Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Bai Luming never imagined that He Yilan’s single word, "brother," would strike him with such force.

He actually couldn't sleep.

It was the first time in his life he had ever experienced insomnia.

Even during that legendary interstellar war years ago, he had slept soundly right up until it was time to head out, arriving on the battlefield well-rested and invigorated.

The night was deep, filled with the quiet rhythm of steady breathing.

Bai Luming lay awake until dawn, eventually drifting off without realizing it. When he heard a stir and opened his eyes again, the person standing by the bed was getting dressed. His gaze immediately fixed on the sleek, toned, and defined abdominal muscles.

A hazy thought flickered through Bai Luming's still-sluggish mind—*that’s a really good physique.*

He Yilan subtly sensed something and turned his head, catching Bai Luming’s unabashed stare. His movements paused mid-dressing: "See something you like?"

"Huh?" Bai Luming stirred awake at the sound, answering honestly, "Not bad at all."

He Yilan was silent for a few seconds before meticulously finishing dressing: "You must have slept soundly today, didn’t you? Even all the commotion downstairs couldn’t wake you."

*Slept soundly? Yeah, right! I didn’t sleep well at all!*

Bai Luming grumbled internally, only then noticing the genuine racket coming from downstairs.

He yawned leisurely and got out of bed, leaning over the loft railing to look down. Instantly, he understood the sudden burst of activity.

This year’s conscription list had been finalized, and families were bustling with preparations—some packing luggage, others tearfully bidding farewell. The lively scene was comparable to New Year's celebrations.

As another commotion erupted downstairs, Bai Luming was about to lean further when a hand suddenly reached from behind, wrapping around his front.

The half-embrace carried He Yilan’s faint scent. Bai Luming’s eyebrow twitched, but he didn’t push him away, merely turning back in confusion: "What are you doing?"

He Yilan glanced at him: "Button your shirt."

Following He Yilan’s gaze, Bai Luming noticed his half-open collar: "Oh."

In two days, it would be time to report to the fortress. The die was cast, and Bai Luming was too weary to struggle further.

In his final days, he hung a "Closed" sign outside his repair shop, said a temporary, reluctant goodbye to neighbors like Charlie, and thus concluded his three years of life in the lower district.

The only thing that surprised Bai Luming was that He Yilan hadn’t taken the opportunity to flee.

After all, Yi Lan was merely a false identity. Whether he abandoned it or returned to his rightful place, both were viable options. Yet, he had chosen to stay.

Two possibilities:

Either he had a reason he couldn’t return to Zhong Sheng Machinery yet;

Or, he had come to this barren planet with an original purpose, and the military fortress might be probabilistically linked to that objective.

But whatever He Yilan was up to, such high-level internal struggles were not the concern of a commoner like Bai Luming.

In a blink, the day to report to the fortress finally arrived.

Bai Luming and He Yilan arrived together at the registration point by the fortress gate.

They traveled light, without even a single backpack, a stark contrast to the many others bustling about with heavy luggage.

"Lu Ming, Yi Lan, correct?" The registrar confirmed their information, completed their identity scans, and cleared them for entry. "The assembly point for newcomers is at the Inspection Department, the third intersection on the left after entering. Someone will guide you through the physical fitness tests upon arrival."

"Okay, thank you." Bai Luming took their identification tags, just as a commotion erupted not far behind them.

The piercing roar of engines filled the air as a fleet of the latest model aircraft pulled up neatly at the intersection. Several individuals disembarked, surrounded by an entourage.

Bai Luming overheard someone whisper, "They actually came," and looked up to see a familiar face in the crowd.

Well, well, if it wasn’t his dear hundred-times, Pei Suqi, Young Master Pei.

They hadn’t seen each other since the repair fee was transferred—it felt like ages.

Compared to before, Pei Suqi’s face showed significantly less of his usual arrogance.

He followed quietly behind someone, surprisingly devoid of his usual swagger.

This prompted Bai Luming to take a closer look at the person leading the group.

Blond hair, blue eyes, tall and poised—even among the lavishly dressed entourage, he stood out strikingly.

*Who was that?*

People nearby were already whispering among themselves.

"Ji Xinghan actually came!"

"I heard the nobles from our upper district were coming for a 'group experience'—didn’t think it was true."

"Group experience? You don't get it, this is called 'gilding'."

"Don’t be so sour. Leaving aside the other families, Young Master Ji truly doesn’t need such honors. His entry into the military was always inevitable; participating in this reserve selection is just a formality."

"Exactly. Rumor has it the Golden Plume Legion already visited the Ji family to recruit him."

"So, does this mean someone from our planet might finally make it into the Four Great Legions this year?"

Recruited by the Golden Plume Legion?

Though Bai Luming didn’t know this Ji Xinghan, he was all too familiar with the Golden Plume Legion’s arrogance, a trait inherited from their marshal.

The upper-district families on this barren planet might be considered nobility here, but they were insignificant compared to the powerful clans of the Xuanwu Star Sector. For one of them to receive an early invitation, this Ji Xinghan must possess genuine ability.

Surprised, Bai Luming couldn’t help but want a better look.

He Yilan’s voice sounded beside him: "Not leaving yet?"

As a crowd gathered and blocked the view, Bai Luming waved dismissively: "Let’s go, let’s go."

Assembly Point.

From a distance, he could see a large pile of luggage of all sizes crammed into a corner—clearly, all the newcomers’ belongings had been confiscated.

Bai Luming and He Yilan, already packed light, passed inspection and entered without issue.

Inside the hall, everyone had formed lines, waiting their turn for the pre-enlistment physical fitness tests.

Bai Luming stood in line, his gaze settling on the left ear of the person in front of him, hidden slightly by their hair.

It was designed to closely resemble human skin, but upon closer inspection, the sutured seams at the connections were visible—clearly a cybernetic modification.

Seemingly noticing the gaze from behind, the originally closed seam suddenly expanded, and a miniature electronic eye emerged from within, staring directly into Bai Luming's eyes.

"What are you looking at?"

The person in front asked without turning their head, their electronic eye fixed on Bai Luming.

Bai Luming expressed admiration: "Your ear is pretty cool."

"Right? I think so too." The other was clearly pleased with the comment. "I saved up hard for over half a year to afford this upgrade. Guaranteed cool!"

Bai Luming gave a thumbs-up to the electronic eye, watching as the other retracted it back into his ear.

In this day and age, various forms of body modification are quite common, especially among soldiers who value strength. Many are more than willing to enhance their combat capabilities through such means.

Bai Luming stared at the other for a while longer, then instinctively scratched his own earlobe.

For some reason, it felt a bit itchy too.

As one physical exam after another was completed, emotionless electronic voices echoed from various stations.

"Beep—! Chen Ke, mechanization coefficient: 198."

"Beep—! Wang Qian, mechanization coefficient: 60."

"Lucy, mechanization coefficient: 97."

"Beep—! Li Yang, mechanization coefficient: 0."

...

Finally, it was Bai Luming's turn.

"I'll go first."

Bai Luming said to He Yilan and stepped into the testing pod.

As the machine started up, the scan display was projected onto the screen in front of the technicians.

He Yilan, who had been standing there indifferently, caught a casual glimpse of the newly displayed body scan page on the screen and paused abruptly.

This military physical examination focused mainly on mechanization modification aspects of the body. At that moment, a red highlighted area prominently appeared on the interface representing Bai Luming's body schematic—right on the chest.

It was a mechanical heart.

He Yilan suddenly recalled the faint glimmer he had caught that day in the repair shop.

So, it really wasn't his illusion after all.

The testing pod door opened, and Bai Luming stepped out looking composed. The mechanical voice announced: "Examination complete, Bai Luming, mechanization coefficient: 15."

The inspector glanced at the simultaneously printed test slip and nodded understandingly. "Oh, had heart problems before?"

Bai Luming took the slip from the inspector. He initially wanted to say it wasn't exactly that, but after a slight twitch of his lips, he decided he couldn't be bothered to explain.

He Yilan entered the testing pod and soon received his results.

As expected, despite Zhong Sheng Machinery mastering the most advanced mechanical technology, the person in charge's level of mechanization remained zero.

After completing the physical examination segment, all newly reported recruits uniformly proceeded to the assigned quarters.

Bai Luming walked ahead, sensing the gaze on his back, and said without turning around: "Don't even think about it; I won't tell you the heart model. Proprietary technology, no leaks."

"I didn't want to know, just curious." He Yilan watched Bai Luming's back. "You never told me you underwent a cardiac modification before."

Bai Luming shrugged it off: "Worth mentioning? It's not exactly something to boast about."

He Yilan pondered for a moment: "True."

Body modification is indeed very popular nowadays, but compared to enhancements in other areas, the heart isn't typically seen as a self-strengthening modification—it leans more toward medical applications.

Had heart disease in the past?

Although modern medicine has long since resolved the crisis of such diseases, looking at this energetic figure before him, He Yilan found it hard to imagine what this person might have looked like when ill.

The person walking ahead suddenly stopped and turned around: "If you keep looking at me like that, I can't promise I won't seize the opportunity to increase the repayment from tenfold to a hundredfold."

He Yilan grew slightly curious: "What kind of look am I giving you?"

Bai Luming thought of a few words: "Longing, hesitant, tender gaze?"

He Yilan: "...Not that bad."

He looked at Bai Luming and said: "It's just that this test result made me think of a question."

Bai Luming raised an eyebrow: "What?"

"I don't think I've ever seen what you look like without your clothes on." He Yilan's words were calm and measured. "But you, on the other hand, have already seen me from head to toe."

After a pause, he added: "More than once."

Silence.

A brief silence.

Bai Luming finally spoke up: "Is it really appropriate to flirt so openly?"

He Yilan wasn't thrown off by the interruption: "So, I really haven't truly gotten to know you from the start, have I, my boss?"

Bai Luming answered with an ambiguous chuckle: "What makes you say that? Have you ever let me get to know you?"

The two stood by the roadside, their gazes locked for a long moment.

After a while, Bai Luming stretched lazily: "In the end, we're just strangers thrown together. But if necessary, I think... there will be plenty of time for deeper understanding in the future."

He Yilan considered the meaning behind those words and smiled slightly: "Indeed, if it comes to that. When the time comes, I hope I'll have the honor to examine your heart."

"I told you, proprietary technology, no leaks."

Bai Luming flatly refused the request. "Rather than dwelling on such irrelevant matters, I think you should focus on more immediate concerns."

He Yilan: "Such as?"

"Such as the upcoming new recruit training," Bai Luming replied. "From what I know, all military districts like to make an impression on new recruits—not just to assess their overall quality, but also to facilitate better military discipline in the future."

He slowly looked He Yilan up and down, his eyes speaking volumes without words, before finally offering a very benevolent smile: "Are you sure you're ready, Mr. He Yilan?"

He Yilan: "..."