Chapter 58: First World: Cut Your Losses And Move On

Though Machu was confident that Qie Ran was only teaching Zhao Huangzhi a lesson, he began to waver a little when he saw Qie Ranzhe tightening his hold exerting more force. Zhao Huangzhi's face reddened with purple veins popping up on her forehead as teardrops streamed down her cheek. Machu was considering separating them when he saw Qie Ranzhe leaning in to whisper something that had Zhao Huangzhi's bloodshot eyes widen.

"l won't fuckin kill you today, you have to thank Lin Jingxie for that. But if you keep screwing with me l won't hesitate ending your life. Cut your losses and move on," he said before letting her go. Zhao Huangzhi's legs gave in as she fell to the ground filled with sorrow all the while staring at Qie Ranzhe with unyielding eyes.

"Oh, and if you fuckin mess with my food again l will kill you and toss your body into the river," he threatened while turning away from her. He intended to leave but as he took a step Qie Ranzhe suddenly paused hearing Zhao Huangzhi's crazed laughter.

He turned his head back at her confound by her actions though he didn't show it in his face. He had come to a conclusion that Zhao Huangzhi either had a death wish or had mental challenges. "You think l will go away just like that? Ran-ge you can't get rid of me that easy. One word to my father and you will be in my arms by nightfall. I don't ask for much but whatever l want l always get and l want you," she said before breaking out into another hysterical laughter but she soon quieted down when a sharp sword accurately pointed at her jugular vein on her neck.

He might not have wanted to kill her before but things had changed. He was as mad as a hatter and wanted her dead. Qie Ranzhe seemed to think the only way to shut her up and restore his peace of mind was to kill her right were she lay and all his problems would vanish without a trace.

***

Wen Qinxi who had just parted ways with Lee Jienjie was startled when he heard the system speaking to him in a frantic voice. "Boss boss! Hurry up and stop Qie Ranzhe. He wants to kill Zhao Huangzhi," said a panicked system. None of them knew what would happen to the world if Zhao Huangzhi was killed. She was the only other character from the real world in this game meaning she had a direct link to Qie Ranzhe's consciousness and if she died did it mean the game would start over? No one knew the answer neither were they willing to take chances.

Wen Qinxi knitted his brows together his mind fogged up by chaotic thoughts. He didn't know what could have pissed off Qie Ranzhe to the point of wanting to kill the girl he was destined to be with. It seemed his interference had caused anomalies that were screwing everything up. Wen Qinxi just hoped the anomalies weren't that big otherwise all his hardwork was all for nought.

"Fuck!" swore Wen Qinxi running like the wind through the gates of the shelter. The boys rubbed their eyes in disbelief when they saw him. Unable to contain their excitement some of them whispered loudly, "Saozi is back," with beaming smiles.

Wen Qinxi heard the word saozi but didn't think much as he had other urgent matters to tend to. Wen Qinxi searched around in a frenzy when one of the boys pointed to the dining hall when he saw a disoriented Lin Jingxie. Wen Qinxi thanked him only to walk in just as Manchu was being shoved back as he tried to pull Qie Ranzhe further away from Zhao Huangzhi. He was pushed away with so much strength that he landed across the room with a grimace on his face. Seeing this the servant was scared stiff unable to move. If Qie Ranzhe could do that to his best friend how about her an associate of Zhao Huangzhi?

Wen Qinxi saw a stubborn Zhao Huangzhi with her red eyes fixed on Qie Ranzhe as though daring him to do it. She was sitted in the floor tightly clenching her fists with beads of sweat all over her forehead. "Go ahead and kill me. You might end my life today but you will lose everything that way you would never forget me. I will be etched in your heart for the rest of your life," she said moving closer causing the sword to pierce her skin.

'Bitch be crazy,' thought Wen Qinxi as he witnessed such a scene. It seemed both of them had serious mental issues that needed urgent psychotherapy. If this was the modern world he would have committed both of them into a psychiatric hospital.

"Qie Ranzhe what are you doing?" asked Wen Qinxi with his hand on Qie Ranzhe's shoulder. He had decided to go all out and if he dies then he would have to start again and do things differently. To his surprise Qie Ranzhe looked at his hand and then at him before looking at the hand again. Qie Ranzhe's face showed some kind of emotion difficult to discern as he sheathed his sword and grabbed Lin Jingxie's wrist.

Wen Qinxi would be lying if he said he wasn't confused. The guy felt like he had just been bombarded with ancient Chinese text all at once making him dizzy. "What the fuck you are doing?" asked Wen Qinxi as the silent Qie Ranzhe dragged him out of the room without saying a word. Wen Qinxi had a bad premonition as his body tensed up like an animal heading for slaughter. 'No l am not fuckin going down like this,' thought Wen Qinxi trying to escape.

This version of Qie Ranzhe terrified him so much that his senses were screaming danger. He bent his knees rooting his heels deep into the floor as a sign that could be deciphered as 'l am not going anywhere'. Feeling the person behind him becoming heavier Qie Ranzhe turned only to see Lin Jingxie squatting down while trying to pry open his hand.

Qie Ranzhe, "...."

Wen Qinxi paused his actions when he met Qie Ranzhe's gaze. The two were caught in a stalemate with both their minds blank for three seconds straight. 'Did he just fuckin toddler me?' thought Qie Ranzhe while breaking their eye contact. Was Lin Jingxie that terrified of him?

Wen Qinxi looked at himself and suddenly felt stupid. 'What the heck am l doing,' he thought before standing up while nervously clearing his throat. He scratched his head averting his gaze in embarrasement with a flushed face. "You can let go now, l will follow you," lied Wen Qinxi in a quavering tone. It was clear from his body language that he would definitely make a break for it.

Qie Ranzhe frowned slightly before saying, "You are lying to me. Be good and not make trouble." This was said right before Wen Qinxi was carried over the shoulder by Qie Ranzhe heading god knows where. Wen Qinxi tried to free himself but the grip on his lower back only tightened whenever he struggled. Exhausted he cursed his weak body before going limp like a corpse conceding to Qie Ranzhe.