“Chapter 93: Eternal Belief”

"Chapter 93: Eternal Belief"

"On the starship's deck."

"Yun Huai sat at the edge of the deck, his long legs leisurely kicking in the air."

"Beside him was a floating small table, and he was leaning on it with one arm."

"The light shining on the Lord's Star came from a sun in the Genesis Starfield. After a long journey, the light finally cascaded in layers upon the Red Rock Plains."

"Yun Huai lowered his head and pinched his fingers, his nails leaving a slight red mark in his palm."

"The red mark faded slowly, his body's recovery ability slightly worse than it had been in the apocalypse."

"Illyad flew rapidly from one end to the other, then whooshed back, appearing a bit crazed, causing several blue bees nearby to buzz loudly."

"'I knew it! I knew it! Dare to kiss the hand today, dare to kiss the face tomorrow! Without the enforcers watching, has Lu Rin'an started indiscriminately mating!'"

"Yun Huai spoke lazily: 'That's just the way he is.'"

"Illyad QAQ: 'You're still defending him—'"

"Yun Huai tapped his temple, 'He just wants to be in love.'"

"Illyad exclaimed: 'But you are the Ithian King!'"

"Yun Huai paused: 'Can't a king be in love?'"

"Illyad made a noise and then murmured softly, 'Well, not exactly!'"

"Yun Huai stopped swinging his toes: 'Then why do you all dislike him so much?'"

"'It's not that we dislike him...' Illyad whimpered, 'It's just that the King has never favored anyone like this... I've never seen it, everyone followed King Il, but King Il never responded to any arrogant suitors.'"

"Yun Huai beckoned, and Illyad flew into the King's embrace."

"'...I know the royal families never indulge in the waters of love. They are noble and aloof, one day they appear in the garden, and then they leave after fulfilling their mission.'"

"Yun Huai looked down: 'Leave?'"

"Illyad hesitated, then hummed, 'But I never witnessed King Il's demise. Before King Il left, he had already thrown me into the battlefield of the Falling War.'"

"The Falling War started over a struggle for resources in the universe, ending only after several super planets were destroyed. King Il led the Ithians to defend their territorial sovereignty, and the aliens began internal purges and integration. After the war, only Ithia and the aliens remained as the overwhelmingly dominant forces in the Black Brilliance system, with others destroyed or lost in the cosmos."

"Yun Huai had already studied this history in Stana's classes."

"This might have been the last thing King Il did for the empire. The books say that the King senses their departure, and even though the empire laments losing any of them, the succession of the royal family never stops."

"The withering of Rolanviet Garden might happen on an ordinary, harmless morning, and Ithia cannot stop the passing of the royal family."

"Illyad drooped his ears, instinctively protective because of the King's preciousness: 'I feel you are stronger than your predecessor, yet you appear softer. The empire does everything to protect your existence; we can't imagine you standing with someone else.'"

"A faint light climbed to the youth's knees. Because of Lu Rin'an's absolute space, he felt neither hot nor cold, everything was adjusted to a temperature suitable for ordinary people."

"Yun Huai: 'You'll have to get used to it.'"

"Illyad: 'Ah?'"

"Yun Huai looked towards the distant wilderness: 'Because it seems I do care a bit about Lu Rin'an. I'm not as cold as my predecessor, able to ignore the pursuit and sincerity of admirers.'"

"Illyad slowly crashed."

"'He's very interesting,' Yun Huai thought, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. 'And fun, although sometimes offbeat but he gives a sense of security. Up to now, he has kept all his promises to me. No one has ever made me feel my existence is this important. He's the first.'"

"Illyad thought of something: 'But you don't even know what species he is—'"

"Yun Huai, a bit helpless but already thoroughly understanding Lu Rin'an's nature: 'If he doesn't tell me, there's only one reason – he thinks his species isn't very good-looking, and it might affect my perception of him.'"

"Illyad: '...'"

"Right, that does sound like something that monster would do!"

"Other than that, Illyad really couldn't think of any other reason, so the cat-like orb began to ponder how ugly Lu Rin'an's true form might be."

"'But I will first complete my mission,' Yun Huai suddenly said."

"Illyad, jolted awake from a dying dream, heard the youth gently begin: 'Each generation of kings has their own mission, perhaps something only the royal family knows. I feel my mission lies within the Eye of the Storm. My appearance here signifies that the Ithian Empire, protected by King Il, will ultimately overcome crises and disasters and then enter a new era.'"

"Illyad was about to cry again: 'But you're still so young!'"

"Yun Huai smiled, but his gaze cooled: 'Perhaps this is also the arrogance of the Eye of the Storm. It thinks I'm still young, so it casually bullies the citizens of Yejin City, and now it's even spreading to the aliens.'"

"Illyad, with a sad cat-like head: 'You might be the king with the heaviest tasks in Ithia's history, no royal has ever had to face the integration of imperial forces as soon as they were born.'"

"Yun Huai raised an eyebrow: 'Perhaps also the only king who wants to respond to someone's affection.'"

"Illyad started rolling around frantically, while Yun Huai's cool palm gently pressed and teased the cat-like orb to soothe it."

"The robots were dispatched to clear the battlefield, with a part of the blue bees assisting them. Yun Huai stayed put with the imperial starship and the remaining blue bees, but Xiye Na had not left them unprepared; this starship was equipped with a perfect energy shield."

"Inside the large shield was another smaller one, a protective measure Lu Rin'an had put in place before leaving, not entirely at ease."

"Yun Huai put down his warm teacup, stood up, and walked around the deck."

"Without any Ithian warriors, the starship was extremely quiet, as the machinery operated in complete silence."

"Illyad now had more power than Yun Huai, bouncing and following the King, its spherical body making rhythmic noises on the deck."

"Yun Huai turned around, and Illyad stopped: '(○｀ 3′○) I just think it's too quiet, and you don't like to talk. Illyad is the King's toy, I must always be there to cheer you up~'"

"'Wait, listen,' Yun Huai suddenly said."

"Illyad quieted down, and the two, man and orb, looked towards the side of the starship where a blue bee suddenly launched a series of chasing light bullets."

"Yun Huai grasped the edge of the starship and leaned out, with the blue bees starting to circle behind him, vigilantly."

"Illyad: '?o What is it?'"

"A ripple of energy came through the air, revealing an invisible spacecraft under the relentless bombardment of the blue bees."

"Yun Huai tilted his head, watching as the spacecraft skidded to the ground, its tail igniting a massive plume of thick smoke."

"A young man with short brown hair and an ordinary appearance jumped down from the spacecraft. He looked injured and as if he had been on the run for a long time, his face marred by blood loss and dishevelment."

"Illyad instantly bristled, its vocal cords mimicking the threatening hiss of a small cat."

"Yun Huai pressed down on the cat-like orb, hearing the man call out to him: 'Please, save me!'"

"Yun Huai remained silent."

"The young man's face was etched with distress: 'I am a merchant who came here to do business several days ago, and have been chased relentlessly by the crazed insect tide. If I could take refuge on your starship, I would offer you a substantial reward.'"

"Yun Huai noted his simple and harmless expression, his gaze sweeping over him."

"'...Your eyes are truly beautiful,' the young man couldn't help but sincerely admire, 'the most beautiful color I've ever seen.'"

"Illyad glanced at the King, and Yun Huai slowly spoke: 'Sorry, you cannot board this starship, but I can provide you with a spaceship to leave the tumultuous Red Rock area.'"

"Yun Huai raised his hand, and a light screen appeared before him. He tapped a few times on it, and a section of the ship near the man opened, revealing a vessel that smoothly slid out, guided by the system."

"Xiye Na's creations for the King were solid and reliable. The pure white energy field of the main star made the nearby damaged and old spaceship tremble slightly. Lu Rin'an knew that the Red Rock area could interfere with spaceship takeoffs, so he chose to land in the hunting ground's non-fuel safe zone."

"The spaceship, thoroughly wrecked by the blue bees' bombardment, had some glass-like tubular objects crisply falling from the rear compartment as it trembled."

"Just as Illyad was about to speak up, Yun Huai disabled its voice permissions."

"The youth hesitated for a moment, then looked up: 'Wait, there's a problem with this spaceship.'"

"Illyad: '?'"

"Yun Huai appeared even more harmless and vulnerable than the man seeking help. He recalled the spaceship he had already sent out and then summoned his own personal vessel on the light screen. A more exquisite and lavish spaceship slowly emerged, causing the young man to visibly startle."

"His complexion was ordinary and unassertive, giving off the impression of someone frequently bullied."

"Yun Huai unblinkingly closed the warehouse packed with spaceships: 'Only these two are left, but I'm the only one who can pilot this one. Do you need me to take you home?'"

"Illyad: '(ΩДΩ)￥…%#￥#&￥#%*!' Wait a minute!"

"The young man was pleasantly surprised: 'Really? How should I address you?'"

"'Yun Huai.'"

"The young man, with a slight blush on his pale cheeks: 'Thank you for your generosity, my name is Motheli.'"

"Illyad: '??? You're that Motheli who's been causing trouble and is on Lu Rin'an's blacklist? This person is indeed still on the Lord's Star!'"

"Yun Huai turned around and hid his expression, softly touching Illyad's head: 'Opportunities don't come often. My power will refill quickly, plus there's Lu Rin'an's protective shield. Stay here and behave, I'll be back once I've finished.'"

"Illyad's electronic eyes flashed with a line of shocked text: '[What are you going to do?! Lu Rin'an will be furious if he comes back and doesn't find you!!]'"

"'I'm going to blow up his drug depot,' Yun Huai said with a slight smile, tapping the electronic butterfly on his hem. 'Starting a war at the Second Star System's border, covertly trying to subvert Yejin City, and now inciting the Queen Insect disaster in the Genesis Starfield, I'm a bit angry. He must pay for his actions.'"

"The irritability at the end of the King's power conversion phase seemed to still linger."

"Illyad's screen flashed with an enlarged and bold '[Lu Rin'an]', its entire sphere hinting at its panic."

"Yun Huai had already planned when he saw the fallen drug vials: 'It's okay, his state has been very stable lately. Once the King's power starts refilling, he can locate my coordinates. We'll work together from the inside and outside, don't worry.'"

"Illyad: 'QAQ!!!'"

"Really? I don't believe it, please take me with you!!"

"Author's note:"

"Rin: 'But wife, I'm prematurely in heat, heh▽^▽ (carrying insects home) (really need hugs, kisses, and rewarding pats) (wait, where's my baby?) (Where's my big, pretty, and gentle wife?) (Agitated power accumulating) (The giant evil dragon takes off, ready for action!)'"

"The Black Apostle Base, danger!"