Chapter 74: The Method of Struggle

Chapter 74: Struggles and Methods

Ming Hai on the other side of the video seemed to be admiring a beautiful work of art.

He scrutinized Xu Qingran, who looked very different from their last meeting, and commented with a smirk, “You are still so captivating.”

From an ordinary wealthy young master to now wearing the Silver Dragon military uniform.

He looked dazzling indeed.

Xu Qingran pulled a corner of his mouth in response to the screen's camera.

His eyes were cold, “Really? Then tell me, what about me attracts you?”

After asking, he promptly sent a message to Xie Nanjun in Dongcheng, instructing him to come to Xicheng immediately for the capture.

Ming Hai pondered for a moment before saying, “You’re a D-type, and just that alone is immensely attractive to E-types.”

“It’s a kind of soul bond, a compatibility that the matching data has already proven, hasn’t it?”

Hearing this, Xu Qingran’s laugh grew even colder.

He said, “See, you don’t even know why you like me.”

“Just being driven uncontrollably by soul and spirit types, what's the difference between that and being controlled by base instincts like a low-intelligence beast?”

Many people say they like D-types.

But for most of them, their liking stems from the attraction to the unique psychic power of D-types, the benefits and conveniences they can provide, and the satisfaction and vanity from being favored.

In contrast, E-types, equally special and powerful,

Their strength cannot be converted into benefits for a partner, so this characteristic, along with their threatening nature, becomes a point of fear for most.

The smile faded from Ming Hai’s face, thinking Xu Qingran's words were excuses for Shen Tingyu.

Like a rebellious child, he was full of defiance: “The general from the Golden Wing is also an E-type. Isn’t his liking for you also driven by instinct? Why can he be accepted by you?”

Xu Qingran retorted, “Do you think Shen Tingyu likes me because of instinct?”

Ming Hai fell silent, conceding.

After a moment of contemplation, he chuckled lightly, “No, his most primal instinct was to despise me.”

Xu Qingran hadn’t forgotten the mutual distaste that he and Shen Tingyu had initially felt upon meeting each other.

Though it was said that Shen Tingyu initially disliked him because he thought Xu was an E-type, unlike Ming Hai and other E-types he encountered before his soul stabilized, they never showed such instinctive aversion to him.

Even Ji Huaixiu, who had also mistaken him at school, merely saw him as a formidable rival, driven more by a competitive spirit than dislike.

It took a while for Xu Qingran to understand that Shen Tingyu's initial repulsion had nothing to do with the possibility of him being an E-type. On the contrary, Shen was actually the first to sense that Xu might become a D-type, though even Shen himself was unaware of it.

Because Shen's greatest aversion was being controlled, he instinctively resisted any type, especially souls with the potential to become D-types.

His true instinct was a loathing of partners and D-types.

His affection for Xu, then, was a decision Shen made against his instincts.

That’s why Xu Qingran agreed to try a soul bond when Shen, going against his original wishes and principles, initiated the proposal.

Ming Hai seemed still unwilling to accept this.

Probably because he couldn’t grasp what Xu was truly trying to convey.

Ming Hai, provoked, laughed sarcastically, “Fine, you say Shen Tingyu loves you.”

“But Xu Qingran, have you forgotten Lu Cheng, who once deeply loved you?”

“Lu Cheng, the young and upright Major General of the Silver Dragon, couldn’t resist temptation and shifted his affections. Having once experienced the pain of being abandoned, how can you still believe in a union based on love?”

Given their defiant natures against the empire, together, they could become the most invincible pair in Kayan Empire.

Then, capturing them would be even more difficult for both the Silver Dragon and Golden Wing.

Thinking this, Ming Hai leaned back.

“By the way, you still don’t know where I am, do you?” Half-sunken into the sofa, Ming Hai suddenly began describing his location, “This is the former stronghold of the Black Boss, the head of the underground organization in Xicheng.”

Xu Qingran remained expressionless, staring straight ahead, ignoring Ming Hai.

He silently increased the psychic energy infused into his aircraft, speeding up his journey.

Unfazed by Xu's demeanor, Ming Hai turned the camera to another corner of the room.

There, many people were crouched, resembling residents of Xicheng, all shivering and looking at the camera in terror. Whether by chance or Ming Hai’s preference, the group had a high proportion of young, attractive boys.

Ming Hai then turned the camera back to himself, looked up suddenly, and chuckled, “Ah, your chosen lover has arrived.”

“He must know I’m waiting for him.”

“With so many hostages, the military police won’t just stand by, right? Will General Shen let those people come in as cannon fodder, or will he come straight in to face me one-on-one?”

Xu Qingran, not looking at him, casually asked, “You’ve faced him one-on-one many times. Have you ever beaten him?”

“Or did you get some new toy from that brainless commander of the Golden Wing?”

Ming Hai lifted his hand, wagging his finger at the camera: “Using the same trick twice isn’t exciting for me.”

“Oh, I think I forgot to mention.”

“The Black Boss’s stronghold is also the biggest drug lab of his underground operations.”

Ming Hai, crossing his legs and slightly lifting his chin, smiled, “There are so many drugs here, like psychic inhibitors, psychic suppressants, even spray ones... just a whiff can affect you.”

“Of course, there’s also my favorite, the love potion.”

Xu Qingran slightly furrowed his brow.

Ming Hai pulled out a misty purple vial from his pocket, gazing at it like a cherished treasure, “This is their latest batch they’ve just released.”

“The higher the level of the psychic pool, the greater the hallucinogenic effect,” said Ming Hai, laughing at his own statement. “Isn’t this specifically developed to target E-types?”

“This drug hasn’t even hit the market yet. Its raw materials are extremely rare. I scoured all of Xicheng and found only six vials.”

“Aside from this sample, I’ve put the rest into aerosol canisters and sprayed them along the only passage leading here. If it's the military police coming, that’s fine; the drug's intake will be shared among a group.”

The beautiful hallucinogen reflected in Ming Hai's eyes swayed with the movement of his fingers.

Then his gaze returned to the camera, smilingly adding, “But what if it's only General Shen coming alone? Then he'll have to bear it all by himself.”

The aerosol drug particles in Kayan Empire differ from the common ones.

They linger in the air for a long time and even actively move towards living heat sources, getting inhaled along the breath. Even if only one person passes through, the sprayed drug in the air will all converge on them.

“Five times the dosage, even with the strongest willpower... that’s not manageable, is it?”

The smile on Ming Hai's face was as dark as ever.

While it's true E-types are destined to kill each other, now he was more interested in destroying Shen Tingyu in front of Xu Qingran rather than just killing him.

Ming Hai, venomous and confident, said, “Today, I’ll show you just how cheap the true love you value is.”

Xu Qingran, expressionless, immediately cut off the communication.

He then pushed his aircraft to its maximum speed, unable to help muttering under his breath, “Idiot.”

Meanwhile, in Xicheng, Shen Tingyu, ignoring Su Wenxu’s objections, insisted on going down alone to meet Ming Hai.

He knew that if Ming Hai could sit there so comfortably waiting for him, he must have made arrangements.

But the enmity between E-types is something others simply cannot intervene in.

Su Wenxu and his team going down with more people would only serve to feed Ming Hai more victims. To put it bluntly, they might even impair his judgment and slow him down, so he preferred to go alone and handle the situation.

The Black Boss’s stronghold was located beneath an ordinary-looking second-hand vintage shop.

Pushing open the warehouse door marked ‘No Entry’ led to a staircase descending into the depths.

Shen Tingyu didn’t hesitate and walked straight down.

The air here made him especially uncomfortable, filled with the psychic signatures of various E-types, which appeared exceptionally provocative to him.

The underground base of the main stronghold was extensive enough to be called a small underground city.

Its coverage was almost as large as the town above, seemingly complex but actually centered around one main passage leading directly from the entrance to the deepest part. Along the way, different-sized spaces branched off to the left and right.

Used for resting, accommodation, dining, working, and more.

However, what should have been a bustling underground base was now eerily quiet, like a ghost town.

The air was filled with various odors, with the strongest being the smell of blood. Corpses lay unattended everywhere, evidence of Ming Hai’s frenzy.

Shen Tingyu walked alone in this oppressive environment, his footsteps steady and sure.

Whenever a body blocked the path, he would lightly kick it aside and continue forward with an indifferent expression, until he reached a dimly lit straight corridor, where he smelled a mix of suffocating and pungent aromas.

Combined together, they formed a particularly sticky odor.

The drug production area.

Before coming down, Shen Tingyu had been briefed by Su Wenxu about this place and the numerous substances that could harm psychics. Their guard team, dealing with criminals regularly, always prepared oral pills that immunized against most psychic restraining drugs before missions.

Having taken one, Shen Tingyu wasn’t too worried about Ming Hai’s schemes.

“Oh, General, you’ve finally arrived.”

Shen Tingyu walked through the long, dimly lit corridor, finally arriving at another space.

It was also the largest area in the underground base.

His target for today sat nonchalantly on a sofa not far away, idly toying with a misty purple object, exuding an air of casual arrogance.

Shen Tingyu stared at him, then suddenly chuckled.

His eyes were cold and detached.

The hostages cowering in the corner barely blinked before the two figures, just having locked eyes, clashed in an instant.

The psychic energy emanating from their eyes, tinged with a faint crimson, released the full intimidating force of E-types. Each punch and kick seemed capable of tearing a rift in space. The aftermath of their psychic friction felt like a hot wind, unsettling and painfully prickling the skin of the innocent bystanders.

During his reign in Xicheng, Ming Hai had amassed a collection of psychic weapons.

Shen Tingyu had a blade, and so did he.

Shen Tingyu had a psychic gun, and he had one as well.

Especially after undergoing a period of refinement, compared to when he first encountered Shen Tingyu after escaping the Tower of Evil, his control over psychic energy and his fighting skills and strength had improved.

Thus, in the early stages, their fight was exceptionally intense.

In the later stages, however, the more experienced and mentally seasoned Shen Tingyu gained the upper hand.

Ming Hai’s fighting style, much like his personality, was more insidious, favoring surprise attacks and underhanded tactics.

With a small difference in their abilities, Shen Tingyu couldn’t completely dominate Ming Hai like he did with other E-types in the Tower of Evil. During nearly an hour of combat, even as Ming Hai gradually fell behind and Shen Tingyu inflicted several deep wounds, he too sustained several external injuries.

In a clash where the power gap was narrow, Shen Tingyu couldn’t execute the absolute suppression he did with other E-types in the Tower of Evil. Throughout the nearly hour-long fight, even as Ming Hai gradually succumbed, Shen Tingyu, despite inflicting several deep wounds on him, also suffered numerous external injuries.

E-types’ battles are characterized by their grand and unrestrained nature.

Their psychic power intensifies with each exchange, and the consumption is faster with each round. The psychic pools of both sides—especially Ming Hai's—had already been depleted by more than half in the clash with Shen Tingyu.

Even so, Ming Hai showed no signs of tension.

Instead, he watched Shen Tingyu’s increasingly reddened skin, his heavy breathing, and his gradually unfocused eyes, and broke into a smirk.

Shen Tingyu, still lucid, slowly realized that the burning sensation in his body during the intense fight felt different than usual.

Combining this with Ming Hai’s reaction, it was clear he had fallen into a trap.

“Ah, the general’s constitution is indeed impressive. Such a heavy dose and only now it starts to take effect,” Ming Hai’s slightly rising tone sounded particularly irritating.

Shen Tingyu didn’t respond, nor did he feel annoyed.

This mishap wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Su Wenxu did give him something to immunize against most illegal drugs, but immunity was never absolute.

Since this place was the former stronghold of the Black Boss, Shen Tingyu believed there were more special drugs yet to be discovered by the military police. But among all, he was the most suitable to confront Ming Hai, even if it meant walking into a trap.

Shen Tingyu had extensive experience in resisting drug effects.

During his years in the Tower of Evil, Mu Ziyue frequently injected him with various newly developed substances.

Such torment lasted nearly a decade.

Therefore, Shen Tingyu wasn’t afraid of illegal drugs.

No matter how severe, he had ways to counteract them.

Unaware of his past, Ming Hai smugly said, “General, you alone have absorbed five times the dosage.”

“How intense must the longing be to recover from such a ‘fiery’ state, huh?”

As he spoke, he snapped his fingers.

Shen Tingyu intended to ignore him and was about to continue fighting, but suddenly about a dozen boys, similar in age to Xu Qingran, ran out from among the hostages. They varied in looks – some handsome, some delicate, some innocent – all quite striking.

They looked troubled, some with red and swollen eyes as if they had cried, and as they reached Shen Tingyu and stopped him, their eyes carried a guilty apology.

It was clear that most of them were coerced.

Ming Hai, hands in his pockets, smirked, “I wonder if this number of people is enough for the general?”

Shen Tingyu didn’t respond, just stared at one of the boys who boldly grabbed his arm, his eyes blank for a moment.

…How intense. Why would he see Xu Qingran here?

And why look at him with such tearful eyes? Was this some kind of madness?

Shen Tingyu shook his head, and when he saw more ‘vulnerable’ versions of Xu Qingran around him, looking at him with pitiful and pleading eyes, he slowly realized this might be the effect of the mysterious drug Ming Hai mentioned.

This was a hallucinogenic drug developed for high-tier psychic pool users, priceless and rare.

The effect was potent and inevitable. It induced psychic disarray in the target, stimulating their adrenal hormones and awakening their deepest, most intense desires. This caused their bodies to heat up uncomfortably, driving them to irrational, animalistic behavior for relief.

The drug also contained components to enhance endurance.

Therefore, among those preselected for this new product, some were thrill-seekers intending to use it on themselves. As for side effects, it could lead to excessive psychic excitement and hallucinations.

These hallucinations were typically key triggers that could make them lose control, rooted in their deepest desires.

Thus, when used on others, this drug could easily deceive the target with illusions, leading them to commit grave mistakes.

Shen Tingyu gave the surrounding boys a deep look and then, with a smile, mercilessly kicked them all away from him.

His force was brutal, indifferent to whether they had ulterior motives or were coerced.

Shen Tingyu's body was burning hot, his psychic pool so agitated he was nearly losing his ability to think clearly, his hands trembling slightly.

Yet, before his rationality completely collapsed, he coldly said to Ming Hai, “Only five times the dosage?”

“Let me tell you something.”

“I was once injected with ten times that amount of this drug.”

His tone was eerily calm, catching Ming Hai off guard.

There were actually seven vials of the drug at the Black Boss’s place.

Ming Hai, upon acquiring it and hearing of its potency, doubted its effects and tested it on himself. That night, he tormented himself in various ways just to maintain lucidity and painfully endure the duration of the drug's effect.

Just one vial's dosage had been agonizing for him, so he was confident that even Shen Tingyu’s strong will couldn’t withstand it.

But now, Shen Tingyu was claiming he had experienced ten vials’ worth?

Ming Hai’s first reaction to this statement was not to dismiss it as a bluff, but to seriously consider and imagine the excruciating pain it would entail.

Shen Tingyu, reading his expression, saw through his thoughts.

He chuckled lightly, “Of course, it was painful, like every cell in the body swelling to the point of bursting.”

“Do you want to know how I escaped that agony?”

As Ming Hai looked up, he saw Shen Tingyu drawing a dark golden gun from his waist, slowly infusing and connecting it with his psychic power.

Instinctively, Ming Hai reached for his gun in defense.

Ming Hai wondered if Shen Tingyu was using his E-type’s inherent nature to kill, diverting his attention from desire to free himself from the drug’s grasp.

Then, the next second, he saw Shen Tingyu pressing the gun barrel against his forehead, aiming at his own head.

The man with black hair and blue eyes was already drenched in sweat from struggling against the drug’s effects, his clothes soaked through.

Upon closer inspection, one could even see his pupils trembling slightly, his eyes glazed and confused, with only a threadlike shred of reason struggling to maintain his last bit of lucidity.

At this point, the smile vanished from Ming Hai’s face.

His mouth turned downwards in a questioning frown, “Shen Tingyu, have you lost your mind?”

Shen Tingyu responded with a silent smile.

A tenfold dosage wasn’t something that could be endured simply through sheer willpower.

To escape the situation, he had to take a desperate risk.

Ming Hai needed only a moment of thought to understand what Shen Tingyu intended to do.

Firing a psychic gun at one’s psychic pool was indeed a suicidal act.

However, if the shooter controlled it well, there was a one in ten thousand chance to avoid directly damaging the psychic pool. That sliver of a chance meant targeting the very center of the pool, avoiding all its vulnerabilities.

This would cause an earthquake-like shock to the psychic pool.

Painful, but it could free a psychic whose pool was ‘held hostage’ or controlled by external stimulation from such agony.

Considering what Shen Tingyu had previously said, the fact that he was still standing here indicated he had succeeded once before.

This realization made Ming Hai start to question the truthfulness of Shen Tingyu’s statement.

—After all, even Ming Hai was uncertain about such a one-in-ten-thousand chance.

The psychic strength of E-types is extraordinarily powerful.

Keep in mind, if Shen Tingyu missed, the direct hit to his psychic pool would leave him either dead or severely incapacitated.

Between E-types, there exists a strange and contradictory mentality.

They can endure killing other E-types, but cannot accept another E-type choosing self-destruction in front of them. It angers and shames them, belonging to the same category, to see such cowardice.

Shen Tingyu could feel his resistance to the fivefold drug dose nearing its limit.

“I know why you lured me here today.”

Shen Tingyu chuckled softly, “But even with just a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I’d rather take the risk than let Xu Qingran leave me due to my betrayal.”

“Would you dare?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he pulled the trigger in front of Ming Hai, firing a harsh shot at his own psychic pool before his rationality completely vanished.

The world in his eyes quickly blurred.

Everything around him was a hazy overlap of shadows. He could no longer see the faces and expressions of those around him clearly, the sensation of his psychic pool shaking violently tore through every nerve.

Yet, Shen Tingyu had never felt as awake as he did at that moment.

The drug rushed to his head, trying to dominate him, but its control snapped in that instant. He regained the dominance of his consciousness, accompanied by an intense pain that was suffocating.

The pain made him want to laugh.

A one-in-ten-thousand chance.

He hadn't lied to Ming Hai; he had indeed done the same thing before and had miraculously succeeded.

But if asked whether he was confident, the answer would undoubtedly be no.

No matter how precise or powerful his control over his psychic energy was, he could never guarantee that each bout of madness wouldn’t harm him. Just the thought of the look and expression Xu Qingran might give him if he failed to endure the drug’s effects was more agonizing than the gamble itself.

Shen Tingyu thought about how he had finally captured the only shining star in his world.

Even if it meant becoming a fool, he couldn’t bear to let it disappear.

The blurred space around him gradually became noisy.

It seemed many people had burst in, talking and shouting chaotically. Amidst the confusion, a hand firmly grasped his wrist. He could only bend slightly and freeze in place, unable to see who it was, instinctively wanting to shake it off.

But the grip was surprisingly strong, even commanding in its movements.

This familiar sensation of ‘being controlled’ made him stop struggling instinctively.

Time seemed to stretch on indefinitely.

He could feel the large space around him bustling with people passing by, noisy and chaotic.

Yet, the presence beside him, with its breath, somehow maintained his calm.

The soothing psychic energy gently swept through every corner of his psychic pool, guiding the attack that had not landed on that one-in-ten-thousand chance back onto its track, stabilizing his violently shaking psychic pool.

Coming to his senses and turning his head, he saw Xu Qingran staring at him with a dark expression.

After a long moment, Xu Qingran managed to squeeze out a sentence through clenched teeth: “Shen Tingyu, have you lost your mind?”

As their eyes met, Shen Tingyu couldn’t help but laugh.

How rare it was to hear this man, who often acted crazily, ask someone else such a question.

His face was pale from pain, a weak smile at the corner of his mouth. He asked Xu Qingran, “If my psychic pool is damaged beyond repair and I become a fool, would you abandon me?”

It sounded like a joke-laden question.

Xu Qingran clenched his fists, nearly ready to punch him.

But his eyes fell on Shen Tingyu’s weakened state and the numerous injuries on his body. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to strike and didn’t answer the question.

Because Xu Qingran didn’t know the answer.

He saw himself as a self-serving person, even in a relationship, clearly aware there was no obligation to be responsible for someone who turned themselves into a fool. But when the denial reached his lips, he found he couldn’t say it.

He hesitated, uncertain.

He even imagined that Shen Tingyu as a fool might not be so annoying after all.

Xu Qingran, knowing the cause, had rushed over and just happened to see Shen Tingyu firing the gun at himself.

He also overheard the last few words Shen Tingyu said to Ming Hai.

At that moment, his feelings were a mix of complexity and anger.

He didn't understand why he was so angry, but then he suddenly realized why he sometimes felt frustrated and unhappy with Shen Tingyu’s occasional reckless acts of desperation.

“Shen Tingyu, I’m very angry,” Xu Qingran said, condensing myriad emotions into this sincere statement.

He said earnestly, “If there’s a next time, I’ll definitely blow your head off.”

Far from being upset by the scolding, Shen Tingyu, after a moment of surprise, gradually revealed a genuinely heartfelt smile.

—See, the star he had captured, even in anger and threats, only talked about beating him up, not about breaking up with him.

The group that followed Xu Qingran in included Su Wenxu and the military police officers he had brought for the mission.

They cleared the scene, safely escorting out all the hostages who had been brought in by Ming Hai as bait to force Shen Tingyu’s hand.

After arranging everything, Su Wenxu approached to check on Xu Qingran and Shen Tingyu, "Are you two alright?"

They had arrived later and hadn't witnessed Shen Tingyu's desperate actions.

Even after sensing something amiss upon entering, with Xu Qingran’s concern at hand, they assumed Shen Tingyu had only sustained minor injuries in the fight with Ming Hai.

Xu Qingran didn't disclose the full story, merely stating, "It's okay, he just overexerted himself. I've transferred some of my psychic energy to him, and he's recovering now."

Su Wenxu glanced at Shen Tingyu and didn't express any doubt.

Meanwhile, Ming Hai, nearby, had been restrained the moment Su Wenxu and his team entered, quickly taken into custody by his order.

This E-class fugitive, a major headache for the empire, didn't resist or struggle but kept his gaze steadily on Shen Tingyu and Xu Qingran, his eyes calm and unwavering.

Soon after, Xie Nanjun and Lu Cheng, who had hurried here from East City upon receiving the news, arrived with their teams.

Xie Nanjun, carrying special handcuffs designed to suppress E-class psychic powers, cuffed Ming Hai's hands and said with a grim expression, "Buddy, you really gave the empire's military police a tough time searching for you!"

"Behave yourself and come back to Etta Prison for punishment!"

Ming Hai had caused quite a few problems during his escape.

In his actions, even innocent bystanders were involved, accumulating enough offenses for a lengthy stay in Etta Prison.

Xu Qingran happened to look their way as Xie Nanjun spoke.

Ming Hai, meeting Xu Qingran's slightly irked eyes, suddenly smiled and said, "Alright, I'll go back to Etta Prison with you."

The statement left everyone in surprise and suspicion.

There was a fear that Ming Hai's compliant demeanor was yet another of his cunning schemes.

After speaking, Ming Hai turned to Xu Qingran and asked, “If I, like General Shen, enter the Tower of Evil and obediently serve my sentence, graduating successfully, do I also stand a chance to join the military under your command, like other E-types who left the Tower?”

Xu Qingran looked at him coldly, “You have to be able to get out first.”

Ming Hai smirked.

Before being taken out of the underground city, Ming Hai paused as he passed by Xu Qingran, saying, “I chose to cooperate today because I slightly agree with what you said to me earlier.”

“I admit, under the same circumstances, I lack his courage and resolution.”

His words left those around them baffled, but it didn’t hinder the exchange between Xu Qingran and him.

Glancing at Shen Tingyu, Ming Hai said to Xu Qingran, “But I still don’t agree that my liking for you is a beast-like instinct.”

“Xu Qingran, there are many kinds of affection in this world.”

“Apart from love that deepens over time, there's also love at first sight.”

Ming Hai laughed carefree, seemingly oblivious to the emotional nuances of joy and sorrow, unaffected by the rejection.

He earnestly added, “You can’t take my love at first sight for you lightly.”

Lu Cheng, following behind Ming Hai, cast a complex look at Xu Qingran.

Eventually, he pursed his lips and nudged Ming Hai’s back, urging, “Less talking, let’s go.”

Ming Hai laughed raucously, being escorted away under the vigilant watch of both the Golden Wing and Silver Dragon guards.

The scene gradually returned to calm.

Xu Qingran, arms crossed, cast a cool glance at Shen Tingyu, then led the way out. Shen Tingyu followed with a slight smile, unhurriedly trailing behind him.

The two leisurely walked out of the underground city and, upon returning to the surface at the vintage shop, found someone waiting for them.

With dazzling golden hair, habitually chewing on a lollipop.

Xie Nanjun’s target was, naturally, Shen Tingyu.

He informed him, “My coming here actually includes another task from the Golden Wing Camp.”

“That is, if I encounter you outside, I’m ordered to bring you back.”

Shen Tingyu's vacation had lasted about a month.

In his absence, the Golden Wing Camp truly realized how deeply their general's involvement ran in their operations. Not only did the major disaster zone clearance plans stall, but the daily work arrangements across various star systems, and all sorts of minor details, no one knew them better than he did.

During this time, especially the team-leading officers, the most heard phrase was — sorry, these matters have always been managed by General Shen, we really don't know.

They only then realized how many tasks were piled up in what seemed like his effortless job.

Even the defense arrangements for key energy stations, periodic patrols and rotations became a mess without him.

After saying all this, Xie Nanjun fell silent.

Before Shen Tingyu could reply, he bit his lip and said, “...Everything I just mentioned was a directive from the higher-ups.”

“But as a brother, I must make it clear to you, one should be responsible for their own happiness in life! If you... really don’t want to return to Golden Wing, then don’t!”

“I’ve been thinking, your going to Silver Dragon isn’t such a bad idea.”

“We now have Xu Qingran as a connection in Silver Dragon, right? With your good relationship with him, maybe you’ll work well together! As for me... heck, I’ve been fed up with that damn commander for a long time, I might as well switch sides with you, right?”

Shen Tingyu chuckled, “Then your sister and your dad might kill you.”

Xie Nanjun, with a wry smile, said, “Take what Xu Qingran said at the graduation ceremony, for instance. Though he was talking nonsense, he wasn’t wrong. We are here to serve the people of the Kai'an Empire, whether it's with Silver Dragon or Golden Wing.”

Shen Tingyu chuckled lightly.

Then he said, “I understand. I'll come back with you.”

“And this visit to Silver Dragon has actually…”

While Shen Tingyu was speaking, Xie Nanjun, still muttering to himself, took a moment to register the response.

“Enough of a vacation; the shock to Golden Wing should suffice,” Shen Tingyu said with a smile. “I've worked hard to climb to my current position; leaving now would only benefit Mu Ziwei.”

“So, I won't leave Golden Wing.”

Xie Nanjun heaved a huge sigh of relief upon getting a definite answer.

…After all, if he really had to switch camps, it would require a great deal of resolve!

The sweep operation in West City thus came to a successful conclusion.

With Shen Tingyu, a member of Golden Wing, heavily involved in the capture of Minghai, the latter was detained on a Golden Wing spacecraft.

Lu Cheng didn’t make any objections; since the merit of the mission didn’t fall into Silver Dragon’s hands, he led his troops out of Southern Shan State that very day.

Golden Wing Camp stayed a few extra days waiting for Shen Tingyu.

Su Wenxu was still busy collecting materials left behind by the underground organization in West City for investigation and research.

On the way back to the East City camp, the aircraft was piloted by Xu Qingran.

Shen Tingyu, sitting in the passenger seat, unusually deep in sleep, hadn't fully recovered his complexion yet. Seriously injured, even though Xu Qingran used his psychic powers to prevent him from becoming disabled, the trauma he suffered would need some time to heal.

Including the recent signs of healing in his original psychic pool, his recent actions meant starting the recovery process all over again.

Xu Qingran pondered how many kisses it would take for Shen Tingyu to fully recover.

The aircraft traveled in silence.

Xu Qingran's thoughts drifted to Lu Cheng, who had quietly departed, and he recalled a casual conversation he once had with the system.

Unable to resist, he called out, “System.”

Having been relatively inactive due to the smooth progress of tasks, the system quickly came online, “Hey, Host, what's up?”

Xu Qingran paused for a few seconds before chuckling softly.

He said to the system in his mind, “See, I told you, if a man really wants to, he can keep his ‘cucumber’ under control.”

Those who can’t, like Lu Cheng, use excuses like drunkenness to shirk responsibility.

System: “......”

What an explosive topic.

And is the Host boasting to it?

However, putting other things aside, in some ways, the target of conquest, when not acting crazy, indeed rivals their Host.

Xu Qingran glanced again at the person beside him, then slightly lowered his gaze after withdrawing his look.

As the other half in a romantic relationship, setting aside Shen Tingyu's extreme actions, Xu Qingran found joy in the immense sense of security Shen provided, being a flesh-and-blood human himself.

At the same time, he gained new insights into Shen Tingyu’s particular obsession as an E-type.

He had to admit, he was increasingly fond of the feeling of being Shen Tingyu’s partner.

·

Xu Qingran and Shen Tingyu returned to their accommodations at the Eastern Camp headquarters.

After taking showers, the two idled on the couch, doing nothing in particular.

Shen Tingyu was unusually clingy today, hugging Xu Qingran from the moment they sat down, occasionally caressing him and nuzzling against him. It wasn’t clear if this was due to the effects of the strange drug or because they would be parting ways in a few days, so he was acting a bit petulant.

Even the white dog lying in a corner of the room seemed disapproving, as if thinking that the affectionate actions it should have been doing were being usurped by the blue-eyed man.

Soon enough, Xu Qingran found his answer.

Lovers sitting close tend to naturally start kissing, especially as they were not new to this.

Both Shen Tingyu and Xu Qingran were experienced with kissing, making it effortless.

Xu Qingran realized something was amiss when he was pressed down on the couch and kissed deeply.

Perhaps moved by his emotions, Shen Tingyu’s body was hotter than usual, his gaze filled with a dangerous intensity. Being so close, Xu Qingran could even sense changes in Shen Tingyu's body.

Usually, Shen had good control over such reactions. Could it be that the effects of the drug hadn’t completely worn off yet?

Xu Qingran and the person on top of him exchanged a silent look.

He felt no shyness; after all, it’s natural for people to have such needs. If there were none, he would even start doubting Shen’s capabilities.

Thinking of what Shen Tingyu went through in the Western City, Xu Qingran lifted his gaze and asked, “Are you in discomfort?”

Shen Tingyu did not respond, his eyes full of restrained agony.

Xu Qingran then added, “Then let’s do it.”

The atmosphere in the room fell silent for a moment.

Half a minute after hearing Xu Qingran's words, Shen Tingyu reacted as if doused with cold water, quickly suppressing the desire in his eyes.

He stood up, creating a significant distance between them, and solemnly declined: "No, thank you."

Xu Qingran: “?”

System: “??”

Initially, Xu Qingran doubted his hearing.

Then, he began to question his own charm.

"...Damn it, the audacity of this man to refuse him?!"