Chapter 95 - A Textbook Hero
Translated by Eve
Edited by Kitty, Serefina
12. A Textbook Hero
Xie He’s expression instantly changed. Lance didn’t die?!
Cecil looked at his adjutant. He paused. “Give it to me. You go out, ba.”
The adjutant quickly handed over an exquisite little communications device to Cecil before quickly retreating.
Xie He looked at Cecil, eyebrows furrowed tightly together. He slowly said, “This isn’t possible…I stabbed him in the heart twice. Even if he’s an Evolved Human, he should have died without a doubt!”
Cecil was actually very surprised. At that time, he and Sawyer had been convinced that Lance was dead because they had believed that Xie He would not have miscalculated. As an experienced soldier, Xie He knew very well how to strike a fatal hit. This kind of mistake should not exist. Cecil thought about it and said, “Perhaps they are trying to trick us. We’ll know after watching.”
Xie He nodded. An inexplicable unease flitted through his eyes.
Cecil opened up the communications device. A hologram instantly appeared.
The black-haired, golden-eyed man in the hologram was handsome without flaw. There was his ever-present indifference on his face. Although it was just an image, it looked as if those gold eyes could pierce through your heart. He donned the military uniform of the Empire and his gaze were sharp, no weakness to be seen.
Xie He stared at this blankly. The first time he saw the man, it was also through a hologram like this….Round and round they went, until they seemed to have come back to the start.
He watched as Lance fixed his eyes on him. Although he knew that it was a recording, it felt like he was looking at the actual person.
Ice cold, formidable, insufferably arrogant.
Lance’s gracefully curved lips parted and he simply said, “Come back and I’ll let them go.”
That was it. With that, the video ended.
Xie He’s pupils slightly retracted. He clenched both hands tightly into fists.
A long time later, Xie He turned to look at Cecil. He looked lost. “Do you think…that this is real? That he’s really alive?”
Cecil suddenly felt his heart ache. What kind of bone-penetrating torment must one have to face, to make a man who has always been so strong, look like this—waver—after seeing an image that has yet to be confirmed real or false?
Cecil didn’t want to think too deeply. He bent down and gazed into Xie He’s eyes and said, “It doesn’t matter if it’s real or fake. In any case, we won’t hand you over.”
Xie He’s lips moved, his gaze complicated. He said, “What’s the situation outside?”
Cecil smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
Xie He cast his gaze down and did not speak again.
Cecil bid farewell and left. As soon as he did, his expression became grave.
【444：Host dada, you didn’t tell me that you pierced his heart, ah ah ah!】He had been worried about negatively affecting Host dada so he had held himself back, not daring to make a peep until now! _(:зゝ∠)_
【Xie He：Baby, if my acting is too phony to the point where I can’t even trick myself, how can I trick someone like Lance? Do you think that I’m the type of person who would make a beginner’s mistake like that? Smile.JPG】
【444：So you really tried to kill him then, ah!!! Σ( °△°|||)︴】
【Xie He：100%. ? 】
【444：…Then what if he really died, what would we do, ah ah ah. QAQ】
【Xie He：Baby, what are you so nervous for? It’s just ninety thousand experience points. ? 】
【444：…………】He nearly forgot that this was a rich man. _(:зゝ∠)_
Xie He had naturally really tried to kill him. Loren’s t.i.tle of the Federation’s Star had been earned with the lives of others. It would be unlikely for him to be unable to find someone’s heart. Only, according to what he had observed while he and Lance had been intimately interacting, Lance should be able to survive this kind of injury so long as it receives prompt treatment. The Empire’s Royal Family had the strongest bloodline within the entirety of the Empire. Every single one of the Royal Family was a high level Evolved Human. Moreover, their physical composition and conditions were all top-secret. Xie He thought that unless he had enough time to turn Lance’s bones to dust, it was unlikely that the Empire wouldn’t be able to save Lance, given the level of their technology.
However, he didn’t have the time to turn Lance’s bones to dust at that time. Therefore, he was taking a risk.
Only, everything came with a risk. There has never been anything that was for certain. The only difference was in the amount of control over the risk.
If Lance could be so easily killed, he would have died many times by now.
………………………………
Cecil didn’t come over for two days. No news was bad news. Otherwise, there was no way Cecil wouldn’t show up.
k3010;Xie HekUU1J;Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather.k3011;
k3010;444kUU1J;k2026;k2026;k3011;
k3010;Xie HekUU1J;I think that in the future textbooks of the Federation, there will certainly be my place within them.k3011;
【444：Your vision is quite far…】_(:зゝ∠)_
【Xie He：No, I just miss Lance, that little vixen, a bit. After all, his technique is really quite good, hehe.】
【444：……】Suddenly, he feels a bit indifferent.
The third night, Cecil came back. He looked exhausted but smiled at Xie He. “Sorry, I’ve been busy these last two days.”
Xie He did not smile back. He looked at him calmly. “He’s still alive, isn’t he?”
Cecil’s expression grew rigid. He did not respond.
There were no ripples in Xie He’s eyes, as if he had already completely accepted this truth. He said, “He’s still alive. Otherwise, you would have already told me that it was just a trick.”
Cecil could no longer hide it. He parted his lips. “Yes, Lance has personally led the Empire’s forces. We received intelligence confirming that he’s alive.”
Xie He showed an expression of pain and self-blame. “It’s my fault. I miscalculated.”
“No,” Cecil grabbed Xie He’s hand and earnestly said, “You’ve already done all that you can. It’s not your fault. You’ve paid more than anyone else.”
Xie He raised the corner of his lips into a self-mocking smile and asked, “How is it outside?”
“Don’t worry, we can deal with it…” Cecil said.
“Cecil,” Xie He looked him firmly in the eye, interrupting him and slowly said, “Tell me the truth.”
Cecil pursed his lips. For a long time, he didn’t respond.
At this time, the door was slammed open. Sawyer strode in and said with a deep voice, “Tell him the truth. He has a right to know.”
Xie He looked at Sawyer in surprise. “When did you come back?”
Sawyer hadn’t been around these last few days. Xie He had heard that Sawyer had taken a large portion of the force under his command and betrayed the Empire, occupying several of the Empire’s Planetary Systems. The war situation outside was a mess.
“I just came back.” Sawyer’s gaze softened as he turned to look at Xie He.
Xie He nodded and said, “Will you tell me about the situation outside now?”
Sawyer was about to speak when Cecil suddenly said, “I’ll say it. I’ll tell you everything.”
“The Empire’s army has surrounded us. They are also attacking our other bases. Lance has demanded that we hand you over. Every day that we delay matters, he will destroy one of our bases and capture all of our soldiers. Right now, we’ve already lost three Planetary Systems,” Cecil said, “The situation is not looking good. We can hold on for a while longer. Today, I decided to evacuate you. They will not find you.”
Xie He did not reply. He only asked, “What’s his condition? If you hand me over, what will he do?”
Cecil said, “He said that he would retreat and would release the captives….But it’s obviously a lie. The Empire has always been merciless. How could they let us off? They’re just trying to trick us into handing you over.”
“Hand me over,” Xie He said.
Cecil grit his teeth, eyes unwilling. “No, I won’t hand you over.”
He would never let Xie He fall into Lance’s clutches again!
Sawyer had been listening in silently all this time. At this moment, he abruptly spoke up, “I think that we should hand him over.”
Cecil immediately turned to look at him with fury! Incredulous, he said, “What are you saying, you coward?!”
“I just think that this is the most appropriate solution, that’s all. Lance does not seem to be lying. If he wanted to kill us all, he could directly attack. He doesn’t need to use such a tactic,” Sawyer’s voice was low. He looked like he was struggling but continued, “Moreover, Loren will not live past ten days if he stays with us…while the Empire can treat him.”
He knew more than Cecil. He knew that as long as Lance wanted to save Xie He, he was the only person in the world that could do so….As long as Xie He would live, Sawyer was willing to surrender the person he loved temporarily.
Although it was extremely difficult to make this decision.
“You’re insane! Lance will not let him off, he’ll kill him!” Cecil’s eyes were red.
“He doesn’t have to do anything, and Loren will still die.”
Sawyer understood how Cecil felt. But he knew that impulsiveness and letting one’s feelings decide matters would not solve a thing right now.
Cecil blocked Xie He from Sawyer and said, “No one should dare think about handing him over.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the logic, it was just that he could not bear losing him again. He would rather die with Xie He than watch him endure Lance’s torment again. Sometimes, death was a kind of liberation. This time, he would protect Xie He’s dignity until the very last moment!
Xie He stared at Cecil’s back, eyes stinging. He understood how Cecil felt but….He could not watch Lance continue like this. If he could put an end to it all, then he couldn’t sit back and watch helplessly as others died for him.
“Move, Cecil,” Xie He said.
Cecil looked back at Xie He. His gray eyes were full of sorrow. There was pleading in his voice, “Don’t go, OK? You’ve already given up enough.”
Xie He gave him a gentle smile. “I’m really happy to have been able to meet you, really.”
Cecil’s expression changed. He parted his lips, “I also…” Suddenly, before he could finish, there was a sharp pain at the back of his head and he toppled to the ground. He watched helplessly as Sawyer walked out from behind him and carried Xie He away….
No, don’t leave…don’t go….
He wanted to stop it, but his consciousness began to go blurry.
He wanted to say, I’m also really happy to have met you. I’ve never regretted loving you….
I’ve never regretted it.
【Ding, Cecil’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 100.】
Sawyer carried Xie He and resolutely stepped out. He placed Xie He into a single person s.p.a.cecraft. He personally helped him do his seatbelt.
Just as he was about to close the door, Sawyer looked up at Xie He. Sawyer, who had always been steady and coldly resolute, had a sliver of pain and hesitation on his face at this moment. He said, “Do you blame me?”
Xie He looked into his eyes and curved his lips into a smile, “No, I am only grateful towards you.”
Because you have always helped me. You have always helped me accomplish what my heart desired.
Sawyer could read the words Xie He did not say out loud. The pain in his eyes deepened. No, this time, I’m not doing what you want. This time, I’m doing what I want. I want you to live…it’s just that you can only live if you’re in the Empire. We can’t save you….
At this moment, there was suddenly so much more he wanted to say. He wanted to tell him how he felt. He wanted to hold him. He even wanted to be like Cecil and die with Xie He. That wasn’t a bad choice.
However…he really didn’t want to lose him. He had no choice but to admit that Lance was the only person that could save Xie He.
In the end, Sawyer only said three words: “Wait for me.”
He closed the cabin door and watched as Xie He went far away.
Live. Wait for me to come get you.
【Ding, Sawyer’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 95.】
……………………………………
Lance sat before the control board of Empire’s stars.h.i.+p. He looked at the vast s.p.a.ce in front of him. He had already sat here for three days. He didn’t leave even for a moment.
His medical officer looked at him uneasily. Finally, he couldn’t help but try to persuade, “Your Highness, why not go back and rest in your room? If he comes, we will tell you.”
His Highness has woken up with much difficulty. His injuries had yet to fully heal. As soon as he woke up, he had once again deployed his forces and tidied up the chaos without stopping. Soon after, he began to encircle and annihilate the Federation’s bases, forcing them to hand Loren over. He hadn’t rested at all.
As Lance’s medical officer, he thought that he had taken a stroll to the gates of h.e.l.l and back with Lance!
“I’m fine,” Lance said insipidly. There was no intention to get up.
The medical officer felt extremely helpless. He could only continue guarding at the side, extremely terrified and on edge. He also hadn’t slept for three days! However, he didn’t dare leave….He really wanted to quit this really dangerous occupation.
It was at this time that a small white dot slowly emerged from within the darkness of s.p.a.ce.
It was a single person s.p.a.cecraft. It could only travel a short distance within the universe. There were no weapons on it and had no offensive ability. It shouldn’t be able to appear here, but it had appeared here without any obstructions.
The medical officer was so happy he could shed tears of joy….He could finally rest!
Lance suddenly stood up, eyes fixed before him.
You’ve come back…my beloved.
Don’t ever think of leaving me….
“Come, lock him up. Return to the Empire,” Lance said. He reached out to cover his mouth and lightly coughed.
The medical officer was scared witless as he looked at Lance. “Your Highness, you should quickly go back and rest, ba.”
A Lieutenant General came over to ask for orders, “Your Highness, how should we deal with the Federation Captives? And should we stop the attack on the Federation’s bases?”
“End all attacks and release the captives. We are returning right now,” Lance said.
That Lieutenant General seemed unresigned. “Just like that?”
The Empire had never lost before!
Lance’s expression grew cold and he turned his head to face him, “Are you questioning my orders?”
The officer trembled, “No!”
“Very good. Then go implement them,” Lance’s voice was chilly.
Lance turned around. His expression was apathetic. These Federation soldiers were nothing but dancing clowns and mob-like characters in his eyes. He could deal with them whenever he wanted. There was no rush. He would let them feel comfortable for the time being….Actually, before coming this time, he was already suspicious of Sawyer.
Everything was within his plans. The only thing he didn’t expect was that Xie He would be able to hurt him.
But that wasn’t Xie He’s fault. It was his own. It was him who had given Xie He the chance to hurt him. It was him who had been moved when he shouldn’t have been. But he would not hesitate or regret. He has never regretted doing what he had to to get whatever he wanted.
What he wanted, he would never let go of.
Compared to Xie He’s life, these Federation soldiers were insignificant.
Xie He approached the Empire’s stars.h.i.+p. He was encircled by a group of Mechas and was carefully escorted in.
Soon after, he was shut in a lavish room. It was obviously the room of a high-level officer. Xie He was satisfied after sizing it up. Unfortunately, it was just a bit worse off than Lance’s room. What a pity.
Xie He was locked up like this for a few days. He didn’t see a single person throughout. His food was sent through a channel.
Xie He was very calm. 444 was really not.
【444：Lance actually hasn’t come to see you. This is irrational, ah. (:зゝ∠)_】
【Xie He：What’s irrational, Baby?】
【444：Didn’t he pay such a big price to get you back…?】
【Xie He：Truly a poor little thing.】
【444：Hm?】Is he talking about me? No, right? He’s not, right? @[email protected]
【Xie He：When a man cannot satisfy his lover, he would feel too embarra.s.sed to show himself. A man’s pitiful self-esteem, ah. ? 】
【444：……】
After another day pa.s.sed, Xie He’s door was suddenly opened from the outside.
He was pushed out of the stars.h.i.+p by two soldiers. He once again set foot on the Empire’s soil. He looked up. Lance stood not far away, returning his gaze calmly. Lance didn’t move. He waited until Xie He came up to him. Only then did he lower his head slightly, a dark and unclear light flickering through his eyes. “You must find it a pity that I’m still alive.”
Eve: For Cecil and Sawyer’s goodbye scenes:
One of my favourite songs and it fits so well here. My heart always aches for the poor supporting male leads.
sere: omg i like that song too ? d.a.m.n reading this chapter hurts me ?