Chapter 7 – The Seventh Ray of Light

Si Nuocheng naturally had his defenses up against Ji Si, a gut feeling that came from instinct, as if he was staring into an abyss, terrified of being shattered to pieces; it was like looking up at the universe, feeling insignificant like a drop in the ocean.

He hated this feeling!

On the surface, Young Master Si seemed aloof and low-key, but privately, he was fiercely competitive. He pursued a nearly harsh perfectionism; if he did something, he had to do it flawlessly.

From childhood, this attitude made him the “child other parents talked about,” the apple of his elders’ eye, and a thorn in his peers’ side.

Wearing the crown, he basked in the envy, jealousy, and hatred of others, stripped of his surname and background, firmly becoming the person he wanted to be.

His crushing excellence was admirable, but it also diminished his desire for competition.

Until he met Ji Si—

Unconsciously, he switched into battle mode, always thinking about winning or losing. Unfortunately, Si Nuocheng rarely initiated comparisons, perhaps due to not being skilled enough in “professional capabilities,” which made his attempts look a bit… childish.

But Ji Si, accustomed to vicious competition, was suddenly in a healthier rivalry, and his approach wasn’t necessarily wiser.

Childish versus not so clever, even a simple car ride could turn into a contest of “idiots” and “rebounds.”

Si Nuocheng asked symbolically, “Where to?” guessing blindly that they were heading home.

But he never expected Ji Si to be so tough. Ji Si pulled out a travel atlas and pointed to a location, saying, “Zhongzhou, Jinjiang Province, Guangyuan City, Jing Du Port.”

Si Nuocheng: …

Currently, they were in West Zhongzhou, and the destination was in South Zhongzhou, a journey spanning almost half the country, requiring a plane, not an SUV. He suspected Ji Si was deliberately making it difficult, and he had ample evidence.

As expected, the man who brought neither money nor luggage smiled and said, “If it’s inconvenient, just drop me off outside the city.”

He knew this game!

First, state an outrageously high price, then scale back to a more reasonable request, using the significant gap between the two to show off a “huge favor,” essentially saying, “I’ve taken full advantage of you.”

The actual goal was just to get out of the city, yet he mentioned going to Jing Du Port in the south…

Playing games with me?

“Very convenient.” Si Nuocheng stepped on the gas, “If you dare to say it, of course I dare to send you!”

Words are like spilled water. When I drop you off at Jing Du Port, not only will I kick you out of the car, but I won’t give you a penny! Just hang out there!

Si Nuocheng set the GPS for Jing Du Port, driving the SUV with the air of a race car. Whether he got fined didn’t matter; the point was to teach the boaster a lesson.

“What’s your name?”

“Ji Si.” The High Priest’s tone was tinged with reminiscence, “Rectifying the mainstay, throughout thousands of years.”

Upholding the dynasty, enforcing the law; peace throughout the land, enduring foundations.

The deepest hopes of the Ji family in Jiang Nan for their eldest son and grandson were embedded in his name, running through his life. But as fate would have it, he “died” young, caught in the cycle of reincarnation.

Time flies, and dynasties fall.

The ancient charm of Jiang Nan remains, but the spirit of the Ji family no longer exists. In the end, only he remains the same…

“What’s your name?”

“Si Nuocheng.” Young Master Si calmly replied, “The upright official of the state, a promise weightier than a city.”

Actually, the name Si Nuocheng originally meant, “I promise to marry the stunningly beautiful Shi Yuhua,” which was his father’s proposal to his mother, and also a token of their daily affection.

But now, since Ji Si had said eight characters, he had to say eight characters too!

In terms of comparisons, he would not lose!

“Nice name.” Ji Si acknowledged, “A minister responsible for correcting the king within the city-state, indeed, a promise is more precious than gold, words heavier than a city.”

Si Nuocheng: …

It even circles back?

Recognizing a kindred spirit in literary taste, there wasn’t much point in continuing this petty competition.

Si Nuocheng casually responded, and they swiftly left the city. During this, he glanced at Ji Si, who seemed utterly unfazed by leaving the city.

Let’s continue.

The SUV hit the highway, speeding towards the next city. Although they hadn’t prepared any luggage, there was a mysterious ease about them.

One was wealthy, the other abstained from grain; indeed, they had the means for a spontaneous trip.

Two hours later, Si Nuocheng exhaled deeply, reaching into the glove compartment only to find loneliness. He realized there was no bottled water in this new car, which was really…

Ji Si handed over a plastic bag with a Coke inside, “Help yourself, I’m not thirsty.”

Exiting the highway, Si Nuocheng pulled over without fuss, grabbed the Coke, and took a big gulp, “We’ll reach Lingdong tonight, stay at a hotel. I won’t drink your stuff for free, I’ll cover the food and lodging.”

Perhaps this restored some of his dignity, as Si Nuocheng drank more at ease. Noticing a candy in Ji Si’s plastic bag, he unceremoniously picked it up and unwrapped it—

Suddenly, Ji Si’s pupils dilated, “Wait…”

The white “candy” was already in Si Nuocheng’s mouth.

His mouth was moist, and the “candy” melted like a fish in water. Si Nuocheng began to ask “What’s—” when his expression froze, shifting from confusion to a blank state.

Si Nuocheng stared intently at Ji Si: …

Ji Si stared back intensely: …

Then, Si Nuocheng abruptly grabbed his neck, his handsome face turning red. Ji Si bent over from the passenger seat, setting down his staff for the first time, pinching Si Nuocheng’s face with his left hand, extending his right index finger.

Ji Si commanded, “Open your mouth!”

Si Nuocheng struggled violently, the SUV shaking intensely.

“Ugh!” Young Master Si resolutely refused Ji Si’s assistance, then dug out a long, pale “ghost face” from his own mouth.

Damn, a face mask!

Si Nuocheng looked at Ji Si, bewildered, “A big man like you using a face mask, how exquisite!”

Ji Si: …

The High Priest realized that whatever he said now seemed inexcusable.

But he never anticipated that Earthlings were a bunch of wildfire. The SUV paused for five seconds longer, the beeping sounds behind them growing noisy, with drivers lowering their windows to shout insults.

“What the hell are you doing up there? Why is your car shaking?!”

“If you can’t hold it in, go to a hotel! Always f***ing around, even on the street during red lights! Are you reincarnated teddy bears?”

Si Nuocheng: …

Ji Si: …

This cold, merciless Earth, only a saliva-covered face mask still held some warmth.

…

For the bystanders, good outcomes are called “borrowing your auspicious words,” and bad ones “an omen comes true.”

Ji Si and Si Nuocheng really seemed to have incompatible auras, scaring away the “luck,” leading them to a hotel where every room was full and a hostel where no room was available. Only in the middle of the night did they finally find the last available double room at an airport hotel, barely managing to scrape by for the night.

“Really unlucky. I booked two plane tickets, let’s leave tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

At that moment, Ji Si pulled off his hat, revealing long hair entwined with silver branches.

Si Nuocheng: …

Biting back, Young Master Si couldn’t help asking, “Why do you keep your hair so long?”

“To prevent baldness.”

Taking a deep breath, Si Nuocheng half-smiled, narrowed his eyes, and leaned in close to ask, “Face masks, long hair, a gown like a white robe… you wouldn’t happen to be a girl who just looks like a man, would you?”

Ji Si was undaunted, smiling as he extended an invitation, “Then, shall we bathe together?”

The High Priest also narrowed his eyes and leaned in, their auras colliding with a competitive tension, “Whether I’m a man or a woman, won’t you know after one look?”

Si Nuocheng scoffed, “Fine, let’s bathe together, but don’t feel inferior then.”

Both gave a hypocritical smile and entered the bathroom like bulls about to fight. Soon after, they came out expressionless—oh, the rundown hotel only had one shower, too small for more than one person at a time.

As normal men, no matter how tough they were, they couldn’t manage one in the shower and another sitting on the toilet watching. Just the thought of that scene felt all wrong.

It was 1 a.m., and they needed to sleep before dawn.

After washing up, Si Nuocheng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the night view of the city, while Ji Si struggled with the shower in the washroom.

Shortly after, Si Nuocheng opened his phone amid a series of dings, only to find numerous messages from his parents and friends, all asking where he was and what he was doing.

Si Nuocheng decided not to reply individually, instead taking a photo of the night view and posting it on his social media.

[Staying at Hengyang Grand Hotel tonight, all is well, don’t worry.]

Attached the photo and clicked send.

He turned off his phone, covered himself with the blanket, and fell asleep instantly.

As the room filled with the sound of even breathing, Ji Si quietly emerged from the washroom, leaning on his staff and gazing down at the world.

As time passed, the increasingly evident dangers of accumulated karma became clear.

Not only were the deep-sea abysses cracking open, but the celestial gateways were also breaking.

He “saw” the resentment of humans and the hatred of creatures intertwining and rising, like sulfuric acid, corroding kindness and goodwill, attracting waves of extraterrestrial demons filled with evil and malice.

It was fate, and it was destiny…

High above, a plane grazed an invisible “gateway,” its left wing abruptly breaking off, exploding into flames. It fell like a shooting star, spinning toward the west side of the airport.

The terror of humanity erupted, nearly destroying the gateway.

Ji Si reached out through the glass, rising like a spirit, breaking free from the building’s confines.

With a raise of his staff toward the heavens, a deep, invisible force vibrated like a shockwave. Like a tsunami, like a flash flood, it spread in an instant, clearing the dense clouds and revealing the hidden starlight.

At the same time, he snapped off a strand of hair, flipping his sleeve and sending it toward the aircraft—

Like smoke, like gauze, it formed a membrane around the aircraft, rapidly expanding its energy field. Like a pair of wings fluttering, it eased the plane’s momentum.

With a loud bang, it landed safely…

Si Nuocheng suddenly awoke to find Ji Si standing by the window. “What was that noise? What’s happening?”

Ji Si turned to face him. “Plane crash, but it was a close call.”

Si Nuocheng: …

He bluntly opened his phone and canceled the tickets.

Forget it, better drive ourselves. As his buddy said, life is precious.

Your paragraph is well-constructed. I’ve made very slight punctuation and phrasing adjustments for flow and clarity:

The terror of humanity erupted, nearly destroying the gateway.

Ji Si reached out through the glass, rising like a spirit, breaking free from the building’s confines.

With a raise of his staff toward the heavens, a deep, invisible force vibrated like a shockwave. Like a tsunami, like a flash flood, it spread in an instant, clearing the dense clouds and revealing the hidden starlight.

At the same time, he snapped off a strand of hair, flipping his sleeve and sending it toward the aircraft—

Like smoke, like gauze, it formed a membrane around the aircraft, rapidly expanding its energy field. Like a pair of wings fluttering, it eased the plane’s momentum.

With a loud bang, it landed safely…

Si Nuocheng suddenly awoke to find Ji Si standing by the window. “What was that noise? What’s happening?”

Ji Si turned to face him. “Plane crash, but it was a close call.”

Si Nuocheng: …

He bluntly opened his phone and canceled the tickets.

Forget it, better drive ourselves. As his buddy said, life is precious.

Author’s Note:

PS: Yu Mingyang: Boss Si, you just said yesterday, “No man can take a penny from you.” How come you bought two tickets today?
Si Nuocheng: Because I’m kind.
Yu Mingyang: … Can you have a little shame?