Chapter 87: Eighty-Seventh Day of Lying Flat Like a Salted Fish

Geshu Ming stared down at the wine glass in her palm for a moment before draining its contents in one gulp. A faint flush rose to her cheeks as she looked up, her eyes curving into a bright, pleasant smile. “That’s just the kind of person I am.”

Ying Xun looked everywhere—the sky, the ground—except at her. After a long silence, he sucked air through his teeth with a sharp click. “How about an exchange?” he asked tentatively.

“Name it,” Geshu Ming replied without a second’s hesitation, her eyes lighting up.

They had spoken very little, and the things they could actually “exchange” were even fewer. Thus, Geshu Ming knew exactly what Ying Xun wanted to trade for: what he had witnessed regarding the loss of control over Lu Yuan’s Command Ship.

“What exactly happened between you and Lu Yuan back then?” Ying Xun asked. His tone was light, seemingly casual, yet it carried the weight of some hidden, heavy emotion.

“…” The smile froze on Geshu Ming’s face.

She had already decided that no matter what conditions Ying Xun proposed, she would agree. She just hadn’t expected it to be this.

Of all things, it had to be this.

Geshu Ming’s gaze drifted, losing focus. Aided by the slight buzz of the alcohol, time seemed to rewind six years.

The emotions of that day still seemed to surge in her chest. What were they? Bitterness, heartache, rage… perhaps something else entirely. She remembered them clearly, yet she couldn’t find the words to describe them.

She stared at the man across from her. Lu Yuan sat there, his eyes clouded with a rare sense of dazed confusion.

Back then, Lu Yuan was still young, barely in his early twenties. For anyone else, that would be the age of a fresh university graduate. But Lu Yuan was already the wartime Grand Marshal. Powerful, calm, and strategic, he shone more brilliantly than the brightest star in the universe.

That was the first time Geshu Ming had seen him show an expression bordering on fragility.

“Brainwashing.” Geshu Ming remembered the tremor in her own voice. She wasn’t an emotional person, but in that moment, she had been completely unable to control herself. The most vital piece of the puzzle had clicked into place, explaining every inconsistency. “Nan Hui did this. He brainwashed you. You can’t resist him, you can’t harm him, you must carry out his orders… You…”

“Do me a favor.” Lu Yuan’s expression still held a trace of that blurred haze as he softly interrupted her. “Help me find a way to break free from his control.”

“Fine. But right now, you…”

“The brainwashing has been temporarily lifted, but it will return after a while.” Lu Yuan shook his head. “This isn’t true freedom from control. It’s more like…”

He actually let out a small chuckle, as if he’d thought of something amusing, and winked at her. “It’s more like I’ve triggered a bug.”

“…A very rare bug.”

Even amidst her intense emotions, Geshu Ming was rendered speechless for a moment. After a pause, she asked, “Does this ‘bug’ state have any negative side effects on you?”

“My Mental Power is very strong,” Lu Yuan replied.

Geshu Ming didn’t understand why he was suddenly mentioning that. Then she heard him continue. “Right now, my Mental Power can blanket the entire galaxy… and then some.”

“…?!” Geshu Ming’s eyes widened in shock, leaving her nearly unable to speak.

“My processing power… well, I can take over the StarNet,” Lu Yuan added a beat later. Then he frowned, pressing a hand lightly to his temple. “It’s just a bit tiring. A bit of a… headache.”

Geshu Ming was speechless. “You didn’t actually try it, did you?”

“Mm.” Lu Yuan nodded, then said thoughtfully, “I just saw the Zerg Broodmother. I made contact with it…”

His speaking speed gradually increased, showing a rare spark of excitement. “Let’s draw up a battle plan. I’m certain that within five years—no, three years—I can wipe out the Zerg!”

“…” This time, it was Geshu Ming’s turn to be dazed. It took her a moment to process his words before she stood up unsteadily. “Then I’ll call the others for a strategy meeting…”

“Don’t.” Lu Yuan stopped her. “Time is limited. There’s no need to tell them and have a whole crowd of people standing around me acting all heartbroken… It’s unnecessary. I’ll talk, you record.

“Once the bug state passes, I’ll likely forget everything from this period. I’m leaving the smooth execution of the plan to you. You decide on the specifics. But try your best not to let me trigger this bug again. I’m afraid Nan Hui will notice.”

“…” At the mention of Nan Hui, Geshu Ming’s anger flared up again. “Let him notice. At worst, we’ll just overthrow him.”

Lu Yuan laughed in spite of himself. “It’s better if he doesn’t. I’m not ready to go down in flames with him just yet.”

“…”

Geshu Ming looked up at Ying Xun and sighed. “Can we pick something else?”

“I trust you, and I hope to earn your trust in return. To that end, I am willing to pay any price within my power.” Her words were vague, but her tone was sincere. “However, that does not include Lu Yuan’s privacy. I have every desire to tell you, but knowing this would bring you no benefit. It would only satisfy your curiosity.”

She paused, then added, “If you believe it is necessary for you to know, give me a reason. I will reconsider.”

She understood Lu Yuan, and she knew why he hadn’t told anyone else about this.

Of those around him, she was the only one with the status to approach the Imperial family and get close to Nan Hui. If he told the others, they wouldn’t be able to help him escape that control; it would only cause them unnecessary worry and pain.

Lu Yuan didn’t mind people knowing about his past, but more often than not, he preferred they didn’t.

He didn’t need anyone’s heartache, pity, or sympathy. He never wanted the people around him to suffer negative emotions because of him, unless there was a compelling reason to share.

“Understood.” Ying Xun stared at her for a long moment before nodding.

Geshu Ming was slightly taken aback.

She hadn’t given Ying Xun a straight answer. In fact, her response had been somewhat contradictory and evasive. Yet Ying Xun seemed satisfied with it?

Was it really that easy?

Ying Xun seemed to sense what she was thinking and nodded. “I can feel that you aren’t lying. So the two of you haven’t truly broken ties. It’s more likely that something went wrong on Lu Yuan’s end. Knowing that much is enough for me.”

“…” Geshu Ming fell silent for a moment, then said solemnly, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” Ying Xun gave a mischievous grin. “If you ever get news of Lu Yuan, remember to let me know. I also have a feeling he might not be dead.”

–

The Desolate Planet.

Lu Yuan rubbed his nose, trying to hold it back for a long time before finally letting out a sneeze.

Goudan looked at him suspiciously. “No way. Can an Awakener with Mental Power at your level actually catch a cold?”

“…No.” Lu Yuan looked equally suspicious. “But… I have a strange premonition.”

“A premonition?” Goudan frowned. Lu Yuan was a veteran of countless battles; his sixth sense was bound to be sharp. If he felt something was off, then something was definitely wrong.

“Where do you think the problem is?” Goudan asked. “Is it here? Is someone planning to move against the Desolate Planet? Or is it Geshu Ming’s attitude toward Siming and the others… is there malice? Should I warn them to be on guard?”

He still remembered what Lu Yuan had said earlier about how strange it was that Geshu Ming hadn’t asked Siming to go to the Capital Star with her.

Lu Yuan shook his head again. “It’s not that kind of feeling.”

He thought about it for a moment and then gave up. “Forget it, it probably isn’t anything major. Let’s talk about you. How is the teaching going lately? How’s the TV drama filming?”

“Progress is definitely being made!” Goudan said, his face full of pride.