Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 92
Last time, that unpopular officer came again, and this time he brought a stranger. The stranger looked at Ling Xiao with a peculiar gaze, as if Ling Xiao owed him a lot of money.
“I’m sorry, truly sorry.”
He kept repeating these words as soon as he arrived, which left Ling Xiao bewildered.
“Who are you? I don’t know you.”
“I am someone who is ashamed to face you. I owe you, and even more so, Ying Feng.”
Ling Xiao became even more puzzled. What did this have to do with Ying Feng?
“Let him rest.” Long Yin forcibly took Heng He out. “It’s not the time for him to remember you yet.”
Heng He had deeply regretted upon hearing the news about Ying Feng. Seeing Ling Xiao’s current state, he wished he could die in Ying Feng’s stead.
However, Long Yin calmly said, “Given his current condition, when can we resume the experiment?”
Heng He was stunned. “The experiment… Are we still continuing?”
“Why not?” Long Yin retorted, “Since Tai Yin took great pains to tell us the method to revive Yue Ying, we must make the most of it. How can we waste his effort? This is your chance to atone for your faults. If the experiment succeeds, the military will not hold you accountable for your negligence.”
“But Ling Xiao is in this state right now…”
“That’s what I’m asking you. What impact will Ying Feng’s accident have on him?”
After thinking for a moment, Heng He replied, “Ling Xiao has mild psychological damage. It’s not a concern within a month, but after that, he will gradually develop insomnia. Those with weak willpower usually need medication to sleep. The biggest issue is that Ling Xiao can’t take any drugs, or it will affect his blood.”
“How long, given our current progress, until we have enough blood samples?”
“That… roughly eight to nine months.”
“So, he needs to overcome seven to eight months of insomnia solely by willpower. How can a future soldier not be able to do this?” Long Yin decisively commanded, “Once his ‘danger period’ is over, the experiment must continue without delay.”
“But he has lost his previous memories.”
“He doesn’t need them. Have you forgotten how unusual he acted after seeing Yue Ying? Just let him see him again, and I believe his decision won’t change.”
“But Ying Feng is gone. There’s no one to take care of him after the blood draw.”
“Why not let him stay at the Genetics Center? Can’t you take care of him? If needed, he can even take a leave from school. The people of Huoxiu Star are getting bolder. If there’s a second time, there’ll be a third. Without severing the soul traction, we can never truly subdue them. Someone else like Ying Feng will emerge. Personal interests mean nothing in the face of such national concerns.”
With such unwavering determination and irrefutable reasoning, Heng He, though reluctant, could only agree.
The bishop set down his terminal with a heavy heart, foreseeing the inevitable war. Countless would lose their lives: soldiers of Tianxiu would die, and the people of Huoxiu Star would pay dearly for their actions.
“Lord Bishop,” a gentle voice softly said.
“Shang Yang?” The bishop was surprised. “What is it?”
“I heard about Ling Xiao. I want to see him. Can I?”
The bishop immediately refused. “Given Tai Yin’s involvement, it’s too dangerous. Tai Yin’s primary target is you, and we don’t know his whereabouts.”
“Because of Tai Yin’s involvement, I have to see him. This all started because of me. If I hadn’t been saved, they wouldn’t have become enemies with Tai Yin. Ying Feng wouldn’t have had an accident, and Ling Xiao wouldn’t be like this.”
“But in his current memory, you don’t exist.”
“I know, but he exists in mine. I can’t watch them suffer while I hide here.” Shang Yang pleaded, “I need to apologize in person. Please let me see him, just once.”
The bishop reluctantly agreed. “I’ll accompany you, and the marshal will provide protection. No matter what, you can’t get into any more trouble, or all their efforts would be in vain.”
Shang Yang nodded. “I understand.”
Another group of strangers arrived at the medical station. Unlike the unlikable officer and the baffling apologetic man, this group felt familiar and comforting. Among them was a young one.
“This is the bishop,” someone introduced to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao was surprised that the bishop would visit him but greeted him politely.
“Hello, Lord Bishop. And who is this?”
“Ling Xiao,” Shang Yang began, but choked up, unable to say the words he had prepared.
“Do you know me?” Ling Xiao looked puzzled. “Are you a student of Bikong?”
Shang Yang shook his head. “I am Shang Yang.”
“Shang Yang,” Ling Xiao whispered; the name seemed familiar from somewhere.
“But why are you here? Why have so many people come to see me today, and yet I don’t recognize any of them? Why does everyone look apologetic, as if I’ve done something wrong?”
“Ling Xiao.” Shang Yang took his hand. “Even if you don’t remember, you saved my life. I’m forever grateful to you, and I envy you because your relationship with Ying Feng is so strong…”
“My relationship with Ying Feng is strong?” Ling Xiao interrupted him. “Are you mistaken? How could I possibly have a good relationship with him?”
“No, I’ve seen you two together. It’s because of you two that I regained faith in love. For you, he was even willing to give up his life.”
Ling Xiao coldly pulled his hand away. “I think you must have confused me with someone else.”
Without looking back, he turned and left. Shang Yang tried to follow and deny it, but was stopped by the bishop, who silently shook his head.
“But,” Shang Yang lowered his head, tears brimming. “Their relationship wasn’t cold. Even if he doesn’t remember, I hope his memory isn’t stuck in that era.”
“For him, it might be a blessing. Losing a loved one can be more painful than losing an enemy.”
A new visitor arrived, and Ling Xiao finally reacted differently.
“Principal, you’re finally here. Are you here to pick me up? I don’t want to stay here anymore.”
The principal examined him from head to toe. It seemed that Ling Xiao hadn’t realized he had grown taller. Or maybe he had but didn’t want to acknowledge it.
“Principal, I didn’t try to end my life. I accidentally fell. Can you explain to these people and let me out?”
The principal realized that Ling Xiao’s memory stopped at that point. The last time he had relied on the Disease Control Center to give Ling Xiao hope, but was it necessary now?
The principal didn’t answer, and Ling Xiao looked behind him. “Where’s Dr. Yao? Why didn’t she come? Is she mad at me? I need to explain to her.”
“Dr. Yao… won’t be coming,” the principal began cautiously.
“Why?” Ling Xiao was taken aback. “Is she that disappointed in me?”
Hesitating, the principal turned on the hospital room’s TV.
“What are you doing?” The bishop asked, puzzled.
“He has a right to know the truth,” the principal replied. “He will find out eventually. You can’t keep him in the dark forever.”
The news was broadcasting.
“…Assistant researcher Yu Quan was formally arrested by the military today. He was charged with treason and intentional homicide. An anonymous tip revealed he had close ties with the military’s most-wanted criminal, Tai Yin, and is suspected of plotting the murder of the former chief researcher, Zhi Shang, and security personnel He Gui. The military court will soon hold a hearing on this case…”
“What a joke,” Ling Xiao finally said. “What do they mean by the ‘former chief researcher Zhi Shang’? Dr. Zhi couldn’t be dead. And what’s this about ‘former’? I just saw him recently.”
“And isn’t this Yu Quan Dr. Zhi’s junior? How could he report his own mentor to the military and now be colluding with him? This has to be a lie.”
Ling Xiao’s gaze darted between their faces, hoping someone would confirm his version.
Unfortunately, except for Shang Yang’s puzzled expression, no one spoke.
“Principal.” Ling Xiao’s tone grew serious. “What’s really going on?”
The principal calmly replied, “It’s as you saw. Dr. Zhi Shang has been murdered. He had reincarnated months ago, when you graduated from Bikong and entered the Royal Sky Military Academy.”
The news hit Ling Xiao like a bolt from the blue. “What about Dr. Yao? Did she know about this?”
“She also followed Dr. Zhi in reincarnation. You were the one who personally sent her off.”
Ling Xiao sat down, stunned. After a while, he muttered, “I don’t believe this. You must be playing a trick on me because I tried to end my life. Well, you’ve won. I won’t try again. You don’t have to put on this act anymore.”
“No one’s acting,” the bishop said. “Every person here you’ve met. You saved Shang Yang from space. He’s the reincarnation of Tai Yin’s Qizi. After his revival, he was imprisoned by Tai Yin until he met you. To save him, you made an enemy of Tai Yin. He used a special method to erase your memories, making you believe you were still in your coming-of-age ceremony. In reality, you were already studying at the Royal Sky Military Academy and were honored for your outstanding contributions. The marshal even awarded you personally. I was there.”
Ling Xiao looked bewildered, as if he was listening to someone else’s story.
“I know it’s hard for you to accept all this at once, but I hope you know that both you and your Qizhu, Ying Feng, are heroes of Tianxiu and the pride of the nation. Not just Shang Yang, but everyone will always be grateful to you.”
Ling Xiao’s gaze landed on Shang Yang. “Shang Yang?”
Shang Yang hurriedly replied, “It’s me. I hid in the escape pod and escaped from Tai Yin. If not for you, my soul would have long been scattered, and I wouldn’t be standing here intact.”
Ling Xiao finally understood why the name sounded familiar. He had seen the same name on Tai Yin’s computer. It turned out he was the abducted fledgling.
The bishop gently reminded him, “If you have any questions, you can ask them all at once, and we will answer you without reservation.”
“You said… Ying Feng and I… were together?”
“Yes,” the bishop nodded.
“Then… where is Ying Feng?”
Everyone remained silent. Saying you would answer without reservation was easier said than done, but how did one truly respond when the question was raised?
Ling Xiao stepped back, retreating into a corner. Still feeling unsafe, he pulled Xiao Hui close, hugging him to mask his inner turmoil.
The pity in the eyes of the others made him uneasy and being the center of attention made it even harder for him to think clearly.
“I need some quiet time. Please leave me alone for a while.”
The crowd, having no other option, left.
“Do you want to stay here?” The bishop wanted to take Shang Yang away but noticed the principal standing outside and asked.
“Yes, I want to stay and accompany him a little longer.”
“That’s good. After all, among the people he remembers, you are the only one who can be here.”
“Look, you’ve found the person you were looking for.” Somewhere far away, Xing Lou and Tai Yin were watching everything on a screen. The military had completely isolated Shang Yang, and it wasn’t easy to find him.
“What do you plan to do next?” asked Xing Lou. “But the military detained your student as a suspect. Don’t you care? He’s your last student.”
“Such a traitor is better gone,” Tai Yin replied with his hands behind his back. “I just underestimated the military’s stupidity. They actually believed he did everything.”
He watched Shang Yang’s every move intently. “But this has done me a favor. I should be grateful to them. Next, all we need to do is wait patiently.”
Near the medical station, there was a small church. Shang Yang followed the bishop and had already joined the church as a believer. Passing by the church, he wanted to pray.
“You can pray in our church. Why do you want to do it here?”
“This is the closest to Ling Xiao. I want to pray for God’s blessings for him and hope he recovers his memory soon.”
Thinking of Ling Xiao, the bishop looked somber. “Alright then.”
They entered the church together, and Shang Yang knelt in front of the statue, praying devoutly for Ling Xiao.
“Lord Bishop, do you think God will hear my prayer?”
“Of course. No matter where you pray, God will hear you.”
Shang Yang stood up. “Since I’m here, I’d like to confess. Just give me a few minutes.”
“Okay,” the bishop nodded in agreement.
He waited in front of the statue, with soldiers from the marshal standing in two straight lines.
Time passed, and Shang Yang showed no signs of coming out.
The bishop approached the confession room. “Shang Yang, are you done?”
There was no response.
Feeling something was amiss, he forcefully opened the wooden door.
There was no one inside.
Shang Yang was gone.
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