Chapter 283: Let

"Lord Zhou Yun, what kind of luck is this?"

Sivatus Achela of the Space Marines' Second Company, gazing at the Chaos worshiper slain by a bolter, spoke with a sigh.

Among the Space Marines, the Second Company is known as the Temple Guard, tasked with defending Macragge itself—and also with hunting down Chaos cultists who infiltrate Macragge.

"This woman infiltrated Macragge roughly six years ago; during those six years, she seduced sixty-six children of noble families into chasing so-called 'true love,' but most of them ended badly."

As he directed Second Company warriors to clear the corpses, Achela told Zhou Yun:

"The youngest son of Count Vastor fell in love with a wild boar in the Macragge jungles; the young wife of the Sigri family fell for six beggars from Kolossa City; the eldest daughter of Narcissus drowned herself in the Farimis coast after falling in love with her own reflection."

"We've hunted her for a long time but never caught her—never expected you'd stumble upon her just by taking a walk."

"Is this what they call the blessing of the Holy Doraemon?"

Hearing Achela's remark, Zhou Yun's lips twitched slightly.

"Do you believe me if I say she threw herself into my arms? Out of nowhere, she grabbed me and started babbling about love—wearing purple robes, holding a mirror with a coiled serpent. I wonder if the Dark Prince's followers all have their brains scrambled by Fuegrym's forked serpent bulls."

"Most Chaos cultists are a bit mad; their logic is usually incomprehensible," Achela agreed.

He glanced around the area now secured by the Second Company and continued: "We'll seal off this zone, then send Grand Master Voldus with the Grey Knights to scan for any remaining traces of corruption."

Zhou Yun nodded slightly, noticing the clear panic among the surrounding crowd.

The Astartes and Grey Knights of the Second Company would screen them for any other poor souls corrupted by the Chaos worshiper.

But Zhou Yun had no desire to join their work.

"Looks like we can only stroll this far today," Leina said with a faintly bitter smile.

At least for Leina, this stretch of time was rare rest.

Zhou Yun observed Leina silently, then quietly pressed down his baseball cap, as if trying to shield himself from the increasingly glaring sunlight.

This hat was in fact a secret item: "Sherlock Holmes's Deduction Cap," which effectively enhances logical reasoning.

This item, along with the portable pyramid that boosts physical attributes, the Ghost Thief DX Suit that serves as armor, and the body clay that covers the Ghost Thief DX Suit and mimics Zhou Yun's skin—all were his standard gear, meant to prepare for sudden emergencies.

He watched Leina without speaking, waiting for her to speak first.

"I know a quieter place—would you like to rest there?" Leina gently brushed her braid as she looked at Zhou Yun.

Zhou Yun nodded in agreement.

The two began ascending the intricate marble stairs; Leina's Roman sandals bounced on the pale steps, her pale orange skirt occasionally brushing airborne dust as she skipped across the suspended marble walkway, leading Zhou Yun to a raised platform suspended in midair.

From here, one could barely overlook nearby buildings—it was clearly designed as a firing position in case of attack.

Of course, Robert Guilliman had also anticipated the possibility of this firing position being overrun; nearby stood other platforms and walkways that overlooked this one.

Still, such an open view within the Hera Fortress was rare.

Leina stood at the platform's edge; a cool breeze blew in from Macragge's mountains, brushing through her hair and briefly dispelling the fortress's stifling heat.

She lifted her skirt slightly, sat on the platform's edge, letting her legs dangle freely, then patted the spot beside her and looked at Zhou Yun.

Her gaze invited him to sit; her moist eyes, lit by the sun, shimmered blue to violet.

Zhou Yun wore an intrigued expression, silently sitting beside Leina.

Leina subtly edged closer to him, gazing with him as the Hera Fortress unfolded before them.

This fortress-monastery of the Space Marines resembled a labyrinth woven from complex geometric patterns, filled with dizzying lines and magnificent, ornate architecture.

The city was so intricate, yet not chaotic like a hive city; the vast sky stretched unbroken along its borders, causing Zhou Yun—who had long lived in a hive city—to feel a faint discomfort.

Leina shifted slightly, her sleeve brushing against Zhou Yun without notice.

"The sky is too vast—it's almost frightening."

Leina whispered, her voice revealing sudden exhaustion:

"Just looking at it makes me tired. Or maybe I'm just tired."

She silently placed her hand on Zhou Yun's thigh, lowering her head.

"You must be tired too—from Asford to Baal, from Ice Moon Krasus to Macragge—you've been through so much, haven't you?"

Zhou Yun turned his head slightly to look at Leina, so close to him.

He could smell the sweat on her skin warmed by the sun, the faint fragrance in her hair, the subtle scent of her fabric.

"I'm fine," Zhou Yun shrugged slightly.

The Emperor granted him a portion of the power to corrupt and destroy; he draws strength from death, and in this galaxy, death is never lacking—so his body and spirit are nourished by death, and fatigue fades with it.

"But I'm already exhausted. Cadia, Macragge, the Primarchs—these were just legends to me once, yet suddenly they're right before my eyes."

"I'm... I can't hold on much longer."

Leina's fingers gently clasped Zhou Yun's fingers, her voice hopeful:

"Let's... let's find a feudal world with few people, one no one remembers, and live there."

"No factories spewing poison, food grown from the soil, houses built of brick, a boundless sea—but no war, no Chaos, nothing else."

"At night, no lights—just moonlight bright enough. I only want days like this... but I don't want to be alone."

Leina fell silent for a moment, pressing herself closer to Zhou Yun.

"The galaxy isn't just us, is it? You've already brought back two Primarchs—can't you... can't you just rest for a little while?"

"Of course... I don't expect you to stay with me forever—that's a dream I dare not even entertain. Just a little while. We could even go see the sea—I've never seen the sea."

As she spoke, Leina tightly gripped Zhou Yun's hand and lifted her gaze to him.

Her eyes, dark with a hint of blue, shone like polished gems, reflecting the sky of the Hera Fortress.

It was a dome wrapped in violet void shields—within Leina's eyes, it resembled a magnificent violet crystal.

"Or... just come with me to see the sea. I don't ask for more of your time."

"After all... you seem to have many secrets. You're like a saint, a god, some being I can't understand."

Leina leaned her head slightly closer to Zhou Yun.

Every detail of her face was laid bare before him—from the faint sheen of sweat on her skin, to her eyes glowing with violet light, from the deep but unmarred scar on her cheek to her lips as soft as petals.

Everything was so close—so close it felt as if it would seep into his soul and flesh.

Leina softly parted her lips; a gentle, tender voice whispered in Zhou Yun's ear, heavy with exhaustion, weakness, and pleading:

"You always tease me for being a fool—I really don't understand much."

"... ut, I just love you."

"... ust today, just this one day—come with me to see the sea, okay?"

As she spoke, Leina's lips drifted slightly toward Zhou Yun—

But Zhou Yun raised a finger, halting her.

Leina's eyes instantly glistened, gazing at him with a sorrow not unpleasant.

"Could you say that again?" Zhou Yun looked at Leina earnestly.

He pulled from his pocket a data-slate with recording and video functions.

Leina's eyes flickered with confusion, but she smiled obediently and whispered:

"I don't understand much... I just love you."

Zhou Yun, visibly pleased, tossed the recorded data-slate back into his fourth-dimensional pocket.

Leina continued to gaze at Zhou Yun with faint resentment, softly asking: "Just one day—can't you spare even this moment for me?"

"No, no, no," Zhou Yun gently cupped Leina's head and drew her close: "I can stay with you for a very, very long time—even forever."

"We can mint coins for the Emperor on every moonless night."

Leina's face flushed instantly; she understood the meaning of "minting coins for the Emperor"—everyone knew life was the Emperor's currency.

"But... I have a secret. I've kept it buried deep inside. I don't want to hide it from you anymore."

Zhou Yun lowered his voice slightly, speaking with a mysterious tone:

"This secret concerns the entire galaxy's truth—perhaps even the gods of the Empyrean. If even one of them learns this secret, He could expand His domain across the entire Warp."

Leina's eyes widened, brimming with intense curiosity.

Zhou Yun gently cupped Leina's head and drew her close, then patted his fourth-dimensional pocket and pulled open a black slit:

"Do you see this pocket?"

Leina nodded, bewildered.

"Good. The secret is inside this pocket—go look for yourself!"

Instantly, terror flashed across Leina's face—but before she could react, Zhou Yun seized her head and shoved her into the fourth-dimensional pocket—

(End of Chapter)