Chapter 58: Temporary Alliance

Chapter 58: Temporary Alliance

Xu Qingran didn’t kill the only woman still breathing on the scene.

She couldn’t fight and had been secretly aiding Mu Ziyue. Killing her outright seemed too easy.

His gaze swept around the surroundings.

They were in the center of a ruined city on one of the Eagle constellation’s habitable planets. The few remaining buildings were only half-standing shells.

Xu Qingran held her and thought for a moment, finally deciding to cripple one of her hands and break both legs.

He looked down at her with a slight smile and said, "If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already sent a distress signal, right?"

"Let’s see if anyone comes to save you."

If someone came, she could deliver a message to Mu Ziyue.

If no one came, she could sit there until nightfall, waiting to be eaten alive.

The woman glared at him hatefully: "I’ve been working in the government office since before the Crown Prince was even born. I’ve been by his side since he was ten, helping him for more than twenty years. You think you can test our master-servant relationship with this? What a joke."

Though Mu Ziyue was ruthless to outsiders, he always took good care of those he trusted.

Especially someone like her, who had been with him since childhood and was part of his trusted inner circle. No one knew Mu Ziyue’s plans and arrangements better than she did. He would never give up on her!

Xu Qingran just smiled at her words, leaving her and the scattered corpses behind as he turned and walked back to the aircraft.

A few billion credits’ worth of equipment could indeed be treated like a toy.

He got in and tried to start it. Everything inside was working fine, even the flight system’s mechanical voice was steady.

The middle-aged woman, now unable to move, could only watch as the only working aircraft disappeared from her sight.

Unable to walk, Xu Qingran had deliberately thrown the bodies of the guards he had beaten to a pulp around her, surrounding her in a chaotic heap. He blocked all escape routes, making it impossible for her to even crawl away.

Having done many evil deeds alongside Mu Ziyue, her mind didn’t break.

The smell of blood was particularly nauseating. With a dark expression, she tried to move closer to the cabin door, waiting for the Golden Wing Battalion reinforcements to arrive.

It was just a rescue mission; Mu Ziyue didn’t even need to get involved personally. She wasn’t worried at all about being left here until the devil horde awakened.

—At least, that’s what she thought until nightfall.

The woman watched the struggling remnants of the sunset ahead, her entire body trembling.

Whether it was due to the sudden drop in temperature or her fear and disbelief, she couldn’t tell.

The nearest rescue team should have arrived in about an hour, but it had already been most of the day, and there was still no sign of them.

The distress signals she sent out received no response.

As darkness fell, a crimson tide began to awaken in the forsaken disaster zone.

She looked in despair as the "stains" spread across the ground began to swell, connecting into countless monsters of varying lengths. The fine, dense connections made her, who suffered from trypophobia, break out in goosebumps.

Hours spent with corpses, the fear of the awakening devil horde, and the despair of no rescue coming.

These complex emotions intertwined, twisting her expression. She was somewhat grateful for the bodies Xu Qingran had piled around her, which shielded her from the first wave of the devil horde’s attack. They smelled the scent of flesh and blood, spreading out like a tide, beginning to devour.

As they drew nearer, the woman began to move her only functional hand, struggling to crawl toward the wrecked cabin.

Until a sudden beam of light hit her from above.

She jerked her head up and saw the golden phoenix emblem imprinted on the underside of the aircraft, recognizing it as Mu Ziyue's exclusive travel vehicle.

A flicker of relief crossed her eyes.

On the aircraft, Mu Ziyue's guards drew their Psychic Guns and began eliminating the Class I devils surrounding her. Although not the 'main body' of this area, destroying their energy cores bought her some time.

As the red tide retreated, they descended and hoisted her aboard the aircraft.

Mu Ziyue's aircraft was massive.

Five crew members manned the control console, and the overall space was very spacious, even featuring a private kitchen and bar. Mu Ziyue sat on the central sofa, his hand resting elegantly on the armrest, holding a crystal goblet.

Over his right eye, he wore a silver-black eyepatch, like a swashbuckling pirate.

Standing beside the sofa was a tall, short-haired young woman.

She was one of the outstanding graduates of this year's military academy, an E-type named Ling Yuege.

The woman recognized her; she had personally recruited this E-type.

Ling Yuege's face showed no expression, her cool gaze fixed on the woman, not uttering a word.

After being rescued, the woman recounted to Mu Ziyue what Xu Qingran had just done and repeated his cocky words.

After listening, Mu Ziyue fell silent for a full minute.

When he finally spoke, he only asked, "What’s wrong with your hand and leg?"

Receiving Mu Ziyue's concern, the middle-aged woman tried to maintain her trained, upright sitting posture, taking off her uncomfortable glasses to explain the reason.

Mu Ziyue then asked, "Besides that, what else did he say?"

"Nothing more, he flat-out refused to join the Golden Wing."

"I see," Mu Ziyue said, setting down his goblet and opening a drawer next to his single sofa, from which he took out a gun.

He then pointed it at the disheveled woman slumped on the floor.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she asked, "...Your Highness, the Crown Prince?"

Mu Ziyue gave a cold smile and said, "Has all your success made you cocky and sloppy?"

"Who gave you the courage to leave the scene without first confirming his state of injury or death?"

The woman was left speechless by the question.

Then she heard Mu Ziyue say emotionlessly, "You’ve served me for years, you should know very well that I don’t tolerate incompetence."

"Look at you—what use are you now?"

The middle-aged woman could feel her flesh trembling slightly.

She fought to steady her voice and calmly replied, "Many of Your Highness's affairs have been handled by me, no one is more capable than I—"

Before she could finish, she heard Mu Ziyue chuckle a few times.

The voice carried a chill: "There are plenty of capable people who can take your position, and many who are eager to do so."

"Don't get too full of yourself."

As he spoke, he gestured to the expressionless Ling Yuege, who stood like a robot beside him, and said with a smirk, "Isn't there a promising candidate right here, right now?"

The woman clenched her lower lip, her eyes finally blazing with anger: "Mu Ziyue, you will die a horrible death—"

A gunshot rang out.

Before the middle-aged woman could finish her curse, she was shot in the head and fell to the ground, dead with her eyes wide open.

The spaceship continued to fly smoothly.

The cabin was silent, and the guards around them had strong mental fortitude, their faces showing not a flicker of emotion. Even Ling Yuege merely glanced at the corpse with a detached look, devoid of fear or sympathy.

Mu Ziyue lowered the gun, propped his face with his hand, and suddenly spoke: "Did you see? I don't need things without value."

It was as if he was speaking to everyone in the room.

A few seconds later, he waved his hand, signaling for someone to take the body away, and said to Ling Yuege, "Starting tomorrow, you will take her place."

After giving the order, he rubbed his forehead and stood up, heading deeper into the spaceship toward his private quarters.

Ling Yuege, like the others, watched him leave before turning back to glance at the still-fresh pool of blood on the floor.

Her gaze was indifferent, as if looking at something lifeless.

·

By the time Xu Qingran returned to Fei Xing, it was already dark.

When he got out of the car, his body was a shocking sight, covered in wounds and blood.

Along the way, the guards at the security checkpoints looked at him with nothing short of astonishment.

The hand that had been deeply slashed by a knife was numb with pain, hastily wrapped in a piece of cloth torn from his sleeve. The once-clean fabric was now soaked in bright red, but Xu Qingran remained unfazed, calmly walking toward the house.

As soon as the door opened, the house was brightly lit.

All the lights were on, clearly indicating someone was home.

"Ah—what the hell!"

As soon as Xu Qingran closed the door, he heard an excited exclamation from the direction of the kitchen.

Looking up, Xie Nanjun, still in his uniform, stood at the entrance between the kitchen and the living room, his eyes wide like saucers, his face filled with horror.

"Brother Nanjun, why are you always so easily startled!" Following Xie Nanjun was Shen Tianyi.

Before anyone could stop him, the young boy was abruptly exposed to a scene straight out of a horror movie. Auntie Song, who had come out smiling, suddenly changed her expression, nearly screaming.

—Anyone who came out after a meal and saw a blood-covered person, especially someone they knew, would be shocked.

Xu Qingran paused.

He remembered that today was Friday, the day Shen Tianyi and Auntie Song came home.

But why was Xie Nanjun here too?

The first to react was Shen Tianyi.

He got so scared he started bawling, his round eyes pitifully fixed on Xu Qingran, his cries sounding like he was mourning a death.

Auntie Song was shaking so hard her teeth chattered: "Mr. Xu... what happened to you?!"

"Should we... should we call an ambulance..."

Xie Nanjun, a battle-hardened veteran, stayed relatively calm.

But his face still showed exaggerated shock, and he asked sincerely, "Xu Qingran, did you go out to commit murder and arson?"

Xu Qingran thought, *Pretty much.*

Xie Nanjun was about to go on when someone suddenly walked out from behind him, moving fast and accidentally bumping shoulders as he passed.

It was Shen Tingyu.

Hearing the noise, he rushed out from the dining room and, without saying a word, walked straight up to Xu Qingran. He brushed aside Xu Qingran's bangs, stared at the bloody gash and frowned.

From where he stood, Xie Nanjun couldn't see Shen Tingyu's expression.

But Xu Qingran saw it—a mix of anger and helplessness, with a touch of hidden pain.

Shen Tingyu pulled his hand back and gave him another look, then asked, half angry, half amused, "Xu Qingran?"

Xu Qingran looked away and said coolly, "No big deal."

Auntie Song had calmed Shen Tianyi down, so he wasn't crying as loudly. But his eyes were still red, and he sniffled, asking, "Is Brother Qingran gonna die?"

"Nah! Look, he drove himself back—he's fine!" Xie Nanjun bristled.

Shen Tianyi sniffled and nodded hard. "Right, Brother Qingran is very strong!"

After his sudden return shocked everyone, Xu Qingran went to his room to shower, clean his wounds, and apply medicine.

He took care of the spots he could reach, but for the more troublesome back, Shen Tingyu came in to help.

After getting dressed, he sat on the edge of the bed, watching Shen Tingyu tend to his worst injury.

"Does it hurt?" Shen Tingyu pulled up a chair and sat in front of him, lowering his head to focus on treating the wound, his movements careful and gentle.

Xu Qingran insisted, "It doesn't hurt."

Shen Tingyu glanced up and chuckled, not buying it.

Xu Qingran considered himself quite capable of enduring pain, psychologically speaking.

But the collision of the wound and the medicine was too stimulating, and his delicate body couldn't handle it, causing his eyes to well up with involuntary tears. His eyes turned slightly red, with a hint of allure at the corners.

Having spent a long time in the military, Shen Tingyu was quite skilled at dressing wounds.

As he worked, he asked, "What did you go out to do?"

Xu Qingran had no intention of hiding it from him and briefly recounted the process of Mu Ziyue sending someone to seek his cooperation and his subsequent refusal.

Including Mu Ziyue's intention to use him to control him, he told him everything.

After listening, Shen Tingyu remained silent and continued to carefully wrap gauze around Xu Qingran's hand.

Xu Qingran suddenly asked, curious: "They say the empire wants to use a partner to control Type E. What kind of control method is that?"

Could it be that the partner can completely control the thoughts of Type E, telling them what to do?

As he finished his question, Shen Tingyu also finished treating his wound.

After tying a neat knot, Shen Tingyu calmly answered his question, saying: "Just like this."

"A control method that drives people crazy with worry."

Xu Qingran paused, unable to see this from Shen Tingyu's calm and composed expression.

Shen Tingyu reached out and gently brushed the hair from Xu Qingran's forehead, starting to treat the wound there.

As he worked, he said, "You and I haven’t signed a soul contract yet, so things are a bit easier."

"It’s fine at first when we establish a temporary contract, but if the relationship lasts, the bond deepens, and the connection grows stronger. Once the final contract is fully established, if anything happens to you, no matter how rational I am, I won’t be able to control myself."

Shen Tingyu said this in a very matter-of-fact tone.

Xu Qingran thought for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and shot back, "Who said I’d fully establish a contract with you?"

As he spoke, he looked up and met Shen Tingyu’s gaze, who was leaning down to apply medicine.

Only then did he realize that the two of them were now quite close, their breaths almost intertwining.

Once again, he found himself lost in Shen Tingyu’s calm, sea-like eyes.

Xu Qingran paused, about to speak, when Xie Nanjun’s voice suddenly rang out from outside: "Qingran, are you guys done yet?"

"Auntie Song has already prepared your dinner, so come out and eat!"

Only then did they both snap back to reality.

Xu Qingran called back, "Got it, we’ll be right there."

Meanwhile, Shen Tingyu finished treating the last part of his wound, smiled at him, and said, "If it really comes to it, I’ll just have to use emotional leverage to pressure you."

It sounded like he wasn’t planning to let him off the hook.

Xu Qingran clicked his tongue, wondering who it was that had spoken so seriously in the dining room earlier.

When Shen Tingyu withdrew his hand from Xu Qingran’s forehead, there was a lingering hint of reluctance, and he gave him a deep look, saying, "Mu Ziyue is no good."

"Stay away from him for now."

Xu Qingran didn’t respond. His silence didn’t necessarily mean agreement.

Shen Tingyu knew his temper and gently softened his tone, saying, "Leave the matters of the Golden Wing Battalion to the people of Golden Wing."

"Alright?"

Xu Qingran paused for a few seconds before firmly replying, "No."

"If you decide to make a move, remember to take me along. I also have a score to settle with him."

Shen Tingyu paused briefly before asking, "Have you had any other conflicts with him?"

Xu Qingran smirked and said, "No."

But you have.

Xu Qingran reflected, just based on what he had seen in the soul memories, it was enough to make Mu Ziyu die a hundred times over.

However, Mu Ziyu was not like Mu Ziyu; he wasn't at a level where Xu Qingran could just kidnap him and beat him up.

Especially since he had heard that Mu Ziyu was a top-tier 3S-level psychic, so he really couldn't mess around.

Before leaving the room, Xu Qingran walked over to the desk and handed Shen Tingyu the paper data he had taken out before his bath: "This is the real matching data between me and Tianyi. Take it to the Shen family and cancel our engagement."

"After all, if we are to start a new relationship, having this constraint in place isn't good."

He felt that, at the very least, even if they didn't announce it publicly, they should let the Shen family know first, so they wouldn't misunderstand Shen Tingyu for doing something perverse like forcibly taking his nephew's fiancée.

Shen Tingyu opened it and glanced at it, unsurprisingly bothered: "55%?"

Xu Qingran chuckled, walking out as he said, "Your little nephew is indeed quite cute."

When they went out, Shen Tianyi was playing a game with Xie Nanjun.

On the screen was a scene of two people cooperating to fight alien monsters. Both of them were holding joysticks, playing intensely and shouting loudly.

According to Shen Tingyu, Xie Nanjun had come to deliver inhibitors to him.

It happened to be Friday, and Auntie Song and Shen Tianyi had returned, so he stayed for dinner.

Xu Qingran didn't interrupt them and went to the dining room with Shen Tingyu.

Auntie Song's cooking was as good as ever, and Xu Qingran enjoyed the meal, idly scrolling through his phone while eating. Shen Tingyu, whether eating himself or watching others eat, had no habit of speaking unless necessary, so he just sat beside him, handling his overflowing official emails.

It wasn't until the meal was almost finished that Xie Nanjun, holding a light pad, finally found him in the dining room and asked, "Qingran, is this yours?"

It was indeed the light pad Xu Qingran had left in the living room.

He found it troublesome and only brought his phone when he went out.

Xie Nanjun placed the item on the table, casually grabbing a soft candy from a small bowl on the table, unwrapping it as he said, "An email just came in, and when the cursor floated by, I glanced at it. It seems to be from the Silver Dragon Military Headquarters."

Prestigious organizations like the Silver Dragon and Golden Wing Headquarters would display a Silver Dragon or Phoenix cursor when sending emails.

As if afraid people wouldn't know it was their email.

Xu Qingran picked up the light pad and opened the email, murmuring the title of the letter.

The main content was that all military academy graduates had completed their faction choices and were called to report to the headquarters or branches within ten days to receive their uniforms and work assignments.

Xu Qingran was a special invitee, so his treatment was a bit special.

He needed to go to the headquarters.

The notice stated that, in addition to the standard items regular students would receive, as an outstanding student who had completed the conditions of the special invitation letter, he would also receive an additional 100 million bonus from the Empire, a dedicated military aircraft, custom weapons, custom combat mechs, and other basic equipment.

The funds will be directly deposited into his bank account.

The remaining equipment will be sent to his home or workplace once ready.

At some point, Xie Nanjun leaned in next to him, joining the excitement.

Like Shen Tingyu, he's also a special invitee, and they had received similar perks as Xu Qingran, so they weren't as shocked as if they'd never seen such things.

But he still felt bitter, muttering, "Xu Qingran, what's going on with you? In the Golden Wing, there's me, Shen Tingyu, and your future partner, Tianyi, is also from the Golden Wing. How could you betray us for the Silver Dragon?"

Xu Qingran closed the email and casually replied, "Too many familiar faces, it's hard for me to stand out."

Xie Nanjun: "?"

"What do you mean by stand out?"

Shen Tingyu suddenly piped up, "Did they tell you what position you'd be assigned?"

"No," Xu Qingran replied.

As a special invitee who met the graduation requirements, Xu Qingran would at least get a small military rank. If things go well, he might be assigned to some easier galaxies, where he'd be guided by predecessors about to retire or change positions.

If luck's bad, he might be thrown straight into tougher spots from the get-go.

Like those galaxies already invaded by devil swarms. Things are pretty tense in those galaxies, and there might not even be a buffer period after taking office. If you're timid or unstable, you might not handle the tougher, more experienced troops.

If they can't handle it, their authority might be undermined, and their subordinates won't listen.

It's pretty embarrassing and a blow to the ego for new officers.

It could even mess with future achievements.

Xu Qingran thought about the Silver Dragon Battalion's disaster-stricken galaxies.

Out of the six galaxies, only the Celestial Serpent and the Poseidon System, farthest from the devil swarm's jump point, are safe.

"It doesn't matter, anywhere is the same for me," he said indifferently.

It would be best if they assigned him to a more exciting place right from the start.

Xie Nanjun stayed at their house for a few more hours.

Until late at night, when everyone was preparing to rest, he was ready to go home.

Xu Qingran: "It's so late, won't you stay overnight?"

There should be many guest rooms at home.

But Xie Nanjun refused without hesitation: "No, no."

"The last time I stayed overnight at Shen Tingyu's house was six years ago. You have no idea, even though my room was already far from his, he still kicked the door and woke me up."

"In the middle of the night, looking for a fight, do you think he's sick?"

Xie Nanjun's face turned pale as he spoke, still angry at the memory: "He even said that if he didn't fight with me, he was afraid that by tomorrow I would only be a corpse."

"Listen, is that something a human would say?"

He rolled his eyes with a dark face and added, "So I don't understand, how come you've been with him for so long and nothing has happened to you?"

Xu Qingran replied seriously, "Perhaps because I'm a Type D."

Type E individuals don’t harm Type D individuals.

Xie Nanjun, who was about to leave, suddenly asked upon hearing this, "I heard that Type D can serve as a mental energy reservoir?"

"Since I’m heading home tonight, why don’t you try transferring some mental energy to me?"

As he spoke, he directly extended his hand.

Before Xu Qingran could even reach out, Shen Tingyu slapped Xie Nanjun’s hand away.

General Shen Tingyu glared at him with a tight smile, "We’re not in the military. There’s no mental energy isolator here. What are you trying to pull?"

Xie Nanjun, confused by his icy glare, said, "What’s the big deal? If the rank is high enough, even a handshake can transfer a little energy, right?"

"No, it’s inappropriate," Shen Tingyu said. "Men shouldn’t be too familiar with each other."

Xie Nanjun was even more puzzled, "Tianyi doesn’t mind. Why are you, as his uncle, so worked up?"

Shen Tingyu kept a straight face, "Tianyi is still young, so I’m looking out for him."

Xu Qingran chuckled softly beside them, amused by the exchange.

Thanks to Shen Tingyu’s firm intervention, Xie Nanjun’s hoped-for mental energy transfer never happened. He left Shen Tingyu’s home muttering under his breath.

And so, the lively evening came to a close.

Xu Qingran rested at home for a few days.

Only after the nasty wound on his palm started to heal did he change into a shirt and suit pants, heading to the Silver Dragon Battalion’s military headquarters in the Andromeda system.

The Silver Dragon military headquarters was massive, with its office buildings sprawling over an area the size of a small town.

Next to it lay an even larger military base, bustling with the constant takeoffs and landings of combat spacecraft.

When Xu Qingran arrived at the Silver Dragon headquarters, all eyes instinctively turned toward him.

Some were secretly new fans of the young master, others vaguely recognized him, and some were simply drawn to his striking looks and commanding presence.

Xu Qingran remained as composed as a celebrity used to being stared at, walking confidently and casually, following the signs into the main building. Then, guided by the people inside, he arrived at the place where he was to check in and collect his items.

The process mirrored his earlier check-in at the Grandis school office, requiring his identity details to be officially logged into the Silver Dragon Battalion’s military system. He was then issued various ID cards, access passes for different bases, and multiple sets of uniforms for various occasions.

Finally, he was handed a sleek, silver-gray envelope.

The person in charge of liaising with him said, "This is your work package, containing an official assignment letter, details about your role, and your job location along with relevant information."

Xu Qingran didn’t open it right away, simply saying, "Alright, thanks."

As the staff member sorted through his documents, they paused and looked up hesitantly, "Mr. Xu, now that you’re an officer with the Silver Dragon Battalion, it’s recommended that your official records include a residential address within Silver Dragon territory."

"For your convenience during work-related travel, it’s also advised that you establish long-term residence in the Silver Dragon area."

The checkpoint between Silver Dragon and Golden Wing is akin to passing through international customs, complete with a 'visa' requirement.

While ordinary residents face manageable requirements, military and police personnel undergo a more thorough review, which takes significantly longer.

Daily commutes aren’t an issue, but an urgent work call could make things complicated. Xu Qingran gave her the address for Bishui Villa.

After verifying that all the information was correctly registered, he gathered his belongings and started walking back.

He was in a side building connected to the main structure.

On his way back, he had to pass through a long, quiet corridor.

It was here that Xu Qingran ran into Lu Cheng.

He seemed in a rush, still catching his breath as he faced him, his trench coat slightly messy.

It was unclear if it was a coincidence or if he’d come specifically to intercept him.

"Qingran," Lu Cheng said, his voice tinged with surprise and caution.

Xu Qingran responded coldly: "What do you want?"

When Lu Cheng saw Xu Qingran choose the Silver Dragon in the live broadcast, he was immensely relieved.

He knew that new recruits would arrive within about two weeks, and as a special invitee, Xu Qingran was sure to come to headquarters. So he’d been waiting for days, and finally, he heard of his arrival.

"Qingran, I know everything Xu Qingan did to you," Lu Cheng's Adam's apple moved slightly.

"I... I’ve already talked to my dad and the others," he hesitated. "They support me breaking off the engagement with Qingan. It was my fault before, fooled by Qingan’s lies and charm. I didn’t realize you’re still the one I love most."

"Can we start over?" Lu Cheng pleaded.

Lately, Lu Cheng had been dreaming of his past with Xu Qingran.

Since he found out that their compatibility was as high as 99%, winning Xu Qingran back had become his obsession.

Unfortunately, Xu Qingran’s eyes no longer held the overflowing love they once did.

Only cold unfamiliarity and distance remained.

Xu Qingran eyed the tired-looking man before him, his tone cold: "Lu Cheng, it's already too late."

In the long corridor, there happened to be only the two of them.

They could freely say what they wanted to say.

Lu Cheng was unwilling to accept it, raising his voice to retort: "It's not too late!"

"I... I already know about our compatibility, we are destined to attract and love each other, as long as we can go back to how we used to be—"

"We can't go back," Xu Qingran ruthlessly interrupted his heartfelt confession.

He took out the new data he had prepared long ago and handed it to him: "This is our current compatibility."

Lu Cheng was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward to take it and opened it.

Then he stared at the data for a long, long time before letting out a low laugh.

"Impossible..." Lu Cheng said while laughing, but his expression was uglier than crying, "Impossible!!"

"You must have forged this data on purpose to make me give up!"

Xu Qingran calmly replied: "The material of this paper is only available at the official headquarters of soulmates, and it has their embossed seal."

The data paper was crumpled by Lu Cheng. He bent down, pressing the data tightly against his chest, as if still refusing to accept the fact that they now only had 1% compatibility.

"If you really don't believe it, you're welcome to personally go to the headquarters to oversee a compatibility test."

Perhaps Lu Cheng's remorse is genuine, but Xu Qingran feels no sympathy for him.

In this world, there is no such thing as a cure for regret.

He said to Lu Cheng, "A 99% soul resonance did indeed exist once."

At the sound of his voice, Lu Cheng slowly lifted his head and stood.

Then he heard Xu Qingran continue, "But the Xu Qingran who had a 99% resonance with you died the day you became engaged to Xu Qingan."

"Yes, he died in the South 13 District of Red City."

After leaving these words, Xu Qingran departed.

Only Lu Cheng stood alone, his grip on the data sheet tightening further. Finally, he raised his other hand to cover his eyes, letting out a muffled cry, his voice choked with sobs.

For some reason, he was suddenly overwhelmed with sadness.

It was as if he had personally shoved something precious that was once within reach to a place he could never touch again.

·

"...Why are you packing up again?"

A week passed in a flash.

Shen Tingyu, exhausted, had just returned when he noticed Xu Qingran packing again, seemingly preparing to move.

Compared to before, there were fewer belongings packed this time.

Xu Qingran told him about the notification he received at the Silver Dragon Battalion headquarters: "I think she’s right. Traveling from Fei Star to anywhere in Silver Dragon takes too long. To ensure work efficiency, I want to set up a second home."

He tossed a bag of clothes to the floor, then turned to Shen Tingyu by the door with a faint smile, "After all, I'm about to become a Silver Dragon Battalion soldier."

Shen Tingyu’s lips tightened, his face uncharacteristically serious.

But he didn’t lose his composure, only asking softly, "Then where will you live after you return to Silver Dragon?"

"The house my mother left behind at Bishui Villa."

"I’ve been renovating it, and it’s nearly restored to its original condition. I can just move in directly," Xu Qingran replied.

That’s good.

It spares him the worry of Xu Yan sneaking in unnoticed again.

Seeing that most of his belongings were packed, Xu Qingran asked Shen Tingyu again, "We don't have much time left."

"So, General Shen Tingyu, when are you going to formalize a temporary agreement with me?"

As they say, there’s no time like the present.

So they simply decided to do it today.

Shen Tingyu agreed, saying he would inform him after finishing the urgent matters he needed to handle.

But Xu Qingran, having showered and ready for bed, still hadn’t heard from him. Finally, unable to hold back, he went directly to the study to find him.

The door was slightly open, and he saw Shen Tingyu sitting behind the desk, staring at the book on the table with a serious expression, lost in thought.

He didn’t even notice Xu Qingran had arrived.

Xu Qingran stood by the door, arms crossed, and said, "Scaredy-cat."

Only then did Shen Tingyu come back to reality and replied, maybe defensively, "No, I was just thinking about some things."

"I’m tired, let’s wrap this up," Xu Qingran walked to the desk and urged.

Shen Tingyu gave a slight smile, his gaze slowly shifting to Xu Qingran’s left hand.

His hand, usually left uncovered despite reminders, was now gloved.

After thinking for a moment, he explained, "Creating a soul contract needs someone to accept it, allowing the other party to approach and enter the spiritual realm, completing a simple imprint."

Shen Tingyu stood up and walked around to face Xu Qingran, continuing, "Because the interaction needs to happen through the spiritual imprint, the person whose imprint is easier to reach—usually becomes the recipient during the binding process."

Xu Qingran got the gist of it.

He was on the verge of taking off his glove when it hit him—someone had once been very scornful of his spiritual imprint.

He stopped his action and said resentfully, "General Shen, now you want to see my mark?"

"I thought you didn’t care? I’m afraid if I show it now, you’ll accuse me of provoking you again."

Shen Tingyu fell silent after hearing this.

Old memories came rushing back.

After a long while, he finally said in a low voice, "It could also be considered seduction."

Any talk of provocation was just an excuse; he just didn’t want to admit it.

He refused to admit he’d been thinking boldly about Xu Qingran’s spiritual imprint back then.

Xu Qingran let out a soft laugh.

After a while, he took the initiative to remove his glove.

At this moment, a weird sensation washed over him.

It felt like he wasn’t just removing a glove, but shedding a layer of modesty.

Still dazed, he heard Shen Tingyu speak, "Let’s move to the bed."

Xu Qingran looked up upon hearing this.

Shen Tingyu probably realized the ambiguity in his words and added, "Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s not like that."

"I’m just concerned—you might not stay upright later."

Xu Qingran didn’t take it seriously.

Thinking to himself, the dog man was underestimating him again; no matter how painful it was, he could definitely endure it.

Until he sat on the edge of the bed, and the imprint on the back of his left hand was gently touched by Shen Tingyu’s thumb—

Suddenly, a jolt of electricity seemed to course through his body.

Xu Qingran was inwardly surprised.

This mark, which he usually encountered while bathing or bumping into things, had always felt normal and unremarkable. Why did it suddenly feel like this...?

Before he could figure it out, the energy waves released from Shen Tingyu's soul spread like a soothing current, starting from the mark and pouring into his body. Slowly, it washed over every inch of his cells and nerves, flowing toward the spiritual sea where his soul resided.

In an instant, a chill crept up his spine.

It felt like a tender touch, expertly brushing over every sensitive part of his body, igniting an even more unbearable itch.

Xu Qingran finally understood what Shen Tingyu had meant by "not being able to stand."

It wasn’t because it would hurt, but because—it would feel overwhelmingly pleasurable.

The sensation, both foreign and faintly recognizable, made him instinctively want to resist and pull away.

But his wrist was suddenly seized with force, though the grip was carefully controlled to avoid causing pain.

Xu Qingran looked up and saw a faint shimmer of spiritual energy glowing in Shen Tingyu's deep blue eyes.

The E-type predatory instinct Shen Tingyu usually suppressed now surged forth like a caged beast, firmly locking onto its chosen prey, leaving no room for escape.

When the soul within his spiritual pool detected the approach of another energy, the invasive sensation peaked, making it nearly impossible for him to stifle the sound rising in his throat.

When he came to, Xu Qingran found himself pinned to the bed by Shen Tingyu, who was completely absorbed in the process.

As if sensing his discomfort, Shen Tingyu murmured softly, "Just a little longer, it’ll be over soon."

His voice was soft, laced with a subtle allure.

Xu Qingran finally stopped resisting, allowing Shen Tingyu's soul energy to mingle with his.

He thought to himself, now he finally understood why Shen Tingyu had been so reluctant and evasive whenever the topic of a soul contract arose.

...This feeling was simply too intense.

Strictly speaking, wasn’t it like having his soul... well, violated?

Though Shen Tingyu had said it would be quick, the process dragged on for nearly half an hour.

By the end, Xu Qingran, as the recipient, was drenched in a sheen of sweat, lying on the bed in a daze, lost in reflection.

...It felt like being tenderly soothed.

No, actually, it was even more satisfying than that.

Unaware of Xu Qingran's unrestrained thoughts, Shen Tingyu felt a pang of guilt as he regained his composure.

He wondered if Xu Qingran could come to terms with something like this.

The room fell into a brief silence.

Until Shen Tingyu stood up and said, "You rest first, I’ll go wash up."

He had only taken a few steps when Xu Qingran, still on the bed, asked, "Are you planning to take a cold shower?"

"Yes, that’s what they say. When you need to cool down, you take a cold shower."

Xu Qingran propped himself up slightly, his peach-blossom eyes still glistening with tears from the stimulation, his casual gaze incredibly alluring.

With a lazy, post-event tone, he asked, "So, General Shen Tingyu, are you feeling... heated?"

Shen Tingyu: "..."

General Shen Tingyu refused to answer the question and left the bedroom without looking back.