But the Frost Beast's strength told them—

It would be extremely difficult.

They had already reached this stage. Were they really going to have to spend votes to leave?

Zhen Xing and Eugene exchanged glances and saw the same solemnity in each other's eyes.

The monster in Stage Three's maze had been troublesome, but everyone had joined forces and defeated it.

Yet from the strength the Frost Beast had just displayed, even if they all worked together, winning would still be very difficult.

— Truly worthy of being the boss of the final stage.

The barrage was shocked as well—

“The Frost Beast is so strong!!”

“The records already said Frost Beasts are powerful, but this one seems stronger than any before.”

“When it stops playing around and actually fights seriously, honestly, it would be hard to beat.”

“Don't forget!! There's still He Yu!!”

“Right, there's still He Yu!”

...

The Transit Station was discussing it as well.

Siya said, “Zhen Xing and the others must be despairing right now. The Frost Beast is terrifying. The guy who got torn apart was an expert. I knew him. He was famous in the Federation.”

Qiao Yuan nodded heavily.

“Exactly. The Frost Beast looks cute and acts like a big cat in front of He Yu, but if it actually fights, it's terrifying. It's even scarier than the Flame Beast!”

Duan Yuchen took a deep breath.

“They still have He Yu. When He Yu acts as the strongest support, he's incredibly powerful.”

After a pause, he added:

“Of course, that's only if He Yu is willing to cooperate.”

Zhante shook his head.

“I don't know why, but I feel like He Yu won't cooperate with them. He schemed his way through everything, sending us out of the instance one after another and reaching the final stage alone. Would he really join forces with Zhen Xing and the others?”

“What would be impossible about that?” Qiong spread her hands. “The Frost Beast is even stronger than everyone imagined.”

Wanrenzhan curled his lips.

“That doesn't look like cooperation to me. This guy is best at courting death and surprising people.”

Was tormenting everyone like that the attitude of an ally?

Duan Yuchen said, “But he hasn't killed them.”

— If he didn't kill them and left them until the end, wasn't it for cooperation?

Zhante shook his head.

“I really can't understand what He Yu is thinking, but he's definitely tortured Eugene and the others enough. By the time they unite, they might kill He Yu before Big Cat even breathes its last.”

This was both old grudges and new hatred.

How could they not want to kill He Yu?

Besides...

He Yu had come this far alone.

Nobody knew what he was really planning.

Duan Yuchen said, “Let's keep watching.”

Everyone nodded and looked seriously at the screen.

In a corner, the unremarkable Ling Buchen stroked his chin and blinked.

— He knew.

He Yu wouldn't cooperate with anyone.

He Yu seriously brushed the Frost Beast's fur.

His eyes were lowered, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, making him appear delicate and beautiful.

His rimless glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, making his profile even more perfect, like a figure in a painting.

With his beauty, intelligence, and previous performances, he had never looked like someone who would do manual labor.

Yet brushing Big Cat's fur...

He did it very well.

And very seriously.

As he brushed, Big Cat's mood grew better and better. It purred contentedly and stretched out a fluffy white paw, gently patting He Yu's back three times.

— Like some sort of secret signal.

Expressing affection.

He Yu looked up and smiled brightly at it.

Big Cat grinned, wagged its tail, perked up its ears, and instantly became so happy it seemed ready to float away.

He Yu put away the brush and looked at the fur he had collected.

Smiling, he said,

“You've shed quite a lot. I'll gather more and make a sweater.”

He carefully stored the fur aside.

Big Cat curiously watched him and wanted to poke it with a paw.

He Yu lightly slapped the giant paw.

Immediately, it withdrew and folded its paws in front of its chest obediently.

He Yu carefully gathered the fur.

Once there was a large pile, he turned and called out to the people who were secretly plotting.

“Come over. I need help.”

Just as Eugene was about to step forward, Zhen Xing had already flashed over and appeared beside He Yu.

Curiously, he asked:

“What are we doing?”

He Yu answered:

“Twisting yarn.”

Zhen Xing: “?”

For a moment, he suspected his ears.

[Barrage: “...Pfft hahahahahaha!!”]

[Barrage: “HAHAHAHAHAHA!!”]

Seeing someone approach, Big Cat became unhappy and stretched out a paw to slap Zhen Xing away.

He Yu raised a hand.

“Wait. He's useful.”

Big Cat looked at He Yu, then at Zhen Xing, and reluctantly withdrew its paw.

However, it tilted its head and bared its fangs viciously at Zhen Xing, trying to intimidate him into leaving.

Yet Zhen Xing calmly squatted down.

“How do I do it?”

— Afraid?

— Of what?

— If He Yu protected him, Big Cat wouldn't hurt him.

Eugene and the others were curious as well. Seeing that Zhen Xing was unharmed, they approached.

“He Yu, what are you doing? Is this...”

“Awoo!”

Big Cat roared viciously and lunged toward everyone.

It was very smart.

It knew He Yu wouldn't let it hurt that annoying reserve food.

But He Yu had never forbidden it from hurting this other group of equally annoying reserve food.

Eugene and the others: “!!!”

— Damn it, why are we getting hurt again?!

Soon, an extremely “harmonious” scene appeared.

The Frost Beast vented its energy by chasing Eugene and the others around, forcing them to jump and flee frantically.

“Awoo—!”

“AAAAH, SAVE US!”

Meanwhile...

Zhen Xing sat atop his Rubik's Cube.

Twisting yarn.

And beside him, He Yu was knitting a sweater with two ice needles.

His eyes lowered beneath his glasses, his beautiful fingers moving deftly around the needles.

There was nothing feminine about it.

Instead, it looked pleasing.

The barrage—

“I don't know why, but I feel like He Yu and Zhen Xing are kind of compatible.”

“Don't you think He Yu and Big Cat are even more compatible?!”

“Definitely Big Cat! One person and one cat, so warm!”

“Zhen Xing! Zhen Xing suits him better!”

“...Everyone, have you forgotten Wanrenzhan?”

“You don't understand. He's not here, so we're not shipping him with He Yu.”

“Besides! I feel like that idiot with negative IQ doesn't really match the peak IQ of He Yu.”

...

Zhen Xing stared at the cloth already taking shape in He Yu's hands.

His eyes widened.

“Is this making clothes?”

He Yu nodded.

“Yes.”

Zhen Xing looked at him, his expression more complicated than ever.

“You actually know how to make clothes.”

He Yu said nothing.

His slender fingers continued moving skillfully around the ice needles.

Even in this environment, doing such a thing, he sat with a straight back.

Sunlight shone on his face, making him seem to glow.

His profile was exquisite.

Zhen Xing stared blankly.

He Yu said,

“Don't daydream. Twist faster.”

Zhen Xing immediately moved his hands.

His voice was hoarse.

“Can you make one for me?”

He Yu answered without hesitation.

“No.”

Zhen Xing: “......”

His heart shattered.

[Barrage: “HAHAHA I'm dying! Such a subtle confession!!”]

[Barrage: “But He Yu's rejection was merciless.”]

[Barrage: “Though all the experts are being chased like rabbits and one is twisting yarn... this scene is really harmonious. I've recorded it and put it together with Ling Buchen carrying He Yu and Duan Yuchen carrying Wanrenzhan.”]

[Barrage: “Save it. It's precious material. Only one of them can survive in the end. They... will eventually point blades at each other.”]

The sunlight was bright.

The scene was peaceful.

But time passed second by second.

It could not be stopped.

[System Broadcast: 9,280 contestants have cleared. 720 slots remain. Contestants, keep up the good work!]

Only 720 spots remained.

When the announcement sounded, He Yu seemed not to hear it at all.

Zhen Xing wasn't anxious either.

Only Gedai and Cheng Zhao changed expressions.

While fleeing desperately, Eugene shouted:

“He Yu!! Did you hear that?! There are only seven hundred spots left! Aren't you worried?!”

He Yu calmly bit off the yarn.

His sweater was already half finished.

Thud—

At last, Big Cat tackled the final moving target.

Eugene rolled his eyes like a dead fish.

He felt like his whole body was crashing.

Having played enough, Big Cat happily headed toward He Yu.

The huge white ball left giant plum blossom footprints in the snow.

Its destination was clear.

He Yu.

It arrived beside Zhen Xing and lay down naturally.

As if it hadn't seen him, it “accidentally” poked him into the snow with a front paw, leaving another pit.

Zhen Xing: “......”

He silently climbed out and sat on He Yu's other side.

Seeing this, Big Cat picked He Yu up and placed him between its crossed paws.

Then it cast a cold glance at Zhen Xing.

If not for its toy's request, it would've slapped this most annoying piece of food to death long ago.

Zhen Xing touched his nose.

“The yarn's done. Is it enough?”

He Yu lowered his head.

“Still missing one sleeve. I'll brush more fur tomorrow.”

The Frost Beast immediately pressed one paw into its side.

Then it held up a paw full of fluffy fur and offered it to He Yu expectantly.

— Here.

The toy wants fur.

It has plenty.

He Yu paused.

His knitting stopped briefly.

Then he resumed, eyes lowered so nobody could see his emotions.

His voice remained calm.

“Use shed fur. Don't pull your own fur. It hurts.”

“Awoo.”

Whether it meant agreement or “It doesn't hurt” was impossible to tell.

Zhen Xing boldly reached out and took the fur from the Frost Beast's paw.

The Frost Beast stared at him with murderous eyes.

Zhen Xing coughed.

Unwilling to back down.

After all...

He had He Yu backing him now.

Smugly holding the fur, Zhen Xing resumed twisting yarn with utmost seriousness.

He Yu looked too thin.

He should wear more.

And the yarn should be finer, so it wouldn't prick his skin.

Nearby, Big Cat angrily sharpened its claws.

It decided that someday, when the toy wasn't looking, it would secretly kill this hateful human.

Unaware of the silent battle between man and cat, He Yu focused on knitting.

His movements were incredibly fast.

Soon, the sweater was finished.

He Yu stood up and calmly removed his outer clothes, preparing to put it on.

Zhen Xing's eyes widened.

He immediately turned around.

His ears turned slightly red.

Eugene, who had just climbed up: “!!!”

He whistled.

“Wow, He Yu, you've got an amazing body. I like it!”

Gedai, Yuan Ze, and the others couldn't help looking over as well.

Ignoring him, He Yu continued dressing.

Gedai said,

“Isn't taking off your shirt in front of everyone inappropriate?”

He Yu replied lightly,

“What's inappropriate about it? We're all men.”

He had already seen other contestants shirtless.

What was the big deal?

Everyone was male.

Hearing this, Eugene rubbed his hands together and laughed.

“Looks like you really don't know Federation customs. A lot of warriors don't care, but... taking off your clothes is basically showing off your charm.”

Having just put on the sweater, He Yu looked at them with confusion.

Wasn't the Federation very open?

Surely taking off clothes wasn't forbidden?

Finally, he looked toward Zhen Xing for an answer.

Zhen Xing coughed awkwardly.

“In the Federation, marriage has been free for two thousand years. Male and female, male and male, female and female...”

— Even different species could marry.

He Yu: “?”

He was puzzled for a moment.

Then he calmly replied:

“So what? Do I have something you don't?”

He had only exposed his upper body.

What difference was there?

They were all men.

Even if they could marry, there was no difference.

Eugene grinned.

“Big difference. Your skin is soft and beautiful. Anyone who sees it gets fascinated. I bet plenty of viewers are licking their screens right now.”

Blinking, he said:

“He Yu, consider me! In a place this dangerous, why not have a romance?”

At the Transit Station—

Wanrenzhan jumped to his feet.

“H-he, he just knows how to seduce people everywhere! Shameless!”

He spun around angrily.

Zhante looked at him strangely.

“A lot of warriors don't care about these things. It's nothing. Eugene just has certain thoughts, so he's sensitive. Why are you so worked up?”

Beside them, Siya suddenly understood and smiled meaningfully.

Wanrenzhan roared:

“Mind your own business!”

Zhante: “......”

— Crazy. Next one.

Ice and Snow Paradise.

As Eugene approached, trying to touch He Yu's skin—

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bodies flew everywhere.

This time, even Zhen Xing wasn't spared.

The culprit, the Frost Beast, roared:

“Awoo!”

— Did you think I was dead?

After roaring, it excitedly pounced He Yu and sniffed him repeatedly.

Its face was full of delight.

— The toy smells like me!

— Wonderful!!

Excitedly, it rolled around with He Yu and even stretched out its tongue and licked him hard.

He Yu looked helpless.

[System Broadcast: 9,490 contestants have cleared. 510 slots remain. Contestants, keep up the good work!]

Only five hundred spots remained.

Eugene and the others could no longer wait.

They desperately discussed methods to clear the stage.

Suddenly, Gedai raised his voice.

“He Yu, we want to discuss something!”

He had only shouted experimentally.

Unexpectedly, He Yu actually left Big Cat behind and walked over alone.

That behavior shocked them instead.

When he approached leisurely, Gedai lowered his voice.

“He Yu, only five hundred spots are left. They could be filled at any moment. We have to clear the stage. I know you're powerful. How about we cooperate?”

Beside him, Cheng Zhao added:

“The method to clear this stage is almost certainly killing the Frost Beast. If you don't intend to attack it, then step aside and let us do it.”

— In the worst case, they would deal with both He Yu and the Frost Beast together.

Of course, they might not win.

But they had to try.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!

Report chapter

Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter