Chapter 41: The Date (1 / 1)
The wide streets were paved with a sturdy alloy, engraved with glowing patterns that guided the flow of soul-traffic. On either side, metal skyscrapers rose from the ground, embedded with massive soul screens that looped advertisements for soul tools and imperial news, their light and shadow shifting in a kaleidoscope of colors. From time to time, small soul flying devices streaked through the air leaving trails of light, emitting low hums. The air was filled with a faint metallic scent and the unique rhythm of soul-power engines in operation.
Lin Yu seemed to be genuinely investigating.
He would pause in front of shops selling the latest civilian soul tools, watching with great interest as a clerk demonstrated a communicator that projected three-dimensional images, casually offering a few critiques:
"The light-and-shadow stability is acceptable, but the soul power consumption is a bit high. The core formation circuit has a redundancy of 0.3 millimeters... Tsk, there is still room for optimization."
The clerk was left stunned and speechless.
He would stop at steaming roadside stalls, pointing at a type of "Soul-Energy Pancake" heated by soul power that emitted a strange aroma, and say to Gu Yuena:
"Try some? Human creativity regarding food is infinite. Investigating the common people's lives through their diet counts as a necessary task."
Having said that, he bought two without taking no for an answer. He took a bite of one and handed the other to Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena looked at the greasy, steaming, mundane object radiating a dense aroma of spices. A trace of undetectable disdain flashed in her purple eyes... followed by a hint of curiosity.
She hesitated. Under Lin Yu's watchful gaze and playful smile, she eventually reached out her slender, jade-like fingers, elegantly pinching a corner of the pancake and taking a small, tentative bite.
The spicy flavor instantly hit her taste buds, making her brow furrow slightly, but immediately after, a complex texture—a mix of oils and spices she had never experienced before—caused her eyes to flicker.
"How is it?" Lin Yu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"...Acceptable."
Gu Yuena maintained her cold exterior, though that nearly invisible blush on her ears seemed to deepen slightly. She quickly stored the pancake into a storage soul tool. "Investigation complete. Continue."
Lin Yu let out a low chuckle but did not expose her.
They passed through commercial streets teeming with people, walked by brightly lit soul-tool amusement parks, and finally arrived in front of a massive soul-tool tower in the central district of Radiant City. The tower was constructed of a special alloy, its entire body flowing with an eerie blue energy light. At the top was a massive, slowly rotating soul-power focusing crystal sphere, casting a dreamlike blue halo across the night sky.
"The Radiant City Soul Observation Tower is one of the highest points in the city. It has an open field of vision, making it an excellent location for investigating the layout of the city and the distribution of energy nodes," Lin Yu introduced with a straight face. Then, he naturally took hold of Gu Yuena's wrist.
His movement was so fast she had no time to react, and that familiar, irresistible gentle strength returned once more.
"Come, let's go up and take a look."
A flash of silver light, a fold in space. The next moment, the two appeared on the circular observation deck at the very top of the tower.
There were no guards here, only cold metal railings and the whistling high-altitude night wind. The view suddenly opened up. Beneath them was a panoramic view of Radiant City, sparkling like a galaxy. Countless soul lamps wove a flowing net of light; massive soul screens acted as the city's beating pulse, and the flow of traffic moved like ribbons of light. In the distance, the iconic building complex of the Illustrious Virtue Hall—resembling a giant metal fortress—emitted even more condensed and powerful soul-power fluctuations.
The majestic aura of the city's operation rushed toward them.
Gu Yuena was drawn in by this sight of a steel jungle constructed by human soul-tool technology, something she had never seen before. Her purple eyes reflected the lights of ten thousand homes, and deep within her cold gaze, a trace of amazement flickered—one she hadn't even noticed herself.
Humans could actually harness energy and transform the environment in such a way... This was indeed important information she needed to "investigate."
The night wind blew her long silver hair, a few strands brushing against Lin Yu's arm.
Lin Yu did not release her wrist. Instead, he took a step forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her at the railing, so close they could feel each other's breath. He didn't look at the city below; his golden eyes, filled with undisguised amusement, fell upon Gu Yuena's exquisite profile, watching her face look dreamlike under the city lights.
And he noticed that faint crimson—perhaps due to the high-altitude cold, or perhaps something else—quietly spreading from her ears to her cheeks, becoming increasingly obvious.
"How is the scenery?"
Lin Yu's voice rose in the night wind, carrying a hint of lazy amusement, no longer possessing the high-sounding pretenses of their earlier "investigation."
Gu Yuena answered subconsciously:
"The human utilization of soul-tool energy has indeed reached a... hm?!"
Her words came to a sudden halt.
Because she felt Lin Yu's fingers were no longer simply holding her wrist. Instead, they slid down quietly and, with an unquestionable intent, gently grasped her hand!
That warm sensation traveled through her cool skin, carrying a strange, heart-trembling electric feeling. Gu Yuena turned her head abruptly, her purple eyes instantly filled with shock, shame, and a hint of panic from the surprise attack. She tried to pull her hand away, but Lin Yu held it tighter.
"Lin Yu! You... what are you doing!"
Her voice carried a tremor she didn't even realize was there. The blush on her cheeks spread as rapidly as the evening clouds, looking breathtaking under the eerie blue light of the tower.
Looking at her attempt to maintain composure while being completely compromised, the smile at the corners of Lin Yu's mouth deepened, filled with the joy of a successful scheme and an indescribable tenderness. Not only did he not retreat, but he drew even closer, nearly pressing against her ear. His hot breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe, making her whole body stiffen.
"What am I doing?"
Lin Yu's voice was low and magnetic, tinged with a bit of teasing:
"My Miss Bodyguard, haven't you noticed yet?"
He tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes locking onto her panicked, dodging purple pupils. Word by word, he spoke clearly:
"From the moment I sent Bear Lord away, we have been..."
"On. A. Date."
Boom!
The word "date" was like a thunderclap, accurately striking Gu Yuena once again! Her mind went completely blank!
All the previous seemingly reasonable investigative behaviors—pausing at shops, tasting snacks, wandering the streets, climbing the tower... at this moment, under Lin Yu's smiling declaration, they were all coated in an incredibly ambiguous glow!
So... so he sent Bear Lord away to show her these things... it wasn't for investigating intelligence at all!
This bastard! He has been... he has been...
"You... you... nonsense!"
Gu Yuena was overwhelmed with shame and indignation, her cheeks burning hot. That crimson had completely spread from her cheeks to the base of her neck, even faintly showing signs of spreading toward her exquisite collarbones. Her purple eyes glistened with moisture—whether from anger or embarrassment—and she wanted to scold him, to refute him, to break free, but she found her limbs felt a bit weak. The hand he was holding felt as if it had been touched by a branding iron; even her strength to struggle felt utterly powerless.