DPM Chapter 28-Negotiation Part 1
Translated by Snowfall77
When Wu Xingyun opened his eyes, he found himself alone in the room, a sensation he still wasn’t comfortable with, although he’d tried to adjust.
He ate, washed, drilled, and studied by himself.
That night, Mozun did not return.
The next day. The boring life continued.
Day three. Day four. The same.
Originally, Wu Xingyun went back to the Federal base every seven days, then every three days, turning to once a day, or even staying there for several days.
He lay in his bedroom at the base, in a small, steel-encased space, feeling like he’d lost something. There was emptiness in his heart, an indescribable feeling, like a missing piece. He’d count his belongings, only to find nothing lacking.
The base was slowly expanding, two scientists having finally persuaded Mozun to let them set up an observatory, while psychologist Ai Lan was allowed to interview mutants and study their mentality.
As for the farmers, they’d began to grow crops, greatly improving the quality of meals. Wu Xingyun, tasting familiar favors, couldn’t help but think, had Mozun eaten these foods too?
Wu Xingyun didn’t know. He kept his head bowed, sitting with two soldiers and a farmer.
After taking a couple of bites, the farmer said to Wu Xingyun, “Sergeant, the Federation said they’d sent us another batch of seeds, but I heard the Night Demon army intercepted it mid-way. It’s been more than two months, and we still haven’t received it. Can you ask the Night Shard what’s going on?”
""
“Fine,” said Wu Xingyun, continuing to eat. He forked over some of a dish from m-21 star, a hometown specialty, into his mouth. Wu Xingyun was very sure. Mozun certainly did not eat this deliciously.
When Wu Xingyun had finished his meal, according to habit he took a nap. Upon waking up, he went to the signal station to report. His daily contact was a civilian officer of the military propaganda department. The officer chided Wu Xingyun that he hadn’t turned in any new videos for more than a month. Although there were many previous videos, they’d clearly all been shot at the same time. Using them much more would only cause rumors. The Federation asked for Wu Xingyun to arrange more recent videos.
At attention, Wu Xingyun saluted: “Yes.”
Coming out of the contact room, Wu Xingyun happened to meet some miners.
The miners told Wu Xingyun: “Sergeant, we recently discovered a new ore here. We want to get some, to study it, but the mutants objected. Can you……Talk to the Night Demon?”
Wu Xingyun told them listlessly: “Alright, got it.”
Although he’d agreed to all the requests, Wu Xingyun didn’t act on them. Instead, when he was doing his evening training, he ran to the crater overlooking Mozun’s city. Sitting on the high ground, he stared at the flickering bulbs in the distance.
Meteors were flowing through the nocturnal sky again, the heavens elegantly ignited, a magnificent illumination of the dark night.
Wu Xingyun could see the lights of Mozun’s house from afar, knowing it probably meant that Mozun was back home. Wu Xingyun could go find Mozun. To say what though? Wu Xingyun didn’t know. He hadn’t thought it out well enough, Wu Xingyun felt. He should think about it some more.
In that way, Wu Xingyun would run from the base to the crater almost every night, stand there for a while, noting the glow of the small house, then return to the Federal base.
Finally, the day come where he couldn’t drag it out anymore. Almost every Federal person had sought him out at least once. Everyone had a problem, needing Wu Xingyun to communicate with Mozun. Driven out, homeless, Wu Xingyun knew he shouldn’t go back to the base until he’d met with Mozun.
Apprehensive, Wu Xingyun marched towards the small building. When he came to the house’s lane, music was floating in the breeze, the sound of a piano, melodious and ethereal, weeping, a lover’s whisper, a clear, cold spring in the midst of barrenness.
Standing outside for a long time, Wu Xingyun listened to the notes, inexplicably thinking of the day Mozun and he had returned together. When Mozun had kissed him.
Wu Xingyun shook his head, throwing all his unwanted thoughts away. A soldier sent to an arranged marriage shouldn’t have sentiment for the enemy.
Silently telling himself that, Wu Xingyun pushed opened the front door.
Mozun’s residence was unlocked, the same as before.
On a planet of just over a hundred people, and those people being your friends, locking doors was apparently unnecessary.
Wu Xingyun deliberately kept his footsteps heavy, being very aware of how sharp Mozun’s senses were. Even if Wu Xingyun tried to move softly and quietly, he’d be found out by the other side.
Going to the living room, Wu Xingyun found it empty and dark. Only the delicate sound of the piano, wafting down, lingering in the still air.
The only light Wu Xingyun could find came from the third floor. Wu Xingyun remembered that Mozun had claimed that the third floor had been unvisited for hundreds of years. Used as a storage place for odds and ends, nothing else.
Wu Xingyun climbed the staircase to the third floor, and stood in the doorway of the spare room, a little startled.
The room had been cleared and tidied, with nearly a hundred square meters of space. In the center, silver-haired Liu Meng played the piano, Mozun sitting beside him, absorbed in painting something. The canvas’ back was to Wu Xingyun, so Wu Xingyun couldn’t see what Mozun was working on. Not that Wu Xingyun was too curious to find out.
The solitary light wasn’t that bright, dying the room in a warm, sunset-like haze, white curtains floating like a light mantle.
Wu Xingyun saw the playing Liu Meng turn his head to steal glances at Mozun, gaze extremely gentle.
In response, Mozun would raise his head to smile at Liu Meng. A tacit understanding between the two of them, not even needing to use words to communicate.
Wu Xingyun felt like a stone breaking into the heart of a peaceful lake, destroying everything. But no matter how awkward it was, he had to talk to Mozun, he couldn’t just run away like that.
He coughed in the doorway, disrupting the quiet atmosphere.
Liu Meng ceased his playing. He didn’t say any greeting to Wu Xingyun, didn’t say anything at all, simply got up from the piano, and sat by the window with a book.
Mozun didn’t raise his head, didn’t move. He asked: “What can I do for you?”
The tone was indifferent and frozen, making Wu Xingyun want to turn around and go.
“You come out, I have something to tell you,” said Wu Xingyun.
Mozun’s head remained lowered. “I’m busy right now. Whatever your something is, we can talk about it in a few days.”
Unwilling to overlook, Wu Xingyun retorted: “I don’t think you’re busy at all. I really do have something.”
Putting down his brush, Mozun finally looked up slightly towards Wu Xingyun.
It was the first time in a month and a half that Wu Xingyun had seen Mozun’s face. The expression was cold, the eyes flat. Other than that, there was no change.
Parked at the doorframe, Wu Xingyun stubbornly waited for Mozun to come out.
The two of them started at each other for a moment. Until Mozun stood up and walked out of the room, going to the balcony with Wu Xingyun.
“What is it?” Asked Mozun.
Wu Xingyun found he couldn’t say a word. His gaze strayed back to the room, wanting to ask why Liu Meng was there. But he didn’t know how to ask.
“He’ll live here in the future.” Mozun’s voice was tranquil. “That’s the way it’s been since a long time ago. He only moved out after you came.”
“Oh.” An indescribable feeling filling Wu Xingyun’s heart, one he didn’t have the guts to name. He would have liked to know exactly what the relationship between Mozun and Liu Meng was. Yet it seemed he didn’t have the right to ask.
DPM Chapter 28-Negotiation Part 1
Translated by Snowfall77
When Wu Xingyun opened his eyes, he found himself alone in the room, a sensation he still wasn’t comfortable with, although he’d tried to adjust.
He ate, washed, drilled, and studied by himself.
That night, Mozun did not return.
The next day. The boring life continued.
Day three. Day four. The same.
Originally, Wu Xingyun went back to the Federal base every seven days, then every three days, turning to once a day, or even staying there for several days.
He lay in his bedroom at the base, in a small, steel-encased space, feeling like he’d lost something. There was emptiness in his heart, an indescribable feeling, like a missing piece. He’d count his belongings, only to find nothing lacking.
The base was slowly expanding, two scientists having finally persuaded Mozun to let them set up an observatory, while psychologist Ai Lan was allowed to interview mutants and study their mentality.
As for the farmers, they’d began to grow crops, greatly improving the quality of meals. Wu Xingyun, tasting familiar favors, couldn’t help but think, had Mozun eaten these foods too?
Wu Xingyun didn’t know. He kept his head bowed, sitting with two soldiers and a farmer.
After taking a couple of bites, the farmer said to Wu Xingyun, “Sergeant, the Federation said they’d sent us another batch of seeds, but I heard the Night Demon army intercepted it mid-way. It’s been more than two months, and we still haven’t received it. Can you ask the Night Shard what’s going on?”
""
“Fine,” said Wu Xingyun, continuing to eat. He forked over some of a dish from m-21 star, a hometown specialty, into his mouth. Wu Xingyun was very sure. Mozun certainly did not eat this deliciously.
When Wu Xingyun had finished his meal, according to habit he took a nap. Upon waking up, he went to the signal station to report. His daily contact was a civilian officer of the military propaganda department. The officer chided Wu Xingyun that he hadn’t turned in any new videos for more than a month. Although there were many previous videos, they’d clearly all been shot at the same time. Using them much more would only cause rumors. The Federation asked for Wu Xingyun to arrange more recent videos.
At attention, Wu Xingyun saluted: “Yes.”
Coming out of the contact room, Wu Xingyun happened to meet some miners.
The miners told Wu Xingyun: “Sergeant, we recently discovered a new ore here. We want to get some, to study it, but the mutants objected. Can you……Talk to the Night Demon?”
Wu Xingyun told them listlessly: “Alright, got it.”
Although he’d agreed to all the requests, Wu Xingyun didn’t act on them. Instead, when he was doing his evening training, he ran to the crater overlooking Mozun’s city. Sitting on the high ground, he stared at the flickering bulbs in the distance.
Meteors were flowing through the nocturnal sky again, the heavens elegantly ignited, a magnificent illumination of the dark night.
Wu Xingyun could see the lights of Mozun’s house from afar, knowing it probably meant that Mozun was back home. Wu Xingyun could go find Mozun. To say what though? Wu Xingyun didn’t know. He hadn’t thought it out well enough, Wu Xingyun felt. He should think about it some more.
In that way, Wu Xingyun would run from the base to the crater almost every night, stand there for a while, noting the glow of the small house, then return to the Federal base.
Finally, the day come where he couldn’t drag it out anymore. Almost every Federal person had sought him out at least once. Everyone had a problem, needing Wu Xingyun to communicate with Mozun. Driven out, homeless, Wu Xingyun knew he shouldn’t go back to the base until he’d met with Mozun.
Apprehensive, Wu Xingyun marched towards the small building. When he came to the house’s lane, music was floating in the breeze, the sound of a piano, melodious and ethereal, weeping, a lover’s whisper, a clear, cold spring in the midst of barrenness.
Standing outside for a long time, Wu Xingyun listened to the notes, inexplicably thinking of the day Mozun and he had returned together. When Mozun had kissed him.
Wu Xingyun shook his head, throwing all his unwanted thoughts away. A soldier sent to an arranged marriage shouldn’t have sentiment for the enemy.
Silently telling himself that, Wu Xingyun pushed opened the front door.
Mozun’s residence was unlocked, the same as before.
On a planet of just over a hundred people, and those people being your friends, locking doors was apparently unnecessary.
Wu Xingyun deliberately kept his footsteps heavy, being very aware of how sharp Mozun’s senses were. Even if Wu Xingyun tried to move softly and quietly, he’d be found out by the other side.
Going to the living room, Wu Xingyun found it empty and dark. Only the delicate sound of the piano, wafting down, lingering in the still air.
The only light Wu Xingyun could find came from the third floor. Wu Xingyun remembered that Mozun had claimed that the third floor had been unvisited for hundreds of years. Used as a storage place for odds and ends, nothing else.
Wu Xingyun climbed the staircase to the third floor, and stood in the doorway of the spare room, a little startled.
The room had been cleared and tidied, with nearly a hundred square meters of space. In the center, silver-haired Liu Meng played the piano, Mozun sitting beside him, absorbed in painting something. The canvas’ back was to Wu Xingyun, so Wu Xingyun couldn’t see what Mozun was working on. Not that Wu Xingyun was too curious to find out.
The solitary light wasn’t that bright, dying the room in a warm, sunset-like haze, white curtains floating like a light mantle.
Wu Xingyun saw the playing Liu Meng turn his head to steal glances at Mozun, gaze extremely gentle.
In response, Mozun would raise his head to smile at Liu Meng. A tacit understanding between the two of them, not even needing to use words to communicate.
Wu Xingyun felt like a stone breaking into the heart of a peaceful lake, destroying everything. But no matter how awkward it was, he had to talk to Mozun, he couldn’t just run away like that.
He coughed in the doorway, disrupting the quiet atmosphere.
Liu Meng ceased his playing. He didn’t say any greeting to Wu Xingyun, didn’t say anything at all, simply got up from the piano, and sat by the window with a book.
Mozun didn’t raise his head, didn’t move. He asked: “What can I do for you?”
The tone was indifferent and frozen, making Wu Xingyun want to turn around and go.
“You come out, I have something to tell you,” said Wu Xingyun.
Mozun’s head remained lowered. “I’m busy right now. Whatever your something is, we can talk about it in a few days.”
Unwilling to overlook, Wu Xingyun retorted: “I don’t think you’re busy at all. I really do have something.”
Putting down his brush, Mozun finally looked up slightly towards Wu Xingyun.
It was the first time in a month and a half that Wu Xingyun had seen Mozun’s face. The expression was cold, the eyes flat. Other than that, there was no change.
Parked at the doorframe, Wu Xingyun stubbornly waited for Mozun to come out.
The two of them started at each other for a moment. Until Mozun stood up and walked out of the room, going to the balcony with Wu Xingyun.
“What is it?” Asked Mozun.
Wu Xingyun found he couldn’t say a word. His gaze strayed back to the room, wanting to ask why Liu Meng was there. But he didn’t know how to ask.
“He’ll live here in the future.” Mozun’s voice was tranquil. “That’s the way it’s been since a long time ago. He only moved out after you came.”
“Oh.” An indescribable feeling filling Wu Xingyun’s heart, one he didn’t have the guts to name. He would have liked to know exactly what the relationship between Mozun and Liu Meng was. Yet it seemed he didn’t have the right to ask.
