Ch 39: Interplanetary Planting Master

Confession

Su He had eaten a bit too much for dinner and couldn’t sleep, so he took a walk by the seaside, with Lu Li accompanying him. The moonlight shimmered on the surface of the sea, casting a thin mist. Su He walked barefoot on the beach, and after a while, he suddenly asked Lu Li, “Did you hear any mythological stories when you were a child?”

Lu Li was taken aback, thought for a moment, and said, “No.”

“Then let me tell you one,” Su He said excitedly.

“Okay,” Lu Li indulged him. “What story do you want to tell?”

The first story that came to Su He’s mind was the one about Nüwa creating humans. He hesitated for two seconds before deciding to tell this one, feeling it fit well with the events of the afternoon. “A long, long time ago, there was an earth goddess named Nüwa. She lived alone and felt very lonely, so she created countless little clay people in her own image. The little clay people…” Su He told the story earnestly. After finishing, he looked at Lu Li eagerly, “How was it?”

(T/N: Nüwa is a goddess in Chinese mythology who is often credited with creating humanity and repairing the pillars of heaven.)
Lu Li laughed, “Very interesting. The idea of gods creating humans has always been around, but not many people in the Federation believe it.”

“Do you believe in gods?” Su He asked.

Lu Li shook his head. “There’s no god in this world. Even if there were, they would just be higher-level civilizations. Like in the story you just told, creating people from clay could be a form of biotechnology, mythologized in a specific context.”

“Like what we saw in the projection this afternoon?”

“Yes.” Lu Li put his arm around Su He’s shoulder and walked beside him, asking, “Are you still thinking about this afternoon?”

“Not really,” Su He said. “I just remembered hearing many mythological stories when I was a child. Different countries had similar versions of gods creating humans.”

“Different countries?” Lu Li found this term strange.

Su He mumbled, “Just countries recorded in Earth’s ancient history, from before the Federation was established.”

Lu Li smiled slightly and moved on from the topic, saying, “I still stand by what I said this afternoon. Whether humans were created by gods or naturally evolved isn’t important; what’s important is the result. There’s a group of fanatics in the Federation who preach about divine grace. They argue that during Earth’s ancient history, various creatures roamed the land, and humans, with their small size and limited strength, had only their intelligence as an advantage. Initially, humans were the least likely to dominate Earth, but in the end, they did become the rulers. Hence, they believe it’s a gift from the gods, that gods chose humans. Even if their claim were true, I think the key point isn’t that gods chose humans, but that humans ended up ruling Earth. From ancient history to now, humans have gone from being the rulers of Earth to the rulers of the galaxy. Our destiny has always been in our own hands, unrelated to any gods.”

Lu Li’s words were spoken lightly, but they stirred Su He deeply. His eyes shone as he looked at Lu Li, admiration evident on his face. Lu Li chuckled and asked, “What’s up?”

Su He’s face suddenly turned red, and he quickly looked away. “Nothing.”

Inexplicably, Su He’s heart began to race as if it were no longer his own. He unconsciously clenched his fists, as if trying to resist something. The planting technique within him was running wild, but it was of no use. An unfamiliar emotion rose from the depths of his heart, his heartbeat accelerating, not related to a guide’s instincts but a genuine reaction from his own feelings.

Images of the first time he saw Lu Li flashed through Su He’s mind, with Lu Li standing at the windowsill, looking up at him. The faint sunlight fell on Lu Li’s face, making him look like a radiant light. The memory of their second meeting surfaced, with two sentinels and Reno present, yet he was drawn to Lu Li at first sight. On that desolate planet, presence of Lu Li made everything feel different. Third meeting… Fourth meeting… When the beast tide overwhelmed the broken star, Lu Li went to the central district to find him. He jumped down from the sky without hesitation because he believed that the black mech would catch him.

Past memories surged like a tide, and Su He realized he had a great memory. He remembered every detail of their first meeting. These memories fueled his emotions, making Su He turn his head awkwardly.

The sentinel first sensed the guide’s reaction, making it impossible for Lu Li to ignore Su He. A feeling that could melt him into bliss washed over, like being soaked in honeyed water. Lu Li’s gaze, as if enchanted, fell on Su He’s face, and he involuntarily murmured, “So beautiful.” He felt Su He’s longing, and being so close, Su He seemed to be enveloped in a beautiful glow.

Lu Li’s heart began to beat violently, echoing with Su He’s heartbeat. He raised his hand to touch Su He’s face, gently leaning in closer. Su He’s long eyelashes fluttered like delicate wings, his eyes sparkling like starlight. Their gazes locked, and the waves whispered softly. Su He held his breath, and his warm lips met Lu Li’s. His spiritual world trembled, life sprouting everywhere, a gentle breeze blowing, birds singing loudly, unknown strange fish leaping out of the sea, and the tides swirling. Everything converged into a point and then burst into a dazzling display.

After a long while, Lu Li released Su He. He lowered his head, resting his forehead against Su He’s, savoring the moment of tranquility. The union of a sentinel and a guide was not merely physical; sometimes, a spiritual connection could bring even greater ecstasy. Although they had not fully bonded, each intimate interaction strengthened their bond, leaving marks on each other’s spiritual world.

Su He shyly looked away, trying to deceive himself. It was just a kiss, not a real union. However, his resolve was weakening, remembering vaguely that his firm stance against bonding with a sentinel seemed like a lifetime ago. In previous times of losing control, Su He could blame the pheromones, saying it was his instincts taking over. But this time, he was fully aware, and the kiss was entirely what he desired.

Their heartbeats gradually calmed, resonating in a rhythm that was astonishingly similar, like a duet of a nocturne, soothing and reassuring.

“Su He,” Lu Li called softly.

Su He’s heart began to race again, unable to resist Lu Li’s voice. He feared what Lu Li might say; he probably wouldn’t refuse, but… Su He quickly interjected, “I’m tired.”

Lu Li’s eyes were gentle, and he said nothing. Instead, he changed his posture and gently kissed Su He’s forehead, saying softly, “I’ll take you back to rest.”

Su He’s body trembled slightly, the kiss weighing heavily on his heart. His mind was a chaotic mix of thoughts about his master, Lu Li, and Han Rui. He hesitated, wanting to say something. The next moment, Lu Li suddenly pulled Su He back a step, producing a weapon from nowhere. Sand slowly piled up on the ground, and a half-touch tentacle trembled and curled up, cautiously emerging. Green blood dripped; it was a severely injured life form. It had been washed ashore by the sea, buried under the sand. Su He’s presence triggered its genetic fear, accidentally alerting Lu Li.

Su He: “…”

The afternoon’s projection surfaced in Su He’s mind, and it was hard not to feel sympathy for this life form. The creature before him was gravely wounded, with half its body torn open, and only two stubs of tentacles left on its back, looking like it could die at any moment. Su He thought of something and tugged on Lu Li, saying, “I want to try an experiment, see if I can stop its bleeding.”

Su He’s master’s planting technique covered various aspects, and he suddenly thought that since this life form was a fusion of animal and plant, it might be applicable. Moreover, he was very interested in the man in the projection, feeling that he was connected to his master.

Lu Li frowned slightly, feeling it was dangerous, but seeing Su He’s hopeful expression, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. “Be careful.” He stepped forward to stand beside Su He, ready to defend against a sudden attack from the life form.

Su He formed a seal with one hand, and a small white ball of energy condensed. The life form trembled in fear upon seeing this but didn’t dare retreat. The energy ball quickly entered the creature, enveloping its severed tentacles with gentle energy. Like a withered tree sprouting anew, green filaments grew and intertwined, and new tentacles slowly began to grow.

Lu Li: “…”

Su He widened his eyes in surprise, murmuring, “It really works!”

As the energy of the ball depleted, several new tentacles had grown on the life form’s back, though its main body remained the same, with the torn parts unaffected by the planting technique. Despite this, the life form had been pulled back from the brink of death. It gently waved its tentacles, tentatively touching Su He. A weak consciousness entered Su He’s spiritual world, a tiny speck of light expressing the creature’s gratitude.

Su He smiled slightly, finding the creature’s ferocious mouth less ugly. He extended his spiritual touch, nudging the tiny speck, conveying his message, “Go on, this is all I can heal.”

The life form retracted its tentacles and struggled to sink into the sand, disappearing before the two of them.

Su He: “…”

Although he had only tried on a whim, Su He was shocked that the life form could receive his message. He shared his discovery with Lu Li. The appearance of the life form alleviated the awkward atmosphere between them, and Su He’s thoughts wandered to Reno. If the planting technique could work on this half-animal, half-plant life form, could it also work on Reno? After all, Reno looked like a tree, which fell within the plant category. He had tried to awaken Reno through his consciousness, but perhaps due to the energy depletion in the subspace storm, Reno’s consciousness remained dormant, unable to receive his message.

“Do you think I can try?” Su He asked Lu Li nervously. Reno was currently sleeping well, and it wouldn’t matter if he woke up a few days later. But what if Su He’s use of the planting technique caused more harm than good?

Lu Li thought Su He’s idea was worth a try. “You can try. Pure energy won’t harm the life form; at most, it just won’t work.” The Galactic Treemen had a unique way of communicating. If Reno woke up early, it would be good for the Iris, as they could contact General Li Zhengdao through Reno.

“Okay.” Su He nodded.

After discussing the life form and Reno, the two fell into an awkward silence again. Su He stole a glance at Lu Li and quickly looked away, thinking he needed to say something to Lu Li after the earlier kiss that occupied all his attention.

Lu Li walked Su He to his cabin door and reminded him, “Get some rest. Good night.”

Su He hesitated, then bit his lip and pulled Lu Li back. Lu Li looked at Su He gently; it was clear all along that Su He had something to say. If Lu Li hadn’t noticed Su He’s strange behavior, he wouldn’t be fit to be a sentinel.

Under Lu Li’s gaze, Su He’s face reddened even more. His eyes wandered, and he gathered all his courage to say softly, “I… I’m not ready yet…”

His words were fragmented, like fireworks exploding brilliantly in Lu Li’s mind. Although it was a refusal, Lu Li’s body reacted instantly. He stepped forward, pressing Su He against the door, and kissed him forcefully. This kiss was fiery, unlike the previous gentle one. Su He tilted his head back, forced to bear Lu Li’s weight and unable to resist his desire.

Whistles echoed down the hallway as sentinels eavesdropped. Embarrassed, Su He pushed Lu Li away. Lu Li, smiling, said softly, “Tomorrow, they’ll be punished with a twenty-kilometer run in the desert.”

Groans replaced the whistles, making Su He laugh. Lu Li, in a good mood, touched Su He’s face and said earnestly, “Don’t overthink. You’re worth waiting for.”

Whistles rang out again, and someone imitated a falsetto voice, saying loudly, “Well said, boss!”

“I’m moved!”

“Boss is too clever; that’s a line from ‘Frozen Enchantment,’ said by Sentinel Moska to Guide Anrou.”

Lu Li’s smile didn’t waver. “Looks like someone needs to run forty kilometers.”

Falsetto voice: “…”

xxx

Thingyan: The readers and I waited for this damn moment for almost 40 chapters 😤

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