IRCDM Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Kunwu, I’m liking you more and more.

“Boss, this isn’t working. Liang Huan’s body chip is already destroyed.” Lu Biao was covered in sweat. “And the forest is too dangerous. We’ve already run into several waves of heteromorphs.”

Yue Hang said, “With Liang Huan’s skills, it’s impossible for him to be completely helpless against heteromorphs. Besides, the locator on his protective suit was removed separately, which means it was done deliberately.”

Chen Jia asked, “Who could it be that Liang Huan couldn’t beat?”

Deng Meng and Xu Yunyan exchanged glances, already guessing what happened. Deng Meng subtly shook his head, while Xu Yunyan hesitated.

Yue Hang looked at him, “Little Xu, do you know who Liang Huan might have offended?”

Xu Yunyan bit his lip. “Actually—”

“Actually, Liang Huan has offended quite a few people.” Deng Meng cut him off, sighing, “We can’t really say for sure. Captain, why don’t we let everyone rest first? Liang Huan definitely wouldn’t want to see you risking your lives for him.”

Yue Hang nodded. “Lu Biao, take some men back to the camp to rest. Chen Jia, you and I will stay on guard.”

Deng Meng pulled Xu Yunyan aside. Xu Yunyan asked, confused, “Why didn’t you let me tell Captain Yue?”

Deng Meng crossed his arms. “What did you want to say?”

“I saw the Mercenary Base’s vehicle on the road. Li Yao was sitting inside.” Xu Yunyan said indignantly, “Liang Huan finally decided to leave him. Li Yao must have taken Liang Huan away. We need to rescue him from Li Yao as soon as possible.”

“Are you stupid?” Deng Meng lowered his voice. “Liang Huan went through so much trouble to get us into the Divine Seal Exploration Team. Didn’t you see that Yue Hang and those other leaders are all convinced by Liang Huan? If Li Yao really took Liang Huan away, we don’t have to worry. With Liang Huan’s abilities, he’ll be lucky if he doesn’t fleece Li Yao.”

“But Li Yao isn’t good to Liang Huan at all!” Xu Yunyan said agitatedly, “What if he hurts Liang Huan?”

“Oh my god, just stay out of their personal business.” Deng Meng massaged his forehead. “Are you really that oblivious? With Liang Huan’s personality, if he was truly wronged by Li Yao, would he let Li survive until now? Listen to me, as long as Liang Huan is dealing with humans and not heteromorphs, he’ll be fine. If you add fuel to the fire and tell Yue Hang about Liang Huan and Li Yao’s relationship, what, do you want to ruin what Liang Huan risked his life to achieve? Or do you really expect these people from Divine Seal to go against the Mercenary Base for Liang Huan? Can you use your brain a little!”

“I—” Xu Yunyan stammered, “I didn’t think that much.”

“Then think harder.” Deng Meng said rudely. “I know you like Liang Huan, but you need to consider whether you’re capable enough. Listen to me on this matter. Unless Liang Huan says something, don’t make decisions for him.”

Deng Meng finished speaking, pointed at him, and turned to leave. Xu Yunyan pursed his lips and stood for a moment. Just as he was about to leave, the bushes in front of him suddenly rustled. He abruptly stepped back, raised his gun, and activated the alarm. “Who’s there?!”

A few minutes later, Yue Hang looked at the long-haired man surrounded by the crowd and said coldly, “Who are you? What are you doing lurking near our camp?”

The wounded man slowly raised his head. His delicate features caused a stir among the crowd. He was extremely beautiful, even blurring the lines of gender. Especially his light-colored eyes, which had a gentle and friendly aura when he looked at people. His fair skin was covered in mud, and his protective suit further emphasized his slender figure, forming a stark contrast with the trained team members around him.

“I’m… a member of a civilian exploration team… Cough, cough. Our team encountered a Level 1 heteromorph. Except for me… everyone died.” He raised his head, his eyes filled with tears, and pleaded with Yue Hang, “Please save me… I really don’t want to die…”

Lu Biao felt a pang of sympathy. “Boss, I checked the number on his protective suit. It’s indeed from a civilian exploration team. Should we lend a hand?”

Chen Jia nudged him from behind. Lu Biao turned his head and glared at him. “This guy is obviously not a threat.”

Yue Hang’s expression was solemn. “On your way escaping, did you encounter anyone?”

The man gently shook his head and tapped on the chip on his wrist. A virtual screen popped up displaying his identification information. “This is my identification code… if you don’t believe me…”

Before he could finish speaking, he completely passed out. The team’s doctor quickly stepped forward and examined him. “Captain, he’s indeed suffering from excessive mental exhaustion.”

Deng Meng stared at the identification information on the screen and suddenly spoke up, “Mu Bo… that name sounds familiar.”

“Do you know him?” Yue Hang asked.

Deng Meng shook his head. Xu Yunyan’s gaze suddenly froze. “I remember now. This Mu Bo is a volunteer from Eastern Third District. He used to go to the Black Market to teach children who couldn’t attend school. He’s a pretty good person.”

Seeing this, Yue Hang no longer doubted him. “Alright, bring him into the camp first. Lu Biao, have two people watch over him.”

Lu Biao nodded. “Got it.”

Deng Meng couldn’t help but take another look. His Liang Huan was even better-looking than this person, but he was powerful and had a gentle attitude, making people trust and follow him. This Mu Bo gave him a somewhat uneasy feeling.

—

Liang Huan looked at Li Yao walking ahead and couldn’t help but ask, “You’re acting alone. What about Uncle Mao and the others?”

“You’re already gone, and you’re still so concerned.” Li Yao used a knife to cut down the surrounding bushes. “Don’t worry, this is a solo mission for the Mercenary Base. Everyone who came are mercenaries. They’re at the base.”

Liang Huan asked, “Pei Zhong didn’t come either?”

“Why are you so concerned about him?” Li Yao suddenly realized. “Oh—I remember now. He looks quite similar to that guy in your background picture. Is that your type?”

Liang Huan calmly said, “I was just asking casually. There’s no other meaning.”

Li Yao tossed the machete in his hand, and the weapon instantly transformed into a section of pole. He nonchalantly carried it on his shoulder, saying meaningfully, “I was just saying casually. Why are you getting so worked up?”

Liang Huan smiled. “Even if we’re just in a fake marriage, I won’t be unfaithful. You can rest assured.”

“Is that what I meant?” Li Yao raised an eyebrow. “Or are you feeling guilty and worried that he might—betray you?”

He deliberately emphasized the last few words, his eyes fixed on Liang Huan.

“It’s enough that that’s what I mean.” Liang Huan pointed to the pole he was carrying. “Can I take a look?”

Li Yao pretended to hand the pole to him. As Liang Huan reached out to take it, he suddenly flipped his wrist and transformed the pole into a heavy gun, slinging it behind his back. He mimicked Liang Huan’s smile and said, “Fun, right? But I’m not giving it to you. Backstabbing is a spy’s specialty.”

He quickly took a few steps and jumped over the pit in front of him. Liang Huan looked at his back, following him and jumping over as well. He patted Li Yao’s shoulder. As Li Yao turned his head, he raised his other hand and took the heavy gun from behind him. Li Yao’s eyes sharpened. He raised his hand to snatch it back, but Liang Huan blocked his wrist and twisted it backward. The muzzle of the gun was pointed at his chin.

Exactly the same position Li Yao had used to threaten him before.

Li Yao’s hand, pinned behind him, moved, and Liang Huan forcefully pressed the muzzle of the gun, forcing him to tilt his head back.

Liang Huan’s gaze swept over his slender neck. He placed his other hand on the back of his neck, his fingertips pressing lightly on his Adam’s apple, smiling gently and harmlessly. “Li Yao, do you think I would use this thing?”

Li Yao tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Finally showing your true colors? You said everything so sincerely before, I almost believed you.”

“I just don’t like being threatened.” Liang Huan sighed helplessly.

“So petty.” The smile didn’t reach Li Yao’s eyes. “Waiting for me here.”

“Leaving aside the times when your mental power is unstable, next time if you want to see me, just say the word and I’ll naturally come find you. Why resort to knives and guns?” Liang Huan pressed a button. The gun body transformed back into a machete. He placed the hilt in Li Yao’s hand. “You’re making me feel very unhappy.”

Li Yao tossed the knife, and the weapon transformed into a bracelet that stuck to his Little Black Dragon. He lifted his eyelids and looked at Liang Huan. “Threatening me?”

“This is my sincerity.” Liang Huan released his neck. “Since I’ve chosen to cooperate with you, I won’t harm you. You can try to trust me a little more.”

“Heh.” Li Yao glanced at him and turned to leave.

Just as Liang Huan was about to sigh, something suddenly flashed before him. He raised his hand and caught it. The bracelet had transformed into a pulse gun, shimmering with beautiful blue light in the darkness.

“Don’t break it on me.” Li Yao’s slightly annoyed voice came from ahead.

Liang Huan rose and landed beside him, smiling at him. “Li Yao, I really am liking you more and more.”

“Don’t like me yet, there’s no future for us.” Li Yao stopped and held out a hand towards the air.

In Liang Huan’s puzzled gaze, the surrounding forest scenery slowly faded away, replaced by an abandoned experiment building covered in vines. The dilapidated building stood abruptly in the depths of the primeval forest, and with the arrival of its master, the lights turned on one by one. Li Yao walked inside familiarly. After his pupils were scanned, the tightly closed white metal gate slowly rose, revealing a humanoid mecha standing in an isolation chamber.

The mecha was deep black throughout. The height made one look up to see it. Unlike the mecha Liang Huan had seen in the chip, it looked bigger and more dilapidated. There was a very deep crack on the head of the mecha, revealing the mechanical skeleton inside, and on the mecha was drawn a dazzling golden dragon with special materials. There were many exposed mechanical lines at the joints of the mecha, leading to another operating table. Layers of virtual screens floated on the table, with data and codes flashing rapidly. There was a cup on the operating table, and a broken chair in front of it. There was also a coat covered with ash on the armrest. Further to the side was a strangely shaped cabin, the outer transparent protective layer was mostly broken, and there was a half-open bottle of medicine lying inside. Dark blue pills were scattered everywhere…

The repair equipment placed on the ground was in a chaotic mess, making it almost impossible to put one’s foot down, but Li Yao walked over familiarly and knocked on the isolation cover: “See, this is true love.”

Although Li Yao’s words were nonsensical, the mecha was the only thing in the entire space that was protected, even with a radiation-proof isolation cover. Liang Huan looked at the mecha and asked, “What’s its name?”

Li Yao met his gaze, saw the seriousness in his eyes, paused, then lowered his eyes and whispered, “It’s called Kunwu.”

“It was my first mecha.”