Chapter 283: The Planet

When Qin An saw the black mist deepening around He Li he subconsciously used his spiritual energy and softly penetrated it to the man’s head slowly. His expression also turned serious. The frequency of this black mist wanting to overwhelm the man’s body to possess is getting more often.

This is getting dangerous. In addition, their circumstances now are very difficult. If this flared up, the situation would get worse.

"Don’t move. You need this one," he seriously reminded the man. Fortunately this time the latter obliged and closed his eyes.

Qin An’s face also turned solemn as he was closely observing the man. The black mist isn’t really just an ordinary one but it carries more danger than a ghost— a soul far from someone imaginable.

He had long noticed that a devil’s soul was lurking around He Li and it started when he came back from the recent battle he had. Ji Wen also told him about the abnormalities of the man’s personality. But Qin An stayed silent at that time because he knew he couldn’t confront that soul directly in his state.

It’s just unfortunate that because of this, the soul seems to be more integrated than in the past. It gradually envelops He Li and he knows that if this continues, the latter will be in so much danger.

If he chose to confront him now, although he might be in danger, it can at least guarantee that he can get it out from He Li’s body. But he will be the one who’ll face the danger instead.

It’s not that he wasn’t willing but the circumstances around them are not. They still have to go to the planet and bring back the ancient ginkgo tree. He has to protect everyone first.

So this has to wait.

Qin An narrowed his eyes and his eyes stared intently at the man closely. The man’s frowning forehead is telling him that he was enduring something greatly at this moment and this will not stop until then.

He Li has to wait and endure.

He pursed his lips at that thought and his fingers subconsciously trace the frown on the man’s forehead. But that small movement made the man abruptly open his eyes and they met each other’s sight again.

"...." The atmosphere suddenly froze between them whereas Qin An felt like something flash in his mind the moment their eyes met.

A blurry face with a pair of eyes very similar to He Li appeared on his mind for a second and disappeared quickly before he could even totally think of it deeply. That alone made him pause.

It’s like this again. The frequent visions that appeared on his mind whenever he looked at He Li that he couldn’t understand.

Why couldn’t he remember? Why would he always feel familiar? Did they meet before?

Or did he meet the man in his past life? This is the only thing he could think of. Qin An had of course met souls who became human again in their next life but he would just disregard it as nothing because it’s no longer part of his responsibility.

If so, then who is He Li? Who was he in his past life that seems to have a connection with him?

"... Who are you?" He finally couldn’t help but whisper those words.

"What?" It seems that the man was surprised at his question.

"Have we met before?"

"!!!" He Li was stunned. A crack appeared on his calm face and looked at Qin An with a rare surprise. Asking him these questions, does it mean the young man was like him? As he looked at Qin An’s expression, the confusion and doubt on his face made him realize it’s true.

Qin An is also sensing a familiarity between them.

He Li opened his mouth to confess what’s happening to him and heard the door of the training room abruptly open and Ji Wen’s anxious voice called them.

"Marshal, we have an emergency!" Ji Wen was about to talk about what happened when he noticed the strange atmosphere and position of the two.

Qin An was laying below on the floor and his fingers were on the Marshal’s forehead, meanwhile He Li was on top of the young man and their faces were just too close to each other.

"!!!" What’s the situation?!

He was flabbergasted and couldn’t find the words to and just watched He Li let go of Qin An and stood up calmly. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"What’s the matter?"

"O-Oh!" Fortunately he came back to his senses quickly when the familiar cold eyes looked at him. "W-We’ve arrived near the planet. However there are zergs coming towards us. We need to prepare."

He Li nodded. "Then let others prepare their mechas to fight."

"Yes!" He absent-mindedly saluted and quickly ran off to obey the orders while his mind was still racing about what he just saw inside the room.

The Marshal never let anyone that close to him no matter any circumstances. It’s not that he was very picky but he is just too guarded on his own. He will never let anyone invade his personal space in that close proximity at all.

But looking at what happened, it seems that the young man was an exception?

Ji Wen suddenly felt chills and he shook his head aggressively. Whatever it was, that’s not what he must prioritize now.

****

Qin An stared at the wide glass in front of him where he can closely see what’s happening outside the spaceship.

Large unfamiliar species are laying towards them. They look like giant versions of insects from the ancient Earth and were more aggressive and venomous. The parts of their body also look way more stronger like steels and such, completely overturning the original animals they were in the past.

So these are Zergs?

Aside from that, what attracted him the most was the heavy black mists around these. They are darker than the resentment around humans and more dangerous.

"T-This..." Su Jinxi gasped because she could see the dark energy hovering around, also for Shen Zhi and Zhi Anming on the side.

"Senior," Shen Zhi calls for Qin An. "How can this be so intense?"

Qin An sighs and explains, "This is not only because of the evolution and the natural pollution they produce but also because of the killing resentment around them. After killing numerous species whether it was human or other things that carries life, the energy formed continuously. This also influences the killing instinct of zergs to create more chaos."

He paused. "The darker the mental pollution around them, the more out of control they are."

Furthermore, they are on this planet where the former Earth is located. This was like the base where extreme chaos appears, the territory.

"We have to hurry and find the tree. There’s more danger than we expected."

"Can we do something about this?" Su Jinxi clenches her fist. She was now more than eager to have the power to protect her team.

Unfortunately, the young man shook his head. "No. You have to get close to the ginkgo tree to stimulate the core inside you."

Su Jinxi cursed silently at those words. Even still in this situation, she couldn’t do anything yet.

"Marshal, they’re here." Fu Minglei announced.

He Li nodded. "Prepare to get out of the spaceship."

"Yes!"

He Li looked at Qin An and their eyes met. "Wait here."

Qin An just nodded, then others quickly moved, leaving him, Zhi Anming, Cheng Yu and Fu Minglei who was driving the spaceship.

In the next moment, Qin An witnessed another war in this new era. Soldiers unleash their mechas and without hesitation, they begin charging towards the enemy of mankind.

Qin An’s face remains calm at the chaos in front of him. His eyes wandered one by one of the team and saw that whenever they attacked, the black mist would subconsciously go closer to them. This indicates how fast the pollution will influence them.

If it can be avoided...

His eyes narrowed. "Is there a way to contact them?" He broke the tense atmosphere inside the spaceship.

"Qin An?" Cheng Yu was confused but Fu Minglei didn’t say anything and quickly opened up to the general communicator of the team.

"You can now speak." Minglei said.

"You can see it, right?" He spoke with Su Jinxi and Shen Zhi.

"Yes." The two answered in unison.

"Try to invade the black mist whenever you attack them." Even though they can’t completely escape from the influence, avoiding it can at least the impact will not be the same as always.

He turns to Zhi Anming. "Help me direct them when to avoid the pollution."

"Y-Yes!"

There were seven people who went outside. He Li, Su Jinxi, Shen Zhi, Ji Wen, Qi Jian, Hong Xiran and Xu De. Since the other two can see themselves, they have to guide the rest.

Qin An connects to He Li, Ji Wen and Qi Jian while Zhi Anming turns to Hong Xiran and Xu De.

"To your left." He commands.

"Ji Wen, to your right."

The instructions from him and Zhi Anming continued to ring until they really saw how the large amount of black mist didn’t manage to fully attack the team.

"Great!" Zhi Anming cheers. Even though the people around couldn’t see it, judging from Zhi Anming’s delightful reaction, it’s useful so they heave a sigh in relief.

"Go faster to the planet." He Li’s order sounded.

"Copy!"

As they continued to command, Qin An’s mind went to the planet they had to enter.

Even at this location, he could feel the ominous energy radiating from the planet.

Like a premonition of danger they have to face.

****