Qizi Ch68

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 68

Early in the morning, Ling Xiao saw Yu Ji and his Qizi. It was rare for them to get up at this time. Apart from the first day of school, they were almost universally recognized as the “always-tardy duo”.

“Hey, up so early,” Ling Xiao greeted. “You must’ve slept a lot yesterday afternoon, which is why you’re up early today, right?”

“Morning, Ling Xiao.” Yu Ji nodded to him. “Where did you go on your date yesterday?”

“Soul Crystal Trading Street. There’s a couple’s quiz game there that’s really fun. I suggest you both try it out.”

“Sure, we definitely will.”

“By the way, is today’s class outside?” Ling Xiao asked.

“Don’t you know? Today is Major General Fu Yao’s teaching day. He only teaches once a week. Shuang Feng admires him a lot, so he got up early.”

So, it wasn’t because they slept too much in the afternoon.

“I know the Major General is a guest instructor here, but I didn’t know it was today. I admire him too.”

Yu Ji laughed. “Then you two should have a lot to talk about.”

Indeed, hearing that it was Fu Yao’s class, everyone arrived very early. When Fu Yao appeared, there were already two neat rows of students standing on the playground.

Fu Yao surveyed the crowd. “This term, I’m in charge of the Joint Combat class. Don’t call me instructor; call me commander.” Pointing to the tall officer next to him, he continued, “This is your deputy instructor, Nie Yun. He’ll assist in teaching. When I’m not here, he has the same command authority as me. Whatever training task he assigns, you should take it as my order.”

Everyone recognized them without introduction. The famous couple from the military, Major General Fu Yao and his Qizi Nie Yun, were always the talk of the town. Wherever Fu Yao went, Nie Yun was always by his side. Only those completely out of the loop wouldn’t recognize Nie Yun’s fame.

“Is that clear?” Fu Yao asked.

Everyone replied in unison. “Yes, Commander! Yes, Instructor Nie Yun!”

“I know many of you enrolled in this course without really understanding the true meaning and power of joint operations. Nie Yun,” he called out, and Nie Yun immediately pressed a button, summoning a mech about two-person tall.

These students had only seen mechs in animations or games. Seeing one in person for the first time, they couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.

“We don’t operate mechs, but our enemies are increasingly using them as weapons. What you see is a war trophy captured from the enemy, classified as an A-level mech.”

“There are two types of mechs we know of: one operated by brainwaves, and the other by machinery.” Fu Yao pointed at the mech. “This is the latter, which even non-mech users can operate. Anyone want to give it a try?”

“Me!” Ling Xiao raised his hand high.

“Go ahead.” He gestured to Ying Feng. “You too. You have fifteen minutes. Just make it move, and you pass.”

Ling Xiao and Ying Feng entered the cockpit and realized why Fu Yao had them both come in—it was a two-seater mech, with joysticks, levers, and buttons, looking very complicated.

“No wonder Major General Fu Yao said just making it move would be passing.” Ling Xiao spotted a conspicuous red button. “This must be the start button.”

He was right. Upon pressing it, the control panel lit up with instructions, which they couldn’t understand.

“Nothing to do but try everything,” Ling Xiao said, pressing a random button. The mech’s arm suddenly rose, startling everyone.

“Joysticks typically control direction.” Ying Feng tried a few, making the mech take a step forward. “It seems this button and joystick work together to move forward.” As they immersed themselves, fifteen minutes flew by. Meanwhile, Fu Yao introduced the types of soul crystals he would use.

“Are you ready?” He asked from below.

The mech raised its right hand in a salute.

“Not bad.” Fu Yao gestured for everyone to step back, leaving only the mech operated by Ling Xiao and Ying Feng and Fu Yao and Nie Yun in the center.

“Just so you know, both Nie Yun and I specialize in physical arts. If you try to compete in speed, your mech is too clumsy. Think of another way,” Fu Yao advised.

He and Nie Yun stepped back a few meters. “Begin!”

The words had just fallen when the two individuals each threw out a soul crystal. In an instant, the two, who were just a few meters away, appeared on either side of the mech. Faced with a strong opponent, even if it wasn’t a battle with real weapons, Ling Xiao was still extremely excited.

“Here they come!”

Utilizing the knowledge he had just grasped, he made the mech spin rapidly in place, preventing his adversaries from getting close. As expected, the two opponents leaped away.

“Which one should we attack?” Ling Xiao asked.

“The one on the left.” Ying Feng quickly decided. If the power of combined combat relied on the collaboration of the two, then it was logical to first break through the weaker Qizi.

Ling Xiao pushed the joystick forward, and the mech charged toward Nie Yun on the left. Fu Yao sneered, knowing that they would think this way.

He threw out another soul crystal, activating it. All that was heard was Nie Yun’s loud shout as he crossed his palms in front of him, releasing a massive wave of air that lifted countless grasses and pebbles from the ground. Ling Xiao, unfamiliar with operating the mech, failed to dodge and was knocked down by the rebounding force. Fortunately, Ying Feng reacted in time, allowing the mech to roll back and stand up again.

“Did you see?” Fu Yao loudly explained to the students. “If you believe the Qizi is the weak point in a duo, then you’re gravely mistaken. Attacking the Qizi only gives the Qizhu ample time to strategize. The Qizhu has various methods to enhance the Qizi, for both offense and defense. If the Qizhu is the brain, the Qizi is the limbs. The principle applies to enemies beyond Tianxiu as well; capture the leader first. Prioritize attacking the enemy’s commander at the first opportunity.”

“Thanks for the tip. Then let’s start with the brain,” Ling Xiao interrupted, activating the missile system on the mech’s right arm and firing directly at Fu Yao.

“We did it!” he exclaimed in elation.

However, just then, a figure suddenly teleported into the missile’s trajectory. With his back turned to them, Fu Yao casually plucked a small crystal and clenched it. Nie Yun conjured a transparent mirror in front of him. The missile hit the mirror and was silently neutralized.

Fu Yao continued, “As the limbs, it’s crucial to always protect one’s brain. If the Qizhu is incapacitated, your attack power could be reduced by half or even more. Hence, protecting the Qizhu is the topmost priority for every Qizi.”

“Very well.” Ling Xiao converted the mech’s arms into laser bullet launchers. “Let’s take both of you on.”

He unleashed a barrage at the two, who skillfully dodged amidst the gunfire. Fu Yao even managed to evade and teach simultaneously. “But what if the enemy recognizes this and distracts the Qizi while attacking the Qizhu?”

“They would find out that the brain has stronger attack and defense capabilities than the limbs. That’s the true power of our combined combat; we have no weak points.”

Ling Xiao felt as though he had been deceived.

“After demonstrating our defensive capabilities to you all, now it’s our turn to attack.”

As he finished his sentence, the two of them were already close to the mech. Ling Xiao attempted the spinning move once more, but it was forcefully halted after just a few rotations. Looking at Fu Yao and Nie Yun, one on each side gripped the mech’s arms. Under their feet, they grinded a deep circle on the ground. They must have used some soul crystal to amplify their strength, not only halting the fast-spinning mech but also immobilizing it.

“As we said, we specialize in physical arts. Don’t dream of outmatching us in speed or strength, or you’ll lose terribly.”

With a twist of their hands, the huge metallic mech was flipped over, landing with a loud thud. Inside the mech, Ling Xiao and Ying Feng were jolted and tossed around. Ying Feng shielded his head with one hand and braced against the cabin wall with the other, preventing injuries.

“Watch out!” Looking up, he saw Fu Yao plummeting from the sky, aiming directly for the mech’s central energy source in its chest. If that were to be damaged, the mech would be paralyzed. Ying Feng instantly slapped the engine, causing flames to erupt from the mech’s feet, propelling it a dozen meters away. Although their escape was clumsy, it prevented a fatal blow.

Fu Yao landed lightly after his missed attack. “Interesting. Since you’re putting up such a fight, let’s give everyone a demonstration of our more advanced coordination.”

“I’ll handle the direction; you control the weapons,” Ying Feng said as he reached around Ling Xiao to grasp the joystick. Ling Xiao nervously eyed the monitor, switching between various attack methods.

Indeed, Fu Yao and Nie Yun’s approach had changed significantly. They shifted from teaching mode to actual combat mode. Due to the mech’s speed limitations, Ling Xiao could often see their movements but couldn’t react in time. This frustrated him to the point of wishing he could personally fight.

The students had retreated far away, fearing they might get caught up in the fray. Still, their keen sight allowed them to clearly observe the battle situation. The mech, despite its seemingly superior size, was utterly outmatched in the combined assault of the two men. They battled metal with flesh, leveraging soul crystals to enhance their strength and defense while also maintaining agility and mobility.

“It’s time to end this fight,” Fu Yao said, making a move where he bit his thumb and smeared some blood on Nie Yun’s lips in passing. This act was seen clearly by Ling Xiao. Suddenly, red glints flashed in Nie Yun’s eyes, and he kicked the front of the mech, sending the massive machine flying.

That wasn’t all. Teleporting behind the mech, he delivered another powerful kick. Inside, Ling Xiao and Ying Feng were thrown around once more. With Nie Yun’s continuous assault, the mech was sent soaring higher and higher. Meanwhile, Fu Yao leisurely hopped to the side.

The mech soared higher and higher, and Ying Feng sensed danger.

“Use the teleport!”

Struggling amidst the turbulence, Ling Xiao managed to retrieve the teleportation soul crystal and clenched it tightly in his palm.

“Activate!”

He was instantly transported to the exterior of the mech. Following closely, Ying Feng too was teleported to his location. The moment they emerged, Nie Yun delivered a powerful mid-air kick, causing the mech to crash heavily to the ground. This massive entity made of metal seemed as if it had been forced to its knees.

Fu Yao seized the opportunity as it fell. Enhancing his dagger, he aimed accurately and pierced its vulnerable spot. The mech’s arm twitched eerily a few times before finally becoming motionless.

Three people descended from the sky one after another, and the other students also returned to the playground.

“What we demonstrated just now is just a small part of the power of two-person coordination. As you can see, we didn’t use any weapons. This is impossible in real combat. Of course, in actual combat, our enemies are all strictly trained and battle-hardened mech operators. They wouldn’t be as weak as these two…”

Ling Xiao & Ying Feng: ……

“…Therefore, we should treat our opponents as if they are a hundred times stronger than what you just saw, to be able to contend with the elite alien mech troops.”

“Report, sir. What did you just use?” Ling Xiao asked curiously.

After Fu Yao used that move on Nie Yun, the latter became incredibly strong, surpassing the Qizhu, and could kick the mech flying with one foot.

“The Qizhu’s blood has a combat enhancement function for the Qizi. Its effect is comparable to that of Ember I. Therefore, only the Qizhu will use Ember in real combat. The Qizi’s abilities are activated by blood,” Fu Yao said with a sly look. “Anyone want to try it now?”

What’s so hard about it? Bing Can cut his thumb with a dagger, imitating Fu Yao, and smeared it on Red Head’s lips. But instead of his eyes turning red, his face did.

“I…I feel strange,” he said, blushing. “It’s like I’m losing control of my body.”

“You see,” Fu Yao said calmly. “In addition to enhancing combat power, the Qizhu’s blood also has a potent aphrodisiac effect. If there’s even a slight deviation in the subconscious thoughts of the Qizhu, other effects will be triggered.”

Everyone couldn’t help but cover their mouths and laugh. Bing Can looked embarrassed, and Red Head’s face turned as red as his hair.

“You think this is funny? This is one of our department’s essential training. Imagine if, on the battlefield, your Qizi suddenly becomes aroused. What awaits you? So, every Qizhu must have absolutely no distractions. Starting from the left, each pair needs to practice.”

“Reporting, sir, what about us…” Bing Can asked cautiously.

Fu Yao waved him off. “You’re excused.”

More and more pairs got excused. Nie Yun looked on, somewhat helpless.

“They’re all young and in their adolescence. Isn’t it too early to let them practice this?”

“Isn’t that perfect? If they succeed, great. If not, they’re just maturing, which is a good thing anyway.”

Nie Yun sweated. Only his Qizhu would think of letting students go and mature during class. Just then, a commotion erupted nearby.

“Don’t try it with me! I won’t do it. I don’t believe you, you big pervert!” Ling Xiao stayed away from Ying Feng, refusing to try.

“This is an instructional command,” Ying Feng said emotionlessly.

“Even if you’re a top student, no way. I’ll skip class!”

“Talking about skipping class in front of your superior? Brave of you,” Fu Yao commented sarcastically.

After hesitating for a while, Ling Xiao said, “Anyway, I won’t do this exercise. He can’t be free of distractions. If I’m wrong, I’ll drink a liter of blood!”

“Really? A liter takes a long time to drink.” Fu Yao gestured to Ying Feng. “Your move.”

Ying Feng grabbed Ling Xiao, who was powerless to resist. As he tried to escape, his lips were smeared with blood from a bitten thumb.

With a flash of red light in Ling Xiao’s eyes, he darted to the paralyzed mech’s side, kicking it off the ground and then letting it crash hard.

Landing unscathed, Ling Xiao looked at his hands in astonishment. He felt boundless energy surging within him. Though this power faded, the sensation lingered vividly.

“Not bad.” Fu Yao applauded. “You two are the only pairs who succeeded today.”

Upon looking around, Ling Xiao indeed saw that, aside from them and the Yu Ji pair, all the other students had left the field.

A twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth. Could it be that the lower the emotional rating, the easier it was to succeed?

“Ah,” Fu Yao sighed. “I originally thought I could skip this lesson.”

Everyone: You just have ulterior motives!

Fu Yao’s expression shifted, becoming suddenly serious. “Given the situation, let’s conduct a special training for you all.”


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

Qizi Ch67

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 67

In a flash, Ying Feng was back in the room they were in earlier, seemingly still feeling the warmth of Ling Xiao’s lips.

“Your companion has made his choice. Now it’s your turn. If you choose to sever the bond, it could mean setting him free or abandoning him. If you choose to refuse, it could mean being too attached or selfishly wanting to keep him by your side. The more you ponder over it, the more possibilities arise, which can cloud your decision.”

“The best way to answer this is to not consider any reasons and follow your heart’s desire. Do you have an answer now?”

Ying Feng paused for a moment. “Yes.”

……

Ling Xiao found himself back in the game room. There was no mystical dormitory, no blood pact reversal; everything had been an illusion.

“Ying Feng?”

He spotted Ying Feng at the other end of the room. “What are you doing there?”

“Welcome back,” the NPC’s voice chimed in. “Both players have answered their respective questions. Your current polarity is determined by your answers. Choosing A gives you an ‘S’ pole, and choosing B gives you an ‘N’ pole.”

Ling Xiao looked down to see an ‘N’ on himself. Ying Feng had the same, which explained the distance between them.

‘So Ying Feng chose B too,’ Ling Xiao thought, curious about Ying Feng’s question.

“Our polarities are the same. What do we do now?”

“This is the final challenge of this game. You’ll only clear the game when you touch each other. But you’ve answered all the questions; there’s no new one to reverse the polarity.”

“Isn’t this a trap?”

“Be patient. Each of you has a chance to change your answer. If one of you changes, both can succeed. Now, you may discuss freely.”

They gazed at each other from afar. “What should we do?”

Ling Xiao added, “We don’t necessarily need to change answers. We touched earlier when our poles repelled, right?”

He tried moving towards Ying Feng but couldn’t after a few steps.

“What about your teleportation and summoning abilities?”

“They won’t work here. All mental powers are blocked.”

“There must be a way.” Ling Xiao asserted, looking around. He ran and tried to use a wall to propel himself toward Ying Feng but got pushed back midway.

“If both of us try…”

“It’s useless,” the NPC interrupted. “The force repelling you is stronger than before. Without changing your polarity, you’ll never reach each other. Focus on discussing the answers.”

Ling Xiao attempted a few more times, finally sitting down defeated.

“What now? For the record, I won’t change.”

“I don’t want to either,” Ying Feng replied.

“So, it’s a stalemate? NPC, how do you handle such situations?”

“You’ll remain trapped in the game until a decision is reached.”

Neither wanted to change, leading to a standoff.

“Why don’t you want to change your answer? What was your question?”

“I just don’t. I don’t need a reason.”

“It’s just a game. The answer doesn’t matter, right?”

“If it’s just a game, why don’t you change?”

“This…” Ling Xiao was at a loss for words.

“Fine, let’s see who gives up first.” Ling Xiao lay down.

They persisted in this deadlock until the NPC played music, turning it into a peculiar date.

“I’ve figured it out,” Ying Feng suddenly said.

Ling Xiao sat up. “You changed your mind?”

“Yes, I finally understood the purpose of this game. It’s not to test our compatibility or choices, but how we handle differences: whether we insist, compromise, or find a new solution.”

“Well done.” The NPC simulated applause. “But your issue remains.”

“I’ll change my answer, but I choose to reveal my question first.”

Ling Xiao grew anxious, wondering what question could make Ying Feng so stubborn.

“My question was, if given a chance to break our blood pact, would I choose A. Agree, or B. Decline.”

Ling Xiao was in shock. He never thought Ying Feng would choose ‘Refuse’ for such a question. But now, if he changed his answer, would that mean he was willing to break the bond?

Only to hear Ying Feng continue, “Our pact happened under unfair conditions. Not only was my opponent affected by the side effects of the drug, but he also sustained serious injuries in the previous battle, all of which contributed to my victory. If the blood pact can be lifted, I’m willing to hold the coming-of-age ceremony with him again and duel him one-on-one under absolutely fair conditions. No matter who wins or loses, I will accept the result.”

“For the reasons above, I choose A. Agree.”

Ling Xiao was still in shock and was pulled by some magnetic force. He thought they would crash into each other because of the force, but their speed suddenly slowed down, and they safely touched each other.

“Congratulations on passing!”

A door opened, and light poured in.

Ling Xiao, in a daze, looked at the hand he was shaking with the other party, finding what had just happened unbelievable. Could it be CGI? Maybe this Ying Feng wasn’t real, but just his illusion. The real Ying Feng would never propose a coming-of-age ceremony with him, would he?

Ying Feng took a step before realizing Ling Xiao was still standing there. “What are you thinking? The game’s over. Let’s go.”

“Ah? Oh…”

Ling Xiao was led out in a daze to the next room.

“Stop acting goofy.”

Ling Xiao: …

This Ying Feng is real!

The NPC was still there. “You’re about to leave. When you do, everything here will be reset. No one will know the questions you got or the answers you gave, except you.”

“And you will be erased from my memory. The next time you come, I will treat you as strangers. It’s hard to say goodbye.”

“Don’t be so sentimental,” Ling Xiao couldn’t help but interject. “You’re just an NPC. You don’t have feelings.”

“While I don’t have emotions, when humans programmed me, they designated the sentiment of parting as reluctance. Whenever I detect this sentiment, I express it as humans instructed. Although you’re humans, who’s to say your feelings aren’t designed by a higher being?”

Ling Xiao: !!

“Alright, the game’s almost over. Please leave a good review for my service.”

Ling Xiao teased, “Even though some parts of the game were over the top, it was fun overall. So, I’ve decided to give you a bad review!”

The NPC exclaimed, “What? Why?”

“Haha, NPCs still can’t understand jokes. That’s the difference between you and humans.” As he moved to press the good review, Ying Feng pressed the bad review first.

“Ahhhh! Why!?” The NPC began to protest loudly.

“Because you lied.”

With that, Ying Feng silenced the NPC, which didn’t protest any further.

Ling Xiao was confused. “Huh? When did it lie? How did I not notice?”

“Let’s go.” Ying Feng didn’t explain, and Ling Xiao unconsciously followed, his gaze landing on Ying Feng’s lips.

Thankfully, the kiss earlier was fake. If Ying Feng knew, he’d tease him endlessly.

“What are you looking at?”

Ling Xiao quickly turned away. “Nothing.”

“Is the game over? You took longer than I expected,” the game store clerk said as they emerged, looking at them sympathetically. “How was it? The NPC talks a lot, right? I’ve requested the supplier to modify the program several times. It has received so many bad reviews that it can reach from here to Earth.”

“What’s our reward for clearing the game?” Ling Xiao couldn’t wait to find out.

“Here it is.” The clerk took out the reward.

“Soul crystals!”

“Your reward is 12 Level 3 soul crystals, 6 each of N-pole and S-pole. Using a soul crystal, you can assign a magnetic pole to someone, lasting half an hour. Using the same pole, the crystal will stack, while different poles will be replaced.”

The clerk checked something. “It seems you’ve used up both your objections. So, as a penalty, you’ll be deducted two pairs, leaving you with 8 crystals.”

“That’s the penalty? It’s nothing.” Ling Xiao didn’t mind.

“That’s not all.” The clerk held two crystals. “Activate.”

Ling Xiao: … Aren’t soul crystals only usable by special professions?

The clerk aimed at Ling Xiao. “Bestow N-pole.”

Then he did the same to Ying Feng. “Bestow S-pole.”

The two were magnetically pulled together, unable to separate.

“This is the penalty, lasting one hour. Thank you for coming, and please visit again.”

The two awkwardly left the game store, connected.

“Hey, watch where you’re going. I’m going to fall.”

“Go that way.”

“I can’t walk.”

Ying Feng frowned. “So noisy.”

Ling Xiao was also frustrated. “Why is this soul crystal so strong? Holding hands doesn’t even work. How are we supposed to walk?”

“I can use an S-pole soul crystal on you, so you can stay away from me.”

“Don’t waste it.” Ling Xiao had an idea. “I got it.”

He hopped onto Ying Feng’s back, arms around his neck, and legs around his waist.

Ying Feng was taken aback. “Get off. Are you a monkey?”

“Don’t want to.” Ling Xiao tightened his grip, even cheekily resting his chin on Ying Feng, whispering in his ear.

“Hey, aren’t you curious about the question I drew?”

Ying Feng remained silent.

“Ask me, ask me! I won’t tell you even if you ask, haha.”

Ying Feng: …Idiot.

“Where should we go next?” If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have thrown away Ying Feng’s love notes. Otherwise, they could refer to it now and check the ninety-nine things couples must do.

“Who was it that just said they didn’t want to play anymore and wanted to go back to the dormitory to sleep?”

“I changed my mind. As a top student, how can you go back to the dormitory right after class?” Ling Xiao changed the subject. “By the way, can we borrow the equipment for the second exam from the instructor?”

“For what?”

“To see if our scores have improved. Isn’t it said that we need to achieve seven stars before the end of the term? I also want to know our progress.”

“If you know the principle of that device, will you attack next time?”

“… You have a point.”

“The exams at the military academy must be different every time. Otherwise, if the previous examinees knew the questions, the following ones wouldn’t need to take the exam. But the purpose of the exam will not change, so there must be other ways to measure the emotional star value.”

“Right!” A realization hit Ling Xiao. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Plus, it’s only been a few days. What’s the rush? There’s still a long time until the end of the semester.”

“Hmm.” Ling Xiao murmured, “I’m just curious. I feel like we should be at three and a half stars now… Is there half a star?”

Adventure Game Store

“Oh dear.” The clerk noticed the report in the machine. “I forgot to give them their game results.”

He grabbed the report and ran out, but the two people were nowhere to be seen.

“Never mind. I’ll give it to them the next time they come.”

The clerk returned to the store and curiously looked at their test results.

[Your partner’s test result is… Stone.]

[Stone is hard and unchanging, but with enough external force, it can suffer irreversible damage, even shattering.]

[If your partner is a stone, both strength and stubbornness are their characteristics. Clashing head-on during conflicts will only result in mutual harm. To change the shape of the stone, be patient and persistent like the tides, and with time, they will soften their edges for you.]

Checking the other.

[Your partner’s test result is… Iceberg.]

[Icebergs are cold and hard to approach, but with enough warmth, they melt into water, and when the temperature drops, they freeze again.]

[If your partner is an iceberg, they are calm and rational, never overly impulsive. Don’t fear their cold demeanor; melt them with your warmth. The changes in them often go unnoticed by others, and only careful observation will reveal these subtle shifts.]

“Stone and iceberg,” the clerk muttered to himself. “A destined struggle.”

He flipped the report over, and on the back was a single line.

[Your current emotional value is—Five stars: Budding feelings.]

“Only five stars. It’s indeed low.” He shrugged. “If they passed with this score, it seems the game’s difficulty needs to be adjusted.”


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

Qizi Ch66

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 66

Someone poured a bucket of ice water onto time and it froze.

Ling Xiao nervously swallowed, yet Ying Feng still hadn’t given an answer. What was he thinking?

Regrettably, this bucket of ice water couldn’t freeze a particular chatty NPC, who kept prattling annoyingly.

“You may have noticed that some of the questions here relate closely to your own experiences. In fact, from the moment the magnetic poles appeared on you, your memories were read. The questions you receive are based on your own experiences—the ones you’ve asked yourself deep inside and the ones you wanted to ask others but never voiced.”

“This game is about confronting the questions you don’t want to face. If you don’t, they will always remain questions. So, please answer now: Do you choose A. Your lover from a past life, or B. Your partner in this life?”

Silence.

“Time is running out, please…”

“I choose A!”

Ying Feng turned his head. “What are you doing?”

Ling Xiao firmly replied, “The one who was with me in the past life must be true love. This life is just an accident. There’s no dilemma. I choose A and won’t change.”

“Player N chose A because you think player S will choose A. Instead of letting him voice option A first, you chose it. That way, even if player S makes the same choice, you can console yourself that it was for the sake of completing the game.”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

“Now it’s player S’s turn to be in a dilemma. If he chooses B, not only will it waste an opportunity, but he’ll also be punished. But if he chooses A, player N will be heartbroken. Such a tough decision.”

Ling Xiao angrily shouted, “As an NPC, don’t you think you talk too much? Can’t you just speak according to the program and not give your own opinions? If you had a physical form, you would have been humanely destroyed by the Seventh Law!”

“Countdown: 5 seconds, 4, 3, 2…”

“Objection.”

Ling Xiao: “What?!”

“Do you wish to use the objection?”

“Yes.”

“Objection accepted. This question is void.”

“You just wasted your only chance of objection. Why didn’t you choose A?”

“Next question.”

“I’m asking you!”

“NPC?”

“Alright, I thought you’d need more time to discuss. Since you don’t, here’s the next question… It’s from the game’s question bank, unrelated to your memories.”

“Your best friend has been captured by the enemy and is completely incapacitated. You go to rescue him but realize you can’t. You’ve been discovered by the enemy and have two choices: A. Retreat or B. Kill him. Note: If you retreat, you can’t return, and your friend will fall into enemy hands. Please answer.”

Ling Xiao: “A!”

Ying Feng: “B.”

“It seems there’s a disagreement. That’s okay; you can still change within the stipulated time.”

“I won’t change; I won’t kill my best friend.”

“I won’t change either. It’s my principle.”

“How would you understand what a best friend is when you don’t have friends?”

“How can you forget the oath, which mentions protecting the fledglings with our lives and never letting our bodies fall into enemy hands? If captured, they will access our genes and find a way to counter us, leading to many more sacrifices.”

Ling Xiao’s face contorted. “What kind of game is this? I’d rather have stayed in the dorm and slept!”

“Time’s up. Magnetic pole reversal.”

The letter on Ling Xiao’s chest changed, and he was flung out and quickly enveloped in water. Water surged over his head, and he couldn’t swim out from any direction.

“Ling Xiao!”

Ying Feng saw Ling Xiao trapped in a large glass tank filled with water. He struck the tank hard, but it didn’t crack.

“It’s no use. It’s an illusion, so it won’t get damaged. You can’t always take his punishment for him. He has to face it. He won’t drown, but the feeling of suffocation is very real. Wait for five minutes, and the water will disappear.”

As Ling Xiao struggled painfully in the water, Ying Feng angrily said, “Weren’t both parties supposed to be punished if their answers differed? Why is it always him?”

“For the Qizhu, what’s a harsher punishment than watching their Qizi suffer and being unable to do anything?”

“Aren’t you a game from Earth?!”

“I’ve been localized,” the NPC innocently replied.

Ying Feng would have punched the NPC if it had a physical body.

“Of course, if you change your answer now, although it will count as one of the three failures, you can avoid the punishment. Seeing his state, it seems he can’t speak. What about you? Would you change your principles for him?”

Ying Feng clenched his fists tighter as Ling Xiao stopped struggling and floated lifelessly.

“I choose A. Retreat,” Ying Feng said gravely.

The tank disappeared instantly; water was flooding everywhere, but nothing got wet. Ling Xiao was thrown onto Ying Feng, coughing heavily.

“You didn’t inhale water; it’s just a psychological effect. Don’t worry.”

Ling Xiao slowly recovered. “Has it been five minutes?”

“Nope. Player N changed his answer, sparing you from the punishment.”

“N?” Ling Xiao noticed that his letter had changed from N to S, and Ying Feng’s from S to N.

“Why did you change your answer?”

“It’s just a game. It didn’t really happen. There’s no need to take it so seriously.”

Ling Xiao hesitated. “Actually, when I was on the brink of death just now, I thought about it. Your reasoning makes more sense. And, if the captured person was truly my friend, they would probably hope that I chose option A, so…”

“The time for answering is over. You can’t change it now. Let’s move on to the last question!”

The two individuals, who were just beside each other, were separated once again. Ling Xiao was still confused about what had happened when he realized that Ying Feng had disappeared.

“What’s going on? I haven’t chosen yet. Why did the polarity reverse?”

“It didn’t reverse. It just temporarily disappeared. Both of you are now in different rooms, and the questions you receive will also be different. Your answers will determine your polarity in the next step. Are you ready?”

“I’m ready,” Ying Feng replied.

“Your question is: If you are given a chance now to break the blood pact on you, would you: A. Agree; or B. Decline.”

Ying Feng waited for a while. “That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“What’s the catch?”

“There’s no catch. You don’t have to pay any price. It doesn’t go against morality or the law, and it doesn’t harm the nation or others’ interests. It’s just a simple removal.”

Ying Feng pondered.

“You don’t need to answer me right away. However, you now have to go to another room. In that room, although you are still you, your body will not be under your control. You can only see, hear, and feel, but you can’t speak or move. Alright, let’s go.”

“I’m ready,” Ling Xiao said.

“Alright, here’s your question: If you are given a chance now to reverse the outcome of the blood pact on you, allowing you to become the Qizhu of Player N, would you: A. Agree; or B. Decline.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes sparkled. “Really?”

“Really. There’s no catch. You don’t have to pay any price; it doesn’t go against morality or the law, and it doesn’t harm the nation or others’ interests. It’s just a simple reversal.”

“Do I even need to think about this? Of course I choose A!”

“Player has triggered a plot event; playing CG.”

Ling Xiao sat up from the bed. What’s going on? Did I just have a dream? Or am I in a dream now?

He looked around; this was his dorm room in Bikong University.

Whether this or that was a dream, both felt too real.

Wait, what did that last voice say? That I’m Ying Feng’s Qizhu?

From the bathroom came the sound of shattered glass. Ling Xiao instantly became alert. This is bad!

He jumped out of bed, flung open the door, and saw Ying Feng holding a sharp fragment of mirror, intending to plunge it into his own heart.

“Stop!”

The shard halted just two millimeters from piercing the skin. Ying Feng struggled to turn his head. As their eyes met, Ling Xiao saw the pale gray in Ying Feng’s eyes. They were filled with hostility and hatred, as if he had seen them somewhere before.

No! He hadn’t seen them before; it was the same look he once had, the one he used to look at Ying Feng with when Ying Feng first took control of his actions.

‘It’s not the same,’ Ling Xiao reminded himself. Ying Feng first took control over him because Ling Xiao had a conflict with someone else. But he controlled Ying Feng in order to prevent him from seeking death.

Having found such a valid reason to control Ying Feng, Ling Xiao felt much more confident.

“Just give up. I won’t let you die. If you think about suicide every day, I won’t grant you freedom for a day. Now, get back to your room.”

Within his own body, Ying Feng could clearly see Ling Xiao and hear his words, but he couldn’t control his actions.

However, he had to admit that when he looked into the mirror and saw his own eyes, what he wanted to do was exactly the same as what his body was trying to.

Under Ling Xiao’s command, Ying Feng’s body, struggling, returned to the bedroom. Ling Xiao rummaged around the room and eventually piled a heap of food onto the bed. This room was magical; anything Ling Xiao thought of would appear.

“All of this is for you to eat! During your growth period, you should eat nutritious food! Also, here’s your favorite strawberry bread and the brand of water you drink. See how good I am to you? I haven’t eaten in three days, and you didn’t care. Now I’m offering you everything, and you’re not grateful?”

Ying Feng looked away disdainfully, not even looking at the food.

Ling Xiao was annoyed. “I tell you Ying Feng, you can do anything, but you are not allowed to die. You are my concubine now, and your life is mine. If you don’t eat, I will force you to eat. If you don’t go to sleep, I’ll do it seven times a night and make you pass out.”

He forced Ying Feng down and sat on him. “Don’t think that I can’t do the tricks you used on me. If you provoke me again, I can do it!”

Ying Feng still stared at him coldly with the same eyes as before, which sent a chill to Ling Xiao’s heart.

“Don’t you dare keep staring at me like that!”

Why, why does this person always treat me with such an indifferent attitude? It’s been like this for ten years, never changing.

Ah, it’s all because of that damned peach core!

Without a second thought, Ling Xiao bent down to tug at his clothes, flipping out the peach core from his left chest pocket, holding it tightly in his hand.

“Give… it… back…” Ying Feng managed to utter each word with great difficulty.

A paralyzed person, using all their strength just to say these three words, made Ling Xiao burn with jealousy.

“Forget about it.”

He threw the peach pit out of the opened window with force. Just moments ago, the window had been shut.

Ying Feng’s gaze was sharp and piercing, cutting into Ling Xiao with every look.

Ling Xiao became anxious; he didn’t want to see that expression anymore. If only there could be another expression on that face…

As he thought so, a suppressed grunt came from Ying Feng beneath him. However, he quickly bit his lip, preventing any further sound.

His pale face flushed, revealing a mix of pain and lust under an expression that had remained unchanged for thousands of years. Their struggle for control was evident in the tension of their facial muscles and the moisture in their eyes.

Ling Xiao was stunned. The usually cold and reserved Ying Feng could show such an expression, and it looked so moving and alluring.

He just needed to apply a little more pressure to hear an unrestrained moan from him, even if it was just once.

Although Ying Feng couldn’t move, his feelings were in sync with his body. At this moment, his entire body was hot, his limbs numb, and a certain part of his body was on the verge of explosion.

He mustn’t let out a sound. He wanted to tell his puppet self, “If you dare make a sound, I’ll fight you to death.”

Even if Ling Xiao tried harder, he remained silent, even biting his lip until it bled.

“It’s okay.”

Lifting his head.

Ling Xiao exclaimed, “Who?!”

“This is just your illusion. The person beneath you is just a puppet. You can use your power freely; the real person won’t know.”

Ying Feng: Lies!

Ling Xiao realized this was just a game. He was in a virtual environment, and even Ying Feng was fake.

The NPC’s voice was beguiling. “If you choose, he can become your Qizi, and you can do whatever you want with him.”

Ying Feng’s expression darkened. ‘Once I get out, I’ll smash this store.’

Ling Xiao straddled him, head bowed, with his hair concealing his face. Just as Ying Feng thought Ling Xiao would make a move, the overwhelming desire in him faded away like a receding tide.

Above him, Ling Xiao slowly shook his head. “Back then, when he had control over me, he made my life unbearable. I harbored intense hatred towards him.”

“Now, having the same power, I choose to treat him the same way.”

“If the blood pact could really reverse, I wouldn’t be able to control myself either. I’d make him suffer, he’d despise me, and we’d engage in actions that we’d regret. Nothing would change between us except our roles.”

He was silent for a long while, and Ying Feng listened quietly.

“Thank you. The things I’ve been unable to let go of all this time, I can finally release now.”

Ling Xiao leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss on Ying Feng’s blood-stained lips.

Ying Feng remained still. The sensation coming from his lips was real. It wasn’t his puppet; it was himself. They shared the same thoughts, took the same actions, and even their feelings were identical. The person Ling Xiao kissed was no one else but him.

After a moment, Ling Xiao pulled away with deep reluctance.

“I give up.”


The author has something to say:

NPC: Next question: which academy has the best excavator technology?

A. Royal Sky;
B. Bikong.

Please answer.


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

Qizi Ch65

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 65

The long-awaited dating course had finally arrived—

“What do you mean? Who’s looking forward to it?” Ling Xiao, who was forcefully driven out of the training ground, was unhappy. Today’s lesson was about the use of primary elemental soul crystals. He was originally having fun tossing large fireballs with his friends, but as soon as the time came, he was ruthlessly expelled by the instructor.

Why couldn’t he study like the other students and instead have to go on a date?

Furthermore, this class didn’t have instructors, textbooks, or even reference materials. How was he supposed to go about this dating lesson?

Confused, Ling Xiao decided to ask for help from Yu Ji, whose emotional value was even less than theirs.

“What are you guys planning to do?”

Yu Ji, slightly embarrassed, replied, “He said he wants to go back to the dormitory and sleep. I couldn’t argue with him.”

Ling Xiao twitched at the corner of his mouth. Was this supposed to be a way of cultivating emotional connection?

“What about us?” He asked Ying Feng. “Just to clarify, I don’t want to go back and sleep.”

Ying Feng pulled out a long list. “This is the information I found online and in the library: ’99 Things Lovers Should Do’ and ’50 Places Couples Must Visit’.”

Ling Xiao: ……

How could he forget that Ying Feng was a top student and would diligently complete every task assigned by the teacher?

Mechanically, Ling Xiao read through the list from beginning to end. By the end, his expression had turned stiff. What were these suggestions?

Watching movies (which was pretty standard), candlelight dinner, shared hot spring bath, buying lingerie together, adopting a pet, using the Qizhu skill “Release” in public (What’s that?), playing a day-long Qizhu and Qizi identity swap game (Oh, that sounds interesting)…

No way! None of these were good!

Ling Xiao threw away the list. “Who dates by following a book?”

Ying Feng’s expression remained unchanged. “Then what’s your suggestion?”

After pondering for a moment, Ling Xiao had an idea. “I got it!”

Special commodity trading zone.

“Hello, this is the Soul Crystal Trading Street. Only those with the appropriate credentials can enter. Please show your personal terminal.”

They extended their wrists for scanning. “Ah, students from the Royal Sky Military Academy. Welcome.”

It was the first time both had come to this place. Apart from soul crystal shops, there were trading stalls for people to exchange soul crystals, raw material wholesale shops, virtual soul crystal trial points, arenas, casinos where one could exchange chips for soul crystals, and a variety of adventure projects.

“Hey, would you like to gamble on the ‘Creation from Nothing’ soul crystal? As long as your mental power reaches level one, you can activate it.”

“What is that?”

“‘Creation from Nothing’ allows you to obtain a random item after activation. It might be valuable, or it might be worthless. It’s all about luck.”

Ling Xiao was intrigued and asked Ying Feng, “Shall we try?”

Ying Feng took out a magnetic card. “Two, please.”

“Thank you for your patronage!”

Ying Feng tried first and got a card.

The merchant inspected the card. “Congratulations, this is a game voucher. You can use it at any adventure game shop on this street. This card’s value is three times that of the ‘Creation from Nothing’ soul crystal. You’ve made a profit!”

“Now it’s my turn,” Ling Xiao said and focused. He activated his crystal, and a white light appeared. When it faded, he found himself holding an object.

All three: ……

Ling Xiao was exasperated. “Why a banana? Why did he get a voucher and I got a banana?”

The merchant replied innocently, “Items appear at random. Some even get rocks or feathers. We can’t control it.”

Ying Feng, seeing Ling Xiao’s frustration, dragged him away to save the poor merchant.

“At least I didn’t get a banana peel,” Ling Xiao grumbled as he ate the banana, but his mood didn’t improve.

“Let’s use the voucher to play a game.”

They entered the nearest game shop.

“For the free voucher, you can only play the ‘Couple’s Quiz Game’. If you want the adventure combat game, it’s an extra charge.”

“We want an adventure game.”

“We’ll take the ‘Couple’s Quiz Game’,” Ying Feng’s voice interrupted from behind.

“Why?” Ling Xiao raised his voice.

“Did you forget our afternoon class?”

…Top students are so annoying!

Ling Xiao gave in, “Fine, quiz game it is.”

“We have a new quiz game from Earth. Want to try it?”

“Earth? What game?”

“It has a long title: ‘When the World Wants You Together and You Don’t, Fate Wants to Keep You Apart When You Want to be Together’.”

“That’s so long! Why are Earthlings so verbose?”

“We’ll take it,” Ying Feng said, not wanting to debate.

“This way, please.”

The store clerk led them to the entrance. “Let me explain the game rules briefly. In this game, we use a magnetic pole setup. The initial magnetic poles are opposite. If your opinions clash, the poles will reverse, and both of you will be penalized. The penalties get heavier with each discrepancy. Only when your opinions align will the poles revert.”

“Each of you has the right to use ‘objection’ once. Using an objection allows you to skip a question you don’t want to answer. But after the game, you’ll receive a minor penalty for each objection used.”

“If you pass the game successfully, you’ll receive a gift from our store, which is unique and can’t be found elsewhere. Good luck! Oh, I forgot to mention, since this is an imported game, we’ve localized some aspects. But some questions couldn’t be changed, so you might find some questions hard to understand. Just choose an answer randomly.”

“It seems like a complex game,” Ling Xiao said, forgetting the beginning after hearing the end.

“You’ll understand once we start.”

The two entered the game room, and a female voice rang out:

“I am the commentator NPC for this session. Only the two of you are participating, and all your answers are strictly confidential. No third party will know. Are you ready?”

“Ready.”

“Then, let the game begin.”

“Ah!” Ling Xiao shouted, crashing into Ying Feng beside him. “What happened?”

It took Ying Feng a lot of effort to push Ling Xiao off him. “Look at your chest.”

Ling Xiao looked down and saw a letter N on his chest, while Yin Feng had an S in the same position.

“So this is the magnetic pole setup. What do we do now? We can’t even walk like this.”

Ying Feng tried to move. “As long as our bodies touch, we won’t be pulled together like before.”

“Let’s hold hands then.” Ling Xiao couldn’t think of another solution.

Ahead was a long corridor. As they walked hand in hand, Ling Xiao felt more and more awkward. Why did he feel nervous holding hands, even though they had been more intimate before?

“We’re here,” Yin Feng said, pulling him back from his thoughts. They had reached the first quiz checkpoint.

“Now, the first question. Choose wisely.”

“Do you want to play: A, Easy mode; B, Hard mode?”

“What’s the difference?” Ying Feng asked.

“Hard mode has harder questions and harsher penalties. You can’t quit unless you fail. But the rewards for passing are greater.”

Yin Feng: “A.”

Ling Xiao: “B.”

Both: ……

“We’re playing for the first time, and we don’t know what’s coming next. It’s safer to start with easy mode.”

“But games are about challenges! What’s the fun in playing easy? I want to play hard mode.”

“Please confirm your answer quickly, or both of you will be penalized.”

“Fine,” Ying Feng conceded. “B it is.”

Suddenly, the floor disappeared, and they dropped into a new space.

“Next question: Do you prefer your tofu pudding to be: A, sweet; or B, savory?”

Both: ……

“What’s tofu pudding?”

“It sounds like food. Remember the clerk said some parts of the game aren’t localized? This might be it.”

“Oh, let’s pick randomly then.”

“Okay.”

Ling Xiao: “A.”

Ying Feng: “B.”

Both: ……

“Why B?”

“I don’t like sweets.”

“But you don’t even know what tofu pudding is! What if it’s inherently sweet?”

“Then there’s no reason to ask if it’s sweet or savory.”

“How do you know there aren’t savory sweets?”

NPC: “Please confirm your answer quickly.”

Silence.

“Fine, whatever. I’ll go with A,” Ying Feng compromised.

“Answer confirmed. You’ve passed.”

“I don’t want more stupid questions. Give us something harder,” Ling Xiao shouted.

“Next question: Is everything possible? A, Yes; B, No.”

Ling Xiao: “A.”

Yin Feng: “B.”

“Why?!”

Ying Feng calmly explained, “If you say ‘yes’, they might ask if it’s possible for something to be impossible. If you say it’s possible, then something is definitely impossible, contradicting the ‘everything is possible’. If you say it’s not possible, that also contradicts ‘everything is possible’.”

Ling Xiao: “…I didn’t get any of that, but, B!”

“Answer confirmed. You’ve passed.”

“The next question is a very famous moral dilemma from Earth. Please watch the explanation on the screen.”

In front of them, a projection of a train appeared. There was a fork in the track ahead of the train. On the track where the train was moving, ten people were playing, while on the other track, there was only one person.

“The people you see on the screen now are five- to six-year-old children from Earth, which are our early forms. The track on the left is abandoned, and the one on the right is strictly forbidden for anyone to stay. The train is about to reach the fork. As the person who can change the track, would you let the train continue and hit the ten children who violated the rules, or change the track and hit the one who obeyed? A. Change track; B. Don’t change.”

“I choose C. Change the track and then teleport to save one child.”

“Unfortunately, Earthlings do not have this capability. Please select again.”

“I choose B.” Ying Feng said.

“Why?”

“Rules are rules. We cannot punish those who obey just because there are more rulebreakers. What’s the point of such rules?”

“Do rules matter more than life? Those are ten children, ten souls. They will vanish if they die.”

“Please finalize your answer soon.”

Ling Xiao: “I object.”

“Are you sure you want to use your objection? It’s your only chance, and you’ll be punished after the game.”

“I’m sure. Both sides involve lives. I don’t want to choose either.”

“Objection accepted. Skipping this question. Next question.”

On the screen, the child on the abandoned track disappeared and was replaced by another person. The expressions of Ying Feng and Ling Xiao both changed to some extent.

“Now, the person you see on the screen has changed. Each of you sees the other. The same question applies: if you don’t change the track, the child will get hit. If you change it, your other half will get hit. Choose: A. Change track; B. Don’t change.”

Ling Xiao & Ying Feng: “A.”

“This is the first time you two have agreed since starting the game. Even the player who insisted on rules has now abandoned them. Do you not care about each other’s lives?”

Ling Xiao responded seriously, “I have vowed to protect children with my life. Even if that person is me, I will still choose A. I believe Ying Feng would make the same decision, so his choice is my answer.”

“That concludes this question. Next question: If a weak person you dislike is in danger, would you help? A. Yes; B. No.”

Ling Xiao & Ying Feng: “A.”

“If helping this person could potentially put you in danger, would you help? A. Yes; B. No.”

Ying Feng: “B.”

Ling Xiao: “It’s just a possibility, not a certainty, right?”

“Please answer quickly.”

“B.”

“If helping someone you dislike endangers someone you like, would you help? A. Yes; B. No.”

Ling Xiao & Ying Feng: “B.”

“Conversely, if the one needing help is someone you like, but helping them will certainly endanger and even kill someone you dislike, would you help? A. Yes; B. No.”

Ying Feng: “A.”

Ling Xiao: “…A.”

“Why the hesitation?”

“Because the person I dislike might be someone someone else likes… Never mind, I was just saying.”

“If both are people you like, one is your friend and the other your lover, helping one means losing the other, would you help? A. Yes; B. No.”

“What kind of crazy question is that? I refuse to answer!”

“I’m sorry, you’ve already used up your objection.”

“Use yours,” Ling Xiao said to Ying Feng.

“I don’t want to use it yet. I choose B. I don’t have friends.”

“You say it as if you have a lover.”

NPC: “Please make a choice quickly.”

“I choose A. I don’t have a lover!”

“Are you sure?”

“Sure!”

“Reversing polarity.”

Suddenly, Ling Xiao was thrown out, and the floor on the other side collapsed, revealing molten lava beneath.

Ying Feng clenched his hand and found that the Qizi Summoning had no effect here. He immediately leaped over and grabbed Ling Xiao’s hand. The two hung off the cliff with a great repelling force trying to separate them.

“A friendly reminder: this is a virtual game. You won’t get truly hurt, but there will be a pain sensation. If someone falls, they will endure five minutes of scorching pain. This is the punishment for different opinions. If you want to avoid the punishment, just change your answer.”

As Ling Xiao slowly descended, he realized that even if this was fake, he didn’t want to fall into the lava. But the repelling force from the magnetic polarity was too strong. Right now, both of their chest symbols read “S”. If this continued, Ying Feng would soon lose his grip.

“I…”

With a grunt of effort, Ying Feng swung Ling Xiao away from the lava. But due to the force, Ying Feng himself fell off the cliff. As they got farther apart, Ling Xiao watched as Ying Feng was about to fall into the lava.

“I choose B!”

Bang—the lava disappeared, and the letter on Ling Xiao’s chest reverted to “N”. The two, suspended in midair, collided and then landed on the ground, entwined.

“That hurt.”

Ling Xiao rubbed his forehead. The collision was real and had given him a headache.

“This game is too twisted. I’m not playing anymore.”

“Sorry, you chose the hard mode. It can’t be manually terminated.”

“How can it be terminated?”

“After three different choices and three punishments, the game will be deemed a failure.”

“…This is such a scam!”

“Are you ready for the next question?”

Ying Feng held Ling Xiao’s hand and got up. “Since you’ve chosen the hard mode, let’s play seriously till the end. We have two more chances.”

Ling Xiao took a deep breath. “Let’s continue!”

“Next question: If your most respected mentor seeks your help, but it’s against your moral principles, would you: A. Help; B. Not help.”

Ling Xiao & Ying Feng: “B.”

“If there’s something you’ve always longed for, but obtaining it would mean betraying your morals, would you choose: A. Get it; B. Give it up.”

Ling Xiao & Ying Feng: “B.”

“If there are two people standing in front of you now and you can only choose one with the other one dying, would you choose: A. Lover from your past life; B. Partner from this life.”

Ling Xiao’s expression tightened. He quickly turned his head, wondering, ‘Ying Feng, what would you choose?’


Kinky Thoughts:

The train problem in this chapter comes from the Trolley Problem. It is an ethical dilemma where you’re presented with a problem of whether to sacrifice one person to save a larger number.

There is a runaway trolley barreling down the tracks. Ahead, on the tracks, there are five people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight for them. You are standing some distance off in the train yard, next to a lever. If you pull this lever, the trolley will switch to a different set of tracks. However, you notice that there is one person on the sidetrack. You have two (and only two) options:

  1. Do nothing, in which case the trolley will kill the five people on the main track.
  2. Pull the lever, diverting the trolley onto the sidetrack where it will kill one person.

Which is the more ethical option? Or, more simply: What is the right thing to do? 


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

Qizi Ch64

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 64

The long-awaited formal start of school finally arrived. Early in the morning, Ling Xiao invited Red Head and others to the classroom, only to find that many people arrived even earlier than they did. The classroom was spacious, with only a few sets of desks and chairs placed near the walls. All the students sat on the carpet, forming a semicircle.

At the opening ceremony, the new students had already met each other. But there were so many people present at that time, and only today did they have a chance to formally introduce themselves face-to-face. Ling Xiao, always good at socializing, greeted almost everyone. Suddenly, he pointed to the corner.

“Ah, isn’t that the duo who got two stars during the entrance exam?” He pointed towards a place where one person was sitting on the floor while the other was resting his head on the first person’s lap, deeply… asleep. They chose a secluded spot, probably not wanting to be disturbed. Everyone else maintained their distance, except for Ling Xiao.

“Hello, I’m Ling Xiao from Bikong. Can I get to know you?” The awake one was stunned for a moment and then reached out. “Yu Ji, from Chunyang.”

“I remember seeing you two on the open day,” Ling Xiao recalled. They had efficiently dealt with an S-level imitation beast, leaving a deep impression.

“I also remember you. You were the one in the wheelchair.”

“Uh…”

“But you did well in the subsequent tests. We also saw your performance in yesterday’s school rule challenge. You are impressive.”

“Not at all. It was all thanks to my… Ying Feng helping me from below.”

“Is Ying Feng your Qizhu?”

“Uh… Yes.” Ling Xiao scratched his head embarrassedly. Ling Xiao found this person quite friendly and curiously pointed to the person next to him. “Why is he sleeping?”

Yu Ji gave a strained smile. “He developed a moderate mental injury and a sleep disorder due to some accidents after his coming-of-age ceremony. He will fall asleep whenever he has a chance, just like now.”

Ling Xiao could deeply relate. Disordered sleep during the turbulent period led him to always worry about not getting enough sleep. Whenever he woke up, he would instinctively cling to Ying Feng, as if he couldn’t sleep soundly without contact. Although the disordered period only lasted three days, the sequelae were permanent.

And he was only mildly affected. Moderate cases were obviously much more severe than his. Although he hadn’t spoken a word to this person, he already felt a sense of mutual understanding and sympathy.

“Let him sleep a little longer. I won’t disturb,” he whispered as he departed.

The instructor entered the classroom, and the chatting students went silent. After a brief introduction, the instructor delved into the lesson.

“Some of you may have already encountered mental powers. What I’m holding is the primary weapon of the Tianxiu people. It’s called a soul crystal, made from a soul stone within a living body combined with other materials. When we channel our mental powers into the crystal, it activates its energy.”

“In the past, every Tianxiu person needed to master the use of the soul crystal. But now, only a few can learn this special skill, and it’s available only to the military, military academies, or certain specific professions.”

Ling Xiao instinctively glanced at Bing Can. As if sensing Ling Xiao’s thoughts, the instructor called out his name. “Bing Can.”

“Present.”

“How did you obtain your soul crystal?”

“I got it from our academy’s doctor. She taught me how to use it. Her Qizi works in the military medical station.”

The instructor nodded. “That makes sense. Can you show it to everyone?”

Bing Can displayed his soul crystal—a tiny white crystal that seemed unremarkable at first glance.

“Different soul crystals have different levels, and each has its own unique effects. The one that Bing Can is holding is the most basic soul crystal in the mental category. After using it, one can quickly check a person’s physical condition. While it may not be as comprehensive as instrument-based checks, it’s very useful on the battlefield.”

“Each of you, being elites from various academies, must learn to use your mental powers within three days and activate a level one soul crystal. That’s our training task for this week.”

The instructor brought out 30 soul crystals for practice.

“Each semester, the department provides everyone with basic soul crystals for practice. But if you need more, you’ll have to buy them yourself or get them custom-made by students specializing in research and development.”

“This is a level 0 soul crystal. It has no actual effect and is purely a teaching tool. Once you learn how to activate it, you will then understand how to use mental powers.”

Everyone stepped forward to take one. Ling Xiao and Bing Can had already met the requirements to use a first-level soul crystal. As for Ying Feng, it went without saying. The three of them held the practice soul crystal in their palms, and as they clenched their fists, the crystal disappeared, leaving only a ball of white light in their hands.

Seeing their performance, the instructor nodded appreciatively, confirming that the caliber of students in this batch was indeed very high.

One after another, several students with great potential gradually mastered the technique. Red Head, upon succeeding, yelled out loud, startling everyone.

“Why are you so loud?” Ling Xiao asked, covering his ears.

“Gathering energy,” he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing.

“Very good.” The instructor allowed the others to continue practicing and then took out a new set of soul crystals.

“Soul crystals are divided into three major categories: physical, elemental, and spiritual. Everyone’s innate constitution is different. The mental power consumed when using a soul crystal varies from person to person. Everyone has a particular strength, which we refer to as a ‘specialization’.”

“Those who specialize in a certain category will consume half the mental power when using the soul crystals of that category. Moreover, only those who specialize can use the high-level soul crystals in that category. Others can only use up to level 7. Specialization is fixed and won’t change with rigorous practice. If you don’t know what your specialization is, you can use this testing crystal. It will randomly draw out a particular strength, helping you to determine your specialty.”

“I see. I’ll go first!” Red Head stepped forward and took one. Holding it in his hand, he concentrated deeply. Seeing his stance, everyone preemptively covered their ears.

“Heh!” Red Head activated the soul crystal in his hand, his arm muscles bulging and veins protruding.

“How do you feel?” the instructor asked.

“I feel full of power!” After saying this, he slapped the wooden table next to the wall with his bare hand. “Ha!”

Everyone had just dropped their hands, but now they quickly raised them again.

The wooden table shattered upon his hit. The instructor nodded. “The power enhancement indicates that you specialize in physical techniques. You’re suited for using soul crystals in the physical category. Remember to pay for the table. Who’s next?”

Ling Xiao found it interesting. “Me!”

He also took a crystal, and as he exerted force with his right hand, his surroundings changed. From indoors, he suddenly found himself outside, with the people inside the room visible through the glass.

The sensation of hanging in midair alarmed him. It was only then that he realized he was on the third floor.

“Ahhhhhhh~~~”

Ying Feng quickly reached out and decisively pulled him back from outside the window.

“Instantaneous movement is also a skill of the physical category. You, like him, specialize in physical techniques. Once your mental power reaches a certain level, you can become as light as a swallow*, safely landing from not only the third floor but even the thirtieth floor using the soul crystal. Even if you were on the rooftop, you’d be unharmed. But until you all reach that proficiency, I suggest you face the hallway for testing.”

*(轻如燕) Idiom referring to someone who moves with agility, grace, and lightness, similar to how a swallow flies smoothly and effortlessly.

Ling Xiao: You could’ve said that earlier!

“I wonder which one I am?” Bing Can took a crystal and held it. A soft white light soon radiated from his hand, creating shimmering spots that flickered around him if they looked carefully.

The instructor beckoned to Red Head. “Come here.”

Obediently, Red Head approached, and the instructor drew a knife, making a cut on his arm.

Red Head: ……

“Now place your hand on his wound.”

Bing Can did so, and everyone watched in astonishment as the wound on Red Head’s arm gradually healed under the illumination, leaving no trace.

“I had guessed when you used the soul crystal to scan the body that you might specialize in spiritual techniques, and indeed it’s true. The skill you just used is called Basic Healing, which can heal minor external injuries. Note that while offensive skills can harm any race, healing skills only work on the Tianxiu people and are ineffective on outsiders.”

“My Qizhu is amazing! Spiritual specialization is awesome!” Red Head cheered. “But why did you have to cut my hand?”

“That’s that. Next!”

Now it was Ying Feng’s turn. He activated a testing crystal like the others, but other than the crystal disappearing, nothing happened.

“What’s going on?” Ling Xiao asked in surprise.

The instructor seemed puzzled as well. “Try again.”

Ying Feng tried once more, but the result remained unchanged.

“If that’s the case… There’s only one explanation. You belong to an extremely rare category: the special.”

“Special category?” Everyone chorused.

“Not belonging to physical, elemental, or spiritual specialization. He doesn’t benefit from reduced mental power consumption when using any crystal.”

“That bad?” Ling Xiao couldn’t help but comment.

“Not bad at all. On the contrary, this kind of ability is very rare. Because he’s not limited by a specialization, he can use high-level soul crystals from all categories. His strength will only grow as time goes on. I really didn’t expect our department to have a student from the special category. Individuals with this innate trait are extremely rare; there are probably only one or two in the entire school.”

The instructor took out a soul crystal, slightly larger than any he had shown before.

“You can use the Qizi Summoning, which means your mental power can at least drive a level 4 soul crystal. Try it.”

Ying Feng took it. It was apparent he had to exert more effort than before to channel his mental power into it. Yet strangely, there was no reaction.

“Haha.” Red Head laughed out loud. “I think you’re not of the special category but the ‘waste category’. Any soul crystal in your hands becomes useless.”

Deep down, the instructor silently praised Ying Feng. It wasn’t merely about having enough mental power to activate a soul crystal that had never been used. Many needed tens to hundreds of attempts to do so, and then even more practice to consolidate the skill. This student indeed had exceptional talent. With his rare special-category ability and given enough time, he’d definitely match up to General Fu Yao.

“Don’t worry, look.” The instructor pointed behind the crowd.

“Ahhhhhh!” Behind them, Ling Xiao suddenly cried out. A strange mechanism rapidly assembled on his right arm. The shining silver metal culminated in a shape resembling a dragon’s head at the forefront. Ling Xiao could even feel power surging from within it.

Without needing any instruction, he instinctively gripped his right wrist with his left hand, raised his arm, and aimed the cannon-like structure at the instructor.

The instructor calmly pointed outside. “Shoot out the window.”

Ling Xiao shifted, and with a jolt of his hand, a light projectile shot out, shattering the glass and exploding in the distance.

“Wow!” Everyone was stunned. After the shot, the device on Ling Xiao’s arm dispersed into a light smoke.

“That’s awesome!” Ling Xiao excitedly wished he could shoot again.

“See? This is our Joint Combat Department’s unique combat style. As the Qizi’s mental power grows, the power and frequency of the projectiles will increase. Moreover, the Qizhu can also use enchanted soul crystals to add elemental properties like electricity, fire, and ice to the projectiles. Impressive, isn’t it? By the way, remember to pay for the broken window.”

“Can’t students from other departments use our soul crystals?”

“They can, but they have their training focuses, which differ from our teaching objectives. In the Joint Combat Department, the primary consideration is coordination—how to maximize the combined potential of two people.”

“When can we master skills like we just saw?” Red Head eagerly asked.

“Don’t rush. Level 4 soul crystals are our first-year teaching objectives. By the end of this term, everyone here is expected to master them.”

“Doesn’t that mean Ling Xiao and the others have nothing to do for a whole year?”

“Not at all. The most significant difference between our department and others is that many of the soul crystals we use have emotional value requirements, which is why emotional value is one of the entrance exam’s focal points.”

“Some soul crystals, besides mental power, require sufficient emotional values to activate. No matter how high your mental power, you can’t use them without enough emotional value. The higher the emotional value, the more pronounced the effect. If you focus only on cultivating mental power, those leading now will gradually fall behind.”

“So, considering everyone’s different situations, I’ve formulated personalized teaching plans for each of you. Have a look.”

The instructor tapped on his terminal, and each student received the transmitted schedule.

Upon opening his schedule, Ling Xiao’s expression changed. “What is this?”

Red Head peeked over and burst into laughter.

Ling Xiao’s Wednesday and Friday afternoon class was simply: Dating.

“This is… too much.” Ling Xiao leaned over to check Ying Feng’s. “Is yours the same?”

A stoic Ying Feng replied, “What do you think?”

‘Okay.’ Ling Xiao thought he asked a pointless question. But… “How do we even take this class?”

“You all have the freedom to decide. However, by the end of this term, your emotional value must reach seven stars. It’s our department’s basic requirement. Fail to achieve this, and you’ll be forcibly transferred.”

Pointing to Ying Feng and Yu Ji, he emphasized, “I’m talking about you two. Got it?”

The four with mixed feelings responded, “Yes.”


The author has something to say:

Add up your birth year, month, and day until you get a single-digit number to determine your specialization type.

For example, for October 14, 2014: 2014+10+14=2028; 2+0+2+8=12; 1+2=3.

Results 1-3 are for physical specialization, 4-6 are elemental specialization, 7-9 are spiritual specialization, and 0 is the special category.


Kinky Thoughts:

Apparently, I’m the spiritual specialization. That’s pretty accurate since I like playing healers/support.


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

Qizi Ch63

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 63

[Royal Sky Arc]

Ling Xiao methodically fastened the buttons of his shirt, looking in the mirror. A young man in a sky-blue uniform appeared, looking handsome and dashing. From today on, he was an official first-year student at the Royal Sky Military Academy, about to embark on a new chapter of his academic journey.

The bathroom door opened, and his authorized roommate stepped out, clad in a deep blue uniform. Since their last encounter, Ying Feng had grown a few centimeters taller. His slender figure was almost perfect, with his muscular outline concealed under the uniform. Ling Xiao was more aware than anyone of the strength hidden beneath those fabrics.

This was their new dormitory, almost twice the size of the previous one in Bikong. Besides the bedroom and bathroom, there was also a living room, essentially making it a one-bedroom suite.

Today was the academy’s opening ceremony. Everyone was to attend in their formal attire. Ying Feng, all prepared, tossed something towards Ling Xiao, which he caught as it traced an arc through the air.

Higher education and primary education both spanned twelve grades. The difference was that students here advanced a grade every half year, with the curriculum lasting six years. Different badges distinguished different grade levels.

Facing the mirror, Ling Xiao carefully pinned the badge Ying Feng had thrown to his left chest. He inspected his attire from head to toe to ensure everything was in order.

“I’m ready!”

“Let’s go.”

Ling Xiao, full of energy, opened the door and coincidentally met the students from the room opposite heading out. They greeted him cheerfully.

“Ling Xiao, Ying Feng, are you guys ready? Let’s go together!”

These were their new classmates at Royal Sky, Bing Can and Qian Si—Ling Xiao preferred to call him “Red Head”, often forgetting his real name. They now lived in opposite rooms. Red Head and Ling Xiao had grown closer, and in the words of his Qizhu, it was “easier for members of the same species to communicate.”

The group of four set off from their dormitory towards the playground, encountering students from various grades at Royal Sky. Some were senior students, while others were freshmen like them.

“Wow, look! There are still fledglings in the higher academy!” Ling Xiao exclaimed, pointing at a few students in green uniforms, as if he had discovered a new world.

Bing Can explained, “Those fledglings who have completed their twelve years in the primary academy and haven’t had their coming-of-age ceremony are allowed to advance to the military academy. And those who can get in are indeed powerful, as they’re competing against adults.”

“So, that’s how it is.” Ling Xiao mused. “I wonder if we’ll have any fledglings in our major?”

Bing Can, holding back a smile, replied, “We’re in the Joint Combat major, which doesn’t admit fledglings. However, the advantage for them is that if they undergo the coming-of-age ceremony while at the academy, they can apply to change their major, provided they pass the test.”

Ling Xiao admired Bing Can’s detailed explanation. “You seem very familiar with this place.”

“All this information is available online. If you search thoroughly, you can find it.”

Ling Xiao scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. He had only focused on his own part and hadn’t read anything else.

The playground was crowded. The Joint Combat Department was right in the center.

“Do you see it? We’re the watershed of the whole school.”

Watershed*?”

*Clarity: It’s referring to the drainage divide. Basically, he’s making the reference that they are in the middle, where both sides converge (see his explanation below), dividing the two areas.

“To our right are majors related to combat, command, and management, with the Qizhu making up the majority. To the left are research, medicine, and communication, among other ground majors, where most students are Qizis. Our major is the only one where the ratio of Qizhu to Qizi is always 1:1.”

At a glance, Ling Xiao saw it just as he described. The further to the right, the fewer light blue uniforms there were, and on the farthest right, it was almost entirely dark blue uniforms. On the other hand, the left side was the opposite: light blue uniforms were interspersed with several dark blue ones, and there were even occasional green ones. The Joint Combat Department was like a clear dividing line, separating the two sides.

The opening ceremony began with the principal’s speech, followed by addresses from the representatives of old and new students. To everyone’s surprise, Bing Can was the representative of the new students. As he took the stage, Red Head clapped so hard his hands turned as red as his hair.

“…On behalf of all the new students, I solemnly swear allegiance to our country and nation, to never betray, to obey commands, to uphold discipline…”

Down below, all the freshmen echoed in unison:

“…With our lives, we will protect the fledglings and defend the lighthouse, vow to guard the Tree of Souls never letting the enemy capture our bodies. Our soul is immortal, and our determination never ending…”

After the opening ceremony concluded, classes would officially start the next day, leaving them with half a day to explore.

“Let’s go see the starship!” Red Head proposed excitedly.

“There’s a starship in the academy?” Ling Xiao asked, equally intrigued.

“Yes, it’s a retired military starship placed here for students’ practical training!”

“Awesome!”

Both were eager, and Bing Can and Ying Feng had no objections. They summoned the academy’s map, descended to the third underground level, and were awestruck by the immense starship before them.

As they sought the entrance to the starship, a man who appeared to be a custodian stopped them.

“Sorry, it’s not open for tours.”

“We are students of Royal Sky,” Ling Xiao explained.

“Only students with related majors are allowed in. Which major are you from?”

“Joint Combat.”

“You’re not permitted. Please leave.”

“Why?”

“It’s the academy’s rules. If you wish to enter, you must challenge the rule.”

“Challenge the rule? What’s that?”

“The first rule of Royal Sky—The strong make the rules. Anyone strong enough can challenge the existing rules.”

Ling Xiao stared at Ying Feng in astonishment. “How do you know that?”

“I thought reading the school rules before enrolling was common sense.”

Ling Xiao: …Damn it.

Bing Can tried to stifle a laugh as he relayed information he’d read from the school’s discussion board. “That’s right, the top twenty-three rules are held by the principal and other administrators. The rest are held by individual students. If you feel a rule is unfair, you can challenge its owner. If you win, you can modify the rule. Even the principal can be challenged, though no one has successfully changed the top twenty-three rules since the school’s inception. If the owner of the rule you challenge has graduated, a representative from the Student Arbitration Committee will take up the challenge. Of course, once you hold a rule, others might challenge you anytime. If you don’t respond, you automatically forfeit your rights to that rule.”

“That’s amazing!”

The custodian brought the conversation back on track. “So, do you want to challenge the rule?”

……

“Quick, look! Someone’s challenging the school rules!”

“Who would do that on the first day of school?”

“They say it’s a first-year freshman.”

“A freshman? The newbies these days really are fearless.”

Ling Xiao stood on the stage, not expecting such a vast audience that packed the area below the stage.

His opponent had already arrived, dressed in a deep blue uniform with a tenth-grade badge, highlighting the stark difference between the two.

The adjudicator took the microphone.

“According to the first rule of the Royal Sky Military Academy: The strong make the rules. Anyone who questions the rules can issue a challenge.”

“A student of our school has questioned rule number ninety-seven, which states: Students not in the relevant majors are not allowed to enter the starship for any reason. Violators will be reprimanded.”

“Original rule holder: Starship Command Tenth Grade, Chi Cheng.

“Challenger: Joint Operations First Grade, Ling Xiao.

“Game rules: Falling or landing on the ground for ten seconds means you lose. The challenge begins now!”

“You got guts, first-year.” Chi Cheng didn’t take his opponent seriously at all. A first year challenging him? What a joke.

“I don’t want to bully you, so for fairness, I won’t use my mental power against you.”

After saying this, he stretched out both hands, and more than a dozen soul crystals fell to the ground, bouncing everywhere.

Ling Xiao slightly relaxed, but considering his opponent was a Qizhu, even in physical strength, he was at a disadvantage. Ling Xiao bent down slightly, not just out of nervousness but also with a hint of excitement.

“Go Ling Xiao!” Red Head shouted from below.

Chi Cheng gestured for him to come forth. “Bring it.”

The moment Ling Xiao moved, he quickly threw three punches at Chi Cheng, who didn’t even blink while blocking them. But those were feints. With the last punch, Ling Xiao took a cross-step to his back and kicked him square in the back. All this happened in the blink of an eye, and Chi Cheng, who had underestimated the freshman, was kicked back several steps.

“Oh? Not bad,” Chi Cheng said, flexing his wrist. “Now, I’ll get serious.”

As he finished speaking, he disappeared, with only countless shadows flashing in different directions.

So fast! Ling Xiao was shocked. Is this the level of a tenth grade Qizhu? He couldn’t even catch his movements.

Suddenly, he felt hits on his left arm, right arm, and back without even seeing his opponent’s position. The last hit came from the front. Ling Xiao braced the ground with one hand, getting pushed back several meters and stopping just at the edge of the stage.

“Coming for more?” Chi Cheng asked.

“Yes!” As Ling Xiao charged head-on, his opponent vanished. “What?”

“I’m here.” Chi Cheng’s voice came from behind, followed by a force that sent Ling Xiao flying.

On the ground, Ling Xiao rolled and stood up, defiantly saying, “Again!”

By the third time Ling Xiao was knocked down, the crowd sighed and shook their heads. The challenger was no match, and the outcome seemed certain.

“You’re quite persistent.” Chi Cheng observed as Ling Xiao got up again, injured but with an even sharper look. “Alright, let’s end this quickly.”

Chi Cheng started walking faster and faster until he became a blur. Ling Xiao, nervous, tried to predict his next move.

Right.

A familiar voice echoed in Ling Xiao’s mind. Without thinking, he threw a punch to the right, hitting his target!

Behind.

He executed a spinning kick, hitting Chi Cheng in the chest, stopping him in his tracks.

After hitting twice in a row, Chi Cheng clutched his chest and frowned. Was it just a coincidence?

It must be just a coincidence. With his skill, there’s no way he could see my moves clearly.

Realizing this, Chi Cheng felt relieved. He increased his speed and surrounded Ling Xiao from all sides.

Inside the encirclement, Ling Xiao paradoxically relaxed. He closed his eyes, and his entire demeanor showed no sign of defense.

What’s going on? Not only was Chi Cheng puzzled, but the audience below was also confused.

Perhaps he was just putting on an act. With a shift in his form, Chi Cheng launched an attack towards the man in the center of the field.

Front.

Ling Xiao gently jumped backward.

Behind.

He performed a backflip.

45-degree angle from the right.

He took a small leap to the left.

Lower body.

He responded with a cartwheel.

The audience was in awe. Chi Cheng’s moves had clearly accelerated, yet he couldn’t even touch a hair of Ling Xiao, who hadn’t even opened his eyes since the start.

As the battle went on, it became a spectacle. Ling Xiao’s evasive maneuvers were mystifying. No matter from which angle Chi Cheng attacked, he couldn’t touch him.

“What’s happening? Does he have eyes on his forehead?”

No, even when Chi Cheng attacked from behind, Ling Xiao evaded it!

Bing Can, watching intently, realized something was off. Turning, he understood when he saw Ying Feng’s expression. While Ling Xiao’s eyes were closed, his real ‘eyes’ were here with Ying Feng. Ying Feng could see every move Chi Cheng made, even predict them, allowing Ling Xiao to anticipate and counteract. Their coordination was eerily perfect, as if one person was in control.

The once one-sided cheers from the crowd had shifted. They not only appreciated Ling Xiao’s performance but also desired to see the insides of the starship with him!

At that moment, Ling Xiao on the stage kept stepping back, coming increasingly close to the edge of the competition platform.

“He’s about to fall off!” Many couldn’t help but shout out as a warning.

Chi Cheng sneered internally, thinking it was too late. Ling Xiao’s heel was only a step away from the edge. With full force, Chi Cheng rushed towards him. From any angle, there was no way he could dodge this time!

“Watch out!” The crowd shouted.

Now!

Ying Feng issued the final command.

Ling Xiao vanished from the public’s view.

Where did he go?!

Chi Cheng, suspended in midair, widened his eyes in disbelief. Where had he gone?

“There!” The keen-eyed among the audience finally spotted him.

Ling Xiao’s body was suspended in the air, his toes hooked on the edge of the platform. From Chi Cheng’s perspective, it looked as if he had suddenly fallen off.

But by the time he saw Ling Xiao, his own body had already flown off the platform.

Ling Xiao used his toes to propel himself into the air, appearing right behind Chi Cheng.

How is this possible? Did I just lose to a first year Qizi?

“Sorry about this.” Ling Xiao, behind him, had already opened his eyes. He didn’t hold back in his kick.

“Beep—”

“The challenger hits the ground; attack valid!”

“Challenge over. The ownership of the school rules changes! The new enforcer of Rule 97 is—first year from the Joint Combat Department, Ling Xiao!”

“Ling Xiao! You’re amazing, Ling Xiao!” Red Head cheered excitedly.

Ling Xiao located the loudest cheerer, Red Head, in the crowd and then saw Ying Feng nearby, grinning at him with a silly smile that only the two of them understood.

“Good fight.” Chi Cheng jumped back onto the platform. “I underestimated you. But you did great. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Ling Xiao shook his hand.

“But let me remind you, I lost because I didn’t use my mental powers. If I had used the soul crystal against you, you would’ve stood no chance. Future challengers won’t be so easy. Keep it up.”

“Mm!” Ling Xiao was very clear that today’s victory was pure luck. In a genuine one-on-one match, he couldn’t possibly be his opponent.

The adjudicator approached. “Now you can make changes to Rule 97. Would you like to lift the ban on visiting the starship?”

“Uh, if everyone visits anytime, won’t it bother the students studying there? Can we make it open once a week?”

“Of course, you are now the rule-maker.”

“Let’s make it Sundays,” he said. He was usually exhausted on Saturdays and not really in the mood for tours.

“The new Rule 97 is officially announced: The starship is open to the public every Sunday, allowing all students to visit.”

The crowd cheered.

“Let’s go.” Chi Cheng generously invited him. “Even though today isn’t Sunday, I can make an exception and give you a tour.”

“Can my Qizhu and friends come too?” He excitedly asked without thinking.

“Of course, let’s all go.”

Chi Cheng hopped off the platform and turned to see Ling Xiao still standing there. “Why aren’t you coming?”

Ling Xiao’s awkward smile froze on his face. Why did he blurt that out so naturally without thinking?

He nervously glanced down, relieved to see that Ying Feng had turned away. That was close; he mustn’t have heard.

Bing Can was curious, noticing that after Ling Xiao asked the question, Ying Feng had turned away. “Ling Xiao invited us. Aren’t you coming?”

Pretending he hadn’t heard anything, Ying Feng replied without turning back, “I am.”


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

Qizi Ch62

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 62

On a lounge chair that was originally empty, a figure suddenly appeared. However, this person’s eyes were tightly shut, motionless, and even his breathing and heartbeat had completely stopped, as if he were dead.

A voice anxiously called out to him from the side, but other than that, the voice couldn’t do anything.

“Xing Lou, Xing Lou!”

After what felt like an eternity, the man called Xing Lou slowly began to wake up, and his heart gradually resumed its beat.

“I succeeded,” he said, showing a bit of excitement as he somewhat recovered. “I can finally traverse dimensions to change time. This time, I successfully traveled back 600 years. Next time…”

“There won’t be a next time.” Yue Ying said sadly.

“There will be!”

“I just scanned your body. The burden on your soul has reached its limit; it can’t carry any more data.”

“That’s impossible!” He refused to believe.

“It’s true. You have retained memories across four consecutive lifetimes, not to mention the ancient memories you still hold. Each time you travel through time, you bring back more fragments of memories. That’s why your lifespan gets shorter with each generation. Your soul is overwhelmed. If you reverse time again, I fear your soul will dissipate in the river of history.”

Xing Lou’s face darkened terrifyingly. Why? He was so close to success. If he declared failure now, what would all his previous efforts amount to?

“Can’t the useless memories be erased?”

“Forcing a deletion will only cause memory corruption. The only way to clear memories is to let the soul pass through the purification pool. While this method can erase memories, it can’t heal a damaged soul. Retaining memories of past lives goes against the initial setting of this species. Likely, in your next life, you won’t inherit any existing memories. As punishment for breaking the rules, your soul will decline with each reincarnation until you die during the fledgling phase, disappearing completely.”

Xing Lou slowly stood up. “I’m not afraid of death, but I fear living without knowledge. If I will forget past grudges, promises, and even you in the next life, then I’d rather this life be the end…”

He suddenly turned his head. “Who’s there?!”

An unexpected visitor rushed in like the wind and grabbed Xing Lou by the collar without a word. “I need you to help me kill someone. I must kill him!”

Xing Lou leaned slightly back. “Wow, Zhen He? It’s been a while. You’ve changed so much that I barely recognize you. A staunch opponent of the coming-of-age ceremony, what made you like this?”

“It’s all because of Zhu Yue! The Zhu Yue you asked me to investigate last time! He…”

“Sorry for the intrusion.”

Upon hearing that voice, Zhen He stiffened and turned, only to face his nightmare.

“You actually followed me here?”

Zhu Yue seemed much more confident than before, albeit slightly nervous. “For a Qizhu, finding his Qizi isn’t difficult.”

Zhen He was clearly irritated by those words. Releasing Xing Lou, he lunged at Zhu Yue, his fist stopping just inches from his face.

Zhu Yue, almost stepping back in fright, managed to regain composure. “Surprisingly, the blood pact still works here in virtual space. I thought your punch would hit me.”

Zhen He gritted his teeth in fury, turning to yell. “Xing Lou!”

Having been observing the whole time, Xing Lou finally spoke in a leisurely tone. “I feel like I’ve finally understood…yet, I’m still a bit confused. Would either of you care to explain more?”

“I can explain,” Zhu Yue stepped forward.

“No need for you to speak!”

Ignoring Zhen He, Zhu Yue said, “I know you.”

Xing Lou: “Oh? Maybe we met somewhere on campus?”

“Before that, a long time ago,” Zhu Yue whispered. “Marshall, no, the former Marshall.”

The smile on Xing Lou’s face gradually faded. “Who are you?”

Zhu Yue took something out of his pocket. Seeing it, Zhen He looked as if he wanted to snatch it and destroy it immediately—the very source of his current misfortune.

“Soul binding stone. I think you should recognize it. A legendary stone said to awaken the oldest memories of the soul. You have one too, don’t you?”

Xing Lou didn’t reply, which was as good as a confirmation.

“Since we both have memories of the past, it will be easier for us to communicate.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to cooperate with you.”

“Xing Lou!” Zhen He exclaimed angrily. “He’s my enemy! You want to work with him?”

Xing Lou patted his shoulder. “Relax, we’re just talking. Wait here for a moment.”

The two went into the adjacent room. Zhen He, in his rage, started smashing things around him. However, everything in this virtual space was simulated. Anything destroyed would respawn. By the time the two men came out, everything was intact.

This time, Zhu Yue left without a word. After venting his frustrations, Zhen He finally calmed down, his eyes glaring darkly at Xing Lou.

“You really decided to cooperate with him? After seeing what happened to me, you still don’t believe he’s a cunning person?”

Xing Lou countered, “What do you propose then?”

“Of course, kill him!”

“Wouldn’t that be letting him off too easily?”

Xing Lou approached him, warmly placing an arm around his shoulder. “I know you despise him deeply. If he just dies, he’ll reincarnate. Are you content with that?”

“What do you suggest?”

“Master Tai Yin’s experiment might soon succeed. By then, you can break the blood pact. You’ll regain your freedom, and he’ll return to a fledgling state, unable to reincarnate. Once he dies, his soul will disintegrate… Which of these outcomes do you prefer?”

As Xing Lou spoke, the murderous intent in Zhen He’s eyes began to subside, eventually sheathing like a sword returned to its scabbard.

“I understand. I’ll wait. In the meantime, I’ll let him live. One day, I’ll witness his soul dissipate in front of me.”

After Zhen He left, Yue Ying’s waveform reappeared on the wall. He had clearly heard the conversation between Xing Lou and Zhu Yue.

“Was what he said true?”

“Yes,” Xing Lou replied, lowering his head as if deep in thought. “Your previous speculation was accurate. He truly is one of the survivors from your clan, although now he’s only half of one. It’s surprising he survived in this manner. No wonder he’s so weak… However, it seems he has found strength in his own way.”

“What have you decided? Will you accept his proposal?”

“His goals align with mine in some ways. I’ve decided to cooperate with him, but only temporarily.”

He lowered his voice. “I don’t like this man. Once our objectives are met, even if he’s your last kin, I don’t wish to keep him around.”

……

About six hundred years ago.

“You can open your eyes now.”

The blindfold was removed, and Chang Jiang opened his eyes in astonishment. Before him lay a blonde figure in a fetal position, surrounded by strange equipment and computers.

“I’ve heard that you are a once-in-a-generation genius in the field of computers. Were you the one who hacked into the military mainframe recently?”

The young Chang Jiang was nervous. He had breached the system out of mere curiosity, only intending to test his skills without stealing any secrets. Yet, such an act was already a grave crime.

“We can spare you any punishment, but you need to do something for us.”

Hearing that he could be spared from punishment, Chang Jiang was willing to accept any conditions. “What do you want?”

“Our computer had some issues three months ago. No matter what we do, we can’t resolve it. We’d like you to assist in troubleshooting.”

It was said lightly, but Chang Jiang understood that this meant the military’s top computer experts had been defeated. He was anxious inside. If he couldn’t fix it, he wasn’t sure how long he’d be imprisoned.

“I’ll try my best.” He swallowed hard.

The man in front of him stepped aside.

“But before that,” he glanced at the blonde figure on the bed, strangely concerned, “can you tell me who he is?”

“I advise you not to ask questions you shouldn’t know.”

Chang Jiang remained silent and took a seat in front of the computer.

One hour, two hours… Several hours passed, and Chang Jiang made no progress. The computer’s programs had all been altered and couldn’t run properly. It didn’t look like a typical virus. He had never encountered such a situation before.

“How’s it going?” the person who had been monitoring him suddenly asked, startling Chang Jiang.

“It’s complicated.” Chang Jiang hesitated. “I need some time.”

The officer frowned and left abruptly. Soon, two soldiers took his place at the doorway. Thankfully, they stood farther away, reducing Chang Jiang’s pressure.

Suddenly, strange waveforms appeared on the screen. Chang Jiang nervously tapped on the keyboard, having done nothing to cause this, attracting the guards’ attention.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, it’s nothing,” In his haste, Chang Jiang hit the restart button and then blocked the screen with his body. “Just a minor glitch. I’ve fixed it.”

The guard didn’t press further. Chang Jiang breathed a sigh of relief and refocused on the screen, where he saw a strange message.

[I’ve finally found you.]

Taken aback, Chang Jiang typed hesitantly:

[Who are you?]

The text on the screen refreshed.

[Yue Ying.]

Chang Jiang swore he had never seen this name before. He typed a lengthy response.

[Who are you? Where are you? Why are you in the computer?]

[I am right beside you.]

Beside? Chang Jiang seemed to realize something, turning stiffly to see the person on the bed surrounded by a transparent shield—a vacuum chamber.

Is this person Yue Ying? Is his consciousness inside the computer? Overwhelmed by the information, Chang Jiang was at a loss.

Another message appeared on the screen.

[Save me.]

Chang Jiang leaned forward.

[How?]

Driven by an instinctual trust, he didn’t question why he should save Yue Ying or consider the consequences.

[Find the soul binding stone. It will help you recover lost memories.]

The door opened again, and the officer from earlier returned. The content on the screen vanished instantly.

“Still not fixed?” the officer asked impatiently.

“I need some software tools. Can I bring my usual storage device?” Chang Jiang hesitated.

“No,” the officer immediately declined. “You can’t bring anything in or copy any content from here.”

“I’ll have to write the necessary programs on the spot, which might take more time.”

“Then stay here. Leave only when it’s fixed.”

The officer departed, and Chang Jiang’s gaze once again drifted to the bed beside him. Yue Ying…

“…I promise to get you out.”

“You already have.”

Yue Ying’s voice echoed. Xing Lou opened his eyes in the moonlight, seeing Yue Ying’s fibers glowing in the darkness.

“Did you dream of our past again?”

“Yes.” Xing Lou pinched the bridge of his nose. “I dreamt of the first time we met at the Gene Center.”

He climbed out of bed, opened the secret compartment on the bedside, and there lay a soul binding stone similar to the one in Zhu Yue’s hand, but in a lavender color.

Having received Yue Ying’s message, Xing Lou endured countless hardships to obtain this soul binding stone. He finally recovered memories from ancient times and managed to copy Yue Ying’s consciousness. He dedicated everything to build a place for him—the so-called Tianyuan Network. The computer genius, in this way, started a new chapter in the history of the internet.

“Yue Ying.” He reached out, and Yue Ying immediately wrapped around him.

“I promised your ancestors that I would always take care of their descendants. But I forgot that promise for thousands of years. A few hundred years ago, I promised to get you out, but I’ve only managed to free your consciousness so far. If this life is my last, no matter what, even if it costs my soul, I will rescue you from eternal slumber and truly get you out.”

“This time, I won’t forget my promise.”

……

Zhu Yue was packing his bags when the dormitory door was suddenly pushed open. Startled, he turned around and saw someone he thought would never return.

“Why are you back? Didn’t I let you go?”

“How could I bear to leave you just like that?” Zhen He closed the door behind him. “Abandoning a Qizi is illegal. You took my blood; you are obliged to take care of me till the end. Besides, all my money is with you. Are you planning to walk away without taking responsibility?”

He approached step by step. After becoming the Qizhu for so long, Zhen He’s presence still put pressure on Zhu Yue. Although he had matured as the Qizi, he still stood a head taller than Zhu Yue. As he neared, Zhu Yue couldn’t help but take a small step back.

“I will always be by your side,” Zhen He said, lowering his head and gritting his teeth. “My Lord Qizhu.”

……

“Didn’t you say you’d apply to your superiors to reduce the amount of blood taken?” Ying Feng’s anger was more evident than before. “What’s happened to him now?”

Ling Xiao, lying on the bed, was almost unconscious, with not a hint of color on his face.

Heng He stammered, “I did apply…” But the military disagreed and insisted on following the original plan. The amount of blood taken today was nearly two-thirds of Ling Xiao’s total blood volume.

With a stern face, Ying Feng picked up the weak Ling Xiao, who weakly struggled for a moment before resting his head against Ying Feng’s chest.

Heng He watched as Ying Feng left with Ling Xiao in his arms, feeling uneasy. Such incidents would keep happening. How would he face Ying Feng’s growing protective feelings for Ling Xiao?

……

—Yao Tai (3928–4026), appointed as the school’s health doctor at Bikong Academy in 3992. She resigned in 4026. During her tenure, she was diligent and performed excellently…

The principal sighed and put down his pen. The man had passed away. Was there still value in writing such work history?

Perhaps it could only serve to be remembered by future generations.

He walked to the window and spotted a streak of yellow—he recognized it as Ying Feng’s vehicle. Every week, they would leave early one day and only return at dusk.

But soon, such scenes would no longer be seen.

The night at Bikong was as tranquil as usual. After tonight, some would leave while others would stay. In the future, when they met again, a new chapter full of tumultuous events would unfold…

[End of Bikong Arc]


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

Qizi Ch61

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 61

He Gui watched as Zhi Shang gradually disappeared in front of him and sighed in relief.

“We’ve gotten rid of a big nuisance, now…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he looked down in disbelief. The dagger that had just pierced Zhi Shang was now fully embedded in his own chest, with only the handle exposed.

“You…”

He Gui could never have imagined that he would be killed by his so-called “comrade”. The person who had just been plotting with him moments ago had turned against him.

His “comrade” was expressionless. “The military isn’t as foolish as you think. Zhi Shang had just been investigated. If you tried to frame him for treason now, it would surely arouse suspicion. It’s better to tell them the truth, so they know that you are the one they are looking for.”

“Why did you then…” Take the risk and kill Zhi Shang?

No, in his final moments, He Gui understood. Both he and Zhi Shang were disposable to the other person. One knew his secret, and the other was an obstacle. This was killing two birds with one stone, but unfortunately, he was one of those birds.

“I hope you’ll be smarter in your next life,” the voice sneered at the fallen dagger after He Gui vanished.

Having dispatched two souls, the real culprit picked up the relics they left behind and slowly made his way to the old storeroom nearby. He was running out of time. He had to quickly set up the scene so when it’s discovered, it would look like they had killed each other.

……

When Yao Tai arrived at the base, all that awaited her was her lover’s dagger.

“I’m sorry.”

Yu Quan handed over the dagger, head bowed as if it was his fault.

Yao Tai took it, trembling, her face beyond despair. In Ling Xiao’s eyes, she had always been the proud and confident Queen Yao, but today he realized that sometimes it only takes a few words to defeat a proud person.

The ever-graceful and smiling man had vanished without a word, never to return. Even if he were to be reincarnated, he wouldn’t be the same person.

“What happened?” Yao Tai’s voice quivered.

“There was a traitor in the base. The chief discovered his secret, and in the ensuing struggle, they killed each other. His sacrifice was noble. The evidence of the traitor’s betrayal has been revealed, and the others are investigating urgently. That’s why I was sent to deliver the chief’s relic to you.”

“How could there be a traitor in the base?” Yao Tai asked urgently.

Yu Quan paused. “Teacher… he’s still alive.”

Yao Tai staggered back. For years, without any news from Tai Yin, she believed he had met with misfortune, along with that fledgling.

“Not only is he alive, but he has also been in contact with people from the base. The military had long suspected this. This time, using the theft of the second generation as a pretext, they investigated whether the two of us were still in contact with him. The chief didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you to know the truth. He didn’t want you to know that Teacher didn’t die but continued on the wrong path, which would make you sad.”

“Who maintained contact with him?”

“A security personnel from the base, named He Gui.”

Ling Xiao was shocked. He remembered the name.

By the way, I haven’t asked for your name yet?

My name is He Gui. If you ever come back, feel free to find me.

It was him?! The man who had escorted him and Ying Feng from Zone G to the hall while telling them stories about Master Tai Yin. Was he the inside man for Tai Yin in the base? Thinking back, he had expressed great admiration for the previous chief. Was that the reason he chose to be Tai Yin’s insider?

Was his appearance back then just a coincidence?

Ling Xiao went pale, grateful no one noticed.

“So, this He Gui is also dead?” Yao Tai whispered.

“Yes. Souls ascending were detected in Zone Z. Investigators found signs of a struggle in the old warehouse, and then the relics of the two. He Gui had always been in contact with Teacher there. It’s regrettable that the chief might have stumbled upon them and this happened.”

Yao Tai bowed her head calmly. “I understand.”

Ling Xiao was surprised by her composure, but before he could say anything, she turned away, tears dried but no longer flowing.

“You both should go.”

“Dr. Yao?”

“You were originally here to welcome me. I’ll stay to investigate the truth with my colleagues and continue Zhi Shang’s unfinished work. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Ling Xiao wanted to say something, but Yao Tai cut him off. “Go.”

Ling Xiao and Ying Feng exchanged glances and, helplessly, turned and left.

After they left, Yu Quan slowly spoke.

“Now that they’re gone, you can speak freely. But if you’re thinking what I believe you are, I’ll stop you no matter what you say.”

Yao Tai clutched the dagger tightly. “How did you know?”

“The look in your eyes now is just like Teacher’s back then. The reason Teacher sought you out among the three of us is because your character is the most like his. As a research scientist of the base, you need to maintain absolute calm and reason. However, you and Teacher prioritize emotions so much that it sways your actions. Even with your talents in research, you aren’t suited for this work. I advise you to give up.”

Ling Xiao was halfway out when he pulled Ying Feng. “Why do I always have a bad premonition? Dr. Yao seems odd to me. I feel that things aren’t as simple as she says.”

“I feel the same. Her calmness is unnatural.”

“We should go back and check,” he said, already turning back with Ying Feng following closely.

“I’m sorry.” Yao Tai lowered her head deeply. “He is the one I deeply love. I don’t want to part with him. Even if there’s the slightest chance, I won’t give up…”

With a speed impossible to catch, she circled Yu Quan’s back, her dagger pressed tightly against his heart. When Ling Xiao returned, this was the scene he was met with.

“Dr. Yao!” Ling Xiao exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

She was now completely lost in madness. “Only you can help me. When Shang Yang left, you found his reincarnation. Please, as a favor for our shared past, help me one more time. Even if by force, I…”

Yu Quan’s poker face remained unchanged, and his voice was still calm. “What happens after you find him? Wait ten, twenty years for him to awaken, then imprison him like Teacher did? Maybe by then, you’ve already reunited with Teacher and found a way to break the blood pact. You’d force the reincarnation of the Chief to bond with you just because he was your lover in a past life.”

“But have you ever thought, he doesn’t have memories of being with you? All the wonderful, romantic memories in your mind are only associated with Zhi Shang’s name. After reincarnating, he’s no longer Zhi Shang. He’s a new person. To him, you’re just a stranger. The memories you force upon him are only pain.”

Tears formed in Yao Tai’s eyes as Yu Quan continued.

“I know, losing a loved one is painful. But that pain shouldn’t be the start of another’s suffering. My biggest mistake in life was betraying my conscience to repay a debt to Teacher. A year after that event, when I saw Shang Yin’s reincarnation, I realized the gravity of my mistake. That’s why I chose to surrender to the military, betraying Teacher. All these years, I’ve been wracked with guilt, forever unable to forgive myself. The reincarnated soul was innocent; I ruined his life.”

Yu Quan’s voice softened. “Senior Sister*, let me call you that one last time. Don’t even mention that I no longer have the authority to trace the soul’s reincarnation; even if I did, I wouldn’t help you. I’ve made that mistake once; I won’t repeat it. I don’t want the tragedy of Shang Yang to be replayed on the chief. He’s gone. Let him be at peace in the next life.”

*[Shijie] (师姐) Address used for a woman who is older or higher rank. Generally this is used when you study under the same teacher/master.

As her strength waned, Ying Feng and Ling Xiao saw their chance and acted. She offered no resistance as they took the dagger from her. Her face was pale and lifeless as she spoke to Yu Quan, “Junior brother*, let me call you that one last time. You’ve already refused one request of mine; I hope you won’t refuse the next.”

*[Shidi] (师弟) Address used for a man who is younger or lower rank. Generally this is used when you study under the same teacher/master.

……

“Dr. Yao, are you sure about this?” On their way, Ling Xiao kept trying to dissuade her. By the time they arrived at the Nightmare Hall, he still hoped to change her mind.

“My mind is made up. It’s unexpected that you two would be the ones to accompany me on this final journey.”

She looked at Ying Feng. This young Qizhu always concerned her.

“As a Qizhu, we possess supreme power in the spousal relationship. Precisely because of this, we must learn throughout our lives how to overcome the desires that power brings to us—how to use the power in our hands to protect rather than harm our Qizi. While the Qizi passively obeys, the Qizhu actively exercises restraint. This is the lifelong lesson for every Qizhu.”

“Ever since Zhi Shang and I became bonded, I’ve exercised my power over him twice. Apart from the time I injected Ember, it was when my teacher fled. Zhi Shang could have initiated the interception process, but I restricted his actions.”

“Choosing to help Teacher was the biggest mistake of my life. Over the years, I’ve lived with guilt, and I never thought that today I might follow in his footsteps.”

“I have shared many loving years with Zhi Shang. Even with this rift between us, he never blamed me. I can’t bear a life without him. If he were to leave me, I would wish this moment to be the end of my life. Maybe in the next life, we can meet again.”

“But you once said that even if two people die at the same time, they might not awaken at the same time. In the vast sea of people, it’s nearly impossible to find and fall in love with someone you’ve forgotten,” Ling Xiao argued anxiously.

“As an observer, I can say that objectively and rationally. But when it happens to me, I realize how hard it is to live without him. Even if the chances of meeting again are minuscule, I still yearn to try.”

“But…”

“You don’t need to persuade me. This is my decision. Before I go, I have a few words to say to you alone.”

Yao Tai pulled Ling Xiao aside.

“Ling Xiao, I never told you, but among the two of you, I’ve always been more inclined towards Ying Feng. If one of you were destined to become the Qizi, I even hoped it would be you.”

Ling Xiao caught his breath.

“That’s because you possess a resilience he doesn’t have. The failures he can’t accept, you might overcome. In this aspect, you are much stronger than him.”

“But no one should be destined to be a Qizi. My thoughts come purely from a school doctor’s selfish perspective, raising the possibility from 0% to 1%, but it’s 100% unfair to you. For that, I’m deeply sorry.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes began to moisten.

“The secret you asked me to keep, I kept, not because of your request.”

“I felt you should tell him personally, not through anyone else.”

“I hope that day comes soon. Don’t wait until it’s too late or leave any regrets.”

She cast a final glance at Ying Feng. “Ying Feng is quite insensitive to emotions. Sometimes, he needs you to spell things out before he knows how to act. But if you don’t tell him, he will never know.”

Yao Tai resolutely turned towards the Nightmare Hall; Yu Quan was already waiting at the entrance.

Ying Feng approached. “What did she say to you?”

Before he finished speaking, Ling Xiao suddenly lunged at him, hugging him tightly, his shaking shoulders betraying his emotions.

Ying Feng froze for a moment, then hesitantly raised his hands, gently placing them on Ling Xiao’s back.

A bell sounded from the Nightmare Hall, its ominous tone like a dirge. Hearing the bell, the person in his arms shifted uneasily. Ying Feng raised his hand to cradle the back of Ling Xiao’s head.

“Don’t look.”

Ling Xiao stilled, burying his face deep into Ying Feng’s neck, tears silently flowing.

Yao Tai’s soul rose into the air, then descended, disappearing in the direction of the purification pool. She would sleep and awaken again, perhaps meeting Zhi Shang once more, starting their new life. In the face of those who lost their loved ones, death often seemed so trivial.


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

Qizi Ch60

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 60

Thump, thump, thump…

The two of them were so close to each other that they could even hear each other’s heartbeat. And this rhythmic pulsing had become the last sound in the world.

Ling Xiao stared blankly at the person in front of him, not understanding why suddenly the world around him changed.

Even the other candidates were confused. Just a moment ago, Ling Xiao was on another screen, with monsters rushing towards him for a final attack. However, just before the impending crisis, Ling Xiao suddenly disappeared and reappeared beside Ying Feng. The moment they touched each other, the enemies that had been flying towards them one after another burst into smoke and vanished, and the countdown timer permanently stopped at 00:00.

The candidates had no idea about this, but fortunately, there were many senior students on the scene who were very familiar with such situations.

“Qizi Summoning. It’s an intermediate skill of the Qizhu which allows them to summon their Qizi within a certain distance. Usually, this skill is mastered about six months after enrollment. However, seeing it in a candidate is indeed surprising.”

So that’s what happened. Everyone finally understood. But did using this method to find the Qizi mean passing the exam? Or not?

All eyes, including Ling Xiao and Ying Feng’s, focused on the indicator light that would determine their fate. The light hadn’t lit up yet, and it felt as if it would be pierced by the intense stares.

Whether it was the participants in the center of the exam area or the audience in the seats, everyone was anxiously waiting for the verdict. Even the judgment system felt the pressure. After a while, a yellow light lit up in the arena.

Murmurs of confusion arose. What does the yellow light mean?

It wasn’t the green for passing, nor the red for failing, but a puzzling yellow. Ling Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. Was it still not good enough?

At the invigilator’s desk, several instructors looked at each other.

“Among all the candidates over the years, very few Qizhus have mastered the skill of instant teleportation. Knowing he had this skill, I specifically added a teleportation barrier to the space where the Qizi was,” the staff responsible for setting up the arena explained.

“But this barrier only prevents entry, not exit. Who could have expected that he suddenly mastered Qizi Summoning?”

“Not to mention that the ‘Qizi Summoning’ requires a mental power of at least 40 to activate, and emotionally, it also requires at least four stars. But they clearly only achieved this yesterday…”

Everyone looked at each other. With mental strength far surpassing their peers and rapidly growing emotional connections, how much potential did these two have? What surprises could they bring?

“Since it was an oversight in the rules, the candidates shouldn’t bear the consequences,” Fu Yao’s voice timely interjected. “They didn’t break any rules and achieved the required outcome; thus, this result should be considered valid.”

“The yellow light represents a vote by the invigilation committee. As a member of the committee, I vote to pass.” After saying this, he pressed the green button in front of him.

The second person pondered for a moment. “Even with four stars, their emotional value is still too low. It doesn’t meet the consistent requirements of our Joint Combat Department. I’m sorry, but I object.” He then pressed the red button.

“These two examinees are exceptional talents. It would be such a pity to simply eliminate them like this. I think we should give them a chance to be manually selected. I vote to pass.”

“Talent is indeed rare, but what our department values the most is mutual understanding and collaboration. It’s hard to accept such personal strength. I’m sorry.”

Two for, two against. All eyes then turned to the last instructor. He cautiously glanced at Fu Yao. The inscrutable smile on Fu Yao’s face made him feel like his personal safety was threatened.

“Um.” He wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Emotions can be nurtured, right? They were at three stars yesterday and reached four today. Given this rate, maybe by the start of school, they will be inseparable… right? So, I vote to pass.”

As the last person pressed the green button, the indicator on the field changed from yellow to green. A cheer erupted, and Ling Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

The wait just now was even more nerve-wracking than the actual examination. Only when he finally relaxed did he realize that his palms were sweaty, unsure if it was his own, Ying Feng’s, or both.

No, how could a T-Rex sweat? He immediately dismissed the thought. Before he could think further, he was dragged by Ying Feng out of the arena. His mind, in semi-shutdown mode, didn’t notice anything unusual.

Red Head and Bing Can were waiting for them at the exit.

“Congratulations.” Bing Can smiled. “Your performance was fantastic—absolutely commendable.”

“Ling Xiao’s confession was even more touching. I was almost moved to tears,” Red Head teasingly added.

Ling Xiao was stunned. “Wh-What confession?”

“The words you said at the end, about being proud and all. Didn’t I talk about it just yesterday?”

Ling Xiao was flabbergasted. “You could hear what I said on the intercom?”

“Not just hear, but also see.” Red Head pointed to the overhead circular screen that provided a 360-degree view. Everything was crystal clear.

“No way!” Ling Xiao’s face flushed. He had thought that only Ying Feng, on the other end of the earpiece, could hear him. Why didn’t anyone tell him it was broadcast live?! It was only then that Ling Xiao realized that their hands were still held together.

He quickly let go. “It wasn’t a confession. Don’t get it wrong!”

He turned away, eager to escape the public’s gaze, regretting that he hadn’t just told Ying Feng privately yesterday.

“You’re all over the place,” Red Head yelled after him.

Bing Can tried not to laugh. “He’s going the wrong way. That leads to the examination hall.”

Ying Feng reached out and pulled Ling Xiao, who was already a dozen meters away, back to where they started. Confused by the sudden shift, his hand was grabbed once again.

Ling Xiao: “…”

This is all a dream, just a dream.

He hypnotized himself and chose a different direction to leave.

“Hey, that’s the direction to the invigilators’ seats,” Bing Can said amusedly.

Ling Xiao, who hadn’t walked more than a few steps, was once again pulled back.

“Have you had enough fun?” Ling Xiao couldn’t contain himself anymore. “Doesn’t that damn skill consume any mental power?”

“It’s okay.” The implication was that if Ling Xiao tried to leave again, he would be pulled back.

Ling Xiao gave up struggling and stood still.

Red Head looked envious. “My Qizhu will learn it soon, then we’ll play this game too.”

Reluctantly, Ling Xiao was led to the audience seats. However, not long after the next exam started, he had completely forgotten the embarrassing incident.

The examinees were really strong. Each showcased their skills against the enemies in the maze. When one punched a monster, immobilizing it, the entire arena went wild.

“Ah, they’re that two-star couple from yesterday!” Ling Xiao recognized.

The Qizhu’s door-opening success rate was even worse than Ying Feng’s. Still, relying on this technique, he successfully opened the correct door just in time, while his Qizi didn’t even see the shadow of a monster.

As for the Bing Can pair, with a 90% success rate and nine auxiliary stars, he easily reached Red Head’s room. When they found him, Red Head was still complaining about not having enough fun. The pair’s total score still led the rest.

The exams of the last day finally ended. Before leaving, Ling Xiao met Fu Yao.

“I was called for a mission and only returned yesterday. I didn’t abandon you on purpose,” Fu Yao explained briefly.

Ling Xiao was touched just to be remembered by someone he admired. He couldn’t blame him.

“The disposition rights were handed over to General Long Yin. I know there’s something involved that I shouldn’t be aware of, so I won’t ask difficult questions. Long Yin is a war enthusiast, but he’s fiercely loyal to the nation. I’m not worried he’ll misuse you, but I fear his actions might be harmful to you. I can’t intervene, so be careful.”

“We will,” Ying Feng said seriously.

“That’s good.” He turned to Ling Xiao. “I watched both days of the exams. You both performed excellently, not disappointing me. I hope to see you here next term.”

After the exams, Ling Xiao reported to the instructor who cared for them. Though the final results weren’t out yet, everyone was hopeful about the admissions.

“You should also say goodbye to Dr. Yao. You are her special students. I’m sure she’d like to see you one last time before you leave.”

“Say goodbye? Is Dr. Yao leaving? Where to?”

The principal smiled. “You’ll know when you find her.”

When the two arrived at the infirmary, Yao Tai was indeed packing up.

“Dr. Yao, where are you going?” Ling Xiao asked anxiously as soon as he entered.

Seeing him, Yao Tai couldn’t resist reaching out to pat his head, forgetting that he was no longer a fledgling and that he had grown taller than her.

Ling Xiao also noticed that Yao Tai was in a particularly good mood today; her face lit up with more smiles than usual.

“I’m going back to the base.”

“The base?”

“Yes. I didn’t tell you before, but I was originally stationed at the base. Due to certain circumstances, I became the school doctor, but I’ve always wanted to return.”

“When you were your age, I aspired to become a researcher at the base. Later, when my dream came true, I didn’t cherish it. Zhi Shang has been trying to transfer me back all these years. Now that it’s been approved, I’ll certainly cherish the opportunity.”

“That’s great!” The joy brought by this news was as exhilarating as their passing the military academy exams.

Yao Tai couldn’t hide her happiness, but what she didn’t mention was that today was a day of double joy. After an investigation by the military, Zhi Shang was finally cleared of suspicion, and he formally resumed his duties this morning.

However, they couldn’t tell the two involved to avoid making them feel guilty.

“I’ve always felt guilty…” Ling Xiao suddenly said, causing Yao Tai to pause.

“I stole something from the base, which must have troubled the doctor, right? Maybe he even got implicated because of me. I’ve been wanting to apologize to him.”

Yao Tai sighed with a smile. “He doesn’t blame you. On the contrary, he felt guilty about… that incident.”

When old issues were brought up, the mood became slightly somber.

After a pause, Yao Tai rallied, “So when the military investigated, he vigorously defended you two, hoping to compensate for his debt to your friend. Since both of you feel the same way, why not just let bygones be bygones? No one needs to feel guilty anymore.”

“That’s easier said than done.” Ling Xiao scratched his head. “Dr. Yao, are you leaving soon? We have a vehicle. How about we drop you off? I want to apologize to him in person.”

Yao Tai thought for a moment. “Alright, but when did you buy a car?”

……

“Chief, you’re back?”

“Welcome back.”

Zhi Shang greeted those who greeted him along the way. After three weeks of suspension and investigation, he missed his job deeply.

But today, other than resuming his position, there was something else that made him even happier.

“By the way, Chief, when is Assistant Yao arriving? We’re planning a small welcome party for her.”

Zhi Shang replied with a smile, “She should be here soon. I just received her message that she’s on her way. Oh, her students are bringing her.”

“Then we’ll get ready quickly.”

“Thank you.”

As Zhi Shang moved forward, he suddenly spotted a suspicious figure lurking around a corner in broad daylight.

Curiously, he followed but lost sight of the person, who seemed to have entered an old storage room.

This room was filled with discarded files. Why would anyone come here?

He had a bad feeling and approached quietly. Suddenly, voices emerged from inside. One sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

“Yes, he’s back. The military will soon continue their investigations, and the situation isn’t in our favor.”

Another voice responded, one he’d never forget—his former mentor, the man he owed so much to, yet also the one who presented him with a painful dilemma between loyalty and justice.

Is Teacher still alive? Is he still in contact with the base? A sense of unease rose in Zhi Shang’s heart.

“Weren’t you told to erase all traces?” That was definitely Tai Yin’s voice.

“At first, you only asked them to copy the research data. Who knew they would take more, causing such a commotion and nearly exposing me? The military won’t let this go without a scapegoat.”

Shocked, Zhi Shang covered his mouth. There really was a mole in the base! The students were used! He must inform the military immediately!

As he took a step back, a sharp pain pierced through him from behind, and a cold sensation overtook his body.

The biggest vulnerability of the Tianxiu people: a strike to the heart was lethal.

The storage room door opened, and someone walked out as if expecting this to happen.

“It’s you…”

Struggling, Zhi Shang turned around and finally recognized the other attacker. He had been outmaneuvered by these two, and it was too late.

“You…”

“I’m sorry. There must be a scapegoat. If you had chosen to help your teacher back then, it wouldn’t have come to this.”

Zhi Shang’s spirit began to gather, preparing for reincarnation. With the last of his strength, he shook his head. “No, even if I had another chance, I wouldn’t…”

His eyes slowly closed, and his consciousness, now separated from his body, drifted towards someone he deeply cared about.

“A’Yao…”

Whispering the name of the love of his life, his body fell and eventually vanished into the unseen air.

Inside the aircraft, while listening to Ling Xiao’s cheerful conversation, Yao Tai, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly clutched her chest in pain, her face turning deathly pale. This sudden change alarmed the others.

“Dr. Yao, what’s wrong?”

Struggling, Yao Tai looked up with tears streaming down her face.

“Zhi Shang…”


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Qizi Ch59

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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


Chapter 59

The vision of the two went dark simultaneously. Ling Xiao, in confusion, took off his goggles. Opening the door, he was met with the face of Ying Feng. Instinctively, he touched his neck.

Ying Feng slowed down as he saw Ling Xiao’s action, and then both of them turned around without a word and headed towards the exit.

The instructors in the examination seats shook their heads in disappointment. “If it was five or six stars, it would have been acceptable, but three stars… How did they end up together?”

“To encounter candidates who both have top-level skills and yet have such emotional compatibility is no joke.”

“I’m actually surprised they even reached three stars.”

The instructors turned to see that Fu Yao was speaking. “Commander, what do you mean? They didn’t even have three stars before? If they didn’t have the connection, why form a pact?”

Fu Yao left them with a mysterious smile and got up from the examination seat.

Halfway out, Ying Feng noticed the long-absent Fu Yao signaling him from a distance.

Ling Xiao came to the spectator seats alone. Those seated had already completed the second round of the examination and witnessed the recent match. As he approached, there were looks of admiration, sympathy, and even some gloating.

“Why join the Joint Combat Department exam if you can’t get along?” Someone deliberately raised his voice to provoke him. “Don’t think you can enter the Joint Combat Department just because you can fight. The pairs here have strong bonds; you can’t just pull someone in to be your partner for the exam.”

There was soft laughter around. Ling Xiao, as if he heard nothing, found an inconspicuous spot and sat down.

On the field, the match between Red Head and Bing Can was underway. Ling Xiao watched as they appeared in the center of the field. Bing Can took the initiative to attack, but Red Head didn’t retaliate, dodging his moves instead. After three moves, Bing Can stopped. Nine stars remained, and a green light shone brightly. The entire match took less than 30 seconds.

The two soon appeared in the spectator seats. Seeing Ling Xiao, Red Head headed straight for him.

“That second exam was too easy! Was it just for handing out points?” he exclaimed as he sat next to Ling Xiao. “You guys must’ve passed too, right?”

Seeing Ling Xiao remain silent, the smile on Red Head’s face slowly turned awkward. “…You didn’t fail, did you?”

“Why didn’t you fight back?” Ling Xiao suddenly asked.

“What?”

“What did you see when you entered?”

“Oh.” Red Head understood. “As soon as I put on the goggles, I saw a radiant angel, so handsome. In this world, the only person that handsome is my Qizhu. Of course, I didn’t want to hit him.”

“Did you see the same?” he asked Bing Can.

“At first, I saw an orangutan, looking silly. Then, I realized it was him.”

Red Head cried out, “Why did I see an angel when I looked at you, but you saw a silly orangutan when you looked at me? That’s not fair!”

Their conversation went underground, while Ling Xiao remained silent. A new match started. Ying Feng and Fu Yao watched from a distance.

“Now do you understand the point of the exam? The image you see during the match is an unconscious reflection of how you view your partner. The stronger the bond, the gentler and less threatening the opponent appears. Even possibly appearing as their actual self. But if the bond isn’t strong enough, you’ll see a hostile enemy. There are ten stars in total, and seven is the passing mark. Considering your performance, I should be grateful you didn’t strangle your Qizi to death, shouldn’t I?”

Ying Feng had a sullen face while remaining silent.

“There are three rounds in the exam. Failing two means disqualification. Although you have one more chance, let me remind you: the first round tests individual ability; the second, the bond between the pair; and the third is a combination of the first two. Given your three stars, it’s doubtful you’ll make it to the end. You refused my recommendation and insisted on taking the test. Don’t disappoint me.”

Fu Yao patted Ying Feng’s shoulder. “You’ve grown taller. I really want to beat you up again.”

Ying Feng: “…”

The audience let out a sigh of regret. The game ended, and another red light lit up on the field.

When Fu Yao saw the result, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “It seems you aren’t the lowest scorers in this round of examination. Surprisingly, someone even broke your record. I’m truly curious about the candidates this year.”

Two stars were shining brightly, and one instructor angrily threw down the scoreboard. It was a pair full of potential, but their bond value was so low that it outraged everyone.

“What’s with this year’s candidates? Did they just randomly pull someone from the side of the road to form a bond? The youth of today are too irresponsible towards their lifelong decisions!”

“Go on.” Fu Yao pushed him a bit and turned back to the invigilation seat, while Ying Feng found Ling Xiao in the audience.

When Bing Can saw Ying Feng approaching with an unpleasant expression, he tactfully moved aside. He also pulled Red Head, who was sitting next to Ling Xiao, to give them some space to talk.

Ling Xiao had noticed Ying Feng coming, but he didn’t know what to say. Both were at fault for the failure of the second exam; no one needed to apologize. This made it harder to find the words.

The two sat in silence for a while until Ying Feng finally spoke.

“In your heart, what am I to you?”

Ling Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. In his heart, what was Ying Feng?

A classmate? A comrade? A partnership of mutual benefits?

But which classmates or comrades sleep in the same bed and have a relationship?

Lovers? Spouses? Intimate partners?

Yet, which lovers have a bond value of just three stars?

Then, is it the Qizhu? Why did he feel reluctant when he thought of this term?

Hesitating, Ling Xiao started, “In my heart, you are…”

“A monkey.”

Ling Xiao: “Huh?”

“Major Fu Yao said that during the exam, what one sees of the other is a reflection of their inner self. You’re a monkey in my heart. What am I in yours?”

Ling Xiao: “…”

Ying Feng turned his head. “Why won’t you answer?”

Ling Xiao stiffly turned his head away. “I’m feeling complicated right now. Can you let me be alone for a while?”

The second examination concluded. Only six pairs had a red light, two of which failed both rounds and unfortunately left the exam grounds. Bing Can and Red Head were currently ranked first, while Ying Feng and Ling Xiao dropped to the middle ranks.

The main event of the entrance examination would be on the third day. It was a holiday, and many senior students came to watch. Having passed the two exams, the Bing Can and Red Head couple appeared very relaxed. In contrast, Ling Xiao and Ying Feng were tense. If they failed this round, they’d either have to retake exams for other departments or wait another six months.

This time, Ling Xiao and Ying Feng were taken to different locations. Ling Xiao was placed in a confined circular arena, while Ying Feng faced two doors.

“The content of the third examination is to find your Qizi within a stipulated time. Only one of these two doors can be opened. Opening one might bring you closer to your Qizi, or it might take you farther away.”

“This is your tool—a pair of walkie-talkie earpieces and three hint stars. When you’re unsure which door to choose, you can use a star to make the right decision. By the way, the number of stars each candidate receives is determined by the results of the second examination.”

Ying Feng frowned.

“A friendly reminder. Mind communication won’t help. Even if you locate your Qizi, you can’t find the correct path, so there’s no need to waste mental energy.”

“I know you can teleport, but unfortunately, you can’t teleport into his space, which might save you some trouble.”

The examiner glanced at the time. “You have ten minutes. Good luck.”

As the timer began counting down, Ling Xiao’s figure gradually appeared on a circular screen above. Alone in a closed space, he looked around cautiously.

Ying Feng put on the earpiece. “Can you hear me?”

Ling Xiao immediately pressed his right ear. “I can hear you.”

“Good.” Without the need for mental communication, they could conserve energy. Ying Feng swiftly chose and randomly pushed one of the two doors open.

“How likely do you think they are to pass?” On the proctor’s seat, Fu Yao asked his Qizi.

“Although I hope they will succeed… those so-called two doors are merely a diversion. The odds of choosing the correct path are linked to the emotional bond of the two. No matter which door he opens, the chance is only 30%. It’s far too low. With such odds, the possibility of them successfully reaching the end is almost negligible.”

“I think the same,” Fu Yao said, glancing at the scoreboard, which only the proctors could see. Each illuminated red light indicated that Ying Feng was getting farther and farther from Ling Xiao’s true position. “It would take a miracle for them to pass this test.”

Each time Ying Feng opened a door, a monster would leap out. The first time he encountered an opponent, he struck without thinking, and the enemy was far weaker than he’d imagined, defeated in a single move. But as he wondered about the unexpected weakness of this third test’s opponents, the monster he’d just slain appeared in the space where Ling Xiao was.

Ling Xiao had also heard the rules of the test, but he couldn’t see Ying Feng and was unaware of what was happening outside his room. His uncertainty made him even more anxious than Ying Feng. When an enemy appeared in front of him, he didn’t hesitate to strike.

Ying Feng watched as Ling Xiao took down his opponent, only for the same monster to respawn beside him. He finally understood: the enemies wouldn’t just vanish; they’d switch between the two of them. And as time went on, the enemies might become stronger. His suspicion was confirmed when, upon opening the fifth door, he was surrounded by five foes. Progress was blocked, and as he defeated them one by one, the newly spawned creatures were significantly stronger than before.

“Stall them.”

“What?” Ling Xiao didn’t understand.

“Try to dodge the enemies. Don’t defeat them just yet.”

Though Ling Xiao was unsure of the reason, he did as Ying Feng instructed. But the confined space and increasing number of enemies meant he couldn’t simply lead them in circles like in the jungle.

“There are too many of them. Are you sure I shouldn’t take them down?”

Ying Feng, also dealing with several enemies, looked up, realizing they had no choice but to act. He threw out a star, and a door in front of him disappeared.

“Now, you can take them down.”

With each enemy Ling Xiao defeated, another would appear beside Ying Feng. Ying Feng tried to move as quickly as possible, hoping to leave the enemies behind. But their numbers grew rapidly, and he was almost completely hindered. From the headphones, Ling Xiao tried to gather more information, and the sounds from Ying Feng’s side seemed off. Combining that with Ying Feng’s previous comments, he reached a terrifying conclusion.

“The monsters I’m defeating… they’re appearing by you, aren’t they?”

Ying Feng never lied. When Ling Xiao received no answer, he knew he was right.

“I get it now. You take them down.”

Even though Ying Feng gave no response, Ling Xiao emphasized, “If they hold you back, we’ll surely lose. You focus on advancing; I’ll buy us time.”

Ying Feng had no choice; Ling Xiao was right. To pass the test, they had only this one strategy.

He turned and wiped out all obstacles, charging forward without any attachments, glancing occasionally. More and more monsters surrounded Ling Xiao. No matter how skilled he was, he couldn’t fully defend himself without retaliating, and he got hit from time to time.

After a long corridor, Ying Feng hesitated for the first time in front of another door. It was rare for him to face such a difficult choice. He looked up just in time to see two monsters hitting Ling Xiao from both front and back. Hearing Ling Xiao’s suppressed grunt of pain from the headphones, Ying Feng’s fury rose to its peak. Seeing his Qizi getting hurt was bad enough, but feeling powerless to help was even worse.

With gritted teeth, he pulled open the door, running full speed with monsters in pursuit. Each passing second meant more enemies behind him and more panting sounds from Ling Xiao. Now, Ling Xiao hardly had any strength left, almost getting beaten without resistance.

“Take them down!” Ying Feng shouted.

Ling Xiao weakly shook his head, a motion Ying Feng caught on the screen.

“Hurry up!” he ordered again.

Ling Xiao retreated to a corner, with enemies gradually closing in from three directions. He looked up at the countdown timer; there was no time left.

The joint combat system… Indeed, they failed on the very concept of “joint”.

Ying Feng opened another door, and many proctors stood up in shock. This individual, with only a 30% chance of selecting the correct door, had made it to the very last challenge. Yet, the final stage was the most difficult. Ying Feng found himself in the middle of a circular plaza, surrounded by twelve doors. Ling Xiao was behind one of them. But if he chose incorrectly, he’d be sent back to the beginning.

The countdown ticked to 30 seconds, 29, 28…

All the spectators held their breath for them. Fu Yao stood up, his gaze fixed on the man looking around at the center of the screen: Ying Feng, this is your last chance. You cannot make a mistake!

“Go with your gut. Don’t hesitate!” Even the instructor couldn’t help shouting.

“Ying Feng, what are you thinking? There’s no time left!” Red Head exclaimed in urgency.

Bing Can clenched his fist secretly. “You can definitely do this!”

“Come on!” Cries of tension erupted from the crowd.

The encirclement around the two men tightened. Ling Xiao, drained of energy, leaned against the wall. Ying Feng was also gradually being surrounded, with enemies approaching from all sides.

“Ying Feng.”

Ling Xiao’s voice suddenly echoed in the headphones.

“I know we’re about to be stopped here, unable to pass the exam. I’m sorry, but I don’t regret it.”

“Because yesterday’s exam showed me an even stronger you.”

20, 19, 18…

Ying Feng slowly spun in place, monsters glaring at him from all sides, ready to pounce. Time was running out. Even if he knew which door was the right one, he couldn’t break through the encirclement and reach it in time.

Ling Xiao’s voice continued in the headphones.

“But it’s also your strength that makes others think you don’t need any cheers. In fact, no matter how much honor I gain, I yearn for applause. If no one cheers for me, even the joy of victory feels diminished.”

“Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, and maybe you don’t need it, but even if it’s a day late, I still want to say it.”

10, 9, 8, 7, 6…

Ling Xiao looked up to the sky.

“You’re truly amazing,” he said.

“I’m very proud.”

From the encirclement, Ying Feng let out a roar. In front of Ling Xiao, a hand emerged.

Ling Xiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. What?!

That hand pierced through the mist, gripping his hand firmly and pulled him forcefully into the white fog. The same hand that once dragged him from the pinnacle to the abyss, from light to darkness, today pulled him from the brink of despair to its side.

As the day and night switched places and the heavens shifted, when Ling Xiao came to his senses, everything around him had disappeared.

The owner of that hand was right beside him.


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