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Lu Li’s casual remark instantly banished all drowsiness from Xie Jianwei.

A dream? A Grim Reaper?

There truly was a dream where Xie Jianwei had been a Grim Reaper, and that world had been quite an eventful one; most importantly, Xie Jianwei had participated in it from start to finish.

Though deeply shaken inside, Xie Jianwei maintained his composure on the surface. “I became a Grim Reaper? Was I coming to reap your soul?”

Lu Li chuckled softly. “Haven’t you already stolen my soul away long ago?”

Xie Jianwei glared at him playfully.

Lu Li added teasingly, “If you were a Grim Reaper, then I truly wouldn’t fear death at all.”

“Why is that?”

Aside from self-torment, the Lord Marshal’s other maxed-out skill was sweet talk: “If dying means being with you, I would hope to die a little faster.”

Xie Jianwei scolded him with an affectionate smile, “Always so improper.”

Lu Li said, “I speak with absolute sincerity.”

“Mm-hmm,” Xie Jianwei agreed with a laugh, then asked as if casually, “What else did you dream of?”

Lu Li spoke with genuine interest, “Isn’t it strange? I dreamed that I was an angel. For an angel to fall in love with a Grim Reaper, what a bizarre pairing.”

Xie Jianwei’s heart gave a sudden thump, yet he kept his composure and asked, “Were we in love?”

“Deeply in love, rolling around shamelessly in bed all day in the Heavenly Realm.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Leaning close to his ear, Lu Li whispered, “You were especially ticklish. Whenever my feathers brushed against you, you would shiver nonstop.”

These words completely reawakened Xie Jianwei’s memories.

In that Grim Reaper dream, back when Lu Li was the Archangel, he loved teasing him with his wings. For an angel, wings were exceedingly sensitive, and for a human, being teased with feathers like that was something no one could withstand.

A wave of heat flushed Xie Jianwei’s cheeks at the recollection, and he murmured, “What wild nonsense fills your head all day?”

“Probably pent-up dissatisfaction,” the Lord Marshal stated with utter solemnity. “Let me have you a few more times, and I definitely won’t have dreams like that.”

In reality, Xie Jianwei didn’t dare indulge him so freely. Who could match his SSS-rank physical constitution? If he truly indulged him to the end, he would never be able to get out of bed again.

Xie Jianwei said, “Keep fooling around and I’ll go back to my own room to sleep.”

Lu Li hurried to say, “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you.”

Xie Jianwei hadn’t truly intended to leave either, reluctant to part from Lu Li’s embrace.

Nuzzling against the crown of his head, Lu Li added, “Still, that dream was wonderful. You loved me so very much.”

Xie Jianwei looked up at him. “I already love you very much.”

Lu Li paused visibly, pressing a kiss against his lips. “I love you very much too.”

Xie Jianwei said, “However, things in dreams shouldn’t be taken as real.”

Lu Li fell silent for a moment.

Xie Jianwei added, “I will only ever love you more than the me in your dreams.”

Lu Li’s heart itched with fondness at hearing this, his hand straying to pinch his rear. “The Military Advisor’s mouth is truly sweet today.”

Xie Jianwei said, “The honey cake from earlier worked wonders.”

“No, no amount of honey could ever match the sweetness of a single word from you.”

Xie Jianwei smiled, closing his eyes. “Sleep.”

Lu Li said, “I want to dream of you again.”

Xie Jianwei told him, “Make sure to have a good dream.”

Yet on this night, Lu Li was fated not to have a good dream. Having slept for barely three hours, Lu Li snapped his eyes open.

At the same time, Xie Jianwei opened his eyes as well, his brow furrowing as he asked in a raspy voice, “A-Li?”

Only then did Lu Li realize he was holding him far too tightly.

He wished he could embed him entirely into his embrace, yet even if fused together, dread still lingered.

The despair from the dream spilled into reality. Lu Li stared with wide eyes, yet it felt as if his chest were still pierced clean through by that sword, the agonizing gush of blood eclipsed by the despair of betrayal. Xie Jianwei’s icy gaze had been the culprit casting him into hell.

Lu Li told himself that it was a dream, merely a dream.

Yet it awakened the insecurity buried deep within his heart, making him unable to stop thinking that perhaps one day, once Xie Jianwei grew tired of him, he would cast him into irredeemable ruin.

Xie Jianwei called to him, “Had a dream again?”

With a gentle gesture, the dim nightlight clicked on. In the dark night, the arrival of light brought warmth to a chilled heart.

Pressing between his brows, Lu Li said, “I’m fine.”

Xie Jianwei looked at him. “What did you dream of?”

Lu Li parted his lips, yet found no words. The dream was strange, continuing from yesterday’s dream. He even knew he was dreaming; watching himself loving Xie Jianwei in the Heavenly Realm, he had felt happy, eager to let the sweet dream continue.

Yet soon, everything changed.

Xie Jianwei fell in love with someone else.

Xie Jianwei was together with a human.

Lu Li had striven for their future, only to witness such a heart-wrenching sight upon his return.

He imprisoned Xie Jianwei, frantically taking revenge on that human, yet that failed to quench the fire in his chest. His actions grew increasingly extreme; knowing he shouldn’t, he could not stop.

As if stripped of reason, as if puppeted by an unseen force, he slaughtered countless people in his rage, nearly driving that mortal insane.

Finally, Xie Jianwei found out.

Learning the truth, Xie Jianwei chose to kill him.

Xie Jianwei wanted to kill him to avenge that mortal.

In the end, he truly chose someone else.

He truly was capable of loving someone else. Remaining by his side now was only because he hadn’t yet encountered him. Hadn’t encountered that true love.

A sharp pang struck Lu Li’s heart, a surging murderous intent welling up within him.

Furrowing his brows, Xie Jianwei demanded, “What on earth happened?!”

Lu Li snapped back to his senses, reining in the sudden burst of bloodlust and striving to calm his emotions. “I’m sorry, I lost my composure.”

Xie Jianwei fixed his gaze on him. “Just now… whom did you want to kill?”

Xie Jianwei was far too sharp. Lowering his eyes, Lu Li said, “I was reminded of some people I loathe.”

“Who?”

Lu Li closed his eyes. “You don’t know them.”

Xie Jianwei asked again, “Who.”

Lu Li looked toward him. Their gazes locked; meeting those calm black eyes, Lu Li felt guilty. “Just… people from the dream.”

Xie Jianwei observed him for a moment, his demeanor softening considerably. “People from the dream?”

Exhaling softly, Lu Li spoke slowly, “I dreamed that you loved a human, mm… and even killed me for his sake, and then…”

He recounted it haltingly. Xie Jianwei knew every bit of it, for it was exactly what transpired in that dream world.

Xie Jianwei said, “How could I ever love someone else?”

Lu Li smiled faintly. “Which is why it was only a dream.”

Xie Jianwei watched him. “Why would you have such a dream?”

Lu Li paused, offering a reply that surprised Xie Jianwei: “Because… insecurity, I suppose.”

Xie Jianwei pressed, “Do I make you feel insecure?”

Lu Li sighed, gathering him into his arms, addressing the issue directly for once: “You have done wonderfully, A-Wei. You have done so well. It is I who am not good enough. I always feel that I…”

Xie Jianwei waited for him to continue.

Lu Li spoke candidly, “I always feel that I ruined you.”

“Ruined me?”

Lu Li said, “Without me, you could have achieved peerless merit, carved your name across the history of the Milky Way, and become humanity’s new sovereign, rather than…”

Xie Jianwei watched him unblinkingly. “Do you think I wanted any of that?”

Lu Li was stunned.

Cupping his face, Xie Jianwei repeated with earnest intensity, “Do you truly think those were the things I desired?”

Lu Li parted his lips, his voice faltering, “Yet for my sake, you…”

“That’s right,” Xie Jianwei took up the thread. “For your sake.”

Lowering his gaze, Lu Li said, “You gave all of that up for me.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Although that was not the reality, if you insist on viewing it that way, it only proves you are more important than all of them combined.”

Lu Li looked up at him abruptly.

Xie Jianwei’s gaze was tender, his dark eyes glowing like torchlight beneath the warm lamp. He said softly, “A-Li, I chose you; you never forced me to choose you. I did not deliberately sacrifice those things; I simply did not care about them.”

As he spoke, his lips curved, his tone softening further: “I care about you, so I refused to let you go.”

His words brought remarkable warmth to this freezing night.

Lu Li had never heard him speak like this. He admitted that everything Xie Jianwei said was pleasant, but he swore that for what Xie Jianwei said tonight, mere pleasantness failed as a description; it was too beautiful, intoxicating the soul.

Lu Li held him tightly. “Truly?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Of course.”

Lu Li felt that this unfolding moment was more like a dream than the dreams he had experienced.

Reality was cruel while dreams were sweet, yet tonight, the opposite was true for him.

Despair in the dream was boundless, yet in reality, he received unimaginable bliss.

Lu Li kissed Xie Jianwei, yet no amount of kissing felt enough. The love in his chest was so thick that he had no idea what gesture could express even a fraction of what he felt.

Warmth pooled in Xie Jianwei’s heart, growing hotter under his kisses, and the two indulged in another late-night round.

Once it was over, Lu Li carried him to bathe.

After his mood settled, Xie Jianwei asked again, “Can you tell me why you thought that way?”

Carefully lowering him into the water, Lu Li said slowly, “Without you, I could never have left that barren planet.”

Xie Jianwei said, “That is because you were born there. That planet was isolated from the universe; had our positions been reversed, I could not have left either.”

Lu Li continued, “Without you, my campaign against the Hundred-Limbed race would not have been so smooth. I…”

“Do not speak like that,” Xie Jianwei cut in. “I could accomplish none of what you achieved. I merely planned on paper; it sounded structured, but without you, not a single plan could have succeeded.”

Lu Li shook his head. “The tasks you assigned to Loren, he performed them excellently as well.”

Xie Jianwei paused, taking a long moment to realize.

During the war years, they often operated separately. Lu Li led the main front, while Xie Jianwei directed Loren on the back to create diversions.

Loren had indeed performed admirably, pulling off several miraculous feats. Never would Xie Jianwei have guessed that this was what eroded Lu Li’s confidence.

Did he assume that anyone else could have won those accolades just as easily? Did he think that as long as Xie Jianwei planned it, anyone could execute it to perfection?

Xie Jianwei could not help a bitter laugh. Having his lover value him so deeply brought joy, but wasn’t this excessive? He had practically deified him.

Xie Jianwei realized this might be the root of everything.

Deifying him in his heart had created a distant chasm.

The previous Xie Jianwei had been oblivious, as Lu Li was never one to display it openly.

Yet they were remarkably complementary, to the extent that whatever Xie Jianwei conceived, Lu Li could execute.

This actually highlighted Lu Li’s immense prowess, since practice was far harder than theory. Yet Lu Li did not see it that way; he credited everything to Xie Jianwei.

Because of Xie Jianwei, he had achieved everything before him.

Ignoring his own capabilities and efforts, he attributed all credit to Xie Jianwei, further deifying him and widening the perceived distance.

“It” was merely a fuse; even without it, the issue between them would have erupted eventually.

Only by then, he feared…

Xie Jianwei felt a touch of relief. Exhaling softly, he said gently, “Do you still remember when we first met?”

Lu Li said, “How could I ever forget.”

Xie Jianwei asked, “How was I back then?”

Lu Li said, “You were injured, and I tried to find a way to treat you.”

Xie Jianwei watched him, and Lu Li continued somewhat awkwardly, “Unfortunately, my medical skills were crude and couldn’t cure you.”

Xie Jianwei said, “And then?”

Lowering his eyes, Lu Li said, “You healed yourself.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Right. I healed myself.”

Lu Li’s expression remained steady, but his voice sounded slightly pitiful: “So I was truly…”

Xie Jianwei couldn’t bear to hear him utter the word “useless,” cutting in, “Then have you ever considered why, when I could heal myself, I delayed for so long before doing so?”

Lu Li paused.

Xie Jianwei gazed at him, eyes brimming with tender light: “It was because of you that I wanted to heal myself.”

Lu Li had never once considered this, but with Xie Jianwei pointing it out so clearly, how could he fail to realize?

Shock filled his eyes. “You were…”

Xie Jianwei said with absolute certainty, “I was seeking death.”

Incredulous, Lu Li asked, “Why?”

Indeed, Xie Jianwei’s circumstances back then had been dire. The Old Federation had collapsed, the Xie family was destroyed, and all humanity was plunged into panic. Yet Xie Jianwei was never weak; he possessed the power to turn the tides, pull victory from the jaws of defeat, and single-handedly restore peace to the galaxy.

For Xie Jianwei to seek death sounded like an absurd joke to Lu Li.

The corners of Xie Jianwei’s mouth curled slightly, his expression serene. “My life was not as worth living as you imagined.”

Lu Li stiffened, recalling scattered, hazy fragments.

Xie Jianwei added, “You feel that without me, you wouldn’t have all this today. But A-Li, without you, my life would have ended long ago.”

Indeed, Lu Li had been unable to mend Xie Jianwei’s wounds, yet incontrovertibly, it was Lu Li who saved him.

Because Lu Li’s existence rekindled Xie Jianwei’s will to live.

Lu Li claimed he could never forget that memory, but neither could Xie Jianwei.

Xie Jianwei had truly sought death. Had he remained safely inside the life-support pod, he would eventually have been salvaged and rescued.

Yet he refused, charting a landing on an unregistered asteroid outside the Federation’s records.

Stepping out of the life-support pod, he could wait for death in peace.

Xie Jianwei had nothing left to regret; his wishes were fulfilled, what needed to be done had been done, and those who deserved to die were dead.

The nightmare had ended; it was time to rest.

Thus, the Xie Jianwei of that time had been at peace, facing death with absolute tranquility.

Yet barely an hour had passed before he caught sight of someone.

More accurately, a youth of perhaps seventeen or eighteen: tall with long limbs, his bare bronze torso rippling with strength; it was a youthful physique, yet destined to be magnificent once fully matured.

Judging him solely by sight, Xie Jianwei estimated the lad possessed at least double-S rank constitution.

That a human existed on this desolate planet surprised Xie Jianwei.

The youth was surprised to see him too, staring at him for a long while before blurting out, “You are truly good-looking.”

How impolite. That was Xie Jianwei’s first impression of Lu Li. Yet he did not dislike it; being stared at so openly didn’t anger him in the slightest.

Perhaps because the youth’s gaze was too pure, his infatuation entirely unvarnished.

Yes, from that very first glance, he saw the adoration in his eyes.

How intriguing.

Xie Jianwei asked him, “What is your name?”

The youth paused before answering, “Lu Li.”

Xie Jianwei nodded, asking again, “Why are you here? Where is your family?”

Lu Li’s expression dimmed, murmuring softly, “Grandmother passed away. I don’t know why I am here.”

Xie Jianwei was surprised. “No one else?”

The youth said, “There are no other humans here. Plenty of beasts though, oh, and bugs.”

Xie Jianwei paused, asking after a moment, “You are all on your own?”

The youth suddenly smiled, his handsome features glowing all the brighter: “Now there’s you.”

Xie Jianwei: “…” He felt dazzled by that radiant smile.

The youth stood up. “Enough talk. Your injuries are too severe; I’ll go find some medicinal herbs for you.”

Xie Jianwei’s injuries were indeed critical. His lower abdomen was pierced nearly through; while his internal organs remained intact, massive blood loss would claim his life sooner or later.

Xie Jianwei had only felt he was dying too slowly, never expecting someone would want to save him.

The youth returned shortly, carrying an assortment of herbs. Furrowing his brows in study, he said, “I was scratched by Catherine before, also with a hole torn in my belly. Grandmother patched me up like this, and I healed afterward.”

Glancing at the stuff he had gathered, Xie Jianwei was instantly relieved.

If this could heal his wound, he would write his name backwards.

Yet Lu Li was bustling about, clumsy but trying with all his might. After tinkering for a while, he said to Xie Jianwei, “One herb is still missing. Wait for me, I’ll go look for it.”

This trip took longer, taking about two hours before he returned. A bloody gash marked his shoulder, his hair mussed, clearly having fought something.

Xie Jianwei said, “Your shoulder is injured.”

“It’s nothing,” Lu Li said without even looking. “It will heal soon.”

Xie Jianwei: “…” What incredible constitution.

Lu Li didn’t mention how he obtained those herbs, but he had clearly paid a price, returning with scrapes and bruises each time, yet showing zero fatigue, brimming with drive instead.

Xie Jianwei felt an unexpected pang of heartache.

This kid truly wanted to save him, but these herbs were useless. The wound on his abdomen had been grazed by the latest electromagnetic cannon, laced with potent anti-coagulants and cellular inhibitors; though a graze, ordinary means could never close it.

“I think it’s ready!” Lu Li said earnestly. “Don’t be afraid. It will hurt when applied, but it will stop the bleeding quickly.”

Xie Jianwei was actually quite sensitive to pain. While seeking death, he was already in agony and had no desire to hurt more.

Yet he could not voice a refusal. Faced with someone desperately striving to save him, how could he bring himself to say, “Don’t bother, I’m waiting to die”?

So he endured it.

Lu Li was genuinely worried. This person was so gorgeous, fair and delicate, appearing fragile; it would be a miracle if he didn’t fear pain.

“Hang in there. Once the medicine is on, I’ll find sweet fruits for you to eat.”

Xie Jianwei laughed softly. The youth was actually coaxing him like a child.

Lu Li applied the gooey mash of herbs onto his lower abdomen…

Xie Jianwei’s smile vanished in an instant. This wasn’t merely painful; it was excruciating!

Having to suffer this before dying; his luck was truly wretched.

Lu Li’s voice held urgency: “Does it hurt a lot? Hold on, I’ll wrap it up, it will be over soon!”

Xie Jianwei’s head buzzed with pain, yet miraculously he didn’t push him away. Perhaps because the youth was so gentle, or because his sincerity was so pure; in short, he couldn’t bear to stop him.

In any case, these herbs couldn’t heal him. Once Lu Li saw reality, he would have no choice but to accept it.

Xie Jianwei suffered through agonizing pain before Lu Li finally finished bandaging him.

When searching for herbs through fierce tussles, not a drop of sweat had fallen from him, yet merely bandaging Xie Jianwei covered his forehead in fine beads of sweat.

It wasn’t from exertion, but likely from worry.

Xie Jianwei suddenly felt the pain recede a bit. What to do? This youth was truly adorable.

Lu Li comforted him, “Wait here, I’ll get sweet fruits for you.”

He jogged off, returning shortly with a few delicate little berries cupped in his hands: rose-red, each the size of a fingertip.

Lu Li said, “Eat them quickly, they melt fast, and once melted they won’t be as sweet.”

With that, he peeled the thin skin and popped a berry into Xie Jianwei’s mouth.

Sweet juice instantly burst across Xie Jianwei’s tongue.

Lu Li asked, “Is it sweet?”

Xie Jianwei said honestly, “Very sweet.”

Lu Li smiled again, bright as ever: “When your injuries heal, I’ll take you to another spot; there are more sweet fruits over there.”

Xie Jianwei felt a stir in his heart.

The youth’s eyes were so bright: black as the night sky, yet glittering with tiny stars.

The fruit was sweet too, sweet enough to make one crave another taste.

Still, Xie Jianwei wanted to die.

Darkness fell, and Lu Li kept watch beside him: “In another hour I’ll change your dressing. It will still hurt, and there are no sweet fruits for now, so you must bear with it.”

Thinking of that pain, Xie Jianwei wanted to die even more.

Lu Li added, “If you hold out, when dawn comes, I can pick a whole handful for you.”

Xie Jianwei: “…” Mm… let’s wait until eating the berries tomorrow before dying.

Lu Li couldn’t help stealing glances at Xie Jianwei. He knew staring was impolite, yet he couldn’t stop.

He was simply too good-looking.

The eyes, the nose, and the lips were even lovelier; how could anyone’s skin be so fair and smooth, like clouds in the sky, making him fear that a touch might melt him like a sweet berry.

Xie Jianwei noticed his glances, but didn’t point it out.

Lu Li told him, “If you are tired, get some sleep.”

Xie Jianwei asked, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Lu Li said, “I’m not sleepy.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Aren’t you tired after running around all afternoon?”

“It’s nothing.” Lu Li sat firmly beside him, upright like a straight sword, guarding him with resolute devotion.

An inexplicable sense of peace washed over Xie Jianwei, and drowsiness genuinely began to creep in.

Yet he felt reluctant to sleep; if he fell asleep, he probably wouldn’t wake up again, right?

And he would never see this youth with stars in his eyes again.

Xie Jianwei spoke to him again, “Do you feel lonely here all by yourself?”

“Not really,” Lu Li said. “Though there are no humans, Catherine, Dick, Effie, and the others are quite lively.”

At that time, Xie Jianwei didn’t realize this was a deadpan joke.

Xie Jianwei said no more. As a dying man, he shouldn’t leave him with too many attachments, lest his death bring him grief.

He stayed silent, and Lu Li didn’t speak either; merely watching him seemed enough to pass the hours.

When the hour arrived, Lu Li said promptly, “Time to change your dressing.”

Xie Jianwei answered, “Mm.”

Lu Li said, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll be very, very gentle.”

Xie Jianwei hadn’t been afraid, but hearing him say that made him a bit fearful.

Perhaps people were just like that. When ignored, pain was bearable, but when someone cared more than yourself, the pain felt sharp again.

Xie Jianwei couldn’t resist asking, “Will you truly pick berries for me tomorrow?”

Lu Li smiled, “I will, a whole handful for you!”

Looking at his smile, Xie Jianwei felt it didn’t hurt as much. No, take that back; it still hurt like hell!

Xie Jianwei let out a muffled groan, and Lu Li grew flustered instantly: “Don’t be afraid, it will be over soon.”

Yet unwrapping the dressing, one look made him freeze.

Xie Jianwei couldn’t see, but knew the situation.

As expected, these herbs couldn’t heal him; barely plugging the wound, opening it only caused more blood to pour out.

Never mind healing; this was actually tormenting Xie Jianwei, perhaps hastening his death.

Panic flickered through Lu Li, yet he forced composure: “It’s… looking good. I’ll put fresh medicine on right away.”

Xie Jianwei stayed quiet, feeling a pang of guilt.

He wanted so desperately to save him, yet he had no desire to live.

Dressing replaced, Xie Jianwei felt hazy. Lu Li was far less calm than before, sitting by his side with a straight back like a pine tree standing stubbornly amidst frost and snow: proud, yet solitary.

The corner of Xie Jianwei’s mouth curled slightly, and he closed his eyes.

Being able to witness such a sight at the end made this life somewhat worthwhile.

Xie Jianwei thought he would never wake again, but was soon stirred by a chorus of roars.

Struggling to open his eyes, the scene before him made his heart pound.

The night belonged to wild beasts.

On such a desolate world, it was their unrestricted paradise.

Not to mention a half-dead human oozing fresh blood.

Xie Jianwei finally understood why Lu Li had stayed glued to his side once night fell; he knew they would come, and wanted to protect him from their claws and fangs.

But there were too many: four or five snarling behemoths and a venomous spider with flailing limbs. Every one was larger than Lu Li; by comparison, one couldn’t help dreading for the youth’s safety.

Yet Lu Li showed no fear, gripping a polished iron blade, his expression cold and vigilant.

He stood alone, yet his aura seemed vast enough to shield the entire world.

Watching from the side, Xie Jianwei’s calm heart skipped a sudden beat.

He did not want him to die.

This youth should not die here.

Xie Jianwei knew the youth could escape; as long as he abandoned him, he could definitely get away.

Having survived on this planet for years, he had long developed his own ways of survival.

Confronting them now was solely to protect him.

Because his injuries were too severe to move, though moving him would be futile anyway since these beasts had sharp noses and would easily track them down.

Xie Jianwei was ready to die; he didn’t want his death to drag the boy down too.

So he spoke: “Leave me.”

Lu Li didn’t look back, keeping his eyes glued to the restless predators.

Xie Jianwei stated bluntly, “You saw it yourself. Those herbs can’t heal my wound. I will die sooner or later.”

Yet Lu Li had already launched his attack, leaping like lightning straight toward the eyes of the lead beast.

Xie Jianwei gasped, raising his voice: “You can’t save me. Stop trying to play the hero!”

The youth remained silent, seeming not to hear Xie Jianwei, pouring his entire being into this lopsided battle.

Why is he so stubborn!

Xie Jianwei was both annoyed and anxious. He wanted to urge him to give up, but the youth was terribly single-minded: knowing full well he was a dying man, yet refusing to abandon him; knowing he might stop breathing by dawn, yet determined to protect him.

Why be so foolish…

But he couldn’t bear to let him die alongside him.

Taking a deep breath, Xie Jianwei called out rapidly, “Strike the lion-headed beast’s left hind leg, retreat swiftly to the left, then after ten paces attack the long-tailed beast…”

As he spoke, Lu Li paused for a fraction of a millisecond, but his physical reflexes were blinding. Xie Jianwei’s directions were broad, yet as if linked by telepathy, he grasped them instantly. Moving with agile precision, guided by Xie Jianwei’s “eyes,” he entangled the pack and even provoked them into turning on each other.

Yet that wasn’t enough.

Reaching down to his waist, Xie Jianwei activated the photon gun condensed into the size of a button.

“Catch!” He tossed the weapon over.

Swift as a cheetah, Lu Li snatched the grip right before it hit the ground.

Fearing he wouldn’t know how to use it, Xie Jianwei was about to give instructions, but several rapid shots rang out. The lad possessed an innate, formidable aptitude for weaponry.

Merely holding it, he wielded its devastating power effortlessly.

Lu Li paused in surprise, evidently not expecting this “little gadget” to pack such punch, but his lips curved into a wicked, devastatingly handsome smirk.

Armed with the gun, like a tiger with wings, what had been an overwhelming disadvantage against five beasts shifted into complete dominance.

Xie Jianwei watched from the side, forgetting even to blink.

Brilliant, truly dazzling.

He was born of darkness, yet possessed the power to illuminate the night.

He was so completely different from himself.

Xie Jianwei suddenly felt reluctant to let go: reluctant to lose this youth who shone so brilliantly amidst brutal slaughter.

He shouldn’t waste away on an obscure barren rock; he shouldn’t linger on this asteroid as cold and lonely as a tomb.

He belonged at the pinnacle of the galaxy; he should stand bathed in boundless radiance; he should be draped in glory, forging a legend for the ages!

When dawn pulled back the dark veil of night, the battle had concluded.

Beasts and venomous spider alike lay sprawled in ruin, riddled with blasts and hacked to pieces.

Bathed in blood, Lu Li stood tall, his eyes locked on Xie Jianwei as he declared in a raspy, tireless voice, “I wasn’t trying to play the hero.”

Xie Jianwei paused, then broke into a soft laugh.

Not playing the hero; he was a genuine hero, his hero.

Laughing made his abdomen twinge with sharp pain.

Lu Li took a wash, silently changed his dressing, and fulfilled his promise by gathering a large batch of sweet fruits.

Eating them, Xie Jianwei thought that staying alive wasn’t bad after all.

There was such an intriguing youth, and such sweet berries.

Feeding him berry by berry, Lu Li suddenly said:

“Catherine, Dick, Effie… they’re all dead. Can you not die?”

Xie Jianwei blinked, then sudden comprehension dawned. Looking incredulously at the beast carcasses, he gasped in shock, “T-They were the lively Catherine, Dick, and Effie?”

Lu Li nodded, “Along with Barton and Niuer.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

They were indeed lively; exceptionally lively, to put it mildly!