Chapter 80#
Awakening#
The news of Ning Feng and Ou Jingshan’s sparring match quickly spread throughout the entire base.
Although it was an informal competition, it still sparked heated discussion among everyone. On one side was a cleaning robot, on the other was the base’s famous Marine captain—just the disparity in status alone was enough to build anticipation. This news quickly replaced the previous hot topic of “General Yin’s unrequited love” as the latest water-cooler gossip. Some even started taking bets, with odds stretching to 1:10.
On the evening of the scheduled match, the training room was packed inside and out.
As soon as they heard there was going to be a match against Captain Ou, no one was more excited than Wen Qianyong and the others. After all, they had suffered plenty of training under Ou Jingshan, and this was the perfect chance for revenge. So they dragged Ning Feng over early, claiming it was for pre-match preparation.
They formed a circle, trapping Ning Feng in the middle, chattering endlessly about various Things to note . Wen Qianyong repeatedly went over the opponent’s attack patterns, tactical habits, and so on; Qiu Zhen nodded along beside him, occasionally adding a few comments; as for Crazy Rat, as the bookmaker of this match, he was busy keeping an eye on the odds.
Ning Feng… Ning Feng lazily leaned back against his chair, nodding perfunctorily.
He and Ou Jingshan had known each other for years. As if he didn’t already know what tricks the other had up his sleeve?
After putting on his equipment, he glanced around in boredom and noticed quite a crowd had come to watch today—even a few department heads were present.
Just then, the crowd across from him parted, and Ou Jingshan swaggered in surrounded by his entourage, plopping down on the other side of the arena. As soon as he spotted Ning Feng, the corners of his mouth curled up, his eyes gleaming with mockery.
“Go for it, Radish!” Wen Qianyong clenched his fist in encouragement.
“What good is cheering? You should be shouting ‘add some oil’ instead,” Crazy Rat said.
Suddenly, Qiu Zhen let out a surprised sound and pointed into the distance.
“Isn’t that General Yin?”
Ning Feng’s eyes flickered, and he followed the pointing finger.
There stood Yin Beichen in a corner near the entrance, watching him from afar with a calm, impassive gaze.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Seeing this, Wen Qianyong grew even more excited. “Radish! General Yin came to watch your match!”
Ning Feng shrugged nonchalantly. “Let him watch.”
“He was staring at you a lot during the annual party too. Does he think highly of you? Are you about to hit the big time?”
“It’s not necessarily about thinking highly of someone,” Qiu Zhen said meaningfully.
“What do you mean?”
“…You’d better keep going over the Things to note .”
…
Once preparations were complete, Ning Feng and Ou Jingshan walked to the control console in the center of the arena.
Ou Jingshan lifted his chin, his burly frame casting a dim shadow under the lights. “I heard you like choosing random modes.”
“You’re Captain Ou—would I dare go random?” Ning Feng grinned cheekily.
“Now you’re begging for mercy? Too late!” Ou Jingshan let out a scornful laugh. “You’d better pray your head is still attached to your neck after this fight.”
“I don’t care about my head—I just hope you remember to save me a spot after the match, Captain.” Ning Feng chuckled twice and selected his mecha.
“That depends on whether you’ve got the skills for it.” Shooting him a fierce glare, Ou Jingshan slammed his fist onto the screen’s confirm button.
[Rainforest terrain selected.]
[Duel mode selected.]
[Virtual scene construction complete. Please prepare for data transfer.]
A mechanical female voice came through the optical brain. A flash of white light before his eyes, and when Ning Feng opened them, he was standing in a dense, primeval forest. He immediately went into stealth mode and activated the lowest level of scanning systems.
Ou Jingshan specialized in heavy-firepower mechas, so his stealth systems weren’t particularly advanced—no need to waste extra performance on higher-grade scanning. However, his frontal combat capability was very strong, and with his wealth of experience, Ning Feng’s hunter-type mecha might not necessarily get the upper hand. So he had to succeed in an ambush on the first try.
Ning Feng quickly operated the console, confirmed the area was safe, and began to cautiously scout ahead.
The rainforest was extremely humid, and the ground was very damp—completely erasing one’s tracks was quite difficult. Utilizing the agile characteristics of his hunter mecha, he stepped on fallen leaves, advancing one cautious step at a time.
The audience outside the arena, watching the large floating screen, critiqued the two fighters’ operations. They were all seasoned warriors who prioritized practical skill over spectacle, and it didn’t take long for them to pick up on various nuances.
“That robot’s handling is pretty good.”
“Yeah, doesn’t seem like a rookie. At least ten years of mecha experience.”
…
Yin Beichen stood at the back of the crowd, his gaze locked onto the agile figure on the screen, his eyes growing somewhat distant.
Ten years.
[Hey, are you Yin Beichen?]
A black-haired youth had blocked his path, the contours of his face already beginning to shed their boyishness, his pitch-black eyes blazing brightly in the sunlight. He squinted, a hint of amusement and a hint of curiosity in those dark orbs as he sized Yin Beichen up for a long moment before finally breaking into a smile.
[I heard you ranked first in the entrance exam. Doesn’t look like much to me.]
At the time, he’d found that lazy, languid voice rather annoying.
He never thought he’d be listening to it for ten years.
“Quite the leisurely mood you’re in, Commander.”
Suddenly, a clear, light male voice came from beside him. Yin Beichen didn’t move a muscle, only responding flatly, “Shouldn’t Professor Qu be testing in the lab? What are you doing here?”
“With such a wonderful match happening, how could I miss it? And with all the Zerg matters keeping you busy, you still came to watch, didn’t you?” Qu Yan looked at the screen, a smile in his eyes. “Not bad. Still got that spark.”
Yin Beichen said nothing, turning his attention back to the arena. He saw that Ning Feng had already discovered traces of Ou Jingshan near a large boulder.
The spot was rather tricky. Tall trees blocked the front, and a huge rock protected the back—it could only be approached head-on, completely eliminating the possibility of an ambush.
Ning Feng circled around outside but couldn’t find a suitable angle to strike.
Just when everyone thought he’d have to give up on the ambush, he paused for a moment, as if thinking something over. Suddenly, he pulled out a small hand grenade and lobbed it over.
“Damn it!”
Ou Jingshan was forced to dodge, but no sooner had he moved from his position than another grenade came flying from some unknown direction. After several Embarrassed evasions, his eyes suddenly sharpened. He bent low, barely managing to avoid a fatal ambush from behind.
“Not bad, Captain Ou.”
Suddenly, a lazy voice came through the public channel, catching Ou Jingshan off guard.
Why did that tone—
In his moment of distraction, the opponent struck directly at him. Reacting quickly, he retreated several large steps and, without a second thought, opened fire with his heavy gun, forcing the opponent back several meters.
“Hmph! Child’s play!” Ou Jingshan bared his teeth and charged forward again.
The two mechas were evenly matched, exchanging a rain of attacks that slammed against their hardened armor, sparks flying from the collision of their weapons.
Although the assassin mecha was agile, Ou Jingshan’s mecha ultimately boasted superior firepower. Ning Feng couldn’t find a good opening, and several times he nearly got hit by the opponent’s cannons, which would have spelled his doom.
For a moment, the battle was deadlocked.
The audience was thoroughly thrilled.
Everyone knew Ou Jingshan’s fighting style was always fierce—overwhelming opponents with sheer force—yet surprisingly agile. Usually, they’d be knocked flat in no time. They never expected someone could actually hold their own against him for so long.
“Tsk, that was close. If this keeps up, I’m afraid he won’t make it to the patrol team,” Qu Yan said, patting his chest, though his expression showed no sign of being nervous. “Commander, the fight’s so intense. Aren’t you worried?”
“Why would I be worried?” Yin Beichen’s voice was calm and unruffled.
“That’s true. After all, you have everything under control and nothing fazes you.” Qu Yan toyed with a strand of his hair. “I heard that if he wins, he’s confirmed for the patrol team.” He cast a sidelong glance. “Do you want him to win, or do you want him to lose?”
[Me, lose? You’re joking. I’m Ning Feng!]
The man snorted twice, the corners of his mouth curving into a unruly arc. Though he looked utterly nonchalant, he was somehow impossible to look away from.
[Didn’t you say you’d protect me? Otherwise, why are you carrying a shield?]
Having said that, he hefted his half-wrecked machine gun and charged into the hail of bullets.
Yin Beichen pressed his lips together, a slight flicker in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed that emotion.
“He’s Ning Feng.”
After a long moment, he murmured softly, “I said I would protect him.”
**
Back in the arena, the attacks from both sides grew increasingly fierce, the battle reaching a fever pitch.
The audience outside had been watching the spectacle for a while now and, logically, this should have been the most electrifying moment. But somehow, the noise in the training ground gradually died down.
Finally, someone hesitantly said, “Doesn’t that robot seem… familiar?”
“Hmm… now that you mention it, kind of, yeah.”
“I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”
The speaker scratched his neck, his face scrunched up, and lowered his voice.
“Looks like Brother Feng?”
Though his voice was very soft, it was like a nuclear bomb dropped into the hearts of the crowd.
The entire venue went silent for a moment, then murmurs broke out.
“Yeah, it really does.”
“It’s not just the training—his usual mannerisms are similar too.”
“And its name is also Bladefang…”
…
The audience wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
As the duel progressed, Ou Jingshan grew more and more agitated, especially when his attacks were thwarted one by one by his opponent.
He had fought more opponents than he could count—some wins, some losses—but never had he felt this intense sense of restlessness. He didn’t know what he was so anxious about. He just felt that every attack he made, every defense he mounted, seemed completely anticipated by the other. The opponent knew his attack habits, knew his feinting patterns, even knew his routines…
He even felt that the person he was fighting now was an old acquaintance.
An old adversary.
This absurd thought made Ou Jingshan panicked and restless. He subtly shifted his stance.
In a duel between masters, even a momentary lapse in concentration can decide the outcome.
“Ah-ha, got it!”
Suddenly, Ning Feng seized on a small flaw in Ou Jingshan’s guard. The booster on his back flashed, and he charged forward in long strides. He knocked the heavy gun aside with his elbow, closed in, and drove his light blade straight into the center of the cockpit.
In that instant, the entire mecha was like a sharpened sword.
Ou Jingshan’s pupils contracted sharply, frozen in place.
This stance—
Bang!!
The sharp blade slammed violently into the heavy mecha. Already off-balance, Ou Jingshan lost all control and was pierced clean through by the light blade.
Zzzzaaap!!—
High-voltage electricity crackled, and the entire cockpit flashed with urgent red lights.
Ning Feng immediately retreated several steps to get out of the combat zone. The moment he landed, a thunderous explosion erupted as the heavy mecha was engulfed in a massive fireball, black smoke billowing into the air.
“Whew, that was close.” He fanned the air theatrically, slowly got to his feet, and walked over. After confirming the mecha was completely disabled, he exited the virtual scenario.
When he teleported back to the training room, Ning Feng expected thunderous applause and cheers that would lift the roof. Then Wen Qianyong and Crazy Rat would rush over, hug him, and shout, “Radish is amazing!”
But none of that happened.
It was dead silent.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on him, filled with intense scrutiny, as if trying to bore a hole through him.
Ning Feng: ?
Just as he was wondering if he had been too rough, a dark shadow suddenly rushed toward him. He immediately stepped back half a pace into a defensive stance, but the next second, the person grabbed him firmly by the shoulders.
It was Ou Jingshan, staring at him intently, his face pale, his entire body beginning to tremble.
Ning Feng’s brows furrowed, then he seemed to pause for a moment before quickly relaxing again. He observed quietly for a while, then finally gave a lazy twitch of his lips. “What’s wrong, Captain? Did I beat you until you cried?”
Under normal circumstances, anyone who dared say that to his face would have been punched flying by Ou Jingshan. But now, his mind was a mess. Especially after hearing that casual remark, a familiar name exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.
And because of that name, his thoughts gradually became clearer.
“You… you…”
His lips trembled as he looked at Ning Feng in disbelief, the corners of his eyes reddening slightly.
“You are—”
“No.”
Ning Feng flashed a hearty smile and shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Seeing this, Ou Jingshan understood immediately.
He could no longer hold back his emotions. He pulled Ning Feng into a tight embrace, pounding his back so hard it echoed. He wanted to speak, but nothing would come out. After struggling for a long time, he could only curse viciously.
“Screw your grandma’s garbage robot! How dare you mess with me!!”
“Captain, I’m a cleaning robot, not a garbage robot.”
“You lied to me twice, dammit!”
“…Ah-ha~”
The crowd exchanged glances. They all had a vague idea forming in their minds, but given Ou Jingshan’s reaction, it seemed impossible to confirm.
Yin Beichen watched from afar, still standing quietly with his hands at his sides, a faint warmth flickering in his blue eyes.
[Little Chenchen! We won!!]
Ning Feng’s lips curled into a smile, and he rushed over without a moment’s hesitation, wrapping his arms tightly around Yin Beichen’s shoulders, shouting excitedly. The warm touch of skin, the rapid pounding of hearts, collided between their chests.
“Well, looks like Captain Ou figured it out.” Qu Yan crossed his arms.
“He should have recognized it sooner.” A faint smile flickered across Yin Beichen’s thin lips.
Hearing this, Qu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Commander, allow me to remind you. Radish won the match. Should you be preparing his transfer order?”
Yin Beichen cast a faint glance at the other man and said nothing.
A long time passed before Ou Jingshan finally calmed down.
Everyone thought he would definitely dismantle the robot. But instead of tearing it apart, he insisted on dragging the other to the bar that night for an all-out drinking binge.
Ning Feng… Ning Feng gave a helpless smile. Then, suddenly, those dark eyes swept over toward this side.
Yin Beichen’s brows furrowed, his gaze deep and dark as the sea.
Ning Feng’s gaze paused, then the corners of his mouth lifted, his dark eyes sparkling like stars. He strode quickly in this direction, his smile growing wider and wider, and then he spread his arms.
Yin Beichen’s eyes softened. He reached out to receive him—
Only to see Ning Feng brush past him and throw his arms around Qu Yan instead.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Ning Feng’s eyes curved, the smile on his lips so radiant.
Just like back then, when he had rushed over and embraced him for the first time.
In that instant, the emotion in Yin Beichen’s eyes trembled violently.
Perhaps for the first time, he truly realized that some people’s departure could never be undone.