetic state by his former nemesis.

Too tired to be embarrassed, he didn’t answer, his silence masking his discomfort.

Shi Xu didn’t press for an answer. “I have to go. Goodbye, Captain Lin.”

Lin Quan: “…”

Even leaving, he still had to have the last word. Truly…

He regretted ever antagonizing Shi Xu.

…

Shi Yan had been rushed to the hospital, now recovering in a private room, Qi Yu’s subordinates guarding the entrance.

Shi Xu wasn’t an outsider. Having received instructions from Qi Yu, they let him in.

The smell of disinfectant in the room was less pungent than in the hallway, but another, more unpleasant odor lingered, emanating from Shi Yan.

Shi Xu had spoken to the doctor before coming here, learning that Shi Yan had been parasitized.

Although the pollutant had been removed, its residual scent lingered, taking about a week to dissipate completely.

Shi Yan lay on the bed, connected to a ventilator, weaker than when he was surrounded by the black worms.

Shi Xu pulled a chair over, sitting beside the bed, observing him leisurely.

“I’ve often imagined you looking pathetic… Hmm, even worse than I imagined.” He had to thank Lin Quan for inspiring this new, sarcastic tone.

“I know you’re awake. Let’s talk.”

Shi Yan’s breaths were shallow, as if he were still unconscious.

Shi Xu’s finger touched the ventilator tube, smiling faintly. “If I pull this out, will I inherit everything?”

Shi Yan’s eyes snapped open, bloodshot and filled with fear.