Declaring War
by M1zushi
“Huo Xianfeng…”
Jiang Ci pulled back slightly, though their foreheads remained pressed together.
“Huo Xianfeng…”
In that moment, he didn’t know what to say. It was as if everything he’d wanted to say earlier had become unnecessary after their kiss. Yet, he felt the need to confirm the other’s existence, so he could only repeat his name over and over.
“Mm, I’m back.”
Huo Xianfeng responded, again and again, each time with certainty.
Beyond that, they said nothing else.
“…”
They held each other for a long, quiet time. In their warm embrace, invisible bonds and red threads wrapped around them, layer by layer, growing tighter and deeper until they were unbreakable.
After the long embrace, Huo Xianfeng finally calmed down in the warm companionship and love. He began explaining—why he had disappeared, why he had caused Jiang Ci so much worry and fear.
“I thought it was Huo Chao.”
“…?”
But hadn’t Marshal Huo Chao already…?
Jiang Ci froze, a mix of shock and confusion flashing through him. Yet, he didn’t interrupt, instead waiting for Huo Xianfeng to continue.
Huo Xianfeng explained the Zergs’ spiritual network, his secret connection with Huo Chao, the journey that began in hatred and ended in friendship, and the reasons for his prolonged disappearance.
“My name—Huo Chao gave it to me. When I woke up on Earth, it was the only thing I remembered.”
Xianfeng.
It was their shared dream of freedom and Huo Chao’s most sincere blessing for him.
But back then, the amnesiac young man didn’t understand its meaning. He only stared blankly at the towering monument piercing the sky, at that familiar yet unfamiliar name at the top.
Huo Chao…
This was a monument to the fallen heroes. To have one’s name engraved upon it meant they were no longer alive.
In that moment, the young man couldn’t quite describe how he felt. He only knew one thing—he must be called Huo Xianfeng.
That’s right. His name was Huo Xianfeng.
At the time, he didn’t understand the sudden impulse. But when his memories returned, he finally realized why.
Because this dream of freedom wasn’t his alone.
On the 300th anniversary of humanity’s commander’s death, the newly reborn King awoke in the tomb of his closest friend.
He inherited that man’s surname and their shared dream. Alone in the darkness, he pressed forward without hesitation.
In that instant, Jiang Ci suddenly understood Huo Xianfeng’s rare moments of impulsiveness and irrationality. That night, he saw the light that belonged to his foolish friend flicker back to life.
It could only mean one thing: his only friend was still alive.
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It was simply because a King must not show sorrow, let alone reveal any vulnerability.
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How could Huo Xianfeng possibly be indifferent to Huo Chao’s death?
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“A-Ci, but it wasn’t real.”
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“They somehow obtained Huo Chao’s genes and created his clone. Maybe they intended to use him against Pei Changyun—or perhaps even against me…”
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“The groove there—it’s where Marshal Huo Chao’s genes had been taken. Later, I found a chip buried deep inside the groove, but I don’t know what’s on it. I’ve already handed it over to the professors for decryption.”
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“A-Ci, don’t blame yourself. This wasn’t something anyone could have anticipated.”
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“And besides, you brought me back.”
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“…”
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Just then, Huo Xianfeng suddenly realized something and asked,
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Jiang Ci froze for a moment, then got up and retrieved the neural chain from the back of Huo Xianfeng’s neck to show him.
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But even he wasn’t entirely sure.
“Maybe it’s because we had merged our mental energies in Bai Ze’s mental chamber before—perhaps that created some kind of link?”
“…?”
Could that be it?
Huo Xianfeng wasn’t sure either. But even so, it didn’t fully make sense. Furthermore, he hadn’t found Jiang Ci’s light point within the Zergs’ mental network. Just as Huo Xianfeng was about to search again, Bai Ze suddenly spoke—
“A-Ci, a call from the Legion Commander.”
The two of them froze.
Jiang Ci quickly climbed off Huo Xianfeng, nervously adjusting his clothes before answering the call. Huo Xianfeng, however, remained lazily leaning against the pilot seat. Then, he saw Zhou Jiuya’s projection appear in front of him.
Zhou Jiuya’s expression was grim, but when he noticed Huo Xianfeng awake, he froze for a moment, clearly surprised. After all, Huo Xianfeng had been unconscious for over half a month, causing a significant impact.
“You… you’re awake?”
“Mm. The whole situation is a bit complicated to explain, but everything’s fine now.”
Huo Xianfeng nodded and glanced at Jiang Ci.
“But there’s something important we need to tell you.”
Jiang Ci seamlessly picked up the thread, continuing,
“The Illusory God Church obtained Marshal Huo Chao’s genes and created a clone of him. They’re likely planning to use him as a political weapon against His Majesty.”
“…So it really is a clone.”
Zhou Jiuya’s face darkened further.
“I found out about this half an hour ago.”
Both Huo Xianfeng and Jiang Ci froze.
At that moment, Zhou Jiuya sent over a video.
“Half an hour ago, an account claiming to be an official alliance channel released news that Huo Chao never died. They said he was critically injured years ago, beyond healing, so the Illusory God Church froze him. Only recently was he thawed and fully healed.”
The video’s background was the Holy Relic White Tower. The face of an adult Huo Chao appeared on the screen.
The man was wearing the uniform of the Dawn Legion, looking both imposing and handsome, as if he had crossed three centuries of time, rising from the ashes of obliteration. Behind him stood the former alliance speaker, Setlin, his face as aged and withered as tree bark, yet unable to hide his excitement.
In the video, Huo Chao accused Pei Changyun of stealing everything from him. He claimed Pei Changyun colluded with the Zergs to kill him.
Zhou Jiuya didn’t play the rest of the video. His expression grew grave as he addressed Huo Xianfeng,
“This is sudden, but the Empire has officially declared war on the Illusory God Church. We are now in a state of war.”
“…”
Huo Xianfeng raised an eyebrow, understanding the underlying meaning.
In other words—
Pei Changyun was on his way to kill them.
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