Rules of the Unusual: I am the Final Boss

Shi Mo's body was very stiff.

Bai Xu hugged him from behind, his arms wrapped tightly around him, his face pressed against his back. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, he could feel his warm breath and the soft, suppressed sobs.

Shi Mo didn't move.

He stood there, letting Bai Xu hug him, his back straight, but his fingers slowly curled up at his sides.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "Let go."

The voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

Bai Xu shook her head and rubbed her face against his back: "I won't let go."

"open."

"I won't let go."

Shi Mo was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Don't force me to say it a third time."

His voice turned cold, as if it were covered with a layer of ice.

Bai Xu's body trembled, his arms slowly loosened, and finally slid down to his sides.

He took a step back, creating some distance, and looked down at the floor.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I know I was wrong... I really know I was wrong..."

Shi Mo turned around and looked at him.

Bai Xu lowered his head, his hair was a little messy, and the stray hairs on his forehead covered his eyes. Only his tightly pursed lips and the tear stains on his chin could be seen.

His shoulders were trembling slightly, and his fingers were gripping the hem of his clothes tightly.

Shi Mo stared at him for a long time before speaking: "Listen, Bai Xu."

His voice was calm, but each word came out like an ice bead.

"I'm not a good person," he said. "You're right, I'm a murderer. I love watching them struggle and suffer. I love seeing humanity in despair. I don't belong in the Seventh Sequence."

Bai Xu suddenly looked up, his eyes frighteningly red: "No...you're not..."

"I am," Shi Mo interrupted him, her voice cold. "You've seen me kill, seen me torture those monsters, seen me watch the despair of the candidates in the dungeon. I enjoyed those moments."

He took a step forward, closing in on Bai Xu: "Didn't you already know? I'm not a normal person. I have no compassion, no morals. I only do what I want to do, and I only kill whoever I want to kill."

Bai Xu shook his head, desperately shaking his head: "That's not how it is... You've saved so many people... You've helped me... You..."

"That's because I wanted to help," Shi Mo interrupted him. "Because I found it interesting, because I found it funny, because I found the way you cry very amusing."

He paused, then added, "It's not because I feel I should help, not because I feel those people shouldn't have died, and certainly not because I want to be a good person."

Bai Xu's lips trembled, and tears began to fall again.

Shi Mo watched him cry, his expression unchanged, and continued, "So, Bai Xu, stop thinking so highly of me. I am a monster, a murderer, a madman who can't control his bloodlust, as you say."

He turned around, his back to Bai Xu.

"This kind of person isn't suitable to be by your side, isn't suitable to be in the Seventh Sequence." His voice came from ahead. "You should leave."

Bai Xu stared at his back for a long time.

Then he walked forward, stood in front of Shi Mo, and looked up at him.

"I don't care."

His voice was soft, but clear.

Shi Mo paused for a moment, then looked down at him.

Bai Xu's eyes were red, and his face was covered in tear stains, but his gaze was firm.

"I don't care if you're a good person or a murderer," he said, enunciating each word clearly. "I just want you back."

Shi Mo looked at him for a long time, then smiled—a very complex smile, tinged with disbelief and absurdity.

"Captain Bai," he began, a hint of amusement in his voice, "are you trying to protect a murderer?"

Bai Xu nodded.

The movements were slow, but resolute.

"Yes," he said, "I'll protect you."

Shi Mo's smile froze on his face.

He stared at Bai Xu for a long time, so long that Bai Xu thought he was about to get angry or say something even harsher.

But he didn't.

He just stood there, looking at Bai Xu with a complicated expression, as if he were looking at an incomprehensible puzzle.

Finally, he chuckled softly.

The voice was very soft, tinged with helplessness, and with... something else entirely.

"Okay," he said.

Bai Xu's eyes lit up: "You...you agreed?"

"Okay." Shi Mo nodded. "I'll go back with you."

Bai Xu was stunned.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

Shi Mo looked at him, and seeing the surprised expression on his face, the corners of her mouth curved upwards again.

"I hope you won't regret it," he said.

Bai Xu shook his head, desperately shaking his head: "No... I won't regret it..."

Shi Mo didn't say anything more.

He turned and went upstairs.

He took a couple of steps, then stopped and turned to look at Bai Xu: "Does your knee still hurt?"

Bai Xu paused for a moment, then shook his head: "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"You're lying." Shi Mo walked back, squatted down in front of him, and lifted up his trouser leg to take a look.

More blood seeped from the bandage, spreading out in a dark red hue.

Shi Mo frowned.

He stood up and walked out: "Casper."

Casper appeared out of nowhere and quickly ran over: "Master."

"Medicine kit," Shi Mo said.

"Yes."

Casper ran to find the first-aid kit.

Shi Mo walked back and helped Bai Xu to sit down on the sofa next to him.

Bai Xu stared at him, his eyes unblinking.

Shi Mo didn't look at him, but just looked down at his knees, waiting for Casper to bring the first-aid kit over.

The first-aid kit arrived quickly.

Shi Mo opened the medicine box, took out scissors, and carefully cut open the blood-stained bandage.

The wound was exposed, with a large patch of skin and flesh torn apart, covered in blood, and looked rather frightening.

Shi Mo used a sterile cotton swab dipped in medicine to gently wipe away the bloodstains.

The movements were very light and careful.

Bai Xu gasped in pain, but gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Shi Mo looked up at him and then softened her movements.

The medication was reapplied, and the bandage was reapplied.

After doing all this, he stood up, closed the medicine box, and handed it to Casper.

"Is the car ready?" he asked.

Casper nodded: "Ready."

Shi Mo looked at Bai Xu: "Can you walk?"

Bai Xu stood up and tried to take a few steps. His knees still hurt, but it was much better than before.

"Yes," he said.

Shi Mo nodded and turned to walk out.

"Let's go."

Bai Xu followed behind him.

The two walked out of the castle, where a car was parked.

Casper opened the car door, Shi Mo got in first, and Bai Xu followed and sat next to him.

The car door closed.

The car started and slowly drove out of the castle gate.

Bai Xu looked at the receding scenery outside the window, then turned to look at Shi Mo.

Shi Mo leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed, as if he were tired.

But Bai Xu knew that he was not asleep.

His hands were at his sides, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the seat.

One moment, one moment.

The rhythm is light, but very regular.

It was as if he was thinking about something, or perhaps suppressing something.

Bai Xu stared at his profile for a long time.

Then he reached out and gently touched the back of Shi Mo's hand.

Shi Mo's fingers paused.

But he didn't open his eyes, nor did he pull his hand away.

Bai Xu slowly moved his hand up and grasped his hand.

They held it very tightly.

Shi Mo's finger twitched slightly, but ultimately he didn't pull it back.

He let Bai Xu hold his hand.

The car was driving on the highway, and the scenery outside the window was rushing past.

Neither of them spoke.

But their hands remained clasped.

Until the car drove into the gate of the Seventh Sequence Base.

-

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