The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 66 - Escape
Chapter 66: Escape
Ji Ling stared blankly at Ning Yu. The man's hand was steady and strong as he held Ji Ling's slightly trembling hand. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips, and his voice was low and hoarse. “Now the choice is in your hands. You can do what a noble should do, or you can do what you truly want to do.”
Ji Ling was completely dumbfounded. Brother, are you serious?
After a long moment, Ji Ling took a deep breath and suddenly threw the knife to the ground! He glanced at the bloodstain on the blade, then turned back and glared fiercely at Ning Yu. This guy was certain that he wouldn’t actually do it! But even so, why the hell would he joke around with his own life?
Do you really trust me that much?
No matter what you’ve figured out, my identity is still that of a noble! A noble who's entangled with Carlos...
Ji Ling was both furious and conflicted. He said coldly, “You know I won't kill you.”
“Everything is just speculation until it’s tested…” Ning Yu's expression remained calm, and his thin lips parted slightly. “You don’t want to take revenge on me, and you don’t want to kill me either. So what do you want?”
Ji Ling’s expression froze. A few seconds later, he stomped hard on Ning Yu’s foot and turned to leave!
He climbed up the ladder and slammed the hatch angrily. “Open the door!”
There was no response from outside.
Just as Ji Ling was growing more irritated, a slender hand reached over from behind. With a light squeeze, it crushed the sturdy metal lock. The man let out a soft sigh. “You can go.”
Ji Ling didn’t even look back. He climbed out immediately. To his surprise, A Man wasn’t outside. That brat had some nerve! Who let him act on his own like this?!
Because of this unexpected situation, Ji Ling had no mood to attend the gathering anymore and sulked all the way home.
He threw himself onto his bed, exhausted.
After a long time, Ji Ling opened his eyes and sneered: [I was too impulsive just now. If I were really a man, I should’ve taken him before leaving! I lost out on this deal!]
System: If I hadn't just seen you running away in panic, I might’ve actually believed you...
Even though the system knew the host was just venting and wouldn’t actually dare, even if given a hundred chances, it still earnestly comforted him: [It’s fine, you can still threaten him with suicide. There are plenty of opportunities.]
Ji Ling: …
He took a deep breath and started educating his emotionless system: [Only lovers or married couples use suicide to threaten each other during arguments. Ning Yu and I are just ruthless enemies. Got it? And I don’t even like men! :)]
System: [...] Whatever makes you happy.
………………
The next morning, when Ji Ling woke up, A Man came looking for him, hesitating as if he had something to say but didn't dare to.
Ji Ling was still angry at this brat and ignored him.
A Man knew he had screwed up. He couldn’t understand why Brother Bai didn’t like Brother Ning Yu. Brother Ning Yu was such a great person! The whole base was full of his fans!
He sighed inwardly. Sorry, Brother Ning Yu, I tried my best. I can't help you anymore. You’re on your own!
A Man tried to appease Ji Ling. “This is black bean cake my mom made for me. I brought some for you.”
Ji Ling crossed his arms, looking down at him. You think a little snack can bribe me?
A Man scrunched up his face and lowered his head pitifully. “I'm sorry, I know I was wrong. Brother Bai, please forgive me just this once? I promise I won’t do it again…”
Ji Ling stared at him for a long moment, making A Man break out in cold sweat, before finally speaking slowly. “Next time, don’t meddle in other people's business. Got it?”
A Man nodded frantically and promised sincerely, “I won’t ever do it again!”
Ji Ling snorted, reached out to take the cake, and although he wanted to stay mad a little longer, he couldn’t really be too harsh on the kid. He poked A Man’s forehead with a finger instead.
A Man smiled shyly, not daring to move. After a while, he cautiously asked, “Um… was it because Brother Ning Yu made you angry?”
Ji Ling was silent for a moment before saying, “You could say that.”
He was indeed very angry at Ning Yu, but that wasn’t the real reason for his rejection. If they were comparing past grievances, what he did in his previous life was much worse. If he didn’t know how the plot would unfold, if he didn’t know for sure that Ning Yu wouldn’t die, his past actions would have made him the perfect villainous side character. But even after all that, Ning Yu still saved him… So deep down, it was hard for him to outright blame Ning Yu, to argue about who was right or wrong, or who owed whom more.
Some of his anger, some of his resentment, was actually directed at himself for being blind before.
If he had to put it into words, he simply couldn't trust this person like before. Having his worldview turned upside down made it hard to accept the real, unfamiliar Ning Yu standing before him.
Besides… he wasn’t going to stay in this world.
So there was no point in keeping track of debts too carefully. In the end, everyone here was just a passerby in his life.
………………
Perhaps because of how things ended that day, Ning Yu never appeared in front of him again. He didn’t pester him either.
Ji Ling returned to his peaceful and carefree days.
It was said that Ning Yu had gotten even busier. He rarely returned to the base, and even when he did, it was only to discuss matters with the senior leaders or to fight on the front lines.
Compared to people like Jing Sui and Carlos, Ning Yu was also an SSS-Level evolutionary, but he carried far more weight on his shoulders. He didn’t have a powerful backer or a deeply entrenched force behind him. If he wanted to carve a bloody path through the Empire’s rule, it would never be a simple task.
Although Ning Yu never showed anything in front of him, Ji Ling could still guess.
He knew the outside world was far from peaceful, but his abilities were limited, and he couldn’t help many people. If the trouble didn’t come knocking on his door, he would rather pretend he knew nothing.
Let it be, he thought.
But just as Ji Ling returned from outside that day, a piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the entire base!
A Man rushed in from next door, his face anxious as he said, “Pack up! We need to leave the base now!”
Ji Ling didn’t even have time to ask what was happening before he was swept along with the panicked crowd. Fear and unease were etched on everyone’s faces, but fortunately, the evacuation was still orderly. People hurriedly gathered their belongings, bringing their families as they boarded small spacecraft one after another.
Ji Ling had always traveled in enormous, luxurious starships, living the most extravagant life in the empire. This was the first time he found himself crammed together with so many people like a refugee, the air thick with a stifling, oppressive atmosphere.
From the murmured conversations around him, Ji Ling finally pieced together what had happened.
The base had been discovered.
The Empire’s army was approaching, and Ning Yu had taken the rebel forces to hold them back, buying time for the people to escape.
To minimize their chances of being targeted, the evacuees split up into many small ships, scattering in different directions.
Because of the sudden nature of the evacuation, the chaos had caused many people to be separated from their families.
Aunt Zola’s daughter hadn’t made it onto the same ship as her. Holding her other child in her arms, she suppressed her own anxiety and gently comforted the crying, frightened boy. “Your sister must be on another ship. When we reach the destination, we’ll find her. Everything will be okay.”
Ji Ling sat there in silence, not knowing what to say.
A Man was in the same small cabin as him. The boy, who was always bright and cheerful, who even spoke of the past with a carefree smile, now looked lost. His eyes were filled with uncertainty as he murmured to Ji Ling, “Will we really make it safely?”
Ji Ling didn’t know. In fact, no one could answer that question.
To the powerful Imperial army, these fleeing civilians were nothing more than ants, easily crushed at will. Only Ning Yu and some of the evolved fighters in the Rebel had the strength to hold their ground and buy them time.
Aman hesitated before adding in a worried voice, “I wonder if Brother Ning Yu is okay…”
No matter how strong he was, he was still just one man.
A few days later.
The ship Ji Ling was on had the good fortune to reach another rebel base.
This base was slightly smaller than the last one, equally well-hidden. The rebels stationed there welcomed the evacuees and assigned them to hastily built shelters. Though the base operated in an orderly manner, the weight of the situation hung heavily over everyone’s heads.
Ji Ling was given a small room, which was already considered a luxury. With so many people being taken in, some families had to share a single space, and it was nothing like the more spacious accommodations of the previous base.
Aunt Zola searched for days but couldn’t find her daughter.
Uncle Hank’s wife had been out buying groceries that day and was also missing.
Some had likely never even made it out in time. Some might have been on ships that were shot down…
After taking stock, they realized that less than 60% of the evacuees had successfully reached the base.
Many had lost their loved ones.
Perhaps some of them had already endured similar losses. Perhaps they had been running for a long time. Perhaps time would eventually dull the pain… But at this moment, they couldn’t yet move past their grief. The base no longer held the laughter and joy it once had.
Ji Ling stayed there, unwilling to remain idle. He volunteered for the logistics team, helping transport supplies for the base.
A Man was assigned to the same team, working with him to receive incoming shipments.
The rest of the team members were locals from the base. They weren’t familiar with Ji Ling and A Man, but they were welcoming and accepted the new arrivals without issue.
They drove a truck full of food to the base’s warehouse, operating machinery to unload the goods while chatting idly.
A middle-aged man sighed. “I thought that since His Majesty and Carlos were at war, they would ease up on hunting us down, giving us some breathing room. Who knew that even while fighting amongst themselves, they’d still keep chasing us… and even more aggressively than before?”
A young man wearing a hat said, “Lord Gabriel’s identity was exposed. Now both His Majesty and Carlos have issued a bounty, ordering a galaxy-wide manhunt. They’ve wanted to get rid of him for a long time, and they won’t let this chance slip by.”
The middle-aged man glanced around before lowering his voice. “But I heard that’s not the only reason. Rumor has it that Lord Gabriel crashed Carlos’ wedding and kidnapped his bride, Ji Ling. And since Ji Ling happens to be His Majesty’s beloved, both of them have intensified the hunt for the rebels—just to get Ji Ling back.”
The young man frowned. “I heard that rumor too, but I don’t know if it’s true. I don’t think Lord Gabriel would do something like that. Why would he snatch Carlos’ bride? What purpose would that serve, other than enraging Carlos? Right now, we should be lying low and letting Carlos and His Majesty fight each other.”
The middle-aged man said, “I don’t understand either. But at that time, on the main star of the Sosa Galaxy, many people saw Lord Gabriel’s silver mecha appear… It shouldn’t be fake, I’ve also watched the video.”
The young man said angrily, “If this is true, I can’t understand his actions! As the leader of the Rebel, he should prioritize the bigger picture. Randomly abducting Carlos and His Majesty’s beloved will only push us into a more difficult situation.”
The older man hesitated for a moment. “Maybe Lord Gabriel has his own reasons. Didn’t he previously use Ji Ling to make His Majesty purge many nobles from Carlos’ faction?”
The young man said coldly, “That was then, and this is now. This time, I don’t see what he has accomplished. If he really captured Ji Ling, then where is he now? Why hasn’t he used such an important hostage to threaten His Majesty and Carlos? Why hide him instead?”
Their argument soon attracted others, and more people joined in.
“I think if Lord Gabriel really captured Ji Ling, he should hand him over. No matter which side he gives Ji Ling to, His Majesty and Carlos will fight even more intensely, temporarily easing the pressure on us.”
“Don't be naive! Even if Lord Gabriel hands over Ji Ling, do you think the Emperor and Carlos will let us go?”
“Well… at least things wouldn’t be as bad as they are now…”
“I think maybe Lord Gabriel never captured Ji Ling at all. Maybe this is just an excuse the Emperor and Carlos are using to go after us? We've always been a thorn in their side. Why would they go to such lengths for just one person?”
“I agree…”
"This must be an Empire’s conspiracy. They just want an excuse to deal with us."
“I still believe there's no smoke without fire. If he didn’t capture Ji Ling, then where is Ji Ling now? Do His Majesty and Carlos need an excuse to kill us?”
“Whether he did it or not, he owes us an explanation!”
“I heard Ji Ling is quite the beauty. Could he have captivated Lord Gabriel? Otherwise, how do you explain his actions?”
A Man, who had been listening from the side, originally didn’t want to interfere since he came from another base, but he couldn’t take it anymore. He defended, “Even though we're facing difficulties now, we will get through this. Lord Gabriel has risked his life for us, and you suspect his intentions just like that?”
The others looked at A Man and, noticing he was an unfamiliar face, realized he was a refugee from another base.
The older man said, “If it turns out that our base was discovered because Gabriel captured Ji Ling, would you still say the same thing?”
A Man was furious. It was this man who first started doubting Ning Yu.
Ji Ling grabbed A Man's hand and said, “Sorry, we’re leaving.” Then he pulled the disgruntled A Man away.
A Man was very upset. “Why did you stop me? They were too much! Brother Ning Yu has done so much for them, yet as soon as trouble arises, they rush to blame him, pushing all the responsibility onto him and even doubting his intentions. Do they not realize that without Brother Ning Yu, we would have died long ago?”
Ji Ling pursed his lips, looking conflicted. “Haven’t you ever considered the possibility that he really did… capture Ji Ling?”
A Man said, “I don't know whether he did or not. But even if he did, I trust he had his reasons! And I believe he would never gamble with our lives for the sake of an Imperial noble!”
“The Emperor and Carlos are only saying this to divide us. Even without Ji Ling, would they ever spare the Rebel? If even we start doubting ourselves, we might as well surrender and die now.”
Ji Ling was silent for a long time before finally saying, “I understand.”
………………
Ji Ling returned to his temporary residence. As he passed through the corridor, he saw Aunt Zola’s son sitting on the stairs. The boy looked up at Ji Ling with large, tear-filled eyes and stammered, “Brother Bai, do you… do you think my sister will come back?”
Ji Ling felt a pang of sadness. Several days had passed, and the last refugee ship had already arrived at this base. While it was possible that some ships had gone missing and ended up elsewhere, the chances were slim…
He said, “I don’t know.”
The boy hugged his knees and started sobbing. Tears welled up in his eyes as he whimpered, “I miss my sister…”
Ji Ling sighed and returned to his room, shutting the door behind him. He switched on the light wearily, only to freeze in place at the sight before him. A man was leaning against his bed.
Ning Yu was dressed in black, his eyes half-closed as he reclined there. His face was slightly pale, and one hand rested casually over his abdomen.
At first glance, he seemed fine, but the thick scent of blood in the air told Ji Ling otherwise.
He recalled everything that had happened today—how, while they were escaping, this man had led the Rebel’s only evolved fighters to buy them time…
Ji Ling clenched his teeth and reached out to check Ning Yu’s wound.
But Ning Yu suddenly opened his eyes. His dark gaze was sharp as he looked at Ji Ling and said flatly, “I’m fine.”
Ji Ling pressed his lips together and stared coldly at him. “Really?”
Ning Yu’s thin lips curved slightly. His gaze was teasing as he smirked. “It’s just a minor injury. Not like I can fool you anymore, right?”
Ji Ling recalled how this guy had a history of playing the victim. A dignified SSS-Level evolutionary shamelessly pretending to be weak in front of him—definitely untrustworthy.
So Ji Ling dropped his hand and sneered. “At least you’re self-aware.”
Then, without warning, he swiftly reached out again, catching Ning Yu off guard as he yanked up his shirt!
A gaping, charred wound as thick as an arm ran straight through Ning Yu’s abdomen. The surrounding flesh was completely burned. Ji Ling’s fingers trembled as he held onto the fabric. This was what he called a minor injury?
Ji Ling looked up at Ning Yu, his chest heaving with anger. “I knew it! Not a single honest word ever comes out of your mouth!”
Ning Yu was momentarily stunned before calmly pulling his shirt back down to cover the gruesome wound. He sighed. “You’re not as easy to fool as before. But don’t worry, I won’t die.”
Ji Ling glared at him. “Who’s worried about you?!”
Ning Yu smiled faintly. His dark eyes were gentle, his voice soft, with an almost imperceptible hint of fondness. “Mhm.”
Ji Ling: “……”
So frustrating! He had clearly tried his best to express his anger, yet every time, it felt like punching cotton! He really wanted to beat this bastard to death!
Forget it. In the end, it didn’t really matter.
Ji Ling took a deep breath, looked into Ning Yu’s eyes, and finally made up his mind. “Hand me over.”
Ning Yu’s expression froze. After a moment, the always calm and composed eyes darkened with a sharp, painful glint. His thin lips pressed tightly together, and he seemed to force out each word through gritted teeth. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”
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