IRCDM Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Bearing a Grudge, Suffering Such Tribulation

Chapter 4: Bearing a Grudge, Suffering Such Tribulation

“Let’s go to the cafeteria first; the power in the dormitory building won’t be on until later.” Li Yao, faced with his upright and awe-inspiring gaze, raised his hands in surrender, “I’ll fully charge it for you when the power comes back, okay?”

Liang Huan was finally somewhat satisfied.

On the way to the cafeteria, Liang Huan questioned the design: “Since you implant chips into your bodies, shouldn’t there be a more convenient way to charge them? Why can’t you—”

He thought for a moment, recalling the new vocabulary he had just seen, “Bio-energy?”

“The Dawn Chip has only become popular in recent decades. The initial design did allow for bio-energy charging through the human body, but it had to be supplemented with specific nutrient solutions.” Li Yao had his hands in his pockets, “The problem is, that stuff is ridiculously expensive; only the military and the rich can afford it. Cheap alternatives taste terrible, and the charging time is very short, so they’re not very useful. But daily life is inseparable from the chip, so most ordinary people use external charging, using it sparingly. Currently, external chips are more popular in the Third District. They can be replaced with batteries, and one battery can last a year.”

Liang Huan said, “Mercenaries can too?”

Li Yao raised his wrist, “It’s a base special; you can’t exactly be carrying an external chip in your pocket when you’re on a mission.”

He had a small black dragon tattooed on the inside of his wrist, its mouth biting its tail, positioned right at the chip connection point. Liang Huan couldn’t help but take another look.

The mercenary dormitory’s cafeteria was built in mid-air, connecting three dormitory buildings. It was very large, with fully transparent walls offering views of the maglev pipelines and low-altitude flight routes outside. Hundreds of food service windows formed a circle in the center, and the hall was filled with neatly arranged tables, brightly lit.

Liang Huan looked at the bustling crowd. Most were dressed like Li Yao, in black short-sleeved shirts, pants, and combat boots. Some had unique styles; their legs or arms were mechanical, with exposed wires, and some even had half their bodies made of metal.

“Don’t stare.” Li Yao held his head and turned him back, “These guys will find trouble even when there isn’t any. Not everyone is as good-tempered as your husband.”

“Why is there electricity here?” Liang Huan asked.

“Are you a ‘ten thousand whys’?” Li Yao resignedly explained to him, “The cafeteria is a special building and can apply to the government for approved special power supply.”

“The scarcity of electricity resources has already affected people’s lives. The imperial court should seize the time to solve it. What is your emperor doing?” Liang Huan was concerned about not being able to charge his chip in time.

“What era is it? There’s no emperor.” Li Yao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Your Majesty, please don’t worry about this. The East 1 Rich District parties every night, rest assured.”

Liang Huan was about to say more, but Li Yao had already put his arm around his shoulders and pointed to the suspended holographic menu above, opening it to let him smell the aromas, “Which one do you want to eat? Order whatever you like.”

Liang Huan glanced at it. The dishes were called Magic Bouncy Mushrooms, Explosive Apple Pie, Starch Compilation, Stewed Leaves and Roots, and Delicious Potato Soup.

A mercenary pushed a cart full of colorful and fragrant dishes, with exquisite plating for every kind of food.

“Come on, the Mercenary Competition is next week, brothers, eat and drink well! I’m treating these few days!”

The people at the table cheered and roared, and the man handed out a box of cigarettes, and the cheers grew even louder. Liang Huan saw a golden star printed on the cigarette box, the same kind that Li Yao had given to Uncle Yang and the mercenaries on the same floor. This thing seemed very popular with the mercenaries.

Li Yao patted him on the shoulder and raised his hand to block his following gaze, “I’ll treat you to roast chicken next month.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Liang Huan pointed to the plate that looked the most like food, “I’ll eat this.”

“Two servings of delicious potato soup.” Li Yao cheerfully swiped his card.

The two chose a seat by the window, where they could see the distant night view. Liang Huan was new here and was curious about everything around him. Outside the transparent glass were crisscrossing pipelines and aerial roads, and beyond that were rows of dark buildings, and then, a brightly lit area.

“Is that the East 1 Rich District?” Liang Huan asked.

Li Yao glanced at it, picked up a spoon and scooped a large piece of potato soup into his mouth, “That’s the Black Market, and next to it is the Red Light District. It’s not a good place.”

“Red Light District?” Liang Huan thought for a moment, “Charging stations for traffic robots?”

Li Yao laughed so hard he almost bit the spoon in half.

Liang Huan said sternly, “Eat properly.”

“Don’t talk to the head of the family like that.” Li Yao pointed at him with the spoon, “Want vinegar?”

“No need.” Liang Huan lowered his head to look at the plate—let’s call it food for now. Although he was always frugal, he usually had five or six dishes and soup for each meal. Even if the imperial kitchen’s chefs were terrible, they couldn’t be this bad.

He solemnly scooped up a small piece and put it in his mouth.

“How is it?” Li Yao asked.

Liang Huan’s brows furrowed even deeper.

Reincarnation actually involved suffering this kind of tribulation.

Li Yao bent one leg and stepped on the crossbeam between the seats, lowered his head, and ate the food on his plate in a few bites. He picked up the vinegar and poured it into Liang Huan’s plate, “Add some vinegar; just enough to swallow it down.”

“Do you eat this every day?” Liang Huan asked.

“How could I?” Li Yao waved his hand, “I usually don’t eat this well.”

Liang Huan looked at him with a hint of genuine sympathy.

The color of the potato soup after adding vinegar was indescribable. Liang Huan closed his eyes and was about to take a second bite when a commotion suddenly broke out not far away.

He followed the sound and saw two mercenaries arguing. One was a tall, bald man with a mechanical right arm, and the other had short yellow hair and a slender figure. The bald man lifted a nearby table and smashed it at the yellow-haired man, but the other man leaped up, kicked him in the back, and food and plates were smashed all over the floor.

The bald man roared, “Do you really think you’re somebody? So what if you came from the military? Don’t bring your stuff to the mercenary base, or I’ll kill you!”

The yellow-haired man was not to be outdone, “The mercenary base also has to have rules. Why can’t you get more commissions if your spirit power is strong?”

“Ha, what a daydream. Even if your 3S spirit power traitor came here, he’d still have to behave himself!” The bald man sneered.

“Dawn Star isn’t a traitor!” The yellow-haired man was surprisingly angry.

Laughter immediately rang out around them.

“It’s okay; eat your food.” Li Yao turned his back to the commotion, not even raising his eyelids.

As soon as he finished speaking, an ear-piercing alarm sounded in the cafeteria. Five or six guards in white uniforms quickly appeared and subdued the troublemakers. A young man in a white uniform and sunglasses strode over and said in a deep voice, “What’s going on again? Is this going to go on forever? Are you going to do your jobs or not!”

“Captain You!”

“Captain You, good!”

“Brother You!”

Voices greeted him one after another, showing that he was very respected by these mercenaries.

“Eat your food.” You Zhao Chen lowered his sunglasses and waved to his subordinates, “Take them all away and put them in the confinement room.”

“Yes!”

As the yellow-haired man passed by, he turned to look at You Zhao Chen, “Colonel You…”

“What colonel? This is a mercenary base. I’m not in the military anymore. Call me Captain.” You Zhao Chen slapped him on the back of the head, “Don’t cause trouble, you hear!”

“Yes!” The yellow-haired man’s eyes instantly turned red.

You Zhao Chen clicked his tongue, put his sunglasses in the pocket on his chest, and scanned the surrounding area. Many people immediately invited him to eat, but he refused them one by one and strode towards Liang Huan and Li Yao’s table.

“Old Li, what a rare guest.” You Zhao Chen hooked his neck, wanting to sit next to him with big strides.

Li Yao raised his foot and stepped directly on the stool next to him, “No seats.”

“Hey, you.” You Zhao Chen didn’t mind. He casually dragged a chair over and sat down, crossing his legs, his high black boots shining brightly, “You haven’t come to the cafeteria for ten days and a half months. It’s rare to come once and I run into you. Man, what are you eating? Let your brother treat you to a feast.”

“No need, I’m done eating.” Li Yao put down the spoon and raised his eyes to look at Liang Huan, “Are you done eating?”

The potato soup in front of Liang Huan was basically untouched, with only the small pit that he had dug at the beginning. Liang Huan was about to speak when Li Yao tapped the side of his plate, and a packaging box popped out from underneath, automatically packing the food.

“Let’s eat it later.” Li Yao handed it to him.

Liang Huan reluctantly took it and looked at the person sitting next to him.

You Zhao Chen met his gaze and smiled brightly, “Hello, I’m You Zhao Chen, the number two person in charge of the Eastern Third District Mercenary Base. I’m Li Yao’s former comrade.”

“Captain You is flattering me.” Li Yao said indifferently, “I don’t deserve it.”

“What’s there not to deserve? You’re—” He suddenly stopped, smiled, and patted him on the shoulder, “It’s okay. I just happen to have something to ask you. The Mercenary Competition is next Monday. The boss has spoken; you must participate.”

“No time.” Li Yao blocked his hand.

“How do you not have time? The boss canceled all your tasks for next week, just waiting for you to show up at the Mercenary Competition.” You Zhao Chen said, “You’re the number one mercenary in the Eastern District in single-player points. You’re the face of the Eastern Third District. You’ll be representing the Eastern District in the central competition and strive for a good ranking.”

“Let’s go.” Li Yao reached out to Liang Huan.

You Zhao Chen also looked at Liang Huan.

Liang Huan’s heart stirred slightly, and he grabbed Li Yao’s hand. You Zhao Chen then retracted his gaze and said to Li Yao, “By the way, congratulations on your marriage. I didn’t expect you to be willing to get married.”

“Anything else?” Li Yao looked at him.

You Zhao Chen said, “I thought you would invite me to be your best man.”

“I don’t have that kind of money.” Li Yao threw him a card, “Fill up the gas card and send it to my dormitory.”

You Zhao Chen raised his hand to catch it, “Okay, Captain Li!”

Li Yao’s shoulders and back tensed for a moment.

It wasn’t until they left the cafeteria that Li Yao let go of his intertwined fingers.

Liang Huan’s palm was wet with his sweat. He casually wiped it on Li Yao’s clothes, “Do you have a grudge against this person?”

Li Yao was a little confused, “No grudge.”

“Then why are you so nervous?” Liang Huan said.

Li Yao suddenly laughed, raised his hand to hold his face and rubbed it hard, smearing all the sweat from his palm on his face, “No one has ever dared to use my clothes to wipe sweat. You’re pretty brave.”

Liang Huan stared at him in astonishment, “You let go—”

“I’m presumptuous.” Li Yao sighed, “Your Majesty, tell me when you’re done acting, so we can do something serious.”

Liang Huan raised his sleeves and vigorously wiped his face, and said coldly, “I fully cooperated with you in acting just now, is this how you repay me?”

Li Yao laughed, “What, should I kowtow to you?”

Liang Huan felt suffocated. This person was simply lawless.

Whether it was because of anger or because of the potato soup that was comparable to arsenic, he actually felt a trace of warm internal energy surge from his dantian, but when he wanted to circulate it, that energy suddenly disappeared.

A strange sound came from his stomach.

Li Yao said after hearing it, “That’s what you get for being picky. You’re so hungry your stomach is growling.”

Liang Huan stared at Li Yao, already considering the feasibility of killing him to silence him, after he had fully charged his chip—

“Here.” Li Yao suddenly waved to a small robot passing by.

The pure black combat uniform and boots made him look full of murderous intent, the black dragon on his neck was arrogant and domineering, and the high, straight bridge of his nose cast a small shadow on his face. He stood under the dim light with a cigarette in his mouth, bent down and touched the head of the passing simulated panda robot.

The little panda handed him a square little box from its belly.

Li Yao held the box with one hand while holding the cigarette, and opened the box with the other hand to take out the chopsticks. The aroma immediately hit his face.

He handed it to Liang Huan, slightly impatiently, “Just this once, no exceptions.”

“Small Panda Takeout wishes you a pleasant meal. Welcome to continue to shop next time. Goodbye, sir.” The little panda bowed to Li Yao, closed its belly, and ran away with its short legs.

Liang Huan took it and glanced at the surrounding environment.

“Don’t look, just eat here. It’s not time for the power to come on yet. Going back to the dormitory now is just groping in the dark.” He opened the box of potato soup he had brought from the cafeteria, spread his legs in a dashing posture, sat on the curb, and started eating.

Liang Huan watched him eat for a while and sat down next to him.

This time the food was barely palatable.

“I severed your tendons; you don’t hold a grudge against me?” Liang Huan asked.

“The treatment instrument only needs to be used twice, it’s just a minor injury.” Li Yao ate very quickly. He wiped his mouth, threw the empty lunch box away, and accurately landed it in the hands of a robot picking up garbage on the street, “Humans are not surprised to make any stress responses in extremely frightened situations. You are spoiled in the rich area and probably haven’t seen this kind of scene.”

Liang Huan finished his meal slowly, “Can spirit power change levels?”

Li Yao turned to look at him, with scrutiny and a bit of vigilance in his eyes, “In principle, no.”

Liang Huan was waiting for his follow-up, but Li Yao didn’t continue to say anything, but got up and walked forward.

Liang Huan felt the heat gathering in his palm and the vaguely perceptible internal energy in his dantian, and his mood calmed down slightly. It seemed that this body could practice martial arts and exercise, but it needed to start from scratch.

He looked at Li Yao’s back in front of him. Although this person had repeatedly offended him and was outspoken, his nature was not bad. Perhaps he could use him a little to help him gain a firm foothold in this new world. If he was loyal, he could take him for his own use, but even if such an uninhibited person was loyal enough, keeping him under his nose would be more of a nuisance. It was most suitable to put him on the frontier as a general, maybe he could even establish a career.

“Let’s go, go back to the dormitory to charge your beloved little chip.” Li Yao turned to him and waved.

Liang Huan: “…”

Sooner or later, he would sew up his mouth.