After nightfall, the dormitory building fell completely silent because noise was prohibited at night. During this time, students were usually resting in their dormitories, and there were seldom any signs of activity.
Having finished his academic duties, Yusto, as usual, used the excuse of performing bed checks to meet up with Lu Yuan. Strictly speaking, these rendezvous could be considered clandestine meetings, yet he carried them out with a calm demeanor. Perhaps it was because familiarity breeds indifference, and after numerous repetitions, he no longer felt any particular emotions.
“Your Excellency, disciplinary inspection.”
At that moment, Lu Yuan was lying on the sofa, engrossed in a book. Upon hearing the familiar knock on the door, he promptly set the book aside, got up, and went to open it. As expected, it was Yusto.
“Come in.”
Lu Yuan habitually shifted to make room, and after Yusto entered, he closed the door behind him, asking, “Did you eat the things I sent you this afternoon?”
Yusto, who had spent the entire afternoon in classes and was already looking fatigued, nonchalantly took off his military jacket and tossed it onto a chair. He then sprawled onto the bed, lazily nestled among the pillows, and with a nasal hum, replied, “I did.”
However, half of it had been snatched away by Yulejia.
It was evident that Yusto was a bit unhappy. Of course, it couldn’t be ruled out that it was due to his imminent mission in the Solitiam Forest and the reluctance to part ways with Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan decided to join him on the bed, propping his head up with his hand as he turned to look at Yusto. In his mind, he was playing some kind of little game, “Is it delicious?”
Yusto, taking the opportunity, rolled into Lu Yuan’s embrace, absentmindedly fiddling with the buttons on his shirt. Weariness filled his eyes and features, yet there was a seductive touch to it. “Hmm, delicious.”
This response struck a chord with Lu Yuan. Using his fingertips, he brushed against Yusto’s clean earlobe, feeling its soft and slightly cool texture. Lowering his gaze, he casually asked, “So, having eaten my food, how do you plan to thank me?”
“?”
Upon hearing those words, Yusto paused and subconsciously raised his head to look at Lu Yuan. However, he observed a serious expression on Lu Yuan’s face, indicating that this wasn’t a joke. Arching an eyebrow, Yusto had no idea that there might be a trap waiting for him ahead. He responded, “Well, I’ve always known there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll consider it.”
As the Seventh Prince of the empire, he had the confidence to utter such words and the assurance to fulfill Lu Yuan’s desires within reason.
However, Lu Yuan suddenly asked, “Are you going to the Solitiam Forest for a mission next month?”
Yusto, taken aback, asked, “How did you know?”
Lu Yuan replied, “Take me with you.”
Yusto instinctively refused, “That’s impossible!”
The Solitiam Forest was full of dangers, and even an entire elite force of A-level and above could face complete annihilation. There was no way he could bring Lu Yuan into such perilous territory!
Yusto immediately sat up from the bed with a loud exclamation, clearly perplexed about how Lu Yuan could have heard this news. “Who told you I’m going on a mission to the Solitiam Forest?”
Lu Yuan had known that getting Yusto to agree wouldn’t be easy. He casually sat up from the bed, not revealing the involvement of Instructor Horik in leaking information. “I guessed. This morning, all the military cadets went for a medical examination at the Health Building. They said they were selecting female cadets of A-level and above for the Originium Purge Operation. Since you’re S-level, you’re bound to go.”
Yusto snorted, “Should I praise your intelligence?”
However, Lu Yuan persisted, “I’ve lived there for five days before, and I’m familiar with the terrain. You can bring me along; I might come in handy.”
Yusto, upon hearing this, hesitated, realizing that he had indeed brought Lu Yuan back from the Solitiam Forest. Lu Yuan had no origin place, seemingly falling from the sky, leaving no traces of his past.
Yusto unconsciously furrowed his brow, “It’s impossible. This mission is extremely dangerous. Not to mention your familiarity with the terrain, even if you’re a relative of the Zerg God, it’s not up for negotiation!”
After stating his position, Yusto promptly sat on a sofa at a distance, maintaining a certain space to avoid Lu Yuan getting too close and to prevent himself from giving in.
Lu Yuan, with a mixture of curiosity and concern for Yusto, wanted to accompany him into the forest. He got up and walked over to the sofa, sitting beside him, and asked, “So, this mission is really dangerous?”
Yusto noticed that Lu Yuan was intentionally getting close, glanced at him, but didn’t pull away. “Certainly dangerous. Going in is like risking your life.”
Lu Yuan stared at him. “Does that include you?”
Yusto hesitated at the question, realizing he inadvertently trapped himself. He denied it vehemently, “Of course not. I’m different from you. I have extensive combat experience; there won’t be any unexpected incidents.”
Lu Yuan knew he was just being stubborn, “But what if? What if something happens to you inside?”
Yusto furrowed his brow, stood up, and turned away from Lu Yuan. He felt some resistance to the term “what if”. “There’s no ‘what if’. It’s just clearing the Originium, and I’ll be back in a few days. I won’t bring you with me.”
He made up his mind that no matter how persistently Lu Yuan tried to convince him, he wouldn’t give in. Even if Lu Yuan got angry, it wouldn’t change his decision. Clearing the Originium was a significant matter, and Yusto wouldn’t allow any confusion at such a critical time.
Unexpectedly, Lu Yuan didn’t persist much further. He simply confirmed, “You really won’t take me with you?”
Yusto’s response was straightforward, “I won’t.”
Lu Yuan asked again, “Really won’t take me?”
Yusto affirmed, “Absolutely not.”
“Okay.”
Surprisingly, Lu Yuan just gave up like that. He lay back on the sofa, picked up the book he had been reading, and continued. The room fell silent, with only the rustling sound of turning pages breaking the stillness.
Yusto stood in place, waiting patiently for a continuation, but after a while, he heard nothing. Frowning, he turned around to find Lu Yuan casually lying on the sofa, engrossed in his book. It seemed like he might have given up on the idea of joining the mission.
Observing this, Yusto took a tentative step forward. Perhaps fearing that Lu Yuan might be upset, he eventually walked over, settled down beside him, and took the book from his hands. “Are you angry?”
Lu Yuan glanced at him unconsciously, “No, not at all.”
Yusto was skeptical; Lu Yuan was not known for being particularly fond of learning. He glanced at the book in Lu Yuan’s hands and noticed the title, “The Development History of Zerg Tribes.” He couldn’t help but express his surprise, “Why are you reading this?”
Lu Yuan answered truthfully, “I want to understand the Originium’s pollution.”
Yusto immediately realized that Lu Yuan hadn’t given up on his idea of going to the forest. Silently, he rolled the book in his hands into a makeshift tube, as if reminiscing about something from the distant past. After a moment, he spoke, “Actually, the Originium wasn’t called that before. We used to refer to them as Energy Stones.”
Lu Yuan asked, “Energy Stones? Why?”
Yusto explained, “Many years ago, the Zerg tribe’s technology was quite backward. Because the planet’s resources were scarce at the time, we found it challenging to develop weapons or other products. Later, someone accidentally discovered that the core of the Energy Stones contained a new type of energy. After processing and transforming it, we could create various powerful weapons, such as photon guns and photon bullets used in starship battles.”
Lu Yuan asked instinctively, “But doesn’t it have pollution?”
Yusto nodded, “Yes, but our ancestors didn’t realize it at the time. Instead, they manufactured weapons on a large scale, triggering wars and territorial disputes. It wasn’t until a few years later that they suddenly discovered wherever there was the smell of gunpowder, the ground became barren. The energy extracted from the Originium caused irreversible pollution to the planting soil. This is also why Salaranfa has few plants. The unpolluted land is too scarce, and we barely have enough for growing food, let alone planting flowers and grass.”
Yusto’s tone took on a self-deprecating note, “So, even though we later found new energy sources to replace weapon production, we couldn’t undo the damage. They say it’s the Zerg God’s punishment for not cherishing our homeland.”
Lu Yuan unconsciously sat up from the sofa, “But the Solitiam Forest is full of trees, and those plants don’t seem to be affected by pollution. They can grow normally?”
Yusto chuckled at his question, “Those aren’t plants; they are dangerous predators. Even an ordinary-looking tree is likely to undergo mutations at night and swallow you whole.”
After finishing his explanation, Yusto flipped to the last page of the book, focusing on a topographical map. He pointed, “That area is a forbidden zone, beyond the explanation of science.”
So…
“I won’t bring you with me.”
That was the crucial statement.
Lu Yuan: “…”
Lu Yuan simply sat up, moved closer to Yusto, and gently nudged him with his arm. “But I came from that forest. I really want to go back and see it.”
Yusto remained unmoved, thinking that if Lu Yuan just wanted to see, there were simpler ways: “I can take pictures and videos for you when I go. Live streaming might be a bit difficult; there might not be a signal deep inside the forest.”
However, Lu Yuan insisted, “No, I have to go back in person.”
Yusto couldn’t understand why Lu Yuan was so determined to visit such a dangerous place. “Is there a particular reason you must go? You appeared in that forest for no apparent reason, and there’s a possibility you might disappear just as inexplicably. What if you encounter such a situation…”
Yusto paused, furrowed his brow, and looked directly at Lu Yuan. He whispered, “If you encounter such a situation, what should I do?”
Lu Yuan didn’t expect Yusto to be concerned about that. “Yusto, something like that will never happen.”
Lu Yuan had already figured out that the trigger for his crossing was the Blood Moon. Given that the next appearance of the Blood Moon for the Zerg Race was at least more than a hundred years away, there was no way he would suddenly disappear under any circumstances.
However, Yusto countered, “What do you have to guarantee that?”
Lu Yuan hesitated upon hearing that. He couldn’t reveal that he came from Earth, so he simply said, “In any case, I won’t suddenly disappear. If necessary, you can keep an eye on me once we’re inside the forest.”
Yusto raised an eyebrow, thinking Lu Yuan might reveal some secret, but it turned out to be this. “I’m sorry, but I’m accustomed to addressing problems at their source. The forest is full of dangers, and I can’t keep an eye on you all the time.”
Moreover, even if he agreed, the Zerg Emperor wouldn’t. A male zerg with 100% pure blood suddenly disappearing from the empire would undoubtedly cause a significant disturbance. Lu Yuan realized that even if Yusto agreed, the emperor wouldn’t allow it.
It was the first time Lu Yuan noticed how stubborn Yusto could be. He slumped into the sofa, staring at Yusto’s profile for a while. He thought that it was difficult to manipulate Yusto when he was clear-headed. It seemed that Yusto was easiest to talk to when he was influenced by pheromones…
Hmm?
Pheromones?
Lu Yuan had a feeling that he had discovered some remarkable weakness. His eyebrows involuntarily lifted. After a moment of contemplation, he subtly released pheromones. The air seemed to carry an invisible thread that silently climbed onto Yusto’s shoulders, then slid along the collar of his shirt.
“Uh…”
Yusto, who had been sitting comfortably on the sofa, suddenly let out a low, muffled groan. Unconsciously furrowing his brow, he felt an astonishing itch somewhere on his body, making it difficult for him to sit still.
Since last night, after the incident on the bed, Lu Yuan inexplicably grasped various uses of pheromones. He realized that it was more than just a simple scent; it could be manipulated in terms of range and shape with intent. Today, he decided to experiment a bit with Yusto.
The scent of pheromones in the air became increasingly intense…
Yusto evidently sensed something was amiss. Unable to control his body, he slumped down, half-kneeling on the floor after sliding off the sofa. His breathing became rapid, and his face flushed. He looked at Lu Yuan with embarrassment, “Quickly retract the pheromones. Even if you do this, I won’t agree to take you to the forest…”
Lu Yuan remained composed, sitting leisurely on the sofa, casually flipping through the book. Observing how long Yusto could hold out, he shrugged in a seemingly helpless manner, “I want to retract the pheromones too, but I can’t control them. Yusto, you know, I just learned how to release them yesterday.”
Yusto felt like biting him to death.
Lu Yuan was already quite proficient in handling such situations. The scent of pheromones in the air was more than ten times stronger than yesterday, providing a massive stimulus for the female zergs.
Yusto struggled to get up from the floor, seemingly attempting to do something, but in the end, he couldn’t control himself and fell back. Curling up on the soft carpet, he emitted a low, almost mournful whimper from his throat, clearly in extreme discomfort.
“Lu Yuan…”
Yusto’s voice carried a hint of sobbing. He gazed at the male zerg sitting quietly on the sofa, reaching out to grasp the cuff of his pants. His body couldn’t help but gently rub against Lu Yuan, as if yearning for something. “I’m in pain…”
It was genuinely uncomfortable, as if there were millions of ants crawling all over his body.
Yusto’s eyes were red, tears welling up. “Help me, Lu Yuan, help me!”
Lu Yuan saw that the timing was about right. He closed the book and set it aside. Seeing Yusto grasping the cuff of his pants, he reached out to separate the clenched fingers one by one. Slowly, he interlaced their fingers, holding them tightly together. With an emotionless tone, he asked, “Yusto, how do you want me to help you?”
Yusto tightly bit his lip, unable to speak. He felt a sense of shame, hesitating to open up. The exposed skin on his neck took on a rosy hue, as if someone had delicately applied a layer of rouge.
Male zergs always had a natural dominance over female zergs, and it was now showcased to the fullest.
Lu Yuan was determined to go to the forest, not only to explore its secrets but also for Yusto’s safety. Everyone knew the mission was extremely perilous. If something went wrong with Yusto right under his nose, wouldn’t he spend the rest of his life in solitude?
All the high-ranking officers who were aware of the situation understood deep down that if Lu Yuan led the way into the forest, the chances of success would be much higher. However, they were not willing to take the gamble, including the Zerg Emperor, and even General Saphir. They dared not risk the only male zerg in the empire with a blood purity of 100%.
Seeing Yusto remaining silent, Lu Yuan wasn’t in a hurry. He waited patiently for a few minutes before lowering his gaze to look at him. He noticed that Yusto’s pants were wet, and he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, thinking that he must have quite the endurance.
“Yusto, you really know how to endure.”
Whether Lu Yuan was praising or mocking him was unclear, and his words carried a slightly bitter undertone. However, considering the possibility of this female zerg enduring any unexpected issues, Lu Yuan sighed and resignedly lifted Yusto from the ground.
As soon as Yusto touched Lu Yuan, it was as if a cat had found catnip. He tightly clung to Lu Yuan’s neck, urgently seeking his lips and tongue. There was a choked sound from his throat, expressing a hint of grievance, “I feel uncomfortable…”
Lu Yuan couldn’t help but think, ‘What grievance are you talking about?’ He was the one who felt a bit wronged, having unexpectedly treated this zerg to a meal, and now he was adding his body to the deal. What a surprising turn of events.
Lu Yuan was furious and threw Yusto onto the bed, intending to settle the score. He lowered his voice, sneering in Yusto’s ear, “Feeling uncomfortable? Good.”
Even when not using tough words, there was no lack of dominance.
Yusto didn’t believe Lu Yuan would really go all out. He rubbed his neck and hoarsely asked, “Are you willing?”
Lu Yuan snorted, “What is there for me to be unwilling?”
Let’s see who is more skilled.
Of course, Yusto was no match for Lu Yuan. He couldn’t outsmart him, wasn’t as shameless, and fell far behind in the art of exasperation.
In the late hours of the night, Yusto was exhausted. He lay satisfied in Lu Yuan’s arms, with no energy left to even move his fingers. Just as he was about to fall asleep, his eyes were suddenly dazzled by a light. He struggled to open his eyes and saw Lu Yuan sitting at the bedside, playing with a terminal.
Usually in situations like these, it’s the male who is exhausted while the female remains spirited. However, in Lu Yuan’s case, it was the complete opposite.
Yusto, with half-closed eyes and a lack of energy, asked, “What are you looking at?”
As he spoke, his voice sounded hoarse and broken, clearly a result of crying intensely just a while ago.
Lu Yuan responded casually, “Nothing much, just browsing through a matchmaking website.”
Yusto’s initially foggy mind instantly cleared up at the mention of a matchmaking website. He skeptically asked, “Matchmaking website? Why are you looking at a matchmaking website?”
“For matchmaking, of course,” Lu Yuan replied matter-of-factly. “In case you go to the forest and never return, I need to prepare to marry someone else. There are too many females to choose from, and I want to check if there’s a suitable replacement in advance.”
Yusto stared at him coldly and said, “You said you only needed me. Have I died yet? Isn’t it too early for you to start looking for someone else?”
Lu Yuan continued to scroll through the matchmaking website, and suddenly, he was overwhelmed by the abundance of female profiles. He remarked, “When you’re around, of course, I’ll only marry one. But if you’re not here, then who knows.”
Yusto frowned, asking, “What do you mean?”
Lu Yuan casually explained, “If you’re away for a day, I’ll consider one match. If you’re gone for ten days, then I’ll consider ten matches. If you’re gone for half a year… who knows, I might have married countless female consorts by then.”
“?!?!” Yusto was taken aback.
Yusto clenched his fists, seething with resentment. He couldn’t stand Lu Yuan’s nonchalant attitude. He forcefully snatched the terminal from Lu Yuan’s hand and accused, “Are you doing this on purpose?!”
Lu Yuan shook his head, “No, I just can’t stand loneliness.”
Yusto glared at him, feeling a mix of anger and frustration. He had never realized Lu Yuan could be so good at pretending, and now he seemed to have the upper hand. Suppressing his displeasure, Yusto asked, “What do you really want?”
Lu Yuan responded, “Take me to the forest!”
Yusto flatly refused, “No way!”
Lu Yuan smirked, “Then I’ll find other females to have fun with. You don’t care about me, and I won’t care about you. We’ll go our separate ways.”
Yusto furrowed his brows, “With your distinctive hair color, even if I take you to the army, you will be recognized.”
Lu Yuan saw an opportunity and eagerly said, “I can dye my hair. During missions, we all wear helmets, so they won’t recognize me.”
Yusto couldn’t find a reason to reject Lu Yuan. Reluctantly, he turned around, lying down with a frown, still upset. Lu Yuan gently touched his back, “Yusto?”
Ignoring him, Yusto continued to lie there silently.
Lu Yuan persisted, “Yusto?”
No response.
Lu Yuan kept trying, “Yusto?”
Finally, Yusto furrowed his brows and grumbled, “Fine, I’ll take you to the forest. Now go to sleep!”
He secretly resented his lack of determination, easily swayed by Lu Yuan’s casual words. Feeling controlled and frustrated, Yusto couldn’t shake off the sense of oppression. Lu Yuan, surprised to hear Yusto agreeing to go to the forest, raised an eyebrow and approached, asking, “Really?”
Yusto, with closed eyes, ignored him, muttering, “It’s fake. Don’t believe it!”
Seeing Yusto looking annoyed, Lu Yuan found it amusing. He sighed and hugged Yusto from behind, turning his face to give him a kiss. He whispered, “You don’t really think I’m going to arrange a blind date, do you? Did you believe that?”
Yusto coldly snorted, “With so many things you say, how should I know which is true and which is false?”
Lu Yuan replied, “The ones you like to hear are all true.”
Lu Yuan finished speaking and rubbed Yusto’s head vigorously, smoothing the fur of this red-eyed rabbit nestled in his arms. He smiled ambiguously and said, “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be interested in going there.”
Yusto hesitated for a moment, subconsciously looking at Lu Yuan. He saw the serious side profile of the other in the darkness, which appeared remarkably gentle. Lu Yuan’s gaze was earnest, without a trace of pretense.
In that brief moment, Yusto’s anger dissipated, and his heart softened. Without saying a word, he reached out and encircled Lu Yuan’s waist, burrowing back into his embrace like a rabbit returning to its burrow. Frowning, he softly remarked, “The forest is very dangerous.”
Lu Yuan nodded. “I know.”
But he had to go.
Yusto fell into silence for a moment. Suddenly, he lifted his head from Lu Yuan’s embrace, speaking earnestly, “I will protect you.”
He gave Lu Yuan a quick kiss, as if he had made a decision, “I’ll protect you.”
Author’s note:
Yusto: (〃’▽’〃) Yusto is super awesome~ Marrying one is better than marrying ten!
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