CH 106

Thank you to SOLEIL for the ko-fi~

“Run? What does that mean? Is the Xian Ge Galaxy in danger?” Shu Shuishui’s question was the immediate reaction of everyone upon seeing the information. It was followed by profound confusion and a sense of crisis.

Regardless of the mysterious origin of the sounds in the Xian Ge Galaxy, the fact that they couldn’t be traced indicated that they were on a level beyond the Xian Ge Galaxy’s existing technology and capabilities to explore and decipher.

Moreover, the fact that such a high-level unknown entity had been repeating the same message within the Xian Ge Galaxy for two years strongly suggested the importance of this information.

“Is there any other audio deciphered?” Gu Langu inquired.

Nan Ge shook his head. “Not for now. Gu Langyi didn’t participate in this collective dungeon, so we don’t know what happened on his barren star. The only message he brought us is this one.”

What Gu Langyi had transmitted to Xie Feng through the dungeon had been formatted in a way that Xie Feng could decrypt. This formatting could only be understood by Xie Feng and Gu Langyi, indicating that the two of them had privately researched it.

In other words, the real Xian Ge audio can only be deciphered by Gu Langyi, so they currently have no way of knowing what kind of information the Xian Ge Galaxy’s audio was transmitting two years ago.

However, it should be highly complex since even Gu Langyi couldn’t decipher it and could only convey the message to evacuate.

“If this information is accurate, then we may be facing more than just the Apocalypse Era of Cang Zhan Star,” Nan Ge continued, “The transmission range of this audio covers the entire Xian Ge Galaxy, which means this sound is warning the entire Xian Ge Galaxy. Given the level of the sender, who not only hasn’t provided any explanations or solutions but has urgently advised ‘run,’ there are only two possibilities.”

“One, this sender lacks the ability to think comprehensively, can predict a problem but cannot solve it, so they chose the simplest option, which is to flee. Two, the Xian Ge Galaxy is about to face a catastrophe so immense that nothing within the galaxy can withstand it, with no solution in sight, and escape is the only chance of survival!”

The consequences of these two scenarios are vastly different. After all, if they abandon the entire galaxy, where can the residents of the Xian Ge Galaxy go? Should they all become interstellar migrants? But where would they migrate to?

“Xiao Ge Ge is worried that if this unknown threat is powerful enough to endanger the entire Xian Ge Galaxy, the neighboring Canghai Galaxy will also be affected, and it might face the same catastrophe?” Shu Shuishui quickly understood Nan Ge’s concerns.

Nan Ge sighed. “Canghai is too close to Xian Ge, and if there’s indeed a threat that could destroy Xian Ge, what assurance does Canghai have that it will remain unscathed? After all, in the previous galactic wars, it’s clear that Canghai’s technological level is still below Xian Ge’s. Xian Ge has entered the era of full artificial intelligence, and those powerful complete mechanical beings that Xian Ge has produced, Canghai has yet to replicate. If it weren’t for…”

“Never mind, why am I saying all of this?” Nan Ge paused mid-sentence, realizing that Gu Langu was right beside them. He also recalled the series of unpleasant experiences that followed this train of thought. “Shui Shui, I came to see you to ask if there’s any way to predict certain situations – time, location, method, scope – anything at all.”

Not only in Nan Ge’s eyes but in the eyes of all Shui Jing Gong residents, Shu Shuishui had become a symbol of miracles, a beacon of hope in dire situations. It seemed that as long as he was there, any problem could be solved.

“I’ll do my best to try, but I can’t guarantee effectiveness,” Shu Shuishui replied. If this information was true, it would truly be a miraculous prediction. Even if Shu Shuishui had just attained his human form, he couldn’t confidently claim to predict something like this. The concept of heavenly omens was incredibly mysterious and involved vast causality, which was why heavenly omens were not to be revealed.

After Shu Shuishui finished speaking, Gu Langu’s body visibly tensed, and he quickly grabbed Shu Shuishui’s wrist, as if it was an instinctual response, fearing that Shu Shuishui might suddenly disappear from his side.

“What’s wrong, Gu Gu? I’m right here,” Shu Shuishui reassured him.

However, this reassurance didn’t have much effect. Even until bedtime, Gu Langu’s hand didn’t let go, and he seemed almost reluctant to release Shu Shuishui. Shu Shuishui found it somewhat amusing. He realized that Gu Langu might have been reminded of the disappearance of Meng Mo Li in the past. At that time, Meng Mo Li had also predicted a heavenly omen through a dream and then suddenly left, leaving behind a solitary Lan Gu. “Gu Gu, I’m not Meng Mo Li, don’t worry. I also don’t have the ability to make dreams come true, so I won’t suddenly disappear.”

“Yeah, I know,” came Gu Langu’s response from within the darkness. However, his grip remained firm. “But I just want to hold onto Shui Shui.”

Shu Shuishui turned to face Gu Langu. “Alright, since I also want to hold onto Gu Gu.” With that, Shu Shuishui raised the hand that was being held by Gu Langu and playfully curled his fingers. “Gu Gu, don’t grab my wrist; it’s more secure if our fingers are intertwined.”

This time, Gu Langu obediently released Shu Shuishui’s wrist and, using his excellent night vision, interlocked his fingers with Shu Shuishui’s, which indeed felt much more secure.

In the darkness, Gu Langu leaned closer until he could feel Shu Shuishui’s breath. “Shui Shui, are you ready to sleep?”

Shu Shuishui closed his eyes in response. “Just one goodnight kiss, and then I can sleep.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Langu skillfully leaned in and placed his lips precisely on Shu Shuishui’s. Ever since they had unlocked the “goodnight kiss” and “good morning kiss,” they hadn’t missed a single one. However, tonight, Gu Langu seemed a bit more eager, likely due to the events of the day still lingering in his mind.

After the goodnight kiss, Shu Shuishui returned the kiss, and then the two finally settled down, their fingers interlocked as they drifted into sleep.

Before falling asleep, Shu Shuishui couldn’t help but ponder what Gu Langu was truly afraid of. He didn’t possess the power to make dreams come true. Moreover, the memories from that day’s dream were fragmented, with many gaps in his recollection. He couldn’t remember how Meng Mo Li had discovered Lan Gu’s departure, how he had entered the cycle to chase after Lan Gu, why he had died, and how he had eventually returned to Earth as a small dormouse.

Shu Shuishui genuinely believed that, despite having glimpsed all the fragmented memories, he possessed no abilities akin to the Dream Clan, apart from his penchant for sleep. Therefore, he considered Gu Langu’s concerns to be unfounded.

So when Shu Shuishui eventually fell asleep and found himself in a dream, he didn’t immediately realize he was in one. He stood there in a daze, thinking it was just like any other day.

This was a vast expanse of pure white space. In front, there was a long corridor leading to a silver metallic door with prominent red warning lights. Beyond the corridor stood two rows of heavily armed individuals, their gazes sharp like unsheathed swords, ready for action at any moment.

In the midst of his confusion, Shu Shuishui spotted Yu Jin among these heavily armed figures. Yu Jin appeared younger in this context, but his aura was even sharper.

Just as he was bewildered, several people approached from behind, their footsteps hurried. One of them spoke rapidly, “Blood supply, muscle enhancement, super-metallic bones, organ cultivation, all completed. It’s just the neural connection remaining, Cheng Que, the situation is crucial. Whether Gu Langu can be reborn or not depends on you. You should understand that even a slight misplacement of a nerve fiber could turn Gu Langu into a vegetable…”

“Enough,” Cheng Que coldly interrupted the incessant chatter. “His entire body is ruined, with only his brain intact. Is it really just a coincidence? Do you think he’s truly that foolish?” The mocking tone dissipated in the air as the group had now reached the sentinels, ending their conversation.

Indeed, as powerful as Gu Langu was, was he really so foolish? He knew that countless calculations and dangers lurked behind him, yet he chose to protect the Canghai Galaxy. Why?

As the group rushed by, Shu Shuishui subconsciously followed. He realized that no one could see him. After crossing the room’s threshold, and passing through numerous complex procedures, Shu Shuishui found himself by the surgical table.

There, he saw a complete brain encased in a transparent container. Aside from that, there were rows of cryogenic chambers, each containing modified components, from internal organs to bones, even individual strands of hair stored in transparent containers.

Shu Shuishui was stunned. What stood before him was the rebirth of Gu Langu as a semi-mechanical being.

The dream continued for an indeterminate period—perhaps several days, perhaps months. Shu Shuishui couldn’t recall how he emerged from it. Yet, as he saw the brain being placed on the surgical table, Shu Shuishui suddenly understood Gu Langu’s fear.

As mighty as Gu Langu was, even if only his brain remained, it would be thoroughly studied and scrutinized down to every neuron. He was unique and exceptionally powerful, and therefore, exceedingly rare.

Could he still be considered human after such a rebirth? Was he still himself? Everyone would have these doubts, including Gu Langu himself.

Shu Shuishui overheard someone sighing. This seemingly irrational person, even with just a brain left, possessed an incredibly strong determination. They never really understood what Gu Langu was so adamant about. In the remaining portion of his brain, Gu Langu had erected an impregnable fortress, seemingly telling everyone that if they wanted to see, they would have to destroy him.

In the end, everyone had to give up exploring that specific region of the brain. They discovered that, as long as they didn’t touch that area, Gu Langu’s brain would cooperate significantly with the modifications. Even if it was excruciatingly painful, he accepted it willingly.

Different groups of people took turns performing the surgery. Outside the operating room, some were mocking, saying, “Look! Even someone like Gu Langu is afraid of death! After modifying so many people, I’ve never seen someone so afraid of death, it’s truly hilarious!”

In that moment, they relished the joy of playing with a powerful individual, savoring the humility, sensitivity, fragility, and plea for survival from the mighty. They were begging for their lives.

Because in Gu Langu’s brain, that one uncertain point, the semi-mechanical modification, had suppressed an unstable element. Later on, it eventually led to suspicion and mistrust from the others, resulting in this exile.

“Shui Shui, Shui Shui! Shui Shui!” Gu Langu’s voice came from a distant place, and the scene before him rapidly faded away. Shu Shuishui woke up from the dream, opened his eyes, and everything appeared blurry.

“Gu Gu… Gu Gu,” Shu Shuishui hiccupped and realized that he had soaked his pillow with tears.

Gu Langu held him anxiously and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Shu Shuishui awake. “Did Shui Shui have a bad dream?”

Shu Shuishui buried his head in Gu Langu’s broad chest, tears streaming down. What had earned him this sense of security in this comforting chest? “Gu Gu, did I ever tell you?”

“Hmm?”

“Shui Shui loves Gu Gu.” As he spoke, Shu Shuishui poked himself with his finger, then poked Gu Langu. “Very, very, very much. Besides Gu Gu, I don’t need anyone else. I don’t want anyone else. Just Gu Gu, just the Gu Gu in front of me.”