Yu Sheng almost thought Zhan Xiaotian was about to offer himself to him, leaving him completely at a loss.
Fortunately, Zhan Xiaotian didn’t do anything right away but continued to ramble on endlessly to him.
"I... want... to... become... human..."
Become human?
Yu Sheng remembered that before he went to sleep, Zhan Xiaotian had indeed mentioned that he didn’t want to remain a stone, didn’t want to be an outlier anymore.
Wait a minute.
A sudden hypothesis emerged in his mind. In the past, Zhan Xiaotian had an immortal body as his golden finger, but the future Zhan Xiaotian—the one who fell off the cliff—didn’t. He appeared to be an ordinary, unremarkable young man. This meant that, following the natural development of the storyline, Zhan Xiaotian would lose his golden finger before the original plot began.
Because the protagonist suddenly lost his golden finger, the system would assign someone like Yu Sheng, a reclusive expert, to deliver the golden finger to the protagonist through a fortuitous encounter.
Could it be that the reason Zhan Xiaotian lost his golden finger was entirely due to his own decision?
Because he didn’t want to be an outlier anymore, didn’t want to be an emotionless stone, he simply chose to give up his immortality?
And then Yu Sheng suddenly transmigrated here…
When Zhan Xiaotian said "help me," could it mean he was hoping Yu Sheng would help him remove his immortal body?
As for the "give you" part afterward, did it mean he was planning to repay this great kindness by offering himself in return???
N-no way… It’s probably something like "give you a reward" or "give you meat♪meat" instead, right…?
"Ha... haha."
Yu Sheng was a bit nervous. He repeatedly cleared his throat, swallowed hard, and, unable to write, could only tentatively ask in a low voice,
"How do I help you?"
Seeing that Yu Sheng seemed to agree, Zhan Xiaotian was overjoyed, so much so that he kissed him on the forehead with a loud smack.
That mischievous finger started writing on Yu Sheng's chest again while patiently mouthing words. Yu Sheng finally understood after watching carefully.
"Leave... it... to... me..."
Leave it to him?
So there’s nothing Yu Sheng needed to do? How exactly did Zhan Xiaotian figure out a solution…
As Yu Sheng slowly nodded, Zhan Xiaotian finally released him.
And then... he stripped completely.
Wait, is he going to bathe?
If it had been the Xiaotian disciple Yu Sheng remembered, he’d probably have run off by now. After all, both of his disciples had previously hinted at their feelings for him. But the Zhan Xiaotian in front of him was so different from the one in his memory. Yu Sheng was worried about misunderstanding him, so he didn’t run away and instead kept speculating about what Zhan Xiaotian intended to do.
After all, this Xiaotian didn’t have much life experience. He didn’t understand life and death, let alone other emotions and desires. Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be alone and clueless even now.
What happened next was a bit surreal.
When Yu Sheng gave away the golden finger before, the system handled most of the process, and he only needed to guide it with his thoughts. It didn’t feel difficult. But now, Zhan Xiaotian seemed to have made many preparations. It didn’t seem easy to complete this, and it even appeared to require a ritual.
It looked almost like a forbidden technique.
Yu Sheng had never seen Zhan Xiaotian use magic before and knew he didn’t have much spiritual energy. But now, a complex and unfamiliar magic circle was drawn using blood collected from wild beasts. At the center of the circle was the makeshift bed they had set up.
The drafty, ruined temple was immediately filled with the strong scent of blood.
Whether it was the effect of the magic circle or the overpowering stench, Yu Sheng, despite feeling chilly, didn’t actually feel cold.
Around the bed, four candles were lit. Their flames flickered wildly but never extinguished.
Zhan Xiaotian approached, used a small knife to cut his wrist, and let his blood drip onto the bed, dyeing the white animal hide red.
To prevent the wound from healing too quickly, he cut deeply and harshly. Yu Sheng couldn’t help but gasp at the sight, instinctively feeling the pain just by looking at it.
The next cut was aimed at Yu Sheng. He instinctively closed his eyes, but when he squinted to peek, he saw that Zhan Xiaotian had only made a shallow nick on his wrist.
It was a small cut, barely deep enough to draw a few beads of blood.
Zhan Xiaotian climbed onto the bed and pressed their wounds together, letting their blood mingle.
A surge of scorching heat suddenly rushed through the cut on Yu Sheng’s wrist, charging wildly through his body. His vision blurred, his limbs went limp, and he collapsed backward, panting heavily.
But it wasn’t over yet. His body burned, scalding hot, while becoming unbelievably sensitive. It was as if every nerve and every muscle had awakened. His senses sharpened dramatically, and even the texture of the animal hide brushing against his skin felt either painful or itchy.
No wonder... he had to strip…
Yu Sheng trembled slightly at the thought. If he were still wearing those clothes, he couldn’t imagine how unbearable it would feel right now.
Zhan Xiaotian gazed at him, his expression deepening. In the instant their eyes met, Yu Sheng felt a fleeting sense of familiarity, as though he had regained his eldest disciple.
Zhan Xiaotian’s lips moved, but Yu Sheng couldn’t hear what he was saying. Fixing his gaze on those lips, he noticed how pale and dry they were, and how sickly Zhan Xiaotian looked.
Then everything went dark as Zhan Xiaotian leaned down and kissed him.
In that moment, all the discomfort—burning heat, weakness, pain, and itchiness—was instantly soothed.
If the ritual or the transformation of his constitution earlier had made Yu Sheng feel as if he were on the brink of death, his head ready to explode, then this kiss was the antidote. It pulled him out of the abyss and transported him to a cool and comforting cloud of relief.
Unable to control himself, Yu Sheng raised his free hand to wrap around Zhan Xiaotian’s neck, pulling him closer.
His body was scorching hot, while Zhan Xiaotian’s temperature grew icy cold and rigid. Only through contact with Yu Sheng’s skin did he regain a trace of warmth, just enough to not feel corpse-like.
Fingers intertwined, Yu Sheng’s throat released a series of whimpers. Without the ability to hear, his voice grew unrestrained, loud and unguarded. He no longer had the strength to care about such things, nor could he notice the changes in Zhan Xiaotian’s gaze.
It was as if he wanted to escape the tormenting animal hide beneath him, but he couldn’t leave this prison-like bed. Desperately seeking relief, he clung to the other person like a koala, wrapping his arms and legs tightly around him. Every bit of skin he could lift away from the hide brought a measure of comfort.
Zhan Xiaotian was incredibly considerate. He immediately reached out to support and hold Yu Sheng, lifting his weight and helping him escape the suffering.
In that moment, he no longer seemed like an emotionless stone or a wooden figure but a flesh-and-blood human being with desires and emotions. Every touch and approach was imbued with the full spectrum of human feelings—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
To possess this moment was joy. The unbearable sensations, with no outlet, became anger. The thought of not being able to keep this forever turned into sorrow. A brush of closeness, a kiss, brought happiness.
Zhan Xiaotian felt as though every color in the world had burst forth at once, rushing into his body and staining his soul, never to be washed away.
Because he now experienced color and flavor, he finally realized how dull and lifeless his previous existence had been. He never wanted to return to that emptiness.
Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, Zhan Xiaotian’s body gradually regained its warmth. Yet this newfound heat, so precious and human, became another form of torment.
Tears filled his eyes as he was suddenly overcome with the urge to cry, though he didn’t know why. He only felt the need to pour all this turmoil onto the immortal before him. Heat coursed through his veins, threatening to turn him into a creature driven purely by instinct, constantly wanting more.
For the first time, he felt fear—a concept he had never understood before. The sudden surge of fear consumed him.
Zhan Xiaotian leaned close to Yu Sheng’s ear, whispering endlessly, as if to vent his emotions.
Yu Sheng clawed at his back, unable to hear or see, and repeatedly asked, “What are you saying? Tell me. What did you say?”
Then he saw that this immortal’s eyes were also rimmed with red, his breath burning hot, sharing the same sweet yet painful experience as himself.
Zhan Xiaotian touched the immortal’s cheeks and earlobes, and in an instant, he felt as though his entire heart was filled to the brim.
So good...
Yu Sheng was tortured beyond endurance, seemingly pushed to his limit. He bit down on Zhan Xiaotian’s shoulder, only to invite even more teasing in return.
The bite mark wasn’t deep, barely breaking the skin. Yu Sheng was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace. The world spun, and he realized their positions had switched. Looking back at Zhan Xiaotian’s shoulder, he noticed that the rate of healing was slowing.
Was it... about to...?
Yu Sheng’s vision blurred repeatedly. His senses had become sharper, yet the dizziness prevented him from seeing clearly. His lips pouted as though he were about to cry from grievance, but he was soon soothed by gentle words and care, both front and back, comforting him tenderly.
Once it was all over and he had completely surrendered, Zhan Xiaotian shamelessly leaned in and kissed him on the ear again and again.
Only then did Yu Sheng manage to focus his eyes properly. He lifted his wrist and noticed that the small cut had almost disappeared, and the pain was gone, but there were still traces of blood, indistinct.
If he had known that the so-called "help" would be like this...
Yu Sheng lay on Zhan Xiaotian’s body, gasping for breath. His senses were still overwhelmed by the recent sensations, his nose twitching, looking utterly aggrieved. After a while, it seemed like he realized something, suddenly frowning and pushing himself up.
"Go out..."
Hearing his soft command, Zhan Xiaotian’s eyes darkened with a dangerous gleam. Startled, Yu Sheng's legs went weak, and without caring about the rest, he scrambled to escape, making a small sound as he did.
If he had known such a sound would be made, he might have been thankful for his deafness.
Zhan Xiaotian pulled him back, his lips pressing against Yu Sheng's neck, leaving a mark. When Yu Sheng tried to pull away, he tightened his embrace, making Yu Sheng kick his legs in frustration.
Yu Sheng felt Zhan Xiaotian’s kisses all over him, not leaving any part untouched. However, his body was just too tired, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke up the next day, his body was clean and refreshed, and his clothes were neat. The magic circle, the blood stains, and the animal corpses in the corner were all gone.
A savory smell of roasted meat wafted into his nostrils. Yu Sheng saw a piece of perfectly roasted pork belly, golden and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and leaned in, ready to take a bite. But the closer he got, the further the meat seemed to move away. When he got even closer, someone kissed him on the lips instead.
Where’s the meat?
Yu Sheng looked at Zhan Xiaotian, his eyes still half-closed from sleep, his gaze filled with silent reproach for not getting the meat.
Zhan Xiaotian cleared his throat, blew on the meat, kissed it to make sure it wasn't too hot, and then fed it to Yu Sheng.
The meat was crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside, perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of salt. It was soft and easy to chew, not tough at all... Ah...
After swallowing a piece of meat and licking his lips, Yu Sheng finally fully woke up and suddenly opened his eyes wide.
His expression at that moment could probably be summed up in three questions: Who am I? Where am I? What have I done?!
Recalling everything that happened the previous night, Yu Sheng's mood grew heavy, his expression became more complex, and his mind seemed to shut down.
With a dazed look, Yu Sheng got up, stumbled off the bed, and wobbled before crashing into Zhan Xiaotian’s arms, which were filled with strength and the warmth of the rising sun.
The present reality was too beautiful... He didn’t dare look.
Zhan Xiaotian helped the dazed Yu Sheng sit down on the soft animal pelts he had spread out nearby, continuing to feed him bite by bite. Even though Yu Sheng’s brain had completely shut down and he had entered a state of petrification, his mouth still remembered the instinct to eat.
Internally, he was screaming and panicking, quickly contacting the other versions of himself: "Ahh, what do I do? I accidentally slept with the protagonist! Ahhh!"
Ghost World Yu Sheng: Calm down, it's just a small matter.
Spirit World Yu Sheng: Huh? You just slept?
Human World Yu Sheng: ...??? Who are you? What have you done to my pure self?
System: Heh.
Yu Shengs: ...Why is the signal perfect at this time?
System: Fixed it. Hosts, there’s a way back, when do you want to try it?