{"id":12358,"date":"2020-07-13T12:00:26","date_gmt":"2020-07-13T16:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/?p=12358"},"modified":"2025-09-08T18:33:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T22:33:27","slug":"death-progress-bar-94","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/death-progress-bar-94\/","title":{"rendered":"Death Progress Bar 94"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Annihilation and Tarantula had made too much of a commotion; as soon as Shi Jin had been \u201csaved\u201d, Lian Jun began to arrange their withdrawal.<\/span><\/p>

Xiang Aoting was a battle-hardened soldier and was likely to notice that things weren\u2019t exactly as they seemed. Taking this into consideration, Lian Jun sent Gua Three to intercept him and the other three and lead them the long way around, turning them away from the depths of the \u201cbattlefield\u201d.<\/span><\/p>

In the storeroom, Shi Weichong quickly recomposed himself with a reminder from Gua One and helped the team\u2019s medics transfer Xu Jie to a stretcher.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin watched on from the sidelines, neither calling out to his brother nor approaching him. He knew that Shi Weichong\u2019s emotions must be in a mess, and that he wouldn\u2019t necessarily want to see him right then.<\/span><\/p>

He\u2019d been standing for some time when all at once, the discomfort Shi Jin was feeling grew stronger and stronger. Noticing that he didn\u2019t look good, Lian Jun shooed him to another stretcher and urged him rest. Shi Jin gave in and really lay down and closed his eyes.<\/span><\/p>

Annihilation\u2019s entire team rushed to withdraw from the warehouse. Halfway out, they met up with Xiang Aoting and others led by Gua Three; after a brief conversation, they all hurried outside.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin didn\u2019t remember very much of what happened after that\u2014he fell into a semi-conscious state soon after they pulled out from warehouse no. 1. The aftereffects of the buff were more serious than he\u2019d expected; once he let the tension drain from his body, he was hit with a high fever and his throat began to hurt ferociously, torturing him to the point that he almost wanted to die.<\/span><\/p>

By the time he reawoke, it was already the morning of the next day.<\/span><\/p>

The sun hadn\u2019t fully risen yet. Forcing open his heavy eyes, Shi Jin looked around his dim surroundings and found himself lying in a hospital ward. Discovering that Lian Jun was sleeping next to him on a pull-out bed<\/a>, he hurried to clamp a hand over his mouth and push down the stifling cough that was about to burst out from it. \u201cWhat\u2019s the situation now?\u201d he asked Xiao Si in his mind, touching his sore throat.<\/span><\/p>

< Oh! You finally woke up, JinJin. I didn\u2019t expect the buff\u2019s aftereffects to be so severe, I\u2019m sorry, <\/span>waaaaaaah<\/span><\/em>\u2026 <\/span><\/i>> Xiao Si realized that he had regained consciousness, and it exclaimed in excitement before bursting into tears.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin only felt his head hurt even more. He pulled the blanket up to muffle a few coughs that escaped from his throat.<\/span><\/p>

Seeing this, Xiao Si forced itself to stop crying. < Yesterday, you passed out shortly after lying down on the stretcher. Darling was worried, so he sent you to the hospital, > it explained, making its voice light. < Xu Jie and Shi Weichong are here too. Xu Jie is still in a coma after a surgery to remove a bullet and sew up her face. Shi Weichong\u2019s wound wasn\u2019t deep; he came to see you after it was taken care of and sat by your bed for a long time. Your other brothers went to a nearby hotel to rest and should come by later. Darling has been watching over you for most of the night; he only lay down to rest a few hours ago, after your fever broke. ><\/span><\/p>

Once he\u2019d heard about the situation, Shi Jin felt a little more at ease. He glanced at Lian Jun, who hadn\u2019t woken from his movements, and his lips curved up into a smile. Then a thought flashed through his mind and he hurriedly looked away to check his progress bar\u2014it was, after all, the only reason he went through so much trouble. It had to have dropped a lot, or even better, maybe it was completely eliminated\u2026<\/span><\/p>

Xiao Si noticed what he was doing. < JinJin, Xu Jie really is your main lethal factor,> it said, voice turning stiff. < After she lost consciousness, your progress bar dropped straight to 100, but when she came out of surgery, it rose back up to 300\u2026 ><\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

The system continued hesitantly, < Your progress bar didn\u2019t empty, and it even rose after Xu Jie\u2019s condition improved. Does\u2026 does this mean\u2026 ><\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt means that Xu Jie still hasn\u2019t given up and won\u2019t let me go as long as she\u2019s alive.\u201d Shi Jin collapsed on the bed and looked at the ceiling, a wave of hopelessness washing over him. \u201cIs it possible that I have to kill Xu Jie in order for the bar to disappear?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

If Xu Jie was killed, then what should he do about Shi Weichong? And that aside, Shi Jin didn\u2019t want his hands to be stained with blood just because he wanted to eliminate the progress bar. He wouldn\u2019t allow himself to go down that path, both as a human being and as a matter of principle.<\/span><\/p>

< Most likely, > Xiao Si replied, careful. Seeing that its host was in low spirits, it hurried to offer some comfort. < Maybe it\u2019s not because of Xu Jie. Your progress bar is occasionally affected by Darling, maybe this time is the same\u2014 ><\/span><\/p>

\u201cBut Lian Jun\u2019s progress bar didn\u2019t rise. If I was being influenced by him, then his bar would\u2019ve gone up as well,\u201d Shi Jin sighed. He glanced at the other progress bar in his mind, but found that its value seemed a little off, and blinked. Suspecting that his brain was still muddled because he\u2019d only just woken up, he frowned, rubbed his eyes, and took another look, but the number didn\u2019t change. \u201cIt went down! Lian Jun\u2019s progress bar went down!\u201d he cried out, sitting up.<\/span><\/p>

< What? > Shocked, Xiao Si checked the bar too, then screamed, < Ah ah <\/span>aaah!<\/span><\/em> It really went down! It dropped a little bit, to 499! It\u2019s the first time it\u2019s ever dropped below 500! Is this because he\u2019s been taking care of his health lately? ><\/span><\/p>

\u201cAbsolutely!\u201d Shi Jin sat up, immediately perking up\u2014as if he could spare attention for his own progress bar now! He turned to stare at Lian Jun, an expression of shock and delight on his face.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun opened his eyes and watched him quietly.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cUh…\u201d Shi Jin froze, frantically trying to recall if he\u2019d accidentally spoken out loud when he was talking to Xiao Si just now.<\/span><\/p>

After thinking for a moment, he was certain that he hadn\u2019t because his throat was so sore it would\u2019ve been impossible for him to speak normally with his actual mouth\u2026 So, Lian Jun was probably woken up by him sitting up all of a sudden.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cGood, good morning,\u201d he greeted with a stiff smile, trying to bluff it out. Sadly, he discovered that his voice sounded as harsh and unpleasant as fingernails scratching on a blackboard, and grabbed at his throat in horror.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun blinked, the confusion of sleep soon fading from his eyes. He lifted the quilt and got up to touch Shi Jin\u2019s forehead; relieved to find it was no longer hot, he sat down beside the younger man and pulled him into his arms, stroking his back soothingly. \u201cDid you have a nightmare?\u201d he asked. \u201cI\u2019m here, don\u2019t be scared.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

What a sweet and thoughtful Darling.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Shi Jin calmed down in an instant and relaxed against him, hugging him and closing his eyes with contentment.<\/span><\/p>

It was nice to have this person by his side.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cStill sleepy?\u201d Lian Jun asked softly, kissing the top of his head. \u201cDrink some water before you go back to bed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Yes, dear, whatever you say.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Shi Jin nodded but didn\u2019t loosen his hug.<\/span><\/p>

Seeing this, Lian Jun simply leaned over with him in his arms, picked up the thermos bottle on the bedside table, unscrewed it a little, and brought it to the teenager\u2019s mouth.<\/span><\/p>

Satisfied, Shi Jin quit while he was ahead and released him to take the bottle. Taking a sip, his sore and scratchy throat immediately felt much better. He gave Lian Jun a smile and wanted to speak, but just as he was about to open his lips, Lian Jun pinched them closed.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe doctor said that the damage to your throat is a little serious and you need to take good care of it. You should talk as little as possible for the next few days,\u201d he advised him. He helped Shi Jin lie back down, then leaned down to kiss his forehead. \u201cSleep, it\u2019s still early.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin was actually a little worried that Lian Jun would ask him how his throat was damaged, and he had even decided to come clean about Xiao Si. Unexpectedly, Lian Jun had skipped straight over that issue, so Shi Jin let it go for now as well. Nodding compliantly, he motioned for Lian Jun to sleep too. Lian Jun\u2019s progress bar had only just dropped down by 1 point\u2014it wouldn\u2019t do for it to go back up because of lack of sleep.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun understood what he meant, kissed him again, and said, \u201cYes, I\u2019m going back to sleep. Wake me up if you need anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin nodded and closed his eyes, listening to the movements of Lian Jun lying down on the pull-out bed. As he watched that tiny difference in his lover\u2019s progress bar in his mind, he drifted off to sleep without even realizing.<\/span><\/p>

When he woke up again, it was already 10:00 a.m. Lian Jun was awake and sitting by the hospital bed reading documents.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin was a little embarrassed\u2014he hadn\u2019t thought he\u2019d sleep for so long after going back to sleep. He got up to wash and brush his teeth, then let the doctor do a check-up and obediently took his medicine. Once he\u2019d made sure that his throat was better, he asked, \u201cDid you do your exercises this morning?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun didn\u2019t expect that the first thing Shi Jin would do after he could speak would be to worry about him. Instantly in a good mood, he poured Shi Jin a cup of honey water. \u201cI did, in another ward. Do you want to check?\u201d he replied, gesturing towards his collar.<\/span><\/p>

Without hesitation, Shi Jin reached over and pulled at his collar to take a look, then squeezed his arm and nodded sagely. \u201cWell, you\u2019re telling the truth\u2014your muscles show that you have indeed exercised. Here, a reward,\u201d he said, leaning in to give him a kiss.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun smiled and pinched his face, then motioned outside the ward. \u201cShi Weichong is outside, waiting to see you. Xu Jie woke up this morning, but she doesn\u2019t seem to be in a great place, psychologically. She may need to see a psychologist.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

She doesn\u2019t seem to be in a great place psychologically?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Shi Jin glanced at the progress bar, steady at 300, and frowned. \u201cLet Shi Weichong come in first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun nodded. He helped him fix the quilt then turned around, intending to go to the door.<\/span><\/p>

But Shi Jin stopped him. \u201cLian Jun, would you blame me if I said I\u2019m not going to send Xu Jie to prison, like we\u2019d planned?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun looked back at him and replied earnestly, \u201cI won\u2019t blame you, but I don\u2019t recommend you do that. A hidden danger is always a hidden danger\u2014to avoid future troubles, it\u2019s best to either get rid of it or get it under your control. Continuing to leave it alone is a bad choice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI know.\u201d Shi Jin sighed, tugging his hair helplessly. \u201cBut I can\u2019t get rid of her, and if I send her to jail, Shi Weichong wouldn\u2019t be able to stomach it and would definitely come to beg me. Right now, I can\u2019t continue to sprinkle salt on Shi Weichong\u2019s wounds\u2026 Actually, I\u2019ve come up with a compromise that would both keep Xu Jie under control and give Shi Weichong some time to adapt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun\u2019s eyes flashed. \u201cWhat compromise?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin didn\u2019t answer, asking instead, \u201cDoes Annihilation have its own psychiatric hospital abroad? One that\u2019s isolated from the outside world?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun immediately understood what he meant. His fingers drummed on the armrest of his wheelchair, then he smiled. \u201cSomething like that? Annihilation has plenty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Lian Jun let Shi Weichong enter, then left, allowing the two brothers some privacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shi Weichong was also wearing hospital pajamas, and looked haggard, with heavy black circles under his bloodshot eyes. He sat down next to Shi Jin\u2019s bed and checked on his condition, then asked, \u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine. The fever is gone, now it\u2019s just a sore throat,\u201d Shi Jin replied, pouring him a glass of water. \u201cAnd how are you? Is your wound serious?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shi Weichong shook his head and accepted the water. He kept silent for a moment, weighing his words, then said, \u201cXiao Jin, I\u2019m sorry, I…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have to send Xu Jie to prison\u2014the kidnapping didn\u2019t alert the authorities, and we settled it by ourselves, so we don\u2019t have to go through legal procedures,\u201d Shi Jin interrupted him, going straight to the point. As Shi Weichong\u2019s eyes snapped up to look at him, he said seriously, \u201cBut I can\u2019t forgive Xu Jie for what she did to my mother. Although she didn\u2019t do the deed herself, she did induce my mother to committing suicide.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shi Weichong\u2019s hand tightened on the glass, and his eyes dimmed once more. \u201cWhat do you want to do?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard that Xu Jie\u2019s not in a good place mentally and that she needs to see a psychologist.\u201d Shi Jin didn\u2019t like the way the atmosphere of their talk had shifted; he pulled up his blanket, then looked down at the hollow of his palms and continued, \u201cPerhaps it\u2019s because my mind is too devious itself, but I can\u2019t help thinking she\u2019s only pretending. Apparently one of Fifth Brother\u2019s fellow apprentices is a very famous psychiatrist\u2014I\u2019d like him to examine Xu Jie. My request is that regardless of the result of the examination, you still have to send Xu Jie to one of Annihilation\u2019s psychiatric hospitals and never let her out again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Taken aback, Shi Weichong couldn\u2019t stop himself from calling out, \u201cXiao Jin\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe has done something wrong and she needs to be punished,\u201d Shi Jin interrupted him again and looked up at him with firm eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t need to kill her and I can even keep her out of prison, but I can\u2019t forgive her and let her spend the rest of her life in comfort, with the chance that she\u2019ll find another opportunity to hurt me! Big Brother, you might say I\u2019m cruel or unfeeling, but on this one issue, I\u2019ll never give in. I have to be the one to decide the hospital. You can arrange whoever you want to take care of her, you can even inspect the environment in person and make sure that I won\u2019t be able to send someone to abuse her in secret, but she can never be free. I only have one life, I don\u2019t want to have to keep looking over my shoulder, afraid\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry.\u201d Shi Weichong suddenly put down his glass and hugged him, his voice heavy. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Xiao Jin, I never meant to push you this far\u2026 I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shi Jin froze. He turned his head a little to glance at him, calling out, \u201c…Big Brother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to make so many concessions for me,\u201d Shi Weichong said, shutting his eyes tight. \u201cAnd there\u2019s no need for an examination\u2014there is nothing wrong with my mother\u2019s mental state, she\u2019s just faking it to evade legal responsibility. That\u2019s the exact reason I came here, to tell you about that. You can deal with her however you want, I won\u2019t have any objections.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c…Huh? You\u2019re not here…\u201d <\/span>To plead for her?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Shi Jin was bewildered; he didn\u2019t understand this development.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not that confused.\u201d Hearing the surprise in his voice, Shi Weichong released him and pulled back. At Shi Jin\u2019s astonished expression, he raised a hand to touch the teenager\u2019s hair, revealing a bitter smile. \u201cIt\u2019s too unfair to you. You\u2019ve given her a chance, but she didn\u2019t appreciate it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBig Brother.\u201d Seeing Shi Weichong look as if he\u2019d thought everything through, Shi Jin actually felt uneasy rather than relieved.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d Shi Weichong shook his head. \u201cI thought a lot yesterday, about what my mother said, about our time together in the past, about what I\u2019ve done in the past few decades\u2026 I thought all night long, trying to find even one thing that made me feel happy, but there was nothing. After all these years, I actually have nothing except for money. Maybe I realized it subconsciously long ago, and that\u2019s why I\u2019ve always wanted to tie you to me\u2026 How did you say it before, overcompensation? Yes, it\u2019s probably something like that\u2014the more I lacked something, the more I chased it. All the while ignoring that on the contrary, it was putting a lot of unnecessary burdens on your shoulders. It\u2019s also what indirectly led to where we are today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBig Brother, this isn\u2019t your fault,\u201d Shi Jin refuted, disapproving of Shi Weichong taking all the blame on himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to comfort me, I understand.\u201d The other man shook his head again. \u201cI\u2019m not saying this because of self-pity or because I\u2019m giving up on myself\u2014it\u2019s just that I\u2019ve never been more clear-headed than I am right now. No one knows my mother better than me: she\u2019s prejudiced, patient, and never gives up until she\u2019s reached her goal. From beginning to end, she was the one who was in the wrong. She\u2019s pushed you to this point, but I refuse to help her abuse you any further. She\u2019s already past the point of waking up; forgiving her over and over again would only allow her to fall further and further. I\u2019m already grateful that you don\u2019t want her to pay for her mistakes with her life\u2014how you want to punish her is up completely to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shi Jin frowned and asked, \u201cEven if I shut her up in a psychiatric hospital? For the rest of her life?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s up to you.\u201d Shi Weichong touched his hair again to comfort him, and promised, \u201cXiao Jin, you don\u2019t have to be afraid anymore\u2014I will never let her hurt you again, never.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once he\u2019d said that, Shi Weichong took his leave. Shi Jin followed him with his gaze, unable to dismiss the feeling that his brother looked a bit wrong when he said that last sentence. Shi Jin gave it some thought, then took out his phone and called Li Jiuzheng.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Although Shi Weichong told Shi Jin he was sure that Xu Jie was only pretending to have mental problems, Shi Jin still asked Li Jiuzheng to invite his elder apprentice brother to come over and take a look at her.<\/span><\/p>

After a visit, Li Jiuzheng\u2019s senior brother gave the same answer as Shi Weichong\u2014Xu Jie was not mentally ill. She was now in a state of excessive calm following an emotional outburst, and all her nervous breakdowns were faked.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong\u2019s reaction to the news was rather dull. He listened to the results of the examination, and even had a polite talk with Li Jiuzheng\u2019s senior brother afterwards, inquiring about how Li Jiuzheng was doing, and about his master.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The man chatted with him cooperatively. Later, once he\u2019d left the hospital, he called Shi Jin.<\/span><\/p>

{Your eldest brother\u2019s mental health isn\u2019t good, it\u2019s true\u2014he\u2019s repressing his emotions too much.} The very first sentence out of Li Jiuzheng\u2019s senior brother\u2019s mouth cooled Shi Jin\u2019s heart.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin frowned. <\/span>Sure enough<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Although Shi Weichong showed a calm and mature attitude Shi Jin couldn\u2019t help but feel that his brother had dealt with his emotions a little too fast. The way he was acting, that calm appearance looked, more than anything,\u00a0 like a self-flagellating stress response to being pushed to his limit. As soon as Shi Jin realized that, he got in touch with Li Jiuzheng to ask for his senior brother\u2019s number, and asked the man to conduct a discreet examination on Shi Weichong in addition to Xu Jie.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIs it a serious issue?\u201d Shi Jin asked.<\/span><\/p>

{It\u2019s not minor,} the man replied. {With all due respect, Mr. Shi, do you have a bad relationship with your eldest brother? Has there ever been a situation where he did something wrong and wanted to make it up to you, but you haven\u2019t accepted the attempt?}<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin didn\u2019t understand why he asked this. \u201cYes, my relationship with him really isn\u2019t great, and something like that has happened. But the reason I didn\u2019t accept his compensation was just because I didn\u2019t need what he wanted to give me, not because I was blaming him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

{It seems this is the crux of the problem after all,} Li Jiuzheng\u2019s senior brother sighed. {When I talked with him, I found that he was very concerned about your situation, and had an urgent desire to make things up to you and your other brothers, but none of them seemed to accept his compensation. Suppress any emotion for too long without being able to vent and things will build up and cause serious psychological problems eventually\u2026 In a nutshell, he\u2019s been overwhelmed by guilt, and something that happened recently has made him feel like he doesn\u2019t even have the right to make amends, so he\u2019s suffering right now. He\u2019s showing a tendency to destroy himself along with the source of his mistakes; you\u2019d better find a way to help him see straight.}<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin hadn\u2019t expected this kind of result. He recalled Shi Weichong\u2019s final sentence from their last conversation and his face twisted into a fierce frown.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you’re seeing this notice, you’re reading this chapter on pirate site – the original translator of Death Progress Bar is Betwixted Translations.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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That evening, after some pondering, Shi Jin called Shi Weichong over. \u201cBig Brother, you\u2019re right\u2014forgiving people again and again will only make them fall deeper. That\u2019s not true for Xu Jie alone, but also for you. Please accompany your mother in the psychiatric hospital for half a year. After half a year, I will allow you to leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong froze. \u201cIs this the punishment you\u2019re giving me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

No, I\u2019m doing this so that you will relax. And why did you ask that so expectantly?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Shi Jin didn\u2019t reply but watched him without any expression, as if the answer was obvious.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong glanced at him and, unexpectedly, smiled. All of a sudden he looked as if a huge weight had been lifted off his back, and leaned over to hug him. \u201cI understand\u2026 Take care of yourself, Xiao Jin. I\u2019ll miss you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI won\u2019t miss you,\u201d Shi Jin replied callously, not returning the hug, and even pushing him away in rejection. \u201cGet out, I want to rest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Pushed away, Shi Weichong stiffened, but quickly covered it up with a smile and helped Shi Jin arrange the blanket, then turned to leave.<\/span><\/p>

The ward became quiet. Shi Jin maintained his blank expression for a while longer, then fell back on the bed and let out a long sigh. Always forgiving someone would only make them fall further\u2026 What a hassle.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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After Shi Jin made his final decision, Lian Jun arranged the hospital as quickly as possible, then went through the procedures for Xu Jie and Shi Weichong respectively, and packed them into the plane.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin didn\u2019t go to the airport to send them off. Instead, he stayed in the ward, leaning on the windowsill<\/a> and staring at his progress bar in a daze.<\/span><\/p>

The minutes ticked by. When the plane\u2019s scheduled departure time arrived, Shi Jin found his progress bar had dropped to 200.<\/span><\/p>

< When Xu Jie arrives at the hospital and is put under close supervision, your progress bar should fall even more, > Xiao Si said, breathing a sigh of relief.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYeah,\u201d Shi Jin replied, looking away and slumping on the sofa by the window, feeling a little aggrieved\u2014in order to let Shi Weichong have a good rest, he had no choice but to reluctantly pick a slightly less bad hospital for Xu Jie.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWhy don\u2019t bad guys get a bad ending? Letting her live so comfortably pisses me off\u2026\u201d he grumbled, unsatisfied.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cShe won\u2019t live comfortably,\u201d Lian Jun\u2019s voice suddenly sounded behind him.<\/span><\/p>

Surprised, Shi Jin turned his head to look at him.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun rolled his wheelchair over to the sofa and stretched out his hand to cover the teenager\u2019s wide eyes. \u201cI\u2019ve prepared a gift for her, one that will make her hospital life absolutely wonderful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Instantly filled with hope, Shi Jin sat up and asked eagerly, \u201cWhat gift? Did you arrange a terrible doctor for her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cNo.\u201d Lian Jun found that he very much liked Shi Jin looking at him with this expression of expectation and trust, and the corners of his mouth pulled up. \u201cRemember the nurse Xu Jie bought off? After she incited your mother to commit suicide, she lived a terrible life in hiding for many years in order to avoid both Shi Xingrui\u2019s investigators and being silenced by Xu Jie. In the end, she developed some mental issues. I found a way to move her to the same hospital as Xu Jie, and set her up in a room next door.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Recalling that they still had that chess piece in their hands, Shi Jin\u2019s eyes grew brighter and brighter. He couldn\u2019t resist hugging Lian Jun and and praising him for his cleverness, then sat up straight and exclaimed, \u201cJustice may be late, but never absent!\u201d What goes around comes around\u2014let Xu Jie and the nurse who hated her torture each other! Oh, this was really satisfying!<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun reached out to turn Shi Jin\u2019s face back to him and said, \u201cNow that all of Xu Jie\u2019s business is dealt with, we should talk about your business.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cHuh? My business? What do you mean?\u201d Shi Jin asked in confusion, obediently turning back. \u201cIs this about the beginning of school? It\u2019ll be fine, my body has already recovered. You don\u2019t have to worry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m not talking about that,\u201d Lian Jun replied, making him look down at the document lying on his knees. \u201cThis is what Shi Weichong gave me before he left\u2014it\u2019s the next stage of Ruixing\u2019s development plan. Ruixing is now in your hands, so what are you going to do with this behemoth, Mr. new president?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin\u2019s feeling of elation crumbled into dust. He looked at the file on Lian Jun\u2019s lap with a foolish expression\u2014how did he forget about this? He just forced Shi Weichong to take half a year\u2019s leave, but then what about Ruixing? He couldn\u2019t run a company!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Translator: Eques<\/em>
Editor: Con
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Eques:<\/h3>

And so, this arc is officially finished! \ud83c\udf89<\/p>

This chapter also concludes the first part of the novel. The second part includes curing Lian Jun’s legs, the school arc (or is it?), and dealing with underworld organizations again. We’ll also see much more of the brothers.<\/p>

Let me be honest here: while the first part of DPB is good, it’s the second part that made me want to translate it. (No spoilers but it has to do with how the author handled the relationships – it makes DPB unique among the novels of its genre, in my opinion.)<\/p>

Okay, now on to the school arc… but before that, prepare to do some squealing.
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