HOLM : Chapter 55

When Ji Mian regained consciousness, it was early the next morning.

The rain, which had poured down all night, had stopped.

Soft morning light spilled at the cave entrance, rustling leaves swayed in the breeze, and birds chirped crisply.

Ji Mian lay on a bed of piled grass, quietly listening, until hurried footsteps approached from outside the cave.

“Brother! You’re awake!” 

Ji Cheng, holding something in his arms, broke into a smile when he saw Ji Mian awake.

He put down what he was holding—a large leaf filled with a dozen or so plump round fruits.

“These wild fruits are sweet and filling. I relied on them to get through yesterday,” Ji Cheng said, picking one up. “Here, try one!”

Ji Mian didn’t respond.

“They’re not poisonous, see? I’m still perfectly fine!” Ji Cheng reassured, popping a fruit into his mouth for demonstration.

Juicy sweetness filled his mouth, and his face lit up with satisfaction.

Ji Mian remained silent.

Ji Cheng pushed the fruit toward him again.

Ji Mian said flatly, “I’m not hungry.”

Ji Cheng hesitated, looking as if he wanted to say something, but upon meeting Ji Mian’s emotionless gaze, he muttered, “Oh… okay.”

“I’ll just leave them here, so eat them when you’re ready,” Ji Cheng said, retreating a bit.

Ji Mian braced himself to sit up, and a fiery pain seared through his chest. Even breathing caused an ache, as if his lungs were burning.

Despite a whole night passing, his injuries hadn’t improved. A simple movement made his vision spin, leaving him speechless for a few moments.

Leaning against the cold cave wall, Ji Mian’s sweat-soaked clothes clung to him.

Although he wanted to leave as soon as possible, his body wasn’t strong enough for the journey. He wouldn’t make it out of the forest before collapsing midway.

The harsh truth struck him like a knife to the heart. Ji Mian frowned, pressing his hand to his forehead.

With no communicator, there was no way to contact Chu Shiye.

Chu Shiye…

Ji Mian inhaled slowly and forced himself to eat one of the fruits. 

Ji Cheng’s eyes lit up as he watched.

The fruit didn’t taste bad, but swallowing it felt like pushing a piece of raw iron down his throat, scraping and tearing as it went. The pain was sharp and unrelenting.

Expressionless, Ji Mian picked up another fruit.

After slowly finishing three, the discomfort in his stomach eased slightly. Leaning back against the wall, he closed his eyes to rest.

After a while, he opened them again and turned to Ji Cheng. “How long have you been here?”

“Since yesterday morning,” Ji Cheng replied immediately.

His spacecraft had crashed at the forest’s edge. Knowing this planet might have wild beasts and that the open plain was unsafe, he had ventured into the forest to find shelter.

Luck had been on his side. After walking for a short while, he had discovered this cave.

Ji Mian said nothing.

So, they had both arrived on the same day—just at different times.

What a strange coincidence.

Ji Mian’s gaze swept over the grassy bed he was lying on and the pile of dry wood nearby. “Did you make these?”

Ji Cheng shook his head. “No, they were already here when I arrived.”

Ji Mian’s gaze shifted toward the cave entrance.

It seemed there were traces of other human activity in the forest. 

Could this planet have inhabitants?

If that were the case, it meant this wasn’t a completely uninhabited wasteland. If they could find the locals, there might be a way to contact the outside world.

“This is the Third Star System, right?” Ji Mian asked.

Ji Cheng nodded enthusiastically, happy to provide answers.

But Ji Mian’s expression darkened.

The exit of a random jump point was unpredictable. Just as he had fallen from the First Star System to the Seventh Star System, now he had ended up in the Third.

The distance between the Third and Seventh Star Systems was vast.

Chu Shiye might not even be in the Third Star System, let alone near him.

Ji Mian’s fingers tightened slightly.

He could only hope that Chu Shiye was safe—and not too far away.

No matter what, he believed they would meet again.

Ji Cheng, oblivious to Ji Mian’s thoughts, asked hesitantly, “Brother, what do we do now?”

Ji Mian answered coldly, “You can leave on your own. There’s no need to drag me along.”

Ji Cheng immediately objected, “No way! I… I’m scared I’ll get lost out there. I can’t do anything on my own—I’d starve to death!”

Although he said this, he didn’t seem overly worried about their situation. Whether it was optimism or ignorance, Ji Mian couldn’t tell.

Ji Mian gave him a sidelong glance. “You don’t have anything on you to contact the outside world?”

“No,” Ji Cheng admitted after a moment of thought. “The spacecraft crashed, and my communicator broke. I have nothing left.”

Ji Mian’s tone remained emotionless. “You saved me. I’ll do my best to get you out of here. But after that, we’re done.”

Ji Cheng’s face fell. “Brother…”

“Don’t call me that,” Ji Mian said coldly, his eyes indifferent. “Or do you think calling me that makes you feel better? That it’ll erase everything from the past?”

Ji Cheng: “…”

Ji Mian’s words pierced through him, leaving him unable to respond.

It was true. During all those years of hostility, he had never once called Ji Mian “brother.”

Now, when he finally uttered the word again, it felt like they had returned to a time when Ji Mian had treated him kindly.

But he knew—there was no going back.

Sometimes, simply apologizing wasn’t enough to change anything.

Not to mention, the “brother” he is now referring to has been deliberately targeted by him for so many years with unknown malice.

The cave was silent, as if the air itself had frozen.

Ji Mian closed his eyes, intent on resting. He needed to recover as quickly as possible so he could find Chu Shiye.

While he slept, Ji Cheng quietly activated the medical device, scanning Ji Mian in hopes of alleviating his injuries, even if just a little.

Over the next two days, Ji Mian remained in the cave, consuming only small amounts of water and fruit.

Even so, by the end of the second day, he was able to stand and move on his own.

Despite the persistent pain and the injuries that had not fully healed, Ji Mian had managed to endure the most difficult stage.

Ji Cheng was astonished. He knew his brother had a strong regenerative ability, and even combat-capable ability users of the same level would struggle to injure him—that was back when his brother was still S-class. Now, wasn’t his brother merely B-class?

Frankly, if Ji Cheng were in the same condition and without the aid of a healer, he reckoned it would take him over a month to even begin to recover.

Looking at Ji Mian’s pale face, Ji Cheng suddenly thought of a question. “Brother, how did you end up here?”

Ji Mian didn’t answer. Instead, he walked toward the cave entrance.

Ji Cheng hurriedly picked up the fruits on the ground and asked, “We’re leaving already? Aren’t we waiting for someone to come rescue us?”

Ji Mian stopped.

Ahead of them lay a vast, seemingly endless forest. The leaves swayed and rippled, creating an impenetrable green horizon.

Even though Ji Mian didn’t reply, Ji Cheng immediately understood his meaning.

Ji Cheng muttered, “…Yeah, makes sense.”

The forest was so expansive that waiting for someone to find them might take forever.

Quietly, Ji Cheng trailed behind Ji Mian, and the two began their trek through the forest.

Ji Mian’s body was still frail, and after walking for a while, he had to stop and rest.

Moreover, his spiritual power had yet to recover, and he couldn’t summon his spirit entity for now.

In truth, even if he could summon his spirit entity, he had no intention of doing so in Ji Cheng’s presence.

After all, Ji Cheng was still part of the Ji family.

Once he could contact the outside world and ensure their safety, Ji Mian intended to part ways with Ji Cheng immediately.

As they walked, a sound interrupted the silence.

*Grumble.*

Ji Cheng’s stomach growled.

The fruits were gone.

Those fruits had been harvested from shrubs near the cave, and now that they had left that area, they hadn’t found any similar bushes.

Ji Cheng turned toward Ji Mian, his face full of anticipation, but Ji Mian ignored him. Instead, he picked up the sharp shard in his hand and cut off a branch.

Startled, Ji Cheng thought it was a warning and immediately clutched his stomach, not daring to say a word.

But soon, he noticed Ji Mian walking a few meters away to gather some strange-looking plants and piling them up.

Ji Cheng recognized the plants but didn’t know their name or purpose.

Leaning against a tree trunk, Ji Mian’s long, dexterous fingers began weaving the branches into a shape.

He had learned this from Chu Shiye.

During a conversation, Chu Shiye had once mentioned how his foster father taught him to trap small animals in the wild.

Ji Mian tossed a rock to Ji Cheng and pointed at the strange plants. “Smash.”

“Oh, oh!” Ji Cheng quickly obeyed, squatting down and smashing the plants with the rock.

The plants quickly oozed pale green liquid that dripped steadily. Ji Cheng curiously rubbed his hand on the tree trunk and asked, “What’s this for?”

Ji Mian didn’t answer, instead focusing on reinforcing the structure in his hands.

These plants were called *Guardian Grass*, known for their resilience and widespread growth across various planets.

Ji Mian had learned from Chu Shiye that the sap of *Guardian Grass* emitted a unique scent that attracted small animals.

Not getting a response, Ji Cheng wasn’t discouraged. He continued to crouch beside Ji Mian, watching attentively. Suddenly, his eyes widened. “I get it now! This is a hunting trap!”

“Brother, when did you learn how to make these? That’s amazing!”

Ji Mian still didn’t answer.

He scanned their surroundings and walked forward.

Ji Cheng, carrying the smashed plants, followed closely behind. Ji Mian wandered for a while before finally stopping in a chosen spot.

He set the trap, placing the sap-dripping *Guardian Grass* in a ring to mask the trap.

Silently, Ji Mian led Ji Cheng into a nearby patch of grass to hide.

Crouching behind a small mound of dirt, Ji Cheng was astonished to see the ground near the trap begin to shift. Soon, it caved in slightly, and a small, white-furred creature with long, upright ears emerged.

It was a nest.

The little creature hopped toward the trap, drawn by the scent of the sap from the *Guardian Grass*. It sniffed left and right.

Under Ji Cheng’s expectant gaze… the small creature jumped into the trap.

The mechanism was triggered, snapping shut instantly. The little animal was caught, its legs flailing desperately.

Without waiting for Ji Mian to speak, Ji Cheng rushed forward and grabbed the trapped animal.

“Got it! Got it!” Ji Cheng shouted excitedly, practically howling in delight. Ji Mian remained silent.

Setting up traps and catching wild animals—this too had been taught to him by Chu Shiye.

That Alpha seemed to know how to do everything… which meant he would definitely survive, no matter what.

*Snap.*

By the forest stream, a small fire was burning. Ji Cheng held the small white creature in his arms and said, “Brother, it’s so cute.”

Ji Mian: “You can let it go.”

Ji Cheng hesitated. “…On second thought, maybe not.”

The little creature was still naively nibbling on some grass. Ji Cheng patted his stomach and muttered, “Today it eats grass, but tomorrow it might eat people. It’s too dangerous; we absolutely can’t let it live.”

Ji Mian: “…”

Closing his eyes, Ji Cheng swung his hand down decisively. The small creature was… dealt with.

*Whoosh.*

The stream continued flowing as Ji Cheng crouched by its edge, following Ji Mian’s instructions to skin and clean the small animal.

As he worked, Ji Cheng suddenly spoke up, “Brother, when the time comes, let’s go back together.”

Ji Mian: “Not going.”

Ji Cheng: “But… but that’s your home.”

Ji Mian: “That’s not my home.”

Ji Cheng immediately turned his head, protesting, “How is it not your home? I’m still there!”

Ji Mian glanced at him, inexplicably amused.

“That just makes me want to go back even less.”

Ji Cheng: “…”

Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡