Chapter 41.2 – Identity

An hour later, Ji Ling arrived at his destination.

This was part of the lower district, and a relatively remote place. However, the surrounding area was quite quiet.

Ji Ling stood and heaved a sigh. Inside, he was wondering to himself what on earth took over him to make him come all the way out here to meet Ning Yu. He hoped that shortly, he’d be able to give himself some good news, so this trip wouldn’t be a complete waste.

Ji Ling followed the tree-lined path to a rather quaint wooden building. It should be a teahouse of sorts.

He’d never thought Ning Yu had such good taste, to find a hidden gem like this.

Ji Ling went up the wooden steps. The stairs felt like they’d seen many a year, and creaked under his feet. When he reached the second floor, he saw Ning Yu sitting at a table. His hat had been placed down to his right hand side, and he was wearing a meticulously pressed uniform. His eyes were downcast, making him look extremely dashing from the side. He had a calm and tranquil expression on his face, making it difficult to determine his exact mood.

No matter the time and place, he always appeared calm and unperturbed, so much so that the people around him would also be affected for some reason and inexplicably relax, letting their guards down.

Ji Ling steadied himself, and walked over, sitting down in front of Ning Yu.

Ning Yu lifted his gaze. Those jade green eyes reflected their usual coolness, as he said lightly: "You’re here."

Ji Ling didn't answer. He looked at Ning Yu with complex emotions inside.

Common sense would state that the two of them should be love rivals as incompatible as fire and water. Every time they met last life, he was face-slapping and getting face-slapped. He tirelessly thought up ideas to create trouble, and bullying Ning Yu became his sole duty in life… Who’d have guessed that one day, they’d actually sit down together for a cup of tea?

Ji Ling certainly thought it was ridiculous.

However, even Carlos had fallen in love with him. Something like drinking tea with his rival in love might not be so far-fetched…

He couldn’t be bothered to make trouble for Ning Yu since quite a while ago, and he didn’t plan to start anything again now. However, he still couldn’t act all close and familiar, so he put on a cold expression and wrinkled his brows, saying: "Why did you call me out?”

Ning Yu gazed deeply at Ji Ling.

The youth was well dressed. Like before, his soft blond hair fell across his forehead casually, his facial features were charming, and his skin flawless. Looking closely, however, his previously clear and bright blue eyes now lacked the willfulness and drive of the past, as if the light inside had been shattered by setbacks in reality. There seemed to be a faint crease between his eyebrows.

The boy was right in front of him, but devoid of the vitality he used to have as he came over to make trouble. The youth back then always seemed to be brimming with energy.

Now he looked like a lost child who knew nothing of the road ahead.

Ning Yu suddenly gave a low sigh. His eyes were dark as he slowly said: "Are you happy with Carlos?"

Ji Ling said in his mind, ‘Happy, my ass. I spend every day scared witless. If I’m not afraid of being f*cked to death, then I’m afraid of being seen through and killed.’ But of course, there was no way he could say these things to Ning Yu. He avoided his gaze and snorted proudly: "That's none of your business."

Ning Yu looked at the youth who had unhappiness written all over his face, but still stubbornly refused to admit it. He pursed his lips slightly, and stared at Ji Ling, resuming his silence once again.

Ning Yu’s gaze on him made him felt a bit uncomfortable. How come he felt like Ning Yu was sympathizing with him? He must be mistaken, right? Ji Ling was full of question marks, and he impatiently knocked on the table. Raising his eyebrow, he said: "Hey, didn't you say you wanted to talk to me about His Majesty?"

Ning Yu starred fixedly at him, then paused for a few seconds. Lightly, he said: "Yes, I think you ought to be rather concerned about my love life, so I especially came to tell you that His Majesty and I have made no progress towards a romantic relationship.”

Ji Ling: ???

You especially called me out here just to tell me that you don’t have an ounce of a relationship with His Majesty?

Ji Ling was about to die of anger. However, when his anger subsided, he also knew that he couldn’t blame their lack of progress on Ning Yu. It was all because of some brain disease they all suffered after rebirth. Jing Sui didn’t want this nice shou, and had to go and love a cannon fodder like himself!

Wait… Ji Ling realized in hindsight that something was wrong with what Ning Yu said! Who cares about your love life! What I care about is His Majesty, okay?! This was something he could never agree with out loud.

Ji Ling's expression froze. With the blink of an eye, he changed his attitude to say with disdain: “So this is what you wanted to tell me? What a waste of my time. As long as you're not with His Majesty, who cares about your love life?"

He said this and stood up. He really shouldn't have come today.

Ning Yu watched Ji Ling get up, and stayed firmly seated. Ji Ling had turned his back towards him, when he suddenly said: "You actually don’t hate me that much, do you?"

Ji Ling almost lost his footing and fell to the ground. These words made him panic and gave birth to a strong sense of crisis within him! He couldn’t quite see Ning Yu’s real purpose in inviting him out.

He turned back to look at Ning Yu coldly and said: "Don't flatter yourself. I hate you the most!"

Ning Yu looked at him lightly, his eyes were calm as he said: "Really?"

This one word almost made Ji Ling break out in full goosebumps. He felt as if he’d been seen through… but how could that be? He had been so terrible to Ning Yu. If the guy still didn’t feel like he hated him, then he must be a masochist, right?!

Ji Ling didn't want to continue this confusing conversation, so he turned to leave.

However, before he could get out the door, a loud noise suddenly sounded outside. Following a series of earth-shattering shakes, the wooden building was about to collapse down. Ji Ling looked at the situation outside with a face full of terror.

No way…?!

Men dressed in black clothes and black masks jumped off an aircraft! Amongst that group of men in black, only one man was inconspicuously adorned in white with a silver mask. It was hard not to notice him.

Ji Ling was scared as white as a ghost. Was Gabriel crazy? He actually dared to appear on Empire Star? Didn’t he know how badly the nobles wanted to slice him into a million pieces? Did he lose his mind or was he just that fearless?!

Ji Ling paled and turned to run away.

But there was no way he could outrun a group of powerful evolvers. The rebels in black were fierce and merciless. They rushed over in the blink of an eye! Seeing that Ji Ling was about to be caught by one of the men in black, Ning Yu suddenly gave a deep bend and raced over. With one punch, he smashed away the rebels in front of Ji Ling. At the same time, he grabbed Ji Ling by the waist with his other hand, jumped down from high up, and turned to run!

Ji Ling was stunned. Then his expression turned complex!

They were supposed to be bitter rivals to the death! He had clearly done so many terrible things to him, and yet…

At the critical moment, Ning Yu hadn’t ditched him and run away by himself, but instead, actively came over to help him.

Ji Ling was almost moved to tears. He thought to himself, ‘No wonder Ning Yu is known as the most upright and kind shou in the novel. He’s like an innocent and virtuous saint (praise), who’s willing to return kindness for evil and save a bad rich kid like me!

You are the most reliable good guy in the world!’

Ning Yu led Ji Ling away to escape. His actions were extremely fast and his movements dextrous. Time and time again, he had saved them from the jaws of death. All Ji Ling felt was the cold wind against his face as they ran across the tightrope of dangers! But the group of rebels were in hot pursuit and began attacking with laser guns!

Ji Ling looked at how Ning Yu's jaws tightened coldly. The man’s steady and cool green eyes were filled with unease, but Ji Ling couldn't do anything to help. All he could do was pray that nothing bad would happen to Ning Yu!

But just then, a rebel soldier rushed over from the side. Ning Yu was shot in the shoulder when he dodged to shoot. Fresh blood immediately spurted out, and landed on Ji Ling’s face, burning hot.

Ji Ling was stunned for a moment. Then, the look in his eyes changed, and finally became resolute. He said in a low voice: “Don’t worry about me. Just leave me and run.”

These rebels must’ve been coming for him. Ning Yu couldn’t escape with him dragging them down, and both of them would be captured like this.

Ning Yu glanced at Ji Ling through lidded eyes. His eyebrows furrowed faintly, but he had no intention of loosening his grip on Ji Ling at all. Jumping on the eaves of a building, his slender legs once again exploded with power as they propelled him into the distance!

Ji Ling was worried and anxious. This predicament was completely unpredictable. He had no idea what would happen afterwards, and he didn't want to bring other people into his problems.

Just as his unease was reaching its peak, Ning Yu’s footsteps came to a fierce stop, and his pupils constricted as he looked straight ahead.

A tall man wearing a silver mask dropped down in front of them with a bam! He raised his head to reveal a pair of cold black eyes, glazed with icy contempt.

Ji Ling despaired. It was too late…

Ning Yu slowly put him down, and looked around at the men in black surrounding them on all sides. His thin lips tensed. With one punch, a rebel soldier pounded Ning Yu in the abdomen. The others came up in groves, using special metal handcuffs to lock Ning Yu’s hands behind him.

He stared coldly at them, blood still on the corners of his lips, before he was pushed down to take a step forward.

Gabriel didn't make any movements himself from beginning to end. He only stood there coldly and watched all this take place. With a husky and cracked voice, he ordered: "Take them away."

The rebels were extra vigilant with Ning Yu and put heavy shackles on him. Ji Ling, on the other hand, was treated more casually. Without even tying him up, he was picked up and thrown onto the aircraft.

Ji Ling first looked at the captured Ning Yu, then at the group of angry rebels around him, and finally at the cruel man with the silver mask… He almost couldn’t hold back his tears. Why was he so unlucky? Even when he obediently stayed on Empire Star, he couldn’t escape from this man’s clutches?

Not before long, the aircraft stopped at a secret underground base.

The two of them were shoved down. Ji Ling really didn't want to be separated from Ning Yu, but in the end, they were taken to different places respectively. Ji Ling could only watch powerlessly as Ning Yu was led away before his eyes, feeling extremely scared and anxious inside. The black robed rebels crudely pushed Ji Ling into a small black room. They closed the door and left, leaving him there to wait alone.

……………

On the other side, Ning Yu was locked in a white metal-walled room.

He stood there quietly. Although there were traces of the battle just now on his body and the blood stained deeply on his shoulder, he didn’t look the slightest bit forlorn. His brave handsome face was calm and cool. His green eyes were deep in thought. They appeared a little less gentle than before, with more of an inexplicable complexity.

The door gave a click and was opened from the outside.

The man with a silver mask entered.

Ning Yu heard this and turned around. With a casual tug, the hard metal shackles broke to pieces and fell to the floor. However, the man with the silver mask didn’t even bat an eye, as if everything that had transpired was normal.

With a large stride, he came before Ning Yu. Slowly, he knelt down on one knee, placing one hand across his chest. With the other hand, he took off his silver mask and respectfully offered it to Ning Yu.

Bowing down, he said: "My Lord."