Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 651 Open your heart
The G-series train sped smoothly across the North China Plain, like a silver shuttle cutting through the deepening twilight.

Outside the window, the dazzling lights of the capital city were gradually replaced by the harvested wilderness and the dark silhouettes of distant mountains.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the interior of the carriage in a warm golden light, softening the contours of Chen Xi's profile.

Li Jingyi sat by the window, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the rapidly receding scenery outside.

But most of the time, her gaze fell on the man beside her.

Her fingers intertwined naturally with his, resting on his warm knee, a silent intimacy and tacit understanding flowing between their fingertips.

After the awe-inspiring military parade in the capital and the days spent together, their relationship has entered a new, unspoken stage.

A sweet and reassuring atmosphere filled the air.

Chen Xi's other hand unconsciously rubbed the smooth edge of the phone, but his gaze was not focused on it.

He was immersed in the turmoil within his heart.

The state-of-the-art equipment on display at the military parade, especially the parts he knew the inside story about, acted like a key, unlocking the tightly closed door in his heart.

He longed to share with Li Jingyi that grander, more real universe, the one that embodied his countless efforts—not the brutal details of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, despair and terror, but the resilience of humanity struggling to survive in the dark galaxy, the deep reason why he chose to bring back fragments of technology from that world to silently strengthen his homeland.

He believed that with Li Jingyi's keen insight and intelligence, she would be able to understand the weight and necessity behind this.

However, every time the words were about to come out, they were swallowed back down.

The essence of the 40K universe is despair and an endless war.

Once you learn of that world's existence, it's like dropping a drop of ink into pure water; you can never return to complete purity and tranquility.

He knew the dangers lurking there: the whispers of the warp, the corruption of chaos, the threat of aliens... These were far beyond the imagination of an ordinary person in peacetime, let alone something they should have to endure.

He loved her, and for that reason, he was extremely reluctant to bring this potential, enormous shadow into her bright and warm world, and not want her clear eyes to be tainted with even a trace of fear of the deep darkness.

Is dragging her into this vortex a form of protection for her, or another form of harm?

This hesitation was like a thin rope wrapped around his throat, making it difficult for him to speak.

Li Jingyi keenly noticed his silence, his occasional daze, and the fleeting heaviness in his deep eyes that seemed out of place with the warm atmosphere in the carriage.

She felt his fingertips unconsciously tighten slightly, and sensed the subtle, indescribable fluctuations in his aura—like that momentary feeling of unease at the hospital ward entrance in the Hainan rainforest, extremely faint but undeniably present.

She gently squeezed his fingers, drawing his attention back from his distant thoughts.

“Chen Xi,” her voice was gentle, like a breeze sweeping across a lake at dusk, without pressing for details, only with an understanding inquiry, “You seem to… have something to say? Or is something troubling you?”

Chen Xi snapped out of her reverie and met her clear and concerned gaze, which was filled with unreserved trust and understanding.

This intensified the inner conflict within him.

He took a deep breath and decided to at least take a small step.

“Jingyi,” he began, his voice lower than usual, “I do have…some very important things to do, about another part of my life, about…the deeper reasons behind my ability to participate in those projects and to qualify for the ceremony.”

He carefully chose his words, avoiding any dangerous terms. “It is a… very complex and vast world, it… beyond the imagination of ordinary people. I hope you can understand this, because it is of great importance to me, and also because… I want you to understand a more complete me.”

He paused, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, revealing a genuine struggle: "But knowing those things also means bearing the corresponding weight. It's not all light and glory; it even... harbors risks that ordinary people cannot comprehend. I..."

His words trailed off again, his eyes filled with protectiveness and a hint of barely perceptible pain: "I'm afraid. Afraid that once I unveil that veil for you, I'll no longer be able to shield you from the storms of that world. I'd rather you live forever in the sunlight, peaceful and serene."

Li Jing listened quietly, without interrupting or showing any surprise or fear. She simply squeezed his hand tighter and gently smoothed his slightly furrowed brow with her fingertips, a gentle yet comforting gesture.

“I can feel it,” she said softly, her gaze gentle yet firm. “You carry something far away and heavy in your heart. I had a vague feeling about it back in Hainan. It makes you stand out from the crowd, and it also makes you seem sometimes… distant.”

She tilted her head slightly, leaning on his shoulder, the faint fragrance of her hair lingering around his nose.

“You don’t need to tell me now, Chen Xi.” Her voice was almost a whisper, yet it reached his ears clearly. “I’ll wait for you, until you feel ready, until you feel comfortable letting me share the burden. Whatever that may be, I believe you have your reasons, and I believe you’re telling me to share, not to drag me into trouble.”

She looked up, gazing into his eyes again, a reassuring smile curving her lips: "So, don't worry, don't rush. We have plenty of time. I'll be here whenever you're ready, ready to listen to your 'other half's' life."

These kind and trusting words instantly dispelled the turmoil and heaviness in Chen Xi's heart like a warm current.

He was overwhelmed with emotion and a sense of relief.

He stretched out his arms and gently pulled her into his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her head.

"Thank you... thank you, Jingyi." His voice was slightly hoarse. "Thank you for understanding."

Li Jingyi gently shook her head in his arms, her voice muffled by his shirt, yet carrying a smile: "There's nothing to thank me for. It's because it's you."

However, even in the embrace, the deeper worry in Chen Xi's heart did not completely dissipate; on the contrary, it became even clearer.

Li Jingyi's thoughtfulness spared him from making a difficult choice for the time being, but it also made him increasingly aware of an unavoidable reality: his connection with the 40K world was becoming closer and more inseparable.

The construction of the Rostov sub-sector, the political infighting within the Empire, the vigilance against Chaos and the Xenomorphs... countless clues and related matters are constantly encroaching on his time and mind.

Maintaining balance is becoming increasingly difficult.

While reviewing documents from 3K Era Company, his thoughts often drifted to the defense deployments on the other side of the cosmos; while taking a walk with Li Jingyi, the latest technical briefing from the Sage of Cal University might suddenly flash through his mind.

The weight of two worlds pressed down on his shoulders, sometimes making him feel a sense of detachment from the warmth of daily life, and sometimes making him yearn for the ordinary when dealing with the cruel affairs of the empire.

Li Jingyi became a warm and solid anchor connecting these two worlds.

Her presence reminded him of the ultimate purpose of the fight—to protect these tangible, ordinary yet precious moments of warmth and smiles, and to prevent more worlds from falling into the eternal darkness of 40K.

However, the prerequisite for protecting this warmth is that he must continue to engage in, manage, and balance that dark world.

This is a contradictory cycle in itself.

The train swayed slightly as it headed towards home.

Outside the window, night had completely fallen, and the city lights in the distance resembled stars scattered across the earth.

Chen Xi held Li Jingyi in his arms, his gaze fixed on the boundless night sky outside the window, as if he could pierce through time and space to see the war-torn Milky Way.

His gaze gradually became more and more determined.

No matter how many challenges lie ahead, no matter how difficult it is to balance the two worlds, he must keep going.

To protect the land that gave him birth and nurtured him, for the hard-won warmth in his heart, and for the person he decided to walk hand in hand with.

He took a deep breath and hugged the warmth in his arms even tighter.

The road ahead is still long, but he is no longer confused.

(End of this chapter)