Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Note: These are mini extras that the author has written posted separately on JJ. She intermittently updates them, usually on Valentine’s Day and other holidays for her CPs. The translation will be updated when the author updates her blog. You can get updates when translations are updated in my Discord server. Below is a ton of dog food.

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2025/29/8

Everyone’s Summer Cool-Down Routines

Another Qixi has come around, and our married couples are celebrating again.

Here are their little everyday tricks for beating the heat—

The weather kept getting hotter, and the AC at Shu Jun’s place basically never turned off. In a breezy tank top with an ice pop between his teeth, Shu Jun dashed around, keeping the heat perfectly locked outside the doors and windows.

Today, something went wrong.

The home AC broke, and the indoor temperature shot up. The cheer vanished from Shu Jun’s face; even the ice pop wouldn’t stay put—fresh out of the freezer, it melted into syrup in minutes, leaving the floor sticky.

Zhu Yanchen rolled up his sleeves and started fixing the unit on the spot. The room felt like a steamer; sweat soaked his hair and trickled down in drops.

Worse, there wasn’t just one problem. Marshal Zhu wiped his face. “Shu Jun, hand me the—”

He turned his head and found that Shu Jun was gone.

All the doors were open except the bathroom; he could see nearly every corner of the home. The bathroom was impossible too—Shu Jun, at heart, is still an Erosion Swamp; the only one who uses the bathroom here is Zhu Yanchen.

Even knowing Shu Jun would be fine, Zhu Yanchen felt a twinge of nerves. He climbed down the ladder and began searching everywhere.

Not behind the door, not in the wardrobe, not under the bed, not under the table…

After a thorough sweep, there was still no sign of Shu Jun. Zhu Yanchen grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge, about to resume the search, when he noticed the freezer door wasn’t properly shut.

And from the crack seeped an unusually deep darkness.

He pulled open the freezer and there was Mr. Shu, in erosion form, neatly squared off and wedged inside. The deep-freeze worked well; Shu Jun even felt a bit stiff to the touch.

Zhu Yanchen: “…”

The slightly stiff Erosion Swamp unhurriedly shifted back into human form and wrapped him in a big hug—it was icy cool that it was enough to make Zhu Yanchen shiver.

“Joints aren’t very flexible, but I can store plenty of cold.” Shu Jun hooked an arm around his neck, cheerfully declaring, “This way we both stay cool. Come on—let’s finish the repair.”

“…All right.”

---

2025/5/20

Everyone’s Birthday Cakes

Congrats to the couple from “Help” on moving into the Married Zone ☆(/ω＼)

This year’s 520 (May 20) mini-extra: couples celebrate their birthdays! It’s a perfect chance to compile everyone’s birthdays~

Zhu Yanchen: February 4th

Source: A normal birthday. (Start of Spring, 2020)

Cake: [Chessboard Cake]

A whimsical black-and-white grid cake made by Shu Jun, served with two boxes of chocolate chess pieces. Any piece you lose can be eaten in the literal sense, complete with a liqueur center.

If you win, you get to kiss the other. If you lose, you have to be kissed by the other. Very fair and square, and both of them give it their all amid the sweet aroma of cake.

※ Zhu Yanchen is especially fond of this cake, though it has one drawback: sometimes, when they get carried away playing, they absentmindedly take a bite out of a piece.

Shu Jun: August 7th

Source: An assigned birthday. (Start of Autumn, 2020)

Cake: [Blackbird Cake]

A chocolate cake steeped in memories. Zhu Yanchen adds a blackbird motif and balloon flowers. The texture is soft and gentle, Shu Jun’s favorite.

Shu Jun never shies away from his past and even uses the birthday that was once “assigned” to him. Only Grand Marshal Zhu still remembers everything about him and commemorates the past they share. This cake is the best proof.

※ Every time on Shu Jun’s birthday, Zhu Yanchen fills every corner of their home with fresh flowers. At first glance, their home looks like a warm field of flowers.

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2025/2/16

What to Do When You’re Stuck Together

Suddenly stuck together—what should you do?

A belated Valentine’s Day mini joke (?) story has arrived! Time for some sweet, sticky fluff ☆

Shu Jun discovered that their hands were stuck together.

Shu Jun turned into an Erosion Swamp.

…How were they still stuck together even in this Erosion form?!

Shu Jun, shaken, returned to human form and shook Zhu Yancheng awake. “We’re stuck! We’re stuck! Great expert, hurry and check what’s going on.”

In all his years, Zhu Yancheng had never been woken up while vibrating at high speed. He rubbed his eyes and carefully examined their joined hands.

“I’ve never seen anything like this either.”

Shu Jun hissed through his teeth. “I remember you have an important meeting today.”

And it wasn’t some regular university meeting—Zhu Yancheng was scheduled to attend a top-secret national-level meeting for internal personnel. Attendees were flying in from all over the country. Taking a day off would not go unnoticed.

“That’s right, it’s today.” Zhu Yancheng flipped through his calendar with one hand.

“Do we have time to get to the lab? What if this affects our health? What if I’ve mutated again?”

“If it were caused by you, I would definitely feel discomfort. My skin would show signs of illness.” Zhu Yancheng quickly reassured his lover. “See? There’s nothing wrong with the contact area, and all my physiological readings on the watch are normal.”

Only then did Shu Jun breathe a sigh of relief.

“But I still have to take a leave. I can’t attend a meeting in pajamas,” Zhu Yancheng tried to lighten the mood, but—

Shu Jun fully transformed into the Erosion Swamp, surged over, dragged Zhu Yancheng’s suit over, and enveloped him entirely, dressing him from head to toe.

Once it was done, Shu Jun slowly flowed out through the sleeve, returning to their hand-stuck state.

“All set.”

There was a hint of pride in Shu Jun’s voice. He reached up and straightened Zhu Yancheng’s collar. “It’s not a big deal—there’s always more solutions than problems.”

Zhu Yancheng, having just been wrapped entirely by his lover, had slightly reddened ears.

He quietly took a moment to compose himself. “The outfit is fine… but are you planning to come with me to the venue like this?”

Shu Jun thought for a moment, then rummaged through the closet and found Zhu Yancheng’s largest briefcase. Without hesitation, he compressed himself like mad—folding, folding again—and successfully stuffed himself inside.

Finally, he extended a small chunk of Erosion matter from the seam, gave a thumbs-up, and shrunk back inside.

Zhu Yancheng lifted the now very heavy briefcase, turned his head, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

That day, the meeting went extremely well.

But the legendary Marshal behaved very strangely—he kept carrying a black briefcase, his expression tightly controlled, hardly changing the whole time.

Occasionally, he would gently stroke the briefcase, as if lost in thought.

Some said it contained the trigger for a devastating weapon.

Some said it held a defensive Erosion sample…

As for the real truth—perhaps only Marshal Zhu himself knows.

---

2024/8/13

Everyone’s Favorite Sports

A belated short story for Qixi Festival, with a little Olympic commemoration (*/ω＼*)

Shu Jun: [Mixed Martial Arts]

As a combatant, Shu Jun received extensive training in various forms of martial arts. Among the many types of combat, Shu Jun personally prefers mixed martial arts. 

After countless real battles, his mixed martial arts can’t be considered very orthodox, and he’s long forgotten the rules. But Shu Jun still loves this sport—going all out in a fight and then having a refreshing drink afterward feels incredibly satisfying. 

Fortunately, he has the best sparring partner in the world. Zhu Yancheng is willing to have a proper match with him every weekend, and they both enjoy it thoroughly. Sometimes, though, their heated fights evolve into other activities… but that’s another story.

Zhu Yanchen: [Boxing] 

Zhu Yanchen used to box to keep in shape. It doesn’t require much space—just a punching bag to hit, and it also helps relieve stress. Unfortunately, he practiced boxing back then only to improve his physical condition so that his severely damaged body could last a bit longer. 

Now, he no longer needs to “exercise to live a few days longer” but has developed a habit of sparring with Shu Jun. When his once-numb fists strike out, they now bring a sense of vitality and joy. 

In the past, he was very skilled at boxing, but he couldn’t say he “liked” it. Today, Zhu Yancheng is sure that he enjoys this sport. 

How strange—Shu Jun always manages to make him like the world a little more.

---

 2024/6/1

Childhood Hairstyles

I suddenly wondered what everyone’s hairstyle was like when they were kids, so I’m sharing this on Children’s Day— 

Consider it a little addition to the setting (〃ω〃)

Shu Jun: [Slightly Messy Short Hair]

No matter how neat his hairstyle was, it would always get messed up during practical training. Young Shu Jun thought that a slightly messy hairstyle looked fine too. He believed that as long as his hair was clean and fresh, the hairstyle didn’t matter much.

Zhu Yanchen: [Carefully Trimmed Medium-Length Hair]

As a child, he wasn’t valued at home and didn’t receive specialized training. His elders didn’t have high expectations for his appearance, so his hair was styled in the most convenient and conventional way, making him look especially gentle and harmless.

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2024/5/20

Everyone’s Favorite Fruits

This year’s Married Couple Day on 520* has arrived, so let’s write about everyone’s favorite fruits ☆

*The number 520 when pronounced in Chinese is very similar to [wǒ ài nǐ] (我爱你) I love you. Due to this, it has become a day in China called “Internet Valentine’s Day”.

Congratulations to the couple from [Full Server First Kill] for entering the happy married zone (*/ω＼*)

Shu Jun: [Orange]

Shu Jun never lacked fruit as a child, or rather, the virtual reality he lived in never lacked fruit. After entering [Erosion], the game only provided vitamin supplements. These supplements were nutritionally adequate but lacked any sense of fullness, so the [Erosion] officials also provided oranges.

These oranges were slightly darker in color, sweet, seedless, and had thicker skins than usual. They were said to be resistant to erosion and could be eaten directly after peeling. For combat personnel, this was the most convenient fruit.

Even now, Shu Jun still occasionally thought of those oranges. He remembered sharing the fruit with his comrades amid laughter and banter. Among countless gloomy memories, those were the most beautiful.

※ To Shu Jun, they were indelible memories.

Zhu Yanchen: [Lemon]

At first, Zhu Yanchen had little interest in food for three main reasons:

1. He was too busy and preferred to use nutrient supplements to maintain life functions.

2. His health was deteriorating, which naturally affected his appetite.

3. He felt he had no right to enjoy anything.

Unfortunately, to complete his research, he had to live as long as possible, which meant that Zhu Yanchen had to occasionally supplement his diet with fresh, normal food. So Zhu Yanchen chose lemons as his fruit of choice. He used them to make lemon water, drinking the sour water that tasted like a corner of his mind burned into his memory.

※ To Zhu Yanchen, they were memories he couldn’t abandon.

~~~

“Honey… soda water…”

Shu Jun held a recipe in one hand, carefully following the instructions. In the glass jug, a layer of ice floated on top, beneath it a slightly whitish, bubbly, semi-transparent liquid. “The lemon ratio is just right this time. There’s no way it’ll go wrong!”

He muttered to himself as he poured himself a glass—cool, refreshing, with the sweetness and sourness perfectly balanced. The fizzy texture of the soda made this batch exceptionally perfect!

Research wasn’t easier than battle. The honey lemon water he made before was either too sour, too sweet, or too bland, with the bitterness of the soda overpowering the flavor. This successful attempt should make for a nice surprise today.

He placed the frosty glass jug on the dining table, the clinking of the ice cubes pleasant to the ear, as a thin layer of condensation formed on the glass. The fruit bowl next to the jug was filled with bright, enticing tangerines.

Shu Jun yawned and lay down next to the fruit bowl, watching the ice cubes melt and collide in the jug. Zhu Yanchen would be home from work soon, and then they would discuss the dinner menu and head into the kitchen.

A peaceful and joyful day was always like this.

---

2023/2/14

Couple’s Pajama Party

Valentine’s Day, of course, calls for a grand pajama reveal (?

And favorite intimate acts (???

~Shu Jun~

[Loose shorts] Breathable loose black athletic shorts, made from the same synthetic material as sportswear. Mr. Shu doesn’t like wearing tops to sleep.

※ Sometimes sleeps so soundly that he might slide off the bed, leaving only a pair of shorts.

~Zhu Yanchen~

[Cotton pajama set] A pullover white pajama shirt and white pajama pants, very homely. Marshal Zhu’s first action upon waking is to check for any black on his body to see if his lover had disassembled in sleep.

[Standard boxer briefs] in gray, relatively cheap. He’s accustomed to wearing it.

※ Though it’s a pullover pajama, it can still be put on/taken off in two seconds.

Whether sleeping or taking a walk, interlocking fingers is the best! Both enjoy the sense of security this action brings. As soon as one reaches out, the other quickly appears to grasp firmly.

In fact, Zhu Yanchen’s hand is slightly larger than Shu Jun’s, which Mr. Shu refuses to admit.

---

2024/1/1

Magical Summoning Abilities

New Year’s Mysterious Magic☆ Couple Summoning Technique~10 Seconds Guaranteed~ The effect is magical, comparable to spatial teleportation!

Zhu Yanchen’s magic: Frown, the kind of frowning when feeling unwell.

Magic effect: Shu Jun appears in a whoosh, claws pressing on his forehead.

※ Even if it was just a cough from choking on his spit.

Shu Jun’s magic: Send any message to Zhu Yanchen; even just a comma works.

Magic effect: As long as Marshal Zhu isn’t in a meeting at school, he will definitely call for a warm chat.

※ If in a meeting, they’ll text instead.

---

2023/10/31

Got A Pumpkin

~Zhu Yanchen’s Pumpkin~

As soon as Shu Jun returned home, he was startled by the various pumpkin lamps all over the house.

Suppressing his shock, he estimated that their small house now had at least twenty grotesquely shaped jack-o’-lanterns. Zhu Yanchen was still in the kitchen, carving yet another pumpkin.

Shu Jun: “Marshal Zhu… our Halloween atmosphere is already more than enough…”

Zhu Yanchen paused. “But I want to create the perfect smile.”

Shu Jun sighed, went over to Zhu Yanchen, and kissed his nose. Zhu Yanchen was momentarily stunned, then smiled unconsciously.

“See? A perfect smile,” Shu Jun said.

※ The extra jack-o’-lanterns were made into pumpkin pies and were frozen on the second shelf of the fridge.

~Shu Jun’s Pumpkin~

Before leaving work, Shu Jun bought a bouquet of cute round pumpkins from a flower shop.

These dried flowers last a long time and were perfect for Zhu Yanchen’s study. Thinking about it, something seemed missing…

After work, he filled a vase with milk candies and then placed the pumpkin bouquet inside. Setting it right under Zhu Yanchen’s nose in the study, he wondered how long it would take for Marshal Zhu to notice the candies.

An hour, two hours? The next day?

He was anticipating his surprised expression!

…A week later, Shu Jun stormed into Zhu Yanchen’s study. In front of his lover, he took a candy from the vase, unwrapped it aggressively, and forced it into the other’s mouth.※ “I’ll definitely look inside the vase next time,” Marshal Zhu repeatedly assured. “You caught my blind spot. Well played.”

---

2023/10/04

Late Mid-Autumn Festival? National Day? Short joke~(*/ω＼*)

Everyone’s Belongings

~Zhu Yanchen’s personal items~

◆ Ink-filled fountain pen and notebook: Marshal Zhu always likes to jot down miscellaneous matters and plans, as does Professor Zhu.

※ The fountain pen was a birthday gift specially picked by Shu Jun, and he has never replaced it.

◆ Supermarket shopping receipts: Even though they’re not short on money, household bills still need to be settled to his satisfaction.

※ He has mastered the list of 100 things that Shu Jun likes to eat.

◆ Bellflower tie clip: A custom-made accessory. Made of platinum and diamonds, its design is exquisite yet understated and is quite valuable.

※ This was Shu Jun’s idea, a small memento for their 100^th wedding anniversary.

~Shu Jun’s personal items~

◆ Erosion elimination spray: Specially made by Zhu Yanchen, used to eliminate evidence in certain situations (?)

※ “I’ll try to use it sparingly, I promise!” Shu Jun sincerely said.

◆ Smart bracelet disguised as a mechanical watch: Specially made by Zhu Yanchen, it can monitor Shu Jun’s health condition in all aspects.

※ “As a birthday gift, this item… well, is truly thoughtful.” Shu Jun wore it on the spot.

◆ Bellflower bracelet: A custom-made accessory. Made of platinum and diamonds, strung with a low-key black cord, worn together with the bracelet.

※ This was Zhu Yanchen’s idea, a small commemoration for their 100^th wedding anniversary.

---

2023/08/22

Qixi Scheduled! Perfect to rate everyone’s culinary skills~☆

~Shu Jun’s Culinary Skills ~

Overall rating: ★★★☆

Strengths: Pretty good among ordinary people. Don’t have too high expectations for humanoid weapons.

Weaknesses: Just lacks experience, but he’s earnestly learning.

※ Marshal Zhu: “He’s too hard on himself.”

~Zhu Yanchen’s Culinary Skills~

Overall rating: ★★★

Strengths: Given an accurate recipe, he can produce perfect dishes.

Weaknesses: There aren’t many accurate recipes in this world. Descriptions like “moderate” or “a pinch” are too vague and can easily lead to disasters.

※ Shu Jun: “See that shelf? It’s full of recipes written by someone…”

---

2023/05/30

Indulging in “Tears of the Kingdom” led to postponement of the mini… A small corner of everyone’s daily life!

“It doesn’t seem like his doing. I’ve seen many young people who vandalize public property, but… his eyes, they’re different,” a police officer remarked.

“It was Monday yesterday. The Zhu Yanchen Memorial Park was locked. He was the only one at the scene. Didn’t he refuse to explain himself?” another countered.

“But the surveillance was tampered with, and there were no witnesses. He could argue he wandered into the park after the damage was done. ‘Strolling by the sea in the morning’ isn’t illegal.”

“We’ll definitely have to release him, as days go by… Oh, here comes his partner.”

On the other side…

“It’s okay, they have no evidence,” Shu Jun explained. “Besides, if someone had the capability to interfere with all the surveillance, there’s no need to target just the statue.”

The subject of the destroyed statue, Zhu Yanchen, rubbed his temples. “Be serious. What you’re saying is dangerous.”

“I’ve always been dangerous,” Shu Jun responded listlessly.

“So, what really happened? If it wasn’t you, we can intervene and investigate…”

“It was me.”

“…?” The former Marshal Zhu was stunned for a moment.

“Let’s say it was technically me.” Shu Jun coughed twice. “Didn’t we talk on the phone for a long time yesterday?”

“Yes.”

Zhu Yanchen had returned home from a trip yesterday. Before arriving home, the two had talked for almost four hours. Zhu Yanchen vaguely remembered that Shu Jun had hung up rather abruptly.

“I was walking Monday at the time,” Shu Jun said, diverting his gaze.

To monitor Monday’s condition, Zhu Yanchen and Shu Jun “walked the dog” periodically. Of course, they had specifically forbidden Monday from approaching any human-inhabited areas.

Unfortunately, the memorial park was closed yesterday, making it a perfect spot.

Zhu Yanchen’s expression gradually went blank.

“I was on the phone with you for a long time, and it got… bored, I guess. It played around a bit too vigorously. I lost focus for a moment…”

“It deviated from its route,” Zhu Yanchen filled in.

“It deviated from its route, trampled through almost half the park. I had to stay and clean up the mess.”

“…”

“In any case, I’ll leave for now. Donate anonymously to cover the damage, and then… Are you mad?”

“No, just thinking.”

“About what?”

“From now on, let’s walk it together.”

---

2023/02/15

A belated Valentine’s Day mini: Everyone’s game preference.

~Shu Jun’s Gaming Preferences~

Occupation Choice: Main Tank, Warrior class.

Gaming Tendency: Casual player with exceptional gaming skills. Enjoys the gaming process, likes PVE, and only chooses Zhu Yanchen as an opponent in PVP.

Teaming Tendencies: Quite warm towards in-game teammates. Has an astonishing leadership quality, often inexplicably becoming the team leader.

※Sometimes he and Zhu Yanchen will each join random teams, comparing the time it takes to clear dungeons. The one who loses has to cook.

~Zhu Yanchen’s Gaming Preferences~

Occupation Choice: Main Tank, Knight class.

Gaming Tendency: Casual player who treats games as a normal means of relaxation, but will switch games following Shu Jun.

Teaming Tendencies: Doesn’t talk much in-game, but gives very precise commands, and often becomes the leader without any apparent reason.

※Currently, the win-loss record with Shu Jun is still balanced. When they team up, he voluntarily switches to a DPS role.

---

2022/08/05

Tanabata, Tanabata, everyone’s outfit special edition~

~Action~

The two of them will put on night combat uniforms that are completely identical in style.

The tight black material accentuates their figures, and they always take a few minutes to admire each other before they act.

※ Sometimes they even touch each other.

~Daily Life~

Shu Jun:

[White casual jacket with black long-sleeve T-shirt] The white fabric has a slightly dark shade and a slightly stiff texture. Shu Jun likes to wear an additional metal ID tag as a pendant.

[Dark gray jeans] The fabric has a rough texture, but it is resistant to dirt and abrasion, which Shu Jun quite likes.

[Suede Martens boots] Not as sturdy as combat boots, but still gives him a sense of familiarity from his memories.

※ Zhu Yanchen made two sets of ID tags—metal tags with their names closely engraved. “This is a set so they can’t be separated,” Marshal Zhu expressed.

Zhu Yanchen:

[Camel V-neck sweater with white shirt] It covers Mr. Marshal’s sturdy physique very well, giving a refined appearance.

[Deep brown trousers] Neat and without any wrinkles.

[Brown leather shoes] Always polished to a shine. The soft color hides any sharpness.

※ “It’s much softer than the uniforms we used to wear. It looks like caramel.” To verify his idea, Shu Jun kissed his lover’s lips.

---

2022/02/13

Valentine’s Day Album, Inexplicable Nightmare Feature ✨

When Zhu Yanchen woke up, he found that the bed next to him was completely cold.

Shu Jun had kept his habit of waking up early as a soldier, but he would always linger in bed a little longer. This morning, however, he got up briskly, which was a bit unusual.

But Zhu Yanchen didn’t rush to find out—even if there was a nuclear explosion, Shu Jun would survive. He turned on the stereo in the living room and started cooking while listening to music. Being in a relationship always required some space, and regardless, Shu Jun would never miss breakfast.

Sure enough, while he was slow-frying canned meat, Shu Jun rushed in from behind in a flurry with the tips of his erosion claws still leaking.

“So fragrant. I can smell it from outside.”

Shu Jun was still wearing his pajamas, and as usual, the buttons were not properly fastened. He leaned in next to Zhu Yanchen and took a strong sniff.

“What are we having for breakfast? Is it served with porridge or pancakes?”

“It’s getting cold, so it’s noodle soup.” Marshal Zhu glanced at him. “Why is your whole body covered in dirt?”

Shu Jun retracted his claws and scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly. “Uh, well, I didn’t sleep well last night, so I got up early to play with Monday.”

Zhu Yanchen paused in his actions, wiped his hands on his apron, and his expression became serious.

When he spoke again, his voice carried a hint of nervousness. “You didn’t sleep well last night? …Are you feeling unwell? Go wash your face, and I’ll give you a thorough examination right away.”

Seeing Zhu Yanchen about to turn off the stove, Shu Jun panicked. He grabbed Zhu Yanchen’s wrist and said, “No need, sir. It’s nothing serious. I just… had a nightmare. It’s not that serious. I was actually looking forward to eating noodles.”

“…Really?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you,” Shu Jun said earnestly. “Embarrassing as it sounds, I dreamed that Monday went completely out of control, and the seawater and coastline were contaminated again. I woke up in the middle of the night, so I went out and gave it some extra training… You see, today is Valentine’s Day. We’re supposed to have a date during the day.”

Zhu Yanchen fell silent.

“It sounds silly, doesn’t it? Let’s not talk about it anymore. Let’s eat first. I want three sunny-side-up eggs.”

“It does sound silly.” Zhu Yanchen smiled and shook his head. “But it’s also quite interesting. Next time, remember to invite me along as well. We can consider it a date activity.”

Still, he felt a little sorry for Monday, so when they come back from their date, they should give it some extra erosion candy.

---

2022/02/01

Chinese New Year Extra, Everyone’s Signature Dish♪

Once again, I wish everyone a prosperous Year of the Tiger —! 🎉

~Zhu Yanchen’s Signature Dish~

Roasted lamb leg: The lamb leg is roasted to have crispy skin and tender meat, with a burst of fragrant oil when you take a bite. It can be a bit troublesome to roast and requires some skill to slice. However, in front of the former marshal, none of this is a problem. After all, compared to other dishes, his lover still prefers this straightforward and hearty meat dish.

※ Shu Jun does enjoy it. He can eat quite a lot. But considering the family’s financial situation, he converts some of his appetite into other desires.

Sugar milk wine: A specially crafted blended wine by Marshal Zhu, best enjoyed when heated. The milk wine has a refreshing and smooth taste with a hint of sweetness, and its alcohol content is very low. The two of them will drink it while playing battle games, just like they did on their first sleepover.

※ Unfortunately, the quantity of milk wine is limited. After finishing the drink, they will stick a note on each other’s faces to record the victory or defeat.

~Shu Jun’s Signature Dishes~

Winter melon pork rib soup: It has a light and non-greasy flavor, and the pork ribs are stewed to be incredibly tender. It’s Zhu Yanchen’s favorite soup. After trying it once, Shu Jun also fell in love with the taste. Every time he makes it, he adds plenty of pork ribs. According to Marshal Zhu, at least in this soup, Shu Jun’s culinary skills have surpassed their family’s former chef.

※ The leftover bones can all be given to Monday.

Carrot bread: It’s nutritious, soft, and delicious, which Shu Jun really enjoys. Sometimes he even substitutes it for staple food. However, Zhu Yanchen prefers using it for breakfast, slicing it and filling it with fried eggs and lettuce.

※ “It tastes great like this. You can try adding some meat,” Marshal Zhu sincerely suggested.

---

2021/11/06

Halloween Extra. Struggling and Slacking Off at Work 🎃

As the erosion era gradually faded away, it left behind a series of commemorative holidays.

One of these holidays fell in early winter, where people would dress up as various terrifying creatures from legends to ward off potential contamination and disasters. With world order restored, what used to be a lighthearted celebration had turned into a full-fledged carnival, especially in places where young people gathered.

Inside Y City University, a reporter who came to cover the event immediately spotted two targets.

One of them was dressed in an old-fashioned uniform, standing tall with a pale yet handsome face. The other had white hair and silver eyes, exuding a beast-like elegance. Wearing well-fitted combat armor that seemed valuable, they looked nothing like props for the holiday. Amidst the rough and crude costumes worn by others, these two individuals seemed like specks of gold in a gravel field.

The reporter approached them with a cheerful smile. “Hello, you two students. I’m a reporter from Y City TV. It seems like you’ve chosen historical figures to portray. May I ask why you made this choice?”

“Zhu Yanchen” and “Shu Jun” were important figures in modern history and were known to everyone. For some reason, clear photos of the two of them weren’t included in textbooks, so people remembered their outfits instead.

“It’s not ‘you two students’. This is Professor Zhu, my lover. As for me, I’m just accompanying him.”

“Apologies, both of you look quite young.”

“We do have a youthful appearance.” The young man portraying “Shu Jun” laughed heartily.

“We didn’t specifically choose the roles,” “Zhu Yanchen” answered seriously. “Our department organized a costume lottery, and I happened to draw ‘Leader Zhu’.”

“I see. That’s an interesting activity.”

“What do you think? Do we resemble them?” “Shu Jun” asked.

“Your portrayal of ‘Shu Jun’ is quite accurate, but Professor Zhu’s ‘Zhu Yanchen’ seems… His temperament is too gentle. It’s not cold enough.”

“Exactly, A’Yan is not a cold person.” “Shu Jun” embraced his lover’s shoulder with an evident smile in his eyes and lips. The latter sighed and gently kissed “Shu Jun” on the cheek.

The reporter continued professionally, “As accompanying family members, you don’t need to dress up. Why did you choose to do so?”

“Shu Jun” smiled even brighter. “Because ‘Zhu Yanchen’ cannot be without ‘Shu Jun’ by his side.”

“Zhu Yanchen” also smiled.

“That’s indeed the case,” he said.

---

2021/08/14

How can we miss the Qixi Festival! Let’s write about everyone in the eyes of passersby (?

Time is filled with work, still searching for moments to write ʕ ; ᴥ ; ʔ

@A researcher at a certain technical institute/Female/31 years old

“Officer, I didn’t drink or take any drugs… What I said is all true.”

“Yesterday, I was on the night shift and didn’t leave for home until 4 in the morning. At that time, I wasn’t feeling well and was in a hurry to get home and rest, so I took a shortcut. Yes, it was the edge of the erosion zone… When I was grabbed by the hair, I was completely stunned. That person forcefully dragged me towards the erosion zone… I broke up with him a long time ago and haven’t had any contact for half a year! He’s just a lunatic!”

“After realizing what was happening, I… I panicked. It was 4 in the morning, and there were no residential areas nearby. There was no chance anyone would hear my cries for help. I thought it was over; that I would be killed by that bastard. But then, before I could even call for help, a black thing came rushing over and lifted him up by the waist. Black… I don’t really know how to describe it. Tentacles? Tails? Roughly the thickness of a bowl. The fog was so dense around that I didn’t know where it came from. It tied that scumbag up tightly and knocked him unconscious on the ground.”

“A person? I did see a figure, hidden in the fog. I could only see the silhouette. Hmm, it was probably a man—a young man. I heard him speak, and his voice was very pleasant. No, he didn’t speak to me. He said, ‘Next time we have a date, we need to clean up the nearby trash first’… And then—then he kissed that strange black thing. Although I could only make out the silhouette, I could still see the movements!”

“A voice responded cheerfully, ‘Yes, sir,’ but I didn’t see anyone else. I—I seized the opportunity and escaped. That’s how it all happened. What about that scumbag? Has he been locked up? I hope he has…”

“…Afraid? No, I’m not afraid. I’m actually grateful to them.”

---

2021/05/31

A plain and ordinary daily routine. Everyone’s day schedule♪

~Shu Jun’s Day Schedule~

08:00-12:00: Escort Zhu Yanchen to work at the university, then return home to command Monday to clean up the dust and garbage in the house. After watching an action movie, Shu Jun changes into formal attire and heads to the cafeteria at the Environmental Protection Bureau.

12:00-17:00: Monitor for any anomalies at the Environmental Protection Bureau office. There are no sudden erosion incidents today, so there is no need for fieldwork at the moment.

17:00-18:00: Rush to the university to pick up Professor Zhu. They leisurely stroll back home together without hurriedly taking a ride.

18:00-20:00: Enjoyable dinner time. The two of them always cook together and have conversations. Today, they made a delicious and fragrant stew. Zhu Yanchen’s culinary skills have improved quite a bit.

20:00-00:00: Play a strategy command game for two solid hours. Currently, Shu Jun’s record is 18,354 wins and 18,355 losses. Today, he added another loss, so he’ll be responsible for feeding Monday before bed. As a small act of revenge, Mr. Shu almost suffocates his lover with a passionate kiss.

~Zhu Yanchen’s Daily Schedule~

08:00-08:30: Driven to the university by Shu Jun. Shu Jun has a special enthusiasm for driving, and Zhu Yanchen happily goes along with it.

08:00-17:00: Teach history at the university. More than a hundred years have passed since the erosion era, but the two of them still look the same. Only a few people know about their situation, and today Zhu Yanchen received another “secret re-employment request”, but former Leader Zhu clearly stated that he has no intention of returning to politics.

17:00-18:00: Stroll back home with Shu Jun. A smile, forever young, adorns Zhu Yanchen’s face. He spends more time observing the person than admiring the scenery. Strange, even after so many years, he can never get enough.

18:00-20:00: Enjoyable dinner time. Zhu Yanchen cooked a stew he just learned, and Shu Jun ate it all up.

20:00-00:00: Zhu Yanchen wins the game over Shu Jun by a narrow margin. Frustrated by his loss, Shu Jun sulks for a while, then fiercely kisses Zhu Yanchen. Perhaps they can conquer other territories together in a different place; after all, the night is still young.

“Don’t go, Grand Marshal. Let me hold you for a little longer. I can help you read your student papers.”

“It’s not too late to review them tomorrow morning.”

---

2021/02/14

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Special🍫

[Slightly deformed chocolate square melted by body heat ×1]

Made by: Zhu Yanchen

Item description:

Despite being a top-notch researcher, this was Zhu Yanchen’s first attempt at making chocolate. He accidentally added too much sugar and was about to make adjustments when he got caught up in a day-long leadership meeting. The young leader kept them close to his chest, and before giving them away, he discreetly broke off a piece to taste.

As expected, it was still too sweet. Mr. Zhu felt anxious for the first time.

[Chocolate lava cake ×1]

Made by: Shu Jun

Item description:

Thinking that this would suit his lover’s taste, Shu Jun gave it a try and unexpectedly succeeded.

Zhu Yanchen didn’t like overly sweet flavors, so Shu Jun didn’t add much sugar. The cake turned out a bit bitter, more than he had anticipated… A bit challenging.

Later, Mr. Shu realized he had been overly worried—when paired with the chocolate his partner had given, the sweetness was just right.

---

2020/11/11

There’s no holiday today, but I thought about it and wrote something. Let’s sleep together extra. _(:D”∠)_

Zhu Yanchen remembered it clearly. When they were young, he and Shu Jun would lean on each other to sleep, peaceful and content.

Now that they had been living together for a long time, they still held onto that sense of security, but if you were to talk about being peaceful…

Mr. Zhu let out a silent sigh as he looked down at the empty bed—Shu Jun must have had a nightmare again and turned into erosion in the middle of the night, sticking Zhu Yanchen and the blankets to the ceiling.

Even in an unconscious state, Shu Jun’s actions were gentle. At first, Zhu Yanchen didn’t notice, continuing to sleep soundly. However, when he stretched out his arm, trying to embrace the person by his side, his arm swung empty, and he woke up with a startle.

Shu Jun was leaning next to Zhu Yanchen with his eyes tightly shut and a slight frown on his forehead. The lower part of his body had transformed into erosion vines, spreading across the entire ceiling, assuming a defensive posture. Zhu Yanchen instinctively reached out his hand, gently stroking along Shu Jun’s spine and kneading the back of his neck. Shu Jun’s tense body finally relaxed, and his eyebrows smoothed out. He slowly returned to the bed with Zhu Yanchen.

The dark erosion gradually receded, returning to Shu Jun’s slender legs. A few scattered clusters remained, affectionately winding around Zhu Yanchen’s ankles and calves. One of them even crawled up the pillow, rubbing against Zhu Yanchen’s cheek.

Zhu Yanchen kissed the wriggling erosion. He reached out his hand once again and happily embraced Shu Jun as he had hoped.

It was just another ordinary night.

---

2020/09/26

Belated Qixi Festival Extra, Pet Special☆

Blackbirds Town was a small town with a peaceful atmosphere.

The Erosion Swamps collectively migrated into the sea, causing most people to have a shadow over coastal living. Those who lived here were mostly former members of the Blackbirds and their descendants. The population of the town was sparse, and the environment was fresh and pleasant. Every blade of grass exuded a lazy smell. However, there were too few people willing to come, and the town’s economy had never been able to recover, resulting in various inconveniences in daily life.

On a certain night…

Monday happily floated to the water’s surface and wobbled towards the nearest cliff. It rested its head on the edge of the stone square. “Hungry—”

“Lower your voice.” Shu Jun carried a bucket full of erosion candy and wiped his face. “The children from the nearby houses are back from vacation. Don’t let them find out.”

Monday paid no attention and stared fixedly at the erosion candy, leaning against the cliff and rolling around, saying, “Candy!”

“It seems like the new Sigma is quite energetic.” Zhu Yanchen put on his coat and walked out of the back door.

“Too energetic.” Shu Jun sighed. “You go back first, A’Yan. I’ll finish feeding this thing and then go back to bed.”

Zhu Yanchen smiled meaningfully, and Shu Jun stifled a yawn. “My Marshal, what secret plan have you come up with this time?”

“It’s temporarily classified.” Zhu Yanchen lightly kissed the corner of Shu Jun’s mouth and deftly scooped out a spoonful of erosion candy, accurately flicking it into Monday’s mouth.

Monday made a contented purring sound, rolling along the edge of the cliff, completely unaware that several children with cameras stood tens of meters away, staring in disbelief.

“What that big brother said is true!” They whispered to each other. “So cool!”

Several months later…

Blackbirds Town was still that peaceful little town. It was just that there was a terrifying legend in the town—every full moon night, an erosion monster would appear in the sea, and people must stay away from the coast. But in response, there would always be a mysterious defender who would repel the monster, so there was no need to worry.

Tourists gradually increased, and everyone wanted to see the monster under the moonlight with their own eyes. Unfortunately, the couple on the cliff bought the surrounding land, making it inaccessible for tourists, who could only gaze at the sea from afar.

Those two really lack business acumen, the people thought.

---

<<< || Table of Contents ||

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 121: Explosion Accident

“Activate the hibernation chamber?”

“We have negotiated the terms with X City, and there are no issues with the keys.”

“I object. The hibernation chamber has been in operation for nearly a hundred years, and its risks must be thoroughly evaluated. The difference between the original Erosion Swamp and the current Erosion Jellyfish is significant. There are hardly any Erosion Jellyfish on land, and the general population has little tolerance…”

“That’s why we need to activate the hibernation chamber.”

“What do you mean?”

“The chamber contains the preserved Erosion Swamp from that era, which is highly suitable for use as a biological weapon. With the presence of the suppression rifles, there won’t be a repeat of the leakage incidents from the apocalypse era…”

“Furthermore, by releasing the Erosion Swamp onto unprepared target cities and cleaning up the battlefield with suppression rifles, the land can be immediately reclaimed and reused. ‘Biological contamination’ is easier to handle than actual radiation. The situation near N City has been tense recently, and you know the importance of powerful new weapons.”

“There are no dissenters in X City?”

“No. After several generations of intermarriage, the concept of ‘synthetic humans’ is virtually non-existent. X City is our most steadfast ally.”

“Okay. Tang Kuo, you will be in charge of the hibernation chamber. I have a few more proposals over here…”

After the meeting ended, Tang Kuo felt uneasy. Instead of joining his colleagues for lunch, he silently distanced himself from the crowd while his thoughts spun in his mind.

Nearly a hundred years ago, the synthetic human uprising erupted, and leader Zhu Yanchen turned the tide, saving human civilization from the clutches of Sigma. Guided by various forces, the Erosion Swamp migrated to the deeper sea, where they found a more suitable form of existence and gained a more stable means of survival.

They absorbed more water and gradually transformed into the “Erosion Jellyfish”, which had less impact on the environment. Living a comfortable lifestyle, they no longer desired to gather into Erosive Swamps, and the original Erosion Swamps almost disappeared.

…Except for Shu Jun.

The Erosion Swamp within Shu Jun’s body remained unchanged. It hadn’t received the latest information and still possessed strong erosive properties.

In the past, Shu Jun had slept as a “safeguard” for the coexistence of humans and synthetic humans. However, in the present era of integration between the two, Shu Jun’s existence became awkward. If possible, Tang Kuo wished for this warrior to sleep forever.

But he also understood that he alone couldn’t prevent the higher-ups of the United Government from using his brain.

The era of rapid human development was far from over, and the population was exploding. People’s pockets were bulging, and their thoughts went beyond just having enough to eat and sleep. Subtle conflicts began to arise. Some troublemakers, emboldened by their power and influence, started to disobey the governance of the United Government and attempted to “reign” in their own territories.

Honestly, Tang Kuo had no objections to punishing these individuals. However, as a researcher, he disagreed with bringing back the original Erosion Swamp to the human world.

Erosion substance wasn’t a plaything for humans; humans had been destroyed by it once due to their negligence. Who knew if things would go awry this time?

Sighing, Tang Kuo strolled to the Zhu Rong Memorial Hall. He sat there for the entire afternoon, but his mood wasn’t brightened by the warm lighting. Seeing more and more people at the memorial hall, he drooped the corners of his mouth and drove to the outskirts cemetery.

He needed a quiet environment to sort out his thoughts.

Dark clouds filled the sky, and it wasn’t even six o’clock yet, but the surroundings were as black as the dead of night. The cemetery deep in the distance was cold and silent—buried here were people who had passed away decades ago, and hardly anyone came to mourn.

Tang Kuo found Tang Heyu’s tombstone and sat down in front of it.

“Great-great-great-grandfather… Well, I don’t even know how to address you.” Tang Kuo rubbed the loose soil on the stone pathway with his fingertips while muttering to himself. “Zhu Yanchen, Xia Liang, Ai Zhichun… so many leaders worked hard to restore the city to what it is now. And the result? Haa, I can accept doing medical research, but creating new weapons is a bit…”

“You people of your generation suffered greatly because of the Erosion Swamp. If you knew what we were planning, you’d probably jump out of your graves in anger.”

“What if Shu Jun wakes up…”

Tang Kuo was in the middle of talking to himself when he suddenly stopped. It was already late in the day, and this was an old cemetery of nearly a hundred years. Yet, footsteps could be heard not far away—judging by the sound, there wasn’t just one person approaching.

What in the world?

Driven by the inherent curiosity of a researcher, Tang Kuo stood up and quietly moved towards the direction of the sound. Two men stood in front of another tombstone, engaged in a hushed conversation.

The two men appeared to be in their thirties, dressed casually yet tastefully, with fabrics that were clearly not cheap. However, if one were to say that they were descendants of a prominent family paying respects to their elders, something felt off—the two visitors were carrying fresh vegetables and meat in their hands, giving off the impression that they had just purchased them. The slightly taller man held a bouquet of white flowers, adding a touch of condolence to the atmosphere.

If it weren’t for being in the depths of a century-old cemetery, the scene before Tang Kuo would resemble children from an ordinary family mourning their parents.

After their conversation concluded, the taller man placed the bouquet of flowers in front of the tombstone and said a few more words. From his angle, Tang Kuo could see the man’s face clearly.

He hitched his breath.

That person was quite handsome, with features that were quite similar to Zhu Yanchen. Unlike the iron-fist leader, this person gave off a rather gentle vibe, lacking the cold hardness that kept people at a distance like Zhu Yanchen did.

A member of the Zhu family?

Tang Kuo mentally went through the names of the Zhu family members he knew, and he was certain he hadn’t seen this person before. Just based on the face that resembled Zhu Yanchen’s so much, if he had seen them before, he wouldn’t have forgotten.

Most likely, he was a distant relative of the Zhu family who didn’t touch on political affairs.

With that thought, Tang Kuo lost interest again. He only wanted to focus on his research and had no desire to cozy up to people just because they happened to cross paths. However, as he was about to leave, dark clouds rumbled overhead, and heavy rain poured down.

Tang Kuo cursed under his breath and hurried back to his car. After struggling for a while, he was soaked through, but the car showed no signs of starting.

Researcher Tang was on the verge of rolling his eyes. When a person’s luck turned sour, even drinking cold water became a challenge*—first, he received the task of activating the hibernation chamber, then he came to the cemetery to clear his mind, and in the middle of it all, he was interrupted. Now, as he was about to leave, he encountered heavy rain and a vehicle malfunction.

*Expression referring to when things are going wrong or someone is experiencing a streak of bad luck, even simple and ordinary actions can become problematic or result in additional inconveniences. It basically describes a situation where everything seems to go wrong for someone.

Today was definitely his unlucky day.

Even if he called for help, he would have to wait for an hour or two. Tang Kuo had been preoccupied with the hibernation chamber since noon, unable to focus on anything else. Now he had a rumbling stomach, was shivering in his wet clothes, and wished he could shed a few tears.

Sniffing, Tang Kuo bent down, searching in his car, hoping to find some forgotten food in a corner. However, he couldn’t find any food, but he did hear a series of knocks on the car window.

Realizing he was in an empty cemetery, Tang Kuo’s scalp tingled. He abruptly straightened up, hitting the back of his head on the steering wheel, and his eyes welled up with tears.

Through the wet car window, he could just barely make out the person knocking on the window—it was the same person he had encountered in the cemetery, holding an umbrella and carrying groceries.

That person had gray-white hair, slightly darker skin, and warm brown eyes. They wore a friendly smile, motioning for Tang Kuo to roll down the window.

Rubbing his painful head, Tang Kuo hesitated for a moment. Considering he had no money on him, and the car wouldn’t budge, he ultimately obediently rolled down the car window.

“You seemed quite anxious just now. I took the liberty to check on your car. Sorry about that.” The person’s smile was quite cheerful. “To be honest, your car won’t be fixed anytime soon. Even if you call for a mechanic, they will have to tow it back to the city for repairs.”

Tang Kuo’s face showed a pained numbness.

“You don’t seem to be in good shape either,” the person continued sincerely. “We were just about to leave here. How about you come with us for now? It’s getting late, and you can figure out what to do with this matter tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” Tang Kuo grinned and forced out a smile. “It’s not a big problem. Even if I can’t make it in time, I can spend the night in the car. I—”

Before he could finish his sentence, his stomach let out a thunderous rumble. Tang Kuo awkwardly stopped talking and let out an awkward laugh.

“Our house is by the seaside, in Blackbirds Town.” The man clearly saw through Tang Kuo’s vigilance and lowered his voice. “You look like a researcher from the command center, so you probably have a tracking chip implanted, right? If you’re still worried, you can report our vehicle code to your family.”

At this point, Tang Kuo felt too embarrassed to refuse. He locked his own car and briefly informed his roommate of the situation before getting into the other person’s car.

“I brought him back, A’Yan.” The man left Tang Kuo in the backseat. “Prepare dinner for one more person. Do we have enough ingredients at home?”

The man, who resembled Zhu Yanchen, turned his head and assessed the drenched Tang Kuo. “It’s enough, and we can also add some hot soup.”

“Then I’ll make winter melon and pork rib soup.” The white-haired man happily started naming dishes. “I’ll take care of dessert. What do you want? Carrot bread or chocolate cookies?”

“I want both.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

“By the way, who are you two…?” Tang Kuo coughed awkwardly.

“You can call me Gray Claw.” The white-haired man smiled. “The one driving is my partner, Smoke. Oh, we still have some cookies in the car. Are you hungry? Have some to fill your stomach.”

After saying that, as if afraid that Tang Kuo wouldn’t trust him, he casually broke off half a piece and chewed on it.

Tang Kuo’s nose tingled, and he tried to elegantly nibble on the cookie. The place wasn’t far from Blackbirds Town, and Smoke drove the car swiftly. In less than half an hour, they arrived at their destination.

The two men’s house was close to the sea, and the stormy ocean felt quite oppressive. Tang Kuo cautiously stepped inside while using a towel to dry off his hair. He glanced at the backyard of the house and saw… a small square?

Who would build an empty small square behind their own house? Tang Kuo’s relaxed nerves tensed up again.

“It’s quite strange, isn’t it? It’s for walking the dog,” Gray Claw explained considerately as he noticed Tang Kuo’s gaze. “Our dog is… quite big, so it’s not suitable for walking it outside. We’re afraid it might hurt someone.”

“Oh, I see. Where is it? Can I see it? I quite like dogs.” Tang Kuo swiftly changed into dry clothes and handed back the towel.

“Because you were coming, we had a friend take it away first.” Gray Claw scratched his hair. “Don’t mind it. To be honest, it’s not really cute.”

Tang Kuo: “…” The disdain on Gray Claw’s face was genuine, and Tang Kuo silently sympathized with the dog for a few seconds.

Apart from the peculiar small square in the backyard, the room was filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere. The two men prepared dinner in the kitchen, and the atmosphere was naturally comfortable. Such affection couldn’t be faked. Tang Kuo’s nerves finally relaxed bit by bit, leaving only gratitude.

Today, something good finally happened.

Both of them were skilled cooks, and Tang Kuo mustered up the courage to ask for three more bowls of rice. With his guard down, he began to speak more freely.

“Is it true that they’re opening the hibernation chamber in Y City?” Gray Claw raised an eyebrow. “I heard some rumors about it recently, but I didn’t take them seriously.”

“Seems like they released the news early. They want everyone to know.” Tang Kuo chewed on the carrot bread.

“Yeah, we thought they were just creating hype to intimidate those people around N City,” Smoke said quietly while his expression turned colder. “The current leader is quite audacious.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying!” Tang Kuo finally had an outlet for his grievances. “That’s the original native Erosion Swamp. Who knows what might happen? And not to mention that Shu Jun has been sleeping for so long for the sake of peace, only to be weaponized by the United Government without any consideration for his life? Even if he’s not classified as human, it’s still inappropriate, right?”

Gray Claw’s smile had a hint of significance. “I’m not surprised. It’s not the first time they’ve done something like this.”

Tang Kuo’s expression became bitter. “I hope they can really control it… Since you’ve figured out that I’m a researcher, I won’t lie to you. Although the survival form of the Erosion Swamp has changed, the original Sigma from back then is likely still alive. If something happens on the surface and it develops hostile intentions, there’s a possibility of another catastrophe for humanity.”

Smoke swiftly took the last piece of bread from the plate and broke it in half, giving one half to Gray Claw. “It won’t happen.”

There was a strange sense of certainty in his tone, and Tang Kuo couldn’t help but glance at him again. “How do you know?”

“When Zhu Yanchen proposed this plan, he must have considered the follow-up issues.” Smoke smiled.

“Is it an internal saying within the Zhu family?” Tang Kuo blinked.

Smoke’s smile also became meaningful. “You could say that.”

“Don’t worry.” Gray Claw patted Tang Kuo’s back forcefully. “That generation suffered enough from the Erosion Swamp. Who knows what trump card they’ve hidden in the hibernation chamber?”

After having their fill, Tang Kuo’s body felt comfortable and warm. After pondering for a while, he believed that the words of these two people made a lot of sense. That night, he slept especially relaxed.

The next afternoon, in the presence of all the researchers, the keys of X City and Y City were merged, and the hibernation chamber that had been sealed for a hundred years slowly opened—

And then it exploded.

The explosion wasn’t severe and didn’t harm anyone. After the explosion, people tried to find fragments of the Erosion Swamp but found nothing. Under Tang Kuo’s leadership, the source of the explosion was quickly located and recovered. It was a sophisticated bomb, more like a smoke bomb than a lethal weapon. On the thick metal casing was a short sentence:

[For short-term and high-efficiency suppression. If the situation becomes critical, please escape.]

The age of that bomb was close to a hundred years, indicating that it was placed there before the hibernation chamber was sealed. But Tang Kuo was well aware that the researchers thoroughly inspected the hibernation chamber inside and out countless times back then, and there was absolutely no such dangerous item present, unless…

Unless that thing had been sealed within Shu Jun all along, making it possible to be brought inside.

Frowning at the layered screens, Tang Kuo thought to himself—setting aside the fact that the bomb couldn’t possibly kill a high-level Erosion Swamp like Shu Jun, even if it could, the remaining erosion substance at the scene was too low to be scientifically feasible.

Not to mention designing new weapons, that small amount couldn’t even support the most basic research. Based on the quantity of erosion substance left, the slumbering Shu Jun would only be a mere husk…

Wait, just a husk?

Tang Kuo pulled up all the relevant Erosion Swamp information from back then, and the more he looked, the more shocked he became.

If the Shu Jun sent into the hibernation chamber back then was just a “dummy”, there was no way Zhu Yanchen could have been unaware. They must have planned all this from the beginning. Who could have anticipated that the iron-fist leader would play such a massive joke on the world?

No, without the cooperation of insiders, Zhu Yanchen wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all of this on his own. The subordinates of the two of them back then must have also been aware…

Standing dumbfounded in place, amidst the shock, Tang Kuo felt a profound sense of relief.

Regardless of where Shu Jun was now, dead or alive, he had never harmed humanity. And as a legendary leader, since Zhu Yanchen was capable of considering humanity’s current mindset, he would definitely not allow Shu Jun to act recklessly and jeopardize human development.

With this in mind, it wasn’t so difficult to understand why Zhu Yanchen completely retired and disappeared after his term ended.

Could those two people really…

“Mr. Tang, there’s someone outside who wants to see you. He said he met you yesterday and you left something with him.”

“Oh? Oh, please invite him in quickly.” Tang Kuo shook his head.

“I just saw you on the news.” Gray Claw held up a paper bag, and his face wore a refreshing smile. “The hibernation chamber exploded? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern. But I don’t think I forgot anything last night…”

“Carrot bread. You seem to like it.” Gray Claw shook the bag. “We were worried, so we used an excuse to check up on you. As long as you’re fine, that’s good.”

“It’s really unnecessary…” The level of kindness displayed by these two strangers far exceeded Tang Kuo’s imagination, leaving him momentarily caught off guard.

“Take it. It’s not valuable. We’ve also received a lot of help from the Tang family.” Gray Claw stuffed the paper bag into Tang Kuo’s arms. “Now you have nothing to worry about. Rest well.”

Feeling rather embarrassed, Tang Kuo accepted the bag and suddenly realized, “Wait, how did you know that we couldn’t continue our research?”

Gray Claw didn’t say a word; he just slightly turned his head and winked at Tang Kuo.

Those warm brown eyes instantly turned grayish-white, and the pupils narrowed into slits like a wild beast. Tang Kuo broke out in a cold sweat, but when he looked again, those eyes had returned to their normal warm brown color.

“You… Something’s not right. Are you two…”

“Teacher Tang will be very pleased to have a descendant like you.” Gray Claw smiled. “You’re welcome to visit our home more often, Mr. Tang.”

Tang Kuo opened his mouth as countless thoughts threatened to overload his brain. He tightly held onto the bag in his arms, almost squishing the small cake into a pancake.

He had many questions he wanted to ask, many feelings he wanted to express, but the hair-raising sensation left him breathless. After a few minutes of composure, Tang Kuo’s flushed face finally returned to normal.

“I will.” He didn’t ask anything in the end, nor did he say anything.

“I will.” A few seconds later, Tang Kuo repeated it again with a much more sincere tone. “…Thank you.”

The Erosion Swamp weapons had already become nothing but an illusion. Tomorrow, the sun would rise as usual, and everyone’s lives would continue unchanged. As for himself… he only needed to write down the accident-related issues clearly, without adding any useless speculation.

The world today may not be perfect, but it could be considered peaceful and secure.

‘That’s enough,’ he thought. ‘It’s enough.’

---

The author has something to say:

As usual, a small reminder: I don’t welcome comments from pirated readers who only buy the “Extras” or “Specific Chapters.” Otherwise, I will give random warnings depending on the situation. Writing a long novel in a niche genre is not easy, so if you like it, please support the official version.

——

Thank you all for your support! This story has come to an end.

It’s my first time writing something this short (?), and to be honest, it feels a bit unfamiliar. I tried a new rhythm and learned a lot of new things! However, I’m not entirely satisfied with the specific effect… In the end, I feel like I wrote too little, so I will continue to explore the rhythm and style that suit me best.

During the writing process, I also realized a lot of issues, and I appreciate your understanding. I will definitely strive to improve XD

The next book, “Sendoff” is already available in the author’s column, a micro-fantasy wuxia~ I’ll start posting within this year!

I’ve also decided on the theme for the fifth book, a crime investigation with a touch of supernatural elements, called “Evil As Humans”. Pre-orders are now available. I’ll probably keep the word count between 500,000 to 1,000,000, releasing two books like this per year (*/ω＼*)

Finally, thank you again for supporting the official version! See you in the next book~

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Kinky Thoughts:

This marks the end of this novel.

If you enjoyed it, please consider supporting the author by buying the raws. I used Google Chrome with their auto translate and this guide on how to buy novels on jjwxc. Remember, only with your (financial) support can artists continue to produce more great works.

Really, it’s very cheap to support the author with just a couple cents for a chapter.

Once again, thank you everyone for your comments, encouragement, help with my translations, and ko-fi donations. It in part fuels my motivation to release so frequently and try to finish this novel as soon as possible.

Seeing as how Nian Zhong has become my favorite author, I have picked up both projects in the author note. You can check out Sendoff and Evil As Humans by clicking the links or visiting my project page.

With that, I do have one last treat. This is an extra extra from the author’s blog where she writes mini updates for her characters (usually on special holidays). It’s not officially on jjwxc, but I’ve decided to translate it. She usually updates this yearly, so check back each year on those special days for a new update.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 120: A Bouquet of Roses

Xia Liang and Zhu Yanchen officially “separated”.

This statement wasn’t entirely accurate. The news of their breakup was already made public before Zhu Yanchen disappeared. And since Zhu Yanchen’s resurrection, they hadn’t made any comments regarding their past.

Later, when Miss Xia’s identity as “Dong Lao” was exposed, she officially became a Marshal of the United Government. The distance between them became more apparent. They never acted together in non-public occasions, and their words and actions showed no hint of familiarity, clearly exhibiting a normal superior-subordinate relationship.

Some people were quite dissatisfied with this development.

Knowing that Xia Liang had been Zhu Yanchen’s subordinate for many years, tabloid journalists started speculating and fantasizing about numerous ambiguous stories. Initially, the writers could only imply, and the United Government didn’t pay attention. But gradually, some people became bolder—one of the most legendary leaders of the United Government, and a marshal who transitioned from being a star became the subject of openly discussed interests.

The catalyst was a press conference related to medical issues.

Zhu Yanchen himself didn’t attend, but Xia Liang was present as one of the marshals. After repelling the Erosion Swamp, humanity entered a period of rapid development, and the atmosphere of the press conference was quite relaxed. That was until a daring reporter asked Xia Liang a question.

“Do you and Mr. Zhu have any plans to get married within the year?”

A smile froze on Xia Liang’s face. Before she could respond, another question was thrown at her.

“You’ve been secretly accompanying Mr. Zhu for so long. Is this marshal position some kind of transaction promised to you by Mr. Zhu? The current status of the Xia family…”

The journalist who asked the follow-up question didn’t even have the courage to finish his own question—Xia Liang’s smile faded, and her expression turned terrifyingly unpleasant.

She was still beautiful. Stripping away the layer of gentle charm, her beauty carried a hint of aggression, transforming from rose petals into thorns. However, Xia Liang had always been skilled in dealing with the media, and she wouldn’t lose her temper in public. At most, she would no longer hide her true character.

Fortunately, she didn’t become arrogant, and she was easier to deal with than Yi Ning back then. Even if someone asked impolite questions, Xia Liang would cleverly defuse the situation and keep the conversation under her control.

…This was the first time she revealed this expression.

“The woman behind a successful man? You certainly know how to choose a topic.” Her face twisted, revealing an uncomfortable, cold smile. “The word ‘accompanying’ is quite interesting. Did I disguise myself as an old man just to keep Mr. Zhu from feeling lonely? What do you think the battlefield is?”

“I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s admirable that you’re willing to go through thick and thin with Mr. Zhu. We are…”

“Go through thick and thin?” Xia Liang continued with a cold smile. “The reason Zhu Yanchen initially hid and concealed things is simple; he had no choice. It’s the same for me. I could only find a collaborator to exploit.”

With that, the smile at the corner of her lips grew even more pronounced.

“As for why I didn’t have a choice, it’s because certain people firmly believed that I was destined to be nothing more than a pastime—either a pastime for the public or a pastime for Zhu Yanchen.”

“It’s unnecessary to be so negative. This is too harsh,” someone murmured quietly below. “Who doesn’t know that Zhu Yanchen is responsible for the majority of the achievements on the synthetics’ side? She merely stabilized the situation within the city.”

“Yes, now she’s pretending to have contributed so much. The Xia family has so many members, and Xia Yufeng’s contribution isn’t insignificant. But in the end, Xia Yufeng only received some money, while she climbed to the position of Marshal after the war… Who believes that she has no connection with Zhu Yanchen?”

“At least Marshal Yi fought on the frontlines and made so many sacrifices. She stayed safe and sound in the headquarters without any trouble…”

Xia Liang seemed to have heard their words, and her disdainful smile carried a hint of contempt. She didn’t explain, argue, or even show anger.

“The theme of this press conference is the improvement of medical policies, not a lesson on the basics of tactics, and certainly not a personal life exhibition.” Her voice grew slightly louder. “Everyone, please restrain yourselves. I have only one thing to say to all of you—remember how you used to evaluate Zhu Yanchen many years ago. I hope you keep it in mind.”

Her words were light yet cold, carrying a kind of oppression that had never been felt before. The crowd involuntarily fell silent, allowing her to steer the topic back.

Many years later, when the United Government welcomed its youngest female leader, some people did recall this chilling moment. However, that was a story for another time.

After the meeting, Xia Liang took decisive action, directly pressuring several major organizations that spread rumors and publicly announcing her sexual orientation. Since then, discussions about romantic relationships involving the leader and marshal could only be found in unofficial tabloids.

“Now the magazines are full of rumors about Marshal Xia and Doctor Ai,” Uncle Pan said while wiping the wine bottles. “After Marshal Xia stirred things up like that, your partner finally got liberated.”

“No one dares cause trouble in front of A’Yan. The articles are backed by big conglomerates seeking profit, and they’re skillfully toeing the line. A’Yan can’t just step forward without a valid reason, so it’s infuriating. But it’s their own fault, running into Xia Liang’s crosshairs.”

Shu Jun casually flipped through the newspaper. “I’ve said before that I don’t care about those messy gossip stories, but he has always been bothered by this.”

“Tsk tsk, young people.” Uncle Pan gave Shu Jun a sideways glance. “They like to be possessive; that’s why they mind.”

“But it’s Xia Liang. She would always stay at the Ai’s Clinic whenever she has time. Ai Xiaoxiao would complain to Mr. Tang three or four times a week… Oh, recently Dr. Ai has been complaining less.”

Shu Jun put down the newspaper as he responded in a heavy tone.

“Anyway, Xia Liang is completely out of the question. It’s more appropriate to say that A’Yan and his office desk are more ambiguous. I’ve said it a billion times, but he just doesn’t listen—despite being extremely tactical, he’s more stubborn than anyone in this regard.”

Uncle Pan raised an eyebrow. “Why? Worried that without Marshal Xia, more people will have their eyes on your significant other?”

Shu Jun burst into laughter. “Let them look. If he wanted to betray me, he wouldn’t wait until now. Xia Liang has her own thoughts and is not obliged to be a shield for the two of us, but…”

“But?”

“But I feel a bit regretful if I don’t take the opportunity to tease A’Yan a bit. Uncle Pan, do you know anyone at the flower shop? Help me order a bouquet of roses—the biggest one they have—and have it delivered to the command center.”

“No problem, I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, by the way, also…”

One day later.

Zhu Yanchen saw the message sent by the gatekeeper, and his face turned slightly pale. The assistant thought something major had happened and approached with trepidation. When he took a look, he almost couldn’t control his expression—

There were countless invitations outside the meeting, and many bold pursuers even sent gifts to the command center. Since Marshal Xia came out openly about her sexual orientation, people from other factions no longer held back. The young and handsome leader was the best target for a political alliance. The Xia family didn’t want that piece of fat, but there were plenty of people eager to make a move.

During the period of the fastest development for humanity since the apocalypse, Zhu Yanchen was just over thirty, in the prime of his life. With his resolute and efficient style, he would undoubtedly choose a partner that maximized his own interests.

As for the confession from the leader of the synthetic humans at the beginning, it had long been forgotten by everyone.

The assistant flipped through a long list of items. “Wow, this name. Isn’t he the leader of the Southern New Trade Association? It’s fine if a lady sends a gift, but why would he, a single man, send this kind of gift?! Marshal Xia’s coming out really gave them quite a lot of inspiration…”

Zhu Yanchen glanced at his assistant with a complicated expression.

“Sir, the number of gifts being sent recently is increasing. I promise to return them all, but they just won’t give up. If we don’t handle it soon, the situation will only get worse.” The assistant earnestly changed the topic. “I know you’re not interested in romance, but honestly, it would be best for you to find a partner, even if it’s fake, to put an end to their hopes—”

“Help me order a new set of uniforms for my meetings,” Zhu Yanchen firmly stated. “Completely redesigned, without gloves.”

“But, but…”

“Traditional systems can be reformed, and traditional uniforms can naturally be changed,” Zhu Yanchen said each word with determination as he slowly took off his gloves. “Isn’t there a fairly significant meeting next Wednesday? Get it done before then.”

“You…?!”

The assistant’s gaze immediately fell upon the young leader’s ring finger. On his fair skin, the ring exuded a warm blackness. Judging by the mark, it was undoubtedly a ring that had been worn for a long time.

“I’m married. My spouse doesn’t want to get involved in politics, so I don’t intend to disclose their identity.”

In public, Zhu Yanchen’s attire was always impeccably neat, and even the assistant had never seen him take off his gloves. Shaken by this earth-shattering news, the assistant stumbled over his words. “B-B-B-But, in that case, surely many people will want to ascertain your wife’s identity. Even if we can suppress it, it will still be quite troublesome. Your wife is a lady, and she might not be able to withstand those scheming individuals. Maybe, maybe you should consider asking her to endure it and hire another lady to pretend in public…”

“No.”

“Sir…”

“In the past, I was able to make myself untraceable, so naturally, I can make my partner untraceable as well. I won’t have someone else impersonate my spouse; absolutely not. As for those gifts, same as usual. Return them as they are.”

After speaking, Zhu Yanchen breathed a sigh of relief, his tone becoming lighter.

“By the way, I need to correct something. My ‘wife’ is a man.”

“…”

The assistant stood frozen in place for a few minutes, trying to confirm whether his boss was joking or not. Seeing that black ring and recalling the confession of the leader of the synthetic humans earlier, he suddenly had a bad premonition.

Forget it, forget it. He must be overthinking things. How could it be “that person”? The leader of the synthetic humans had been placed in an underground secret chamber, dormant for a long time. He had seen the images inside the chamber himself—Shu Jun didn’t have any rings on his hand.

Who could it be then?

It was one thing if it were a woman, but he remembered every man Zhu Yanchen had come into contact with, and he hadn’t seen him show any special attitude toward anyone. On the other hand, considering Mr. Zhu’s current work intensity and scope of activities, if he wanted to have a normal family life, that gentleman would have to be able to fly.

When it came down to it, the two of them couldn’t even meet face-to-face.

Thinking of this, the assistant’s shock began to turn into sympathy. In his mind, the image of a gentle, slim, and restrained young man emerged.

Forget it. If they were willing to make sacrifices for love, he shouldn’t speculate further. The assistant regained his composure and looked at the list of gifts.

“Um, sir. There’s a bouquet of roses here, but it has no signature or message, and it can’t be returned. Do you want to dispose of it or…?”

“No information at all?” Zhu Yanchen furrowed his brow.

“No information at all. The gatekeeper scanned it. It’s just a large bouquet of roses, and they’ve been treated to prevent wilting. Oh, and there’s a hidden bellflower inside, probably a mistake by the florist—”

Zhu Yanchen smiled.

The second half of the assistant’s sentence got stuck in his mouth. He had never seen Zhu Yanchen make such an expression. This new leader had a strong grip and was particularly strict with his trusted subordinates—a genuine iron-fist leader. Zhu Yanchen had never bothered to put on a fake smile.

…Let alone such a gentle smile.

“Get me two vases. Put the roses in the lounge and take out the bellflower separately, placing it on my desk.” Zhu Yanchen’s tone softened slightly. “And don’t forget about the uniform redesign.”

“Yes, sir.” The assistant responded quite decisively this time.

A week later, the news of the married leader caused a huge uproar. Zhu Yanchen had kept that person well hidden, and countless people tried to dig out the identity of that mysterious lover, but in the end, they all came back empty-handed.

The closest thing to the truth that the investigators found were two things:

First, the bellflower on the leader’s desk seemed to have been a gift from that person.

Second, they were deeply in love.

---

The author has something to say:

Shu Ge: Thank you for the invitation. I really can fly, so we see each other every day.

Marshal: ? Finally, it’s my turn to call someone “my spouse”.

Shu Ge: ?

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 119: Moonlit Black Wolf

Several years after the chaos, the relationship between X City and Y City remained strained.

With the retreat of the Erosion Swamps, the continent was left in ruins. Humans were eager to grow three heads and six arms to work tirelessly to make money, fearing that they would miss the golden age. At this critical juncture, the United Government had to allocate a huge amount of expenditure to support the thirty thousand outsiders. Influenced by instigators, the opinions of the citizens weren’t insignificant—

With such a large investment, why not use it for development? Why not use it to build public infrastructure? The thirty thousand “sick seedlings” had grievances among themselves, like wolves that weren’t domesticated. Who knew when they would turn around and bite back?

If it weren’t for the firm methods of Zhu Yanchen, some human factions in Y City would have almost turned hostile.

Fortunately, the influence of the three major families still held sway—Zhu Yanchen, as the new leader of the Zhu family, commanded with no less authority than his father.

Representing the Xia family, Xia Liang, and representing the Tang family, Tang Heyu, both pledged allegiance to Zhu Yanchen. Most of the other major factions had formed rapidly in recent years, with unstable foundations and no means to compete. They could only watch as the benefits flowed to outsiders.

The humans harbored hidden discontent, and the situation was no better for the synthetic humans.

After the Synths Revolution ended, all synthetic humans migrated to X City, and the player system was abolished. The equipment and data that allowed access to the “other world” were transferred to X City.

The information left behind by Zhu Rong had long been made public, and the situation faced by synthetic humans wasn’t simple—while the erosion symptoms were easily treatable, stabilizing the artificially synthesized bodies was a difficult task. Even with the compensatory medical support from Y City, synthetic humans still had to undergo years of long-term treatment to achieve a basic normal life and lifespan.

To make matters worse, as the erosion symptoms improved, all the abilities of synthetic humans were greatly weakened, almost disappearing. The synthetic humans were in their prime, the age when they desired freedom the most. Spending years trapped by medication, feelings of dissatisfaction quietly grew—

“They must have softened up at the top. It’s been so long, and we can’t even find a team for revenge.”

Every week on the designated treatment day, to pass the long two days, the synthetic humans would enter the “other side” during the treatment process, experiencing a special weekend. But just the thought of lying in the real world with tubes inserted all over their bodies, unable to enjoy a good drink, made people feel frustrated.

“Revenge? Not everyone has enemies. Take those top-tier teams; half of them lost their loved ones, only thinking about the losses they suffered at the hands of humans—Zhu Yanchen has a good attitude. He did the necessary publicity, and the compensation he provided isn’t lacking. Even if we were to seek justice from the humans, we wouldn’t get better treatment. Think about it. How could those people risk their lives?”

“That’s easy for you to say. Isn’t it just a matter of showing some courage?” The young man clenched his teeth and slammed his glass onto the table.

On the other side of the bar, the bartender dressed as a one-eyed pirate glanced at him, making the young man’s expression even uglier.

“Opening up the data is definitely a way to corrupt us. Shu Jun’s head is spinning. He was deceived by such a cunning and treacherous person. You’ll see, once humans develop, X City won’t be able to hold on. With over a billion humans in the equation, even the newborn babies on our side need genetic stabilization. Being swallowed up is just a matter of time.”

“You’re just too used to living a comfortable life. I know plenty of people who have settled down and have no intention of fighting. This is how reality is, you either accept it or you don’t.”

“It’s truly humiliating,” the young man scoffed. “Someone needs to wake them up. How about this, once we’re out of here, we gather a few comrades and discuss… “

As he spoke, he glanced at the NPC bartender next to him—X City was currently led by Hu Yan, and the danger detection system from the “other side” program was still in place. If they were to discuss a plan to sabotage here, it wouldn’t take half a day before the Synthetic Human Government would come knocking on their door.

The NPC didn’t issue a warning. He just turned his face away and calmly wiped the glasses.

Only then did the young man breathe a sigh of relief.

In reality, this plan was neither too big nor too small. The next day, he gathered three to five people and reluctantly formed a combat unit to head to the border of Y City. If they caused some commotion, it would undoubtedly prove the malicious intentions of the United Government.

Y City had expanded significantly, and the border had reached the original settlement area. The current settlement area was different from before; clean and tidy, resembling a city.

The group found an inconspicuous inn. Compared to the flashy shops around it, this inn was modest, with barely any customers inside. It was a good place to take a rest. The innkeeper was tall and burly, wearing a hat adorned with two black pompoms, making him hard to miss.

When the guests entered, the innkeeper immediately grinned, revealing a bright smile. “Welcome, newcomers. Would you like to have dinner? Here’s our menu, and we also offer specialty snacks for delivery.”

The young man maintained a cold expression and responded icily.

“Just call me Uncle Pan.” The innkeeper ignored the group’s coldness and continued to smile. “If you need a place to stay, my inn is…”

“I’ll let you know if I need anything. No need for introductions,” the young man interrupted coldly. “…Start with five bottles of sparkling water, chilled.”

“Alright!” The innkeeper filtered out any unfriendliness automatically and happily rubbed his hands.

“The pastries from the delivery service here are pretty good.” The only other customer in the inn turned his head and casually started a conversation. “Eat them with hot soybean paste. They taste amazing.”

The young man furrowed his brow. Not only was the innkeeper troublesome, but even the customers were causing trouble. The signs weren’t good.

He couldn’t help but glance at the person—wearing bulging equipment that obscured most of their face and a peculiar hat on their head, giving them the appearance of a scavenger in the ruins. Their voice was young and cheerful, their complexion difficult to discern under the dim yellow light, with a few strands of gray hair peeking out from under the brim of their hat.

It was unclear whether the gray hair was dyed or a remnant of the sequelae of erosion.

“Gray Claw, helping me attract customers again?” Uncle Pan returned with the sparkling water; the bottle was covered in condensation droplets.

“It’s really delicious.” Gray Claw’s voice was also filled with joy. “That’s why I’m getting it to go. My partner is busy with work and can’t get away, but we both wanted to have a taste, so there’s no other choice.”

Uncle Pan’s smile took on a deeper meaning. “Please give my regards and thank him for taking care of us brothers’ business.”

“Of course, of course.”

The young man wasn’t in the mood to listen to these two humans chatting. He was still calculating tonight’s operation. The instructions for negotiating with the Synthetic Human Liaison Department in Y City should be clear, but he didn’t know if they would be able to gather information from the other side tonight…

The peculiar customer had only spoken that much and didn’t continue to bother them.

But that night, as the group got closer to the Synthetic Human Liaison Department, the surroundings grew increasingly deserted. The young man, leading the way, gradually became restless—his sense of direction had always been good, and as they approached their target, he felt the sensation drifting off course.

“Hey.” Just as the young man’s nerves reached their limit and he came to a halt, a greeting came from behind him.

A disproportionately large black wolf hid in the shadows of a high-rise building; its two gray eyes gleaming with a cold light. Against the backdrop of the sharply angular architecture, the scene before them seemed almost surreal. The young man’s hand trembled as he fired a shot.

“Don’t be so tense.” The bullet grazed the black wolf’s body, but it remained unfazed, speaking in a human voice. “I’m just here to confirm a few things.”

With that, the massive black beast stood motionless, silently giving them time to react.

The air froze for several minutes.

“Shu Jun?” Although the black wolf was smaller than he remembered, the young man still recognized the figure—there was only one person in the world who could transform into this form. He took a moment to adjust his breathing and tentatively spoke. “Aren’t you supposed to be held captive by humans?”

“Just a little trick.” The black wolf’s voice carried a hint of laughter. “It gets boring sleeping all alone. How about it? By appearing like this, I don’t need to prove my identity, right?”

“So, you’ve been lurking here all this time…”

“I don’t answer questions. I’m here to ask questions.” The black wolf tilted its head slightly, skillfully shifting the topic. “Did you come here for revenge or…?”

“It has nothing to do with personal grudges. Some of our fellow beings need to wake up and see the true face of humans. We’ve heard recent talk about ‘burdensome synthetic humans’.” The young man gritted his teeth. “Zhu Yanchen has malicious intentions. He’s boiling us frogs in warm water. He may appear innocent now, but once his term is over and the next leader takes office, the policies will change. We won’t have any good days!”

Under the bright moonlight, the giant black wolf appeared as dark as ink. Its ears twitched, listening attentively.

“…Reasonable concerns.” Shu Jun paused for a moment. “If you came here for this matter, I can promise that as long as I’m here, humans won’t lay a hand on synthetic humans for the next hundred years.”

Dozens of tendrils of erosion extended from the black wolf’s shadow, sliding along the surrounding walls.

“If humans do act, I will be the first one to stand up.”

By now, Shu Jun’s abilities had been exposed to a considerable extent. The young man looked at the tendrils of erosion with some trepidation, muttering softly, “How can we trust you? What if you side with humans… Weren’t you here today to protect this place as well?”

It was true that Shu Jun was originally a synthetic human, but he—or it—was no longer considered human. Moreover, Shu Jun’s relationship with Zhu Yanchen had always been ambiguous. Over the years, he had never appeared in X City, and it was possible that he had turned to protect the United Government…

Countless thoughts raced through the young man’s mind. Looking at the black beast before him, he even felt a hint of instinctual fear.

As if sensing that fear, the black wolf lowered its head. Its movements were extremely gentle, so as not to startle the group. “I am indeed here to protect this place.”

The faces of the young people instantly turned pale.

“…If you are seeking personal revenge, and the target is reasonable, and you have no intention of harming the innocent, then I won’t assist or interfere in the slightest.” Shu Jun maintained his wolf form and spoke with a calm tone. “However, since you desire a sense of security, I will ensure the safety of X City. Please go back.”

“We can’t trust you.”

The black wolf emitted a low chuckle. “You don’t have a choice.”

“You…!”

“There are even more human factions trying to incite conflict. Just as I am here, there are humans on the outskirts of X City working hard to maintain peace. The stability of these years cannot be upheld by a mere contract. Everyone, think carefully.”

“Don’t talk about not obstructing personal revenge.” Someone murmured quietly within the group. “If we randomly point out a person to kill, can you tell?”

“I know the names of each and every one of you, as well as the names of every deceased loved one, and even the date of their death. There is one human who remembers—remembers very well. So, how about it? Do you want to test me?”

Silence once again spread through the night.

“Go back,” Shu Jun said sincerely. “Even if you seek personal revenge, I suggest you take care of your health before coming.”

“…I don’t believe…” After a long time, the young man at the front murmured. “I don’t believe in Zhu Yanchen, and I don’t believe in you. There is no guarantee for the future of synthetic humans…”

“So far, 17 cases of marriage between humans and synthetic humans have been recognized. After the descendants of synthetic humans receive gene therapy, the differences between them and humans will become increasingly minimal. In a few decades, the concept of ‘synthetic humans’ will indeed disappear—not eradicated, but rather you will live your lives well and your descendants will integrate smoothly into the normal human population.”

Then, the voice of the black wolf lowered.

“But if it had been before, the flames of war would have been ignited. The new human factions would try their best to wipe you out, seeking more resources and tranquility.”

“How could I not know that? But we simply can’t trust humans! If we don’t take the initiative and remain vigilant, what’s the difference between that and waiting to be slaughtered? As the former captain of the Blackbirds, do you truly believe the nonsense from humans?” The young man questioned with a tone of disbelief.

“Of course, I don’t believe it,” the black wolf flicked its tail and responded in a cunning tone. “That’s why I’ll protect everyone.”

“…But we don’t trust you either!”

The black wolf twitched its ears again and narrowed its eyes in amusement.

As the conversation went back and forth, the team fell into a stalemate. They were infuriated by the situation—a former captain of the Blackbirds stood before them, smiling and spouting nonsense, exuding a ruffian-like touch.

However, the difference in strength was too great; they couldn’t defeat Shu Jun, and they couldn’t stay stuck in the same dialogue either. After a few hours, the team returned to the inn in frustration and ordered five servings of pancakes with sauce, looking exhausted.

Command center, rooftop restaurant, the leader’s private room.

“Someone came again tonight?” Zhu Yanchen rubbed the tendrils of erosion on Shu Jun’s back—Shu Jun had arrived in a hurry and didn’t have time to retract all his tendrils, so they were still trembling in the air.

“Sorry for being late. Those young ones are too quick.” Shu Jun scratched his head with his claw. “Yesterday, Yu Jin overheard them discussing it on ‘the other side’, and today they came running here—they’re still staying at Uncle Pan’s inn. It’s fortunate that you placed the Synthetic Humans Liaison Department there; I caught them one by one.”

“You’ve worked hard.” Zhu Yanchen lightly kissed the corner of Shu Jun’s mouth. “Recently, Yu Jin also intercepted a few saboteurs near X City… Those emerging factions haven’t been very honest.”

“They need to be dealt with.”

“We can take this opportunity to compare tactics,” Zhu Yanchen stated earnestly.

“Alright, this time, I will definitely win against you.” Shu Jun lightly bit Zhu Yanchen’s lower lip with his sharp teeth as his eyes curved with a smile. “On another note, my esteemed Chief Advisor, since we made plans to have a meal, let’s discuss official matters later.”

With that said, he took out a bag of pancakes from his pocket. “While they’re still warm, let’s eat quickly. Uncle Pan specially prepared them, and the crust is still crispy.”

“Mm.”

“Wait, wait, A’Yan, hold on, don’t kiss… Since we’re going to compare tactics, do I have to come over again tomorrow?”

“Yes, I’ve already arranged the schedule in advance.”

“So, you planned this in advance? I suspect you just wanted to see me more.”

Zhu Yanchen curled his lips. “Of course.”

Shu Jun took a big bite of the pancake, feigning a look of hesitation. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep up the act for even five seconds before completely breaking character—Captain Shu swallowed the bite in his mouth, and his eyes sparkled with delight.

“Alright, A’Yan, see you tomorrow.”

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