Chapter 25: “Everyone Can Be Together, We Can Unite…”

After switching to a new spot, You Fuzhou filled Rong Yao in on everything that had happened over the past three years, including what was going on with Elada.

He saw no reason to hold back or sugarcoat anything. Rong Yao wasn’t some fragile flower in need of coddling.

She fell quiet for a moment after hearing it all, but no trace of betrayal or anger crossed her face.

“People really do change easily, don’t they?”

In the end, she let out a sigh. “Bro, why do you think people change so fast?”

Before You Fuzhou could respond, she waved it off. “Never mind. You wouldn’t know anyway.”

You Fuzhou: “.”

But a soft chuckle escaped him.

Rong Yao turned to him. “So, what’s your plan now? Guerrilla tactics for life?”

You Fuzhou shook his head. “Truth be told, I haven’t figured it out… Got any ideas?”

He was a natural at warfare, but politics? Not so much.

That’s why he’d been waiting for her to wake up—to see what she thought.

Even as kids, he’d always seen Rong Yao as the one with real ideas.

She mulled it over. “Wait for Mr. Yu to wake up, then talk to the others.”

“You can tell Elada I’ve come around first,” she added.

You Fuzhou didn’t ask why. “Got it.”

By the time Yu Yan stirred, dawn was creeping in the next day.

He opened his eyes and immediately sensed the deep night around him. You Fuzhou was asleep.

In the darkness, Yu Yan watched him for a long while before letting out a silent chuckle.

A sleeping You Fuzhou looked even fiercer and colder. That face carried an innate edge, sharp and unyielding, and it drew Yu Yan in like nothing else.

He leaned in and brushed a kiss over You Fuzhou’s lips. Maybe because Yu Yan was cradled in his arms, the sentinel’s instincts were dulled—he didn’t wake.

But the instant Yu Yan shifted, You Fuzhou’s arms tightened around him on pure reflex.

You Fuzhou’s eyes snapped open. “…You’re awake.”

Yu Yan murmured softly, “Did I wake you?”

You Fuzhou grunted. “I’m not sleeping like the dead.”

Yu Yan arched a brow but said nothing.

Why clue him in? No way was he telling. Better to experiment later—see how far he could push things before You Fuzhou roused, as long as he stayed right there in his embrace.

Unbeknownst to the cat, it was sleeping blissfully in the fish’s arms.

You Fuzhou asked again, “Feeling better?”

Yu Yan melted against him, all soft vulnerability. “Head still hurts. What should we do? Will you rub it for me?”

You Fuzhou: “.”

He had no idea how Yu Yan could play the helpless act so flawlessly—especially with that possessive streak that always pinned him down during kisses.

Still, he steadied Yu Yan’s head and massaged his temples with awkward care. “I’ll have Mianmian bring food. What do you want?”

Yu Yan hadn’t eaten in half a day.

He gazed at You Fuzhou. “Baby.”

A teasing half-smile played on his lips. “You forgot again.”

You Fuzhou: “…”

He tried again. “Something light. Pork meatball noodle soup.”

No asking this time—he just sent Mianmian off.

Pleased, Yu Yan pecked the corner of his mouth before easing back just a few centimeters, eyes locked on You Fuzhou.

Heat flooded You Fuzhou’s ears, but he let his hand drop first.

Yu Yan’s lips curved. He pulled him close for a proper kiss, tongue slipping past his teeth to claim every inch.

No mental guidance this time—his power wasn’t fully back, and right now, he craved devouring You Fuzhou far more. If he slipped up and his mental energy stirred things too much… well, that could get messy.

For once, Yu Yan didn’t want it to be his influence driving You Fuzhou’s desire.

Even so, without guidance, the kiss left the cat so blissed out that when Yu Yan pulled away, it nuzzled its ear and cheek into the hand that had cradled the back of its head.

Yu Yan chuckled under his breath.

Good thing this time was different from the last. You Fuzhou’s mental world had improved a lot—a few more deep sessions, and he’d hit true peak form. No risk of him losing control and manifesting his spirit body.

Otherwise, one glimpse of those adorable ears and tail, and Yu Yan might’ve gobbled up the cat in his arms right then.

In the end, Yu Yan had the noodles while You Fuzhou recapped his talk with Rong Yao.

Yu Yan had ideas brewing for a while now, but he knew neither of them was the right fit. Rong Yao… that remained to be seen.

Once he was about seventy percent full, Yu Yan nodded toward the tank. “You get back to sleep. I’ll soak in the fish tank a bit.”

You Fuzhou caught his hand. “I’ll come with you.”

Yu Yan knew exactly what he meant but couldn’t resist teasing. “You want to climb in the fish tank with me?”

You Fuzhou deadpanned. “…I’d drown.”

Yu Yan grinned. “Not if I keep up mouth-to-mouth.”

You Fuzhou: “…”

He went speechless, while Yu Yan made a mental note to try that for real someday.

Once Yu Yan slipped into the tank, You Fuzhou settled on a stool facing it.

The space had been tricked out with all sorts of comforts, including a little sofa just for him.

He watched Yu Yan swim a couple laps. Even after seeing the transformation more than once, it still mesmerized him—eyes glued.

Had to be some passive charm skill.

After stretching out, Yu Yan floated up to the glass, flipping onto his back and tilting his head toward You Fuzhou. “My heat’s coming up soon.”

The words hit out of nowhere. You Fuzhou froze. “!?”

His eyes went wide, cheeks visibly flushing.

Yu Yan rolled over, pressing lightly against the glass, voice gentle. “If you’re not into it, we should stay apart for a while… I’ll hole up here.”

Otherwise, he wasn’t sure he could stop himself from dragging You Fuzhou back to his nest until it passed.

Mermen were terrifying when it came to this.

And Yu Yan seemed to have inherited the trait full force. He’d overheard them talking: once he hit adulthood, they’d pair him off during heat to breed “prized” hybrids.

Hell, they’d even film it, turn it into a show. Bound to be a hit, they’d said.

True mermen called it breeding season, not heat. Conception was so damn rare that once it kicked in, it ran nonstop until the end—usually seven to ten days. Sometimes longer in special cases.

As a hybrid, Yu Yan could usually tough it out solo in two or three days.

But if You Fuzhou wasn’t on board, he wouldn’t push.

You Fuzhou: “…”

The blush faded a little.

Because he hated the idea of Yu Yan suffering through it.

“You used to hate it, didn’t you…?”

He trailed off, words sticking.

Yu Yan nodded. “Couldn’t control my own urges? Yeah, hated it.”

Hated the inhuman parts of himself. Hated being… nothing.

You Fuzhou pressed his palm to the glass.

Yu Yan mirrored him, their hands aligning through the barrier.

Then, in a low voice, You Fuzhou said, “We’re partners.”

Yu Yan’s smile bloomed, soft and genuine—no schemes this time. “If anyone says you can’t be sweet on someone, I’ll be the first to call bullshit.”

You Fuzhou grinned back. “Nah… it’s just what you do.”

Letting your partner suffer? That made you an asshole.

Still, he needed to double-check. “You can feel it coming early?”

Yu Yan nodded. “Starts as a faint pull, builds slowly.”

He joked, “Won’t go full-on horndog and flip a switch outta nowhere.”

You Fuzhou relaxed. “Good. Just give me a heads-up when it hits.”

“I will.”

You Fuzhou was his sentinel, sure—but he was his own man. A hero to so many, with his own duties.

.

The next day, Ye Songhua and the others returned, so You Fuzhou called a meeting.

The moment Ye Songhua spotted Rong Yao, her eyes welled up. She threw herself into her arms, sobbing with messy tears and snot. “Sis…”

Rong Yao laughed through misty eyes she couldn’t quite hold back. “Hey, it’s okay now.”

You Fuzhou had told her how Ye Songhua had nearly been forced into a marriage—tied up and dumped in some guy’s bed. It broke her heart. The two were thick as thieves, both guides and close in age, with Ye Songhua just a few months younger. They’d practically grown up together.

“Good thing you’re safe too.”

Once Ye Songhua’s tears tapered off, she turned her puffy red eyes to Yu Yan, thanking him over and over.

Yu Yan just shook his head, staying quiet.

With emotions settled, You Fuzhou signaled to start the meeting.

Rong Yao laid out her plan.

They’d flip the Freedom Alliance on its head—spark a true revolution for freedom.

To change things, they’d have to topple the entire imperial system and dismantle the elevated status of sentinels and guides in human society.

Although the higher-ups of the Freedom Alliance might now consist of nine self-serving politicians out of every ten, there were still those who clung to their original ideals.

Many had joined the Freedom Alliance in the first place for that promise of equality and freedom.

“But our power isn’t enough,” Rong Yao said.

That was when Yu Yan spoke up, his tone casual. “I know a few people.”

He turned to Rong Yao. The instant their eyes met—the two highest-ranking guides in the conference room—Rong Yao understood just how valuable those “few” truly were.

“Everyone can team up,” Yu Yan said. “We can work together.”

You Fuzhou said nothing.

Once the meeting wrapped up and all the matters had been roughly outlined, You Fuzhou finally contacted Elada and told him Rong Yao was awake.

Elada immediately insisted on coming over. You Fuzhou didn’t refuse—after all, he was part of their plan—and simply sent him the coordinates.

Afterward, You Fuzhou and Yu Yan returned to their room. The moment the door clicked shut, Yu Yan grabbed You Fuzhou’s hand and wrapped his arms around his waist. In a low voice, he confessed, “Truth is, even if you hadn’t shown up at the auction house that day, I had a way out… I’m sorry I’ve been lying to you for so long.”

He lowered his gaze, looking fragile and tentative. “I wanted to come clean with you ages ago, but I never found the right moment.”

You Fuzhou thought back to the arrangements Yu Yan had casually laid out during the meeting. “…”

He had known Yu Yan wasn’t exactly harmless, but he hadn’t realized just how razor-sharp his guide could be.

Like a blade without a scabbard or hilt.

No turning back.

…It was damn attractive.

You Fuzhou cleared his throat lightly. “I had a feeling.”

Just not the full extent of it.

In a quiet voice, he added, “Truth is… I’m glad.”

It proved Yu Yan could protect himself. And it meant he hadn’t been suffering as much as You Fuzhou had feared.

That was a relief.

You Fuzhou also knew exactly how ruthless it was for someone like Yu Yan to throw himself into the heart of the game.

Harming the enemy cost a thousand lives, but it damaged the self by eight hundred.

His heart still ached for him.

Yu Yan had figured You Fuzhou probably wouldn’t hold it against him, but he hadn’t expected a reaction like this. His heart softened—and an itch stirred deep inside.

Leaning in, Yu Yan kissed him. “Baby.”

He couldn’t hold back. “How are you so damn lovable…?”

Even during the meeting, watching You Fuzhou calmly fill in the gaps in their plans, Yu Yan had been restless.

His sentinel was just too captivating.

~~~