621: 10.16 Are You Real?

10.16 Are You Real?

Lu Yizhou's mind went blank as his gaze collided with those lovely golden eyes belonging to the pale youth. "You… How—"2

For a second, he was actually confused at the reality in front of him. He had a preconceived notion that everything was just a test Pandora gave him, that the illusion had started ever since he stepped into Nightingale Prison. It was not until the warmth of a living person seeped through his thin clothes did he snap out of his stupor. He let go of Christian who immediately lost consciousness as soon as his head knocked the ground hard.

Seeing that he was no longer consumed in wrath, Pandora slowly loosened his hold and took a step back. Lu Yizhou turned to face him and could not help but rake his gaze all over the youth to confirm that he was indeed here, safe and sound. Living and warm-blooded, and definitely not as the bone skeletons he had seen in Z-level.

The youth peered up at him through the curtain of his thick, long hair and offered him a sweet smile.

[666: A–A–A–AHH, HOST, HE… HE IS—]

A sharp whistle broke through the hubbub around. "What the hell are you gathering around here for?! Get back to your cell!" Upon seeing that the warden had been attracted by the uproar, the prisoners immediately scurried back to their cells, leaving only Lu Yizhou and Pandora who were staring at each other, and Christian who was still out of the light with numerous bloody injuries all over his body.

Once the warden saw this situation, he immediately knew what was going on. With a fierce expression, he rebuked Lu Yizhou harshly. "S-52, it's you again! Haven't you had enough after what happened this morning?!" Huffing, he went to put his fingers under Christian's nose and grumbled, "You're lucky that he's still alive. Pray that he won't lose his life in the middle otherwise the punishment you receive will double in amount!"

Lu Yizhou did not actually hear what the warden was yelling about. He reached out to grab Pandora's thin wrist, and only when he could feel the rhythmic pulse beating under the skin did he finally feel his heart fall back down to his chest.

Enraged, the warden raised his voice. "Are you listening to me, S-52?!"

An annoyed look flashed through Lu Yizhou's eyes and he nodded, "Yes." He knew that Christian would live. He was the protagonist, after all. He could even be considered as a cat with nine lives, even losing one limb or two would not pose a problem. Moreover, the system warning had stopped ringing in his mind, proving that Christian's life was actually not in danger right now.

The warden was still unsatisfied with Lu Yizhou's perfunctory response, but he was actually a little apprehensive toward this person. Other prisoners, no matter how vicious they were outside, would be afraid of being electrocuted in this place and watched their own behavior carefully. However, this man in front of him could actually act indifferent! He was simply a madman through and through!

With a harrumph, he summoned the medical staff to bring Christian to the infirmary. Then before leaving, he gave Lu Yizhou a severe warning, "One more fight and you will be done for."

[666: H–H–Host, this person's smile… his smile looks very familiar ah. It can't be… *shivers* he's not a ghost, right?!]

[So you can see him?]

[666: What do you mean by 'can see him'?! Why can't 666 see such a big living person?! Host, please don't ask something like that, okay?! 666 is going to be frightened to death!! QAQ]

Lu Yizhou asked this question because the warden acted as if he could not see Pandora. From the start to the end, he only addressed Lu Yizhou alone despite Pandora standing close to his side. Not to mention that the youth's appearance was quite eye-catching with his extremely long hair and pale complexion. Logically speaking, wouldn't everyone's attention be drawn to this person who had popped out of nowhere? 

At first, he had thought that only him was able to see Pandora, just like how only he could hear his voice. Fortunately, 666's panicked cries had proved him wrong. Lu Yizhou quietly heaved out a sigh of relief. After making sure that nobody was peeking at them, he gently pulled Pandora into his cell and closed the door.

Pandora was like a beautiful jade doll with how quiet and obedient he was. Except for that one time when he shouted for Lu Yizhou to stop, he had not spoken nor had he reacted to his surroundings. He did not even try to struggle out of Lu Yizhou's grasp.

He blinked at Lu Yizhou with his huge, luminous golden eyes as though asking, "What?"

Lu Yizhou slowly let go of him and brushed the youth's long hair away from his face. His throat bobbed a few times, and it took him a while to find his voice. "...Are you real?"

Pandora gave his signature innocent yet devilish smile. "What do you think?"

"Then why can't the warden see you?"

"He can," the youth readily answered. There was a twinkle of delight in his eyes that finally made him look his age. "It's just his subconsciousness that suggests him to ignore my existence."

Lu Yizhou slowly chewed over Pandora's words in his mind. Only then could he figure out the current situation to some extent. It seemed like Pandora had a power to affect someone's subconsciousness. It was a power to bewitch, to put someone under his spell or in other words, it was a very impressive hypnosis ability. Perhaps, that's also how he had led Lu Yizhou to the Z-level and broke the door's padlock for him. 

Then how was it that Lu Yizhou was the only one who could hear his voice?

"We have not finished our conversation yet." Pandora pursed his lips as if sulking. "You told me that you're going to bring me out of here. Is that true?" His golden eyes held Lu Yizhou still. 

As Lu Yizhou stared into those eyes, he could sense a strand of imposing power probing into his mind, forcing him to tell the truth and nothing else. Under this ability, all lies would be brought to light, no matter how deep it was hidden. Something dark and dangerous swirled within the depth of the youth's lovely eyes. Lu Yizhou had no doubt that once he went back on his words, Pandora would immediately tear him to shreds.

The notion put a smile on his face. He could not wait to pinch those adorable cheeks of his. "Of course. I will not lie to you, sweetheart."

Pandora was stunned. His mask of composure instantly cracked to show the fluster within. "W–Who are you calling 'sweetheart'?!" he stammered out with a conspicuous blush on his cheeks.

Lu Yizhou only responded with a brief chuckle.

666, who was shivering fearfully in the face of a supernatural entity, suddenly cried out when it detected something different in its space.

[666: H–Host, the original plot! The original plot has changed— no, there is a continuation! Oh my Admin God, how could something like this happen?!!]

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