ICAWZ Chapter 195

Marlon somehow found a rectangular silver box, which was so long it almost occupied half the table. He pressed the password one by one, and with a click, the box popped open, releasing a burst of cold air like smoke.

Marlon slowly lifted the lid, and after the chill had dissipated, the contents of the box were finally revealed—

It was a pair of iridescent, translucent wings, shimmering with a faint golden hue. The veins were clearly visible, and the edges were incredibly sharp, capable of easily slicing through a zerg’s throat. It wasn’t hard to imagine the deadly beauty they once held.

They had been processed and preserved through special methods, with a layer of translucent protective film covering them. The texture felt hard to the touch. Inside the low-temperature box, they were stacked in two layers, still retaining the most dazzling appearance they once had.

The dimly lit chamber was brightened a little by the presence of these wings.

Marlon stared at the pair of wings, his breath briefly growing heavy. He should have destroyed this “compromising” evidence. He hated this object for causing Beowen’s death, and he hated even more the original owner of these wings. He even thought about setting them on fire, burning them to ashes—

But his zerg had given its life for these wings, and Marlon couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Through them, he both mourned and harbored hatred, occasionally retrieving them from the secret chamber just to take another look.

Whenever Marlon recalled how painful it was when these wings were severed from Sanya’s body, the pain in his heart would be eased a little. But this method no longer worked, because Sanya had returned—

And he had come back alive!

“Bang—!”

Marlon slammed the box shut, and a savage emotion appeared on his face. His whole body trembled with rage as he gritted his teeth and spat out, “Sanya! This time, I will make sure you die!”

The seed of hatred had not only taken root in Sanya’s heart, but also in Marlon’s. As time passed, it slowly eroded his reason, taking root and sprouting.

Outside the window, the sun rose and set, the twilight gradually fading, leaving only the light of day. In the blink of an eye, four days had passed.

You Que closed his eyes and lay on the hospital bed, still unconscious. His brows were tightly furrowed, his breath shallow and rapid, as if he had fallen into some kind of muddy dream from which he could not escape. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Mom, don’t leave, don’t abandon me, don’t go… woo woo woo…”

In front of a dilapidated village house, a boy clung desperately to his mother’s leg, refusing to let go. He was not yet as tall as her waist, crying so hard he could hardly catch his breath, his neck turning bright red. “Is it… is it because I’m not good? I won’t ask you for a dad anymore… please don’t leave me… I’m scared to be alone, I’m scared…”

The little boy was very pretty, but too thin. He clung to the woman with all his might, unwilling to let go, as if the world would collapse if he did.

The woman hadn’t expected him to have so much strength. At first, she tried to pry him off, but eventually, she began scratching with her nails and hitting with her fists, her eyes red with fury. “Let go! Release me! Just like that deadbeat father of yours, you’re here to collect a debt!”

“If you don’t let go, I’ll throw you into the river!”

“Debt collector! Damn you!”

The woman cursed, her eyes bloodshot. By the end, her hair was wild, resembling a madwoman. The boy’s hand was pinched so hard it bled, with a swollen, jagged wound.

At the same time, a strange man arrived in front of their house. Seeing the scene, he impatiently shouted, “Are you leaving or not? The car’s almost ready to go!”

The woman suddenly panicked. “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

The more frantic and desperate she became, the tighter the boy clung to her. In the end, the woman couldn’t hold back any longer and broke down in tears. With a thud, she knelt on the ground, holding the boy tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. “Ah Que, Mom begs you, let go of me. Please, release me, let me live a few days of good life!”

“I really can’t feed you anymore! Your father’s been gone for so long, I have no way to take care of you! How am I supposed to feed you?!”

The woman cried incoherently, guilt and pain torturing her like needles. “Mom can’t marry you off. I finally found a way to survive. Please, I gave you a life, just consider it repayment!”

“If you don’t let go of me, we’ll starve to death together. I can’t stay in this poor place anymore, I’ll have to take you and jump into the well…”

Her heart-wrenching sobs were like knives slicing through the air. Although the boy was young, he finally understood the woman’s words. Upon hearing them, he looked as if he had done something wrong, instinctively loosening his grip, which had been tighter than a vice, and he stumbled back in shock and panic.

He understood the woman’s words…

She could survive alone; but with him, she was a burden, and they would both die.

The boy wanted to cry, but no tears came. He nervously clutched the hem of his clothes with his battered hands, more confused than a blind person. “Mom, I…”

“I…”

He wanted to say that he was scared to stay alone at home and asked if she could stay, but for some reason, the words just wouldn’t come out.

Mom had someone who wanted her, but he had no one. He couldn’t… he couldn’t drag his mother into a life of hardship with him…

The woman looked at his frail and pitiful form, and a trace of hesitation appeared in her eyes. With reddened eyelids, she wanted to reach out and hug her obedient, understanding son. However, the man waiting outside had already grown impatient and walked into the yard. He roughly yanked the woman up from the ground and dragged her toward the door. “We’re running out of time! Stop stalling, how troublesome is it to ditch a burden like him!”

With a tug and a pull, the man took away the last pillar of this poor home. The woman stumbled and faltered, her figure gradually disappearing along the mountain path. She couldn’t hear if there was crying behind her; all she could feel was a dazed sensation in her ears and in her mind, as if her nose was blocked and she couldn’t breathe properly.

The man was still cursing and grumbling, “Hurry up! What if that burden catches up again?!”

Upon hearing this, the woman shook her head as if her soul had left her. No, it wouldn’t happen…

She knew, he wouldn’t catch up…

Her son was the most filial. Just now, when she pinched his flesh, he still didn’t let go. He knelt on the ground, crying a few pitiful words, and he finally released her hand… As long as he let go, he wouldn’t chase after her anymore…

He was still so young, and there were no relatives at home. The rice jar was almost empty. Now that she was leaving, how would he survive?

The woman was in a daze, thinking of many things, but she no longer had the strength to turn back. Like a ragged sack, she was dragged into the car by the man. It wasn’t until she looked back toward the car window that she saw a small figure trailing behind.

He was just following, keeping his distance, not chasing.

In the end, as the car drove farther away, he became a distant black dot in the woman’s eyes.

She didn’t know what her son would grow into in the future—would he be a tall, straight pine tree in the forest, or the damp soil beneath? All she knew was that it was the last time they would see each other. Over time, that memory grew paler, more blurred, fading away like ripples, leaving no trace.

You Que had already forgotten that scene from years ago, but this fever seemed to stir his mind, bringing forth all the dusty memories from the past—pain, hatred, helplessness…

Countless emotions piled up in his mind, and finally exploded with a loud crash—

“Don’t go—!”

You Que suddenly shot up from the bed, as if struck by electricity, and screamed those two words in terror. He breathed in fresh air frantically, as if he had just been pulled from the water, only a step away from drowning.

Sanya had been dozing nearby, but when he heard the noise, he immediately woke up and quickly walked over to the bedside to check on You Que. “What’s wrong?!”

You Que stared wide-eyed at the wall ahead of him, taking several seconds to slowly regain his composure. He heard the voice and turned his head to look beside him. What met his gaze was Sanya’s familiar face.

Seeing that You Que wasn’t responding, Sanya reached out and grabbed his shoulder, asking anxiously, “Is something wrong? Should I call a doctor for you…?”

He was about to press the bell when, in the next moment, a sudden force struck his waist. Before he could react, he was tightly embraced by You Que, whose strength was both tight and painful, carrying with it a sense of panic and unease, as if something precious had been lost and then regained.

Sanya was momentarily startled, feeling somewhat at a loss, but did not struggle.

You Que held him tightly without saying a word, closing his eyes and burying his face into the nape of the female’s neck, feeling the warmth of their body. His restless, thumping heart gradually started to return to its natural rhythm.

Sanya reached out and touched You Que’s forehead, noticing that the temperature had come down. He tentatively asked, “What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?”

You Que met Sanya’s concerned gaze, closing his eyes and shaking his head. Due to his illness, his handsome face looked a little pale, and the edges seemed to blur for a moment in the sunlight. He hoarsely asked, “Where am I?”

Sanya explained, “You’re in the hospital. You fainted in the interrogation room that day, and Chief Harrington rushed over to get you to the hospital.”

He spoke as he helped You Que sit up steadily and poured him a cup of warm water.

You Que wanted to say that he had been pretending to faint, but he hadn’t expected to actually pass out. He took a sip of the warm water and noticed the bloodshot eyes in Sanya’s gaze. Without needing to guess, he could tell that Sanya had been staying by his side the whole time. “How long have I been asleep?”

Sanya raised his hand to check the terminal’s date. “Today is the fifth day. The doctor said it was just a regular high fever, and you should have woken up within three days, but you’ve been unconscious until now.”

In fact, when You Que still hadn’t woken up on the third day, the most frustrated zerg wasn’t the doctor, but Sanya. He had been outside the hospital room, nearly going crazy with anxiety. Yet, he couldn’t take his anger out on the doctor, so he could only stew in his own frustration, his eyes red from holding it in. It was clear he wasn’t as calm as he appeared.

You Que looked at Sanya, his light brown eyes seemed even softer than before, though his face remained expressionless, making it hard to notice. “Where is Aegis? Where is he?”

At the mention of Aegis, Sanya had something to say. “After you fainted, Chief Harrington had him detained at the police station, saying they’d wait until you woke up to handle him.”

The morning chill cut through the air, and You Que’s voice inevitably carried a slightly colder tone. “Handle him however you like? Does that mean I can do anything to him?”

Sanya glanced at him. “Killing him might be difficult, but making him wish he were dead is easy.”

You Que gently placed the cup of water on the table. “Has the Marlon family tried anything to rescue him in these past few days?”

Sanya shook his head at the words, unable to hide the sarcasm. “They’re just eager to distance themselves from Aegis. Why would they go through all the trouble to fish out a discarded pawn?”

Unbeknownst to him, the Marlon family’s actions were exactly what You Que had hoped for.

You Que lowered his gaze, lost in thought, his mind already made up. “When I’m discharged, take me to the police station to see him.”

…

After You Que woke up, the doctor conducted a comprehensive physical examination. All the data came back normal, with no major issues, but he was advised to rest for a few more days. Meanwhile, the news about the pureblood male zerg in the South had caused quite a stir in the city. Countless zergs came under the pretense of visiting, but they were all turned away by the guards Chief Harrington had assigned. Time passed quickly, and before long, the day of discharge arrived.

Prison was definitely not a comfortable place, at least not for Aegis. Since the day You Que fainted, Aegis had been locked up for less than half a month, but he had lost a great deal of weight. His face had become gaunt and pale, resembling a skeleton.

When he heard that You Que wanted to see him, Aegis was clearly stunned for a moment. “What did you say? He wants to see me?”

The officer in charge of the escort kindly reminded him, “His Highness You Que is waiting for you in the interview room. He wants to see you. If possible, you should ask for his forgiveness. That way, you won’t have to stay locked up here for much longer.”

After the officer spoke, he opened the detention room’s door, brought Aegis out, and placed electronic shackles on him. Along with his colleagues, he escorted Aegis to the interview room.

When Aegis entered, he saw a handsome male zerg sitting across the table in the center of the room. The zerg’s hair had turned completely black, with only the tips still holding a trace of brown. Although nothing else had changed, the zerg’s identity had undergone a complete transformation.

Pureblood male zerg?

Aegis recalled the rumors he had heard recently and still found it hard to believe. He numbly took a seat across from the table. The few days spent in prison had worn him down, leaving him unrecognizable, no longer possessing the arrogance he once had.

Aegis nervously spoke, “You… What do you want to see me for?”

You Que had been lost in thought until he heard Aegis’ words, snapping him back to reality. He raised his eyes to look at Aegis, and just by seeing his disheveled appearance, he could tell that prison life had been hard on him. He lightly tapped his fingers on the table, the rhythm steady and slow. “Lord Aegis, it seems like you haven’t been doing too well these past few days.”

Aegis’ face flushed with embarrassment upon hearing this. He thought of what the officer had said to him earlier and, in a tone full of humility, begged, “Your Excellency… no, Your Highness, what happened last time was my fault. I failed to recognize my place and accidentally offended you. I promise it won’t happen again. If you want compensation, or an apology, I will serve you however you wish. Just help me get out of here…”

By the end of his words, he couldn’t help but collapse to his knees with a loud thud, tears streaming down his face as he begged, “Your Highness, I don’t want to die! I really don’t want to die! Please, tell them to spare my life!”

The police station wouldn’t do anything to the male zergs, but the mental torment over the past days had nearly driven Aegis insane. Every day he was locked in that cramped cell, with no one to talk to and no light. Every minute and second felt like a century, more unbearable than death itself.

Seeing Aegis kneeling on the floor, crying with snot and tears, looking like a lost dog, You Que pulled out a chair and crouched down in front of him. The male hadn’t bathed in who knew how many days, and his body reeked of a foul stench. You Que covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief, suddenly asking an out-of-the-blue question: “While you’ve been in prison, has the Marlon family tried to rescue you?”

At the question, Aegis’ sobs faltered, and he lowered his head. His eyes were filled with hatred as he forced out a word: “No!”

The Marlon family was cold-blooded and heartless; he should have seen that much by now. You Que was now a highly sought-after pureblood male zerg. How could they possibly risk offending You Que for his sake?

All Aegis felt now was regret—nothing but regret. He regretted ever helping the Marlon family as cannon fodder. Now that things had gone wrong, they had washed their hands of him, and he was left to take the fall.

You Que, hearing this, was not surprised. With an unreadable expression, he said, “What a pity. He couldn’t save you. How should I save you?”

At these words, Aegis instinctively raised his head and grabbed You Que’s pant leg, as if clutching at a lifeline. His voice trembled with urgency: “You can do it! You’re a pureblood male zerg. If you just say a word to the police, I’ll be fine. Please, help me! I’ll do anything!”

You Que raised an eyebrow and asked, “Anything?”

Aegis nodded vigorously. “Anything! I will!”

You Que, hearing this, raised an eyebrow slightly, lowering his voice to say something to Aegis. Aegis didn’t quite catch what he said, but his expression shifted several times, showing a range of emotions. Even the hand that had been clutching You Que’s pant leg loosened unconsciously, and he spoke in a panic, “B-But… if this gets out, I can’t escape the consequences either…”

You Que’s voice was calm, with no emotion in his eyes. “If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. You can stay here and atone for your sins. But I can’t guarantee when you’ll get out.”

“I’ll give you three days to think about it. Think carefully about where that thing is hidden… When you’re sure, contact me.”

You Que finished speaking, standing upright, and without paying any attention to Aegis’ dazed, broken appearance, he adjusted his clothes and left the interview room.

Sanya had been waiting outside, and through a semi-transparent observation window, he could vaguely see Aegis slumped on the floor in disarray. When You Que emerged, Sanya asked in confusion, “Why did you suddenly want to see Aegis?”

The room was empty, and You Que directly pulled Sanya into his arms from behind. Resting his chin on Sanya’s shoulder, he both looked into the interview room and spoke in a low voice, “I told you, the zergs who took your wings back then, not one of them will escape.”

Sanya was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

He had originally thought he would feel happy the day his great vengeance was fulfilled, but when he remembered how he had killed Beowen, his mind had been consumed with madness. Now, with Aegis’ capture, he didn’t feel any lighter in his heart.

You Que noticed his silence, as if seeing through Sanya’s thoughts. “You’re not happy, aren’t you?”

Sanya frowned. “Why do you ask that?”

You Que slowly curled his fingers around Sanya’s, his voice low. “Sanya, it’s normal that you’re not happy.”

What’s lost cannot be regained, and what’s broken cannot be mended.

Revenge itself is a painful thing. Since Sanya’s wings had already been taken, vengeance couldn’t bring him any pleasure; it would only intensify the pain he carried. What You Que could do was simply restore the justice that Sanya should have had long ago.

You Que had no virtues. He only had hands skilled in stealing and a mind full of schemes. If he hadn’t followed Sanya to the south, perhaps he would have spent his life quietly and unremarkably in that poor little town.

This pure blood was dispensable, but if it could bring Sanya a long-overdue justice, then it had some worth.

You Que kissed Sanya’s earlobe. “Do you think I’m despicable?”

Sanya frowned and looked at You Que. “Where are you despicable? Nonsense.”

Even if he were despicable, he was the male zerg Sanya liked. Sanya hadn’t turned away, but You Que was the one feeling disgusted with himself.

You Que smiled. “Hmm, I’m not despicable.”

He no longer stole things.

He was learning to be a good person.

In this lifetime, You Que had learned nothing but thievery. But he thought that in the days to come, he could learn to love Sanya…

 

 

 

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