Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

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Chapter 100

Ling Xiao rubbed his eyes vigorously, only to confirm that the person in front of him wasn’t a figment of his imagination.

“Lan Sheng? Is it really you? How did you…?”

“Surprised to see me?” Lan Sheng asked.

Indeed, because the principal had spent a full six years at the Disease Control Center, he was already hailed as a miracle by the dean. So, wasn’t Lan Sheng, who had only spent a year there, an even greater marvel?

Nevertheless, the thrill of seeing someone he had just missed moments ago always outweighed the shock.

Watching Ling Xiao’s ever-changing expression, Lan Sheng smiled again and took the initiative to step forward, giving Ling Xiao a hug.

“I’ve missed you.”

Ling Xiao hugged back tightly. “Me too.”

All the words that had built up during their separation condensed into this one intimate embrace. After a considerable amount of time, they reluctantly let go of each other.

“You’ve grown so tall.” Lan Sheng looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions.

It was then that Ling Xiao remembered that he now had eyes identical in color to Lan Sheng. He no longer hid the fact that he was a Qizi and would proudly introduce his Qizhu to new friends. But Lan Sheng was different; he was an old friend from the primary academy. Because of Lan Sheng’s misfortune, Ling Xiao once vowed never to become a Qizi. Yet, today, as they reunited, both, who didn’t wish to become Qizis, had become someone else’s Qizi.

But Lan Sheng didn’t ask any awkward questions. Facing Ling Xiao’s gray eyes, he seemed quite at ease.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asked.

“Oh.” Ling Xiao suddenly realized they were still standing outside and quickly stepped aside to let Lan Sheng in.

As soon as Lan Sheng entered, he looked around with interest. Ling Xiao, having so many questions bottled up, wished he could pour them all out at once.

“When did you get out of the Disease Control Center? Why didn’t you tell me to pick you up? How did you get into the Royal Sky Academy? Didn’t the guards stop you?”

Ignoring all his questions, Lan Sheng instead remarked, “So this is what the dorms at Royal Sky look like. I once dreamt of studying here, but I guess I won’t have that chance anymore.”

Hearing this, Ling Xiao felt a pang of sadness and didn’t know what to say.

However, seeing his reaction, Lan Sheng consoled him, “But knowing that you got into Royal Sky makes me as happy as if I were studying here myself. You don’t have to feel sad for me.”

Surprisingly, Lan Sheng seemed to be more open-minded than Ling Xiao himself, which provided a subtle comfort.

Just then, a shadow darted out from the bedroom, targeting the newcomer. Ling Xiao, quick as lightning, stepped forward to block its path.

“Xiao Hui!”

Xiao Hui, seeing Ling Xiao in the way, retracted its claws immediately. However, it lost its balance and rolled onto the floor. After a couple of tumbles, it stood up and growled warningly from deep within its throat at Lan Sheng behind Ling Xiao.

“Xiao Hui! He’s my friend! Be polite!” Ling Xiao scolded.

Though reluctant, upon hearing Ling Xiao’s words, Xiao Hui slowly backed off, its eyes filled with hostility locked onto Lan Sheng.

“Is this a dog you’ve adopted?” Lan Sheng asked curiously from behind him.

“Xiao Hui isn’t a dog, it’s a wolf. I’m sorry, it’s usually not like this.”

Even with those it didn’t like, it would just show its indifference by turning its back on them. This aggressive behavior was a first.

Lan Sheng shook his head, indicating it was okay, and continued to explore Ling Xiao’s dorm. When he arrived at the bedroom, the most prominent feature was a picture of Ling Xiao and Ying Feng on the wall, which naturally caught Lan Sheng’s attention.

“Uh…” Seeing Lan Sheng closely examine the photo on the wall, Ling Xiao felt a bit embarrassed. Lan Sheng knew Ying Feng and had heard the bold claims he made in his youth. Now everything had turned around; it was like a mirror image of Lan Sheng and Ping Zong.

After a while, Lan Sheng said, “So, you finally ended up with Ying Feng. Back then, I always felt that the way you treated him was different from others. You constantly mentioned his name, claiming he was your competitor. But I think you always harbored different feelings for him.”

Ling Xiao couldn’t argue. When he was young and ignorant, he couldn’t recognize his own feelings and needed an instrument to tell him the truth.

“How is your relationship now?”

“Uh… Well,” Ling Xiao replied awkwardly.

Lan Sheng saw his nervousness and chuckled. “I have no opinion about Ying Feng. I just remember him being very strong and cold. It must be hard for you to get along with him.”

“Not really,” Ling Xiao hurriedly denied. “He’s actually… quite easy to get along with.”

Ling Xiao said this without much confidence. To those unfamiliar, Ying Feng was indeed a difficult person to get along with. But precisely because of this, being treated differently by Ying Feng made Ling Xiao feel special every day, like he was the only one in Ying Feng’s eyes. Unfortunately, outsiders couldn’t understand this.

“Really?” Lan Sheng accepted it naturally. “Seeing you like this now, studying at a prestigious school, being with the person you like, I’m genuinely happy for you.”

Before Ling Xiao could respond, Lan Sheng’s tone seemed to drop a few degrees. “All of this would have been perfect if you were the Qizhu.”

Ling Xiao was surprised, not understanding why Lan Sheng said this or his intentions.

“Why are you looking at me so surprised?” Lan Sheng turned his head. “Don’t you think the same?”

Ling Xiao stammered. “Well… I guess…”

“You used to be determined to become Ying Feng’s Qizhu, but now you’ve become his Qizi. The target remains the same, but the roles are drastically different. Can you accept that?”

Ling Xiao turned serious. “I don’t know why you’re asking this. Even though Ying Feng is now my Qizhu, ever since we accepted each other, he hasn’t mistreated me as a Qizhu.”

“But he did before that, right?”

“Yes, he did, but…”

“So, have you willingly accepted your status as a Qizi? Or have you had no power, constantly being suppressed, forced to face reality, and hypnotized yourself into thinking that’s okay?”

Ling Xiao was rendered speechless.

Lan Sheng shook his head in disappointment. “Ling Xiao, you’ve really changed a lot.”

Ling Xiao wanted to argue that it shouldn’t be this way. Lan Sheng was clearly someone who understood the roles of master and subject most deeply. It was due to his stubbornness that Ping Zong reincarnated. Lan Sheng should have had a realization regarding this issue long ago.

However, facing this version of Lan Sheng, Ling Xiao found himself unable to utter a word. The Lan Sheng he knew now seemed so unfamiliar. A year at the Disease Control Center had transformed him completely. Although he often smiled, the warmth of his smile never reached his eyes. The coldness he emitted was even more intense than that of Ying Feng.

No, Ying Feng’s coldness was natural, stemming from his character—a kind of pure indifference without malice towards others. In contrast, the aura around Lan Sheng was like a chilling mist with black smoke. While Ying Feng might deter people from approaching, Lan Sheng’s presence made them want to flee.

Having just spoken harshly to Ling Xiao, Lan Sheng’s demeanor softened. “But who am I to judge? So much time has passed, everything has changed, even myself.”

Ling Xiao recalled what he saw and heard during Lan Sheng’s time at the Disease Control Center. A year in such a place would undoubtedly change a person. Hoping to shift the conversation, Ling Xiao asked, “Have you completely left the Disease Control Center? Where are you planning to go next?”

Lan Sheng went along with the topic switch. “I haven’t decided yet. I don’t plan on continuing my studies. Someone offered me a job, and I’m considering it.”

“A job?” Ling Xiao was slightly disappointed to hear Lan Sheng wouldn’t pursue further studies but felt relieved he’d be working. “Where is it? Even if it’s far, leave me the address, and I’ll visit you regularly.”

Then a thought struck him. “It’s a job on Tianxiu, right? I met someone before, um…” Ling Xiao chose his words carefully. “His situation is similar to yours. He said that with his constitution, living outside Tianxiu is very challenging.”

“I understand, it’s the soul traction,” Lan Sheng openly said. “The less developed a person is, the more severe the effect. For someone like me, who’s entirely undeveloped, even going to Wolf Star wouldn’t help.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m not as fragile as you imagine. Instead, it’s you.” Lan Sheng lifted his hand, touching Ling Xiao’s cheek. “Since a long time ago, you’ve been my concern, and it’s still the same now.”

His words instantly took Ling Xiao back to that night when Lan Sheng came to bid him farewell. Every word he had spoken then was deeply imprinted in his heart.

They had promised to meet again. That wish had now been fulfilled, but who could have imagined then that when they met again, things and people would have changed so much.

“Alright.” Lan Sheng lowered his hand. “I need to leave. But before I go, I want to ask for the thing I entrusted to you for safekeeping.”

“Ah.” Ling Xiao suddenly remembered. “Wait a moment.”

He took out a box from a hidden spot under the bed, hesitating. “Do you still need this box?”

Lan Sheng guessed that the box probably contained more than just what he had left for him. “No, just give me the dagger. You can keep the box.”

Ling Xiao sighed in relief, quickly opened the box, and carefully took out Ping Zong’s dagger.

“Here you go.”

Lan Sheng took it, lost in memories for a while after seeing it.

Ling Xiao didn’t disturb him, waiting until Lan Sheng came back to himself and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the items in the box.

“Why are you collecting all these trinkets?”

“It’s nothing.” Ling Xiao quickly closed the box lid. “Just for fun.”

Lan Sheng didn’t comment further, and Ling Xiao put the box back in its place.

“Thank you for keeping it safe.” Lan Sheng gestured with the dagger in hand.

“It’s nothing.” Ling Xiao was a bit unused to his politeness. “Ying Feng will be back soon. Don’t you want to see him?”

Lan Sheng gave that familiar smile. “No need. We were never close.”

“Alright then,” Ling Xiao resigned. “Let me see you off…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Hui, who had been on high alert, barked loudly at him. Ling Xiao had never seen Xiao Hui so agitated before.

“Xiao Hui, calm down. I’ll be right back.”

Seeing that he couldn’t stop him, Xiao Hui, without hesitation, jumped at Lan Sheng. Even Ling Xiao couldn’t hold him back. Xiao Hui’s sharp teeth bit hard into Lan Sheng’s arm.

“Xiao Hui!” Ling Xiao exclaimed in panic.

With a frown, Lan Sheng tried to shake him off but failed. He swiftly rotated the dagger in his hand. Accompanied by a painful yelp, Xiao Hui, hurt, let go, and fell to the ground, whimpering pitifully.

“Xiao Hui!” Ling Xiao called out its name again, this time filled with worry.

He quickly crouched down to check on Xiao Hui’s injuries. Fortunately, Lan Sheng had been gentle; he’d only cut its front paw’s skin, more of a warning than anything else.

“I’m sorry. It bit me, and I just reflexively…”

Ling Xiao felt choked up. Though Xiao Hui was the first to misbehave, after all, it was just an innocent animal. But when he looked up and saw the deep bite marks on Lan Sheng’s arm, the words he was about to say got stuck in his throat.

Frustrated, he rubbed Xiao Hui’s belly. “Xiao Hui, why did you do that today? Wait, let me get a bandage for you.”

Xiao Hui, not being a Tianxiu, couldn’t be healed with soul crystals. When injured, it could only wait to recover slowly after the wound was treated, which was quite troublesome.

“I’m leaving now. Won’t you see me off for a bit?” Just as he got up to get the medical kit, Lan Sheng stopped him.

Ling Xiao looked worriedly at the injured Xiao Hui on the ground, its whimpers sounding pitiful. “Let me quickly treat it. It will be very fast.”

Lan Sheng glanced at the time. “I don’t have much time left. Once I leave this time, it will be a long time before we can see each other again.”

After all, Lan Sheng was once his best friend. It would be inappropriate not to see him off. The injury on Xiao Hui seemed not too serious, but its howls were exaggerated, as if someone had chopped off its paw.

Ling Xiao picked up Xiao Hui and put it on the bed, reassuring, “I’ll be back soon. Please bear with it for a little while.”

No matter how much Xiao Hui cried, it couldn’t retain Ling Xiao. Watching his departing figure, Xiao Hui swiftly rolled and jumped off the bed, chasing after him. Its agile actions showed no hint of injury.

However, the door was completely closed in front of it. Desperately scratching at the door, it let out anxious howls, hoping Ling Xiao would turn back.

“It’s usually not like this. I don’t know what got into it today.” Ling Xiao, noticing the bite mark on Lan Sheng’s wrist, said with some guilt, “Let me treat it for you.”

“No need,” Lan Sheng declined. “I know you’re pressed for time. My vehicle is at the landing pad; the round trip won’t take long.”

They quickly reached the landing pad. Surprisingly, Lan Sheng had a vehicle, a relatively new aircraft.

“Where did this come from?” Ling Xiao asked.

“It’s lent to me by my workplace,” Lan Sheng casually replied.

“Oh,” Ling Xiao said, accepting the explanation without suspicion.

Standing by the hatch, Lan Sheng said, “Thank you for seeing me off.”

Ling Xiao wished to have a proper farewell, but he was still concerned about Xiao Hui in the dormitory.

“Stay in touch.”

“Certainly.”

As Lan Sheng embraced him again, Ling Xiao didn’t overthink and hugged him back. But then he heard a soft whisper from Lan Sheng. “But what if I can’t bear to leave you?”

“What?” Ling Xiao didn’t catch that.

“Then come with me.”

Ling Xiao felt a prick on his back, and a cold liquid was injected into him. His vision blurred as his strength drained away.

Until he blacked out, he couldn’t believe that Lan Sheng, his best friend, would do such a thing. He had never doubted him.

“Why…” He managed to utter.

“Because I can’t bear to see you like this.” Lan Sheng softly cradled him. “I will help you end this pain.”

But I don’t feel any pain at all. Why don’t you understand?

Closing his eyes, Ling Xiao thought of the injured Xiao Hui left alone at home. No wonder it reacted so violently. The instincts of beasts were eerily accurate. Why didn’t he pick up on its warning of danger?

Just as he fell, he seemed to see the figure of Ying Feng hurriedly returning. It’s already dark. Where did you go?

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