Starting from Douluo Continent, I've become a god through daily check-ins.

Chapter 304 Brainwashing

"Let's go, Zero Two, let's go to a farther place," Zero said with a smile.

Zero wrapped a cloth around Zero Two's feet so that they wouldn't get so cold walking on the snow. Zero Two looked at her feet and jumped around a bit, seemingly trying out the "shoes" Zero had given her.

Zero and Zero-Two traveled to many places. They passed a stream, and Zero-Two watched the fish swimming in the water with its big, watery eyes. They crossed a snowfield, which was completely bare except for a vast expanse of white snow. They then came to a forest, where Zero built a snowman on the ground, and Zero-Two watched curiously from the side. After building the snowman, they continued on their journey.

Zero and Zero-Two sat beneath a large, dead tree. Several other enormous tree trunks lay nearby. Zero took out some candy from his bag, which he had obtained after his physical examination, and handed it to Zero-Two, saying, "Here, take this."

Zero looked at the candy in Zero's hand with a puzzled expression, wondering what it was. Zero said, "It's something to eat, just a moment." After saying that, Zero opened the candy wrapper, took out the candy inside, and made a mouth-opening gesture.

Zero Two didn't know why, but she followed Zero's lead and did it with her mouth wide open. Zero gently tossed the candy into Zero Two's mouth, and Zero Two tasted it, a sweet flavor instantly spreading in her mouth. The sweetness of the candy made Zero Two's face flush with excitement. Seeing Zero Two's adorable side, Zero smiled along and casually ate a piece of candy herself.

Suddenly, Zero Two made two "ah ah" sounds at Zero. Zero looked over curiously and saw Zero Two take a book out of its clothes. Judging from Zero Two's expression, it was quite reluctant to part with the book, but it still handed it to Zero.

"Can I see it? Is that alright?" Zero asked.

Zero Two exclaimed "Ah!" again, urging Zero to take it quickly. Zero smiled helplessly, took the book Zero Two handed him, flipped it over, and saw that it was a picture book. The book was called: Monsters and the Prince. After opening it, Zero was deeply amazed by the illustrations.

Ling read aloud all the text beside him, and before he had read for long, the adults' voices came over: "That's right, it's around here."

Three adults carrying guns quickly located their spot, but Zero and Zero-Two were nowhere to be seen under the tree. One of the adults looked around and said to the other two, "They must still be around here, hurry up and look!"

Zero and Zero-Two hid in a hollow behind a dead tree, concealed by leaves so they wouldn't be easily discovered. After the adults left, Zero felt Zero-Two trembling in his arms. Zero-Two's trembling wasn't from fear or cold, but from anger—an extreme anger that made Zero-Two's body tremble slightly.

"Don't worry, I'll talk to them, they should forgive us." Before Zero could finish speaking, the adults' voices came:

"What should I do with number zero?"

"Prioritize ensuring Zero-02's safety; if he resists, kill him!"

Hearing that he was to be killed, Zero became frightened and hugged Zero Two tightly. Zero Two noticed Zero's abnormality, and Zero hugged him even tighter, saying, "Don't worry, I will protect you."

The two continued walking, passing through a plain. Although there were still trees in the distance, they were too far away, and the snow made them blurry. Zero held Zero Two's hand and walked on, while Zero Two followed behind, watching Zero's back quietly without making a sound.

Reaching the edge of the facility, they found it surrounded by iron fences, and guards stood watch at the gate. Zero led Zero Two as they crawled under the fence, finally escaping this place that had been hell for Zero Two. Zero's senses were sharp; he looked back and knew many people were chasing them. But they couldn't stop now; if they did, their fate would be dire! The two of them kept running and running…

Suddenly, Zero Two seemed to be running out of energy and tripped over something. Zero didn't have time to react and was pulled down by Zero Two.

……

Zero and Zero-Two sat under a tree, Zero-Two curled up, holding Zero's right hand. Halfway through the picture book story, Zero-Two stirred slightly. Zero said apologetically, "I'm sorry, this is a sad story. Is it because she's not human that she can't get married?"

"Marriage?" Zero Two asked, his pronunciation unclear.

"Yes, it's a promise to always be with the person you love most. If we're both human..." Zero stopped there, looking at Zero-Two leaning on his shoulder. Zero-Two looked up and gave Zero a forced smile.

"It's nothing, let's keep going," Zero said to Zero Two as he stood up.

Zero tried to stand up, but as soon as she put weight on her legs, she collapsed to the ground. Worried, Zero crouched down and asked Zero-Two, "Are you alright? Let me see where you're hurt?"

Zero noticed that Zero Two had abrasions on his left knee. However, the blood flowing out was blue. But there was no time for Zero to think about that now. Zero was very anxious and wanted to find something to stop the bleeding for Zero Two, but in this desolate wilderness, what could possibly stop the bleeding?

Helpless, Zero hugged Zero Two's knee and gently licked Zero Two's wound. Zero Two was a little scared at first, but feeling the moisture on the wound, Zero Two looked at Zero with some confusion.

Zero looked up at Zero Two and said, "Bear with it. The book says that animals heal by licking their wounds." Then he continued to lick Zero Two's wounds.

Zero Two, watching Zero lick his wounds, suddenly noticed a picture book beside him. It seemed Zero had hastily tossed it aside, leaving a page open. On that page was a woman in a wedding dress, and a man kneeling, kissing her hand. Looking at the picture and then at Zero licking his wounds, Zero Two asked blankly, "Married?"

Zero paused for a moment, then Zero-Two pointed to a picture book beside him and said, "Marriage." Then he pointed to Zero again and said, "Marriage."

Zero smiled and said to Zero Two, "Yeah, I'll go after I leave here. I want to stay with you forever. That way, I'll be your 'Da'."

Zero Two was touched; her face flushed slightly, and her eyes sparkled. "Da..." Before she could finish speaking, tears welled up in Zero Two's eyes. Then, Zero Two couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears, hugging Zero tightly as she cried.

As Zero comforted Zero Two, she noticed the tree beside her and said in surprise, "It's mistletoe."

However, these wonderful days didn't last long. One day, the adults found them. Three fully armed adults, guns drawn, pointed at Zero and Zero-Two. Zero quickly stepped in front of Zero-Two, as he had said he would protect him.

Seeing that Zero and Zero-Two were under control, the adults put away their guns, and three fully armed adults pressed closer to Zero and Zero-Two. Zero-Two shouted and charged towards the middle of the three adults, but was knocked unconscious by the butt of a gun by the adult to Zero's right.

An adult grabbed Ling Er's hands, trying to take her back. Ling Er resisted desperately, and during the struggle, they saw blood flowing from Ling Er's head.

After being apprehended, the two were quickly taken to the lab. Given what had happened, the immediate decision from above was brainwashing. Once brainwashed, all subsequent hidden dangers and problems would be resolved…

Different memories flow through Zero and Zero-Two's minds, from their earliest memories to the present...

(End of this chapter)