Monsters are dangerous, uncontrollable, filled with wildness and ferocity.
Jiang Huaying knew this well, so when facing the collapsing edge of Sinclair, she clearly felt tension and dread.
Yet at the same time, her brain’s nerves were beating with excitement.
Clearly, it was Zhì who wanted to kill her, who acted with a fierce expression as if ready to chew her up and swallow her whole, but when he spoke, his words were filled with grievance.
The entire hunter was like a wet gray cloud, no one knew how long he had been crying in secret, as if he were the one who had been cruelly bullied.
Then it would be reasonable for her to bully him a little, right?
After all, she was the one with a death warrant on her head—so wouldn’t anything she did be permitted?
Jiang Huaying heard the pounding of her own heartbeat, her mind racing to figure out how to wield the long sword called the moral high ground in her hand.
Her prolonged silence was like a small hammer, slowly shattering Sinclair’s psychological defenses.
【 Black Mist Density +1】
【 Black Mist Density +1】
【 Black Mist Density +1】
Finally, Jiang Huaying spoke.
Her voice was cold to the point of ruthlessness: “You really want to kill me.”
The plain statement was like an arrow forged from ice, piercing sharply into Sinclair’s chest.
“Why aren’t you angry? You don’t care at all!” Zhì arched his back, letting out a low growl like a desperate beast.
The room darkened inch by inch, thick and chilling darkness pouring in from all directions.
【 Black Mist Density +2】
“Yes! I wish I could kill you! I want to destroy everything of the butcher’s! Why should a god be acknowledged by you? How is a god better than me? Am I not even worth a dog?”
【 Black Mist Density +3】
Sinclair’s hoarse voice, the high walls of his heart utterly collapsed, defeated completely.
The god self-destructively tore open his chest of waste, exposing his heart bare and naked before Jiang Huaying.
In the pitch-black environment, Jiang Huaying was stripped of her sight.
Her other senses were infinitely magnified.
“Salty…!”
Suddenly, a drop of liquid landed on her collarbone, burning hot enough to make her instinctively shrink her neck.
Noticing her recoil, Sinclair’s palm pressed against the back of her neck, binding her in place without resistance.
Before long, a small puddle formed in the hollow of her collarbone.
So the hunter cat really was made of liquid…
“I can explain.” Jiang Huaying felt that if Zhì kept crying, her collarbone might drown.
Sinclair jerked his head, his eyes bloodshot, with tear droplets hanging on raven-like lashes, his bright yellow eyes crystal clear: “…I don’t want to hear it.”
【 Black Mist Density -3】 sounded four times in succession.
The sky was falling, pressed down by a cat’s muzzle.
“Hmph, then I won’t say anymore,” Jiang Huaying reached out to push Zhì, feigning an attempt to get up and leave.
Her casual attitude was like teasing a wild boar by the roadside—carefree and irresponsible.
Sinclair’s fur bristled instantly, rushing over to grab her with quick, urgent movements.
Jiang Huaying wasn’t actually trying to leave; their movements collided squarely.
The two fell to the ground unprepared.
A suppressed groan arose; Sinclair was underneath, Jiang Huaying lying on top, their entangled posture even more intimate than just moments ago on the bed.
Their warm, mingled breaths became particularly clear in the quiet surroundings.
In the dark environment, even the slightest sound was amplified many times—their breathing, footsteps outside the door.
Heavy military boots stepped steadily on the wooden stairs, each step slow and deliberate.
The two on the floor both heard it.
In this treehouse, the only person who could be approaching Jiang Huaying’s bedroom at this moment was the Butcher.
Jiang Huaying’s scalp tingled.
She didn’t dare risk her Black Mist value.
Therefore, she absolutely, absolutely could not let the Butcher know about her relationship with Sinclair!
“Hurry up and get up!” Jiang Huaying tried desperately to climb off Sinclair, but a firm hand gripped her waist, letting her only prop herself up partially.
Her eyes locked onto the instigator.
Sinclair was staring straight at her, carefully remembering the recent grudge.
Jiang Huaying glanced at Zhì, and within two seconds, gave in.
She vaguely obscured the real reason she couldn’t log back into the game—explaining simply that she’d run into some trouble, hence her disappearance.
“…I wanted to come find you as soon as I got back, but suddenly I was caught up in a battle royale. You can’t blame me for that.”
Her excuse was pale and powerless, riddled with holes, yet Sinclair accepted it.
No matter what, he hadn’t forgotten her, he was still thinking of her.
【 Black Mist Density -5】
Zhù dispelled the surrounding shadows, restoring the bedroom to its original state.
Before Jiang Huaying could rejoice, she heard Sinclair say, “Then it proves now that you didn’t lie or go back on your word.”
Zhì stared straight at her.
Seeing the bewildered yet surprised ripples in her emerald eyes, his brows knitting into a pitiable frown, her pink lips parted and closed, voicing silent hesitation.
She had never considered giving Zhì a title!
A liar, through and through!
“You really lied to me again.” Sinclair gritted his teeth.
【 Black Mist Density +1】
The footsteps on the stairs outside grew nearer.
If someone opened the door now, everything inside the bedroom would be fully exposed.
Jiang Huaying pressed down the wildly beating heart in her chest, taking a deep breath: “I haven’t gone back on my word. I’m just reconsidering, after all…”
She spoke slowly and softly, enunciating gently, as if whispering in a lover’s ear.
Sinclair’s restless heart gradually calmed, then was lifted high again by her little hook of a twist.
“…After all, keeping a pet who might kill its master nearby is too dangerous. Besides, humans dislike disobedient pets, and hate ones that always cause trouble even more.” Jiang Huaying used her softest tone to speak the sharpest words.
Sinclair’s breath caught, his pupils narrowing sharply like blades.
Who listens better? The Butcher?
Zhù was nothing but a dog who only knew how to wag its tail and beg.
A worthless thing abandoned once—what right did it have to claim a place by her side again?
Malicious mud swirled in the darkness.
But Sinclair’s expression showed Zhì’s most skillful and harmless face—like a self-sacrificing manner, tilting his head back to expose his nape and heart to Jiang Huaying: “I won’t trouble you. I’ll be very good, just like before.”
He would resolve all obstacles.
As long as Huaying didn’t see it, Zhì would always be the best little kitten.
Just then, the Butcher reached the last stair.
Jiang Huaying’s palms became sweaty.
At moments like this, she must not get nervous.
She slowly pressed down her waist, her hair sliding from behind her ear, falling at the edge of the close proximity between them: “That’s good. As long as you behave well, I’ll sign a contract with you.”
“I’ll be good.” Sinclair’s sharp edges had long been pulled out under Jiang Huaying’s mix of punishments and rewards.
The god’s sentence was unfinished before a soft smile curved his lips.
“I’ll stamp it for you to prove I’m not lying.” Jiang Huaying briefly touched and pulled away, then as if remembering something, added beside Zhì’s ear, with a hint of strawberry flavor.
Lying on the ground, Sinclair seemed broken, rigid and motionless, the vivid pink color creeping from his collar upward, turning his whole body flushed in an instant.
Jiang Huaying clearly felt the change beneath her—the long, strong male body suddenly stiffened like iron.
A knock came in a rhythm of three beats.
Sinclair was startled awake, blinking and vanishing from where he lay.
Even the shadow in the corner of the room disappeared completely.
“…Come in.” Jiang Huaying’s voice paused for two seconds before passing through the door.
The door was pushed open from outside; the Butcher entered carrying a tray.
Jiang Huaying had already returned to the bed, showing only her head outside the quilt.
The Butcher’s steps were steady; as he entered, his ram skull moved slightly, the electronic red light in his hollow eyes scanning the room like a wild beast patrolling its territory.
Jiang Huaying’s body stiffened under the quilt.
No… could he see anything?
Thankfully, after scanning, the Butcher placed the tray before her: “Dinner.”
“Thank you.” Jiang Huaying, already hungry, lowered her head and ate quickly.
The Butcher did not leave but squeezed close to the bedside like a giant dog.
The only difference from a big dog was that while dogs drool greedily trying to get food from their owners, this creature quietly watched and waited.
After Jiang Huaying finished eating, she was sent to bathe.
For a moment, it was hard to tell who was the pet and who was the master.
The only pleasant thing was that the Black Mist Density had dropped by a few points.
While she bathed, the Butcher began to act.
The bedding, pillowcases, and sheets were all pulled off the bed and ruthlessly thrown on the floor, scattering cat fur floating up and settling down.
The god’s speed was swift; in no time, the room was completely renewed, as if thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Jiang Huaying stepped out of the bathroom, feeling something strange about the bedroom.
She sensed something had changed, but at the same time felt as if nothing had.
While she was lost in thought, muffled roaring sounds came from outside the window.
“What’s going on out there?” Jiang Huaying ran to the bed, peering out and eager to witness the front line of the drama.
The Butcher’s “vision” was better than hers, easily seeing what had happened.
Two bipedal sheep had escaped their cage and fled into the woods behind. After being caught by the guards, they were killed.
“Tell me quickly.” Jiang Huaying poked Zhì’s stiff arm anxiously but got no response.
“There were two bipedal sheep…” The Butcher hesitated, then recalled the night she had nightmares after witnessing a death.
Jiang Huaying eagerly awaited Zhì’s continuation: “And then?”
For the first time, the Butcher lied: “They escaped.”
“Well, that person’s pretty impressive.” Jiang Huaying accepted this explanation without suspicion.
The connection to the body’s consciousness died, the link automatically severed.
Zan’en’s blue light dimmed as he slowly rose from his chair, golden hair falling messily across his forehead.
The room’s lights shone brightly but brought no warmth; even the air turned chillingly cold.
Zan’en remained motionless in his previous posture, his half-hidden expression under his hair strange and gloomy.
Renting a poor person’s body to casually control them was a common “hobby” for many in the Upper City.
They often felt bored with their lavish lives, irresistibly curious about the lives of lower-class people, eagerly experiencing their hardships, love, and family… or doing things they had always wanted to do but never dared try.
Though this was common in the Upper City, Zan’en never stooped to such lows.
He had thrown his consciousness into another low-class body, making him feel nauseous and bored.
But just now, for the first time, he remotely controlled someone else’s body through a brain interface.
The scenes seen through another’s eyes were vastly different from the projections: the sticky warmth, muffled unclear sounds, the scent of a beast in heat…
His good little sister was truly happy roaming the Marshlight Forest, utterly intoxicated.
Zan’en chuckled low and madly, a chilling sound.
Time moved to the fifth day of entering the game.
Jiang Huaying lazily turned on the bed, a pair of straight, fair legs stretching out from beneath the quilt, kicking casually.
More than half of the seven-day survival main quest had passed; the system issued reminders to all players.
Half asleep, Jiang Huaying opened her personal panel and, upon seeing two individual quests at different progress levels, her groggy spirit immediately diminished.
No longer wasting time lying in bed, she got up, washed, and went downstairs.
Downstairs, hearing footsteps, the Butcher turned his head to look.
The tall, alien-headed creature wore an ill-fitting apron; the small piece of pathetic cloth barely covered his muscular chest, accentuating his already well-defined pectorals.
Jiang Huaying had just lowered her hands from rubbing her eyes when she saw this spring-like sight in the clothing.
She stood on the stairs without moving.
“Breakfast is ready.” He placed the prepared meal on the table and turned to get something else.
The fragrant food held no appeal for Jiang Huaying; her gaze followed the Butcher downward.
His slim waist was tightly cinched by the apron’s ties; the hollow of his back and the muscles on either side bulged with absolute strength.
When the Butcher returned with the item, seeing Jiang Huaying still standing motionless, he walked up the stairs and carried her down.
【 Black Mist Density -2】
Jiang Huaying was woken by a prompt sound, dazedly sitting at the table.
“Want to eat together?” As if guided by fate, she grabbed the Butcher who was about to leave.
Zhù always seemed busy and silent, only focused on work.
“I don’t need food.” His low, resonant hum came from the alien head.
“But you can accompany me. Pets should stay with their masters.” Jiang Huaying clasped her fingers under her chin, her feet lightly swinging under the table.
“Alright.” The god did not hesitate and sat opposite her.
【 Black Mist Density -2】
Even sitting, the god was much taller than Jiang Huaying, crowding the small table.
Faced with such a terrifying monster, eating could have been a miserable thing, but Jiang Huaying found the breakfast delicious.
Unfortunately, the warm morning did not last long.
The electronic red light in the Butcher’s eyes flashed like he had received a new mission and had to leave.
“It’s okay, I’ll finish all the food.” Jiang Huaying played the considerate master role.
【 Black Mist Density -2】
The Butcher took off the apron, as if worried she’d work too hard: “I’ll wash the dishes after.”
The big miss’s dictionary never contained housework: “Will you come back at noon? What about my lunch?”
“I’ll be back.” The Butcher gave a definite answer.
【 Black Mist Density -5】
Jiang Huaying watched the Butcher leave, ready to continue enjoying her breakfast when she suddenly felt hot breath on her neck.
Sinclair appeared behind her like a ghost, whispering close to her ear, “I’m very obedient today.”
On the ground, Zhì’s shadow greedily swallowed hers, merging into one indivisible whole.
Jiang Huaying’s nose was wrapped in the rich strawberry scent.
The scene now resembled a mistress’s lover entering the home after her husband left—not only sneaking in to have an affair with the wife but also seducing her in every way.
Strawberry flavor was Sinclair’s trademark.
Having soft, pink paw pads was Zhì’s pride.
Jiang Huaying had once been fond of Zhì’s paws, always praising how soft and marshmallow-like they felt.
Since then, Sinclair had maintained his paw pads well, even during wandering times avoiding injuries.