Dec 28, 2023
—
by
Juno
in Fight for Peace and Love
After arriving at the hotel, the two of them quickly freshened up and headed to their respective beds.
Qin Baichuan had booked a double room. Although he had the inclination to reserve a king-size bed, he was afraid of startling Bai Luoluo. In the end, he resisted the temptation.
Bai Luoluo was unaware of what Qin Baichuan was thinking at the moment. He lay on the bed, quietly gazing at the ceiling, and soon drifted off to sleep as soon as his eyes closed.
Listening to Bai Luoluo’s steady breathing beside him, Qin Baichuan marveled at how easily Bai Luoluo could fall asleep with just a pillow. Normally, it took him over an hour to reluctantly slip into slumber. However, influenced by Bai Luoluo today, he found himself gradually entering the realm of dreams in less than fifteen minutes.
Both of them had a dreamless night.
The next morning, a little past five, they dressed and headed to the mountaintop together.
The dark clouds had already revealed a faint white light, and in a moment, the newborn sunrise would be visible. The mountain wind was strong, numbing Bai Luoluo’s face. Qin Baichuan pulled a mask from his bag and handed it to Bai Luoluo, cautioning him to be careful not to get facial paralysis from the chilly breeze.
Bai Luoluo chuckled, “Facial paralysis from the wind? That’s a new one.”
Qin Baichuan replied, “Certainly, why don’t you give it a try?”
Bai Luoluo thought better of it and obediently put on the mask.
After a short while, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a bright red hue across the surrounding clouds and sky. The colossal fireball unleashed light and warmth, dispelling the darkness and cold. Its vivid red color seemed as if it could incinerate everything, creating a majestic spectacle that left them both in awe. Bai Luoluo was captivated by the view.
The two remained silent throughout the sunrise, only ending their observation when the sunlight became too intense to look at directly.
Qin Baichuan asked, “Did you enjoy it?”
Bai Luoluo replied, “I did.”
Qin Baichuan smiled, “How about we travel together again when we have the time?”
Bai Luoluo agreed, “Sure.”
After the sunrise, they descended the mountain during the day and explored the nearby scenic areas before returning home.
Bai Luoluo had a great time and thought Qin Baichuan was a genuinely nice person—considerate, knowledgeable, and seemingly well-traveled. He felt that they were well-suited to be friends.
Qin Baichuan, with a smirk that could be interpreted in various ways, remarked that Bai Luoluo was the first to say he was suitable to be friends with.
Bai Luoluo found it puzzling and asked why, thinking that someone like Qin Baichuan should have plenty of friends.
Qin Baichuan didn’t provide a direct answer. He simply shook his head and said, “You’ll find out in time.”
After that, the two went their separate ways, and Bai Luoluo returned home.
With a full two-month vacation, Bai Luoluo took the time to rest after his travels. His father was engrossed in chess, his mother in square dancing, and he found himself a bit bored when alone at home. So, when Qin Baichuan invited him for drinks, he almost always accepted. Through these gatherings, their friendship deepened, and Bai Luoluo came to consider Qin Baichuan as a true friend.
The compensation for the previous task also came through, and it turned out to be a six-figure sum. Bai Luoluo, looking at the numbers on the ATM machine, thought that with a bit more effort, he might be able to afford a toilet in the city center…
The break was over, and it was time for the next task.
Bai Luoluo fasted for two days, cleaned himself up, and then lay down in the hibernation pod. The lid of the pod slowly descended, covering his vision in darkness.
The mechanical voice of the system woke Bai Luoluo from deep sleep. He opened his eyes and found himself in a simple room.
The room contained only a bed and a table. On the table, there was a cup, and apart from that, there was nothing else.
Feeling a bit unsettled, Bai Luoluo asked, “System?”
“Hello, I am the 1472 system,” the system replied. “Pleased to be of service.”
Bai Luoluo cleverly remarked, “I remember your employee number! Aren’t you the system from the previous world?”
The system replied coldly, “You remembered it wrong. In the previous world, it was 15739.”
Bai Luoluo: “…” Well, he did make that up.
The system said, “That system ate too many melon seeds, and his intelligence dropped to a critical point. He has been taken for recycling and reconstruction.”
Bai Luoluo: “(⊙v⊙)…” It seems like he indulged in quite a few as well.
The system changed the topic: “Do you accept the information about this worldline?”
Bai Luoluo said, “Accept.”
As soon as he uttered the word “accept,” his mind was flooded with a vast amount of memories about this world.
In this world, Bai Luoluo was actually a criminal named Ling Yuming, convicted of a crime called “ta:n’w:u.” As an accountant, he had embezzled nearly a billion in funds through company loopholes and lost it all through gambling. This world was somewhat different from Bai Luoluo’s original world; it had developed into the era of the grand universe, and the currency he embezzled had an exceptionally high value. Rumor had it that with a bit more money, one could buy an entire planet.
After stealing so much money, the consequences of being caught were particularly grim. Ling Yuming was sentenced to death, with an additional twenty years of forced labor to repay his debts.
Ling Yuming found himself becoming a cheap labor force in a miserable state. However, after working for over a year, he was suddenly taken out of prison and transported to another planet.
Thinking he was already as good as dead, Ling Yuming didn’t resist or struggle. When he arrived on the new planet, he discovered what awaited him.
The environment of that planet was peculiar, filled with dangerous flora and fauna. After being thrown there, Ling Yuming struggled to survive and encountered a young man on his journey. The youth had white hair, purple eyes, extraordinary beauty, and a slender figure that made him seem vulnerable. This perverted Ling Yuming had other intentions toward him.
Just as Bai Luoluo was thinking about what a scumbag Ling Yuming was, he was stunned to witness Ling Yuming being eaten.
Yes, eaten.
The handsome and pitiful young man, after saying something not amusing, suddenly had vines shoot out from the ground beneath him. The vines suspended Ling Yuming and threw him into a giant flower.
The flower kept wriggling, and Ling Yuming’s screams continued. After a moment, the flower opened again, spitting out a mostly digested set of bones.
Then, the youth showed a thoroughly bored expression, seemingly ready to find the next person to play with.
Bai Luoluo: “…” He raised his hand and slowly supported his nearly unhinged jaw.
The targets of the first three worlds’ tasks were all pitiable, giving Bai Luoluo the illusion that he was serving pitiable individuals. As long as he gave them a lot of love, the tasks could receive high-level evaluations.
However, the target in this world wasn’t pitiable; it was a man-eating flower.
Bai Luoluo sat on the bed, saying he wanted to eat some melon seeds to calm down.
The system said, “Don’t you know that consuming data melon seeds can lead to a decrease in intelligence?”
Bai Luoluo asked, “… Does that apply to humans too?”
The system was silent for a moment and then said, “Currently, there is no record of humans consuming melon seeds.” After all, which person would allow the system to incessantly crunch away in their mind? After serving so many worlds, Bai Luoluo realized that this job was unique to this particular staff member.
Bai Luoluo said, “Okay, without melon seeds, I’m going to suffocate.”
The system replied, “… Suffocating is still better than becoming mentally disabled.”
Bai Luoluo said, “If a system becomes mentally disabled, will it be destroyed?”
The system said, “No, it will only be retrained—as if a university student is starting over from kindergarten.”
Bai Luoluo thought for a moment and felt that being destroyed might be better.
Bai Luoluo is currently in the time when Ling Yuming is still doing heavy labor. It’s estimated that he won’t have to wait much longer before being directly transported to that strange planet where even rabbits can jump up and bite people’s kneecaps.
As Bai Luoluo is contemplating how many days he has left, someone opens the door and walks in.
Three burly men enter. Although Ling Yuming isn’t short, he appears particularly small in comparison to these men. The three of them don’t bother with any greetings; they point their guns at Bai Luoluo and, as if lifting a chicken, they pick him up by the shoulders and carry him out of the room.
Bai Luoluo cooperates by acting panicked and asks where they are taking him and what they want to do.
Those people don’t say a word until they callously throw Bai Luoluo onto the spaceship. One of them sneers and says, “Enjoy life.”
Bai Luoluo: “…”
The spaceship’s door clangs shut, and Bai Luoluo’s journey officially begins.
There are about thirty to forty people on the spaceship, all of whom seem to be death row inmates with serious crimes, each with an unfriendly expression.
Although Ling Yuming usually does administrative work, he hasn’t neglected his physical fitness and loves outdoor activities. So, he doesn’t have a weak physique. While some people glare at him, they ultimately don’t make a move.
The spaceship flies for about three days. During this time, only machines deliver food to them on schedule, and there is no sight of any staff members.
Just as the people on the spaceship are getting restless, they finally arrive at their destination.
One morning, everyone is given life jackets and a backpack. Bai Luoluo opens his backpack and finds parachute clothing and some essential items. The people on the spaceship are given thirty minutes to put on the equipment. They hurriedly put on their life jackets, but before they can ask what’s going on, the floor beneath their feet is pulled away, and they are thrown out of the spaceship.
As Bai Luoluo is tossed into the air, his miserable screams don’t cease. Fortunately, the system can help him with most professional issues, like adjusting his posture and opening the parachute. In the strong wind at high altitudes and without protective goggles, Bai Luoluo’s tears flow incessantly, and he can hardly see anything.
Fortunately, the system doesn’t encounter any issues and opens the parachute at the appropriate height for Bai Luoluo.
Hanging on the parachute, Bai Luoluo descends slowly and eventually lands on a green grassy field.
Bai Luoluo: “I’m going to throw up.”
The system says, “Throw up.”
Bai Luoluo: “Ugh!!!”
System: “…”
After vomiting for more than ten minutes, Bai Luoluo finally recovered. However, his head was still a bit dizzy. He sat on the ground for a while, then started to check what was in his backpack.
While others might think this is a wilderness survival scenario, Bai Luoluo speculates that it’s probably just a game, a game specially prepared for someone.
In the backpack, there are several bottles of water, a lighter, candles, rope, a survival knife, a few biscuits, some first aid supplies, and various small items. All essential for jungle survival. Bai Luoluo looks at his parachute and thinks it should still be useful. He wraps it around his backpack with the rope and sets off.
The environment on this planet is very pleasant.
Where Bai Luoluo is, there are no tall trees, only low bushes, and the flat ground is covered with green grass. The grass is adorned with small flowers, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
For someone who doesn’t know, they might genuinely believe it’s safe here.
Bai Luoluo is lucky; he quickly finds a small stream. Seeing fish in the water, he thinks it’s a good idea to catch a few fish here. The compressed biscuits in the bag are quite precious and can be eaten in emergencies.
Thinking so, Bai Luoluo asks the system to give him a tutorial on fishing.
After searching, the system finds a method for weaving a fish basket and instructs Bai Luoluo to find some vines and follow the instructions.
Bai Luoluo looks around and surprisingly finds some vines. He quickly cuts a section, then spends half an hour weaving a rudimentary fish basket. After that, he digs up a few small insects from the soil and secures them in the basket with a wooden stick.
It must be said that without the system’s guidance, Bai Luoluo would probably be on the brink of starving after finishing the compressed biscuits.
While there is a water source here, there are no trees, and no concealed places. Once encountering wild beasts or malicious individuals, it could be troublesome.
Bai Luoluo plans to catch some fish here and then head into the jungle, where he can build a shelter and assess the situation.
The system in this world is quite quiet. It only responds when Bai Luoluo asks something, and the answers are detailed with a good attitude. Bai Luoluo sighs, realizing that the AI service industry might still have hope…
While waiting for the fish, Bai Luoluo takes the opportunity to review the plot of this world. He discovers some unsettling things, such as the fact that the mission targets in this world seem to have eliminated several people before encountering Ling Yuming. Moreover, despite appearing harmless in front of Ling Yuming, the mission target doesn’t even know his name, and Ling Yuming addressed him casually without any suspicion. This is highly abnormal because Ling Yuming never suspected someone who appeared alone in the jungle and seemed entirely harmless—unless the person is genuinely harmless, how did he survive in the jungle?
Bai Luoluo summarizes a pattern and believes that the silver-haired youth is probably not human.
The system expresses deep despair at Bai Luoluo’s conclusion and says, “Have you ever seen a human extend vines to wrap someone up?”
Bai Luoluo: “…”
System: “Or control flowers?”
Bai Luoluo: “…”
System: “Sigh, why did you eat so many melon seeds?” The system’s sigh is so heavy, as if it sees an unruly junior, addicted to melon seeds, and about to turn into a plant due to declining intelligence.
Bai Luoluo ashamedly says, “I’m sorry, I won’t eat them anymore.”
The system says, “Even if you want to, you can’t.”
If someone who didn’t know them listened to their conversation, they would probably think they were on drugs rather than eating sunflower seeds.
After chatting with the system for a while, a few fish had entered Bai Luoluo’s fish basket. However, the fish that swam in looked a bit strange, with unusually long teeth protruding directly from their mouths. Moreover, their two eyes were on the top of their heads, making them look ugly.
Bai Luoluo said, “This fish looks so ugly, can we eat it?”
The system replied, “You’re about to eat it, and you still find it ugly?”
Bai Luoluo thought about it and agreed. He patted the fish on the head, saying sorry for calling it ugly. The fish, with dead eyes, flapped its tail in a struggle.
Then, Bai Luoluo scraped off the fish scales by the water, gutted them, and roasted them over a fire. While roasting, he commented that the fish’s flesh felt tender, and with a bit of chili and spices, it should taste delicious.
The system responded with a series of ellipses.
The fish meat on this planet is indeed different from Earth. Although there are no special seasonings, just simple processing, the fish’s flavor is not too strong. The meat is fresh and sweet, and after roasting, the fish skin is crispy. The taste of the fish meat is somewhat similar to the pork floss Bai Luoluo made at home—dry and fragrant. Bai Luoluo ate two fish, roasted the remaining ones, and put them in his backpack before heading towards the jungle.
The system thinks Bai Luoluo, this staff member, is quite unique. Most people who came to this world before were quite nervous, usually heading straight to the mission target. Bai Luoluo leisurely roasted fish on the roadside and even took the time to pack them.
In fact, Bai Luoluo is still a bit nervous, but his nervousness revolves around how to greet the mission target, what tone to use, and what expression to show to survive a bit longer…
With these thoughts, Bai Luoluo finally reached the edge of the jungle when the sun was setting.
The wilderness at night is very dangerous. Although Bai Luoluo hasn’t seen any particularly dangerous animals so far, he feels that he cannot relax his vigilance. Thus, he decides to set up a bonfire outside the jungle and takes out the parachute he used earlier as a makeshift sleeping bag.
The night sky here is exceptionally beautiful.
Stars carve a bright Milky Way across the dark night sky. This planet has two moons at night, one larger and one smaller, both extremely bright. The emitted light shrouds the entire planet in a white glow, not as dim and terrifying as Bai Luoluo imagined.
There are also some special luminescent plants in the jungle, scattered in the grass and treetops, creating a lively atmosphere like a festival.
Bai Luoluo lies on the ground, about to fall asleep, but he hears faint voices not far from the jungle. He startles awake, immediately asking, “Is someone there?”
The system says, “Yes, there are people in the jungle.”
Bai Luoluo puts the bag on his back, holds the knife, and slowly approaches. As he gets closer, he roughly understands what’s going on. There’s a man threatening another, asking them to take off their clothes, seemingly intending to do something inappropriate. Bai Luoluo had mentally prepared for such situations before coming to this planet, but now that he’s actually facing it, he still finds it a bit unbearable.
Bai Luoluo quickens his pace and soon sees two people behind the trees.
One was standing and taking off his pants, while the other fell to the ground, seemingly injured. The one who was standing looked obscene and looked like he was not a good person at first glance. Bai Luoluo was quite angry. He took a few steps forward with a knife and said coldly: “What are you doing?”
The man was startled by Bai Luoluo’s sudden appearance. He stopped his actions and scrutinized Bai Luoluo up and down, seemingly assessing the strength of both sides.
This man was about 1.71 meters tall, while Bai Luoluo stood at a full 1.8 meters. If it came to a fight, Bai Luoluo would likely have the upper hand.
Bai Luoluo, with a fierce look, said, “What are you looking at? Get the hell out of here. If you keep staring, I’ll gouge your eyeballs out.”
The man, upon hearing Bai Luoluo’s words, forced a smile and said, “Big brother, I was here first.”
Bai Luoluo, playing the part of a rude person, said, “I was born before you. Can I stuff you back into your mother’s belly?”
The man’s smile faded a bit. He picked up the things on the ground and turned to leave. Bai Luoluo coldly said, “The next time I see you, I’ll kill you.”
Upon hearing Bai Luoluo’s threat, the man hurriedly increased his pace and ran into the depths of the jungle.
Bai Luoluo, watching him disappear into the woods, finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked down at the person on the ground and walked over, asking, “Are you okay?”
The person curled up on the ground slowly turned his head and softly said, “Thank you.”
The moonlight wasn’t too bright, and Bai Luoluo hadn’t carefully examined the person on the ground before. So, when he walked over and saw the person’s face up close, Bai Luoluo couldn’t help but cry out in his heart.
Silver hair, purple eyes, a pitiable gaze, ragged clothes, and a reddish-purple mark on the slender and fair arm – everything about him seemed to invoke sympathy.
However, no matter how pitiable he looked, all Bai Luoluo could think of was that scene – the person in front of him having vines extending from his feet, rolling him into a flower and feeding him to it.
Bai Luoluo said, “System, what should I do?”
The system responded, “You saved him, deal with it yourself.”
That’s right, when you save someone, you have to see it through to the end. Moreover, Bai Luoluo had a feeling that if he didn’t take care of the person in front of him, and just turned and walked away, he might log out before he even took fifty steps. Taking a deep breath, Bai Luoluo encouraged himself, extended his hand toward the person, and said, “Are you okay?”
The man with silver hair and purple eyes slowly turned his head, revealing a beautiful face. His eyes were teary, giving him a pitiful yet adorable look.
Bai Luoluo asked, “Can you walk?”
The man didn’t speak, just lowered his head to look at his own feet. Following his gaze, Bai Luoluo discovered a noticeable wound on his foot, as if it had been cut by something sharp.
Bai Luoluo thought, “Friend, your acting skills would earn you an Oscar on Earth.” However, he dared not show it and simply said, “Can I carry you on my back?”
The man stared at Bai Luoluo for a moment, as if trying to find something in his eyes, but he failed. Bai Luoluo’s black eyes remained calm, without any malicious intent. The man found it interesting and, thinking so, nodded slowly.
Seeing his agreement, Bai Luoluo bent down and lifted him onto his back.
The man seemed shorter than Bai Luoluo, but he was incredibly light. Bai Luoluo carried him step by step towards the location of his campfire, silently drumming up courage in his heart.
Bai Luoluo asked the system if there was a chance the man would suddenly attack and eat him.
The system said, “Stay calm.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Will he not eat me if I stay calm?”
The system replied, “No, what I mean is if you stay calm, you’ll be mentally prepared when he decides to eat you.”
Bai Luoluo sighed.
Despite his concerns, Bai Luoluo dutifully carried the man to his campfire and gently set him down.
The silver-haired man sat down, curling into a ball and appearing somewhat uneasy.
Knowing he wasn’t easy to deal with, Bai Luoluo felt a bit soft seeing him like this. He asked, “What’s your name? How did you end up here? Are you cold?”
The man with silver hair remained silent, lowering his head and burying his face between his knees.
Helpless, Bai Luoluo said, “Can you speak?” He remembered that the silver-haired man could speak, but he didn’t seem willing to engage with Bai Luoluo at the moment.
Seeing no response, Bai Luoluo approached slowly, squatting down and grabbing his ankle.
The silver-haired man immediately showed a vigilant expression. However, the next thing Bai Luoluo did was to clean his wound with a bottle of clean mineral water and apply some anti-inflammatory ointment.
In the wilderness, clean water and medication were the most precious resources. The silver-haired man seemed somewhat surprised that Bai Luoluo would use these valuable items on him so readily.
As for Bai Luoluo, he thought, since he could log out at any time, why not use these items to gain favor with the big shot?
After treating the wound, Bai Luoluo took out the fish he had roasted during the day and handed it to him, saying, “Eat.”
The silver-haired man hesitated for a moment but took the roasted fish from Bai Luoluo. He ate it slowly, savoring each bite.
After finishing one fish, Bai Luoluo asked, “Do you want more?”
The silver-haired man nodded.
So Bai Luoluo handed him another fish.
After eating two fish, the silver-haired man seemed satisfied and let out a small yawn.
Bai Luoluo pointed to the spot where he had been sleeping earlier and said, “Go to sleep.”
The silver-haired man blinked his eyes.
The silver-haired beauty rubbed his eyes and looked at Bai Luoluo with a dazed expression. Bai Luoluo greeted him, “Morning.”
The beauty nodded.
Bailuoluo said, “Can’t you speak? Can I call you Xiaobai?
The beauty, upon hearing the term “Xiaobai,” pursed his lips, then opened his mouth and said, “You can call me Xuehui.” His voice perfectly matched his appearance, a melodic sound that Bailuoluo found difficult to describe in words, akin to a musical instrument he had never heard before; just one sentence made the heart feel at ease.
The name Xuehui sounded a bit peculiar, and Bailuoluo didn’t delve into it. He said, “It’s so dangerous here. How did you end up here?”
Xuehui said, “My home is here.”
Here it comes—just like what Xuehui said to Ling Yuming before, now he repeated it to Bailuoluo, saying, “I want to go to the deepest part of the jungle; that’s where my home is.”
Bailuoluo asked, “You live there alone?”
Xuehui replied, “My father and mother are there.” When he spoke, a hint of sorrow appeared in his purple eyes, causing Bailuoluo’s heart to tremble. He couldn’t help but say, “I’ll take you there.”
Xuehui asked, “Can you really?”
Bailuoluo said, “Of course.” —After all, aren’t we here to accompany you, the big shot?
Xuehui said, “Thank you.”
Bailuoluo asked, “Hungry?”
Xuehui nodded.
Bailuoluo innocently remarked, “I’m hungry too. You ate all the fish yesterday.”
Xuehui: “…” Are you blaming me?
Bailuoluo said, “Let’s go, we’ll catch some fish.”
Xuehui said, “But my feet hurt.”
Bailuoluo looked at Xuehui’s injured leg and felt that it was indeed not suitable for the injured big shot to go into the water. So he said, “It’s okay, I’ll carry you over, you watch me catch the fish. In the future, when you’re alone, it’s good to have some survival skills.”
So he really carried Xuehui and returned to the same small stream.
While carrying Xuehui, Bailuoluo was extra careful with his movements, avoiding all the sensitive areas of Xuehui. He reminded himself that men don’t take advantage of each other, especially not to make the big shot feel uncomfortable.
After putting Xuehui on the bank, Bailuoluo rolled up his trousers and went into the water. He caught fish while talking to Xuehui, “Men should be strong. It’s okay to get hurt; you should look forward. Your parents are still waiting for you to come home in the middle of the jungle.”
The educated big shot: “…”
As it was hot, Bailuoluo took off his upper body clothes, and thanks to the fact that Ling Yuming had a decent amount of exercise even while being confined, his chest and abdominal muscles were still visible. It was not like Bailuoluo was displaying a beer belly while fishing in the river.
Today, Bailuoluo had great luck. The fish basket was full as soon as it was dropped into the water. He happily lifted the fish, and on the riverbank, he even found some wild chili peppers.
Bailuoluo said, “We can eat well today.”
Xuehui tilted his head and looked at Bailuoluo, making a soft sound of agreement.
While cleaning the fish scales and innards, Bailuoluo asked Xuehui questions about the planet, such as whether there were small mammals to eat, whether large carnivores were dangerous, and so on.
Xuehui answered some questions and ignored others. His gaze was fixed on the fish in Bailuoluo’s hands, showing a clear concentration that Bailuoluo could notice.
Bailuoluo crushed the picked chili peppers and spread them on the fish, adding a bit of salt from his backpack. He mentioned if there were any wild spices like garlic or ginger on this planet. Xuehui asked, “Garlic? Ginger?”
“Yes.” Bailuoluo also liked to eat. As he fantasized, he showed a happy expression and said, “Fish roasted this way tastes the best.”
Xuehui asked, “What do they look like?”
Bailuoluo gave a simple description, and Xuehui showed a thoughtful expression.
The wild chili peppers weren’t too spicy, but when spread on the fish, they added flavor, and the aroma was tantalizing. Bailuoluo roasted a fish for Xuehui first. Xuehui took a bite, and his brows furrowed.
Bailuoluo asked, “What’s wrong? Is it not good?”
Xuehui said, “My mouth hurts a lot…”
Bailuoluo thought it might be an issue with the chili peppers and quickly took a bite. After chewing a bit, he said, “No, it’s just the right taste.” Only then did he remember that spiciness was indeed a form of pain. He laughed and said, “If you can’t handle it, I can roast you a non-spicy one.”
But Xuehui said, “No need, I’ll try again.”
Bailuoluo saw his lips turning red from the spiciness, his brows tightly furrowed, but he still didn’t want to put down the fish. There was a hint of a smile in Bailuoluo’s eyes.
While the two were eating, a strange sound came from the direction of the jungle. It was faint, but Bailuoluo heard it. He asked the system, “How many people are over there?”
The system replied, “Three or four.”
Knowing that he couldn’t confront them head-on, Bailuoluo decided to pick up Xuehui and get ready to hide. However, Xuehui still wanted to eat the fish, looking at Bailuoluo eagerly.
Bailuoluo, feeling helpless from his gaze, said, “Someone is coming. We’ll eat in a bit.”
Only then did Xuehui reluctantly say, “Okay.”
Dec 28, 2023
—
by
Juno
in Fight for Peace and Love
After arriving at the hotel, the two of them quickly freshened up and headed to their respective beds.
Qin Baichuan had booked a double room. Although he had the inclination to reserve a king-size bed, he was afraid of startling Bai Luoluo. In the end, he resisted the temptation.
Bai Luoluo was unaware of what Qin Baichuan was thinking at the moment. He lay on the bed, quietly gazing at the ceiling, and soon drifted off to sleep as soon as his eyes closed.
Listening to Bai Luoluo’s steady breathing beside him, Qin Baichuan marveled at how easily Bai Luoluo could fall asleep with just a pillow. Normally, it took him over an hour to reluctantly slip into slumber. However, influenced by Bai Luoluo today, he found himself gradually entering the realm of dreams in less than fifteen minutes.
Both of them had a dreamless night.
The next morning, a little past five, they dressed and headed to the mountaintop together.
The dark clouds had already revealed a faint white light, and in a moment, the newborn sunrise would be visible. The mountain wind was strong, numbing Bai Luoluo’s face. Qin Baichuan pulled a mask from his bag and handed it to Bai Luoluo, cautioning him to be careful not to get facial paralysis from the chilly breeze.
Bai Luoluo chuckled, “Facial paralysis from the wind? That’s a new one.”
Qin Baichuan replied, “Certainly, why don’t you give it a try?”
Bai Luoluo thought better of it and obediently put on the mask.
After a short while, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a bright red hue across the surrounding clouds and sky. The colossal fireball unleashed light and warmth, dispelling the darkness and cold. Its vivid red color seemed as if it could incinerate everything, creating a majestic spectacle that left them both in awe. Bai Luoluo was captivated by the view.
The two remained silent throughout the sunrise, only ending their observation when the sunlight became too intense to look at directly.
Qin Baichuan asked, “Did you enjoy it?”
Bai Luoluo replied, “I did.”
Qin Baichuan smiled, “How about we travel together again when we have the time?”
Bai Luoluo agreed, “Sure.”
After the sunrise, they descended the mountain during the day and explored the nearby scenic areas before returning home.
Bai Luoluo had a great time and thought Qin Baichuan was a genuinely nice person—considerate, knowledgeable, and seemingly well-traveled. He felt that they were well-suited to be friends.
Qin Baichuan, with a smirk that could be interpreted in various ways, remarked that Bai Luoluo was the first to say he was suitable to be friends with.
Bai Luoluo found it puzzling and asked why, thinking that someone like Qin Baichuan should have plenty of friends.
Qin Baichuan didn’t provide a direct answer. He simply shook his head and said, “You’ll find out in time.”
After that, the two went their separate ways, and Bai Luoluo returned home.
With a full two-month vacation, Bai Luoluo took the time to rest after his travels. His father was engrossed in chess, his mother in square dancing, and he found himself a bit bored when alone at home. So, when Qin Baichuan invited him for drinks, he almost always accepted. Through these gatherings, their friendship deepened, and Bai Luoluo came to consider Qin Baichuan as a true friend.
The compensation for the previous task also came through, and it turned out to be a six-figure sum. Bai Luoluo, looking at the numbers on the ATM machine, thought that with a bit more effort, he might be able to afford a toilet in the city center…
The break was over, and it was time for the next task.
Bai Luoluo fasted for two days, cleaned himself up, and then lay down in the hibernation pod. The lid of the pod slowly descended, covering his vision in darkness.
The mechanical voice of the system woke Bai Luoluo from deep sleep. He opened his eyes and found himself in a simple room.
The room contained only a bed and a table. On the table, there was a cup, and apart from that, there was nothing else.
Feeling a bit unsettled, Bai Luoluo asked, “System?”
“Hello, I am the 1472 system,” the system replied. “Pleased to be of service.”
Bai Luoluo cleverly remarked, “I remember your employee number! Aren’t you the system from the previous world?”
The system replied coldly, “You remembered it wrong. In the previous world, it was 15739.”
Bai Luoluo: “…” Well, he did make that up.
The system said, “That system ate too many melon seeds, and his intelligence dropped to a critical point. He has been taken for recycling and reconstruction.”
Bai Luoluo: “(⊙v⊙)…” It seems like he indulged in quite a few as well.
The system changed the topic: “Do you accept the information about this worldline?”
Bai Luoluo said, “Accept.”
As soon as he uttered the word “accept,” his mind was flooded with a vast amount of memories about this world.
In this world, Bai Luoluo was actually a criminal named Ling Yuming, convicted of a crime called “ta:n’w:u.” As an accountant, he had embezzled nearly a billion in funds through company loopholes and lost it all through gambling. This world was somewhat different from Bai Luoluo’s original world; it had developed into the era of the grand universe, and the currency he embezzled had an exceptionally high value. Rumor had it that with a bit more money, one could buy an entire planet.
After stealing so much money, the consequences of being caught were particularly grim. Ling Yuming was sentenced to death, with an additional twenty years of forced labor to repay his debts.
Ling Yuming found himself becoming a cheap labor force in a miserable state. However, after working for over a year, he was suddenly taken out of prison and transported to another planet.
Thinking he was already as good as dead, Ling Yuming didn’t resist or struggle. When he arrived on the new planet, he discovered what awaited him.
The environment of that planet was peculiar, filled with dangerous flora and fauna. After being thrown there, Ling Yuming struggled to survive and encountered a young man on his journey. The youth had white hair, purple eyes, extraordinary beauty, and a slender figure that made him seem vulnerable. This perverted Ling Yuming had other intentions toward him.
Just as Bai Luoluo was thinking about what a scumbag Ling Yuming was, he was stunned to witness Ling Yuming being eaten.
Yes, eaten.
The handsome and pitiful young man, after saying something not amusing, suddenly had vines shoot out from the ground beneath him. The vines suspended Ling Yuming and threw him into a giant flower.
The flower kept wriggling, and Ling Yuming’s screams continued. After a moment, the flower opened again, spitting out a mostly digested set of bones.
Then, the youth showed a thoroughly bored expression, seemingly ready to find the next person to play with.
Bai Luoluo: “…” He raised his hand and slowly supported his nearly unhinged jaw.
The targets of the first three worlds’ tasks were all pitiable, giving Bai Luoluo the illusion that he was serving pitiable individuals. As long as he gave them a lot of love, the tasks could receive high-level evaluations.
However, the target in this world wasn’t pitiable; it was a man-eating flower.
Bai Luoluo sat on the bed, saying he wanted to eat some melon seeds to calm down.
The system said, “Don’t you know that consuming data melon seeds can lead to a decrease in intelligence?”
Bai Luoluo asked, “… Does that apply to humans too?”
The system was silent for a moment and then said, “Currently, there is no record of humans consuming melon seeds.” After all, which person would allow the system to incessantly crunch away in their mind? After serving so many worlds, Bai Luoluo realized that this job was unique to this particular staff member.
Bai Luoluo said, “Okay, without melon seeds, I’m going to suffocate.”
The system replied, “… Suffocating is still better than becoming mentally disabled.”
Bai Luoluo said, “If a system becomes mentally disabled, will it be destroyed?”
The system said, “No, it will only be retrained—as if a university student is starting over from kindergarten.”
Bai Luoluo thought for a moment and felt that being destroyed might be better.
Bai Luoluo is currently in the time when Ling Yuming is still doing heavy labor. It’s estimated that he won’t have to wait much longer before being directly transported to that strange planet where even rabbits can jump up and bite people’s kneecaps.
As Bai Luoluo is contemplating how many days he has left, someone opens the door and walks in.
Three burly men enter. Although Ling Yuming isn’t short, he appears particularly small in comparison to these men. The three of them don’t bother with any greetings; they point their guns at Bai Luoluo and, as if lifting a chicken, they pick him up by the shoulders and carry him out of the room.
Bai Luoluo cooperates by acting panicked and asks where they are taking him and what they want to do.
Those people don’t say a word until they callously throw Bai Luoluo onto the spaceship. One of them sneers and says, “Enjoy life.”
Bai Luoluo: “…”
The spaceship’s door clangs shut, and Bai Luoluo’s journey officially begins.
There are about thirty to forty people on the spaceship, all of whom seem to be death row inmates with serious crimes, each with an unfriendly expression.
Although Ling Yuming usually does administrative work, he hasn’t neglected his physical fitness and loves outdoor activities. So, he doesn’t have a weak physique. While some people glare at him, they ultimately don’t make a move.
The spaceship flies for about three days. During this time, only machines deliver food to them on schedule, and there is no sight of any staff members.
Just as the people on the spaceship are getting restless, they finally arrive at their destination.
One morning, everyone is given life jackets and a backpack. Bai Luoluo opens his backpack and finds parachute clothing and some essential items. The people on the spaceship are given thirty minutes to put on the equipment. They hurriedly put on their life jackets, but before they can ask what’s going on, the floor beneath their feet is pulled away, and they are thrown out of the spaceship.
As Bai Luoluo is tossed into the air, his miserable screams don’t cease. Fortunately, the system can help him with most professional issues, like adjusting his posture and opening the parachute. In the strong wind at high altitudes and without protective goggles, Bai Luoluo’s tears flow incessantly, and he can hardly see anything.
Fortunately, the system doesn’t encounter any issues and opens the parachute at the appropriate height for Bai Luoluo.
Hanging on the parachute, Bai Luoluo descends slowly and eventually lands on a green grassy field.
Bai Luoluo: “I’m going to throw up.”
The system says, “Throw up.”
Bai Luoluo: “Ugh!!!”
System: “…”
After vomiting for more than ten minutes, Bai Luoluo finally recovered. However, his head was still a bit dizzy. He sat on the ground for a while, then started to check what was in his backpack.
While others might think this is a wilderness survival scenario, Bai Luoluo speculates that it’s probably just a game, a game specially prepared for someone.
In the backpack, there are several bottles of water, a lighter, candles, rope, a survival knife, a few biscuits, some first aid supplies, and various small items. All essential for jungle survival. Bai Luoluo looks at his parachute and thinks it should still be useful. He wraps it around his backpack with the rope and sets off.
The environment on this planet is very pleasant.
Where Bai Luoluo is, there are no tall trees, only low bushes, and the flat ground is covered with green grass. The grass is adorned with small flowers, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
For someone who doesn’t know, they might genuinely believe it’s safe here.
Bai Luoluo is lucky; he quickly finds a small stream. Seeing fish in the water, he thinks it’s a good idea to catch a few fish here. The compressed biscuits in the bag are quite precious and can be eaten in emergencies.
Thinking so, Bai Luoluo asks the system to give him a tutorial on fishing.
After searching, the system finds a method for weaving a fish basket and instructs Bai Luoluo to find some vines and follow the instructions.
Bai Luoluo looks around and surprisingly finds some vines. He quickly cuts a section, then spends half an hour weaving a rudimentary fish basket. After that, he digs up a few small insects from the soil and secures them in the basket with a wooden stick.
It must be said that without the system’s guidance, Bai Luoluo would probably be on the brink of starving after finishing the compressed biscuits.
While there is a water source here, there are no trees, and no concealed places. Once encountering wild beasts or malicious individuals, it could be troublesome.
Bai Luoluo plans to catch some fish here and then head into the jungle, where he can build a shelter and assess the situation.
The system in this world is quite quiet. It only responds when Bai Luoluo asks something, and the answers are detailed with a good attitude. Bai Luoluo sighs, realizing that the AI service industry might still have hope…
While waiting for the fish, Bai Luoluo takes the opportunity to review the plot of this world. He discovers some unsettling things, such as the fact that the mission targets in this world seem to have eliminated several people before encountering Ling Yuming. Moreover, despite appearing harmless in front of Ling Yuming, the mission target doesn’t even know his name, and Ling Yuming addressed him casually without any suspicion. This is highly abnormal because Ling Yuming never suspected someone who appeared alone in the jungle and seemed entirely harmless—unless the person is genuinely harmless, how did he survive in the jungle?
Bai Luoluo summarizes a pattern and believes that the silver-haired youth is probably not human.
The system expresses deep despair at Bai Luoluo’s conclusion and says, “Have you ever seen a human extend vines to wrap someone up?”
Bai Luoluo: “…”
System: “Or control flowers?”
Bai Luoluo: “…”
System: “Sigh, why did you eat so many melon seeds?” The system’s sigh is so heavy, as if it sees an unruly junior, addicted to melon seeds, and about to turn into a plant due to declining intelligence.
Bai Luoluo ashamedly says, “I’m sorry, I won’t eat them anymore.”
The system says, “Even if you want to, you can’t.”
If someone who didn’t know them listened to their conversation, they would probably think they were on drugs rather than eating sunflower seeds.
After chatting with the system for a while, a few fish had entered Bai Luoluo’s fish basket. However, the fish that swam in looked a bit strange, with unusually long teeth protruding directly from their mouths. Moreover, their two eyes were on the top of their heads, making them look ugly.
Bai Luoluo said, “This fish looks so ugly, can we eat it?”
The system replied, “You’re about to eat it, and you still find it ugly?”
Bai Luoluo thought about it and agreed. He patted the fish on the head, saying sorry for calling it ugly. The fish, with dead eyes, flapped its tail in a struggle.
Then, Bai Luoluo scraped off the fish scales by the water, gutted them, and roasted them over a fire. While roasting, he commented that the fish’s flesh felt tender, and with a bit of chili and spices, it should taste delicious.
The system responded with a series of ellipses.
The fish meat on this planet is indeed different from Earth. Although there are no special seasonings, just simple processing, the fish’s flavor is not too strong. The meat is fresh and sweet, and after roasting, the fish skin is crispy. The taste of the fish meat is somewhat similar to the pork floss Bai Luoluo made at home—dry and fragrant. Bai Luoluo ate two fish, roasted the remaining ones, and put them in his backpack before heading towards the jungle.
The system thinks Bai Luoluo, this staff member, is quite unique. Most people who came to this world before were quite nervous, usually heading straight to the mission target. Bai Luoluo leisurely roasted fish on the roadside and even took the time to pack them.
In fact, Bai Luoluo is still a bit nervous, but his nervousness revolves around how to greet the mission target, what tone to use, and what expression to show to survive a bit longer…
With these thoughts, Bai Luoluo finally reached the edge of the jungle when the sun was setting.
The wilderness at night is very dangerous. Although Bai Luoluo hasn’t seen any particularly dangerous animals so far, he feels that he cannot relax his vigilance. Thus, he decides to set up a bonfire outside the jungle and takes out the parachute he used earlier as a makeshift sleeping bag.
The night sky here is exceptionally beautiful.
Stars carve a bright Milky Way across the dark night sky. This planet has two moons at night, one larger and one smaller, both extremely bright. The emitted light shrouds the entire planet in a white glow, not as dim and terrifying as Bai Luoluo imagined.
There are also some special luminescent plants in the jungle, scattered in the grass and treetops, creating a lively atmosphere like a festival.
Bai Luoluo lies on the ground, about to fall asleep, but he hears faint voices not far from the jungle. He startles awake, immediately asking, “Is someone there?”
The system says, “Yes, there are people in the jungle.”
Bai Luoluo puts the bag on his back, holds the knife, and slowly approaches. As he gets closer, he roughly understands what’s going on. There’s a man threatening another, asking them to take off their clothes, seemingly intending to do something inappropriate. Bai Luoluo had mentally prepared for such situations before coming to this planet, but now that he’s actually facing it, he still finds it a bit unbearable.
Bai Luoluo quickens his pace and soon sees two people behind the trees.
One was standing and taking off his pants, while the other fell to the ground, seemingly injured. The one who was standing looked obscene and looked like he was not a good person at first glance. Bai Luoluo was quite angry. He took a few steps forward with a knife and said coldly: “What are you doing?”
The man was startled by Bai Luoluo’s sudden appearance. He stopped his actions and scrutinized Bai Luoluo up and down, seemingly assessing the strength of both sides.
This man was about 1.71 meters tall, while Bai Luoluo stood at a full 1.8 meters. If it came to a fight, Bai Luoluo would likely have the upper hand.
Bai Luoluo, with a fierce look, said, “What are you looking at? Get the hell out of here. If you keep staring, I’ll gouge your eyeballs out.”
The man, upon hearing Bai Luoluo’s words, forced a smile and said, “Big brother, I was here first.”
Bai Luoluo, playing the part of a rude person, said, “I was born before you. Can I stuff you back into your mother’s belly?”
The man’s smile faded a bit. He picked up the things on the ground and turned to leave. Bai Luoluo coldly said, “The next time I see you, I’ll kill you.”
Upon hearing Bai Luoluo’s threat, the man hurriedly increased his pace and ran into the depths of the jungle.
Bai Luoluo, watching him disappear into the woods, finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked down at the person on the ground and walked over, asking, “Are you okay?”
The person curled up on the ground slowly turned his head and softly said, “Thank you.”
The moonlight wasn’t too bright, and Bai Luoluo hadn’t carefully examined the person on the ground before. So, when he walked over and saw the person’s face up close, Bai Luoluo couldn’t help but cry out in his heart.
Silver hair, purple eyes, a pitiable gaze, ragged clothes, and a reddish-purple mark on the slender and fair arm – everything about him seemed to invoke sympathy.
However, no matter how pitiable he looked, all Bai Luoluo could think of was that scene – the person in front of him having vines extending from his feet, rolling him into a flower and feeding him to it.
Bai Luoluo said, “System, what should I do?”
The system responded, “You saved him, deal with it yourself.”
That’s right, when you save someone, you have to see it through to the end. Moreover, Bai Luoluo had a feeling that if he didn’t take care of the person in front of him, and just turned and walked away, he might log out before he even took fifty steps. Taking a deep breath, Bai Luoluo encouraged himself, extended his hand toward the person, and said, “Are you okay?”
The man with silver hair and purple eyes slowly turned his head, revealing a beautiful face. His eyes were teary, giving him a pitiful yet adorable look.
Bai Luoluo asked, “Can you walk?”
The man didn’t speak, just lowered his head to look at his own feet. Following his gaze, Bai Luoluo discovered a noticeable wound on his foot, as if it had been cut by something sharp.
Bai Luoluo thought, “Friend, your acting skills would earn you an Oscar on Earth.” However, he dared not show it and simply said, “Can I carry you on my back?”
The man stared at Bai Luoluo for a moment, as if trying to find something in his eyes, but he failed. Bai Luoluo’s black eyes remained calm, without any malicious intent. The man found it interesting and, thinking so, nodded slowly.
Seeing his agreement, Bai Luoluo bent down and lifted him onto his back.
The man seemed shorter than Bai Luoluo, but he was incredibly light. Bai Luoluo carried him step by step towards the location of his campfire, silently drumming up courage in his heart.
Bai Luoluo asked the system if there was a chance the man would suddenly attack and eat him.
The system said, “Stay calm.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Will he not eat me if I stay calm?”
The system replied, “No, what I mean is if you stay calm, you’ll be mentally prepared when he decides to eat you.”
Bai Luoluo sighed.
Despite his concerns, Bai Luoluo dutifully carried the man to his campfire and gently set him down.
The silver-haired man sat down, curling into a ball and appearing somewhat uneasy.
Knowing he wasn’t easy to deal with, Bai Luoluo felt a bit soft seeing him like this. He asked, “What’s your name? How did you end up here? Are you cold?”
The man with silver hair remained silent, lowering his head and burying his face between his knees.
Helpless, Bai Luoluo said, “Can you speak?” He remembered that the silver-haired man could speak, but he didn’t seem willing to engage with Bai Luoluo at the moment.
Seeing no response, Bai Luoluo approached slowly, squatting down and grabbing his ankle.
The silver-haired man immediately showed a vigilant expression. However, the next thing Bai Luoluo did was to clean his wound with a bottle of clean mineral water and apply some anti-inflammatory ointment.
In the wilderness, clean water and medication were the most precious resources. The silver-haired man seemed somewhat surprised that Bai Luoluo would use these valuable items on him so readily.
As for Bai Luoluo, he thought, since he could log out at any time, why not use these items to gain favor with the big shot?
After treating the wound, Bai Luoluo took out the fish he had roasted during the day and handed it to him, saying, “Eat.”
The silver-haired man hesitated for a moment but took the roasted fish from Bai Luoluo. He ate it slowly, savoring each bite.
After finishing one fish, Bai Luoluo asked, “Do you want more?”
The silver-haired man nodded.
So Bai Luoluo handed him another fish.
After eating two fish, the silver-haired man seemed satisfied and let out a small yawn.
Bai Luoluo pointed to the spot where he had been sleeping earlier and said, “Go to sleep.”
The silver-haired man blinked his eyes.
The silver-haired beauty rubbed his eyes and looked at Bai Luoluo with a dazed expression. Bai Luoluo greeted him, “Morning.”
The beauty nodded.
Bailuoluo said, “Can’t you speak? Can I call you Xiaobai?
The beauty, upon hearing the term “Xiaobai,” pursed his lips, then opened his mouth and said, “You can call me Xuehui.” His voice perfectly matched his appearance, a melodic sound that Bailuoluo found difficult to describe in words, akin to a musical instrument he had never heard before; just one sentence made the heart feel at ease.
The name Xuehui sounded a bit peculiar, and Bailuoluo didn’t delve into it. He said, “It’s so dangerous here. How did you end up here?”
Xuehui said, “My home is here.”
Here it comes—just like what Xuehui said to Ling Yuming before, now he repeated it to Bailuoluo, saying, “I want to go to the deepest part of the jungle; that’s where my home is.”
Bailuoluo asked, “You live there alone?”
Xuehui replied, “My father and mother are there.” When he spoke, a hint of sorrow appeared in his purple eyes, causing Bailuoluo’s heart to tremble. He couldn’t help but say, “I’ll take you there.”
Xuehui asked, “Can you really?”
Bailuoluo said, “Of course.” —After all, aren’t we here to accompany you, the big shot?
Xuehui said, “Thank you.”
Bailuoluo asked, “Hungry?”
Xuehui nodded.
Bailuoluo innocently remarked, “I’m hungry too. You ate all the fish yesterday.”
Xuehui: “…” Are you blaming me?
Bailuoluo said, “Let’s go, we’ll catch some fish.”
Xuehui said, “But my feet hurt.”
Bailuoluo looked at Xuehui’s injured leg and felt that it was indeed not suitable for the injured big shot to go into the water. So he said, “It’s okay, I’ll carry you over, you watch me catch the fish. In the future, when you’re alone, it’s good to have some survival skills.”
So he really carried Xuehui and returned to the same small stream.
While carrying Xuehui, Bailuoluo was extra careful with his movements, avoiding all the sensitive areas of Xuehui. He reminded himself that men don’t take advantage of each other, especially not to make the big shot feel uncomfortable.
After putting Xuehui on the bank, Bailuoluo rolled up his trousers and went into the water. He caught fish while talking to Xuehui, “Men should be strong. It’s okay to get hurt; you should look forward. Your parents are still waiting for you to come home in the middle of the jungle.”
The educated big shot: “…”
As it was hot, Bailuoluo took off his upper body clothes, and thanks to the fact that Ling Yuming had a decent amount of exercise even while being confined, his chest and abdominal muscles were still visible. It was not like Bailuoluo was displaying a beer belly while fishing in the river.
Today, Bailuoluo had great luck. The fish basket was full as soon as it was dropped into the water. He happily lifted the fish, and on the riverbank, he even found some wild chili peppers.
Bailuoluo said, “We can eat well today.”
Xuehui tilted his head and looked at Bailuoluo, making a soft sound of agreement.
While cleaning the fish scales and innards, Bailuoluo asked Xuehui questions about the planet, such as whether there were small mammals to eat, whether large carnivores were dangerous, and so on.
Xuehui answered some questions and ignored others. His gaze was fixed on the fish in Bailuoluo’s hands, showing a clear concentration that Bailuoluo could notice.
Bailuoluo crushed the picked chili peppers and spread them on the fish, adding a bit of salt from his backpack. He mentioned if there were any wild spices like garlic or ginger on this planet. Xuehui asked, “Garlic? Ginger?”
“Yes.” Bailuoluo also liked to eat. As he fantasized, he showed a happy expression and said, “Fish roasted this way tastes the best.”
Xuehui asked, “What do they look like?”
Bailuoluo gave a simple description, and Xuehui showed a thoughtful expression.
The wild chili peppers weren’t too spicy, but when spread on the fish, they added flavor, and the aroma was tantalizing. Bailuoluo roasted a fish for Xuehui first. Xuehui took a bite, and his brows furrowed.
Bailuoluo asked, “What’s wrong? Is it not good?”
Xuehui said, “My mouth hurts a lot…”
Bailuoluo thought it might be an issue with the chili peppers and quickly took a bite. After chewing a bit, he said, “No, it’s just the right taste.” Only then did he remember that spiciness was indeed a form of pain. He laughed and said, “If you can’t handle it, I can roast you a non-spicy one.”
But Xuehui said, “No need, I’ll try again.”
Bailuoluo saw his lips turning red from the spiciness, his brows tightly furrowed, but he still didn’t want to put down the fish. There was a hint of a smile in Bailuoluo’s eyes.
While the two were eating, a strange sound came from the direction of the jungle. It was faint, but Bailuoluo heard it. He asked the system, “How many people are over there?”
The system replied, “Three or four.”
Knowing that he couldn’t confront them head-on, Bailuoluo decided to pick up Xuehui and get ready to hide. However, Xuehui still wanted to eat the fish, looking at Bailuoluo eagerly.
Bailuoluo, feeling helpless from his gaze, said, “Someone is coming. We’ll eat in a bit.”
Only then did Xuehui reluctantly say, “Okay.”
