Counterattack [Interstellar] - Chapter 10

The slender figure from ten years ago overlapped with the person standing before him. After a momentary lapse, Pei Yao regained his composure and offered a military salute. “Your Highness.”

Alan gave a helpless smile. “Don’t be so distant… Sit.”

Pei Yao hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly. “Yes.”

“Try this.” Alan placed a small plate of mousse in front of Pei Yao. “It’s made with strawberries picked just a few hours ago. You’ll likely enjoy it.”

Pei Yao looked at the exquisite strawberry mousse, paused, and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, your birthday banquet is about to begin…”

“Being a little late won’t matter. Are you a germaphobe?” Alan took Pei Yao’s small silver fork and wiped it for him, smiling. “It’s clean now. Eat.”

Pei Yao felt as if his hands and feet had nowhere to go; he was incredibly ill at ease. Left with no choice, he stood up and said softly, “Your Highness… if you have no further orders for me, I believe I should return to the Crown Prince’s side.”

“What are you going to his side for?” Alan pulled the napkin from his lap and gave a mocking laugh. “I think the Crown Prince has enough with Legion Commander Matthew.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Alan felt a pang of regret. He was the culprit who had caused Pei Yao to be dismissed from his post; using that to mock him was ungrateful. To his surprise, Pei Yao showed no sign of embarrassment. His expression remained calm as he replied, “The Crown Prince may not need me, but that cannot be a reason for me to neglect my duties.”

Alan laughed in spite of himself. After a long while, he shook his head and said with a bitter smile, “Asking you to sit for a while is also an order from your superiors, Major General Pei Yao.”

Not wanting to make Pei Yao uncomfortable, Alan softened his voice. “Just consider it staying to keep me—this pitiful former prince—company, alright? Those people outside… not a single one came to celebrate my birthday. Today is my birthday; stay with me for a while, please?”

Alan’s Taipan snake slithered over at the perfect moment. It tilted its head up and gently, imploringly rubbed against Pei Yao’s fingertips. Pei Yao, unable to refuse, sat down once more but couldn’t help but remind him, “Your Highness, it would be best if you put it away…”

“Don’t worry, no one will find out,” Alan said with a smile. “Besides, my mental power can’t seem to keep it contained anymore. It has missed you dearly.”

As if to prove Alan’s words, the Taipan snake slowly coiled its body and moved to Pei Yao’s leg, resting against his combat boots for a nap.

“It actually really wants to coil around your hand like it used to,” Alan smiled, relaying the sensations of his Quantum Beast. “But it’s afraid of hurting you.”

Looking at this Quantum Beast that he had witnessed the birth of, Pei Yao’s heart couldn’t help but soften. He lowered his hand and lightly stroked the head of the Taipan snake twice. The snake looked up at him in silence for a long while before carefully flickering its tongue to lick Pei Yao’s palm.

Through touching the Quantum Beast, Pei Yao felt a powerful, almost terrifying mental pressure. He frowned slightly and said with low-voiced sincerity, “Its mental power is very strong. You must be careful.”

After a pause, he added, “Of course, this isn’t a bad thing. Everything about a Quantum Beast is the most direct manifestation of its master; it represents your strength.”

Alan gazed silently at Pei Yao’s handsome face, which looked unchanged after ten years under the candlelight. He became slightly dazed and repeated softly, “Everything about a Quantum Beast is the master’s most direct manifestation… then can I translate those words I said earlier and say them again?”

Alan’s aqua-blue eyes fixed intently on Pei Yao as he spoke slowly, “I have missed you constantly. I want to have you by my side just like before. I am cautious… because I am afraid I will hurt you again.”

Pei Yao froze. The scene of being forcibly kissed by Alan ten years ago suddenly flashed through his mind. His face flushed instantly, and he said awkwardly, “Your Highness… please do not make such jokes.”

“I’m not joking.” Alan let out a soft breath. “I already know about what happened on Nymph Island.”

Pei Yao paused, then realized what he meant. He said with a look of relief, “If it’s for that matter, please don’t let it weigh on you. I indeed handled things improperly at the time. Besides, it was just a routine inquiry; I didn’t stay there for very long.”

“Not very long?” Alan slowly released a mental tentacle. The tentacle gently intruded into Pei Yao’s brain, tenderly brushing over the areas that had been repeatedly attacked. One place, two places, three…

At this moment, Alan was incredibly grateful he hadn’t awakened as a Sentinel; otherwise, he likely would have fallen into a manic state. The trauma he felt through his mental tentacle was far more visceral than what he had seen on the surveillance monitors. Alan could hardly believe that after enduring such concentrated mental attacks, Pei Yao had never uttered a single word. And even today, he could tell him so calmly not to worry about it.

Alan did his best to stay calm, guiding his mental tentacle to more gently comb through the cluttered parts of Pei Yao’s mind, exerting his full effort to repair the trauma.

“Your Highness…” Pei Yao frowned uncomfortably. “Please…”

Pei Yao had wanted to refuse, but the feeling of being guided by a mental tentacle was far too comfortable—it was almost as addictive as a drug. He simply couldn’t resist.

A few minutes later, Alan slowly withdrew his mental tentacle and said, “Mental guidance without a ‘Bonding Mark’ is limited to the surface. I’ve just repaired the shallow-level trauma. Do you feel better?”

A Sentinel who has just received mental guidance will experience a few minutes of mental trance. Pei Yao’s dark eyes showed a hint of daze, making his whole persona appear a bit more endearing. Alan smiled. “Then, let us continue…”

Before Pei Yao could react, Alan stepped forward and embraced him, lowering his head to capture his lips.

Pei Yao’s eyes widened instantly!

Alan was now an adult; such a kiss would allow the two of them to establish a temporary bonded relationship. Before Pei Yao could regain his mental focus, Alan preemptively released his powerful mental pressure, wrapping Pei Yao up tightly.

After confirming that Pei Yao could not resist, Alan smiled and indulged in a deep, unrestrained kiss.

At the same moment, Alan released hundreds of mental tentacles. In the five-dimensional space, countless blue lines of light, carrying flecks of starlight, gently entered Pei Yao’s brain, tenderly repairing the wounds suffered ten years ago for Alan’s sake.

After an unknown amount of time, Alan released Pei Yao, looking as though he hadn’t quite had enough. He slowly withdrew his mental pressure. Pei Yao quickly backed away several meters, roaring in fury, “Your Highness, you! You… how dare you…”

“What did I do?” The shallow-level bonding made Alan feel incredibly comfortable in both mind and body; even his smile held more charm than usual. “Pei Yao… you aren’t like those idiots. Even in that state just now, you clearly could have broken through my mental pressure, but you didn’t move a hand.”

“Breaking mental pressure rashly would have certainly harmed you!” Pei Yao was nearly frantic with anger. “You are a Prince! A Guide!! How can you be so—so… lacking in self-respect!”

Alan couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Isn’t it a bit heartless to say that now, Major General? You just ‘marked’ me.”

The bond after marking made it impossible for Pei Yao to truly blow up at Alan, but he was still fuming. Alan stopped joking and said seriously, “Don’t be angry. It was my fault… I only did it so I could help repair the trauma in your brain. After all, it was all caused because of me.”

Alan smiled tenderly. “Don’t think too much of it… a temporary mark only lasts about a month. It won’t affect you much.”

“It’s not a matter of my problem!” Pei Yao’s tone softened unconsciously. “Your Highness, you…”

Alan coaxed him gently, “Alright, just consider it a small token of my gratitude, okay?”

Pei Yao uncomfortably wiped his lips. Left with no choice, he nodded.

“The wounds in your brain have existed for too long; it will take some time to fully repair them.” Alan smiled warmly. “To let me completely make up for the harm I caused you before… Pei Yao, come back to my side, alright? Just like in the beginning.”

“No.” Pei Yao rejected the proposal immediately without a second thought. “Apologies… Your Highness, you may not know… when I was dubbed a Paladin, His Majesty said in public that I would, like my forefathers, forever remain loyal to the Crown Prince of the Empire. Transferring me to your side at this time would be no different from…”

“The Emperor has already said those words to me!” Alan tried his best to suppress his anger and forced a smile. “Consider it doing it for me, okay? That bastard Anthony isn’t worth that kind of loyalty. Come to my side, will you?”

The trance from the mental guidance had completely faded. Pei Yao’s gaze was resolute as he shook his head. “No, Your Highness. I am not doing this for the Crown Prince. You know better than anyone that the Royal Family cannot endure any more scandal right now. For the sake of the Empire, I need to remain by the Crown Prince’s side forever.”

Before Alan could speak again, Pei Yao offered a military salute. “I have delayed for too long already. Please excuse me, Your Highness.”

Alan watched Pei Yao’s retreating back for a long time in silence. After a while, Alan’s Etiquette Officer silently approached and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness? Do we need to apply some pressure to Major General Pei Yao…”

“No need.” Alan’s gaze turned cold. “After the press conference… he will listen obediently.”

The officer nodded and couldn’t help but add, “Although I am very dissatisfied with the Major General’s decision, I have to say… the Major General is truly an Imperial soldier without any selfish desires.”

“Yes, if it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have endured all that for me before…” Alan curled his lips into a smile. “But it’s just as well. This blind loyalty… sooner or later, it will turn into absolute loyalty toward me alone.