Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Lin Fu bolted upright from the bed: "Who is it?"

The residents in this area were all guides, except for him and a few teachers.

Those teachers had no reason to be referred to as "intruders."

The system hesitated for two seconds, puzzled: [Unable to detect.]

Lin Fu's frown deepened.

The fact that the system couldn't detect the intruder only underscored the danger they posed.

Grasping the heat weapon hidden under his bed, he waited for the moment the intruder entered to deliver a lethal blow.

The person at the door chuckled softly, as if they could see his movements through the door, a teasing tone in their laughter.

Listening to that laughter, Lin Fu's mind raced, and he found it eerily familiar.

Familiar?

Lin Fu approached the door, swung it open, and aimed the wooden gun at Cheng Jiu's forehead: "Breaking into a private residence in the dead of night, does Major General Cheng have an explanation?"

Cheng Jiu leaned against the door frame, nonchalantly facing the deadly weapon, his smile unflinching: "Will an explanation spare my life?"

Lin Fu raised an eyebrow: "That depends. If it's reasonable, I might let you go."

Cheng Jiu's smile widened, feigning deep thought: "I reckon our relationship is pretty good, no need for conditions, right?"

Lin Fu discarded the wooden gun and walked barefoot into the living room: "Out with it, what are you really here for?"

Cheng Jiu caught the discarded wooden gun, examined it with curiosity, skillfully dismantled and then reassembled it, and placed it securely on the table.

Looking up, he saw Lin Fu already seated on the sofa, cradling a cup of water, with another placed at his own spot.

"Thanks." He picked up the glass and took a sip.

His gaze inadvertently swept over Lin Fu's bare feet, and he subconsciously made a mental note.

So pale, yet far too thin.

Lin Fu, oblivious to his scrutiny, sipped his water and casually swiped through the day's battle videos on his light computer, waiting for Cheng Jiu's explanation.

"What mech are you planning to use tomorrow?"

Lin Fu gave him a puzzled look: "The school's communal mechs. What else?"

Cheng Jiu tipped his chin up: "Aren't you wearing my storage device? Why not use the mech inside it?"

Only then did Lin Fu remember: "I forgot."

Tapping his finger on the table, Cheng Jiu asked, "You've never used it?"

Lin Fu: "No."

"Use it tomorrow."

Lin Fu didn't even need to think before refusing: "No need."

Cheng Jiu's eyebrows arched: "Give me a reason?"

Lin Fu set down his cup: "This mech is almost identical to yours; anyone with eyes could recognize it. I don't want to get involved in your affairs anymore."

Indeed, it was a valid reason, even something Cheng Jiu couldn't refute.

He observed Lin Fu nestled into the sofa, his lean and clear-cut figure nonchalantly calculating all the pros and cons with such precision, much like a fox.

"It's late. In their eyes, you've already been marked as part of my camp. Whether you use the mech or not isn't that significant. Not using it will just increase the chances of you losing tomorrow by fifty percent."

Lin Fu was taken aback.

Perhaps it was the persistent throbbing in his head that slowed his cognitive reactions, but he found himself half a beat behind.

The sight before him made Cheng Jiu itch to take action.

He felt an urge to pinch that face.

Lin Fu regained his senses, frowning, "That's not what you promised at the beginning."

Cheng Jiu shrugged, seemingly nonchalant, "What I promised was to keep anyone from bothering you because of me. I didn't agree to let you wash away the mark of my faction. You're giving me too much credit, junior."

Lin Fu rubbed his temples, his emotions indescribable for a moment.

But he found Cheng Jiu exceedingly irksome.

He replied, with restrained patience, "I understand now, thank you, General Cheng, for making a special trip to inform me."

Noticing his weary expression, Cheng Jiu leaned in closer.

Startled, Lin Fu reflexively raised his hand to strike, delivering a "smack" right across Cheng Jiu's face, while a gentle hand covered his forehead.

The room fell into a silence so profound that one could hear a pin drop.

Lin Fu: "..."

Cheng Jiu, in disbelief, looked down, locking eyes with Lin Fu, "Junior, I just wanted to check your temperature. There's a saying, 'Don't hit the face'."

As he spoke, his hand remained on Lin Fu's forehead, which went unnoticed.

Embarrassment flooded through him.

"...Sorry."

Cheng Jiu didn't seem to take offense, Lin Fu's slap hadn't been forceful.

However, it was rare to see Lin Fu at a disadvantage. Cheng Jiu couldn't resist teasing him, "What a waste."

He said with a smile, "Hitting me is no big deal, but what if you hit someone else in the future?"

"Actually, it doesn't matter. As long as you ask for my help, I can smooth things over no matter who you hit. Just call me 'big brother'."

Lin Fu: "..." His fists were truly itching now.

He asked in a light, floating tone, "General, are you familiar with the crime of hooliganism?"

Cheng Jiu: "..."

After making some idle conversation, the new patrol robots were due for their rounds.

Lingering any longer, there was no guarantee they wouldn't be discovered.

Taking advantage of Lin Fu's distraction, Cheng Jiu cheerfully ruffled his hair, "See you tomorrow~"

Lin Fu watched him climb out the window, expressionlessly smoothing his tousled hair.

He returned the cup to its place and headed to the bedroom, asking, "How come he wasn't detected just now?"

System: [The reason is currently unclear. The preliminary assumption is that his level is too high.]

Too high a level?

Lin Fu was pensive.

The highest known level currently is S+, with a tendency to evolve further, yet there's no definite possibility of a higher level.

Could Cheng Jiu be of that higher level?

*

There was a two-day buffer period between the semifinals and the finals, giving the contestants time to recuperate.

The judging criteria for the finals were simpler and more direct.

The victor would be the one with the shortest time taken.

The rules were still based on drawing lots.

Among the finalists were numerous A-level Sentinels. The best scenario for Lin Fu would be facing an A-level Sentinel, significantly increasing his chances of victory.

Bad luck would have him face an S-level Sentinel.

The most likely outcome was encountering an A+ level Sentinel. Half of the finalists were of the A+ level, as reaching S level was, after all, rare.

Before drawing lots, his teammates analyzed the possible outcomes with Lin Fu.

Lin Fu felt their analysis was eighty percent likely to be useless.

Determining the victor based on the shortest time favored those with a wider margin of strength.

By now, every military academy probably viewed whoever faced him as the de facto champion.

No matter which academy profited, Lin Fu’s opponent was unlikely to be below an S-level.

And sure enough.

The draw results were announced; Lin Fu’s opponent was an S-level Sentinel.

From the Royal Military Academy, Lin Shi, an S-level Sentinel, would face Lin Fu, a Guide from the Artemis Military Academy.

A low murmur of frustrated curses rose from the Artemis team.

This was an expected outcome, even one that Lin Fu and Principal Carl had most hoped for.

It made the subsequent plans easier to manage.

However, the choice of person was beyond Lin Fu's expectation.

Lin Fu stared at that name.

So, a member of the Lin family was at the Royal Military Academy.

He had scanned the members of the Royal Academy during the preliminaries, but without a face to match, he hadn't recognized his own cousin.

The eldest son of his uncle, Lin Siji.

The other party noticed his gaze, turned his head, and gave him a warm smile, "Lin Fu, it's been a long time."

Lin Fu returned the smile out of courtesy, "Indeed, it has been quite some time."

Lin Shi spoke gently, "Don't worry, I won't be too hard on you. I'll try to end the battle as quickly as possible."

Lin Fu expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, cousin."

Tang Qian, following his gaze and realizing he was Lin Fu’s cousin, had his expression darken even further.

He had no fondness for any member of the Lin family.

Tang Qian was livid.

He was typically reserved and restrained, rarely showing such intense emotional fluctuations.

Now, returning to his seat, he ground his teeth and fumed, "They're utterly shameless, despicable! And yet they dare to address you with such familiar tones!"

His unusual outburst drew the gaze of his teammates. Lin Fu patted his back, "No need to waste emotions on trash."

Tang Qian, face flushed with anger, sat down, his eyes searching for Lin Shi’s figure.

If possible, he’d desperately wish to take Lin Fu’s place in the battle against Lin Shi.

Lin Fu caressed the ring on his little finger, using his psychic power to examine the mecha within.

It was jet-black, matching the standard color of the Artemis mechas, but the texture was vastly different.

And so was its grade.

Mechas lacked the strict grading system akin to physical attributes; most could be piloted by anyone.

But the quality significantly affected combat capabilities.

That’s why Albert had insisted Lin Fu customize his mecha at his family’s factory, not to flaunt his lineage, but to ensure its quality.

Cheng Jiu’s mecha was almost identical to this one, the only difference being this mecha lacked the empire’s crest.

Cheng Jiu’s mecha bore the empire's insignia and the Ninth Legion’s emblem, stamped in dark gold over the heart.

This one was pitch-black, devoid of any other color.

Apt for a showdown with someone from the Lin family.

*

With most of Artemis out of the finals and Milton Su lacking worthy opponents, the event proceeded swiftly, tinged with his evident lack of enthusiasm.

If no one could break his time record, this festival's championship would fall into his hands.

“When is Lin Fu’s turn? He’s the only one I’m interested in watching in the finals.”

"So nervous, when will it be our kiddo's turn? Go on, little one, it's okay even if you lose, you're already an amazing guide!!"

"Just thinking about the beauty getting damaged in the fight, my heart aches yet flutters [covers face]!"

"My dreamy guide is about to enter the arena, I'm thrilled!"

Cheng Jiu opened the light brain and, a moment later, closed it impatiently.

"What are these people thinking? Not a single one can identify the crux of the issue."

"As expected, public opinion needs steering."

He propped his chin, tilting his head to look at the seat of Artemis.

"Blocked entirely, I can only see a sea of heads, unable to distinguish anyone."

"Forget it."

"—The contestant about to enter, please leave your seat, Royal Military Academy's Lin Shi, to battle, Artemis Military School's Lin Fu—"

"The announcement echoed overhead."

"Everyone's restlessness subsided, their attention converging on the field."

"Lin Fu, naturally thin, appeared even more slender in his black uniform, accentuating his slight frame visually."

"Standing in the arena, he resembled a slender, upright bamboo, poised yet seemingly fragile enough to break in the wind."

"It was hard not to be swayed by his presence."

"Lin Shi’s gaze swept over him, not expecting that after leaving the Lin family, Lin Fu could grow up like this."

"It was truly unexpected."

"His smile betrayed no flaws, as warm and gentle as an elder brother to a younger one: 'Xiao Fu, after the match, just listen to Second Uncle obediently, and come back to the Lin family with us.'"

"Lin Fu connected to the storage device, releasing the mecha, while saying: 'We’ll talk about that when the time comes.'"

"As the words fell, he obtained control of the mecha, entered the cockpit, and connected his psychic power."

"Suddenly, the arena fell silent."

Lin Shi looked up at the pitch-black mecha, his expression suddenly turning ugly.

"Damn it, the little bastard played me!"

The audience exploded in an instant!

"Holy cow!! Why is it different from before!? Wasn’t it a ragged and ugly mecha yesterday?"

"So cool!!!"

"Oh my God! With this mecha, why didn’t he use it earlier? He wouldn’t have had to take such a brutal beating!"

"This mecha... for some reason, it looks familiar..."

"So cool!! I want a custom one too!! I’m going for it!"

The emperor’s smiling face momentarily froze.

He asked gently, "Major General Cheng, doesn’t this mecha resemble yours?"

Leaning back in his chair, Cheng Jiu looked at the pitch-black mecha driven by Lin Fu, his mood cheerful, "Yes, Your Majesty, it's the partner model to mine, cool isn’t it? If the crown prince wants, I can give him a 20% discount and have one made for him. How about that?"

After a pause, the emperor responded, "Is that so? Very well, I’ll trouble you at that time."

Cheng Jiu replied, "I dare not refuse."

But with his offer of a "20% discount", there wasn’t a hint of reluctance.

*

This was Lin Fu's first connection with this mecha.

It felt unfamiliar.

Like getting acquainted with an entirely new body.

What delighted him was that controlling this mecha felt entirely different from the previous ones.

One was like a frail old man, the other like a vigorous young man.

The sensation of piloting a mecha for the first time resurfaced; that rush of feeling omnipotent, as if a mere step could achieve anything, swept through his mind, stirring up the persistent, dull throbbing that never ceased.

His eyes shimmered with a bright light, the usual rational calculations now thoroughly suppressed by the boiling intent to battle.

Drawing a weapon from the mecha, it was a Tang sword.

Coincidentally, the Tang sword was his weapon of choice in his previous life before he met his end.

A smile spread across his face.

Lin Shi didn’t grant him enough time to familiarize himself with the mecha. Thrusters at full power, he instantly arrived in front of Lin Fu, the staff in his hand cleaving towards the mecha's head while simultaneously unleashing his psychic energy, assaulting the pilot within.

Lin Fu, wielding the Tang sword, slashed upward, not dodging in the slightest, behaving like a madman.

The psychic force that infiltrated the mecha couldn’t sever his connection; instead, it only heightened his restlessness!

Pain exploded in his head.

And one of the primary culprits responsible for this agony was right in front of him, radiating murderous intent.

Bloodshot veins crept into Lin Fu's eyes. Every function of the mecha was pushed to its limit under his control. He knocked over Lin Shi with his Tang sword and struck down towards his cockpit!

Lin Shi, caught off guard by his explosive strength, braced against the blade with his arm, leveraging the physical resilience of an S-class sentinel. He swept his staff at Lin Fu's knees, forcing him to kneel.

With the force of the strike thwarted, Lin Shi grew ferocious, a long blade springing from the staff and plunging towards Lin Fu's cockpit.

The blade pierced halfway before Lin Fu erupted again, rolling with him on the ground, the blade retracting from his chest.

He pinned down Lin Shi, his fists raining down brutally on the mecha’s head, leaving Lin Shi dazed after several blows.

The psychic force invading the mecha, intending to sever the connection, transformed into steel needles of attack, piercing the pilot's brain.

Lin Fu's movements briefly faltered.

Lin Shi caught a momentary breath, hurling him off before picking up his weapon and stabbing again into the cockpit.

The blade’s unique sharpness was formidable, and even the mecha's exterior could hardly resist.

However, halfway through the penetration, the blade suddenly couldn't advance a fraction further.

The psychic energy he had infused into Lin Fu's mecha was utterly shattered. A surge of foreign psychic force, furious and filled with a chilling murderous intent, raced along the blade in an instant, severing not only his connection with the mecha but also threatening to invade his very mind!

In a moment of panic, his spirit manifested, blocking the attack and returning to his psychic sea, barely hanging on to life.

The two entangled mechas froze as if a pause button had been pressed, their movements abruptly halted, maintaining their positions in a precarious balance.

——Psychic link between the two pilots detected as severed, the match is concluded——

——Repeat, the match is concluded——

This bizarre state of affairs prompted many spectators to rise from their seats in agitation.

Especially since a steel blade was embedded deep into Lin Fu's mecha cockpit!

Members from Artemis rushed onto the field in an instant, but without the necessary clearance, they couldn’t open Lin Fu’s mecha to extract him.

As they prepared to forcibly dismantle it, Cheng Jiu arrived at the plaza. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he opened the cockpit and leaped in to carry out the unconscious person.

The pungent stench of blood permeated the air as the person in Cheng Jiu's arms was covered in a shocking crimson, nearly obscuring their original appearance.

His expression grave, he retracted the mecha and swiftly exited the scene with the injured person in tow.

Artemis’s members followed suit, and the crowd dispersed in a flurry.

The Royal Military Academy’s personnel remained, observing their hasty retreat and proceeding to violently dismantle Lin Shi’s cockpit door.

Carl could no longer remain seated. The battle with an S-class sentinel was a calculated risk he and Lin Fu had anticipated, but Lin Fu’s promise certainly didn't involve being carried out drenched in blood!

The crowd eventually cleared out completely.

Milton Su was indisputably the individual champion.

Artemis secured the team championship.

The live-streaming audience, upon seeing the results, found their victory somewhat tasteless.

“We won, but I’m more concerned about how Lin Fu is doing.”

“Me too… so much blood…”

“So, who actually won this match?”

"A draw."

"Isn't this the first time a guide has managed a draw with an S-class sentinel?"

"I have a question, who is the man who managed to open Lin Fu's cockpit? He's been sitting in the chairman's seat and nobody seems to be explaining who he is!"

"Hoping for Lin Fu's safety!"

"Have they gone mad fighting each other? Isn't that opponent Lin Fu's cousin? Why is he relentlessly pushing him to the brink?!"

"I'm going in, going to ask around about Lin Fu's condition!"

*

Cheng Jiu didn't bring anyone back to the Artemis Military Academy, and went straight to the hospital instead.

Along the way, he had Jing Cun bring his own doctor over.

Blood was oozing incessantly from Lin Fu's mouth and nose, as if he was about to vomit out his internal organs.

Cheng Jiu scanned the mecha with his psychic power and found residues of two kinds of psychic energies. Without guessing, he knew that Lin Shi had used a psychic attack on him.

His face was expressionless, the usual smile that soaked his light brown, amber-like eyes was now completely dissipated, making one's heart palpitate.

Lin Fu's head rested against his chest, blood gushed out in torrents, soaking into the fabric of his upper garment and touching the skin.

The warmth of the blood gave him a burning illusion.

Accompanying him to the hospital were Tang Qian and Yan Yan. Karl was a step behind and sent a message that he would arrive shortly.

Tang Qian's eyes reddened as he watched Lin Fu vomit blood, one mouthful after another. He almost wanted to cover his mouth, fearing that if all the blood was spat out, he might die from blood loss.

Out of respect for Cheng Jiu, he dared not act.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Lin Fu's blood-drenched appearance startled many, hastening them to make way.

Cheng Jiu made his way to the top floor, where Jing Cun had already arrived ahead of time with his team, taking over and rushing Lin Fu into the emergency room.

Seeing Lin Fu being taken in, Cheng Jiu leaned against the wall outside the door, suddenly feeling somewhat breathless.

He loosened his collar, looking down at his blood-stained clothes. Wanting to take off his coat, he unbuttoned halfway but upon seeing the more conspicuous red on his white shirt, he let go irritably and buttoned it up again.

Jing Cun needed to report the gathered intelligence to Cheng Jiu, but hesitated due to the presence of outsiders.

Cheng Jiu glanced up, eyeing Yan Yan and Tang Qian.

Yan Yan immediately pulled Tang Qian to walk downstairs: "We'll go to the restroom first."

Jing Cun said, "Young Master Lin's biological mother was the most talented S-class guide of the Luo family, courted by countless suitors before her marriage to the Lin family. However, as the Luo family faced decline, they made exorbitant demands, which nobody agreed to, except the Lin family who saw an opportunity and struck a deal. Half a year after Lady Lin married into the Lin family, she fell pregnant. All her prenatal check-ups were normal, but she suddenly bled abnormally during labor and died from complications."

In the interstellar era, death from childbirth complications was an incredibly absurd event.

It was as improbable as dying from a minor cut on a finger due to an infection, an occurrence so unlikely it was pitiful.

Yet, such an improbable event had befallen Lin Fu.

His expression unchanged, he said, "Continue."

Jing Cun's expression held a trace of indignation: "Three months after Lady Lin's death, the Luo family sent another daughter to the Lin family, to become Young Master Lin's stepmother. Under her care, Young Master Lin grew increasingly frail."

"In the routine prenatal test reports before his birth, Young Master Lin's potential was assessed to be S+. He was also deemed healthy at birth. However, when he was six years old, rumors began to spread about his unstable psychic power, and soon signs of decline emerged."

Cheng Jiu sat down on the chair, carelessly wiping the blood on his hands onto his clothes, only to smear it further. Giving up, he spoke with a chilling voice: "So, you're saying he wasn't born devoid of psychic power. He had it until he was six?"