As they crossed the endless white sands, the white mist grew thicker the farther west they went. Li Ye’s pupils contracted slightly. He stopped in place, scanned his surroundings to confirm the direction, and continued forward.
Gradually, the dense white mist carried a rustling “shh-shh” sound, mixed with “click-click” friction like saw teeth clashing. The fog thickened around him, obscuring the scenery, but Li Ye did not stop. He pressed on and arrived directly beneath the Signal Tower. He looked up, but could not see the top.
He crooked a finger, and a black snake emerged from his sleeve. Immediately after, a massive black wolf coiled behind him, its aura earth-shaking. The white mist gradually dispersed, and visibility cleared.
Centered on him, the area was filled with dense clusters of white ant mutant species—even the Signal Tower crawled with them. Their eyes glowed red as they glared covetously at Li Ye.
Li Ye caught a faint unusual odor—the gas released by the ant swarm.
It was abundant and lethal.
Anyone else would have come here only to throw away their life.
Li Ye remained unmoved. He stepped onto the Signal Tower with one foot. With a “clang,” the white ants on the tower fell off in droves. The Signal Tower tilted slightly. Li Ye installed the portable starter he had brought, ignoring the monsters that dared not approach. He operated the device.
Before long, Qi Yu’s distorted voice came through the communicator.
“I’ve set things up here. I’m coming to rendezvous with you now,” Qi Yu said.
Li Ye watched the signal fluctuations appearing on the starter. “No need to come. The starter and connector are already installed.”
A surprised voice came from the other end. “Is there a signal?”
“Yes,” Li Ye said. “Stronger than at the lab.”
“That’s great.”
Li Ye glanced at the ant swarm already migrating toward the crystal district and reminded him, “The ant swarm is heading your way. Return to the lab first.”
“And you?” Qi Yu asked.
“I’ll finish up here and follow to see how the ant swarm reacts to the Crystal Stone Extract Liquid.”
Qi Yu fell silent for a few seconds. “Alright. Stay safe.”
The connection to the Signal Tower went surprisingly smoothly. After handling everything, Li Ye turned and followed in the direction of the ant swarm.
As he neared the crystal district, he stopped at a distance. The black wolf transformed into a black hawk and soared into the air, circling to observe the white ant swarm below as they sprawled in the crystal area, sucking up the extract liquid.
These crystals were all A-187X—the same type of A-grade crystal that had infected Li You.
Li Ye crossed his arms and watched the white ant swarm. At one moment, he suddenly felt the local gravity surge. A power similar to his own emanated from deep underground—both strange and familiar.
White mist rose again in the air, carrying a faint tulip scent.
Li Ye frowned, recalled the black hawk avatar, and gazed at the sky.
In no time, the white mist dissipated, but the scene before him was no longer Kailenoa. It was the Imperial Palace, in Li You’s room.
Li Ye stood in place, his gaze falling on the bulge on the distant bed.
Before long, the person on the bed stirred. Li You flipped over and sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He looked blankly at Li Ye standing in the distance and said in surprise, “…Bro?”
He suddenly stopped, furrowed his brow. “Li Ye? How are you here?”
Li Ye looked at this Li You but did not approach.
After a long stare-down, Li You could not hold out. He averted his gaze, scanned the surroundings, sighed soundlessly, and muttered, “It’s happening again.”
He lifted the covers and discovered he wore only a white shirt—clearly not his own size. It was far too big, with a loose, baggy collar. He hurriedly pulled the covers back over himself, looked up blankly at Li Ye, and hesitated to speak.
Li Ye’s gaze shifted slightly. He recognized the shirt—it was not Li You’s. It was his.
“You…” Li You’s hand on the covers clenched. “Get me a set of clothes?”
Li Ye said nothing. He turned and walked to the wardrobe. He opened the cabinet door, just like every morning more than ten years ago, selected clothes and socks for Li You, and returned to the bedside.
Li You reached out for the clothes, but Li Ye did not hand them over.
His face stiffened instantly. In a small voice, he said, “I’m not wearing pants.”
Li Ye set the clothes down but stood there without leaving.
Li You: “…”
He burrowed back under the covers, changed into the clothes and pants in frustration, then threw off the covers and placed his bare feet on the carpet.
The expressionless Li Ye crouched down, gripped his ankle without much force, but completely immobilized it.
“You—”
“Don’t move.” Li Ye picked up the white stockings and leg ring, lifted Li You’s foot with one hand onto his knee.
His expression was icy, his words the same. “I can’t bring myself to harm Li You. Since you take his form, I won’t lay a hand on you, but you truly deserve to die.”
The Li You on the bed froze. “…What?”
Li Ye gripped Li You’s foot and looked up. “You’re not Li You.”
His hand applied invisible pressure. The youth on the bed pursed his lips, his eyes turning red. “Bro, you…”
Gradually, Li You’s appearance began to blur. Li Ye lowered his gaze to the feet about to vanish, a surge of irritation rising in his heart.
At the same time, in the lab, Li You—who had been forcibly pulled into the Illusion Realm—watched warily as the fake “Li Ye” he had seen through slowly disappeared.
He wanted to kick the other but could not bear to really do it.
After all, it was his brother’s face, even if fake.
Li You was a bit angry.
He could see through this fake purely because it was too fake. Li Ye would never say “Time to get up” to him. That guy would only say “Pig, still not up?”
Li You did not need his brother to put on his shoes and socks for him either. Though he had never refused his brother’s help before, he always felt a bit awkward about it.
If it were the real Li Ye, he could not refuse. But this “Li Ye” was so obviously fake, and it stubbornly held his leg, refusing to let him go.
“So annoying!”
While the other had not fully disappeared, Li You still lifted his foot to kick, but suddenly a hand covered in scars grabbed his ankle.
The Illusion Realm shook violently, the scene distorted. After a chaotic moment, it calmed. Li You frowned at the “Li Ye” who appeared again. “You fake! Why haven’t you scrammed yet?!”
He stomped hard on the other’s thigh, missing the spot and hitting Li Ye’s inner thigh instead. Seeing the other’s brow furrow, he immediately wanted to pull back, but his ankle was gripped firmly.
“You—”
“I’m the fake?” Li Ye looked up at him, his expression complex. “What are you talking about?”
Li You froze, his heart thumping.
Oh no, this felt real again?
Li You’s scalp tingled. Suddenly, a sinister chill surged from behind him. He turned warily and saw a massive crimson python burst from the void, its bloody maw lunging at him and his brother.
His reaction lagged half a beat, but as his brother scooped him up by the waist, he instantly matched the rhythm. The combat instincts lurking in his body and mind erupted. Li You swiftly followed Li Ye’s movements: hands pressing on Li Ye’s shoulders, legs wrapping around the other’s waist, making as much space as possible for battle.
Li Ye protected Li You on his body with one hand and met the red python head-on. His blade-like avatar dispersed thick Abyss smoke and slashed the monster’s body in two with one strike.
Li Ye sidestepped the frenzied charge of the “severed body” and chopped it onto the floor with his blade.
He looked up at the other “severed body” writhing madly on the ground before fleeing into the shadows, his brow tightening.
Li You, held in Li Ye’s arms, glanced up and saw the monster’s “severed body” emerging from the air behind them.
His breathing quickened. He gripped Li Ye’s shoulders tightly, unwrapped his legs from the waist, spun in place, and delivered a horizontal kick to the headless “severed body.”
Hiss—
It hurt for real. Li You grimaced, then kicked the monster away with another strike before going limp and falling.
Li Ye caught him from behind.
Li You smoothly landed on his brother’s back, arms around the neck.
“Ow ow ow…”
He shifted his knee, glanced at the ground, and turned his head. “Put me down. This is inconvenient…”
Both turned their faces at the same time. Their noses brushed, breaths mingling. Li You’s words halted instantly.
He blinked blankly, pulled back the distance, his heart racing.
Li Ye gazed at him before looking away. “How’s your leg?”
“It’s fine.” Li You buried his face in Li Ye’s shoulder.
Li Ye did not put him down. He glanced down at the red snake pinned to the floor by his blade, then scanned the surroundings. “You just called me a fake?”
“…” Li You also observed their surroundings vigilantly. At his words, he pursed his lips. “No, misunderstanding. You’re not. I am.”
Another black blade emerged from Li Ye’s sleeve. He looked toward one spot—but a monster burst from behind. He spun neatly and pinned it to the ground, his main body wrapping around to strangle it tight.
He backed up two steps with Li You on his back, feeling the warmth of the person there. He remained silent for a long time.
The silence dragged on, and with the strange tingling in his heart persisting, Li You suddenly asked softly, “Did I kick you too hard just now?”
Li Ye’s gaze shifted. He turned his head to look into those beautiful blue eyes. The words on his tongue twisted and changed. “It hurt a lot. What do you plan to do about it?”
![Reborn as a Ragdoll Cat [Interstellar]](https://i2.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/f.jpg?resize=151,215 "Reborn as a Ragdoll Cat [Interstellar]")
