ISWTDB Ch128

Chapter 128: Intersteller Mermaid (19, 20)

He understood Ying Zhao’s intention; it was a gesture of gratitude towards him. However, this was, after all, his partner’s secret. Even though Yan Ning had a strong sense of possessiveness towards Ying Xiaolin, he preferred to choose to respect his partner. Moreover, he believed that his lover would never harm him.

But now, his lover had opened the secret compartment right in front of him, and Yan Ning couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional.

He looked at the box in his hand, a bit puzzled, and glanced at Ying Xiaolin. He saw the other blushing, coughing lightly, and saying to him, “Open it and see.”

Yan Ning, hearing this, opened the box. Inside, he found a bronze badge lying quietly, and his face involuntarily showed a hint of disappointment.

Seeing Yan Ning like this, Ying Xiaolin asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

Yan Ning pursed his lips, shook his head, and said somewhat dejectedly, “I thought there would be an engagement ring inside…”

Upon hearing his lover’s words, Ying Xiaolin couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. He said to Yan Ning, “Take a closer look. Don’t you think this bronze badge looks familiar?”

Upon hearing this, Yan Ning picked up the bronze badge from the box and examined it closely, only to find that the badge actually belonged to him. It was the badge issued to each person when they first joined the First Corps.

There were some scorch marks on it, indicating it had been kept for a long time. At that time, he wasn’t yet Ying Xiaolin’s adjutant; they were equals as comrades.

Back then, because Ying Xiaolin was usually serious and rigid, he didn’t have many friends around him, except for Yan Ning, who shared a dormitory with him and had always been on good terms with him.

The two of them remained unnoticed in the First Corps for a full two years until the Zerg invaded, and they joined the war. In that battle, Ying Xiaolin secretly infiltrated the Zerg’s temporary nest to destroy it but was discovered and besieged.

At a critical moment, Yan Ning recklessly rushed to save him, almost using a self-destructive method to annihilate the surrounding Zerg, but in doing so, he sustained severe injuries.

However, it was also that battle that earned them both great merit, allowing them to gain significant respect among their comrades. He still remembered that from then on, Ying Xiaolin had always taken good care of him.

Ying Xiaolin achieved more military merits in that battle than he did, and since then, he had always served as his adjutant. His lover was very grateful for his life-saving act and treated him very well.

But Yan Ning knew deep down that the reason he had risked his life was because, from the moment he first saw Ying Xiaolin, he had fallen in love with this somewhat dull and rigid man. And as their relationship deepened, his feelings grew stronger.

However, Yan Ning understood that Ying Xiaolin had never considered being with a man. He had always intended to marry a mermaid, as his family had arranged, which was why he had suppressed his emotions.

Until recently, after that drunken mishap, when he couldn’t suppress his desire and consumed his beloved, he discovered that Ying Xiaolin had a surprisingly adorable side, and it seemed he didn’t entirely reject him.

But as for the bronze badge in front of him, he distinctly remembered losing it on the battlefield while saving Ying Xiaolin. He never expected it to appear in this small box now.

Yan Ning looked at Ying Xiaolin with some confusion, and then he heard Ying Xiaolin say to him, “This bronze badge was actually found later when others were cleaning up the battlefield. I’m sorry I didn’t return it to you and instead kept it by my side all this time. Because every time I see this badge, I’m reminded of how you rushed to save me back then, risking everything. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Hearing his lover’s words, Yan Ning smiled and shook his head. “I didn’t intentionally save you; it was all instinctive. I just knew I couldn’t stand by and watch you get hurt. In the First Corps, I never really had any particular desires. I just found life boring and needed something to do, and then I met you. So, what I’ve always wanted was just you. Now that you’ve given me what I want, my life is complete. Xiaolin, don’t dwell too much on the past.”

Ying Xiaolin, upon hearing Yan Ning’s words, felt even more moved. His expression softened. The repair chamber could heal scars and wounds, but the dangers and pain Yan Ning had endured for him were real.

But that injury wasn’t the only one. Even though he reminded himself after that incident to treat Yan Ning well and repay him, every time they encountered danger on the battlefield, it was still Yan Ning who protected him.

Thinking of this, Ying Xiaolin felt even more guilty towards Yan Ning. He took a deep breath and suddenly hugged him tightly.

Leaning close to his ear, he whispered, “Yan Ning, showing you this bronze badge isn’t just to thank you for saving me back then. I want to tell you that every time I see this badge, I’m terrified—terrified that you’ll get hurt or even die saving me, terrified that you’ll leave me!”

“I’ve doubted everyone, but I’ve never doubted you. I always thought you were someone who stood by my side purely for the sake of our nation, without expecting anything in return. But I never thought…” At this point, Ying Xiaolin blushed.

A smile played on Yan Ning’s lips. He kissed Marshal Ying’s nose and continued, “Never thought that I had an ulterior motive, and that motive was you, the Marshal of the Empire.”

Ying Xiaolin shook his head vigorously at this, saying, “Rather than saying you’re the one who can’t leave me, it’s actually me who can’t leave you. I’ve been too foolish in the past, never seeing my own heart clearly. Yan Ning, in my heart, you’re more important than you realize!”

This was the first time in his life that Yan Ning had heard Ying Xiaolin make such a solemn confession to him, causing him, who usually had deep emotions, to be moved to the point where his eyes turned red, and he didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

Then, Ying Xiaolin opened the desk drawer, took out a small black box, and opened it in front of Yan Ning.

Inside the box lay two simple rings. Ying Xiaolin looked at Yan Ning affectionately, with a gentle smile, and softly asked, “Yan Ning, will you officially become my partner? From now on, let’s never be apart!”

As he spoke, Marshal Ying, with a determined attitude, took one of the rings and placed it on Yan Ning’s ring finger. Then, he took out the other one and was about to place it on his own hand when Yan Ning snatched it away.

Yan Ning held Ying Xiaolin’s hand, his eyes red, and placed the ring on Ying Xiaolin’s finger, then planted a devout kiss on the ring, followed by a kiss on the lips of the man in front of him.

Yan Ning’s voice was hoarse from emotion. He took a deep breath and said to Ying Xiaolin, “Xiaolin, do you know? This is the most beautiful love confession I’ve ever heard in my life!”

Ying Xiaolin gently stroked Yan Ning’s hair, seeing his own reflection in the long, narrow fox-like eyes of the man in front of him, and smiled contentedly. Then he initiated a kiss on his lover’s lips.

While kissing him, he whispered softly, “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been too dull, but I’ll learn! Yan Ning, will you teach me? Teach me, okay?”

Yan Ning nodded, looking at his lover, who was serious even in matters like this, which made him seem adorable. He responded to his lover’s kiss with tenderness and then showed him through actions the most intimate things between those who love each other.

With their fingers interlocked, Yan Ning looked at the matching rings on their fingers and finally felt that his life was truly complete. As he enjoyed the sweetness of his lover, he kept thinking in his heart.

Once everything is settled later, I should tell him about my lineage and the situation with Cecil. After all, he’s the partner I’ve chosen for life, and I don’t want to hide anything important from him.

Otherwise, if Xiaolin finds out on his own later and feels deceived, it would be bad if he gets angry and gives me a beating. But what I really can’t stand is the thought of having to eat vegetarian meals and sleep on the couch.

Meanwhile, Ying Zhao slept soundly in Cecil’s arms, unaware that he was about to be betrayed by his future stepfather. However, when Ying Zhao woke up the next morning, his partner was nowhere to be found.

Ying Zhao knew he had returned to his dormitory early to prepare. Sure enough, there was breakfast made by his lover in the kitchen.

While eating breakfast, worrying about his lover’s hard work, Ying Zhao was certain that this would probably be the scene every night from now on.

Today’s training for the personnel was according to the plan from yesterday. Everyone was scattered, joining two different teams, and then engaged in battle.

In fact, the reason for this arrangement was not only to train the students’ individual combat abilities but also to bring Cecil into everyone’s view.

Ying Zhao knew his lover would surely be one of the leaders and that he would excel when they eventually joined the military.

Most of these students from the Imperial Academy would become the backbone of the military in the future.

Ying Zhao wanted to showcase Cecil’s strength early on, so that once everyone eventually worked together in the military, they would naturally follow the strongest. This would also shorten the time needed for them to get accustomed to each other.

When you deeply love someone, you naturally plan for their long-term future.

Ying Zhao watched Cecil strategize and command on the battlefield, feeling that the aura of a leader seemed to be ingrained in his very bones.

However, since he lacked experience leading an entire group in battle, he initially appeared slightly weaker compared to Harrison.

Cecil’s combat prowess was formidable, but group battles are not a one-person show; what’s most important is overall control of the battlefield.

Harrison, who had received royal training in this area from a young age, was indeed more dominant than Cecil at the start. However, Cecil was adept at learning and self-improvement.

Throughout the battle, he continuously made progress. By the end of the first day’s practice, Cecil’s team was able to hold its own against Harrison’s.

Many students were surprised by Cecil’s performance, as they could clearly see that when he first started commanding them, he was a complete novice, unfamiliar with the intricacies involved.

But the speed at which this person improved was astonishing. To achieve such progress in such a short time was nearly impossible, making it clear that he was a genius in command.

By the second day of battle practice, Cecil’s team was already capable of defeating Harrison’s, though only by a narrow margin. The result was still shocking.

It’s worth noting that Harrison was a top student, known for his dual studies in Mecha Combat and Command, consistently ranking among the best. He was one of the most popular royal members in recent years.

So, defeating Harrison was undeniably something to be proud of. However, by the third day, Harrison was clearly unable to suppress Cecil’s momentum, as Cecil continued to improve at an astonishing rate.

Ying Zhao spent a week conducting these team battles, and from the third day onward, the teams were completely reshuffled every day.

This meant that aside from Harrison and Cecil, the leaders, the members of the two large teams were randomly selected through drawing lots each day.

This was also to prevent any one leader from becoming too prominent, which could result in one-sided battles and demoralize the losing team’s students.

This way, the students would face new challenges every day, battling different opponents, which was highly beneficial for their development.

Of course, this also posed a challenge for the leaders. Due to the instability of their teams, they couldn’t communicate or strategize in advance. Everything relied on improvisation and real-time control of the battlefield situation.

Thus, both Harrison and Cecil steadily improved their leadership and combat abilities. However, Cecil’s rate of improvement was unparalleled.

By the last three days, Cecil’s team consistently outperformed Harrison’s.

Witnessing Cecil’s strength firsthand, many students began to admire this red-haired man who had suddenly joined the Mecha Combat Department.

They hadn’t expected this new arrival at the Imperial Academy to be so formidable, possibly a genius discovered by a prominent family and then sent here.

Having personally witnessed his lover’s growth, Ying Zhao felt immense pride and a deep sense of accomplishment.

After seven days, Ying Zhao felt that all the students had sufficiently honed their individual combat skills, so he began training them in small group battles.

For this part of the training, Ying Zhao chose a more conventional and traditional method, returning everyone to their small teams and sending them into the simulated forest in the star network for battles.

The teams had to survive in the forest, adapt to the environment, and then find and engage other teams. Capturing the other teams’ signature bronze badges was considered a victory.

Each cycle lasted three days, and at the end of each cycle, the team with the most badges would be declared the winner.

This was the same format used in the real Mecha Grand Tournament team battles, so training in this way would better prepare them for the competition.

It must be said that in this interstellar era, the simulated forests in the virtual network were incredibly realistic, almost indistinguishable from reality.

Although it was virtual, the sensory experience was incredibly real, with 100% tactile synchronization.

The star beasts and Zerg within the forest were also part of the students’ trials, so they would face many unknown dangers.

They would have to live in this environment for three days as if they were truly in the wild. The nutrient solution in the training pods would sustain them during these three days.

Such a simulation wasn’t just for the tournament; the military also had similar training programs to help them adapt to wilderness survival.

The simulated star beasts and Zerg could be hunted for food. If they had enough combat power, they could capture them and even enjoy a virtual feast.

Though it wouldn’t change their hunger level, it would satisfy their cravings. However, it was clear that most teams weren’t particularly interested in hunting star beasts for food.

This realistic combat scenario kept the students’ nerves on edge. Some teams even found a good ambush spot on the first day, staying put and waiting for other teams to pass by before launching an attack.

In such a competition, as long as they didn’t break the rules, Ying Zhao wouldn’t stop them from using any method to achieve victory.

Moreover, facing sudden situations was highly beneficial for the growth and training of all the teams.

Ying Zhao’s training methods were harsh, but they undeniably brought rapid growth to the students. Perhaps because they directly experienced their own progress, the students were particularly excited.

Time flew by, and six days quickly passed. The group battles had already gone through two rounds, with Cecil’s team winning both.

This made Prince Harrison even more anxious, as winning the Mecha Grand Tournament was especially important to him.

As for why Cecil’s team stood out so much, Ying Zhao believed it was simply because the team was full of passionate warriors.

Cecil wanted Ying Zhao to be proud of him, so he gave his all in every battle. Naturally, under Cecil’s leadership, the other team members were even more fired up.

There was no need to mention Du Ke and Du Lu; even Andy had grown to love the thrill of dismantling mechas in combat. So, every time they entered the simulated forest, he was eager to find other teams, thinking of ways to dismantle different types of mechas, making him the most feared opponent among all the students.

Ying Zhao could monitor everyone’s situation in real-time through the surveillance devices in the star network. Often, he would also enter the forest to provide guidance.

Receiving personal guidance from Ying Zhao was an immense honor for any student. Even Harrison, who had always been resistant to the Ying family, was no exception. He eagerly awaited Ying Zhao’s critique of his team’s shortcomings.

Although Ying Zhao didn’t like Prince Harrison, he didn’t show favoritism and pointed out some of their issues.

However, after he finished mentioning these problems, he would usually leave, as he didn’t enjoy dealing with the fake politeness of royal personnel, which made him feel somewhat annoyed.

Cecil’s team always cooperated very well, and the man’s leadership was beyond doubt. Especially with Yan Lang as a strategist, it saved Ying Zhao a lot of worry.

Even if there wasn’t anything particularly needing guidance in Cecil’s team, Ying Zhao still occasionally sneaked nearby to observe them secretly, mainly just to get another look at his man.

After this round of group matches ended, Cecil’s team unexpectedly secured victory for the third time. The gloom in Harrison’s eyes grew thicker; he felt that ever since Cecil appeared, he had become an eternal second place.

Once this round of group training concluded, everyone returned to their dorms to rest. As for Cecil, he naturally ran over to Ying Zhao, and the two spent a very sweet night together.

The next day, when a new round of group matches began, Harrison surprisingly took the initiative to approach Cecil’s team.

He expressed hope to cooperate with them to tackle the other teams in the simulated forest, with the final outcome determined by the match between their two teams.

Since Harrison had lowered his posture and he was the prince of the empire, Yan Lang felt it would be inappropriate to openly tear his face with this prince, so he agreed to Harrison’s request.

Cecil maintained a nonchalant attitude, but most of the time, he would heed Yan Lang’s advice, so when he saw Yan Lang agree, he didn’t voice any objections.

Harrison had his own plans for doing this. In the previous three rounds, Cecil’s team had always emerged victorious. Although the opposing team was indeed strong, Harrison suspected there might be some undisclosed secrets behind them.

Thus, he wanted to approach Cecil’s team this way to observe their combat methods. On one hand, he wanted to see if there was anything worth learning from, and on the other, he also wanted to spy on whether there were any unknown circumstances within that team.

Bennett instinctively felt some repulsion towards Cecil and didn’t want to get too close to him. However, he couldn’t refute Harrison’s decision and could only follow the team unhappily, glancing at Cecil and his group not far away, wearing a sour face all day.

However, the members of Cecil’s team, like him, had independent personalities. Thus, they completely ignored Bennett’s sour expression.

After Cecil’s team found and defeated three teams in less than half a day, Harrison directly felt their strength.

After a long day, everyone decided to find a clearing to set up camp and rest for a while. After all, even though their bodies wouldn’t feel hunger in the training cabin, the mental exhaustion from combat would still make them feel tired.

Both teams set up makeshift tents on either side of a clearing to rest.

Bennett didn’t like Cecil or any of the people in his team, so he remained in a bad mood. While resting, he kept an eye on the situation over there with his peripheral vision.

Just as the other members of that team were building their temporary resting area, Cecil suddenly stood up and walked into the depths of the forest.

Not knowing where he was going, Bennett narrowed his eyes and quietly followed him without making a sound.