LABMY CH93.1

After Shen Nian woke up, his mind was clear, and nothing strange appeared on his body, which made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Aunt Liu cautiously asked, “Can we leave now?”

Jian Yuanbai said nothing. Shen Nian looked at the flowing water rings around the five people’s necks and was confused, “What’s this?”

Jian Yuanbai replied with a straight face, “They were too worried about your safety, so they stayed here all night.”

When he turned to look at Aunt Liu and the others, Aunt Liu immediately changed her tone, “Yes, yes, I was so anxious that I got confused. Shen Nian, how are you feeling?”

Wang Li also chimed in, “Young Master Shen, are you alright?”

Su Su looked a bit guilty and asked timidly, “Are you okay?”

Wu Tian, on the other hand, looked unwilling and fearful, “You’re awake.”

Before Shen Nian lost consciousness, he remembered everyone’s attitude very clearly. But after waking up, it felt like the world had turned upside down.

He grabbed Jian Yuanbai and asked, “What did you do?”

Jian Yuanbai replied casually, “Nothing much. I had no choice but to follow their wishes.”

These five people—Aunt Liu and Wu Tian were selfish and wicked, Wang Li was selfish, Su Su had a weak presence and a bit of conscience, but not enough to stick to her principles. When it came to survival, she would silently follow Aunt Liu and the others and betray her morals.

This was human nature. Jian Yuanbai had no intention of saying more. However, it was clear that these people didn’t understand him well enough. They thought he was some kind of saint who saves the suffering.

How ridiculous. He wasn’t some kind-hearted savior, nor did he have any obligation to ensure their survival. To Jian Yuanbai, they were just strangers who crossed paths.

When danger comes, he could help, but saving them didn’t mean they were now tied to him and became his responsibility.

Though Jian Yuanbai didn’t explain in detail, Shen Nian could roughly guess what had happened. Before he could speak, he heard Jian Yuanbai say, “You guys can leave now.”

“Don’t run too far. If that water ring moves more than twenty meters away from me, it will explode.”

As soon as these words came out, Aunt Liu and the others turned pale and dared not say a word. They obediently left the room and waited outside.

Shen Nian asked, “Last night, when everyone was afraid I’d turn into a monster… weren’t you afraid of me?”

“No,” Jian Yuanbai replied, “Even if you turned into a polluted, I would stay by your side.”

Shen Nian could tell Jian Yuanbai was serious. His tone was calm, as if he were stating a simple fact. Shen Nian hadn’t even had the chance to feel touched when he heard Jian Yuanbai continue, “Besides, to be honest…”

“If you really turned into a contaminant, you should be the one afraid of me.”

Shen Nian: ……

Recalling the two times monsters reacted to Jian Yuanbai, Shen Nian found himself unable to refute it. It made perfect sense.

Shen Nian pursed his lips, “Anyway, thank you.”

Jian Yuanbai’s tone deepened, “If you’re going to thank me, show some sincerity.”

It was the first time Shen Nian had heard someone ask for gratitude so directly. Though surprised, he responded straightforwardly, “Alright, tell me.”

Jian Yuanbai cleared his throat and said, “Go out there and tell Wu Tian: ‘What kind of trash are you? The situation is still unclear. Whether I am a dragon or a tiger is not for him to judge.'”

Just by repeating the line, Jian Yuanbai could feel how powerful and cringe-worthy it was. He couldn’t imagine how Shen Nian would say something like that.

But the system said this was a classic “Long Aotian” line, so it should be easy for Shen Nian, right?

However, after Jian Yuanbai finished speaking, Shen Nian fell silent for a full three minutes. The simple hospital room became so quiet that Jian Yuanbai couldn’t help but ask, “Shen Nian?”

Shen Nian looked at him with a complicated expression, “Can I know… why I have to say something like that?”

Jian Yuanbai replied, “Before you fainted, Wu Tian blocked the door and humiliated you. As a Long…”

He awkwardly changed his wording, “How can you not fight back?”

Shen Nian asked, “I don’t want to fight back. He’s just a clown, not worth my time.”

This… sounded very much like a Long Aotian line.

Jian Yuanbai thought to himself but still said, “That’s exactly why you should crush the clown beneath your feet. Otherwise, where’s your pride?”

It was precisely because of pride that Shen Nian couldn’t say something so cringe-worthy.

At seventeen, he was at the age where saving face was everything. Growing up spoiled and pampered, he couldn’t imagine stepping out there and spouting something so ridiculous in front of Wu Tian.

Shen Nian: “Can I… not do it?”

Jian Yuanbai: “No. You must.”

Shen Nian emphasized again, “I must go?”

Jian Yuanbai: “You must.”

“Actually, I don’t think I need to thank you anymore,” Shen Nian suddenly changed his mind.

He pointed at Jian Yuanbai, then at himself. “What is our relationship? You are my only family in this world—my little dad. You saved me, but do we need to say thanks in our relationship?”

Before Jian Yuanbai could respond, Shen Nian continued, “No, we don’t. Thanking you would only taint our familial bond.”

“If you saved me expecting a reward, how would you face my mother’s spirit in the afterlife?”

One grand-sounding statement after another landed on Jian Yuanbai’s head. By the time Shen Nian finished speaking, he had already lifted his blanket, gotten out of bed, and walked straight out of the room—all in one fluid motion.

There would be plenty of opportunities to repay this favor in the future. No need to rush. But as for saying something so embarrassing that it would lead to social death? He’d pass.

Jian Yuanbai was left alone in the empty clinic, completely dumbfounded. “System, was the Long Aotian of this world swapped out?”

“What if he refuses to say the line?”

System: “No swap. Figure it out. The line must be said.”

In this world, Shen Nian was a bit spoiled and had yet to be tempered by hardship. Just relying on gratitude wasn’t enough to make him obediently say the line.

The system shared its thoughts with Jian Yuanbai. Ever the strategist, Jian Yuanbai quickly came up with a new plan.

If gratitude didn’t work, would threats?

As Shen Nian stepped outside, everyone watched in shock as Jian Yuanbai dragged him back inside. His face looked rather unpleasant, making the others worry that they might be caught in the crossfire.

Jian Yuanbai lightly tapped Shen Nian’s neck, and a water ring identical to the others’ appeared around it.

“Either say it, or die.”

This time, it was the system’s turn to be stunned. “Wait, what? No buildup at all?”

“Your personality shift is way too sudden—anyone would find it suspicious.”

Jian Yuanbai, however, was confident. “What’s there to be suspicious about? Who isn’t afraid of death?”

“Go ahead.” Shen Nian’s calm words were accompanied by him closing his eyes, which completely stunned Jian Yuanbai.

System: “Oh no. You’ve messed up.”

At that moment, Jian Yuanbai understood what it meant to be caught between a rock and a hard place.

Shen Nian waited for a long time. When nothing happened, he opened his eyes and looked toward Jian Yuanbai. Though he still couldn’t see clearly, he felt irritated but remained silent.

To him, it was simple. He had merely refused to follow “Bai Lingchen’s” request, and suddenly, “Bai Lingchen” had changed completely, now threatening to kill him.

There was only one type of person Shen Nian had seen act this way—someone with a pathological need for control.

It was highly likely that “Bai Lingchen” saw him as his possession. Within acceptable boundaries, he could refuse, but once he crossed the line, “Bai Lingchen” would explode with rage.

If he compromised this time for survival, he would have to compromise again and again in this apocalyptic world where ordinary people struggled to live. Eventually, he’d be reduced to a dog with no dignity, begging for mercy.

Proud as he was, Shen Nian would never allow himself to end up like that. He should have died back in the supermarket. Living two extra days was already a bonus.

His beautiful features were filled with frustration and resentment. He hated this sudden apocalypse—hated having to constantly be on the run, hated the disgusting monsters, hated the horrible food, hated the terrible weather, hated the pain in his feet from walking all day.

He hated everything.

Then, he heard Jian Yuanbai say, “You’re not afraid of death, but are you not afraid of becoming a monster?”

“I’m asking you to say those words because I can draw power from them. You’re polluted, and I need your strength to help clear it.”

Jian Yuanbai spoke seriously, “This is one of my abilities. I can gradually cleanse the pollution, but I can only do it using the energy I extract from you.”

Putting on his best acting skills, he let out a bitter chuckle. “Otherwise, why would I force you to say such ridiculous things?”

“I knew it would sound unbelievable, which is why I didn’t explain earlier. I just didn’t expect you to be so resistant.”

Shen Nian’s expression turned into a mix of suspicion, shock, and hesitation. His face was an absolute mess of emotions.

Jian Yuanbai pressed on. “You can’t see your back, can you? The wound is already growing fur.”

“You might turn into a monster covered in ugly, filthy fur, with a sharp snout and a hunched body. You’ll lose your sanity, crave human flesh, and go completely mad. Are you really okay with that?”

Shen Nian’s entire face scrunched up. His lips pressed together tightly. Instinctively, he reached out to touch his back.

Jian Yuanbai lifted his shirt, quickly shifting his hand into a furry cat paw, and flicked a few strands of golden fur onto Shen Nian’s fingers.

As expected, Shen Nian’s hand came back covered in soft fur. He couldn’t see the color, but the texture didn’t lie. His hand trembled as if he were holding something impossibly heavy.

Cautiously, with a hint of fear, he asked, “What color is it?”

Jian Yuanbai, wearing a blank expression, shamelessly lied, “Gray. Looks like rat fur.”

Shen Nian pictured a rat. Then, he imagined himself mutating into a giant rat.

With the resolve of a warrior cutting off his own arm, he uttered two words:

“I’ll say it.”

The system was shocked. “Wait—how did you turn into a cat?”

Jian Yuanbai: “I’ve always been a cat. A golden one. And I think I might be a pollutant.”

System: … “You can’t just say something that terrifying in such a calm tone.”

“How do you know you’re a pollutant?”

Jian Yuanbai: “When I see other pollutants, I get this… feeling.”

“You want to see my original form?”

The system, remembering the grotesque and monstrous pollutants, politely declined. “I’ll pass.”

As Shen Nian gathered his courage and stepped outside, Jian Yuanbai followed him out—but for a split second, he shifted into his original form.

A stunningly beautiful golden cat, so radiant it could be considered a work of art.

With a graceful step forward, his golden paw touched the ground—and in the next instant, he was a man again, tall and lean with perfect proportions.

The system gasped. “Yuanbao?!”

Jian Yuanbai had taken many forms before—a golden furball, a black cat, a snake—but this was the first time he appeared like this before the system.

Golden. Radiant. A small cat that looked ninety percent identical to the system itself—except, without wings.

Jian Yuanbai sounded dissatisfied. “Just because I’m gold, you don’t have to rename me from Yuanbai to Yuanbao.”

The system, too busy processing its own thoughts, half-heartedly responded before lapsing into silence.

Meanwhile, Shen Nian had stepped into the room, facing five pairs of staring eyes. With a grim expression, he looked at Wu Tian and said, “You. Come with me.”

Wu Tian scoffed, “Say what you have to say right here. Why should I go with you?”

Jian Yuanbai, standing beside Shen Nian, merely said two words: “Come. Here.”

Aunt Liu panicked. “Mr. Bai, if you have something to say, say it to me! My son is still young!”

Jian Yuanbai responded indifferently, “I just need to have a word with him. It won’t cost him his life.”

The door closed behind them.

Though Wu Tian was afraid of Jian Yuanbai, he refused to lose face in front of Shen Nian. He forced himself to remain composed and said, “Say whatever you have to say.”

Shen Nian’s lips moved. Wu Tian asked, “Speak up.”

“You’re lucky to have found a backer in this situation. If you have something to say to me, just say it.”

Shen Nian’s face was full of impatience. “I’ve said it. Didn’t you hear?”

“What, are you deaf? Get lost.”

Wu Tian: ……

What the hell? He was called in just to watch a silent performance?

As he was about to leave, Jian Yuanbai said, “No, say it out loud.”

Without Jian Yuanbai’s permission, Wu Tian couldn’t leave. Looking at Shen Nian’s dark expression and Jian Yuanbai’s strict, overseer-like demeanor, Wu Tian was full of confusion. What exactly was so serious that it had to be said with such solemnity?

Shen Nian took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and blurted out, “Last night, you said I was useless, right?”

“I just want to tell you, what kind of trash are you? When the situation is still unclear, whether I’m a dragon or a tiger is not for you to judge.”

“Alright, now get lost.”

You bastard!

Wu Tian’s face turned red with anger. He was called in just to be humiliated. He was furious but powerless and could only leave the room under Jian Yuanbai’s signal.

He left quickly, so he didn’t see that Shen Nian’s face was also flushed with embarrassment. Gritting his teeth, he asked Jian Yuanbai, “Is that enough now?”

Jian Yuanbai turned to the system, “Is that enough?”

The system replied, “This time, Shen Nian fainted, so there was no choice. Next time, try to make him say it in front of others.”

Jian Yuanbai relayed, “Barely enough. Next time, you have to say it in front of others.”

In front of others? Shen Nian instantly felt darkness before his eyes, and his future seemed bleak.

Jian Yuanbai explained, “To resist the pollution, it can’t be done in one go. Human belief is also a form of power, understand?”

Shen Nian replied, “I don’t want to understand.”

Jian Yuanbai, who had made up an excuse on the spot, now had to keep up the act. He told Shen Nian to sit on a chair, hugging the backrest with his back facing him. Then, he lifted Shen Nian’s shirt, revealing his scar-covered back.

Shen Nian complained, “Hurry up, it’s cold.”

Jian Yuanbai placed his hand on Shen Nian’s back, gently running his fingers over the wounds. The warmth of his fingers felt scorching against Shen Nian’s cold, exposed skin. Jian Yuanbai’s movements were light to avoid hurting the wounds.

The strange sensation of warmth and ticklishness made Shen Nian feel extremely awkward. He couldn’t help but ask, “Are you done?”

Jian Yuanbai replied, “Almost, almost.”

He pretended to finish with a final touch and lowered the shirt. “Your back is actually pretty good-looking. If it weren’t for these wounds, it’d be great for cupping therapy.”

Shen Nian: “No one compliments people like that.”

Jian Yuanbai responded with confusion, “Are you saying I’m not human?”

“Just get out,” Shen Nian changed the subject. “We still need to head to the fortress in S City.”

After leaving the room, Jian Yuanbai said to Aunt Liu and the others, “You can leave now.”

Following his words, the water rings around their necks disappeared. Aunt Liu was overjoyed and quickly pulled Wu Tian along to leave.

Unexpectedly, Wang Li spoke up, “Mr. Bai, can I follow you?”

He hurriedly added, “I’m strong, I can do chores, and I won’t trouble you. Just let me come along.”