Reverend Half Insanity

Fang Zheng stands in the doorway, hesitating to step inside. His entire body trembles violently, as though every fiber of his being rebels against the inevitable. He tries to steady himself, gripping the doorframe for support, but the effort only makes his shaking worse. Each step feels like a march toward his own tragic and unavoidable end.

A heavy silence stretches across the room, suffocating and unyielding. Finally, with a voice that quivers like a fraying thread, he stammers, "Y-yes... you are right."

The words barely escape his lips before they falter, dissolving into the oppressive air. His breath catches in his throat, as if unseen fingers tighten around his windpipe. Still, he forces himself to continue, his voice cracking under the weight of his terror. "W-we... will awaken... high talent..."

But the sentence dies unfinished, swallowed by a suffocating dread, coiling around him like a serpent preparing to strike. It feels as though an unseen entity looms over him—malevolent, ravenous, waiting to consume him whole.

Hearing the sudden ghostly voice, Gu Xianer stiffens in fright. Instinctively, she tightens her embrace around Fang Yuan, pressing herself against him as though seeking refuge from an unseen threat. But after a brief moment, her fear gives way to blazing anger. She snaps her head toward the doorway and shouts, "Fang Zheng! What are you doing lurking there like some wretched ghost at this hour? Were you trying to scare us to death? And worse still—were you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

Without waiting for his response, she clutches Fang Yuan even tighter, her voice brimming with fierce possessive determination. "I won't let you sleep with Brother! I'm the only one who gets to sleep with him!" Pausing briefly, she adds with a commanding edge, "Go sleep with Shen Cui!"

But Fang Zheng doesn't respond. He doesn't even seem to hear her.

He only sees Fang Yuan.

Yet, looking directly at Fang Yuan feels akin to staring into the sun—it sears his very soul. Even summoning the courage to glance in Fang Yuan's direction drains him. To Fang Zheng, Fang Yuan is like an unforgiving sun; the closer he moves toward him, the more he feels consumed by its scorching heat. His entire body is drenched in sweat, as though he has just emerged from a torrential downpour, and his breathing grows labored, each inhale shallow and uneven, as if his lungs might collapse under the weight of his terror. Despite this, he forces himself forward, step by agonizing step. Each stride saps what little energy he has left, and the next step demands even more than the last.

After what feels like a hellish eternity, Fang Zheng finally stands before Fang Yuan. Yet, even now, he cannot bring himself to meet his brother's gaze. Merely glimpsing Fang Yuan's presence makes him feel as though he is standing too close to the sun—its flames licking at his skin, roasting him alive, threatening to reduce him to ashes at any second. Summoning every ounce of willpower, he stammers, "B-Brother... t-t-tomorrow is... th-the a-awakening... c-ceremony..."

His voice cracks, each syllable clawing its way out of his throat like a dying breath. He tries to continue, but his words falter, choking off mid-sentence. Only after forcing out the last remnants of his strength does he manage to whisper hoarsely, "Y-Y-You... s-should... g-go t-to... s-sleep... q-quickly... D-Don't... d-don't... t-tell... s-stories to... G-G-Gu Xianer..."

As soon as the words leave his lips, Fang Zheng collapses inwardly, his body trembling uncontrollably. Exhaustion overwhelms him, dragging him to the brink of collapse. Every fiber of his being screams that Fang Yuan is devouring him piece by piece, consuming him slowly, mercilessly, and delivering a slow, pitiful demise.

Fang Yuan looks at Fang Zheng with growing confusion. Something feels off, and a deep sense of unease begins to creep over him. It's as if an invisible danger is lurking nearby. Instinctively, he tightens his embrace around Gu Xianer, who is already clinging to him. Then, with concern in his voice, he says, "I know. But thank you for reminding me. Gu Xianer asked me to tell her a story, but I refused."

He pauses, his brow furrowing with worry, and asks hesitantly, "Is something wrong? You don't look well... Is everything okay?"

But Fang Zheng doesn't hear a word Fang Yuan says. His body trembles violently, and the lamp quivers in his hand, its flame flickering erratically. The unstable light casts jagged, monstrous shadows of Fang Yuan across the room, surrounding Fang Zheng like a suffocating shroud. To Fang Zheng, it feels as though these terrifying shadows have already closed in on him, leaving no escape.

Summoning every last shred of his strength, he forces himself to raise the lamp toward Fang Yuan's face. The harsh, flickering light transforms Fang Yuan into a horrifying figure—a demon emerging from an abyss of endless suffering. For the briefest instant, their eyes meet.

The moment their gazes lock, Fang Zheng's mind goes blank. His breath catches in his throat, freezing him in place. In that fleeting second, Fang Yuan's eyes seem to belong not to a human but to a terrifying entity, one so fearsome that even death itself would recoil. Fang Zheng feels as though Fang Yuan's gaze isn't just consuming the light of the lamp—it's devouring his very soul, stripping away his essence piece by piece.

Then, the lamp slips from his trembling hand, clattering to the floor. The room plunges into darkness, amplifying Fang Zheng's terror. His rational mind shuts down completely, leaving only primal instinct to guide him. Without thinking, his body jerks backward, desperate to flee from the monstrous presence that seems intent on consuming him. His panicked leap is so frantic that he slams into the wall with a sickening thud before collapsing onto the floor.

Now sprawled on the ground, Fang Zheng feels as though even his instincts are being devoured by Fang Yuan's overwhelming aura. His heartbeat pounds in his ears, deafening and erratic, each pulse threatening to burst through his chest and pierce his heart. He lies there, utterly paralyzed, trapped between the crushing weight of fear and the suffocating void of despair

Fang Yuan rushes to Fang Zheng the moment he collapses. His movements are swift yet deliberate, his expression calm—not out of indifference, but as if he has witnessed far greater horrors before. "Light up the room," he commands in a voice that brooks no argument.

At his words, Gu Xianer scrambles to obey, her trembling hands fumbling with the lamp until flickering light spills into the space, banishing the oppressive shadows. As the dim glow spreads, Fang Yuan begins examining Fang Zheng—checking his pulse, breath, and the temperature of his forehead. Despite the chaos unfolding around him, Fang Yuan remains composed, his demeanor steady as though he has faced far darker trials in the past.

After a thorough assessment, Fang Yuan carefully lifts Fang Zheng onto the bed and instructs Gu Xianer, "Bring some water."

Gu Xianer hesitates for a fleeting moment, her wide eyes darting between Fang Yuan—calm, firm, and collected—and Fang Zheng, who lies pale and trembling violently, his mouth agape and eyes wide with unspoken terror. Her small frame quakes as she struggles to process the scene before her. Finally, after a brief paralysis, she stumbles out of the room and returns with a bowl of water, her tiny hands shaking so badly that droplets spill over the edges. She gasps for air, breathless not just from carrying the bowl but from the overwhelming fear gripping her heart.

Her gaze locks onto Fang Zheng once again. His body trembles uncontrollably, his heartbeat thundering so loudly that she swears she can hear it from across the room. Overcome by panic, she rushes forward, her legs striking against each other as she moves too quickly, driven by the desperate thought that every second counts—that if she delays even slightly, she might lose Fang Zheng forever.

The urgency terrifies her, and she stumbles, her trembling legs colliding awkwardly. Desperately, she tries to grip the bowl tighter, but her balance falters. She is falling straight toward the sharp corner of the bed.

Fang Yuan's heart skips a beat as he sees her descent. Without hesitation, he launches himself from Fang Zheng's side, lunging toward Gu Xianer. He catches her mid-fall, pulling her away from the jagged edge of the bed. However, in doing so, his own back slams hard into the sharp corner. Pain explodes through him, but he grits his teeth, ignoring it entirely as his focus remains solely on ensuring Gu Xianer's safety.

Meanwhile, the bowl flies out of Gu Xianer's hand, propelled by the force of Fang Yuan's quick movement. It hurtles straight toward Fang Zheng, who is lying motionless on the bed. The water spills directly onto his face, pouring into his wide-open mouth, eyes, and nose.

Fang Zheng reacts instantly. His body jerks upright as though electrified, coughing violently as water invades his throat and nostrils. His arms flail instinctively, trying to shield himself from the sudden assault. He splutters and chokes, his body convulsing as his instincts scream for survival—desperate to expel the intrusive liquid. Before he can fully sit up, the heavy ceramic bowl crashes down onto his head with a dull thud.

The impact sends a searing pain shooting through his skull, causing him to wince and clutch at his forehead. For a moment, he sits there, dazed and disoriented, blinking rapidly as his mind struggles to piece together what just happened. Slowly, his breathing begins to stabilize, and the frantic pounding of his heart starts to subside. The fog clouding his consciousness gradually lifts, replaced by a growing awareness of his surroundings.

As clarity returns, Fang Zheng's physical condition begins to improve. His trembling subsides, and the paralyzing terror that once gripped him fades into the background. Though still shaken, he feels his strength returning bit by bit, his senses sharpening as reality reasserts itself.