Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

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Chapter 98

“Are you ready?”

“Let’s go!”

Two figures darted out, one from the left and one from the right. An opposing mech fired a dozen small missiles straight at them. The duo seamlessly switched from side-by-side to a front-and-back formation. The person behind waved a hand, detonating the missiles from left to right in succession, creating a line of explosions. The person in front skillfully dodged through the explosions, emerging unscathed.

Having breached the enemy’s rear defenses, the commander at the back tightened his fists. The front-line attacker’s armor layered up. Clapping his hands together and aiming above the mech’s head, he let out a shout. A powerful shockwave erupted from his palms, instantly shattering the massive mech.

The mech’s pilot ejected, somersaulting in mid-air and transforming from a human shape into a huge beast. The initial attacker nimbly avoided its three attempts at attack, while the other teleported in time to knock the beast over with a kick.

“It’s starting!” He released a soul crystal into the air, clapping his hands. The duo’s attack rhythm shifted, and they launched their offensive from both sides of the beast. Their movements, speed, and striking poses were perfectly synchronized, as if controlled by one person, achieving a hundred percent sync. Together, they dealt the beast a final blow. It let out a mournful howl, immobilized and vanished with a bang mid-fall. The two attackers landed gracefully on the ground, completely unharmed.

“Well done!”

“Brilliant!”

Praises echoed all around. Ling Xiao, who had just landed, proudly fist-bumped Ying Feng. Ying Feng responded, changing his fist to an open hand, pulling Ling Xiao into a tight hug.

“Hey, there are many people watching,” Ling Xiao said, embarrassed, wriggling out of the embrace. The cheers turned to playful jeers, with Red Head being the loudest.

The instructor satisfactorily checked their names off the final assessment list. “Congratulations. You’re now qualified to use the soul crystal that can only be activated with an emotional value of seven stars. You passed the final exam and lived up to my expectations.”

Ling Xiao saluted the instructor. “Thank you, sir!”

The instructor nodded, folding away the assessment sheet. “Yu Ji and Shuang Feng also passed. Everyone in this term’s combined combat course has succeeded. No one failed.”

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Red Head, more delighted than if he had scored full marks, exclaimed, “Had Ling Xiao not lost his memory midway, they might already be at ten stars now!”

“Speaking of which, someone had a bet that if they reached seven stars by the end of term, they’d dye their hair,” Shuang Feng reminded.

“Of course!” Red Head wasn’t one to back down. “I foresaw their success and have already dyed it!”

Everyone looked but saw no difference.

“Where did you dye it?”

The Red Head plucked a tuft of hair from his head. “Look, I’ve highlighted it orange!”

The crowd dismissed him with disdainful looks.

Laughing, Ling Xiao playfully chased Red Head. After months together, they had all become close friends again. Even without his initial memories, their bond remained strong. As Ling Xiao playfully attacked, Red Head finally asked, “But honestly, aren’t you regretful about losing those months of memories?”

Ling Xiao paused, pondering deeply. “Regret? It’s impossible not to feel any… Those were parts of my past. Yet, I’m content with the present. If the memories truly can’t be recovered, I’ll accept them as a beautiful imperfection.” He sneaked a glance at Ying Feng. These recent months had given him beautiful new memories, so why cling to the past?

Red Head wrapped an arm around Ling Xiao’s neck. “Let’s go to the interstellar port.” After several months, the war against Huoxiu had been won. Today marked the triumphant return of General Fu Yao. Many citizens went to the port to welcome their hero.

“You go ahead. I’d love to join, but I have an appointment,” Ling Xiao said. The Genetic Center had paused their experiments due to exams, but now that they were over, Dr. Heng He was eager to continue.

“Alright then.” Red Head waved goodbye. “Enjoy your holidays!”

After saying goodbye to Red Head, Ling Xiao and Ying Feng drove the Flying Shark to the Genetic Center. After the last accident, Long Yin finally revealed the real location of the Genetic Center to them. He even dispatched fleets to escort them every time they returned, ensuring tight security.

They were initially astounded to find out that the Genetic Center was located underground in the base. But as time went on, they grew accustomed to the idea.

Dr. Heng He looked even more haggard than the last time Ling Xiao saw him. His hair was messy, like a tuft of grass. However, upon seeing Ling Xiao, he excitedly grasped his hand, even forgetting about drawing blood.

“I’ve finally succeeded! I’ve figured out how to remove the memory shield!”

Out of deep remorse for Ling Xiao, Dr. Heng He had been tirelessly researching a method to restore memories for the past few months. Fortunately, his dedication paid off.

“Really?” Ling Xiao’s eyes lit up. He had just lamented the regret of potentially never retrieving his memories when he heard this good news, instantly lifting his spirits.

“But…” Dr. Heng He hesitated. “There’s a catch.”

“What’s the issue?”

“Without clinical trials, I can’t guarantee whether, after the treatment, the memories you made after losing your memory will remain or vanish. You might retain both sets of memories or just recall the period before the amnesia… Would you still be willing to try it?”

Ling Xiao was genuinely stumped by the question. If he chose to retrieve his previous memories, he risked losing his current ones. Would forgetting everything Ying Feng did for him over the past few months be worth it?

Seeing Ling Xiao’s uncertainty, Ying Feng said, “No matter what you decide, I will respect your choice. Even if you forget what happened during this period, I’ll remember, and we can piece it back together.”

Ying Feng’s words reassured Ling Xiao. After some careful contemplation, he made up his mind. “The memories I lost probably aren’t as pleasant as the ones I have now. If I chose the past, I would likely be sadder.”

“Now, it feels like I’ve been effortlessly elevated from the base to the peak of a mountain, possessing everything.”

He paused. “But the hardships I once faced are also a significant part of my life. If possible, I still yearn to have the memories of our joint endeavors.”

Ling Xiao was resolute. “I’m willing to take the risk.”

Dr. Heng He nodded excitedly. “Then we can start the treatment. Drawing blood can wait.”

“No,” Ling Xiao refused. “Before that, I need to prepare something.”

Ying Feng was asked to leave the room, leaving just Ling Xiao and Dr. Heng He. Dr. Heng He was puzzled by Ling Xiao’s behavior.

“Why did you want to keep this from him?”

“If he’s here, I’d be too embarrassed to continue.” Ling Xiao adjusted his hair. “Do I look presentable now?”

“You look much better than me,” Dr. Heng He set up a 3D camera. Cameras surrounded Ling Xiao, who sat in the center.

“Ready.” Dr. Heng He pressed the record button. “You can start.”

Ling Xiao recited everything he wanted to say. “I’m about to undergo treatment. After it, I might lose all the memories of these past three months. These memories are precious to me, so I’ve decided to record them. Even if I do forget, I won’t truly lose them.”

Dr. Heng He silently listened as Ling Xiao recounted every event from the past few months, all of which involved Ying Feng.

“…He took me to the seaside for our honeymoon. We went diving in bubbles, heated seawater into hot springs, and wished upon shooting stars… He drew a portrait of me, which I stored in my secret warehouse along with other gifts he gave me…”

After reminiscing for hours and occasionally breaking into joyful laughter, Ling Xiao concluded, “This has been the most wonderful three months of my life, and if possible, I wouldn’t want to give them up…”

“But if I do forget and the memories I regain aren’t as delightful as the current ones, I won’t regret today’s decision. Because he alone knows our past efforts. It’s too unfair. I also want to share this hard-won happiness with him.”

After recording for two hours, Ling Xiao approached a teary-eyed Dr. Heng He.

“What’s wrong?” He noticed the tears in Dr. Heng He’s eyes.

“Nothing.” Dr. Heng He quickly wiped his eyes. “I was just moved by your story. Are you done? I’ll turn off the camera.”

“Yes.” Ling Xiao nodded. “If things turn out as you said and I forget everything, secretly show me the recording. Don’t let Ying Feng see it. He’ll tease me.”

“Why would he mock you?” Dr. Heng He processed the video and reassured Ling Xiao. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him know.”

“That’s good,” Ling Xiao grinned.

“Are you ready?” Heng He brought the equipment over.

Ling Xiao lay down on the bed. “Yes, let’s begin.”

Ying Feng waited outside the door for several hours until Heng He finally emerged to let him know he could enter.

“How is he?” Ying Feng asked immediately.

“He just woke up. I’m not sure about the details. You can ask him yourself.”

Ying Feng approached Ling Xiao’s bed. The man on the bed, with wide eyes, blinked slowly upon seeing Ying Feng’s arrival.

Not sure what Ling Xiao remembered or forgot, Ying Feng tentatively called out, “Ling Xiao?”

With a puzzled expression, Ling Xiao blinked and asked innocently, “Who are you?”

Ying Feng was momentarily stunned. He then turned angrily to Heng He. “What happened?”

From behind came a hearty laugh. Ling Xiao, triumphant from his little trick, laughed uncontrollably. “Hahaha, just messing with you.”

Realizing he had been tricked, Ying Feng darkened his expression. “Do you remember or not?”

“Of course.” Ling Xiao sat up energetically. “Whether it’s from before or after, I remember everything clearly.”

He enthusiastically praised Heng He. “Doctor, you’re amazing!”

Heng He, a little embarrassed and ruffled his already messy hair. “I’m just glad it worked. I felt responsible for your amnesia. If I couldn’t help, I’d be ashamed for the rest of my life.”

“Are you done?” Ying Feng, looking stern, unceremoniously pulled Ling Xiao off the bed. “We need to settle this.”

“Hey! I was just joking! Let me go!”

As Ling Xiao was dragged away by Ying Feng, he discreetly signaled Heng He to keep quiet.

Heng He signaled back reassuringly. Even though the video recording wasn’t needed, he would keep the secret between them.

Inside the Flying Shark, Ling Xiao was so happy he almost started humming. He finally had two sets of memories. It felt like playing a game twice, becoming adept after repetition.

“Didn’t we have at least six stars before? Now we have seven, that’s thirteen in total?”

“The maximum is ten. Where did the extra three come from?”

Ling Xiao lamented, “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have collected so many!”

Ying Feng mentally called him an idiot.

Ling Xiao pondered, “Let me think if you’ve deceived me in any way recently…”

Upon reflecting, he realized something. “Wait… How did you know I threw that peach pit?”

Ying Feng, knowing he’d been caught, pretended not to hear.

“I remember playing a game, watching a CG scene, and an NPC said you were fake. You couldn’t have known about the peach pit and…”

Ling Xiao slowly connected the dots.

“Was the NPC lying to me?”

Ying Feng’s silence confirmed Ling Xiao’s suspicion.

“She… you actually…”

It turned out Ying Feng knew all along about the stolen kiss, and Ling Xiao foolishly thought he had kept it a secret. He was utterly embarrassed.

“This game is so deceptive! Even the NPCs lie! I’m giving it a bad review!”

“I already did,” Ying Feng finally said.

“And you! You’re an accomplice! Both of you…”

Ying Feng pulled Ling Xiao close, silencing his protests with a swift motion.

Breaking free, Ling Xiao continued, “You both ganged up to deceive…”

“Do you want to go to Dingjun Mountain?”

“Yes, yes, let’s go!”

A yellow arc in the sky indicated a change in direction towards Dingjun Mountain as the Flying Shark happily headed that way.

With their past memories now complete, they looked forward to creating new, beautiful memories that belonged solely to them.

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