Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 7

Ling Xiao darted through the energy storages so fast that even if someone stared at the monitor without blinking, they could barely catch a fleeting shadow on the screen.

Ling Xiao sprinted from one end of the hall to the other, finally spotting the similarly swift Ying Feng around a corner.

“Don’t think of losing me.” Ling Xiao sped up to get in front of him. Ying Feng just glanced at him lightly, not surprised by his appearance. “Don’t forget, I’m also one of the shareholders.”

Ying Feng neither welcomed nor rejected him. He threw the chip he got from Zhen He into the air, then made a magnifying gesture. A transparent map opened up, showing detailed routes drawn in white lines. As they moved, the map moved with them, even rotating based on their orientation. Even the locations of the cameras along the way were meticulously marked.

Guided by it, they avoided surveillance and went straight to a secluded laboratory. A warning sign on the door read: Critical Research Area — Unauthorized Personnel Not Allowed.

Presumably, no one was expected to visit, so the door wasn’t locked. Ying Feng stowed away the map, and the two pushed the door open and entered.

The so-called critical research area was much more rudimentary than Ling Xiao expected—a few unidentified instruments, some differently colored potions, shelves piled with old archives, and an ordinary-looking old computer in the corner. Its model was so outdated that many now wouldn’t deign to use it.

“It seems that this Master Tai Yin really values old things,” be it people or objects.

Without a word, Ying Feng pressed the power button. The aged machine, not used for a long time, buzzed impatiently. Ling Xiao blew on the dusty keyboard, and a cloud of dust made him cough.

Before Ling Xiao blew the dust off, Ying Feng had already covered his nose and mouth. When the dust settled, Ling Xiao’s eyes, tearful from coughing, were revealed. He was still waving his hand in front of him, with visible dust particles dancing around.

“Idiot,” Ying Feng muttered under his breath.

Ling Xiao, with teary eyes, looked at him resentfully. He had blown the dust off, fearing his hands would get dirty while typing, but now he was too choked up to speak.

Not wanting to waste time, Ying Feng connected the unlocker given by Zhen He to the computer. A loading bar immediately appeared on the screen.

In a short while, the password was cracked, revealing an ancient operating system. Ling Xiao had only seen such an interface in history books about computers.

Ying Feng was rapidly typing on the keyboard. Not knowing where Ying Feng had learned how to operate such an antique machine, Ling Xiao was amazed. “How do you know how to use this?”

Knowing that Ling Xiao wouldn’t let it go if he didn’t reply, Ying Feng said, “There’s a place called the library.”

“You specifically borrowed books to learn an outdated operating system?” Ling Xiao couldn’t understand. “You really go all out searching for the lover of your past life.”

“You wouldn’t understand.” Ying Feng was already browsing Tai Yin’s research logs, efficiently searching for keywords.

“This is it,” Hearing Ying Feng say this, Ling Xiao immediately leaned in to look. It was the first time their heads were this close.

—X Year, X Month, X Day. Today, Shang Yang tried to commit suicide. He stole my dagger and slit his wrist.

“So Tai Yin’s Qizi is called Shang Yang,” Ling Xiao commented upon reading. “I wonder if this name is from his past life or this one.”

“It’s definitely from a past life.”

“How do you know?”

“Because the journal is written by Tai Yin. No matter what his reincarnated form is named in this life, in his eyes, he’s always the past life’s Shang Yang.”

Ling Xiao couldn’t retort. He pursed his lips and continued reading.

—After I noticed his actions, I rushed to snatch the dagger from him. During the struggle, he also cut me. Our blood spilled to the ground at the same time. Then, something unbelievable happened.

—The blood from him, as if having a life of its own, flowed towards mine. It’s as if there was a magnetic pull between our blood. Both of us were stunned by this sight, and his suicidal act halted because of this.

—Eventually, our blood pooled together, with elements of me in him and him in me, becoming indistinguishable. I suspect that his blood in this life hasn’t been tainted and still carries the memories of the past life.

—If this hypothesis is true, then every fledgling who hasn’t undergone the coming-of-age ceremony can use this method to find their soulmate from a past life. Sadly, I can’t obtain more blood samples to prove this.

The research log ended here. The identification method described was much simpler than Ling Xiao had anticipated, but even Tai Yin himself couldn’t confirm its authenticity.

“Do you think what he wrote is credible?” After a long silence, Ling Xiao was the first to ask.

Ying Feng seemed to be pondering as well but didn’t respond.

After a brief moment, Ling Xiao asked, “Should we try it?”

Ying Feng frowned. “Try what?”

Ling Xiao turned his head to the computer beside them. This hint was clear enough for Ying Feng.

“There’s no need.” Ying Feng remained unmoved.

“Why not?” Ling Xiao stopped him as he was about to turn off the computer. “Do you think it’s impossible that we were connected in a past life? I also think it’s unlikely, but what if in our past lives, you were my Qizi…”

“It’s impossible,” Ying Feng coldly interrupted him. “Even if it’s from a past life, I couldn’t possibly be anyone’s Qizi.”

“How would you know without trying?” Ling Xiao provoked him without any emotion. “Or are you scared?”

Ying Feng swiftly drew his dagger. “Who goes first?”

All of Ling Xiao’s previous calm was just a facade. Seeing the dagger, he snatched it quickly. “Me first!”

Ying Feng looked displeased that his dagger had been taken. “Why don’t you use your own?”

“I didn’t bring it. Too much hassle.”

Ying Feng was speechless. A dagger was an essential weapon for every Tianxiu person, as crucial as a terminal or a card, yet Ling Xiao didn’t even carry one.

While Ying Feng silently judged him, Ling Xiao unhesitatingly pricked his fingertip. He looked around for a suitable place and finally chose a spacious windowsill. A drop of dark red liquid dripped onto the snow-white surface.

“It’s your turn.” He returned the dagger to Ying Feng, watching him do the same.

“It’s too far.” Ling Xiao quickly adjusted Ying Feng’s hand. “If it’s that far apart, the blood won’t flow together.”

“Are you done?” Ying Feng whispered angrily. “Just drip it together!”

Even though he said this, under Ling Xiao’s guidance, Ying Feng moved his fingertip and dripped his blood onto the windowsill, a finger’s breadth away from Ling Xiao’s blood.

Ling Xiao intently watched the two drops of blood on the windowsill, incredibly tense.

“Enough!” Upon hearing Ying Feng’s low shout, Ling Xiao realized he was still holding onto Ying Feng’s hand.

He immediately let go, rubbing his burning palm on his clothes. Ying Feng looked even more displeased.

Suddenly, one of the blood droplets quivered. The two men, filled with tension, turned their heads unbelievably to look at the windowsill, their shocked gazes almost piercing through it.

Far away, in an abandoned laboratory, no one knew that these two were conducting such a “ceremony”. Both were captivated by the images on a huge surveillance screen. Meteorites that survived the atmosphere, surrounded by roaring flames, whistled down from the sky. The 3D visual effect made people feel as if they were about to crash into the roof of the hall the next second.

It was the students’ first time witnessing this astronomical phenomenon so vividly. The brave ones watched intently, while the timid ones gasped. Seeing this rare educational opportunity, the instructor delegated tasks and started explaining the event to the students on the spot.

“Due to the presence of a nebula vortex around Tianxiu, asteroid disintegration events occur from time to time. To deal with such accidents, the base is equipped with a protective shield more advanced than that of the military. It not only prevents physical collisions but also resists high temperatures, radiation, magnetism, and toxins. Even the ultraviolet rays from the scorching sun are purified.”

For a better demonstration to the students and also for safety reasons, Zhi Shang ordered the staff to activate the base’s protective shield. A huge semi-circular transparent shield slowly rose from the ground, enveloping the entire base. The visibility of the shield was very low. If one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t even notice it was there.

“Alright, now we are absolutely safe. Even if an asteroid falls directly on us, there’s nothing to worry about.”

This assurance calmed some, but a few students still looked anxious.

“Has our classmate been found?” This was asked by Ping Zong, who was worried about Ling Xiao.

“Ying Feng hasn’t returned either. Has anyone seen him?” Zhu Yue seemed to be the first to notice Ying Feng’s absence.

“Everyone, please stay calm. Our colleagues are already checking the relevant areas. Other students, please stay here and don’t act on your own.” A staff member stopped Zhu Yue, who looked eager to move.

Meanwhile, the person Zhu Yue had in mind, contrary to his usual calm, was staring intently at the two drops of blood on the windowsill. They sat still, making one wonder if the previous vibration was just their imagination.

A minute passed, and the blood remained unchanged. Ying Feng was the first to snap out of it, thinking he was foolish to have participated in this experiment with Ling Xiao. Even more foolish was that, for a moment, he felt nervous.

“Now are you satisfied?” His voice was back to its usual cold tone.

Ling Xiao’s face went through several expressions in a split second, which even he couldn’t interpret, let alone Ying Feng.

Activating the base’s protective shield was indeed an overreaction. Most of the falling meteorites were burned up mid-air, leaving only thick smoke. A few survivors crashed into the sea, creating huge waves.

“Isn’t the lighthouse by the sea?” Lan Sheng asked after watching for a while.

“Yes,” Zhi Shang replied.

“Then, isn’t the lighthouse in the most dangerous position?”

As if to prove his bad luck, a staff member urgently reported, “Chief, we’ve spotted a large meteorite. Based on its trajectory, it’s heading straight for the lighthouse!”

“Activate the lighthouse’s protective shield,” Zhi Shang ordered calmly.

“Yes!”

A moment of silence.

“Report! There’s a malfunction in the remote control of the lighthouse’s protective shield. It’s not activating!”

“What?”

Zhi Shang rushed to the controls, trying the activation multiple times, but there was no response from the lighthouse’s direction.

“Don’t we have daily routine checks? Who was in charge of security today?”

“Report, it was me!” A man stepped forward. Upon seeing him, Zhi Shang frowned. This assistant researcher named Yu Quan was introverted and rarely communicated with others.

Zhi Shang, in his official capacity, was his current superior and, privately, his former senior brother*. But even with this dual relationship, the two seldom communicated beyond necessary work discussions.

*[Shixiong] (师兄) Term used to refer to a male person respectfully who is more senior or older. In this context, it’s similar to senpai.

“Did you check the activation device today?”

“Yes, everything was fine at the time.”

“Then why the sudden malfunction?”

Yu Quan’s poker face remained unchanged. “I don’t know.”

“Calculate the remaining time before the meteorite might hit the lighthouse.”

The answer came almost immediately. “Two minutes thirty seconds, twenty-nine, twenty-eight…”

Zhi Shang handed over the on-site command to his deputy and entered the teleportation device inside the hall.

“Chief, where are you going?”

“There’s a backup manual activation button on the lighthouse.”

“But you can’t possibly make it there in such a short time…” Before the deputy could finish his sentence, Zhi Shang had already disappeared into the teleporter.

“Hey, come take a look at this.” Ling Xiao randomly flipped through files in Tai Yin’s lab and found something intriguing on one of the pages.

He pointed at a photo in the file. “Isn’t this Dr. Yao’s Qizi, Dr. Zhi Shang?”

Ling Xiao flipped back to the cover of the file to double-check. “So, Tai Yin used to be Dr. Zhi Shang’s mentor.”

Ying Feng turned off the computer and chimed in, “They were successive chief researchers of the base. It’s not surprising they have a teacher-student relationship.”

Ling Xiao turned to the next page and exclaimed, “So, Dr. Yao was also a student of Tai Yin? She was a researcher at the base too?”

This news piqued Ying Feng’s interest, and he came over to browse the file with Ling Xiao. Tai Yin had very few students, and the list ended on the next page.

“So, the three last apprentices the genius Chief Researcher took before defecting are Dr. Zhi Shang, Dr. Yao, and this… Assistant Researcher named Yu Quan. Zhen He said Tai Yin was exposed because of the betrayal of one of his students. Could it be one of these three?”

Ling Xiao mused, “Now one of them is the chief, one went to a primary academy as a health doctor, and the third’s whereabouts are unknown. Who knows what they were doing when their teacher caused such a huge commotion back then.”

Ling Xiao casually placed the file back where he found it. His attention was then drawn to the brightly colored potions on the experiment table.

“What are these…”

Before he could finish, a powerful force dragged him to the corner of the lab. Instinctively, he tried to scream, but his mouth was covered.

“Somebody’s here!”

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