LABMY CH46

Jiang Tang opened his eyes, his whole body drenched as if he had been fished out of water. He gently lifted the little black cat that had unknowingly curled up on his lap and weakly walked toward the bathroom. 

He had just finished another session of absorbing Yin energy. At this moment, his entire body ached, and he was drenched in sweat. However, compared to the first time when he passed out from exhaustion, he could now stay conscious after absorbing Yin energy. 

As a result, the intensity increased. He now practiced absorbing Yin energy through meditation twice a day. 

It had been a while since he encountered the little black cat, Ghostie, but he hadn’t come across any other ghosts. As a ghost tamer, the number of ghosts under his command was pitifully few. Aside from Jian Yuanbai, who served as both his mentor and brother-in-law, he had only contracted this barely qualified “ghost cat.” 

However, Jiang Tang’s strength gradually increased through repeated sessions of absorbing Yin energy. 

After showering, Jiang Tang casually wiped the fog off the bathroom mirror. Staring at his increasingly pale, porcelain-like face due to the Yin energy, he suddenly felt like he was walking down an entirely different path. 

How should he describe this feeling? 

It was like learning magic, thinking you could fight from a distance, only to realize that this magic strengthened your physical body, forcing you to fight like a warrior. 

Although he had grown stronger, something just felt… off. 

Suddenly, Jiang Tang noticed a few small red marks on his collarbone in the mirror. Confused, he lowered his head and touched them. They didn’t hurt or itch, nor did they feel like anything. 

“It’s already late autumn… are there still mosquitoes?” 

Jiang Tang wondered if he should buy an electric mosquito repellent or ask the hotel for one. 

As he opened the bathroom door, he was met with the sight of the little black cat squatting at the entrance, staring up at him. 

Before Jiang Tang could react, the little black cat nimbly jumped onto his shoulder and affectionately rubbed its head against his slightly damp neck. Then, it stuck out its little tongue and licked his smooth, pale skin. 

Jiang Tang narrowed his eyes slightly and lifted the cat off his shoulder. He stared at the cat, which widened its innocent, round eyes at him. 

“…These red marks on my body, don’t tell me you bit me?” 

Suspended in midair, the little black cat kicked its legs helplessly, trying to act innocent. But as if suddenly remembering something, it quickly stuffed its tail into its mouth. 

Holding the cat in his hand, Jiang Tang watched as the black cat, with its tail in its mouth, looked weak, pitiful, and helpless. It even scratched the air with its little paws, hinting that this position was uncomfortable. 

Jiang Tang sighed helplessly and placed the black cat back on the ground, patting its round little butt. 

“Behave yourself and stay put.” 

With that, Jiang Tang turned to grab the hairdryer, leaving the little black cat sitting dazedly on the bed. 

Fortunately, the cat’s fur was thick and black, so the heat on its face wasn’t visible. The little black cat awkwardly turned its head to look at its own butt for two seconds. Then, taking advantage of Jiang Tang’s distraction, it quickly darted under the bed. 

The real black cat, which had been napping under the bed, woke up in shock. However, upon seeing a creature identical to itself, it wasn’t surprised. It silently crawled out from under the bed. 

Over time, it had already learned when it could come out and when it couldn’t. 

Luckily, being a ghost, it wouldn’t get covered in dust. The sleek and shiny black cat sprinted toward Jiang Tang, rubbed against his leg with its tail, and let out a soft, “Meow~.” 

Jiang Tang patted the cat lying at his feet. 

“I told you to stay put. You’re so clingy.” 

“Meow~” The little black cat meowed again with grievance, tilting its head and rubbing against Jiang Tang’s hand before quietly lying on the ground. 

Meanwhile, under the bed, nothing was there anymore. 

In the jade pendant space, Jian Yuanbai sat with his arms crossed and an awkward expression on his face. If one looked closely, there was a faint hint of embarrassment. 

Suddenly, he muttered, “He likes me.” 

The system was startled by this sudden statement and asked in confusion, “Where did you get that idea?” 

Jian Yuanbai replied, half awkward and half embarrassed, “He patted my butt.” 

The system was so speechless that it almost laughed. 

“Jiang Tang patted the cat’s butt.” 

“I’m the cat,” Jian Yuanbai retorted shamelessly. “We’re mutually in love now. You can’t object anymore.” 

The system couldn’t be bothered to argue and simply said, “Jiang Tang is about to return to school. Soon, he’ll meet his future girlfriend, Liu Zhuqing.” 

… 

Just as the system said, Jiang Tang was about to return to school. He received a call from the police station, asking him to collect his family members’ remains. 

As he was about to leave, a voice called out to him. 

“I’ll go with you.” 

Jiang Tang turned to see Jian Yuanbai, dressed in a black suit, looking tall and composed. Without thinking much, Jiang Tang silently nodded. 

It wasn’t until the officer handling the case asked, “And this is…?” 

Jiang Tang suddenly realized that when Jian Yuanbai said “go together,” he didn’t mean accompanying him as a ghost but physically appearing before others. 

Jian Yuanbai extended his hand to the officer, “I’m his sister’s—” 

Before he could finish saying “husband,” Jiang Tang interrupted with a calm voice. 

“My brother.” 

Jiang Tang introduced him to the officer, “This is my sister’s old friend. He’s like a brother to me.” 

The officer shook hands with Jian Yuanbai and politely said, “Nice to meet you.” 

Jiang Tang was led into the morgue, where three bodies lay under white sheets. 

No matter how many times he saw this scene, it always left him breathless and filled with sorrow. 

“Would you like us to contact the funeral home for you?” the female officer asked gently. 

Jian Yuanbai shook his head. “I’ve already made the arrangements. Thank you.” 

Then, he turned to the female officer and said, “Could you give him a moment alone?” 

The officer nodded in understanding and left the room. Jian Yuanbai also stepped out, quietly giving Jiang Tang some private time to say goodbye to his family. 

He thought he would have to wait a long time, but ten minutes later, Jiang Tang emerged from the room, his eyes slightly red from crying. 

Jian Yuanbai wanted to wipe his tears, but his hand only landed on Jiang Tang’s shoulder as he gently patted him. 

“Let’s go.” 

In front of the blazing cremation furnace, the three bodies were reduced to ashes and placed in cold, black urns beneath the gravestones. 

From morning, the sky had been gloomy. Now, a cold drizzle began to fall, soaking the young man who stood silently before the graves. 

Rain mixed with tears, making it impossible to tell them apart. 

Though his back was straight, he looked as if he could collapse under the weight of the rain at any moment.

The sky was a gloomy gray, the tombstones were black, and the clothes were black. Everything was gray and black, except for Jiang Tang’s increasingly red eyes. 

The staff from the funeral home and the cemetery watched from afar, sighing at the overly handsome young man who had suffered the tragic loss of three family members on the same day. 

“I heard that all three of them had their hearts gouged out,” one worker said in astonishment. “Tell me, what kind of person could do something like that?” 

“It seems the police haven’t found any useful clues. In that house, apart from the fingerprints of the three victims, there wasn’t a trace of anyone else.” 

“I think it’ll be difficult to catch the culprit.” 

The man clicked his tongue twice and said with disdain, “I heard this family was quite wealthy. Maybe they made dirty money and faced retribution. And that sister of his, dressed so flamboyantly… could even be a crime of passion.” 

An older woman nearby frowned and said, “Where did you hear all this? Do you know everything about the police’s investigation now?” 

She added unhappily, “You should watch your mouth. Let’s go, we’re not needed here.” 

Jian Yuanbai, who had just finished handling the funeral and cemetery arrangements, walked past them holding a black umbrella. A wisp of black energy silently crawled onto the foul-mouthed middle-aged man’s foot. 

As Jian Yuanbai stepped into the rain, the middle-aged man took a step onto the stairs. The rain had made them slippery, and he lost his footing, falling face-first onto the steps. 

A painful wail echoed behind Jian Yuanbai. The middle-aged man clutched his bleeding mouth, horrified and furious as he looked at the teeth that had been knocked out and now lay on the ground. 

Jian Yuanbai didn’t look back. He listened to the fading cries as he silently stood beside Jiang Tang, tilting the umbrella to shield the young man, who was soaked by the rain. 

The classic “tragic beginning” where the protagonist loses their entire family was just a simple plotline in a novel. But for Jiang Tang, it was a bloody reality that would haunt him for life, a wound that would fester and ache with every memory. 

Jian Yuanbai didn’t know how to comfort him. After some hesitation, he reached out and pulled Jiang Tang into his embrace. 

Jiang Tang lowered his head, his voice fragile as if it could be carried away by the wind: “I’m fine.” 

Jian Yuanbai didn’t argue and simply said, “I just want to hold you.” 

Jiang Tang’s eyes welled up again as he gripped Jian Yuanbai’s clothes tightly, hiding in his embrace and crying uncontrollably in the heavy rain. 

He cried so miserably, sobbing until his body weakened and slowly slid downward. But he didn’t collapse into the muddy water because someone was holding him up, shielding him from the dirt and filth. 

The umbrella fell to the side, and Jian Yuanbai’s clean suit pants were stained with mud as he held the tear-streaked Jiang Tang in his arms. 

“I will find him.” 

“If his goal is to become human again, then I will make him vanish from this world.” 

Jiang Tang looked up from Jian Yuanbai’s embrace, his beautiful and fragile face drenched in rain and tears. Hatred burned in his eyes as he pleaded, “You’ll help me, right, brother-in-law?” 

Jian Yuanbai finally reached out, covering Jiang Tang’s eyes and replying in a steady and firm voice, “I will.” 

With his vision blocked, Jiang Tang couldn’t see the massive black tail that briefly appeared behind him, wrapping around him possessively and dangerously. 

When Jian Yuanbai removed his hand, taking away the burning tears from the corners of Jiang Tang’s eyes, all the young man saw was his calm and reliable brother-in-law. 

… 

After returning from the cemetery, Jiang Tang fell seriously ill. He burned with fever and drifted in and out of consciousness. Jian Yuanbai simply chose to appear in the human world to take care of him at the hospital. 

As he walked into the hospital carrying a lunchbox, he heard a nurse speaking to a man. 

“There, he just arrived. You can go with him; I won’t need to take you.” 

“Who is he?” The man looked in Jian Yuanbai’s direction with some confusion. “Is he someone Tang Tang knows?” 

Tang Tang? 

Calling him that intimately? 

Jian Yuanbai narrowed his eyes slightly and walked toward the man. 

At that moment, the nurse replied, “I think he’s the patient’s brother-in-law.” 

As soon as the words left her mouth, the man’s expression turned strange. Nevertheless, he thanked the nurse and walked toward Jian Yuanbai.

The two men walked toward each other with smiles on their faces, yet there wasn’t a hint of warmth in their eyes. The moment their gazes met, sparks seemed to fly between them. 

The man spoke first, “Thank you for taking care of Tang Tang during this time. When I get to the ward, I’ll make sure Tang Tang properly thanks you.” 

Hearing the man’s words, spoken in a tone as if he were the one in charge, made Jian Yuanbai narrow his eyes slightly in displeasure. He smiled back, polite yet insincere, “Taking care of Tang Tang is something I should do. Thank you for visiting him.” 

Their eyes met again. Jian Yuanbai’s gaze deliberately swept over the man’s head, and he subtly curled his lips. 

The man noticed Jian Yuanbai’s towering height, and the fake smile on his face faded even more. 

Jiang Tang’s ward wasn’t far. In no time, the two of them reached the door. 

Jian Yuanbai took the initiative to open the door and saw the pale and delicate young man leaning against the raised hospital bed. Jiang Tang turned his head and called out in surprise, “Brother-in-law?” 

The man, who had just felt victorious, suddenly struggled to maintain his smile. Although Jiang Tang called him first, the term “brother-in-law” would make this man, who addressed Jiang Tang so intimately, think that Jian Yuanbai posed no threat to his pursuit of Jiang Tang. 

Jian Yuanbai wasn’t sure whether he should be pleased that he held a higher position in Jiang Tang’s heart or be frustrated by the “brother-in-law” label that metaphorically struck him a hundred times. 

However, at this moment, the man next to him responded, “Hmm, Tang Tang, how are you feeling?” 

…? 

Jian Yuanbai’s head snapped toward the man. When Jiang Tang called him “brother-in-law” again, Jian Yuanbai was momentarily at a loss for expression. 

The man asked about Jiang Tang’s health a few times before finally getting to his real purpose, which he couldn’t suppress any longer. 

“Tang Tang, do you know where your sister went?” 

“I’ve been calling her, but she won’t answer. She’s not replying to my messages either.” 

Jiang Tang lifted his eyes to look at the man. Speaking took immense effort as he said softly, “My sister… she’s dead.” 

The man froze. “Impossible. You’re joking, right?” 

“How could that be? Your sister must have told you to say that, right?” The man’s words became incoherent. “She’s always been playful and mischievous.” 

Jiang Tang stared at him in silence until the man’s lips trembled and he could no longer speak. Then, Jiang Tang said slowly, 

“You can visit her at the cemetery. Remember to bring her favorite pineapple cakes.” 

The man shook his head repeatedly, refusing to believe it. “No… We even planned to get engaged.” 

“No way. She’s still so young. I love her so much. How could she just leave me?” 

“You’re lying to me, aren’t you? You must be lying.” 

As he spoke, the man buried his face in his hands, his shoulders trembling as suppressed sobs filled the ward. 

Jiang Tang raised his hand and gently placed it on the man’s shoulder, softly comforting him, “Don’t be sad. My sister would want to see you live a good life, not be trapped in pain.” 

The man suddenly shook off Jiang Tang’s hand and shouted angrily, “Where’s her body? Let me see her one last time!” 

Jiang Tang was silent for a few seconds before apologizing, “Sorry, she’s already been cremated.” 

“I didn’t know how to break the news to people, and I couldn’t bear to personally invite people to her funeral. I didn’t consider your feelings or those who cared about her. I’m truly sorry.” 

“You cremated her without telling me?!” 

The man abruptly stood up from the chair beside the hospital bed, his emotions surging as he yelled at Jiang Tang. In his rage, he failed to notice the subtle mention of “them” in Jiang Tang’s words. 

Jian Yuanbai stepped forward with long strides and grabbed the man’s hand, twisting it and pinning him against the wall. His tone was cold, “Jiang Tang is a patient. You think you can just shout at a sick person?” 

The man took two deep breaths, trying to suppress his emotions. “Fine… fine. Then where are your parents? You’re just a kid who doesn’t understand. Didn’t your parents think to notify me?” 

Jiang Tang looked at him calmly and said, “You can visit my parents when you go to see my sister. You know my dad likes to drink, and my mom loves flowers.” 

“Bring gifts for all three of them. Otherwise, the one who doesn’t receive a gift will get upset.” 

Jiang Tang smiled, tears glistening in his eyes. “You know… that’s just how childish they are.”

The man froze, completely stunned. He stared in disbelief at the thin young man lying on the hospital bed with an IV needle in his arm, unable to imagine what Jiang Tang had gone through during this time.

Just moments ago, Jiang Tang was the one comforting him, even though the one who should be suffering the most was Jiang Tang himself.

…

The man opened his mouth, wanting to say “I’m sorry,” but the words seemed stuck in his throat. He scratched his head in frustration and stood there awkwardly.

It was Jiang Tang who broke the silence. He turned to Jian Yuanbai and, changing the way he addressed him, pleaded, “Jian-ge, can I trouble you to take him to the cemetery? I want to be alone for a while.”

Jian Yuanbai lifted the small folding table attached to the hospital bed and opened the food container, placing it in front of Jiang Tang. Only then did he say, “Alright. Rest well.”

He then took the man, who had remained silent the entire time, to a cemetery filled with cold, black tombstones. It was only when the man saw the three freshly erected tombstones with names engraved on them that he finally reacted.

After a long while, the man wiped the tears from his face, calmed himself, and called out to Jian Yuanbai, “Help me tell Tang Tang that I’m sorry.”

With a bitter expression, the man took out a bank card from his bag and said, “Give this to him. The password is his sister’s birthday. Tell him to contact me if he ever needs help.”

Jian Yuanbai, who was also feeling down, replied directly, “Forget the bank card. You should apologize to him yourself.”

“I’m not good at apologizing. Wait,” the man stopped Jian Yuanbai as he turned to leave. “Why did the nurse say you’re Tang Tang’s brother-in-law?”

“I loved Tang Tang’s sister very much, and I’m sure she loved me too. What are you playing at?”

Jian Yuanbai replied calmly, “Actually, I’m pursuing Jiang Tang. I used the excuse of loving his sister to get closer to him.”

The man gave him a complicated look. “You’re really something when it comes to chasing people.”

Under normal circumstances, the man might have offered some advice, but he wasn’t in the mood. He simply said, “Go back and take care of Tang Tang. I’ll stay here for a while.”

Jian Yuanbai turned and left. Without others around, he avoided the security cameras and quickly returned to the hospital entrance.

When he entered the ward, Jiang Tang was leaning his head against the window, gazing at the maple tree outside, whose leaves were gradually falling.

Jiang Tang looked at him and suddenly said, “I feel a bit cold.”

Jian Yuanbai hurriedly closed the door and walked toward the window. “I’ll close the window. Do you want me to turn on the air conditioning? I’ll ask the nurse for the remote.”

Jiang Tang shook his head. “Leave the window open. The air feels fresher with the breeze.”

“But if the window stays open, the air conditioning won’t—”

“Hold me for a while,” Jiang Tang interrupted him, tugging on Jian Yuanbai’s shirt like a little animal and pleading softly, “Can you hold me for a while?”

Jian Yuanbai didn’t say a word. He carefully climbed onto the hospital bed and gently embraced Jiang Tang. 

Jiang Tang snuggled against him and sighed, “How strange… You’re supposed to be a ghostly brother-in-law, but your body is so warm.”

The fragile young man rubbed against Jian Yuanbai’s chest like a cat. “So warm.”

Jian Yuanbai held him, not daring to squeeze too tightly for fear of making him uncomfortable, nor too loosely for fear that Jiang Tang would feel cold. He maintained a careful balance to keep Jiang Tang comfortable.

Jian Yuanbai was naturally tall and strong, making the thin, 1.75-meter-tall Jiang Tang seem small in his embrace. Lowering his eyes, Jian Yuanbai looked at the fragile figure in his arms and felt a deep ache in his heart.

When Jiang Tang spoke earlier, mentioning his sister, father, and mother’s preferences with a tearful smile, calling them childish, Jian Yuanbai nearly shed tears himself.

It wasn’t just because he pitied Jiang Tang for losing his family, but also because it reminded him of Wei Zhengge from the previous world—a similarly heart-wrenching soul who, after leaving that world, became Jiang Tang in this one.

Would Tang Tang become another “Long Aotian” who lost his memories and struggled through life in the next world?

If that were the case, how much suffering would his little pillow have to endure?

Just thinking about it made Jian Yuanbai’s heart ache. He realized he could never be indifferent to his little pillow’s pain. He would always hold endless tenderness for him.

This tenderness had nothing to do with strength or weakness. Even though Jian Yuanbai knew that Jiang Tang would one day grow into a pivotal figure in the mystic world, he couldn’t help but protect him.

Unable to express his emotions, Jian Yuanbai turned to the system for comfort: “Even if it’s to become the Long Aotian, isn’t the price for growth a bit too heavy?”

The system replied coldly, “This is something the Long Aotian must experience.”

The system understood Jiang Tang better than Jian Yuanbai did. It knew exactly what he had gone through—one failure after another, each representing a life filled with endless pain.

Without memories of the past, each time felt like reliving the worst possible life.

Both the system and Jian Yuanbai were striving to break free from this suffering.

“System, you’re heartless.”

Jian Yuanbai’s eyes burned as he thought about his little pillow’s endless suffering. But at that moment, he heard a soft voice from the person in his arms:

“Actually… you’re not my brother-in-law, are you?”

Jian Yuanbai, who had been immersed in his emotions, instantly panicked. “I am!”

Jiang Tang tried to sit up, but the guilty Jian Yuanbai quickly held him down. Jiang Tang’s nose bumped against Jian Yuanbai’s firm chest, causing a slight sting and making his voice tremble with emotion, “I actually already knew.”

Jian Yuanbai panicked even more. Just asking a question had already brought Jiang Tang to the verge of tears. If Jiang Tang really found out he was lying, wouldn’t he never speak to him again?

Though feeling guilty, Jian Yuanbai’s tone remained firm, “I really am.”

Jiang Tang rubbed his sore nose from the bump and effortlessly silenced Jian Yuanbai with just two sentences:

“I’ve never met my sister’s boyfriend who died early.”

“But he couldn’t have changed from a blond, blue-eyed foreigner that my sister described, into a fluent Mandarin-speaking black-haired local.”

Jian Yuanbai froze.

And began questioning the system in his heart: “This is the plot you gave me? You said Jiang Tang had never seen him and didn’t know what his former brother-in-law looked like?”

Having learned from the previous world’s experience, he once again chose to trust the system’s storyline.

And once again, the system made him lose miserably.

The system played dead, remaining completely silent.

Taking advantage of Jian Yuanbai’s speechlessness, Jiang Tang sat up and said, “At first, I didn’t expose you because I wanted to use you to get my revenge.”

“I thought you were probably trying to use me too. But that’s fine, we each got what we wanted, so I played along.”

“But today, after seeing my brother-in-law,” Jiang Tang smiled faintly, “I suddenly realized I have no family left. I’m a bit tired and don’t want to act anymore. Can you honestly tell me, what do you want to use me for?”

Jiang Tang added, “You saved my life once. No matter what you want, I’ll try my best to give it to you.”