Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

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Chapter 90

Ying Feng surveyed the chamber that held them captive. It was just an ordinary room, devoid of any barriers. With his abilities, he could easily escape on his own. But escaping with Ling Xiao was an impossible task.

It seemed the adversary was certain he wouldn’t leave alone. But what did Tai Yin want with him? The military wouldn’t possibly exchange him for Shang Yang. If they wanted revenge for the past, why not just kill him outright? Why go through all this trouble?

Ling Xiao lay still, as if everything happening outside no longer concerned him. Tai Yin’s move at this time was no coincidence; he was well aware of their movements, knew when Ling Xiao was at his weakest, and even seemed familiar with the military’s routes.

Ying Feng sat down beside Ling Xiao, brushing a thumb across his pallid lips. A phrase he had read long ago in a book surfaced in his mind: The blood of the Qizhu has enhancing properties. Besides strengthening and aphrodisiac, it can provide nourishment and delay death in dire situations.

In his unconscious state, Ling Xiao faintly sensed a unique aroma. Something touched his lips, igniting a certain desire in him. He moved his mouth from side to side, the urge intensifying.

After a few rubs, he finally opened his mouth and bit down hard. The metallic, salty liquid flowed in, seemingly carrying a miraculous energy that reconsolidated his dissipating strength. He bit again, deepening the bite mark, drawing more of the fluid. He drank greedily, feeling warmth return to his cold body with each swallow.

Gaining some consciousness, Ling Xiao forced his eyes open, realizing he had bitten into Ying Feng’s wrist, right at the artery.

“What are you doing?” he asked weakly, looking around the unfamiliar environment. “Where are we?”

Ying Feng, pushing his wrist closer to Ling Xiao’s mouth, replied, “On our way back. Fill up. We’ll be at the medical station soon.”

Ling Xiao, puzzled, asked, “Why a medical station? I remember Dr. Heng He saying I could only heal naturally. And why am I drinking your blood?”

“The blood of the Qizhu can provide nourishment. As long as you don’t have any improper thoughts, it won’t have any other effect.”

Although Ying Feng’s response sounded sarcastic, Ling Xiao lacked the strength to argue. “Why does my head hurt so much, as if I’ve been hit?”

“You were too heavy. I bumped you into the wall while carrying you.”

“Nonsense,” Ling Xiao murmured, closing his eyes. He felt dehydrated, and unconsciously licked Ying Feng’s wrist.

Ying Feng decisively pressed his wrist to Ling Xiao’s lips, commanding, “Drink.”

The alluring scent was irresistible to Ling Xiao. After a moment’s hesitation, instinct overpowered rationale, and he bit down again, marking a third deep bite. He lapped and sucked as if it was the most enticing delicacy in the world. As he drew in the energy, some color returned to his pale face, and the persistent dizziness began to subside.

After absorbing enough nutrients, Ling Xiao, somewhat reluctantly, released his grip. “Where’s Xiao Hui?”

Xiao Hui popped its head out of Ling Xiao’s collar, its fur tickling his neck.

He wanted to pet it but lacked the strength.

“Why do I feel even dizzier this time? Is it because I was too tired from the internship?”

“Yes,” Ying Feng responded, caressing Ling Xiao’s hair. “You should rest more.”

“Hold on.” Ling Xiao noticed something as Ying Feng moved his hand. “Why is there blood on your hand?”

Instead of answering, Ying Feng silenced him with a gesture. The taste of blood was unsettling, but Ling Xiao soon drifted into sleep, leaving his questions for the dream realm.

Ying Feng retrieved a soul crystal from Ling Xiao’s sleeve pocket and teleported out of the chamber. Tai Yin wasn’t surprised to see him, though the others from Huoxiu Star were, never having seen any creature move so effortlessly through walls.

“Have you said your goodbyes to your Qizi?”

Tai Yin spoke as if it was a regular outing—departing at sunrise and returning by sunset.

“Remember your promise,” Ying Feng replied calmly.

“Of course.” Tai Yin raised his gun, aimed it at Ying Feng, and pulled the trigger.

……

The person in the medical pod slowly opened his eyes. The medical staff outside noticed this change, scanned his iris, and confirmed he had woken up.

“His body is now fine, but during our treatment, we found some issues in his hippocampus. It seems to have been maliciously altered.”

Long Yin looked at the brain scan of Ling Xiao displayed on the screen. The abnormal area was highlighted in red. “Is it possible for someone’s memory to be altered?”

“With our current technology, no. But it’s possible to suppress existing memories. Years ago, the disease control center tried using this method to erase memories of the abandoned Qizi’s coming-of-age ceremony. But even though the memory was erased, the psychological symptoms remained, making the process pointless.”

“Who invented this technology?”

The medical staff searched on the computer. “The first public publication of this technique was 76 years ago. The author of the paper was… Tai Yin.”

As Long Yin had guessed, at that moment, one of his officers came in to report, “The person next door has woken up.”

Long Yin quickly left. Along with Ling Xiao, who had been brought by the autonomous vehicle, there was also a soldier specifically in charge of transporting them. However, this other person was more severely injured than Ling Xiao and was almost dead.

“What do you remember?” Long Yin asked him.

“We were suddenly attacked by four aircraft. They all had stealth systems and had been lying in ambush for a long time. There was strong signal interference at the scene, and all communication devices malfunctioned, making it impossible to send a distress signal.”

“Did you see the insignia on the aircraft?”

“Yes, three flames, forming a triangle.”

It was the independent army from the Huoxiu Star. Long Yin hadn’t expected them to approach proactively. But why would they kidnap and then release two people? For what purpose?

“Rest now,” Long Yin said dismissively. He then returned to Ling Xiao’s room. Ling Xiao had already come out of the medical pod and was cautiously observing his surroundings.

“Do you recognize me?”

Ling Xiao looked at the unfamiliar officer in front of him and shook his head.

“How much do you remember?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ling Xiao replied rudely.

A medical staff member whispered to Long Yin, “He doesn’t realize he’s lost his memory.”

Long Yin tried a different approach. “What were you doing yesterday?”

Ling Xiao paused, and hatred filled his eyes.

“Speak,” Long Yin urged.

“Why should I tell you?” Ling Xiao’s tone was now more than just rude.

Turning to the medical staff, Long Yin asked with the same harshness, “Is he in a rebellious phase now?”

“His current state of mind is at the end point of retained memories. This could be from any time, perhaps even after the coming-of-age ceremony when things became chaotic.”

“Fine,” Long Yin said, his face dark. “If the Qizhu is missing and the Qizi goes through the chaotic phase again, tell me, could he die?”

The medical staff hesitated. “He shouldn’t. He’s already been through that period. Now it’s just a psychological illusion, unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless he had a strong desire to end his life.”

Long Yin let out a deep breath and turned to order his subordinates. “You must protect this man’s life at all costs. Watch him 24/7 and report to me immediately if there’s any issue.”

“Yes, sir!” came the response.

Ling Xiao, looking at unfamiliar faces speaking unfamiliar words, recognized that he was in a medical facility. His last memory was of falling from a rooftop. He was surprised he had survived the fall. A small, scruffy dog brushed against his leg, and he picked it up, wondering why there was a dog in the medical facility. He stroked the dog’s fur, a puzzled look in his eyes.

Xing Lou watched everything through a surveillance camera. On this planet, he controlled any place with a network connection, allowing him to access every corner. This was why even Tai Yin feared him.

“You’ve erased their memories of their love?” Xing Lou asked.

“Yes,” Tai Yin beside him replied. “Only this way, he won’t be affected by the other’s death. He can live on his own.”

“I don’t understand. What did Ying Feng do to offend you so much that you want to kill him?”

Tai Yin recalled a shameful experience, still filled with hatred. “He committed an unforgivable mistake. I can never let him live.”

“Never mind,” Xing Lou said, not wanting to delve deeper. After all, he only wanted Ling Xiao alive. Ying Feng’s fate was irrelevant. “How are you going to deal with the people from Huoxiu Star?”

“They just want a living Tianxiu person. I’ll give them Ying Feng.”

“Aren’t you afraid they’ll clone the technology and use it against us?”

“When I hand him over, he’ll be alive. Whether he remains that way on the journey, well, that’s not my concern.” It was clear that Ying Feng wouldn’t survive the trip to Huoxiu Star.

Xing Lou sighed. “In my five lifetimes of memories, Tianxiu rarely has true traitors. Do you know why?”

Tai Yin shook his head.

“It’s because loyalty is written into the Tianxiu’s genes, prioritized over everything else. First, it’s loyalty to the nation, then to a spouse. Have you ever considered that your obsession with Shang Yang isn’t love but dictated by a gene code representing loyalty?”

Tai Yin pondered Xing Lou’s words. “You said ‘rarely’, so there are exceptions.”

“Yes, there are always one or two with a genetic mutation. One betrayal can change everything,” Xing Lou’s voice grew cold. “If I ever find the reincarnation of that person, I’d do the same as you, destroy them at all costs.”

……

Ying Feng seemed to have awakened, but also seemed not to have. Everything in front of him was hazy, as if he was in a dream, yet it felt within reach.

The surroundings were familiar. He was at the base, and the black building in front of him was the Nightmare Hall.

He wasn’t the only person there. Beside him, there were many soldiers in uniform, but they didn’t appear surprised at Ying Feng’s sudden appearance. In their eyes, it was as if Ying Feng didn’t exist.

What’s going on? Why were so many soldiers gathered outside the Nightmare Hall? Were they executing a death penalty? In Tianxiu, only treason and the killing of a fledgling would result in this highest form of punishment. Ying Feng remembered Yao Tai saying that it had been many years since anyone had been sentenced to death.

He scanned the crowd and surprisingly found a familiar face. Although they had never met, he was certain it was Jing Yu. Standing amidst the crowd, Jing Yu seemed to stand apart, distant, with no trace of human emotion in his eyes.

The gaze of those around him landed on him almost imperceptibly. Instead of standing in formation, it seemed as if everyone was monitoring his every move.

A military officer approached from a distance, followed by two subordinates. Ying Feng noticed his insignia. When he met Long Yin, the man had already been a general, but now the insignia indicated he was only a lieutenant general. Had he traveled back in time?

As soon as Long Yin arrived, someone reported to him. Although the report was whispered into his ear, every word clearly reached Ying Feng.

“Everything is ready. If Jing Yu shows any unusual behavior, the soldiers will act immediately.”

Long Yin nodded. “What about that man?”

The man Long Yin referred to was soon brought forward by two others. Upon seeing him, a deep void seemed to carve itself into Ying Feng’s soul, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Ling Xing looked calm, as if he wasn’t facing execution, but merely a routine prayer.

“Even now, you refuse to admit where you’ve hidden it?” Long Yin asked him one last time.

Ling Xing smiled. “I’ve told you many times. I’ve hidden it in the future.”

“If that’s what you believe, then maybe you’ll meet it in the future,” Long Yin was about to give an order when Ling Xing interrupted.

“May I have a last word with him?”

Long Yin glanced in the direction of Jing Yu. “Go ahead.”

Ying Feng watched as Ling Xing passed by him without a glance, stopping beside Jing Yu. The affection in Ling Xing’s eyes was evident, but Jing Yu treated him indifferently. If Ying Feng hadn’t heard their story or witnessed what Jing Yu did for Ling Xing, he might have thought Jing Yu was looking at a stranger.

Jing Yu, slightly taller, leaned down as Ling Xing whispered something into his ear. Unlike before, this time Ying Feng couldn’t catch a word.

After speaking, Jing Yu’s expression remained unchanged, but Ling Xing seemed satisfied as he resolutely walked towards Nightmare Hall.

Someone grabbed Ling Xing’s hand from behind. He turned in surprise, as if noticing Ying Feng for the first time, but soon smiled as if greeting an old friend.

“It’s you.”

“Don’t go.” Whether this was a dream or not, Ying Feng hoped he would stay. The thought of Ling Xing meeting his end made Ying Feng unwilling to let go.

“Do you want me to live?” Ling Xing asked with a smile.

Ying Feng nodded.

“But if I live, my next life will disappear. Only one of us can exist.”

Looking at his hand, Ling Xing said, “Either me or him. You can only choose one. The one you let go of will die. Think carefully.”

To Ying Feng’s astonishment, he realized he was also holding another person’s hand, someone who seemed to have been there from the start but whom he had always overlooked.

“A or B?” Ling Xing tilted his chin. Two people with entirely different personalities spoke in opposite tones yet said the exact same words.

“This time, you don’t have the option to object.”

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