Chapter 5

Going directly through the black market could cut the distance in half. It was his first time going there at night, but the city machines patrolled around the clock and the male insects were under close scrutiny, so nothing should go wrong.

　　The black market has closed, and all the shops along the way are tightly shut. Only the old street lamps emit a yellow light, and boots squeak as they step on the snow.

　　"boom--"

　　The back door of a building not far ahead suddenly opened, and a blurry black shadow suddenly came out, followed by several figures.

　　"The order from above is to kill him immediately, and then separate his body into several pieces and throw them in the garbage dump. So do it after the beating!"

　　Yael frowned slightly, then lowered his eyes and buried his face in his scarf, deciding to keep walking with the attitude of a bystander to the end.

　　But the alley was very narrow, and if he passed by it he would inevitably get close to the scene of the violence. The closer he got, the clearer the figures became, and he could feel several fierce gazes falling on him.

　　Yael quickened his pace, but out of the corner of his eye he suddenly caught a glimpse of a dim light golden color.

　　Wait…golden?

　　Realizing a possibility, Yael widened his eyes slightly and his heart skipped a beat for unknown reason.

　　He looked up, and with the dim light of the street lamp, he finally found familiar features in the bloody mess.

　　It turned out to be that female insect.

　　A month was neither a very long nor a very short time, but the female insect had completely changed.

　　He was no longer in good shape. His body was covered with congealed blood and dirt. There were traces of knife wounds, whippings and burns on his body. There was hardly a piece of unscarred skin on his body.

　　"...Why don't you hide some more? Aren't you very capable?"

　　The hard outer shell of the female insect was completely shattered, and it no longer had the strength to resist this one-sided beating.

　　The expression beneath the messy hair was numb and dazed, and the pair of golden eyes were dim and turbid, like the glassy eyes of a dead fish.

　　He was so badly hurt that even a person who had never seen violence, like Yael, realized that he was dying.

　　Just wait a few minutes, no, maybe just a few seconds, until the next fist falls, and the female insect will stop breathing and turn into nothing but a dead body next to the trash can.

　　Yael slowed down his pace, but his eyes remained fixed on the figure curled up on the ground.

　　"What are you doing? What are you looking at? Stop meddling in other people's business!"

　　An angry roar suddenly rang out, and the female insect with bloodshot eyes looked up with a whip of his head, staring at Yael with a fierce expression.

　　Never mind.

　　There are so many female insects, saving one will be of no use.

　　Why bother yourself?

　　The rational thoughts in his mind were almost overwhelming, but Yael's breathing unconsciously became sluggish.

　　Yael walked forward step by step, stepping on the ground just a few inches away from the female insect.

　　There was a slight pulling sensation at the hem of his down jacket.

　　He stopped.

　　Yael looked down and saw a scarred hand.

　　The hand had distinct joints and bloody fingertips, and it caught the hem of his down jacket, instantly leaving a dirty mark on the white clothes.

　　[boom.]

　　Yael's heart thumped gently in his chest, and he felt a moment of pain and numbness.

　　The female insect did not look up at him, nor did he call for help. He lay there with the same weak breathing as before, as if pulling Yael was just an unconscious action.

　　The force was so light that Yael didn't need to put any effort in to break free. He didn't even have to move, finger would naturally lose its strength and slip off.

　　But miraculously, he was pulled to a stop.

　　He suddenly didn't want to leave like this.

　　"What are you looking at? Go away and stop meddling in other people's business!"

　　The female insect who attacked seemed to be angered. He cursed in a rough voice, took a step forward, and was about to beat Yael as well.

　　At this time, a tall female insect walked out from the shadows, raised his hand to stop the impulsive subordinate, and raised his eyelids, "I advise you to think twice and don't try to be a hero."

　　It was obvious that the female insect in front of him was the leader of the criminal organization. He had a cold expression and looked like a soldier retired from the battlefield, exuding a fierce aura.

　　"Excuse me, can I talk to him for a moment?"

　　Yael took a step forward and walked under the street light, revealing his blurry face in the darkness, and spoke in a light but unquestionable voice.

　　The leader looked Yael up and down, staring at his face for a while, his eyes suddenly turned suspicious, "... a male insect?"

　　He can just kick away the other female insects who want to meddle in their business, but it's different for the male insects, who are delicate and troublesome. If they get hurt, or even bruised anywhere, the protection association will knock on their door the next day, which is very troublesome.

　　The expression of the female insect leader kept changing. Yael had already squatted down, grasped the wrist that was so thin that only bones were left, and shook it to try to wake up the unconscious female insect on the ground.

　　But the cold touch in his hand frightened him. The female insect on the ground had a dazed look on his face, and his distracted eyes looked through Yael's face to the sky. It seemed that he was already in a very bad situation.

　　"you..."

　　Yael could only stand there. In fact, he hadn't thought of what to say, and even his decision to stay was just a spur of the moment decision.

　　Although it was just a momentary impulse, the thought occupied his entire mind and could not be driven away no matter what.

　　That is, he wants to take this female insect away.

　　"Do you still want to live?"

　　The female insect's glass-like eyes moved slightly, and his cracked lips opened slightly, but not a word left his lips. However, it was as if the air that was stuck in his chest was suddenly released, and he choked very slightly.

　　That probably means he wants to want to live.

　　Yael glanced at the female insect, who had answered him without words, with his heart trembling violently, and decided to pay for him impulsively.

　　He stood up and took out his light brain, ready to scan the code to pay, "How much is this female insect? I'll buy him."