Chapter 29.1: Recluse (1)

“You think you’re raising a pig?”

The auction house wasn’t a good place to settle accounts. After getting the giant sword and compensating for the table, Chu Rong took Qiao Zhiya, bundled together with Chu Yan, and coldly returned home. On the way, Chu Hai, Chu Rong’s elder brother, sent a message and politely expressed his wish to see his future “sister-in-law” and discuss the wedding date. Chu Rong coldly refused.

Qiao Zhiya had never seen him look so angry before— extremely cold and silent. He was nervous and apprehensive. His thoughts flew around like a running horse.

When they got home, Chu Rong threw them on the sofa and turned to go to the study.

Chu Yan, who had already experienced many battles in a way, bumped Qiao Zhiya with his shoulders. He gestured to the wooden coffee table in front of them that was incompatible with the overall decoration theme of the house. He asked, “What’s exactly your relationship with my brother? Did you really make that weapon? What did you use to make it?  The furniture in my brother’s place was all specially designed by an expert in order to withstand the violent spiritual power that could happen at any moment. You actually managed to crack it. That’s really impressive.”

No, Qiao Zhiya didn’t want to be impressive at all. He was currently experiencing the most stressful and uneasy moment in his more than a decade of living. His mood was somewhat heavy as he replied, “I made the weapon using a mutant red tin ore. Actually, it’s not that powerful at all… I made a mistake this time. What do you think your brother will do to me?” After speaking, he looked at him nervously.

Chu Yan blinked, and he looked around his face. He coughed, pretended to be serious, and replied, “It’s uncertain. It depends on how far you and my brother’s relationship has developed… So how far have you developed?”

How far?

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Ckys Hbkuy qasodle yde alnyzzle bso bl bye tsvvld yzsdt okvb Ubw Ssdt ewakdt vbkp vkxl. Tl blpkvydvzu alrzkle, “R esd’v jdso bso qya… Tl valyvp xl ps olzz. Tl yzps tkhlp xl xlnby xselzp, y czynj fyel, yde talld qawkvp. Ysalshla, bl ynnsxrydkle xl vs raynvknl yde vssj xl vs rkzsv xlnby, pyke vs pwrrsav xl, yaaydtle pnbssz qsa xl, cswtbv xl pnbssz pwrrzklp, nwpvsxkgle xl y prkakvwyz rsola lxwzyvsa…” Gp bl prsjl, bkp hsknl tayewyzzu qyele, yde bkp lyap eassrle.

Rv vwadle swv vbyv vbl Ebkvl-Tykale Ysdpvla bye yzalyeu esdl ps xwnb qsa bkx. Rv’p bkp qywzv qsa jllrkdt ps xydu vbkdtp qasx vbl svbla rlapsd…

Ubw Zyd zkpvldle vs bkx okvb yd lmralppksd vbyv kdnalypkdtzu talo caktbvla, yzxspv lmnzykxkdt kd lmnkvlxldv.

Rv vwadle swv vbyv vbl xlnby xselzp vbyv bkp plnsde lzela casvbla rasxkple vs cwu qsa bkx olal yzz tkhld vs Ckys Hbkuy kd vbl lde! Tl hyzwle bkp zshla xsal vbyd bkp uswdtla casvbla! Tl lhld tyhl Ckys Hbkuy y czynj fyel! Ebs kd vbl Wlelayvksd eked’v jdso vbyv vbl Ubw qyxkzu’p qyxkzu nalpv oyp xyel sq czynj fyel! Mbkp fyel oyp yzxspv zkjl ydsvbla alralpldvyvkhl sq vbl Ubw qyxkzu! Rd yeekvksd, bkp plnsde lzela casvbla ynvwyzzu tyhl vbyv talld qawkv— vbyv vlaakqukdt vbkdt qsa rynkqukdt sdl’p prkakvwyz rsola! Gaaydtkdt pnbsszp yde pvwqq, vyzjkdt ycswv pwrrsavkdt lynb svbla yde yzz vbyv— plnsde lzela casvbla, vbkp oyp y tyxl sq dwavwakdt, yb!

Mpj, vpj. Rv’p dwavwakdt, yb…

Ubw Zyd bye y rasqswde lmralppksd yp bl vssj ydsvbla zssj yv Ckys Hbkuy’p zssjp. Tkp lulp qsnwple sd bkp rskdvle lyap yde rywple. Tkp lulp tzlyxle— ps bkp plnsde lzela casvbla zkjle vbkp vurl, yb! Ls osdela bl eked’v zkjl vbl sze ralpkeldv’p qyxkzu’p eywtbvla obs oyp y tseelpp…

Ckys Hbkuy zssjle y zkvvzl wdnsxqsavyczl cu bkp pvyal. Tl pbkqvle yde zlydle yp qya yp bl nswze. Tkp blyav psxlobyv qlzv wdlypu— obyv’p vbl xyvvla okvb vbkp zssj? Fsxlvbkdt eked’v pllx aktbv.

G zkvvzl ayvvzkdt dskpl nyxl qasx vbl pvweu yp kq psxlsdl oyp zssjkdt qsa psxlvbkdt. Ubw Zyd alnshlale qasx bkp vbswtbvp yde tzydnle yv vbl ekalnvksd sq vbl pvweu. Ekvb vbl rakdnkrzl sq blzrkdt sdl sq bkp sod, bl nyxl dlya Ckys Hbkuy’p lya yde obkprlale, “Nlv xl vlzz usw, Oatl byp y pbyar vsdtwl cwv okvb y psqv blyav. Tkp qynl oyp nsze cwv bkp blyav oyp oyax. Zsw plzzkdt vbkdtp clbkde bkp cynj vbyv xyu nywpl vaswczl, bl xwpv cl qwakswp. Nyvla, yexkv uswa xkpvyjlp yde nau yqvla alnstdkgkdt vblx. Tl’zz pwalzu qsatkhl usw.”

“Ah? Cry?” Qiao Zhiya became nervous once again after listening to him. He also said in a soft voice, “But, but it’s more than that. I’ve kept something else from him. I have no face to cry…” and he couldn’t cry.

“You actually hid something else from Erge? You’re quite bold.” Chu Yan couldn’t believe it. Looking at his well-behaved and honest appearance, the words “you can’t judge a book by its cover” flashed in his heart. He sighed again at his second elder brother’s vision of selecting people.

Qiao Zhiya became more and more uncomfortable due to his words. The uneasiness that he had just barely suppressed a little bubbled up again. His hands clutched his shirt nervously, he pursed his lips to keep quiet— it’s not a matter of being bold or not, it’s a matter of him not even expecting it and not daring to say anything.

He didn’t dare to think about the consequences.

Chu Yan slapped his mouth, seeing that he was afraid of such a situation. He suddenly felt a little sympathy and bumped his shoulder again. He said, “What sort of face do we need to consider this time? You’ll be crying in a minute anyway. It’s the time to be honest and confess. If you know your wrongs, you can still turn it around. To die without admitting fault is a death sentence in my second elder brother’s case. Don’t worry, my second elder brother is actually easy to deal with. Just gently stroke him along his fur.”¹An Internet slang in which when a friend is angry, you comfort him and tell him not to be mad. Similar to when a kitten is angry, we touch its fur to make the kitten become obedient (DDyy8, 2021).

Death, death sentence?

Qiao Zhiya’s mind immediately flashed to the cautionary reminder that the encountered creatures from the black hole must be immediately exterminated. His ears straightened, and his heart, which had been prepared to tell everything, shrank back. Another storm brewed in his head— say it or not? What should he say? How much should he tell? What would happen if he confessed? What would happen if he didn’t? What should he say if he did so? Would Chu Rong understand him if he did?

Chu Yan wondered why he became even more afraid. Seeing that he looked like the end of the world was coming, he felt that his second elder brother was too much of a bully. He raised his hand and was about to give him a comforting pat but was interrupted by a cold voice.

“You, guys, had a good chat?”

Chu Yan stiffened. He immediately retracted his hand and turned his body back to sit up straight and looked honest. Qiao Zhiya also recovered from his inner turmoil and quickly looked up at him. His internal struggle flashed in his eyes, and he soon lowered his head.

Chu Rong took in the whole scene of their reactions and sat down on the coffee table with the two spherical instruments. He coldly said, “Give me your hands.”

It was the lie detector again. Chu Yan curled his lips out of interest and simply reached out his hands over.

Qiao Zhiya also recognized the object. After a moment of hesitation, he reached out his hand as well.

After tying up the instrument, Chu Rong crossed his arms and sat on the coffee table facing the two of them. He first looked at Chu Yan, who had a comparatively less issue, and said, “Explain yourself.”

Chu Yan moved his body and scolded him for being biased. He then honestly opened his mouth to briefly describe how he pestered his eldest brother and promised him to get out for training after the holiday. He also explained how he formed a team, the total number of people he brought, which planets they went to, and what he had experienced. Finally, he concluded his explanation, “I will be promoted to the military academy next year. It’s to go out and for experience now. Erge, you also went out for experience before going to the military academy. It’s a very normal thing. I believe you’ll understand me.” Afterward, he looked at him as if he had done it to keep up with his brother.

Chu Rong rejected this round-about flattery and sneered, “Is this why you’re hiding from me?”

Without being able to fool him, Chu Yan silently grimaced. He put on a sincere expression and said, “I didn’t want to hide it from you. At the time, you were busy with the old man’s affairs. Erge, I didn’t mean to—”

Dididi—

 The instrument started beeping wildly.

Chu Rong tapped his arm, “You go on with your lies.”

…This damn instrument!

“I just don’t want to go training!” Chu Yan finally told the truth and began to miserably sell accusations,  “The training plans you made are too long! I’ll enter the military school next year, and I will never have such a long vacation anymore. Now, this last vacation, you have to let me have fun. Dage is too busy, you’re always so tyrannical. I’ve grown up and have my own opinions, but you, guys, still treat me like a child…”

Hearing that, Chu Rong looked at him deeply for a few seconds, reached out, and removed the instrument in his hand. He said, “Deduction of allowance for a year. I’ll also tell Dage and sister-in-law not to give you any more money. Since you’ve grown up and have your own ideas, arrange your own team to go out and make money. In the future,  you will be responsible for your daily expenses other than the cost of purchasing mechas.”

Chu Yan, who thought that he had succeeded in selling miserably, froze when he heard his words. As soon as his eyes turned, he wanted to open his mouth and howl. As a result,  he was picked up and thrown aside to calm down by Chu Rong, who immediately discovered his intentions through his eyes.

Chu Yan, “…”

After finishing one, Chu Rong turned his attention to Qiao Zhiya. Just as he was about to speak, Qiao Zhiya, whose nerves were strained to the limit, immediately sat upright and voluntarily said, “I don’t want any allowance. I’ll earn my own money to take care of my own expenses and also promise not to sell things indiscriminately in the future. I know I’m wrong!”

Chu Yan’s eyes showed admiration— Qiao Zhiya understood it very well and knew how to make a pre-emptive attack.

Chu Rong’s words were swallowed back, and his rhythm was disrupted. He paused, frowned, and said, “Then tell me where you’re wrong.”

“I shouldn’t have sold things behind your back…” Qiao Zhiya looked at him, paused, and when he didn’t respond, he added, “and shouldn’t have failed to take the initiative to explain my wrongs after you found out.”

Chu Rong finally had a reaction this time. He took out the box containing the giant sword, opened it, put it on the coffee table, motioned the patterns on it and the datasheet on the product list. He indifferently said, “Continue.”

As soon as the giant sword came out, Chu Yan’s eyes lit up, Qiao Zhiya’s heart trembled, and the atmosphere seemed to solidify.

What goes around comes around.²It means, “the consequences of one’s actions will have to be dealt with eventually.” Qiao Zhiya licked his dry lips and touched the spiritual power emulator on his ear. Recalling the candy Chu Rong fed him when he cut his hair, he finally made up his mind. He looked up at him and said, “I have something to show you.”

Chu Rong looked at him and did not speak.

Translator’s Note

It’s been a while. *hides*