The Protagonist is Always Intimidating Me - Chapter 77

The place below remained utterly devoid of light. Rotting gases continued to drift through the air. Unlike before, however, there were no longer any of those repulsive bats. The two of them reached the bottom without incident.

“At this point in time, I fear the Hall Master is unlikely to have survived…”

In the darkness, Mo Jiuge’s voice retained its familiar gentleness. Even without seeing him, Bai Meng could picture that warm smile.

All around was pitch-black, with the screeches of demons echoing from afar. The two held their breath as they walked through this ominous territory. Unexpectedly, Bai Meng’s clear voice rang out from behind Mo Jiuge. He asked, “How long have you been here?”

The question was abrupt and absurd, yet both of them understood it completely. In the deathly stillness, their breathing seemed unnaturally loud. Mo Jiuge chuckled softly and countered with a question of his own, “How did you find out?”

Bai Meng’s heart immediately sank.

“Welcome to this place~”

Mo Jiuge suddenly turned around, and countless dark purple flames exploded in the darkness. The entire Abyss was instantly illuminated. Facing Bai Meng, Mo Jiuge still wore that handsome face and gentle smile. Yet the purple flames flickered like clawing demons, ruthlessly tearing apart Bai Meng’s wishful thinking.

Bai Meng didn’t speak. He pressed his pale mauve lips tightly together, his jet-black pupils fixed on the imposter before him. His thin frame leaned slightly forward, his whole body tense in a posture of defense and readiness to strike.

“Why the hostility?” The man asked with apparent curiosity. In a questioning tone, he reached out with pale hands and gently cupped Bai Meng’s face. “You know I would never hurt you.”

“……” Bai Meng did not resist the other’s touch. His deep, pure black eyes stared intently at the man. “What exactly are you…”

“What am I? That’s a hard question to answer…” The man tilted his head childishly. In his layered tea-brown eyes shimmered a striking golden glow. In the long, slender phoenix-shaped eyes, Bai Meng’s reflection could clearly be seen. “I am the demon at the very bottom of the Abyss, Yuan.”

“But don’t be afraid,” he said intimately, nudging Bai Meng’s nose gently with his own. The distance between them was so small, it looked as if they were intimately close.

“…Mo Jiuge, he…” Bai Meng spoke with a hoarse voice, his heart aching terribly.

“This body? I ate him,” the demon said, spinning in place as though pleased with himself. “And not just that. If you wish, I can be Mo Hankui, Mo Jiuge, or even… Bai Fan.”

Bai Meng’s body stiffened instantly. He stared at the arrogant monster before him in utter disbelief.

The demon turned his tea-brown eyes into pure gold and smiled ingratiatingly at Bai Meng. “See? I can become anyone you like.”

The demon wore the face of someone the youth once knew, but the expression on it was one he had never seen before. He remembered drinking with that person long ago. Back then, he had gotten drunk, and when he looked over at him, there was a faint flush between his brows. The setting sun reflected in those tea-brown eyes, and the glimmer of light within mirrored the mortal world.

But that person was gone.

For the sake of that land, he had gone somewhere no one else could reach.

“To become anyone… But I don’t want any of them!”

Bai Meng’s hand pierced mercilessly through the demon’s heart. Dark red blood trickled down his pale fingers, and the sound of dripping echoed between them.

“Die, monster.”

With an expressionless face, Bai Meng withdrew his hand. No one could know the turmoil within his heart.

“!!!”

The demon’s pure golden eyes were full of disbelief. He stared at Bai Meng, desperate to find any trace of pain or reluctance on his face. But that person only cast him a cold glance before turning away to continue his search.

His heart felt hollow, icy wind piercing from all directions, pain stabbing into the bones.

“Why…”

“…Bai Meng…”

The demon murmured the name as he slowly stood. He glanced down at his pierced chest, a surge of resentment rising within.

He possessed all the memories of Mo Jiuge and Bai Fan. Why would the youth reject him? Why did he even want to kill him…

“Why?”

All the flames were extinguished under the wrath of the ruler. He bared his bloody mouth and fixed his gaze firmly in the direction where the youth had disappeared.

“Bai Meng, I’m angry now.”