He and It Chapter 120: Utopia (16)

If you want more of this novel, we are accepting donations on Ko-Fi for sponsored chapters. https://ko-fi.com/exiledrebels

Chapter 120: Utopia (16)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

“But this is not a battlefield.” Gu Xingqiao said word for word, “What the hell were you thinking, you…” 

His breathing intensified, Tian Yuan’s approach was unbearable, and he couldn’t avoid remembering the months he spent in the prison – his agony in the darkened chamber, the mental energy that was forcefully extracted, stretching every second of his life to its limit, like being stuck in a slimy swamp, sinking to the bottom. Like being stuck in a slimy swamp, the sinking is slow, and the sinking is likewise never-ending.

Sissel’s counseling, which came to him from all sides, haunted him like a gangrene in the midst of torture that knew no boundaries of days and months. He advised Gu Xingqiao, saying, “Wouldn’t it be good for you to stop struggling, to give up thinking, to give up rebelling, and to follow me, my throne, as you did before? 

If you choose the path of loyalty and meekness, you will never be harmed again, I promise you…

You will never be harmed again…

Gu Xingqiao’s heart raced out of balance, slamming violently against his chest in a disorderly fashion, making his throat choke and his body tremble.Tian Yuan immediately recognized the change and tried to rush to Gu Xingqiao’s side, but the youth merely covered his chest and hastily raised an arm to prevent him from approaching him. Tian Yuan’s heart was beating faster than his chest, and his body was shaking with fear.

I assure you… As long as you admit your mistake and give in, the punishment will end here…

“I’m really sorry, I let my blind impulses take over the command center.” Tian Yuan spoke rapidly, “What’s wrong with you, your body is…” 

“… I’m going to walk out of here,” Gu Xingqiao’s face paled, “Let me calm down… I need to calm down.” 

Ask for trouble, Xingqiao. Why do you prefer to abandon my sanctuary, rather than struggle here in embarrassment? You’re asking for it…

“Xingqiao…” Tian Yuan’s eyes widened, and he took a few steps closer in his direction.

“Don’t come any closer!” Gu Xingqiao hissed and growled, he was in a sorry state, like a wild beast cornered by its captors.

Facing his rare anger, Tian Yuan felt like he had been hit head-on, and unconsciously leaned back a bit.

Like fleeing for his life, Gu Xingqiao turned around and ran, his pace stumbling and staggering, without stopping for a moment, back to his room, firmly shut the door.

All around the silence, Gu Xingqiao did not know how long he laid on the hard floor, staring at the ceiling in the twilight.

Things seemed to have returned to the way they were when he first arrived – he wasn’t bent on death, he just didn’t know what else to do with his life.

Sissel.

Often, he didn’t want to think about the name, but only because he wanted to fool himself for a little while longer. He told himself, as long as he forgot the frustration and hardship they brought to him, it would mean that he had truly stepped out of their shadows, and could move forward with a clean slate.

However, the truth tells him over and over again that this is impossible, the former is your homeland, giving you bone, blood and spirit, it is the starting point of your life that you can never escape from; the latter is your former best friend, today’s mortal enemy, he gave you almost the goal of the rest of your life, and inspired you to fight for it… And then, just when you’re about to reach the end, he shatters it all.

Love and hate, life and death, the themes that run through a man’s life from the beginning, are all contained in those two names, so how can I escape? 

It’s time to face them, Gu Xingqiao said to himself, it’s time to stop running away.

Whether he admitted it verbally or not, Tian Yuan was a paradise haven for him. Here, he had nothing to worry about, nothing to fear. The Empire’s arrests, Sissel’s army, the scorn of his people…They couldn’t reach him, and even before they did, Tian Yuan had turned them into dust in the realm of space.

It was a fortress of swaddling clothes, a place for him to lick his wounds without fear. If he could, he could train here for the rest of his life while being pampered by Tian Yuan, but that would be like drinking hemlock to quench his thirst… What he needed was not a hemlock, but a sharp knife to heal his bones, and a bottle of wine as strong as fire.

Gu Xingqiao blinked his eyes, his heartbeat had already regained its calm, the young man sat up from the floor, slowly walked to the door of the room, unlocked the door switch.

Outside was quiet, although the thought was correct, he and Tian Yuan were not the boisterous type, on the starship, the atmosphere of silence like well water was the norm.

Along the corridor, Gu Xingqiao took a look at Tian Yuan’s location, the 17th floor archive room in area b. 

What was he doing in the archive room? 

The transportation sphere slid silently, sending him noiselessly and quickly to his destination, Gu Xingqiao jumped down, stepped on the thin silver-white steps, and through the curtain of light that flowed like water, he saw Tian Yuan’s silhouette, sitting haughtily on an arched throne, but in front of him was a table of scattered letters and papers.

He was…Writing letters again? 

It’s obvious that even intelligent beings struggle with words and phrases. Perhaps because he was concentrating too hard, Tian Yuan didn’t even notice Gu Xingqiao’s arrival. He was holding a fine crystal pen, the tip of which was pressed against the corner of his lips, and his brow was slightly furrowed.

Gu Xingqiao was about to walk over to him and tell him to stop writing, when he saw Tian Yuan contemplatively biting down on the top cap, “clicking” and crushing it, and then thoughtfully… Deliberately ate it.

Gu Xingqiao, “…” 

Just like french fries, Tian Yuan chewed on the pen, took out another one from the nearby pen box, and continued to press it against the corner of his lips.

Gu Xingqiao coughed, and the warship’s incarnation woke up with a start. He looked up sharply, and saw Gu Xingqiao leaning against the forest of filing cabinets and gazing at him, with a look that was a little bit amused, and a little bit helpless.

The look was like an electric shock, making his chest tingle and his fingertips burn slightly.

“Stop writing,” Gu Xingqiao walked over and sat across from him, “Let’s talk.” 

Tian Yuan kept a cold face, only his eyes couldn’t stop flickering with apprehension.

He spoke first, “I’m sorry, what I did before was wrong. I shouldn’t have lost my concentration on the simulated battlefield, which led to a chain of consequences that I had to remedy on the spot, causing you to think that I was belittling your strength. But even if you’re angry about it, I have to confess to you that I don’t regret protecting you, and if you get hurt because of my mistake, I’ll definitely…” 

“Alright, alright,” Gu Xingqiao interrupted his speech which was too fast due to his nervousness, “that’s not my point.” 

Tian Yuan closed his mouth, and cocked his head at him.

“Of course, I know,” Gu Xingqiao let out a long breath, “and I have to apologize to you as well. Actually, I was a bit angry with you at the time…” 

Tian Yuan was keenly aware of something.

“Angry because you remembered someone.” He said.

Gu Xingqiao laughed a little, “Sissel. Don’t run away from the name, Tian Yuan, he doesn’t deserve anyone’s scorn.” 

“I’m not running away from his name,” Tian Yuan said stiffly, “it’s just that his name doesn’t deserve to pass through my vocal organs.” 

Gu Xingqiao lowered his head, “That’s right… You don’t have to run away, I’m the one who’s really running away. I can’t hide any longer, and today’s events have reminded me that I need to face him.” 

“But your injuries haven’t healed yet,” Tian Yuan realized something, his body leaned forward, trying to persuade Gu Xingqiao, “Your mental energy hasn’t fully recovered either…” 

“My injuries have long since healed.” Gu Xingqiao said, “As for my mental energy, if there is no strange encounter, I may not be able to recover it in its prime for the rest of my life. Then what am I going to do? Wait here for the rest of my life?” 

This time, Tian Yuan wisely resisted the urge and swallowed back the answer. Then wait here with me for the rest of your life, and stay with me forever.

“I’m always looking for excuses,” Gu Xingqiao says, “my injuries, my mental energy, all these are my excuses, but the excuses will run out one day. If I really wanted to take revenge, on the first day I was able to move freely, I should have borrowed a ship and equipment from you, and killed my way back to the Jade Empire.” 

“… But I didn’t, because I was afraid.” He locked eyes with Tian Yuan, “I admit that I was afraid, I was afraid that I didn’t have the determination to face Sissel, I was afraid that I wasn’t calm enough, I wasn’t cool enough, I was afraid that my anger and trembling would also be the reason for him to mock me…” 

Tian Yuan looked at him quietly, his light purple eyes, reflecting only Gu Xingqiao’s shadow alone.

“I still want to ask him for an answer, to ask why.” Gu Xingqiao repeated, “Today’s incident, let me suddenly realize, I can no longer hide.” 

Silence filled a long time, Tian Yuan asked in a low voice, “You want to leave me?” 

Gu Xingqiao froze.

“Are you leaving,” Tian Yuan stared blankly into his eyes, as if searching for a wordless answer, “will you ever come back?” 

This intelligent being, as powerful as a god, was now as disoriented as a child who couldn’t get candy from the Lord. He looked at Gu Xingqiao blearily, and his spine and shoulders, which had always been straight and upright, collapsed in dismay.

Gu Xingqiao did not say anything, after a moment, he took the initiative to grab Tian Yuan’s hand.

“I promised you,” Gu Xingqiao said, “to help you unlock the Messianic Code.” 

As the two pairs of eyes met each other, Gu Xingqiao couldn’t help but smile slightly, “Although I may not be able to defeat Sissel by force alone, but…” 

“You can,” Tian Yuan snapped, “Trust me, you’re perfect. Through your on-the-ground performance in the simulated battlefield, I am able to deduce that there is no enemy you cannot defeat if you so desire.” 

There you go again.

“Silly talk,” Gu Xingqiao said in amusement, “What about you, can I defeat you too?” “Of course you can,” Tian Yuan replied earnestly, “You can play me like a fiddle if you want to, ordering me to kiss your fingertips and get out of the way.”  

Gu Xingqiao, “… No thank you, I have no such thoughts.” 

“As for Sissel,” Tian Yuan said, “he’s nothing without the aura of status, the publicity. Humans say that pride leads to defeat, but there’s no denying that pride is a powerful aura that can give people the confidence of certainty, allowing them to recognize their own superiority from the bottom of their hearts, and identify with the idea that ‘I can do anything’.” 

“I don’t want you to lack such confidence,” Tian Yuan firmly grasped Gu Xingqiao’s hand, “and I don’t want you to be overwhelmed by the Crown Prince of Humanity’s inflated aura of emptiness. I only wish for you to realize how precious of an existence you are…” 

I really don’t want him to leave.

Tian Yuan whispered hoarsely in his heart, For him to try to infiltrate the Empire alone, to confront the traitors, to me, it’s like taking a jewel in the palm of my hand, and forcing it into the filthy, noisy downtown…Sissel’s ignorant fools can follow the principle that a son of god should not sit under the eaves!

Breathing deeply and slowly, the mechanical consciousness looked pleadingly at Gu Xingqiao and said, “If this is what you want, I can’t stop you. You’ve been here for thirty-two days, you want to go out for a walk, that’s not wrong…” 

How Gu Xingqiao listened, how to feel that this statement has a sour flavor.

“If you want, I can help you prepare the warship and tools you need,” Tian Yuan said, “When do you want to leave?” 

Gu Xingqiao replied, “The sooner the better.” 

“Then the day after tomorrow,” Tian Yuan said, “the day after tomorrow, I have prepared the tools, take you to the navigation point.” 

As he spoke, he never let go of Gu Xingqiao’s hand, but held it gently but firmly.

.

Two days later, the navigation point.

Tian Yuan had prepared almost everything necessary for Gu Xingqiao to navigate between the stars. From clothing and water, to weapons and defenses, to the common precious metals of each Galaxy…. 

…What Gu Xingqiao could think of, he prepared, and what Gu Xingqiao didn’t think of, he also prepared.

“This is the Stasis Brooch,” he said, placing an inconspicuous button on Gu Xingqiao’s lapel, “It opens up a two-meter-diameter stasis force field when it detects anything approaching you at more than 300 meters per second. It’s an all-around, no-death-angle defense, and you can turn it on and off manually.” 

At this moment, the material of the combat suit on Gu Xingqiao’s body was also infinitely similar to Tian Yuan’s, both were as smooth as ceramic, and when he moved his limbs, they were as soft and flexible as fine snake scales.

“Long-range weapons, short-range weapons, and melee weapons,” Tian Yuan slipped a bracelet onto the young man’s wrist, “can all be summoned using the Sentinel System. Upon successful activation, no matter the distance, they will approach you at a speed of three kilometers per second, and match the static force field without fear of being blocked.” 

“As well as the money you’ll need,” Tian Yuan said, “Human society is still a place where the rich have the most resources, and I’ve selected ten purified metals that are supposed to be rare, to fund your travels.” 

After a pause, Tian Yuan commented, “In the current era, human tastes have indeed deteriorated too quickly.” 

Gu Xingqiao rubbed his nose helplessly, with this equipment, not to mention beating up a Sissel, even if he wiped out the Imperial Palace, it was more than enough.

However, he could understand Tian Yuan’s caution…

“Thank you for preparing this for me,” he asked, hopelessly, “there’s no more, is there?” 

Finally, Tian Yuan grabbed a white spider-form… I don’t know what it is, but it’s a spider-type machine that looks like a work of art.

Its body was like pure bone, flawlessly white, with eight pointed and delicate limbs sticking out from the periphery, and it climbed onto Gu Xingqiao’s shoulder with agility and quietness, as if it was a valuable decoration.

“I want you to take it with you.” Tian Yuan said.

Gu Xingqiao asked, “What is it?” 

“A communicator. It’s like my eyes, my ears,” Tian Yuan looked at him, “Through it, I can talk to you, and I can see the scenery and people around you. You know, I can’t leave this place, and after all these years, it’s my only means of experiencing the outside world.” 

Gu Xingqiao’s heart softened, he nodded, “Okay, I’ll take it with me.” 

“Then, safe travels,” Tian Yuan said, “I want you to come back as soon as possible.” 

Gu Xingqiao smiled, he didn’t reply to Tian Yuan’s expectation, because even he himself didn’t know what would be the result of this trip.

“I’m leaving.” He said, “You take care of yourself too.” 

Author’s Note: 

Gu Xingqiao: Because I’ve never asked for anything from anyone, so I’m very shy I… I want to go out and play.

Tian Yuan:* Outwardly not moving, inwardly cheering, he’s ordering me around, asking me, oh yeah! * ¶ Yeah, well, I’ll get your bags ready for you.

Gu Xingqiao: Face the space, take courage, breathe deeply Come on! It’s time to face my true enemy.. Sissel.

Tian Yuan: Stopping to put sunscreen in the suitcase, he begins to frantically stuff it with guns, knives, and mousetraps Hmph, these are the ones that count!