Chapter 56

Chapter 56

How could a mortal body withstand a monster’s power?

Not a trace of color remained in Xiao Huai’s face, yet his eyes were a deep, dark red.

Crimson madness intertwined with pure white, like a fissure opening into the abyss. The sight sent every observer’s heart leaping into their throat.

His soft laugh plucked at every heartstring.

[Ding! Joseph’s limited-time mission has been completed. Issuing reward: Soul Contract x1.]

[Soul Contract]

Item Description: A contract-type item that binds souls. Witnessed by the highest-level system. If either party betrays the contract, the system will repossess the betrayer’s soul.

[Note: Do not lightly promise what you cannot accomplish.]

Xiao Huai raised a hand. He had already drafted the terms of the Soul Contract and signed his name. The contract floated before Joseph.

Joseph met his gaze. “Have you thought this through?”

“Mm.”

Xiao Huai gave a quiet reply.

Joseph moved a finger, and his full name appeared on the contract.

In an instant, a mysterious force attached itself to both of them like invisible shackles.

Joseph stepped up to Xiao Huai and touched a fingertip to the center of his brow. Agony swept through him.

Xiao Huai bit his lower lip and clenched his fists, enduring it in silence. Joseph’s low voice sounded beside his ear. “This is only a fraction of my power. I’m letting you adapt in advance, so you won’t find yourself unable to accept more of it later.”

“I don’t care,” Xiao Huai forced through clenched teeth.

Joseph raised an eyebrow and slowly infused that sliver of power into him.

“Consider this power a gift. From now on, your constitution will be somewhat stronger than that of an ordinary human.” Joseph withdrew his hand and turned away. “I hope that when the day comes, you achieve your goal before it is too late, instead of becoming a monster and remaining trapped here forever, like me.”

Xiao Huai watched his back recede. Then he suddenly called, “Joseph.”

Joseph stopped and looked back at him from the corner of his eye.

Xiao Huai’s voice was calm. “I like your paintings. Perhaps in the real world, we could have been friends.”

Joseph froze completely and turned to look at him.

But Xiao Huai was already walking away. His legs trembled beneath him, yet every step was straight and firm.

After Xiao Huai had left the studio entirely, Joseph raised his hands and stared at them with a complicated expression.

A thin callus lay beside the nail of his little finger, a mark left by the many years he had once spent painting.

Such a tiny detail, yet Xiao Huai had noticed it.

Perhaps after seeing the oil painting, and then seeing his hand…

Xiao Huai had understood certain things.

“Xiao Huai,” Joseph murmured. A soft laugh escaped him. “If I were still human, perhaps I would have become your friend as well.”

* * *

The next morning, the players gathered in the first-floor hall to discuss what they had learned from designing diamonds the day before.

Old Mo bit into a piece of bread. “I spent all day drawing designs yesterday, but what can you even do with a diamond besides cut it into facets?”

Tang Weiqi nodded, then shook his head. “It’s a shame there aren’t any magazines here. If only we had some reference images by master diamond designers.”

Uncle Li, by comparison, was much more inclined to slack off.

He picked at his food as he said, “Hey, maybe any old design will get us through. This is only a second-floor instance. What if we’re just overcomplicating it?”
Aunt Wang remained silent throughout the conversation. She was showing more and more signs of becoming a monster, and her blank, vacant demeanor made everyone reluctant to speak with her.

At that moment, footsteps sounded on the stairs. It was around ten in the morning, and most of them had nearly finished eating.

Xiao Huai had been the last to rise at this hour yesterday. Today should have been no different.

They looked up. When they saw him clearly, they all froze.

“Holy shit, what happened to you?” The bread between Old Mo’s teeth dropped onto his plate.

Everyone else stopped what they were doing as well, their gazes fixed on Xiao Huai.

Under their collective scrutiny, Xiao Huai sat down at the dining table without a care. Through the kitchen doorway, he thought he could see Lu Yuanshi’s busy figure.

“Is it that obvious?” Xiao Huai touched his neck.

A ring of bruises encircled it, so dark they were nearly blue-black. At first glance, it looked as though every capillary in his neck had died.

“Damn, Xiao Huai, have you looked in a mirror? That’s terrifying. Did something happen last night?” Old Mo asked with concern.

Xiao Huai had, of course, looked in the mirror that morning. Scars like these meant nothing to him. But if this hide of his was supposed to fetch a good price later, perhaps he needed to find some way to cover them.

Tang Weiqi was studying Xiao Huai as well, clearly hoping to coax more crucial information from him.

Instead, Xiao Huai said, “Something did happen, but I only want to tell you.”

He turned his eyes slightly and met Tang Weiqi’s gaze.

Tang Weiqi froze and pointed at himself. “Me?”

“Mm.”

“Why me?”

A leaf appeared in Xiao Huai’s hand. Four large characters were written on its back: DIAMOND MAGNATE.

Tang Weiqi looked startled. “You have a clue too.”

He had suspected that Xiao Huai might possess a clue, given how calm he had been, but he had never expected Xiao Huai to reveal it so directly.

Xiao Huai walked over and bent down, speaking in a voice only Tang Weiqi could hear. “Don’t you want to exchange information with me?”

The question struck Tang Weiqi’s heart like a hammer.

He had always been cautious and meticulous, the sort of person who wanted confirmation before doing anything.

Before now, he had asked Xiao Huai for information several times, only to be refused in one way or another.

Now Xiao Huai was inviting him to exchange clues. What reason could he possibly have to refuse?

The two moved to a spot well away from the dining table.

Tang Weiqi frowned. “But my clue seems rather abstract.”

Xiao Huai merely smiled. “That’s fine. I only want more information to work with.”

After a brief hesitation, Tang Weiqi nodded. “I agree.”

A leaf appeared in his hand, with the words DIAMOND MAGNATE written on its back as well.

Just as he reached out to exchange leaves, Xiao Huai suddenly seized his wrist.

“Remember,” Xiao Huai said coldly. “The more you know, the greater the danger. Even if you discover something, do not act recklessly. As long as you behave yourself, you will make it out of this instance alive. Understood?”

The air around them seemed to plunge to freezing in an instant. Tang Weiqi’s throat bobbed uncontrollably. He did not dare meet Xiao Huai’s eyes and merely nodded.

Perhaps obtaining Xiao Huai’s clue was never meant to benefit him at all. Perhaps his only purpose here was to show Xiao Huai his own clue.

“I understand…”