The Imperial Marshal’s Darling at the Tip of His Heart - Chapter 24

Time seemed to freeze within the control core.

The ghostly light emitted by the ancient geometric figure reflected coldly off Ling Yao’s visor, tracing the tension in his jawline and the sudden freezing of his gaze. The murderous intent swirling within his eyes was so tangible and sharp that it felt like a literal blade pressed against Yun Shu’s throat, making him gasp for air.

Yun Shu’s heart hammered frantically against his ribs, pulling at every fragile nerve and his crystal-laden lungs, bringing a tearing pain. He knew he had touched Ling Yao’s deepest secret: his private investigation into Tartarus, which likely involved territories strictly forbidden by the Empire’s highest authorities.

This secret was enough to bring down a high-ranking Imperial Marshal, causing him to lose his reputation or even his life. Silence through elimination was the most direct and logical choice. In this isolated, dead world, the “accidental death” of a sickly prisoner would be seamless.

Cold sweat instantly soaked Yun Shu’s inner lining, but he forced himself to meet Ling Yao’s gaze. He could not show weakness; he could not beg. That would only accelerate his death. He suppressed the metallic taste of blood in his throat and the violent urge to cough, using every ounce of willpower to maintain a facade of calm. He even sought a tiny crack of reason and calculation within that icy murderous intent.

The air solidified like hard ice.

Although the soldiers nearby did not understand the specifics, they could feel the sudden eruption of terrifying atmospheric pressure that nearly made their hearts stop. They instinctively gripped their weapons, their eyes moving between the Marshal and the prisoner in shock and doubt, not daring to make a sound.

A few seconds of dead silence felt as long as a century.

Just as Yun Shu believed that the muzzle of an energy rifle would be aimed at him in the next second, the killing intent in Ling Yao’s eyes suddenly receded like a tide, so fast it seemed like an illusion. However, the coldness and sharpness did not vanish; they transformed into a deeper, more terrifying gaze of absolute control and scrutiny.

He did not strike. Not because of mercy, but because of value.

The perception and analytical ability Yun Shu had just demonstrated, a near-resonance with this ancient ruin, was something Imperial instruments could not replicate. In this peril-filled “Eye of the Turbid Core,” he was the only one who could “hear” the planet’s whispers. To kill him was to cut off his own arm, perhaps forever missing the chance to uncover the truth.

More importantly, Yun Shu was a person of Xilan and his prisoner. How much threat could the “accusation” of a prisoner pose to a decorated Imperial Marshal without substantial evidence? Especially when that prisoner himself carried the crime of stealing Imperial secrets.

The balance of pros and cons was weighed in an instant.

Ling Yao moved his gaze away from Yun Shu’s face and back toward the slowly rotating, shimmering geometric figure, as if the heart-stopping confrontation had never happened. His voice came through the visor, restored to its usual coldness and calm, even carrying a hint of deliberate dismissal.

“The warning logs of this ancient system mentioned ‘constraint field weakening’ and ‘overflow channels unable to close.’ Analyze this: is the so-called ‘overflow channel’ directly related to the Calante signal and the energy eruptions we encountered?”

He skipped the most critical issue entirely, pulling the conversation back to the mission itself. This was a silent warning and a cold trade: Shut up, continue to show your value, and I can act as if nothing happened.

Yun Shu’s tensed nerves relaxed slightly, nearly causing him to lose his strength. His back was now cold and damp. He swallowed with difficulty, suppressing his surging blood, and followed Ling Yao’s lead, his voice still incredibly raspy.

“Yes. It is directly related. The energy eruptions are one form of the ‘overflow.’ The Calante signals are more like the energy ripples before the overflow, or a precursor to ‘pressure release.’ The system logs show it attempted to ‘harmonize,’ but it is no longer capable.”

As he spoke, he thought rapidly. Ling Yao’s choice meant temporary safety, but it also meant he was now completely tied to Ling Yao’s war machine. They shared a dangerous secret, though the initiative remained entirely in Ling Yao’s hands.

“No longer capable,” Ling Yao repeated, his fingers unconsciously tapping the casing of his energy rifle. “‘Guardian Protocol,’ ‘Final Command Unresponsive.’ It seems this ancient balance system has been abandoned, or it has lost a key control element.”

His mind was incredibly sharp, catching the core point instantly.

“Finding this ‘control element’ or a substitute might be the key to re-stabilizing this place.” His gaze swept over the star map on the platform again, lingering for a moment on the coordinates for Tartarus. “And the answer may not be here.”

Yun Shu’s heart stirred. Ling Yao seemed to be looking further away, toward that forbidden land that even he could not easily reach: Tartarus. The place that required the “Emperor’s decree or Council Triple-Key” to enter.

“The records here are too fragmented,” Yun Shu added cautiously, trying to divert Ling Yao’s attention away from himself. “Perhaps other similar ruins, or deep Imperial archives…”

“If the Imperial archives were useful, I would not have had to come here,” Ling Yao interrupted coldly, his tone carrying a faint trace of mockery. He seemed extremely dissatisfied with the internal bureaucracy and information suppression within the Empire.

He looked at Yun Shu again, his gaze deep. “What you perceived just now—’Shackles,’ ‘Star Tears,’ ‘Matrix Wailing’—what do they mean?”

Yun Shu remained silent for a moment, organizing the shattered and shocking fragments of information in his mind.

“‘Shackles’ likely refers to the system itself that constrains the ‘Turbid Core.’ Regarding ‘Star Tears,’ I suspect it is related to a critical energy source or catalyst. Its ‘falling’ led to the mutation of the ‘Matrix’—which is likely the Turbid Core—and the final formation of these ‘Shackles.'”

This explanation pushed the origin of the Turbid Core toward a more mysterious direction involving ancient secrets.

After listening, Ling Yao did not speak for a long time. He simply watched the rotating geometric figure as if digesting this startling information. The control core fell into silence once more, save for the faint hum of the ancient equipment.

“Marshal,” the squad leader on guard whispered a reminder. “Our stay has exceeded the safety threshold. The heavily wounded need to return to the starship for treatment immediately. Although the energy field here is temporarily stable, it is uncertain if it will trigger other reactions.”

Ling Yao snapped back from his thoughts and nodded.

“Collect all data, especially the star map and the system log remnants. Attempt to back up the energy signature pattern of that geometric figure,” he ordered. He then looked at Yun Shu. “Can you still obtain more specific parameters regarding the patterns of the ‘overflow channels’ and the ‘harmonic signals’ from here?”

Yun Shu assessed his own state and the energy flow of the geometric figure, then nodded with difficulty. “I can try, but it requires time and a more stable environment.”

“We will do it back on the starship,” Ling Yao decided. “Retreat.”

The order was given, and the soldiers moved immediately, beginning the careful work of data collection and backup. Ling Yao took one last look at the ancient control core, his expression complex and unreadable, before turning and striding out.

As he passed by Yun Shu, he did not stop, but dropped a sentence in an extremely low voice that seemed almost like an illusion, receivable only on their private communication channel:

“Watch your mouth. Your life is now tied to my discovery.”

The voice was icy and devoid of emotion, yet it clearly defined the boundaries. They were now crickets tied to the same string. For their respective goals, they had to maintain this fragile, silent protocol.

Yun Shu did not respond. He was silently supported by a soldier and followed the team. Stepping out of the stone chamber and back into the mist filled with decay and radiation, the atmosphere felt even more oppressive than the ancient core. Behind them, the ruin entrance was like the mouth of a giant beast, slowly swallowing their silhouettes as the secrets hidden within returned to silence.

The return journey seemed slightly smoother due to their previous experience and Yun Shu’s forced guidance, but the atmosphere was far heavier. The soldiers executed orders in silence, Ling Yao said nothing, and Yun Shu used all his strength to fight against the limits of his body.

The unspoken threat and the cold protocol loomed over everyone’s hearts.