Chapter Text
Zhou Mingrui—or as he should now be called, Klein—watched the child devouring the food as if he had been starved for many days. The child's entire body was covered in ash, but he could still see hair as red as blood behind the layer of soot on his head; it looked like lava erupting from a layer of rock on the surface.
This color was quite rare, and considering it was a child, Klein couldn't help but reflect on his choice.
Saving the boy was something he would undoubtedly do, but now a difficult choice weighed heavily on his shoulders: "Should I bring this child with me?"
Bringing Xiao Hong along was not a wise choice. If he took the boy, he would have to protect him; furthermore, children had weak constitutions and immune systems. The boy wouldn't be able to travel a long distance with him; he would catch a cold easily, and having gone without food for days might cause the child to faint from hunger... Xiao Hong finished eating, his mouth and hands still stained with grease.
He carefully wiped his hands on his shirt, trying to lessen the unpleasant oily sensation, and tentatively touched the hem of Klein’s sleeve.
The boy looked up at Klein with shining eyes; the light caught his red eyes, making them glow with a red-orange tint like a Sunset glow—creating an illusion of a believer looking up at the god they served, full of devotion. This gaze made Klein feel shy and a bit flustered: "Why is he looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
His face betrayed none of his inner turmoil, a gentle smile still lingering on his lips as he squeezed the child’s hand. "Let's go." The two walked down a narrow path, surrounded by houses mostly burnt to cinders; the wooden beams had turned into pure black charcoal that collapsed at the slightest touch. Seeing the corpses on the road, Klein covered the boy’s eyes with one hand: "A child shouldn't see this; Xiao Hong must be terrified."
They walked off the dirt road and stepped onto the green grass. The journey eventually led them to a hidden cave in a secluded corner; the interior was damp, the stone floor covered in a thin layer of water. Worried the boy might fall, Klein picked him up.
The child seemed a bit anxious but quickly wrapped his arms tightly around Klein’s neck. "What an obedient child," Klein thought. Walking carefully, they reached a dry spot. Bethel’s voice rang out: "You’re back." The sound echoed in the cramped space. Klein felt Xiao Hong trembling; perhaps the boy was frightened. Klein patted his back gently as a sign of comfort.
"Mingrui?" Seeing that Klein did not answer, Bethel asked in a questioning tone.
"It’s nothing. I just found a child; you’ve made him a bit scared."
"You're picking up children... whatever, we'll talk about this later."
When he was set down, Xiao Hong turned to look at the other person. Bethel, with his long black hair, was sitting on a flat rock; most notably, a white ribbon was tied around his eyes. Klein walked toward Bethel, letting Xiao Hong sit beside him.
Klein took the blue ribbon Bethel had given him to another spot and began to build a fire. Xiao Hong peered curiously at the man beside him. As if sensing the gaze, the man turned toward him; Xiao Hong flinched and looked away. Out of the child's sight, Bethel's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
As Klein tucked kindling into the burning fire, he touched something soft and cold. Looking back, it was a snake. Klein recoiled and threw it hard against the wall, his whole body shaking with fear. The snake woke up, flicking its tongue and hissing threateningly as it approached him.
"What happened?" Hearing the noise, Bethel asked Zhou Mingrui.
He replied: "Nothing, just a snake." Though he said this, his voice was trembling; it was not hard to notice that he was terrified. Klein gripped the ribbon and cast a flame toward the snake.
The flame missed its target, and the snake grew more aggressive, continuing to crawl toward him. A knife flew through the air, hitting the snake and pinning it to the ground.
He looked back; it was Bethel who had thrown the knife. Even though he couldn't see, with his "luck," it was hard to miss.
"Thank you," he murmured. Looking back at the snake: "Looks like we have dinner tonight, but is this thing edible? Is it poisonous? I’ve never eaten it." He retrieved the knife and began to seriously study how to cook the snake.
Night fell, and the temperature inside dropped sharply. Three silhouettes—two large, one small—were reflected on the wall by the firelight. Klein handed Xiao Hong a piece of roasted snake meat, glistening with fat and sporting a crispy skin. The meat had been deboned, which would make it crumbly and dry, but Xiao Hong was just a child and couldn't risk choking on a bone.
Xiao Hong took the meat Klein offered, hesitated for a moment, and then put it in his mouth. The meat was hot and steaming; the boy found it delicious. It wasn't overcooked and remained juicy, carrying a unique sweetness. The heat scorched him slightly, and the boy ate quickly.
Klein watched Xiao Hong and gently reminded him: "Eat slowly, no one is going to take it from you." But in his heart, he couldn't help but think: "After years of being a bachelor, I transmigrate only to become a mother. Perhaps after I get back, I should become a kindergarten teacher. Being a slave to capitalism is enough for me." Bethel, as if sensing his thoughts, patted his shoulder. "Mingrui, eat."
Klein subconsciously muttered in Chinese: "年纪比我小，说话倒像个小老头。" Realizing what he had said, Klein sat up straight as if nothing had happened, but his eyes couldn't help but steal a glance at Bethel. Bethel replied in Chinese: "那是因为你还不够成熟。" His reply was delivered in a gentle tone, but it instilled anger in the listener. Klein stared at Bethel in disbelief, his lips trembling without words. "I really shouldn't have taught Bethel Chinese," he thought, yet he knew it was a lie; in this world, having someone speak the same language was the only thing that lessened the loneliness.
Bethel struggled to suppress a laugh. Though he couldn't see, he could imagine Zhou Mingrui’s reaction: like a cat that trusted its master, only for the master to steal its food—eyes wide in disbelief, fur standing on end in a harmless display of rage, eventually giving up in hopeless dejection. Bethel adjusted his expression, his lips curving slightly as he said: "好啦，赶紧吃你的饭吧。"
Seeing the two of them so close, Xiao Hong felt a wave of anxiety. He didn't understand what they were saying; the sense of isolation was palpable. The meat no longer tasted good; he swallowed with difficulty, watching the two of them talk happily.
Looking at the figure of the child fast asleep by the fire, Klein turned toward Bethel with concern. Bethel said nothing, the smile still on his lips.
"I’m sorry..."
"What are you apologizing for?" Bethel’s voice was cold.
"I shouldn't have picked up the child, but don't worry, I’ve checked. There are no issues. My spiritual intuition didn't warn me..."
Klein finished his explanation, anxiously watching Bethel’s reaction. The smile on Bethel’s lips had vanished. He sat facing away from the light, making it difficult for Klein to read his expression. His voice was flat, carrying a nuance Klein couldn't quite grasp: "Fine. I also feel that the child isn't dangerous. You can keep him."
Klein breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Hong, whom they thought was fast asleep, lay by the fire with his fists clenched. His eyes were fixed on the flames, though his gaze was vacant.
Morning came, and Klein stretched before quickly waking the others. He wasn't sure if the place was safe; they had to leave as quickly as possible. They left the cave, the morning sun dispelling the early chill. Klein held Xiao Hong’s hand in one and carefully led Bethel with the other. He noticed Xiao Hong glancing at Bethel every so often and worried: "Don't tell me this kid thinks Bethel is a girl because of his beauty and long hair? No way, he’s heard his voice. He couldn't mistake him for a girl, right?"
As he was thinking, a bone-chilling sensation washed over him. He felt his entire body screaming to flee, warning him of something dangerous approaching. Beside him, Bethel fared no better. His face was beaded with sweat, his lips pressed thin, and his brow furrowed in unconcealed tension. The hand gripping Klein’s was soaked in sweat. Xiao Hong’s eyes were wide, his body trembling, his breath shallow as he huddled close to Klein.
The space around them was saturated with colors like an oil painting. Klein gripped their hands and stepped into the Spirit World. He ran without stopping, even when the suffocating pressure eased. "That was too dangerous. I thought we were dead. A second later and I would have gone to Huangquan... though there is no Huangquan here." Despite the thought, Klein remained vigilant, which allowed him to react in time to the approaching pressure.
"Again!"
"No, wait—this pressure is lighter."
He felt Xiao Hong’s hand shaking. It was the boy’s first time in the Spirit World, and he didn't yet know its dangers; perhaps he had looked at a spirit creature for too long. Klein didn't give it another thought, gripping their hands and running with all his might.
"Bethel?" Klein asked, his voice laced with worry.
Bethel spoke in a low, trembling voice, pointing in a direction: "Our path to survival is over there... but it is very dangerous."
"Is it a dead end?"
"No."
Hearing the answer, Klein poured every ounce of strength into running toward that direction. The moment they stepped into the spot, the three of them were pulled out of the Spirit World. The sudden spike in temperature made Klein’s heart race. The scenery before him was blinding, and a wave of dizziness followed. His legs gave way, unable to support his weight, and he tilted forward. Bethel’s arm wrapped around his waist, catching him before he hit the ground. Bethel carefully set him down, letting Klein lean his weight against him. Nausea surged; Klein leaned forward and dry heaved. "Blegh... blegh... blegh..."
They hadn't eaten anything that morning, so he could vomit nothing but bile, which only made the sensation worse. Klein’s face was flushed red, and a few tears clung to the corners of eyes. Bethel placed a hand on his back, rubbing gently to ease the discomfort, then quickly began loosening Klein’s clothes to lower his body temperature. Through his blurred vision, Klein saw a figure in the distance, slowly approaching.