672: Keep Him Safe!

Keep Him Safe!

Lu Yizhou's heart gave a strong lurch. In a flash, he snapped his gaze up and found that Zeke's state remained unchanged. His golden eyes were still blank and unfocused as though he was seeing something which others could not. However… it was unmistakably Zeke's hand that was holding onto him! What did it mean? It meant that he was not completely unresponsive! Though they had no idea why he did not react to stimuli, he clearly could discern his surroundings!2

Unbridled joy and delight broke through the seams of Lu Yizhou's heart, softening his hard and cold features. He held Zeke's hand and just as he was going to say something, there was an alarmed cry from the researcher who  was poking his head out to monitor the situation.

"Oh God… look! They are moving again! What do they want to do?!!"

Amidst the vast expanse of snowy lands, the people in black protective gear were especially conspicuous to see. Carrying the cannon on their shoulders, they trudged through the heavy snow, step by step, getting closer and closer to the research institute. 

The researchers' face paled. "O–Oh no… they are trying to barge in here!"

Lu Yizhou's eyes hardened. He could not delay any longer. Shifting his gaze back to Zeke, Lu Yizhou heaved out another puff of white mist from his lips, then gently dislodged Zeke's hand from his shirt. "I have to go…" those words had just come out from his mouth when a hint of struggle appeared on Zeke's otherwise dull eyes. His body started to squirm about in Dr. Feng's arms.

Dr. Feng's build was thin and slender. It already took his all just to hold Zeke securely in his arms and when the man suddenly made a fuss, his grip almost slipped, causing Zeke to loosen from his arms. 

Fortunately, Lu Yizhou caught him in the nick of time. He stared into his lover's eyes and found none of the usual twinkle and brightness within. But he knew… Zeke was aware of everything that happened around him. And he was trying to prevent Lu Yizhou from going straight to the enemy line. 

"Sweetheart…" Lu Yizhou's voice gained a tinge of hoarseness, filled with heartache and the reluctance to part. "Stay here. You will be safe with Dr. Feng. I will just go for a while. Just for a while… and I promise to come back as soon as possible, okay?"

Instead of getting convinced, Zeke gripped onto him harder. It was bizarre how his face remained dull and expressionless, yet his hand was desperately clinging onto Lu Yizhou to the point where his blue and green veins were visible. 

Lu Yizhou was stunned after he said those words as a very strong déjà vu overcame him. Somehow, he felt like… those sentences sounded very familiar? It took him two full seconds to realize that it was the exact same thing he had said to 55 in the last simulation. Back then, he had left 55 in level Z2, then gave him a promise that he would come back as soon as possible. But in the end… he failed to keep his words. He died… leaving 55 alone by his lonesome…

As soon as the realization dawned on him, an intense agony seared through the center part of his chest, slowly expanding bit by bit until his entire heart trembled with pain. His throat was choked up, even the rims of his eyes reddened. "I'm sorry…" he leaned in to press their foreheads together, his breathing ragged. "I'm very sorry to have left you alone back then. It must be very scary, right…?"

A watery mist appeared on Zeke's beautiful eyes.

Lu Yizhou shut his eyes and took a deep breath. The fierce gale was still howling all around him, yet it was as if he could feel nothing other than the warmth of the person in front of him. "I won't make another promise," he suddenly said. "The words I have failed to keep back then… I will make it up to you today." He opened his eyes and a tiny smile tugged on the corner of his lips. He reached out to rub Zeke's dry and chapped lips, murmuring. "I won't kiss you either. This time… I will return victorious before I claim these lips of yours for the first time."

Then before Zeke could give any other reaction, Lu Yizhou passed him over to Dr. Feng who had been watching their interaction carefully.

"Keep him safe!" He left that one sentence as he left the protective cover of the wall and dashed across the windy rooftop. Unaware that behind him, a droplet of tears slid down Zeke's pale cheeks and his golden eyes flickered, as though a hint of light was desperately trying to burst through the solid darkness.

"Lu Yizhou!"

Lu Yizhou turned around in time to catch a black earpiece that Dr. Feng threw at him. "I wish you luck!" the man hollered against the roar of the blizzard. "Don't worry, I will protect him with my life!"

"Come back safely!" Dr. Xiao also shouted and cried at the same time. "I will protect him too!"

Not knowing what the earpiece was for, Lu Yizhou cautiously put it into his ear and gave it a tap. Almost immediately, a zap of electricity rushed through his skull, turning his mind blank for a split second. And then, a very familiar presence surfaced inside his head — which had been very quiet and empty since he woke up to reality. Lu Yizhou's heart instantly soared, it was as if he had regained something he did not know he lost.

[Bzzz… Bzzz… Searching for a connection…]

[Brain signal detected.]

[Linking the Host with the system in three… two… one…]

[666: W–Where is this?! Who are you and what are you going to do to 666?!]

Hearing this familiar voice, a flood of delight coursed through him and his lips curled upward without him realizing. Even then, his tone remained calm and flat as he asked, [It has not been that long, and yet you have already forgotten me?]

Silence.

[666: …H–Host?]

666's voice shook in disbelief. And then, just like an abandoned puppy who finally met its owner at long last, it immediately regained its vigor and started to pour out its grievance.

[666: Uwaaa QAQ Host, is that you?! You're really here…?!! Host, you have no idea how long 666 has been waiting for you! Admin God is so black-hearted. He bullies 666 everyday…]

Lu Yizhou let the system rant to its heart's content as he agilely climbed down the ladder. He did not wear any gloves, so by the time his feet landed on the ground, a layer of skin had been scraped off his palm and oozed out blood. Coupled with the harsh wind and extremely low temperature, the blood solidified in mere seconds and stuck to his skin uncomfortably. Fortunately, the ladder was placed behind the building which was still relatively intact and unharmed by the crystal balls. The enemies had not realized his presence either.

666 finally shut up when it realized the peril they were in.

[666: Umm, Host… we are in reality, aren't we? Why are we fighting again???]

Lu Yizhou did not answer and simply asked, [How many people are there on the other side?]

666 had gained a conditioned reflex to execute Lu Yizhou's command without fail lest it would be the recipient of Host's disdainful gaze again — which would not fail to make the system doubt its entire existence. It immediately forgot its earlier question and did a quick scan. 

[666: There are fifteen people, and five are carrying cannons whereas the other ten have guns and knives on their bodies. Each cannon can only contain one crystal ball, so the remaining number of cannons they can still use are three. Host, who are they? What are you going to do???]

[Which one is the working cannon?]

When 666 gave him the coordinate, Lu Yizhou hummed in approval and stuck his back to the wall. As soon as he spotted an opening, he immediately shot out from behind the building with the agility of an enraged cheetah. He kept his eyes open against the fierce gust and pounced on the nearest man who carried a huge cannon on him. The enemies did not even expect that someone would actually dare to go head-on against them! 

When they finally reacted, everything was already too late…

Lu Yizhou propped the cannon on his shoulder and faced fifteen people who were clad in protective gear from head to toe. "So…" he raised his voice to rival the wind gale and flashed a mockery sneer at them. "Who wants to have a first taste of a crystal ball?"

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