Chapter 40

After dealing with the uninvited guests in the reception room, Yan Xuanjin went straight back to his dormitory.

Originally, he planned to let Lingyun move into his own dormitory after returning, but considering that Lingyun had just awakened for the second time, he might still need someone to take care of him, so Yan Xuanjin temporarily put this idea on hold and left the cleaned room empty for the time being.

Pushing the door open and closing it gently, Yan Xuanjin slowed down his pace and walked to the bed. He lowered his head and stared silently at Ling Yun, who was curled up on the bed with only his eyebrows and eyes exposed.

When he actually saw him, the remaining fatigue, boredom, and mental energy that had been restless for a long time in Yan Xuanjin's heart finally calmed down.

Yes, Yan Xuanjin's mental image was beginning to show signs of collapse again. Yan Xuanjin had concealed this from all Team One members throughout the mission, using the excuse of dealing with those sent by the military and the research institute to avoid the unified physical examinations after each mission. Because if a guide touched his mental barrier with their guiding element, they would definitely detect the poor condition of his mental image.

Yan Xuanjin was already accustomed to this state of his mental image. Before meeting Ling Yun, every time he went on a mission, a corner of his mental image would collapse. The dark fog surrounding the primeval jungle was caused by these collapses. He understood why the marshal had insisted on only giving him the rank of colonel—it was actually because of his own extremely unstable mental image.

But fortunately, Lingyun appeared.

This is his only medicine.

Yan Xuanjin squatted down, reached out and gently stroked his forehead, carefully tracing his eyebrows and eyes with his thumb.

Since when did I start to care so much about this kitten?

Yan Xuanjin couldn't explain it clearly.

All I know is that there is such a bright color that broke into his world without permission.

And he seemed to accept it well, so well that... he wanted to take this bright spot for himself.

"...Lingyun." Yan Xuanjin called him unconsciously, his lowered eyelashes hiding the surging emotions in his yellow-green pupils.

"Hmm..." Ling Yun made a slight nasal sound as if he had dreamed of something - as if he was responding to the sticky call.

Yan Xuanjin seemed to be burned by the hot breath, and quickly withdrew his hand, not daring to touch.

In fact... he didn't dare to get too close to him.

He was too pure, so pure that he didn't want to be contaminated by those muddy thoughts, but he also didn't want anyone other than himself to get involved.

Contradictory and tangled.

Cherish and destroy.

Yan Xuanjin had touched Ling Yun's spirit body and felt the healing ability in the kitten - this made up for what Ling Yun originally lacked in the guide element.

Originally, it was only because of the high degree of compatibility between the two that Ling Yun was able to repair and rebuild his own spiritual picture, but after he was fully awakened, he could conduct spiritual sorting for many Sentinels.

However, Yan Xuanjin can only rely on Ling Yun as his guide.

Such a hidden emotion has been lingering in Yan Xuanjin's heart for a long time, making him more and more concerned.

But Lingyun is just a kitten... a kitten that knows nothing and understands nothing...

Yan Xuanjin frowned, changed his posture, and sat on the ground, leaning against the foot of the bed. After a while, he stood up again and walked to the balcony.

It was late at night, and the lights on the entire capital planet were becoming sparse.

And on a balcony of the Dark Blade Base, there is a flickering flame, always burning in the dark night.

Loneliness devours some unexpressible emotions.

…

Lingyun slept exceptionally soundly that night. The breath that made him feel comfortable and dependent surrounded him without interruption, so much so that when he woke up, he thought he had only slept for a few hours instead of a whole day.

The clouds outside the window were dyed red by the setting sun, but some people thought it was morning. They came to the balcony with great interest, found Yan Xuanjin who came here to smoke again, and said good morning to him.

"Good morning?" Yan Xuanjin's voice was hoarse as he opened his mouth.

Ling Yun smelled the cigarette smoke on him and frowned slightly, but still replied obediently: "Yes, good morning."

Yan Xuanjin carefully examined his expression, then clicked on his intelligent computer, projected the screen, tapped the time on it, and asked again: "Good morning?"

After seeing the number displayed, Ling Yun's fair face flushed instantly. He clasped his fingers, his eyes darting around, his mind spinning rapidly. After a moment's thought, he opened his mouth and said, "Good afternoon!"

After he finished speaking, he realized what a strange word he had just said, so under Yan Xuanjin's smiling gaze, he hurriedly fled back into the bed he had just come out of.