The Protagonist is Always Intimidating Me - Chapter 30

They had once feared death, yet ultimately chose that path without hesitation because they dreaded the desolation here—a desolation even more unbearable than death.

Bai Meng looked at the darkening sky, where a few stars had already begun to shine. He broke into a reckless smile, his eyes shining brighter than the stars.

“It sounds like the guard team must be impressively cool,” Bai Meng stood up, his silver cloak billowing as he patted Mo Jiuge on the shoulder, “How about giving me a shot as captain?”

“……” Mo Jiuge gave him a complicated look, then launched himself with a push from his toes, landing on the rooftop nearby. “No way.”

“Why not?!” Bai Meng protested, “You can’t be biased just because I’m more handsome! Didn’t we agree—if I beat you, I’d take the spot?”

“…I’m afraid that’s still impossible.” Mo Jiuge shook his head. “Even if you had the strength to beat me, I doubt the Hall Master would approve.”

“…What?” Bai Meng, understanding the situation, chuckled at himself with a self-mocking smile, “So he actually hates me…”

“Hates you?!”

Mo Jiuge stared at him oddly, as if looking at some ancient, extinct animal. “Remember when you self-harmed after drinking ‘Fuxing’? He used his hand for you to bite down on while you lay there like a corpse for a month. He didn’t dare close his eyes, terrified you’d stop breathing. Those elders tried to blackmail him with old grievances, but the moment he heard you were entering the tournament, he abandoned negotiations, and the talks completely broke down.”

“And now you’re telling me the Hall Master hates you…” Mo Jiuge massaged his temples, looking wearied. “I’d give anything to be hated like that.”

“……” What…

“As for the guard team, I’ve already told you about its brutality. So… The Hall Master’s efforts to stop you are likely because he doesn’t want to see you throw your life away…”

Upon hearing Mo Jiuge’s words, Bai Meng’s whole body froze.

“…This is his only selfish desire.”

…His only selfish desire…

…His only selfish desire…

…I…

Bai Meng’s lips moved, but he couldn’t say a word. Only the sound of the wind reached his ears, and everything seemed to go quiet at that moment. He suspected Mo Jiuge was joking with him—or that he was just imagining it all.

This… I…

Calm down, Bai Meng!

He quickly took a stiff step forward, forgetting he was on a rooftop. With that large step, his disoriented state caused him to tumble off the edge.

Damn it!!!

I shouldn’t have stood up there trying to look cool!

In an instant, Bai Meng snapped back to his senses as he fell, the wind whistling past his soft, beast-like ears. With Mo Jiuge too far to assist, Bai Meng understood exactly what kind of painful landing awaited him.

Just hope there aren’t any rocks down there, or I’m going to end up with a free tattoo!

In that moment of crisis, Bai Meng still clung to his sense of humor, praying even in this predicament. Just like many times before, he instinctively touched the sigil on the back of his left hand, as if it could somehow ensure his safety. Then, as he fell, a pair of hands suddenly caught him, pulling him tightly into an embrace.

“……”

He once believed Da Bai’s nonsense, and the first time he called out to the sigil, the person had really appeared. In that forest, the man stood there, sunlight streaming through the trees, warm and radiant. Beneath the trees, his gaze was soft.

Time flowed like a river, revealing that his nonsense was, in fact, the confession the man most wanted to say to him.

“……”

Bai Meng rested his forehead softly on Mo Hankui’s shoulder, his voice hoarse,

“Why didn’t you tell me that you stayed by my bedside day and night, afraid I wouldn’t wake up…?”

“……”

“Why didn’t you tell me those old bastards were trying to bully you…?”

“……”

The youth’s voice was already choked with tears. Mo Hankui tightened his arms, pulling Bai Meng’s slender form closer to him. Big, heavy tears rolled down Bai Meng’s cheeks, soaking Mo Hankui’s neck, and leaving a wet trail.

“…Why wouldn’t you let me join the guard team…?”

“……”

“…Say something…”

The youth’s sobs were heartbreakingly raw as if bleeding. Every thorned shell he had formed over time cracked open, revealing the soft, vulnerable creature within, with no armor, no claws, and eventually even lost his heart. All he could do was pitifully curl himself up, his exposed fur covered in wounds.

“…Why…”

“……”

“…No reason,” Mo Hankui closed his gray eyes, hugging him tightly.

“You are my only selfish desire.”