Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

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Chapter 79

Ying Feng’s voice suddenly ceased. Ling Xiao really wanted to grab his collar and shout loudly:

Who do you think you are?

Finish what you were saying!

Ling Xiao felt so discontented, almost overflowing with it.

Why is it that only the voice of the Qizhu can be heard? Even if it’s just once, I want you to hear my voice too, to understand all my thoughts, words, and hopes… I hope they can reach you through this light.

Before being sucked into the vortex, Ying Feng’s last glimpse was a flash of golden light from a distance. Maybe it was a star shining bright, or perhaps it was just a hallucination before his demise.

Regrettably, the remaining mental strength didn’t let him finish his words.

He felt something unusual in his body, as if mental power was constantly pouring into him. At first, he thought it was an illusion. But when he lifted his hand, the scrapes from the spatial jumps were healing at a visible speed, and a faint golden glow surrounded his skin, ensuring he remained unharmed even at the center of the vortex.

His mental strength continued to rise, reaching unprecedented heights. He could feel energy circulating inside, spreading throughout every part of his body. This strange power grew stronger and eventually formed into a familiar voice, playfully echoing in his ear:

Speak up, speak up, speak up…

Hearing this voice, the corner of Ying Feng’s mouth uncontrollably rose. This annoying, buzzing sound, even if repeated for a hundred years, would never become tiresome. Why stop it now?

Leaving that guy drifting alone in space was always worrisome. If possible, I still want—

—to stay by your side.

The scenery before their eyes changed, and Ying Feng and Ling Xiao found themselves face-to-face in the universe, both frozen in shock.

However, as they reached out to each other, their fingertips barely brushed against one another before they were suddenly pushed apart again. Ling Xiao was extremely frustrated. They had just obviously reunited, so why were they being pushed away again? Why was it so hard to give the other a hug?

Ying Feng reversed the polarity of his body and teleported back once more, and this time, nothing separated them.

Beneath the colorful, mottled nebula, they clung to each other tightly. Comets streaked across the sky, trailing long tails, one, then two, then three…

Ling Xiao blinked.

A meteor shower?

From such a close distance, it was surprising Ying Feng could still understand his gestures.

It’s a comet swarm.

Long ago, they were seen as omens of bad luck, but today, no one was luckier than them.

Several spaceships appeared from the stargates. Consecutive surprises heightened their alertness until they saw the military insignia on the ships and felt at ease. The late military opened their bay doors, and with the help of the tractor beam, the two were safely brought aboard.

Ling Xiao immediately asked upon landing, “What were you saying earlier?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, finish your sentence. I hate it when you stop halfway.”

Red Head and Bing Can rushed over, interrupting them, “Ling Xiao! Ying Feng! Are you okay?”

“We’re fine,” Ling Xiao began, realizing he was still attached to Ying Feng, maintaining an awkward stance. “What about you?”

“The enemies destroyed the escort ship, but we managed to eject in time. Not long after, the commander and his team came to our aid.”

“The commander? Major General Fu Yao?”

“Yes. The enemies diverted the space station’s forces with a decoy. By the time we located their main body, they had gone too far. We rushed to save you two but encountered a vortex on the way. By the time we arrived, only wreckage remained. We thought…”

Ying Feng vaguely remembered. “They mentioned something about initiating a spatial jump at the end.”

“Spatial jumps are different from stargate transitions; they don’t have a clear destination,” Fu Yao’s voice suddenly interjected. “It artificially creates a twisted space and jumps randomly near a stargate.”

“Commander.”

“Greetings, Commander!” Both greeted him.

Fu Yao nodded. “If it were a stargate transition, we could track your destination. But with random jumping, it would take a long time to check each one.”

Ling Xiao was puzzled. “Then how did you find us?”

“That’s the strangest part,” Red Head interrupted. “The military suddenly received an anonymous message with your coordinates.”

“Anonymous message?”

“Yes. If it’s not the enemy, who else would know your location? And if it is the enemy, why would they risk exposing themselves to notify us? It’s very strange.”

Ling Xiao and Ying Feng exchanged glances, both having a vague suspicion of someone.

Fu Yao, perceptive as ever, noticed. “Do you have any clues?”

“No,” Ling Xiao quickly replied. Ying Feng remained silent upon seeing this.

Fu Yao was clearly skeptical but didn’t press the issue.

“The Eagle is very cunning, engaging in guerrilla warfare with us for years. The military hasn’t captured it. This time, although they escaped again, their hasty jump forced them to sacrifice their main ship. Along the way, we found many wreckages of pirate ships…”

“They’re working together,” Ling Xiao interjected. “The pirates have been supplying them with resources.”

Fu Yao nodded. “The pirates have been wiped out, and the deserters are severely weakened. You both played a significant role. You might even receive commendation.”

“We don’t need commendations.” Red Head shamelessly asked, “Can we get the 30 hours of mandatory labor waived?”

Fu Yao gave him a sharp look, and Red Head sheepishly withdrew.

“By the way.” Ling Xiao finally remembered a crucial issue. “How’s the fledgling doing?”

“He’s in a safe place and will return to the surface with us.”

Relieved to have one of his primary concerns addressed, Ling Xiao felt an overwhelming wave of fatigue.

“Hey,” he said weakly, leaning on Ying Feng and shaking him gently. “What were you saying earlier…”

Once he got an answer to this question, he could rest.

By the time they reached the medical bay while talking, the medical staff, seeing the two joined as if conjoined twins, suppressed their laughter and said, “We know you’re inseparable, but we need to examine you now. Can you cooperate?”

Embarrassed, Ling Xiao buried his head, while Ying Feng remained composed.

“The magnetic soul crystal’s effects on us will automatically dissipate in half an hour.”

“I see. We can treat any external wounds first and then conduct a thorough examination of your bodies.”

“My wounds have already healed,” Ying Feng said, showing his hand as proof. “I don’t know how, but not only did my wounds heal suddenly, but my mental powers were instantly restored.”

“Is there anything else?” Fu Yao asked nonchalantly from the doorway.

After a moment’s thought, Ying Feng replied, “I’m not sure if it was an illusion, but I felt like there was light on the surface of my body…”

A faint golden light enveloped him, shielding him from all harm.

“That wasn’t an illusion,” Fu Yao remarked. “It seems your Qizi inadvertently used devotion even he wasn’t aware of.”

“Devotion?”

“Yes, dedicating all the Qizi’s power to temporarily enhance the Qizhu’s abilities, granting immunity from harm for a short duration.”

Ying Feng frowned. “What’s the effect on the Qizi?”

Fu Yao casually waved it off. “A few days of rest, and they’ll be fine.”

“What if they’ve been subjected to high voltage and injected with Ember II?”

Raising an eyebrow, Fu Yao replied, “Electrocuted, injected with Ember II, then using Devotion and still appearing energetic? Either my understanding is flawed, or you’re dreaming. Do you think your Qizi is superhuman?”

Ying Feng lowered his head, and Ling Xiao, out of embarrassment, continued to bury his face in Ying Feng’s chest—but for quite a long time.

Ying Feng gently held Ling Xiao’s neck, carefully turning him to face him, and indeed saw a face deep in sleep, completely unconscious.

……

Ling Xiao had a long dream in which the annoying Ying Feng kept saying to him, “I think like…” But whenever Ling Xiao pressed for more, Ying Feng refused to continue, making Ling Xiao want to throttle him for the truth.

“What are you trying to say?!” Ling Xiao shouted uncontrollably.

“You’re awake?”

Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes to see the very person from his dream who had been so evasive.

“Have we reached the surface?” he asked groggily.

“We arrived three days ago,” Ying Feng replied calmly, hiding days of worry. “You’ve been asleep for three full days and nights.”

Ling Xiao was surprised he had slept for so long. When he was a fledgling and had taken Ember and underwent the coming-of-age ceremony, he had only been unconscious for a few hours. Why did it seem like his body was weaker now that he was an adult?

He looked around and realized he wasn’t in his dormitory.

“Where is this?” he asked.

“The medical center. You were brought here after we descended,” Ying Feng explained, ringing a bell to summon a doctor, who conducted a full checkup on Ling Xiao.

“All vital signs have returned to optimal levels. You’ve overexerted yourself this time. Although our bodies have strong regenerative abilities, it doesn’t mean we can’t wear out. You should consider the load on your soul,” the doctor chided.

“Can he be discharged?” Ying Feng inquired.

“He’s healthier than a monkey now. He could even return to the front lines.”

They had only walked a short distance from the medical center when Ling Xiao suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no!”

“What?” Ying Feng, startled by the outburst, thought something serious had occurred.

“I left my dagger on Tai Yin’s ship and never retrieved it.”

Realizing it was just this, Ying Feng relaxed.

“Just get another one. Why are you so stressed?”

“But another one won’t be the same as the original… Can it be made exactly the same?”

“No.”

Ling Xiao, with teary eyes, said, “I want the original one.”

Ying Feng found his expression amusing and couldn’t help but pinch his nose.

“Flaunt your love, die faster!” A few fledglings suddenly shouted near them.

Instinctively, Ling Xiao took a step back, creating some distance between them. The fledglings, having achieved their goal of teasing them, ran off laughing.

“What’s going on?” Ling Xiao asked, noticing the place was busier than usual. “Why are all the fledglings running around outside?”

“Today is the Fledgling Festival.”

Ling Xiao paused, realizing it was that time of year. The Fledgling Festival was always the liveliest day in Bikong, but what was up with that slogan?

But when they returned to Royal Sky, they realized those fledglings were just the tip of the iceberg. Even the usually serious military academy was overrun with a festive atmosphere. Projected slogans were everywhere:

[There are fewer and fewer fledglings around you. Do you want to risk soul dispersion without forming a bond? Royal Sky Fledgling Association welcomes you!]

[Party before you grow up! The final bash for single fledglings tonight!]

[I’m a fledgling, and I’m proud! The Club for Older Fledgling awaits you!]

[Who says adults can’t celebrate the Fledgling Festival? Make your Qizhu say ‘Buy, buy, buy’!]

Red Head immediately rushed over to check on Ling Xiao as they returned to their dormitory amidst the advertising onslaught.

“How are you feeling?”

“Absolutely fine!” Ling Xiao said proudly.

“Oh, by the way, you received an interstellar delivery. Your dorm was empty yesterday, so I took it for you.”

“Interstellar delivery? What is it?” Ling Xiao was curious, as he didn’t have any friends from other planets.

Red Head handed him a box. Ling Xiao shook it and listened. It didn’t seem like anything dangerous.

After Red Head left, Ling Xiao opened the box. Seeing its contents, he was overjoyed.

“Look!” he exclaimed, showing off the dagger to Ying Feng.

Ying Feng was equally surprised. Someone had sent Ling Xiao’s dagger through express delivery, and thinking about who could have done it, only one person came to mind.

“It must be him!” Ling Xiao said excitedly. “Do you remember? There was a fledgling with Tai Yin who looked exactly like you. No, no, he was an undeveloped adult. His name was Fei Jing!”

‘So, the principal’s Qizhu is Fei Jing,’ Ying Feng thought. If he had the thought to send a delivery, then perhaps they weren’t too affected by the disaster.

In just a short time, Ling Xiao had recounted most of Fei Jing’s story. He concluded, “I think Fei Jing’s Qizi might still be alive. I want to post a search notice online to see if anyone knows their name. Maybe there’s a clue to his Qizi.”

Ying Feng stopped him. “That might not be necessary.”

“Why?”

Ying Feng hesitated. If he told Ling Xiao the truth, Ling Xiao would undoubtedly seek out the principal. Rather than letting the principal know that the person he had been waiting for for many years had chosen a completely different path, it might be better to keep him in the dark.

Thinking this, Ying Feng made up a reason on the spot.

“Fei Jing is also a defector, and the military surely has records on him. Posting information about him online will definitely be monitored.”

Ling Xiao deflated instantly, having overlooked this fact.

If Fei Jing didn’t return, then he and his Qizi couldn’t reunite, but if he did return, he would be sentenced for abandoning his Qizi. It seemed like an insolvable problem.

Ying Feng patted his head, trying to comfort him.

“If he could leave, he can come back. If he truly wants to find his Qizi, no one can stop him.”

Fu Yao’s call request came through, startling Ling Xiao. Had even their conversation been monitored?

“Are you two ready?” The lazy, arrogant voice came through, and Ling Xiao felt an instinctive urge to stand at attention.

“Ready? Ready for what?”

“Sorry,” Ying Feng intervened. “He just woke up. I haven’t had the chance to tell him yet.”

“Tell me what?” Ling Xiao was even more confused.

“You’ve been commended.”

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