Chapter 84#

Dispute#

As they ventured deeper into the route, the insectoids they encountered were no longer as easy to deal with as before. Some required tactical maneuvers, while others necessitated heavy weaponry like mechs or bombers.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Cover! Fire cover!” the captain roared.

Before the smoke from the explosion had even cleared, electromagnetic bullets were already bursting from the barrels, drilling into the insects’ bodies. Sparks flew across the barricades where the team members were taking cover. The air was filled with deafening impacts, the cracking of trees, and debris scattering everywhere.

Wen Qianyong charged forward with a roar, firing wildly at the insectoids. Qiu Zhen gripped his machine gun, holding down the trigger without letting up, while Crazy Rat continuously lobbed grenades into the distance. The insect drones charged at the team at an incredible speed, but before they could take two steps, Ning Feng’s sniper rifle pierced right through them.

Ignoring the approving glances from his teammates, Ning Feng swapped his magazine while muttering under his breath, “Why are we only dealing with this small fry? Bring on a big one.”

Hiss! Hiss!

The moment he spoke, a sharp screech sounded from behind. A grotesque insect-snake shrieked as it charged straight at him.

“Oh~ Looks like a little treat is here.” Ning Feng licked his lips and raised his gun steadily without moving.

Bang!

In the instant the deafening gunshot rang out, the insect-snake shot dozens of black spines straight at Ning Feng’s face. He hesitated for a moment, about to dodge, when a dark figure flashed before him, blocking his way.

With a crisp clang, the sharp spines struck the fluorescent blue energy shield, sending ripples across its surface. Yin Beichen held up the shield with one hand while hurling a seismic grenade with the other.

Boom!

The shockwave from the explosion whipped up withered branches and debris. Yin Beichen’s golden hair flew in the wind as he turned his head to glance at Ning Feng.

Sensing the dissatisfaction in those blue eyes, Ning Feng shrugged and dove back into the fight. Yin Beichen frowned without a word, then suddenly whipped around and shot an insectoid creeping up from behind, before raising his shield again and following.

Though they exchanged no words throughout, their offensive and defensive coordination was seamless.

With the team’s combined efforts, the insect nest was successfully eradicated. After the battle, the captain assigned people to clean up the battlefield.

This fight had been fiercer than the previous ones. Some team members were injured, and Wen Qianyong was fortunate enough to be one of them.

“Ow! Easy, easy…” Wen Qianyong winced in pain.

“Serves you right. Who told you to charge so far ahead?” Crazy Rat sneered mercilessly, though his hands did lighten up a bit.

“I was just anxious… Don’t tell Brother Mu about this, okay?”

“Anxious? More like arrogant. Think you’re invincible because you’ve won a few rounds?” Ning Feng poked at the wound, watching the other’s face twist. “On the battlefield, you need to learn to assess the situation. You have to know when to attack and when to retreat, or else you’re just rushing to feed the enemy.”

Seeing the unconvinced look on Wen Qianyong’s face as if he wanted to retort, Ning Feng was about to continue when a cold, clear voice suddenly sounded from behind.

“And what about you?” Yin Beichen walked over, his expression displeased as he looked at Ning Feng.

“What about me?” Ning Feng pouted.

“Exposing your position, not using cover, not observing the environment, acting without authorization. Which of those fits the situational assessment you just mentioned?”

“Oh well, we won anyway.”

“Winning and losing aren’t directly related to casualties.”

“I’m a robot. I won’t get hurt, so what’s there to fear? Compared to me, the other comrades need more support. You should focus more on them.”

Yin Beichen pressed his lips together and gave Ning Feng a deep look.

“You’re not a robot, yet you often act the same way.”

Ning Feng was taken aback, but before he could react, Yin Beichen turned and walked away.

“Not a robot?” Qiu Zhen’s eyes darted between the two. “Radish, what else have you been besides a robot?”

“Mind your own business.” Ning Feng shot him a glare.

The team continued on their way, and the sky gradually darkened.

Although the rest and discussion took some time, the newly planned route was faster than before. They arrived at the assembly point ahead of schedule. So the captain ordered everyone to rest overnight at the rendezvous.

Out on duty, meals were simple—either nutrient packs or compressed rations. The taste couldn’t compare to fresh food, but it was better than starving.

Seeing everyone grimacing as they chewed on their rations, Ning Feng bit down on the filter of his oil bottle, suddenly feeling a sense of schadenfreude: “At last, you get to taste my pain.” In the end, Wen Qianyong couldn’t stomach it anymore and ran out of water, so he pestered Ning Feng to get some water to mix with the rations. Out of pity for the wounded man, Ning Feng picked up his rations and sauntered off.

The twilight was deep, and visibility in the forest was poor. Luckily, the assembly point was near a water source, just a short walk away. They couldn’t just drink any water from outside, so Ning Feng tossed the pump into the stream and crouched beside it, waiting for the water to purify. When it was about ready, he carefully retrieved the clean water. Compared to ordinary humans, robots were more sensitive to water. Though not entirely unable to touch it, it was always better to be cautious.

Just as he was hauling the water tank upward, he suddenly heard movement in the grass behind him.

“Who?!”

Ning Feng turned around warily, only to see Yin Beichen standing behind a tree, watching him. He relaxed, then frowned again. “Commander, aren’t you eating? Why are you following me?”

“Need help?” Yin Beichen walked over.

“Since when did you become so considerate?” Ning Feng sneered, turning back to continue his work. “Thanks, but I can handle this little task.”

The water tank wasn’t heavy, but due to his inability to touch water, he struggled a bit. Suddenly, Ning Feng felt a faint breeze brush past him, and the next second, a fair, large hand covered his own.

Startled, he tried to pull back, but the other hand held him tightly. In the struggle, the water tank thudded to the ground, splashing water all over him and soaking his rations. He fumbled to salvage them, but the more flustered he got, the worse it became. In the end, the rations were ruined, the water was spilled, and he was drenched.

Staring at his disheveled state, Ning Feng didn’t move. After a moment, he slowly straightened up, fixing his gaze on the other. “Yin Beichen, what exactly do you want?”

Yin Beichen pressed his lips together, his expression still indifferent. “I want to talk with you.”

“Talk?” Ning Feng let out a light laugh. “Can’t you see that I’m annoyed by you?”

He squinted at Yin Beichen. “I was in the competition, winning just fine. Then you give an assignment, and the competition falls through. I was working in the logistics department, doing just fine. Then you issue a transfer order, and that falls through too. Now I’m on patrol, finally out of sight and out of mind. And you still follow me. What’s this all about?”

Yin Beichen’s expression slowly darkened. He reached out to grab Ning Feng. “Let’s talk things over properly, okay—”

Suddenly, Ning Feng yanked Yin Beichen by the collar and slammed him hard against a tree trunk, a cold, roguish grin on his face. “Yin Beichen, I have nothing to talk about with you. I’ve made it clear before. You’re the commander, I’m the subordinate. That’s it. If you want to play the attentive one, go find someone else—Joe Xi, even an insect—just don’t come lingering around me, got it?”

His tone was low, but his grip was fierce. Yin Beichen’s chest was pressed tightly, making it hard to breathe, yet he still stared straight at Ning Feng, his eyes like an icy layer that wouldn’t thaw.

Suddenly, he seized Ning Feng’s wrist and, with a burst of strength, pinned him against another tree, instantly reversing their positions. After a brief moment of blankness, Ning Feng’s brain quickly reactivated, and he struggled with all his might.

The two silently wrestled in the tangled grass, getting covered in twigs and debris. In the end, Yin Beichen pressed Ning Feng down beneath him, holding him in a hunter’s stance.

Looking down at the almost smoldering black eyes, Yin Beichen took a breath, struggling to keep his voice steady.

“Ning Feng, I’m serious about wanting to start over with you.”

As if hearing the world’s biggest joke, Ning Feng let out a bitter laugh that was piercingly harsh.

“Start over? Start my days as a lapdog?” He struggled. “You kick me when you’re unhappy, wave your hand casually, and I come running back to circle around you? I guess I’m a pretty pathetic dog—other people at least give their dogs a bone, but I have to bring my own dog food.”

Ning Feng was furious, even angrier than when Yin Beichen had ignored him before.

He would rather Yin Beichen never talk to him again, that if they met again by chance, they could at least exchange a greeting years later. But what was this now? After knowing each other so well, putting on a show of deep affection—was he playing with him? Was it fun?

Love? After all these years, now he comes to talk about love?

Who would believe that!

Ning Feng glared at him.

“Yin Beichen, in your eyes, am I that cheap—”

“Shut up!”

Yin Beichen hugged him tightly, pressing his forehead against Ning Feng’s shoulder, his voice dry and hoarse. “Don’t say anymore. Don’t…”

Just thinking about the past made his heart ache as if in spasm.

They shouldn’t have ended up like this, nor should it have gone this far. But how did it come to this? Yet he was the one who had pushed this person away; what right did he have to be sad?

He had thought over and over: if only he had been more determined to walk toward Ning Feng back then, would their present be different?

But there was no “if” in this world. He only wanted to make amends and correct his mistakes.

However, recent events had filled him with a deep sense of frustration. This frustration wasn’t just about objective human obstacles but the clear rejection Ning Feng showed him.

Longing, anxiety, anger, jealousy.

He had begun to taste all sorts of negative emotions he had never experienced before.

Especially jealousy…

Before he understood his feelings for Ning Feng, he had never known what jealousy felt like, nor had he anticipated the knife-like pain it would bring. It turned out that when people struggled within their emotions, they truly couldn’t remain calm and refined. Just these past two days, when he saw Ning Feng from a distance, chatting and laughing with everyone, he couldn’t help but think: this person used to be so close to him, and suddenly he was nothing.

Yin Beichen gritted his teeth, a sour ache rising in his heart. His eyes dimly fixed on Ning Feng, and the hand at his side slowly clenched.

“If I said I’ve actually liked you for a long time, you definitely wouldn’t believe me,” he said quietly. “Before, I always thought you spoke frivolously, treating everyone like a game, and that you were very unreliable.”

Feeling the person beneath him try to struggle again, he pressed a finger to Ning Feng’s lips, silencing the retort. “But over this time, I’ve thought carefully and realized that you… you’re actually very good.”

He paused for a long while. “Ning Feng, can you give me another chance?”

The air between them froze briefly, as if time had stopped.

They were extremely close, so close that they could clearly feel each other’s micro-expressions. Scorching body heat intermingled, their gazes intertwined in the dim light, and even the coolness of the night couldn’t stop the rising temperature.

A pale Adam’s apple rolled in front of his eyes. Yin Beichen’s hot breath sprayed onto Ning Feng’s neck. Ning Feng glared fiercely, his engine trembling slightly between them.

Just then—

“Radish, are you done?” Qiu Zhen’s voice suddenly came from not far away.

Ning Feng stiffened, then punched Yin Beichen square in the face. Taking advantage of the other’s momentary pain, he twisted free.

“Ah, almost done!” He steadied himself and quickly gathered his things.

Yin Beichen didn’t approach again, watching him with a hesitant expression.

“What do I have to do for you to believe me?”

His movements paused. Without looking up, Ning Feng packed faster.

“Get lost.”

“Ah Feng—”

“Take your stuff and get lost!”

An object flew toward him. Yin Beichen sidestepped, and it landed in the grass with a couple of rolls. He looked back—it was the battery pack he had given before.

Ning Feng shot him a fierce glare, then turned and walked away without looking back.

Watching his disappearing figure, Yin Beichen tugged at the corner of his mouth, slowly wiped the blood from his lips, and a deep, complex gleam flickered in his eyes.