Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Old Man Kewen's expression was unprecedentedly grim.

He furrowed his brows and squatted down to examine the ground. The fact that something of such weight and size had been taken without leaving any scratches spoke volumes. At best, it was stolen by space pirates; at worst—

"It's the Zerg."

Yi Ye suddenly spoke up.

Kewen Langley and Bai Chuan both turned to look at him.

Seven years had passed since his transmigration, and Yi Ye could only vaguely remember bits and pieces of the game's plot. However, he happened to recall this particular memory. Later, during Bai Chuan's annual military academy assessment, he had encountered the Zerg, and it was mentioned that the Zerg had once invaded the Langley household and stolen something.

So… was it the mech wreckage that the Zerg had stolen?

Yi Ye didn't understand: "Is the mech so important to the Zerg that they even need to recover the wreckage?"

"No. The Zerg's internal technology is highly advanced, and building mechs isn't difficult for them. If they went to the trouble of taking the wreckage, it can only mean that there's a secret within it that cannot be leaked." After Kewen Langley finished speaking, the basement fell into an eerie silence. What kind of secret could be so important to the Zerg? As far as they knew, the Zerg's highest secrets were usually related to the "Zerg Queen." Could it be…?

Old Man Kewen timely stopped them from further speculation: "You don't need to worry about this. I'll call the security department tomorrow, and they'll handle it."

The group climbed back up the ladder to the living room.

Seeing Old Man Kewen's nonchalant attitude, Yi Ye was half-convinced and half-doubtful: "If it really is the Zerg, are we in danger?"

"Relax." Old Man Kewen shrugged casually, his tone light. "I sleep in the living room. If I were going to die, I'd be dead by now. Why would the Zerg spare me? As for you two, as long as you board the starship to the Imperial Star tomorrow, the Zerg wouldn't dare show up there."

Yi Ye let out an "oh," then a few seconds later, his eyes widened: "...Us?"

Old Man Kewen paused, finally remembering what he had forgotten: "Oh, I forgot to mention. You're enrolling in the military academy with your brother tomorrow."

Huh?

Huh??

Huh???

Yi Ye was dumbfounded. This… this wasn't in the game's plot!

"Don't worry." Old Man Kewen grinned slyly and patted his shoulder. "I have an old acquaintance at the military academy. If you run into any trouble, he'll help you out. Try not to get into fights at the academy, but if you do, don't cripple yourself or kill anyone. I'll handle the rest."

Handle my ass! With those protagonist-level guys at the academy, what chance do I have if I run into them?

"Alright."

Old Man Kewen looked out the window at the faint dawn light beginning to appear on the horizon and waved his hand: "It's almost dawn. Go pack your things. Don't miss the 11 o'clock starship."

Yi Ye: "..."

Yi Ye hesitated but ultimately decided to hurry back and pack.

Old Man Kewen watched the young man go upstairs, and once his figure completely disappeared up the stairs, he turned to Bai Chuan, his expression serious.

"Come to the study. I need to talk to you."

*

The Qixing Port was located at the northernmost edge of the Guard Town, a three-hour drive from the Langley household by hovercar. They stepped on the gas and arrived in record time, with 34 minutes to spare before the starship's departure.

Yi Ye had lived in Qixing for seven years, but this was his first time here. Standing in the vast crowd, he looked up at the starships suspended in the air in the distance, still feeling like all of this was somewhat unreal.

It's reasonable for Omega to need a bodyguard for close protection, but did the game mention that the protagonist's adoptive brother would accompany him to the academy? He had no memory of it at all. But why did the plot suddenly shift? What exactly went wrong?

"It's time to board."

Bai Chuan walked up to him with luggage, glanced at the virtual clock on the wall of the port hall, and said calmly.

Yi Ye looked behind him but didn't see Kewen Langley.

"Mr. Langley received a call from the security department and had to rush back to deal with the house collapse. He just left."

"Left?" Although Kewen Langley wasn't Yi Ye's biological father, he still felt a bit regretful. "I don't know when we'll return from the Imperial Honor Military Academy. It might take four years... I should have said a few more words to Dad before getting out of the car. Brother, from now on, it's just the two of us relying on each other."

Bai Chuan lowered his eyes slightly and looked at him seriously: "Mm."

"Attention passengers traveling to Imperial Star: Your IEL677758 Star Sea spacecraft is now boarding. Please proceed to boarding gate T..."

As the boarding announcement sounded, the two followed the crowd onto the deck.

The massive Star Sea spacecraft could hold nearly two thousand people, and the air buzzed with a lively and chaotic energy. Yi Ye led Bai Chuan to their seats, their shoulders touching and knees occasionally brushing. Knowing Bai Chuan disliked being touched, Yi Ye kept his legs close together.

Soon, Bai Chuan seemed to doze off, his head swaying before resting on Yi Ye's shoulder.

"Brother?" Yi Ye called softly, only hearing steady breathing. He didn't disturb him further, quietly gazing at the cosmic scenery outside the window.

Amid the bustling crowd, this spot felt like a lonely little world.

The dazzling starlight of the Milky Way shone through the window onto Yi Ye's youthful face, his brow bone slightly pronounced, and his eyes pitch black without a trace of impurity. Outside the spacecraft was the vast and distant interstellar world, making the spacecraft seem cramped and insignificant, like a tiny ant in a rainforest, unremarkable and insignificant. Yet, Yi Ye's presence gave this small vessel a unique significance.

Bai Chuan opened his eyes slightly and carefully gazed at that profile. He knew Yi Ye was as good-looking as anyone, and when he sat quietly, it made people want to trust, protect, and follow him. But only Yi Ye himself didn't realize this, thinking he was just ordinary. However, Bai Chuan had no doubt that if Yi Ye wanted, anyone would like him.

He suddenly felt a pang of regret.

He shouldn't have let Yi Ye accompany him to the Imperial Honor Military Academy. Perhaps Mr. Langley was right.

Time rewound to a few hours earlier.

As dawn rose on the horizon, the morning light carried a cold whiteness. After Yi Ye went upstairs to pack, only Bai Chuan and Kewen Langley remained in the study. Bai Chuan looked at the tall and burly man, keenly detecting a hint of heaviness beneath his deliberately relaxed expression.

When they saw the Zerg mech disappear in the basement, Mr. Langley had the same expression.

"Bai Chuan, I actually don't agree with Xiao Ye going to the military academy with you," Kewen Langley said solemnly.

Bai Chuan nodded: "I know."

"Ha, you're quite sharp," Kewen Langley rubbed his temples with a headache. "But I see he doesn't resist much himself, so forget it. Since he's already packing, I won't say more. But after entering the academy, don't let Xiao Ye get involved in the matters between the Zerg and the crown prince. It's too dangerous."

As he spoke, Kewen shook his head: "The Zerg killed your mother. I have no right to ask you to give up revenge. But Xiao Ye has nothing to do with these things. I hope he can always live carefreely, unafraid and unburdened."

Before Bai Chuan could speak, Kewen continued: "But I know that's impossible."

Bai Chuan remained silent for a moment: "You can stop him from going to the academy now."

"What about you?" Kewen smiled. "I know you want him to go. Although you two brothers don't talk much after differentiation, Dad knows you really like Xiao Ye."

Bai Chuan: "..."

"Besides, he's grown up. A man, after staying on this broken planet for 19 years, should go out and see the world. Dad doesn't ask for much. Just don't let him get crippled, don't let him die, and let him live well."

"I won't let him die."

Bai Chuan's voice was soft, but his tone was resolute.

Kewen burst out laughing: "That's good enough!"

...

His thoughts snapped back to the present.

Bai Chuan raised his eyes, his gaze settling on Yi Ye's chest, rising and falling with each breath.

Brother...

There's no way I'd let you get hurt for me.

...

After half an hour of watching the scenery, Yi Ye felt himself growing drowsy.

After everything that happened last night and the constant stress of the past ten days, his body was on the brink of collapse. As he relaxed, drowsiness enveloped him like warm spring water, and he couldn't suppress a yawn. He leaned against Bai Chuan and slowly closed his eyes.

Just as he was about to drift off, Yi Ye heard a sharp, piercing, yet oddly familiar sound.

"Game plot initiated. Key plot triggered. System activated."

………………What the hell?

Yi Ye struggled to open his eyes, but his body refused to obey. He couldn't speak or hear anything, as if trapped in a pitch-black void.

The hum of electric currents grew louder in his ears.

"Host... Host..."

Ethereal calls echoed around him, shifting from far to near, left to right, enveloping him in a 360-degree surround sound.

Yi Ye snapped, irritated: "What the hell are you yelling about?"

The moment he spoke, he froze. How was he able to talk again?

"Host, this is internal communication. And those calls weren't ghostly—they were the system expressing its deep longing for you." The voice stopped, coming from in front of him.

System?

"...I thought you were dead?"

The system paused, as if offended: "The system was inactive, not dead."

"Oh."

"Sounds like you were dead to me."

"..."

Yi Ye frowned: "What happened when you showed up seven years ago?"

"That was because the protagonist appeared, so the system was briefly activated."

He was dumbfounded: "So you can activate halfway and then just retreat on your own, huh?"

"Hehehe..."

The system's voice was emotionless, and its awkward laugh had a strangely comical feel to it.

Yi Ye mimicked its laugh: "Heh heh heh."

"Heh heh..."

"Heh, my foot! So what exactly are you here for this time?"

The system fell silent for two seconds before replying, "The system is here to issue a mission. The main storyline has begun, and the host should start taking action. The task is simple: simply protect the protagonist."

"Of course, he's my brother, so of course I'll protect him... Wait, when you say 'protect,' do you mean physically or emotionally?"

The system: "Both. On top of that, the host must protect the protagonist's chastity."

Yi Ye fell silent.

He imagined himself scratching his ear, thinking he must have misheard something. The system repeated itself. But it was clear, unmistakable, those same two words.

"You want me to protect the protagonist's chastity in an adult-rated game?"

"Yes."

"..." Yi Ye had encountered many situations where he wanted to complain but couldn't find the words. Only this time, the complaint was so overwhelming that he felt like spitting out blood in frustration. The original game was an adult-rated game! Wasn't this just asking him to become some kind of censor, censoring keywords everywhere, and go against the whole world?

"I can't do this job. Get someone else to do it."

The system panicked: "But if the host refuses, the protagonist will meet their end!"

Yi Ye froze: "What do you mean?"

The system's cold, mechanical voice echoed in his ears: "The timeline the host inhabits is both the present and the past. You can also think of it as a game reset. In the original timeline, this world had already collapsed. Six years later, the empire will be invaded by the Zerg, the royal family will fall, the army will be annihilated, and the entire empire will cease to exist. All of this occurred because the protagonist, Bai Chuan, died. That's why the system needs you to save the protagonist."

Yi Ye calmed down: "How could he possibly die?"

"Listen, host, in a collapsing world, anything can happen. The protagonist's exact cause of death is unclear, but based on the system's analysis, it was due to an emotional breakdown leading the protagonist into a self-destructive state. According to database analysis, people are most likely to develop strong emotional attachments during sexual activity. Therefore, the system has determined that you must protect the protagonist from the four male leads to avoid adult-rated scenarios."

"..."

Yi Ye thought he was calm, but hearing the system say all this still gave him a sense of absurdity, like Mars had collided with the Sun.

"Why do you think an expendable character like me can accomplish this?"

"Because the host is the most suitable candidate the system has found after extensive calculations. Only the host can complete this task."

"But I almost got blown up last night."

"The host won't die from such minor incidents," the system said calmly. "Didn't you make it out unscathed last night? The world doesn't care about the life or death of a side character. As long as it doesn't interfere with the main storyline, the host can avoid some insignificant deaths."

Insignificant deaths. Hearing this, Yi Ye didn't know whether to laugh or get angry. He had never known these two words could be combined.

"If the host completes the task, the system can grant one wish."

"I'm just an expendable character. I don't have any wishes."

The system denied this: "No, you do. Don't you want to see a world on the brink of destruction come back to life?"

The air suddenly froze.

This sentence was like a sharp sword. Yi Ye's breathing trembled slightly as he immersed himself in the darkness. No one knew what expression he was wearing. Only after a long while did he hear him laugh nonchalantly, "You can't even save this world. How are you going to save a world on the brink of destruction?"

"The system is incapable of saving," the mechanical voice echoed in Yi Ye's ears. "In this universe, only humans truly possess the wisdom and courage to turn defeat into victory. But the system can offer some minor aids, such as technology or medicine. Of course, after completing the task, the host can choose to return to the original world, which is entirely up to you. The host can, of course, choose to refuse and return to the original world, and then this world will be destroyed. However, could you really stand by and watch Bai Chuan walk to his death?"

Yi Ye thought of Bai Chuan.

That boy could really be a handful at times, and he always seemed to disdain his older brother.

Yi Ye had cursed him inwardly and felt a sense of disillusionment. The game characters, when faced in reality, were not as admirable as he had imagined. But they had lived together for seven years as family. Despite all the disputes, coldness, estrangement, and anger, there was no denying that Bai Chuan was his only younger brother, the person he, as an older brother, must protect.

He could watch him march towards becoming a glorious hero, but he could not let him walk towards death, becoming the root of destruction.

Yi Ye let out a sigh and a bitter laugh, exhaling a long, heavy breath: "Fine, I give up."

"Hehehe," came that creepy, emotionless chuckle again.

"Screw off, wake me up already!"

System: "Are you ready to start the mission now?"

Yi Ye chuckled, invisibly flipping the bird: "No."

"My butt's gone numb from sleeping."

...

The long hyperspace jump was nearing its end, between the galaxy and the spaceship, light and shadow fragmented in a dreamlike manner.

Yi Ye slowly opened his eyes and heard a gentle female voice announcing:

"Our final destination, the Imperial Honor Military Academy, is just ahead. All passengers of the Star Sea spaceship, please take your luggage and leave in an orderly manner after the spaceship docks. We wish you a pleasant journey, and the heart of the empire will always bless you..."

A bustling crowd filled the expansive port.

Yi Ye disembarked from the Star Sea spaceship, slinging a single-shoulder bag, and pushed through the crowd, looking up at the shuttling aircraft and hover cars among the clouds. A figure approached from the side, he withdrew his gaze, meeting Bai Chuan's deep blue eyes like the sea.

The boy's features were sharp and profound, as white as frost flowers in the deep winter morning, giving a sense of unapproachable aloofness. His blue eyes looked at him, the emotions within hard to discern.

He had always been like this, indifferent, without much warmth or emotion.

But there was no choice, who made him his older brother.

Yi Ye directly grasped the boy's hand, and under the other's startled expression, spoke: "Don't worry, big brother won't let you die."

Bai Chuan: "..."

Slap.

The other ruthlessly slapped his hand aside.