Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

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Chapter 31

As soon as Ying Feng emerged from the medical chamber, he found an extra person sitting next to him. The man wore a military uniform, and the epaulets on it indicated his high rank. His sharp eyes, which seemed both smiling yet not, stared at Ying Feng, making him uncomfortable.

Most importantly, though the man was short in stature, he emanated an oppressive aura. Even without the advantage of height, he held an air of disdain, as if he was born superior.

As expected, when he spoke, his tone was one of self-importance. “Let me introduce myself; I’m from the military. You can call me ‘Sir’.”

‘What kind of introduction is that?’ Ying Feng thought.

Fu Yao, not caring about Ying Feng’s thoughts, continued, “Firstly, I want to congratulate you on becoming an adult.”

Unsurprisingly, Ying Feng’s expression darkened, confirming Fu Yao’s suspicion that he didn’t voluntarily undergo the coming-of-age ceremony and was reluctant to accept the reality of its outcome.

Fu Yao, still prodding, added, “Secondly, I must congratulate you on defeating a Kui. Do you know how many people go their whole lives without seeing this epic creature? Not only did you encounter one, but you also defeated it. Quite surprising.”

“The Kui wasn’t killed by me,” Ying Feng retorted coldly. “It has nothing to do with me.”

“It had nothing to do with you before, but now it does.” Fu Yao leaned forward. “Because the one who defeated the Kui is your Qizi. You’re not only involved, but you’re also deeply connected.”

Ying Feng remained silent with a dark face, and Fu Yao sat back.

“Do you have anything to say about why your Qizi could kill the Kui alone? Or can you explain why he possessed Ember II, which even the military doesn’t allow?”

Seeing Ying Feng still silent, Fu Yao stood up. “I know you’ve just experienced some unplanned events and might be a bit overwhelmed. That’s fine; take your time to think.”

He left Ying Feng’s ward, and a medical staff member entered, pretending to check on Ying Feng’s condition casually. “The officer you just spoke to is Fu Yao, a Major General from the military,” he said nonchalantly while examining.

Ying Feng wasn’t interested in who that man was but remembered the name. The staff member clearly wanted to communicate further, but Ying Feng pretended not to notice.

Unable to contain his curiosity, the staff finally asked bluntly, “Did you and your Qizi really defeat a Kui?”

Ying Feng had thought that this news was already widespread. It turned out some still didn’t know.

He kindly advised, “No matter how you got the Ember, I suggest you cooperate with Major General Fu Yao’s investigation. Though he might be a bit sharp-tongued, he is a graduate of Bikong, essentially your senior, and he won’t treat you too harshly.”

“Is there a problem with my medical results?” Ying Feng suddenly asked.

The medical staff was taken aback and quickly shook his head. “You’re very healthy; one couldn’t tell you’ve just undergone the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“If there’s no issue, I’d like to take a shower,” he said. Covered in blood and dirt, Ying Feng, a bit of a clean freak, was reaching his limit of tolerance.

“Oh, alright. Please follow me.” The staff member led him to the bathroom. “Wait a moment; I’ll get you a change of clothes.”

As Ying Feng was led to the bathroom, he was unaware that in a room he’d just passed, Ling Xiao was lying inside, unconscious. While Ying Feng was nearly recovered, Ling Xiao wasn’t so fortunate and remained in a coma. Perhaps, being oblivious to everything was better luck for him at the moment.

Ling Xiao’s primary doctor and his assistant were discussing treatment plans when Fu Yao entered.

“How’s it going here?”

“He’s recovering steadily. However, due to the severity of his injuries, he’s not waking up anytime soon,” the staff informed Fu Yao.

“I’ve confirmed the unknown drug in his system.” Fu Yao handed over the test results of Ember.

“It’s really Ember? The second generation?” Though they had speculated this, the confirmation still surprised them. “No wonder he could kill a Kui all by himself, and no wonder his hormone levels are so chaotic. If he was injected with Ember II, it explains everything. We just don’t know where he got it from.”

“It’s not urgent. I believe that when he wakes up, we’ll get the answers we want. The second generation has strong side effects, and despite researchers’ best efforts, they couldn’t mitigate them, which is why its use has always been prohibited. Have you injected him with a purifying agent?”

“We haven’t,” the assistant answered.

Fu Yao looked surprised. “I remember during the experiment, the military doctor mentioned that those who are injected with the second generation, if not given a purifying agent in time, would die from Ember in their blood.”

“Presumably, those involved in the experiment were all Qizhu, right?” the lead doctor inquired.

“Yes, because the Qizhu generally have a better physical constitution. We feared that the Qizi wouldn’t withstand its side effects, so we selected only the best physically fit Qizhu from the military for the experiment.”

“Actually, it’s the opposite.” The lead doctor displayed Ling Xiao’s health data. “During our check, we found that inside him, there’s a stronger, purer, and more natural purifying energy at work, completely suppressing the negative effects brought by the second generation. With our current medical understanding, no man-made purifier can match it. We didn’t give any additional treatment because of this discovery.”

Fu Yao, sensing new information, quickly inquired, “What is it?”

“It’s a well-known fact that a Qizhu’s saliva has calming, detoxifying, and even paralyzing effects on the Qizi. But no one imagined that it could purify the side effects of the second generation. If not for that, he might have died in the mine long ago. Initially testing the second generation on Qizhu was a mistake. Perhaps it only shows its full potential in the Qizi.”

Fu Yao’s eyes lit up. “That’s an unexpected gain.”

“If this result is confirmed, Ember II can be officially put into use. This would significantly enhance the military’s strength.”

Fu Yao patted the doctor’s shoulder in approval. “Well done.”

Fu Yao dialed the military research institute as he quickly left the room. The two remaining people inside exchanged looks, realizing that the eager Major General had already notified relevant departments for testing. Soon, the long-shelved Ember II might become the military’s secret weapon, elevating the combat level of the Tianxiu people by leaps.

“So, the Qizi obtained Ember II through unknown means, defeated a Kui with it, and saving the Qizhu’s life. The Qizhu, drawn into the coming-of-age ceremony, suppressed the side effects of Ember II, inadvertently saving the Qizi in return. It seems the two are quite fated.”

“Hopefully, they’ll cherish this bond. I just saw the new Qizhu pass by here, and he didn’t look too good.”

Ying Feng washed away the grime, and as he stepped out of the shower, he paused as he passed a mirror.

Hesitating for a while, he wiped away the condensed mist on the mirror. A clear reflection appeared; wet black hair dripping water, its dark hue dominating the bright mirror. Yet more striking were the eyes beneath the bangs—eyes that were as dark as the hair, absorbing every shade of light; they were cold yet immensely heavy.

All the things he refused to acknowledge, accept, or remember were reflected in these dark orbs, constantly reminding him of what had happened.

He still remembered his last thought before going berserk and the reckless brawl that ensued, with rocks falling on them, oblivious to the collapsing mine.

He remembered the feeling of fangs piercing skin and the taste of blood, how he lost himself to instinct and did things he never had before. But the clearest memory was waking up and realizing Ling Xiao was beneath him.

Even if he tried to forget everything else, seeing these eyes in the mirror brought it all rushing back.

A once-in-a-lifetime chance, a bond even the brightest researchers couldn’t sever. Whether willing or not, it couldn’t be changed!

Dressed, Ying Feng left the bathroom and walked down the medical center’s corridor. He passed various military personnel; some eyed him curiously, others nodded politely. Yet none restricted his movements, seemingly convinced he wouldn’t leave.

Ying Feng, dressed neatly, emerged from the bathroom and walked along the corridor of the medical station. He encountered various uniformed soldiers along the way. Some looked at him with curiosity, while others nodded courteously. No one restrained him; everyone seemed to believe he wouldn’t leave the premises.

Ying Feng walked up to the main entrance, and not far from there, a conspicuous road sign stood. Upon reading its directions and distance, he realized that they were very close to the starport, almost as if one step would take him there.

He stood there, staring at the sign, lost in thought, until a crisp, youthful voice came from behind.

“Are you leaving?”

Ying Feng turned in confusion to see the principal of his academy. The principal had just completed treatment on his hand. Being a Qizi and not yet fully matured, his recovery was much slower than that of Fu Yao.

“Where would I go?”

“I don’t know. I just felt like you were about to leave.” The principal walked over and stood next to Ying Feng, both gazing at the sign.

“There once was a man, arrogant and conceited. He wanted someone he desired, regardless of the person’s feelings. He hoped that one day, after becoming a Qizhu, he could freely control the Qizi’s actions.”

“So, he waited for that person to awaken and arranged a perfect enclosed space. No one could escape from inside, nor could anyone enter from the outside. Only upon completing the coming-of-age ceremony would that space open.”

“He was overconfident and presumptuous, thinking he’d surely win the fight. However, to his surprise, the other party, to avoid his obsession, had been hiding their true strength for years to not pique his interest.”

The principal suddenly asked, “Can you guess the result of that battle?”

Ying Feng paused for a moment before replying, “Are you referring to yourself?”

“Yes,” the principal admitted candidly. “I set myself up in a losing situation. He wanted to leave, and the only way out was the coming-of-age ceremony. I thought I’d surely win, but I lost in the end.”

There were many rumors about the principal’s Qizhu, and Ying Feng had finally heard the most genuine version.

“The person who wanted to forcefully take the heart’s blood lost it. The space meant to trap someone else ended up trapping him for hundreds of years. That’s poetic justice.”

“Where is he… Your partner now?”

“He left. By the time I woke up, he was already gone. The last trace of him was at the starport, and he’s never returned since.”

Just when Ying Feng didn’t know what to say, the principal surprised him with another revelation.

“You look a lot like him, almost identical. The first time I saw you, I thought he had reincarnated. But I soon dismissed the idea. The chances of a reincarnated soul having the exact appearance as before would be incredibly slim, right?”

“More importantly, I believe he’s still alive, somewhere in this universe. If I, as a Qizi, have endured until now, how could he, as a Qizhu, be dead?”

The principal hadn’t shared his inner thoughts with anyone for many years, but once he started, he couldn’t stop.

“Although I was the one who made the initial mistake, I resented him for leaving so abruptly at first.”

“You’re a Qizhu, so you can’t understand the feelings of an abandoned Qizi. It’s like the soul is constantly wandering, never finding peace or warmth. Each night is torture.”

“Every day at the Disease Control Center felt endless. Gradually, I realized the unforgivable mistake of my past.”

“Now I’m grateful that I lost in the coming-of-age ceremony. If I had won, I wouldn’t have realized my mistake. I would have continued in my arrogance and conceit, wielding power carelessly and hurting the one I loved.”

“Thankfully, I lost, teaching me the difference between love and theft. I deeply regret my actions, but he decisively left, leaving me no chance to apologize.”

“I know that today’s incident isn’t what you wanted, and you might not want to face the person responsible for all of this. But if you decide to leave, no one can stop you.”

“But if you do, Ling Xiao will walk the path I walked, enduring what I’ve endured. He’ll be sent to the Disease Control Center, with no certainty of ever coming out. And if he does, he’ll be like me, relying on medication to survive, experiencing the pain of abandonment.”

“Back then, my pride prevented me from saying certain things. But now, if I could return to that day, I would say one thing to him as he was about to leave.”

“Ying Feng, you look so much like him. Sometimes I even get confused. Seeing you standing here, gazing at the sign to the starport, it’s as if I’m seeing him from years ago, knowing that once he took that step, he’d never look back.”

“I know this next request might be presumptuous, but can you grant me a wish? Pretend to be him, and let me finish what I want to say?”

Ying Feng’s eyes flickered. “What do you want to say?”

The principal turned and looked deeply into Ying Feng’s eyes. “Please stay.”

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The author has something to say:

Tip: The saliva of the Qizhu has effects on the Qizi such as heat-clearing and detoxifying, pain-relieving and paralyzing, and hypnotic purification. The above effects do not take place simultaneously but adjust intelligently based on the subjective consciousness of the Qizhu and the physical needs of the Qizi.

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