671: Are You Insane?!

Are You Insane?!

Lu Yizhou's grip around Zeke tightened as coldness permeated his gaze.0

In less than two seconds, he had already analyzed their current situation. This could not be a mere coincidence. What were the odds that the research institute would be under attack once Zeke woke up? There must be news leakage! Someone in the institute was collaborating with those people outside and as soon as they discovered that Zeke had regained consciousness, they immediately came here to launch an ambush!

Their real target was Zeke!

Lu Yizhou knew that Bianca would be fine once the light came back on. She did not have a corporeal body and hard weapons would not be able to hurt her either. As soon as the main system was still standing, then nothing would happen to her. Nonetheless, Lu Yizhou still told her seriously as he walked to the door. "Be careful and take care of yourself. I will bring your mommy to somewhere safe."

Bianca also knew that she would not be able to help in this kind of situation. Biting her lips, she waved at Lu Yizhou with a tinge of reluctance in her eyes. "Be careful, Daddy…"

Lu Yizhou strode out to the hallway and bumped into the people outside. Dr. Feng's face was extremely dark, it was apparent that he had also realized that there was a spy inside the institute, resulting in their current predicament. 

Dr. Xiao's eyes widened in shock when she saw Zeke in Lu Yizhou's arms. "You—"

All of a sudden, there was an ear-deafening boom and the ground beneath their feet shook. The tremor was so intense it was as if the whole building was going to collapse anytime soon. The medical personnel screamed out loud in fright whereas Dr. Feng caught Dr. Xiao in time just as the woman staggered and almost fell. Lu Yizhou tucked Zeke closer into his chest, his palm covering the man's ears so that he would not be frightened.

"What happened?!" The medical personnel demanded anxiously. "Head Administrator, you said that there is anti-fire protection in the building!"

Lu Yizhou gazed out of the window and saw a burst of flame surrounding the building. Through the sharp whistle of wind and snow, he caught a glimpse of people in camouflage gear holding a black gleaming cannon. Another explosion sounded and this time, the thick glass window instantly shattered to pieces with a loud crash!

The violent gale carried the tongue of flame toward them, bringing with it the pungent scent of gunpowder, unknown minerals and steel.

Dr. Feng's face abruptly changed and he spat out a string of curses. "Damn it! The building is indeed bullet-proof and fire-proof, but those people are using exploding crystal balls! Even military warships will be destroyed, let alone our institute! Where the hell do they get those balls?! It should have been banned a long time ago!"

As the unique scent of exploding crystal balls permeated the air, Lu Yizhou could not help but fall into a trance. Colors drained bit by bit from his face, turning his complexion completely ashen. 

He had smelled this weapon once before. Only once… yet enough for it to be embedded into the deepest recess of his mind. 

It was the time when the royal soldiers were carrying the order to purge Azure Planet two decades ago. Back then, they came in a majestic military warship and dropped crystal balls from high up in the air. One after another, explosions occurred on the planet, buildings were destroyed, and countless people were killed at once, painting the streets with crimson blood and broken limbs. It was also this crystal ball which had killed his elder sister… she had protected Lu Yizhou in her arms when the crystal exploded near them…

The repulsive stench brought forth the most dreadful memory in Lu Yizhou's younger days, almost making his gait falter. In the end, it was the weight of Zeke in his arms that snapped him to his senses. He immediately regained his composure and the lines of his features turned frighteningly cold.

He was not the same person as he was that year, who could only hide in another person's arms and cried himself hoarse. He was no longer a child who could only witness his hometown be destroyed and the people he loved being killed without being able to do anything.

Two decades already passed, and he had grown out of that weak, crybaby toddler who was utterly helpless in the face of his enemies.

He turned to the panicked people and barked out, "Go to the rooftop!"

Lu Yizhou's voice was powerful and steady, sending a wave of calmness to their anxious hearts. Hearing him, the medical personnel were the first ones who rushed to the emergency stairs, taking two or three steps at once. There was a flurry of footsteps downstairs as other people were also heading to the rooftop. 

Lu Yizhou nimbly avoided the shards of glass, took off his coat and wrapped it around Zeke before catching up with the others.

As soon as they charged through the rooftop door, the biting snow slapped their faces at once, rendering them unable to open their eyes properly. Dr. Feng used his white coat to cover his mouth as he bellowed loudly, "Hide behind the wall! Don't let the fire and snow get to you!"

"Head Administrator, what should we do?!"

"Are… Are we going to die?!"

"Who the hell is attacking us with exploding crystal balls?!! Is it a terrorist attack?!"

"I am trying to call for help— damn it! The blizzard is messing up the signal!"

Dr. Feng's face was grim. Other researchers might not know the truth, but it was different for him. He immediately realized that those people should be coming for Zeke, and worst, he still had no idea how long those people had been laying on ambush outside nor who had leaked the news to them!

Beside him, Dr. Xiao's eyes were red as she whispered, "H–How are we going to escape?"

Lu Yizhou rushed to Dr. Feng's side in a few long strides and asked urgently, "What kind of weapon do you have in this building? Do you have those crystal balls too?"

The head administrator showed an angry and frustrated look. "We are a civilized and diplomatic research institute, what do we need weapons for?! And I have already said it, those crystal balls should have been banned a long time ago!"

Everyone became more panicked when they heard this. "T–Then what should we do?!" They were a group of researchers who used to live inside the laboratory all day long. Let alone fighting, they could not even run five hundred meters without feeling like they were going to faint. Chills ran down their spine and despair started to creep into their hearts. Were they really going to die here…?

Lu Yizhou, on the contrary, did not show an ounce of panic. His silver eyes had been monitoring the surroundings closely, trying to find a breaking point amidst the tense stalemate. He had no idea how many crystal balls the other side had at their disposal, but… someone had to take the first move and nobody was more suitable than him. He was not used to being in a passive position. It was best if he took the initiative to attack and break the enemies apart from within. He caught sight of a ladder on the edge of the rooftop and an idea flashed through his mind.

He took a deep breath and his gaze was extremely deep and serious as he addressed Dr. Feng, "Take him."

Dr. Feng's eyes rounded as he realized what Lu Yizhou was going to do at once. He roared angrily, "Are you insane?!" 

Those crystal balls could even pierce the hardest and most solid steel whereas Lu Yizhou was only a human made of blood and flesh. Just being in the perimeter of the explosion was enough to blast his body to bits! And this time, they were not inside the simulator. Death truly meant eternal death, and there would be no system or healing skills which could mend him!

However, Lu Yizhou was unmoved. Still holding Dr. Feng's gaze, he slowly transferred Zeke into the latter's arms. "You will protect him in my stead. Don't let any harm come to him before I come back." The solemnity and resolution in his silver eyes drowned whatever protest Dr. Feng was going to say. 

Frustration surged in his chest. Never before had he felt as helpless as now. He wanted to prevent Lu Yizhou from doing anything reckless, yet he also realized that only Lu Yizhou could bring them out of their current predicament. He swallowed hard, gritted his teeth in anger and carefully took Zeke in his arms. His protective demeanor was enough to send a sliver of relief through Lu Yizhou's body.

Lu Yizhou exhaled a breath of mist, then turned around abruptly, ready to make his way to the ladder. However, he had not taken even one step yet when a gentle force tugged on the hem of his shirt from behind. It was weak, barely noticeable, yet as soon as Lu Yizhou perceived it, his entire body froze and he was unable to take any more steps forward.

Pulse leaping to his throat, he slowly turned around to find a pale and slender arm holding onto him tightly.

— It was Zeke.

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A/N: Double GT event is ongoing! Event period 20th Dec - 3rd Jan

During this period, if we manage to get VSS to 850 GTs, then delana will release a very special AU 'what if all of those tragedy had not happened and LYZ and Zeke are connected through... a political marriage?!' featuring secret identity, elopement. There is also a premium artwork of LYZ and Zeke (hint: roleplay, wolf, reindeer) so please cast your golden ticket to the book! *cough* this can be considered as the last event VSS will enter before the ending so delana will need your every support!

of course, supergifts is very welcomed as well *wink*

thank you so much in advance ^^

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