T. I.C Chapter 49

 Chapter 49

Suddenly, a cool, detached voice drifted down from above Xiao Yan.

“If you can’t handle it, we’ll stop here for today.” Hein stood at a distance—neither too close nor too far—as if that very space represented an unbridgeable chasm between him and Xiao Yan. *Hadn't he already left? When did he come back?*

“I’m... I’m fine...”

Every researcher assumed that the long-distance run marked the end of their physical training, but they were all mistaken. When Wenn led them to a simulated rock wall, everyone craned their necks upward, wearing expressions of utter bewilderment.

“Climbing is a fundamental skill for all combat units. I don't expect you to scale sheer cliffs while lugging heavy gear, but at the very least, you need to know *how* to climb. It is the best exercise for improving body coordination and muscular endurance. The warm-up is over; we are now moving on to the actual training.”

No sooner had Wenn finished speaking than the researchers let out a collective groan of near-death exhaustion. Just as they were about to voice their protests, Wenn placed his palm against the rock wall, effortlessly plucked a handhold from it, and instantly crushed it to dust within his grip. As the grit rained down, every researcher fell silent.

And so, a group of researchers found themselves dangling awkwardly in mid-air. Wenn roared hysterically, “Wrong!”—correcting their form at every turn. Some researchers even managed to fall asleep while suspended in their climbing postures, while for the rest, no matter how hard Wenn tried to correct their technique, it was all a futile effort.

Xiao Yan hung suspended in the air, unable to find a proper foothold no matter how hard he tried. Wenn was particularly strict with him.

“Xiao Yan! Aren't you a technical specialist? Don't tell me your research has absolutely nothing to do with mechanics! Otherwise, how could you be so clueless about where and how to apply force?!”

Rattled by the shouting, Xiao Yan felt a sudden urge to simply let go of the rope and plummet down—landing right on Wenn's face.

Hein began to ascend the rock wall, effortlessly climbing his way over to Xiao Yan's side. The most unnerving part was that he hadn't even bothered to clip into a safety line. His movements were crisp and fluid; whenever he extended an arm—shoulders tensing—or drove a long leg upward, his powerful yet lithe physique was so captivating that one couldn't help but stare in fascination. He anchored one hand onto a protrusion in the rock face, while his left hand supported the base of the left leg Xiao Yan had lifted. He guided it slowly upward until his palm rested against the inner side of Xiao Yan’s knee. His profile was pressed so close against Xiao Yan’s back that, at such intimate proximity, Xiao Yan could even feel the warmth of his breath.

It felt almost like a caress; Xiao Yan would clearly remember the precise pressure of Hein’s palm.

Just as his focus wavered and he began to slip, Hein swiftly seized his shoulder and pulled him into his arms.

“Do not fear the fall.” It was a command—brief, yet charged with authority.

“Understood.”

Yet, Xiao Yan felt as though a part of himself had already plummeted. This was not the first time Hein had held him in such a manner; on every previous occasion—whether during a rapid freefall or while executing a perilous mission—there had been no opportunity for anything else. But this training session finally afforded him the chance to observe Hein at such close range.

Xiao Yan had thought he already knew exactly how beautiful the contours of Hein’s features were, yet in this very moment, he found himself utterly unable to tear his gaze away.

Down at the base of the rock face, Wenn looked up at the scene unfolding above, wearing an expression of utter bewilderment.

“Hey! Mark! If you keep staring at the Boss like that, what’s going to happen?”

Mark, squatting on the ground and idly tracing circles in the dirt, answered without even lifting his head: “The Boss will lop my head right off.”

“Then why is Xiao Yan still alive?” Wenn’s eyes bulged almost to the point of bursting. The other researchers suspended in mid-air, assuming the instructor was silently reprimanding them for slacking off, immediately redoubled their efforts.

What Wenn left unsaid was this: he had never once seen Colonel Burton look at anyone with such an intense gaze—nor stand so close to another person—that it appeared as though he were on the verge of kissing them.

The researchers hanging in mid-air watched the scene before them with wide-eyed curiosity. Could it be true? Was the legendary Colonel Burton—the aloof figure rumored never to interact with others—actually guiding a researcher through rock climbing with such extraordinary patience?

“At this stage, you must rely on the strength of your thighs and knees; straining your calves any further would be futile.”

Hein’s arm looped beneath Xiao Yan’s armpit, and he gave a slight tilt of his chin—a silent signal for Xiao Yan to release his grip. Had he been an ordinary researcher, he certainly wouldn't have dared to simply entrust his body weight to another person like this; yet, this wasn't the first time Xiao Yan had found himself tucked under Hein’s arm.

Amidst the palpable tension of the onlookers, Xiao Yan—utterly devoid of fear—let go of the rock face, placing his absolute trust in Hein.

"Place your hand on my leg. Feel how the muscles engage."

Looking up at the exchange, Wenn’s jaw nearly hit the ground. "Ma... Mark... did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Mark frowned, feeling that Wenn was making a mountain out of a molehill.

"Did the Boss just tell Xiao Yan to feel up his thigh?"

"...'Feel up his thigh'? What are you talking about? He clearly told the rookie to feel *how* the thigh muscles exert force!"

Xiao Yan, too, was taken aback when he heard those words; it felt as though all his fatigue had vanished in an instant. He swallowed hard; as his gaze met Hein’s, he recognized it for what it was—an order. Xiao Yan quickly pressed his palm against Hein’s leg. As Hein pushed upward, Xiao Yan could feel every muscle in his leg tense and coil, unleashing a burst of power in a split second. It was a fascinating sensation—a simple movement, yet one that allowed Xiao Yan to once again grasp the sheer power of this man.

Hein released Xiao Yan, guiding him to find his footholds and press his body flush against the rock face. Xiao Yan instinctively mimicked Hein’s movements; recalling the mechanics of Hein’s exertion, his body moved naturally in response, climbing upward step by step.

"Watch your center of gravity." Hein reached out and placed his palm firmly against Xiao Yan’s back.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and adjusted his balance; his movements grew increasingly fluid and coordinated.

After two or three practice runs, Xiao Yan no longer required any verbal instruction from Hein. Although his technique remained unpolished, he managed to slowly ascend from the base of the wall to a height of over ten meters. Just as his physical strength finally gave out—leaving him on the verge of a fall—Hein, who had been shadowing him the entire time, swiftly reached out and supported his lower back. Xiao Yan’s heart pounded wildly; looking down, he met Hein’s upward gaze.

"Keep going."

In that moment, Xiao Yan finally understood the true meaning behind Hein’s words: "Do not fear the fall."

By the time the morning training session finally concluded, Xiao Yan felt as though he could have collapsed right there on the ground and fallen asleep instantly. He leaned against the rock face, his body aching; even his mind had ceased to function—all he wanted was to fall into a deep, unending sleep.

Suddenly, someone grabbed him and hauled him up from the ground.

“Leave me alone... let me sleep...”

Xiao Yan assumed it was Mark back to mock him again. He waved his arm dismissively, but his wrist was instantly seized by the other person, and he tumbled right into someone’s embrace.

“Eat lunch first, then you can sleep.”

It wasn't Mark!

Xiao Yan opened his eyes and discovered, to his astonishment, that it was Hein. His muscles instantly tensed up; even while swaying unsteadily, he forced himself to stand upright.

“Let’s go.”

Hein walked at a slow pace. By the time they reached the dining hall, the standard lunch service was over; only Hein and Xiao Yan remained, seated at a table.

Xiao Yan sat with his head bowed, clutching his fork, looking utterly groggy.

“Open your mouth.”

Instinctively, Xiao Yan parted his lips. Something was placed inside his mouth; the savory aroma of food spread across his tongue, and his stomach let out a loud rumble.

He blinked his eyes open slightly—only then did he realize it was Hein, fork in hand, actually feeding him.

Startled, Xiao Yan nearly knocked over his tray and tumbled right off his chair.

At that moment, Hein’s fork returned to his lips, holding a neatly cut morsel of veal.

“You need to replenish your protein.”

“Ah... oh...”

Xiao Yan opened his mouth and carefully took the piece of veal into his mouth. Hein slowly withdrew the fork; the brief brush of the metal against his lips sent Xiao Yan’s heart racing. He watched as Hein lowered his gaze and, with elegant precision, cut another piece of veal before bringing it once again to his lips.

“I... I can feed myself...”

If anyone else were to see Hein Burton feeding him like this, surely half the people here would be scared to death!

“Are you capable of holding a fork?”

Xiao Yan attempted to lift his fork, only to realize that his fingers were trembling uncontrollably.

It was the climbing training. As Hein brought the food to his lips once again, the scene that flashed through his mind was that of their climbing training—Hein’s patience, Hein’s hands... No... this was not the time to be thinking about such things...

Xiao Yan finally ate the steak and drank a full glass of milk. Dazed and groggy, he made his way back to his room, following close on Hein’s heels with his eyes half-closed.

Upon reaching his room, he collapsed onto the bed without a second thought.

He sensed someone gently calling his name right beside his ear—a voice deep and melodious, accompanied by a warm breath. Instinctively, he reached out and embraced the other person; he could feel them leaning into him without the slightest resistance, their soft hair brushing against his cheek. Xiao Yan heard himself let out a lazy, languid murmur. A moment later, the other person gently pried his arms away; the sudden void left Xiao Yan feeling bewildered, yet he was simply too exhausted to react.

Drifting in and out of consciousness, he felt someone remove his combat uniform, lift him up, and lower him into a stream of warm water. Those hands stroked his skin with exquisite gentleness, kneading his tense muscles—it felt so soothing that Xiao Yan had no desire to wake up.

As he let out a soft sigh, he felt someone press a kiss to his cheek. They kissed the corners of his mouth with cautious tenderness, grazing them again and again; a tongue flicked repeatedly into the slight hollows at the edges of his lips. The sensation was both tantalizing to his heart and utterly, blissfully comfortable. Yet, when Xiao Yan attempted to return the kiss, the other person pulled away without hesitation. Instead, they began to kiss and suckle at his chin, their tongue licking boldly and uninhibitedly, trailing a path of scattered kisses downward with an intensity bordering on frenzy. They sucked hard at the hollow of his throat until his skin went numb, feeling as though his very blood were about to seep through his flesh. Xiao Yan turned his head away, reaching out to try and push the other man off; yet, following the natural flow of the movement, the man’s kiss landed instead upon his palm. The kissing grew more intense; the unique sensation—that warmth and the glide of a tongue—was something Xiao Yan found himself unexpectedly enjoying. He offered not the slightest resistance, allowing the man to suckle at his fingertips, kiss the spaces between his fingers, and gently nip at his wrist...

He slept—a deep, unbroken slumber—from noon until the morning of the following day. Had it not been for his alarm clock, Xiao Yan had no doubt he would have slept right through into oblivion.

His entire body ached—the inevitable aftereffect of a sudden, drastic increase in physical exertion following a long period of inactivity. No matter how advanced human technology might become, this fundamental biological reality remained unchanged.

Groaning and grumbling, Xiao Yan rolled out of bed. It was only when he looked down that he realized—at some point he couldn't recall—he had been changed into a clean set of pajamas. He vaguely remembered that back in the dining hall, it had been Hein Burton who had been looking after him; could it be that Hein had been the one to change his clothes, too?

Xiao Yan gave a wry twist to the corners of his lips. "You’re practically begging to die, aren't you, Xiao Yan? You’ll be lucky if Hein doesn't just kick you to death!"

By the time the day’s training session concluded, Xiao Yan felt as though he were on the verge of death from exhaustion. As for Casey... well, never mind him; the poor guy had already completely passed out and had to be carried back to his room on someone’s back. As Xiao Yan—moving with the languid gait of the utterly spent—staggered out of the training room, a figure approached him with a smile.

"Well, look at you! Not bad at all! I hear you’ve got more grit and endurance than any other researcher here!"

"Maya..." Xiao Yan managed a weak, half-hearted wave.

"Come on! Let's go get some food! And after we eat, how about I—Major Maya herself—give you a nice massage?"

To Xiao Yan’s ears, Maya’s words sounded like the very voice of God. Theoretically, devices like electric muscle massagers did exist; however, none of them were permitted to leave the headquarters of the Special Operations Force—and within the Special Operations Force itself, the one thing they had absolutely no need for was a muscle massager. Xiao Yan’s aching muscles left him so drained that, after collapsing into the bathtub, he barely had the strength to stand back up again; the pain was excruciating—even more agonizing, in its own way, than the physical training itself.

He had to admit: Maya’s massage technique was truly top-tier—infinitely superior, by a factor of hundreds or even thousands, to any of those damn mechanical massagers. At that moment, Xiao Yan lay sprawled on the sofa while Maya—working through the bath towel draped over him—worked to loosen the tight muscles in his thighs. Xiao Yan, meanwhile, lay with his eyes half-closed, letting out soft sounds of pure, blissful relief. “Hey... could you do me a favor and keep it down?” Maya deliberately gave him a hard pinch, and sure enough, Xiao Yan let out a yelp.

“Ouch! Good grief! That hurts like hell! Why can’t I make any noise? I’ve been in pain for days; this is the first time I’ve felt even remotely comfortable!”

“It sounds incredibly suggestive, that’s why! Are you trying to invite me to have my way with you?”

“Fine, go right ahead!” Xiao Yan threw caution to the wind and shifted his legs; unfortunately, given his poor physical state, the pose he struck was anything but seductive.

Maya shook her head speechlessly and muttered under her breath, “If the Colonel were to hear this, I wonder who’d end up dead—you or me...”

“What?”

“Nothing! You just go right on with your moaning and groaning!”

Just as Xiao Yan was drifting off to sleep, Maya asked again, “Lately... have you been having those hallucinations again?”

“...I don’t think so...” Xiao Yan thought for a moment. He suddenly had a vague recollection of being carried into a bathtub—and perhaps even being kissed—but he couldn't be sure if it was a dream, or if it hadn't even been a dream at all.

“Oh... I suppose that makes sense. In your current state, you’d probably fall into a dead sleep the moment you hit the bed.”

“...Don’t worry... if those delusions come back... I’ll go see a doctor...” Xiao Yan murmured, before drifting off into a deep slumber.

Maya sighed helplessly and whispered, “What a hopeless fool.”

Two weeks later, Xiao Yan was pleasantly surprised to discover that his excess body fat had vanished; he could even faintly discern the outline of muscles on his arms. His physical fitness had improved significantly.

By the third week of rock-climbing training, Xiao Yan was able to scale the sheer cliff face with remarkable agility. Although—according to Mark—such a feat was utterly trivial for any trained special forces soldier, a small sense of accomplishment still welled up within him.

“Alright! Everyone take a ten-minute break!” Wynn clapped his hands together. The other researchers breathed a collective sigh of relief—all except for Casey, who hung suspended in mid-air with a long, miserable face.

The guy had shown absolutely no progress in his physical training; in fact, he was even more clumsy and inept than the forty-year-old researchers.

“Even a genius has his weak points!” Xiao Yan stood on the ground, craning his neck to look up at Casey, who looked on the verge of tears. “Xiao Yan, don’t get cocky! Just get me down from here—now!”

“What?” Xiao Yan cupped his ear.

“I said get me down here, *now*!” Casey’s face was flushed crimson with frustration—and in Xiao Yan’s eyes, he couldn’t have looked any cuter. Even geniuses have their helpless moments!

“Hang on, baby; I’m coming to get you right now!”

Xiao Yan flashed a deliberately flirtatious grin and began to climb up.

Down below, Wynn and Mark squatted side-by-side, whistling away.

Xiao Yan climbed nimbly up to where Casey was stuck. He had no idea how the guy had managed it, but the safety ropes were twisted into a complete mess. Patiently, Xiao Yan maneuvered Casey’s legs, guiding his feet to the proper footholds, and step by step, he helped him back down to the ground.

Wynn narrowed his eyes, staring intently the whole time, while Mark craned his head forward in curiosity.

“What are you looking at?”

“I suddenly find Xiao Yan’s back incredibly sexy. I just want to rip that combat suit right off his body,” Wynn said with deadpan seriousness.

Mark nearly choked on his own spit. “What kind of crazy nonsense are you spouting now?”

“To thrust deep inside him, to hear him scream my name, and to keep going until I’ve drained myself completely dry...” Wynn rambled on excitedly, spouting utter nonsense.

Mark immediately clapped his hands over his ears, refusing to listen.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over them from above. When the two men turned around in unison, they were met by the icy, chilling gaze of Hein Burton.

“Boss...”

“Boss...”

Mark received a sharp smack from Wynn and nearly tumbled to the ground.

As his toes touched the earth, Xiao Yan turned around—and there stood Hein Burton, clad in his military uniform.

The crisp, immaculate uniform concealed the elegant contours of his lean, powerful physique, making him appear even taller and more commanding—an aesthetic of pure, ascetic beauty.

Casey had already plopped down onto the ground, panting heavily.

“Remove your ropes. Climb back up,” Hein ordered, fixing his gaze on Xiao Yan.

Every researcher who had been taking a break immediately turned to look, their eyes wide with utter disbelief. Exhausted to the point of total depletion, Casey abruptly sprang to his feet, his expression turning grave. "Colonel Burton, what did you just say?"

"Orders are never repeated."

Hein’s gaze settled upon Xiao Yan.

Wynn and Mark, however, wore expressions that seemed to ask, "What's the big deal?"

Xiao Yan took a deep breath; he understood that in an emergency situation requiring a climbing evacuation, they certainly wouldn't be equipped with safety ropes—let alone possess the mindset that, even if they fell, they would come to no harm. With swift, decisive movements, Xiao Yan unclipped the safety rope from his harness and craned his neck back to examine the simulated cliff face towering nearly twenty meters above him.

Facing the cliff face, he mentally mapped out his handholds and footholds.

Just as he was preparing to begin his ascent, Casey grabbed hold of him.

“You don’t have to meet every single requirement of the Special Task Force.”

“These aren’t the Special Task Force’s requirements; they are things I *should* be striving to achieve.”

“You’re going to fall! You aren’t a Special Forces soldier—you don’t have their regenerative abilities!” Casey grew frantic.

“I won’t fall.”

Xiao Yan patted his shoulder, then looked up toward the summit of the cliff.

During practice sessions, knowing that safety ropes were in place, Xiao Yan felt no fear of falling. But reality was a perilous place; facing that danger—with fear as a constant companion—was the truest form of training.

Step by step, Xiao Yan climbed upward.

Following his ascent was the gaze of Hein.

It was an invisible force, supporting Xiao Yan’s back; no matter how precarious the moment, Xiao Yan maintained his steady footing, each step taking him higher than the last.

“The kid’s doing well; his nerves are steady.” Wynn tilted his head back, stroking his chin. As he glanced sideways, catching a glimpse of Hein’s profile, he suddenly froze.

Like a silent sentinel, Hein’s gaze guided Xiao Yan toward an unparalleled height, while he himself stood in silence, steadfastly guarding the ground beneath his feet.

Xiao Yan had reached the halfway point when his foot slipped; everyone gasped in alarm, and Casey squeezed his eyes shut.

In that instant, Wynn caught a glimpse of a different emotion in Hein’s eyes. Hein shifted his stance, his arms opening slightly—poised to catch the falling figure in the safest embrace possible at a moment’s notice.

But Xiao Yan regained his footing and held firm; everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

Casey glared fiercely at Hein, gritting his teeth as he spat out, “Don’t think that just because you’re a Colonel, we have to obey everything you say! If anything happens to Xiao Yan, I *will* file a formal report with Military Discipline Command!”

“Why are you all so afraid to let him go where he longs to be—where he is capable of going?”

After a long silence, Hein finally spoke.

Casey blinked in confusion, then looked up—only to realize that Xiao Yan had already reached the very summit. Xiao Yan looked down at them, a look of pure, deep satisfaction beaming across his face. A group of researchers began to applaud; even Major Wynn and Mark were cheering.

“Xiao Yan! Take it easy on your way down!”

Major Wynn and Mark kept their eyes fixed on Xiao Yan, ready to catch him at a moment's notice.

In that moment, Xiao Yan earned not only applause but also respect.

“Haha! I did it! I really did it!” Xiao Yan approached Hein, his eyes sparkling with a starry brilliance.

“Mm.” Hein gave a slight nod. It was as if something had fractured in the air between them—mysterious vines extending from the fissures, blooming silently and setting Xiao Yan’s vision ablaze.

Having adapted to the rigorous training, Xiao Yan no longer felt the crushing exhaustion of days past; consequently, once night fell, he felt as bored and confined as a prisoner. All the researchers were being kept under protective custody within the Special Task Force headquarters. Yet, this headquarters boasted no bars, no cinemas, and—worst of all—the terminals couldn't even access online games. Xiao Yan was so bored he felt like he was about to sprout mold. Just as he began to suspect he was developing symptoms of depression, Major General Gordon did something completely unexpected: he had three research labs relocated from the Academy of Sciences right into the Special Task Force headquarters!

When a secretary led Xiao Yan into a research lab that was an exact replica of his original one, his jaw nearly hit the floor.

The secretary activated a holographic projection to convey Major General Gordon’s orders.

“Xiao Yan, if you spend your entire days at the Special Task Force doing nothing but training, your brain is bound to go rusty, isn't it? That is why I made a special request to the Central Academy of Sciences to have your research lab transferred here. We look forward to seeing you complete your research right here.”

The transmission ended.

Xiao Yan finally grasped the reality of his situation. Under the guise of “protective custody,” he was, in fact, under house arrest—confined here to conduct his so-called research. His research findings—and, indeed, his very brain—could absolutely not be allowed to fall into the hands of the *Chaoyong* faction.

Narrowing his eyes, he smiled; truth be told, he really *was* starting to feel an itch to get back to his research.

He intended to resume the work he had left unfinished.

Compared to his previous days—where his routine consisted of nothing but training and sleep—Xiao Yan had long since reached the point of utter boredom. It was indeed high time to give his brain a proper workout! Entering the terminal, Xiao Yan called up his previous research data. Perhaps it was due to the hiatus he had taken from his studies recently; when he resumed thinking, he found himself able to analyze the existing data from an angle he had never considered before. He was positively buzzing with excitement over this new insight. He lost track of how long he had remained immersed in the system; it was only when his eyes grew too heavy to stay open that he realized he was exhausted and in need of rest.

He opened the door to the research lab, only to find that the two special forces soldiers who had previously been standing guard were gone. The empty, silent corridor filled Xiao Yan with a sense of dread.

*What happened?*

Xiao Yan’s senses went on high alert.

In that very instant, a figure flashed past. Without a second thought, Xiao Yan moved to trigger the alarm on his communicator, but the other person’s fingers clamped down violently on his arm, pinning him against the wall.