First Interstellar Guide Chapter 72: I Like Someone Very Much

Chapter 72: I Like Someone Very Much

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

When they met the person behind the mask that day, the manipulator behind the scenes instructed them to meet him at the “base” in two days. Yu Ran speculated that the “base” he mentioned should be one of the Dark Night Organization’s experimental bases, perhaps not even on the capital planet.

Back when his mother had discovered the experimental base, it was in the distant Horologium Sector, but with the “complete annihilation” of the Starlight Corps, this secret had been buried for many years. Whether they had relocated after that incident was unknown.

If that “base” was indeed located on a remote and desolate planet, Yu Ran and Lu Zexuan would have no support. Going alone to the enemy’s territory would be like walking into the lion’s den, and if something unexpected happened, their lives would be in grave danger.

So, this test was particularly crucial.

Yu Ran analyzed in his mind, “The siblings have already probed our mental landscape and found no suspicions. But the person from the Dark Night Organization is extremely cautious in his actions; he will definitely personally test whether you are truly under my control.”

Lu Zexuan asked in confusion, “What kind of test do you think it will be?”

Yu Ran speculated, “For example, using torture on you to see if you react? In theory, a puppet wouldn’t feel pain.” He paused and added, “If it’s only a physical test, it’s manageable. I will definitely stop them.”

Yu Ran was unwilling to let others harm his “puppet,” just like no one would want their toy to be damaged by others. Moreover, they had already decided to play the role of “a couple, who had marked each other.” It would be reasonable for Yu Ran to intervene to save Lu Zexuan. For Lu Zexuan, torture, this low-level testing method, shouldn’t be the style of the Dark Night Organization.

Seeing Yu Ran’s furrowed brow, Lu Zexuan couldn’t help but ask, “Are you worried not only about physical tests but also mental ones?”

Yu Ran nodded, “Yes. The mental tests are the most deadly. When a person faces the torture of their own relatives or when they are ordered to kill their parents… If you can’t keep your cool at these moments, all previous efforts will be in vain.”

Lu Zexuan fell silent. It was clear that the Dark Night Organization wanted Yu Ran to control him for a reason. He had already guessed that they might ask him to kill his father to take the position of the Eagle Corps Commander, and then, using him, control the entire Eagle Corps. If such a day truly arrived, how could he adjust his emotions to “kill” his own relatives without showing any emotion?

“I have a method. Shall we try it?” Yu Ran suggested.

“Okay,” Lu Zexuan immediately agreed.

Yu Ran looked at him, “Don’t you want to know what the method is?”

Lu Zexuan rubbed his nose and said, “You’re smarter than me. If you came up with it, it must work.”

Yu Ran didn’t deny Lu Zexuan’s evaluation. After a moment of thought, he continued, “We can share all five senses in the mental world. After arriving at the base, what you see and hear will automatically transmit to the mental landscape for me to know. I will process this information immediately and block any information that is detrimental to you, preventing your brain from reacting.” 

Under normal circumstances, the speed of signal transmission from the eyes to the brain, the brain’s reaction, and the feedback to facial expressions and body movements were very fast, and the brain’s instinctive reaction couldn’t be easily deceived in many cases.

But now, they were both in a mental state. Yu Ran acted as an observer, cutting off the process of information transmission. For instance, when Lu Zexuan saw his father’s death, the moment the signal reached his brain, Yu Ran would immediately block out that information. Consequently, Lu Zexuan wouldn’t react with pain.

Understanding Yu Ran’s meaning, Lu Zexuan praised, “Smart move. This way, I won’t see those images that are harmful to me. My expressions and actions won’t give anything away.”

Yu Ran didn’t know what kind of “test” the Dark Night Organization had left for them. This organization was ruthless; they might actually capture and kill Lu Zexuan’s loved ones, forcing him to witness such “mental torture.” No matter how convincingly Lu Zexuan acted, he wouldn’t be flawless at that moment.

Unless… Yu Ran shielded him from external interference in the mental world. This way, Lu Zexuan could focus solely on acting. Information reaching his brain would be filtered by Yu Ran. He’d swiftly delete any information unfavorable to Lu Zexuan, ensuring he remained unaffected.

Yu Ran looked at him and said, “Let’s try sharing our five senses. From now on, we share everything. You go to the bedroom, and I’ll go to the bathroom.”

Lu Zexuan nodded, turned, and headed to the bedroom while Yu Ran went to the bathroom. The moment they established the shared five senses, Lu Zexuan miraculously saw the scene in the bathroom, and Yu Ran saw the bedroom scene. It was as if their brains had split into two screens, each seeing what the other saw.

Yu Ran said, “I’ll have the Nine-Tailed Fox block the wardrobe in the bedroom.”

As soon as he said it, the wardrobe in front of Lu Zexuan vanished. 

Lu Zexuan marveled, “The guiding mental intervention is truly miraculous.”

Though his eyes were fixed on the wardrobe, his brain no longer acknowledged its existence.

Yu Ran swiftly processed information in the mental world. Being a double spirit body with mental energy twice as powerful as an S-level guide, handling such information was effortless. But he knew that once they delved deeper into danger and he had to deal with people from the Dark Night Organization while helping Lu Zexuan process information, the consumption of mental energy would increase exponentially. Whether he could handle it was still uncertain.

Yu Ran severed the sharing of their five senses, exited the bathroom, and approached Lu Zexuan solemnly. “Whether we can come back alive and penetrate into the organization to uncover the truth of the Dark Night Organization depends on this mission.”

His expression was extremely serious, his gaze steady. Though he worried about the imminent danger, there was no fear in his demeanor.

Lu Zexuan said, “I’ll be prepared and cooperate with you fully.”

Yu Ran fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “If we can’t come back, do you have any unfinished wishes?”

He knew he shouldn’t have brought this up before they set out. But if they were exposed and executed by the organization, wouldn’t it be regrettable if there were still unfulfilled wishes?

Upon hearing Yu Ran’s question, Lu Zexuan’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and an extremely complex expression flickered in his eyes. After a moment, he looked at Yu Ran and said softly, “Unfinished wishes… I really like someone, but I haven’t had the chance to confess.”

Back then, Mohr and his elder cousin clearly had mutual affection, but they never had the opportunity to tell each other. As a result, they were separated forever, leaving behind an irreparable regret. This time, as he and Yu Ran went to the organization’s base to meet the supreme leader, their fate was uncertain. If they really couldn’t come back, perhaps he would never be able to utter those words hidden in his heart. He didn’t want to take this feeling to his grave.

Meeting Lu Zexuan’s deep eyes, Yu Ran’s heart suddenly pounded fiercely. He really liked someone? During this time, the person he had spent the most time with, the person closest to him, the person he had dreamed of, who else could it be?

Yu Ran stared at Lu Zexuan blankly, and in the next moment, he heard Lu Zexuan say softly, “I met that person when we were very young, but at the time, I didn’t pay much attention. Later, we brushed past each other at a ball, and I only remembered his guide essence. After many years, we met again during a mission, and I happened to save him. Do you think it’s fate?”

Yu Ran remained silent for a moment, then nodded with flushed ears, “It does seem quite predestined.”

Lu Zexuan gently extended his arms and embraced Yu Ran. The voice in his mind was incredibly soft and sincere, “At first, I was drawn to the person who pretended to be an innocent little guide, but it turned out it was all an act. He had been using me all along, and I was very angry and upset at the time. But later, after I learned the truth, I didn’t feel angry at him at all. Instead, I couldn’t help but fall in love with him. I fell in love with the real him. I feel sorry for him… and I admire him. I want to be his sentinel, to protect him for life.” Lu Zexuan tightened his embrace, resting his chin on Yu Ran’s shoulder, his voice low and gentle, “Ranran, I really like you. I want to tell you, even if we can’t come back this time, you should know that there’s someone who likes you… willing to live and die with you.”

His embrace was warm and firm, as if he wanted to meld Yu Ran into his body. Being held entirely by him, hearing his sincere confession, Yu Ran’s eyes welled up with warmth.

Before meeting Lu Zexuan, Yu Ran had been fleeing alone on the Red Spider Star, living with the Spider Queen for three years, and then enduring hardships alone to return to the capital star, undergoing special training to become an undercover agent, infiltrating the Dark Night Organization. He had been alone all these years. Sometimes he wondered, if one day he was exposed, perhaps he would quietly die in some unknown corner, unable to even restore his identity as Xie Ran. But now, Lu Zexuan said… he liked him, willing to live and die with him. What a rare bond.

Over the years, Yu Ran’s appearance had been reshaped, his cut off arm regenerated, and his identity fabricated. He had walked alone like a lone wolf through the long night, always prepared to sacrifice. When he made the decision initially, he never imagined that there would be a sentinel willing to walk by his side. Even willing to live and die together. It was like a glimmer of warmth in the pitch-black cold night.

Yu Ran’s eyes moistened, and he couldn’t help but gently return Lu Zexuan’s embrace, pressing his face against the sentinel’s chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and earnestly saying, “Lu Zexuan, I don’t know what love is, and I haven’t thought about these things. But… thank you very much for willing to accompany me through life and death. I’m happy to know you.”

Lu Zexuan gently rubbed his head, “Thank me for what? I’m your sentinel; it’s what I should do.”

Yu Ran was momentarily reminded of the dream on the Red Spider Star. He returned to that night of pouring rain many years ago, when he was blinded by vines and torn apart, trembling with pain. In that desperate dream, Lu Zexuan had held him tightly, saying, “I am your sentinel.”

– Your sentinel.

Simple words, yet filled with intense feeling.

Lu Zexuan was an emotionally restrained person. If it weren’t for this trip to the enemy’s stronghold, where life and death were uncertain, he might not have said these things to Yu Ran.

Taking a deep breath, Yu Ran looked at the handsome man in front of him. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “I hope this time, we can come back alive. When the time comes, can I give you an answer? I can’t figure out my feelings for you right now, and I don’t have the extra mental energy to think about these things.”

Lu Zexuan said, “I understand. I just wanted to tell you that I really like you, and I’m not asking for a response from you. You don’t have to feel any psychological pressure.”

Now they were in a dangerous situation, and only by surviving did they have hope. Once they dealt with the rats in the gutter, they could openly and worry-free be together. Lu Zexuan understood the priorities. He released Yu Ran and said softly, “Rest well, let’s recharge mentally for tomorrow’s encounter with that ‘big shot’.”