“Black flowers? The ones crawling near the tunnel entrance?” Mo Yizhou frowned at Chu Li.
“Mhm.” Chu Li opened his palm, revealing a small cluster of black flowers. The others looked on in surprise.
He explained, “I am not certain of the species, but their stems and vines do not look like parasitic plants. They seem to have been placed near the tunnel intentionally. I found them a bit peculiar, so I plucked a cluster as we walked past.”
Having spent time around Uncle Su Nuo, Chu Li had a passing knowledge of flowers and floral products. He had sensed something was off about these black “flowers” the moment he saw them.
The other four remained silent.
“How can a flower help us get out of this sealed space?” Jiao Yi asked skeptically.
Chu Li’s physical strength could not match theirs, and his breathing was now a bit erratic. He lowered his voice and said, “If they were ordinary flowers, they certainly could not help us. But they are not.”
Chu Li rubbed the black petals. Suddenly, the petals began to twitch and floated into the air. Upon closer inspection, one could see tiny antennae and eyes in the center of the flowers.
“These are not flowers,” Feng Yuming noted. “They are Ink Bugs.”
“Correct.”
Ink Bugs have wings that look like petals. When they cluster on trees, they resemble blooming dark flowers, earning them the nickname “Flower Bugs.” These insects prefer the cold and love to stay in damp, chilly places.
Chu Li continued, “This sealed white metal space is not truly airtight; otherwise, we would have died from a lack of oxygen. The reason we cannot see any gaps with our naked eyes is that they are incredibly small. But these insects are sensitive. They love the cold, so they will be able to sense where the air vents are.”
A swarm of tiny Ink Bugs, no larger than ink dots, drifted through the air and began to congregate in one spot. The group quickly moved aside to give them room.
The bugs settled there and stopped moving.
The spot happened to be near You Feiran. He touched it and said in surprise, “I think I can feel the shape of a door lock.”
Chu Li walked over immediately. However, a second later, the spinning wheel rotated the spot away. The group had to take turns touching the spot as it passed.
“The lock is too well-hidden,” Mo Yizhou remarked. “It practically merges with the wall.” It was impossible to see with the naked eye.
“Can any of you pick a lock?” Feng Yuming asked, his eyes flashing with suppressed impatience.
An obstacle course training session was being designed like a life-or-death battle—laser guns, escape rooms—were they being played like fools?
Chu Li felt the lock. It was a classic mechanical design. He had repaired locks like this many times in Old Man Zhong’s shop; he could navigate the mechanism with his eyes closed.
“I can.”
Feng Yuming stared.
You Feiran could not help but exclaim, “Chu Li, how do you know everything? You know flowers and you can pick locks.”
Chu Li was either out of breath or shy, as his cheeks were slightly flushed. “I worked those two jobs back in the Lower District, so I happen to know a little bit about them.”
He gently turned the first lock cylinder, listening to the sound of the internal gears. Every click was distinct. However, he had to keep running as the wheel accelerated, and the sound of his footsteps interfered with his hearing.
He lightened his footfalls. Seeing this, the others did the same. They had been running for five or six minutes now. Mo Yizhou’s breathing was ragged, and Feng Yuming looked pale due to his leg injury. Jiao Yi and You Feiran were the only two who seemed to have energy left.
Chu Li did not dare to delay, knowing everyone was on the verge of collapse. He turned the lock over and over, focusing on the subtle differences in the sounds.
“Ding… ding… ding… thud.”
Hearing the “thud,” Chu Li’s eyes snapped open. Every vein in his body seemed to hum with life. He quickly turned the second cylinder and, fortunately, heard the “thud” almost immediately.
They had succeeded.
The spinning wheel beneath their feet stopped instantly. A large, invisible door on one side slid open slowly. Like trapped beasts finally freed, the group stumbled out one by one.
Even though the ground was no longer moving, they felt dizzy and collapsed.
“This is not an obstacle course; it is a crematorium,” You Feiran groaned, covering his face with his hands.
“At least we are alive… just alive,” Jiao Yi repeated absently.
Mo Yizhou and Feng Yuming said nothing, both looking quite worn out.
Chu Li lay on the grass, exhausted. After resting for a while, he checked his computer and saw that an hour had passed.
There was still time for more training that evening, but he looked at Mo Yizhou and Feng Yuming; their bodies probably could not take any more.
He pushed himself up and asked Jiao Yi and You Feiran, “Let’s stop training for today. Is it okay if we do extra sessions on Monday?”
Jiao Yi and You Feiran nodded in agreement.
Hearing this, Feng Yuming moved his hand from his brow and looked at Chu Li. If they gave up training today, they might not get a high ranking. Was Chu Li stopping because of him and Mo Yizhou?
Feng Yuming sat on the ground without saying a word.
Chu Li looked at their faces. Their skin was dry and their lips were pale; they were likely dehydrated. He opened a bottle of salted soda from his pocket and shared it with the group.
They sat on the ground, breathing heavily and chatting occasionally. Their shadows were stretched long by the setting sun, and the night wind left a warm restlessness in their ears.
Quiet, peaceful, and carefree; this moment would become a rare and cherished memory in the years to come.
The week of high-intensity training passed quickly, and Saturday arrived.
At seven in the morning, Chu Li received a message from Lu Jin saying he had arrived at the school gate to pick him up. He had assumed Lu Jin would come at noon or in the evening, but he was surprised to see him so early.
He washed up in a hurry, his eyes barely open by the time he reached the gate.
He yawned as he walked toward a black spaceship. The low-profile civilian ship parked at the gate did not draw much attention; most students at the military academy were from prestigious families and were well-traveled.
The glass hatch opened slowly, and the ramp descended. Chu Li entered the ship. He had expected the nanny, Ellie, to pick him up, but he found Lu Jin himself.
Lu Jin was not wearing his military uniform today. A well-tailored black shirt wrapped around his chest, revealing firm lines. His long legs were crossed in matching trousers, and his posture was casual. He appeared to be reading the news, his finger sliding across a holographic display.
Chu Li walked over to him, yawning repeatedly, his eyes shimmering with sleepiness. Lu Jin looked up, his gaze pausing for a moment.
“Why are you here so early?” Chu Li asked.
The tone was casual, yet Lu Jin detected a hint of a complaint. He stood up, his tall, dark figure looming over Chu Li. “Accompany me to an event first. We will have dinner in the evening.”
He reached out and placed a hand on Chu Li’s waist. The sudden, intimate gesture made Chu Li freeze. He stared blankly as Lu Jin began to unbutton his brown vest.
Chu Li was wearing an outfit Uncle Su Nuo had made for him before he left for the academy: a brown vest over a white shirt with matching trousers. It made him look vibrant and youthful.
He instinctively grabbed Lu Jin’s hand to stop him, but Lu Jin had already undone the last button. His voice sounded calm and clear near Chu Li’s ear. “You put your vest on inside out.”
Chu Li was speechless.
Lu Jin took off the vest, turned it around, and put it back on him, fastening the white metal buttons one by one.
Chu Li was now wide awake, his ears burning. “I was in such a hurry to leave.”
“Has the training been intense lately?”
Chu Li nodded. Not wanting the silence to linger, he looked for a topic and told Lu Jin some of the interesting things that had happened during training that week.
Lu Jin listened quietly. After a moment, Chu Li’s stomach let out a growl. Lu Jin pressed a button, and a small robot brought over a heated breakfast.
“Eat first,” Lu Jin said.
“Mhm.” Chu Li chewed on the heated sandwich while sitting beside Lu Jin, watching him handle official business.
An assistant projected documents to him. There were many, but they were well-organized; Lu Jin mostly skimmed them before signing with a virtual signature. Notifications kept appearing in his communication tab. Once he finished his work, he opened the tab and reviewed the messages in order.
Chu Li glanced over and saw two messages from an ID named Lu Tao.
Lu Tao: It is strange. In the past, the rebels only attacked the Palace and the military. This is the first time they have targeted civilians. Jin, do you think there is more to this?
Lu Tao: But regardless of whether they did it, the blame will certainly be pinned on them.
Lu Jin closed the chat and fell into thought. The ship was so silent that Chu Li had to chew his sandwich more quietly.
The ship was on autopilot, and it soon notified them that they had reached their destination.
Chu Li finished the last bite of his sandwich and took a sip of milk. As he followed Lu Jin out, he remembered what Lu Jin had said earlier. “Admiral, what event are we attending?”
“The Top-tier Mecha Social League,” Lu Jin replied.
Chu Li was silent.
The hatch opened to a red carpet. Two rows of guards stood at attention. In the center, Fu Lin was waiting with a broad smile to welcome Lu Jin.
“Admiral, welcome!” Fu Lin had sent the invitation tentatively, not expecting Lu Jin to come. But yesterday, he had suddenly received a notice from Lu Jin’s assistant saying he would attend. Fu Lin had immediately upgraded the reception, calling in guards and meeting Lu Jin personally.
An officer of Lu Jin’s rank attending would elevate the social league to an incomparable level.
Lu Jin gave a short “Mhm” in response.
Fu Lin discreetly observed Lu Jin. The Admiral was traveling incognito in a black ship, followed by a beautiful Beta… servant?
Fu Lin mentally raised a question. The reason he did not think Chu Li was Lu Jin’s fiancé was that Chu Li had the mark of the Lower District on his neck. Even if Lu Jin’s fiancé was a Beta, they should be a Beta from a prominent upper-class family.
He pushed past Chu Li to stand beside Lu Jin, continuing his flattery. “Admiral, I have reserved a private box with the best view for you. Please follow me.”
Lu Jin ignored him, stopping and turning to wait for Chu Li to catch up.
Fu Lin stopped as well, his gaze moving between the two. He recalled another rumor: Lu Jin only liked Betas, so everyone around him, including his fiancé, was a Beta.
Could this Beta from the Lower District have that kind of relationship with Lu Jin?
Fu Lin pondered this but kept a smile on his face. He stepped aside to make room. “Admiral, the final event of the social league is a display of the finest mechas from each house. We have brought in some soldiers to act as sparring partners. I wonder if we might see your prowess later?”
Lu Jin turned to Chu Li. “Do you want to participate?”
“Ah, sure,” Chu Li replied, confused. The invitation was for Lu Jin; why was he suddenly asking him?
Fu Lin was overjoyed. He led them to a circular private box on the top floor. The massive glass window provided an excellent view of the training grounds below. Mechas stood on the track like towering soldiers, lined up in sequence.
Chu Li stood by the one-way glass, looking over the mechas. He instinctively searched the guest area for Evans. Evans had said he was invited as a guest of Major General Fu Lin, but Chu Li could not find him anywhere. Even after the match began, Evans was nowhere to be seen.
Lu Jin stood beside him, watching the competition.
After various displays of skill, Fu Lin’s eager voice sounded outside the door. “Admiral, the grand finale is about to begin. The sparring partners are downstairs. You can choose one you like for a practice session.”
Lu Jin acknowledged him. On the training ground below, a row of sparring soldiers in red and white uniforms stepped out. Each had a fawning smile and stood straight, as if they were actively marketing themselves.
Chu Li was still a bit sleepy and looked down with half-closed eyes. Suddenly, his gaze froze. He saw a familiar figure among the sparring partners.
Evans.
Chu Li was stunned. Had Evans not said he was a guest of honor? Why was he a sparring partner?