After an Infinite Flow Player Retires

The man’s voice was low and soft, and his muted voice seemed like it was coated in honey, but when it echoed through the empty hall made of bones, it made Ye Jia’s hairs stand on end.
Ye Jia: “……”
His mind went blank for a moment.
The next second, Ji Xuan leaned down. A gentle smile appeared in the depths of his scarlet eyes. It was as if he was looking at his beloved lover, “So gege, will you escape?”
Ye Jia’s mind was working fast. He opened his mouth, about to say something.
But the man before him didn’t wait for his answer. Without any warning, he bowed his head and bit his collarbone.
Ye Jia hissed in pain. The sound he was about to make changed a little in pitch.
Sharp teeth mercilessly pierced through his flesh and the warm blood that flowed out from the wounds were gently licked away by an icy cold tongue.
Ye Jia stared blankly at the other party as they slowly raised their head.
Ji Xuan’s lips were stained with blood, turning it an even brighter scarlet colour that complemented his eyes. He licked away the blood on his lips and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.
An almost tangible line of sight traveled down from the young man’s face to his neck before stopping at his slightly messy collar which had been pulled apart earlier.
The clavicles were distinct and the skin there was particularly pale, without a single blemish, making the bloodstained bite mark appear even more eye-catching.
The smile on Ji Xuan’s lips deepened. He lowered his head and licked Ye Jia’s earlobe and whispered into his ear, “It looks great, doesn’t it?”

Ye Jia could feel all the hairs on his body stand on end. A thin layer of cold sweat formed across his back.
Something is wrong…
Ji Xuan’s current state wasn’t right.
But he was in a very disadvantageous position at this very moment. Unlike the other doors, he couldn’t use force to take the other person out of this place.
Although Ji Xuan appeared to be very sane, he definitely wasn’t in a state that could be communicated with.
Ye Jia forced himself to calm down. He replied calmly, “Indeed….”
---- In any case, he should calm the other party down first.
He continued, “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t run.”
Ji Xuan who had his head resting against Ye Jia’s shoulder let out a low laugh. He opened his mouth and bit Ye Jia’s cold earlobe and gently nibbled at it, “Of course……”
The man’s cold fingers gently stroked Ye Jia’s bound wrists. His voice carried a hint of a smile, “Look……”
Ye Jia: “….”
“Fuck.”
The next second, Ye Jia felt the other party’s hand touching his waist.
Ye Jia: “……..”
Wait a minute…..This….couldn’t be what he’s thinking it is?
A scene suddenly surfaced to his mind without warning.
Whistling wind blew past his ears and gravity pulled his figure down. The man’s handsome face suddenly moved closer and following that, there was a cold and soft sensation on his lips.
Ye Jia’s eyes widened.
Clearly nothing had happened but he felt a strong burning sensation coming from his lips, as if they were burnt by something hot. That heat traveled from his lips all the way to his cheeks.
No, no, no, this can’t be. Impossible. He must be overthinking this…..
But before Ye Jia could drive away this scary thought, the other party’s fingers had slipped under his clothes.
Cold fingers traveled across the young man’s slender waist, causing him to shiver.
“……” Ye Jia’s eyes shook: “!”
My great granddaddy!! I-it’s really what he thought it was!
T-this isn’t right…..
After a brief moment of confusion, Ye Jia’s mind started to work like crazy. He racked his mind, trying to find a way to communicate properly with this person.
His gaze swept across the bloodied body in the distance and he suddenly had a flash of inspiration,“O-oh, that’s right...”
Ye Jia’s entire body was stiff. He forced himself to ignore the strange sensation coming from the other party’s palm and continued, “T-the bus outside said just now that I was the second one today. W-what did it mean by that?”
His thoughts gradually grew clearer, and his words became more fluent, “So has that female ghost been sending fake versions of me to you all this time?”
Ji Xuan glanced at Ye Jia with some interest.
In his scarlet eyes, the pupils shrunk into a thin slit, making it look like eyes that belonged to a cold-blooded animal.
For some reason, Ye Jia felt a chill travel down his spine. It was as if the other party had already seen through his true intentions.
Ji Xuan however just chuckled, “Of course….”
He raised the corners of his lips in amusement, “Would you like to see?”
Ye Jia: “…….”
What did that line mean?!
He suddenly had a bad feeling inside.
Ji Xuan lightly raised his finger and the next second, the ground made of bones let out low creaks. Very soon, a large throne made of bones appeared before him.
He brought Ye Jia over and sat down.
Ye Jia’s limbs were still bound by some strange force. He could only be forced to sit next to him.
He took in a deep breath and wisely decided not to say a word.
Immediately afterwards, a hole appeared in the ground before him. From a turbulent pool of blood, a human figure slowly appeared.
Ji Xuan held Ye Jia’s waist with one hand and gently rested his chin on top of the other party’s head. He lightly chuckled, “This was the first one….”
Ye Jia looked at the figure that had slowly emerged from the pool. Although he had mentally prepared himself, he couldn’t help but hold his breath in shock.
Except for the head that was still intact, the rest of the body was no longer recognisable. Every inch of the skin, every muscle, every internal organ and every bone had been carefully disassembled and then patiently pieced back together. It looked almost like bloodstained graffiti art.

Ji Xuan narrowed his eyes and indifferently played with the ends of Ye Jia’s hair. He commented nonchalantly, “Well, I might have been a little too excited at the time.”
Ye Jia: “……”
“Of course, I was much calmer the next time.” Ji Xuan said with a low chuckle.
The second corpse emerged from the pool of blood. The body this time looked more complete ---- Except for the fact that the bones and internal organs had been completely removed from the body below the head, leaving a thin layer of skin fluttering in the air.
Ye Jia: “……”
Calmer?
Ji Xuan raised his hand and the third one emerged.
Unexpectedly, there was something else that came up together with it…..
Ye Jia was stunned. Only after carefully examining it, he realised what it was.
It was two people cruelly pieced together forming a bloody ball of flesh.
Ji Xuan’s calm and unwavering voice sounded from above his head, “That fierce ghost played a little trick.”
He lowered his head and kissed the top of the young man’s head, his voice soft like a whisper, “She made you get married, and you even forgot about me.”
Ye Jia: “…..”
Although he knew that Ji Xuan was a little crazy, he didn’t expect him to be this crazy.
Ye Jia couldn’t hold it in anymore. He asked, “So if something like this happened in reality….you would also do this?”
Ji Xuan’s actions paused very briefly.
He narrowed his scarlet eyes slightly, and a treacherous look surged in its depths. His voice however was still very gentle, “Of course not…..”
Ye Jia: “…….”
After seeing the tragic outcomes of so many of his fakes, he found it difficult believing the other party’s answer.
Ji Xuan’s arms around Ye Jia’s waist tightened further, bringing him closer into his embrace. He whispered gently, “None of them were the real you.”
The corner of Ye Jia’s lips twitched, “I believe you….”
“But can you let go of me now?” He softened his voice and tried to communicate rationally with the other party, “I promise I won’t run. The current position is a little uncomfortable…”
Ji Xuan: “No…..”
Ye Jia: “…….”
Cannot communicate with him at all!
“I am willing to trust you.” Ji Xuan lowered his eyes and stared firmly at the other party’s glass-like amber eyes.
A cold kiss fell onto the young man’s thin eyelid. Ji Xuan smiled and said, “But gege, you lie too often.”
Ji Xuan said confidently, “You will escape….”
Ye Jia: “…..”
Although he did indeed have the intention to do that, having it pointed out directly made him feel a little miffed.
He knitted his brows, “When did I lie to you?”
Ji Xuan stared at him and reminded softly, “You don’t remember anymore gege?”
Although the other person’s expression didn’t change, Ye Jia felt a chill run down his spine. He felt like a bird being preyed on by a poisonous snake.
“You promised me…..” Ji Xuan leaned close. His icy cold pupils constricted, and he enunciated each word with emphasis, “That we would never separate.”
Ye Jia was startled.
At that moment, distant memories poured into his mind. Those scenes had become slightly unclear due to the passage of time, but it was still recognisable.
*
After he was rescued by Ye Jia in the campus instance, Ji Xuan had demonstrated exceptional combat power in the remainder of the instance, helping buy time at a critical moment and allowing the entire instance to end without much trouble. Because of the skills he demonstrated, he joined Ye Jia’s team from that point onwards.
There was no consensus in the team. Half were in favour of it while the other half were against.
Those who agreed felt that this child had great potential while those who opposed felt that he was too young and would drag the team down.
Ye Jia thought for a while and voted in favour of it.
His teammates were a little surprised, “Why? Your heart softened again?”
Ye Jia responded expressionlessly, “It’s good that he is young. The team just happens to lack chicken meat.”
In the game, many teams with fixed players would accept newcomers and those newcomers are often victims used to block the monster’s attack in the following instances. They were basically disposed of after being used and are collectively referred to as chicken meat.

Ye Jia’s suggestion persuaded the others in the team. As a result, the balance flipped, and Ji Xuan was able to successfully join the team.
Outside the gates, that small figure quietly disappeared into the darkness.
Although the next few instances were all different, the difference in difficulty wasn’t too big. The two of them teamed up several times but most of the time they were not assigned to the same instance.
This was until a few months later when they happened to find themselves in the same instance.
It was originally set as a C-Level instance but upon entering, it was discovered that it had actually become an A-Level instance.
Most of the players were caught off-guard and died as a result.
In the confrontation with the monsters and ghosts, two of the four members of the team died. Only Ye Jia and Ji Xuan were able to escape.
When night came, Ye Jia warned, “Follow me and don’t wander off. If you run into danger because you were running around recklessly, I won’t be able to save you.”
The little boy nodded obediently. A faint red light flashed across his big and round eyes.
But in the end, when the next wave of monsters attacked, Ji Xuan and Ye Jia were separated.
The little boy’s face was pale and fearful as he was dragged into a dark mass of monsters. Players all ran off, paying no attention to those left behind.
Enveloped by the monster’s black mist, the boy’s expression filled with horror disappeared like the winter snow. Once he could no longer be seen, he calmly leaned back.
He supported his cheeks and watched the escaping players in the distance with interest.
He really wanted to know…..What expressions will these players have when they see what is waiting for them ahead?
Especially that person-----
But at this moment, the black mist not far in front of him was suddenly split open and a powerful light emitted from a high-level prop caused the nearby monsters to burst into flames. The monsters screamed and retreated back but those flames had left horrible wounds on their dark skin.
The young boy was taken aback for a moment. While he was caught off guard, the black mist under him was blown away, causing him to fall onto the ground.
Immediately afterwards, a tall and slender young man charged through the opening in the mist and proceeded to drag him out.
The light emitted from the prop had not yet dissipated.
Under the almost scorching light, the young man was panting heavily. His amber coloured eyes were slightly squinted under the strong light and one eye was in semi-dried blood, making him only able to open one eye. His face was pale and covered in cold sweat. He held tightly onto the young boy’s thin and weak shoulder, the tips of his finger turning white from how much force he was using.
His voice was fierce and a little angered, “Didn’t I tell you earlier? Stay by my side and don’t wander off!”
The boy stared back at him blankly.
At this moment, the mountain in front of them suddenly started to shake. The boss of this instance had appeared. It was an A-Level monster. It quickly swallowed up the players nearby and then turned to look at Ye Jia.
Ye Jia grabbed Ji Xuan’s hand and together they fled.
For the next two days, they continued to escape from the monster to the point of exhaustion.
The young boy looked thoughtfully at the young man’s straight back and silently followed him while seemingly in thought.
After this went on for what felt like eternity, Ye Jia was finally exhausted. He had made a small mistake, but this mistake was enough to make him pay an unbearable price.
He pushed Ji Xuan roughly, “Hurry and go…..”
The young boy narrowed his eyes and stared at him. A flash of scarlet gleamed across his dark eyes.
He didn’t speak nor did he leave.
Just as they were about to be swallowed up by the monster, he got rid of the monster that had Ye Jia firmly in its hands. At a very crucial moment, the two were able to escape from that encirclement of monsters.
Ye Jia gasped heavily with furrowed brows. He looked deeply at the young boy whose height only reached his waist.

Ji Xuan raised his head and smiled faintly with his innocent and beautiful face, “Stay by your side and not wander off, right?”
Ye Jia was a little stunned, “Yes…”
The young boy’s eyes were dark and deep. Something dangerous seemed to be swelling inside the depths of his eyes.
His pale lips were slightly pursed, and there was an inexplicable sense of fragility coming from him. He tilted his head, “Forever?”
Ye Jia raised his head and looked up at the instance time that was about to reach its end. His mood turning for the better, he rubbed the young boy’s head and answered with some gentleness in his voice, “Yes….”
*
That delicate young boy’s face in his memory slowly overlapped with the handsome man’s face in front of him. That same obsessive gaze seemed like it could pull someone into a deep abyss.
The man’s grip around him tightened. His scarlet eyes with vertical pupils lowered slightly as he gently pressed his icy cold nose against Ye Jia’s, “You must uphold the promises you make with a fierce ghost.”
The curvature of his lips deepened, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes, “If you can’t do that, we would come back and claim it with interest.”
Ye Jia: “….”
“Maybe I should charge some interest first.” Ji Xuan’s eyes darkened.
The next second, he kissed Ye Jia’s lower lip and oppressively began to bite and lick the other party. One hand firmly restrained the other party’s wrists above their head while the other hand held the other party’s thin waist, bringing him closer and pressing him against the arm of the throne made of bones.
Like a drowning man struggling to reach the water surface, a cold sensation that seemed to penetrate deep into his bones poured in from all directions, weighing down on his chest, making him unable to breathe. All forms of resistance were futile.
Suddenly, without warning, the landscape in the distance started to shake. It was as if the world was shaken by some unknown force.
The walls and floor made of bones around them similarly started to shake, letting out clattering sounds.
But Ji Xuan didn’t stop.
Just as Ye Jia was about to faint due to lack of oxygen, he heard a careful knock on the door.
 Ji Xuan reluctantly moved back.
He frowned and muttered with displeasure, “A pity we were interrupted.”
Ye Jia gasped for air. Dry air poured back into his lungs, leaving a dull pain in his throat. He felt a little dizzy and his vision was slightly blurred from the lack of oxygen.
Ji Xuan lowered his head and gently licked the other party’s lower lip before smiling contentedly: “Gege is great…..”
Ye Jia: “….”
I have the words ‘fuck your uncle’ but it might not be appropriate to say it.
The light knocking at the door sounded again. It was louder than the one before but it was still done equally as cautiously.
Ji Xuan slowly sat up. He continued to hold Ye Jia who was still unable to move in his arms and he hooked his finger to open the door while in a good mood.
The bus had now shrunk to a size a third of its original size. The streetlamp and snack bar sign followed behind it.
It lowered its bony head and spoke with a trembling voice, “K-King….The world in the east is beginning to collapse.”
“So what?” Ji Xuan’s voice held no anger or joy.
The bus: “…..”
You clearly told us to notify you if anything out of the normal happens!
But they had already long grown used to their King’s mood swings especially whenever a new person was sent to him. It could only quietly press itself closely against the ground, not daring to raise its head, as it fearfully waited for the other party to give it its orders.
But for some reason……the bus seemed to hear something different in the other party’s voice this time.
It could be considered one of the first creatures to be born in this world. Although it didn’t dare say that it knew this terrible creator who had the ability to control its life and death well, but compared to the other monsters, it had spent the most time with Ji Xuan. It was enough to let it sense that his mood today seemed to be different from usual.

The bus carefully raised its head and looked towards the throne.
The next second, it was so shocked by the sight, its mind almost stopped working.
The human it had thought would be immediately torn apart by King was sitting on the throne completely unharmed.
Not only was he unharmed, but he was even held intimately in the King’s arms.
Scattered hair covered the flushed corners of his eyes and cheeks and his lips that were half open were slightly swollen and red. It resembled an overripe fruit whose skin would burst with a tiny prick, allowing sweet nectar to flow out. His collar was messy and open, revealing his slender neck and defined clavicle. The bite mark there was particularly eye-catching.
The man’s well-defined fingers held the young man’s waist possessively.
The bus: “?”
T-this didn’t seem right?
Just as it was beginning to doubt its worldviews, its eyes suddenly met Ji Xuan’s icy stare.
The bus: “!”
The next second, a terrible force struck from all directions, pressing down on it. It felt as if its life was firmly in the hands of the other party, and it instinctively started to shudder. Every inch of its body screamed out in pain.
Just before it was crushed into a pile of waste metal, the young man sitting on the throne suddenly spoke up.
His voice was hoarse, as if it had been ground by sandpaper, “Hey…..”
Ji Xuan’s actions stopped.
Ye Jia took in a deep breath and tried to stay calm. He gritted his teeth and continued, “If you have something to do, go and do it.”
He said calmly, “What you need to worry about now is whether you can win in this confrontation with that fierce ghost outside and, most importantly, the flow of time in here compared to outside is different, right? If that is the case, as long as you defeat this fierce ghost from inside, we will naturally be able to return to the outside world.”
Ye Jia closed his eyes, as if suppressing his anger, “So for the time being, I won’t be leaving…..”
He raised his eyes to look coldly at the man before him. It was as if the person who was at a disadvantage and the one who couldn’t move was not him, as if the cruel deaths of those substitutes didn’t bother him at all.
Although the corners of the young man’s eyes were still faintly red, the earlier disorientation and bewilderment had been swept away. Those amber coloured eyes were deep and only calmness and calculation that have been exercised frequently during his time in the game remained. He had used this to reasonably infer and examine the current situation and make the most favourable decision.
Ye Jia said slowly, “As a temporary comrade in arms, I give you my guarantee.”
---- He once again became Ace, the uncrowned king of the players.
Ji Xuan’s expression was indecipherable.
He gently brushed his finger across the bite marks on Ye Jia’s lips and let out a light laugh, “Gege, you’re always like this.”
“Always so rational….” He smiled and continued, “No matter what the circumstances are, you can always remain calm and find the most suitable solution, isn’t that right?”
I really want to…crush that calmness of yours.
Watch you cry, watch you scream.
Ye Jia took in a deep breath. He avoided this seemingly dangerous remark and returned to the topic at hand, “So are you going or not?”
The man’s eyes deepened and his lips curved, “Not going……”
Ye Jia: “…….”
Facing someone he couldn’t communicate with, he was a little angered, “Are you fucking out of your mind?”
Ji Xuan leaned in and kissed him, “Of course…..”
Ye Jia frowned and turned his face to avoid the other party. His tone was particularly bad, “Don’t mess around!”
Ji Xuan stopped. He stared fixedly at the irritated young man before him and suddenly said, “Alright then…..”
Now, it was Ye Jia’s turn to be stunned.
Ji Xuan smiled. His scarlet eyes were half-narrowed and his thin pupils were slightly dilated. His mood seemed to have suddenly improved significantly.
He pointed at his lips and said, “If gege kisses me, I won’t mess around.”