DLMSWSHH Chapter 7

TL: Hua

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Chapter 7: The Fox Borrowing the Tiger’s Might

Zhong Ming stared at him, paralyzed by fear.

“Dammit, who the hell is it—”

Jack was cursing under his breath, wondering who was so blind. He hurriedly wiped the soap from his eyes and immediately locked onto Zhong Ming’s stunned face. He paused, his expression shifting from rage to playfulness.

“So it’s you.”

The showerhead behind him was still spraying water. Jack took a few steps forward. As the warm water soaked his various wounds, the skin around them turned a bloated white, making them look even more gruesome.

Zhong Ming instinctively took a step back. His eyes were fixed on the hole leading into the chest cavity. Watching Jack’s red heart throb beat after beat, he involuntarily held his breath.

Noticing the odd look on the young man’s face, Jack followed his gaze downward and grinned.

“Oh, did I scare you?”

He squared his shoulders, his pectoral muscles flexing. Zhong Ming could even see the striations of muscle contracting inside the wound. His scalp went numb, and goosebumps erupted across his arms and back.

Jack looked unbothered. He opened his arms, almost boastfully displaying his injuries. “How about it? Even with all this, I’m not dead.”

Hearing this, Zhong Ming’s heart skipped a beat. Can NPCs die too?

“Of course we can,” Jack sneered. Zhong Ming realized he had accidentally spoken aloud.

“You thought NPCs couldn’t die?” Jack curled his lip sarcastically and pointed to a slash on his shoulder. “This? A player did this with a knife.”

“The wounds we NPCs get in this game don’t heal.” Jack lowered his hand, the shoulder muscles contracting, causing the wound to stretch and close along with the movement. “If you get too many wounds, the physical body eventually collapses.”

He raised an eyebrow with a touch of pride, gesturing to his body. “This set of injuries would have killed anyone else long ago.”

Zhong Ming was shocked. He instinctively thought of the wound on the back of his own head. When he had fallen down the stairs, he had hit the back of his skull. According to Jack, he should have a permanent wound there. But the next day, his injury had healed on its own.

Zhong Ming wisely didn’t mention this.

Jack grabbed a towel and dried himself, rubbing the cloth over his wounds as if he couldn’t feel the pain. Turning back to see Zhong Ming still dazed, he arched an eyebrow. “What? Are you afraid?”

He took a few more steps closer, his bear-like, hulking frame pinning Zhong Ming into a corner. His eyes scanned the trembling Asian boy from head to toe.

Zhong Ming’s skin looked even fairer under the steam. He instinctively turned his head to avoid Jack’s hand, but he was stopped before he could move. “What are you dodging for?” Jack slammed a fist against the wall behind Zhong Ming with a thud. He lowered his head, his pale blue pupils staring into Zhong Ming’s eyes, a predatory glint flashing in them. “If you stick with me, do you think I’d let those idiots hurt you?”

Zhong Ming flinched, instinctively wanting to back away, but because his feet were on the wet bathroom floor, he suddenly stumbled and had to put his hands on Jack’s shoulders to barely steady himself.

“Oh, you seem eager.” Jack smirked. He held Zhong Ming up to keep him steady and leaned down, sniffing Zhong Ming’s damp hair like a predator scenting prey. “Why do you smell like mold?”

Having slept in that stiff, mildewed bed for so long and not being able to clean himself for days, the scent was naturally unpleasant. Zhong Ming turned his head away, pushing hard against Jack’s chest. “Let… let me take a bath first…”

The way he said it was vague, carrying a hint of unintended ambiguity in the mumble. Jack’s breath hitched. His eyes darkened instantly. After staring at Zhong Ming for a moment, he slowly curled his lips. “Fine.”

He reached out and patted Zhong Ming’s cheek before stepping back. He pulled open the bathroom door and looked back at Zhong Ming standing in the mist, making a specific hand gesture.

Zhong Ming didn’t recognize the gesture, but given where Jack’s fingers were pointing, the meaning was very clear. He bit his lip and looked away, lowering his head.

Jack interpreted the action as shyness. He grinned at his bashful little beauty and pulled the door shut behind him.

Zhong Ming didn’t look up until the footsteps faded away. He immediately locked the door and let out a long breath.

Given the difference in size and strength between him and Jack, if the Caucasian man had wanted to force him into anything, Zhong Ming would have been powerless. Fortunately, the bathroom was tiny, with barely enough room for one person to stand, and he really did smell bad.

Zhong Ming lowered his eyes, undressing piece by piece and hanging his clothes on the iron hook behind the door. The bathroom was extremely basic, with only an old metal showerhead. Luckily, the water was hot enough. Zhong Ming stood under the stream and closed his eyes, finally relaxing after what felt like an eternity.

Amidst the gentle sound of flowing water, the events of the last few days drifted through his mind.

Ten minutes later, Zhong Ming finished his bath, changed into the white pajamas issued to the servants, and stepped out.

When he reached the dormitory door and reached for the handle, the door swung open from the inside. Li Yizhi flashed out from behind it. Seeing Zhong Ming, his eyes widened instantly, and he grabbed the youth’s shoulders.

“You actually dared to come back?”

Li Yizhi took one look at Zhong Ming’s bewildered expression and knit his brows tightly. “Why aren’t you running yet? Find somewhere to hide!” He gestured toward the door. Zhong Ming peered through the crack and saw Jack sprawled across the top bunk like a local lord.

“…It’s fine,” Zhong Ming said softly, lowering his eyes.

Li Yizhi was exasperated, his lips twitching as he glared at him. He thought to himself: Are you seriously just washing yourself clean and waiting to get screwed?

Seeing Zhong Ming remain silent and cowering, Li Yizhi felt a mix of anxiety and anger. He slowly let go of Zhong Ming’s arm, staring at him for a moment before his lips curled into a mocking arc.

“Fine. If you’ve made up your mind, I won’t stop you.” He stepped aside, giving Zhong Ming room. He watched with cold eyes as Zhong Ming walked inside. Over the years, he had seen plenty of people willing to sell their bodies for Jack’s protection; none of them had a happy ending. He had thought Zhong Ming wasn’t that stupid—

The smile faded from Li Yizhi’s face. He shook his head. What’s wrong with me? Why am I bothering with other people’s business?

Inside, Zhong Ming walked slowly into the bedroom. He didn’t look up at Jack, silently sitting down on his own bed.

The moment he appeared, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy. The Asian youth who had been following Jack that day happened to be sitting on the neighboring bed. His tall, thin frame was curled up, looking hunched as he tried his best to minimize his presence. He looked at Zhong Ming with a flicker of pity but mostly with wariness.

He seemed afraid that if Zhong Ming gained Jack’s favor, his own position would be threatened.

Jack lay on the top bunk, one leg dangling off the edge, rhythmically kicking the iron ladder that connected the bunks. His gaze swept down, landing on Zhong Ming’s profile with a half-smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Thud!

He kicked the railing again. “Everyone out,” he said in a raspy voice.

The youth huddled on the lower bunk shivered and immediately scrambled down to leave. Li Yizhi, leaning against the wall, didn’t move at first. Only when Jack’s gaze swept over did he let out a sneer and straighten up as if he had no bones in his body.

However, just then, the door was suddenly thrown open, hitting the wall with a loud bang.

Matthew strode into the room. He looked around, and upon seeing Zhong Ming, walked straight to him and handed him a thick quilt.

“Thank you.”

Of everyone there, only Zhong Ming didn’t look surprised. He took the quilt and immediately spread it over the bed, tucking his feet in.

Matthew kept one hand in his pocket and let out a snort as he watched him. “You’re the most troublesome one here.”

Zhong Ming looked up at him. The temperature had dropped, and while Matthew wore only a shirt in the freezing basement, Zhong Ming’s lips had turned purple from the cold just walking from the bathroom to the bedroom.

Zhong Ming bit his lip and pulled the quilt up further. “…But it really is cold,” he whispered.

He seemed truly chilled to the bone; his voice carried a slight tremor, sounding a bit aggrieved. Usually, he only responded with “Mhm” or “Oh,” so hearing him speak in this almost-sulky, wheedling tone for the first time made Matthew freeze for a second. Coming back to his senses, Matthew took a step closer and looked down at Zhong Ming, who was huddled in bed with only his face showing. “Is it still cold?”

“Not anymore,” Zhong Ming murmured, looking up at Matthew from under the covers, his voice soft and sticky.

Seeing him like this, a flash went through Matthew’s green eyes. He reached out quickly and pinched Zhong Ming’s cheek. Zhong Ming’s eyes widened in slight surprise, but Matthew had already withdrawn his hand into his pocket. He flashed a smile and turned around.

Only then did he notice everyone else in the room was staring, especially Jack, whose eyes looked ready to pop out. Matthew’s brow furrowed, his expression instantly turning icy:

“What are you looking at?”

With that single command, everyone immediately lowered their heads. They were like trained dogs, reflexively obeying their master’s voice.

Matthew gave a light scoff, glanced back at Zhong Ming, and walked out, closing the door.

As the click of the door rang out, the atmosphere in the room instantly surged. If the air before was the stillness before a storm, it was now like magma bursting from the earth, radiating a searing heat.

The sound of heavy, ragged breathing echoed in the room.

The lanky youth in the corner shriveled up like a stick insect, looking at the top bunk in sheer terror.

Finally, as if his patience had snapped, Jack jumped directly from the top bunk with a loud thud. He marched to Zhong Ming’s bed, reached out, and grabbed the collar of his pajamas, hauling him up by force.

Zhong Ming slowly raised his eyes. He looked at Jack’s face, which was even more distorted in his fury, and remained expressionless.

“You—” The muscles on Jack’s arms bulged, looking as if he would punch Zhong Ming in the face the very next second. “You let that guy get on you?”

The words were obviously referring to Matthew. Zhong Ming didn’t answer, still looking weak and frail, lowering his head as if he couldn’t bear the humiliation, the movement revealing a small red mark on his neck.

That mark was like a sharp sword piercing Jack’s eyes. He exploded into a violent rage, like a male beast whose prey had been stolen, and raised his fist at Zhong Ming.

“Stop!”

Suddenly, the youth in the corner screamed. He looked at Jack with eyes full of terror.

“He, he’s Matthew’s man. If you hit him—”

Hearing this, Jack’s fist stalled. He stared at Zhong Ming, his teeth grinding with an audible creak. Finally, with a thunderous crash, he punched the wall behind Zhong Ming and threw him back onto the bed.

“B*tch.”

This word was in plain English. Zhong Ming tumbled onto the mattress; it didn’t hurt much. He crawled back up with his head down, smoothing the collar Jack had mussed, still saying nothing.

Jack felt as though he had punched a bale of cotton. His bruised masculine pride made it impossible for him to stay in the room any longer. He strode out, and the Asian youth quickly followed.

“Ah, don’t let the door hit you on the way out—”

Li Yizhi was grinning so wide his eyes disappeared. He slammed the door shut with a snap and sauntered over to Zhong Ming, giving him a thumbs up:

“Impressive.”

Zhong Ming glanced at him. He methodically tied the ribbon at his collar and pulled the quilt over himself. He really was cold.

“Hey, hey—” Li Yizhi squatted down, gripping the edge of the bed. “Did you really hook up with Matthew? You’re something else; you’re practically a reincarnation of Daji[1], just pouting your little mouth, and he eagerly brought you the blanket—”

“I didn’t.”

Zhong Ming shrunk into the quilt, his voice returning to its usual coldness. “We didn’t do anything.”

The red mark was something he had pinched onto his own neck in the bathroom. He had done nothing more than ask Matthew if he could have an extra blanket. The so-called “ambiguous atmosphere” was an act he had put on deliberately for Jack’s benefit. He was betting that Jack wouldn’t dare challenge the authority of an upper-level servant.

Li Yizhi clearly didn’t believe him. He chuckled. “Sure, sure, I believe you. You did “nothing.” He leaned over teasingly and flicked Zhong Ming’s cheek. “Our Xiao Zhong here is just a natural beauty who can’t help himself.”

Zhong Ming brushed his hand away, too lazy to explain further. This misunderstanding should be enough to fool the other servants for a few days.

He seemed to be quite adept at using someone else’s power to intimidate others.

Zhong Ming lowered his eyes. Perhaps this was one of the survival skills he had learned back at the orphanage.

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[1] Daji is one of the most famous figures in Chinese history, renowned as the beautiful but deadly consort of King Zhou, the last ruler of the Shang dynasty. In literary works, she was often portrayed as a typical bad woman who seduced the emperor and brought disaster to the country.

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You can purchase the translation of chapter 1-50 (epub format) HERE. The second half is coming soon ~~