However, the situation was beyond Qin Chu's expectations. Although Qin Rui looked thin and weak, apart from not being able to sleep, his physical functions were quite strong.
Despite being repeatedly knocked unconscious by Qin Chu, she was not negatively affected.
At first, Qin Chu was a little worried about Qin Rui's condition, but after observing him for a few days, he found that he was slowly returning to normal, and Qin Chu gradually felt relieved.
Qin Rui is very satisfied with his life recently. He is no longer troubled by insomnia and has plenty of time to spend with Qin Chu.
He trained with Qin Chu on the training field, and although his small arms and legs drew a lot of ridicule, he didn't care at all. Qin Rui had no doubt that when he grew up, none of these people would be his match.
He will have enough power to protect his brother.
Qin Rui hoped that this comfortable and wonderful life could continue indefinitely, but his happiness was soon shattered.
He and Qin Chu were about to part ways again.
Author's Note:
Qin Ruitian was only interested in Qin Chu.
Others... refer to the tragic fate of the poor players.
He was so crazy that even if he couldn't sleep for the rest of his life, he would still want to go back to Qin Chu's side...
Chapter 68, Fourth Story (14)
"Can't I really come along?"
Watching Qin Chu put on his armor, Qin Rui had lost count of how many times he had asked this question.
He asked before going to bed last night, and he asked again when he first learned that Qin Chu was going to war. Even when he was at the training ground, he couldn't help but ask the soldiers around him why he couldn't go with them.
Don't they need to eat while they're fighting? He could go with them to wash vegetables.
Later, Qin Rui learned that unlike in the military camp, this time they were going to reclaim the city that had been seized by the Xiongnu. Let alone food, they were lucky to even have a chance to eat dry rations.
This was the first encounter with the Xiongnu since arriving at the border. Of the several generals in the military camp, only Qin Chu was sent, and the task of capturing the city was difficult.
Apart from Qin Chu's former subordinates, no one had any hope of victory.
Qin Rui was very clever and saw the situation very clearly.
He was somewhat worried about Qin Chu, but he didn't want to hold Qin Chu back. Although he couldn't help asking so many times, he knew in his heart that he couldn't go with her; she was too young.
This is different from what happened with Dr. Su; Qin Rui didn't feel as bad as last time.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
Looking at the child's reluctant eyes, Qin Chu felt a bit curious.
First Legion starships are often stationed in peripheral star systems to defend against beast tides, and some soldiers are often heartbroken when they leave because they are separated from their families. Before each departure, the harbor is filled with a somber atmosphere.
Some parents are reluctant to part with their children, while some babies who have just started talking cry out for their father or mother.
Even after boarding the warship, the sadness lingered, and Qin Chu often saw his subordinates secretly tearing up.
Qin Chu was initially puzzled, but later he roughly understood what kind of feeling it was, though he didn't understand it and had never truly experienced it.
His biological parents were also soldiers, so logically, he should have had times when he cried and clung to his parents, refusing to let go. But Qin Chu had no memory of that; since being adopted, he had either been in military school or lived on a warship.
Qin Chu's closest relationships in life were his comrades-in-arms and his adoptive father. His comrades-in-arms were always there when he went to war, and his adoptive father never felt sad about leaving him. He just felt that it would be good for him to go and gain experience.
So before each departure, Qin Chu was always the first to board the warship, then he would stand in front of the transparent window and watch his comrades and their families reluctantly part ways in the distance.
He watched this scene calmly; he had witnessed it many times, but had never experienced it himself.
This was the first time that someone had stood in front of him and hugged him reluctantly before he set off, trying to persuade him to stay.
That ethereal emotion seemed to have become real for the first time, making Qin Chu unable to resist reaching out and touching Qin Rui's head.
Qin Rui was still very down.
He looked up at Qin Chu, who was now dressed in armor, calculated the time, and said with a bitter face, "I heard that you won't be back for more than a month this time, brother."
Some even say that Qin and Chu will never return.
Qin Chu picked up the child, analyzed the situation for a moment, and gave him a reply: "It won't be that long. I won't come back then. You will come with the team to find me, and then you can live in the city."
Seeing Qin Chu's certainty, Qin Rui felt relieved.
He trusted Qin Chu; his brother was undoubtedly the most capable.
Sitting there watching Qin Chu prepare his weapon, Qin Rui glanced at the longsword in Qin Chu's hand, then looked down at his own skinny arms. He usually ignored the mockery of some soldiers on the training ground, but now he genuinely wanted to grow up quickly.
He suddenly asked Qin Chu, "Brother, is it because I'm a boy that I can't go with you?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Chu subconsciously glanced outside the tent, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he walked over and flicked Qin Rui's head: "Don't mention this."
Qin Rui knew he had to conceal his identity, but he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "They all say that the boys are all thin and small."
Qin Chu couldn't help but laugh: "Do I look thin and small to you?"
After saying this, Qin Chu's expression suddenly stiffened, and he wanted to take it back. He forgot that Qin Rui could only see the appearance of the data body he occupied, which was quite thin and small.
Normally, he wouldn't have thought much of it; even when he was mocked when he first entered the army, Qin Chu didn't care much. But now, thinking about how Qin Rui always called this data entity "brother," and how weak this data entity was...
Qin Chu felt a little conflicted, afraid of hearing the child say, "Brother, you're quite short too."
Fortunately, Qin Rui didn't think he was short. Instead, she shook her head vigorously and said, "Brother is not short at all!"
Qin Chu thought to himself, "He really is a child; he thinks everyone is tall."
Qin Rui wasn't lying; he genuinely thought Qin Chu was quite tall, taller than many of the people around him. He was slender and tall, looking very strong, and although his face was handsome, it could be quite intimidating when he was serious.
He once saw Qin Chu's back while he was taking a bath, and there were some horrifying scars on it.
Therefore, Qin Rui couldn't understand why Lao Wu and the others said that Qin Chu was ridiculed and looked down upon when he first entered the army.
Are those people blind? How dare they provoke his brother?
He couldn't stay with Qin Rui for long. After giving Qin Rui a final hug, Qin Chu mounted his horse and led his troops away.
Qin Rui stood there for a long time before being taken back.
Before leaving, Qin Chu's biggest worry was Qin Rui. This kid was a quest target in the game, someone every player wanted to kill, and he was also unwell and couldn't sleep.
If Noah hadn't said the area was sealed off and no new players would be coming in for the time being, Qin Chu wouldn't have left Qin Rui alone. Even so, Qin Chu still left two extra people for Qin Rui before leaving.
These two men are Qin Chu's brothers who would risk their lives for him. Even if Qin Rui's identity as the eldest prince is accidentally exposed, they can guarantee that Qin Rui's life will be safe.
However, one problem proved quite troublesome for Qin Chu: Qin Rui couldn't sleep. To help him rest, Qin Chu would knock him unconscious every two days.
However, he was gone for almost a month. Qin Rui couldn't stay without rest for that entire month, so Qin Chu handed the task over to his subordinate, Lao Qi.
After the incident where the rabbit rode on his face, Lao Qi was completely convinced of Qin Chu's abilities and would follow his every command.
But now the seventh brother has encountered a problem.
He sat in Qin Chu's military tent, staring wide-eyed at the child opposite him.
The child was quite cute and pretty, and was looking at him with his eyes crinkled. But being looked at by such an adorable little brat made Lao Qi gradually feel uneasy.
"Hey, are you going to sleep now? If you don't want to sleep, how about I take you to the kitchen to steal something to eat?"
Under Qin Rui's gaze, Lao Qi couldn't help but scratch his head and speak first.
Qin Chu kept him on for two reasons: firstly, because he trusted him enough, and secondly, because he was young, only sixteen or seventeen years old, and should be able to get along with Qin Rui, a young boy.
Getting along well... my ass.
The seventh brother gave the child across the way a sweet smile, but his words were quite rude: "Seventh brother, aren't you going home so late?"
The seventh brother was embarrassed for a moment after being jokingly told to leave, but he still told the truth: "Brother Qin asked me to protect you, so I have to sleep in this tent tonight."
Qin Chu originally thought that Lao Qi was a free spirit, and that even if Qin Rui didn't blow the tent roof off, he definitely wouldn't be averse to being with him.
Unexpectedly, a hint of displeasure flashed in Qin Rui's eyes after hearing Lao Qi's words.
This is his and his brother's tent, why should others be allowed to sleep here? So Qin Rui looked up and said the most manipulative thing with the sweetest expression: "Seventh Brother, you're so old, and you've been in the army camp for so long, how come you don't even have a place to sleep?"
The seventh brother, young and impetuous, immediately stood up upon hearing this: "Who said I don't have one? My tent is right there, and I'm the only one living there now!"
He was about to leave when he remembered something and turned back to Qin Rui, saying, "No, Brother Qin told me I have to watch you sleep."
Qin Rui lowered his eyes, thinking that he was still too young and would be completely unable to refuse in similar situations.
But he didn't want anyone else to stay in his and Qin Chu's home.
After thinking for a while, Qin Rui made a decision: "Seventh Brother, there's no one in your tent, I'll go sleep with you."
These words surprised the seventh brother.
Qin Rui immediately laughed: "What's wrong, Seventh Brother, you don't want to?"
"No, that's not it." The seventh brother looked a little puzzled. "It's just that before Brother Qin left, he told me that you're shy and don't like going to live with other people. He also told me not to force you."
Qin Rui's smile faltered, and he lowered his head, his deliberately feigned expression vanishing. He blinked twice, surprised that Qin Chu had specifically instructed the seventh brother on this.
Qin Rui felt a pang of tenderness in his heart. It turned out that Qin Chu had always remembered his reluctance when he went to see Doctor Su, and had also remembered his promise to him.
They wouldn't let him go with anyone else, and they wouldn't hand him over to anyone. Even if they had to leave for something, they would let him stay safely in their home.
Qin Rui blinked hard twice more to suppress the sudden surge of soreness.
Qin Chu has only been gone for a day, and he already can't help but want to go find Qin Chu.
In the end, Qin Rui didn't say anything, nor was he in the mood to put on a docile act for Lao Qi. He simply stood up, packed his things, and said to Lao Qi, "Let's go."
When they arrived at Lao Qi's place, Lao Qi wanted to imitate Qin Chu and knock Qin Rui unconscious.
Previously, Lao Qi had always thought this was a very simple task, and even felt that taking care of children was not challenging enough. It was a real pity that he couldn't go on the expedition with Qin Chu.
But now that it's time to actually take action, Lao Qi finds it difficult.
Qin Rui didn't show anything, but the moment he reached out, the kid turned and gave him a casual glance, and Lao Qi felt as if he were being stared at by something terrifying, and he didn't dare to squeeze.
At that moment, Qin Rui looked at him with a smile and said, "Seventh Brother, I'm not afraid of pain, just knock me out."
After trying several times, Lao Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the child lying on the bed, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
He pulled the blanket over Qin Rui, then lay down beside her and fell asleep, feeling at ease.
When Lao Qi started snoring, Qin Rui silently opened his eyes from under the covers, showing no sign of being knocked unconscious. He touched his neck; Lao Qi hadn't quite hit him properly, and he easily dodged by turning his head slightly.
Aside from Qin Chu, he wouldn't allow anyone else to knock him unconscious, and he wouldn't feel comfortable sleeping next to anyone else.