Before them lay a stretch of ruins, with half-collapsed broken buildings sticking crookedly out of the ground, surrounded by withered black trees standing thick and tall, and weeds growing waist-high—even their leaves were a lifeless black.

  The entire wasteland was dimly lit. Mobiuslidou gripped his two kukris tightly, his palms covered in sweat, and scanned his surroundings warily.

  Belle jumped in fright, hiding behind him instinctively, and Simp, seeing his posture, instantly tucked his tail between his legs and hid behind Belle.

  Just then, a Shadow Spider darted out of the grass suddenly, its massive mandibles dripping with slime that sizzled and smoked as it hit the ground.

  Mobiuslidou’s eyes turned fierce, he gripped the knives and charged forward, slicing off the spider’s two front legs in one clean and neat move, and moved to deliver the finishing blow with practiced ease.

  A beam of healing light landed on the Shadow Spider, restoring it to full health in an instant, making it even more ferocious than before.

  Mobiuslidou turned to look at her, and Belle’s hand was still frozen in mid-air, her face filled with embarrassment:

  “I… I say I misaimed, do you believe me?”

  As soon as she spoke.

  A dense, rustling sound came from the grass at once.

  A huge horde of Shadow Spiders crawled out, a black mass stretching as far as the eye could see.

  Mobiuslidou was about to shout at the top of his lungs when he saw a black shadow streak past in front of him and vanish without a trace, leaving only a wet puddle on the ground.

  Mobiuslidou grabbed Belle and ran.

  The two fled into a ruined building, gasping for breath heavily.

  Mobiuslidou suddenly tightened his grip on his kukris, and a dog’s head peeked out from not far away.

  Mobiuslidou let out a sigh of relief when he saw it was this cowardly dog.

  But the next second—a black shadow streaked away again with a whoosh.

  Mobiuslidou’s heart raced instantly, he grabbed Belle and ran for his life.

  The dense horde of Shadow Spiders chased after them.

  Belle panted heavily:

  “I… I can’t run anymore…”

  Mobiuslidou slung her over his back in one swift move and sprinted forward as fast as he could.

  The soft touch coming from his back,

  it could be called the ultimate pleasure in the middle of a desperate escape!

  The Shadow Spiders shrieked unceasingly behind them, with their dense legs thudding against the ground, making a rustling sound.

  Mobiuslidou ran with Belle on his back, his two legs moving so fast they were almost a blur, his lungs burning as if they were about to burst.

  He really couldn’t run any further!

  He glanced at a not-too-rough river beside him—should he… jump into the river?

  He was just about to turn and jump—

  The river suddenly erupted with a huge SPLASH!

  A Shadow Serpent slowly raised its head from the water, its head bigger than a car, with its vertical pupils staring at him fixedly.

  Mobiuslidou’s eyes widened, and he vanished in a flash.

  The two hid behind a massive stone stele, gasping for breath like crazy.

  After catching their breath, the two stood up and saw lines of writing carved into the massive stele!

  Mobiuslidou: What kind of writing is this?

  Belle stared at the writing and said: It’s Ember Path script.

  I wrote these nine stories just for you.

  今朝梨豆九篇录。

  Every story is all about loving you.

  九世轮回布其中。

  I built the universe, I made the world — only to be with you.

  以爱入道布此局。

  Even if I lose myself along the way,

  顿悟方知全是我。

  you're still the only one I'll search for.

  纵是执棋自对弈。

  I fall for you, I'm crazy over you.

  万般痴念只为你。

  Every single word I write is penned just for you.

  提笔写尽轮回意，一字一句皆是你。

  Mobiuslidou froze: What does it mean?

  Belle looked at the writing on the stele: I have no idea!

  A dog’s head peeked out from not far away suddenly.

  Mobiuslidou jumped in fright, lifted his kukri, and saw it was Simp, then let out a sigh of relief: You really are everywhere!

  Simp looked up at him and curled his lips, looking quite pleased with himself.

  Mobiuslidou’s eye twitched—he actually could understand a dog’s expression, and even knew what it meant!

  Belle looked at Mobiuslidou, then at the dog: What are you two doing?

  Just then, a large stone suddenly loosened and fell toward Simp’s head.

  Mobiuslidou opened his mouth to shout, but saw Simp react with lightning speed, darting to the side, lifting his front legs and standing upright on his hind legs unexpectedly, whimpering and gasping in fear, with a pair of doggy eyes full of terror!

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  Mobiuslidou’s mouth hung open and he couldn’t close it, and Belle’s mouth formed an O shape! The two stared at Simp.

  Simp still stood there upright, looking at them with his doggy eyes, confused: Why are you two looking at me?

  Mobiuslidou: Are you even a dog?

  Simp stared at him with a doubtful look in his eyes: Can’t you tell?

  Just then, the rustling sound came from the distance again.

  Mobiuslidou grabbed Belle and ran for his life, and Belle hurried to turn her head and shout: Simp, hurry up…

  The dog was already gone.

  The two ran to the edge of a basin, staring at the massive crater—a deathly silence hung over it, and it was desolate and barren everywhere. This was the Meteor Basin; there was no way around it, only down into it. Beyond the basin lay the Corrupted Crystal Gorge, and after that, the Prism Hub.

  Mobiuslidou turned to look at her innocent face: Where are we going?

  Belle: Where?

  Mobiuslidou: Do I have a choice? Go ask the Shadow Spiders behind us!

  Belle hung her head and said nothing.

  Mobiuslidou felt sorry for her and teased: It’s okay, if we die, we’ll die in the same crater. If we survive, you’ll be mine! After all, with your teammate killer luck, no one else will want you except me.

  Belle let out a soft “Mm.”

  Mobiuslidou froze on the spot: She agreed?

  Just then, a black shadow darted out from the distance, and Belle, still lost in shyness, didn’t notice it. Mobiuslidou didn’t need to think about it—it must be this damn dog coming back!

  Simp stared at the two, as if to say: Aren’t you surprised? I’m still alive!

  Mobiuslidou looked at it: Haven’t we been through this for months?

  He turned around, took Belle’s shy hand, and walked down toward the basin—he just couldn’t get enough of holding her hand after all this time. Simp followed them too.

  Dusk fell, and the two and the dog found a cave entrance; the space was small, perfect for resting. Belle went inside to tidy up, and as Simp just lifted his doggy leg beside the stone at the cave entrance, Mobiuslidou kicked it flying!

  It looked up at Mobiuslidou with its doggy eyes glaring, and he reached out, pulled out his kukri, stroked the blade with his hand, and stared at it.

  Simp immediately hung its head and cowered in fear at once.

  Belle closed her eyes beside him, pretending to sleep, and Mobiuslidou tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. As he turned over, he met a pair of doggy eyes staring at him. Man and dog stared at each other.

  Mobiuslidou: Can’t you go for a walk outside?

  Simp lifted its head a little: I’m a dog, just do whatever you want!

  Mobiuslidou turned his head away, not looking at it anymore. After a fierce internal struggle, he pulled Belle into his arms in one move. Belle’s body stiffened for a moment, but she didn’t resist. The two fell asleep just like that.

  Simp kept its doggy eyes open all night, and nothing happened at all. You two are such dogs!

  The next day, the two and the dog continued their journey, with Simp following behind with its head hanging down listlessly.

  Belle: What’s wrong with Simp? It looks like it’s very tired.

  Mobiuslidou: How the hell would I know.

  Belle burst out laughing.

  Mobiuslidou turned to look at her face and was dumbstruck by her beauty: So beautiful.

  Simp looked up at him, showing a look of disdain in its eyes: Simp Dog.

  Just then, a pure white dog darted out of the withered black grass not far away, and the two and the dog looked at it too.

  Mobiuslidou: A Samoyed?

  Belle: What’s a Samoyed?

  They looked at Simp again, with drool dripping all over the ground, its tail wagging so fast it was almost a blur. It lowered its head, trotted over to the Samoyed with small quick steps, nuzzling it back and forth, snuffling its head first, then turned around and… snuffled its butt.

  Mobiuslidou cursed: Simp Dog!

  So Mobiuslidou pulled Belle’s hand and walked in front, with the Samoyed following behind, and Simp trotting after the Samoyed. The party expanded at once, becoming two humans and two dogs, and they continued their journey.

  The two walked up from the basin and saw a massive gully canyon before them—the Corrupted Crystal Gorge was here. White crystal stones were inlaid in the sheer cliffs and steep mountains, and green acid sloshed over the crystals, making a sizzling sound and emitting white smoke, with a pungent stench of rot and acid assailing the nostrils.

  Belle reminded: This is the Corrupted Crystal Gorge. Once we cross it, we’ll reach the Prism Hub.

  Mobiuslidou picked up his kukri and stabbed it into the flowing acid, and the blade melted in an instant, leaving only a hilt. He quickly let go of it in a panic, stunned: This… how do we cross it?

  Belle hung her head in silence. They looked at Simp again, still fawning all over the Samoyed—did it put all its stat points into simping?

  He sighed helplessly, for none of them was reliable. He turned to look around and suddenly froze—he saw huge leaves on a tree; acid dripped onto them with a sizzling sound, but slid smoothly down to the ground. His eyes lit up like light bulbs at once: I’ve got it!

  He quickly took out his other kukri, rushed over and hacked at the leaves like crazy, cutting off a few pieces, gasping for breath: These leaves are damn hard.

  He called Belle over, and the two started wrapping their feet with the leaves, then tied the leaves to their bodies with rope. The two were wrapped up like rice dumplings.

  Belle suddenly asked: Shouldn’t we give this dog a name?

  Mobiuslidou looked at the Samoyed and thought: Let’s call it… Lila!

  Simp looked up at him with dissatisfaction in its eyes: You’re such a hypocrite!

  Mobiuslidou glanced at it: What about it!

  Belle wrapped Lila with leaves gently, while Mobiuslidou held the leaves and looked at Simp with sheer disgust.

  Simp stared at him: Hurry up!

  Mobiuslidou had no choice but to grab Simp and start wrapping it with leaves roughly. Simp endured it, not daring to make a sound even when it hurt, and cursed bitterly in its heart: What a damn hypocrite! You’re such a dog!

  They walked out of the canyon without incident, and the two untied the leaves, staring at the urban area of the Prism Hub. The city wasn’t big, shrouded in a protective shield with electricity flickering on and off, and bright lights everywhere. Dense mech troops and high-tech weapons surrounded the city walls.

  Belle pulled Mobiuslidou forward, and a crowd of people was queuing up to enter the city. Mobiuslidou saw this scene and felt a strong sense of déjà vu!

  When their turn came, they saw the mech soldiers step back two steps in a hurry, and even the heavy mech tanks started up and took a detour, all keeping a far distance from them as if avoiding a plague. Mobiuslidou’s heart skipped a beat, and the mech soldier’s voice came over: Belle, you… you’re back. Go right in!

  After entering the city, Mobiuslidou felt more and more confused, unable to make heads or tails of it. What’s going on here? He asked her aloud: Are you that awesome?

  Belle’s eyes darted away: They’re scared. The two teams of people who died teaming up with me before were their teammates!

  Mobiuslidou’s mind flashed with inspiration, and he suddenly realized: Oh, it all adds up!

  Belle lay on the bed pretending to sleep, and Mobiuslidou tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, always feeling like someone’s eyes were staring at him.

  He got up and opened the door, then looked at the window to the left—

  He saw a gray and a white dog, with their front paws propped on the windowsill, turning their heads and looking at him. Man and two dogs stared at each other in silence.

  Simp showed that lewd smile again, and Lila saw that something was wrong and quickly turned its head and walked away.

  Mobiuslidou was completely speechless.

  He climbed back into bed and lay down, his heart beating fast.

  No one will bother us this time, right?

  Oh man, now… should I wait a little longer?

  Wait until when?!

  If I don’t do it now, am I even a man?

  I’m not waiting anymore!

  He got up, held Belle gently in his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her small mouth.

  Belle’s body stiffened for a moment, then she reached out and held him tightly too.

  Mobiuslidou cursed bitterly in his heart:

  I’m kissing my girl, what can you do about it?

  “Husband, you taste so sweet~ I want some too~”

  “Wife, I want it too!”

  Mobiuslidou jolted upright with a start:

  “Who?! Lila? Simp? I threw you two out! How did you come back again?!”

  On the street, the gray and white dogs were taking a walk side by side.

  Simp suddenly felt a chill run down its spine, sneezed, then looked around in confusion…

  ——【The End】——

  Thank you for staying with me. If you enjoyed my story, please check out my other works! I would also greatly appreciate it if you could leave a review or share your valuable feedback.