Chapter 360: Epilogue

Chapter 360 Epilogue

Qi Yi's mind went blank, and under the expectant gaze of the Guide, he nodded in a daze.

Lu Liu then leaned in to kiss him.

It was less of a kiss and more of a lick and bite—his teeth nipped at the skin, sucking like an infant, moving down from the Sentinel’s brow bone, kissing and biting all the way, leaving deep pink marks on the chocolate-colored skin, like he’d been dusted with strawberry sugar.

Qi Yi furrowed his brows slightly. A Sentinel’s senses were naturally sharper than an ordinary person’s, and the strangeness of the sensations made his scalp prickle. Whether it was the wet, soft brush of lips and tongue, the sharpness of teeth, or the Guide’s soothing licks after marking him, it all made his body tense involuntarily.

And yet, the Guide kept praising him relentlessly.

Lu Liu kissed the Sentinel’s eyelashes and exclaimed, “Wow, Qi Yi, your eyelashes are so long and beautiful.” Then he kissed his Adam’s apple and marveled again, “It trembles when kissed—so round, like a chocolate truffle.” Before the Guide could even finish his admiration, Qi Yi let out a muffled sound.

Thinking he had bitten too hard, Lu Liu blew on it gently to ease the sting, then licked the spot again.

Qi Yi lifted an arm to cover his eyes, his voice rough with frustration. “Enough.”

The overhead light shone directly on his skin, making him feel dizzy.

Lu Liu had no awareness of turning off the lights. He let the chocolate hue spread before him, slick with sweat, the light casting a glossy sheen like cake glaze or the glossy shell of candy.

At this moment, the Sentinel was the most tempting dessert in the Guide’s eyes.

Unable to endure the Guide’s blatant scrutiny, Qi Yi ground out, “Lu Liu…”

But he couldn’t bring himself to continue.

The Guide nibbled at the flesh beneath his palm like it was bread, casually grabbed one long leg, and took a playful bite, then traced his gaze along the straight, beautiful lines downward—

The Sentinel often exercised, his legs toned with just enough softness, slightly yielding under the pressure of fingers.

Lu Liu breathed admiringly, “Qi Yi, your legs are so long, so straight, so beautiful.”

Qi Yi’s lips moved faintly, murmuring, “Enough…”

But his voice was too hoarse, and Lu Liu ignored it, continuing his praise, “Even your ankles are beautiful.”

“……”

Qi Yi’s feet tensed, his toes curling slightly.

It was too bizarre.

The stimulation from the Guide was slight—just kisses and compliments, like feathers brushing against his skin, harmless yet maddeningly ticklish. These tiny sensations piled up, eventually turning into quiet torture.

He couldn’t take the Guide’s scrutinizing gaze any longer. In one swift motion, he flipped over, pinning the Guide’s hands above his head in a dominant position.

Lu Liu blinked up, wide-eyed and innocent.

“W-what’s wrong?”

The Guide asked nervously.

“……”

Qi Yi couldn’t decide whether to be pissed or give up. The Guide’s behavior was just like his clueless guinea pig—clueless even as he licked and bit.

Qi Yi couldn’t stay mad at him.

Finally, he just said hoarsely and muffled, "I'll take care of it."

Lu Liu blinked and happily relinquished control, lying flat on his own.

Even so, he still remembered his companions' teachings and occasionally offered honest praise: "Qi Yi, I like this, it feels good."

The only replies were the veins bulging on the sentinel's neck and arms, and the cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

...

When the sentinel finally collapsed from exhaustion, the guide clung to him, completely sated.

Lu Liu, happy and delighted, kissed Qi Yi's flushed pink cheeks and nuzzled contentedly against him.

He mumbled, "Love this! Marry me, marry me!"

This was what Jiang Xun had taught him—comfort and promises. Yes, exactly, that's how it should be.

Qi Yi felt more drained than after ten back-to-back drills, unable to even lift his eyelids, half-asleep as he slurred in agreement, "Okay, marry... marry."

He pulled the guide closer into his embrace and fell asleep.

Not long after, a dark shape appeared beside Qi Yi.

—Qi Yi was spent, but Caesar remained restless.

The leopard had been tracking the guide's scent long ago and had been eager to emerge, but Qi Yi had suppressed it until now, when it finally found an opportunity.

It keenly detected an unusual scent lingering in the air, one it had never smelled before. Caesar cocked its large head suspiciously, unable to pinpoint the source.

It smelled like Qi Yi and Lu Liu, but also... a little different?

Puzzled, it prowled along the bedside before finally giving up and deciding to squeeze between the guide and the sentinel.

Unfortunately, the two on the bed were too closely tangled together, leaving no space for the cheetah to slip in. It could only curl up dejectedly at the foot of the bed.

Some time later, another spirit quietly appeared by the bedside.

The guide's guinea pig blithely climbed over the sleeping sentinel and guide, scampering with little pattering sounds to the foot of the bed before taking a leap and rolling straight into the cheetah's belly.

It looked up at Caesar and peeped, "Vie~"

Caesar grabbed it and licked it twice, while the guinea pig excitedly darted around the cheetah. Both creatures sensed that something was supposed to happen.

"..."

"..."

But... what was supposed to happen?

The two gazed at each other - tiny rodent facing massive predator.

But due to the vast size disparity, Caesar simply curled its tail possessively around the guinea pig, ignoring the strange sensation, and pulled it close to sleep.

The next day, Qi Yi was in no shape to go skiing.

He insisted he was fine, but Lu Liu took his friends' advice to heart and forcefully pinned the sentinel to the bed, making him rest for another day.

That night, the two stargazed on the balcony, engaging in some undemanding activities before their lips meeting again beneath the stars.

Lu Liu eagerly anticipated as usual: "Qi Yi, I love this, can I have more?"

Qi Yi averted his gaze, not daring to meet his Guide's eyes. After hesitating for a moment, he still agreed.

The following days were slow and easy.

They stayed at the resort for seven days in total—they went skiing, soaked in hot springs, and hiked snowy mountains to watch the moon and stars—days that were relaxed and carefree.

The second-to-last day of the seven was the most significant holiday in the Sentinel and Guide world: the Winter Festival.

That evening, they rented a small cabin equipped with pots, firewood, and various ingredients, planning to cook hot pot themselves.

Outside the window, snow blanketed the ground, while the iron pot bubbled away. Qi Yi worked the pot with two long chopsticks, carefully stewing beef and vegetables one by one.

Lu Liu was assigned a simpler task: boiling water and fixing hot chocolate.

Once it was ready, he held the cup and sat across from the Sentinel, watching the steam curl up and soften his sharp features.

Lu Liu thought to himself, "Qi Yi is really handsome."

Meanwhile, Qi Yi also peered through the steam at his Guide's face. Lu Liu cradled his hot chocolate, eyes crinkling with pleasure, looking as satisfied as his Guide's little guinea pig.

"Lu Liu," Qi Yi said as he slid meat slices into the pot, suddenly speaking up. "You know, it's been many, many years since I last celebrated the Winter Festival."

The Sentinel rarely shared his past—whether it was the bleak years in the orphanage or the early loss of his brother and adoptive parents in the border star systems. It was as if he had sealed away those memories beneath his indifferent exterior, until that one mental scan when Lu Liu managed to get a glimpse.

Lu Liu paused what he was doing and tilted his head. "Hmm?"

Qi Yi continued stirring the meat. "When I was very young, there were celebrations. Back then, I was in the orphanage, and the headmaster would make a big hot pot for the Winter Festival, inviting all the children to eat. But..."

Lu Liu looked at him with concern. "But?"

Qi Yi smiled faintly. "But I often broke things—shattered bowls, ruined mops. I was the teacher's least favorite child, so during the Winter Festival, they would place me at the very end of the line."

Lu Liu listened attentively.

Qi Yi continued, "Back then, there were many children, and each had to step forward one by one, say their holiday greetings to the headmaster and teachers, and only then could they take food from the pot. But there was never enough meat. By the time it was my turn, all that was left were wilted greens."

During the Winter Festival, Qi Yi was the leftover scraps no one wanted.

This was, of course, not a pleasant memory, and as an adult, Qi Yi had never shared it with anyone else.

But now, on this warm winter night, beside his Guide, he suddenly felt the urge to speak—to show his younger self exactly as he was and present him to Lu Liu.

Lu Liu said, "From now on, there will be meat. There will always be meat."

He fished out slices of meat from the pot and placed them in Qi Yi's bowl with his chopsticks, his face dead serious, as if to say, "You can have as much as you want."

The Sentinel let out a quiet laugh.

He lowered his head to take a bite of the meat, his face softened in the firelight.

This was one of the few times he'd felt this at peace in the first half of his life.

Lu Liu asked, "What happened after that? Did you celebrate the Winter Festival later on?"

Qi Yi also scooped out a slice of cooked meat and placed it in Lu Liu's bowl. Recalling the distant past, he continued, "Later, I was adopted and got to celebrate Winter Festival for a few years, eating proper holiday meals. But my brother left too soon, and so did my adoptive parents. So for many years, I haven't celebrated the Winter Festival."

Dark Sentinels usually went it alone. Holidays always felt too sappy, something Qi Yi used to brush off. Back then, he figured solitude suited him fine. But now... sitting here with Lu Liu, he suddenly realized—he still very much wanted to celebrate.

Or perhaps, what he truly wanted was that home where they could celebrate the holidays together.

Lu Liu lowered his gaze to the slice of meat the sentinel had placed in his bowl. Coated in a glossy red sauce, it looked delicious. Normally, Lu Liu would have started eating immediately, but this time, he hesitated, then picked it up with his chopsticks and returned it to the sentinel’s bowl.

Lu Liu said, "It's okay. From now on, we'll spend every holiday together, every year."

He gestured slightly. "Actually, not just holidays. After we get married, I can move out of the White Tower and live in that house between the White Tower and the sentinel's office. Then, we’ll be together every day."

According to what he had learned from the hosts, after marriage, people usually moved out of their parents' homes to start new families. Since Lu Liu had no parents, leaving the White Tower seemed sufficient.

The sentinel's voice softened. "Mm."

After a pause, he resumed his usual tone and added, "So… when are we getting married?"

Lu Liu blinked.

Jiang Xun had once told him that after intimacy, some people might feel uncertain and seek reassurance by asking questions like, “When will we get married?” In such cases, one should never refuse but respond sincerely and enthusiastically.

Back then, when the sentinel woke up and acted as if nothing had happened, Lu Liu had felt quite frustrated. Why wasn’t his partner seeking reassurance? He hadn’t realized that Qi Yi was simply slower to bring it up—only now voicing what he had been thinking.

Therefore, Lu Liu gave the reply he had long prepared: "We’ll get married right after we return."

True to his word, the very day they returned, he began making wedding arrangements.

The wedding of the White Tower's Chief and the Sentinel Commander was a major event, and the White Tower quickly sprang into action, sending numerous plans for Lu Liu and Qi Yi to choose from.

Lu Liu didn't mind either way, while Qi Yi preferred something low-key.

They decided on a small banquet for close friends and family, avoiding any grand spectacle, and there would be no changes to the current division of duties among the White Tower's sentinels.

Lu Liu had few close relationships—he didn’t plan to invite anyone. Qi Yi had more, including Ji Xiuyun, and in the end, their guest list totaled only thirty people.

While preparing the invitations, Qi Yi double-checked, "Lu Liu, are you really not inviting anyone? No classmates, mentors, or colleagues?"

The body's original classmates and mentors weren’t truly Lu Liu’s, and he wasn’t particularly close with any colleagues. So Lu Liu replied, "Right, not a single one."

Qi Yi: "Alright, then I’ll have them prepare thirty invitations."

Lu Liu blinked. "Forty-one."

Qi Yi was puzzled. "Forty-one?"

Lu Liu: "I need eleven."

Though unsure what the guide intended, Qi Yi prepared forty invitations and handed eleven to Lu Liu without further question.

That night, Lu Liu stared at the blank invitations, brainstorming.

Following human tradition, he carefully wrote: "Wedding Celebration, Joyful Feast, hosted by Lu Liu..."

After filling in the names—Xie Yu, Lin You, Xiao Shao, and others—Lu Liu took a deep breath and wrote the final name:

"Central Administration Main System"

Of course, none of these invitations could actually be delivered. Each host resided in a different world. But Lu Liu neatly photographed each invitation and sent a direct message to each host.

"Guess what? I'm getting married!"

The replies came swiftly, flooding in with notifications. Everyone offered congratulations, and some even said, "Our Lu Liu is finally tying the knot!"

"Mm-hmm!" Lu Liu replied. Despite the joyous occasion, he inexplicably felt the urge to cry. In the end, he opened the group chat, typing and deleting, deleting and typing again.

He said, "Although some in the group didn’t pass, and others scored low, I care about every one of you."

"I’m really happy to have spent this time with all of you. Every memory makes me happy."

Jiang Xun was the first to respond: "Me too!"

Then, everyone in the group replied: "Me too!"

It was unclear who started it, but suddenly the chat was flooded with: "66, may you stay happy forever!"

And so, everyone followed suit: "66, may you stay happy forever!"

Lu Liu clasped his hands together: "Same to all of you!"

After the lively wave of blessings, the group chat fell silent again. Lu Liu climbed up to the rooftop. He didn’t have the contact information for the Central Administration’s AI core, so after much deliberation, he decided to copy the hosts’ ritual of offering to spirits—by burning the invitation.

Lu Liu thought guiltily—the Central Administration’s AI core kinda counts as a spirit, right?

Under the dark night sky, he lit a bright flame and placed the invitation into it.

Clasping his hands together, Lu Liu spoke earnestly toward the vast starry sky: "Great AI Core, I’m about to get married. This is my invitation."

He watched as the flames consumed the invitation. After waiting a moment and receiving no reply, he hung his head, disappointed.

Of course. He was human now—he couldn’t just call it up like before.

So, Lu Liu swept away the ashes and prepared to leave, when suddenly, he felt a faint voice echo in his head.

The AI core said with a laugh: "Congratulations. Lu Liu has grown up—old enough to marry now."

"I’ve prepared one last gift for you. Wishing my little system a happy life~"

And so, Lu Liu’s eyes welled up again.

He nodded firmly: "Mm-hmm!"

It’ll happen—absolutely!

He and all his hosts will!

-END-

Author's Note:

Writing "THE END" leaves me feeling bittersweet. Unknowingly, I’ve been writing this for over a year. When I started, I never imagined it would turn out this long or take this much time. There were some chapters that were a struggle, and others that I loved dearly. Thank you to everyone who’s made it this far—thank you for reading, commenting, bookmarking, and supporting with thunder, virtual gifts, and more. It’s because of all of you that I could write till here. You’re all little angels! I’m also really happy my words could bring you a bit of joy. I hope all of you, like 66, find happiness and fulfillment in the future~

Next, I’ll be posting wedding extras for this arc, followed by full-story extras—mainly filling in some highly requested scenes I didn’t get to write before, plus a cute little extra where everyone turns into animals~ And since you’ve made it this far, how about giving me an author follow? *knocks bowl* Also, I’ve got lots of upcoming projects—take a peek if any catch your eye~ Mwah! (づ￣3￣)づ╭~