Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Lin Fu stepped out in formal attire, catching Cheng Jiu's glance.

He immediately raised his hand, blocking Lin Fu's path from the front, half-carrying him back into the room, "We're not going out on business, no need to dress like you're going to capture someone."

Lin Fu clutched the coat rack by the door, "Let go."

Cheng Jiu released him but kept his hand on Lin Fu's shoulder, "General, how about we schedule a meeting instead?"

With a twinkle in his eye, he casually suggested a long-planned itinerary, "There's a famous film district in Kanti Zone. I heard there's a new movie premiering, starring Qi Mingxi. We could support him by contributing to the box office. Then we can go see the house... The two zones aren't far apart."

Lin Fu: "Heh."

He reached around to Cheng Jiu's back; the two were so close that Cheng Jiu's muscles tensed unexpectedly.

He watched Lin Fu's face drawing closer and closer, feeling utterly pathetic. After all the hugging and kissing, how could he still get nervous just from him leaning in a bit?

That being said, Lin Fu had never taken the initiative to get close to him...

His eyes flickered with uncertainty.

Lin Fu's hand looped around from behind him, flung open the door, and shoved him out with force, "Just change your clothes, will you? Why all the fuss?"

Cheng Jiu, left standing outside the door: "..."

His racing heart gradually calmed down.

Lin Fu moved swiftly, reopening the door after just a minute.

Gone was the youth in military uniform.

He was dressed in a light blue T-shirt and white casual pants, his hair tousled from pulling on the shirt, loosely resting on his brow.

Without the military attire weighing him down, it was hard to even associate him with the term "youth."

The sense of adolescence was overwhelming.

He looked lethargic, with pale lips and a wan complexion. His already slender frame seemed even more fragile, as if a gust of wind could knock him over.

He looked like he could be easily bullied.

Cheng Jiu seldom saw Lin Fu in formal wear. He stared at Lin Fu's disheveled hair, quickly raising his hand to vigorously ruffle it, "You child."

Lin Fu swatted his arm away, his pale lips barely moving, "Let's go."

Jing Cun did not accompany them.

Lin Fu's situation was special, and besides, if it was all an act, it needed to be convincingly chaotic.

If he were truly ill, having too many people around would only arouse suspicion; the council would harbor doubts.

It was better to arrange for more people in secret.

After descending the stairs, Cheng Jiu produced a black baseball cap from nowhere and placed it atop Lin Fu's head.

The two made their way to the Film and TV City in the Kandi district.

Shortly after alighting from the vehicle, they detected their tail.

Pretending to be oblivious, the pair casually strolled through the streets.

Cheng Jiu initially intended to wrap his arm around Lin Fu's waist, but midway, he settled for draping it over his shoulder as they approached the ticket booth to purchase tickets.

Their showtime was set to commence in seventeen minutes, affording them just enough time to pick up some snacks and trinkets.

The Film and TV City was bustling with people, most of whom were guides arriving in groups, while sentinels were a rare sight.

In the distance, a billboard bore the slogan: "The beverage that best suits a guide's aura—what are you waiting for?"

At the storefront, numerous young guides were crowded together, waiting to pay.

Cheng Jiu gently nudged Lin Fu's back and suggested, "Want to try that?"

Lin Fu, disinterested in such novelties, nonchalantly agreed, following Cheng Jiu's lead.

Cheng Jiu's eyes danced over the dazzling array of beverages, ultimately deciding on two cups of the "bestselling" couple set. He cheerfully made the payment through his light brain and awaited their order.

Towering above the crowd, the pair stood out among the group of guides, quickly drawing attention.

Both were dressed in casual attire, and at first glance, nobody associated them with the commanders frequently seen in the news, seeing them as merely lookalikes.

After all, with such a vast interstellar population, finding individuals who bear an exact resemblance isn't uncommon, let alone those who simply look similar.

What truly captivated the onlookers was the couple's striking appearance.

"They must be a couple... That sentinel is so handsome, and to accompany a guide to the Film and TV City, how gentle," one observer remarked.

"That little guide is so dashing and cool, yet adorable. He bears such a resemblance to Marshal Lin!" another whispered.

"Marshal Lin has a much fiercer aura than the sentinel, but I didn't expect to encounter a milk-cool version today. Let's stealthily snap a photo to post online; they'll never suspect!"

Lin Fu wordlessly lowered the brim of his cap, bowing his head.

Leaning in close to his face, Cheng Jiu teased in a hushed tone, "Milk-cool? That's a new one to me."

In response, Lin Fu delivered a playful elbow jab to Cheng Jiu.

Having collected their beverages, they swiftly departed from the place rife with gossip.

They blended into the crowd as they entered the venue.

Their purchased seats were situated in the middle row, towards the inner side.

In the dim light, everyone huddled close, whispering amongst themselves.

Lin Fu, with his arms crossed, nestled into his seat, having taken a sip from his cup without moving again.

It was overly sweet.

He still harbored a dislike for the flavors produced by interstellar food stores.

With a "ding-dong," the movie commenced.

After a colossal logo flashed by, the first frame zoomed in on Qi Mingxi’s enlarged face.

The ultra-clear lens captured every pore and hair on his face without compromising Qi Mingxi's aesthetics in the slightest.

He was naturally photogenic, stunning from every angle.

Lin Fu watched intently.

Quiet gasps of admiration for Qi Mingxi's beauty echoed throughout the cinema.

Observing Lin Fu's engrossment, Cheng Jiu beside him inquired, "Do you find Qi Mingxi attractive?"

Lin Fu’s gaze remained fixed on the screen: "Attractive."

Perhaps feeling that this simple word was insufficient to convey his feelings, he rephrased, "Very attractive. It’s my first time seeing someone who looks like this... not resembling you at all."

Were it not for their undeniable status as cousins.

Cheng Jiu’s appearance was undeniably appealing; otherwise, he wouldn't have garnered countless admirers from young guides due to a few glimpses during a military academy anniversary celebration, even before his public debut.

But his features resembled the Cheng family’s—a sharp countenance that, when unsmiling, appeared ready for confrontation, yet when graced with a smile, seemed wickedly playful, exuding an air of flirtatious frivolity.

Cheng Jiu was well aware of his looks and knew how to leverage his appearance to create certain impressions on others.

Lin Fu mused that if Cheng Jiu resembled Qi Mingxi, his smile wouldn't seem so unreliable.

Suddenly, his hand was enveloped in warmth as Cheng Jiu took hold of it.

He frowned instinctively, "Let go."

Cheng Jiu, with a twisted smile, said, "Qi Mingxi likes you quite a bit." To be precise, Qi Mingxi was rather fond of Lin Fu.

Lin Fu was puzzled.

After a moment of thought, Cheng Jiu lowered his voice and added, "Qi Mingxi is gay."

Lin Fu: "…?"

“！！？？”

It took a moment for Lin Fu’s mind to catch up.

In his world, there were only men and women; for him, a man being with another man simply meant they were gay.

He hadn't realized that this concept existed in this world, revealing his ignorance.

He briefly expressed surprise, then nodded, "Oh, I see."

Cheng Jiu tilted his head, using the flickering light from the screen to read Lin Fu's expression.

He seemed quite nonchalant, his shock dissipating quickly as if he had just learned Qi Mingxi's preference for lace socks - a trivial matter.

A small pebble tossed into the pond, creating just a few ripples before settling into tranquility.

Cheng Jiu lowered his head, his chest quivering as he tried hard not to laugh out loud in the cinema.

Sitting up straight, he leaned towards Lin Fu and whispered, "I was kidding, why would you believe that?"

Lin Fu responded with a nonchalant "Oh," curling his lips.

He pushed Cheng Jiu's face away, "Move aside, and stop talking."

Cheng Jiu held his hand, straightened his posture, and focused on the big screen. In his palm lay a hand slightly smaller and slimmer than his own, cool to the touch. Both pretended to forget the matter.

The movie progressed swiftly, reaching its climax where the protagonist played by Qi Mingxi parted from his lover. The sentinel went to the front lines to fight the insectoid species, while the guide protagonist followed, busy soothing the agitated minds of sentinels and caring for the wounded returning from the battlefield.

Until one day, among the wounded he tended to, there appeared a sentinel he knew well.

His eyes brimmed with tears, reddening instantly, yet they clung to his eyelashes, refusing to fall.

The sentinel was grievously injured and, having not received timely psychological intervention, descended into madness. Tragically demoted, he suffered a severe psychological blow, was pulled back from the frontlines for treatment in the inner star sectors, and subsequently discharged.

Yet the guide remained at the frontline, dutifully fulfilling his daily tasks.

What was once a match made in heaven now stood worlds apart; a chasm had formed between the two.

Distance, status, and soul.

……

Cheng Jiu never told Lin Fu that Qi Mingxi had indeed once harbored affection for a guide.

It wasn't a matter of orientation; he simply cherished that person.

They met in guide school, where the other, a commoner with an exceptional rating, had been exceptionally admitted.

The other was cheerful, aspirational, and vivacious, quickly bonding with Qi Mingxi. They became close friends, and within just a year, Qi Mingxi even brought him home to visit, introducing him to the well-guarded Cheng Jiu.

They were of the same age, shared interests, and jointly aspired to serve as frontline guides.

To realize this dream, they even secretly trained in mech piloting, hoping to survive the battlefield and avoid mishaps.

They had considered every possibility.

But what they hadn't anticipated was that before even reaching the battlefield, they would lose one of them in a training mishap amidst an insectoid chaos.

Cheng Jiu could never forget the sight of Qi Mingxi, drenched in blood, holding the lifeless body of a guide his own age, as he disembarked from the starship in a daze.

Since then, Qi Mingxi never again spoke of going to the battlefield.

And this was despite the intense opposition from the Qi family that had never swayed his resolve before.

Staring at the flickering screen, Cheng Jiu gripped Lin Fu’s hand even tighter.

……

The two emerged from the cinema, Lin Fu's beverage barely touched.

Cheng Jiu reached out to take it: "If you don't fancy it, I'll help you finish it."

Lin Fu was indifferent to the offer.

They then proceeded to the manor recently acquired by Cheng Jiu.

Lin Fu turned his head, gazing in one direction amidst the traffic: "The followers are multiplying."

Cheng Jiu: "Hmm, since they won't make a move... why not make it more convincing? Like you fainting?"

Lin Fu lifted his eyelids to glance at him, raising an eyebrow: "And then you carry me?"

Cheng Jiu's smile was sly: "Who else would you prefer to carry you?"

Lin Fu rested his chin on the tip of his left index finger: "That's not a bad idea, actually. We could even take the opportunity to nab a few."

Cheng Jiu: "Easily said."

He signaled their hidden guards to act discreetly, capturing several groups while intentionally letting others slip through, ensuring the news of Lin Fu's supposed physical collapse reached the intended ears.

The two alighted from the car one after another, Lin Fu gripping the brim of his hat to conceal most of his face, revealing only a pale chin.

Glancing back, their hidden protectors sprang into action. The sound of combat erupted nearby, along with the disturbance of psychic energy in the air.

This slight stimulation in the psychic energy caused Lin Fu's mental sea to ripple, genuinely discomforting him.

Bowing his head, he couldn't suppress a cough.

Cheng Jiu's smile instantly turned to concern, removing Lin Fu's hand from his mouth and spotting a strand of red blood in his palm.

Clutching his hand, Lin Fu staggered forward a few steps. As they entered the manor gates and their figures were obscured by vegetation, Lin Fu appeared to falter, caught in the prepared embrace of Cheng Jiu, who half-supported, half-carried him inside.

Once they had walked far enough, out of everyone's sight, Lin Fu stood straight, walking effortlessly.

Wiping the blood from his hand, he slipped it into his pocket and continued forward, murmuring, "What remains is how to convince them at the banquet of my physical breakdown... It's serendipity. If it weren't for Albert and the others returning, I wouldn't have found someone to aid me in this."

Cheng Jiu chuckled: "Just call me 'brother', and what can't I help you with?"

Lin Fu tugged at the corner of his mouth, surveying the manor's landscape with a pleased mood, nonchalantly humoring Cheng Jiu: "Sure, brother."

Cheng Jiu's spirits were immediately lifted by Lin Fu's nonchalant "brother."

Mimicking Lin Fu, he too slipped his hands into his pockets, reminiscing about the pinky ring Lin Fu wore. In the cinema, he had held it in his palm, the metal cool and soothing.

*

The royal family had received the news they desired, though it came at the cost of some manpower.

Yet, given the value of the intelligence acquired, this loss was deemed highly worthwhile.

The Fourth Army now relied entirely on Lin Fu; by striking down Lin Fu alone, all their problems would be resolved.

The banquet was only a few days away, and Lin Fu's attendance was required.

There were only two possible scenarios by then.

First, Lin Fu could make a strenuous appearance.

At that moment, he would be at his most vulnerable. No matter how many guards surrounded him or even if Cheng Jiu accompanied him for protection, nothing could compare to Lin Fu's own strength at its peak. If they could occupy these external forces, Lin Fu himself would be as fragile as glass.

This would present the royal family with the best opportunity to eliminate this formidable foe.

In just a few short years, he had managed to seize control of the Fourth Army. The thought of further development was enough to send shivers down the royal spine.

They must snuff out this threat before Lin Fu fully came into his own.

If Lin Fu failed to make an appearance, that would lead to the second scenario.

Unable to even feign attendance would likely mean that his condition was indeed critical.

Aware of the royal family's intent to kill him, he might prefer to stay in a safe place, out of their reach.

To smoothly take over the command of the Fourth Army, he couldn't possibly refuse to attend the banquet. Fortunately, his most trusted Albert and a few others were in the imperial capital, capable of attending on his behalf, leaving no room for criticism.

If it were the second scenario, there would be no need to rush.

...Perhaps it was time to make contact with the Lin family.

It was high time to ascertain what kind of medicine they had employed.

As the banquet drew near, the crown prince finally returned from his military duties.

His first act upon returning to the imperial palace was to seek an audience with the emperor.

The attendants withdrew, leaving father and son alone.

Simon Constans retrieved a thumb-sized, transparent bottle from his storage device. Within its thick glass walls swirled a slender filament of pale red liquid.

Within the somber red, hints of green seemed to intermingle.

Handing the bottle to the emperor, he said, “This is the sample. It's the same kind of drug found in Lin Fu's system... The original potion he consumed can't be replicated, and the only backup was reportedly destroyed. This is the closest new compound in terms of dosage and composition.”

His eyes, fixated on the small glass vial, betrayed a neurotic excitement: “His unique condition and survival suggest his rank might be even higher than we initially estimated. Those fools in the council are too willing to believe he's merely an S-class.”

The emperor's demeanor was more subdued, devoid of Simon Constans's fervor. His gaze probed the dark red liquid thoughtfully, “If not S-class, then what rank? He's showing signs of a mental breakdown, though it could be a ruse for our benefit. Do you understand the likelihood of this concoction inducing such a state?”

Simon Constans replied, “I didn't administer the original toxin, but my mentor claimed its dosage was ten times that of this sample. Even a fully awakened S+ guide could be killed by it. His mental power clashing with the poison could indeed trigger a breakdown... However, there's another possibility.”

“His rank was initially suppressed by the toxin, preventing full awakening. His current breakdown might be a side effect of a secondary awakening.”

The emperor's grip on the small vial tightened suddenly: “How can we discern which is true?”

Simon Constans shook his head: “There's no way to tell. But Your Majesty can make good use of this sample.”

“If Your Majesty wishes to uncover more, perhaps bringing a member of the Lin family to the palace could yield some useful information.”

The emperor nodded in agreement.

He offered the crown prince a tender smile, as if the person who had raged at him not long ago wasn't him.

And the crown prince was full of confidence.

He had once promised to satisfy the emperor, and this was his answer.

Now, the royal family was no longer his greatest reliance.

Not only was he the heir to the throne, but he would also be the empire's absolute ruler in the days to come.

His eyes narrowed as he recalled Lin Fu's reputation on the Star Network.

With a single statement to refute rumors, the populace believed him.

Once he expressed his disdain for the royal family, the public began to disparage the royals as unworthy of him.

With merely a word or a gesture, he could command the highest adulation from the masses.

Yet, Simon Constans intended to transform all the accolades belonging to Lin Fu into stepping stones for himself, solidifying the foundation of the royal family's dominion over the empire.

In time, they would realize who truly was out of reach.

He was confident of his eventual victory.

……

The banquet arrived in quiet anticipation.

Prominent families arrived upon invitation.

This time, unusually, the guest list included the surname of a third-rate noble family.

Dressed in their finest, Mr. and Mrs. Lin Si-Xing presented their invitation at the entrance of the banquet hall and were escorted inside by a welcoming maid.

Miniature cameras installed in the towering dome captured everything, streaming it live on the Star Network for all to see.

Becoming aware of the cameras overhead, the couple grew more reserved in their movements.

Looking around, they were surrounded by individuals they could never hope to meet in their ordinary lives.

This banquet presented a splendid opportunity to forge new connections; any embarrassment could ruin everything.

Holding a wine glass to her lips, Luo Qirui spoke in hushed tones, her hand discreetly covering her mouth, "Tonight's banquet is in honor of Lin Fu. If we happen to run into him, you must insist he calls you 'father.'"

Lin Si-Xing, too, spoke in a lowered voice to avoid his lips being caught on camera, "I insist? I'm more worried about not even getting near him. Don't forget he's been promoted to Major General; plenty are eager to get close to him."

Luo Qirui sneered, "But you are his biological father."

Without any hesitation, Lin Si-Xing retorted, "With you here, whether I'm his biological or stepfather is debatable. Let's not forget how his mother died."

Luo Qirui froze.

Guests continued to arrive at the banquet in succession.

Just before the commencement, the final group of stragglers finally arrived.

Mr. and Mrs. Lin looked towards the entrance to see a line of nearly ten people, dressed in military uniforms, one in navy blue and the other in deep green, the two colors merging together.