LABMY CH102

For ten years, Jian Yuanbai never left the base for long. Even when he did, he would return within a day, as the base’s stability depended on his existence.

When humanity finally won the war against the pollutants and rebuilt cities from the wasteland, the world’s largest base discovered that their leader had mysteriously vanished — along with another person.

They left behind no photos, no traces. The only proof of the Young Lord’s existence remained within the “Ultimate Guide to Long Aotian Speech”, passed down from one generation to the next.

As the pollutants were eradicated, the climate gradually returned to normal. In the cracks of cement and steel in the abandoned cities, weeds sprouted. A small flower bud swayed in the wind, yet to bloom, but full of potential—just like this world, now brimming with hope.

On the icy sea where chunks of ice floated, two figures strolled leisurely along the endless shoreline.

Ten years had passed, yet time left no trace on them.

They were no longer human.

Aging was a concept that would never apply to them.

The once-youthful Shen Nian had grown into an adult. The traces of innocence and baby fat on his face had faded, replaced by sharper, more delicate features.

He was a mermaid. Growth only made him more beautiful.

The upward curve of his eyes alone was enough to leave others mesmerized, let alone the enchanting allure that lingered even when he concealed his blue eyes and shimmering fish tail.

In truth, Shen Nian had once been photographed.

His eyes, forever holding a soft, spring-like glow, paired with that porcelain-white face and his gentle smile, outshone any pre-apocalypse model.

But that photo…

Was taken away by Jian Yuanbai.

Not even the negatives were left behind.

From that moment on, an unwritten rule emerged within the base:

No one was allowed to photograph Shen Nian.

Everyone in the base knew of their relationship.

No one dared to harbor any thoughts toward Shen Nian.

Jian Yuanbai knew this too.

But still…

When he looked at that photo of Shen Nian, Jian Yuanbai couldn’t suppress the possessiveness surging within him.

He didn’t want anyone in this world to own Shen Nian’s image.

No one.

Except him.

Shen Nian sat on the rocks by the shore, dipping his legs into the seawater.

In an instant, those slender legs transformed into a silver-blue fish tail, shimmering with delicate silver light as it slapped against the surface of the water, creating gentle splashes.

The beautiful mermaid pouted in frustration, complaining,

“Is there really no way to destroy those damn ‘Long Aotian Speech Guides’?”

“The world has already been destroyed and reborn. What’s the harm in erasing a few books?”

Jian Yuanbai chuckled softly and sat down beside him.

“Those aren’t just a few books. Every person in the base owns a copy. Destroying them all… is nearly impossible.”

What he didn’t mention was that…

He also secretly kept a copy.

Complete with every one of Shen Nian’s cringe-worthy moments.

He wouldn’t dare tell Shen Nian.

The thought of his embarrassing words being spread across the world for generations to come made Shen Nian’s scalp tingle with fear.

But he knew Jian Yuanbai was right.

Destroying them… was impossible.

The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became.

But now, far from that cursed base where he’d endured ten years of endless embarrassment, Shen Nian’s mood gradually eased.

With a flick of his tail, he dove into the sea.

The deep blue ocean sparkled under the sunlight, while the mermaid’s tail rose and fell with the waves, leaving trails of glittering water droplets in the air.

Shen Nian swam freely, smiling as he turned back to the shore.

That smile…

Could steal souls.

For the lone audience on the shore, resisting a mermaid’s charm was impossible.

Without hesitation, Jian Yuanbai stepped into the water, walking deeper and deeper…

Chasing after the most beautiful creature in the sea.

Suddenly, a pale, slender hand reached out from the water and gently brushed against Jian Yuanbai’s face.

Fingertips traced over the bridge of his nose and lingered at the corner of his lips. The touch was teasing—close, but never fully landing.

Jian Yuanbai’s large hand caught the mermaid’s wrist and pressed it against his face, leaving a kiss on that cool palm.

He held onto Shen Nian’s hand, refusing to let go, kissing the delicate palm one after another, as if savoring a forbidden fruit.

The sea’s resistance made the sensation feather-light, like a gentle caress against the skin, sending waves of tingling heat through Shen Nian’s body.

Shen Nian tried to pull his hand away, but Jian Yuanbai’s grip was firm.

There was no escape.

When Jian Yuanbai looked up, Shen Nian seized the opportunity and swiftly slipped away.

The silver-blue tail flicked, and the mermaid swam deeper into the sea, like a spirit born from the ocean itself, untouchable and elusive.

But Jian Yuanbai knew…

This beautiful mermaid wasn’t born from the sea.

He was his creation.

His perfect masterpiece.

His most treasured being.

Jian Yuanbai chased after him, but the agile mermaid evaded him with ease.

Every time Shen Nian’s tail flicked past him, the delicate fin would brush lightly against Jian Yuanbai’s body.

Teasing him.

Giving him hope…

Only to slip away the next second.

After several rounds of this playful game, Shen Nian turned back to look at him.

His blue eyes curved with laughter, filled with mischief.

Just as Jian Yuanbai lunged forward—

He vanished.

Before Shen Nian could react, an arm suddenly wrapped around his waist from behind, pulling him tightly into an embrace.

In his ear, a low and wicked voice whispered,

“Gotcha.”

Jian Yuanbai’s hand gripped Shen Nian’s chin, turning his face toward him.

And without hesitation, he kissed him.

Deeply.

Fiercely.

Like a man on the brink of drowning, desperately stealing every breath of air from the mermaid’s lips.

The other’s tongue invaded Shen Nian’s mouth, teasing and tangling with his shy, retreating tongue, sweeping over every inch of soft, sensitive flesh.

The kiss was possessive. Overbearing.

Every corner of Shen Nian’s mouth was marked with Jian Yuanbai’s scent, like a victor planting his flag on conquered territory.

Shen Nian’s eyelids trembled as he gradually immersed himself in the kiss. When Jian Yuanbai’s indulgent and excessive tongue swept across his, he couldn’t help but let out a soft hum from his nasal cavity, like a small animal, as if dissatisfied, yet also begging for more.

From the way he trembled as he closed his eyes and allowed his lips to part, it was clearly the latter.

When he was released, Shen Nian’s delicate body trembled slightly as he opened his eyes. His watery blue eyes were still filled with confusion, and instinctively, he stretched out his soft pink tongue, trying to chase after the other person who hadn’t completely pulled away.

Jian Yuanbai’s gaze was filled with affection. He wasn’t human and could speak even underwater. Holding the dazed mermaid who had been kissed senseless, he chuckled, “Do you like it when I kiss you like this?”

Shen Nian’s foggy mind gradually cleared. Being held in Jian Yuanbai’s embrace, his ears burned red, and he couldn’t speak.

The thin-skinned little mermaid was too shy to admit that he enjoyed such intimate and indulgent kisses.

Even after being with Jian Yuanbai for many years, he would still blush from these acts of intimacy, pure yet tinged with seductive allure, making Jian Yuanbai love him to the core and become completely infatuated.

The beautiful mermaid noticed the burning passion in Jian Yuanbai’s eyes, filled with desire and restlessness. With a flushed face, he leaned forward and covered the man’s eyes with his hand, his voice damp and soft like the sea breeze, “Don’t look at me like that.”

Jian Yuanbai gently removed his hand and kissed his fingertips. Following the flow of the seawater, he slowly trailed kisses from the fingertips to the wrist, sucking on the delicate skin until it turned red. Then, he traced up the inner arm, finally landing a scorching and teasing kiss on the pale neck.

The earlobe was destined to fall victim. The conqueror bit down lightly with his teeth, the slight pain only intensifying the desire in such a moment.

He gently blew a breath against the flushed earlobe that had turned red even underwater and leaned in close to whisper something to the beautiful mermaid.

Shen Nian’s blue eyes widened in embarrassment, mist rising within them. He bit his lip and pointed upward, “Let’s go up, okay?”

The man’s silent refusal was conveyed through his burning gaze. The mermaid’s silver-blue tail swayed restlessly in the water. His long black hair, like silk, floated in the water, brushing against his pale shoulders, indescribably seductive.

Just as Shen Nian was about to transform his tail into legs, a large hand pressed down on him. Jian Yuanbai leaned in and kissed the corner of Shen Nian’s lips, murmuring against them, “Can I try the tail?”

“Wife,” his voice was low and hoarse, filled with temptation, “You’re the best.”

Shen Nian’s long eyelashes trembled, and a tear slid down from the corner of his eye. His voice quivered from embarrassment, “Jian Yuanbai…”

Calling out his name was already a silent permission. Jian Yuanbai knew his shy little wife couldn’t explicitly agree.

But this shy and thin-skinned mermaid had always indulged him, whether it was those embarrassing words or now, his excessive demands.

He loved his wife so much.

Jian Yuanbai looked at the mermaid who allowed him to kiss him with closed eyes, a smile flashing in his eyes. His wife loved him just as much.

The cold and sharp scales, once used to protect the mermaid, now lay obediently against his silver-blue tail, showing nothing but softness and vulnerability.

With hands that carried a burning heat, Jian Yuanbai caressed the beautiful tail, filled with awe and obsession, stroking it repeatedly.

His hand brushed over a slightly raised scale, as if something beneath it was pushing it up.

Shen Nian’s eyes remained closed, his eyelashes trembling violently. He bit his lip, desperately trying to stifle the broken sounds in his throat. Subconsciously, he moved, trying to chase after that hand.

However, Jian Yuanbai couldn’t resist teasing him. In these moments, he seemed like a completely different person, far from the gentle and caring man he usually was during the day.

His hand avoided the small, eager part hidden beneath the large fish scales and instead moved further down the silver-blue tail.

The closer he got, the softer the scales became, until he finally reached the fatal spot.

The seawater surged, flowing in all directions, as it rushed toward the mermaid’s most vulnerable spot that had been discovered by the fisherman.

The silver-blue tail swayed restlessly underwater. The current desperately tried to penetrate deeper, only to find that the space was already occupied by a few slender and intrusive things.

Do mermaids cry pearls when they weep? The world’s only mermaid couldn’t answer that question. He dared not open his eyes or face what would happen after being captured by the fisherman.

The mermaid, who hid in the depths of the ocean and feared humans, knew that he would never be free again. The fearless fisherman who ventured into the sea came for him.

But the fisherman’s tool was strange. It had no sharp blades, only a long and oppressive object that carried an overwhelming sense of dominance.

Caught, like a skewered grilled fish, the mermaid was trapped. With eyes closed, large tears streamed down from the corners of his eyes and merged with the sea.

He cried, trembling and silent, carrying a fragile beauty. The dying fish struggled as the silver-blue tail quivered, sending ripples through the water.

The resistance of the seawater made the fisherman’s actions difficult, forcing him to push deeper, slowly crafting his delicious grilled fish.

The icy seawater gradually turned scalding and boiling. In the silent depths of the deep sea, the world became quiet, with only the occasional sound of faint water ripples.

Clearly, they were in the same sea, yet there were two different sounds of water flowing—one turbulent and surging, the other sticky and lingering.

This was a scorching sea that no one in the world had ever reached before. The seawater was boiling, and the fish trapped within thrashed their tails violently, trying to escape this burning sea, but they were held tightly and couldn’t break free.

The beautiful blue eyes were misted with water vapor. He opened his eyes blankly, drifting along with the rhythm of the sea. There was no sound of breathing in the sea, only the sight of his half-open lips and the faint glimpse of a tender red tongue.

The fish cried out in sorrow in the sea, while the cat that wasn’t afraid of water hunted within it.

…

In the twentieth year after the reestablishment of human order, the world experienced a snowstorm that lasted for ten days. Fortunately, with the experience of extreme weather from the apocalypse, human life was not greatly affected.

The series of books that explained the “Long Aotian” quotes were still circulating in the world. Children learned about the turbulent past through the name “Shen Nian,” which occasionally appeared in those stories, as told by the adults.

Through the name Shen Nian, they also came to know another person—Jian Yuanbai.

They were lovers, as well as the ones who ignited the flame of hope in the apocalypse. People passed on their story, telling children born in peace about the final battle that covered the sky and the earth during the end times, speaking their names as if telling the tale of heroes who saved the world.

In the vast snow that lasted for ten days, roads were covered in snow, making travel difficult. People huddled by the warm fireplace, holding their children, and recounted the stories from that series of books.

Though life had been difficult back then, they would proudly and awkwardly tell the children that they had once spoken those cringy, arrogant lines themselves. When the children giggled while mimicking the lines, they would even correct the exact tone those words should be spoken in.

It was a brutal past, yet those seemingly childish and arrogant words gave them the courage to move forward. Now, retelling it felt like recounting the hidden bravery within those words.

But as people reminisced about the past and told the story of Shen Nian and Jian Yuanbai while facing the snow, none of them knew that this snowfall was because of those two.

After the pollutants were cleansed, the world’s extreme climate began to improve. Since pollutants affected the weather, when the two most powerful pollutants in the world perished, the snow fell.

The falling snow was the white flower that the world laid down for their funeral.

Among the two, Shen Nian was the first to die.

He sat on the balcony of a seaside house, gazing at the distant ocean, while Jian Yuanbai was inside brewing tea.

When Jian Yuanbai walked onto the balcony with the tea, he unexpectedly discovered that his lover’s breathing had stopped. The teacup slipped from his hand, and the scalding tea splashed onto the ground, but at that moment, no one could care about it.

A single snowflake drifted in through the window and landed on Shen Nian’s lips.

Shen Nian’s eyes were closed, and there was still a faint smile on his lips. His hand hung naturally by his side, and his beautiful face was still tinged with a faint blush, as if he had simply fallen asleep.

The first snowflake was caught by Shen Nian, and this entire snowfall was for him.

Jian Yuanbai knelt before the recliner where Shen Nian rested, leaned forward, and kissed the pure white snowflake on his lips. The snowflake melted between their lips and teeth, but tears silently fell.

The tall man’s figure seemed slightly hunched for the first time. He curled up, covering his eyes with his hands. The snow heard his murmurs, softly calling out, “Wife.”

The long-silent system finally spoke:
“His time is up. You should leave too.”

The energy reward from completing the mission flowed into Jian Yuanbai’s body. His eyes were still red, but in that short moment, he regained all his memories.

“System.”

“Someone is plotting against me.”

Jian Yuanbai picked up Shen Nian and let him lie in his arms. After giving his lover one last kiss, a glint of killing intent flashed through his eyes before he closed them.

“I won’t lose my memories for no reason. I’m certain someone is using my relinquished power to suppress me.”

In this world, when he first met his beloved, his “Long Long” was human, and he was a pollutant.

Pollutants had an instinct to devour humans. Even the intelligent ones couldn’t fully suppress that urge.

A powerless human encountering a pollutant—what would happen was obvious, especially when Jian Yuanbai had no memories, and the system couldn’t threaten him in any way.

If, in the previous world, his identity as a vengeful ghost allowed him to help Long Long open the jade pendant with the Ghost Controlling Technique, then in this world, his identity as a pollutant offered no possibility of aiding Long Long. According to the system’s limited plot, Long Long’s awakening of powers would only happen in the third year.

The legendary rise of the protagonist would officially begin when the fortress of S City was breached in the third year.

The system hesitated:
“Maybe… you’re overthinking it? That shouldn’t be possible.”

“After all, this is just a small mission. How could it attract such a scheme? With the decline of the powers in the upper realm, a powerhouse like you should be cherished.”

But when the system thought about the fact that Jian Yuanbai had been assigned such a ridiculous mission and met it here, it couldn’t help but feel unsure.

Jian Yuanbai, however, was certain.
“I’m sure they want my wife to die here. And once he dies, I’ll be trapped here as well.”

The system nearly broke down:
“Can you stop calling him ‘wife’ so seriously?!”

Jian Yuanbai only called Shen Nian “wife” when he was in a state of memory loss, and it was limited to the small worlds. Hearing him call it now, the system felt as if its precious cabbage had been stolen.

Taking a deep breath, the system asked,
“So what do you plan to do?”

The system was already exhausted from finding a way out. Hearing this sudden revelation made it even more anxious.

It thought Jian Yuanbai would come up with some thorough plan, but all he said was:

“In the small world, what can I do?”

“I can only wait for my wife’s mission to end. Then I’ll follow him out.”

Before the system could panic, Jian Yuanbai added,
“At most, they can erase my memories. But my actions will never be influenced by the identity of this small world.”

His words were calm, but the system heard a hint of arrogance and madness.

“I’m the strongest.”

The system was stunned.

On the balcony by the sea, the tall man held his beautiful mermaid in his arms as if they had fallen into eternal slumber. The snow fell heavily, covering the world in white, like a grand funeral.