Chapter 78 - Reality (8) (2/2)

He had left a change of clothes in his backpack and he would have to change now, or, without the groom’s power, he would definitely be ridiculed by onlookers when he goes out.

He didn’t tell Bai Yi not to watch him change. They were both men and it would be strange for him to say it. Though he is actually embarrassed having Bai Yi watch him………

So he could only turn himself around and act like no one else was around. With his back towards Bai Yi, he took off the wedding dress revealing his pale back and straight legs. Naturally, he didn’t know that Bai Yi was examining him behind him.

“Done.”

Cheng Zhi Chu swiftly changed his clothes and turn back around. He smiled at Bai Yi: “Should we leave this place now?”

“Okay.” Bai Yi nodded with a smile. He stored away his hot gaze and he took hold of Cheng Zhi Chu’s hand very naturally. Led by the coin and the bear, they walked out.

The mass grave was very vast. When they walked out, Cheng Zhi Chu talked about what happened to him and didn’t hide anything. He had a few questions that he wanted to ask Bai Yi.

He spoked very comprehensively and talked about the first reality instance that he had activated at the Bai villa, how he was being chased after by “Winter Branch” and how, in order to deal with him, he activated an instance using the ring. What he didn’t expect was that the groom in the new instance had Bai Yi’s body and “Winter Branch” looked exactly the same as Bai Yi.

As he spoke, he carefully thought about everything that had happened. More and more, he felt that Bai Yi was very mysterious.

Both instances were closely related to Bai Yi ——- The first instance was associated to the Bai family and, in the second instance, Bai Yi’s body had even turned into a boss……….

The original “Winter Branch” who was originally not in an instance also looked exactly the same as Bai Yi………He had even said something——–

“Winter Branch” said that there are other ‘Bai Yi’’s……….”

Cheng Zhi Chu looked over at the man next to him. Slightly hesitant, he spoke up: “………..Do you know what this means?”

Bai Yi didn’t answer him immediately and instead fell silent for a long time. His long silence made Cheng Zhi Chu feel awkward and worried that he may have asked something that he shouldn’t have. The person next to him suddenly looked up at him and appeared to have decided something.

“They are all me.”

Bai Yi replied quietly.

“Whether it’s “Winter Branch” or the groom, or even all the bosses that you have encountered……….They’re all me.”

“Sorry Zhi Chu, I have been hiding this from you the whole time.”

“In fact, I have met you a long time ago.”

Cheng Zhi Chu stopped in place.

……….

Bai Yi also started to talk about his past.

The things that Cheng Zhi Chu had encountered at the Bai villa were all true. Zhou Luo Chen was a psychopath who had killed many children. That year, Cheng Zhi Chu was kidnapped by him and was rescued by Bai Yi. Eventually he was picked up by his parents but, because he was so strongly affected by it, he had forgotten everything about it after recovering from his fever.

Bai Yi believed that he was cause for Cheng Zhi Chu’s misfortune and he was worried that Cheng Zhi Chu would recall everything that had happened if he sees him so he could only watch from afar, not daring to meet him.

Like this, time continued to pass. Then, six years ago, Bai Yi was attacked by Mr. Mu. When he woke up, he found himself stuck inside “Infinite Escape” and was bound to the Death Mode. He would only be able to return to reality if he was able to clear the game.

In order to be able to earn enough survival points to escape from the game as soon as possible, Bai Yi started his game journey. Using the ID of “Winter Branch”, he wrote strategy guides to gain survival points.

He was talented and he soon became a top player in the game. The strategy guides that he released were very impactful and was sought after by many players. Very quickly, he managed to earn the necessary survival points.

However, when he chose to return to reality, he was told by his system that he had died in reality and that his body was in another place. Until he is able to put his body back together, he would not be able to return to reality.

“The only motivation for me to continue living was the hope to return to reality and see you again…..”

Bai Yi lowered his eyes and hooked up his lips. He spoke very casually but Cheng Zhi Chu felt heartache for him.

“But at that time, I learnt that I would probably never be able to return ——–I naturally didn’t think that anyone would be able to find my body. Even if they did, they would probably cremate it instead of putting them back together.”

“………And later, I ran onto some trouble.”

Even if Bai Yi was very resilient, when trapped all alone inside such a bloody and dark game with no possibility of escaping, the desperation alone would drive anyone crazy. Even Bai Yi was not spared by this.

At first, he had just heard strange murmuring sounds in his sleep disrupting his thoughts. Later, these murmuring sounds increased. and he could hear it during the day as well. Day and night, the noise bothered him incessantly.

He had thought that it was something wrong with his mind, so he took medicine to treat it, but it didn’t have any effect. Later, these symptoms got more and more serious. Sometimes, he would suddenly fall sleep and wake up un a strange place. Once, he was even holding a knife against his neck.

The system told him that this is not just a simple case of mental illness and that it was because his soul was showing signs of shattering. If he didn’t sort it out soon, it could be dangerous.

The Bai Yi that time was in a bad state. Everyday, there was a risk of his soul shattering. At that point in time, he ran onto someone.

It was the man that had killed him.

“Now I have learned of his name from you. It turned out he’s called ‘Mr. Mu’.”

Bai Yi said faintly: “I didn’t know his name and only remembered his face. When I was attacked, I turned around and faintly saw his appearance. When I met him in the game, I recognised him immediately.”

That was two years ago. Bai Yi and M. Mu just happened to meet inside an instance, and he recognised Mr. Mu in an instance. Perhaps because Mr. Mu had killed too many people, he didn’t realise that Bai Yi was someone that was once killed by him.

Bai Yi could tell that Mr. Mu was very strong. Not only that, Mr. Mu’s most terrible feature was his crazy strong luck which was very unfavourable for him.

“But he was still not lucky enough.” Bai Yi coldly hooked up his lips, “He didn’t recognise me. Although he had his guard up around all the teammates, it wasn’t enough for me.”

After having enough preparations, Bai Yi and Mr. Mu had a terrible fight that almost destroyed the entire instance world.

The result of the fight was also very terrible. Bai Yi’s soul had completely shattered, and he had lost almost half of it. As for Mr. Mu, his body had turned to dust and his soul had been contaminated causing him to turn into a huge monster. He distorted and fused several instance words together and had to rely on absorbing power from them to live.

“Since then, I had completely given up the hope of leaving this game. I thought that I would eventually die in an instance and be unable to see you ever again.”

“But one day you entered the game. Your system told my system and, to be able to see you again and protect you, I entered the same instance, pretended not to know you and slowly approached you.”

Seeing that Cheng Zhi Chu’s eyes were red, and he wasn’t making a sound, Bai Yi let out a soft sigh and pulled him into his arms. Patting his back affectionately, he whispered:

“Do you hate me for hiding things from you Zhi Chu?”

Cheng Zhi Chu gripped onto the fabric on Bai Yi’s back. He felt extremely distressed and he sniffled as he spoke with a choked-up voice:

“I’m very angry. Why didn’t you tell me these things in the beginning………”

“Why didn’t you come and find me later………”

“Did you plan on just watching me from afar for your whole life and always be a stranger to me?”

“I didn’t plan to do this. I really wanted to meet you, and let you know of my existence but every time I told myself that I still have a lot of time, I haven’t prepared enough and that I shouldn’t rush…”

Bai Yi rubbed his head and gently replied.

“But after entering the game I realised that I didn’t have that many tomorrows and I might even die the next day.”

“So when I learnt that you had also entered the game, even if I wasn’t prepared, I didn’t hesitate to find you and appear before you.”

“Even if I am unable to leave this game, I wanted to let you know of my existence. I didn’t want to die without you knowing me.”

“And you came to rescue me.”

“You helped me find my body, and your photobook helped gather my soul fragments. I think I will probably be able to leave the game the moment you have finished collecting them all.”

“Zhi Chu, I really want to thank you……..”

Bai Yi held Cheng Zhi Chu tightly and Cheng Zhi Chu also hugged him back. Their chests were filled with complex emotions. It was both sour and sweet, sad and happy.

Turns out, Bai Yi had always been waiting to meet him again.

Then the name “One Thought” that refers to only thinking of one person – Does it also refer to him?

So, what kind of feelings does Bai Yi have for him? Could he be feeling the same way he feels towards him?

……….Can he have some expectations?

****

Bai Yi’s Diary (Part 78)

The environment is very poor, but the atmosphere is good.

Should I confess to Zhi Chu?