Chapter 85

Chapter 85

They were fully prepared; if Lin Fu failed to awaken, Cheng Jiu and Albert would step forward in his stead, making the journey back to the Imperial Star on his behalf.

Some even comforted themselves, thinking that Lin's continued unconsciousness might not be a bad thing.

The journey to the Imperial Capital Star will undoubtedly be fraught with challenges; his awakening now, and the subsequent venture to the capital, is yet another risk.

On the eve of everyone's departure, Lin Fu awoke.

Cheng Jiu and Putian Xiangri were the first to receive this news and the first to rush to the lab.

The laboratory personnel, ecstatic at the doorway, exclaimed, "General, the Major, he... wait! Hey!"

No one had the time to listen to him speak.

He swept in like a gust of wind.

On the snow-white bedsheet, the person who had been asleep for over three months finally awoke.

He lay on the bed, looking up at the light above with a hint of a smile on his lips, listening to the laboratory personnel recount the various events that had occurred over the past three months.

His slightly grown black hair, soft and scattered across his forehead and ears, resembled a cat too weary to raise its paw to scratch.

Suddenly embraced, his pupils dilated in surprise.

The visitor encircled him cautiously in their arms, as if afraid that a bit more force would crush him.

With a warm mist rising from his nape, Cheng Jiu's voice trembled, hoarse as if he hadn't spoken in months: "Lin Fu... you've finally decided to wake up."

Lin Fu blinked, wanting to hug him back, but lacking the strength, he could only smile and say, "Why do you act as if I've spurned you after leading you on?"

Cheng Jiu remained silent but tightened his embrace, enfolding his entire fragile figure in his arms as if it could shatter with a single fold.

Moments later, the embrace was silently released.

The solemnity and depth were hard for Lin Fu to adapt to.

Putian Xiangri also hurried over.

Upon entering and seeing Lin Fu truly awake, a look of joy couldn't help but appear on his face: "Major General, it's good that you're awake!"

Lin Fu, still lacking strength, asked Putian Xiangri to report on the recent situations.

The surrounding experimenters consciously exited, and Cheng Jiu also turned to leave.

Lin Fu called out to him weakly, “Where are you going?” His voice was so feeble that one could hardly hear it without paying close attention.

Cheng Jiu paused, turning back to reply softly, “I’m going to make some arrangements. Tomorrow afternoon, you’ll accompany me to the Imperial Capital Star.”

Lin Fu responded in a daze, “Okay.”

With everyone gone, only Putian Xiangri remained in the lab with him.

Putian Xiangri said, “General Cheng has been by your side for three months. Perhaps your sudden awakening was so surprising that he was overwhelmed with emotion.”

This was his way of explaining Cheng Jiu’s demeanor.

Lin Fu chuckled, “I know.”

Seeing this, Putian Xiangri refrained from further comment and began his report, “Following your orders, the troops stationed on S177 star have been completely withdrawn. Currently, S177 star has been occupied by the Zerg.”

“Half a month ago, the Zerg tide receded, temporarily ending the war. The battle that repelled the Zerg tide was led by the Crown Prince, and his reputation among the people is now extremely high.”

“As you predicted, the royal family and the parliament have turned the tide... An urgent decree has been issued from the Imperial Capital Star, requesting your immediate return with General Cheng for a military debriefing. In addition, a petition has appeared on the Star Network aiming to have you relinquish your command over the Fourth Legion.”

His report was concise, devoid of unnecessary details.

But between astute individuals, there’s no need for redundant explanations. What was said sufficed, and Lin Fu could already imagine how the Crown Prince had risen to prominence during his unconsciousness, and how the public on the Star Network was roused into a fervor.

He instructed, “Stabilize the soldiers' morale and prevent them from being swayed by the discourse on the Star Network. If necessary, temporarily reinstate the network ban,” his eyes closed, his voice suddenly softer, “In the coming period, there may be even more unpleasant remarks on the Star Network. Take this opportunity to conduct a thorough internal investigation.”

Putian Xiangri’s eyes snapped up at these words, then he lowered his gaze, replying, “Understood.”

He found it hard to believe there could still be spies in the upper echelons of the Fourth Legion after all the measures General Pedder had taken to prevent infiltration.

But since Major General Lin had spoken, there must be some truth to it. His task now was to conduct a thorough investigation.

After Putian Xiangri left, Lin Fu lay with his eyes closed, yet he did not sleep.

He had slept too much over the past three months, compensating for his previous sleep deprivation and even the rest to come, leaving him weak and tired but not sleepy.

After this major Zerg tide, his rank had seen a clear advancement. If there were a precise classification, he might well have reached the 3S level by now.

His spiritual essence had been severely damaged in the battle against Morescher, now coalescing anew within the sea of consciousness. As a stroke of serendipity amidst misfortune, his mental strength had become completely immune to the Zerg's psychic assaults.

As he pondered over the matters concerning Lin Sicheng in his mind, a chilling dread settled in his heart.

If his suspicions were correct, then the two supreme ruling factions within the Empire were also its greatest betrayers.

Upon his return to the Imperial Star, he resolved to find a way back to the Lin household to uncover the truth behind Lin Sicheng's actions.

His mind was a whirl of thoughts, occasionally conversing with the System. Then, as his thoughts meandered, he found himself unexpectedly thinking of Cheng Jiu.

The memory of Cheng Jiu's embrace, the warm, moist breath against the nape of his neck.

Had Cheng Jiu cried?

He remembered hearing Cheng Jiu's sobs before losing consciousness.

But now, he wasn't so sure.

……

The original departure was scheduled for the early hours of the following day.

But due to Lin Fu's sudden awakening, Cheng Jiu had forcefully postponed it to the following afternoon.

It was dusk before he finally moved Lin Fu from the lab to the military spacecraft.

Making an appearance before the soldiers, Lin Fu donned his military uniform. The dark blue fabric, though slightly large, still hung crisply on his frame.

His complexion was pallid, and the cold wind elicited an involuntary cough from him.

A cloak was draped over his head from above, wrapping him up snugly.

As both armies set off, the commander of the Ninth Legion condescended to guard the Fourth Legion's spacecraft, taking care of their general.

The soldiers tasked with guarding the spacecraft practiced selective blindness, acting as if they saw nothing.

Lin Fu, with his eyelashes lowered, waited for Cheng Jiu to push him into the room before asking, "Are you angry?"

Cheng Jiu half-knelt in front of him, undoing his cloak and reaching down to remove his military boots. Upon hearing the question, the fingers clasping Lin Fu's calf tightened, knuckles slightly bending, "No."

Lin Fu attempted to retract his foot, “Don't bother taking them off. I’ll need to put them back on in a bit. It's a hassle.”

Cheng Jiu's grip tightened, and given Lin Fu's current weakness, there was no resisting it. Perhaps interpreting this as Lin Fu's disbelief, he held onto his calf and looked up to reiterate, "I'm not mad at you."

Lin Fu tried to decipher his words, "Then who are you mad at?"

Cheng Jiu, head bowed, focused on untying the laces of the military boots. After removing the shoes, he proceeded to unbutton Lin Fu's jacket, leaning over to lift him onto the bed.

As he was about to let go, Lin Fu caught hold of his collar.

There was a hint of resignation in Cheng Jiu's demeanor, yet he didn’t pull away. With his hands braced on the edge of the bed, he asked, "What do you want?"

Lin Fu's gaze was fixed on his eyes.

Amber eyes that deliberately avoided his, too timid to meet his gaze.

A high-ranking general, now so clumsily unconvincing in his lies.

He said, "Actually, when I was unconscious, I could hear everything that was happening around me. I just couldn't wake up."

Cheng Jiu's body tensed abruptly.

Of course, this was a bluff aimed at Cheng Jiu, but not a lie, for he did indeed know what had transpired during his period of unconsciousness.

It was a safeguard granted by the System, fearing his death. Unexpectedly, it recorded something that kept Lin Fu awake and watching all night long.

Lin Fu continued to watch him intently, curious to see how he would try to gloss over it.

Somehow, after watching Cheng Jiu's silent demeanor, the flickering expressions in those amber eyes, Lin Fu's heart inexplicably softened.

Remembering the eyes brimming with tears he'd dreamt of, he let go, touching Cheng Jiu's eyelashes with his fingertip, calling him, "Brother."

Cheng Jiu was taken aback, the corners of his lips instinctively curling upon hearing Lin Fu call him that way, but he quickly composed himself, his throat tickling as he responded, "Mm."

Lin Fu covered his eyes, "You said before, if I called you 'brother' once, you'd grant me a request. Does that still stand?"

Cheng Jiu replied, "...It stands." It always stands.

Lin Fu said, "Then, from now on, don't cry anymore."

With his eyes covered, plunged into darkness, he could only feel the icy palm covering his eyes, the calluses from battlefields brushing against him, causing a slight itch. He couldn't see the expression Lin Fu had when making this request. His adam's apple bobbed, and the tight knot of emotions in his chest dissipated in an instant.

He never had a way with Lin Fu, from the beginning, till now.

Her lips moved gently, uttering a single word: "Okay."

Lin Fu didn't move the hand covering his eyes and continued, "There's one more thing. General, if you don't have any other object of affection, I would like to formally pursue you from now on."

Cheng Jiu abruptly reached out to grab Lin Fu's hand from his eyes. As he grasped the wrist, Lin Fu spoke, "Don't move, wait until I've finished."

He forcibly held back, gripping Lin Fu's wrist tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

Lin Fu said:

"Although I've severed ties with the Lin family, I have an aunt who's a renowned space pirate known throughout the galaxy, so my family background isn't too shabby compared to yours. I don't have much wealth; the largest sum in my account is from a bet placed on myself in a competition years ago. However, I'm a general of the entire legion, wealth and planets will come in time. As for looks, I'm considered handsome; at least half the empire has clamored to marry me."

He spoke with little strength, as if he wanted Cheng Jiu to hear every word clearly, his pace extraordinarily slow, listing each point as if to etch his words deep into Cheng Jiu's heart.

"So, my esteemed General, I dare say I'm the most compatible companion for you in the entire galaxy at present."

"I want the whole empire to know."

"General, I like you, love you, I can't stand to see you cry."

He released his hand, revealing Cheng Jiu's eyes, which sparkled with fine laughter, like the beautiful nebulas scattered across the universe.

Cheng Jiu heard his own heartbeat, frenzied as if it was about to leap from his chest to show this man, to let him know his joy.