Chapter 4: Holding a Grudge, Suffering Such a Great Sin
“Let’s go to the cafeteria first, the dormitory building won’t have power until later.” Li Yao raised his hands in surrender to his upright and awe-inspiring gaze, “I’ll fully charge it for you when the power comes back, okay?”
Only then was Liang Huan barely satisfied.
On the way to the cafeteria, Liang Huan questioned this design, “Since you implant the chip in the body, there should be a more convenient way to charge it. Why can’t you–“
He thought for a moment, recalling the new vocabulary he had just seen, “Bio-energy?”
“The Dawn Chip has only become popular in recent decades. At the beginning of its design, it could indeed be powered by human bio-energy, but it had to be supplemented with specific nutrient solutions.” Li Yao had his hands in his pockets. “The problem is that stuff is dead expensive, only the military and the rich can afford it. Cheap alternatives are very difficult to drink, and the power supply time is very short, so it’s not very useful. But daily life can’t do without the chip, most ordinary people use external charging, and use it sparingly. Now the most popular in the East Third District are external chips that can be replaced with batteries, one of which can last a year.”
Liang Huan asked, “Can mercenaries use them too?”
Li Yao raised his wrist. “Base special supply. You can’t take a special pocket for putting the chip when doing missions.”
There was a small black dragon tattooed on the inside of his wrist, its mouth biting its tail, stuck at the chip connection point. Liang Huan couldn’t help but take another look.
The mercenary building’s cafeteria was built in mid-air, connecting the three dormitory buildings, covering a very large area. The fully transparent walls could see the magnetic levitation pipes and low-altitude flying roads outside. Hundreds of food supply windows formed a circle in the center, and the hall was filled with neatly arranged dining tables, brightly lit.
Liang Huan looked at the bustling crowd. Most of them were dressed like Li Yao, in black short sleeves, trousers, and combat boots. Some had special designs, with legs or arms made of mechanical structures, with exposed wires. Some even had half their bodies made of metal.
“Don’t stare.” Li Yao held his head and turned him back. “These guys can find trouble even if there isn’t any. Not everyone has a good temper like your husband.”
“Why is there electricity here?” Liang Huan asked.
“Are you a hundred thousand whys?” Li Yao resignedly explained to him, “The cafeteria is a special building, you can apply to the government for special power supply.”
“The scarcity of electricity resources has already affected people’s lives. The court should seize the time to solve it. What is your emperor doing?” Liang Huan was very concerned about his chip not being charged in time.
“What era is it? Still emperors.” Li Yao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Your Majesty, don’t worry about this. The rich area, East One, is night after night with wine and song, rest assured, ah.”
Liang Huan was about to speak again, but Li Yao had already put his arm around his shoulder and pointed to the suspended holographic menu above. Opening it, he could even smell the aroma. “Which one do you want to eat? Order whatever you want.”
Liang Huan took a look. These dishes were called Magic Jumping Mushrooms, Explosive Apple Pie, Starch Mega-Mix, Leaf and Root Stew, Delicious Potato Soup.
A mercenary next to them pushed a cart of colorful and fragrant dishes, with all kinds of exquisitely arranged foods.
“Come on, the Mercenary Competition is next week, brothers eat and drink well! These days are on me!”
The large table of people immediately cheered, and the man handed out boxes of cigarettes, the cheers were even louder. Liang Huan saw a golden star printed on the cigarette box, which was the same as the cigarette boxes Li Yao gave to Uncle Yang and the mercenaries on the same floor. This thing seemed to be very popular with mercenaries.
Li Yao patted him on the shoulder and raised his hand to block his following gaze, “I’ll treat you to roast chicken next month.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Liang Huan pointed to the plate that looked most like food, “I’ll eat this.”
“Two plates of delicious potato soup.” Li Yao swiped his card readily.
The two chose a seat by the window, which had a good view of the night. Liang Huan was new here and was curious about everything around him. Outside the transparent glass were crisscrossing pipes and aerial roads, and beyond that were rows of dark buildings. Further out was a brightly lit area.
“Is that the East One rich area?” Liang Huan asked.
Li Yao glanced at it, picked up a spoon and scooped a large piece of potato soup into his mouth. “That’s the Black Market, next to the Red Light District, not a good place.”
“Red Light District?” Liang Huan thought for a while, “Charging station for traffic robots?”
Li Yao laughed so hard that he almost bit the spoon in half.
Liang Huan said sternly, “Eat properly.”
“Don’t talk to the head of the family like that.” Li Yao pointed at him with the spoon, “Add vinegar?”
“No need.” Liang Huan lowered his head to look at the plate – let’s call it food for the time being. Although he was always frugal, he usually had five or six dishes and soup for each meal. No matter how bad the chefs in the imperial kitchen were, they couldn’t be this bad.
He solemnly scooped up a small piece and put it in his mouth.
“How is it?” Li Yao asked.
Liang Huan’s brow furrowed even deeper.
Reincarnation actually meant suffering this kind of sin.
Li Yao bent one leg and stepped on the crossbeam between the seats, lowered his head and ate the stuff in his plate in a few mouthfuls, picked up the vinegar and poured it into Liang Huan’s plate. “Add some vinegar, just enough to swallow.”
“Do you eat this every day?” Liang Huan asked.
“How could I?” Li Yao waved his hand. “I usually can’t eat this well.”
Liang Huan looked at him with a bit of genuine sympathy.
The color of the potato soup after adding vinegar was indescribable. Liang Huan closed his eyes, just about to take a second bite, when a commotion suddenly came from not far away.
He followed the sound and saw two mercenaries arguing. One was a tall, bald man with a mechanical right arm, and the other had short yellow hair and a slender figure. He saw the bald man lift the table next to him and smash it at the yellow-haired man, but the other party leapt up and kicked him in the back, and the food and plates fell to the ground.
The bald man said angrily, “You still think you’re someone important, how does being from the military make you special? Don’t bring that stuff to the mercenary base, or I’ll kill you!”
The yellow-haired man refused to back down. “The mercenary base has to have rules too. Why can’t someone with strong mental strength get more commission?”
“Ha, what a big dream. That 3S mental strength traitor of yours came here, and he still has to tuck his tail between his legs and act like a man!” The bald man sneered.
“Dawn Star is not a traitor!” The yellow-haired man was unusually angry.
A burst of laughter immediately rang out around him.
“It’s okay, eat.” Li Yao turned his back to the commotion, not even raising his eyelids.
As soon as he finished speaking, an ear-piercing alarm sounded in the cafeteria. Five or six guards in white uniforms quickly appeared and subdued the troublemakers. A young man in a white uniform and sunglasses walked over quickly and said in a deep voice, “What’s going on again? Can’t you guys ever stop? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
“Captain You!”
“Hello, Captain You!”
“Brother You!”
Voices of greeting rose and fell, showing that the other party was respected by these mercenaries.
“Eat your food.” You Zhao Chen hooked down his sunglasses and waved to his subordinates, “Take them all away and put them in the detention room.”
“Yes!”
When the yellow-haired man passed by, he turned to look at You Zhao Chen: “Upper Rank You…”
“What Upper Rank, this is the mercenary base, I’m not in the army anymore, call me Captain.” You Zhao Chen slapped him on the back of the head, “Less trouble, you hear me!”
“Yes!” The yellow-haired man instantly turned red-eyed.
You Zhao Chen clicked his tongue, put his sunglasses in the pocket on his chest, and scanned the surroundings. Immediately, many people asked him to eat, but he refused one by one and strode towards Liang Huan and Li Yao’s table.
“Old Li, you’re a rare guest.” You Zhao Chen hooked Li Yao’s neck and wanted to sit next to him.
Li Yao raised his foot and stepped directly on the stool next to him. “No seats left.”
“Hey, this guy.” You Zhao Chen didn’t mind, and dragged a chair from the side to sit down. He crossed his legs, his high-top black boots shining brightly. “You don’t come to the cafeteria for half a month, and I finally ran into you. Hiss, what is this you’re eating? Let me treat you to a big meal, brother.”
“No need, I’m done eating.” Li Yao put down the spoon and raised his eyes to look at Liang Huan, “Are you done eating?”
The potato soup in front of Liang Huan was basically untouched, only the small pit that was dug at the beginning. Liang Huan was about to speak, but Li Yao tapped the side of his plate, and a packaging box popped up from underneath, automatically completing the packaging.
“Let’s eat it when we get back.” Li Yao handed it to him.
Liang Huan reluctantly took it, and looked at the person sitting next to him again.
You Zhao Chen met his eyes and smiled brightly, “Hello, my name is You Zhao Chen, the number two person in charge of the East Third District mercenary base. I am Li Yao’s former comrade-in-arms.”
“Captain You is flattering me.” Li Yao said indifferently, “I don’t deserve it.”
“What’s there to not deserve? You are–” He suddenly stopped, smiling and patted him on the shoulder, “It’s okay, I happen to have something to ask you. The Mercenary Competition is next Monday, the boss has spoken, you must participate.”
“No time.” Li Yao blocked his hand.
“How can you not have time? The boss has canceled all of your tasks for next week, just waiting for you to show up at the Mercenary Competition.” You Zhao Chen said, “You are the number one mercenary in the East District in terms of individual points. You are the face of the East Third District. You will represent the East District in the competition in the center. Try to get a good ranking back.”
“Let’s go.” Li Yao stretched out his hand to Liang Huan.
You Zhao Chen also looked at Liang Huan.
Liang Huan’s heart fluttered slightly, and he grabbed Li Yao’s hand. Only then did You Zhao Chen withdraw his gaze and said to Li Yao, “By the way, I wish you a happy marriage. I didn’t expect you to be willing to get married.”
“Anything else?” Li Yao looked at him.
You Zhao Chen said, “I thought you would invite me to be your best man.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.” Li Yao threw him a card, “Fill up the oil card and send it to the dormitory for me.”
You Zhao Chen raised his hand to catch it. “Okay, Captain Li!”
Li Yao’s shoulders and back tensed for a moment.
It wasn’t until they left the cafeteria that Li Yao let go of his tightly clasped hand.
Liang Huan’s palm was wet with his sweat. He casually wiped it on Li Yao’s clothes twice, “Do you hate this person?”
Li Yao was a little confused. “No hatred.”
“Then why are you so nervous?” Liang Huan asked.
Li Yao suddenly laughed, raised his hand to hold his face and rubbed it hard, smearing all the sweat from his palm on his face, “No one has dared to use my clothes to wipe sweat. You’re pretty brave.”
Liang Huan stared at him in shock, “You let–“
“I’m presumptuous.” Li Yao sighed, “Your Majesty, tell me when you’re done acting, so we can do something serious.”
Liang Huan raised his sleeve and wiped his face vigorously, and said coldly, “I fully cooperated with you in acting just now, and this is how you repay me?”
Li Yao laughed, “What, should I kowtow to you?”
Liang Huan was suffocated. This person was simply lawless.
Whether it was because of anger or because of the potato soup that was comparable to arsenic, he actually felt a trace of warm inner force surging from his dantian, but when he wanted to use his energy, the breath suddenly disappeared.
A strange noise came from his stomach.
Li Yao said after hearing it, “I told you not to be picky, your stomach is rumbling with hunger.”
Liang Huan stared at Li Yao, already considering the feasibility of killing him to silence him, after he fully charged his chip–
“Here.” Li Yao suddenly waved to a passing small robot.
The pure black combat uniform and boots made him look full of murderous aura. The black dragon on his side neck was arrogant and domineering. The high and straight bridge of his nose cast a small shadow on his face. He stood under the dim light with a cigarette in his mouth, bent over and touched the head of a passing simulated panda robot.
The panda gave him a square box from its stomach.
Li Yao held the box with one hand with a cigarette between his fingers, and opened the other hand to take out the chopsticks. The fragrance immediately wafted over.
He handed it to Liang Huan, a little impatiently, “Just this once, not as an example.”
“Little Panda Takeout wishes you a pleasant meal, and welcome to continue shopping next time. Goodbye, sir.” The panda bowed to Li Yao, closed its stomach, and ran away with its short legs.
Liang Huan took it and looked at the surrounding environment.
“Don’t look, eat here. It’s not time for power yet, it’s dark when you go back to the dormitory now.” He opened the box of potato soup he brought from the cafeteria, spread his legs casually and sat on the curb and ate.
Liang Huan watched him eat for a while, and sat next to him.
This time the food was barely edible.
“I severed your tendons, don’t you resent me?” Liang Huan asked.
“The treatment device will be fine after two uses, it’s just a minor injury.” Li Yao ate very quickly. He wiped his mouth and threw the empty lunch box, accurately landing in the hands of a robot that was picking up trash on the street, “It’s not surprising that humans have some stress responses in extreme fear. You’ve been pampered in the rich area, I guess you haven’t seen this kind of scene.”
Liang Huan slowly finished his meal. “Can mental strength change levels?”
Li Yao turned his head to look at him, his eyes filled with scrutiny and caution. “In principle, no.”
Liang Huan was waiting for his follow-up, but Li Yao didn’t say any more, but got up and walked forward.
Liang Huan felt the heat gathering in his palm and the vaguely perceptible inner force at his dantian, and his mind calmed slightly. It seemed that this body could practice martial arts and exercise, but he needed to start from scratch.
He looked at Li Yao’s back in front of him. Although this person had repeatedly offended him and was unbridled, his nature was not bad. Perhaps he could use him to gain a foothold in this new world. If he was loyal, he could also take him for his own use, but this kind of unruly person, even if he was loyal enough, would be more of a nuisance to keep under his nose. It was most suitable to put him on the frontier as a general, maybe he could establish a career.
“Let’s go, let’s go back to the dormitory to charge your beloved little chip.” Li Yao turned to him and waved.
Liang Huan: “…”
Sooner or later he would sew up his mouth.
