Ark Simulator: Don't I Have No Physical Form?

"It's really... an eyesore."

She turned and jumped off the wall, her silver hair tracing a final arc in the air before disappearing into the deepening night.

*

Late at night, Bai Xue turned over restlessly in her sleep, her fingers unconsciously gripping Su Rui's clothes. Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating her slightly furrowed brow.

Su Rui gently smoothed her brow and silently got up. He walked to the window, gazing at the distant night sky, his amber eyes shimmering with complex light under the moonlight.

*

Lappland leaned against a shipping container in the abandoned warehouse, toying with a small silver knife in her hand. Hearing footsteps, she didn't even look up. "Coming?"

Su Rui's figure emerged from the shadows. "What exactly do you want?"

"I've already said it," Lappland brandished her knife, "One day a week, you spend time with me."

"Impossible."

"Then don't blame me for bothering you every day." Lappland's red eyes stared directly at him. "You know I can do it."

Su Rui flicked her tail in frustration. "Why does it have to be like this?"

"Because I love you." Lappland's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "I've loved you ever since Syracuse."

Her fingers traced Su Rui's cheek. "I don't care if you have someone else, but I won't give up."

Su Rui grabbed her wrist tightly. "Don't force me to do it."

"Are you willing to part with him?" Lappland chuckled, then suddenly leaned in and gave him a light peck on the lips. "See you tomorrow, Bell."

Her figure vanished like a ghost into the depths of the warehouse, leaving only a wisp of minty smoke lingering in the air. Su Rui stood there, her amber eyes unfathomable in the moonlight.

As Bai Xue tightened her uniform belt, the silver bell swayed gently in the morning light. She reached out and pressed the Bell, feeling its cool touch on her fingertips.

"We're going on patrol in the East District today," she said, turning to look at Su Rui, who was wiping her shuriken. "We might be back very late."

Su Rui's tail twitched, and her amber eyes lifted from the blade. "I'll go with you."

"No." Bai Xue shook her head and took out a document from the drawer. "Commander Chen specifically instructed that this is a secret operation."

The document bore the red seal of the Lungmen Guard Department, and Su Rui's ears immediately perked up. He knew that mark all too well—its appearance always signified danger.

"Then you shouldn't act alone at all." His voice turned somber.

Bai Xue reached out and smoothed his ruffled tail fur. "That's why we need you here." Her fingertip lightly tapped Wenyue Estate on the map. "In case anyone comes to investigate, you have to guard this position."

Su Rui stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out and pulled off the silver bell around her neck. The delicate chain drew an arc in the sunlight before finally landing in Bai Xue's palm.

"Wear it." His tone left no room for refusal. "Ring the bell if there's danger."

Volume 15, Chapter 849: Lappland is up to something again.

Bai Xue opened her mouth to retort, but gave in when she met his gaze. The silver bell was carefully tied around her neck, standing out against the snow-white collar of her uniform.

"Come back soon." Su Rui adjusted the position of the Bell one last time, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her collarbone.

Bai Xue's ear tips turned red instantly.

The streets of Lungmen East District were noisier than I had imagined.

Bai Xue lowered the volume of her microphone as she weaved through the crowd. The vendors' cries perfectly masked her footsteps, but the silver bell around her neck became a nuisance—it made a faint sound every time she turned around.

"Target has entered the alley," Chen's voice came through the earpiece. "Bai Xue, flank them from the side."

As soon as she turned into the dark alley, the silver bell suddenly began to vibrate violently. It wasn't the crisp sound of being struck, but a vibration with a special frequency—it was Su Rui shaking another matching Bell.

"What's wrong?" Chen frowned as he looked at Bai Xue had suddenly stopped.

"At home..." Bai Xue pressed down on the frantically Bell, "Something's wrong."

Chen flicked his dragon tail irritably. "I'll give you twenty minutes."

There was no one in front of Wenyue Estate.

Bai Xue gripped the dagger and warily surveyed her surroundings, while Yin Ling fell silent. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she suddenly noticed two cups of tea on the stone table in the courtyard—one was half-finished, with a faint lip print on the rim.

Mint-flavored lip prints.

Bai Xue's pupils suddenly contracted.

At this moment, the Lungmen commercial district was at its busiest. Su Rui stood in front of the candy shop, impatiently slapping the ground with her tail.

"Give me another box of mints," he said to the clerk.

"The customer really likes mint," the clerk said with a smile as she packed the package. "This is the third box today."

Su Rui didn't explain. He paid and turned to leave, but bumped into a SilverAsh shadow. The familiar scent of mint wafted over, carrying a faint smell of blood.

"What a coincidence." Lappland's red eyes shone like melting jewels in the sunlight. "You like sweets too?"

Her fingers were already on the edge of the paper bag, her fingertips barely brushing against the back of Su Rui's hand. Su Rui immediately took a half step back, her tail bristling. "Following me?"

"Want some?" Lappland waved the candy box in her hand. "This is the only shop in all of Lungmen that sells Syracuse Mint Candy."

She wasn't carrying her twin swords today; instead, she was dressed casually. Her long SilverAsh hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her black crop top revealed the smooth muscle lines of her waist. Passersby frequently turned their heads to look, but she only stared at Su Rui.

"Shopping alone is so boring." She suddenly snatched the bag from Su Rui's hand. "I'll go with you."

Without waiting for a response, Lappland had already strode towards the clothing store across the street. Su Rui hesitated for two seconds, then followed—he needed to get his candy back.

In front of the fitting room mirror in the clothing store, Lappland was holding up a black choker.

"How is it?" she turned to ask Su Rui, "Does it look like your Bell?"

Su Rui's ears twitched. "Give it back."

"What's the rush?" Lappland put the choker around her neck, the silver clasp standing out starkly against her pale skin. "Check if the back is fastened properly."

She turned around, her silver hair brushing against Su Rui's cheek. The back of her neck was fully exposed to his view, her spine clearly defined like a string of pearls. Su Rui's breath hitched for a moment—there was a fresh wound there, still oozing blood.

"You got into a fight again."

"Jealous?" Lappland's voice was tinged with amusement. "Don't worry, the other side is more seriously injured."

Su Rui reached out and pressed down on the back of her neck, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy. "Turn around."

Lappland obediently turned around, only to find Su Rui pulling a band-aid from her pocket. She paused for a moment, then smiled even more brightly, "So concerned about me?"

"Shut up." Su Rui tore open the packaging, her movements surprisingly gentle.

The moment the band-aid was applied to the wound, Lappland suddenly grabbed his wrist. Her red eyes stared straight into Su Rui's. "You know I want more than this."

The scent of peppermint candy wafted between them. Su Rui's tail froze in mid-air, his ear tips slightly burning. He should push her away, but his body felt as if it were frozen in place.

Lappland seized the opportunity to lean even closer, their noses almost touching. "One day a week, remember?"

I didn't agree.

"But you didn't refuse." Her breath brushed against his lips. "Just like now."

Su Rui suddenly realized how intimate their position was—he had one hand on the back of her neck, her other hand was being held by him, and his tail was unconsciously wrapped around her waist.

Lappland had clearly noticed as well. Her fingertips traced the path up his wrist, finally stopping at his pulse. "His heart is beating so fast?"

"You..."

Before she could finish speaking, Lappland had already kissed her.

The sweetness of the mint exploded between her lips and teeth, mixed with a faint smell of blood. Su Rui's mind Blank, and by the time she came to her senses, her hand was already gripping the back of her head.

The kiss was short, but intensely passionate. When they parted, Lappland's lips were glistening, as if coated with honey.

"It's really sweet." She licked her lips. "Sweeter than candy."

Su Rui then realized what she had done and abruptly stepped back, bumping into a clothes rack. A bunch of metal hooks crashed down, drawing disapproving glances from the shop assistants.

"Guest! Please be careful!"

Lappland seized the opportunity to slip the choker into his pocket. "It's for you." Her fingertips traced his Adam's apple. "Wear it to see me next time."

After saying that, she turned and left, her silver ponytail tracing a dazzling path in the sunlight. Su Rui stood there, the coolness of mint still lingering on her lips.

The choker in my pocket suddenly became scalding hot.

When Bai Xue found Su Rui, he was standing in front of the fountain in the commercial street, lost in thought.

"What happened at home?" she asked breathlessly, pressing down on the frantically pounding silver bell. "Why suddenly..."

The conversation abruptly ended.

Bai Xue's pupils dilated slightly— Su Rui's lips had a bit of mint green icing on them, and his lips were noticeably redder than usual, as if they had been brutally ravaged.

Even more terrifying, she could smell that scent.

A faint, lingering scent of mint.

"You met Lappland." This is not a question.

Su Rui's tail stiffened for a moment. He opened his mouth to explain, but Bai Xue suddenly reached out and wiped the frosting from the corner of his mouth.

"The mission isn't over yet." Her voice was soft, but carried an undeniable firmness. "We'll talk about it when we get home tonight."

As she turned, the silver bells rang out crisply, like a silent accusation. Su Rui stood there, watching Bai Xue's figure disappear into the crowd, her Adam's apple bobbing.

The choker in my pocket felt heavy, like a red-hot charcoal.

After nightfall, Wenyue Estate became eerily quiet.

Bai Xue sat by the veranda, wiping her knife, moonlight streaming across its blade. When Su Rui brought over tea, she asked without looking up, "Did you kiss her?"

Volume 15, Chapter 850: Sweet Talk

The teacup stopped in mid-air.

"Um."

The sound of the blade scraping against the whetstone suddenly became shrill. Bai Xue's movements were steady, but her voice trembled slightly. "Do you like it?"

Su Rui put down his teacup. In the moonlight, his eyelashes cast fine shadows, obscuring his expression. "It's not what you think."

"What happened?" Bai Xue finally looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. "She forced you?"

"No."

This word was like a knife, instantly shattering a certain illusion. Bai Xue's hand trembled slightly, and the blade left a small cut on her fingertip.

The moment the blood seeped out, Su Rui had already grabbed her wrist. He lowered his head and licked away the drop of blood; the temperature of his tongue was shockingly hot.

But I like you more.

These words were like a spell, instantly shattering Bai Xue's defenses. Her tears finally fell, landing on their clasped hands.

"Asshole..."

Su Rui pulled her into her arms, her tail wrapping tightly around her waist. The silver bells jingled softly in the night, like some silent promise.

As the morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, Bai Xue was already dressed. She stood in front of the mirror, her fingers gently tracing the silver bell around her neck—the one Su Rui had personally put back on her last night, the chain still warm from his fingertips.

The girl in the mirror had faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly having not slept all night. Her gaze fell on the black choker on the dressing table, the one that had fallen out of Su Rui's pocket that morning. The leather surface was embroidered with fine wolf patterns in silver thread, and the clasp was engraved with the Syracuse word for "possession."

"Bai Xue?"

Su Rui's voice came from behind him, still hoarse from the morning. His silver hair was sticking up in a mess, his tail was flailing restlessly against the sheets, and his amber eyes looked like melting honey in the sunlight.

Bai Xue took a deep breath, picked up the choker, and turned around. "Explain yourself?"

Su Rui's ears perked up instantly, and the fur on his tail bristled. He opened his mouth, but only managed to utter a single syllable. "..."

"Come with me today," Bai Xue suddenly said, her voice chillingly calm, "To find Lappland."

Su Rui's pupils suddenly contracted. "Bai Xue..."

"It's not a questioning." She tossed the choker back to him, a cold smile playing on her lips. "It's a declaration of ownership."

Lappland is wielding a knife at the Lungmen Guard Department's training grounds.

In the morning light, her long SilverAsh hair was soaked with sweat and clung to her neck. A corner of her black vest was lifted by the wind, revealing a fresh bruise on her side—a result of the fight with Su Rui at the clothing store yesterday.

Good morning, officer.

Without turning her head, she greeted Bai Xue at the door, but suddenly turned her long sword, pointing it directly at the shuriken coming from behind. With a crisp "clang," the hidden weapon was precisely cleaved in two.

"A sneak attack is impolite." Lappland turned around, her red eyes gleaming in the sunlight. "Right, Su Rui?"