Hermes frowned and looked at him. [You have something else to say?]
Xue Po: […]
Sure enough, he couldn’t expect any sympathy from Hermes. All he could do was blink his pair of bright blue eyes and, squirming a little, hint shyly: [Hermes, your cave looks so beautiful and warm… Did that prey arrange it for you?]
When Lin Kong was mentioned, Hermes’ expression seemed to soften a little. He lifted his eyes and gazed into the distance, where the mountains lay hidden beneath the curtain of night, and the rain fell in torrents, as if trying to cleanse this chaotic world.
[Mm, he arranged it…]
For some reason, Hermes suddenly found himself disliking the word “prey.” In the Zerg tribe, that word stood for “fragility” and “death.”
[His name is Lin Kong. I will keep raising him— always.]
Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Xue Po’s eyes. For some reason, the image of Hermes lying naked in Lin Kong’s arms, nuzzling against him just moments ago, surfaced in his mind. [Hermes, why are you getting so close to a prey?]
At the question, Hermes tilted his head to look at him. Raindrops slid down his pale, strikingly handsome face, and in the darkness, those crimson eyes seemed to shine even brighter — carrying a trace of emotion no beast should have. [Because…]
Hermes paused before finally saying: [Because it’s too cold outside.]
The words felt somewhat incomplete, leaving Xue Po a little confused. But Hermes had already turned and walked away, heading back into the cave.
Lin Kong was still awake, curled up under the covers, sitting against the bed as he waited for Hermes to return. Seeing Hermes soaked through by the rain, he immediately lifted a corner of the blanket and called out: “It’s cold out there, isn’t it? Come up and warm yourself.”
Hermes gave a soft “Mm” in response, shrugged off his wet clothes, and climbed into bed. As expected, Lin Kong pulled him into his arms, wrapping him tightly in the blanket. The warmth seeped quietly into Hermes’ skin, so comfortable that he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes in contentment.
Lin Kong leaned in and whispered secretly into his ear: “What were you two talking about out there?”
Hermes felt a little ticklish and flicked his ear slightly. [Nothing much.]
They really hadn’t said much — hadn’t come to any conclusions at all.
Lin Kong gave a soft snort. “Fine, don’t tell me. I didn’t really want to know anyway.”
Still, he tightened his arms around Hermes from behind, his fingertips drawing light circles across Hermes’ abdomen before sliding upward to his throat. It was a dangerous gesture — all of Hermes’ most vulnerable, fatal points were exposed right before Lin Kong. If Lin Kong had wanted to kill him, he could have delivered a deadly blow at any moment.
But Lin Kong didn’t like killing. If he were to deliver a fatal blow, it would be in bed.
“It’ll start snowing in a few days,” he murmured. “Don’t go outside.”
As Lin Kong spoke, he flipped Hermes over, planning to try a new position. After all, with nothing to do at home all day, this was about the only thing left to “study.” Hermes knelt by the edge of the bed, frowning and shooting Lin Kong a glare over his shoulder. [I don’t like this position.]
Lin Kong gave him a half-smile, half-smirk, and kissed him lightly. “Last time.”
Yeah, right.
Hermes was such a repressed, cold-hearted iceberg— clearly loving every second of it, yet still putting on a show of frowning and glaring every time. Wasn’t he tired of acting?
The first snow in the mountains came even sooner than expected.
On the day the snow fell, Lin Kong was woken up by the cold. Once the temperature dropped low enough, no amount of firewood stacks could keep it out. He quickly pulled on some clothes, tucked the burning-hot red bead into his pocket, and wrapped himself in another layer of animal hide. Only then, shivering, did he step outside— only to be greeted by a biting wind and thick snowflakes falling heavily from the sky. A thick layer of snow had already blanketed the ground.
“It’s really snowing.”
He reached out and caught a few snowflakes in his hand, unable to hide a trace of surprise. He had the vague feeling he hadn’t been here that long— yet somehow, he was already witnessing the first snowfall.
The grass Lin Kong had planted at the entrance of the cave was no longer enough to block the wind. He pulled his simple animal hide clothes tighter around him, thinking about whether he should make a stone or wooden door— otherwise, he would definitely freeze into an ice cube by nightfall.
Hermes had gone hunting and hadn’t returned yet, so Lin Kong had no choice but to roll up his sleeves and take matters into his own hands.
Chopping down trees was too heavy a task for him, but he could at least make some ropes. In this dense forest, there was a kind of white tendon grass. If you peeled away the inner white membrane and twisted it, it could be turned into rope— and it was surprisingly durable. The Zerg tribes would use it as a belt when making clothing from animal hides.
Lin Kong followed the direction from memory and found a patch of white tendon grass in the bushes. He shook off the snow that had collected on it, but the cold had already become unbearable, so he quickly turned around and returned to the cave.
By the time Hermes came back, laden with prey, he saw Lin Kong sitting by the fire, wrapped in a thick layer of animal hide, twisting grass into ropes. A neat pile had already accumulated on the ground.
Hermes rarely turned the animals he hunted into dried meat anymore. Most of the time, it was for Lin Kong. He tossed the freshly killed prey into the corner and glanced at the grass in Lin Kong’s hands. [What are you doing?]
Lin Kong: “I’m making ropes. It’s snowing now, and it’s going to get colder tonight. Later, you can find a tree and carve some wood chips. I’ll tie them together with the ropes and use them to block the wind at the entrance.”
Hermes’ psychic power was like a natural cheat code — it could take on various shapes, sharper than any blade. At Lin Kong’s suggestion, he frowned slightly, staring at him with clear displeasure.
[You… are too troublesome.]
Despite his words, Hermes still turned and went to chop down a tree. Not long after, Lin Kong suddenly heard the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground, followed by the cracking noise of wood splitting. He quickly got up and went to the entrance to check what was going on.
Hermes had chosen a tree so large that it would take four people to encircle it. Using his psychic power, he shaped it into a blade to trim the ends, then split it in the middle into pieces. Before long, the entrance of the cave was piled high with wood chips. But it seemed he still wasn’t satisfied. He even used his power to bring over several large stones from afar.
Lin Kong called out just in time to stop him: “That’s enough, enough! Wood is fine. Why are you bringing all these big stones?”
At Lin Kong’s words, Hermes withdrew his psychic power. Having stood out in the snow for too long, a light layer of snow had settled on his shoulders, clearly contrasting with the black of his robe. [I’m going into seclusion for cultivation. The entrance must be sealed, or other beasts may wander in.]
The news came suddenly, and Lin Kong couldn’t help but freeze for a moment. “Cultivation?! What cultivation?”
Hermes didn’t elaborate much, only adding: [This time, I’ll be in seclusion for a long period. The remaining prey should be enough for you to get through the winter. The wooden boards aren’t strong enough. Just to be safe, I’ll seal the entrance with stones later.]
Lin Kong felt an inexplicable sense of unease. “Where will you be cultivating?”
Hermes gave him a puzzled look [Of course, in the cave.]
However, when he entered cultivation, it would be difficult for him to notice any disturbances outside. If a beast ignored the territorial markers he had set and wandered in, Lin Kong would be in danger.
The stones Hermes had brought were large enough to completely block the cave entrance. He left a narrow gap on the right side, just wide enough for Lin Kong to slip through sideways. When not in use, they would block the gap with wooden boards and animal hides, making it a compromise between “reasonably safe” and “reasonably dangerous.”
The safe part was that the stone was indeed very sturdy. The dangerous part was Lin Kong’s worry that he might get trapped inside the cave.
Lin Kong stroked his chin thoughtfully. “What if someone accidentally pushes the stone from the outside? Wouldn’t I be trapped in the entrance?”
Hermes sat cross-legged on the stone bed, eyes closed in meditation. Clearly, he had already thought about this issue. [There’s food in the cave. You won’t starve.]
Lin Kong still felt uneasy. He asked with concern, “Winter is so long. What if the food runs out and you’re still not awake?”
Hermes responded calmly, [Impossible, unless I die.]
Lin Kong instinctively replied, “What if you die?”
At Lin Kong’s words, Hermes finally opened his eyes. He tilted his head slightly to look at Lin Kong, his red pupils reflecting the flickering flames, his expression serious. [That way, the two of us can die together. Isn’t that a good thing?]
Lin Kong: “…!”
Damn, he knew this pervert wouldn’t say anything nice.
Lin Kong’s face twitched in discomfort. He awkwardly forced a smile and replied, “Of course, it’s great. Dying with you is the luckiest thing I could ever wish for in eight lifetimes.”
At Lin Kong’s words, Hermes’ gaze softened for a moment. His voice was low as he suddenly said something without context: [Lin Kong, when I wake up…]
When you wake up, then what?
The sentence seemed unfinished, but before Lin Kong could respond, Hermes had already closed his eyes and entered his cultivation state. The final syllable of his voice gradually faded away into the air.
He flipped his wrist, and suddenly, countless blue orbs of light surged around him. These were the accumulated life forces from all these years. The orbs rose and fell in the air, casting a deep blue glow throughout the cave, even blindingly bright at times.
When Lin Kong realized what Hermes was about to do, his expression changed in an instant. He sprang to his feet with a start: “Hermes , are you crazy?! Absorbing this much life force at once will kill you!”
Lin Kong had often seen Hermes cultivate, and he knew that the most Hermes would ever absorb at once was an energy orb the size of a thumb. Any larger, and there was a high chance he would not be able to withstand it and would explode from the strain. This was something Hermes himself had once told Lin Kong.
Lin Kong rushed forward, intending to stop him, but it seemed that Hermes was surrounded by an invisible psychic barrier, keeping him at bay. Lin Kong’s frantic efforts to approach were in vain.
“Are you out of your mind? You don’t have to go this far if you want to die!”
“Hermes! Can you hear me?!”
Lin Kong was genuinely afraid that Hermes might die. He was panicked and at a loss. As he watched those blue orbs of light being absorbed into Hermes’ body, one after another, he even kicked the psychic barrier in a desperate attempt, but it was to no avail.
Hermes had entered a closed cultivation state and couldn’t hear anything from outside. The energy surged into his body, crazily and continuously, and even when it reached the critical point, it didn’t stop. The intense rush brought with it excruciating, tearing pain.
This action was no different from seeking death, yet Hermes not only did not restrain himself but instead devoured the remaining energy entirely into his body. His face twisted in pain, veins bulging on his neck, and his psychic power spilled uncontrollably. Fortunately, the barriers he had set up earlier contained it, or else the entire cave would have exploded.
The Zerg King was born with vast psychic power, a result of genetic selection, but even ordinary zergs might still have room for advancement.
Since the day Hermes became a servant of the gods, he had been attempting to break through his psychic limits. He had always been cautious, not wanting to become a target of the Zerg King, so he kept a low profile. But the situation now was different. Hermes had a premonition—if they couldn’t find a way to save themselves by next spring, they would surely be consumed by the Zerg King.
If he succeeded, he would gain a fighting chance. If he failed, the worst outcome would simply be death.
But Hermes had never considered the second outcome. He was the “strong” in the survival of the fittest, the “adapted” in the process of natural selection. His heart was ruthless enough, and so, in the end, it would be him who survived.
One day passed. Two days passed. Three days passed…
Hermes remained motionless on the stone bed, without a single sign of movement. Perhaps, as he had said, this cultivation would take a long time. Several times, Lin Kong thought Hermes might die. The skin of the latter turned an unnatural crimson, and his veins bulged as if they were about to burst, making Lin Kong afraid to even approach.
The energy inside Hermes’ body moved frantically, expanding the spiritual threads in his mind by more than ten times. It felt as though a sharp blade was desperately stirring inside his brain, ripping it apart mercilessly.
Lin Kong had wanted to quietly leave countless times.
He wasn’t a fool. He could feel the chaotic psychic energy surrounding Hermes, growing bigger and bigger like an inflated balloon, bound to burst with a “bang” at any moment. Even the psychic barrier was weakening.
If Hermes wanted to seek death, why should he accompany him?
Lin Kong thought this way every time, but after leaving the cave, he circled the dense forest and came back. His expression was complicated as he stared at Hermes, who was sitting motionless on the stone bed, cultivating. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to leave the other person alone.
Forget it.
Forget it…
At that moment, these two words suddenly floated into Lin Kong’s mind. He didn’t know what they meant, only that he spread a beast hide in the corner of the cave and slept on it. Every day, aside from eating and drinking, he observed Hermes’ reactions.
He had two remaining phones, one of which was already out of battery, and the other, he wasn’t sure how much longer it would last. Lin Kong kept it tucked inside his clothes to prevent it from freezing in the bitter cold. Every so often, he would take it out and fiddle with it.
This was his last connection to the outside world. It was as though only during these moments could Lin Kong remember that he was a modern person.
The snow in the dense forest grew thicker, and the firewood and food in the cave were steadily diminishing. However, getting through until spring shouldn’t be a problem.
With nothing to do, Lin Kong took a sharp stone and began marking the wall of the cave, using symbols to keep track of time. Each “正” character represented five days. By the end, he had lost count of how many times he had etched the character, leaving behind a chaotic, uneven pattern on the stone wall, along with Lin Kong’s slightly irritated doodles.
“Hermes is a big pervert!”
Lin Kong didn’t know what the exact characters for Hermes’ name were, so he just wrote a few phonetically similar ones. At the end, he drew a sulky ghost face.
He vented his frustration, calling him everything from “stinky zerg” to “psycho” but as time passed, he began to cool down and felt a bit guilty.
Hermes had actually been quite good to him. He shouldn’t have said those things.
But the marks he had carved could no longer be erased. Lin Kong could only write something else. He didn’t know why he had ended up in this time and space, nor did he know what would eventually cause his death. But people leave their names behind, just as geese leave their calls in the air. Some traces had to be left.
The sharp stone scraped against the rock wall several times before showing any marks. These were all words praising Hermes. As Lin Kong looked at them, he felt a bit lighter, even pleased. He then grabbed the beast’s claw, normally used for cutting meat, and deeply etched the words again.
Maybe many years from now, these marks would be eroded and disappear with time, but if he carved deeper, perhaps they would last longer.
He was a human.
He came to a land of desolation…
At that time, the city had yet to be built, and all things were still surrounded by mountains, untouched by anyone.
Later, he encountered a member of the Zerg tribe, and they both tried to tame each other.
They may not have been born at the same time, but they would certainly die together in the future.
Because that zerg always said it would eat him.
Lin Kong paused his writing here. He stared at the words on the stone wall, smiling slyly as he bit his fingertip. But this silly zerg still doesn’t know, he’s already been eaten clean by me.
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