ISWTDB Ch124

Chapter 124: The Intersteller Mermaid (11, 12)

Having been dull for half a lifetime, Ying Xiaolin never imagined that one day he would sit at a table with his lover and children, enjoying a warm and happy meal together, talking and laughing. He had always longed for this but was too clumsy to know how to achieve it.

Facing such a heartwarming moment now, the usually stern Imperial Marshal couldn’t help but have tears in his eyes, truly grateful for the happiness he now possessed. He felt that everything was thanks to Yan Ning.

Yan Ning had always been by his side, persuading him, which was why he had changed. He didn’t know what Yan Ning had said to Ying Xiao and the others to make the children speak like that.

The Marshal looked at Yan Ning with gratitude. Yan Ning smiled and held Ying Xiaolin’s hand, then leaned over and kissed Ying Xiaolin’s forehead in front of Ying Zhao.

Ying Xiaolin blushed; after all, being close to Yan Ning in front of his children made him somewhat embarrassed. However, despite this, he did not refuse, which only made Yan Ning’s smile even brighter.

That night, the usually reserved and abstinent Marshal was particularly enthusiastic, wanting to express his gratitude in this way.

Yan Ning was surprised but also enjoyed this spontaneous gesture. Watching his blushing lover actively kiss and please him, he couldn’t help but think: indeed, aligning with Ying Xiao was definitely not a mistake!

While Marshal Ying and Yan Ning were passionately involved, despite the Marshal’s residence having good soundproofing, with Ying Zhao’s 3S physique and Cecil’s abnormal bloodline, eavesdropping didn’t require proximity at all.

That night, the two in bed looked at each other. Ying Zhao was somewhat taken aback by the intensity of his father’s situation, realizing that Yan Ning was indeed not an easy character. Luckily, he was wholeheartedly devoted to the Marshal, otherwise, it would have been quite troublesome.

Cecil, who was beside Ying Zhao, naturally heard about the situation with Marshal Ying and Yan Ning. Seeing his lover still awake, unsure of what he was thinking, he asked, “What’s wrong, can’t sleep?”

Ying Zhao responded with a sound and turned to look at Cecil. Seeing his partner still full of energy, he softly inquired, “Are you unable to sleep too?”

Cecil nodded and moved closer to Ying Zhao. The cool scent of his lover made him somewhat distracted. Taking a deep breath, he lightly kissed his beloved’s lips.

Feeling Cecil’s unstable breath, Ying Zhao was also somewhat moved. Considering the formal meeting today, they had passed and received family approval.

Ying Zhao understood Cecil’s joy and thought that Marshal Ying probably wouldn’t be paying attention to them, so he followed his heart’s desire.

Thus, both father and son had a particularly “happy” night, but Yan Ning and Cecil were even “happier.”

The next morning, Ying Zhao walked out while rubbing his waist, with Cecil sitting beside him on the mermaid car, gently supporting his waist.

At the same time, the door of the adjacent room opened, and Marshal Ying and Yan Ning emerged. While Marshal Ying didn’t rub his waist, Yan Ning was very attentive, actively helping him with a massage.

The father and son exchanged a glance, pausing for a moment, and saw the helplessness and embarrassment in each other’s eyes. Both pairs tacitly chose not to say more and went straight to the dining room to have breakfast together.

The previous night, Ying Xiaolin, having no idea what had happened with Ying Zhao, just noticed that his son’s state seemed somewhat similar to his own. However, Cecil, being a mermaid, shouldn’t have acted like that!

Before he could think more, he was interrupted by Yan Ning feeding him a fried egg. Ying Xiaolin blushed but still opened his mouth to accept it.

Looking at Ying Zhao beside him, Cecil mimicked the same actions as Yan Ning from the mermaid car. However, the interaction between Ying Zhao and Cecil seemed much more natural due to their daily interactions.

Seeing the happy smile in Ying Zhao’s eyes, Marshal Ying felt relieved. As long as his child was happy, it was better for the elder to not interfere too much.

After breakfast, Ying Zhao took Cecil back to their home. They quickly began training Cecil’s shapeshifting ability, and Cecil was exceptionally diligent in order to stay by Ying Zhao’s side.

Fortunately, the general’s apartment was well-equipped and spacious, making it convenient for their practice. Over a few days, Cecil’s control over his new abilities improved dramatically.

Ying Zhao discovered that Cecil’s strength was much greater than before; he could effortlessly lift even the huge decorative statue in the yard. He was indeed incredibly strong.

Moreover, Cecil’s agility was impressive. Initially, Ying Zhao could suppress him with battle experience during close combat, but soon, Cecil adapted to combat, and Ying Zhao found himself completely outmatched.

This delighted Ying Zhao, who wondered how Cecil would perform in a mecha. Thinking of this, he immediately turned his attention to the training chamber in the general’s mansion.

Since there was only one training chamber at home, which wasn’t enough for both of them, Ying Zhao quickly ordered a new one that was delivered the same afternoon.

Although their home wasn’t large enough for a real mecha, having a training chamber allowed them to connect to the star network for mecha simulation training.

Ying Zhao shared his idea with Cecil, who was eager to try. After preparing, they both entered the nutrient-filled training chambers.

This was Cecil’s first time dealing with mecha. Not knowing Cecil’s strengths, Ying Zhao initially chose a basic model for him. He also chose a light, agile mecha for himself, instead of the original combat mecha, planning to anonymously explore the star network with Cecil.

After all, Cecil needed practical experience, and he couldn’t expose his lover’s uniqueness. Fortunately, the star network had excellent confidentiality, allowing them to adjust their appearances.

Ying Zhao adjusted his virtual appearance on the Star Network to resemble his real-world self and chose a username called [Love Eating Fish]. Then, he quietly waited in the resting area for Cecil to arrive.

Before long, a man with fiery red hair entered the resting area. Cecil hadn’t made any significant changes to his appearance, except that the lines on his face were gone, making him look almost exactly like his human form in the real world.

Wearing a camouflage military uniform, Cecil looked especially sharp and charming. However, what caught Ying Zhao’s attention the most was Cecil’s username—[The General’s Mermaid].

Seeing that username, Ying Zhao couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He turned to Cecil and said, “Dear, how badly do you want people to know you’re my mermaid?”

Cecil froze for a moment when he heard Ying Zhao speak, then softly said, “Ying Xiao?”

Seeing Ying Zhao nod, Cecil reached out and gently stroked his face, over and over, his eyes filled with obvious affection and a hint of nostalgia.

This gesture deeply touched Ying Zhao’s heart. He knew that somewhere in his lover’s subconscious, Cecil had memorized his real-world appearance.

Leaning in, Ying Zhao whispered, “What, do you prefer how I look now?”

Cecil shook his head and gently kissed Ying Zhao’s forehead, solemnly saying, “I love you. I love the soul inside your body the most!”

Hearing Cecil’s words, Ying Zhao’s body trembled, and he could hardly resist the urge to push this seductive, yet unaware, man down and have his way with him on the spot.

Taking a deep breath, Ying Zhao tried to calm his emotions. Then he pointed at his own username and, with a smile, asked Cecil, “Do you like my name?”

Following Ying Zhao’s finger, Cecil saw his name and blushed. He bit his lip and whispered, “I’m willing, I’ll let you eat.”

Ying Zhao’s smile deepened. He leaned in and gently bit Cecil’s ear. With the training chamber set to 100% sensory feedback, Cecil could clearly feel Ying Zhao’s touch.

Feeling his lover tremble beside him, Ying Zhao playfully teased, “Then let’s wait until after training, back in the real world, to eat. I’ll need to think carefully—should I steam you, braise you, or just eat you raw!”

As he said this, Ying Zhao winked at Cecil, successfully watching his lover’s embarrassed face turn even redder, as if smoke was about to come out of his head.

After teasing Cecil enough, Ying Zhao pulled him into the mecha. He gave Cecil a detailed explanation of how to use the mecha and opened a private room to personally guide him in battle techniques.

With Ying Zhao’s careful teaching, Cecil quickly became familiar with the operation of the mecha. As expected, Ying Zhao discovered that Cecil’s mental strength was incredibly high, almost reaching a 100% match with the mecha.

The slight mismatch was probably due to Cecil’s unfamiliarity with the system. To fully master the use of a mecha, besides repeated basic training, the best method was actual combat.

Therefore, after confirming that Cecil had no issues operating the mecha in battle, Ying Zhao switched him to a multi-functional mecha suited to his combat style and directly took him to the arena.

Although Cecil excelled at long-range control, the arena battles were all close-quarters combat. Unlike Ying Zhao, who specialized in speed, the multi-functional mecha was the best choice for Cecil.

Bringing Cecil to the arena so soon wasn’t due to blind confidence in his lover. Over the past few days, Ying Zhao had fully realized Cecil’s strength.

When they sparred, Cecil always held back, which wasn’t beneficial for his improvement. Therefore, Ying Zhao needed to find other opponents on the Star Network for Cecil.

As for his lover’s username, Ying Zhao wasn’t too concerned. After all, as an Imperial General, he had a massive fan base. Choosing a cute name like this would at most make people think it was a die-hard fan of the General, and no one would really laugh at him for admiring an Imperial hero.

Since it was Cecil’s first time entering the arena with a mecha, his rank was still at level 0, meaning he could only fight mecha at the lowest level.

Ying Zhao wasn’t worried at all about Cecil fighting rookie opponents; he was certain his man would win. Cecil, however, was extremely nervous. Once they entered the arena, his whole body was tense, worried that he might lose and embarrass Ying Zhao.

However, when the real battle began, Cecil took down his opponent with just one attack. Stunned by the referee’s display showing he had won, Cecil turned to Ying Zhao with a bewildered look.

Seeing his lover’s dazed expression, Ying Zhao couldn’t help but smile. It was a bit unfair for someone who had already managed to spar with him to face a level 0 opponent.

After all, with Ying Zhao’s current combat power, it would be hard to find a worthy opponent, except for his own father and the formidable Yan Ning.

Since the arena was public, many people were shocked by Cecil’s skills. Initially, everyone thought it might have been a fluke or just luck.

But soon, Cecil proved it wasn’t an accident. Almost all beginner-level opponents were defeated by Cecil in an instant, with better ones falling in no more than three moves.

One of the defeated opponents, still unwilling to leave, shouted, “Don’t use a rookie disguise to crush us, God-level player!”

Cecil looked quite innocent, turning his gaze toward Ying Zhao in the stands. Although Ying Zhao couldn’t see Cecil’s face inside the mecha, he could tell from the mecha’s appearance that Cecil looked aggrieved.

Ying Zhao curled his lips and blew a kiss to Cecil. Instantly, the previously disheartened man looked rejuvenated and threw himself back into the mecha battle with renewed vigor.

Meanwhile, Bennett and Harrison, along with a few teammates, had also arrived on the Star Network.

A nationwide campus mecha simulation battle event would soon take place, divided into individual and team events. Students with outstanding performances could be selected by the military to become reserve members, leading to a brighter future.

For Harrison, his future was already very bright. As the Empire’s eldest prince and the future heir to the throne, he was guaranteed a brilliant future. However, as a representative of the royal family, he needed to win this competition to enter the military and establish his own influence.

The people around him were carefully chosen, and their backgrounds were impeccable. The Imperial Academy was a breeding ground for talent, and Harrison needed to build considerable prestige. Ideally, he wanted everyone to willingly follow him, which would later become part of his strength.

Once everyone was ready, Harrison smiled and said, “Alright, today we will mainly practice teamwork. This isn’t our first collaboration, so everyone should be familiar with their roles.”

Harrison emphasized everyone’s functions again, but when he spoke to Bennett, he noticed that Bennett seemed to be daydreaming.

Frowning in displeasure, Harrison gently tapped Bennett’s shoulder and asked, “Bennett, what are you thinking about?”

“Nothing, nothing!” Bennett, startled by Harrison’s question, snapped back to reality.

Lately, Bennett couldn’t help but log onto the Star Network whenever he had a moment, checking what Ying Zhao had posted recently.

Although he kept telling himself that his current strength was insufficient to challenge Ying Zhao and he shouldn’t waste too much energy on this, Bennett couldn’t control himself. His anxiety and frustration only grew, leaving him somewhat mentally unsettled.

Seeing Harrison’s puzzled expression, Bennett pinched his brow and impatiently added, “Don’t worry, I won’t cause any problems.”

Harrison nodded but felt increasingly dissatisfied. He had keenly noticed that Bennett had been off lately.

As a mecha engineer, Bennett was crucial to the team, responsible for maintaining all team members’ mechas.

Initially, Bennett had approached Harrison himself, sharing many innovative ideas about mecha manufacturing.

Harrison considered Bennett a talent with impressive results at the Imperial Academy and, given Bennett’s family background, invited him to join his team.

However, recently, Bennett had been dragging the team down during practice sessions. Although Harrison thought Bennett’s connection with the Austin family could be an asset, the national mecha competition was equally important.

This was a great opportunity for Harrison to shine, and he didn’t want Bennett to ruin it. Thinking of this, Harrison’s gaze toward Bennett grew calculating. Clearly, someone so arrogant and unaware of his own limitations was not reliable.

Not wanting to offend Bennett, Harrison issued a command for everyone to enter the simulation training room to start practicing once everyone was prepared.

But as he watched the holographic images of his teammates disappearing into the training room, Harrison’s mind was already working. If Bennett continued to be lackluster in practice, he might “accidentally” get injured and be unable to participate in the competition.

Although finding another mecha engineer on short notice would be troublesome, it was better than having a liability dragging the team down and risking losing the competition.

Meanwhile, Harrison’s group, busy with their practice in the simulation room, was unaware that the Star Network on the other end was buzzing with excitement.

“Oh my God, did you see? That [The General’s Mermaid] won again!”

“Yeah, yeah! Look at his stats on the screen! He hasn’t lost a single match, and has climbed straight from the beginner’s duel arena to the highest level!”

“Oh my God! He’s just so cool! Look at those moves, they’re incredible!”

“Is he really a newbie? Even experienced mecha warriors can’t last more than twenty moves against him. Could he be some top-level player in disguise, here just to crush the rookies?”

“No way, no way. I’ve been around the virtual network for decades! Every top-level player has their own battle tactics. But you see his skills, it’s clearly unfamiliar, maybe he’s a hidden genius. After all, the national mecha competition is just around the corner!”

The onlooker who made this remark had a knowing look, and another person, realizing this, nodded and commented, “No wonder there are always so many outstanding newcomers appearing just before big competitions. If this is true, then [The General’s Mermaid] will definitely be a dark horse in the mecha competition!”

As expected, Cecil continued to win match after match in the duel arena, reaching the highest level. Compared to the beginner’s duel zone, Cecil preferred the advanced areas.

Every time he fought a strong opponent, Cecil could always find new things to learn and identify his own shortcomings. Once he realized there was nothing new to learn from the opponent, he quickly defeated them.

Cecil’s growth was astonishing. Ying Zhao, sitting in the stands, watched as Cecil’s combat skills became more proficient and his overwhelming talent became increasingly apparent, and he couldn’t help but feel exhilarated. After all, every strong person wants to battle with another strong person.

So, after Cecil defeated yet another opponent, Ying Zhao jumped into the duel arena himself. Although he was in disguise, his original battle record in the arena allowed him to access the highest level of combat privileges.

Cecil didn’t expect Ying Zhao to join the arena personally. Hesitating, he asked, “Darling, why did you come?”

Ying Zhao took a deep breath, jumped into the selected mecha, and responded through the communicator, “Come on, let’s have a match. Give it your all!”

Cecil nodded upon hearing this, sensing Ying Zhao’s battle intent. Although he was reluctant to fight his lover and worried about him getting hurt, he understood that Ying Zhao, being a man, had a natural inclination for combat. It was clear that Ying Zhao wanted to have a fight, and if Cecil held back, his precious one would definitely be upset.

Thus, Cecil’s expression grew serious. Soon, the two engaged in a fierce battle, no longer focusing on teaching but fully immersing themselves in the fight.

Cecil’s mental strength and physique were much higher than Ying Zhao’s, but Ying Zhao had rich combat experience. For a while, they were evenly matched, both enjoying the fight immensely.

Naturally, Ying Zhao’s combat ability was much stronger than an ordinary opponent’s. When Cecil faced Ying Zhao’s full-on assault, he had to exert all his effort but also gained more from the experience.

The battle was thrilling, keeping the spectators on the Star Network on edge, fearing they might miss something. More and more fans gathered to watch. In the end, though Ying Zhao was fast, his stamina and endurance couldn’t match Cecil’s.

Under the immense mental strain, he eventually faltered and was pinned to the ground by Cecil. Both Cecil and Ying Zhao were breathing heavily, feeling the intense bloodlust that needed to be released.

Before the results could be announced, Cecil and Ying Zhao’s virtual forms vanished from the arena. Little did they know, Harrison and Bennett, who had finished their team practice, had also arrived at the scene.

Harrison’s eyes burned with excitement as he watched the two figures disappear before him, feeling a surge of excitement. He was already contemplating having his team investigate the true identities of these two individuals.