Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Half an hour later, Shen Juanjuan was lying on the soft bed in the cabin, being examined for his gunshot wound by the ship's medical officer.

"How is the wound?" Yun Tuo asked the medical officer.

The medical officer replied, "Chairman Chu promptly removed the bullet, and the wound has been well treated. It will recover soon."

Yun Tuo asked again, "Will it leave a scar?"

A scar? Shen Juanjuan wasn't too concerned about this and hadn't thought about it much, so he said, "If it leaves a scar, so be it. It might even look more impressive."

Xiao Rui stood beside the bed with his hands behind his back, staring at Shen Juanjuan's wound for a moment before saying, "No worries. Once the wound heals, I can get you a tattoo to cover the scar, making it look even more impressive."

"A tattoo?" Shen Juanjuan's eyes lit up.

"Right, your bullet hole is small, so even if it scars, it will only be a little. We can tattoo a small dagger, a small gun, or a dragon head—any of these would look great," Xiao Rui said.

Yun Tuo quickly interjected, "Better to keep the scar then."

The medical officer wrapped Shen Juanjuan's wound, and Chu Ya asked Yun Tuo and Xiao Rui to join him in the next room to discuss the chip matter. After they left the cabin, he called the medical officer into the corridor and told him about Shen Juanjuan's recent pseudo-mating heat.

"While examining him, I noticed fluctuating pheromones in his body, but they had no impact on his health or the wound," the medical officer said.

Chu Ya felt relieved and was about to leave when the medical officer stopped him, "Chairman Chu, after a guide experiences a pseudo-mating heat, a true mating heat is not far off. He needs to prepare as soon as possible."

Chu Ya paused, "Understood."

Chu Ya entered the adjacent cabin, took out the chip given to him by Shen Juanjuan, and recounted the entire story to Yun Tuo and Xiao Rui.

"So Shen Juanjuan was injured by Jin Gao, but he killed Jin Gao?" Xiao Rui asked.

"Yes."

"Brother Juan is fierce. Not only did he kill Jin Gao, but he also retrieved the chip from him." Xiao Rui weighed the chip in his palm, his tone tinged with pride.

Yun Tuo said, "Don't praise him, especially not in front of him, or he'll dare to disarm Gu Lin in hand-to-hand combat next time."

Xiao Rui smiled and said lightly, "Actually, I think he might be able to—"

"Stop! Are you getting cocky? Do you want him to have more bullet holes?"

After discussing Shen Juanjuan's situation, the conversation returned to the chip.

"So our chips were switched?" Yun Tuo asked.

Chu Ya nodded, "Yes, the chips were switched. Now both sides have complete data. While we can successfully develop the Black Plague antidote, Gu Lin can create his zombie army."

Xiao Rui's expression turned serious, "Now we need to think about how to deal with the upcoming zombie army."

"We won't give him the chance to create a zombie army," Chu Ya said.

"What do you plan to do?"

"Race against time," Chu Ya said.

Xiao Rui narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice turning cold, "You intend to develop the Black Plague antidote before he creates his zombie army, then use that antidote to persuade Jiang Xian and Meng Heguang to cooperate with us to bring down Gu Lin?"

Chu Ya and Yun Tuo exchanged a quick glance, and Chu Ya said, "President Xiao, we could afford to bide our time with Cloud Peak before, but things have changed. We can't afford to wait anymore."

Xiao Rui remained silent, his face darkening. Yun Tuo walked over to him, "I understand how you feel. Although the zombies in Linya City were created by Gu Lin, those two armies have been fighting us for years. I don't want to let them off easily either. But we can't take down Gu Lin alone; we need to cease fire with them."

Chu Ya added, "Even if we temporarily cease fire, we will eventually settle accounts with the leaders of those two armies who use sentinels and guides to extend their lives. Jiang Xian, Meng Heguang, none of them will escape, but it must be after we deal with Gu Lin."

Xiao Rui still said nothing, his expression like a brewing storm, radiating a chilling aura. He placed the chip in Yun Tuo's palm, "Do as you wish," and then strode out of the cabin.

"Where are you going?" Yun Tuo asked.

Xiao Rui didn't respond, and Yun Tuo, worried, followed him out, "Where are you going? I'll go with you."

"To cook for you," Xiao Rui replied coldly.

In the afternoon, the heavy rain and strong winds finally ceased, leaving the sea calm and the sky adorned with a beautiful sunset.

Shen Juanjuan sat in a soft chair at the bow of the ship, watching Xiao Rui draw a tattoo on Teddy Bear.

"This blue dragon isn't very clear, it's a bit hard to draw," Xiao Rui observed Teddy Bear's left arm.

"Ao!" Teddy Bear pointed to the long sword drawn on Shen Juanjuan's forearm.

Shen Juanjuan explained, "Since you have fur, it's hard to draw a clear shape."

"Ao!"

Xiao Rui considered, "My suggestion is to shave this area, which would allow me to draw a clear blue dragon."

Black Wolf's expression immediately tensed, and he tried to carry Teddy Bear away, but Teddy Bear blocked his mouth and gleefully barked at Xiao Rui.

While they were contemplating the tattoo for Teddy Bear, Yun Tuo and Chu Ya were having a low conversation nearby.

"Nothing happened last night, right?" Yun Tuo probed.

Chu Ya turned his head, his gaze calm as he looked at Yun Tuo. Yun Tuo touched his nose, "I can sense that Shen Juanjuan's pheromones just experienced a fluctuation."

"Pseudo-mating heat," Chu Ya briefly explained.

Yun Tuo hesitated, "And you...?"

"I gave him a cooling treatment," Chu Ya replied.

"Then you..." Yun Tuo emphasized.

Chu Ya paused: "Brother Yun Tuo, what are you thinking?"

Yun Tuo looked into the distance at the sea and smiled: "Right, although guides don't always experience pseudo-bonding fever, if it does occur, true bonding fever is not far behind. Before, when you didn't allow the database to record your information with Shen Juanjuan, I asked you why, and you said either it was you or the suppressant. Now? Does he still only have these two choices?"

"… Chu Baolong, don't move, Chairman Xiao will mess up your fur…"

Chu Ya glanced at Shen Juanjuan who was holding down the Teddy Bear's arm and softly replied: "No, there actually aren't two choices; it has always been me."

Yun Tuo's eyes flickered: "Have you already established a relationship?"

Chu Ya answered frankly: "We're now a couple."

Yun Tuo shook his head and laughed: "You said you wanted to give him time to grow, to give him the freedom to choose, but in fact, you haven't given him any other choice. Don't you think that's contradictory?"

"I know, but I'm afraid of the what-ifs; I can't bear the risk," Chu Ya said.

Yun Tuo turned to look at him: "Don't worry, in his world, there's only you."

"… Here, here, shave a dragon horn."

Shen Juanjuan was pointing out to Xiao Rui, looking up to see Chu Ya staring at him, he quickly pouted and kissed him.

A hint of amusement flashed in Chu Ya's eyes as he turned back to continue talking to Yun Tuo. Shen Juanjuan also chuckled and nudged Xiao Rui's shoulder: "Didn't you see me kiss him from afar?"

"No," Xiao Rui kept his head down.

Shen Juanjuan waited for two seconds, seeing that Xiao Rui didn't ask, he couldn't help but say: "Aren't you going to ask what we did in that cave?"

"… Sigh, don't bump me, you almost made the dragon horn crooked, it won't be a perfect piece of art."

"Ao!" The Teddy Bear also called out.

The Black Wolf had been watching the Teddy Bear's arm, occasionally turning its head and closing its eyes, but when it saw Shen Juanjuan about to nudge Xiao Rui, it pushed him away a bit.

"Then ask me quickly!" Shen Juanjuan urged.

"Not asking," Xiao Rui said.

"Why aren't you curious?"

"What's there to be curious about? It's just that you've already slept with Chu Ya," Xiao Rui said.

"… What do you mean by 'slept'?"

"What else?"

Shen Juanjuan's face turned red: "Why are you so vulgar? I don't even want to talk to you. You really have no manners at all. How could we be like you?" After thinking for a moment, he asked again: "So how did Brother Yun Tuo sleep with you back then?"

Xiao Rui lifted his head and gave a meaningful smile, "Want to know?"

"Yes."

"Even if you want to know, I won't tell you."

"Oh, you really are not only without manners but also boring."

The ship returned to Linya City the next morning. Although Shen Juanjuan's gunshot wound had been treated, Chu Ya was still worried and took him directly to the hospital.

Shen Juanjuan already knew that Lin Duozhi and the others were also injured, with Chen Hongliang and Yu Datou being the most seriously hurt, but fortunately, everyone was out of danger.

When Shen Juanjuan gently pushed open the door to Lin Duozhi's ward, they were all sound asleep. Lin Duozhi's head was wrapped in bandages, Tang Yuanyuan's face was bruised, Chen Hongliang's chest was covered in bandages, and Yu Datou's leg was in a cast, raised high in the air.

The quantum beasts noticed him first. The leopard cub immediately jumped off the bed, excitedly giving the Teddy Bear a high-five. The parrot perched on the windowsill shouted, "Oh, fatty has returned, the room is suddenly crowded."

The Teddy Bear glared at it, then turned sideways, bending his arm to show the shaved tattoo on his arm.

The parrot laughed happily, "Oh, where did you go to get your mouth in trouble? Your wing feathers were pulled out too."

Everyone woke up and was both surprised and delighted to see Shen Juanjuan. Shen Juanjuan sat down by Lin Duozhi's bed, and the ward filled with their chatter.

"Although we were injured, we killed several of them."

"The sea wind was too strong, Brother Chu Ya wouldn't let us go out to sea. He drove our Angel alone to chase after you and didn't allow anyone else to go with him."

"Wang Xiaoxi wasn't injured, he stayed at the military base, always listening for new news. Last night, the military base received Brother Chu Ya's location information, and Colonel Yun set out immediately. Wang Xiaoxi ran back to tell us."

...

While listening to their stories, Shen Juanjuan would touch Tang Yuanyuan's arm one moment and Lin Duozhi's face the next.

"Where's Liu Sijin?" Shen Juanjuan asked.

"Her sister doesn't allow her to stay in the same ward with stinky men, she's staying alone upstairs."

"Ha ha ha…"

Everyone also noticed the injury on Shen Juanjuan's shoulder. Shen Juanjuan then began to recount his battle with Jin Gao and the successful recovery of a chip.

"But the flying machine on the ship couldn't land, Brother had to parachute down, and our flying machine fell into the sea."

As Shen Juanjuan spoke, he felt both guilty and sad. They had worked hard to repair that flying machine, and it took them half a year just to find the parts.

"But that flying machine was originally meant to be your birthday gift," Tang Yuanyuan said.

Shen Juanjuan suddenly looked up: "What? My birthday gift?"

Lin Duozhi explained: "We were trying to finish it before your birthday, planning to have Brother Chu Ya take you up in the sky for a ride on your birthday."

Shen Juanjuan was so delighted he didn't know what to say, but the thought of it falling into the sea made him feel even worse: "All our hard work has been in vain."

"Because we fixed it, we were able to save you this time. How can that be in vain? This is the reward for our efforts."

"What are you talking about, Shen Juanjuan? Are you less important than a flying machine?"

"Mm-hmm."

Shen Juanjuan's heart raced, and he stood up, opening his arms to hug everyone. Chen Hongliang quickly said, "I have a broken bone, expressing your gratitude with words will do; physical contact isn't necessary."

"I also have a broken bone, don't touch me."

Shen Juanjuan laughed and sat back down, then said to the others, "There's another big thing. Guess what happened to me on the island?"

His eyes shone brightly, a mix of excitement and shyness. After they guessed wildly, he lowered his voice, "Actually, there are two things. The first one is... I..."

His words were muffled, and everyone leaned in, "What?"

"Speak clearly."

"Do you have something in your mouth?"

Shen Juanjuan raised his voice, "It's just that I, you know, grew up, became an adult guide, hehe, that kind of thing."

Chen Hongliang and the others looked puzzled, but Tang Yuanyuan caught on and asked tentatively, "Did you go through heat?"

Shen Juanjuan nodded.

"Wow!" Everyone exclaimed.

Chen Hongliang joined in the exclamation, then realized, "Is this something a sentinel should hear? I'm still a pure-hearted sentinel, listening to this doesn't seem right."

"Who says you're a sentinel? If you don't want to listen, get out. Even Yu Datou didn't complain," Tang Yuanyuan threw her pillow at him.

Shen Juanjuan lowered his voice, eager to announce, "And the second big thing. Miao is now mine."

"Wow!!!" The ward erupted in exclamations again. Tang Yuanyuan and the others started rhythmically patting the bed, while Chen Hongliang, unable to move, let out a wolf howl.

Shen Juanjuan laughed along until the nurse burst in, shouting, "What are you all making such a racket about?"

Everyone quickly quieted down. Once the nurse left, Lin Duozhi, excited, said, "Tell us more, in detail."

"Heat is just like that, it lasts half an hour. As for Miao, I confessed to him, and he accepted." Shen Juanjuan said casually.

"How can it last only half an hour? Only pseudo-heat lasts that long," Lin Duozhi asked doubtfully.

Tang Yuanyuan also asked, "You went through heat, and Brother Chu Ya is now yours, why did you have to endure it yourself?"

Shen Juanjuan coughed, "Didn't you say it was pseudo-heat? Of course, it only lasts half an hour. I confessed to Miao, and he accepted, so he's not mine?"

Everyone whistled, "We thought we'd hear something exciting, but it was just a confession."

"And it was pseudo-heat."

"He deliberately mixed them together, confusing us."

Shen Juanjuan laughed, "What I said isn't wrong. Whether real or pseudo, it's still heat." He then clenched his fist and frowned, "And I've got Miao firmly in my grasp. He won't escape from my palm."

After more laughter, Lin Duozhi said, "By the way, remember Liu Xiaomei from the class? Her sentinel, a lieutenant from the Second Army, often visited the orphanage."

"Yes, they seemed very close," Shen Juanjuan replied.

Lin Duozhi nodded, "When my brother brought me food today, I heard him talking in the corridor. They mentioned that the lieutenant had black rot disease recently, but the medication delayed its progression, so it wasn't a problem. Liu Xiaomei went into heat yesterday and entered the sentinel-guide building with him. Today, during the check-up, the lieutenant's black rot disease was gone."

"Why is that? Can heat cure diseases?" Chen Hongliang asked.

Tang Yuanyuan explained, "The energy released during sentinel-guide bonding is very powerful. During the first breakthrough, the energy bursts outward. For example, when Chen Baolong broke through in the cafeteria, it knocked us all off our feet and shattered all the dishes. But during the second breakthrough, the energy affects the body internally. It might be that the strong energy flushed out the dormant black rot virus in his body."

Chen Hongliang's eyes lit up, "If I had a guide and went through heat with him, would my broken bones heal?"

"You wish."

Shen Juanjuan stared out the window, then suddenly stood up, "Then I need to go through real heat soon. Miao's black rot virus is also suppressed, I want to flush it out, completely!"

Tang Yuanyuan calmly said, "Didn't you retrieve a chip? Dr. Xu can develop a cure for black rot, no need for you to do that."

"Aww, don't be a buzzkill."

"Liu Xiaomei plans to go through heat tonight. How will he manage now?"

"Pretend you don't know."

...

Shen Juanjuan stayed in the hospital for a week. By the time he was discharged, the others were mostly recovered, except for Chen Hongliang and Yu Datou, who were still in bed. However, they weren't lonely; everyone visited them daily, staying in the ward until the nurses kicked them out.

On the day Shen Juanjuan was discharged, Chu Ya was busy until the afternoon before coming to pick him up. Although it was evening, the light was still bright, but a pale moon already hung in the sky.

As the military vehicle drove out of the hospital, passing by a high wall, Shen Juanjuan suddenly patted Chu Ya's arm, "Miao, stop the car."

Chu Ya stopped as requested, and Shen Juanjuan opened the door, climbed the iron ladder under his watchful gaze, and stood atop the tall wall.

Shen Juanjuan reached out to the sky, feeling the wind pass through his fingers, then curled them slightly, clenching them as if holding the moon in his palm.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling, and looked down at Chu Ya standing below, "Brother, I can touch the moon."