After hearing this, Sister Siwei shook her head with a smile and said, “I don’t want to become a ‘rabbit.’ I can’t do it anymore.”
“Can’t do it…? Why?” Brother Gu Yu asked.
“Because I’ve already become a ‘swallow,'” Sister Siwei replied, flashing her signature smile as she reached out to pat my head.
Hearing those words, I could no longer hold back my tears.
Nine years—I had spent nine years in this hellish darkness. It was the first time I had ever cried out loud.
Who could possibly come to save me?
Who could save Sister Siwei?
Who could help this sick city?
The “Happy Prince” had already begun to lose his possessions. This was just the beginning; soon, he would lose even more.
In the days that followed, I drifted through life in a daze. I only remember that the team that lost the “jade” failed to find it within two days and was dragged outside and executed. Later, Brother Gu Yu left as well.
Before he left, Brother Gu Yu looked at me with sorrow and said, “Hero, remember this—’No destruction, no construction.’ These four words are my final gift to you.”
It took me nearly half a year to finally recover from the pain of parting with Brother Gu Yu.
Time marched on, and perhaps another year passed.
As Brother Gu Yu had once predicted, my position had become increasingly precarious.
That morning, after I had finished “judging” a man and wearily declared, “No scent,” he suddenly flew into a rage.
“What the hell kind of joke is this?!” the man roared, startling me. “It’s already the ninth day! How the hell do I still not have a scent?!”
No, it wasn’t that he had no scent—his scent was “anger.”
“Is your nose even working?!”
“I…” I was too exhausted to respond immediately.
I remembered this man. He had been one of Wan Cai’s enforcers back in the day. After Wan Cai’s death, he had been active here ever since. The other subjects knew of his temper and avoided him.
“Smell me again, damn it! I’ve done everything I can! Why don’t I have a scent?!”
His scent carried a trace of fear beneath the anger. He was terrified of losing his memories.
But he truly had no scent—what was I supposed to do?
“Let go first…” Sister Siwei interjected. “What’s the point of pressuring Hero? He can only detect your scent, not create one for you.”
“I can’t lose my memories!” the man bellowed. “There’s only one day left… just one more day!!”
“That’s not the right way to think about it,” Sister Siwei said, shaking her head. “It’s not ‘only one day left’—it’s ‘still one more day.’ Brother Zhou, calm down. All of us can help you figure something out.”
*Smack!*
“Figure out my ass!!”
The man slapped Sister Siwei across the face with such force that she collapsed instantly, shocking everyone watching.
Seeing Sister Siwei struck, I was overcome with fury.
I lunged at the man, trying to tackle him, but he was too large and strong. Undeterred, I sank my teeth into his arm.
In that moment, I clearly smelled “murderous intent” emanating from myself.
“Ahhh!!”
The man howled in pain, violently shaking his arm. My teeth felt like they might shatter, but I refused to let go, tearing a chunk of flesh from his arm.
“Damn it…!”
He shoved me to the ground and wrapped his hands around my throat.
My crown clattered to the floor once more.
“You little brat…” he snarled. “You’re targeting me on purpose, aren’t you? Everyone before me had a scent—why don’t I?!”
For a moment, my mind wavered.
Because I sensed something had changed in him. His scent had become vivid—he was developing his own thoughts.
Was that… a good thing?
“Who the hell do you think you are?” I spat out the flesh and blood. “Do you think I’d waste my time on you? That I’d target you deliberately?”
“What…?” The man faltered, clearly not expecting that response. “You’re out of your mind, you little freak… I treated you like a ‘hero,’ and this is how you repay me?”
“Anyone who wants to be a ‘hero’ can have the title…” I growled. “I’ll never smell your scent again—even if you kill me right here.”
“You… you… I get it now…”
His eyes darted wildly as he pieced things together. A chilling realization struck me.
“No… Sister Siwei… run—”
Before I could finish, he released me and lunged at Sister Siwei.
He seized her by the throat with a few fingers and turned back to me. “Little brat, this girl is your weak spot, huh?”
“Let her go!” I demanded.
“Listen closely, you little shit,” the man sneered. “I don’t care if you’re not afraid to die. You’d better find a way to make me emit a ‘fragrance,’ or I’ll make sure this girl suffers like hell. Understood?”
For the first time in my life, I felt such overwhelming rage. I couldn’t fight him. I couldn’t kill him. What was I supposed to do?
“All of you…” I turned to the crowd of onlookers. “Can’t you see what he’s doing?! Are you just going to stand there?!”
Only then did murmurs rise from the crowd. “Ah… Brother Zhou, don’t resort to violence. Let’s talk this out.”
“Yeah, yeah. We’re all family here…”
How utterly powerless those voices sounded.
“I think we’ve all been fooled by this kid!!” the man roared. “Why should his word be law?! Today, I’m calling his bluff—let’s see if he can really smell anything on me!”
The situation was dire. His murderous intent was strong, and Sister Siwei was in danger.
“Brother Zhou…” Sister Siwei spoke weakly from the ground. “Hero’s abilities have been proven over the years. Everyone here has benefited from him. Your accusations won’t hold water.”
“Fine!” the man snapped. “I admit he’s capable. But why haven’t we escaped under his leadership?! An eight-year-old kid—what right does he have to rule over us adults?! Are we really just living day by day here?!”
He scanned the crowd and shouted, “Don’t any of you want to leave?! Are you really planning to live like this for decades?!”
He was altering the scents of those around him.
“This city needs new leadership,” he declared furiously. “If this kid hasn’t gotten us out in all these years, then it’s my turn to try!”
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