IRCDM Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Bodyguard, Don’t Be Angry Anymore

The entrance to the lower eight levels collapsed with a roar behind the mecha, completely blocking the bodyguard team’s path.

The residents of the underground structure were awakened by the explosion. Many people poked their heads out of their windows to see what had happened, only to be frightened by the massive object on the street.

The deep blue mecha had a solemn face, its eyes glowing faintly yellow. Every step it took shook the ground. Most people didn’t even dare to breathe, afraid of disturbing the big guy. But some sharp-eyed people recognized the Black Tortoise symbol on the mecha’s chest and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Isn’t that Mr. Yu’s Shenfeng mecha?”

“Shenfeng? Is Mr. Yu here to inspect?”

“Could it be a takeover?”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent. After all, the discord between Yu Wan Yao and Lou Chu was obvious. Over the past few years, their conflicts had intensified, and many people believed that Yu Wan Yao would sooner or later violently reclaim the lower seven levels. Now that the Shenfeng mecha had appeared here, was the war really about to begin?

It was three in the morning, the time when the Black Market’s lower seven levels were supplied with electricity. Lights turned on one after another in the buildings along the road, illuminating the street clearly.

A layer of dust covered the silver hovercar, which slowly parked in the parking space next to it. Li Yao glared at Liang Huan with a sullen face, his eyes full of murderous intent.

He hadn’t slept all night and had rushed to the Black Market to rescue him, only to find that not only was he alright, but he had also tricked him into the lower seven levels. In all his years as a mercenary, he had earned a fierce reputation, and no one had ever dared to play him like this.

Liang Huan stopped the car and used the external chip to contact Yue Hang, “The entrance has been blown up. Yu Wan Yao’s people won’t be able to catch up for the time being. There’s too much noise now. Have Deng Meng and Lu Biao find a place to hide the mecha first. Leave two people to watch the entrance. After the power supply period is over, we’ll continue down.”

“No problem,” Yue Hang said. “Be careful.”

Liang Huan smiled. “Don’t worry. You get some rest. Leave the rest to me.”

After the communication was cut off, Liang Huan turned his head to look at Li Yao with a smile and said softly, “Do you feel better now?”

Li Yao stared at him without saying a word.

“…” Liang Huan reached out to take his pulse, but his hand was slapped away, and a burning pain instantly spread across the back of his hand.

He wasn’t annoyed and didn’t continue. He just smiled and said, “I thought you wouldn’t come to save me. I didn’t expect you to come after all. I’m very happy.”

Li Yao snorted and raised his chin towards the car door. “No need. Just pay the commission. Get out.”

Liang Huan remained seated. “Li Yao, I’ve already fallen out with Yu Wan Yao. I’m short of people right now. I hope you’ll stay and help me.”

“Don’t dream. Mercenaries and the Black Market have always kept to themselves. I’m not getting involved in this mess.” Li Yao pulled at the corner of his mouth with a fake smile. “Don’t make me say it a second time. Get out of the car.”

Liang Huan’s smile didn’t fade. “Now that Yu Wan Yao has blocked all the entrances and exits of the Black Market, can you get out?”

Li Yao’s face immediately darkened a bit more.

“Stay by my side, Li Yao.” Liang Huan took his hand. “Whatever you want to do, I’ll help you achieve it.”

Li Yao stared at him. “You’re putting on a good show. Is it just to trick me into coming here?”

Liang Huan said solemnly, “This was a last resort. Yu Wan Yao is already planning to attack you. If I don’t keep you by my side, I won’t be able to rest assured no matter what.”

Li Yao laughed through gritted teeth. His jaw was tense, and his stomach was full of curses that he couldn’t bring himself to say. The lingering fear of discovering that Liang Huan was alright and the anger of being deceived intertwined in his chest, making him feel suffocated. And yet, Liang Huan’s words were so sincere, as if it were so wrong for him to refuse.

“It’s none of your business.” Li Yao shook off his hand, kicked open the door of the hovercar, walked to Liang Huan’s car door, and sneered, “Even if the lower seven levels collapse, I’ll still find a way out. Don’t force me to beat you up. Get down!”

Liang Huan said calmly, “I’ve already told Yu Wan Yao that your mental power is only E-. Even if you can escape from the lower seven levels, by the time you return to the Mercenary Base, I’m afraid this news will have spread. Then, there will only be endless trouble waiting for you. Do you think you can go back to the way things were?”

The anger in Li Yao’s eyes erupted. He couldn’t remember how long it had been since he had felt such genuine anger. He grabbed Liang Huan by the collar, rudely pulled him out, and slammed him heavily against the car door. He gritted his teeth and said, “You told Yu Wan Yao?”

Liang Huan looked at him calmly, a faint smile on his lips. “You can only blame yourself for being too careless. You knew I was a spy sent by him, yet you still treated me with sincerity and trust. You should have expected this would happen when you opened your mouth. Li Yao, don’t trust others so easily in the future.”

Li Yao looked like he was going to eat him alive. The veins on his fist bulged, and he stared at him with suppressed anger. “Liang, Huan.”

“Now that things have come to this, your best choice is to stay by my side. I will completely heal you.” Liang Huan smiled slightly, raised his hand, and grabbed his wrist, feeling the tense muscles under his palm. He felt unprecedentedly happy. “What do you say?”

Li Yao was furious and threw a punch at his face.

Liang Huan didn’t dodge or avoid it, his smile unchanged. The sharp wind of the punch brushed past his cheek, and the broken hair in front of his forehead swayed gently. The next second, the car window behind him shattered with a crash, and the door at the connection point caved in a large chunk. The deformed metal indicated how powerful the punch was.

The splashing shards of glass left a few bloody marks on Liang Huan’s face. He was so confident, so sure that Li Yao could only choose him. The arrogance and playfulness in his eyes were cleverly concealed, covered with a layer of gentle and harmless skin.

Li Yao took a deep look at him, turned around, and left.

Liang Huan said in a deep voice, “Li Yao.”

Li Yao didn’t turn his head back and raised his middle finger at him. “Trash. You’re just like those bastards in the military.”

Liang Huan slowly frowned.

Deng Meng came over with his men. He glanced at the damaged car. “Brother Liang, should we stop him?”

Liang Huan raised his hand to wipe the blood from his cheek and sighed quietly. “Forget it. You can’t stop him.”

“Then…” Deng Meng couldn’t make up his mind.

“Let him calm down first.” Liang Huan smiled. “He’ll be back when he figures it out.”

Deng Meng looked in the direction Li Yao had left, somewhat hesitant. “What if he doesn’t come back?”

Liang Huan’s eyes darkened slightly. “Then that’s his own choice.”

He didn’t necessarily need Li Yao. Pei Zhong was also 3S. Subduing him would be much easier than subduing Li Yao.

But for some reason, he couldn’t shake off the unpleasantness and irritability in his heart when he thought of the disappointment and anger in Li Yao’s eyes just now.

—

The power supply time on the lower eight levels was only a short hour. Soon, the entire street fell into darkness again. The residents of the buildings were still trembling with fear, while the Shenfeng mecha had been quietly transported to the seventh level.

Lou Chu was awakened from his sleep. He looked at the subordinate who had barged in with a violent expression. He shouted angrily, “What are you yelling about in the middle of the night? If Yu Wan Yao hadn’t attacked, I would have killed you!”

The subordinate pointed at the mecha standing outside with a trembling finger. “The, the Shenfeng mecha is, is here!”

Lou Chu’s face changed. “Quickly go and call the teacher over. Immediately gather the men—what are you standing there for? Hurry up!”

Who knew that the subordinate, looking behind him, raised his hands slowly with a pale face. Lou Chu was startled. He was about to reach for his gun when he felt a cold object pressed against the back of his head.

“Put down the gun and turn around.”

Lou Chu slowly released his hand and turned around to see Yue Hang. His pupils shrank slightly. “Where’s Yu Wan Yao? Is he really so underhanded, preparing to abandon me after using me?”

Yue Hang’s expression was cold. “It has nothing to do with Yu Wan Yao.”

“Lou Chu, long time no see.” Liang Huan walked in from the main entrance with his men, smiling like a spring breeze. “Is your head feeling better?”

As soon as Lou Chu saw it was him, his arrogance immediately flared up. “So it’s you, pretty boy! What are you trying to do? Is Yu Wan Yao just letting you do whatever you want?”

“Don’t move.” Yue Hang held the gun and forced him back a step, saying in a cold voice, “Speak properly.”

Deng Meng moved a chair over, and Chen Jia even thoughtfully placed a cushion on it. Liang Huan sat down as a matter of course, smiling and raising his hand. “Yue Hang, put the gun away. Don’t scare Mr. Lou.”

Yue Hang immediately put away the gun, but his eyes remained fixed on Lou Chu. If he made any move, he would definitely not be let off.

These people were clearly led by Liang Huan. Lou Chu looked at Liang Huan with suspicion. “What do you mean by this? Even if you’re coming to the lower seven levels to be administrators, you have to wait for the procedures to be completed.”

Liang Huan said with regret, “I’m afraid we won’t be able to be administrators. We came to you to discuss a deal. I wonder if you’re interested.”

Lou Chu swallowed. “What deal?”

“Yu Wan Yao believes we’re traitors and almost killed us.” Liang Huan said. “In desperation, we fled to the lower seven levels. Now we can’t get out, so we want to ask you for a favor.”

Lou Chu gloated. “I advise you to surrender quickly. Then I’ll cooperate with Yu Wan Yao from the inside and outside. You definitely won’t be able to escape.”

Deng Meng couldn’t help but roll his eyes. How did this idiot become the boss of the lower seven levels?

“Yu Wan Yao wants to use us to get rid of you, or go even further and let us kill each other, so that the entire Black Market will be his.” Liang Huan said with a smile. “Can you understand that?”

They had already reached Lou Chu’s door before he even realized it. Liang Huan no longer had any hope for this idiot.

Lou Chu’s eyes darted around quickly, probably still remembering the grudge of Liang Huan crushing his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, “You dream—”

“Lou Chu, shut up.” A voice interrupted Lou Chu’s words.

Ling Xuan walked in wearing a coat. The people behind her, holding guns, surrounded Liang Huan and the others. Yue Hang immediately aimed at Lou Chu’s head. Ling Xuan paused, raised her hand to signal the people behind her not to act rashly. She looked around at the people in the room and finally looked at Liang Huan. “Sir, is there anything we can help you with on the lower seven levels?”

Liang Huan was slightly stunned when he saw her face, and then he snorted in his heart.

It seemed that Li Yao’s kindness had been wasted. He wondered what his expression would be if he were here.

“We’ll join forces and kill Yu Wan Yao.” Liang Huan no longer cared about Lou Chu and looked at this older woman with great interest. “May I ask who you are?”

“Ling Xuan, I’m Lou Chu’s teacher.” Ling Xuan sat down across from him calmly. “You can talk to me about anything. Release the people first.”

Liang Huan looked at the people she had brought behind her.

Ling Xuan waved her hand, and the group immediately put down their guns. Liang Huan tilted his head slightly to look at Yue Hang. Yue Hang also put away his gun and pushed Lou Chu over.

“Teacher!” Lou Chu was like seeing his own mother and scrambled behind Ling Xuan.

Ling Xuan sighed helplessly.

Liang Huan’s interest grew even more, and his attitude became more gentle. “Ms. Ling, now we can talk about our deal.”

The self-generated circuit lights outside the window flickered with faint light. The Shenfeng mecha was aimed at this most luxurious building on the lower eight levels, and the sound of conversation in the room gradually subsided.

Ling Xuan looked at Liang Huan with some scrutiny. “Are you really confident that you can kill Yu Wan Yao?”

“Ms. Ling, we have no other choice.” Liang Huan said. “I can tell that you have a sense of justice in your heart. You and the people here shouldn’t be trapped in this narrow land of the lower eight levels. Perhaps our cooperation is a new beginning for you.”

Ling Xuan’s expression was solemn. “What do you mean—”

“At that time, you will go to the seventh level, and we will go to the lower eight levels,” Liang Huan said.

“Even if you say so, the lower eight levels don’t have enough ammunition and weapons. Even if we join forces, it will be difficult to kill Yu Wan Yao.” Ling Xuan still had some concerns.

“We have the Shenfeng mecha, and the exploration team has accumulated a lot of supplies.” Liang Huan got up slightly and looked into her eyes. “Besides, Yu Wan Yao thinks I’m here to kill you. Why don’t we set up a trap and invite him in?”

Ling Xuan rubbed the scar on the back of her hand. After a moment, her eyes fixed and she said in a deep voice, “Okay.”

Lou Chu stood behind her, hesitant to speak, but Ling Xuan didn’t pay attention to him. A hint of resentment and unwillingness flashed in his eyes, and he clenched his fists.

By the time they finished discussing the specific plan with Ling Xuan, two hours had passed. Liang Huan and his men were arranged to rest temporarily in the building next door.

Yue Hang, Lu Biao, and Deng Meng were discussing the specifics of how to implement it. Liang Huan sat in the central seat without saying a word. Yue Hang said, “Ling Xuan may not be sincerely cooperating with us. What if she turns against us? Then we will be very passive.”

He originally thought that Liang Huan’s plan was just to take them away, but he didn’t expect to cooperate with the lower eight levels to get rid of Yu Wan Yao.

“Ling Xuan is very smart and ambitious. She won’t be content with staying in a corner.” Liang Huan said. “Lou Chu is too stupid. Now he has become her constraint. Ling Xuan was a political officer in the political hall thirty years ago. She came to the Black Market earlier than Yu Wan Yao. In fact, Yu Wan Yao is also very afraid of her.”

Yue Hang was a little surprised. “These are—”

“Yu Wan Yao said it. I’m not sure if it’s true or false, but at least it gave us a direction.” Liang Huan said. “Lu Biao, send someone to keep an eye on Lou Chu and report at any time. No matter what he wants to do, don’t stop him.”

“Yes.” Lu Biao ran out excitedly.

Yue Hang knew that what Liang Huan wanted to do was definitely more than just taking the lower eight levels. He suppressed the excitement in his heart and exchanged a glance with Liang Huan. Both of them showed knowing smiles on their faces.

After the others dispersed, Liang Huan felt a bit sleepy. He looked at Deng Meng, who had returned.

“Brother Liang, Li Yao hasn’t come back yet.” Deng Meng said in a low voice. “The people who were sent to follow him have lost him.”

Liang Huan lowered his eyes to look at the two bottles of mental power enhancers on the table. He had found them in Li Yao’s car. One of the bottles had been hastily opened, and a third of the deep blue pills inside were missing.

He suddenly remembered the situation when Li Yao’s aftereffects had occurred before. This person would rather lock himself in the bathroom and stay awake with cold water than seek any help from others…

He should give Li Yao a lesson. As long as he suffered enough, he would take action again. No matter how bad the other party’s attitude was, he would soften, otherwise this kind of person would never know how to listen—even though Liang Huan understood that as long as he softened his attitude, the other party would submit, but in this way, he would never be able to take him for his own use. At most, he could only be considered a friend.

What he needed most was not friends, but allies who could turn against each other at any time.

Liang Huan closed his eyes. Li Yao had taken the decoction, which could neutralize some of the side effects, so he wouldn’t be unable to protect himself.

He was still too kind.

“I heard from the people who came back that he seemed to have gone to the third underground level, which is full of vicious criminals.” Deng Meng said carefully. “And—”

Liang Huan raised his eyes to look at him.

“He seems to have a premonition of mental disorder.” Deng Meng said.

Liang Huan was unmoved. “I know. Don’t worry about him.”

Deng Meng had no choice but to go out.

After a moment, the windows of the room opened and closed, and the room returned to silence again.

—

Li Yao groped for a long time and couldn’t find the enhancer. He remembered that in his haste, he had thrown all the medicine into the hovercar.

The weakness of mental power was that even the slightest fluctuations were intensified. He couldn’t remember when his emotions had fluctuated so much last time. Although he had experienced many dangerous situations in his years as a mercenary, he had always kept his emotions within a stable threshold. Even if Yi Heng Bai pointed at his nose and scolded him, he could smile and let it go, but he didn’t expect to fall into Liang Huan’s hands.

He couldn’t help but feel upset when he thought of Liang Huan.

He originally thought that he was a spy with no ability, who had revealed countless flaws. He turned a blind eye and even used the alien medulla to contain him. The cooperation between the two sides was also very tacit, but in the end, he was tricked in a big way.

The sequelae of hastily taking the enhancer gradually showed. He clearly felt the strength was rapidly losing and his consciousness was a little fuzzy. After getting rid of Liang Huan’s people, he simply hid in the third underground level.

This place was mixed with all kinds of people, and it was not easy to provoke anyone. He walked down the street with his head down, turned into the next alley, and found a pharmacy familiarly.

“Come on a bottle of mental power concentrate.” He lowered his voice.

The clerk glanced at him and said expressionlessly, “Ninety-six thousand for one bottle.”

Li Yao paid the money without hesitation, took the potion handed over by the other party, and took one dose before the side effects broke out. Taking twice as much would not only greatly increase mental power, but also delay the time when the side effects would break out. He roughly estimated that six hours would be enough for him to get out of the lower eight levels, but the subsequent superimposed outbreak period would be particularly painful, but he was used to it.

‘…Even if you can escape from the lower seven levels, by the time you return to the Mercenary Base, I’m afraid this news will have spread. Then, there will only be endless trouble waiting for you…’

Liang Huan’s words sounded in his ears, and the hand that was unscrewing the potion bottle paused slightly.

“Fuck.” He lowered his eyes and stared at the deep blue pill. He sneered disdainfully, poured out most of the bottle directly and swallowed it.

The pills were crushed into powder by him, paralyzing his sense of taste. The greasy sweetness of the candy after drinking the medicine was finally slowly dispelled, making him completely awake.

The wind underground was thick and sultry, and the cold sweat on his forehead was blown wet and sticky. He walked out of the pharmacy, chewed the last pill in his mouth, and prepared to put the remaining medicine in his pocket, when someone grabbed his wrist from behind.

Li Yao was shocked. He didn’t hear any footsteps at all. He was about to elbow his back to fight back and turn his head, when he was pressed on the back of his neck by an icy cold leather glove. The imported medicine hadn’t had time to take effect, and he tried to break free, but couldn’t. The other party’s strength was surprisingly great. After a dozen moves, he couldn’t find a chance to turn his head to take a look, and he was pressed against the rough wall next to him by the other party.

His heart was set, and he forcibly used his mental power, but he was strongly bounced back the moment he touched the edge of the other party’s mental wave. A burst of stinging pain came from the temples instantly, and then the cold hand placed on his belt and pressed on the edge of his lower abdomen. Li Yao’s pupils shrank, the bracelet turned into a dagger in an instant, and he stabbed the other party’s stomach with his backhand.

Who knew that the dagger was caught halfway, and the hand on his lower abdomen was used forcefully upward, and his stomach turned upside down. At first, he wanted to suppress it, but the person behind him used his mental power to directly link with him, and the dizziness swept over like a wave. He finally couldn’t hold it anymore and threw up all the enhancer he had just eaten.

His arms were twisted behind his back by the other party. The black leather gloves wiped the dirt from the corners of his mouth, and the cold touch on his lips made him frown involuntarily.

“…Liang Huan.” He gritted his teeth and called out the other party’s name.

The person behind him stiffened and didn’t move.

“Only you can connect mentally with me, stop pretending.” Li Yao’s throat was hoarse, and his face was gloomy. “Try pressing on my head again?”

Liang Huan lowered his eyes and looked at his neck, which was covered in cold sweat. He wiped it with his gloves, grabbed him, and walked a few steps into the depths of the alley before letting him go.

Li Yao turned around and punched him in the face.

Liang Huan was punched in the face and turned his head to the side. He took off the dirty gloves and threw them on the ground before looking up at him unhurriedly, and said seriously, “You can’t take enhancers anymore. The sequelae have only been good for a few days. These doses will be too much to bear.”

Li Yao said coldly, “What’s it to you?”

“You came for me. I won’t let anything happen to you here.” Liang Huan finally softened his tone. “The third underground level is too dangerous for you now.”

Li Yao chuckled lightly.

Liang Huan looked at his unruly, unyielding appearance and had a headache. “At least let me temporarily stabilize your mental power at level C, so that even if you still insist on leaving, I can feel more at ease.”

Li Yao snorted coldly, “Nice words.”

“These are all my sincere words.” Liang Huan grabbed his wrist with the hand that had just been scratched by the dagger, and the sticky touch was particularly clear on the skin. Seeing that Li Yao’s expression had loosened, he couldn’t help but smile, “Don’t be angry anymore. Come back with me.”

Li Yao looked at the blood on the corners of his mouth and then glanced at his bloody palms, and twitched the corners of his mouth: “Stop pretending, this trick is useless to me.”

Liang Huan looked at him with a smile: “You are the only one who knows that I have a sensory disorder. If I get sick in front of people, those wolves and leopards will tear me apart, and there is no one to protect me.”

Li Yao frowned unconsciously.

The smile in Liang Huan’s eyes deepened: “Or are you not responsible after kissing me?”

“…” Li Yao took a deep breath, his teeth about to be crushed.

Liang Huan wiped the blood on his coat, and calmly helped him sort out his messy clothes, put his thermos cup to his mouth, and said softly: “I know, telling Yu Wan Yao about your mental power makes you feel angry, but I never do things that I am not sure about. Since I dare to say it, I can guarantee that your mental power will recover, not everyone can have 3S+ mental power, Li Yao, you are unique to me, I will not harm anyone but you.”

“Forcibly designing to keep you, probably my selfishness is at work.” Liang Huan looked at him with a bit of helplessness, unable to hide the love in his eyes, “You just take it as helping me, okay?”

Li Yao had a severe headache, and he was so annoyed by his soft words in his ear that he finally let go: “How long?”

Liang Huan raised his eyebrows lightly, raised the cup, and forced him to drink two mouthfuls of nutrient solution.

“How long does it take for mental power to recover to level C?” The nutrient solution tasted sweet, Li Yao’s face became a bit ugly again, but his stomach felt much better.

The smile in Liang Huan’s eyes slowly dissipated, and he said seriously: “It will take at least three months.”

“Then it’s three months.” Li Yao patted his hand away and said with his arms folded: “I will be your bodyguard for three months, you help me improve my mental power to level C, the transparent seed marrow is for you, all the things between us will be cancelled, you can do whatever you want.”

Liang Huan wondered: “Won’t you help me drive the mecha?”

“No need.” Li Yao said expressionlessly, “We will get divorced when we get out of the Black Market.”

Liang Huan looked at him thoughtfully.

Li Yao’s body was still full of hostility: “What, unwilling?”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.” Liang Huan said with a good temper.

Li Yao chuckled and turned to leave.

In the place behind him that he couldn’t see, the smile on Liang Huan’s face slowly disappeared, and his eyes gradually became cold and unpleasant.

Li Yao suddenly turned around and met his eyes.

Liang Huan: “…”

“Put the claws on, if you dare to wipe them on my clothes again, I will chop them off sooner or later.” Li Yao threw a medical sticker to him without saying good-naturedly.

Liang Huan stared at the medical sticker in his hand for a few seconds, then opened it and stuck it on the palm that had been scratched by the dagger. The slightly warm touch of the medical sticker made him frown uncomfortably.

Li Yao was still standing there waiting for him.

He suppressed the weird emotions in his heart, smiled and walked to Li Yao’s side, his mood rising slightly.

He really still liked Li Yao staying by his side.