After a long while, Jing Minghe spoke, asking, "How is it?"
"Can't see."
Chi Hao's voice was filled with genuine disappointment. Jing Minghe knew that this time, Chi Hao was telling the truth.
Jing Minghe chuckled self-deprecatingly and joked, "Even you can't see the golden stars on my wrist's butterfly imprint that represent time. It might be that this instance is my final one."
"No," even though he knew Jing Minghe was joking, Chi Hao's tone was terrifyingly serious. "Your end is with me. If I don't stop, you can only move forward."
"..." Jing Minghe couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Good brother, your sweet talk is quite sophisticated."
While others weren't paying attention to them, Jing Minghe quickly pecked Chi Hao's lips. "Brother, this time, I'm all counting on you."
White butterfly imprint, time unknown.
But one thing was certain: this white butterfly imprint made him the weakest existence in this instance. Sū Dān Novel Network
This was why Chi Hao had hidden the truth from Shi Wan and Chen Mo.
Ding Chang, Zhuo Fei, and Gao He, along with the deceased Diao Tian, these four shared the same rules, so their butterfly imprints must also be the same.
Shi Wan and Chen Mo had the same butterfly imprint.
Chi Hao, Yumi, and he were currently alone.
"Oh, right," Jing Minghe found a comfortable position in Chi Hao's arms and lay down. "Have you guys encountered Du Heng and Qiao Qiao? What would their butterfly imprints be?"
"We encountered them," Chi Hao replied in a low voice. "But we didn't see."
The first time they met Qiao Qiao, after saving her from the giant mantis, Diao Tian suddenly appeared, and Chi Hao's attention was entirely on the attacking Diao Tian.
After dealing with Diao Tian, the sky had completely darkened. Coupled with his concern for Jing Minghe's safety, he didn't specifically look at Qiao Qiao's wrist.
Later, when they met Du Heng and learned that he might have encountered Jing Minghe, Chi Hao only wanted to find out Jing Minghe's condition and had no intention of noticing what was on others' wrists.
"We'll find out," Chi Hao said softly. "Sleep, don't make me worry."
Jing Minghe raised an eyebrow, feeling helpless. He had wanted to tease his Hao Ge, but he was afraid of backfiring. After all, what he could think of, Chi Hao must also have thought of.
Becoming the weakest existence wasn't the worst part.
What was worse was that this instance would separate them when a checkpoint opened, and they couldn't control this rule.
If the next checkpoint separated him from Chi Hao and Yumi again, encountering Ding Chang and the others would leave him at their mercy, his fate uncertain.
Jing Minghe glanced sideways at Chi Hao. He saw that Chi Hao's eyes were vacant, his brow furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
Jing Minghe quickly closed his eyes, pretending to sleep. Seeing Chi Hao's worried expression, even a single glance would make his heart ache terribly.
Someone said, "It's dawn."
Jing Minghe slowly opened his eyes, yawning and saying with a bitter smile, "Waking up after a nap brings me one step closer to death. This feeling is truly subtle."
"You're really carefree," Chen Mo's expression was grim. "The time in this instance is so tight, and you can still sleep."
Jing Minghe shrugged and smiled, "Why shouldn't I sleep? With sufficient energy, I'll have the strength to find clues, won't I?"
Chen Mo snorted but said nothing further. He actually admired people like Jing Minghe – optimistic and confident. It seemed that in their eyes, as long as it wasn't the last moment, any problem could be solved, even if there was no solution yet.
"Then we," Shi Wan gently squeezed Chen Mo's hand and said to Jing Minghe and the others, "will do as we discussed last night. Miss Yumi, you'll come with us."
Jing Minghe looked at Yumi, saw her nod, and gave Shi Wan an okay sign. "Since it's settled, let's go. Let's find clues as quickly as possible, preferably before... the Hunting Hour begins."
"The Hunting Hour?" Shi Wan was only puzzled for a moment before immediately understanding Jing Minghe's meaning. He nodded, signaling Yumi that they could depart.
Shi Wan thought for a moment before choosing the direction he wanted to go.
Seeing Yumi and Shi Wan walk away, Jing Minghe turned to Chi Hao and said, "Brother, don't worry about me. I believe that any condition is relative. Since I'm the weakest, I'm sure I'll have plenty of time."
"Let's go," Chi Hao took Jing Minghe's hand. "Let's find clues."
Being gently held by Chi Hao, Jing Minghe was slightly stunned. He remembered that before they confessed their feelings, especially during their fourth instance, when he couldn't see, Chi Hao always found excuses to hold his hand. At the time, he had foolishly thought that the great Chi had a peculiar fondness for walking while holding hands.
Now, thinking back, perhaps Chi Hao had feelings for him even before then?
Then, when did he himself start to have feelings for Chi Hao?
As he pondered, Jing Minghe suddenly thought of another question: why did Chi Hao like him? And if he had feelings for him so early on, then this liking seemed somewhat inexplicable...
Could it be love at first sight?
No, someone like Chi Hao wouldn't easily fall for someone. After all, his coldness was genuinely from the inside out, enveloping his entire being.
No one could easily approach such a person's world.
"What are you thinking about?"
Chi Hao's voice interrupted Jing Minghe's reminiscing. Jing Minghe chuckled self-deprecatingly and said in a low voice, "Thinking about how my good brother is so amazing, making me lie in bed for two full days without enough to eat. I'm starving now."
"..."
Chi Hao's naturally icy face suddenly flushed red. After a pause, he abruptly pulled Jing Minghe into his embrace and, pressing his lips to his ear, asked, "What? Don't you like it?"
"I like it," Jing Minghe curled his lips. "I like it very much."
"Then be serious," Chi Hao pulled away slightly, his expression solemn. "Once we leave this instance, leave the City of Death, and you can have as much as you want."
Jing Minghe smiled and nodded, answering with a single word, "Yes."
The two walked forward in one direction, observing their surroundings carefully as they went. However, apart from giant flower branches, leaves, and petals, there was nothing else.
Moving beneath the giant monstrous flowers, Jing Minghe always felt a sense of oppression. He tried to regulate his breathing, but his stamina was rapidly depleting.
Chi Hao noticed Jing Minghe's condition, stopped, pulled Jing Minghe to the side, and sighed softly. He sat down first, then gestured for Jing Minghe to rest on his lap.
Looking at Chi Hao's actions, Jing Minghe's mouth twitched involuntarily. He said with a bitter smile, "Brother, the mission is important. We should still..."
Before Jing Minghe could finish speaking, they heard rapid footsteps approaching. Both looked in the direction of the sound simultaneously and saw Du Heng and Qiao Qiao rushing towards them.