After repeated examinations, Lei Ting was nearly certain... the damage to Evenheiler’s body was likely irreversible.
If the inhibitors he had injected over the years had been at a normal dosage, rather than deliberately excessive for the sake of maintaining a colder, sharper mind, there might have been hope. But from the very beginning, his hypersensitive constitution, combined with his stubborn pride and intense sense of responsibility, had ensured that things would not take a gentler path.
Lei Ting had no easy solution for this. Although Evenheiler allowed him to explore almost every secret corner of his being, he never permitted him to open that "land of milk and honey." Naturally, this meant it was impossible to establish a stable, permanent marking relationship.
After all, even though pheromone markings could now be washed away with a period of hormone regulation therapy, the all-encompassing chain reaction caused by a permanent marking was something Evenheiler was unwilling to accept.
And Lei Ting respected his wishes.
He did not need, nor did he wish, to use "sex" as a tool to control anyone. Such behavior was an extreme humiliation to the other party and simply wasn't his style.
Furthermore, even if they kept their pheromones independent, it didn't stop him from spending every day with the man, living normally like any other pair of lovers.
As for official matters...
After Lei Ting contacted them, the Consortium showed an extraordinary level of understanding regarding his statement that he "disliked red tape and would just look around on his own" ("It’s useless not to be understanding, so we might as well stay on his good side," said one Consortium councilor). They even granted him a very high level of clearance for their archives ("He’d break in without clearance anyway, so we might as well stay on his good side," said another).
What followed were days unlike anything either of them had experienced in the past.
Lei Ting showed no intention of immediately bringing a certain "captive" back to Federation space to stand trial. This led Evenheiler to mock him, suggesting he wasn't particularly loyal.
To this, Lei Ting’s answer was simple.
"I have never been loyal to any specific faction." The young man, whose posture even while sitting cross-legged retained the sharp, upright discipline of a soldier, carefully peeled a piece of fruit without looking up. "Or rather, I am loyal to humanity."
And in his judgment, the existence of the Resistance was not a bad thing.
As early as five years ago, Angye had spoken with Lei Ting about Evenheiler and the Resistance behind him.
It had to be said that this force was far too weak compared to the current Human Union—so weak it was almost meaningless, unable to cause any significant damage.
But the Human Union needed external enemies, and so did the Union Council.
External enemies threatened everyone's lives and forced them to unite; the Resistance threatened the Council's power and prepared an alternative path for the future. This was a healthy development.
Lei Ting never expected to solve everything before the next total war arrived. He alone could not stop the tide of history; no one could.
True perfection did not exist in this world. Every major trend and system required dissent, whether it was performative or not.
Moreover... with future dangers looming close at hand, why should humans slaughter one another?
"If word got out, some might think you’re 'fostering bandits to bolster your own importance,'" Evenheiler said, his expression grave. "After all, if you want to achieve your goals..."
"I must protect you as much as possible. Under hostile conditions." Lei Ting stuffed a piece of peeled fruit into the man's mouth, looking quite amused. "And who’s to say that isn't exactly what I’m thinking? What do you think?"
"Don't joke." Evenheiler chewed the sweet, juicy fruit and sneered. "If you really had that in mind, you’d be more likely to simply slaughter everyone who opposes you, letting everything transition 'peacefully' into your hands and skipping the 'struggle for power' phase entirely."
"Is that so?" Lei Ting tilted his head, smiling noncommittally. "I hope that day never comes."
The implication in his words made Evenheiler freeze for a moment before falling silent.
Ah... yes, that was right.
If Lei Ting ever became that kind of person, it would prove that he, the "Unmoving Sun Star," had lost control over his emotions, desires, and self, just like the "Double-S" ranks before him.
If that happened, this "hexagonal" god of war, who possessed almost no weaknesses in combat, would become the greatest monster lurking in the Milky Way.
*I hope that day never comes,* Evenheiler thought.
"Since we’ve finally made it to the Ring World, I plan to go out for a walk." Lei Ting smiled genially as he selected a suitable appearance disguise template on his high-clearance external terminal.
"Can I stay in?" Evenheiler asked as he stood up to change into casual clothes, saying something he knew was impossible.
"No, the captive must follow his jailer." Lei Ting smiled, gazing tenderly at his prisoner. Yet that look also made it clear that, in this moment, he was not to be defied.
"Be good, Even," he said. "In this matter, you have no choice."
"Fine, my one-man-army warden..." Evenheiler sighed as he changed his clothes.
"I am your boring friend," Lei Ting corrected with a smirk.
As Evenheiler shook his head helplessly, Lei Ting leaned back into the sofa, making no effort to hide his appreciative gaze.
Undoubtedly, the man before him was beautiful—exquisitely so.
Brilliant blond hair, a tall and straight posture, a handsome face, and a perfectly proportioned physique...
He was like a honey-colored gemstone, shimmering with a mesmerizing luster under the sun. But that hint of lingering fatigue and the pride hidden deep within were like fine cracks, making him look less than perfectly transparent, and far from... simple.
Those cracks were etched into his body, his past, and his soul.
For a moment, Lei Ting recalled the day he had first caught this man—the unease in his sleep and the faint, cold aura rising from the depths of his mental energy.
At the time, Lei Ting had treated it as a major threat, carefully using his own power to permeate the man's dreams and provide a temporary fix.
In the days since, he had traced the source of that aura, only to find it originated from the Ethereal Plane, scattered throughout the entire universe.
"Even, you..." Lei Ting suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?" Evenheiler, who was fastening his belt, looked back. "What is it?"
"..." Lei Ting looked into those blue eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then asked softly, "Were you... injured in the 'Ethereal Plane'?"
"Oh, that..." Evenheiler also thought of the sunlight in that unusual dream. Since that day, he had never had that dream again.
"Yes." He looked down and smiled, straightening his collar. "An unavoidable issue. Not everyone is like you."
"..." Lei Ting sighed. "No, it’s the same for everyone."
"You were injured there too?" Evenheiler was stunned and instinctively walked over. "Was it serious?"
"That was five years ago. It’s long since healed." Lei Ting smiled, reaching out to take his hand and pulling him down to sit beside him. "But there is residual power from that place left on you. It’s been trying to erode you. What happened?"
He didn't ask where Evenheiler had been for those five years.
If the journey was related to official business, Evenheiler wouldn't tell him. If it was personal... if the man wanted to talk, he would listen; if not, he couldn't force him.
Whether as friends, partners, or family, everyone needed their private space.
"This is normal." Evenheiler recalled the scenes from five years ago and said softly, "When a normal esper is injured there, they are left with severe ethereal corruption. I suppose I have some skill; although I can't completely rid myself of it, surviving isn't hard...
"For others, simply falling in and getting hurt is basically a death sentence."
"No wonder Angye told me the standard procedure is 'first establish a link through the mental world, then use the mental world and the spirit body to contact the Guardian esper entity, and finally enter it only occasionally'..."
Lei Ting rubbed his brow. He had indeed been too busy these past few years—so busy he rarely had time to absorb structured knowledge. His reading efficiency was far lower than it had been during his student days.
"I thought you’d ask me if this thing can be removed," Evenheiler said, leaning against the sofa with a smile.
"No need to ask," Lei Ting said. "It can."
"I see." Evenheiler didn't seem surprised. "The scorching sunlight has wiped away the cold shadows in the corner..."
Lei Ting didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Do you have to talk like that?"
"Didn't Angye tell you? That’s just how I talk."
"..." Lei Ting raised an eyebrow. "He only said he hates you. Because you made a great mistake that cost him everything."
"I’m glad he didn't say anything more..."
"More hyperbolic?"
"No," Evenheiler closed his eyes and sighed. "More accurate."
In the dim light, Lei Ting turned his head, watching him with a gentle gaze.
His jet-black hair fell smoothly along the sides of his face, framing him with a striking handsomeness.
Evenheiler did not open his eyes to look at him. He simply turned his face away calmly and said, "Lei Ting, you should know that many people think I’m a bastard, and they’re right. I’m not a person worth loving..."
"I have my own judgment," Lei Ting said.
His expression returned to its usual calm.
"I know what you want to say. The Extermination Order from nineteen years ago, right?" Lei Ting stood up, his tall and heroic frame stretching out.
The powerful lines of his body reflected in Evenheiler’s startled eyes, momentarily dazing him. For a moment, he didn't even have time to ask how Lei Ting knew.
Lei Ting simply continued, activating the military-grade disguise module on his external terminal. With a flash of light, his appearance was mimicked into that of a silver-haired young man who was neither as tall nor as robust.
"Angye is like me; he also came from the frontier systems. After he began to distinguish himself, Yondel became his combat instructor, and so did you. You are fellow disciples. He is a few months older than you and calls himself your 'senior'."
Lei Ting said, "But during that war, the 'Boiling Virus' was deployed on his home planet. With your abilities, you should have been able to intercept it before it was deployed, but you failed...
"Then, everything was gone. The Extermination Order took away everything he once cherished. He has hated you and everything related to you ever since. It’s only his responsibility to the Federation that binds him, preventing him from ever using excessive force for his grudge."
Listening to the narrative, Evenheiler slowly stood up from the sofa, dumbfounded. "You..."
"You want to ask how I know?" Lei Ting turned around and laughed. "Do you think Angye would lie to me?"
"Wouldn't he?" Evenheiler frowned deeply and took a sudden step forward. "Lei Ting, you should see those people for who they really are!"
"Mm-hmm, of course he would." Lei Ting smiled. "Yes, of course he would. When Angye met with me back then, he did indeed try to use a different set of rhetoric to deceive me, making me believe... that he and I were not just fellow frontier-dwellers, but both 'victims of Xing Liu's hypocritical heart'..."
Evenheiler’s brow twitched at being insulted to his face.
Then, he heard Lei Ting say, "But I sensed he was lying, Even. Besides, you aren't that kind of person.
"Therefore, I made him reveal those xenomorph-mutated eyes again, and then, speak the truth he was supposed to say."
"..."
A sudden chill ran down Evenheiler’s spine. The current Apton Angye? Speaking the truth? He could hardly imagine what had transpired during that encounter...
In this instant, he suddenly remembered something Lei Ting had said before: *'Is this one of the leaders of the Resistance asking a member of the decision-making layer of the faction he opposes about their political motives?'*
'Decision-making layer.'
In the Human Union, that term never referred to the Union Council.
It referred to the 'Speaker' and the 'Vice-Speaker.'
***
