Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Half a minute might seem like just a few blinks of an eye, but in such a brief and fleeting time, measured in seconds, it was enough for the faceless mask to snatch the silver cocoon and escape.

Once he left what he thought was a safe area, he no longer restrained himself, succumbing to the backlash from overexerting his mental power. His whole body, especially his chest, ached almost unbearably, and dark red blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Using such an overpowering ability, the faceless mask suffered far more damage than Queqiu. Had he not quickly realized in their few encounters that he couldn’t subdue Queqiu by conventional means, he wouldn't have risked a move that would damage the enemy at the cost of greater harm to himself.

But looking at the silver cocoon in his hand, emitting a faint glow, the faceless mask chuckled with satisfaction.

Although he hadn't truly defeated Queqiu or turned him into a subordinate, just obtaining the cocoon was enough to fulfill his purpose.

Next, all he needed was to wait for the nobles to come to his aid, and this mission would be considered a complete success.

However, before the faceless mask could revel in his triumph for long, several pairs of black military boots suddenly appeared in his view.

Bad news—

A chill crept up the spine of the faceless mask, his heart skipping a beat.

He abruptly looked up to see the leader was, shockingly, Xiaoyue.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, such a sorry state. Waiting for someone, are we?"

The Silver Wolf Alpha casually brushed his ear, smoothly grooming his well-maintained wolf ears back through his hair. The silver fur was sleek and shiny, radiating a healthy luster.

The faceless mask tensed up, instinctively gripping the silver cocoon tighter. He never expected that instead of the nobles, he would be confronted by members of the First Army.

Xiaoyue observed his actions with derision, "You probably haven't heard the saying, 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' Unfortunately, you've become that unlucky mantis."

As he spoke, Xiaoyue glanced at the silver cocoon in the faceless mask's hand. Although he had been mentally prepared, seeing the object of his long search so close still stirred an uncontrollable excitement in his eyes.

Thus, he mockingly looked at the faceless mask, saying with a sneer, “I was wondering why you looked so furtive. Turns out, you’re just a thief waiting to dispose of stolen goods.”

"Do you choose to keep your life, or hand over the silver cocoon obediently?"

The faceless mask steadied his initial tremble and slowly stood upright. His height was similar to Xiaoyue's, both standing defiantly against each other.

"Ha, is there a difference between those options?"

He tried to stall for time with verbal tactics, hoping the nobles would arrive to assist him.

With the enemy having two S-levels and several A-level Alphas, and himself just out of a tough battle and suffering internal injuries, how could he possibly face them head-on?

He wasn’t like Queqiu, who could easily handle any number of Alphas. Facing the First Army's members in a direct fight was an unquestionable loss; he didn't even believe he could escape them without resorting to tricks.

Xiaoyue was surprised that the faceless mask dared to be so defiant in front of so many high-ranking military Alphas. He twitched his ears, his eyes narrowing slightly - a sign familiar to those who knew him well that he was about to make a move.

The Silver Wolf Alpha’s tone turned cold, “Of course, there’s a difference. In the first option, we make it dignified for you; in the latter, you keep your own dignity.”

The faceless mask sneered, “What if I choose neither?”

Xiaoyue warmed up, rolling his neck, “Then, it seems we have to take matters into our own hands to teach you what dignity really is.”

As he spoke, his gaze hardened, signaling his comrades. They encircled the faceless mask, just like they did with Queqiu earlier.

The faceless mask stared at the battle-hardened Alphas, knowing even at his peak he would be no match for them, let alone now, injured and drained.

So, whether to endure the immense pressure and wait for the so-called noble forces became the pressing question he had to contemplate.

Seeing the faceless mask weighing his options, Xiaoyue added pointedly, "This is a matter between the nobles and the military, even the royal family. I don't know why a black A like you is meddling in this. Do you think your life is too long?"

He curled his lips into a sneer, "Thinking of earning money that costs your life, you should first consider if you'll live to spend it."

Xiaoyue's words were hard truths, albeit spoken in an irritating tone. After quickly pondering in his mind, the faceless mask decisively made his choice.

Mustering all his strength, he flung the silver cocoon in the opposite direction, hissing, "Instead of worrying about my career, you should worry whether General Duan Chensen can evolve successfully!"

"Damn!" Xiaoyue cursed, his heart almost stopping in shock.

He watched in dismay as the silver cocoon, thrown by the faceless mask, arced perfectly over his head. Panicking, he dashed forward like an energetic dog chasing a frisbee, catching the cocoon before it hit the ground.

The others, originally poised to attack the faceless mask, turned their attention to the cocoon.

This was the exact opportunity the faceless mask needed. While everyone was distracted, he activated his spatial ability and vanished in an instant.

"Thank goodness, safe and sound." Xiaoyue, having caught the cocoon, caressed it several times, treating it like a precious treasure.

Only after ensuring the cocoon was unharmed did Xiaoyue remember the instigator, but by then, the faceless mask had already disappeared without a trace.

His subordinates approached, seeking instructions, "Should we pursue him?"

After a moment's thought, Xiaoyue decided against chasing a beaten dog.

"He's just a hired hand who gets paid to do the job. Even capturing him won’t be of much use; his employer is still out there, safe and sound."

"Then..."

"Our priority now is to take the General back to the capital planet. Only there can he receive the massive amount of energy needed for his successful emergence from the cocoon. We can't delay a moment," Xiaoyue instructed, handing the silver cocoon to another Alpha of equal S-level status.

He repeated his instructions, "Remember, ensure the General's safe delivery. This is a critical phase in his evolution process; we can't afford any more complications."

The subordinates stood at attention, responding in unison, "Understood!"

However, the S-level Alpha entrusted with the important task by Xiaoyue hesitated, a conflicted expression on his face that even Xiaoyue noticed.

"Is there something you're concerned about?"

The Puma Alpha hesitated before asking, "Aren't you coming back to the capital planet with us now?"

Xiaoyue stiffened, his previously swaying tail stopping abruptly, and said somewhat unnaturally, "I, uh, have some matters to take care of, you go ahead."

The subordinates thought he might stay behind for some follow-up tasks and didn’t inquire further, carefully escorting the silver cocoon to prepare for their return journey.

Relieved at not being questioned further, Xiaoyue relaxed, his tail wagging cheerfully again.

He turned around, his gaze deep as he looked in the direction where the faceless mask had fled, the image of a delicate Omega gradually forming in his mind.

No matter what, the safe recovery of the General was largely thanks to that Omega named Queqiu, who must have exerted considerable effort.

And now, the General was taken away by them...

Xiaoyue couldn’t be without a sense of guilt.

After all, it was they who owed Queqiu.

Meanwhile, Queqiu was in a dire state.

He had already exhausted a significant amount of spiritual energy saving the Alphas and Betas in the treatment room and had overdrawn his remaining energy for Morfa's cocooning phase. After advancing, he faced a deficit and had never received replenishment. Not to mention, right before encountering the black Alphas, he was already at his limit due to the backlash from the curse.

Yet, in such a state, Queqiu still had to confront his enemies head-on, pushing through to win the outnumbered battle.

The consecutive drains on his body were unimaginable, so much so that when the faceless mask’s half-minute of spatial freeze ended, he couldn’t even step forward to chase after him.

With his "container" of spiritual energy completely drained and physical strength depleted in the intense fight, Queqiu wanted to retrieve Morfa. But as he took a step, his legs gave out as if stepping on cotton, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

The area was littered with remnants of the battle, described aptly as utterly disheveled. And Queqiu on the ground was no better than his surroundings – although he didn't have visible wounds like the faceless mask, his body was already beyond its limits.

But still...

But he hadn’t yet found Morfa...

Queqiu endured his internal pain, trying to stand up. His delicate palms, scraping against the rough ground in repeated efforts, turned red from the coarse sand and stones; his knees were already scraped from the fall.

Struggling, Queqiu noticed a pair of black military boots and then wheat-colored, calloused hands extending towards him.

He paused momentarily, then heard a familiar voice from above.

"Are you alright?"

The other tried to help him up.

Queqiu's eyes concealed his emotions. After a moment of hesitation, he brushed away Xiaoyue's offered hand.

"Are you injured?"

Faced with the concern of the Silver Wolf Alpha, Queqiu just sneered, not even lifting his head.

"Weren't you so eager to take Morfa away..."

Xiaoyue, unable to hear Omega's faint voice, asked instinctively, "What?"

Queqiu fell silent, then, just when Xiaoyue thought he had misheard, Queqiu raised his voice, glaring at him accusingly, "Weren't you so eager to snatch Morfa away from me! He has been taken by Black A, why aren't you going to rescue him!"

Queqiu lifted his head, his pure gold eyes no longer emotionless voids. Xiaoyue wished Queqiu would remain as indifferent as when they first met, rather than displaying such stubborn yet vulnerable eyes, like an injured, angry little beast, tugging at his heartstrings.

Xiaoyue suddenly felt awkward, his ears uncertain whether to perk up or lay flat. He hurriedly reassured, "Don't worry, the general hasn't been taken by Black A."

Not taken by Black A?

Queqiu was momentarily stunned.

Then he heard Xiaoyue explain, "We intercepted the general from the Black A leader before they could meet and trade with the nobles. He is safe, with no life-threatening dangers, and under the escort of an S-level Alpha, very, very secure."

On hearing this, Queqiu's previously tense heart finally relaxed. But then, he suddenly realized, if Xiaoyue knew the entire situation so clearly, did he also know about his fight with Black A?

Or to put it another way, in the events leading to this outcome, was Xiaoyue involved?

He bit down hard on his lower lip, the sharp pain quickly traveling to his brain, barely managing to hold onto his last shred of composure.

"Was all this orchestrated by you in the background?"

Xiaoyue, initially taken aback, hurriedly explained after hearing Queqiu question whether the students who died in the Gobi were also their doing: "No, that's not it! I only found out the general was with you afterwards. The insect tide on the border has nothing to do with the military. With frontier planets like Dark Star, the Empire has many, and the military can't possibly station troops on each one. Hence, border defense is entrusted to the nobles of the planet."

Thankfully—

Thankfully, the military hadn't colluded with the nobles.

Queqiu didn't know why he felt this way, but he couldn't deny the sense of relief in some corner of his heart when Xiaoyue outright rejected his accusation.

Seeing Queqiu's expression soften, Xiaoyue also breathed a sigh of relief, then continued somewhat apprehensively, "From start to finish, I only leaked the information about the general being with you to the nobles, hoping to use them to retrieve the general. Beyond that, we did nothing."

"Using others to do your dirty work, isn't that enough? What a tactic!"

Queqiu, feeling mocked, had never been as emotional as he was now. Struggling to stand with his heavy body, he almost fell several times. Xiaoyue tried to help, but was harshly pushed away again.

Queqiu slowly rose to his feet, under Xiaoyue's astonished gaze, and with the last bit of his strength, lunged at him:

"Whether it's Maomao…"

"Or Morfa…"

"Or even… Duan Chensen…"

"Give them back to me!"

Xiaoyue couldn't dodge in time, or perhaps he never expected that an Omega, nearly exhausted, could still muster the last of his strength to point all his spikes at him.

He was completely taken aback by the desperate power Queqiu unleashed, standing frozen, and took the hit squarely.

In just that one second of hesitation, Xiaoyue had to awkwardly dodge Queqiu's relentless attacks for several minutes.

His fluffy tail was seized by the Omega, preventing any escape, and a barrage of fists and slaps rained down on him. Xiaoyue, nearly two meters tall, cried out in pain, cowering, a stark contrast to his earlier poise against the faceless mask.

"Ouch! My butt hurts! Stop kicking me!!!"

"Ow! Ow! Ow! My tail! It's gonna get twisted off!!"

"Don't yank my ears! Hiss—"

"I'm wrong, I'm wrong, stop hitting me, please, wuwu, I'm sorry!!"

Queqiu, already low on strength, had sustained himself on sheer willpower, allowing him to vent his anger on Xiaoyue. As his energy dissipated, he staggered back several steps until his back hit the cold wall, barely keeping himself upright.

Xiaoyue, aware of his guilt and the debts owed by the military and the royal family to Queqiu, didn't seriously resist. In fact, it was almost as if he willingly presented himself to be beaten—

He had mentally prepared himself for this before coming.

Xiaoyue had only met and interacted with Queqiu once. If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have hesitated to leave with the First Army to the capital planet.

But...

Seeing the exhausted, pale-faced Omega refusing any help, Xiaoyue felt an indescribable mix of heartache and guilt.

Xiaoyue, troubled and not wanting to aggravate Queqiu’s wounds, struggled to find the right words.

But after much deliberation, he could only muster a simple, "…I'm sorry."

Queqiu, head bowed, wouldn't even glance at him, his voice heavy with fatigue.

"Sorry? Ha, can a simple apology bring Morfa back to me? Or make today's events unhappen?"

Of course, Xiaoyue couldn’t fulfill Queqiu’s demands, but that didn’t stop him from feeling a deep sense of debt to him.

"The marshal is already on the return journey to the capital star on a military ship and will secretly arrive soon. I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do."

"I am a soldier of the Empire, and my duty is to retrieve the marshal, so…"

He couldn't continue.

Queqiu was well aware of Xiaoyue's identity.

He had often thought about separating from Morfa, either through his own abandonment or Morfa's departure, but he never imagined external forces tearing them apart—

Just as Queqiu prepared himself to never leave Morfa, regardless of his transformation, fate cruelly snatched Morfa away.

No matter how Queqiu thought about it, he couldn't console himself or let go.

He knew his anger towards Xiaoyue was misplaced; taking Morfa to the capital star was safer than leaving him on the dark star, giving him back his prestigious identity, freeing him from being a non-entity.

But Queqiu couldn't be so magnanimous—

Especially concerning Morfa, he couldn't accept anyone else making decisions over him.

But it was too late to change anything.

"I don't want to hear your high-sounding but useless nonsense," Queqiu said coldly, his gaze indifferent.

Xiaoyue felt something clogging his heart—this damned mission, damned He Jie Xi, why did he have to be the bad guy!

He felt an urgent need to compensate Queqiu: "I know that Morfa could enter the cocooning phase and be safely retrieved largely due to your efforts. Not just me, but the entire Empire, the Royal Family, the Military, and Morfa himself are grateful for your help. If you have any requests, as long as they don't violate imperial laws, I'll do my utmost to fulfill them!"

Just recently, Morfa had initiated a temporary marking with him, so intimately close. Even before leaving, he carefully wiped the silver cocoon with a wet towel; now, in less than a day, Morfa was being mentioned by others in a different identity, as if their connection had vanished.

Queqiu never thought this day would come so soon.

He never imagined that the distance between him and Morfa would no longer be a thin layer of a pocket but separated by the vastness of the military, the Empire, and the Royal Family.

Queqiu slowly clenched his fist, looking up to find Xiaoyue still eagerly watching him, like a big dog awaiting feedback.

"I don't need your sympathy or pity," Queqiu asserted.

Xiaoyue was taken aback, then heard the always stubborn, now even more so, little Omega declare:

"I don't care who Morfa is in your eyes, be it a marshal or a crown prince. I only know he's the caterpillar I found, the butterfly I raised—"

"He is mine alone. None of you can overstep me to decide his ownership."

Xiaoyue, listening to Queqiu's obstinate words, felt a pang in his heart, vaguely realizing something: Could it be that the relationship between this little Omega and the marshal is extraordinarily unique?

Queqiu stared unwaveringly at the silver wolf Alpha, his golden pupils seemingly holding an entire blazing sun. When he looked at someone like this, no one dared to meet his gaze, fearing they'd be scorched by such intense light.

"I promised him I would never abandon him; he likewise vowed to me, no matter what he becomes, he would never leave me."

"I will, without a doubt, find him."

Xiaoyue, with his mouth slightly agape in astonishment, wanted to say something, but in front of the determined and stubborn Queqiu, any words seemed incredibly pale.

He hesitated, conflicted, and finally softened his heart, risking punishment to tell Queqiu, "The Royal Family is on the capital star. If you want to find him, then come."

"He's waiting for me," Queqiu said deliberately, "Of course, I will go."

To the capital star, to retrieve his little butterfly.

Author's note:

Short sleeve shirt, offline for a while

(Heading to the palace to transform into a butterfly! No need for Queqiu to lose spiritual power, will meet again at the military academy competition!)