After My Death, the Protagonist Broke Character - Chapter 2

His reason was completely gone; only the instinct of a zombie remained.

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He desperately suckled at the source of the blood, clamping down tightly on the other man. The intoxicating aroma of blood had stolen away his entire mind, leaving no room for reason. But it was too little. The scent of blood was gradually diluted by the saliva in his mouth, yet his craving for it grew ever more voracious. Even as he held on tighter, the initiative was not his; his sharp fangs grew longer, triggered by the body’s innate need to extract more blood.

He was like a fish drowning in air. He could smell the fragrance of blood, but he lacked the method to fully satisfy the hunger. Gradually, sensing his futile efforts, he began to lose heart and loosened his grip.

“Mmph…” An involuntary sound of frustration escaped him. As he eased his strength, Xie Shoushan who had been keenly tracking every move refused to give him a moment to breathe. He had no intention of letting the man lose interest now; he wanted the other’s everything, wanted his complete focus. Almost subconsciously, Xie Shoushan moved his tongue toward Huaisi’s sharp fangs and decisively sliced his own tongue open!

In an instant, fresh blood filled their mouths, spilling over the corners of their lips and running down his neck, eventually pooling at his collarbone to form a striking, vivid crimson stain.

Huaisi’s pupils constricted once more. His hands scrambled back onto Xie Shoushan’s neck, his mouth suckling hungrily at the source of the blood. His mind had turned to mush; he wanted nothing more than to devour every drop, to claim it all as his own!

Following the trail of blood from their mouths, he licked along the bloodstain all the way to the collarbone. He was like a cat, yet far more ferocious, finally coming to rest at the prominent, firm Adam’s apple. The cartilage was hard, but just below lay the fragile throat. With just a bit of force from his long, sharp fangs, both the throat and the carotid artery could be torn open in an instant!

The damp, rhythmic licking of the skin over the Adam’s apple was the act of a beast savoring its prey before the kill, a final confirmation of the prey’s scent.

Just as Huaisi’s fangs were about to pierce that vulnerable skin, Xie Shoushan reached up and cupped his face, instantly freezing Huaisi’s movements.

“You can’t bite here,” Xie Shoushan whispered gently. Instead, he extended his arm toward Huaisi, his eyes shimmering with a soft, tender light as he said, “Bite here.”

Huaisi, governed entirely by instinct, opened his mouth and bit down hard. As flesh tore and the satisfaction of blood flooded his mouth, he began to gulp it down hungrily. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down; the refined, scholarly man from before was gone, replaced entirely by a wild beast.

Yet, Xie Shoushan’s expression remained unchanged. His other hand stroked the top of Huaisi’s head, his gaze gentle and satisfied, as if watching a pet eat its fill, allowing Huaisi to gnaw his arm until it was a bloody mess.

“Huaisi, I’m heading out for a bit. The crystals and food are running out; I’ll be back soon. You stay here.” Xie Shoushan pulled up his hood, wrapping himself tightly. He spoke toward the corner of the room, as if he were just an ordinary person telling his family he was stepping out for a trip.

Huaisi shifted, pulling at the chain on his ankle. He opened his mouth, but only a low, zombified growl emerged. Having started his transformation into a zombie, he didn’t fully understand Xie Shoushan’s words; he merely turned his head sluggishly, following the sound.

It wasn’t until the door locked and Xie Shoushan’s footsteps faded that Huaisi finally began to grasp the meaning of what had just occurred.

He reached a hand toward the door. The hand emerging from beneath his ragged shirt was completely unrecognizable pale, thin, and terrifyingly death-white, as if the blood in his body had solidified. The once-manicured, healthy nails had grown long and wickedly sharp; a single swipe could tear away a layer of flesh. He could no longer feel his own body temperature, nor could he feel the beating of his heart. He looked at his hand again and again, his gaze filled with confusion.

This… is…

Like an old, neglected machine slowly grinding to life, he moved with excruciating slowness, his joints stiff and clicking. As his bare feet touched the floor, the chain clanked, a harsh sound in the empty room.

Not only had his body turned into that of a zombie, but his mind was also shifting. Beyond the gnawing hunger, he was extremely slow to react to everything else; he was only just now processing what had happened.

Xie Shoushan had gone out, but fearing he might wander off, he had shackled Huaisi’s right ankle. The chain was attached to an exposed drainage pipe in the wall. Every step Huaisi took made the iron chain rattle. The length of the chain allowed him to reach only the door. He tried to reach for the doorknob, but his pale fingertips were always just a few inches short.

This was the distance Xie Shoushan had calculated just enough to let him move around, but not enough to open the door and escape.

He tilted his head, trying many times, but could never reach the door. He circled within the limits of the chain, his movements as confined and repetitive as his current thoughts.

He… had turned into… a zombie…

Though his thoughts were sluggish, the plot of the novel burned in his mind, clearer than any of his own ideas.

He had become a zombie. The plot required him to go mad and tear at Xie Shoushan, forcing the protagonist to kill his own dearest friend in self-defense. Only then would Xie Shoushan’s agony be fully realized, allowing his abilities to advance. After all, it seemed Xie Shoushan had only just awakened his power he was still in the “beginner’s village” phase.

His existence was merely a “plot trigger” for the protagonist’s emotions; only then could the potential of his powers be unleashed.

He looked at the door one last time, but ultimately, he didn’t try to go back. Forget it. Anyway, my mission is to help Xie Shoushan “level up” so he can save the world. Since I was just a person without abilities anyway, I suppose following the plot is the best choice.

Since I’ve already died once, I’ll just die again.

He gave up on reaching the door.

He sat on the floor, lifting his head to stare blankly at the floor-to-ceiling window that hadn’t been fully curtained. Light leaked through the gap and shone onto his pale, angular face. The light danced in his pupils, reflecting a murky, greyish hue. Even though he had no strength to do anything, he continued to watch that sliver of light, involuntarily tilting his head back. The knife wound on his neck was fully exposed, the jagged, blood-crusted opening widening with the angle of his head; one could vaguely see the dark, hollow depths of his throat.

He wanted to find more sunlight, longing to see the blue sky and white clouds. Even though he had turned into a zombie, he still chased the light. His brain worked slowly, and he no longer wanted to overthink it; he would simply follow the fleeting thoughts that crossed his mind.

Creak. The old iron door opened. The pale, eerie man, wearing only a shirt and black trousers, sat on the cold floor, hugging his knees, head tilted back, exposing the fatal wound that had severed his carotid artery. He stared motionless at the light on the window, never blinking. Even when Xie Shoushan returned, he remained in that posture, having not moved for hours, like a stone statue devoid of life.

Yet, Xie Shoushan was overjoyed. At the very least, Huaisi could sit up now, which meant he would get better day by day. As long as Huaisi was by his side, he would protect him, and Huaisi would surely recover. Holding onto this thought, he had been determined to bring Huaisi to this abandoned house, and it seemed he had been right to do so.

Xie Shoushan walked toward Huaisi with a smile and took his hand. Even though Huaisi’s hand was cold as ice, he kept smiling and asked, “Your hands are so cold, are you freezing?” He then looked at the clothes Huaisi was wearing and said with guilt, “It was my oversight. I should have dressed you more warmly before I left.” He hurriedly took off his own hooded trench coat. His movements were clumsy, as if he were taking care of someone for the first time, and he draped the coat over Huaisi.

“Warmer now, right?” Xie Shoushan asked, taking Huaisi’s icy hand again. Xie Shoushan’s palms were like a furnace, capable of burning everything away until not even ash remained, and he held Huaisi’s hand tightly in his.

Even though Xie Shoushan did all this, Huaisi remained motionless, staring at the light until it faded. Xie Shoushan didn’t care about Huaisi’s lack of response; he only cared that he could keep his gaze fixed on Huaisi.

“Haa…” Huaisi opened his mouth in a low, zombified growl. Because he had become a zombie and suffered that neck wound, he had almost lost the ability to speak, and he had no intention of trying.

If he were a zombie in the plot, he didn’t need to speak. As for why he still had consciousness, he didn’t care to ponder it. Soon, he would fulfill his duty to the plot. He just needed Xie Shoushan to kill him, right? He let out an angry, hostile growl at Xie Shoushan.

Xie Shoushan kissed the hand he was holding and said, “Are you hungry? That’s right, I was gone for quite a while. Wait, I brought a few things back…” Just as he turned around, Huaisi followed his instinct and lunged, pinning Xie Shoushan to the floor. Xie Shoushan’s eyes widened in momentary shock, yet they were as pure and black as ever, like a frightened child.

Being afraid is good. You’ll kill me soon, won’t you?

Huaisi opened his mouth to reveal his sharp fangs, aiming for Xie Shoushan’s neck. But just as he was about to pierce the skin, he worried: What if I accidentally bite the protagonist to death? This is his throat and carotid artery. If Xie Shoushan dies, won’t the plot be destroyed? Driven by this thought, he tilted his head and bit into the hollow of Xie Shoushan’s collarbone instead. Blood surged out. The rich, metallic scent filling his mouth made Huaisi squint in intoxication, his pupils gradually narrowing into vertical slits.

He felt as though he were getting drunk. Instinctively, he tried to suck more blood. He had only meant to bite him symbolically, but now he was fully latched onto Xie Shoushan.

Xie Shoushan lay on the floor, his head tilted to the side, quietly watching Huaisi’s head buried in his neck. He could hear the constant sound of swallowing in his ear that was his blood entering Huaisi’s body, eventually becoming a part of Huaisi. As long as Huaisi kept drinking his blood, he would never leave him. He knew his blood was different from a normal person’s just like his body’s healing ability, it was unique. That was why, every time he went on a mission, the zombies were always fixated on him; his blood was simply far rarer than anyone else’s.

As long as Huaisi drank his blood, their blood and flesh would remain fused together, and Huaisi would never be able to leave him.

Thinking of this, Xie Shoushan couldn’t help but laugh. His black eyes remained pure; his thoughts were always simple, and the mere idea filled his body and soul with pleasure.

Huaisi was on top of Xie Shoushan, tearing at his flesh and blood. As he drank the blood, feeling dizzy, he suddenly sensed a hard object pushing against him from below his body something becoming increasingly rigid, as if it were about to burst through the fabric. His brain was only operating at low speed, preoccupied with the plot, subconsciously thinking that Xie Shoushan was finally going to counterattack and use his gun to finish him off.

To ensure the plot progressed smoothly, he tried his best to provoke Xie Shoushan, pressing hard against him, hoping to force him to draw his gun and end this zombified life.

He pushed his weight down harder and harder, drinking blood relentlessly, using the clumsiest method possible.

Suddenly, he heard a muffled groan. Before he could react, he felt a pair of large hands clamp onto his waist, stopping his movements. From the corner of his eye, he saw Xie Shoushan’s habitually gentle, handsome face contorted in restrained endurance, the veins on his neck bulging. Huaisi’s biting motion paused, and the next moment, he felt a surge of wet warmth against his stomach.

“Huu…”

Vaguely, a scent other than blood wafted up to his nose.

Huaisi froze completely. He turned his head to stare fixedly at Xie Shoushan, his pupils still vertical slits, stunned and bewildered the zombie brain seemingly unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Suddenly, Xie Shoushan rolled over, pulled Huaisi into his arms, and hid Huaisi behind his own back, staring at the door in a defensive stance.

A moment later, a hesitant female voice echoed from the doorway.

“Shoushan, you’re inside, right? You saved us earlier, and I haven’t had the chance to ask how you’ve been. Are you… coming back?”