Chapter 242: Back To That Key Moment ⑧

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Chapter 242: Back To That Key Moment ⑧

“I was seriously sharing my romantic experience with our son,” Yonis defended himself.

“You were single for decades, couldn’t even find one compatible Guide, and only got accepted by me because a blind cat happened to stumble across a dead mouse. What romantic experience do you have to share?” Shang Ke mercilessly exposed the barren wasteland that was Yonis’s love life.

Yonis’s fragile heart immediately took ten thousand points of damage.

“And you, Leo—stop snickering. How old are you? Of all the things you could learn, you chose dating? If you meet someone you like, you can start as childhood friends and get to know each other properly. Jumping straight to calling people your boyfriend or girlfriend every other day—are you planning to become some scumbag who leaves broken hearts everywhere? If I ever catch you playing with someone’s feelings, I’ll personally teach you what domestic discipline looks like. Also, take your leg off the coffee table. You know perfectly well your legs are short, yet you still insist on copying your father and trying to look cool.”

Father and son simultaneously lowered their legs from the coffee table. Shang Ke had spoiled the two of them so thoroughly over the past few years that they had apparently become a little too comfortable.

Leo looked at his papa with an expression of profound heartbreak. “Papa, if you criticize your own son this mercilessly, aren’t you afraid of leaving him psychologically scarred?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve studied psychology. If a certain someone develops any antisocial tendencies while growing up, I’ll notice immediately and deal with them appropriately.” Four or five years had been more than enough for Shang Ke to understand Leo inside and out. The boy was not only precocious but exceptionally intelligent.

Leo: “…” Are you really still the gentle, approachable papa I know?

After thoroughly lecturing both father and son, Shang Ke turned to head back to the kitchen, then added over his shoulder, “Oh, right. Invite that girl over for dinner another day.”

“Why? I’m planning to break up with her tomorrow.” Leo had assumed his papa genuinely wanted him to give the relationship a try. Heaven knew he had no interest whatsoever in little kids. The only reason he had brought a “girlfriend” home was because a certain someone on vacation had been monopolizing his papa all day, forcing Leo to find some way to remind everyone that he existed.

“Didn’t you tell her ‘today’s ingredients aren’t very fresh’ and promise to ‘invite her next time’? If you say something, you have to follow through.”

He had only said that to get rid of her! The girl had been rude to his papa, and Leo already considered himself extraordinarily civilized for not losing his temper on the spot. Now he had to invite her back for dinner too?

“No, Papa…” Let me explain.

“It’s settled.” Shang Ke gave him no chance to refuse and drifted away.

Leo stared after his papa with a conflicted expression, feeling as though he had personally dug the pit now swallowing him. From the corner of his eye, he spotted his father staring straight ahead at the television, and his mood worsened immediately.

Don’t think I can’t tell you’re gloating just because you’re wearing that solemn expression! That swaggering golden lion beside you—Moro—has completely betrayed what you’re feeling!

That evening, Shang Ke leaned against the headboard with his computer, casually browsing the web when he happened across a report about psychic-dissociation gas. He remembered that when he had “died,” this gas had only just begun spreading beyond its original source, causing Zeder, a Sentinel, to fall into a dissociated sensory state. Improper treatment could even cause the condition to spread to others. Seven or eight years had now passed, yet instead of being brought under control, the gas had evolved. Guide treatment was becoming increasingly difficult, and episodes were lasting longer and longer.

The toxin attacked psychic power through scent. It had little effect on ordinary people, but could be devastating to those with evolved psychic abilities. Shang Ke did not know its exact composition and could not yet formulate an antidote. Since it specifically targeted psychic power, however, perhaps that was also where he should look for a breakthrough.

“Keke.” Just as Shang Ke sank into thought, a hot body wrapped around him from behind.

“Yonis.” Shang Ke set the computer aside and looked seriously at the man beside him. “Shouldn’t we have a proper discussion about how we’re raising our child?”

“Mm. You’re right. He does need a proper lesson,” Yonis agreed wholeheartedly.

“Education, not punishment!” Shang Ke corrected irritably.

“Fine. How do you plan to ‘educate’ him?”

“Children are easily influenced by the adults around them, so I think that as his parents, we should set a good example.”

“One of us is a Rank-A Dark Sentinel and the other is a Rank-S Guide. How much better an example does he need?” Yonis looked genuinely confused.

So in this man’s mind, high status plus overwhelming combat power automatically equaled a good role model?

Shang Ke explained, exasperated, “I mean our character, manners, and values!”

Yonis replied, “And which of those are we lacking?”

“Take your hand off my thigh first. Then we can discuss whether you qualify,” Shang Ke warned.

Yonis behaved as though he had not heard a word. Not only did his hand remain where it was, it slid even farther inward.

“Yonis!” Shang Ke habitually slept naked, and tonight was no exception. He wore only a loose robe, leaving him almost completely undefended beneath it.

“Keke…” Yonis buried his face against Shang Ke’s chest while pressing his body between Shang Ke’s parted thighs.

“Wait. What did you put on your fingers?” Slick fingers, cool to the touch, slid and twisted inside his tight passage. Before long, the coolness gave way to wet heat, then flared into fire that raced straight up his spine.

“A new intimacy aid. It’s supposed to make things feel better for your partner,” Yonis explained, his voice hoarse.

“…” Shang Ke gripped the sheets tightly, a trace of sensual color spreading through his expression.

Yonis’s gaze darkened, his breathing turning hot and heavy. Soon, the fingers inside Shang Ke withdrew, only to be replaced by something much thicker and harder that pushed in until it was fully buried. After giving Shang Ke a moment to adjust, Yonis began thrusting with deliberate depth, changing his rhythm from fast to slow and shifting the angle again and again. In the dim light, two tightly entwined silhouettes moved against the wall, rising and falling together amid broken moans and the wet friction of bodies.

“Wait, you—” Shang Ke did not manage to stop him before a rush of heat spilled deep inside him. “Yonis, you—you forgot protection again!”

“Keke.” Yonis’s low voice sounded beside his ear. “Don’t you think Leo gets lonely by himself? Why don’t we give him a few younger brothers or sisters?”

“…” Shang Ke was not exactly opposed to having more children. He was simply afraid that once he gave in, things would spiral out of control. Who knew whether this inexhaustible man would revive his insane plan of “one baby every three months”? A male Guide’s embryo could be removed for artificial gestation after three months.

But when Shang Ke saw the anticipation in Yonis’s eyes, his resolve inevitably softened.

Yonis sensed his wavering and immediately pressed his advantage. “Male Guides don’t conceive easily. Even if we stop using protection, it doesn’t mean you’ll get pregnant.”

Shang Ke thought about it and had to admit Yonis had a point. They had previously used protection mainly out of concern for his health, not because he truly did not want more children. Besides, sooner or later he and Yonis would leave this world. The thought of leaving Leo completely alone after that was difficult to bear.

With that in mind, Shang Ke finally nodded and stopped insisting on contraception.

Yonis was delighted and kissed the man in his arms deeply…

Over the next several days, Yonis worked every bit as “hard” as Shang Ke had expected. Sometimes, whenever Leo was out, he would even take Shang Ke right there in the living room or kitchen.

Shang Ke was sorely tempted to tell him that having sex too frequently could actually reduce the chance of conception. But since Yonis would soon be leaving on a mission, Shang Ke let him have his way. His only hard limit was that there would be no shameless adults-only performances in front of Leo.

Half a month later, Yonis received mission orders and had no choice but to temporarily leave behind his blissfully active sex life. Before he departed, Shang Ke handed both father and son a jade pendant.

“I carved these myself. Keep them with you as protective charms.”

Yonis hung the pendant around his neck, kissed his lover’s forehead, and smiled. “I’ll be back soon.”

Shang Ke smiled and kissed him back, then patted Leo’s head, signaling for him to say goodbye to his father.

Leo said calmly, “I wish you a safe and successful mission, Father.”

Although part of him wanted to cling to his father like a real child, the stiff pattern of their relationship in his previous life still affected him. He simply could not bring himself to act like a tearful little boy reluctant to see his father go.

Yonis was obviously just as awkward. He merely gave Leo a cool nod before turning and leaving.

After seeing Yonis off, Shang Ke drove Leo to school. The school was some distance from the villa, and bodyguards normally handled the trip. Shang Ke was feeling a little low today, however, so he decided to spend a bit more time with his son and quietly seek some comfort.

“Papa, don’t worry. I won’t casually bring ‘girlfriends’ home anymore,” Leo suddenly said.

Shang Ke was speechless. Did the brat think Shang Ke had personally driven him to school just to supervise his dating life?

“Since you brought it up, Leo, I do want you to be careful about this.” Shang Ke spoke slowly. “You were born with an extraordinary advantage. You’re a Dark Sentinel, yet you’re compatible with every Guide. In the future, if you give the slightest indication that you’re interested, countless Guides will be willing to choose you. But that very abundance of choice can make it easier to lose sight of what you actually want. Maybe it’s too early to say all this, but I know you understand. Leo, I have only one wish for you: live without betraying your conscience, and be happy.”

Leo fell silent. Unbidden, the words he had once seen in that photo album surfaced in his mind: To our beloved child. May you know peace and happiness all your life.

“I understand, Papa. I really do.” Leo had only begun to understand how deeply his parents loved him after both of them were dead. Now they were right beside him—clear, warm, and real—filling every empty corner of his once lonely memories.

After waving goodbye to his papa, Leo walked lightly into the crowd of innocent children…

Life remained calm and leisurely while Yonis was away.

Leo got exactly what he wanted and monopolized all of his papa’s attention. Even his occasional requests to sleep beside Shang Ke were accepted. Those happy days made him forget something extremely important.

Leo attended an elite elementary school where every student had the potential to awaken as a Sentinel or Guide. Some, including Leo, had already awakened psychic power.

On this particular day, the school conducted a psychic-landscape simulation. Several hundred students gathered inside a sealed metal training room to learn how to sense the different frequencies of psychic fluctuations. The exercise was considered safe, lasted twenty minutes, and was supervised by several teachers providing mental guidance.

Ten minutes into the training, one student suddenly collapsed without warning. Then a second fell, then a third… Eventually, even the teachers providing guidance succumbed.

Leo was in the training room as well. At first, he noticed nothing unusual. Only when a wave of dizziness suddenly struck his mind did his eyes snap open—and he found bodies sprawled everywhere. In the enormous training room, he was the only person still conscious!

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