Chapter 14.1 – Protagonist: I will hold you tight
Du Ze, carrying Xiu, walked for a long time but he did not find even a trace of another living thing. The red land was as desolate as ever.
The purple sky was cloudy and the air was stuffy. There was no wind so Du Ze could not use the old method to find civilization. Du Ze stopped every once in a while to rest. Although Xiu was not heavy when in gnome form, even the weight of a child could tire out a person.
The fragile1 Du Ze’s battle efficiency rating is a negative value. As he rested to restore his health points, he heard a faint sound. Du Ze bowed his head and saw the young gnome’s eyelids flutter. Finally, they opened, revealing a pair of beautiful amber eyes. Having just woken up, Xiu seemed a bit sluggish as he looked up in confusion at Du Ze.
“… Du Ze?”The soft sound was not the hoarse voice of the undead. When Xiu spoke, it sounded a bit awkward and clumsy, as though the speaker was not accustomed to the pronunciation of his name. Du Ze almost died from the incredible cuteness – the young protagonist can’t be this cute!2
Under Du Ze’s burning hot gaze, Xiu quickly recovered his wits. Looking at his small body, Xiu’s eyes became a bit panicked. Du Ze thought that the current protagonist looked like a bullied child with teary eyes, waiting for an adult to comfort him.
Yi Ye Zhi Qiu’s “the author has something to say” indicated that the “Mixed Blood” protagonist’s personality is affected when he changes forms. For example, when he turns into an elf, he will become more aloof. Or when he changes into his angel form, he will become arrogant. In that chapter, 80% of the fans’ comments were saying that they wanted to spray Aunt Flo’s blood in the author’s face: From A to Z, we only saw the blackened protagonist! From beginning to the end, all we saw was the protagonist’s mental breakdown! What “aloof and arrogant,” you bast**d!
Though originally Du Ze had been in the “spray him with blood” faction, when Du Ze saw that the gnome’s lively features were radically different from the Lich’s coffin face, he decided to withdraw from the Aunt Flo group: You don’t believe it, but I do.
It is said that the gnome race is sensitive, curious, and stubborn …
Xiu quickly regained his composure, not bothering to wait for Du Ze to break through his social barrier to say some comforting words. Looking around him, Xiu asked, “What is this place?”
Having missed an opportunity to increase his favorability rating, Du Ze said, with an impassive face, “The reverse side of the continent.”A strong gust of wind whistled from afar, as if to punctuate Du Ze’s statement. The two men could hardly keep their eyes open. The stuffy air was torn in an instant and the purple sky was blown apart, revealing scarlet veins that covered the whole upper atmosphere like a scene from purgatory.
Du Ze looked up at at the ominous, apocalyptic-looking sky. Suddenly, he felt something drip onto his cold face – rain?
His face was cold but when he realized what was happening, his heart also turned cold. The reverse side of the continent doesn’t have four seasons, and no weather. Rain only means one thing, the “elemental storm.” Elemental storms are a specialty of this place because of its unusual magnetic field. The elements create storms and randomly wreak havoc on the earth. They are the chief reason why the land is barren. The storms also consume the elemental particles, which is why the elements are thin here. Also, there are no small towns or villages because only the big strongholds can withstand the storms.
Rain in this place means that the water elements have gathered in the form of a storm. The spot on his face where the raindrop had fallen was painful. Another drop of rain fell on Xiu’s hand. This time he could see very clearly that the drop of black rain left a raw red wound on the white and tender skin. Xiu knit his brows. There was a burnt smell in the air. They did not speak because, in that instant, they both understood their plight.
Among all of the magical elements, the dark element is the one that corrodes.
Du Ze thought that he could write “Pitiful Life” on his forehead since his Luck Rank is certainly E: when he was transported into the novel’s world, the protagonist’s blackening had finished; leaving the Lost Land, they met three enemies; and when they went to the reverse side of the continent, the elemental storm was waiting for them. It must be that when he got transported, the dice did not land well so his Luck stat was abysmal.
The few scattered raindrops were rapidly increasing. They need to find shelter from the rain. Even if it’s not a town or a city, a cave or rocky outcrop would at least be something. However, Du Ze looked around but he could not see any suitable place in this red wilderness.
Xiu had also discovered that they were in a desperate situation. The flaxen-haired gnome looked at the black rain that was falling. The wound on his abdomen was very painful and he felt like his body was about to split into two. He simply did not have the strength to flee this death banquet.
Currently, the only one who has the power to act is …
Xiu looked at that person who was now squatting down in front of him and offering Xiu his back, saying “Climb on.”
The gnome did not move. He heard the voice, which always had a strange tone, saying “Hold on to me.”
Du Ze carried Xiu on his back with the doujinshi rolled up and tucked into his belt. He put the black robe over the two of them and started running. The rain fell on Du Ze’s face, burning him. Du Ze had never been so serious in his life. He was putting all his effort into his running. A barbecue smell rose up. It was the scent of crisp, tender, and juicy meat cooking …
F***!
The rain was getting heavier. Du Ze ran as fast as he could but his physical condition just isn’t that good. Pretty soon, he started breathing hard and his steps became slower and slower. His body felt like there were hundreds of iron weights strapped onto it. The pain and exhaustion were constant. He could not remember how long he had been running. All he could see around him was black rain and all he could feel was the exhaustion and the pain of his flesh burning.
Chapter 14.2 – Protagonist: I will hold you tight
So tired. So heavy. It hurts.
The black robe was destroyed, his hair fell off, and his flesh melted away.
From running to jogging, to brisk walking, to walking, then finally the black-haired youth simply moved away slowly in the rain, breathing labored. He seemed to be conscious of the increased danger and moved the small figure from his back to his front, holding him close to his bosom to reduce the area that would be damaged by the rain.
Why is he desperately protecting the protagonist? The protagonist abused him many times but he treats the protagonist like his first love – how much of a Holy Saint is he? Though Du Ze does need to keep Xiu alive because of the blood contract, carefully keeping Xiu on his bosom to protect the protagonist from the rain… even with his restore function, isn’t this too much?
… Because it hurts.
What Du Ze is experiencing is just skin corrosion, but it hurts so much. When all of a person’s flesh and blood is melted away, it must be more painful than death. How can a man endure it?
Du Ze bent his waist, tightly embracing a small figure – this person is this world’s protagonist who should have had a bright future, loved by everyone. But because of a reader’s words, his flesh and blood were gouged out and he was abandoned by friends and allies.
When reading a book and a character is in pain, the reader stands outside of the book and will only be left with the impression of “oh, this person is in pain.” The novel’s readers know that the protagonist of “Mixed Blood” had his flesh painfully removed, and was hurt by repeated betrayals. However, the readers don’t realize how deep the pain is because they can’t feel it themselves. It was only through his current suffering that Du Ze realized how cruel they were in the other world, and what a foolish thing he had done.
The guilt overwhelmed Du Ze, tormenting him. Du Ze was also discouraged, thinking: if he had been the one who had been hurt like that, would he also feel moved?1
“… Put me down, you can go.”
The protagonist had been lying quietly on his back even though his wound had opened up again due to being jolted up and down by the running movements. When Du Ze held Xiu in his arms, the protagonist spoke.
“I will cancel the blood contract. You won’t die because of me.”
The blood contract can be annulled by the caster since he has absolute power over the other.
Du Ze was stupefied for a while. His stupid brain couldn’t process the words. Is the protagonist unexpectedly asking him to leave? Doesn’t Xiu value only his own life? Doesn’t he just prefer to use other people? Why is he willing to let Du Ze leave while he waits for death here?
Du Ze cried, he really cried. FML, the Holy Saint shined his light and the cute hero actually returned. My body was damaged and you immediately believed in the Holy Saint’s love, not knowing that this person is the chief architect of your woes.
This young man pledges his life to see you sitting on the throne of the Supreme God.
Du Ze was just about to open his mouth to speak the words of loyalty in his heart when his headphones went on strike again. This time the batteries did not run out, instead the wire was melted by the black rain.
Du Ze … Du Ze sighed. It doesn’t matter, this young man is used to it …. haha.
You are definitely an enemy agent (meow spy) sent by Yi Ye Zhi Qiu!!! All I wanted to do was the increase my favorability rating!!! WTF!!!
All of this inner turmoil went unnoticed. Xiu only saw that Du Ze made a renewed effort to hug him more closely to his bosom. The black-haired youth’s face was cold. Bending over to protect Xiu from the corrosive black rain, Du Ze’s eyeglasses were half melted but they couldn’t hide the cold anger in his eyes. This was the first time that Xiu saw him express a strong emotion. That person was always serious in speech and manner … why is he angry?
Xiu bowed his head, his flaxen hair softly falling down his face, hiding his expression.
Perhaps the return of the cute hero brought them good luck. Du Ze had just walked a few steps when he finally saw a good hiding place. It was a crack in a rock wall. The length was about one meter and the space inside was not wide. Xiu’s gnome form could barely fit inside.
Covering the opening with his body, Du Ze sat outside. Although he was drenched by the black rain, the situation now was better than before. Du Ze believed that he would be able to survive until midnight when his body would be restored. Sure enough, once a person gets the restore power, the lower limit of his body will be tested and he will have the courage to challenge all kinds of deadly situations. Now that they are safe and the cute hero has returned, what awaits them is a glorious future.
While Du Ze was happily thinking of the beautiful future he would have while following the cute hero, Xiu’s small hand grabbed Du Ze’s index finger, squeezing it hard. Du Ze lowered his head to look at Xiu’s face. It was very white, not like the gnome’s skin, more like the undead’s pallor, but his amber eyes were unusually bright. In those eyes Du Ze could see his corpse-like reflection: his hair was all gone, his skin was melted into a hideous mess, and the underlying muscles were exposed.
… 0-point restore is a good skill, right?
Then Du Ze saw Xiu smile in a way totally unlike the Lich’s sneer. In the gnome’s small face, there appeared a pair of very cute dimples.
He said, “…”
Du Ze’s eyes seemed pure and bright but actually inside he was in a daze. Xiu lay down on the ground and closed his eyes, hiding the darkness deep in his eyes.
******
******
He will not tell the man that he had already seen shelter.
He will only say to him: Put me down, you can go.
He will not tell the man that he will kill him the moment he abandons him.
He will only say to him: I will cancel the blood contract. You won’t die because of me.
He will not tell the man that he doesn’t want to let go.
He will only say to him: I will hold you tight.
That person who, under the black rain, bent down to protect the figure that lay on his bosom – he will hold on to him and never let him go.
– [black box]
The author has something to say:
Protagonist: I will hold you tight.
Reader: Please, let go.
Author: Gnomes are sensitive, curious, and stubborn.
Reader: **** it’s not stubborn, it’s paranoia! Wipe, wipe the sh**! Looking for group, let’s spray the author with Aunt Flo’s blood.
