Entangled with a Gloomy Creep in an Explicit Novel - Chapter 20.1

Jin Yongyi could only offer a bitter smile, saying to the two people looking at her with worried eyes, “Do not worry about me. I run very fast, and even demons cannot necessarily catch me. Let us not waste time and split up to look.”

Xie Fuyao and Mu Qingfeng furrowed their brows, not believing a single word.

Jin Yongyi could not see their reactions. Thinking that time waited for no one, she turned around and ran, saying, “Move quickly, move quickly! Ouch!”

She crashed forehead-first into a pillar in the corridor.

Turning around to give an embarrassed smile, Jin Yongyi clutched at the evenly spaced pillars as she ran far away.

The ticking sound of a clock echoed in her ears, constantly reminding her that the quest was about to begin.

Jin Yongyi woke up breathlessly in front of a shrub, unable to keep herself from complaining.

This place was pitch-black. She tripped after taking just a couple of steps, so how could three minutes possibly be enough for her to find the exit and then look for the male lead?

“Could you at least give me a tracker for the male lead?”

The System replied, 【Host, you did not ask. The male lead is currently one hundred meters to your front-left.】

Jin Yongyi: “?”

Did this dead System find it amusing to watch her trip and fall while running?

Jin Yongyi counted the seconds in her mind. There was roughly one minute left before the quest began. She stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and prepared to walk over carefully to find Zhao Fuzhou.

Using her legs to feel out the path one step ahead, she carefully moved forward. A sudden gust of fierce wind blew past her ears, making it impossible to maintain her footing. As she staggered and swayed for a couple of steps, her arm was grabbed by a powerful force and yanked violently to the side.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, she felt sharp fingernails digging into her neck, the flesh sinking inward as her lifeline was restricted.

Jin Yongyi did not dare to move a muscle.

“You little wretch, I knew you were the one behind this mischief. A massive fire broke out the moment you appeared. Speak! Who on earth are you?! If you do not talk, I will kill you right now.” The Madam’s furious voice was stretched incredibly thin.

Jin Yongyi covered her ears, looking completely bewildered. “What does that have to do with me? Be reasonable, please! I only took a bath at your establishment!”

“Did the Demon Vanquishing Tower send you?!” The Madam’s fingertips pressed harder. Then she suddenly calmed down, letting out a sinister, low laugh, “You will not speak, is that so? Let us see if you will talk once I hand you over to King Gu.”

Jin Yongyi: “??”

“King Gu loves women of peerless beauty like you the most. Offering you as tribute can also offset the punishment for my poor management today. This will also show the Demon Vanquishing Tower that King Gu’s power is not something you wretches can provoke!”

Believing she had achieved a perfect solution, the Madam laughed arrogantly. Fearing that Jin Yongyi might pull another trick, she intended to fold her up, crumple her into a ball, and stuff her into the demonic artifact given by King Gu to carry her away. Consequently, she released her grip on Jin Yongyi’s neck, shifting to grab her arms and legs instead.

Right on cue, the System notification sounded:

【The quest has officially begun. Counting down one minute. You have 59 seconds, 58 seconds left…】

The countdown ticked away alongside the sound of her heartbeat. Jin Yongyi was sweating profusely from anxiety, struggling violently while the Madam tried to grab her legs.

Her hands finally broke free, and losing her balance, she suddenly pitched forward.

At that exact moment, swarms of fireflies flew out from the bushes within a hundred-meter radius. Thousands of fireflies gathered into a single cluster, bursting with enough light to illuminate the entire area.

The fireflies flew to Jin Yongyi’s left and right sides, lining up in a neat queue. She was briefly stunned by the sight, falling heavily onto the grass. A single firefly hovered before her eyes, flapping its wings vigorously to capture her attention.

Jin Yongyi slowly lifted her head to look. At the end of this galaxy formed by fireflies stood a white-robed man, his sleeves fluttering in the wind.

【You have 25 seconds, 24 seconds left…】

Jin Yongyi wanted to stand up, but her ankle was suddenly grabbed by the Madam.

“He is actually not dead?!” Seeing Zhao Fuzhou appear completely unscathed, the Madam’s eyes widened in furious shock, “He is merely a mortal creature of flesh and blood, so how is this possible?!”

Taking advantage of her distraction, Jin Yongyi immediately flipped over and pulled her foot from her grasp.

Fortunately, she had just finished bathing and had no time to put on her shoes or socks. Perhaps due to her naturally smooth skin, she escaped her control without wasting an ounce of effort.

【You have 10 seconds left…】

“There is something you do not know, and that is because…” Jin Yongyi smiled brilliantly, raising her foot to kick the Madam hard in the stomach, stating provocatively, “He is the male lead!”

Jin Yongyi scrambled nimbly to her feet, charging in Zhao Fuzhou’s direction.

Kicked by her, the Madam’s footing became unsteady, and she stumbled backward three steps. Her fury reached its absolute peak, and she screeched as her demonic energy erupted.

【6 seconds, 5 seconds…】

Foul demonic energy surged from behind her. The fireflies illuminating her path forward were enveloped by the demonic aura, turning off inch by inch. Jin Yongyi gritted her teeth and ran with all her might.

Damn it, are Zhao Fuzhou’s legs broken?! Would it kill him to take a single step toward her?!

She was even holding her breath, terrified that the act of breathing might steal her strength and reduce her speed.

Fifty meters, there were only fifty meters left. No one should underestimate her lightness skills!

【3 seconds, 2 seconds…】

“Ah!!!” Jin Yongyi screamed instinctively just as the demonic energy was about to lick the ends of her flying hair.

She crashed into an embrace.

【Congratulations Host, the quest is complete! In light of your positive performance, the reward will be distributed immediately.】

A glowing fragment dropped into her sleeve.

As the System’s voice faded, an erratic yet incredibly powerful heartbeat resounded in her ears.

Initially, Jin Yongyi assumed it was a lingering side effect of her depleted adrenaline. However, as she slowly recovered and a wave of numbness crept into her hands and feet, forcing her to close her eyes and lean into Zhao Fuzhou’s embrace, that heartbeat grew increasingly violent.

It felt as though it were separated from her ear by only a paper-thin membrane.

“Zhao Fuzhou.” Jin Yongyi lifted her head within his embrace. A sudden wave of dizziness hit her, causing her steps to falter. She instinctively wrapped her arms tighter around his waist, their two bodies pressing tightly together until there was no space between them.

The heat from her body transferred rapidly onto him, causing a thin layer of sweat to break out on his palms, which usually lacked warmth.

Jin Yongyi rested her chin against his chest. Enduring her discomfort, she still desperately wanted to resolve the puzzle in her heart.

“Why is your heartbeat so fast?”

Clearly, I am the one who just pulled off a hundred-meter sprint, while you refused to take even a single step. Why on earth is your heartbeat faster than mine? This is completely illogical.

Zhao Fuzhou did not respond. The surroundings were pitch-black, so Jin Yongyi naturally could not see his expression.

“Bang!”

A firework suddenly exploded across the horizon. The fleeting brightness reflected onto Zhao Fuzhou’s face. At that exact moment, Jin Yongyi instinctively looked up to watch the fireworks in the sky, thus missing his exceptionally intense, focused gaze.

“Do not look.”

Her head was pressed down, and Jin Yongyi’s ear was once again flattened against his chest. The violent thumping of his heart drowned out every other sound in the vicinity once more.

Zhao Fuzhou’s voice resonated from his chest, unexpectedly carrying a layer of softness.

“Do not look, all right? It will give you nightmares.”

Jin Yongyi was bewildered. Why would watching fireworks give someone nightmares?

Zhao Fuzhou’s hand gently caressed her hair, and a wave of exhaustion instantly hit her like a tidal wave. Having inhaled too much of the foul odor earlier, she now felt as though her entire lungs were filled with that gas. Dizzied and nauseous from the stench, she closed her eyes. Breathing in the crisp, clean scent on Zhao Fuzhou made her feel significantly more comfortable.

Meanwhile, two minutes prior, two people had rushed hurriedly into the moon gate roughly a hundred meters away from them. The fireworks that suddenly appeared in the night sky had also captured their attention, but they inadvertently witnessed a terrifying scene.

The Madam was hit by the backlash of her own demonic power, launching her into the air. She became like the center of a target, as the demonic energy from the entire space surged into her body. Within moments, she swelled to several times her original size, her skin cracking inch by inch, stretching to its absolute limit like a nearly transparent membrane. Until she could no longer absorb another drop of demonic energy, she exploded into fragments, her shrill scream serving as the final echo of her malice.

The sparks from the extinguished fireworks fell, and half an eyeball rolled along the ground, staring fixedly at the Demon Vanquisher who had sent her off with such a dazzling display at the end of her life.

Zhao Fuzhou held the beautiful woman in his arms, stroking her hair over and over. Watching the black strands wrap around his fingers before cleverly slipping away, he simply slid his fingers deep into her long, dark hair, the corners of his mouth finally arching into an excited curve.

This scene was naturally witnessed by the two people who had rushed over.

Xie Fuyao looked at the disappointment and self-reproach that Mu Qingfeng tried his hardest to conceal but failed to keep from surfacing on his face. She sighed, patting Mu Qingfeng’s shoulder to offer comfort.

Subsequently, she led him forward, avoiding the shredded flesh covering the ground.

Zhao Fuzhou lifted his eyes to look at them, a flash of annoyance flitting through his gaze. He leaned down and swept Jin Yongyi up by the waist.

Jin Yongyi’s limbs lacked strength, and after flailing twice in his arms, she simply chose to rest against him compliantly.

“The ground is dirty and you are not wearing shoes. I will carry you out.”

“Huh? Is the demon already dead?” Jin Yongyi asked, processing the situation late.

Zhao Fuzhou replied, “It was merely a lesser demon. Seeing that she was outnumbered, she fled.”

Jin Yongyi found it very strange. “Is a red-tier bounty warrant truly this simple? Right, you mentioned we have to eradicate the forces backing her. I knew it, so how could…”

“The bounty warrant has been destroyed, which means we have completed it,” Zhao Fuzhou interrupted, offering an explanation.

Jin Yongyi shut her mouth, falling into deep thought.

She constantly felt that something was amiss.

While she pondered, Zhao Fuzhou had already carried her over to Mu Qingfeng and Xie Fuyao.

Mu Qingfeng’s gaze quickly fell upon Jin Yongyi’s bare feet. He froze slightly, lowering his head, lost in unknown thoughts.

“Brother Mu’s hand appears to be severely injured.” When Zhao Fuzhou said these words, his emphasis shifted slightly, carrying a hint of a devious smile, “The completion of the bounty warrant is also thanks to everyone’s efforts. The bounty will be split equally when the time comes, and I will hand over Brother Mu’s share to him first.”

“After all, seeking medical attention is of paramount importance. It would be terrible if a permanent condition were left behind.” Speaking these words, Zhao Fuzhou looked like a little angel concerned about his dear friend’s injuries.

The gaze falling upon the back of his hand felt tangible, tearing his wound open until it became a bloody mess. Mu Qingfeng instinctively hid his hand behind his back, forcing out a cheerful smile, “Then I shall thank Brother Zhao first for his concern.”

Jin Yongyi figured she could not see clearly anyway, so she did not even lift her head. Though she was lazily snuggling against Zhao Fuzhou’s shoulder, her tone still carried plenty of concern, “Yes, yes! Go see a doctor tonight. This cannot be delayed. In case it damages a nerve or something, it will be troublesome… Hey, hey, I am not finished talking yet!”

Zhao Fuzhou walked away without stopping.

This habit of his where he disliked waiting for people was truly terrible. On several occasions now, while she and Mu Qingfeng were still discussing very important matters, Zhao Fuzhou loved to interrupt.

Even if he was the male lead, he could not be this inconsiderate. This made them look highly embarrassed as his underlings!

Xie Fuyao had not uttered a single word just now. Withdrawing her gaze from the departing silhouette, she looked at Mu Qingfeng and said softly, “Ah Feng, I can tell that you like Yongyi.”

“Yes, I like her.” Mu Qingfeng cast aside his disappointment, stating solemnly, “I have struggled alone for so many years, and she is the only person who was willing to help me regardless of the danger.”

Xie Fuyao noted, “But there is someone beside her who stands closer to her than you do.”

“I know.” The back of his hand suddenly throbbed with pain, but he smiled back, “But I still want to accompany her and protect her, just like today. Except tomorrow, I want to do a little better than today.”

Mu Qingfeng raised his hand and waved it before her, looking rather proud.

Xie Fuyao said nothing more. Watching his cheerful silhouette chase after them, she smiled helplessly and shook her head.

By the time Zhao Fuzhou carried Jin Yongyi back to the surface, the brothel had already been reduced to a pile of ashes.

The night was well advanced, and the streets had finally grown quiet.

The two left the ruins, but a short distance away, a man and a woman stood blocking their path.

Jin Yongyi focused her gaze and saw that this pair of a man and a woman had no legs. Specifically, the man’s face was terrifyingly pale, and his features were faint, blurred into a single, indistinguishable mass.

Upon seeing them, the pair exchanged a glance and floated over with hurried steps.

Once they arrived in front of them, Jin Yongyi recalled that she had crossed paths with this woman in the fire not long ago. This was the top courtesan who had set the fire a year ago to drag the Madam down to hell with her.

“The Master’s kindness is something this servant fears she can never repay in this lifetime. I only pray that we meet Master again in our next reincarnation, where this servant is willing to serve as a beast of burden to repay this immense benevolence.”

The woman shed two lines of clear tears, prostrating herself on the ground in what appeared to be a kneeling motion.

Seeing this, the man beside her knelt alongside her and made a grand bow.

Seeing two legless ghosts from such a short distance still made Jin Yongyi a little frightened, and she shrank against Zhao Fuzhou’s shoulder, watching them silently.

The woman opened her palm toward her, and a crystal-clear bead materialized in the center of her hand. Moving forward two steps, she presented it respectfully with both hands.

“This servant no longer has any use for this gift.” She looked at the man beside her with immense affection, “This servant wishes to return it to you.”

Jin Yongyi: Who? Me??

The man gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, taking her hand.

The woman broke down in tears, burying herself in his embrace.

The silhouettes of the two embracing turned into specks of dust in the wind, dispersing with the breeze.

The bead rose slowly, floating into Jin Yongyi’s hand.

Her face was a picture of absolute bewilderment.

“Did Yi Yi help them previously?” Zhao Fuzhou asked.

“Helped… them?” Jin Yongyi let out a hollow laugh, quickly stuffing the bead into her pocket, “Am I not suffering from amnesia? I do not remember. Since she says so, then let it be.”

She screamed wildly at the System in her mind. There were so many nameless characters in this book, and they could have assigned any identity to her, yet they gave her a character with a past and a history.

Was this not incredibly vexing?

The wicked System offered no response, appearing to be offline.

Zhao Fuzhou did not inquire further either, carrying her as he continued forward, saying to himself, “I have already investigated thoroughly. They were torn apart during their lifetimes. The woman was forced into the brothel to become a courtesan, while the man was murdered and drowned in the lake.”

She had heard this story from the Madam.

“Perhaps she mistook me for your confidant, using the same scheme to deal with me. I simply went along with it, merely wishing to rescue the soul of the man trapped at the bottom of the lake. Except…”

Zhao Fuzhou looked down at her, the corners of his mouth curling into a delighted smile.

“I did not expect Yi Yi to come and rescue me.”

Jin Yongyi: “…”

Do not bring up the exact topic I want to avoid!

It was completely involuntary, all right!

She smiled at him awkwardly, her gaze darting erratically through the air.

The recent quest had caused her to briefly forget that the two of them had accidentally kissed not long ago. Now that she recalled how she had actually succumbed to an uncontrollable physiological reaction and responded to his kiss, she wanted to punch the System and Zhao Fuzhou’s heads in.

The man before her did not feel displeased by her reluctant reaction; instead, the amusement in his eyes grew increasingly intense.

I truly want to pry open his head to see what exactly he is thinking. He cannot just go around kissing people simply because he is handsome and then act like nothing happened afterward, right?!

The more Jin Yongyi thought about it, the more embarrassed she became. Her toes curled tightly together, and she simply closed her eyes, slumping onto his shoulder, “Oh, I am so sleepy. I am going to sleep for a bit.”

With this sleep, the next time she opened her eyes was already the following morning.

Jin Yongyi quickly lifted the blanket to check herself, letting out a sigh of relief when she saw she was still wearing the same outfit from last night.