When Hermes returned to the cave today, he seemed a little distracted—
This was the conclusion Lin Kong came to after half an hour of silent observation. The other man sat on the stone bed without cultivating, absentmindedly rolling the refined blue pearl in his right hand, rubbing it slowly, as if pondering something of great importance.
Outside the cave, the temperature was bitterly low. Cold wind blew in, but most of it was blocked by the thick growth of evergreen grass and the pile of firewood stacked at the entrance. In the center of the cave, a fire crackled from time to time, casting a warm orange glow onto the walls and making the space feel especially cozy.
Lin Kong sat on a large rock, head lowered as he carefully whittled a tree branch. The “knife” in his hand was actually a sharp claw Hermes had once removed from some animal. He threaded several pieces of meat onto a skewer and set them over the fire to roast slowly. After a moment, as if something crossed his mind, he turned slightly and glanced at Hermes.
“You went to the temple just now—what for? You seem pretty out of it.”
At the question, Hermes paused in the act of turning the pearl in his hand. He didn’t try to hide anything from Lin Kong, and replied in a flat, unreadable tone: [The Zerg King is about to enter hibernation in the temple. He won’t wake until spring next year.]
Lin Kong chuckled. “Isn’t that a good thing? While it’s hibernating, you won’t have to go out hunting every day like clockwork.”
He used to think that office workers on Earth had it rough, but clearly Hermes and his kind had it worse—working year-round without a single break, literally risking their lives for performance. And the kicker? No benefits, no insurance, not even hazard pay. At any moment, they could be swallowed whole by a hungry boss. Honestly, just thinking about it could make you tear up.
Hermes thought Lin Kong was being far too optimistic. He frowned, fingers tightening until even the pearl in his hand warped under the pressure. [Come spring, it will need far more energy than before—several times more. If we can’t find enough food this winter, even the divine attendants will be devoured.]
The Zerg King had lived for a full hundred and ninety-six years. The oldest among Hermes and Xue Po generation was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Before them, countless attendants had been slaughtered by the Zerg King for all kinds of reasons.
Beside the deep pit of the temple, zerg eggs lay in uncountable numbers. Lose one, and there would always be more to replace it. Divine attendants had never been considered precious or valuable.
Winter was a season of dying—both for Lin Kong, and for Hermes.
Lin Kong’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Snow’s about to fall, everything’s going into hibernation—where are you supposed to find enough energy for it?!”
Even the worst bosses back on Earth weren’t this ruthless!
Hermes’ expression darkened—clearly, the situation was weighing on him. Just as he was about to say something, Lin Kong’s hesitant voice suddenly broke the silence beside his ear: “Then… if it really comes to that, you can just kill me.”
Hermes looked up sharply, only to see Lin Kong absently touching his own neck, murmuring, “Didn’t you say my life force is pretty strong? If you really can’t meet the quota when the time comes, just kill me.”
He said it as if it were nothing, like he was just making a casual joke. But his expression was serious. Those obsidian-like eyes shimmered in the firelight, and when he looked at Hermes, there was always a hint of a smile tucked at the corner of his lips.
Hermes looked slightly surprised. [Why? Aren’t you afraid of dying?]
Lin Kong thought to himself—of course he was. But if that day ever truly came, would Hermes really need his permission to act?
“If you die, I won’t survive either. Besides, you saved my life once—giving it back to you doesn’t feel like a loss.”
Lin Kong meant what he said. Without Hermes helping him find food and keeping him safe, he would’ve died in the depths of the forest long ago. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, his life seemed to have been tied to Hermes’ from the very beginning.
And if he really had to die one day—then dying by Hermes’ hand didn’t seem so bad.
At some point, Hermes had moved to stand beside him. But instead of looking pleased, he suddenly reached out and clamped a hand around Lin Kong’s throat, his brow tightly furrowed. His voice was low, dangerous:
[Is that so? Then why don’t I kill you right now?]
Hermes didn’t care about the ugly, brutal truth of their situation, but he couldn’t stand falsehoods and deception. He genuinely liked this prey of his, but Lin Kong shouldn’t be using such things to deceive him, to try and earn his protection and mercy.
To put it plainly, Hermes felt that Lin Kong was lying to him, using these words to manipulate his feelings. And deception and manipulation were the things Hermes hated most in this world. It was no wonder he was irritated.
Lin Kong: …
Is this big weirdo allergic to romance? Or has he lost his mind again?
Lin Kong couldn’t help but scoff inwardly. He didn’t believe for a second that Hermes would actually go through with it. And even if he did, Lin Kong knew he wouldn’t be able to escape. Once he thought about it that way, a sense of calm settled in.
He lifted his chin and deliberately stretched his neck out toward Hermes. “Come on, go ahead. I’ll just sit here and wait for you to kill me.”
Lin Kong, the one about to be slaughtered, actually exuded more confidence than the one holding the knife.
Of course, Hermes wasn’t going to actually follow through. His face darkened slightly as he narrowed his eyes, his mind racing—was Lin Kong really willing to offer himself up?
The thought left Hermes feeling strangely unsettled. In the brutal, survival-of-the-fittest wilderness, what he had learned was how to devour his own kind, how to survive by any means necessary. The concept of “sacrifice” was something he’d never even heard of. And for it to suddenly appear in the form of a mere prey—well, it made him pause, momentarily lost in thought.
The crackling fire beside them flickered endlessly, like his heart—unable to control the rising noise within it, sending tiny sparks flying in every direction.
And yet, Lin Kong deliberately asked, “Why aren’t you killing me yet?”
For the first time, Hermes didn’t get angry. His grip around Lin Kong’s neck softened, turning from a choke into a caress. His fingers slowly traced the warm skin, each word spoken with deliberate quiet intensity: [Lin Kong, if that day really comes…]
If the Zerg King truly intended to slaughter Hermes, he wouldn’t offer Lin Kong as a sacrifice…
[I’ll eat you first.]
He would take care of this prey—his prey, and his alone. He would feed him, give him water. Even the Zerg King wouldn’t be allowed to easily take Lin Kong’s life.
They would survive this long winter together, and when death came, they would face it side by side. Since Lin Kong was willing to offer his life, Hermes would return the favor. This was his answer.
Cruel, filled with possessiveness, and perfectly in line with his cold, animalistic nature.
Lin Kong didn’t think much of it. After all, Hermes had been wanting to eat him for quite some time now. He leaned in and gave Hermes a quick kiss, eyes narrowing into a smile. “Alright, I’ll let you eat me.”
Hermes was good-looking, and being eaten by him was certainly better than being devoured by the Zerg King, that giant white worm.
At the words, Hermes felt a strange sense of pleasure, though it didn’t show on his face. He tightened his grip around Lin Kong’s neck and deepened the kiss fiercely, his strength making it feel as though he might tear his tongue out. The pressure at the root of Lin Kong’s tongue made it both numb and painful.
[Come sleep with me.]
The big weirdo always expressed his affection so directly. It was only in moments like this that he would soften, his eyes tinged with red as he curled up in Lin Kong’s arms, letting himself be touched and petted.
How old is he, and he still wants someone to sleep with him?
Lin Kong muttered to himself, but his body obediently pulled Hermes into bed. The stone bed was padded with seven or eight layers of animal hides, soft and warm to lie on. With the fire still burning nearby, it felt like a world apart from the freezing cold outside.
This was probably the most comfortable winter Hermes had ever had. In past years, by this time, he would’ve been sitting in the snow, meditating and training, just like Gayan and Xue Po.
Well, just like them.
The seasons shifted abruptly, and during the night, a cold rain suddenly began to fall, stripping the trees of their leaves. The already cooling temperature dropped further, adding a sharp, biting cold to the air.
Xue Po had been meditating in a cave, but as luck would have it, this particular spot was right in the wind’s path. With no shelter to block it, the cold wind, carrying the rain, poured in, quickly soaking him to the bone.
[So cold…]
Xue Po let out a shuddering sigh, white mist escaping from his mouth. He hated winter more than anything—not only did he have to figure out how to find food for the Zerg King, but he also had to endure the wind and rain.
But this winter was particularly unbearable. The Zerg King had entered its second molting phase!
Xue Po pulled out his treasured comb from his sleeve and carefully ran it through his golden curls, a frown forming on his face. With winter here, everything was huddled away, and even finding a little sparrow was a challenge. Where could he find prey for the Zerg King? By next spring, they’d all likely be dead.
As Xue Po thought of this, a chill ran through him, and he lost all interest in combing his hair. He raised his hand and adjusted his hood, noting that the blood moon had not risen tonight. With a flap of his wings, he soared into the stormy skies, intending to meet with his companions to discuss a solution.
He had been to Hermes’ cave before, and he vaguely remembered the location. However, when he landed at the cave entrance, he found that the area was now overgrown with towering wild grass, so thick that he couldn’t push through.
Hmm?
Had Hermes moved?
Xue Po frowned and sniffed the air, trying to detect any lingering scent. It shouldn’t be. Hermes’ scent was strong, not like someone who had left.
Deciding to push on, Xue Po used his hands to part the thick grass at the cave entrance, forcing his way inside. But the sight that greeted him within left him frozen in place, unable to recover for a long while.
Compared to the stormy, windswept forest outside, the cave inside was far too warm and bright, almost… luxurious.
At the entrance of the cave, neatly stacked firewood blocked the cold wind, leaving only a narrow gap wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Once Xue Po managed to push his way inside, he was met with an unexpected sight. In the center of the cave, a bonfire burned brightly, with several skewers of roasted meat sticking out of the ground. On either side of the stone walls, what appeared to be fist-sized holes had been carved out, each holding a glowing green night pearl. There were even some animal pelts and shells hanging as decorations.
Raising his eyes, he saw a fur-covered bed ahead, the quilt raised high, vaguely revealing two figures lying beneath it. Hermes was lazily draped across the chest of a man whose face was obscured, his silver hair cascading down, with part of it spilling over the edge of the bed. From Xue Po’s angle, he could only catch a glimpse of a small, sexy patch of exposed back.
[Hermes? What are you doing?]
Xue Po frowned in curiosity, voicing a question that came from deep within his soul. Hermes, who had been in a drowsy state, immediately snapped awake at the sound of his voice. His eyes, sharp and alert, shot toward the entrance of the cave. [Who—?!]
Hermes thought an enemy was approaching, and without hesitation, he released a wave of mental pressure, his aura unmistakably radiating. Xue Po was caught off guard, his face turning pale as he staggered back three steps. He quickly called out in explanation. [Hermes, it’s me!]
Seeing that it was Xue Po, Hermes finally relaxed. He sat up on the bed and couldn’t help but frown. [What are you doing here?]
If we were to follow Earth’s time, it should be around 3 a.m. now. After every time he was with Lin Kong, Hermes would be a bit dazed, and in his momentary carelessness, he hadn’t noticed Xue Po’s arrival.
Xue Po rubbed his chest, about to speak, when suddenly a hoarse and lazy voice echoed from within the cave. “Who’s here? It’s so noisy…”
Lin Kong was sleeping soundly when the noise beside him woke him up. He groggily sat up on the bed, and upon focusing his eyes, he realized that, at some point, someone had entered the cave. The person was drenched, with a few leaves stuck to their hair—looking utterly disheveled. His eyelids involuntarily twitched. “Xue Po?!”
Xue Po was equally surprised. [Lin Kong? You’re still alive?!]
It had been quite some time since Xue Po last saw this “prey.” He had assumed Lin Kong had already been drained dry by Hermes, so he was quite surprised to see that the other was still alive and well.
Lin Kong, being petty, still held a grudge from the last time Xue Po had thrown him under the bus. “If I weren’t alive, would I be dead? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
Xue Po subconsciously said, [I’m looking for Hermes. I have something important to discuss with him.]
As soon as Hermes saw the hesitant look on Xue Po’s face, he knew exactly what he wanted to say. He coldly uttered two words: [Go outside.]
After saying that, he threw off the blanket and was about to get up, but Lin Kong, quick as ever, pressed him back down. A dissatisfied mumble came from him. “Hey, you’re not even dressed.”
Hermes responded with a brief “Mm,” then said: [I’ll get dressed once I get up.]
He was a beast, with no sense of shame.
Lin Kong grabbed Hermes’ clothes and stuffed them into the blanket, becoming even more displeased. “That’s not okay. What if you caught a cold? Just put it on under the blanket.”
Without waiting for Hermes to agree, Lin Kong skillfully helped him get dressed under the blanket. Hermes, feeling limp, didn’t refuse. Instead, he gave Lin Kong a rather pleased kiss.
“…”
Now, it was Lin Kong who felt embarrassed. He pushed Hermes and said, “Get dressed already. Go quickly and come back quickly.”
Hermes frowned and gave him a look. [I’ll be at the cave entrance.]
He wouldn’t go too far. This prey was too fragile, and if another predator set its sights on him, that wouldn’t be good.
Xue Po had been staring at the decorations on the stone wall. When he saw Hermes get dressed and walk over, he finally left the cave with him.
As they stepped outside, the cold wind, carrying rainwater, blew directly at them. The chill instantly seeped into their limbs and bones, and the warmth from the cave just moments ago faded away like a receding tide, leaving no trace of comfort.
Xue Po couldn’t help but shiver. [Why don’t we go back and talk?]
It was too damn cold outside.
Hermes stepped sideways to block his path, letting the cold wind make his cloak ripple loudly. His silver hair covered his crimson eyes, making him look like a statue sealed of killing intent.
“We’ll talk here.”
Xue Po had no choice but to speak. [The Zerg King is about to enter its second molting phase. What are you planning to do come next spring? I’m sure I won’t be able to gather enough energy for it.]
Hermes countered with a question. [What do you plan to do?]
Xue Po was caught off guard. He had come to Hermes for advice. [Well, my psychic power isn’t as high as yours. I’ll do whatever you decide.]
Hermes didn’t respond immediately. He closed his eyes faintly, as if lost in thought. After a brief silence, he spoke. [Go back and wait for my message. Once I come up with a plan, I’ll find you.]
Xue Po blinked in surprise and pointed at himself. [You want me to go back now?]
Was Hermes really not going to let him stay the night?
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