Lin Kong slept soundly through the night and only slowly woke up around noon the next day—no other reason than sheer hunger. He groggily opened his eyes, only to find the cave empty. For a moment, he was stunned.
“Huh? Where did that pervert go? He actually left?”
Bracing himself against the cave wall, Lin Kong struggled to stand, but the moment he got up, his vision darkened, and he nearly passed out. He took a moment to steady himself before walking outside, only to see a tall, imposing figure standing at the cave entrance. The air around them felt heavy, an unspoken warning for others to stay away.
Perhaps due to his injuries, Hermes didn’t go out hunting today. When he heard a noise behind him, he turned around and saw Lin Kong slumped against the stone wall, looking half-dead.
Hermes slowly walked over to Lin Kong, staring at him in silence. His gaze was layered with complex emotions—perhaps even a hint of mockery.
[Looks like you won’t even make it through today.]
Hermes was clearly unhappy—probably because Lin Kong had toyed with him yesterday.
Hearing his words, Lin Kong absentmindedly touched the scabbed wound on his neck, thinking that if this pervert hadn’t drained so much blood yesterday, he wouldn’t be feeling so dizzy and weak. He asked, “You’re not going hunting today?”
The wound on Hermes’ shoulder had scabbed over thickly but hadn’t fully healed. If he ran into another divine attendant, he wasn’t certain he’d be able to win. At Lin Kong’s question, he withdrew his gaze indifferently, [No.]
Lin Kong couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. He had been hoping to scavenge something from the hunt—anything at this point, really. He was starving, and even gnawing on bones would be better than nothing. Pitifully, he asked, “I’m so hungry… Do you have anything for me to eat?”
Hermes turned and walked back into the cave without sparing him a single glance, [You’re going to die tomorrow. Do you still need food?]
Well, you’re going to die eventually too—so why bother drinking blood?!
Lin Kong only dared to complain in his heart—he didn’t have the guts to say it out loud. Holding back his frustration, he walked over to the stream to rinse his mouth and wash his face, debating whether he should eat a cup of instant noodles later. Unfortunately, there was no hot water, so he’d have to eat it dry.
His food supply was running low, and every extra bite felt like a painful loss. There were plenty of wild mushrooms and berries nearby, but since he had no idea whether they were poisonous, he didn’t dare take the risk.
Forget it. Dry noodles it is.
Lin Kong wiped his face with the hem of his shirt and was just about to head back to the cave when his gaze accidentally swept across the distance. Suddenly, he noticed a small, furry lump nestled in the grass. His eyes lit up—a rabbit?!!
He couldn’t even remember the last time he had eaten meat. Without hesitation, he crouched down and crept toward the rabbit as quietly as possible. Holding his breath, he timed his move carefully—then lunged forward with all his might.
“Thud!”
Lin Kong crashed heavily onto the ground, missing the rabbit entirely and ending up clutching a handful of grass instead. He spat out a couple of blades with a disgusted ptoo ptoo and turned his head—only to see that the gray-furred rabbit had already bolted far away. It moved so fast it was practically lightning, leaving him staring in stunned disbelief, “That rabbit is way too fast! How can I catch it?!”
No wonder this was a primeval forest. Forget about the carnivorous flowers and plants—even the rabbits weren’t easy to mess with.
Getting to his feet, Lin Kong dusted himself off. Even if he were at full strength, he probably wouldn’t be able to outrun that rabbit, let alone in his current state. With a resigned sigh, he gave up.
Lin Kong trudged back into the cave, dejected. As he turned his head, he saw Hermes sitting on the ground with his eyes closed, silently recovering from his wounds. Something seemed to cross Lin Kong’s mind. Suddenly, he crept over quietly and tugged at Hermes’ sleeve, “Hermes?”
Hermes opened his eyes, his expression impatient, [What do you want?]
Lin Kong pointed toward the rabbit in the distance, his overheated body pressing against Hermes’ arm. His dark eyes shimmered with a bright, playful smile, “Can you help me catch that rabbit?”
A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. No matter how injured this pervert was, he had to be stronger than a rabbit, right?
Hermes followed Lin Kong’s pointing finger and saw a gray-furred creature crouched in the grass, nibbling away. Such a low-level animal, weak and sitting at the bottom of the food chain—he normally wouldn’t even bother catching one while hunting. [Why should I?]
Lin Kong rubbed his stomach. “I’m hungry.”
Hermes: [Not my problem.]
If Lin Kong starved to death, so be it. That would save him the trouble of doing it himself.
Lin Kong had expected this reaction. Without hesitation, he leaned against Hermes’ shoulder, his warm fingertips trailing down the firm muscles of Hermes’ abdomen. Even through the thin fabric, his touch was slow and deliberate. With a quiet chuckle, he leaned in close to Hermes’ ear and murmured: “Hey, if I starve to death… who’s going to help you..?”
He was referring to their so-called “mutual assistance” from the previous day.
Hermes immediately grabbed Lin Kong’s wandering hand, but the latter was even more cunning. In a sudden move, he took Hermes’ earlobe between his tongue, the damp heat sending a strange, tingling sensation through his entire body. A wave of weakness swept over him, as if it had drained all his strength. Hermes’ eyes widened in shock, and despite himself, a muffled, restrained sound escaped his lips—
“Mm…”
It was the first time Lin Kong had ever heard Hermes’ actual voice, and for a moment, he was stunned. Normally, Hermes only communicated with him through mental power, his lips perpetually sealed. Lin Kong had even suspected at one point that the man might be mute.
“So you can talk after all.”
He wrapped his arms around Hermes’ waist, feeling the slight weakness in his body. As he watched those dangerous crimson eyes gradually darken with desire, a teasing smile curled on his lips. Deliberately, he caught Hermes’ cold earlobe between his teeth, biting down lightly before slowly grinding and toying with it.
Hermes’ breathing grew rapid, his body reacting instinctively. His head tilted back in helpless surrender, a faint flush spreading at the corners of his usually pale eyes. Yet, despite the trembling heat, his right hand clenched into a claw-like grip, seizing Lin Kong’s wrist with force. His voice was hoarse, laced with fury: [You’re asking for death!]
“I’m already dying anyway.”
Lin Kong feared no one. Pressing closer, he brushed his lips against Hermes’ reddened, feverish earlobe, his voice carrying a coaxing lilt: “Hermes, catch that rabbit for me, won’t you? At least let me die on a full stomach.”
It wasn’t an unreasonable request.
Lin Kong blew a warm breath into Hermes’ ear, making the sensation even more unbearable. With a teasing smile, he murmured, “I’ll make you feel even better tonight…”
In the ruthless depths of the forest, only cold-blooded creatures survived. A human like Lin Kong—one who knew how to seduce and provoke—was a rare anomaly. Though Hermes, in a fit of fury, ultimately shoved him to the ground, the moment Lin Kong landed, a gray-furred rabbit tumbled heavily right in front of him.
“Whoosh!”
The rabbit flailed, trying to escape, but Hermes’ eyes narrowed coldly. With a mere flick of his right hand through the air, the creature’s neck snapped with a sharp crack. It collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
Tch. Ruthless.
Seeing Hermes radiating pure murderous intent, Lin Kong wisely swallowed the comment that had been on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he cautiously poked the still-warm rabbit, confirming that it was truly dead. Satisfied, he grabbed it by the ears and stood up cheerfully, “Hermes, do you know how to skin a rabbit?”
Hermes’ expression darkened, [What did you just say?]
Lin Kong: “…Nothing.”
Lin Kong couldn’t cook, but he knew better than to expect Hermes to do it either. Resigned to his fate, he picked up the rabbit and headed to the creek to prepare the ingredients. Without a knife, he had to make do with a sharp-edged stone. It took some effort to slice through the rabbit’s skin, and he forced himself to deal with the mess of bloody meat that followed.
When it came time to remove the innards, his face twisted in disgust, and he nearly gagged. He turned his head away, trying to ignore the wet, slimy sensation in his hands. His washing was rough and hurried, and it took him nearly two hours to clean everything properly.
Lin Kong had never so much as washed a dish before, let alone killed a rabbit—he hadn’t even gutted a fish. But when hunger pushed a person to the edge, there was no room for hesitation. After cleaning the rabbit, he plucked a few broad leaves to use as makeshift plates, then wandered around to gather a pile of dry branches. With that, he stepped back into the cave, ready to fend for himself.
Hermes had stopped cultivating as well. Leaning against the stone wall, he sat with one leg crossed and the other slightly bent, his right hand resting on his knee. His dark, unreadable eyes remained fixed on Lin Kong’s busy movements, as if trying to figure out what kind of nonsense this prey was up to.
Lin Kong had once taken part in outdoor cooking activities during his travels, so he had a lighter tucked away in his pocket. Squatting down, he tried to get a fire going, but after several unsuccessful attempts, he finally gathered a pile of dry leaves to use as kindling. Only then did the flames catch and a proper fire take shape.
Thick, choking smoke quickly spread through the cave, and the scorching heat of the flames made the air stiflingly uncomfortable.
Hermes frowned and used his spiritual power to create a barrier against the smoke.
Meanwhile, Lin Kong was coughing uncontrollably from the thick fumes. He glanced at Hermes, who was sitting right in the draft without even flinching. Internally, he couldn’t help but admire him—what a freak. Even with all this smoke, he wasn’t coughing at all.
Lin Kong set the skewered rabbit meat over the fire to roast. Taking a moment, he cast a sidelong glance at Hermes and asked, “Hey, do you eat rabbit meat? It smells pretty good.”
Hermes obviously had no intention of eating. He cast a cold glance at Lin Kong, his tone laced with disdain: [Only the lowest creatures would eat something like that.]
In this dense forest, the Zerg Race stood at the top of the food chain. They obtained energy either by drinking blood or absorbing life force—eating meat was never an option.
Curious, Lin Kong asked, “Then what do you usually eat?”
Hermes said nothing. His gaze simply lingered on the wound at Lin Kong’s neck, his expression unreadable, yet somehow laden with meaning.
Lin Kong: “…” Alright. He got the message.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The only thing filling the silence was the rich aroma of roasting rabbit meat, gradually spreading through the cave. The surface of the meat turned a golden brown, sizzling as oil dripped onto the fire. If only he had some chili powder and salt—it could have smelled even better.
Lin Kong’s mouth watered uncontrollably. When the meat was finally done roasting, he stuck the branch into the ground, then tore open a cup of instant noodles, sprinkling the seasoning packet over the meat to enhance the flavor.
“If you’re not eating, then I’ll have it all to myself.”
He blew on the charred edges of the rabbit meat before cautiously taking a bite. The crispy, smoky exterior gave way to tender, juicy flesh. It was so hot that it burned his tongue, but he refused to spit it out. The taste was so satisfying that his eyes nearly welled up with tears.
This—this is what it means to live! Two measly milk candies a day? What kind of life was that?!
Hermes tilted his head slightly, unable to comprehend how a mere rabbit could make Lin Kong so ecstatic. With a casual flip of his palm, a glowing blue orb materialized out of thin air—accumulated life force from before.
This was Hermes’ food.
Hermes lowered his gaze, idly toying with the energy orb, lost in thought. After a moment, he split it in two—keeping one portion for himself and setting aside the rest, intending to present it to the Zerg King in a few days.
Lin Kong took in the scene, his curiosity piqued. He blinked, feeling that Hermes was shrouded in countless secrets. But prying too soon wouldn’t be wise.
By the time Lin Kong had finished the entire rabbit, night had fallen. Once again, a blood-red moon rose into the sky.
Hermes sat in the shadows near the cave entrance, his strikingly pale features reminiscent of the ancient vampires from legend. The blood-red moonlight above seemed like a divine shackle cast upon his kind—a restraint upon their immense power.
Lin Kong rummaged through his suitcase and pulled out a set of clean clothes before heading toward the cave entrance. Seeing this, Hermes flicked a strand of his spiritual power, locking around Lin Kong’s ankle in an instant. His voice was cold and firm: [Where are you going?]
Lin Kong patted the clothes in his arms and turned back to look at Hermes. Strands of hair fell over his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips.
“Taking a bath. Wanna join me?”
He knew full well that on the night of a blood moon, Hermes wouldn’t possibly leave the cave. But who knew what might happen between them tonight? It was best to be clean—just in case.
Hermes’ expression darkened: [Not going.]
Hermes loathed the blood moon outside. He was a fugitive who had danced on the edge of a blade, a being meant to walk in the shadows. Yet that crimson light seemed like a manifestation of the sins he had once committed—touching it would send searing agony through his skin, corroding him like a relentless curse.
Born powerful, how could he ever accept being shackled?
“You’re really not coming?”
Lin Kong hugged his clothes and stepped back toward Hermes, his gaze sweeping over the other man’s lean, powerful frame. Sure, hygiene wasn’t a top priority in the wilderness, but considering how Hermes had been covered in blood yesterday… well, Lin Kong really couldn’t bring himself to stomach it.
“Come on, I’ll block the moonlight for you with my clothes. Not washing is just gross.”
Before Hermes could even respond, Lin Kong took off his jacket and threw it over his head.
Hermes was plunged into darkness. His gaze turned icy, and he was just about to strangle this reckless prey— But before he could react, a sudden force tightened around his waist. The world spun. In an instant, he was pinned against the cold stone wall, caught completely off guard by Lin Kong’s swift movement.
The jacket was too small, trapping them in a narrow space. Hermes could feel his own breath warming the fabric, as well as the unmistakable press of a body against his back. He frowned, instinctively struggling for a moment—
Then, without warning, a cool sensation ran down his lower half. His pants were being slowly peeled away.
“Are you sure… you don’t want to wash?”
Lin Kong’s voice came muffled through the jacket, hazy and teasing. His tone lifted slightly at the end, curling around the words like a lazy caress—enough to send a shiver down the spine, setting nerves alight.
At the sound, Hermes tensed uncontrollably, his expression momentarily blank, caught between shock and uncertainty.
Lin Kong moved unhurriedly, peeling away the very pants he had dressed Hermes in the day before. The fabric bunched at the bend of his knees before coming to a halt. With warm fingertips, he prodded Hermes lightly, mischief lacing his voice.
“If you’re not clean, how am I supposed to teach you, hmm?”
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![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
