Little Pink Starfish

The barren mountain was sparse with trees and vegetation, and there were few animals around. Dry rocks covered the landscape, adding to the bleak atmosphere.

Gu Bai walked into the mountain expressionlessly and found a cave.

At the entrance, there was a short tree. As he arrived, a lone leaf spun in the air before falling to the ground.

…Somehow, this made the scene feel even more desolate.

Gu Bai sighed and entered the cave, then crouched down with his arms wrapped around his knees.

He looked pitiful, like a wilted flower.

Half an hour had passed since he had pieced together Qiguan Rui’s deception. He had calmed down, but his nose felt a little sore, and his heart was heavy.

Why did Gu Xiaoshan have to be the twisted protagonist?

He felt frustrated.

But frustration didn’t change the facts. He had been tricked. So this was what it felt like to be a woman deceived by a heartless man, left alone to raise a child—wait, something about that analogy felt off!

Fine, he wasn’t a woman, but he had invested emotions into this relationship. He had truly believed he could spend hundreds of years alongside that brat, training together, traveling together, depending on each other. But now, he realized that the twisted protagonist didn’t just deceive women’s love—he even deceived men’s familial affection.

It was infuriating! He wanted answers!

Gu Bai’s mind was a mess. After maintaining his indifferent facade for so many years, he had finally allowed himself to relax around Gu Xiaoshan, only to be hit with the equation: Gu Xiaoshan = Qiguan Rui = Twisted Protagonist.

It was exhausting.

He crouched there for a while, but eventually, his thoughts returned to that person.

Gu Xiaoshan… no, Qiguan Rui.

Qiguan Rui had surely noticed his disappearance by now.

Would he see it as betrayal? Would he treat him like the other traitors in the novel—breaking them apart, piece by piece, and swallowing them whole? Would he come searching for him?

In the original story, anyone Qiguan Rui labeled as a traitor met a terrible fate.

He was probably already on the blacklist, marked as a target to be eliminated.

Gu Bai was unwilling to accept this.

He had tried so hard—so why had things turned out this way?

The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became. Then suddenly, he remembered Tiandu City.

A chill ran through him.

If Qiguan Rui realized he was gone, would he take it out on Tiandu City?

He recalled the city’s fate in the original novel—a dead city.

Qiguan Rui had transformed into the Tun Tian Xuan Mang (Sky Devouring Serpent) and devoured everyone at a wedding banquet before annihilating the entire city.

The event had been blamed on demons, and the one responsible had indeed become the ultimate boss of the demonic domain.

Thinking of this, Gu Bai shuddered.

Yes, he had taken on the role of Tiandu City’s ruler mainly to use it as a safe haven, believing that as long as he stayed away from the protagonist, he could escape that tragic fate.

At first, it had been just a means to an end.

But over time, Gu Bai had cultivated loyal followers and gained the love of the entire city.

He wasn’t emotionless. No matter how cold-hearted he had been, no matter how much he had adapted to this martial world, he had still developed feelings for the people of Tiandu City.

That wasn’t enough for him to sacrifice himself, but at this moment, he couldn’t ignore the citizens’ trust in him—or the unwavering loyalty of his subordinates.

The thought made his blood run cold.

No, maybe it’s not too late.

If he went back…

He might meet the original ending and be devoured by Qiguan Rui.

But there was also a chance that, if he returned voluntarily, Qiguan Rui might accept his submission—and by extension, accept Tiandu City’s loyalty.

That was, if he was willing to be controlled by the snake gu.

Gu Bai had already checked himself thoroughly—his body was completely free of any abnormalities. This could mean that Qiguan Rui had been waiting for the right time, or that he valued Gu Bai’s usefulness, or… maybe there was another reason.

He still had a chance to survive.

But only if he returned on his own.

If he let Qiguan Rui catch him instead, it would be seen as betrayal, and there would be no saving himself.

Having figured this out, Gu Bai regretted his impulsiveness.

He shouldn’t have run.

If he had stayed, he might have passed the test. He could have ended up like Chen Yuanhao and Qiu Tu, becoming one of Qiguan Rui’s trusted subordinates. Then he wouldn’t have to die.

But now, he had ruined it.

He didn’t know if there was still time to fix things.

Gu Bai sighed.

His long-standing fear of the twisted protagonist had made him act on reflex, and now he had made things worse.

But so what if Qiguan Rui had been acting?

Gu Bai forced down the bitterness in his heart and let out a cold laugh.

Fine, if acting was what it took, then he would act too.

He would just pretend to be close.

Now, he had to hurry back.

And he needed a good excuse.

Having thought it through, Gu Bai felt energized again.

Time to go back. This can’t wait.

Just as he stood up, a long shadow appeared at the cave entrance.

A soft voice followed.

“Gege, why did you run all the way here? You really made me search so hard…”

Gu Bai’s face turned pale.

Nothing is worse than getting caught the moment you decide to go back.

He opened his mouth to explain.

It was late, but late was still better than saying nothing at all. He had to say something—quick!

But before he could, a wave of dizziness hit him. His vision blurred, and everything went dark.

His last thought was: Damn it! Using poison gas the moment you walk in?!

Qiguan Rui didn’t remember how long he had waited, only that his frustration had grown harder and harder to suppress.

Then… something had changed. He didn’t bother paying attention—he had simply transformed into his true form, letting his instincts take over.

It seemed he had swallowed many people.

His power had surged, continuously growing stronger.

He had followed a faint scent, but on the way, countless obstacles had appeared—fools standing in his path. He had devoured them all.

He had never felt this way before.

The obstructions became fewer, and his power reached mid-level Wu Wang before slowing down.

By then, the scent had become clearer.

When the massive black python reached the barren mountains, it suddenly shifted back into a strikingly handsome young man.

Finally… he had found him.

The twisting serpent shadow climbed rapidly. In an instant, he reached the solitary cave.

The young man sniffed the air, smiled, and stepped inside.

The person he had longed for stood there as always—cold and distant.

Always noble. Always untouchable.

All the suffering and searching Qiguan Rui had endured seemed insignificant under those icy eyes.

Gu Bai looked at him as if he were filth.

—Of course, if Gu Bai had known what Qiguan Rui was thinking, he would have felt completely wronged.

Filth?! What filth?!

I just looked at you once, how did you read that much into it?!

You’re seriously overthinking this!

But Gu Bai was unconscious and couldn’t argue.

Then, he was wrapped tightly in an embrace and taken away.

---

When Gu Bai woke up, he felt well-rested.

His first thought: Damn it! So I really was drugged!

Then, as he tried to move—he couldn’t.

His wrists and ankles were bound. When he struggled, there was the distinct clinking of metal chains.

A bad feeling crept up his spine.

He turned his head, and his eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

He was tied up.

To a bed.

In the original novel, there was a material called Jin Wu Xuan Tie—a rare metal known for its incredible hardness. More importantly, once used to bind someone, martial artists below the Wu Di (Martial Emperor) level couldn’t gather their internal energy at all. Even Wu Di experts would be significantly weakened.

Gu Bai had no idea where Qiguan Rui had gotten his hands on this stuff.

He had always been by his side—when had he found time to obtain such a rare material? And not just a little—an entire bed’s worth?!

And most importantly—

Where was Qiguan Rui?!

Why wasn’t he here?!

Just as this thought crossed his mind, the door opened.

The luxurious doors of the chamber swung inward as a tall figure stepped inside.

As he approached, Gu Bai recognized the gently smiling, handsome young man.

Qiguan Rui’s voice was affectionate. “Gege, you’re awake.”

Gu Bai looked at him.

He had always thought Gu Xiaoshan was a good person. He had also always known that Gu Xiaoshan was very good-looking.

But he had never studied him this closely—searching for something different, something that could prove he was, in fact, a lunatic.

Qiguan Rui smiled. “Gege, what are you looking at?”

He stepped closer, bent his knee, and knelt on the bed.

“Don’t recognize me anymore?”

Gu Bai saw it clearly.

His face was the same as always. But those eyes—

Those eyes were suppressed yet frenzied.

So frenzied, they seemed almost twisted.

Gu Bai felt like crying.

He really is a lunatic.

Undeniably, absolutely a lunatic.

That gaze—who could deny that it was the look of a predator staring at its prey?!

The heavens were truly unjust…

Qiguan Rui suddenly tilted his head and smiled. “Oh, I almost forgot. Gege can’t speak right now.”

Gu Bai wanted to nod desperately—Yes, please let me talk! Waking up and finding himself mute was even worse!

Qiguan Rui’s smile became even softer. “But rather than letting you say something I won’t like, maybe it’s better if you don’t speak at all.”

He slowly moved forward.

Then, he straddled Gu Bai’s legs, trapping him beneath him.

“I’ve never despised gege, so why does gege despise me?”

No, no, no—I don’t despise you! Okay, maybe I despise the fact that you’re a lunatic, but that can be discussed! We can talk this out!

“I trusted gege so much… so why did you run away?”

I just didn’t react fast enough! I was literally coming back to find you—you just got here first!

“You always acted like you’d stay with me forever, but then you left without a word, making me wait for so long…”

If you’re upset, I can wait for you next time instead!

“I was really sad.”

Qiguan Rui leaned in even closer.

Gu Bai could see his mouth, his teeth—the sharp fangs.

Was he about to be eaten?!

Don’t eat me alive!

And why are you the one acting sad?! I’M the one who should be sad—my cute little brother turned out to be a twisted protagonist! That’s way more devastating!

Gradually, Qiguan Rui’s nose brushed against Gu Bai’s nose.

“You betrayed me. You let me down.”

No! I can explain!

Qiguan Rui’s voice was soft. “Gege wants to say something?”

He chuckled. “But no matter what you say… I don’t think I want to listen anymore.”

Gu Bai’s eyes widened in horror.

Please!

Please give me a chance to explain!

I really was coming back! TAT