Chapter 74: A Dream

Chapter 74: A Dream

Around him was an oppressive darkness, as if a veil had been cast over the world, shrouding all light. Warm liquid splattered against that veil, saturating it with a pungent scent of blood.

The humming of Ice Butterfly's energy reverberated everywhere, more and more blood soaking into the veil, staining it thoroughly.

It was Rong Mi's blood.

Lu Yi knew he was dreaming.

Through the perspective of a wolf, he found himself back in the underground elevator at the amusement park base, witnessing Rong Mi battling Spirit Fragment Cheng Die, only to be shot down by a laser gun and collapse, never to breathe again or open his eyes.

Then, in a flash, the scene changed, and the viewpoint spun abruptly.

Colors suddenly returned to the world, but before him was a vivid red Spirit Ball of Ice Butterfly. His hand rested on the control panel of the starship cannon, yet he gave no order to assist, watching helplessly as the Spirit Ball exploded, obliterating Rong Mi's armor into dust.

Lu Yi was overwhelmed with immense fear and agony.

It felt as if the daylight was fading, and the eternal night would never end.

He despised his rational self that had put the young man in harm's way instead of shielding him safely behind, creating a protective barrier with his own flesh and blood.

The scene played on in an endless loop, like a circle that could never be broken.

Though he now realized his mistake and desperately tried to sever this cycle with his mental power, there was no way to undo the past.

All he could do was witness the young man's death again and again, disappearing from the world, regardless of how much he struggled or even at the cost of his own life, he could not reverse it...

Until he heard someone calling his name.

"Lu Yi... Lu Yi!" The youth's voice echoed from afar, ethereal as if it were just a figment of his imagination.

Rong Mi's voice started off gentle, but after repeating it a few times, it gradually grew more intense.

Seemingly, he had grown impatient.

"Rouse yourself!" the young man demanded fiercely. "I'm talking to you! Look at me! Open your eyes!"

Lu Yi: "..."

The other party seemed very agitated.

Lu Yi seldom heard such intensity in the young man's tone.

Thus, the general struggled to awaken, eventually opening his eyes.

His vision was still blurry, but he discerned the outline of a figure before him, which resembled Rong Mi's silhouette.

A warm sensation came from his palm, and Lu Yi gently moved his fingers, instinctively gripping the other's hand in return.

Rong Mi was alive.

Lu Yi told himself repeatedly.

His gaze drifted, fixating on Rong Mi. As their eyes met, the young man let out a long sigh of relief.

"What kind of dream were you having that you kept calling my name?" Rong Mi had been unable to rouse Lu Yi and was genuinely worried. Now that he saw the man awaken, he relaxed and softened his tone. "And you were still using your mental energy. You nearly froze the whole room."

Around Rong Mi, frost had covered the floor and walls of the room, with sharp icicles of varying lengths protruding outward. The nurse who had just entered the room, fearing a mental energy surge from Lu Yi, had hurriedly called for security robots for assistance.

Lu Yi: "..."

Spotting the icicles hanging from the ceiling, Lu Yi focused and croaked apologetically, "I'm sorry."

He had broken out in a cold sweat in his dream and felt more exhausted after sleeping than before. His voice was unusually low, tinged with fatigue that couldn't be concealed, as if he had struggled exhaustively in his sleep.

Rong Mi had never heard him speak with such weary tones before, causing a slight twinge of concern.

Rong Mi: "No need to apologize randomly."

He pondered what kind of dream could have made Lu Yi call out his name and left him so drained. After much thought, he guessed it might have involved a battle with Cheng Die, where they were at a disadvantage and faced numerous crises.

"It's all just a dream," Rong Mi reassured him. "If you're really uncomfortable... how about some hot water?"

"Hot water can cure anything," he quoted a popular meme, "It's a universal remedy!"

Lu Yi: "..."

A subtle curve graces the corner of Lu Yi's lips.

Before him sits Rong Mi, more vibrant than he could have ever imagined, making it undeniably real.

The admiral tells himself this, unconsciously tightening his grip on Rong Mi's hand.

The young man takes this as a clear sign that he needs water!

He helps Lu Yi sit up, allowing the admiral to lean on his shoulder while reaching for the glass on the side.

Lu Yi extends his arm to take it.

However, his limb trembles. His fingers graze the cup's rim, quivering, unable to muster the strength to hold it firmly.

Lu Yi furrows his brow.

He had struggled fiercely in his dream, and with injuries on his body, he is now surprisingly weak.

"Stay still," Rong Mi noticed his condition and took the cup from him. "I'd hate to spill it all over you and cause more trouble... I'll feed you."

Lu Yi: "..."

Lu Yi fell silent for a moment before acknowledging.

Rong Mi tilted the cup slightly, watching as Lu Yi parted his lips and swallowed a sip.

Then another, inevitably leaving some water droplets on the corner of his lips.

Rong Mi instinctively curled his fingers to wipe them away.

The general's lips were soft, Rong Mi thought, his finger lingering for a while.

Lu Yi: "..."

General Lu Yi leaned back slightly to indicate he didn't want to drink anymore.

He turned to the young man, reaching out to signal Rong Mi to lift his hand, only to notice that Rong Mi seemed distracted.

The youth's gaze was fixed on him, with an expression of profound confusion and a hint of distress in his eyes.

Lu Yi: "?"

There were times when he couldn't guess what was on Rong Mi's mind.

"Is there something on your lips?" Lu Yi asked softly, "Has the Ice Butterfly poison spread again?"

Rong Mi snapped back to reality.

"No," the young man swallowed, grumbling irritably, "Don't jinx it. I'm already injecting the antidote and regenerative agents."

Rong Mi, trying to cover up his distraction, brushed against Lu Yi's lips again and nonsensically said, "Seems like I got something on them, let me clean it off for you."

He simply couldn't tell Lu Yi the truth – that he had just been staring at his lips and experienced a sudden surge of... the desire to kiss him.

The last time he had fed Lu Yi the medicine, he had noticed how appealing the general's lips were.

Now, his admiration for Lu Yi's lips... seemed to have taken a deeper turn.

Perhaps because of this step, an idea suddenly occurred to him in a rather abrupt manner.

He desired to experience the sensation of the General's lips.

Rong Mi, with no prior emotional experiences, was momentarily perplexed by his own random thoughts.

As he was contemplating, the hospital room door was abruptly opened from the outside.

The nurse entered with a look of distress, holding a sedative and followed by a swarm of security robots.

Upon entering, she noticed that the ominous atmosphere within the room had dissipated. The once near-fatal icy chamber had returned to a warm and comforting space.

The man on the bed, who had nearly lost control of his mental powers, had regained consciousness. He was leaning against the young man, their eyes locked in a gaze. They were very close, with the young man's fingers still resting on the corner of the man's lips, seemingly caressing them as if contemplating a kiss.

Nurse: "...."

... Did she come at an inconvenient time?

Rong Mi turned his head, meeting the nurse's puzzled gaze, following her eyes to his fingers, and then quickly released the general's lips.

"Could you please check again and connect the pain relief pump?" Rong Mi helped Lu Yi lie back down, rising to his feet with an air of casualness, his gaze shifting to the nurse behind him.

Seiko was standing not far behind the nurse, offering Rong Mi a smile.

"I'm going to see a friend for a moment, I'll be right back," Rong Mi said to Lu Yi, turning his head back.

He adjusted the corner of the general's blanket and looked at the Silver Wolf beside him. "Stay here in the hospital, Ayin, you don't need to follow."

Rong Mi rubbed Ayin's fluffy wolf head.

"Keep an eye on your master for me," he instructed, "if he has another nightmare and loses control of his mental energy, nudge him awake..."

After all, frequent loss of mental control was not a good thing.

Rong Mi: "I'll be right back."

Lu Yi frowned slightly but didn't refute it immediately.

Meeting a friend is no risky business; he didn't want Rong Mi to feel restricted.

Medical robots surrounded him, blocking his view of Seiko. The wolf glanced at Rong Mi's retreating figure and involuntarily stood up, but remembering Rong Mi's request, he turned his head again to look at Lu Yi's expression before finally sitting down.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Rong Mi smiled at Seiko. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"You live in the capital star's entertainment district, I know, close to the company's studio," he followed Rong Mi towards the end of the corridor, glancing curiously towards Lu Yi's room. "Is the person inside your friend? I haven't seen them before."

"A new acquaintance," Rong Mi said casually, leaning against the window at the end of the corridor.

"You've been busy lately, so you must have made many new friends," Seiko chuckled. "It's not as easy to catch up with you now."

"I have been rather occupied recently," Rong Mi continued with the polite conversation. "And... my interests have shifted quite a bit."

Recalling the original host's interactions with Seiko, he spoke frankly, "After all the turmoil, my personality has changed somewhat too."

"Still... I haven't had the chance to say it face-to-face, but thank you for getting me into the Ice and Fire Tournament back then."

"That's because I truly don't understand the extent of your capabilities," Seiko's smile held a tinge of helplessness. "If I had known you were such an ace at piloting mechas, I might have even recommended you for it."

"Why?" Rong Mi tilted her head. "To stop your companions' schemes?"

Seiko: "..."

Seiko: "What?"

He looked utterly perplexed, his gaze fixed on Rong Mi.

The window was ajar.

It was a restless night, yet the breeze was gentle, playfully dancing with Rong Mi's locks.

The young man had an elegant countenance, his features not as sharp and menacing as Lu Yi's. When he smiled, it was like a bright summer sky, but when his dark eyes examined someone, they carried an intangible sense of pressure.

"Are you in contact with the Ice Butterfly Symbiosis Association?" Rong Mi inquired.

Seiko: "..."

Seiko and Rong Mi held each other's gaze for a long moment, their expressions of confusion gradually fading.

"Why are you asking that?" he wondered. "Did I act out of character?"

He should have appeared very human, right?

Seiko pondered carefully.

Yes, Rong Mi had only inquired if he was a member of the Ice Butterfly Symbiosis Association but didn't genuinely question his identity.

Rong Mi: "The floor below is filled with security forces and military personnel. You won't be able to escape."

In reality, Seiko's actions had been under the military's watchful eye for the past few days. However, they hadn't found any incriminating evidence against him, so they hadn't made a move yet.

Seiko's actions tonight weren't particularly unusual either.

His rented apartment was situated on the outskirts of the entertainment district. He had left after witnessing the battle at the amusement park, coincidentally encountering the ice butterflies, and then being transported to the Capital Star Hospital.

Rong Mi's suspicion towards Seiko stemmed from different reasons.

"I wasn't planning to run away either," Seiko sighed, slipping a hand into his pocket. "I joined unintentionally, initially just for fun. It was only later that I began to sense something was amiss."

"Their organization is incredibly tight-knit. I wanted to speak up but was too afraid. After the amusement park incident, I intended to seize the opportunity to confess to the military..."

Rong Mi acknowledged with a nonchalant hum, maintaining eye contact, waiting for Seiko to weave his story further.

"Sigh, don't doubt me," Seiko said, somewhat exasperated. "Actually, the reason I sought you out today was to show you something before I confess, and get your opinion. You've been quite close to the military lately, haven't you?"

"I found it during one of the activities. I've had this nagging feeling that there's something off about it, but I didn't dare approach the security team..."

As Seiko spoke, he reached into his pocket.

Rong Mi watched his movements, appearing relaxed but ready to react instantly to any sudden moves from Seiko.

However, Seiko indeed pulled out a bright red, spindle-shaped crystal pendant. The pendant had undergone energy isolation treatment; to an ordinary person, it would merely resemble an irregular, glowing diamond. Yet, Rong Mi's brows knitted together instantly.

He straightened his posture, stepping forward to examine the contents of the pendant more closely.

"Stay right there," Seiko took a step closer to Rong Mi, his voice soft and compelling. "Don't move an inch, and I'll show it to you closely."

"Not a single muscle, now."

Using what Rong Mi desired most as bait, his voice melded into the night, carrying a hypnotic charm that seemed to command obedience.

Rong Mi's consciousness wavered for a moment.

It was as if some memory was being erased, leaving him with furrowed brows, yet his body relaxed involuntarily.

The young man's elbow rested on the windowsill, his mind somewhat dazed. He watched Seiko approach in silence, not reacting in the slightest.

His attention seemed to be drawn into another realm.

There, everything was nebulous, except for Seiko's voice, which rang crystal clear.

"Hear me out," the air around them vibrated with his words, the energy waves they carried holding a peculiar resonance.

"The Ice Butterfly Symbiosis Association has a noble purpose. Humans should not resist the ice butterflies. We should join forces with them to create a brand new society."

"And there's more."

"I'm your best friend," Seiko said, gazing into Rong Mi's dark eyes and curling the corners of his lips in a smile. "We share everything with each other. We're always together, never apart."

Seiko extended his open palm. "Now, we'll be together to..."

"Thump, thump, thump."

A series of footsteps echoed from the stairwell at the end of the hallway.

An unexpected voice interrupted the energy waves emanating from Seiko's narrative.

Rong Mi blinked, her focus sharpening. The sense of stagnation on her body dissipated abruptly.

Seiko: "..."

He hastily withdrew the pendant in his hand. At the same time, the door to the stairwell was slammed open from inside, revealing a golden, furry lion head.

Perched atop the lion's head was a white, fluffy rabbit bun.

The mighty Lion Sandel was sprinting up the stairs under the command of the gemstone rabbit on his head.

The floppy-eared rabbit appeared highly agitated, and as its gaze fell upon Rong Mi's palm, it suddenly puffed up and leaped with a piercing scream that shook the heavens.

"SCREEEECHH!!! ——"

The Thundering Lion seemed to have received some sort of attack signal from the rabbit's shriek.

"ROAR!!! ——" The lion let out a mighty roar and lunged forward with lightning speed, knocking Seiko off his feet. It opened its massive jaws, exposing fangs that hovered dangerously close to Seiko's neck.

"Damon!"

"Sandel!"

Chen Shu and Ellen emerged from the stairwell, one after the other. Security robots, alerted by the commotion, rushed in from a distance. Patrol guards, already on high alert, hurried over from the other end of the passage.

"What's going on here? !" one of the arriving guards demanded loudly.

Chen Shu picked up the rabbit, glanced at the lion, then at Seiko, and finally at Rong Mi.

The young man nodded at him.

"I have reason to suspect this gentleman!" Chen Shu pointed at Seiko and declared earnestly, "He frightened my gemstone rabbit!"