Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

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Chapter 104

Ling Xiao finally realized that the Lan Sheng before him was no longer receptive to anyone’s words. He wondered what Yue Ying had told Lan Sheng to make him believe so stubbornly that Ling Xiao was deep in trouble and desperately needed saving. Faced with this brainwashed version of Lan Sheng, Ling Xiao felt profound disappointment.

“When you jumped off the rooftop, it was because you refused to accept being a Qizi.”

“Do you think I should do the same, to match the Ling Xiao you have in your mind?”

“Lan Sheng, do you remember? Before you left, you warned me to always be cautious. It was your words that helped me survive the chaotic period. During my darkest days, you were the sole reason I held on. I’ve always tried to move in the direction you pointed out. Why did you end up right where you started?”

In response to Ling Xiao’s questions, Lan Sheng remained unmoved. “I won’t listen to anything you say now. Once you regain your free will, we can discuss other matters.”

As he turned to leave, Ling Xiao wanted to chase after him but was stopped. In desperation, Ling Xiao shouted, “By being so obstinate, are you doing justice to Ping Zong, who reincarnated for you?”

Lan Sheng hesitated for a moment but quickly left without looking back.

Ling Xiao was left alone. He was uncertain about the structure of this prison, where one’s mental powers were completely dispersed and couldn’t be focused. Considering that the original owner of this starship was Tai Yin, no technology would come as a surprise.

A glint appeared in the depths of his consciousness, and Ling Xiao quickly focused. He had sensed Ying Feng trying to connect with him using a soul crystal earlier but had pretended not to notice due to the presence of others. He knew Ying Feng would try to connect again.

“Ling Xiao, can you hear me? Blink twice if you can.”

Ying Feng’s vision blinked out for two seconds, signaling Ling Xiao’s acknowledgement.

“Survey your surroundings, but don’t be obvious.”

Ling Xiao subtly looked around, letting Ying Feng get a clear view.

“No enemies in sight, but there might be surveillance. Don’t talk and keep your movements minimal.”

“Other than Lan Sheng, Yue Ying, and Xing Lou, did you see anyone else?” Ying Feng asked.

Ling Xiao discreetly wrote in his palm: No.

“Do you know your approximate location?”

I only know I’m likely on the Eagle. Nothing more.

“Do you know why they kidnapped you?”

After some hesitation, Ling Xiao wrote: Yue Ying, who holds a deep grudge against us. I’m the person most easily controlled by him. He may want to use me to complete his revenge. However, I’m just speculating. How could I possibly possess such power alone?

Ying Feng frowned. “Understood. Avoid confronting Yue Ying; he’s powerful. We can’t let him directly control you. I need to reserve my energy to trace you, so I’ll have to disconnect.”

Wait!

Ling Xiao quickly wrote.

Ying Feng paused. “What is it?”

Ling Xiao hesitated, then swiftly wrote:

I can clearly sense emotions coming from Yue Ying. His hatred for us is intensifying.

It’s overpowering, overshadowing all other emotions. I fear that, over time, my will might not withstand it, and I’ll be assimilated by him.

If I do get controlled and turn against our own, please…

Kill me.

Ying Feng paused for a long while. Finally, on his own palm and also on Ling Xiao’s palm, he wrote stroke by stroke:

Okay.

Ling Xiao placed his hand over his heart, feeling its beat, believing that Ying Feng must have received the message.

Ying Feng gritted his teeth, disconnected the link, and left the lounge.

“I have rested. Let’s continue.”

Just after his connection with Ying Feng was terminated, Zhen He entered.

Ling Xiao looked at the suddenly appearing person and was momentarily stunned. It took him a while to hesitantly call out, “…Zhen He?”

Zhen He sneered coldly without answering.

Yes, how could Ling Xiao forget? He and Tai Yin were originally on the same side. What surprised Ling Xiao even more was, “Your eyes…?”

Zhen He’s face darkened instantly. “Mind your own business.”

He pressed a button, and mechanisms appeared inside the cage. Ling Xiao tried to dodge, but mechanical arms from all directions restrained him, pinning him firmly to a bed before sliding him out.

“Where are you taking me?”

Ling Xiao struggled fiercely but couldn’t move. He was pushed by Zhen He into another room. Lan Sheng, Yue Ying, Xing Lou, and all the others he had met before were there.

“What the hell do you want to do?” Ling Xiao felt uneasy. He initially thought Yue Ying wanted to control him mentally, but now it seemed otherwise.

“I hope you’d be a bit quieter,” Yue Ying said. “Controlling you is easy for me, but I don’t want you to face the most important moment of your life without knowing.”

“What important moment? I don’t understand what you’re talking about!”

As Ling Xiao tried to buy time, he discreetly exerted force, but the restraints held him tight. If only he had a soul crystal now.

Yue Ying reached out, and Xing Lou handed him a bottle containing a soul. He released the soul, holding it in his palm.

“What is that?” Ling Xiao asked.

Ignoring the question, Yue Ying said, “No wonder he’s a scientific genius. Tai Yin studied for decades and finally found a way to break the blood pact. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to see this day.”

Ling Xiao was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“To break the blood pact, one of the requirements is a newborn soul. Nowadays, a soul matures only once every hundred years. If Shang Yang had waited another nine months, perhaps he’d be the one successfully breaking the blood pact now.”

“You’re using a soul to break the blood pact?” Ling Xiao was in disbelief. “Even if it’s not fully formed, it’s still a life!”

Yue Ying laughed coldly, seemingly dismissing the idea of such a “life”. To him, it was merely a man-made product, no different from computers or tablets.

Ling Xiao angrily confronted the others, “Even if Yue Ying isn’t one of us, you are of the Tianxiu race. Do you just stand by and watch him kill our kin?”

“I am not like you. Don’t get it wrong,” Xing Lou said calmly. “I will always stand with the true Tianxiu people.”

Ling Xiao turned to Zhen He, who was intently staring at the soul in Yue Ying’s hand, his eyes filled with a hint of greed.

Lastly, he looked at Lan Sheng. “Lan Sheng, even you…?”

Lan Sheng turned his head away.

Ling Xiao continued to question Yue Ying, “I don’t understand, why do you want me to break the blood pact? What’s in it for you?”

“You’ll understand.” Yue Ying handed the soul to Xing Lou, who carefully held it and placed it into a peculiar container.

“Stop!” Ling Xiao shouted.

A piercing scream sounded. All the Tianxiu people present covered their ears, except for Ling Xiao, who was immobilized and could only turn his head away in pain, his face contorted in agony.

Yue Ying looked at them curiously. “What’s wrong with you?”

It took Xing Lou a long time to put his hand down, almost having his eardrums pierced by the scream, “Didn’t you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“A scream.”

Yue Ying shook his head, looking puzzled.

Ling Xiao finally recovered, breathing slightly due to holding his breath for too long.

“So, before a soul disappears, it screams,” Yue Ying said, as if discovering something new. “How interesting.”

Ling Xiao could only glare at him; this person didn’t equate a soul with life at all.

The soul in the container had disappeared, turning into a bright blue liquid. Xing Lou drew it into a syringe. The liquid filled less than two-thirds of the syringe, yet it caused a soul to completely vanish from this world.

“It’s ready.” As Xing Lou turned around, a figure flashed in front of him.

Zhen He had already assessed the strength of the people present. Xing Lou and Lan Sheng weren’t his match. As long as he didn’t look into Yue Ying’s eyes, he wouldn’t be controlled. This was what Zhu Yue taught him.

Xing Lou seemed to anticipate someone trying to snatch it and quickly jumped back, but Zhen He managed to kick his wrist. The syringe containing the soul liquid was thrown into the air, and Zhen He teleported to catch it.

The situation changed dramatically. Neither Ling Xiao nor Lan Sheng expected Zhen He to act so suddenly. One was surprised, and the other wanted to snatch it back, but they couldn’t match his speed. They could only watch as Zhen He turned his wrist in mid-air and was about to inject himself as he landed.

However, in a split second, his movement halted, his right hand trembling from exertion.

Ling Xiao was all too familiar with this scene. When a Qizhu uses mind control, a Qizi reacts this way.

Xing Lou and Yue Ying, however, seemed unsurprised, as if they had anticipated all of this.

Struggling, Zhen He looked up to see Zhu Yue slowly descending the stairs.

“You said… you didn’t want… to show up here…” He had held on for so long, thinking Zhu Yue had let down his guard. He had believed Zhu Yue’s claim of not wanting to see Yue Ying.

“If I hadn’t said that, how would I know if you intended to betray me?” Zhu Yue approached, effortlessly taking the syringe from his hand. “You’ve waited for this moment for a long time, haven’t you? I just wanted to test if, after all this time, you still wanted to end our bond.”

Zhu Yue’s eyes genuinely showed disappointment. “You really let me down.”

Releasing Zhen He from his control, Zhen He stared at him with resentment but was powerless against him.

Xing Lou, who once promised to be on his side, had even helped Zhu Yue test him. It seemed that no one could be trusted in this world except oneself.

Xing Lou sensed Zhen He’s anger but deliberately avoided his gaze. Zhen He was no longer of value to him, but he still needed Zhu Yue for something crucial.

Zhu Yue turned around, and Ling Xiao, who had found him familiar from the beginning, now stared in shock.

“Zhu Yue?”

“Surprising, isn’t it?” Zhu Yue’s demeanor had completely changed, icy cold. “I never thought we’d meet under these circumstances.”

“You’re Zhen He’s Qizhu?” Ling Xiao looked back and forth between them, unable to believe they were together.

“It’s all thanks to you. If you hadn’t formed a pact with Ying Feng, how could I become someone else’s Qizhu?”

The other person he spoke of looked like he wanted to kill him with just a glance.

“Are you done?” Yue Ying interrupted their conversation. “Who would have thought so many people would fight over this little thing. Does anyone else need it?”

He asked Lan Sheng, “What about you? You probably need it the most here. With one injection, you won’t have to suffer anymore. You can find someone to form a new pact and become a Qizhu. Isn’t that good?”

Lan Sheng had been nervous when he saw Zhen He take the syringe, but now he calmly refused.

“I don’t need it. I promised Ping Zong to stay alive. These eyes are our last connection, and I don’t want to lose them. But you promised to free Ling Xiao. Don’t go back on your word.”

“Of course.” Yue Ying surveyed the room. “So, no one else has any objections?”

“I do!” Ling Xiao shouted.

Yue Ying laughed. “There’s a saying in our country: those who desire something never get it, and those who don’t often do. Isn’t that right?” He looked at Ling Xiao and Zhen He.

The current state of Ying Feng was a bit concerning. Due to the prolonged consumption of his mental power, large beads of sweat were sliding down his cheeks, dripping onto the control panel. Under his palms, the radar’s circle of light was gradually shrinking.

“We’re almost locked onto the target—only 20% left!” someone reported.

The fleet was moving at full speed towards the area Ying Feng had marked, but 20% was still a vast region. To find Ling Xiao, the area needed to be narrowed down even further.

Yue Ying gestures towards Zhu Yue. “Get on with it.”

Zhu Yue walked step by step towards the immobilized Ling Xiao, with the blue light slowly flowing in the syringe he held.

Ling Xiao was struggling with all his might, Lan Sheng was anxiously watching, and Zhen He, under the double control of Yue Ying and Zhu Yue, couldn’t move at all.

“I’m so glad that I get to end this for you.” Zhu Yue held up the syringe, pushing out a bit of the liquid. “You know, I’ve prepared a special gift for Ying Feng. I believe he will love it.”

“We’re very close!” A voice came from the Burning Shadow, invigorating everyone.

Ying Feng closed his eyes, concentrating all his mental energy in his palms. His mental power was being rapidly drained, but he couldn’t stop now. His Qizi was still waiting for him.

Ling Xiao!

Ling Xiao shivered; he heard Ying Feng’s voice, not through shared senses but through a soulful connection. Ying Feng was nearby!

I can hear you! He wished he could tell Ying Feng this, but he couldn’t make a sound.

Ying Feng’s voice continuously reached him.

Ling Xiao, hang in there. I’ll find you very soon.

Ling Xiao closed his eyes. I believe you. No matter where I am, you can always find me.

The pain of the needle piercing his skin reached him. It turned out the temperature of the soul was also cold.

“Say goodbye to your Qizhu.” Along with Zhu Yue’s voice, it felt like something was moving away from him.

Suddenly, the signal on the radar disappeared. Everyone looks at Ying Feng. They were so close to success. Could it be that his mental power is already exhausted?

Ying Feng opens his eyes, equally puzzled. Something had gone missing from his life—something that was within reach just a second ago.

The pilot closest to him cries out in surprise:

“Ah, your eyes…”

Confused, Ying Feng turned around, and now everyone in the room saw it: the blackness in his eyes was slowly receding, like clear water dissolving thick ink, as night welcomed dawn. When the change finally stopped, all that remained were the ash-gray eyes characteristic of a fledgling.

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