Mist (Web Novel CN)

The bed was empty. The night outside could faintly be seen through the curtains.

The blankets on the bed was messy, as if someone had just slept in it. It even made one feel that if they reached over and touched it, there would still be some lingering warmth.

Everything had remained just like how it was when Song Qinglan saw it in the bubble world.

Song Qinglan stood there, his heart beating violently.

In an instant, his ears were filled with the pounding of his heart. Blood seemed to rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He was hot all over. He finally figured out what was going on.

His heart had never been moved in his entire life.

The first time he felt this, the other party turned out to be completely different from what he had imagined when he was younger. Regardless of whether it was the appearance, personality or gender, it was all different.

However, as soon as he received this signal from his heart, the feeling surged inside him like a tide. It was so turbulent that he was caught off guard, but it was also something that he felt was normal. What different? It clearly was something that should’ve been like this in the first place.

As it turned out, the irritation and dissatisfaction he felt towards Ji Yushi as well as the trust and concern, it wasn’t without reason.

Fuck.

Song Qinglan was annoyed by how slow he was. At the same time, he felt a stronger kind of irritation.

Unable to say it, unable to do anything; just standing there was enough to make his body numb and his palms hot.

“Cap Song.”

Ji Yushi’s voice travelled over.

Song Qinglan froze for a moment. At almost the same time as the moment he heard the voice, he had reflexively closed the door with a ‘bang’.

All those shameful hidden desires had been concealed away. The blood that had rushed to the top of his head seemed to have started to flow back.

Reality had pulled his senses back in an instant.

Song Qinglan calmly turned his head. He pretended that nothing had happened.

He saw Ji Yushi come over from the other end of the corridor. The two were only a dozen of steps apart.

It was unknown if it was because of the impact of his realisation just now but his thoughts became clearer. The Ji Yushi at this moment reminded Song Qinglan of the moment he first met him at the Tiangqiong Jiang City branch.

At that time, Ji Yushi stood before a floor-to-ceiling window. With his back against the dazzling lights, that calm and cold look of his was difficult to forget.

But at this moment, even in the dark corridor and without any proper lighting, Ji Yushi’s cold temperament still made it hard for one to look away.

Reaching Song Qinglan, Ji Yushi stopped, “What are you doing standing in front of the door?”

Song Qinglan, “…….”

The difference between them was half a head. Song Qinglan was too tall and once closer, Ji Yushi could feel a sense of oppression.

The same was true this time too.

Song Qinglan’s expression at this moment was still the same but Ji Yushi somehow felt that the oppressiveness was stronger than usual. Compared to before, the current Song Qinglan seemed a little daunting. It was quite confusing.

Since he already knew the other party’s behaviour and habits, Ji Yushi didn’t step back and just calmly stood in place with one hand in his trouser pocket, “Is there anything inside?”

Song Qinglan answered faintly, “Nothing. Just the room I used when I was a child.”

Ji Yushi’s eyes moved slightly. He asked curiously, “Your room as a child? Can I take a look?”

“……” Song Qinglan spoke stiffly, “There’s nothing to see. It’s all toys.”

He appeared expressionless but internally he was trying to figure out what he should do if Ji Yushi insisted on going in.

Wait a minute. Since this Tianqiong could change the place according to one’s thoughts, it shouldn’t be too difficult to change the illusion in that room. Song Qinglan however wasn’t sure what they would see if they opened that door again.

If it didn’t change, then the situation would be interesting — Seeing your own bed and your own bedroom appearing in another person’s subconscious, it was impossible for someone as intelligent as Ji Yushi to not be able to guess the reason.

Song Qinglan absolutely didn’t want that kind of situation to occur.

The two stood face to face like this in silence for several seconds.

Song Qinglan: “If the enemy doesn’t move, I won’t move.”

Fortunately, Ji Yushi didn’t seem to have noticed anything and didn’t mention the room again.

He instead took out something from his pocket and gave it to Song Qinglan, “I picked it up just now. For you.”

Song Qinglan curiously received it. Ji Yushi had given him a white starfish. The small starfish was still a little heavy and it carried along with it the subtle smell of sea water. His heart felt like it was tickled by a feather, but Song Qinglan spoke coldly, “Starfish? You two went to the beach?”

Intuitively sensing that the other party was a little upset, Ji Yushi was confused.

Could it be that men can also have those days of the month?

“Yeah. The transfer station on my end happened to be the beach I visited when I was seventeen.” Ji Yushi said, “Kado. Have you been there?”

Kado was an island with crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. It is currently a popular travel destination but back in those days, Kado was just one of the many small islands attached to the country.

“I’ve heard of it, but I haven’t been there.” Song Qinglan said, “I was already enlisted into the army the year you went.”

After enlisting, he had spent a bloody career in the special forces and when he retired, he directly joined Tianqiong as a Guardian.

Time was precious and there was a lot to do at work. Even during his vacations, Song Qinglan didn’t have enough time or energy to organise a relaxing trip for himself.

Song Qinglan held the starfish in his palm and could feel it’s somewhat wet and rough texture, “I picked up a lot of shells when I went to other beaches as a child, but I’ve never seen a starfish.”

Ji Yushi said, “I have also never picked one up before.”

Song Qinglan glanced at him. It was as if he was asking ‘didn’t you pick one up this time?’.

Ji Yushi said, “Perhaps as long as you subconsciously want something, Tianqiong would give it to you. Desires cannot be hidden from it, there is practically nowhere to hide.”

Song Qinglan’s expression suddenly became a little strange, “…….”

Song Qinglan felt uncomfortable everywhere. At this moment, Ji Yushi ended the topic, “When you have a chance to in the future after going back, you can go and have a vacation at Kado. You might be able to pick one up there.”

After going back?

The thought that had been pushing everyone through was the thought of going back.

That real reality was different from the bubble world. Everyone’s life would be restored to its original state and there would be no more Chief Qi that would make Ji Yushi enter a state of confusion. It was just that Song Qignlan didn’t know if they would still be in contact after they return.

This topic was suddenly being touched upon because everyone knew that they couldn’t stay in the transfer station for long.

Only after completing the missions arranged by Tianqiong could they return, so no matter how comfortable the transfer station may be, it was only an illusion in the mind. A short mental break was enough. The most important thing was returning to reality.

Ji Yushi only now talked about the reason why he came to find Song Qinglan, “Cap Song. Everyone wants to invite you over to have a small meeting.”

Song Qinglan was surprised, “So fast?”

That group has played enough?

Ji Yushi said, “It’s all just an illusion anyway. They’re not really drunk.”

Song Qinglan would rather that they were really drunk. He didn’t really want to have a meeting right now and just wanted some time alone.

If Ji Yushi was willing to chat with him, then the two of them alone was fine too.

Song Qinglan’s heart was still beating haphazardly. He both wanted his time alone with Ji Yushi to continue and to end.

*

The two talked as they walked out. The teammates were still creating a ruckus while drinking. Zhou Mingxuan had also returned and was leaning back in a chair, drinking. Seeing that Song Qinglan had arrived, Zhou Mingxuan picked up a can of beer and tossed it at Song Qinglan, “Cap Song!”

Song Qinglan received the beer and glanced at him.

That glance made the hair on Zhou Mingxuan’s back stand. It reminded him of the time when Song Qinglan caught him stealing someone else’s steamed buns back in the army.

After Zhou Mingxuan’s hair fell back down again, he belatedly realised that he hadn’t done anything wrong though?

Song Qinglan cracked opened the can and downed half of it in one go, “Speak. What are your plans moving forward?”

Everyone gathered around. Sure enough, they were each more sober than the other. Not one of them were drunk.

Having had their fill, it was time to discuss when to start the next mission. It wouldn’t be good indulging endlessly in the illusion.

Li Chun was still holding a hookah in his hand and was sweating profusely, “Although continuing to play like this is fun, it just doesn’t feel right. I want to suggest that we set a time, such as playing around for another ten days—-”

Everyone looked over.

Li Chun quickly stopped talking and changed his words, “Such as playing around for another seven days! After seven days, we can set out and do whatever mission is thrown at us. Like this, we can indulge ourselves over the seven days without a worry! What do you think?!”

“You still want seven to ten days?” Duan Wen knocked onto the back of his head, “I’ll give you half a month and even give you a beauty as a treat for your eyes, how does that sound?”

Everyone laughed.

“Don’t insult beauties!”

“Believe it or not, even if there are no beauties, Li Chun can still play!”

“How about I bring out bars and nightclubs for you too?”

“Then how many days?”

Li Chun threw away the hookah which disappeared as soon as it hit the ground. Here in this place, they were like gods or even magicians.

Li Chun held up three fingers, “How about three days?! Is three days alright?”

Three days. It sounded like a good number.

But except for Tang Le who was a little moved, no one else responded.

“No way?!” Li Chun wanted to cry without tears, “You even think three days is too much?”

Song Qinglan took another sip of his beer, “What are everyone’s opinions?”

As soon as he said that everyone no longer kept to themselves. Anyone could tell that Song Qinglan’s tone was serious.

“After sleeping for a night, it should be enough.” Duan Wen said, “I want to get out of this as soon as possible. Regardless of how much time has passed for me in the real world, I just want it to be over soon.”

Tang Qi, “I agree.”

Tang Le, “…….”

Zhou Mingxuan was chill, “I think staying another day or staying another three days makes no difference to me so of course the sooner the better.”

With this, the only one left who hadn’t expressed their opinion yet was Ji Yushi.

Sensing everyone’s gazes, Ji Yushi calmly spoke, “Why don’t we first take a look at what the next mission is?”

“I agree.” Song Qinglan’s used his slender finger to wipe away the beer stain on his lips, “It would be better to be more prepared this time.”

After saying that, Song Qinglan who was standing in the centre turned on the communicator.

“Next mission.”

He spoke coldly, omitting even the title.

Tianqiong’s voice system soon appeared, “Detected that you have already completed a Super S-level mission ‘Ouroboros’, an A-level mission ‘Chaos’, and an S-level side mission ‘Who Am I’. You currently have the ability to complete Super S-level missions. As such, the next mission is Super-S level. It is recommended that you rest well before unlocking the next mission.”

Those words were very familiar.

When they first arrived at the transfer station last time, Tianqiong had said something similar before disappearing, not giving them an opportunity to control now long they could rest for.

Everyone’s expression was poor. Song Qinglan spoke, “If you shut off, I will reject the mission. Tell me what the next mission is.”

Everyone, “……”

Tianqiong kindly explained, “Your next mission is ‘Rubik’s Cube’.”

As soon as it finished saying that a prompt appeared on the holographic projection.

[Mission mode: Rubik’s Cube.]

[Mission rule: Death elimination.]

[Mission objective: Joining.]

Death elimination.

Ji Yushi’s pupils instantly constricted. The scenes from the Ouroboros mission surfaced to his mind.

Tang Qi who was bitten to death by zombies, Duan Wen who sacrificed himself, Zhou Mingxuan who died in the car….The deaths of his teammates as well as himself played over and over again. That terrible world where there was no end in sight, could it be that it was about to start again?

Seeing those two words, all the teammates were silent.

Song Qinglan, “Is there a time anchor in this mission?”

Having a time anchor meant that they could be reborn indefinitely.

Tianqiong, “Unfortunately no5. A time anchor cannot be set for this mission.”

“The fuck?”

“Dammit. Can we just not do the mission?”

“How on earth are we going to go back?!”

Outbursts sounded from the crowd. If Tianqiong had a physical body, it would most definitely be rendered into dust in an instant.

Unfortunately, it was just a system. Hearing the question, it just answered mechanically, “You are already very close to the objective.”

It was another ambiguous answer. The group cursed angrily but no matter how they asked and no matter how they threatened, the system was unwilling to say anything else.

The teammates couldn’t be blamed for getting angry. Even Song Qinglan wanted to explode, but he said calmly, “Mission objective: Join. What does it mean? Be more detailed.”

In the first few missions, a lot of time had been lost due to the ambiguity of the mission.

If they could figure out the objective faster, perhaps they could avoid too many losses and also complete the mission faster.

Tianqiong, “I do not understand what you mean.”

It was just a system.

It seems that asking it to be clearer on the objective was too much for it.

JI Yushi asked, “Are there any other information you can give us?”

As soon as he spoke, everyone quietened down.

It was as if Ji Yushi had become their anchor. As long as he could solve a problem, it wasn’t a problem.

Tianqiong said, “In this mission, you will meet other squads that I have recruited. It will be a multiplayer mission.”