Chapter 101: Tethered

Chapter 101: Tethered

To prevent the examiners from accidentally dealing excessive damage during the assessment, the examiner's warship was equipped with a mental power output regulator. Rong Mi and Lu Yi detected this mechanism the instant their mental forces made contact.

However, such restrictions were not imposed on the candidates' warships.

In the vast universe, the purple flame dragonbird entwined with the silver stream of light, gaining the upper hand subtly.

Energy howled as they intertwined, splashing in all directions upon collision.

Amidst the flashes of light, Gu Ming, Phil, and two other teams, swayed by Rong Mi's words, combined their efforts to intercept the two examiner-operated mechas, preventing them from interfering in Rong Mi and Lu Yi's battle and disrupting their advantage.

Chen Shu and Anna piloted their scout mechas out of the hangar as well. Instead of joining the fray, they followed Rong Mi's orders to scout the perimeter, vigilant against any ice butterflies or pirates that might disrupt the situation.

"The candidate Rong Mi's team. Examiner's subjective scoring module, score increase by five points—"

Due to these actions, Rong Mi's team's score had increased once again.

When he decided to rescue the warship carrying the ice butterfly trap and proactively attacked the pirates, notifications of additional points had sounded through Rong Mi's communicator.

Rong Mi: "..."

He didn't know who the proctors were that had previously added points, but this time, it was clear that the one who pressed the button to add points wasn't a team member with Lu Yi. Instead, it was one of the officers who had distanced themselves, watching the spectacle from the light screens.

"Hey," whispered the proctor who had added the points to his colleague, "Did you see that clearly? Was that Silver Wolf... actually General Silver?!"

"How can Lu Yi's battle pet be assisting Rong Mi in... domestic violence...!"

"You're the one who called it 'domestic violence'," said the colleague, looking at him speechlessly. "Isn't that abnormal? You've had your fair share of scoldings at home too, haven't you?"

The point-adding proctor: "..."

Pouting, he muttered softly, "That makes me feel a bit better."

"Since even Lu Yi is just a paper tiger at home..."

"Ah, do you think their relationship has progressed much?"

"Maybe they've already secretly gotten their marriage certificate!"

Among the many military officers watching the spectacle, those who recognized the Silver Wolves couldn't help but ponder this question.

Sun Tong, piloting the starship, nearly lost focus several times due to this issue.

He wasn't one to lose focus during combat.

Having spent so many years in the First Legion, Sun Tong was no longer prone to such elementary mistakes.

Yet this time, it was genuinely very difficult for him to restrain himself from pondering...

For the Silver General was obeying Rong Mi's command! Attacking their warship!

In this battle, the wolf was the primary force striking at Lu Yi's warship.

It evaded the proctor mechs' attacks without being hindered by anyone. Its form stretched across the cosmos, and the armor adorning its body expanded outward. Stepping on a trail of silver light, it fiercely swiped one of its sharp claws at the side of the warship, leaving deep scratches on the hull that almost pierced through the engine.

Sun Tong: "...."

...This was simply a lifesaver!

As the pilot of Squad One, he was well aware of how formidable the Silver Wolves were in combat!

The wolves didn't even need to unfold their domains!

This small warship seemed like a mere imitation toy compared to the wolf's fully extended form!

"Ayin, go for it! ——"

While Rong Mi engaged Lu Yi in battle, he cheered on the wolf, "Freeze its tail wings! —— Rip open its energy tanks! ——"

The Silver Wolf raised its head and let out a long howl. Silver radiance shimmered around its body, transforming into countless silver blades that lunged at Sun Tong.

A sharp explosion echoed from the warship's tail wings, followed by a piercing alarm within the cockpit. Sun Tong glanced at the display screen and cried out in horror, "Admiral! The warship's energy tanks are damaged...——"

"Beep —— Squad Rong Mi, perfect victory against the 'Stellar Pirates' —— score increase —— twenty-five points —— repeating ——"

In Rong Mi's communication channel, the notification of score change rang out, signaling that they had completed this module's mission and could now cease fire.

The young pilot's mech glided through the air, creating distance between it and the warship. However, the silver blades unleashed by the Silver Wolf earlier showed no signs of stopping. Just before the notification sounded, their brilliance intensified, enveloping the warship in an instant.

Hearing the same notification, Lu Yi, who had just withdrawn his mental energy and ceased all defenses, fell silent.

The admiral leaned back in his seat, a hint of helplessness on his face.

"Prepare to abandon the starship," Lu Yi removed his helmet and stood up. "Send a distress signal to Rong Mi for boarding assistance."

As he spoke, the lights within the starship began to extinguish swiftly from the rear.

"Beep—Starship defense layer compromised—Starship hull damaged—Starship circuit systems disrupted by energy interference—Starship propulsion system damaged—"

Fine ice cracks appeared on the starship's exterior, spreading rapidly and peeling off. Silver light seeped inward, wreaking havoc on all the ship's systems. Just as it was about to breach the compartments and harm the crew, it dissipated.

A few minutes later, the military starship was utterly destroyed, its engines dead, becoming an immobile hunk of steel adrift in space. It was dragged by a group of playful white dolphins, which had earlier blocked the spatial wormhole, towards a nearby repair station around their temporary base.

With nowhere else to go, the proctors had no choice but to board Rong Mi's starship.

In the docking bay, a young man awaited them.

Rong Mi had a sheen of sweat on his forehead due to the recent battle. His features were handsome, and his smile bright and debonair. He greeted the proctors politely, leaving a favorable impression that made people instinctively want to approach him.

"Bravo, Rong Mi!" The proctor who had first boarded the starship patted his back vigorously. "You've completely wiped us out, haven't you? Our 'Pirate' team will be on vacation for this assessment, leaving the work to others!"

"It's good to take a break. We haven't had rotation leave in a while," another proctor greeted Rong Mi with a smile. "Thanks to your good looks, young man!"

"Well then, we'll be your starship's personal bodyguards."

"Too harsh!" Sun Tong wailed. "I was so exhausted from flying the starship that my hands cramped up! It's just that I lack the skills..."

"Be more careful next time," Rong Mi teased him, his gaze finally landing on Lu Yi, who raised an eyebrow.

"General," Rong Mi's smile was enigmatic. "Did you request to be an examiner here?"

He was certain that the military high command, including Commander Zhang Lingyu, who were aware of Lu Yi's injuries, were all worried about his health.

No one would have allowed Lu Yi to take on such a task actively.

Unless the admiral himself had insisted on it.

Rong Mi couldn't understand... How could Lu Yi, injured as he was, not afford a moment's rest?

The admiral seemed to treat his own body as insignificant, as if he believed nothing could kill him no matter how recklessly he acted!

The young man's voice held a tinge of amusement, yet the anger within was unmistakable.

The spaceship fell silent for a moment.

The proctors, with their eyes either on the sky or the ground, couldn't help but prick up their ears. Each of them was thinking the same thing.

Wow... They had seen Lu Yi scold others before, but this was the first time they witnessed someone lashing out at Lu Yi!

Well done! That took guts!

They were genuinely curious about Lu Yi's reaction.

The admiral's response, however, was calm and composed.

Standing before Rong Mi, he knew he couldn't evade the issue, so he nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes."

Rong Mi: "..."

Rong Mi's smile transformed entirely into a cold sneer.

Lu Yi asked, "When did you find out?"

Rong Mi almost didn't bother to respond to him.

It started with the wolf's unusual reaction when the pirates were mentioned.

Later, it was when Lu Yi released his mental energy to stop Hua Oulo's warship.

"You thought that with just a little bit of your mental power... not very strong and far away from me, I wouldn't notice?" The young man huffed coldly.

"Give me a good reason why you had to come here and didn't tell me."

"Didn't I tell you to rest well?!" Rong Mi's voice unintentionally rose. "Did you promise me or not?!"

"Am I still your exclusive healer?!! Didn't I tell you to use less mental power recently?!!"

"Do you even know what state your body is in right now?!!"

The fact that Lu Yi was carrying the Ice Butterfly Poison hadn't been disclosed to the entire military. Rong Mi glanced at the proctors around him before settling on a more vague term.

It was indeed a significant matter for the First Legion to recruit new members, but Lu Yi's presence wasn't indispensable. He had full faith in his legion's officers' capability to select talents.

However, Rong Mi was on the verge of his second awakening, and Lu Yi couldn't help but worry, desiring to be informed of Rong Mi's condition at all times.

If any abnormal fluctuations in the young man's mental power occurred, he could intervene promptly to ensure Rong Mi would reach a suitable location for his awakening.

Moreover...

Lu Yi could sense that the pain in his mental domain was becoming more frequent and severe.

Within the limited time he had, he didn't wish to miss any of Rong Mi's actions.

In truth, he was quite willful.

The Admiral lowered his gaze.

"Long for the wolves," Lu Yi said after a moment of silence.

Long for you.

"..."

The starship's cabin fell quiet for a while.

The proctors stared in astonishment, hardly believing that they would one day hear such words from Lu Yi's lips.

More importantly, those two words were spoken by Lu Yi with an almost submissive tone.

The general's voice lacked its usual coldness, and a subtle hint of tenderness had crept into it.

Rong Mi: "..."

Rong Mi glanced at Lu Yi, then at the Silver Wolves, and let out a mocking laugh.

"You'll come with me to the rest cabin in the back," he commanded Lu Yi.

Under the more astonished gazes of the other proctors, Lu Yi smoothly followed Rong Mi towards the rear resting compartment.

The Silver Wolves also closely trailed behind, filling the passageway and blocking the view of the proctors at the back.

Thus, no one noticed that after Lu Yi entered the resting compartment, Rong Mi suddenly raised his hand.

A bright purple spiritual energy surged from his fingertips.

The flaming spiritual energy around them elongated into ropes, leaping towards Lu Yi in a blink of an eye.

The Admiral lifted his gaze to Rong Mi. He sensed the energy fluctuations in the air but made no attempt to avoid or dodge it. He allowed Rong Mi's spiritual energy to land on him... wrapping around his chest and waist, then binding his arms and legs.

Lu Yi raised an eyebrow.

He knew Rong Mi was angry, so he decided to let the young man do as he pleased.

...But he didn't expect Rong Mi to bind him up directly.

Lu Yi had never received such treatment in his life.

Yet, considering it was Rong Mi who had done so, it didn't feel demeaning in the slightest.

It was simply a novel experience.

Lu Yi found himself forced to clasp his hands in front of him, unable to move, as Rong Mi pressed down on his shoulders, seating him on the bed of the rest chamber.

The Admiral's current state was, in fact, highly provocative.

He was handsome, exuding an imposing aura, yet he was restrained by Rong Mi's mental control, unable to act freely.

Despite Rong Mi's seething anger, seeing Lu Yi ensnared by his own mental energy, forced to look up... it was as if a jolt of electricity ran through him.

Just a brief jolt.

Before Rong Mi could ponder the reason behind this sensation, his fury rekindled, engulfing him once more.

"First you make Ayin follow me, then you say you want to be a wolf," Rong Mi sneered relentlessly.

Using his knee to press against Lu Yi's abdomen, preventing the general from moving, he bent down to examine Lu Yi's mental domain with this position.

Lu Yi furrowed his brow.

His breathing involuntarily stumbled, and he tilted his head slightly. As the young man moved, his knees unintentionally brushed against each other, causing his long legs, pressed together, to instinctively curl up. Finally, he managed to whisper hoarsely, "Rong Mi."

Rong Mi did not touch any sensitive areas.

Yet... he was already exceptionally sensitive to the young man's approach.

Rong Mi was entirely oblivious to his odd behavior, her attention solely drawn to the multitude of broken branches within the Admiral's spirit realm, causing her brow to furrow in concern.

Rong Mi promptly reached for a bottle of soothing balm, uncapping it with one hand and holding it to Lu Yi's lips for him to drink.

The movements appeared forceful and decisive, yet when it came to lifting the end of the nutrient solution, they turned exceedingly gentle, cautious not to inadvertently choke Lu Yi.

Lu Yi: "..."

He could only lean back slightly, furrowing his brow, and endeavor to disregard the sensations in his body as he swallowed.

"Does this gesture discomfort you?" Rong Mi observed his furrowed brow and said with a touch of irritation, "You're finally aware of discomfort?"

"Doesn't it hurt to have so many spiritual branches broken?"

"Is it not uncomfortable if the Ice Butterfly poison spreads due to excessive activity?!"

The young man took a deep breath, reminding himself not to get angry with fools.

He decided to lower Lu Yi's status in his heart to be on par with Hua Oulo's.

For one second.

"Did you bring the standard Ice Butterfly antidote?" The next second, Rong Mi spoke again.

"I did," Lu Yi swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he finished the last of the soothing agent. He had prepared for Rong Mi's question and answered promptly, "It's not time for the next injection yet."

Inevitably, some transparent soothing agent liquid clung to the General's lips, which he licked away after speaking.

Rong Mi hummed in response, showing no sign of satisfaction. He looked down at Lu Yi from above, then reached out to rub the pale lips, wiping away any remaining residue.

Lu Yi: "..."

Lu Yi lifted his gaze to the young man, his eyes deepening in intensity.

The youth's fingers were warm.

His touch was so forceful that his thumb nearly slipped into Rong Mi's closed lips.

The admiral's gaze lingered for a moment on the curve of Rong Mi's lips.

He was certain that he still desired... to do such an act to Rong Mi himself.

Rong Mi was just turning around to grab a tissue, wiping his fingers clean.

He disposed of the tissue in the nearby trash bin. As he turned back to lock eyes with Lu Yi, he distinctly sensed a perilous aura emanating from the general.

It was as if it had been deliberately restrained, not intense, but still impossible to overlook.

Like a large predator aroused by the thrill of the hunt, focusing on its prey.

Rong Mi: "..."

He had never sensed such an aura from Lu Yi before.

Was he angry because of his rough attitude?

Contemplating the meaning behind Lu Yi's gaze, he muttered inwardly but continued with his actions as planned.

After all, his anger hadn't subsided yet.

"Lie down now," the young man took a half-step back, pressed on Lu Yi's shoulder, and pushed the general onto the bed, ignoring the increasingly profound look in Lu Yi's eyes. He landed a knee beside Lu Yi's waist and leaned over to pat his cheek.

"Close your eyes," Rong Mi said casually. "I'll untie you once you're truly asleep."

He needed to make Lu Yi understand!

The consequence of thoroughly provoking him was to experience firsthand what it meant to be "at the mercy of others."

There was no treatment bed here.

But it made no difference—tying Lu Yi to the bed like this turned it into a makeshift chopping board!

Lu Yi: "..."

This cabin was Rong Mi's resting quarters.

There weren't many spare cabins on the candidate warship, so the proctors didn't want to disrupt the candidates' normal examination process. Thus, they chose to rest and regroup in the docking bay. Although they claimed they were taking a break here, they all had their light screens on, monitoring the various teams, especially the candidates applying for their respective legions.

Likewise, Lu Yi should have been engaged in this task.

However, Rong Mi was still simmering with anger; the Admiral clearly couldn't accomplish anything at this moment!

Rong Mi had thought it through.

Lu Yi wasn't the only examiner from the First Legion.

In case of an emergency, Lu Yi would undoubtedly receive notification. As for the movements of the other candidates...

Missing this brief period wouldn't affect the examination results in the slightest.

It would be better to wait until the Admiral had finished resting before resuming surveillance!

With an annoyed huff, Rong Mi waved at Ayin, who was standing behind him.

The fluffy wolf promptly squeezed through the cabin door and nestled beside Rong Mi, appearing quite obedient.

"Hard work, Ayin, but could you do me a favor and keep an eye on your master?" Rong Mi stroked the wolf's snout. "I'll come play with you in a bit."

Wolf: "Awooo!"

The wolf obediently sat by the bed, then turned its head to watch Rong Mi. Seeing the youth leave the cabin without looking back, heading for the command room and closing the door behind him, the wolf let out another howl.

Wolf: "....Awooo!"

It then turned its gaze to Lu Yi.

The silver wolf laid down beside Lu Yi's bed, its icy blue eyes fixated on the admiral, concern evident in its gaze.

Its mental domain was connected to Lu Yi's, making it, apart from Lu Yi himself, the one most knowledgeable about the admiral's mental state.

Ayin: "Awww...."

The wolf nuzzled against Lu Yi's handback, emitting a soft growl.

"Keep the matter of the Spirit Tree from Rong Mi," Lu Yi repeated his instruction, gently stroking the fur on the wolf's ear.

As he spoke, he shifted his body, intending to activate his communicator with a voice command and, sitting up, access the examiner's display screen.

Ayin sensed his movement.

Thus, the wolf's head shifted closer, pressing heavily against Lu Yi's chest with a forceful nudge before settling back onto the bed once more.

Lu Yi: "..."

Burdened by the wolf's large head, Lu Yi couldn't help but chuckle.

Ayin indeed had a strong fondness for following Rong Mi.

It had adjusted very well to being around Rong Mi.

"Ao." Ayin tilted its head to look at him.

Lu Yi had no choice but to close his eyes, surrendering to Rong Mi's anticipation, and begin to rest without resistance.

The pain in his mental domain was excruciating. As soon as the notion of resting arose, his consciousness began to plummet, yet it drifted away just as he was about to succumb to slumber.

Ayin's eyes were the same color as his own, Lu Yi mused vaguely.

Its spiritual energy was also strikingly similar to his.

These parallels were determined from the moment the wolf was born and would not alter even with his demise.

So, when he was gone,

would Rong Mi, looking at the wolf,

occasionally... remember him?