Chapter 188
Xing Nuo had expected Qi Yao to visit after the monthly exams.
But he waited and waited, but Uncle Qi didn’t appear.
The exam results were posted, the leaves turned brown and fell, the first snow of winter dusted his curls, a thick layer of dust settled on Qi Yao’s door on the third floor…
Still no sign of Uncle Qi.
Xing Nuo, bundled up in his winter coat, his breath misting in the cold air, stood outside Qi Yao’s apartment for a moment, then went downstairs and walked to school.
Worried about Qi Yao, not knowing much about the SIA, he asked Lu Qi to investigate.
The SIA’s network security was high, but for System 067, it was child’s play.
Lu Qi, however, couldn’t find any significant information, only that Qi Yao had entered a dungeon.
“This dungeon is higher level than the train station. Almost all the top ability users are in it. The SIA is monitoring it closely. They’re too busy to bother with you.”
Xing Nuo frowned.
“How high-level? He’s been gone for almost three months.”
Lu Qi: “SSS+ rank.”
Xing Nuo paused, then said, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and apprehension:
“Besides my daddy’s and brothers’ dungeons, that’s the highest level I’ve ever heard of.”
Lu Qi, having spent years in the horror world, was familiar with its inner workings, his voice a cold, mechanical monotone.
“Most monsters are low-level. Only a dozen or so S-rank monsters. And even fewer SSS+ rank.”
Three of which were Xing Nuo’s family.
“High-level monsters are much more intelligent and powerful. They control vast amounts of energy. Some even dislike bloodshed, their dungeons more like games, rarely serious.”
Xing Nuo, hearing this, asked, “Lu Qi, do you know how many SSS+ rank monsters there are in total?”
Lu Qi paused, as if calculating.
“Six.”
That was the current number, after years of infighting and power struggles. There might have been more before.
And among these six, Shen Yan was the most prolific dungeon creator, owning seven or eight S-rank dungeons.
Xing Nuo did a quick mental calculation. There couldn’t be many SSS+ rank dungeons then.
Lu Qi, seeing Xing Nuo lost in thought, continued:
“The SSS+ rank monster that brought this dungeon to the real world is a clown. The other two high-level monsters, I’ve never encountered them before.”
“And strangely, their dungeons in the horror world have been closed.”
Xing Nuo paused, thinking.
“If the core monster dies, the dungeon closes. Are there any other reasons?”
Lu Qi, ever the helpful system, replied: “Yes. If monster abandons dungeon…it also closes.”
Like Shen Baizhou, powerful but lazy, without a single dungeon of his own.
The only one, the school dungeon, had been forced upon him by the vice-principal.
And he rarely visited it, which was why the school dungeon’s level fluctuated between SS+ and SSS+, much to the other monsters’ frustration.
Xing Nuo had even seen the monster vice-principal at school recently, appearing in the restroom.
He had just finished washing his hands when the vice-principal had suddenly appeared, begging him to ask Shen Baizhou to come back to the school dungeon. Their dungeon’s power level was too low, and they were being mocked by the other monsters!
Xing Nuo, startled, had just rubbed his forehead and said he would tell him.
But his dismissive response hadn’t satisfied the vice-principal, who had continued to appear in the restroom for several days,
until Shen Baizhou, entering the dungeon, had dragged him out and given him a thorough beating. Only then had Xing Nuo’s restroom visits become monster-free again.
“So, those two SSS+ rank monsters…are they dead, or just…not interested in their dungeons anymore?”
Xing Nuo had a suspicion.
Monsters as lazy as Shen Baizhou were rare. Those two monsters were most likely dead.
SSS+ rank monsters can die?
His heart sank, and, not wanting to worry his dad and brothers, he asked Lu Qi:
“Lu Qi, can you find out…if they’re dead?”
Lu Qi, never refusing Xing Nuo’s requests, nodded.
“Okay.”
Xing Nuo entered his classroom and, smiling, said mentally:
“I’ve noticed…since we first met…you’ve never said no to me. Always say ‘okay’.”
Lu Qi’s circuits buzzed, a sound akin to a shy giggle.
“Really? When we first met…I always refused.”
Back then, 067, newly bound to Xing Nuo, had to complete various missions.
And Xing Nuo, rebellious by nature, had constantly tested his limits, pushing his buttons, searching for weaknesses.
067, a new system, cold and mechanical, like any other electronic system,
had always responded curtly, his voice stiff and monotonous, often reminding Xing Nuo to behave or face punishment.
Xing Nuo, finding this amusing, had asked:
“What punishment?”
067 had been reluctant to answer, but after Xing Nuo’s persistent questioning, he had finally said:
“Electric shock.”
Their initial interactions hadn’t been pleasant. Xing Nuo had constantly challenged him, and 067, showing no mercy, had always delivered the promised punishment.
And it was a soul shock, a jolt of pure, agonizing pain that didn’t harm the body, only the soul.
Xing Nuo had rolled on the floor in agony, but it hadn’t worked. His body was fine, but his soul was screaming.
He had fainted several times from the pain, but each time he woke up, his defiance remained.
“Back then, I thought…you’re too stubborn…too resilient. Perhaps after completing this world’s mission…I’ll abandon you…find a new host.”
“My energy was low…most of it transferred to the main system. I could only endure…and go with you…to the next world.”
Xing Nuo hadn’t known about their difficult beginnings.
He found it fascinating.
Lu Qi continued: “In the new world…many things happened. I was just a Cannon Fodder Reversal System…but somehow…I started running with you.”
Lu Qi had told him about their later adventures, and Xing Nuo nodded, then asked:
“When did you…start liking me?”
The word “like,” so casually spoken, made Lu Qi freeze, his circuits buzzing. After a long moment, he mumbled:
“Yes. Later…I liked you…very much.”
So much that he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect Xing Nuo, to give him a new life.
A system’s greatest fear was being deleted by the main system.
But Lu Qi, he wasn’t sure why, had thought, Delete me then. As long as Xing Nuo is safe.
Xing Nuo, although lacking the memories of his past lives, could sense Lu Qi’s presence, his silent protectiveness and gentle affection.
A quiet, unwavering presence, so constant that Xing Nuo often forgot he was there.
But his love, like a small, steady stream, flowed continuously.
Xing Nuo smiled, then, seeing the teacher enter, stopped talking to Lu Qi and opened his textbook.
The end-of-year final exams arrived, followed by a three-day break before they had to return to school to collect their report cards and officially start winter break.
With no homework, Xing Nuo could finally sleep in.
He woke up and went to his brother’s room.
Since Xing Nuo had learned about their true nature, Shen Baizhou had stopped pretending and spent most of his time sleeping in his fish tank.
Xing Nuo had always wondered why there was a large, empty fish tank in his brother’s room.
It was almost four meters long, and there were never any fish in it.
He later learned it was Shen Baizhou’s bed.
But the winters in Rongcheng, although in the south, could be cold and damp, with occasional snow, and there was no central heating.
Sometimes, a thin layer of ice would form on the water’s surface.
Xing Nuo, not even bothering to wash up, would take a small hammer, break the ice, and fish the frozen, semi-conscious octopus out of the tank.
After drying him with a towel and placing him near the heater, Shen Baizhou, the little octopus, would slowly revive.
Xing Nuo, looking at the octopus’s beady eyes, sighed and said, his voice filled with exasperation:
“Brother, turn on the heater before you sleep. This is the seventh time this month.”
Shen Baizhou waved his tentacles weakly, as if yawning.
“I always forget. It’s okay. You always rescue me.”
Xing Nuo sighed. “What if you freeze to death?”
Shen Baizhou, unfazed, shrugged. “I don’t have much of a brain anyway.”
Xing Nuo, speechless, left the room, shaking his head.
Shen Yan was also there, having prepared breakfast: steamed custard buns and soy milk. Seeing Shen Baizhou in his human form, his face pale, his movements stiff, he scoffed.
“Idiot.”
Xing Nuo sat down, took a bite of his bun, and defended his brother.
“It’s okay. Second Brother is smart. He knows someone will rescue him. Otherwise, he’d freeze.”
Shen Baizhou, hearing this, puffed out his chest, nodding smugly.
“Exactly. I planned it.”
Shen Yan, carrying a jar of sugar, chuckled, his tone mocking.
“So well-planned, why didn’t you turn on the heater?”
Shen Baizhou, defeated, just hummed and sipped his soy milk, his head down.
It had been particularly cold last night, and he was still stiff and numb from the cold, his hand trembling slightly as he held his cup.
Shen Yan sighed and handed him a hand warmer.
“This came with Xing Nuo’s. Take it.”
Shen Baizhou was about to say that, as a monster, he didn’t need such things,
but, touching the warm hand warmer, his face softening, a smile appearing, he said:
“Thanks, Brother.”
Only when he needed something did he remember to call Shen Yan “Brother.”
Xing Nuo, giggling behind his hand, was about to leave to buy a tank heater for his brother.
