The Crimson Flesh

Chunks of fresh crimson flesh, like peach-blossom silk ribbons, spread out in the water. Blood seeped from the flesh, merging into the pitch-black well water, gradually turning it a deep, blood-red color.

He struggled, his hands thrashing wildly, but the more he moved, the more those streaks of blood clung to him like maggots on bone, wrapping tightly around him. He lowered his head and saw a dazzling red on his chest, as if his chest had been torn open, fresh blood pouring out and soaking his robes.

Those hands gripped tighter and tighter, dragging him down to the bottom of the well. Gradually, he found it hard to breathe, feeling as though he was about to suffocate to death.

From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a giant bloody maw surging from the pitch-black abyss at the bottom of the well, preparing to swallow him whole.

His head spun. If he didn't do something, he would be devoured!

From deep within the well, a faint call echoed: "Star... Star..." He felt a despair even deeper than suffocation.

It was this very despair that ignited his will to survive. He suddenly snapped his eyes open. He saw clearly that a red monstrous serpent was lurking in the deepest part of the well, rushing toward him at extreme speed.

That giant bloody maw was the mouth of the monstrous serpent!

If he didn't escape the well, he would surely be eaten by this snake!

With that thought, a surge of vast power flooded his limbs and bones. Summoning the last of his strength, he swam through the layers of flesh and blood, breaking through the surface of the water. The tip of the snake's tail brushed past the sole of his foot, almost wrapping around his ankle!

He immediately leaped out of the well and stood firmly on the ground. His body was still incredibly weak, as if he was about to collapse, but he gritted his teeth and held himself up.

Looking down, he saw a pattern as red as blood wrapped around his hands and neck. His body was covered in blood, which dripped down his pale, slender arms, looking like ambiguous hickeys.

His head spun even more. Closing his eyes, he collapsed to the ground and blacked out completely.

When he woke up again, he found himself lying on a large, soft bed.

The door was ajar, letting in a sliver of sunlight. He slowly sat up and rubbed his forehead, feeling a splitting headache, as if countless silver needles were piercing his temples.

What on earth happened? He thought hazily.

From the moment he fainted, to meeting "God", to being dragged down by the hands in the well, to exhausting his strength to escape that bizarre well, and finally ending up on this bed.

Everything was bizarre yet carried a sense of familiarity, as if it had happened before. Perhaps this was the "loop" God had spoken of.

He recalled the monstrous serpent at the bottom of the well—the giant crimson python with blood-red, murderous eyes and a wide-open mouth baring sharp fangs, eager to swallow him whole.

Those blood-red eyes were clearly a magnified version of Hua Jian's eyes!

But where was Hua Jian?

He intended to fling off the blanket and get out of bed, but his entire body felt limp and devoid of strength. A wave of fatigue washed over him like a tide; his body felt like a waterlogged sponge, making every movement incredibly difficult, and his eyelids grew heavy.

A cold wind blew through the crack in the door. The sunlight had vanished, and something dark and damp seemed to be lurking outside, watching him like a predator waiting for its chance.

Though his mind urged him to stay awake, his body had already shut down, sinking deep into the swamp of sleep.

In his daze, he felt many hands touching his body. The cold, corpse-like sensation made him shiver slightly.

When he finally woke up, the moment he opened his eyes, he saw a face so rotted that its features were unrecognizable. He gasped, almost fainting again.

He closed his eyes, telling himself it was just an illusion. But when he opened them again, he was surrounded by... ghosts with rotting skin, emitting a heavy stench of death.

With their dull, unusually dark eyes, they stared at him intently, never looking away.