Chapter 69: 第 69 章

At dawn, birdsong erupted across the mountains, accompanied by the frantic fluttering of wings. The munitions warehouse was ablaze with light. In the clearing outside the largest depot, over forty corpses lay strewn about, and seven members of the White Lion Seventh Team, clad in pure black combat gear, were tallying the dead.

Footsteps echoed from the western warehouse. An Alpha, rifle in hand, dragged the final body out. He tossed it onto the ground with a wave of his arm, then stepped on the corpse's shoulder to flip it over, exposing a forehead still oozing blood.

"Forty-five confirmed." A member asked the Alpha, "Captain, shall we set off smoke signals to mark our exact location now?"

Gu Yunchi pulled down his mask and scanned the area rapidly. "Where is Wen Xing?"

No sooner had he spoken than Wen Xing's slightly labored breathing crackled over the comms. "Warehouse 6. There is a timed explosive. No countdown is displayed."

"Notify the military. Tell the vehicles and helicopters to halt their advance and retreat immediately." Gu Yunchi tossed his sniper rifle to a teammate. "Everyone get to the vehicles. Leave at top speed."

Though he said everyone, he turned and ran back toward Warehouse 6. The members couldn't help but shout, "Captain!"

Gu Yunchi didn't look back, sprinting into the warehouse. Wen Xing was crouched among crates of ammunition. Gu Yunchi hurried over and saw the explosive pack on the ground, its red light blinking. There was no timer screen; it was impossible to tell if the countdown was five minutes, three, or the very next second.

"It is set to trigger automatically, which is why it didn't register on the initial sweep." Wen Xing examined the device carefully. "Fortunately, we jammed the signal the moment we entered, otherwise, one press of a remote and we would all be finished. Being a munitions depot, if this really goes up, it won't just be us who die."

Gu Yunchi said calmly, "Save that talk for after we have dismantled it."

"What if it blows in the next second? How can I not talk more?"

In reality, most bombs do not have a simple wire-cutting solution; there is no such thing as cutting the right wire to succeed. It is far more likely that cutting any wire will trigger an explosion. Gu Yunchi knelt halfway, took the liquid nitrogen cooling gun from Wen Xing's tactical pack, and handed it to him.

Wen Xing took the cooling gun and aimed it at the device. The ultra-low temperature of

"Done." Wen Xing verified it once more, ensuring the detonator was completely destroyed. "I estimate the countdown was around two minutes. We got lucky. You know, I rew

What, are you disappointed?

I am telling you, Captain Gu, your mouth is too poisonous. Wen Xing packed up his tools. I still remember you never wrote a will during your four years at the Military Academy. When the higher-ups forced you, you just used blank sheets of paper to fool them. Yet, three years ago, before going to the Northern War Zone, you suddenly decided to write one. I have always wanted to ask you: did you think the Northern War Zone was more dangerous than our White Lion Seventh Team? That does not seem right.

Gu Yunchi brushed the dust off his gloves, his tone flat. I wrote it because I wanted to.

The two stood up and walked past the ammunition crates. Just as Wen Xing was about to speak, Gu Yunchi stopped and raised a hand to silence him.

A faint hiss crept out from the corner — and at the same moment, the toxic-gas detector clipped to his waist began to sound its alarm. Physical Examination protocols aside, there was no mistaking what that meant.

Wen Xing swallowed, sensing an abnormality in his throat. He turned to look at Gu Yunchi, but the other man had already fastened his goggles, donned his gas mask, and turned to run toward the source of the sound, ordering him, Get out!

The warehouse pipes likely connected to the town below. If the poison gas traveled through the pipes to residential areas, the consequences would be unimaginable. Wen Xing pulled up his mask to cover his nose and mouth, rushed out of the warehouse, and notified his teammates to return amidst violent coughing.

Rounding the corner of the warehouse, Gu Yunchi found a valve, but it was only a secondary one, not the main shut-off. He immediately inspected the surroundings and quickly discovered an ammunition crate that was not properly seated, revealing a corner of a cellar door beneath it.

He pushed the crate aside and pulled open the cellar door. A concentration of gas many times thicker surged out. His portable equipment offered limited protection, and a sharp pain began to hammer in his brain. Gu Yunchi held his breath and jumped down the wooden ladder with practiced agility.

To block intruders from closing the main valve, there were at least ten gas valves in the cellar, all hissing with poison. A metallic, fishy taste of blood rose in his throat. Gu Yunchi flicked on the light, steadied himself against the wall, located the main valve, and quickly tightened it.

Outside the warehouse, Wen Xing stared at his watch. Twenty-five seconds, thirty-nine seconds—he gritted his teeth, donned his mask, and rushed back in alone.

The valves in the corner had gone quiet. Even during the bomb disposal, his heart rate had remained steady, but now, his heart was in his throat. Wen Xing breathed heavily as he saw a dark, gaping exit on the floor not far away, with a black-gloved hand hooked over the edge.

He lunged forward, grabbed that hand through the lingering gas, hauled Gu Yunchi up, and supported him as they headed out.

The returning teammates had arrived and rushed forward to support them both. Once in the open air, a member removed Gu Yunchi's mask, revealing the Alpha's pale, cyan-tinted face.

Gu Yunchi kept his eyes tightly shut. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he lowered his head to spit out a mouthful of dark, black blood.

For a long time after Wen Xing disappeared in that explosion, Gu Yunchi never dreamed of him.

The Military Academy curriculum was heavy and intense, leaving no room for breath. Gu Yunchi, in a state that could not have been more normal, completed every training exercise in order, earned excellent ratings, and received honorary awards. He was the outstanding, top-tier Gu Yunchi with a promising future in everyone's eyes.

He never showed signs of depression or low spirits; he was simply calm, composed—that was the Gu Yunchi he was.

Even Gu Yunchi himself believed this to be true.

It was not until the ninth month, when a Susceptible Period erupted. The S-class Alpha pheromones triggered rejection reactions in nearly 80% of the cadets in the training field, causing varying degrees of headaches, dizziness, and tinnitus. Gu Yunchi was rushed to the 234 Military Hospital for isolation.

He did not remember how the doctor had managed to calm him down. Before closing his eyes, all he could think of was the last Susceptible Period, when the Omega had cried incessantly, telling him, I am leaving.

His palm felt damp—he did not know if it was sweat, or the tears Wen Xing had shed nine months ago.

Then he fell into a coma, only to wake in the middle of the night to the sound of someone knocking on the hospital room door.

He heard a familiar voice call out softly, Gu Yunchi?

Gu Yunchi looked slowly toward the door. A few seconds later, the door was pushed open a crack, revealing half of Wen Xing's face. He called to him again, Gu Yunchi?

Receiving no response, Wen Xing opened the door and walked in, going all the way to the bedside of the next bed. He sat on the edge, the transparent glass window behind him framing the deep blue night sky, which looked like a sea.

Gu Yunchi lay in his hospital bed, saying nothing, his eyes fixed intently on him.

What is wrong with you? Wen Xing sat by the bed, using that same voice, that same tone of worry, his round eyes wide as he asked, You were already better, why are you having another Susceptible Period?

Still, no words came. Gu Yunchi's gaze remained fixed on Wen Xing's face, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Wen Xing did not ask again. He sat for a while, lowered his head in silence for a moment, and said, I am leaving.

That sentence again—the words he least wanted to hear.

But his throat could not produce a sound, and his limbs would not move. Gu Yunchi could only watch Wen Xing stand up, watch him walk to the door, go out, and turn back to pull it shut. Wen Xing's face was obscured in the shadows as he whispered his goodbye, Gu Yunchi, I am leaving.

The door clicked shut. Gu Yunchi suddenly gasped for air and twitched his fingertips. The feeling of being bound vanished, and he opened his eyes.

He turned to look at that door until dawn. There was no knock, and no Wen Xing calling his name.

It was the first time he had dreamed of Wen Xing in nine months, and the last Susceptible Period he would experience. As his body recovered, the permanent mark, which had long since faded to insignificance due to the Omega's death, vanished entirely.

Later, Gu Yunchi began carrying out missions and was injured many times. Only at such moments—when he was unconscious or dreaming—would Wen Xing come to see him.

He would still sit quietly to the side, watching him, the deep blue night sky behind him. He would ask why he was hurt, his face showing sadness and worry, before quickly saying he had to go, and then bidding him farewell.

When Gu Yunchi was trapped in these dreams, he was always unable to speak or move, silently watching Wen Xing appear and disappear, waking up to stare at the hospital door until the light of day.

Occasionally, the scene was not in the hospital room. In the dream, Wen Xing seemed unwilling to speak, wearing his school uniform and carrying an old, yellow backpack, standing very lonely under a tree, his hands gripping the straps, looking at him from afar in silence.

So Gu Yunchi thought that Wen Xing must be blaming him.

Beep, beep...

Amidst the faint, blurred sound of the monitor, Gu Yunchi opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a while. He turned his head to look at the hospital door, waited for a dozen seconds, but heard no knock.

Are you awake?

Gu Yunchi was slightly startled and turned to the other side.

On the companion bed next to him, Wen Xing, wearing pajamas, was sitting on the edge, rubbing his eyes. I accidentally dozed off just now.

Behind him, the night sky outside the glass window was still a deep indigo, but a bright, full moon hung high—unlike any time in his previous dreams.

The doctor said you are out of danger. Wen Xing seemed different from the dreams too; he was a bit more talkative. He added, They said as long as I stay here and do not move around, I can stay with you.

The companion bed was a bit high, and Wen Xing's legs dangled slightly, his hands resting on the edge of the bed as moonlight fell on his shoulders. He lowered his head and swung his legs twice, then looked up, his eyes wide, wearing the same look of worry Gu Yunchi had seen so many times in his dreams. He asked, Are you always this dangerous every time you go on a mission? He sighed softly, not knowing whom he was asking, What are we going to do?

Seeing Gu Yunchi staring at him without speaking, Wen Xing comforted him understandingly, Your throat might not be able to make a sound for a while; that is normal, do not worry.

Because Wen Xing's throat was hoarse too.

When Wen Xing learned from military news that the troops had returned home, it was the first time he could not help but send Gu Yunchi a message, but he never received a reply. By the eighth day—tonight—after showering, Wen Xing decided to call Gu Yunchi. The call connected, but he heard no sound from Gu Yunchi, so he had to identify himself, Hello, this is Li Shu.

Oh... oh oh... A very strange, hoarse sound came from the other end of the line, broken and intermittent, like a radio wave suffering interference. I am Wen Xing.

Satellite? Which... which one? Wen Xing specifically checked the number on the screen again to confirm he had dialed Gu Yunchi and not the space station.

I am Yunchi's teammate. Wen Xing hissed like a strangled chicken. Yunchi had an accident. He was in emergency care for over eight hours and was just sent back to the ward. 234 Military Hospital. Come quickly—!

Too rushed even to put on a coat, Wen Xing ran downstairs in his pajamas and slippers to catch a taxi. After arriving at the 234 Military Hospital, he ran around like a headless fly until Wen Xing recognized him and dragged him upstairs.

He encountered poison gas during the mission and was vomiting blood, Wen Xing said, his voice raspy. He was wearing a hospital gown with an IV needle still in the back of his hand. If the helicopter hadn't arrived quickly, he might have really died there.

The intensive care ward was quiet and solemn. A group of military personnel who had come to visit had just left, and Wen Xing led Wen Xing into the room. Medical staff were still gathered around the bed. Wen Xing stood woodenly outside the crowd, seeing Gu Yunchi's pale face beneath the oxygen mask through the gaps in their moving bodies.

After Wen Xing made some unintelligible noises to the doctor, Wen Xing was allowed to stay in the ward.

Throughout the first half of the night until dawn, Wen Xing sat quietly on the companion bed watching Gu Yunchi, drifting off to sleep without realizing it. Only a short while later, when he woke up, he found that Gu Yunchi had actually woken up, though he remained silent and still.

Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Gu Yunchi's silent, motionless state finally made Wen Xing start to worry. I will call the doctor for you.

He touched his toes to the floor, ready to get up—to get up, walk out of the ward, and then close the door behind him. This was the end of every dream.

Gu Yunchi instinctively raised his hand. After completing the action, he paused, surprised by the disappearance of the feeling of being bound in his dream. Then he realized he might be able to speak.

...Do not go yet. He spoke in a hoarse voice. Stay a little longer.

Wen Xing was stunned. He put on his slippers, went to Gu Yunchi's bed, sat down, took his hand, and tucked it back under the covers. I am not going, he said. I was just going to press the button to call the doctor.

No need.

Then you must tell me if you are uncomfortable.

Gu Yunchi did not answer, only looked at him with a gaze that felt like a fixation. Wen Xing felt a sudden, inexplicable sadness. He looked at the moon outside the window, then at Gu Yunchi's face bathed in moonlight, and said, Actually, I used to wonder if you might have been hurt, but I never knew your whereabouts, so I just thought about it without any clues.

'But this time — didn't you check in with me, report... report your plans? You even said you'd message me when you got back, so I started checking my Mobile Phone at the same time every day.'

When I arrived, you were still in a coma, and I remembered what Cheng Duo said last time about you being severely wounded by an explosion while saving someone. Wen Xing rubbed his eyes. I feel like it is just like playing a game; people have health bars too. Even if the wounds heal, the health bar does not recover...

He was rambling, but Gu Yunchi understood. A poor caterpillar that had suffered an unprovoked disaster was sad because a soldier had been injured and might have a shortened life while completing a mission. Perhaps Wen Xing even thought that the prayer plaque he had written had been ineffective and a waste of time.

Gu Yunchi reached out, grabbed Wen Xing's wrist, pulled him down slightly, and wiped away his tears. His voice, muffled by the oxygen mask, was deep and heavy. Crying again.

He wanted to ask why Wen Xing had so much to say in his dream today, but fearing that Wen Xing, who was currently fragile, might get angry, he held his tongue.

Wen Xing sniffled, feeling a bit embarrassed. He stared at the bed for a few seconds and changed the subject, Your hospital bed seems a bit bigger than the normal ones.

Just say you want to sleep together.

What? Wen Xing had to wonder if Gu Yunchi's mouth had been blessed by something; otherwise, even though Wen Xing was so hoarse, he could still say such things clearly—it turned out that the prayer plaque he had written for safety had all taken effect on Gu Yunchi's mouth. Wen Xing declared, I was just making an objective observation.

Gu Yunchi said nothing, lifting the quilt with one hand. Wen Xing met his gaze for a moment, glanced at the hospital door, and finally climbed into bed, pulled up the quilt, and lay on his side, curled up next to Gu Yunchi.

Their hands met under the covers. Gu Yunchi's fingertips slid under Wen Xing's palm, the friction making his skin tingle. Wen Xing hesitated for a moment, then held his hand.

Why are you wearing pajamas? Gu Yunchi asked. Are you cold?

The taxi had the air conditioning on, and the hospital has heating.

Are you hungry?

Wen Xing helped me get a meal earlier in the night; I have already eaten. Wen Xing looked at his profile. You were so badly hurt, why did you not notify your grandfather?

I requested it from the Military Department, Gu Yunchi said. If I can be saved, there is no need to notify him. If I cannot, there is no time to notify him; they just issue an obituary.

Enough. Wen Xing waited politely for him to finish before interrupting. I do not want to hear you say such things.

Gu Yunchi turned his head to look at him. Was it not you who asked?

I did not expect it to sound so unpleasant. Wen Xing demanded, You cannot say that anymore.

Understood.

Wen Xing felt a little more at ease and lowered his head. Because he had stayed up all night, he soon felt sleepy. His eyelids drooped, and before falling asleep, he rested his forehead against Gu Yunchi's shoulder, murmuring his true feelings, It feels just like being home.

Sometimes he missed home very much, yet he had no home. To him, home was just a collective term for all beautiful memories and states, just like the night he and Gu Yunchi had spent in the small fishing village that year, the bright moonlight shining through the window onto the bed where only the two of them slept—just like tonight.

And for Gu Yunchi, tonight could be called the best night in seven years. A conscious Wen Xing had spoken many words to him, his expressions were vivid, and at the end, he had not left, but was lying by his side.

Gu Yunchi closed his eyes and had another dream.

He dreamed that his body was sinking deep into the ocean, surrounded by deep blue. He looked up, and a circle of bright light shone down from the distant surface. Wen Xing was swimming freely in that light, like a little fish.

He swam happily for a long time, then Wen Xing turned back to look at him and reached out his hand.