Ch136.1 – Awaken

Yu Hao made a marking in front of the French windows. He made Zhou Sheng and Chen Yekai stand where he was; through the glass window, they saw an area littered with ancient, low-rise bungalows in the distant ancient city. The bungalows were quite far from the insects’ nest.

“His totem is located in the Insect Nest Palace; it was forcibly seized.” Yu Hao took out a black pen and made a marking on the French window of the scenery opposite and explained, “This bungalow area was where he once thought his new journey was about to begin, so it’s very likely to be at…”

“Let’s go.” Chen Yekai immediately turned around and left the tower. Before Zhou Sheng left, he and Yu Hao glanced around at the rented house. The photos they took together that were clipped onto a rope — a lot of photos related to Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng had already faded and blurred, so it was difficult to discern. Only the group photo taken on the night of their college’s anniversary performance of Fu Liqun, the two of them, Chen Yekai, Huang Ting, and Ou Qihang on the backstage sofa was still there.

Yu Hao, “It’s been a long time.”

“Un.” Zhou Sheng took that photo off the rope and put it in his trousers’ pocket, then followed behind the two of them to quickly descend the tower.

The omnipresent sandstorm was still raging, and it was even fiercer than when they entered last night. The environment was hotter now too. The insects’ breeding nest had already covered most of the ancient city.

“We need to hurry, I have a nagging sensation that this place won’t be able to hold on for much longer!” Zhou Sheng walked forward against the sandstorm. The three of them chose to slowly make their way forward through a shelter behind the houses.

Yu Hao relied on his memory to show them the way and was always alert to the dark shadows flying around. The flying mosquito men were increasing in number, and they were still patrolling. Fortunately, shortly after, the sandstorm gradually subsided. The sun that was blocked by the sandstorm was setting, and the world slowly restored its tranquility.

Under the galaxy, the bungalows that weren’t too far away were mostly buried by the sandstorm.

“Are you sure it’s here?” Zhou Sheng asked.

Yu Hao walked forward and looked around doubtfully; he actually wasn’t too certain now. Chen Yekai walked around the bungalows once, “This doesn’t seem like a place for someone to live, but rather like a…grave.”

There was a strange stone tablet erected in front of the bungalows. Zhou Sheng kicked the stone tablet, and it loosened; gravel rustled as it fell down, and there were two words inscribed onto the stone tablet “The End”.

Yu Hao, “……”

Zhou Sheng, “……”

Chen Yekai, “What’s this?”

“The autosuggestion of someone who likes to watch shows…” Yu Hao answered.

A small crack appeared in the stone door. Zhou Sheng reached in through the door with his jingubang to pry it open, and forced open a gap big enough for one person to pass through. Chen Yekai squeezed in first, Yu Hao followed next, and Zhou Sheng supported the rear.

Beyond the door was a dark, bottomless staircase. Yu Hao’s daggers hovered in the air and emitted a faint light while the three of them carefully made their way down. It was extremely spacious underground. After walking for a while, Yu Hao passed by their college’s dormitory room. They continued walking down, and there was a glass door at the bottom.

Yu Hao had cut the ribbon before, so he recognised it as the gym. Zhou Sheng went forward to push it, but the door didn’t open.

Chen Yekai couldn’t open it either. “Look for the key.”

“Let me try.” Yu Hao held a shining, suspended dagger in his left hand while he pushed the door gently with his right. The door opened.

Chen Yekai was puzzled. “Why?”

“Because I’m a shareholder of this gym.” Yu Hao said.

This scene seemed like a part of a bizarre horror film. Yu Hao’s hairs were standing on end from the sight, and he made a ‘shh’ gesture to Zhou Sheng.

The three of them stood without making any noise. They heard heavy gasps travelling over from deep inside the gym.

Yu Hao, “!!!”

Yu Hao was about to step forward when Zhou Sheng pulled Yu Hao behind him. He walked over slowly. The white light emitted from the daggers illuminated the end of the gym. Before the mirror, they finally saw Fu Liqun.

Fu Liqun had his hands trussed behind his back and was only wearing a pair of basketball pants. His strong muscles were red from being tied so tightly by ropes. He was rigidly bound to a chair, blindfolded, and had a cloth stuffed into his mouth — he looked like he had been kidnapped, but also looked like he was waiting to be disciplined.

The three people, “……”

He curled up a little in pain. He was sweating all over, and it was dripping drop by drop onto the ground. His bare chest heaved along with his breathing, and there were even whip scars and wounds on his abs.

“Gege!”

Yu Hao immediately brandished his daggers to cut the ropes off of him. Zhou Sheng took a big stride forward, took off his blindfold and patted his face, while Chen Yekai wielded his gun and guarded them from the side.

“Gege!” Zhou Sheng shouted anxiously. Yu Hao swung out with his dagger and cut off the binds on his wrists and ankles. Zhou Sheng yanked out the cloth that was stuffed into his mouth. Fu Liqun’s eyebrows and hair were covered with sweat, and he now opened his eyes a little.

“There are enemies!” Chen Yekai shouted.

Yu Hao felt a gust of wind blow by behind his back. Zhou Sheng immediately turned around and kicked the chair, thereby kicking both Yu Hao and Fu Liqun away. He turned around, jingubang in hand, and was ready to swing it out when a long, black snake-like rope suddenly coiled around his neck; it dragged him up into the air and flung him onto a treadmill with a loud bang upon impact!

Chen Yekai fired a shot. The gunshot resonated throughout the gym. A figure instantly moved right in front of him in the darkness and stuck onto him.

“Don’t strike…” A lovely voice said.

Chen Yekai leapt into the air and sent the enemy flying with a roundhouse kick. He said calmly, “Sorry for the inconvenience, but you got the wrong sexual orientation.”

Following which, a shriek rang out; the enemy had been kicked away. Zhou Sheng got up and shouted, “Illuminate!”

Yu Hao waved his hand; a dagger whirled away and nailed itself onto the ceiling. It shone brightly, and Zhou Sheng saw the enemy clearly — it was actually an enchantress who had a rather good figure and an incredibly beautiful face!

“Sis-in-law?!” Zhou Sheng uttered in disbelief.

“Not sis-in-law!” Yu Hao said, “She just looks alike! I know who she is!”

“Who is she?” Chen Yekai asked doubtfully.

Yu Hao shouted, “I can’t explain clearly now, take him away first!”

The gorgeous enchantress wore a Western dress and wielded a whip. She swung it in mid air and made a resounding crack noise.

“Wake him up!” Zhou Sheng shouted.

Yu Hao utilised magic with his hands to heal Fu Liqun’s wounds. Zhou Sheng swung his jingubang and flung whatever he could find at the enchantress. The enchantress flicked the whip in her hands, which instantly created whip shadows that filled the sky and whipped away the barbells, treadmills, pulling machines, and fitness bicycles until they were all sent flying — its explosive force was absolutely terrifying. With Fu Liqun in his arms, Yu Hao dragged him into a corner and did his utmost to wake Fu Liqun up with his healing abilities.

“Gege! Wake up!” Yu Hao cried out anxiously.

Zhou Sheng and Chen Yekai went forward simultaneously, but even so, they still couldn’t match up to that enchantress. The whip shadows lashed in and out. The enchantress let out a bloodcurdling scream. Zhou Sheng carried his shield to resist the soundwave, but Chen Yekai’s eardrums suffered a sharp pain. With a ‘buzz,’ the world spun, then a whip swept over and curled around his ankle, dragging his body up into the air and smashing him right into the wall!

Zhou Sheng shouted, “Go!”

Yu Hao struggled to lift Fu Liqun’s arm and wanted to half-drag him away. Zhou Sheng wielded a shield to resist against the whip strikes that pelted down on him like a torrential rainstorm. Chen Yekai staggered to his feet, then shot at the enchantress.

“Yu Hao……” Fu Liqun finally woke up and grabbed Yu Hao’s arm, staring at him in a daze.

“Gege!” Yu Hao said, “This is great! Quick! No…What should I do now?”

“Ask him what this monster is afraid of!” Chen Yekai’s words woke him from his dreams, and Yu Hao immediately made Fu Liqun look at the enchantress. He asked, “What is that girl most afraid of?”

But Fu Liqun’s eyes were glazed over, and he muttered to himself, “I……I won’t go……I……the last thing I have……is gone too.”

“We’re gonna die!” Zhou Sheng roared, and his voice actually managed to frighten the enchantress, “What’s this thing afraid of?! Sober up a little!!”

Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng did their best to draw a tie with that enchantress. Zhou Sheng lifted his shield and was about to retreat, while Chen Yekai rushed towards Yu Hao and Fu Liqun, when the enchantress suddenly shrieked with all her might. The entire gym’s floor started shaking with a rumble, transforming into a treadmill conveyor belt that was transporting them towards the yawning depths.

An idea suddenly struck Chen Yekai. He shouted, “Afraid of weighing scales! She must be afraid of weighing scales!”

Zhou Sheng, “……”

Yu Hao staggered up and glanced at the corner — a circular weighing scale was being carried to the corner by the conveyor belt. Zhou Sheng shouted, “It’s too far! Can’t get it!”

Yu Hao took Fu Liqun along as he ran arduously on the conveyor belt. He raised his hand to beckon, and the dagger fixed onto the ceiling flew towards the corner and pinned the weighing scale down. Yu Hao then clenched his fist and flung the weighing scale over.

While Chen Yekai was running with his back bent, he spread his arms out and gracefully raised his hand to fire a shot, hitting the weighing scale and making it spin as the scale flew towards Zhou Sheng.

“If you don’t lose weight in May…you’ll regret it in June!” Zhou Sheng leapt into the air, using the strength of his waist to prop the jingubang, rotated in situ, and batted the weighing scale. He shouted, “Hey beautiful! You should find out about how to get fit through swimming!”

The weighing scale flew towards the enchantress with a whoosh like a meteor, and a loud ‘bang’ rang out — the scale had smashed into the enchantress’ face, and amidst her miserable shrieks, the conveyor belt on the ground stopped.

Zhou Sheng roared, “Go!!”

Yu Hao and Chen Yekai each lifted one of Fu Liqun’s arms and dragged him along as they ran away desperately for their lives. They went up the steps while Zhou Sheng closed the door and rushed up to the end of the steps, then squeezed out of the stone door.

In the safe haven, the three of them were thoroughly spent. They placed Fu Liqun down. The wounds on Fu Liqun’s body had already healed, but he had no strength at all as he lay on the floor of the living room. Both his eyes were closed as he murmured, “Water……water……”

Chen Yekai opened the refrigerator, which was filled to the brim with mineral water. He twisted open a bottle and poured it on Fu Liqun’s face, but Fu Liqun didn’t move.

Yu Hao, “……”

Zhou Sheng knelt beside Fu Liqun, bowed his head and patted his face. He shouted, “Gege!”

Fu Liqun just closed his eyes and said, “Water.”

Zhou Sheng took the bottle of mineral water and fed it to Fu Liqun, yet he couldn’t pour it in.

Chen Yekai was in a terrible state. He smoothed the hair on his forehead, his brows set in a deep furrow. Zhou Sheng roared angrily, “Gege!”

Yu Hao suddenly remembered something Fu Liqun said.

“I feel like I’m walking in a desert, and I don’t know how long I have to walk for before finding an oasis……I thought your sis-in-law was my oasis. I walked for so long, and I keep looking for some water to drink, but no matter where I walk to, all I see are mirages.”

“It’s no use, Zhou Sheng.” Yu Hao sat down on the ground beside him and said, “He can’t wake up. He must drink water, and he can only drink it if a specific person feeds him.”

Zhou Sheng looked at Fu Liqun quietly, his face looking extremely belligerent.

“We must get the sis-in-law in his dream here.” Yu Hao said, “There’s no other way aside from that.”

“We have to go look for Cen Shan.” Chen Yekai said, “Leave him in the safe haven and set out as soon as possible ba, we don’t have much time.”

Zhou Sheng knelt down beside the unconscious Fu Liqun and gazed at his eyes that were shut tight. It was quiet in the safe haven. The flow of time within the rented house where they shared countless memories together gradually started to slow down, until it almost turned completely still.

Yu Hao walked to Zhou Sheng and knelt down on one knee. Zhou Sheng’s countenance was filled with anger. He glanced at Yu Hao.

“Gege, in your world, love is the only thing that can save you? Hey.” Zhou Sheng muttered to himself, then laughed, “I just won’t believe that.”

Yu Hao, “……”

After he spoke, Zhou Sheng’s entire body was ablaze with a golden flame!

Just like that day, when he lit up the beacon fire for Yu Hao on the Great Wall, and when he lit up the tinders in Liang Jinmin’s world — his hair and attire emitted a scorching, golden flame, and his whole body burst with a flare that could sweep the earth in this dark environment!

Yu Hao and Chen Yekai shielded their eyes at the same time. Zhou Sheng burned within the golden flame, just like a blazing sun.

Zhou Sheng gently lifted his index and middle fingers; the group photo of Fu Liqun’s memories with them was lightly clamped in between his fingers. Within an instant, the photo burst into flame with a bang and floated up to dance in the air above his fingers.

“Get up!” Zhou Sheng shouted with a resounding voice. He hugged Fu Liqun with one hand, while he covered his eyes with the other, then suddenly crouched down and held him tightly! The flames spread from his body onto Fu Liqun’s and exploded with a loud rumble before spreading to Yu Hao’s body.