Xiang Yifei sighed and stopped his squad from opening fire. “It's too easy to hit Dr. Tang.”
“Reporting in—mission failed. Dr. Tang and Experimental Subject 428 have escaped,” he said, then turned to the superpower beside him, Song Yi, whose ability was blood tracking. He pointed in a direction. “They're headed southeast.”
“Southeast…” Xiang Yifei murmured. “If I remember correctly, there's a small Alliance base designated 052 in that direction. Could they be planning to take shelter there?”
He ruled out the possibility of them hiding in the wild because the dangers outside were increasing. Starving mutant beasts roamed everywhere, and with spring's arrival, fungal infections would become more rampant.
There was a brief silence on the other end of the earpiece before Leon's voice came through. “Then get in touch with the base's commander. No matter what, we must bring Dr. Tang back.”
“Understood.”
“Keep it low-key. You know why.”
“I understand.”
Tang Xiao's reputation among humanity was now unparalleled—perhaps even unprecedented. If news of his defection spread, it would deal a heavy blow to the current situation.
More importantly, the knowledge inside his mind—if he fell into the hands of the Huigui Sect, who knew whether humanity’s greatest hope for a cure would become a deadly weapon against them instead? Even those who knew him well would never believe he would do such a thing, but the Alliance would not take that chance.
Thus, Tang Xiao could only be ‘captured.’ He had to be ‘forcibly taken back.’
[CG: Departing Together] Unlocked.
Leaving Third Eye meant breaking free from his cage—but also abandoning his sanctuary. No one could predict what the future held.
Tang Xiao glanced at the CG artwork but ignored it, instead checking the wound on his shoulder.
Fortunately, it was shallow. The blood had barely seeped out, and the wound was already close to healing.
The reason for his rapid recovery was simple—before leaving the base, he had used all his accumulated favorability points to max out his attributes. Now, his physique, strength, and agility were all at MAX level.
Though he still couldn't match Jun Tesi in speed, at least he wasn't entirely dragging him down. Of course, he was still no match for superpowers or an entire military unit—after all, he was just a ‘stat monster.’
Setting that thought aside, Tang Xiao noticed that the snow was gradually stopping.
The wind remained strong, but the world was clearing up. The gusts scattered the clouds, revealing the sun that had been hidden behind them.
The golden light slowly spread across the silver-white land, painting it in warm hues.
Bathed in the sunlight, looking down upon the tiny figures of humans and animals on the ground—so small they vanished in the blink of an eye—Tang Xiao felt a sudden rush of exhilaration, an uncontainable sense of freedom surging from his chest.
He took a deep breath, the corners of his lips curling up as he looked ahead. “Look, Jun Tesi.”
“This world is so beautiful.”
Jun Tesi followed his gaze toward the horizon. After a few seconds, he turned his head back, his golden eyes reflecting Tang Xiao’s face, illuminated by the sunlight. A soft hum escaped Jun Tesi’s lips.
His heart itched.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“Hmm?” Tang Xiao was still immersed in the beauty of the sunrise. Hearing his name, he instinctively turned his head—his lips brushing against Jun Tesi’s chin.
Jun Tesi caught him precisely with his fingers, lifting his chin slightly—then sealed their lips together.
At that exact moment, the sun broke free from the horizon completely. Golden sunlight drenched them, washing over their faces and bodies. The sky was a pure, boundless blue. And in that radiant warmth and newfound freedom, they exchanged a gentle kiss.
There was no hesitation, no ambiguity—only treasuring the moment, an uncontrollable tenderness. Jun Tesi kissed the corners of Tang Xiao’s lips, savoring every touch, eyes closed, completely immersed in this undisturbed closeness. The only sound in their ears was the wind as they soared through the sky, as if the entire world had faded away, leaving just the two of them.
If only that were true.
The kiss didn’t last long. Jun Tesi soon noticed Tang Xiao shivering, his lips growing cold.
“The wind is too strong—you'll get hypothermia.” Jun Tesi immediately assessed the situation and wrapped Tang Xiao’s body in mycelium as much as possible. Tang Xiao shuddered and whispered, “Can you change the color? You're too easy to spot like this.”
It had been fine when the snowfall was heavy, but now that it had stopped, only the howling wind remained. Anyone looking up from the ground would notice them right away.
“I can.” Jun Tesi concentrated, mimicking the color-changing ability of a chameleon. Soon, the crimson mycelium began shifting hues, blending seamlessly with the sky.
“The weather’s too cold. You can’t stay airborne for too long,” Jun Tesi said. “We need to find a way to land.”
“I remember the map. There's a base not too far from here. We might be able to sneak in,” Tang Xiao suggested. He knew their pursuers wouldn’t give up so easily, but the wilderness was even more dangerous for them now.
“Alright.”
“By the way, Jun Tesi, how’s your body recovering? Did my genes help?” Tang Xiao had been holding back from asking, but now, seeing Jun Tesi’s completely healed wounds, he couldn’t resist.
“I’ve recovered a lot. Your genes are very useful,” Jun Tesi blinked and replied, his expression unchanged.
In reality, he hadn’t recovered at all. The breakdown continued.
But Juntes didn’t want to tell him.
To make his lie more convincing, Jun Tesi descended the moment he spotted the base on the horizon, blending into the crowd with Tang Xiao.
Many people had migrated to this base, most of them from settlements. The blizzard had just ended, and the weather was expected to warm up soon. When that happened, the beast tide would begin. Because of this, many settlement dwellers have been trying to seek refuge in the base over the past few days, and security checks have become stricter several times.
Tang Xiao and his companion had moved quickly, but they couldn’t be sure if Third Eye had already contacted the base’s leadership. However, Jun Tesi didn’t seem worried at all. He emitted pheromones undetectable to humans, successfully helping Tang Xiao blend in and pass through the inspections.
“Let’s gather some supplies here before we move on,” Tang Xiao suggested. “Before the beast tide starts, we should go as far as possible.”
Jun Tesi had no objections. After all, this was a journey without a set destination—wherever Tang Xiao decided to go, he would follow.
As for purchasing supplies, Tang Xiao had that covered. Before leaving Third Eye, he had converted some of his salary into precious metals, which were valuable in any base.
However, just as he was about to buy supplies, something strange happened—a new feature appeared on his game interface.
[Nearby Channel
Fu Yichen: Hey, hey, is there anyone else around here?
Fu Yichen: If anyone’s planning to quit the game for good, could you lend me some money? I can trade real-world currency for it.]
Nearby Players:???
Tang Xiao was stunned for a few seconds before he suddenly realized—other players!
So this game actually had other players. Oh, right, it was an open-world game; of course, there would be others.
Tang Xiao had a brief moment of disorientation. He had played this game for so long without ever encountering another player, to the point that he had almost mistaken it for a single-player game.
Wait a minute—what about his save and reload mechanics? Did they affect other players? And did they know more about this game?
Curious, Tang Xiao left a message on the nearby channel.
[Nearby Players
Tang Xiao: I have precious metals. No need for real-world currency. Come to the xxx shop; I’m here.
Fu Yichen: Thanks, bro.]
After informing Jun Tesi, Tang Xiao waited. Before long, a young man arrived at the shop entrance, looking around cautiously.
“Over here,” Tang Xiao waved.
“Hey, hey! I’m Fu Yichen,” Fu Yichen hurried over and shook Tang Xiao’s hand, his expression filled with curiosity. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“I came from somewhere else. Honestly, this is my first time meeting another player.”
“Oh, man, you’ve been unlucky. This place only has that one function—aside from that, there’s barely any way to recognize each other.” As he spoke, Fu Yichen glanced at Jun Tesi standing behind Tang Xiao. “And this is…?”
Tang Xiao followed his gaze to Jun Tesi and smiled slightly. “My lover.”
Fu Yichen’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he simply smiled and greeted Jun Tesi.
Tang Xiao noticed that Fu Yichen’s reaction wasn’t like someone greeting an NPC. Plus, after hearing about his relationship with Jun Tesi, Fu Yichen was surprised but didn’t question it. That made Tang Xiao ask, “You’re in a similar situation?”
“Something like that. The players who are still in this game all have their own… complicated reasons.” Fu Yichen scratched his head.
Tang Xiao handed him a gold ingot, and Fu Yichen’s eyes went wide with shock—far more than when he heard about Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi. “That much?! How the hell did you make so much money?”
It was all the rewards and bonuses Tang Xiao had received at Third Eye. He had only managed to withdraw a small portion—most of it had to be left behind in the research division, where he hoped other scientists could freely use the funds for their research.
“Don’t worry about it, take it,” Tang Xiao said. “We won’t be able to use that much anyway.”
Fu Yichen hesitated for a moment but ultimately accepted it. “Yeah, I guess this cycle will only last about half a year anyway. Thanks, man.”
Tang Xiao’s pupils shrank slightly. “Half a year? You know about the time loop?”
Hearing this, Jun Tesi, who had been silent, turned to look at Fu Yichen, surprise flickering in his expression. Other than the King of Mushroom, Tang Xiao, and himself, this was the first time he had encountered someone who recognized the existence of the time loop.
Fu Yichen replied casually, “Yeah, most of us know about it. We just don’t understand what’s really going on.”
Seeing how much Tang Xiao cared about this topic, Fu Yichen thought for a moment and said, “If you don’t mind, we can chat about it. You’ve never met other players before, so you must have a lot of questions. We’re not leaving for the central zone until tomorrow, so there’s still time.”
“Alright,” Tang Xiao agreed immediately.
After finishing their shopping, Fu Yichen led them to his small home inside the base. Along the way, they passed by patrolling guards. Every time, Tang Xiao would avoid them as much as possible, either ducking away or pulling Fu Yichen in another direction.
Fu Yichen didn’t understand but was considerate enough not to ask. He took a detour and eventually led them home.
“Xiao Chen, you’re back. Did you find that friend you were looking for?” As the door opened, a middle-aged woman stepped out and curiously studied Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi.
“Yeah, I did. He’s an old friend I haven’t seen in a long time. I invited him over for a chat.”
“Oh, that’s great! I’ll make some tea for you all.”
The woman smiled warmly and returned to the kitchen. Tang Xiao immediately realized something and turned to Fu Yichen. “She is…?”
“My mother,” Fu Yichen answered simply. He didn’t explain further. After stepping inside, his entire demeanor relaxed visibly. He flopped onto the couch and waved at them. “Make yourselves comfortable. No need to be so formal.”
Tang Xiao also pulled Jun Tesi to sit on the sofa. In truth, he was a bit nervous. Encountering other players was an unexpected situation, and more importantly, Jun Tesi actually had no idea that he was a player or anything about that world.
Tang Xiao thought for a moment and typed in the Nearby Channel:
Tang Xiao: Sorry, my lover doesn’t know that I’m a player. If we talk about that world, can we use this instead? We can just chat normally on the surface.
Fu Yichen: Sure, don’t worry, I get it.
Tang Xiao asked, “How did you find out about the time loop?”
“It was just a slight awareness, but we don’t actually know if it really happened or not,” Fu Yichen answered.
Fu Yichen: I don’t have memories from before the time loop. I just noticed it from the passage of time in reality.
So that’s how it was. Tang Xiao understood now.
Tang Xiao: Do the other players know too?
Fu Yichen: Probably. I think the players who are still here more or less have an idea. People speculate that it might be the ability of a time-related superpower. Sigh, if that were true, I’d be really grateful to them. It’s given me so much more time to spend with my mother.
Just then, the middle-aged woman came from the kitchen carrying four cups of hot tea and some snacks. Fu Yichen quickly reached out to take them, but the woman frowned and scolded him, “No, be careful, it's hot. Let Mom do it.”
Fu Yichen scratched his head and sat back down, but his eyes kept following her movements.
Tang Xiao caught this small detail, and his emotions became a bit complicated.
So he wasn’t the only player who had become attached to someone in this world.
He felt a little happy and a little sentimental.
“Xiaoxiao.” Jun Tesi noticed that Tang Xiao was watching them. He imitated the woman’s actions, carefully lifting a cup of tea and placing it in front of Tang Xiao with a serious expression. “Be careful, it's hot.”
Tang Xiao: “Oh… thanks.”
Jun Tesi quietly observed Tang Xiao’s expression. Ever since meeting this stranger, Tang Xiao’s emotions had been fluctuating.
Was he a friend? It didn’t seem like it. But Tang Xiao trusted him without hesitation. When they spoke, it felt like they had an invisible barrier separating them from everyone else—like they were from the same world.
This made Jun Tesi feel a bit lost… and a little annoyed. Seeing Fu Yichen place some snacks in front of Tang Xiao, Jun Tesi copied him, using a toothpick to pick up a piece of cake and bringing it to Tang Xiao’s mouth. “Here.”
Tang Xiao ‘Wait, hold on, I don’t actually have to eat this, do I?’
Tang Xiao didn’t understand what kind of mood Jun Tesi was in, but he found it both helpless and amusing. He opened his mouth, took a bite of the snack, chewed, swallowed, then opened his mouth again to show him. “Happy now?”
Jun Tesi stared at the red tongue Tang Xiao revealed, suddenly feeling hungry himself. Naturally, he leaned in and kissed him, nibbling away the crumbs at the corner of Tang Xiao’s lips. Only then did he say, “Now I’m happy.”
Tang Xiao: “…”
Fu Yichen rubbed his nose, eyes fixed on the ground, pretending he hadn’t seen anything. ‘Seriously? Even in a game, I still have to witness couples showing off their love?’
Oh, right. These two were in an end-of-the-world romance where not even an apocalypse could separate them.
Fu Yichen, single to this day. ‘Forget it. Maybe I should just get reborn.’
Why is it that even in a game, some people manage to find a partner?
The middle-aged woman covered her mouth in surprise, looking at them. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you were a couple. Congratulations!”
“Thank you,” Jun Tesi responded happily, turning to her. Having just gone public with Tang Xiao, he was thrilled to hear any kind of blessing about their relationship. After thinking for a moment, he added another blessing for her and Fu Yichen. “I hope you both live a long time.”
Fu Yichen, Middle-Aged Woman: “…”
Tang Xiao: cough cough cough cough—he choked on his own saliva.
“Sorry, he didn’t mean anything by it,” Tang Xiao quickly explained for Jun Tesi.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Honestly, that might be the most fitting blessing for times like these,” the middle-aged woman said with a smile. She could tell Jun Tesi had no malice when he said it—just pure sincerity.
“Oh, since you’re a couple, why don’t you join the Floral Festival tonight? They’ll be holding a bonfire party in the square—it’s a lot of fun. Especially for couples. They say if you wear flower crowns and dance in front of the bonfire, your love will last forever.”
“During times like this?” Tang Xiao asked in surprise.
In his understanding, shouldn’t the entire base be on high alert, preparing for the beast tide?
“Yeah. After all, who knows whether tomorrow or disaster will come first?” Fu Yichen shrugged. “Small things aren’t worth running from, and big things can’t be avoided. Hiding at home trembling isn’t going to make the beast tide any less likely to attack.”
… That actually made a lot of sense.
“Well, if you’re interested, go check it out. It’s lively.”
Tang Xiao had originally planned to leave as soon as they finished gathering supplies. But— He glanced at Jun Tesi, who had absolutely no interest in any bonfire festival, and said, “Alright, we’ll go.”
“Xiaoxiao.” Jun Tesi looked down at him in confusion. “Aren’t you worried about getting caught?”
“They don’t necessarily know we’re here,” Tang Xiao said, looking at Jun Tesi. But in his mind, a memory suddenly flashed—long ago, back at Third Eye, when they celebrated the success of a research paper with a lawn party. Jun Tesi had been forced to watch from the shadows.
“And… I want to experience something like this with you.”
You don't have to be a bystander anymore.
Isn't that the whole point of this journey?
The young man's bright, unwavering gaze was like a stream of fresh water flowing into Jun Tesi’s heart, rendering all his words powerless. Under the table, he silently took Tang Xiao's hand.
Fu Yichen rubbed the tip of his nose, silently guessing what the two of them had been through to end up being hunted. But for players, nothing was really surprising.
Besides, he didn’t believe that someone who had gone through countless time loops yet still chose this world would be a bad person.
The apocalypse had already arrived. He didn’t care about such things and simply said, “You guys are new to this base, right? If you don’t mind, you can stay at my place tonight. The festival runs pretty late, and I have spare rooms. Most importantly, other accommodations in the base require ID proof.”
“Then thanks a lot.”
“You’re welcome. The funds you gave me are enough to cover the rent for a long time.”
While Tang Xiao was establishing contact with another player, Third Eye had also contacted the base leader, providing a similar story: Dr. Tang had been bewitched and kidnapped by a mushroom experiment subject, and they hoped the base could help search for him.
The base leader immediately recognized the severity of the situation and ordered a checkpoint inspection at all exits. Xiang Yifei quickly added, “Please don’t disclose that Dr. Tang is missing. It might cause panic.”
“I understand. I’ll have my subordinates search using the experiment subject’s portrait,” the base leader replied. “I’ll also notify nearby bases.”
“Thank you.” Xiang Yifei sighed in relief.
The tracker’s ability could only give a general direction, and the large crowd in the base made things more complicated. At this point, they could only rely on the base's efforts.
Night fell quickly, and just as Fu Yichen had said, the streets inside the base came alive. Lanterns were strung up everywhere, and couples adorned with floral wreaths emerged from their homes, turning the night into what felt like the last grand celebration before the end of the world.
Perhaps it truly was. Once the beast tide hit, who knew how many people would be separated forever?
Fu Yichen’s mother warmly provided them with a change of clothes, allowing them to shed their conspicuous white lab coats and Jun Tesi’s stark white attire. Jun Tesi tied up his ponytail, placed a floral wreath on his head, and walked hand in hand with Tang Xiao into the crowd, appearing just like any other ordinary couple in the apocalypse.
The towering bonfire in the plaza was blazing, and the atmosphere was electric. Someone had set up a large speaker, blasting music as couples twirled around the fire in dance, filling the air with joy.
But soon, Tang Xiao realized a serious problem.
Sitting at the edge of the plaza, he asked Jun Tesi gravely, “Do you know how to dance?”
Jun Tesi: …
Tang Xiao: “Sorry, that was a dumb question.”
Jun Tesi had spent all his time in the lab—of course, he wouldn’t know how.
The problem was, neither did he.
Tang Xiao had learned ballroom dancing as a child, but he’d long forgotten most of it. Besides, he had an embarrassing secret—his coordination completely fell apart whenever he danced. As a kid, he had gone through three different dance teachers in a month, and he never participated in dance events.
After staring at each other, Tang Xiao chuckled helplessly. “Forget it. Let’s just watch from here.”
Jun Tesi silently nodded, and the two of them huddled close on a bench, watching the bonfire. Around them, conversations, laughter, and even occasional sobs filled the air, but most people were undoubtedly enjoying the moment.
What about Jun Tesi? Did he find this kind of event fun?
Tang Xiao couldn't help but glance at Jun Tesi’s expression—only to realize he was staring intently at the dancing crowd.
Just as Tang Xiao was about to say something, he suddenly saw several uniformed personnel at the edge of the plaza. They were scanning the crowd and holding a portrait in their hands.
“Jun Tesi.”
“Mm, I see them.” Jun Tesi suddenly stood up and pulled Tang Xiao into the crowd near the bonfire. “My pheromones aren’t as strong as before. We need to blend in. Let’s dance.”
This was the most crowded area.
“But I don’t know how to dance.”
“It’s okay. I already learned. I’ll lead you, Xiaoxiao.” Jun Tesi sounded confident.
Just then, the music changed to an even more passionate melody. Jun Tesi took Tang Xiao’s hands and naturally led him into the dance.
When he said he had already learned, he wasn’t bluffing.
While Tang Xiao was still struggling to find the right steps, Jun Tesi’s movements were already as fluid as the best dancers in the plaza, his arm guiding Tang Xiao effortlessly.
Tang Xiao found it impossible to focus on learning. Half of his attention was locked onto the patrolling officers outside the crowd, watching them converse. Though he couldn’t hear through the music, he could read their lips.
“Found them?”
“Not yet. Should we shut it down?”
One of the officers glanced at the dancing couples near the bonfire and hesitated. Shaking his head, he said, “Forget it. We were told to keep this low-key. The target might not even be in this base. We checked all the entrances.”
“Still, we should take a closer look.” Another officer was unconvinced. As soon as a gap appeared in the dancers, he quickly squeezed in.
“Jun Tesi.”
“Xiaoxiao, dance naturally,” Jun Tesi murmured near Tang Xiao’s ear. “They won’t find us.”
Tang Xiao gritted his teeth and could only trust Jun Tesi to not mess this up.
The intense, lively rhythm of flamenco filled the air, prompting the dancers’ steps to become louder and more forceful. At first, Tang Xiao was clumsy, stepping on Jun Tesi’s feet multiple times, wishing he could sink into the ground from embarrassment.
But Jun Tesi didn’t seem to mind. He danced while patiently teaching Tang Xiao how to follow the movements.
Gradually, Tang Xiao started to grasp the rhythm. His in-game body was enhanced, after all—it was only his mental block holding him back. With Jun Tesi’s patient guidance, his movements became more fluid and natural.
However, he was so focused on copying Jun Tesi’s steps that he didn’t realize they had gradually moved to the closest spot near the bonfire, right at the center of the dance floor. People around them looked on in surprise at the strikingly handsome same-sex couple, but no disdainful gazes were cast their way.
In the apocalypse, societal views on relationships had become much more open. Their surprise came not from their pairing, but from how quickly they had learned and how well they danced.
It was only then that Tang Xiao suddenly noticed that the patrol officers were already very close. His first instinct was to pull Jun Tesi away, but Jun Tesi held his hand tightly and, in a swift motion, spun him outward. Tang Xiao’s back brushed right past one of the patrol officers, causing the man to glance over in surprise. However, all he saw was Jun Tesi pulling his dance partner into a tight embrace.
The officer chuckled, shaking his head with a nostalgic sigh before calling out, “Blessings to you both.”
“Thank you,” Jun Tesi replied.
Tang Xiao’s heart pounded wildly as he looked up to see the mischievous glint in Jun Tesi’s eyes. Unable to hold back, he asked, “Was that fun for you?”
“Mm.” Jun Tesi answered cheerfully.
They had been chasing them so relentlessly—was it so wrong to toy with them a little? The thought was practically written all over his face.
Tang Xiao let out a helpless smile and relented, “Fine, do as you like.”
And so, they twirled all over the dance floor, weaving past every patrol officer. Sometimes they brushed shoulders, sometimes they blocked their view, and sometimes they passed just behind them.
If the patrol officers had simply looked a little closer, they would have seen Dr. Tang Xiao dancing merrily with the experimental subject who had supposedly abducted him, grinning slyly and carefree.
By the time the officers finished their search and left to check another area, Jun Tesi had danced to his heart’s content. Coincidentally, the event was nearing its conclusion, and a slow melody began to play.
The dancers’ movements grew bolder—some clung tightly to their partners, others kissed in the glow of the fire. A uniformed soldier held a girl in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. A man in a white lab coat knelt on one knee, proposing to another man.
Doctors, soldiers, ordinary workers—each one of them stood on the brink of an uncertain future.
They had the present, but the present might be all they had.
Someone tossed their flower crown into the flames. Countless blossoms seemed to bloom in the firelight, only to wither in an instant.
Jun Tesi didn’t do anything dramatic. He simply danced with Tang Xiao until the final note played. His gaze never left the young man before him. Silently, he mouthed—
If only this moment could last forever.
You have obtained the CG <Dancing with the Non-human>.
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