n

n

nIt took a whole hour before the monster's screams had faded. Not far from the exit of the layer a dead Snow Oni was lying on the ground. Its head was detached from its body together with its two arms and two legs. His stomach was cut open revealing the internal organs and the huge stomach filled with semi-digested human parts and flesh. There were even human heads inside, some were a bit crushed and most of it had turned into a mushy substance.

nSystem Yang was expressionless at this scene. Though he doesn't understand why his master dissected the monster, he was silent the whole time as he watched the scene of gore before him.

nHei Anjing stood afloat above the corpse. He transformed his ice scythe into a dismantling knife and checked the corpse before him. His hands were covered in surgical gloves to avoid the blood and his clothes and shoes remained untainted intentionally by this clean freak.

nAfter checking what he wanted to see, Hei Anjing landed at the clean area and removed the blood-soaked gloves on him. He used alcohol to disinfect his hands twice before throwing a few fire talismans on the corpse to burn it to nothing.

nThere was a strange smirk in the corner of his lips as he brought out a tumbler of hot strawberry milk tea from his storage.

nSystem Yang, Master, is there something wrong with that monster?

nHei Anjing answered,

"You didn't notice? Though there are some parts inside that aren't supposed to be there exist, that thing just now is a human being. An Experimental human being to be exact.

"

nA Human? But... It's size... Right!? Its blood is red!!! Monster's blood is usually blue, purple, or green. Is that why the Master dissected this one?

nHe lightly nodded his head and enjoyed his milk tea. The hot tea is enough to keep himself warm.

n

"Interesting right? That monster just now might be a long-time sinner in this place. In short, those who stayed in this place the longest would be transformed into a monster that would fit each layer. This punishment world is a game world after all. It is not the real hell.

" said Hei Anjing.

nNo wonder. Master, those humans you've to save just now are waiting for you. Are you going to see them?

n

"There's a little boy just now. Don't you think my baby would be at that age range now?

" asked Hei Anjing as he remembered his darling son, Ye Jingxia.

nIf the master misses Young Master Jing then there is nothing to worry about. Before I returned here, Lord Xia Jieye had visited him once with me and Gui Xiajun. The Young Master had started attending grade school happily.

nA rare gentle and soft smile appeared on Hei Anjing's face. This is a smile that only his family, husband, and child could receive from him. A smile directly from his heart and soul. His true smile.

n

"That's good then. I do wish I could see Xiao Jing before the end of the Second Trial. But since it will be dangerous we should forget about it ha~

" said Hei Anjing as he walked away leaving the fire behind that burned slowly to turn the monster's body to ashes.

nSystem Yang didn't speak another word as among everyone in their group he is the sole being who understands the meaning of his Master's words the most. Not talking nonsense is much better than unconscious hurtful words.

n

"Let's go. Though I wouldn't help them directly, it would still be better to keep that child alive,

" said Hei Anjing as he walked back to meet that group of three players he had to save before.

nThe three were waiting patiently for him to come back. They were covered in frost all over their bodies while surrounding a small bonfire at the center of the group. The three were surprised when they saw him return after all the possibility of him not returning is greater as they were strangers after all.

nShi Lou spoke,

"Good. You've returned. My name is Shi Lou, a veteran player. These two are brothers, the eldest is the one you save, his name is Lu Ke and this youngest is called Lu Shi.

"

n

"Thank you for saving us!

" All three of them said at the same time.

nHei Anjing responded and just stared at them with no emotion on his face. He was still using his bloodline form and looks like an aloof elf in the middle of winter. They were all left dazed.

nLu Shi's frosty appearance looks pitiful yet when he looks at Hei Anjing his eyes are bright and innocent. There is only purity within those eyes. It reminds Hei Anjing of his son more. He couldn't help by treating the boy more kindly than the others.

nTsk! He clicked his tongue once and brought the three back to reality. With a single wave of his hand, all four of them were suddenly covered with an ice dome. It is an igloo that blocked the cold breeze coming from the mild blizzard.

nThe three were startled and flinched. Just now Shi Lou had no other choice but to use his body to block the cold wind to keep the siblings warm even for a bit but the place is so cold and a blizzard is about to come. The sudden appearance of the igloo had shocked them yet felt better. With this, the cold wind can be avoided.

nThey even saw Hei Anjing bring out some talisman in thin air. Seeing this Shi Lou understood that Hei Anjing is indeed a wealthy player.

nHei Anjing threw a fire talisman at the bonfire making it larger. Made a solid mold to surround the fire and brought out a pot when he touched his snowflake earring. Then I used a water talisman to fill the pot with water and waited for it to boil.

nThe three didn't force Hei Anjing to introduce himself. They have no right as the difference in strength is too big. This is a player that could kill a huge NPC Boss like the Snow Oni and return to them unharmed. Once Hei Anjing finished all those he sat near the fire as well and deactivated his bloodline.

nHis long white hair turned shorter and black. His silver irises returned to the color of the sky. Even though he deactivated his bloodline as an Ice Elf his refined features are still there.

nLu Shi's eyes become even brighter. He was fearless as he is only a child,

"Wow~ he is still so pretty as a human.

"

n

"Shi'er!

" calls Lu Ke afraid that Hei Anjing would get angry.

n

"But I'm only telling the truth. Big brother, you don't think he is pretty?

" asked Lu Shi.

nLu Ke kept on glancing at Hei Anjing and wanted to see if the person was angered by his little brother's words. He had to hit the naughty brat on the head to shut him up.

nBAM!

n

"Owie~ QAQ...

" said Lu Shi.

nThey watched as Hei Anjing brought out some noodles and fresh vegetables and eggs from the thin air. He started cooking silently and they could feel their stomach rumbling with such delicious aroma.

nGulps~ growls~

nLu Shi murmured,

"L-Looks... So delicious~

" There's even a drool strolling down from his mouth.

nHei Anjing couldn't help but smile a bit when he heard such a childish and innocent reaction from Lu Shi.

n

"Wait for a bit. Then you can eat later. Drink this for now.

" said Hei Anjing as he asked System Yang to float towards Lu Shi and gave him a bigger tumbler with hot mango milk tea and three disposable cups.

nDrink. There's a hot beverage inside. There is no need to return the tumbler. said, System Yang.

nAs soon as the little sun floated near the three, the other managers appeared as well. One looks like a fur ball lion cub. This is Shi Lou's manager. A water drop-shaped avatar appeared bouncing as it carefully showed itself from Lu Shi's hair, obviously hiding from strangers just now. Lastly, a ball of wind is Lu Ke's manager.

nLu Ke helped his brother open the tumbler and the scent of fruity mango mixed with milk and tea entered their noses.

nLu Shi exclaimed happily,

"Milktea! I love milk tea! Thanks, pretty brother!

"

n

"You can call me Brother Hei. I will also call you Shi'er,

" said Hei Anjing as he brought out bowls.

"It's cooked. You guys can eat now.

"

nHei Anjing watched as the three ate the noodles like it was their last meal. Storage tools in this world are rare and can be considered a luxury. So the things players could bring were limited and the inventory they can get from their manager also depends on the strength of their managers.

nShi Lou's manager is quite strong. He also has a 10 square space in his inventory which he had upgraded all this time. They had filled half of it with food but those are consumables it wouldn't last long. There is food that can be bought with gold coins in the abyssal store but for poor players, it is rare for them to have much and wouldn't think of wasting it for food.

nLu Shi noticed Hei Anjing wasn't eating and asked,

"Big brother, you aren't going to eat?

"

n

"No. I've already eaten. I made that for you. Get your fill. Once the blizzard stops, I suggest that you go to the next layer.

" said Hei Anjing.

nLu Ke asked,

"Sir Hei, do you know where we are?

"

nHe asked politely but was ignored by Hei Anjing. To the latter, he is only kind to this group because of the child. He doesn't care about the other two. Lu Ke and Shi Lou noticed that as well. When Shi Lou introduced them, Hei Anjing ignored him. When Lu Ke asked just now, he was also ignored. Hei Anjing's eyes were only at Lu Shi right from the beginning to the end.

nSilence~

nThe two adults could only smile helplessly. In a dangerous place like this, it is rare for players to help each other unless they were under contract. So Hei Anjing turning a blind eye and deaf ears on them is normal. They realized that Hei Anjing might like children and choose to help them because of Lu Shi.

nThey let Lu Shi do the questioning instead. This little brat is too smart for his age and knows how to use his strengths. If not there is no way he would survive his first game when he was pulled into this world with his elder brother.

nLu Shi asked,

"Brother Hei, do you know where we are?

"

n

"Punishment World. First Trial. The 18 layers of Hell. This is the tenth layer, the Ice Hell. This is also the layer I had woken up to.

" answered Hei Anjing.

n

"This is our 2nd layer. When I opened my eyes first. The one I saw is a huge desert. There are so many poisonous scorpions, bugs, and snakes there. It was also very hot! Then I fell in a desert swamp. To save me, Uncle Shi, big brother, and big sister jumped in with me. When we wake up we are in this place.

" explained Lu Shi. He is obviously giving Hei Anjing some information.

nHei Anjing smiled and said,

"So smart. Tell me everything you know and thought about regarding this world. I will give you a big gift after that.

"

n

"Really? Brother Hei!?

" said Lu Shi, totally interested in the unknown gift he would receive from the gorgeous big brother before him.

nHei Anjing chuckled and said,

"I don't lie to children.

"

nLu Shi,

"T-Then Pretty Big Brother can't lie to Shi'er.

"

n

"I promise I won't. If your words are interesting I'll accompany you until the 18th layer. That is my destination after all and then I will give you the big gift I've promised.

" said Hei Anjing.

nBecause of that, this naughty brat told Hei Anjing what he knew and all the things regarding his analysis, etc.. They passed the time listening to the talkative Lu Shi and waited until the blizzard stopped.

n