Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

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Chapter 38

Ying Feng rudely threw Ling Xiao into the dormitory and slammed the door shut.

Having endured all the way, this was the second time Ying Feng had publicly ordered him around. Ling Xiao felt humiliated having to obey someone in public—a feeling Ying Feng would probably never understand. As soon as Ling Xiao regained his balance, he angrily confronted him.

“Ying Feng, do you have to embarrass me in front of so many people?”

“When you were publicly hugging and laughing with others, didn’t you feel embarrassed?”

Only then did Ling Xiao realize what was bothering Ying Feng. “You were having dinner with Zhu Yue, and you still care about our stretching training?”

“I am your Qizhu. Don’t I have the right to control you?”

“But I’m not your possession!” Ling Xiao yelled. “It was me who unilaterally involved you in the coming-of-age ceremony, causing our current relationship. You must wish to be rid of me, right? You might as well have agreed to Zhu Yue. He would be obedient to you, not to mention your elusive lover from the past life. If it were your lover from the past life standing in front of you now, I don’t believe you would have treated them the way you treated me yesterday!”

Ying Feng’s face turned livid. Before he could think, Ling Xiao was suddenly thrown away, crashing into a table, knocking items to the floor.

“Ha.” Ling Xiao chuckled bitterly. “Did I touch a sore spot? I knew it. For your Qizi from the past life, you wouldn’t hesitate to turn against your Qizi in this life.”

He struggled to his feet. “Anyway, when you were immobilized in the training hall, I showed no mercy. You once said you’d get back at me one day. Now that I can’t fight back, it’s a good time to repay what you owe.”

Ying Feng had impulsively thrown a punch, and even now, his hand was still shaking uncontrollably. He always believed he could remain calm in any situation, but recent events had repeatedly tested his limits. Staying would only lead to potential domestic violence. He walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Ying Feng walked through the campus with a dark expression. Even though he didn’t display his anger openly, those passing by could feel his palpable fury and instinctively kept their distance. Anyone with common sense would not provoke him at this time, except for one reckless exception.

“Hey, you seem in quite a mood today. That’s rare for you,” a voice chimed.

Ying Feng glared with hostility at the source, surprised to see Zhen He, the notorious internet addict who rarely ventured outside.

“At least it’s rarer than you not being online,” Ying Feng retorted coldly.

“Don’t be hostile right away,” Zhen He casually approached. “I know what you’ve been through and how bad you feel. I wouldn’t want to be forced into a lifelong bond with someone I didn’t like either.”

Ying Feng’s eyes remained hostile. “Did you come here just to tell me this?”

Zhen He smirked mysteriously. “What if I told you I’m here to help you get out of this situation? Would that be more appealing?”

Ying Feng’s expression changed. “What do you mean?”

“The contract system of the Tianxiu people, once bonded, is irreversible. What if, like you, one could be with someone they love but, due to an accident, become bonded in a coming-of-age ceremony, wasting their life in vain? I feel sorry for you.”

Ying Feng narrowed his eyes, “What can you do?”

“I don’t have a solution now, but with our collective power, we will find one.”

“Who are ‘you’?”

“There are many of us who, like you, are unhappy with irreversible contracts. Although our experiences may differ, our goal is the same. We have the greatest scientist in Tianxiu’s history. With time, breaking the blood bond isn’t a fantasy.”

Ying Feng was silent for a moment before speaking. “I’ve suspected from a long time ago that for someone as young and inexperienced as you, to get a detailed map of the base and tools to hack into computers, there must be a powerful force behind you. I assume the scientist you speak of is the owner of the computer we searched for last time?”

Zhen He smiled without denying it. “Now you know how trustworthy my words are, don’t you?”

“No matter how excellent the former chief of the base was, now he’s just a fugitive. I don’t know who you have in your organization, but I suspect there’s more than one person with a hidden identity. If you’re merely researching a way to break the blood pact, why the need to recruit so many? If what you’re researching is truly beneficial, why would the military oppose it?”

Zhen He was secretly shocked by the other’s keen intuition and chuckled awkwardly. “You think too much…”

“The very fact that Tai Yin couldn’t achieve this in so many years indicates the enormous challenges behind it. To succeed in the experiments, a large number of test subjects are needed, as well as massive funding. And all of this can’t come from legitimate sources. Perhaps that’s your real reason for seeking me?”

“Moreover, Tai Yin’s goal isn’t merely to break an unsatisfactory blood pact. He just wants to reestablish a contract with his Qizi from his past life. There’s no intent to change the system. How is it fair to the inexperienced like you?”

“When people like you group together, engaging in activities against the norms and ethics of our society, you’re essentially standing against the military. In blunt terms, you’re rebels. How can I be sure you won’t harm the entire nation under this banner?”

Zhen He was skeptical. “You talk so high and mighty, yet you spent a lot of money just to possibly identify a past life connection from me?”

“That’s because I had an equal chance to start with them. If they had found someone else in this life before I found them, I would have given up. Now that I’ve lost that chance, I won’t bother them.”

“My coming-of-age ceremony might have been an accident, and I’m not satisfied with this forced bond, but it’s a matter between Ling Xiao and me. I won’t stand against the entire nation just because of my personal misfortune. Unless the Tianxiu’s mate system is a calculated conspiracy, I’ll never betray this country.”

Zhen He looked displeased. “Our paths are different, so there’s no point in discussing further. It’s a shame; I admired your capabilities and hoped to have the chance to fight alongside you. Now, it seems that the possibility is almost zero.”

“Yet, what you say today might not represent your future thoughts. Our lifespans are long. Every day when you have to live with someone you don’t like, I hope your sense of justice doesn’t fade.”

He turned to leave. “If you ever change your mind, you’re always welcome to seek me out.”

“Wait.”

Ying Feng’s voice came from behind. Zhen He, who had just turned around, wore a smug smile, confident as ever. “So, you’ve changed your mind already?”

“Since you failed to win me over, is Ling Xiao your next target?”

Zhen He was caught off guard, even his smile froze.

“Ling Xiao is not like me. A few smooth words from you might easily deceive him. He could become a pawn for you or even a test subject. Thus, I’m giving you a stern warning.”

Ying Feng spoke seriously. “If I find out you’re in contact behind my back, I’ll report the truth to the military. They’ll know our entry into that lab wasn’t accidental and will investigate. I hope you have a good explanation for the information and items you gave me. And these surely aren’t the only items your shop sells, right?”

Zhen He’s smile disappeared completely. “By doing this, you’ll get yourself caught too. I don’t need to explain the difference between intentional and accidental intrusion.”

“If it stops you, I’m willing to go to jail.”

Sparks flew between the two, creating tension in the air. A group of students approached, laughing and chatting. Zhen He noticed a few of his clients among them.

Not wanting to be recognized in public, he quickly left with a parting shot.

“Whether or not you want to break the bond is your business. But remember, if Ling Xiao wishes to, can you stop him? Even if I don’t approach him, maybe one day he’ll come to me. We’ll see.”

After a conversation with Zhen He, Ying Feng’s uncontrollable emotions calmed down. He stood still for a moment, then turned around and walked back.

Ling Xiao didn’t run out this time. He was still in the dorm, but he was online. Seeing this scene, Ying Feng’s heart skipped a beat. Should he wait here for him to get off or go up and command him to get off?

Zhen He welcomed Ying Feng back, but to his surprise, there was an immediate delight waiting for him online.

“Hey, junior, I’m really glad to see you.”

Ling Xiao turned around and saw Zhen He slowly walked in from outside.

“I came to you…”

“I know exactly why you’re here.” Ling Xiao was interrupted by Zhen He as soon as he began speaking. “I’ve thought about what you’re thinking long ago.”

Ling Xiao was astonished. “You know what I want?”

“Of course,” Zhen He confidently replied. “You want to sever your relationship with Ying Feng, am I right?”

Ling Xiao stood still in astonishment for a while, then his eyes lit up. “Is it really possible?”

Zhen He felt inwardly triumphant but didn’t show it. “Do you remember the research of that genius scientist I told you about?”

“He’s not dead? He’s still alive?”

“Of course, a person with a conviction wouldn’t die that easily.”

But Ling Xiao’s expression turned from joy to doubt the next moment. “Was his research successful?”

“It hasn’t yet, but I believe it will succeed soon.”

Ling Xiao’s face fell. “I don’t want it.”

Zhen He, who was just feeling triumphant, instantly felt dejected by this response. “Why? Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?”

Ling Xiao seriously said, “I remember reading Tai Yin’s research diary at the base. He discovered this secret because of the suicide of someone named Shang Yang, which means that his reincarnated Qizi would rather dissipate than be with him. If his experiment succeeds, it will only brew a new tragedy. In the future, who knows how many people, due to the ease of breaking blood pacts, will repeat this tragedy.”

“Forcing someone who doesn’t love you to bind with you is a misfortune, both for the loving and the non-loving party. My experience is a tragedy, and I don’t want more people to go through the same misery. You once said true love is not imprisonment, and you don’t approve of such methods, right?”

“Unions like mine are always a minority. I believe that most families are happy and stable, and I wouldn’t want anything to disrupt that stability. Once such a thing is developed, even if they don’t use it themselves, how can they ensure that others won’t use it with ulterior motives to ruin other families?”

Zhen He was more and more puzzled by these two. “You admit that your union is a tragedy. Don’t you want to end your relationship?”

“I do, I dream of it.” Ling Xiao paused, then spat out, “I haven’t slept; daydreaming is all I do. Becoming a Qizi is more painful than I imagined. I didn’t understand why my good friend would commit suicide, but now I get it a bit. But I promised him I wouldn’t do anything I’d regret and that I’d wait for him. That’s why I’ve held on. Like you said, someone with conviction wouldn’t die that easily.”

“No one hates today’s outcome more than me. There was even a moment when I wanted to die with him, but this is between the two of us and can only be resolved between us. If I could regain my freedom, I’d give up many things—my lifespan, my abilities, even sacrificing a hand, a leg, a head… No, not the head. Even if I have to endure mental torture every day, it’s worth it, because nothing can be worse than now. But this doesn’t mean that the freedom I regain should come at the cost of others’ freedom. Even if it’s just daydreaming, I don’t want to make it come true this way.”

Zhen He looked at him incredulously, as if he saw Ying Feng standing behind him. Different times, different places, different people—but they spoke the same words.

“It’s unfortunate, but I don’t want to become one of your test subjects, and I certainly don’t want to aid in wrongdoing. I’ll handle my own affairs in my own way.”

Zhen He shook his head in confusion. “If that’s not what you’re here for, then why did you come to me today?”

“I just wanted to ask if you have any part-time jobs available, so I can earn some pocket money.”

Zhen He couldn’t help but laugh mockingly. “Pocket money? Your Qizhu is so wealthy, and you still need to work for your own living expenses?”

Ling Xiao seemed not to hear. “But now that I know you’re Tai Yin’s accomplice, it’s no wonder you were so familiar with his affairs. I don’t want to take your money. Since our paths differ, I will keep my distance from you. Just pretend I never came here today.”

Zhen He couldn’t resist calling out to the departing Ling Xiao. “What if I told you that I just met with Ying Feng, and he’s very interested in my proposal? You might be able to control yourself, but can you stop him?”

Ling Xiao pondered for a moment. “If he truly said that, I wouldn’t be surprised.” He raised his head. “But I would report you all to the military department.”

Zhen He narrowed his eyes.

“I admit that I despise him deeply, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and watch him go down the wrong path. If it wasn’t for this accident, he would have probably smoothly entered the military academy, joined the military, fought for the country, and become the pride of the entire nation. Regardless of whether we can find the damned owner of that peach pit, that’s the path he should be on.”

“And me, as well.”

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