Chapter 99#
Side Story
“Hiss—” A sharp sound of air leaking out was heard, and the massive body of the off-road vehicle immediately slumped into the yellow sand.
Caught off guard, Bai Mo fell directly from the passenger seat onto Fu Yucheng beside him.
Fu Yucheng didn’t mind and curled his lips slightly: “It’s done.”
Bai Mo was a bit puzzled: “Yu-ge, we’ve been circling in the desert with the detector for several days and haven’t found the sand bandits’ nest. Now that the tire’s been punctured, why are you so happy?”
Fu Yucheng was in a great mood and turned to kiss the other’s snowy white cheek: “I did it on purpose.”
Having suddenly been kissed, Bai Mo couldn’t help but blink, looking a bit silly.
Fu Yucheng smiled: “Xiao Mo, did you think we were just driving around the desert with a detector to find the sand bandits’ lair? That group of sand bandits is very arrogant but also very cautious; their nest definitely has anti-detection devices and won’t be so easy to find.”
Bai Mo asked in confusion, “Then what are we looking for?”
“What we were looking for has already been found.” Fu Yucheng raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been using the detector to look for sharp metal on the surface of the sand—the sand bandits have placed many floating spikes on this original trade route specifically to puncture the tires of passing vehicles. Now, we don’t need to go looking for them; they’ll come to us.”
Bai Mo had a moment of realization: “So that’s how it is.”
Fu Yucheng remembered something and instructed, “Xiao Mo, when the sand bandits arrive later, you must be well-behaved. We agreed before—you’ll pose as my deaf-mute younger cousin; you’re not allowed to speak or resist. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, never take action… got it?”
Bai Mo pouted: “I know; you’ve said it several times already.”
Fu Yucheng shook his head: “You’re not good at disguising yourself; playing deaf and mute is the best way. Originally, I didn’t plan to bring you, but you insisted on coming.”
Bai Mo held him and muttered in a low voice, “The thought that if that sand bandit leader is Lu Xing and you’re going to see him… makes me feel uncomfortable.”
Fu Yucheng said helplessly, “Xiao Mo, didn’t we already clear things up? There’s nothing between me and him… why can’t you let it go?”
“I know there’s nothing between you. If there really were…” Bai Mo paused and lowered his voice. “Then when I was Emperor, I would have had him executed long ago.”
Fu Yucheng was slightly stunned, suddenly finding the other’s tone a bit unfamiliar and couldn’t help but struggle a bit.
Bai Mo’s strong arms locked him in tight: “But every time I think about the things he said to me in prison… I feel incredibly miserable.”
Fu Yucheng couldn’t help but roll his eyes: “Those were all made up by him; didn’t you know that already?”
Bai Mo said aggrievedly, “Even if he made them up, he definitely desired you… You are mine; no one is allowed to think about you. Anyone who does should die.”
Fu Yucheng’s mouth twitched, but he couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and simply shifted the topic: “Let’s not talk about that. Anyway, later you’ll be well-behaved and play deaf and mute for me. Remember: no speaking and no resisting.”
Bai Mo thought for a bit and asked tentatively, “If I do as you say… is there any reward?”
Fu Yucheng glared at him.
Nowadays, whenever he heard the word “reward,” he got a headache. Over these years, he had truly given this kid too many “rewards,” and he didn’t even want to recall the contents of some of them.
Seeing him remain silent, Bai Mo showed a very disappointed expression: “No reward? Then I can’t guarantee I won’t speak or resist.”
Fu Yucheng really couldn’t do anything about him and said reluctantly, “Fine, fine, the one you mentioned the night before last.”
Bai Mo stared at him, intentionally asking, “Which one?”
Fu Yucheng said angrily, “Stop pretending! The one you said on the roof the night before last!”
Thinking about how this kid had forced him to do that kind of thing on the roof the night before last made his earlobes turn scalding hot again. But even then, he had gritted his teeth and refused to agree… this kid actually remembered it all along and was taking advantage of the situation!
Looking at Fu Yucheng’s embarrassed and angry expression, Bai Mo also remembered the things they did on the roof, under the open sky.
He pursed his lips, his snowy white face turning slightly red, but his eyes were very bright: “Then it’s a deal. When the sand bandits come later, I’ll play deaf and mute and won’t resist… but once it’s done, you can’t go back on your word.”
Fu Yucheng didn’t want to argue any further and agreed readily.
Bai Mo was very happy, holding him and giving him several clingy kisses: “…You are truly good.”
Fu Yucheng let him kiss for a while, then suddenly sensed something and pushed the other away: “Stop talking, someone’s coming.”
Fu Yucheng stared intently out the window. Bai Mo looked over somewhat dissatisfied and couldn’t help but widen his eyes slightly—in the distance, four small mounds of sand rose up, moving rapidly toward the off-road vehicle.
It seemed as if something was moving underground.
Fu Yucheng whispered, “They’re underground.”
The four small mounds soon arrived and, as expected, four people emerged.
They were dressed in dirty hemp clothes, their heads and faces tightly wrapped, revealing only their eyes—the standard attire for sand bandits.
The four sand bandits looked at each other. One who appeared to be a minor leader pulled a shiny scimitar from his back waist and gave a light wave of his hand.
The four sneakily surrounded the off-road vehicle.
A few minutes later, with a loud “bang,” the car door was kicked open!
Fu Yucheng raised his hands tremblingly, his voice shaking violently: “Heroes, spare my life!”
Bai Mo slowly turned his head, looking at him in disbelief. After all these years together, Fu Yucheng could still find ways to lower the bar of his expectations.
Fu Yucheng glared at him out of the corner of his eye.
Thinking of the “reward,” Bai Mo had no choice but to raise his hands reluctantly.
The minor leader rubbed his chin, looking very satisfied: “I see you’re sensible.”
The four sand bandits rummaged through the off-road vehicle, but in the end only found a dozen or so transaction coins, some coarse grains, and half a bag of salt. They couldn’t help but feel very disappointed.
“Just this much?” The leader gave a snort and slowly circled around Fu Yucheng and Bai Mo.
He suddenly blinked, as if he had discovered something, turned to a bandit lackey, gave him a look, and said in a low voice, “You’ve also seen the Grand Commander’s photo… look at him, does he look like it?”
The bandit lackey examined Fu Yucheng carefully: “He does, he looks exactly like him!”
Fu Yucheng was slightly stunned.
What photo? Could these two have recognized him? But if the sand bandits recognized him, that jinx, shouldn’t their correct reaction be to turn and run?
The bandits whispered among themselves for a while, glancing at Fu Yucheng from time to time as if he were a golden doll.
After a while, the sand bandits brought out two hemp hoods and covered Fu Yucheng’s and Bai Mo’s heads.
Fu Yucheng felt a slight sense of relief, knowing that the other party hadn’t discovered their true identities and intended to take them back to their nest.
But he still felt a bit uneasy—what was that “look like” all about?
Fu Yucheng was still thinking about this question even as they were loaded onto camels by the sand bandits, but he couldn’t find an answer.
…
Bumping along on the back of a camel for seven or eight hours was not a very pleasant experience. Fortunately, Fu Yucheng could feel the camel’s speed gradually slowing down.
After a while, the sand bandits took the two down from the camels’ backs but still didn’t remove the hoods, pushing them forward.
Before long, the surroundings suddenly grew dim, and the soft sand beneath their feet became level. Even with the hemp hoods on, they could feel a sense of chilling cold, which was quite different from the feeling of the desert sun.
With a soft “splat,” a drop of ice-cold water fell on Fu Yucheng’s neck.
Fu Yucheng’s heart stirred slightly, and he immediately understood—they were inside the heart of some desert rock mountain. Furthermore, there was likely a small oasis behind this mountain heart, which was why there was dripping water.
After a long while, the sand bandits finally stopped.
Fu Yucheng heard a rustling sound; it seemed Bai Mo was being led away. This kid had promised him and was indeed able to remain calm and didn’t resist.
The minor leader behind him kicked Fu Yucheng’s knee pit forcefully, making him half-kneel: “The Grand Commander is coming; be well-behaved!”
Fu Yucheng didn’t mind and half-knelt on the ground obediently, waiting for that “Grand Commander.”
After an unknown amount of time, footsteps were heard from behind.
The newcomer’s pace was light and steady, and they came to a halt behind him.
The minor leader’s voice was extremely fawning: “Grand Commander, he really looks like him; you’ll see once you take a look!”
Fu Yucheng had already guessed seventy or eighty percent of it. Suddenly, his neck felt slightly cold—the other party had fastened something around it.
Fu Yucheng was stunned, then realized it was an S-class spiritual power suppressor. But he was already a super S-class Controller; this thing wouldn’t work on him.
The person behind him moved in front of him and slowly pulled off the hemp hood from his head.
Fu Yucheng stood up, frowning as he looked at this familiar “Grand Commander.”
Perhaps because his gaze was too disrespectful, the minor leader beside him reached out to slap him: “Who said you could stand up?! What are you looking at?!”
However, before his hand could touch Fu Yucheng, it was caught.
Lu Xing gave the leader a cold look, and with a crisp “crack,” he directly broke the man’s wrist: “Get lost.”
The leader clutched his broken wrist and withdrew with a pale face.
Only the two old friends were left in the cave, facing each other in silence.
Fu Yucheng looked at him and suddenly gave a sigh: “Lu Xing, how did you end up doing this kind of business? A sand bandit? I can’t believe you thought of that.”
Lu Xing gave a cold snort: “What’s wrong with being a sand bandit? I find it very free.”
Fu Yucheng narrowed his eyes: “How did your spiritual power recover?”
Lu Xing raised an eyebrow: “Take a guess.”
Fu Yucheng mused, “Mo Ziran said he’s only been treating illnesses these years and hasn’t helped anyone recover their spiritual power… I guess you pretended to be a patient with some kind of systemic disease and tricked Mo Ziran into performing a full-body recovery for you.”
Lu Xing smiled: “That’s right; you’re still just as smart. I intentionally gave myself extensive burns and then begged that Young Master Mo to treat me. That little fool helped me restore my spiritual power without knowing it.”
Fu Yucheng shook his head: “You’re truly ruthless to yourself.”
“Compared to the suffering you’ve endured, this is nothing.” Lu Xing stared at him and spoke slowly. “A-Cheng, I know everything now. Over all these years, you’ve sacrificed a lot for this world… I’ve always misunderstood you. Now, everything has settled, and my spiritual power has recovered. And fate has brought you here.”
He paused and said softly, “A-Cheng, give me another chance, alright?”
Fu Yucheng frowned: “You know very well that’s impossible.”
Lu Xing said in a low voice, “I know you already have Bai Mo… but I also know that for that Bai Mo, it’s just like it was for me back then—you only feel pity. If I had been a bit smarter and a bit more pitiful back then, the one with you now should have been me.”
Fu Yucheng shook his head: “In this world, there are no ‘ifs.’”
Lu Xing looked at him for a long time, then slowly reached out to touch the cold suppressor on the other’s neck, his fingertips lightly brushing a bite mark on its edge: “This is…”
His gaze dimmed for an instant, then he changed the topic: “A-Cheng, you came to catch sand bandits but didn’t expect me to strike first… this suppressor was specially made for you. I’ve been waiting for you to come and catch me; I knew you would come.”
Fu Yucheng sighed, “Lu Xing, you’ve already been making trouble for so many years… aren’t you tired? What exactly do you want?”
Lu Xing stared at him and said hoarsely, “A-Cheng, spend one night with me, alright?”
Fu Yucheng frowned and didn’t answer.
“You picked me up from the slums and gave me so, so much, then let me fall into the abyss… getting out of this abyss is too hard.” Lu Xing’s voice was very soft. “If you just spend one night with me and let me fulfill this wish, I’ll try to become my old self again… from now on, I won’t be cynical and will make peace with this damn world. You saved me once; just consider it saving me again, alright?”
Fu Yucheng still didn’t say a word.
Lu Xing looked at him for a long time, then slowly leaned in.
He himself didn’t know that his lips were trembling slightly.
Fu Yucheng turned his head slightly and dodged.
Lu Xing said hoarsely, “A-Cheng, don’t be like this…”
Fu Yucheng looked at him and said softly, “Lu Xing, I’ll teach you one last thing. In this world, no one can ever save another person.”
He spoke word by word: “Lu Xing, the one who can save you… is not someone else, but yourself.”
Lu Xing looked blankly at him, looking at those familiar yet unfamiliar black eyes with a hint of dark green. He felt as if his chest were completely empty. He couldn’t even feel the cold or the pain.
At this moment, he finally understood one thing—he had lost this person forever.
Forever.
After an unknown amount of time, he spoke with great difficulty: “That Bai Mo… do you really like him? Or is it just pity?”
“No.” Fu Yucheng shook his head. “I love him.”
Lu Xing stared at him blankly, then suddenly lowered his head hastily, awkwardly hiding the moisture in his eyes.