Chapter 204

The returning commander appeared energetic and vibrant, showing no signs of fatigue despite the busy afternoon. Perhaps the two hours spent in the bathroom had made a difference. He first appraised Tianshu’s military attire and commented with two words, “Very good.” Then, he sat down at the desk, placing his cap on the table and tapping his right hand fingers twice against his left shoulder.

Tianshu stood nearby without moving. After a few seconds, he received a scrutinizing glance from the commander, accompanied by another two words, “Don’t understand?”

Tianshu approached, pressing his fingers firmly into Mo Yin’s shoulder, applying pressure.

Both were physically fit among ordinary people, and such unrestrained strength clearly surpassed the scope of a mere massage.

Mo Yin raised his left leg, tilting his head slightly back with closed eyes, seemingly enjoying the sensation.

Tianshu’s gaze remained on his face, his mind divided into several parts, various thoughts conflicting, yet his expression remained calm and unruffled.

After a while, Mo Yin’s white eyelashes fluttered open, revealing deep purple eyes tinged with curiosity. “You’re quite strong.”

The massage paused, and a stiffness settled over Tianshu’s expression.

Mo Yin burst into laughter unexpectedly, catching Tianshu off guard. The fingers gripping his shoulder hovered uncertainly. As laughter echoed in his ears, Tianshu felt his ears warm involuntarily.

Despite being a commander accustomed to negotiations and not easily outmaneuvered, he felt at a loss before the 9th District commander.

After Mo Yin’s laughter subsided, he looked again at the silent Tianshu, raising his chin slightly. With a half-serious, half-joking tone, he said, “Go take a bath.”

Tianshu turned slowly to him, this time understanding clearly that Mo Yin was teasing him.

Constant evasion would only weaken his position, yet outwardly showing weakness might not be a bad move, lowering the other’s guard. But Tianshu felt these calculated facades were futile; Mo Yin could read his thoughts clearly, understanding him far better than he understood Mo Yin.

This disparity left Tianshu with a fresh sense of being out of control. He decided to temporarily set aside some weighty matters pressing on his mind, responding to Mo Yin’s actions without considering any personal gain.

“Together?” he calmly asked.

Mo Yin smiled. “Do you want to?”

“As a pet, my wishes shouldn’t matter much.”

Mo Yin laughed again at Tianshu’s response, narrowing his eyes in amusement. “You’re quick to adapt to roles.”

Tianshu had wanted to smile but restrained himself, adopting a mild, patterned smile as Mo Yin suggested. “Can’t even handle such a simple task?”

Mo Yin nodded. “We’re in preparation mode now. No need for multiple showers every day. Let’s just rest.”

Tianshu did not object.

Clearly, the single bed was only suitable for one person. How would two sleep?

The answer was simple.

“You sleep on the floor.”

Mo Yin stood up, casually pointing towards the floor beside the bed.

Tianshu stood still. Mo Yin had already lain down in bed, preparing to rest as he said, in preparation mode.

“Why aren’t you resting? Aren’t you tired?”

Mo Yin lay on the bed, hands folded under his head, not looking at Tianshu but staring at the ceiling. His tone was still teasing and deliberately embarrassing. “Oh, I forgot, you’re strong. Then don’t sleep,” he patted his own thigh, “come over.”

Is this a pet?

Isn’t it a servant?

Where Mo Yin couldn’t see, Tianshu smiled. What he didn’t know was that if he smiled directly at Mo Yin, Mo Yin wouldn’t criticize his smile. Mo Yin just hated any hint of falsehood between them.

Mo Yin rested his palm on his thigh, his fingers moving back and forth like playing an instrument, showing patience.

Tianshu walked over, the room small enough that he reached the bedside in two steps, kneeling on one knee to reach out and massage Mo Yin’s thigh.

The seemingly slender legs felt soft yet firm to the touch. His fingers pressed down and quickly bounced back, the tight military pants outlining the shifting muscles. Tianshu lowered his head, watching those legs rise and fall in his palm as if they had a life of their own. Through the thin fabric, Mo Yin’s slightly cool skin gradually warmed under his touch.

However, in less than a few minutes, Mo Yin reached out and grabbed Tianshu’s wrist.

Tianshu looked back at him calmly.

Mo Yin stared at him, his gaze becoming slightly distant.

Clearly, the commander did not appreciate this somewhat provocative touch.

He was accustomed to being in control, enjoying the position of being looked up to.

“Come up.”

Tianshu was slightly taken aback.

Mo Yin had already pulled him onto the bed.

The cramped single bed was too small for two large adult men. Mo Yin adjusted his position when pulling Tianshu up, lying on his side with his back against the wall. Tianshu followed suit, lying on his side facing Mo Yin.

Outside the window, the red light faded as night fell over the 9th District.

There was no extra space; their breaths naturally intertwined.

They had done intimate things throughout the day, assumed intimate postures, so lying face to face in bed at this moment seemed nothing out of the ordinary.

Tianshu slowly lowered his gaze. Inevitably, his eyes fell completely on Mo Yin’s face.

Natural humans were beautiful, evolving to embody strength in spirit and beauty in appearance. Mo Yin’s beauty, however, had been cruelly altered. The process of mutation was said to be extremely painful, and the resulting beauty was equally brutal.

Yet, external beauty couldn’t fully capture the commander’s allure.

Yes, despite now being a prisoner, he had to admit that the other’s charm was irresistible.

It wasn’t about his appearance. When he walked out of the barren and coarse 9th District, his eyes made you feel that no matter how dark the surroundings were, he always shone brightly. It was the radiance emanating from his soul.

Natural humans studied spiritual power, developed it, and relied on it. Spirit was everything; the term “soul” was rarely mentioned.

Tianshu looked at Mo Yin with closed eyes. His gaze gradually softened, and for a moment, he felt like he had truly seen the other’s soul—a soul unusually proud, powerful, and pure.

“As an enforcer, what would you do?”

The question came unexpectedly, and Tianshu’s heart skipped a beat. Subconsciously, he entered his “preparedness” mode.

This topic required careful consideration.

When it came to answering such questions, Tianshu didn’t need to think; he had countless stock phrases to ensure he remained tight-lipped and could spar with Mo Yin all night.

After pondering for a moment, Tianshu murmured softly, “Do what an enforcer should do.”

It wasn’t a lie or a casual answer. Before Mo Yin, someone who could see through him, Tianshu felt no need to lie.

He thought they might engage in a deeper conversation about the current alliance status, but Mo Yin closed his mouth, indicating the conversation was over. Leaning forward, he rested against Tianshu’s shoulder. “Hold me.”

Tianshu trembled slightly. Memories from a few hours ago invaded his mind once again. The same command, but the feelings it evoked were entirely different. The former gave him a strong, explosive sensation, shattering him to pieces in an instant. The latter, like a traditional spiritual attack, left an imprint on his mental strength.

Mo Yin waited quietly. He didn’t urge or repeat his command because he knew Tianshu would comply with his wishes.

Perhaps each “him” in every world had its differences, but in truth, each “him” was just one facet of him on display. They shared commonalities.

That was their inability to resist another similar soul.

After a moment, Mo Yin felt Tianshu’s arm draped over his shoulder. Mo Yin leaned quietly against his chest, breathing evenly as if already asleep. After a few more breaths, the hand on his shoulder slid down slightly. Tianshu’s entire arm encircled Mo Yin’s waist, pulling him closer. Mo Yin lifted his hand, resting it on Tianshu’s waist.

Their posture was exactly like lovers deeply in love, the most intimate of partners.

Tianshu half-closed his eyes, gazing at the person in his arms with a complex expression. He couldn’t help but wonder: What kind of person could capture the heart of this commander? And why were they separated from this commander?

Immediately, he dismissed the option of a breakup.

Honestly, he didn’t think anyone would choose to break up with the commander.

After the option of a “life separation” was ruled out, only one remains.

— Death parting.

Tianshu’s gaze upon Mo Yin became increasingly complex.

He imagined how this strong and cruel man in his arms would look when losing a loved one. He couldn’t imagine it because he unexpectedly felt heartache, unable to picture that scene.

Their time together was so brief, yet so rich in experiences between them. Tianshu’s inner world went through intense fluctuations, and his feelings towards Mo Yin oscillated between extremes.

Perhaps this trip to District Nine really was, as Charlie Yu put it, a mistake.

Perhaps the fatigue, both mental and physical, was too severe. Tianshu thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but in reality, he fell asleep quickly. It was after he fell asleep that Mo Yin opened his eyes.

Mo Yin hadn’t forgotten that besides enjoying love in this world, he also had to get to know “him.”

During the day, he spent part of his time deploying battles and the other part delving deeper into understanding this world. He flipped through and studied the public records, feeling increasingly familiar as he went on.

Then he understood.

The past history of this world was structurally similar, even overlapping, with the natural human history he had learned. If he viewed this place as he did the outside world, following the historical order he knew, then this was probably the era Mo Yin lived in, but over five hundred years earlier.

In the true history Mo Yin had learned, this period was skipped over—the era of peaceful human evolution.

District Nine was a lost place in the entire alliance.

Was this period also a lost time?

Was Tianshu a real person? Did he exist five hundred years ago?

Was this bringing him back to a certain time and space in the past? Or was this just an excessively well-constructed, realistic small world?

Mo Yin had many unanswered questions in his mind.

He wouldn’t pray for the other to answer; he would seek the answers himself.

If his guess was correct, wouldn’t “he” be over five hundred years older… Mo Yin’s gaze swept across Tianshu’s face, and he reached out, lightly tapping the old man’s nose with his finger. Old man.