Chapter 5: Did He Kiss You?
Tang Yu’an didn’t dare acknowledge the strange title. In his view, Zuo Tinghan had either mistaken him for someone else or was completely delirious.
However, he didn’t want to agitate him, so he played along: “Do you know who you are?”
“I am whoever Master wants me to be.”
Tang Yu’an: “…”
Alright, he was definitely seriously ill.
But judging by his obedient demeanor, he probably wouldn’t suddenly attack as Tang Yu’an had feared. That made things easier.
He took Zuo Tinghan’s hand. The other man struggled slightly, but not forcefully, so he didn’t break free.
“Master, there’s blood, dirty…”
Unsure what was going on in his mind, Tang Yu’an pulled him closer, looking into his evasive eyes: “Now, I need you to rest for a bit. Can you do that?”
Zuo Tinghan looked at him, bewildered.
Rest? What did resting entail?
He was caught in a boundless blizzard, the biting cold seeping into his bones, countless chaotic images flashing before his eyes.
He couldn’t see clearly, but he still caught glimpses of vast swathes of blood red.
A figure stood in the center of the images, expressionless, walking forward over stiff corpses.
He recognized himself.
But he didn’t feel like a person. People had thoughts and emotions, and he had none.
He was a knife, a tool to be used by others. His flesh was forged from steel, his heart long since gouged out, only the blood vessels in his body pulsed.
Ordinary knives could be washed clean of blood, but the stench of blood on him lingered, refusing to dissipate.
This knife changed hands constantly, used and discarded. No one wanted to touch such a dangerous weapon for too long, afraid of being injured.
None of them were his master.
He was waiting for his master to take him, a strange feeling, like a river flowing into the sea, the sun rising and the moon setting, all so natural.
He sensed his master’s approach. His master’s hands were warm, the air around him warm too.
If only he could get closer…
Suddenly, Tang Yu’an found himself holding a large man, who nuzzled against his chest like a puppy.
…Well, he just hoped he wouldn’t remember this when he woke up. Otherwise, how would they interact normally in the future?
But this close proximity gave Tang Yu’an an opportunity. He stroked Zuo Tinghan’s head to soothe him, then gradually released his mental energy. The golden butterflies began to burrow into his body.
Tang Yu’an had expected to be repelled, but Zuo Tinghan seemed to have no defenses against him, allowing his mental energy to enter the depths of his consciousness unimpeded.
There, he found a cold, black sea. Tang Yu’an shivered involuntarily.
He gently touched the surface of the sea, and a faint light rippled outwards, expanding continuously. The roaring stopped, the storm subsided, and everything became calm.
Like a robot suddenly powered down, Zuo Tinghan went limp, nearly toppling Tang Yu’an.
Tang Yu’an quickly checked his condition. Fortunately, he was just asleep.
Thank goodness he hadn’t caused any irreversible damage with his actions.
[Mission “Rescue Protagonist Number Two from danger” completed. Congratulations, Host, on receiving the reward – “Lips Like Crimson Jade.” Please check your inventory!]
What? That was it?
Tang Yu’an felt a little frustrated. No power boost, fine. But after all that effort, was his reward just redder lips?
He really didn’t see the point.
As soon as the chaos subsided, the others rushed in.
Wei Langxing’s heart pounded. Before entering, he had imagined all sorts of terrible scenarios.
Zuo Tinghan was so dangerous; Tang Yu’an was no match for him… Wait, was he seeing things?
Why was the dangerous individual leaning against his reckless teammate, arms wrapped around his waist?
In broad daylight, what was this?!
The situation was still uncertain. Who knew if there would be another outburst? He tried to pull the time bomb away from Tang Yu’an, but found the man clinging tightly to Tang Yu’an’s clothes, refusing to let go.
Wei Langxing was speechless. Finally, Tang Yu’an had to take off his jacket to escape.
Medics had been waiting outside, and they rushed in to carry Zuo Tinghan away. As they placed him on the stretcher, he still clutched the jacket tightly in his hand. Wang Wen began to deal with the aftermath.
Wei Langxing pulled Tang Yu’an aside, checking him over for injuries. His gaze finally landed on his full, red lips.
How had they changed?!
The shape was similar, but something was different.
Recalling the scene he had just witnessed, Wei Langxing couldn’t help but have a bad premonition—
That lunatic, Zuo Tinghan, holding onto him so tightly… could he have done something else?
“What did he do to you?!”
Tang Yu’an didn’t understand why Wei Langxing was suddenly shaking him excitedly. He just felt lightheaded, probably due to the fluctuating data again.
“Don’t shake me, I’m a little dizzy…”
A look of annoyance crossed Wei Langxing’s face. He helped him sit down and called for a medic to check him over.
The medic quickly scanned him with a device, confirming he was fine, just a little tired.
“The dizziness might be due to low blood sugar. Young man, you’re too thin. You need to take care of yourself.”
After the medic left, Tang Yu’an peeled open an energy bar. Just as he was about to take a bite, he noticed Wei Langxing staring at him.
Did he want some too?
His mission was to take care of the protagonists’ physical and mental well-being, so he couldn’t let him go hungry. He broke off a piece and offered it to him.
“Here, have some. Replenish your energy.”
“This is… How can I take food from a patient?”
Wei Langxing pushed his hand back and handed him a water bottle with the cap already twisted off.
Tang Yu’an took a couple of bites with the water and stopped when he felt better.
“That’s all you’re eating?” Wei Langxing frowned. No wonder he was so thin; he ate like a kitten.
His expression turned serious, and he abruptly changed the subject: “Tang Yu’an, didn’t I tell you to follow my commands? Did you not do as I said?”
Although the outcome was good, what if they weren’t so lucky next time, and he got himself hurt?
Having anticipated being questioned, Tang Yu’an nodded obediently, not bothering to defend himself.
Wei Langxing felt frustrated. He was so obedient now, but so disobedient during the crisis.
But seeing Tang Yu’an’s pale face and the exhaustion in his eyes, his tone softened slightly.
“As captain, I’m responsible for you. You disobeyed the captain’s orders, so there has to be a punishment…”
Tang Yu’an hung his head, looking pitiful. Just as Wei Langxing was about to speak, he suddenly looked up, asking fearfully: “Can… can I not be locked in a dark room? Anything else is fine…”
He didn’t want to experience the feeling of being buried underground, his cries unanswered, ever again.
Was his request too much? Making demands after making a mistake? Why did Wei Langxing look at him with… terror?
Wei Langxing didn’t understand what kind of terrifying image he had projected in Tang Yu’an’s mind. Did he look like a criminal who enjoyed torturing people?
Or had Tang Yu’an experienced something like that before, which was why he was so afraid…
It wasn’t appropriate to directly ask about someone’s trauma. Wei Langxing’s heart sank.
He couldn’t imagine anyone being so cruel as to lock Tang Yu’an in a dark room.
“What are you talking about… The punishment is to finish your energy bar.”
What a strange punishment, Tang Yu’an thought. He had seen punishments in other worlds where people were force-fed until their stomachs ruptured, but a single energy bar seemed too lenient.
However, since it was the protagonist’s request, he wouldn’t refuse. He silently finished the rest of the food.
He wiped his mouth with a tissue. His lips seemed even more prominent from the friction. After much hesitation, Wei Langxing finally asked: “Tell me honestly, did Zuo Tinghan… kiss you?”
Tang Yu’an was surprised: “Why would he kiss me?”
Tool-men served the protagonists. Protagonists had important things to do; they wouldn’t get entangled with tool-men, let alone engage in such intimate acts.
It must have been that reward misleading him.
Wei Langxing persisted: “Then why are your lips swollen? Not swollen… just…”
Fuller, like juicy fruit.
“I was a little scared earlier, so I bit them.” Tang Yu’an offered a relatively plausible explanation. Wei Langxing was skeptical but didn’t press further.
The immediate danger was resolved, but the matter wasn’t over.
They followed Zuo Tinghan to the underground treatment center, learning about his condition from his primary therapist.
Zuo Tinghan had been repeatedly brainwashed while in the hands of the underground organization. Based on the data and Zuo Tinghan’s memories, they had intended to completely erase his consciousness and bind him to another person, turning him into an obedient assassin. However, the process was interrupted, and he escaped.
“I thought his condition had stabilized. The reason for this sudden outburst needs further investigation… Did you notice anything unusual when you interacted with him?”
Tang Yu’an glanced at Zuo Tinghan lying inside through the one-way glass. It had taken several people to pry his fingers loose from his clothes earlier.
“He didn’t seem to remember who he was. But he didn’t resist when I used my mental energy to soothe him.”
“Anything else?”
Although it was a little embarrassing, it concerned the protagonist’s health, so Tang Yu’an couldn’t hide it.
“He also… called me Master.”
“What?!” Wei Langxing looked at him sharply.
The therapist suddenly understood: “So that’s it… No wonder you were able to reach him and bring him back from the third stage unharmed. It seems the brainwashing and binding continued for some reason. He sees himself as your ‘obedient follower.'”
Wei Langxing was more anxious than the person involved: “Then what do we do? Can this connection be broken?”
“Don’t worry. This obedience requires certain triggers. My current hypothesis is a specific audio frequency. Upon hearing it, he enters a completely obedient state. Under normal circumstances, as long as there’s no interference, he can maintain normal function.”
“That’s good.” Wei Langxing was relieved, then looked at Tang Yu’an: “You should still stay away from him in the future, in case he has another episode and starts calling you that again.”
[Detected Protagonist Number One, Wei Langxing, favorability towards Protagonist Number Two, Zuo Tinghan, -10. Current favorability: -10. Please utilize your tool-man identity to mend the relationship between the protagonists, Host, and strive for team unity. Go for it, you’re the best!]
Tang Yu’an: “…”
I just saved him, and now you dislike him? The protagonist’s mind was truly unfathomable.
