Yu Deng's toes were damp from being licked and were lightly held between the giant wolf's teeth, making him feel a tingling, itchy sensation. Annoyed, he pulled his legs back, hugging his knees as he sat on the thorny seat, his toes curling slightly.
Anders lay before him, nudging Yu Deng's leg with his head in an attempt to please him, his tail wagging incessantly. With his behavior resembling that of a big, obedient house dog, no other clan member would even recognize their leader in this state.
Yu Deng huffed, "Do you know you did something wrong?"
The giant wolf lowered its head and obediently nodded, letting out a soft "Awroo."
It seemed he acknowledged his mistake… but whether he'd dare to do it again was another story. Even as he apologized, he still wanted to lick Yu Deng's hand.
Yu Deng quickly pulled his hand back and frowned. "Do you have water?"
The gray wolf tilted his head in confusion and gave a small whine, shaking his head.
"That won't do... you need to rinse your mouth." Yu Deng glared at the wolf, his cheeks and ears still tinged red. He muttered softly, "You don't think it's gross, licking there…?"
Anders shook his head vigorously. Nothing was gross—every part of the little vampire smelled nice. Especially since he had taken a bath before the game started, every inch of him was delightful.
Yu Deng still found it hard to accept. More than anything, he suspected that given the chance, the wolf would seize another opportunity to lick him, particularly on his face and neck.
Just as he thought about this, the nearby thorns began to rustle. Yu Deng turned his head warily, and the giant wolf arched his back, ready to defend him.
After several seconds, the thorns parted, revealing a large, bowl-shaped leaf filled with fresh water.
"Huh?"
"...?" Yu Deng blinked, momentarily dazed, and muttered, "Thank… thank you?"
The thorny vines even bloomed a small pink flower before slowly retracting.
[I just came back from a black screen… what happened? So even this scary maze can be considerate? (PS: Did something that adults should watch just happen again?)]
[Thanks for the invite. My expression is just as dazed as Deng Deng's right now…]
[The previous quest was all about storyline and detective work, and I didn't feel it like this. But this level… our baby is just an absolute charmer!]
[What's wrong with everyone doting on our adorable little baby?]
[Oh look, isn't that our werewolf on the side, turned into a big dog to coax his partner.]
Yu Deng blinked and tugged Anders' ear, pushing the wolf's head over the leaf. "There's water now. Rinse your mouth."
Anders obediently did as he was told, gulping down the water to clean his mouth.
Yu Deng supervised from the side, and out of the corner of his eye, he inadvertently noticed under the wolf's tail—and was immediately startled.
…That size is terrifying…
Quickly averting his gaze, he turned to his system to complain, "Tongtong, why do all these quest characters seem to love biting me?"
System 01: […]
After a few seconds of silence, the system sighed, [Host, you know, in future situations like this, you could consider using an item.]
This silly host never used his items. Whether that was a good or bad habit was hard to say—some players relied too heavily on items, becoming unable to clear levels without them.
But this host kept getting bullied by bad guys…
Yu Deng suddenly had a breakthrough. Of course! He had bought some self-defense items!
Though the men had only been kissing and licking him, it didn't feel like any real danger. But next time, if they made him really uncomfortable, he'd definitely use those items!
...
After some time, Yu Deng remembered that he was still on a side quest and quickly pushed Anders. "Let's go, I want to get out of here as soon as possible... but I have no idea when we'll find the exit. I'm so tired."
The giant wolf immediately lay down in front of Yu Deng, signaling him to climb onto his back.
An excellent wolf wouldn't let its mate get tired, of course—he would act as a mount for the little vampire.
"Are you going to carry me?" Yu Deng asked, and with Anders urging him, he climbed onto the wolf's back with some effort.
"By the way, do you know how to get out of here?"
Anders nodded, stabilizing himself as he carried Yu Deng forward.
The wall that had blocked their path earlier was gone, and they had smoothly moved onto another route, entering a new junction.
Anders moved with practiced ease, clearly familiar with navigating the labyrinth.
Yu Deng, realizing it a bit late, understood this was likely another trap set by the dungeon. After all, these local NPCs had participated in many gatherings and would certainly know the little tricks to navigate the maze. But players were different—wasn't it easy to make a mistake?
No wonder, before the maze started, an NPC had mentioned wanting to find some poor, isolated souls.
At that moment, Yu Deng heard the sound of running not far away. This was the first time he had heard any movement from others in the maze.
Leaning slightly forward on Anders' back, Yu Deng pricked his ears to listen carefully. Anders, with his claws on the ground, gave off an unmistakable air of aggression.
Before long, a chubby, golden-haired werewolf came rushing toward them. He looked about seventeen or eighteen years old. Behind him, a female vampire Yu Deng didn't recognize followed closely.
When the chubby werewolf saw two more non-humans in front of him, his eyes rolled back, and he closed them in despair.
The vampire woman, however, immediately noticed Yu Deng and then saw the gray wolf he was riding on. She stopped in shock. "Young master, you're riding…"
"A werewolf," Yu Deng replied.
If not for the fierce look in the giant wolf's eyes, the vampire lady might have applauded.
So those rough, savage werewolves finally got a taste of their own medicine, and this one seemed to be their leader? As expected of a prince's young master—so impressive to be riding a werewolf like this.
Her gaze at Yu Deng became full of fond admiration.
Feeling a bit unnerved under her stare, Yu Deng finally asked, "Why are you chasing him?"
"Because he's a bit off, looks very much like a human." The vampire lady gave the chubby werewolf a meaningful look.
[Wait, so this guy is a player?]
[Yes, just like baby, a newbie on their second game. He's got decent quality, just a bit unlucky—he's the only one who's encountered an NPC so far.]
[Well, I said the game couldn't be easy. You see, this is the moment it's all about—every game has the chance to expose your identity.]
The chubby werewolf silently cursed the damn dungeon, resigned: "I'm just here for the first time with the clan to attend the banquet. I've never played this kind of game before. Isn't it normal to be unfamiliar with it? You chase me without warning, and I can't fight back, so of course, I have to run."
After speaking, he looked as though he had accepted his fate, waiting for his head to roll.
The vampire lady flicked her stray hair behind her ear, then bowed slightly to Yu Deng, asking for his opinion: "What do you think, young master?"
Yu Deng glanced at the chubby werewolf and instinctively thought he must be a player. He tilted his chin up: "Hmm... first time playing, probably just nervous, not a big deal."
The vampire lady, in fact, had already lost interest in figuring out who might be suspicious. Her mind was entirely focused on sharing what she'd just witnessed with her vampire friends.
She simply said, "You're right."
Then, without wasting another moment, she excused herself and hurried away, leaving the chubby werewolf, who was now just relieved to be alive, staring blankly for a while before tearfully thanking the young vampire master.
---
After this little interlude, Anders finally returned to his human form.
Yu Deng, who had been riding on the wolf's back, suddenly felt the soft fur vanish beneath him, replaced by firm muscle.
Yu Deng's line of sight shifted drastically, and he slid down the broad back of the werewolf in confusion. "Huh?"
Halfway down, the werewolf's hand shot out to catch him, and he found himself dizzily sitting in the werewolf's arm.
He instinctively wrapped his arms around Anders' neck.
The werewolf smiled happily, tightening his embrace around the vampire in his arms.
Unlike vampires, who despise sunlight, werewolves generally have much darker skin, and Anders' complexion was a healthy shade of wheat.
On the other hand, Yu Deng, the vampire, was much paler and smaller in build. The difference in size and skin tone was quite apparent as they were held together in the werewolf's arms.
"Ah, you're back to normal." Yu Deng's hands were still around Anders' neck. He leaned forward to get a better look and noticed that Anders still had his ears and tail, though the other werewolf features were hidden.
As he leaned in for a closer inspection, Yu Deng shifted a little in Anders' arms.
"Little vampire." Anders gently held Yu Deng in place, reminding him, "It's a blood moon right now, and a werewolf's self-control isn't great."
Hmm?
Anders' voice was slightly hoarse, and combined with his fierce aura, it made Yu Deng pause for a moment. But soon, his mind wandered back to the overly affectionate gray wolf, and any fear he had quickly dissipated.
Anders held Yu Deng in one arm and pulled out a potion with his other hand, tilting his head back to drink it.
"What are you drinking?" Yu Deng asked curiously.
"A potion, it helps reduce the effect of the blood moon on werewolves." Anders casually crushed the empty vial into powder with his hand, then wrapped both arms around Yu Deng. "Beautiful little vampire, I still don't know your name. May I have the honor of knowing it?"
Yu Deng hesitated.
He still wasn't sure whether Anders was a player or an NPC. If Anders was a player, he might recognize Yu Deng as the newbie listed on the leaderboard.
Anders didn't wait for an answer, his tail drooping a little, looking disappointed. "Can't you? Alright, I'll work hard to make you willing to tell me."
"I'm just a little worried..." Yu Deng said, troubled. "If you know my name, will you do something bad or tell others? I don't like random people disturbing me."
The werewolf quickly responded, "Of course not! I can swear an oath with magic, I will never tell anyone."
A magic oath? Yu Deng thought for a moment. "I need to think about it. Anders, can you let me down for now?"
Reluctantly, the werewolf set Yu Deng down.
Yu Deng looked down at his torn shirt, quickly averting his gaze to avoid seeing it, then asked, "By the way, do werewolves and vampires get along well?"
"Get along? Little vampire, that's a ridiculous conclusion."
In reality, werewolves and vampires have never had a good relationship. In ancient times, they were even considered mortal enemies. As of now, the only person Anders had any positive feelings for was this vampire young master.
Oh, it couldn't be called fondness—it was more like intense affection.
After hearing Anders' brief explanation, Yu Deng was even more confused. "Then why are you two participating in the banquet together?"
"Because of certain, well, traditions," Anders replied carefully, momentarily hesitant. "The rest... might not be suitable for you to know."
Yu Deng was left in a daze.
Anders awkwardly changed the subject. "Look, the color of the thorns here is changing, and fruits are starting to appear, which means the exit is near."
Yu Deng's attention was quickly caught. "Fruits are appearing?" Is this one of the patterns?
He took a closer look and indeed saw several bright red fruits growing in the center of the thorny bushes on the wall.
The werewolf casually remarked, "These fruits are said to taste pretty good."
As soon as he finished speaking, a thorn bush made a snapping sound, plucking a fruit and offering it to Yu Deng.
Anders: "?" Why is the thorn bush so considerate?
Yu Deng tentatively took a bite. The sweet juice instantly burst in his mouth, and the fruit was crisp and sweet, even better than the "screaming carrots" he ate yesterday.
As his lips parted, some of the light-colored juice smeared on his lips. His soft tongue quickly darted out to swipe away the juice.
Anders' eyes widened in surprise.
He stood before Yu Deng, his pupils filled with unrestrained excitement. Normally, the potion would suppress his instincts, but now, it seemed completely ineffective. Every cell in his body screamed for him to get closer to the little vampire.
The werewolf's voice was hoarse. "I answered your questions so obediently... Do I get a reward?"
A reward?
Yu Deng swallowed the fruit and raised his head, about to respond, when the werewolf's lips suddenly pressed against his.
Mr. Werewolf wrapped both arms around Yu Deng, trapping him firmly in his embrace. He kissed Yu Deng impatiently and awkwardly, skillfully exploring the young vampire's lips and tongue.
The sweet fruit juice was passed to the other side, and their heated breaths intertwined.
Yu Deng couldn't speak; he could only let out a few muffled groans.
The sound of water was drowned out by the rustling noises of thorns moving. No one would know that the young vampire was held in the arms of the werewolf, being kissed wantonly.
"Bastard... N-No, don't kiss so heavily!"
The non-humans and players in the maze were also constantly shifting positions. Of course, only the players had to think about how to reach the exit.
Some clever players had already discovered the patterns of the maze's changes, while some more sly players were adept at pretending to be non-humans, even making friends with others to gain support.
At the edge of the maze, the vampire butler's expression was cold as he swiftly passed every fork in the path, searching for his separated young master.
As for Qin Jun, he had already discovered the connection between the maze paths and the exit and was advancing quickly, even fighting a suspected NPC wizard along the way.
He increasingly regretted his earlier words. If he hadn't upset the young vampire, they wouldn't have been separated.
Suddenly, Qin Jun sharply heard a faint, sticky sound of water up ahead. Just as he saw the scene, the sound of water ceased.
He saw the young vampire he had been searching for, being embraced by the werewolf leader. His eyes were red with tears, his lips flushed, and his gaze was almost unfocused.
Yu Deng's clothes, torn by thorns and clawed at by the werewolf's paws, were already in disarray, the hem ragged, barely covering his pale, slender waist.
It looked as if he had been thoroughly ravished.
The werewolf, on the other hand, wore a smug expression, clearly enjoying himself.
Yu Deng looked up in a daze and saw Qin Jun. "Huh? You're here?"
"Yeah." Qin Jun clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and demanded of Anders, "Did you bully him?!"
Anders sneered, "This doesn't count as bullying."
Qin Jun replied coldly, "Isn't it? Look at his lips—they're all swollen!"
A mix of frustration and anger almost made Qin Jun lose control.
The little vampire had said he was going to find someone else, but that ended up with him being so thoroughly mistreated. He shouldn't have pretended he didn't care before; damn it, now he cared to death!
For the first time, Qin Jun realized how unpleasant jealousy and regret felt.
Anders' gaze was equally frosty.
Wolves and other non-human species tended to repel each other, especially male wolves—particularly when competing for a mate.
The atmosphere grew tense, as if they would start fighting any second.
Yu Deng interrupted the standoff between the two wolves, "You guys are so noisy. No fighting."
Both wolves froze in place. Qin Jun was the first to react, striding over to Yu Deng.
He lowered his head, his voice carrying a hint of unintentional bitterness and humble pleading.
"I can let you touch my ears and tail too. I can protect you as well." Qin Jun looked at Yu Deng. "I'd do it better than he does."
No matter how spoiled or willful the little vampire was, he'd be willing to indulge him.
So, please don't kiss anyone else.
Yu Deng looked at the suddenly docile Qin Jun with surprise. "Really?"
Seeing Yu Deng's attention shift, Anders was displeased.
"No way he'd do it better than I can. I just kissed you so well, didn't I?" Anders boasted, "No one could kiss you better than I did!"
… Those words were like twisting the knife.
Qin Jun's expression darkened, and he shot the wolf a hostile glare, barely restraining his urge to act.
Yu Deng was still a bit out of it. He thought seriously for a moment about whether Anders' claim was actually correct.
"Hmm…"
Propping his chin on his hand, Yu Deng's gaze became unfocused as he pondered, taking a few seconds before answering, "Not really."
Anders: "???"
The wolf's previously perked-up tail dropped with a dejected thud.
Looking crestfallen, the tall wolf still held Yu Deng tightly around the waist. "Why?"
Seeing a rival's disappointment always brings some satisfaction. Qin Jun made no effort to hide his emotions, a subtle smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
But Qin Jun's happiness was short-lived, as he quickly felt the same as the wolf.
Because Yu Deng furrowed his brows slightly, cheeks tinged with pink, as if recalling some intimate memory.
The just-kissed lips were slightly swollen, rosy and soft, with a glistening sheen.
His misty eyes carried a mix of annoyance and satisfaction, though the satisfaction clearly wasn't directed at either of them.
The beautiful little vampire stopped reminiscing, then reluctantly offered a balanced opinion, speaking lightly.
"Hmm… someone else kissed pretty well before, too."
T/N: Qin Jun — smirks (¬‿¬) after hearing his rival didn't kiss Yu Deng well…
Also Qin Jun, after hearing there's someone else who kissed Yu Deng—and they did it pretty well: (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻