Chapter 1029 — Tacit Understanding
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
After this came a brief silence. Gao Yang focused on admiring the exquisite patterns on the cup before him; Luo Yan sank into a short spell of thought; and Beiyila seemed somewhat lost in reverie — she gazed at the shifting symbols and geometric structures in the distant sky, narrowing her eyes slightly, as though calculating something.
"I have actually thought about this before — when we had a chance to talk face to face like today, with both sides being fairly open with each other, what would you say to me," Luo Yan suddenly broke the silence, looking at Gao Yang, his sunken eye sockets like a deep pool. "Frankly, I never imagined the 'Vagrant Beyond the World' would discuss with me... ideals and the future."
"If we don't even dare talk about ideals and the future in the mindscape, then this world really has no future left," Gao Yang laughed, raising his teacup in a slight salute to Luo Yan. "I'm not actually an idealist. I believe more in practical experience and natural law, in solid interests and the regularities of things that can be measured by reason. But precisely because of that, when I speak of ideals, I am absolutely serious."
Luo Yan glanced at the teacup before him; the liquid in the cup reflected the clear blue sky, and all of it looked as flawless as the real world. He said casually, "Then for the sake of our great common ideal, will Cecil withdraw its troops unconditionally?"
"No," Gao Yang said mildly. "And I'll be demanding a good price."
"Ah, that sets my mind at ease," a trace of relaxation actually appeared on Luo Yan's ever-gloomy face. He raised his teacup. "Then we can continue all of this at the negotiating table later."
Gao Yang smiled in return, and the two finally reached a tacit understanding at a balance point both could accept. Only then did Luo Yan let out a soft breath; he seemed more relaxed still, and showed clear interest in this inconceivable space. He looked around and said with curiosity, "This really is an incredible place... but I'm concerned — while we talk here, what happens outside?"
"I've locally accelerated this space. As of now, only half a minute has passed in the real world outside," Gao Yang said. "Don't worry, everything is under control — an opportunity to talk like this rarely comes, and I want to ruin it even less than you do."
"How did you... pull me into this place?" Luo Yan asked seriously. "Is it related to that flying machine with a brain that I saw at the end?"
"It isn't a machine with a brain growing on it — it's a brain riding a machine," Beiyila, who had been silent for a long while, suddenly broke in. "We did indeed establish a connection with you through it."
"That thing is... startling," Luo Yan chose a relatively neutral word. "To be honest, when I first saw what was inside it, I almost struck out on instinct. It really doesn't look like a normal weapon — more like the product of some dark magic..."
"I agree with you on that, and I'm trying to improve it as much as I can," Gao Yang said helplessly, while seemingly casually glancing at Beiyila. "But I suggest you not pay too much attention to its appearance, because in a sense that thing... is actually a part of this lady, Beiyila."
This time, when Luo Yan looked at Beiyila again, his gaze could no longer be described as merely complicated.
But clearly Beiyila herself had no interest in pursuing the topic. Ignoring Luo Yan, she suddenly took on a concentrated look as though listening to something, then turned to Gao Yang. "Looks like matters outside are just about settled — Naretir has sent the all-clear signal."
As she spoke she rose to her feet, her figure already beginning to fade in the air. "Then I'll go deal with the temporary node — you two chat for a few more minutes before the link is cut."
Luo Yan looked at this Augustan ancestor from seven hundred years ago and finally could not help saying, "You are in Cecil now? Will you return to Typhon?"