Chapter 56

Chapter 56

056

Pleading for Help

As Chu Li strolled down the lengthy corridor, he realized that both sides of it were lined with glass windows, each revealing a room behind them. Approximately twenty people were confined within each room.

Those who had just been admitted appeared exhausted but anxious. However, some had clearly been imprisoned for a prolonged period, evident by their haggard appearances and emaciated frames. The conditions inside their rooms were deplorable, filled with filth and waste gathered in corners.

Deprived of both sound and scent, he could still imagine the less than pleasant atmosphere within the rooms.

He had even caught sight of two individuals, overwhelmed by their pheromones, clinging to each other in one of the chambers.

Gou Fei simply locked them away, showing no concern for their lives or well-being.

As time wore on, not only would their spirits falter, but the unmedicated Alpha would eventually lose control. Two days, maybe even a week could be endured, but what about two months? The endless confinement without hope would strip them of their understanding of normal societal order, turning them into creatures driven purely by instinct, much like beasts.

Unable to bear witness to any more, Chu Li averted his gaze and took a couple of steps forward, arriving at the cell where Cao Yun and the others were being held.

In the room, everyone was still wide awake. Upon seeing Chu Li, they all approached the glass window, seemingly trying to convey something to him.

Chu Li paused and noticed the anxiety on Cao Yun's face. He turned to the guards behind him and asked, "Can I go in and check on them?"

"No way!" the two guards barked. "Hurry up and leave! Don't stay here!"

Pushed forward, Chu Li had no choice but to depart from the glass window.

Inside the room, the other students, witnessing this scene, grew restless. One of them approached Cao Yun, furious. "Teacher! Chu Li is in cahoots with those bandits! Why is he allowed to roam around outside?"

Cao Yun, her face filled with concern, gazed in the direction Chu Li had left. In her eyes, being able to walk outside wasn't a good thing, especially considering that Chu Li was an Omega.

Something terrible might have already happened to him.

"Is... is he in contact with those interstellar pirates? Otherwise, why would they let him move freely? Teacher... have we been deceived by him?"

The students, confined for so many days and living in constant fear, were not entirely rational. A few impulsive ones began to question Cao Yun.

Initially preoccupied with Chu Li's safety, as Cao Yun listened, she gradually sensed something amiss.

"What do you mean he's connected with the Star Pirates?"

Cao Yun turned in disbelief. "What nonsense are you spouting? He's a student of Azure Pattern Comprehensive Academy, just like you! How can you say he has ties with the Star Pirates?"

The students retorted, "Then how come he can roam freely outside? And he didn't even try to save us when he left!"

"Being able to move freely outside isn't necessarily a good thing... How could you think that way?" Cao Yun was utterly astonished.

But those few students seemed to have dug themselves into a corner, insisting that Chu Li had escaped and abandoned them, either due to collusion with the Star Pirates or simply not caring about their lives.

One of them spoke in an eerily strange tone, "Even if he's not working with the Star Pirates, why didn't he use the favor of their leader to speak up for us and let us go... Ah!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Cao Yun raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

This slap seemed to exhaust all of Cao Yun's strength. Afterward, the man's face flushed red, while Cao Yun's eyes widened, her entire body trembling with anger. "Listen to the ridiculous things you're saying! You're an Alpha yourself, standing tall and proud! Why don't you try to find a way to escape on your own? Chu Li is just an Omega, a single person! It's already a great fortune for him to protect himself, so what else do you expect him to do?"

"No one who has been taken away these past days has ever returned. Don't tell me you're unaware of what kind of business these Star Pirates are involved in! What price do you think Chu Li must have paid to leave this place? Or did you not see the two men following him, watching him closely?"

"We're all trapped here, and instead of working together to find a way out, you resort to slandering your fellow classmates and companions when you can't escape. What's the point of that?!"

The man covered his face, silenced by Cao Yun's scolding.

After a moment, his eyes reddened as he slumped into the corner, remaining silent.

Cao Yun looked at the others and gritted her teeth. "I know you're all scared, and so am I... But we can't collapse. We're still alive, aren't we? As long as we're alive, there's hope. Don't lose our composure before the star pirates even make their move."

No one else spoke. Deep down, they didn't truly want to vilify Chu Li.

It was just that after being locked up for so long, their minds couldn't help but wander into despair.

If they didn't distract themselves, they would be consumed by endless hopelessness.

Cao Yun's scolding gradually brought them back to reality, making them realize that they had projected their fear and negative emotions onto Chu Li.

Teacher Cao was right; Chu Li was only an Omega. He could move freely... Perhaps... Perhaps he already...

---

In reality, Chu Li's situation wasn't as terrible as they imagined. Gou Fei found him intriguing and was quite patient. He likely wouldn't harm Chu Li before his leg was fully healed.

But that was merely a temporary solution; who knew what might happen over time.

It had already been two days since he got his personal terminal back, yet there was no sign of any activity. Perhaps something was happening outside, but he was simply unaware of it.

His options for movement within the base were limited; wherever he went, someone would follow him closely.

Despite the slim chances of being rescued, Chu Li made every effort to prepare himself. He used the excuse of exercising to secure half an hour each day to stroll around the base.

The base seemed to be constructed underground, with all rooms and corridors devoid of windows or access to stairs or elevators. After wandering around for two days, he vaguely discerned the location of the entrance, though it was guarded, and the two men monitoring him were not allowing him to approach it. Thus, he had no clear picture of what the entrance looked like.

As for that encounter with Cao Yun and the others... he had deliberately sought them out. He knew that his appearance before his classmates would spark suspicion, but he desired to know their well-being.

Upon confirming that they were all alive and accounted for, Chu Li felt a sigh of relief.

Perhaps perseverance does pay off, as a turning point occurred during lunchtime on the third day.

Gou Fei summoned Chu Li, even though it wasn't the designated time for foot soak treatment.

Upon entering, Gou Fei threw a piece of paper at him. Chu Li looked down and recognized the profile of an individual - a name familiar to him, likely one of his twenty classmates.

Chu Li frowned. "What does this mean?"

The profile emphasized details like height, weight, and blood DNA, giving off an eerie vibe.

Gou Fei chuckled. "Of course, it's a business deal. This is a big client. One successful transaction, and we'll be looking at this amount."

He showed Chu Li the number 'seven' with his fingers.

Chu Li asked, "Seven million?"

Gou Fei shook his head with a smile. "No, add another zero to that."

Seventy million!

A person could actually be sold for seventy million!

Gou Fei chuckled. "Ironically, the one who wants this is after a heart. Seven million to save their life, not a bad deal."

"…" The paper in Chu Li's hand felt as heavy as lead. He pressed his lips together, then, after a moment, tried to sound casual. "If you're doing business, why did you call me here?"

"This is good news, of course I'll share it with you." Gou Fei gazed at him with a sly smile. "Aren't you complaining that I haven't been treating you well enough? If this deal goes through, anything you want, I can buy it for you."

Chu Li's hand trembled slightly as his gaze lingered on the profile photo, unable to look away.

Gou Fei chuckled. "What do you think?"

Chu Li: "..."

The facade of bravado would eventually be exposed; the other party was merely playing a cat-and-mouse game. The mouse thought it could escape, but only because the cat had never intended to kill it.

Once the game ended, victory would be decided.

For a fleeting moment, Chu Li nearly lost his composure. Beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face, and his lips twitched uncontrollably.

But quickly, he regained his calm.

He had never deluded himself into thinking he could defeat the interstellar pirates. Everything he did was simply to buy time.

He was waiting for someone to come and save him.

Gou Fei was still gazing at him. Chu Li returned the paper calmly and said, "It's nothing special."

His expression was indifferent, as if he truly didn't care about the matter, even carrying a hint of annoyance from being probed.

He was already handsome, but with his cold demeanor, he appeared even more alluring. Looking at him, Gou Fei couldn't help but imagine how magnificent it would be to win over such an aloof and detached person, to see them develop feelings for him, to witness their heartache on his behalf.

For that captivating sight, Gou Fei had all the patience in the world to wait.

But after so many days, it was time to offer a little sweetness, wasn't it?

Gou Fei rose from behind the desk and strolled slowly toward Chu Li, studying him closely.

Chu Li keenly sensed that Gou Fei hadn't sprayed any suppressant today.

Even interstellar pirates used suppressants to avoid being swayed by pheromones and instincts... Why would he deliberately skip it?

A knot formed in his stomach, and his sense of foreboding grew stronger.

Gou Fei spoke, "I know you're actually quite concerned about your classmates. Money isn't an issue for me, so I can take it or leave it with this business deal. If you're unwilling, I can let him go too. But you'll have to agree to one condition..."

He leaned closer to Chu Li and whispered, "You'll have to stay with me tonight."

The room fell silent for an instant. Chu Li narrowed his eyes slightly, suddenly realizing a question. If Jing Baiyuan, or Bai Yuanting, didn't come by nightfall, and he had to choose between his own life and his classmates', what would he do?

Could he still face the rest of his life with composure if he left this place now?

Sweat beaded in his palm, and Chu Li lowered his gaze to hide the turmoil in his eyes.

However, his pretense of calmness was no longer convincing. Gou Fei's lips curled into a smile as he observed him.

Indeed, he was captivating.

Moreover, this Omega hadn't run away.

Didn't that mean he had already made his choice?

Gou Fei extended his hand, ready to savor this delectable treasure...

But before he could touch Chu Li's face, the ground beneath them suddenly trembled! He stumbled, leaning to one side. The beautiful omega who had just stood beside him, seemingly resigned to his fate, lifted his head. His cold eyes now revealed a fierce determination. From somewhere, he had procured a piece of metal, gripping the rough end while the other end, smooth like a blade, was thrust fiercely towards Gou Fei!

"!!"

Gou Fei was startled and swiftly dodged, but the other party didn't give up, persistently closing in on him. Surprisingly, his martial arts skills were exquisite. Despite Gou Fei's attempts to subdue him, he slipped away like an eel every time!

"You... How do you know martial arts?" Gou Fei was horrified, realizing that this Omega was entirely different from the vulnerable image he had imagined!

With a 'sword' in hand, Gou Fei might not be his match. He immediately turned around, planning to grab a weapon from the corner of the room.

How could Chu Li allow him to succeed? After waiting for so long for Gou Fei to let his guard down and put down his weapon, he wouldn't permit him to pick it back up!

He was unfamiliar with firearms, so his only chance was to kill Gou Fei before he could touch the weapon.

Fear gripped him. These days spent locked up, he lived in constant anxiety, fearing that they would break down the door at night and forcefully take him away.

Chu Li's eyes locked onto Gou Fei, pushing his speed and strength to their limits. His blood boiled beneath his skin, pulsating as if trying to break free from captivity. Gou Fei nearly touched the gun several times, but Chu Li intervened each time.

Gradually, he realized that this Omega was no pushover. To seize the weapon, he needed to fully subdue him. Abandoning the idea of reaching for the gun, he focused solely on dealing with Chu Li.

Before, he had held back to avoid injury. Now, aware of how challenging Chu Li was, he put aside those cautious thoughts. After all, he was a space pirate, living on the edge every day. His combat skills far exceeded Chu Li's.

After risking being slashed by Chu Li's "sword," Gou Fei finally pinned the man to the ground, holding his restless hands firmly, and sneered coldly, "You still have some fight left in you."

Blood trickled down his arm, landing on Chu Li. Both men were wounded; Gou Fei had cuts, while Chu Li had a cut on his forehead.

Even though he was subdued, Chu Li didn't give up, attempting to pull his hands free from Gou Fei's grip. Gou Fei chuckled coldly, no longer underestimating him. Reaching for a gun beside him, he pressed the barrel against Chu Li's forehead, "Behave."

Chu Li: "…"

The disparity between a cold weapon and a firearm was not so easily bridged.

Seemingly disheartened, he stopped struggling, letting his body fall to the sides.

Seeing this, Gou Fei wore a triumphant smile.

This Omega had cost him dearly, and he couldn't let him off that easily.

He must reclaim the humiliation he suffered today from Chu Li!

However, before he could indulge in his fantasies, a louder explosion rocked the area, seemingly affecting the room they were in. The ground trembled, and the walls buzzed, crumbling with debris falling down.

Gou Fei's expression turned grim. He had been so preoccupied with subduing the Omega that he hadn't noticed what was happening outside.

He was about to pull Chu Li up and head out to investigate when a sudden chill ran down his neck.

Startled, Gou Fei spun around to meet a pair of eyes filled with malicious intent. His mouth opened, but no sound emerged — a gunshot rang out! Chu Li darted to the side, the bullet narrowly missing his ear! For a moment, his ears rang, deafening him to all other sounds.

The major artery in Gou Fei's neck was severed, blood gushing out in a fountain! It splattered over Chu Li, drenching him in a crimson shower, almost turning him into a bloodied figure!

As he took his last breath, the bullet he fired went awry. With no strength left, he clutched at his throat, collapsing to the ground under Chu Li's push.

In his final moments, Gou Fei watched as the man rose from the floor, soaked in blood, like an avenging demon or ghost returning from hell.

During their struggle, he had clenched that small iron piece as if it were part of his body. Now, as he released it, it clattered to the ground, his entire right hand trembling violently.

His body was hot and sticky, reeking of nauseating rust and the sweet, metallic scent of blood.

He had taken a life.

Chu Li picked up the gun from the floor but, realizing he didn't know how to use it, threw it under the table.

As for Gou Fei's corpse, he took a glance but ignored it and walked outwards.

Upon reaching the door, he thought of something and returned to the table for a thorough search, uncovering a large bunch of keys.

This pirate lord seemed to have little trust in high-tech DNA locks; so far, the rooms were secured with the most basic kind of lock, which proved advantageous to Chu Li.

With his bloodied body, Chu Li left the room and went from one glass cell to another, unlocking them all.

Something must have happened outside, as the corridor was filled with footprints, but not a single person could be seen. The other end of the corridor appeared to have been blasted open, allowing a faint glimpse of daylight.

He unlocked Cao Yun and her classmates' room last. Seeing him covered in blood, the group fell silent for a moment. Only Cao Yun approached anxiously, "What happened to you? What's going on outside?"

Chu Li replied, "Someone has come to rescue us. Follow me."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a louder explosion echoed nearby, accompanied by tremors, collapsing walls, and flying debris.

Chu Li didn't have time to elaborate, "Hurry up and leave!"

The group wasted no more time. Following closely behind him, they dashed down the corridor at top speed!

That was the direction Chu Li had previously probed, where the base's entrance lay. The gate had now been blasted open, sparing him the trouble of finding keys.

As they approached the entrance, the noise from outside grew louder. Someone fretted, "What if we're gunned down the moment we step out?"

Chu Li fell silent for a moment before saying, "Stay here then. I'll go take a look."

He was worried that the attack might not be substantial enough. If these interstellar pirates reacted in time, there would be no chance for them to escape.

Having killed Gou Fei, they would never let him off.

Without waiting for Cao Yun and the others to react, Chu Li took the initiative to leave the underground base.

After being away from sunlight for so long, the rays were blinding the moment he emerged. What appeared to have once been a city was now reduced to ruins, its original appearance unrecognizable.

Many fighter jets and mechas buzzed overhead with deafening whirring, occasionally dropping bombs.

But after surveying the area, Chu Li saw no one. Squinting for a while, he couldn't tell whether those fighter jets were friend or foe. He could only retreat underground to discuss with Cao Yun and the others.

"There's nobody outside, just fighter jets... What should we do? Stay here or go out?"

Venturing outside might expose them to stray gunfire, but staying here would likely result in being trapped by the returning space pirates.

Recalling their unbearable days locked up in this room, everyone chorused, "Let's go out!"

Chu Li also had no desire to remain. With a rare consensus, he led the others toward the exit.

He stayed at the back to cover their retreat, and Cao Yun refused to leave his side. She crouched beside him and whispered, "What happened to you? Are you injured?"

With so much blood on him yet moving without difficulty, it was clear that the blood wasn't his.

Chu Li wiped his face, barely managing to reveal his features. He said, "It's fine."

He briefly recounted what he had done since his release. Upon hearing that Gou Fei was dead, Cao Yun broke out in a cold sweat. "How could you dare to do that to him..."

Chu Li, however, declared resolutely, "There are only two paths: life or death. He's human, and so am I. The odds are at least fifty-fifty. If we don't take a chance, we'll be waiting for death."

Cao Yun was taken aback, the young man before him stood tall and slender, his decisive and straightforward demeanor often made people overlook the fact that he was an Omega.

"One cannot simply let him have his way," Chu Li said. "When there are no other options, courage emerges."

Cao Yun: "..."

His words were spoken casually, as if they held no weight, but to Cao Yun, they struck fear into his heart.

The student who had previously criticized Chu Li in the glasshouse was standing nearby. He had overheard every word Chu Li had just said to Cao Yun.

With his lips pressed tightly together, he glanced repeatedly at Chu Li.

They soon discovered a large crater caused by the explosion, not entirely safe, but better than the surrounding area.

After settling everyone, Chu Li said, "I need to go out and investigate. Waiting here won't solve anything. We have to find out who's attacking us."

Most importantly, he wanted to know if it was Jing Baiyuan or Bai Yuanting.

"I'll go with you!" an Alpha volunteered.

Chu Li looked at him and replied, "Alright, you come with me..."

"I'm going too!" "Me too!"

In the blink of an eye, several people raised their hands. Chu Li glanced at them and frowned. "Too many, this will only cause chaos. Stay here and wait quietly."

After saying that, he pulled the first Alpha who spoke and asked, "What's your name?"

"Zou Changchun."

"Let's go." Chu Li bent down and left the big pit with him.

His plan was to check out the base of the interstellar pirates. There might be some communication devices inside that could come in handy.

The two of them made their way to the base stealthily. Along the way, they encountered a couple of scattered pirates. With their combined efforts, they quickly subdued them and infiltrated the base without any mishaps.

Chu Li returned to Gou Fei's room and started searching through the cabinets. Zou Changchun stood at the door, stunned by the pool of blood that had spread across the floor. Inside the room, Gou Fei lay with his eyes wide open, clutching his throat as he stared at the entrance.

"This..."

Without turning his head, Chu Li said, "Come help me quickly."

Although Zou Changchun had heard Chu Li mention that he had killed Gou Fei, seeing it with his own eyes still filled him with shock.

In the midst of the crisis, there was no time for astonishment. He entered to assist Chu Li in the search.

After combing through the area for a while, they failed to locate any distress beacon but stumbled upon an alarm. A sharp sound would emit once it was pulled.

Chu Li said, "Let's go."

Using this might attract the attention of the aircraft above, but it could also draw the enemy's notice.

Author's Note:

I didn't include the "sigh" in their meeting;

They'll meet in the next chapter.