THE PROTOSTAR

'So you want to say it is not a normal snake?' Zhu Jiu asked soon after they arrived in the Southeast hills.

'Mhm...' Zhao YunLan nodded, 'More precisely, a normal snake with some anomalies...'

'But you said that it heard my scream and as if it could see us, it chased us...' Zhao MingAn protested.

'It's your scent that startled it...It followed your movement due to YeZun's scent on you...'

'In the pantry...Why did the snake couldn't find me?'

'How long do you think we've been running for? Your real scent already replaced YeZun's...' Zhao YunLan shook his head.

'But...There is something that I don't understand...If it chases after Professor Shen then why did it always come late? And why did it depend on the smelling sense?' Zhao MingAn asked.

'True...Why is it always late?' Zhao YunLan lowers his gaze.

'It just natural for snakes to depend on their smelling sense, we are better than dogs in that department...' Suddenly, a lady's voice distracts them. 'We even can smell your fear. But, why is it always late, I also don't know the answer...' She proceeds as she walks approaching them.

'Zhu Hong...' Zhao YunLan recognized the lady, 'What are you doing here?'

'What else? Because this case is involving a Yashou, we as the leader of the snake tribe can't just sit still...' Zhu Hong replied.

'You know?' Zhao YunLan frowned.

'Chief Shen called us and informed us about your findings...' The lady replied.

'Ohh...' Zhao YunLan said.

'Ge, we already here. Then, what we should do?' Zhao MingAn asked.

'We better find your dear professor now...' Zhao YunLan replied.

'It's late already...Why don't you take some rest before you see him? Our camp is not too far from here...' Zhu Hong said.

'No...' Zhao YunLan refused, 'The sooner, the better...' He proceeds. 'Zhu Hong...Do you know where Professor Shen's campsite is?' Zhao YunLan asked the lady. Can't even think about another thing as his head is full of questions, Zhao YunLan even can't see the dejected face of Zhu Hong.

'I know...' Zhu Hong hides the disappointment in her face using the dark shade of the night.

'Then, let's go...' Zhao YunLan said.

After sometimes walking, they arrived at a huge campsite. 'That is the campsite...' Zhu Hong said, 'I just can take you this far...Only authorized people who can enter the site...'

'Alright...' Zhao YunLan replied, 'Thank you, Zhu Hong...'

'What did you say?' Zhu Hong was shocked when she heard those words.

'Alright...?'

'No...After that...'

'Thank you...' Zhao YunLan traced his words back confusedly, 'What happens?'

Zhu Hong look at Zhao YunLan's eyes, there are many questions she has right now. 'They said that the present Zhao YunLan will make you forget about who was he in the past. I don't believe them at first. But now, I believe it...'

Zhao YunLan smiles as he realizes that the lady still has a feeling for him, something he can't effort to deal with. 'Well some changes is not indicated the whole change...' Zhao YunLan said, 'Let's go...' He gestures to Zhao MingAn and Zhu Jiu, leaves the lady who fails to hide her disappointment from her face.

'Zhao YunLan...She likes you...' Zhu Jiu said, soon after they walk further.

'Zhu Ge...I, Zhao YunLan has no future, just a mere repairman. What can I do for her?' Zhao YunLan said.

'When most of the men will never let the chance slide, you think about her future...You really are something...'

'Zhu Ge, you praise me too much...' Zhao YunLan replied, keeping his actual reason.

When they arrived at the guard's post, several soldiers stop them.

'We coming here to meet Professor Shen...' Zhao YunLan said.

'Do you have an appointment?'

'No, we...Aaarrggh!' Zhao MingAn who replied out of goodwill has to receive a hard step on his toe.

'We have...' Zhao YunLan answered soon after his younger brother grimacing in pain, 'Actually, this is about Professor Shen's book...Professor Zhang can't go back so she asked me to hand the books to Professor Shen...Personally...' Zhao YunLan emphasizes the last word.

'We'll confirm it with Professor Shen...Please, wait here...' One of the soldiers said.

'Sure...' Zhao YunLan replied.

'Ge...What was that step for?' Zhao MingAn scowled.

'For your idiocy...' Zhao YunLan replied.

Not long after, Shen YeZun walks towards them along with the soldier. Zhao YunLan sighs, Shen Wei does not play around if it is about his younger brother's safety.

'Professor Shen!'

Sees the man, Zhao MingAn is just like a piece of metal that is pulled by a strong magnet. Zhao YunLan has no choice but to yank the young man's t-shirt, just like a mother cat that carries its baby.

'Zhao YunLan...MingAn...' Shen YeZun looks clueless, 'What happens?'

'That...Is a long story...' Zhao YunLan replied.

***********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************

Sitting around the table in Shen YeZun's private tent, accompanied by a pot of delicious tea, Zhao YunLan explains the situation. Shen YeZun only can stun as he heard the story, 'The snake chases after me? But what did I do wrong to it?' He asked stupidly.

'Professor Shen...Do you ever feel that you've hurt someone?' Zhao YunLan asked.

'I don't think I have...' Shen YeZun replied, 'But people sometimes do something that hurt someone else unknowingly...' He proceeds modestly.

Zhao YunLan sighs if only this YeZun was born in his era, he and Shen Wei will never meet any difficulties.

'Professor Shen...' Zhao MingAn grabs the man's hand, 'You don't have to worry...I will do anything to protect you...' He said to Zhao YunLan's irritation. Really, if the situation is not this tense, Zhao YunLan will gladfully kick his shameless younger brother's chair and watch the young man flustered.

'Thank you...But I don't think you have to do that...' Shen YeZun replied, 'My elder brother already sent his men around me...'

Just when they talking, an earthquake shakes their footing. Soon, hysterical screams echoed. Zhao YunLan rushes outside only to find the giant snake running amok in the campsite and what makes Zhao YunLan even confuse, the snake's size is twice larger than their last encounter.

'Ge...What happens?' Zhao MingAn confusedly asked.

'Can you see the snake?' Zhao YunLan asked, 'Why do I feel that the size is bigger and bigger?'

'Geez, Ge...You still have time to think about its size?' Zhao MingAn frowned.

See his comrades are all in hurry-scurry, Zhu Jiu not just stands still. With his fast movements, he helps everyone who is almost crushed by the snake's giant tail.

'Really, having him in our side is much better than fighting him...' Zhao YunLan muttered as he saw Zhu Jiu helping people.

Shen YeZun also rushes to help his students and co-workers who are terrified of the invasion, Zhao MingAn does everything to help the young professor and that is the time when Zhao YunLan sees someone so familiar with him.

'Wang YiKe...' He frowned scrutiny the lady, she uses gloves in her hands which is mean that the lady still possesses the same power as she used to.

However, Zhao YunLan has not had much time to reminisce as the snake's movements are twice stronger, and just by luck, it finds Shen YeZun. Slowly moving its tail, the snake is entering attack mode.

'YeZun! YeZun move!' Zhao YunLan shouted as he runs towards the man but Shen YeZun who is busy with his companions can't hear him.

Zhao MingAn who heard his elder brother's voice can't help but turn his head only to find a giant snake ready to dive to crush his beloved professor.

'Professor Shen!' Zhao MingAn jumped into the man and cover Shen YeZun with his body.

'Ah Ming, move! Idiot!' Zhao YunLan can't do anything but scream, his distance is too far to save his younger brother.

CRASH!

The snake's head hit the ground hard, crushed everything beneath, Zhao YunLan suffers a great blow when he saw his brother is disappeared as the dust misted up to the sky, covering everything.

'No...No...No...MingAn!'

Zhao YunLan's body turns cold as if his blood's temperature is dropped as he runs to find his younger brother. But when the dust drives off by the wind he could see Shen Wei's figure with a Jian in his hand, holding the snake's mouth before it hit Zhao MingAn. Zhao YunLan's body feels like lost the bone, he almost drops to the ground as he is beyond relieved. Shen Wei swings his Jian, throws the snake's head away. Everyone who sees that could see how tremendous power the man possesses.

'Get out from this place!' Shen Wei shouted at Zhao MingAn.

'Alright...' Zhao MingAn grabs Shen YeZun's body and drags the man out from the battleground.

'Ge...Be careful!' Shen YeZun shouted to his elder brother.

Shen Wei fights the snake fiercely, his power and style merge into one beautifully as they complete each other. However, the snake is very strong which is makes Shen Wei overwhelmed. When the snake almost can push the man back, the snake tribes in their snake form enter the arena and fight the giant snake along with Shen Wei.

Time passed, the snake tribe and Shen Wei start to lose their stamina but like carrying a power supply, the giant snake did not show any sign of tiredness.

'Gosh...We must help them...' Zhao YunLan refused to just stay still.

'But how?' Zhu Jiu asked.

'This is what will happen if the higher up refuse to involve their citizen...They are damn good to do their task but when the crisis comes they are damn passive...' Zhao YunLan curses so many times.

Zhao YunLan turns around as he searches for an idea but when he looks at Wang YiKe who hides in the corner, he somehow gets an inkling.

'Miss!' He calls out the girl.

'Ye...Yes...' Wang YiKe keeps hiding.

'We need your help...'

'Me...But I...'

'Come on...Don't be shy...' Zhao YunLan grabs her covered hand and pulls her immediately.

'Ge...' Zhao MingAn can't even do anything when he saw his elder brother dragging the girl.

Zhu Hong who sees the scenery can't help but be distracted, the snake whacks her body and force her to return to her human form. Some soldiers quickly pull the lady to save her.

'Mister...Mister...Where do you take me to?' Wang YiKe asked in afraid.

'To help them...' Zhao YunLan said.

'Help them? Me!?'

'Yes...' Zhao YunLan replied, turning to Zhu Jiu who looks at him in confusion. 'Zhu Ge...We need to stop the snake's tail...'

'Zhao YunLan...Even four of us fail to stop the snake at that time...Besides...What are you going to do after the snake's tail stopped?' Zhu Jiu asked.

'This girl will do the rest...' Zhao YunLan said.

'Wait! What do you mean!?' Wang YiKe looked even more afraid.

'Miss...I need you to make the snake aging...' Zhao YunLan replied.

'What!?' Everyone shouted in disbelief.

'What...What do you mean by that?' Wang YiKe stepped backward, she looks so terrified.

'Look, I don't know why you decide to keep your ability down in this peaceful situation...But right now, only you who can help us...' Zhao YunLan said but because the lady did not even move, Zhao YunLan bet on the one per a million chance, 'You might be didn't know but that snake attacked Professor Zhang and almost killed her...If you refuse to use your power now, everything will be too late...' He tried to convince the girl.

'It attacked Professor Zhang!?' Wang YiKe thundered to everyone's surprise, 'That is unforgivable!' She opens her gloves and runs toward the snake.

'Zhu Ge!' Zhao YunLan who also never thought the girl's anger quite panicked as Wang YiKe seems out of control.

Zhu Jiu grabs the tent's rope that is laid in the ground, moves at a lightning speed to tie the snake's tail and with the help of many soldiers, they hold the tail. Wang YiKe does not waste any time, she rushes to the tail and touches it. Shen Wei and the snake tribe's members can't help but notice this heroic action which makes them lure the snake instead of fight.

Even though the snake is gigantic but aging is an irrefutable law of nature, the snake suddenly stiffened then gradually weaker and weaker till it collapses to the ground. Everybody jumps in the happiness, lifts Zhao YunLan, throws him up, and catches him so many times as their grateful expression. Suddenly, the snake is deformed into a human and turns everyone's excitement into shock.

Shen YeZun rushes to check the man, 'He still alive but the pulse is so weak...' He said.

'Bring him to the special facility! Watch him close!' Shen Wei commands.

'Yes, Sir!'

***********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************

That night, Shen YongZheng flies from Dragon City to the Southeast hills. Rushing to see the wounded victim is the first thing he does. Luckily, there are no casualties which are very rare for that such crisis. After that, he strides to the special tent where everyone is awaiting. The leaders of the snake tribe, his two sons, and some of the high-rank officers.

'So, Zhao YunLan...' Shen YongZheng looks at the younger man who sits before him, 'Investigate the crime scene without permission, broke into police archive chamber and not to mention, read the confidential files that even not every cop can read those...' He said makes the younger man only can scratch his head.

'Zhao MingAn and Officer Zhu...' The elder glances at the other two who don't even dare to lift their face, 'You two dare to help this crime...Zhao MingAn...I understand that you just want to help your elder brother but Officer Zhu...You know that you just did serious treason...'

'Sir...Yes, Sir...' Zhu Jiu lowers his gaze.

'What your excuse?'

'I don't have any, Sir...'

'Have you regretted it?'

'Sir...No, Sir...' Zhu Jiu replied for anyone's shock.

'Impudent!' One of the high-rank officers shouted but Shen YongZheng holds the man.

'Explain!' Shen Wei said.

'Because I believe that Zhao YunLan doesn't have any malicious intention...However...Even though my intuition is right, I've done something undisciplined...I'm ready for the consequences...' Zhu Jiu replied firmly for Zhao YunLan stun.

Listen to the replies, no matter how hard, everyone can't deny the truth. And for the first time in these whole times, Shen Wei lifts his eyes and looks at Zhao YunLan properly.

A protostar, the very young star which is still entering the protostellar phase, the earliest stage of stellar evolution...

Everything always has its first phase, including a relationship, and the early stage is just starting...

***********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************

Jian: is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China.

**********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************