Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 67: One Touch

Until the two of them sat down at the Longevity Tavern, Zhu Yanchen still hadn’t reacted. He would occasionally glance at Shu Jun, and every time he shifted his gaze away, it was as if Shu Jun would evaporate on the spot.

Shu Jun felt like laughing, but the bittersweet emotions prevented him from doing so—

He understood Zhu Yanchen too well. Sixteen years had passed, but his A’Yan’s essence remained unchanged.

Zhu Yanchen always liked to anticipate the worst possible outcomes. When they discussed tactics back then, Shu Jun had asked about his motives, and his response was simple.

[To prepare myself mentally in advance, so that when things really happen, I won’t collapse.] The young Zhu Yanchen had answered in this manner.

Until this day, Marshal Zhu must have considered every negative development. He must have thought about dying alone, about being powerless to save himself and watching his friend die before his eyes, and maybe even about breaking down in reality and turning against him.

If Shu Jun had chosen to destroy everything like Luo Duan, in the end, they would have inevitably faced each other on the battlefield.

When they first started working together, as a qualified leader, Shu Jun naturally had similar considerations. But now, with his memories restored, whenever he thought of the silent weeping Smoke from back then, he softened immediately.

What kind of emotions was Marshal Zhu pondering all this with?

Judging from his current reaction, Zhu Yanchen had most likely prepared himself for the worst psychologically, only to be caught off guard and fed a candy, leaving him dazed.

As for Zhu Yanchen’s feelings, Shu Jun never doubted them, nor did he feel the need to question them—once he regained his memories, their bond was already deep enough, and if Zhu Yanchen wanted to strengthen their cooperation, they could continue to develop their friendship. Unless Zhu Yanchen’s mind had been eaten away by the Erosion Swamp, he wouldn’t come up with such a cunning idea at this tense stage.

Since they were mutually attracted and Shu Jun knew that Zhu Yanchen tended to overthink, he chose to cut off his wild thoughts in one go. It was better to prevent him from suppressing his emotions further and becoming negative in unnecessary places.

‘You like to overthink, don’t you?’ Shu Jun thought to himself. Zhu Yanchen must be well aware that even if he could kiss him due to the “confusion after memory restoration”, his acting skills wouldn’t be enough to carry himself through the whole act—they had already gone straight to bed together, and physiological reactions didn’t lie.

Thinking about last night, Shu Jun’s throat felt a bit dry, so he slowly sipped his porridge.

As he peeled off Zhu Yanchen’s uniform with his claws, Zhu Yanchen’s gaze slid over him, trying to find any traces of reluctance, but naturally, he found none.

Once he was certain there was no reluctance, Marshal Zhu, who had been repressed for so long, erupted like a long-dormant volcano. His desire was too intense, and Shu Jun was almost startled. He had thought Zhu Yanchen would have a more detached and restrained demeanor, considering it was obviously his first time, and he should know when to stop, but unexpectedly, his actions became more and more intense.

Shu Jun could tell that Zhu Yanchen particularly enjoyed his response to his actions. Each gentle kiss would exchange for more intense movements combined with a sudden acceleration of heartbeats and breaths. In the end, Zhu Yanchen tightened his grip on Shu Jun’s hand and held him tightly in his embrace. Then, as usual, he lightly kissed the top of his head.

The two of them slept in each other’s arms, and there seemed to be a strange magnetic force between their bodies. Once their body temperatures connected, it was difficult to separate them again.

A dreamless night.

Now that he was no longer human, a bit of body soreness wasn’t much of a problem. Shu Jun was quite satisfied with the results of last night’s operation. But to his surprise, as the night passed, Marshal Zhu had a stern face and a gaze filled with self-doubt, as if saying, “I definitely didn’t get enough sleep.”

Realizing this, Shu Jun found Zhu Yanchen looking at him again.

“What’s so interesting behind my mask?” Shu Jun toyed with the pickled vegetables with his chopsticks. “If you don’t eat soon, your porridge will get cold.”

“Mm.”

Hearing this uncertain “mm,” Shu Jun chuckled. He poked a plump little steamed bun with his chopsticks and stuffed it into Zhu Yanchen’s mouth. “Hurry up and adjust your state. The people from the Old Fourth will be here soon. If you keep up this appearance, they might think I poisoned you.”

Zhu Yanchen carefully chewed the steamed bun.

“A’Yan.” Shu Jun finished his porridge and sighed. “You should accept reality too—I like you too. Is it so hard to accept that?”

“It’s going too smoothly.” Zhu Yanchen swallowed the steamed bun and responded seriously. “I have some concerns.”

“Concerned that I’m tricking you?”

“No, I’ve just never been this happy before.” Zhu Yanchen murmured. “I’m afraid something will happen…”

He forcibly swallowed the second half of his sentence and started eating the steamed bun again. Despite wearing a mask, Shu Jun couldn’t help but cover his face.

Alright, Marshal Zhu hadn’t thought about the nature of their relationship again. It was just that this person had experienced so much hardship. Just as he made it past one bend, he started to doubt and worry again—as if accepting happiness would bring about misfortune.

Shu Jun gritted his teeth and wished the war would end the next second.

“Stop doubting, or I’ll perform ‘choking on a steamed bun’ for you later.” Shu Jun responded with a sinister tone, stood up, and grabbed another basket of steamed buns.

The Longevity Tavern was even livelier than before. With the construction of the underground base, the people from the Old Fourth came more frequently. The flow of people increased, and business in this remote place gradually improved. It happened to be the time when Y City was cracking down on the Old Fourth, so their caravans began to spread to the surrounding areas, so the locals had no suspicions.

Unfortunately, this lively atmosphere wouldn’t last long.

After yesterday’s unrest, the command center would definitely send troops to various settlements. The movement of merchants would certainly be affected, and it would be even more difficult to carry out large-scale operations in the name of the Old Fourth.

After the sweet moments, they would have to face the bitter reality. Shu Jun’s mouth drooped as soon as he left the tavern. On the other hand, Zhu Yanchen returned to his normal state and took out a piece of paper from his pocket.

“What’s this?” Shu Jun unfolded it and saw it filled with codes and names.

“It’s my summary from yesterday. I noted down players who have a calm personality, are less easily provoked, and have some command authority,” Zhu Yanchen said in a deep voice. “You can make use of this for today’s operation.”

Shu Jun had a good idea in his mind, but Zhu Yanchen’s list was more comprehensive than his own as a player.

“…How do you even know all of this?”

“I remember each and every person. If you’re unsure, you can come and ask me.”

“No, I mean, just relying on combat…” I can’t see any of this intelligence.

“I worked with Dr. Ai and created a device that can invade the player system. Do you remember? Before the Reunion Festival started, you helped suppress a group of ‘goods’. They were synthetic humans that Dr. Ai rescued, and they used that device to connect to the player system… to continue living ‘over there’. At that time, time was limited, so she probably didn’t have time to explain.”

No, knowing Dr. Ai’s personality, she might not have wanted to explain at all. Shu Jun only saw a huge cargo box and a bunch of demands. She even got angry when the box was bumped, let alone opening it for him to see.

She allocated an area in the underground base as a clinic, and the door was tightly locked. Shu Jun himself couldn’t even enter, let alone the people who came to work in the settlement. Now thinking back, perhaps those synthetic humans and the device were all inside.

“You contacted me using that device?” Shu Jun understood. “No wonder you could simulate chat content in advance.”

“That device took many years to perfect before it could safely transmit information. Initially, when it was completed, I could only observe from the outside.” Zhu Yanchen nodded. “For this group of players, I watched as they joined their squad.”

“I see.” Shu Jun raised an eyebrow. “Did you happen to watch me more?”

Zhu Yanchen’s ears, visible outside the mask, turned slightly red. He solemnly admitted, “Yes.”

…When he couldn’t bear it any longer, he would indeed go and check on his friend on the other side. Although they were close yet far, seeing that person alive and well gave him the strength to continue.

“Anyway, you’ve been a great help.” Shu Jun didn’t tease him further when Zhu Yanchen fell into his thoughts. Instead, he carefully put away the paper. “Thanks a lot, Chief Strategist.”

He took a step closer and kissed Zhu Yanchen’s mask. The latter was shocked for a few seconds before catching up with him.

Y City.

“Why did you bring him back again?” Yi Ning’s assistant exclaimed. “Isn’t that the captain of Groundwater? Zhu Lao is now determined to exterminate the synthetic humans, yet you brought him into the city. It’s like walking into the firing line…”

“He’s useful.” Yi Ning flipped through the documents in his hand.

“But that’s not the kind of usefulness I’m talking about.” Yi Ning put down the documents and raised his eyes. “Since Luo Duan is so single-mindedly following me, I want to see what his motives are. He might be involved with the cloaked figure that appeared at that time.”

“But…”

“The purifiers in this area have doubled recently, and the erosion level in the water is low. His abilities have been weakened by more than half, and I can handle him.” Yi Ning started reading the documents again. “You all just act clueless and keep an eye on him. Be careful not to leak any information.”

“What if it’s fine?” The assistant was sweating nervously. “Hiding a synthetic human is going against orders.”

“If it’s fine, then I have to protect him even more,” Yi Ning said. “Groundwater is the second-ranked large-scale squad, and Luo Duan carries great prestige. Keeping him in my hands gives us negotiation leverage when the synthetic humans come knocking.”

He took a sip of tea, his expression turning cold. “With Zhu Sheng as a target in front, I don’t want to directly confront those synthetic humans.”

The young assistant’s expression suddenly became lively. “Marshal Yi, although I respect you, I will never betray humanity. Once the synthetic humans turn against us, they won’t hesitate just because we return a hostage. In the face of danger, we should stand united!”

After speaking, he was about to turn and leave, motivated by righteousness.

“Come back!” Yi Ning sighed helplessly, opened the display screen, and projected a map.

The assistant, seeing that Yi Ning didn’t reach for his gun, hesitantly moved back.

“This is Y City.” Yi Ning pointed to a small area on the map the size of an egg.

Scattered around Y City were dozens of settlements. Compared to the huge Y City, the settlements were as small as peas, with the largest being no bigger than peanuts. Further out were military strongholds the size of rice grains.

“Y City is one of the achievements of humanity over the past 200 years. If I remember correctly, it’s a fusion of six cities.” Yi Ning casually pointed to a corner of the map. “See those small cities? They’re Y-1, Y-2. There are even more further away. During the process of merging cities, some abandoned areas are left behind, as well as citizens with limited capabilities. They gradually form settlements. Job opportunities are limited, and those people can’t survive in the city, so they can only live in areas with less erosion… For the slowly forming city, they are the ‘residue’.”

“I remember all of this.” The assistant nodded obediently, and his earlier enthusiasm faded away. He usually didn’t participate in tactical discussions, but he had some vague impressions of these things.

“The synthetic humans want to destroy humanity, so they must start with Y City. If they destroy the brain of Y City, the still-forming small cities will collapse on their own. Thirty thousand people aren’t a small number, but the population of Y City is in the tens of millions. They can’t swallow it all at once. Zhu Sheng’s plan is obvious; he will definitely mobilize the surrounding settlements as the first line of defense—to exhaust the synthetic humans in the first wave, giving Y City more time to prepare and minimize the losses.”

The assistant was also promoted by Yi Ning from a settlement, and upon hearing this, he fell silent.

“With things having reached this point, these synthetic humans must be dealt with. I understand that.”

Yi Ning lowered his voice. “There are many ways to handle them. For example, let them return to the strongholds as usual and give them euthanasia while in sleep. Or divide them and offer surrender. There will always be people willing to accept reality rather than perish… Zhu Sheng, on the other hand, will choose the most extreme method. Yes, his approach is the ‘safest’, but the settlements will inevitably be sacrificed.”

“I understand. Now that the synthetic humans have escaped, they definitely won’t go to the strongholds. Are you… using Luo Duan to pretend to surrender a portion of them?” the assistant asked.

“Yes, Zhu Sheng has his own way, and I have mine.”

“I’m sorry, I acted impulsively earlier…”

“It’s alright.”

Neither of them noticed a weak black thread crawling through the cracks in the wall, winding through the pipes, and returning to Luo Duan outside the several rooms.

Although the purifiers had weakened the erosion in his body, he still retained his adept eavesdropping abilities.

…To some extent, Luo Duan and Yi Ning had an understanding. Luo Duan’s mouth curled into a smile as he rubbed the erosion thread in his hand.

Yi Ning didn’t disappoint him, after all.

---

The author has something to say:

Actually, if Shu Ge hadn’t met Marshal Zhu, he would have undoubtedly become the boss who would destroy the world. Come to think of it, Marshal Zhu created a route that was like time travel with his own strength (?

Shu Ge also abducted the most powerful talent in the human camp early…

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 66: Night

With Zhu Yanchen taking charge at the front, and Dong Lao—Xia Liang—going to the back of the team, the formation was tightened. The thirty thousand people wandered through the wilderness and marshes, finally reaching their target settlement… the ruins nearby.

The massive base was hidden beneath the ruins of a small town.

With the help of machinery, the underground base was solidly constructed. The lighting was fully operational, making it look quite legitimate. Once the base was completed, the people from the Old Fourth took the machinery and sent it to other settlements.

The thirty thousand people entered the underground one by one. The base had already been divided into large areas according to the teams, with sufficient rooms in each area. The players were accustomed to carrying compressed sleeping bags and rations with them, so supplies weren’t initially scarce.

To prevent the residents of the settlement from getting nervous, Shu Jun led the team to enter the ruins from the uninhabited side. The settlement was a distance away from the ruins, and apart from the workers who had inspected the underground area that day, no one noticed this team.

It would take time for Shu Jun to settle the team, so Zhu Yanchen decided to return to the inn first. Uncle Pan had no idea that this person had brought thirty thousand people back, and he happily greeted Zhu Yanchen as usual.

“We have too many people, and the food isn’t quite enough.” Facing Zhu Yanchen, Ai Xiaoxiao displayed the authority of a captain from the Old Fourth. “It’s better to resolve the issue as soon as possible. The command center has been keeping an eye on the Old Fourth recently, and too frequent transportation of supplies might raise suspicions.”

“Mm.” Zhu Yanchen sat upright at the table, jotting something down on a piece of paper.

“As for those people, I’ve roughly checked them. The purification medicine was administered in a timely manner, so they won’t have any aftereffects.” Ai Xiaoxiao stood up. “For now, that’s all I can do. The Old Fourth has people here, so you can have them take care of things. I’ll return to the city first.”

“Take Dong Lao with you.” Zhu Yanchen paused his pen. “Be careful on the way.”

Ai Xiaoxiao’s eyebrows nearly reached her hairline. “Is the sun rising from the west? Marshal Zhu is concerned about others? How come you’re in such a good mood?”

“These are the new blood samples from Shu Jun, as well as the data about ‘Suppression’. I collected quite a lot this time.” Zhu Yanchen ignored her and pushed out a small box. “Take a look at it when you go back, and also tell the people in the Old Fourth who handle firearms to get ready. I might experiment with something soon.”

“Alright.” Ai Xiaoxiao yawned and tucked the box into her pocket. “It’s late at night, and I’m going to rest. That old man should still be at the underground stronghold, right?”

“Yes.”

“Got it. I’ll drag him back.”

Underground stronghold.

After traveling for a while, Shu Jun didn’t immediately reveal the truth to everyone. He simply stated that it was arranged by the game and instructed each team leader to take care of their members, while also distributing the next batch of food. The people were already tired, and with food in hand, they quickly settled down and fell asleep peacefully.

Shu Jun was well aware of the situation in the Blackbirds. He singled out the team leaders who had experienced minimal hardships and had a “happy family” background and instructed them to share a room with Hu Yan so that he could gradually reveal the truth to them.

Even if they couldn’t accept it for the time being, preventive measures still needed to be taken.

With everything arranged, Shu Jun didn’t feel any fatigue. He looked down at his claws. Previously, he had been someone who carried the Erosion Swamp, but now he was an Erosion Swamp that had taken on a human form. The slight sensation of foreign matter in his body had disappeared, and he felt light and agile.

However, his actual condition still had to wait for the results from Zhu Yanchen’s side.

Thinking of Zhu Yanchen, a sour feeling welled up in Shu Jun’s heart. Seeing that the situation was relatively stable, he left his communication device behind and gave a few instructions to Hu Yan before turning and heading towards the inn.

As it turned out, Captain Shu appeared confident and proud when he first left for the inn, but as he got closer to it, he became somewhat hesitant. The sensation of the other person’s lips was faintly lingering, so Shu Jun deliberately took a few detours, bought some snacks, and then returned to the inn relatively calmly.

The room was the same as before, and Monday was still snoring in its usual position. Zhu Yanchen sat at the table with a straight back and was focused as he wrote something. He had changed into clean clothes. His uniform showed no wrinkles, and the white gloves were brushed with a warm orange glow from the lamp.

Shu Jun had seen this scene many times before. However, after that kiss, it felt like this was the first time he had seen it, so every detail seemed unfamiliar to him.

Marshal Zhu’s clothes fit him snugly, the fabric hugged his body perfectly, and his movements revealed beautiful muscle lines. Just looking at his arms, they were thicker than “Smoke’s” thighs from sixteen years ago.

His facial features still carried a trace of that Smoke. The weak boy from before had grown into a mature adult, with the roundness in his facial features mostly disappearing and replaced by a deep and heroic contour. The fear and timidity were nowhere to be found; only composure and concentration, as well as the oppressive aura unique to a strong individual.

When Shu Jun entered the room, Zhu Yanchen turned his face slightly, and the coldness between his brows and eyes melted away, instantly softening his expression.

All the calculations in Shu Jun’s mind instantly turned blank. He maintained a calm exterior, but inside, chaos was brewing. It wasn’t like he hadn’t suffered before. What the hell was he trying to achieve with a damn draft? If he wanted to do something, he should do it without any written notes.

During a life-or-death crisis, he could express his emotions with a kiss. But now, the surroundings were calm, and he couldn’t keep using that move to express his feelings. However, in sixteen years, there were too many things to say, and every word and sentence got stuck in his throat, making it impossible to utter even half a word.

“The underground base is resting, so we can take a break as well.” After a moment, Shu Jun raised the bag in his hand. “I bought some snacks. Let’s have a good chat.”

Zhu Yanchen nodded. He set down his pen and tidied up the table. Shu Jun pulled a chair and sat across from him, arranging the snacks, creating an atmosphere as solemn as a political negotiation.

As high-ranking figures on both sides, their identities were certainly fitting.

“No need to force it.” Seeing Shu Jun trying hard to symmetrically arrange the drinks on both sides, delaying the opening remarks, Zhu Yanchen took the initiative to speak. “Back then, we were still young. Regardless of how deep our friendship was, it was ultimately just friendship. You just regained your memories, so it’s possible to have mixed feelings.”

Shu Jun instantly released his grip, abandoning the drinks, and stared intently at Zhu Yanchen.

“As you said, I wasn’t clear-headed back then. If that incident affected our cooperation…”

“A’Yan, do you like me?” Shu Jun sensed the conversation veering off track and decisively interrupted. “Not in a friendship way.”

Zhu Yanchen was taken aback, then lowered his eyes without answering.

Shu Jun leaned his elbow on the table, leaning forward. “What? Even if I misunderstood, you didn’t just regain your memories. You should be able to distinguish your feelings.”

“This is unrelated to the issue we’re discussing.” Zhu Yanchen raised his eyes again. His gaze was sharp as a needle. “I just don’t want you to misunderstand your own emotions.”

Shu Jun rested one knee on the chair and his pupils contracted. He leaned in closer, as if he would pounce in the next second.

“Is that so? Now I’m more curious about your thoughts.” Today, he was determined to crack open this steel walnut.

Zhu Yanchen didn’t avoid Shu Jun’s approach but instead met his gaze directly, sighing. “If you act impulsively and misunderstand your feelings, and we end up together, only for you to regret it later—I don’t know if I can calmly let go.”

Shu Jun’s heart tightened, and a mix of sweetness and bitterness flooded his heart.

By unspoken agreement, he understood the underlying meaning behind Zhu Yanchen’s words. If he misunderstood this affection and later realized his mistake, it would be difficult for them to even remain friends.

However, Zhu Yanchen didn’t know that the romantic seed in his heart had grown strong and resilient, impossible to be trampled on.

Indeed, at the age of eleven or twelve, their feelings couldn’t be associated with love. Shu Jun had seriously contemplated whether he had mixed up his emotions and mistakenly labeled his heartache and pity as love.

If he were younger, he might still agonize over it for a while. But now, Shu Jun was well aware—among the handsome men in the Blackbirds, he had no interest in those with good looks or figures. Yet now, his gaze was glued to Zhu Yanchen’s collar, which spoke volumes.

He yearned for this person, he cared for this person, and subconsciously, he envisioned a future that included this person. Shu Jun didn’t know when Zhu Yanchen’s heart had been moved or how it had happened. He only knew that in his life, there probably wouldn’t be another person as special as him.

“You don’t know if you can let go calmly?” Shu Jun pondered Zhu Yanchen’s response for a moment, then smiled and replied, “Then don’t let go.”

Zhu Yanchen pursed his lips.

“I’ve considered you as a brother a long time ago, so why bother tormenting myself?” Shu Jun sat back on the chair, shaking his head with a smile. “Let’s forget about it.”

“Forget about it?” Zhu Yanchen’s expression went blank, and he stiffened for a moment.

“I’ve planned it carefully before.” Shu Jun supported his cheek with one hand, sounding serious. “I really thought it through, A’Yan. The speed from strangers to friends, and from friends to lovers, was too fast. I thought about going on proper dates, guiding slowly, starting with holding hands, taking it slow—”

He elongated his tone.

“After all, Grand Marshal Zhu, you’ve been holding it in for sixteen years and even found a girlfriend who likes women as a cover. You probably don’t understand much about love and relationships. In case your feelings for me are only a strange form of friendship, I shouldn’t take advantage of you. You can leave anytime.”

Zhu Yanchen remained motionless, and a glimmer of light appeared in his pitch-black eyes.

“But now you’re saying that you’re worried you won’t be able to let go calmly. A’Yan, let me ask you again. Make it clear—do you like me?”

Zhu Yanchen’s throat bobbed and his expression became complicated. After a few seconds of silence, he uttered, “…Mm.”

“How much do you like me?”

Zhu Yanchen didn’t answer that question. He interlocked his fingers tightly, exerting force until the gloves wrinkled deeply. Shu Jun met that intense gaze, seeing suppressed desire and even a hint of obsessive madness in Zhu Yanchen’s eyes.

“Then, should I prove that my feelings for you are more than just friendship?” Shu Jun wasn’t intimidated by that gaze, and the smile on his face deepened. “That’s easy—just stay still, and I’ll kiss you again.”

He got up from his seat, grabbed Zhu Yanchen’s collar, and decisively kissed him.

This time, Zhu Yanchen’s lips were warm, and he carried a clean and comforting scent. Shu Jun didn’t hold back, using his tongue to part Zhu Yanchen’s teeth and deepen the kiss. At first, Zhu Yanchen seemed to be caught off guard, but after a moment, he responded.

After the sound of the table and chairs scraping, Zhu Yanchen leaned against the wall with his back while his hand reached around to embrace Shu Jun’s waist.

Shu Jun’s waist was slim but sturdy, making it effortless for Zhu Yanchen to hold him. Leaning against the wall for support, their lips and tongues intertwined, completely engrossed in the kiss.

As the kiss prolonged, Shu Jun found himself at a disadvantage—he had to be mindful of his sharp fangs to avoid cutting Zhu Yanchen’s lips. With distractions reduced, his breathing was completely dictated by Zhu Yanchen. Whether it was due to excitement or a lack of oxygen, a tingling sensation surged up his spine, as if his brain was about to melt. The surroundings became blurry, enveloped in a fog, and a sense of fulfillment made his whole body tremble.

“Do you think,” after a mind-boggling kiss, Shu Jun wiped his mouth contentedly, and his gray-white eyes were full of playfulness, “that this tastes like friendship, my Grand Marshal?”

Before Shu Jun finished wiping his mouth, Marshal Zhu tightly embraced him. Zhu Yanchen buried his face in the crook of Shu Jun’s neck. Their bodies pressed closely together, sharing each other’s warmth and scent with every breath. Shu Jun relaxed his body, allowing Zhu Yanchen to hold him tightly.

Given the unspoken consent, Zhu Yanchen exerted more force with his arms, as if he wanted to merge their bodies.

The world seemed to stand still, and Shu Jun could feel his body temperature rising. If they continued like this, things might escalate. However, the atmosphere was too warm and pure, and he couldn’t just forcefully separate from Zhu Yanchen.

“Alright.” After contemplating for a moment, Shu Jun playfully bit Zhu Yanchen’s earlobe. “You’ve had a long day outside, so you should rest early.”

Remembering that Zhu Yanchen was ticklish, he mischievously blew air into his ear. “You like me, and I like you. We can consider ourselves in a romantic relationship, and your boyfriend won’t disappear just because we sleep.”

The kissing and hugging had been quite intense. Shu Jun thought that they had made enough progress for today. Considering A’Yan’s situation, he wanted to be considerate.

However, the next second, the world spun around. When Shu Jun reacted, he found himself being pressed onto the bed. Zhu Yanchen looked down at him from above. His dark eyes stared intensely at him as if he wanted to devour him alive.

“Um…” Shu Jun swallowed nervously; his mind was still stuck on the “innocent date” stage and hadn’t made the transition. “A’Yan, aren’t you tired?”

“No.” Zhu Yanchen’s voice was slightly hoarse.

“Really not tired?”

“.…..” Zhu Yanchen ignored him. He lowered his head, and retaliated by biting Shu Jun’s throat. Then he took a few deep breaths, attempting to calm down the burning atmosphere. “I’m going to take a shower. It’s better to rest early.”

“But didn’t you just shower? You changed clothes, but your hair isn’t completely dry.” Shu Jun chuckled. “Now you want to shower again, or are you planning to take a cold shower?”

Glancing at Zhu Yanchen, who was attempting to cover his lower body with a thin blanket, Shu Jun decisively got up. “Wait for me.”

At this point, it was pointless to refuse—they were both nearly thirty. One had wiped the gun, and the other had fired. There was no need for awkward excuses.

Instead, they might as well indulge in their altered friendship and “prove” their feelings to the end.

Before Zhu Yanchen could react, Shu Jun, in a graceful battle stance, rolled off the bed and picked up Monday. He wrapped it in three layers of cloth, put it in a box, and placed it in the wardrobe. Monday was sleeping comfortably and ignored him, just protesting with a few hums.

Then Shu Jun went straight to the bedside table, rummaging through it, and found the small gift of golden ointment he had received from before—a large tube of lube.

He couldn’t bring himself to use it to lubricate armor scratches in the past. The entire tube had never been opened, but who would have thought that he would use it for its intended purpose for the first time.

His speed was extremely fast, and just as Zhu Yanchen was about to flip over and get off the bed, Shu Jun pushed him back down.

Shu Jun straddled Zhu Yanchen’s body, decisively and neatly removing his shirt. Zhu Yanchen’s hand caressed his bare chest; the fair wrist against the slightly darker skin created a striking contrast.

Zhu Yanchen’s gaze gradually became fiery.

“You said you’re not tired. Don’t regret it later,” Shu Jun teased him. “Hey, hey, don’t undress yourself—I’ll do it. I’ve been wanting to try it for a long time.”

He pushed away Zhu Yanchen’s hand from his collar and skillfully unbuttoned each button, revealing his strong and beautiful chest muscles, followed by his well-defined abs. The light danced on his pale skin, casting deep shadows beneath his collarbone. The dim, warm light thickened the atmosphere, and the air gradually became hot and dry.

The corners of Shu Jun’s mouth curled up, and his claws lightly touched Zhu Yanchen’s chest before retracting. He leaned down, ready to deal with those bothersome white gloves—

He pressed his index finger against Zhu Yanchen’s palm and slowly hooked it off with his sharp claw. The fabric was gradually cut open, revealing the fair palm. Zhu Yanchen’s palm was moist and hot, and his breathing gradually became more rapid, indicating some nervousness.

Yes, until now, he was still winning in terms of momentum. Shu Jun picked up the lubricant with satisfaction, but then he froze on the spot.

…What should he do next?

When it came to teasing his Grand Marshal, Shu Jun had imagined a few scenarios while they were kissing, smoothly playing them out in his mind. However, he never thought they would reach this point on the spot—putting aside any reservations, Zhu Yanchen’s body was still human, and he probably didn’t have much strength left.

Shu Jun gulped.

They said that a soldier should not engage in an unprepared battle. Some things required more than just courage.

Regretfully, he had appeared so confident before. Now that the arrow was on the bowstring, Mr. Shu couldn’t figure out how to proceed smoothly. He didn’t even know where to put his hands.

Zhu Yanchen used his forearm to cover his eyes and let out a soft laugh.

“There’s a term called ‘walking into a trap of one’s own accord’,” he said in a low voice as he grabbed Shu Jun’s wrist that held the lubricant.

As he spoke, he maintained his usual composed demeanor. However, with his uniform wide open and his palm as hot as a branding iron, Shu Jun’s head filled with a rush of blood, and he obediently let himself be flipped back under the other man.

“A’Yan, you’ve been planning this for a while.” Shu Jun loosened his grip, surrendering. He retaliated by biting Zhu Yanchen’s neck, leaving a faint red mark with his sharp teeth. “You definitely secretly looked it up.”

After enough biting, he licked and kissed Zhu Yanchen’s earlobe. “…Then please teach me well, Commander.”

Zhu Yanchen fixedly looked at him. “Can we leave the lights on?”

“Of course we can.” Languidly stretching his body, Shu Jun hooked his hand around Zhu Yanchen’s neck. “Don’t be nervous. I’ll cooperate well. Besides, you can’t hurt me—”

As if finding the air insufficiently scorching, he lowered his voice. “—And I won’t need to clean up afterward.”

As it turned out, Mr. Shu once again overestimated himself.

Zhu Yanchen was always quick to learn, and their bodies were perfectly compatible. After a brief period of adjustment, Shu Jun gradually lost control of his own body. The sensory overload exceeded his limits, and he dared not move on instinct, afraid his sharp claws might scratch Zhu Yanchen.

Moaning, he used his claws to grasp the headboard, attempting to pull his body away a bit to catch his breath amidst the tsunami-like pleasure. However, Zhu Yanchen’s hand lightly covered his hand, slowly prying open his claws, pulling him back by the waist.

The dim golden light filled the room; everything was gentle yet wild, and the entire world was burning. Gradually, the rhythm of their breaths finally synchronized.

Relying on his strong physique, Shu Jun finally reclaimed some control. The pliable erosion substance supported his back while also gripping Zhu Yanchen’s nape. In the scorching onslaught of nerves, Shu Jun propped himself up, kissing away the sweat on the tip of Zhu Yanchen’s nose.

He couldn’t remember when they stopped; all he remembered was waking up with their fingers tightly intertwined.

“I think, now that we’re in this kind of relationship, in addition to goodnight kisses, we should also have good morning kisses.” Zhu Yanchen opened his eyes, and Shu Jun pecked his lips. “Sounds good, let’s settle on that.”

Shu Jun watched Zhu Yanchen’s gaze shift from confusion to daze, then gradually becoming warm. “Your body—”

“Alright, alright, I’m a huge living erosion swamp. What could happen to me?” Shu Jun swiftly dressed, pressing down on something at random. He picked it up with a momentarily amused expression. “Honestly speaking, I’m more concerned about whether you’re okay.”

The lubricant that Yu Jin had given them was now empty and devoid of content, with only the packaging remaining.

Shu Jun looked at Zhu Yanchen, then at the packaging in his hand, and back at Zhu Yanchen before letting out a whistle.

Zhu Yanchen: “…”

“The brand is good. Looks like we’ll need to buy more.” Shu Jun couldn’t resist teasing him, as Zhu Yanchen seemed a bit stiff. “Get up. Let’s hurry and have breakfast. We still have things to do afterwards.”

“Shu Jun.”

“Hmm?”

“Come closer.”

“What…” Shu Jun hadn’t even finished asking when Zhu Yanchen hugged him.

The embrace was gentle and quiet. Shu Jun slowed his breathing and allowed himself to be held for a while. When Zhu Yanchen finally let go, Shu Jun felt as if he had been polished like a tarnished silverware, and the atmosphere around him became much brighter, devoid of the initial repression and suffocation.

Shu Jun took a deep breath. In such chaotic times, this feeling was unrealistically good.

They drew close again and couldn’t help but share another kiss. Shu Jun stood up, opened the closet, and took out Monday, who was murmuring softly. He could feel Zhu Yanchen’s gaze sticking to him the whole time.

“Alright, stop looking and get up.”

Shu Jun’s voice carried a playful tone.

“I told you, it’s just sleep. Your boyfriend isn’t going anywhere.”

---

The author has something to say:

Congratulations to the two male guests for leaving their single status behind!

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Well, he was certainly pent up for 16 years.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 65: Return to the Team

Near the festival venue.

Hu Yan appeared calm on the surface, but inside, his heart was stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down.

He quickly assembled a makeshift boat from stones and arranged the core forces of the Blackbirds to propel the fleet. The stone boat swiftly moved across the damp mud, but its capacity was ultimately limited. At most, one boat could accommodate four to five hundred people, and Hu Yan couldn’t support dozens of boats at once.

Fortunately, the battle players were well-trained and didn’t scatter. Everyone relied on their abilities and stuck closely behind the formation. The procession of thirty thousand people was vast and powerful, with various abilities on display, which was so conspicuous that it made Hu Yan want to cry.

Fortunately in the unfortunate, Y City had somehow raised its alert level. Vibrant purification mist scattered around, providing them with cover.

However, with so many players, it was only a matter of time before they were intercepted by Y City’s military. Hu Yan felt tears welling up as he knew the truth but couldn’t explain it. He could only swallow his saliva in frustration.

“Head south first.” An old man squeezed through the crowd at some point.

“Dong Lao?! When did you—”

“Just go south when I tell you to. No more nonsense. Don’t let the formation break, be wary of people from Y City infiltrating.”

“The weather in the south isn’t right. There might be an erosion storm.” Hu Yan sighed as if his teeth were hurting. “Dong Lao, I understand the need for a detour, but this direction…”

“Activate the purifiers. We have doctors in the team, and the medical support can keep up.” Dong Lao’s tone was cold. “I brought a few military purifiers to protect the front and rear of the formation. The rest can use temporary purifiers to cope. The time should be enough.”

It had to be said that, after knowing the truth, Hu Yan had some reservations about humanity. Although Shu Jun made him believe in Dong Lao, Hu Yan still felt uneasy.

Given the urgent situation, he had no choice but to listen to the old man.

As a result, the erosion storm in the south had not yet formed, but heavy rain fell at the venue. Carried by the wind, the rain clouds moved towards Y City. Unnatural flooding became more widespread. Y City was low-lying, and the real erosion storm formed right behind them.

“Luo Duan,” Hu Yan muttered, his face under the mask turning pale. “There was more than just him in the sky just now. How many people do they have?”

Even with the manipulation of the weather, the previous Luo Duan was definitely not this powerful. The scene of Luo Duan killing his teammate flashed before his eyes, and before he could digest it, another reality pressed down on him.

“Most likely, it’s an illusion.” Dong Lao looked towards Y City. “They’re using erosion substance to create false figures, disturbing the judgment of the command center.”

Hu Yan struggled for a moment and finally asked directly, “Why are you helping us?”

It was no different from betraying humanity.

Dong Lao tightened his wrinkled hands on the edge of the boat. After a while, he smiled indifferently. “If I told you it’s for the sake of righteousness, would you believe me? Even if you believe, can you feel at ease? No matter what, it won’t be easy. What’s the use of asking these questions?”

Hu Yan turned his head in annoyance.

“But we will have pleasant cooperation,” Dong Lao—or rather, Xia Liang—lowered his voice and added, “The leaders on both sides are quite interesting. They might be able to cross these hurdles.”

The old man raised his eyes, looking at Y City, which was on the verge of being engulfed by the storm. “Captain Hu, you should focus on leading the team. Y City has activated Level-A defense. At most, there will be some issues with the above-ground and underground structures. Zhu Sheng won’t give up on pursuing us.”

“Alright, alright, I get it.”

At the venue, Luo Duan stood at the center of the storm with his large black robe concealing his face.

After assimilating with the small Erosion Swamp, his abilities had increased several times over. Although he couldn’t control the wind like Shu Jun, he could manipulate moisture and make countless moves.

There happened to be wind blowing from the south during this time. As long as he took advantage of this wind and made some adjustments, the erosion storm would sweep over Y City. During the festival, Y City strictly enforced Level-B defense, which wouldn’t be enough to withstand this sudden storm.

Y City’s buildings would be severely eroded, and the citizens would be affected, putting immense pressure on the local medical system. His actions would cause significant destruction, something the command center would have to take seriously. With the homeland stained in blood and public grievances boiling, the situation aligned with their interests, and Zhu Sheng would inevitably make a thunderous move.

Once the hatred ignited, war would inevitably follow.

However, for some reason, that imposter posing as Zhu Yanchen suddenly increased the level and purified the air around Y City. The storm could still form, but it wouldn’t harm people. At most, it would flood some underground facilities and damage a few roofs. This level of contradiction wouldn’t incite public grievances among the city residents. It might even have the opposite effect—such trivial matters would distract the United Government and require them to send people to clean up the mess.

His preemptive move didn’t hit the mark.

…But it was fine.

Luo Duan watched as the storm raged on. The black rain beat down on the vibrant plastic flowers and the lush artificial lawn. The colorful lights went out, and everything gradually turned into shades of black, white, and gray.

In any battle, he couldn’t rely on just one plan, especially in such a significant event.

In the current situation, Luo Duan had also considered a fallback plan. Seeing Yi Ning’s team quickly retreating, Luo Duan curved his lips, and his pitch-black eyes gradually returned to normal. Taking advantage of the raging storm, he descended slowly and discarded the troublesome cloak.

Naturally, Yi Ning had brought several military-grade purifiers, but he gave them all to the surrounding residents. The guards quickly formed a defensive formation, using the purifiers to cover everyone and advanced toward the nearest settlement.

The Marshal’s special vehicle had excellent erosion resistance, so Yi Ning could have easily taken the car back to the city. However, this young Marshal gave it to the elderly and children, wrapping himself in only an erosion-resistant oilcloth and followed the rest of the team.

…Just as Luo Duan had guessed.

The oilcloth couldn’t completely block all the rainwater. Despite being tightly wrapped, a few drops of rain still touched Yi Ning’s skin. The black rain was a hundred times more corrosive than acid rain, and since Yi Ning had given away the strongest purifier, his wet skin began to ache slightly.

Yi Ning adjusted the oilcloth on his body and quickened his pace.

However, as he walked, the splashing raindrops disappeared. A huge umbrella suddenly appeared above his head.

Yi Ning hurriedly looked up—looking around, he saw that everyone in the settlement, around tens of thousands of people, had large, translucent umbrellas above their heads.

“Luo Duan?!” Yi Ning was surprised. “You didn’t go with Hu Yan and the others?”

“The weather in the south doesn’t look right. I took two people to check it out, but we encountered an erosion storm on the way back.” Luo Duan made a concerned expression. “I faintly saw Hu Yan’s team on the way, so I had my people follow them.”

“Why didn’t you leave together?”

“There was no mention of this rain in the weather forecast, so I was wondering if it was the start of some disaster…” He left that sentence hanging perfectly, knowing that Yi Ning would understand—Luo Duan was always a careful player who enjoyed delving into the game’s background. He was here to see if there were any prelude tasks for an unexpected event.

“But it seems I was overthinking it. I didn’t find anything unusual.” Seeing Yi Ning’s changing expression finally settle on “I understand”, Luo Duan smiled. “It’s difficult to catch up with them now, so I’ll stick with you. Anyway, you have purifiers and emergency medicine. You’re just lacking protection from the wind and rain.”

“What about Groundwater—”

“…It’s okay. They are always resourceful and have their own ideas.”

Luo Duan lowered his gaze.

“And there will be someone to take care of them.”

Yi Ning felt no sense of unease. Instead, he became more worried about other aspects. After all, he had been in the position of Marshal for long enough to know what Zhu Sheng would do after the recent incident.

The power struggle between him and Zhu Yanchen had not yet reached a conclusion when it was interrupted by those black-robed synthetic humans. Taking advantage of the chaos, Zhu Sheng could legitimately postpone his retirement and continue controlling the command center.

Yi Ning also listened to the fake Zhu Yanchen’s speech. The new synthetic humans led by the Zhu family were waiting to be put into use, and this incident conveniently allowed Zhu Sheng to focus on destroying the old models.

…Speaking of which, the Zhu family was also responsible for the defense of Y City. The fake Zhu Yanchen wouldn’t raise the city’s defense to Level-A without reason. Even if it wasn’t intentional, he could still use this opportunity to gain popularity. When the vote was held again, the fake Zhu Yanchen would naturally have more supporters.

In short, once the chaos ended, the Zhu family would benefit everywhere.

Yi Ning furrowed his eyebrows slowly.

The opposing Zhu Yanchen, who had opposed the advancement of the player system, was no longer around, and he and Zhu Sheng had no fundamental conflict that would lead to this. If the black-robed people were indeed arranged by Zhu Sheng, it meant that he was treating the health of ten thousand people as a joke.

If Luo Duan hadn’t appeared in time, even with purifiers protecting them, the health of those ten thousand people would have deteriorated significantly. The settlement was remote and had no way to compare with the subsequent medical facilities in the city.

He couldn’t hand over the settlement residents to such a leader.

“What exactly happened just now?” Luo Duan, seizing the opportunity, naturally added fuel to the fire. “I heard someone say that a ‘warrior’ claiming to be one of us appeared in the square. Marshal Yi Ning, was that your arrangement?”

“It wasn’t me.” Yi Ning was still deep in thought and spoke with a heavy tone.

“Don’t mind me. I was just asking.”

“Marshal Yi Ning!” Before Yi Ning could respond, a guard rushed over, panting. He unexpectedly glanced at Luo Duan and pulled Yi Ning aside.

The guard spoke in a low voice, but it was futile against Luo Duan, who had spent many years lurking in the command center and honing his eavesdropping skills. Luo Duan pretended to look at the storm while clearly hearing everything.

“There’s been a development from the communications unit. Zhu Sheng has dispatched troops.”

“So soon?”

“They said it’s to prevent the synthetic humans from escaping. Now that they’ve realized it, it’s better to eliminate them as soon as possible. However, there’s some damage to the city’s buildings, causing a bit of chaos. Zhu Sheng only sent a small team.”

Yi Ning sighed. “Based on this situation, the priority now is tracking.”

And then they could leave the task of extermination to the fake Zhu Yanchen. Yi Ning shook his head in anger—regardless of whether Zhu Sheng arranged the black-robed people or not, reducing the number of pursuers and focusing on tracking were deliberate decisions. Once the time dragged on too long and the frontlines were stretched, the various settlements would undoubtedly be the first to suffer.

The settlements, filled with the elderly and infirm, would be wiped out, and the old model synthetic humans would be gone. The new synthetics would enter the market without even facing employment contradictions.

The more Yi Ning thought about it, the more horrified he became.

“After I send you to the settlement, can you help me contact the main force? The storm was too intense just now, and I was too focused on protecting myself that my communication device got drenched.” Luo Duan seized the opportunity perfectly.

“You’re coming back with me to Y City.”

“But what about the mission—”

“An unexpected task. This is an order.” Yi Ning’s expression turned serious. “You’re coming back with me to Y City.”

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and his expression became complex. “The situation has changed recently. Stay by my side for now.”

Luo Duan looked at him for a moment and smirked. “Understood, sir.”

In the south, amidst the storm.

“Someone is pursuing us.” A member of the Blackbirds responsible for scouting caught up. “What’s going on, Captain Hu? Is this really a mission? It’s getting too intense, isn’t it?”

“Ignore them. Let’s pick up the pace.” Hu Yan gritted his teeth.

“They’re lightly equipped, and we can’t shake them off!” The Blackbirds member felt helpless. “Boss, we need to pay attention to the arrangement of the purifiers and make sure no one falls behind. If we forcefully increase our speed, the team will scatter—”

“It’s almost time,” Dong Lao suddenly said.

“What do you mean by ‘it’s almost time’?”

“Those two should be here soon. If they don’t come, we’ll have to start the battle early. It’s fine if it’s the one surnamed Shu, but I don’t think your sister-in-law would like that scene.”

“???”

As if casting a spell, as soon as Dong Lao finished speaking, the wind around the team instantly became still.

Outside the main force, the wind suddenly intensified. The pursuers had just steadied themselves when they were entangled by unknown things around their chests and flung away. The small team was scattered in an instant. Everything happened too quickly for them to see anything clearly. A few seconds later, the pursuers found themselves face down in the mud, with demonic black winds roaring and swirling before them.

Since they were separated from the main force, no one wanted to enter such a storm and die in vain. According to regulations, if they couldn’t regroup, they would dejectedly turn back.

“I must say, the feeling of throwing people is quite satisfying. I like this move.”

Someone landed on the bow of the makeshift boat, their voice filled with laughter.

Shu Jun supported Zhu Yanchen as they landed on Hu Yan’s boat. Unlike the fully armed Zhu Yanchen, Shu Jun didn’t wear a face mask this time and showed his face openly.

“Captain Shu?!” The Blackbirds team member who brought the news instantly became excited. “W-Why are you here? Are you a special guest for the event?… And why did you change your appearance?”

“Something like that.” Shu Jun lightly hopped onto the deck. “What do you think of my new look? Isn’t it cool?”

Hu Yan’s throat tightened. “Captain Shu…”

“With me here, everything will be fine.” Shu Jun smiled and patted Hu Yan’s head with his claw. “You’ve worked hard maintaining so many boats… Go and rest for a bit.”

Hu Yan’s eyes turned red, and he trembled as he exhaled. “Okay, I’ll slowly tell you what exactly happened.”

“Mm.”

“Next, head east. I’ll adjust the route. Even if we manage to shake off the vanguard pursuit team, it’s better to be cautious.” Zhu Yanchen patted Dong Lao’s shoulder and spoke with a calm voice. “We’ll take everyone to the new base.”

“Who are you…?” The Blackbirds team member hesitated to recognize the person who was wrapped up tightly that even their voice was muffled.

“That’s your sister-in-law.” Shu Jun answered on behalf of Zhu Yanchen, his tone relaxed. Zhu Yanchen chuckled softly, not bothering to correct anything.

Then, he glanced at the team member who was about to pass out. “Well, I hope Uncle Pan and the others are prepared. We have quite a few guests this time.”

He waved his hand, and underneath the boats, where no one could see, decayed hands made of erosion emerged from the soil and pushed the boats forward with great force. They escaped the storm area, and the wind easily gathered in one place, making Hu Yan’s fleet of thin-shell boats go even faster.

Dozens of thin-shell boats broke through the gray mist and rushed toward the horizon. Shu Jun sat at the bow, looking in the direction of their destination. The wind brushed against his cheeks, and Shu Jun suddenly realized that he hadn’t felt this kind of sensation in a long time—

The lingering smell of blood and mud lingered in his nostrils, and the surrounding darkness was full of terror, yet everything was filled with hope.

---

The author has something to say:

Marshal: ? Sister-in-law. (Jots it down in his little notebook in his mind)

Shu Ge, be careful.

——

Me while outlining: I need to write this and that and also this, in short, this battle situation…

Me while writing: I want them to roll around in the sheets.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 64: Warmth

His body that was enveloped in the Erosion Swamp, gradually warmed up. The contrast between pain and comfort made Zhu Yanchen feel a bit dizzy. Something warm and soft was squirming and taking shape on his body. He opened his eyes wide, but the sticky darkness covered his eyeballs, making it difficult to see clearly.

Could it be that he was experiencing hallucinations on the brink of death?

He could hear the Erosion Swamp surging around him, making a sound like the ebb and flow of tides, as if some colossal creature was about to emerge from the vortex. Shu Jun completely fused with the Erosion Swamp. If he were to abandon rational thinking and lose his humanity in the midst of mental torment, an unprecedentedly powerful Erosion Swamp would be born.

However, the clamor gradually subsided, and the warmth around him increased. It was no longer the warm Erosion Swamp that enveloped him, but a human embrace.

Indeed, it must be a hallucination.

Zhu Yanchen sighed in his heart. Just as he was about to close his eyes, he saw two points of silver-white light in the darkness. They drew closer and closer, and then something warm and soft covered his lips.

It was a kiss, shallow and cautious, gentle and delicate, pure without a hint of desire. It felt as if the slightest exertion would cause him to shatter.

Shu Jun was indeed kissing with caution.

He didn’t know how to handle the overflowing emotions in his chest. The past bits and pieces were pieced together, his heart swelled, making it difficult to breathe. Rationality and madness retreated from his mind, and he could hardly think, leaving only uncontrollable emotions.

Zhu Yanchen was awake, he knew it. Those eyes as deep as ancient wells were half-closed, piercing through the darkness, quietly focused on him. Despite the surging emotions, Shu Jun’s movements were extremely slow, giving the other enough time to evade.

But Zhu Yanchen didn’t move.

Even though he had healed the other’s injuries, Marshal Zhu’s lips were still cold, carrying a hint of blood.

Previously, when he learned that Zhu Yanchen had dedicated his life to researching the Erosion Swamp, Shu Jun thought of him as a stubborn researcher. Now he deeply understood what it meant for him to have been “researching the Erosion Swamp for sixteen years”.

For a moment, Shu Jun even wished that “Smoke” was just an ordinary child. If he hadn’t been born into a privileged family, according to Zhu Yanchen’s persistence, he could have boldly opposed the player system and formed a decent resistance organization.

In that case, even if the path was limited and the contradictions were unsolvable, his friend could live freely and strive for a clear conscience.

But Zhu Yanchen ultimately chose to stand in a high position, attempting to solve this problem personally.

As a leader himself, Shu Jun knew what this represented—Zhu Yanchen couldn’t simply disregard and abolish the player system. If he couldn’t find a suitable reason, he would undoubtedly be overthrown by his ambitious competitors. While upholding the well-being of synths, he also had to shoulder the responsibility for human welfare.

In the current situation, this path was akin to a moth flying into a flame.

Even if he knew he couldn’t save him, even if he knew that changing everything would only be achieved through gradual progress, his once timid friend had become the first drop of water without hesitation.

“A’Yan, I thought you were a stable person.” Shu Jun moved his lips away and whispered softly. “Why are you so…”

He wanted to say foolish, wanted to say crazy, wanted to say stubborn, but in the end, he swallowed his words. Thinking back to when they first met, when this person deliberately acted distant, Shu Jun couldn’t even catch his breath.

He felt the urge to beat him up, but he didn’t even dare to embrace him too tightly. Fine, Shu Jun turned his head slightly and kissed Zhu Yanchen’s lips again.

The past couldn’t be regained, but from now on, he could at least be certain that the other person didn’t need to move forward alone.

To hell with waiting for the war to end before pursuing. This person was his—

Even if Zhu Yanchen didn’t have romantic feelings for him, this person was still his friend and family, and that would never change. The resentment instilled in him found an outlet; their thorns were smoothed away and transformed into determination and bittersweetness.

Shu Jun attempted to move his lips away again, and the darkness in his mind gradually dissipated, replaced by a mental script of how to sincerely explain this kiss later. But before he could finish that mental script, Zhu Yanchen kissed him back.

If Shu Jun’s previous kiss was cautious and tentative, as light as a dragonfly skimming the water, carried with compassion and comfort, then this kiss in return was fierce and filled with complete longing and desperation.

Zhu Yanchen firmly held the back of Shu Jun’s head, kissing deeply.

Shu Jun was stunned for a few seconds by a mix of pure confusion and joyful tingling. He refused to be outdone. He pulled Zhu Yanchen closer, passionately responding.

As if the missing pieces of a puzzle had finally come together, a faint crack echoed in the depths of his heart. Their breaths intertwined ambiguously, warm exhalations turning into boiling water. Neither of them wanted to stop, allowing the heat to rise and their lips and tongues on the verge of melting.

In the end, Zhu Yanchen’s tongue grazed the base of Shu Jun’s incisors. His A’Yan exerted a slight force with his hands, and the two finally separated.

“We need to support the festival venue.”

After catching their breath, the two almost simultaneously spoke.

Their kiss was passionate, and after they broke apart, a strange awkwardness filled the air. Shu Jun racked his brains and spoke again—

“Is your injury okay?”

“How is your body?”

Once again, they spoke in unison.

The heat from their prolonged kiss dissipated, leaving behind an awkward silence.

“…Let’s go get Monday first.” After a long pause, Zhu Yanchen spoke, his voice carrying a strangely wavering tone. “We both need light and examination.”

“Ah, yeah,” Shu Jun quickly responded. He straightened up and helped the weakened Marshal Zhu to his feet. While his injuries weren’t a concern, his physical strength had been drained and wouldn’t recover for a while.

However, even when supported, Marshal Zhu’s steps were still somewhat unsteady. The Vine Erosion Swamp had reverted to an ordinary Erosion Swamp, and Shu Jun hadn’t absorbed a significant amount of erosion to trigger a major transformation. The erosion under their feet was knee-deep, making it difficult to walk.

“Where is Monday?”

“Go about 1,200 meters in that direction.” The two were close together, so Zhu Yanchen raised his hand to point.

“Okay.” Shu Jun exerted his arm strength and firmly held onto Marshal Zhu’s waist, resolutely carrying him in front. Unfortunately, Zhu Yanchen was larger in size, and Shu Jun wasn’t adept at carrying someone like this, so his movements were slightly awkward.

After contemplating in place for a moment, Shu Jun nodded. The Erosion Swamp stretched upward, forming numerous black withered hands, carefully cradling Zhu Yanchen so he could lie down more comfortably.

…A rather alarming princess carry.

Zhu Yanchen: “…”

The ambiguous atmosphere vanished without a trace. Shu Jun’s expression was too righteous, and Marshal Zhu kept himself stiff and almost straight, giving the scene a somewhat inexplicable sense of tragedy.

As a result, as soon as Monday spotted them, it yelled in a mournful voice.

“Zhu! Zhu—dead—dead—”

“Shut up.” Shu Jun gritted his teeth and placed Marshal Zhu on a clean stone slab. As soon as he touched the ground, Marshal Zhu, who had been as stiff as a rod, relaxed a bit and sat up properly.

There were many things hanging on Monday. Shu Jun pulled them off with a flick of his sword, and all the luggage appeared before Zhu Yanchen.

Marshal Zhu drank a whole bottle of replenishing liquid. He was soaked in sewage and blood, but his complexion improved a lot. Shu Jun opened a backpack beside him and started a fire. Then he grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Zhu Yanchen.

Zhu Yanchen’s dark eyes were fixed on him.

Shu Jun’s gaze softened, and he didn’t speak to explain. He just held Zhu Yanchen’s hand and extended his other hand, hooking their pinky fingers together.

Zhu Yanchen withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and then exhaled a long breath, as if trying to release all the suppression of the past sixteen years.

The two remained silent. The environment here was even more chaotic and terrifying than before the war, but Shu Jun felt as if the whole world had been washed and became much gentler.

“Shu Jun, help me take down the instrument over there… The white one. I need to check your blood indicators,” Zhu Yanchen said after a few minutes of absentmindedness. His tone carried an unprecedented lightness.

Shu Jun didn’t move.

“What’s wrong?”

“You take a break first. We’ll check in ten minutes. Then you rest for another twenty minutes, and when your strength recovers, we’ll go to the festival venue.” Shu Jun took out a watch and started timing in a professional manner.

Then Shu Jun snapped his fingers. Several clusters of amorphous matter formed into balls from the Erosion Swamp. They warmed themselves by the fire and crawled towards Zhu Yanchen.

The latter looked at those strange balls with suspicion.

“You’ll catch a cold like this.” Shu Jun commanded the ball-like entities to move forward. “And you’ve always liked cleanliness. With so much dirt on you, you definitely can’t stand it. I just let them clean the water and dirt off you without hurting you. During this time, we can talk… talk about…”

He wanted to say, “talk about the kiss just now”, but his tongue couldn’t cooperate.

Shu Jun racked his brains, trying to draft his words, while a few warm, amorphous balls approached Marshal Zhu. They gently rolled over Zhu Yanchen’s skin, removing moisture and completely decomposed the bloodstains and mud, not even touching a single fiber of his clothes. The soft balls crawled over the freshly healed wounds. Their touch as gentle as fingertips brushing, causing Zhu Yanchen to furrow his brows and let out a soft hum.

This time, Shu Jun’s thoughts completely fell apart, and all that filled his mind were the words, “digging one’s own grave”.

“I… I didn’t mean anything else,” Shu Jun said uneasily, crossing his hands and almost scratching himself with his claws. “Just now, I, no, it’s not… just now I—”

Zhu Yanchen quietly looked at him.

Shu Jun took several deep breaths, closed his eyes for a moment, and his words regained the air of a warrior. “Forget it, it’s not good to keep holding back. Let me be clear, A’Yan, after we handle the issues at the venue, we need to have a serious talk.”

He approached decisively and grabbed a squirming, amorphous ball. The ball squirmed in his hand for a moment, then obediently played dead.

“I’m just using this thing without any other intentions,” Shu Jun said with a stern face and a very serious tone. “But when I kissed you just now, I did have another meaning—originally, I wanted to wait until the war was over to say it, but just now, I remembered everything, and I couldn’t control my emotions.”

“I am sober. I kissed you, and I acknowledge it.” He approached closer, his beastly eyes narrowing into a thin slit. “However, you seemed absent-minded just now, so it’s better to clarify this matter.”

“You might not be clear-minded,” Zhu Yanchen said softly. “You have been disturbed by negative emotions for too long, and your memories have just returned. Under such an impact, you might instinctively rely on me.”

He paused cautiously, showing no emotion on his face.

“I agree, we should make things clear. After all, we have more important matters now, such as the situation at the festival and your health…”

He hadn’t finished speaking when he was forced to swallow the second half of his sentence.

Shu Jun placed a soft, amorphous ball on each side of Marshal Zhu’s head, sandwiching his cheeks in between. That handsome face was slightly creased from the pressure.

“I finally thought of the right words.” Shu Jun’s nails were sharp, so he didn’t dare directly use his hand, but instead used the amorphous balls and indirectly squeezed Zhu Yanchen’s face. “Is this what you wanted, A’Yan? Huh? If I wasn’t so worried, I really wanted to knock your head off—talking about negative emotions messing things up, damn it…”

Shu Jun gritted his teeth and swallowed his harsh words. A’Yan had always been stubborn and being alone for so many years made it inevitable for him to be emotionally obtuse. With limited time now, it would be difficult to reach a conclusion in this “who took advantage of whom” debate.

“Your negative thoughts haven’t changed at all. Fine, let’s talk. After we’re done at the festival, we’ll close the door and have a serious talk.”

Shu Jun revealed his sharp teeth, speaking slowly and ending with a bitter smile.

They were partners, war companions. They couldn’t run away from it. Now, they didn’t even need to consider the future. Whether it was a long-standing affection or an impulsive moment, he absolutely had to hold onto this complicated situation and make things clear.

With this in mind, he let out a fierce hum. Shu Jun released Zhu Yanchen’s face and used one of the amorphous balls to wipe the other’s hair.

Lost in his frustration, Shu Jun missed Zhu Yanchen’s gaze.

Marshal Zhu stared attentively at the person in front of him; his gaze like a beast ready to pounce, filled with determination.

The flames flickered, illuminating those bottomless eyes. Zhu Yanchen reached out his hand, hesitating subconsciously for a moment, but then he curved his lips and decisively grabbed Shu Jun’s wrist.

“Time’s up. It’s time for your blood test,” he said. “…You’re right, we need to resolve the matters at the festival as soon as possible.”

---

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