Love Me if You Dare: Pristine Darkness

Chapter 54

Sheisegg

Fuckmyegg.

Sheishero

killmyhero.

Shelikehe

whoiswatching.

Whenshesendmeschool

Imadeamonster.

*T/N These lines in English appear as they were in the online novel; Ive only italicised them so that they can be distinguished from the rest of the text. Ive also left the corresponding original Chinese text beside the lines for comparison. In the rest of the chapter, the lines in italics appear as they were in the online novel. 

The sentences were awkward and words were wrongly used, but the meaning of each word was clear.

Bo Jinyan looked quietly at the words.

Suddenly, the screen flashed, and all the words disappeared.

Then, a huge 10 flashed on the screen.

9

The countdown had begun.

Bo Jinyans expression turned grave.

However, he had already committed the entire poem to memory.

  Sheiseggfuckmyegg.

   Sheisherokillmyhero.

   E?G?6?2?1?14

No, it should be

  H

   I

   Shelikehewhoiswatching.

   S

I am watching.

A fierce radiance flashed across Bo Jinyans face and the final two lines of the poem surfaced again in his mind.

  MON

It was that phrase

 HiSimon

At this point, 5 had just flashed on the screen.

As Bo Jinyan walked hurriedly to the digital lock, his mind had already detailed the computations at high speed:

   HISIMON

   89199131514

It was the simplest password that the flower cannibal had ever used.

However, now, the password only had one digit.

Added together, the numbers totalled 87*.

*T/N the numbers correspond to the position of the letters of the alphabet e.g. H = 8; I = 9 and so on.

Subtracting from the adjacent number, the result was 4, 1, 0, 8*.

*T/N Subtracting from left to right: -1 8 -8 0 8 -2 2 -4 4 -3 = 4; subtracting from right to left: 3 -4 4 -2 2 -8 0 8 -8 1 = -4?????. Ok, this is where the translation team throws up its hands in defeat. We dont know how Bo Jinyan arrived this conclusion; if any of our readers knows, please tell us in the comments!

9 appeared the most.

No. No, it could not be such simple imitation and repetition.

Their arrival was intended to provoke and avenge. They would be more frivolous than the flower cannibal.

3 had already flashed on the screen.

Bo Jinyan closed his eyes momentarily, then opened them.

 WhenshesendmeschoolImadeamonster.

It was not according to the sequence of the alphabet.

They have another set of rules.

Amonster. The monster in the school.

The bomb which was about to be detonated when the countdown ended, a chemical monster.

 HISIMON

   112732127241614

Added together, the total is 341.

Adding the first and final number, the total is 4.

The homonym for death*.

*T/N 4 in Chinese is si (), which has the same sound as death (). Generally, it is considered an inauspicious number.

0 flashed on the screen.

Bo Jinyan entered 4 on the digital lock.

Although he maintained his usual composure, his back was covered with a layer of perspiration.

In the few seconds after he had entered the password, there was silence around him. The 0 also remained on the screen.

Then, the door in the wall gradually opened.

Bo Jinyan raised his head and saw a black-haired, tanned man leaning against the window in the next room with an expression of shocked astonishment on his face.

The two of them fired at the same time, but Bo Jinyan was prepared and reacted more quickly. Bang! Bang! Two bullets struck the mans abdomen, while his shots hit the wall next to Bo Jinyans head.

Ah . . . the man moaned in pain and fell to the ground. Bo Jinyan fired once more, hitting his wrist, and he finally let go of his gun.

Bo Jinyan approached him calmly. He kicked the gun away, then aimed his own gun at the mans forehead.

Hi, Simon King. The tanned man looked at him with wide-open eyes and seemed extremely curious. How on earth did you . . . how could you possibly do it! In such a short time, how did you break the code and figure out the password?

Bo Jinyan barely glanced at him. Without answering the question, he asked, What is behind the door?

The tanned man looked up at him with grief in his eyes. Simon, dont go in. Just turn around. I cant bear to see you die. You understand us so well, as well as you understand yourself. You are the best, the greatest, the most intelligent person I have ever met.

Bo Jinyan remained unmoved. He gestured in front of him with the muzzle of his gun. Whats behind the door?

Behind the door is the person you love the most.

Bo Jinyan was silent for a few seconds, gun in hand.

Then, he abruptly stowed his gun and viciously struck the back of the mans neck with the edge of his hand. The man lost consciousness.

Bo Jinyan reholstered his gun at his waist and picked up the mans gun. In that short period of time, he had rendered the man unable to escape. He got up and continued to walk towards the door.

The door was unlocked and there were no devices attached.

He brought out his cell phone and dialled Jian Yaos number.

Thereafter, he heard a familiar ringtone issuing faintly from beyond the door.

He put down his cell phone and quickly assessed the situation. He was their goal, not anyone else. It would definitely be too late if he waited for backup. Moreover, that would most probably incite their anger, leading to fatalities on both sides*.

*T/N (yu shi ju fen) lit. to burn both jade and common stone; fig. indiscriminate destruction; the bad and the good are lost together.

He slowly pushed the door open.

He sensed very clearly a slight, pungent smell wafting around him. Bo Jinyan retrieved his face mask from his pocket and put it on.

The room was extremely dark and empty, totally devoid of light. Bo Jinyan activated his cell phone and discovered that the setup was the same as that of the sniper maze. Both comprised two storeys; the second storey was ringed by corridors and the centre space was lofty and empty.

However, after he had walked a few steps, he felt slight stinging sensation in his eyes. It felt like something extremely fine was subtly and slowly drilling its way into his eyeballs.

Gas.

The gas would not appear without reason.

It was invading his eyes.

Bo Jinyan closed his eyes.

In the darkness, only by touching, hearing, and using his previous hasty glimpse to orientate himself, he moved forward slowly holding the railings.

After a few more steps, he sensed that he had already reached the middle of the corridor. His fingers found his cellphone and pressed the redial button.

The familiar and lively melody rang out not far from him.

He also clearly sensed that the smell in this area was even stronger. His eyes already felt as if they were burning. Through the face mask, his throat was gradually becoming dry.

He called out, Jian Yao? Jian Yao?

There was a sudden sound and movement in front of him, not far away, where he gauged the atrium to be. Something creaked, and there was slight movement in the air.

Bo Jinyan closed his eyes and called out once more. Jian Yao.

Jinyan.

It was as if her voice had whispered in Bo Jinyans ears.

Then, he heard Jian Yao speak again. She spoke very quietly, and very slowly. It was the calm and gentle tone he was familiar with. There was not the slightest trembling or hesitation.

Jinyan, listen to me, she said. Turn around now, go back, and leave. Wait for backup before you come and rescue me. I am not in any danger right now, my eyes have been blindfolded. But this toxic gas will damage your eyes. Listen to me this time and go back. If their goal is not achieved, they will not kill me. Dont open your eyes, Jinyan. This time, listen to me, turn around and leave.

Bo Jinyan made no movement.

You stay where you are, dont move, he said.

Jian Yaos heart sank abruptly.

She had been tied up and suspended in the air. Through the layers of white cloth covering her eyes, she sensed a faint glimmer of light. Then, his clearly heard, resolute footsteps headed directly for her.

Something undefinable burst forth in Jian Yaos mind, and her tears started flowing.

He had opened his eyes.

He had opened his eyes.