Chapter 91: Reassurance

Chapter 91: Reassurance

"Cough, cough." Cang Cheng cleared his throat, interrupting their conversation.

The three rose and bowed respectfully to Cang Cheng.

Cang Cheng praised the Sunset Star's defense system and the guard force Cang Ye had trained over the past few months. Cang Cheng also awarded them bonuses and promoted them. He then highlighted some areas for improvement in the defense system.

Ming Bai took notes and promised to make adjustments based on the identified issues.

"Incidentally, Ming Bai, the Weapon Institute has been disbanded. The military department wants us to take over part of the Weapon Institute's operations, since the Spirit Rune weapons and Cang Stone weapons used by the military are developed here.

What do you think?"

Cang Cheng asked Ming Bai.

Ming Bai, who was framed for plagiarism by his teacher 10 years ago, had his legs crippled and his spine broken, leading to his expulsion from the Weapon Institute. The defense system currently in use on the main planet was designed by Ming Bai, yet it was credited to his teacher.

This time, with the Weapon Institute being investigated, Ming Bai's teacher was also on the punishment list. All involved individuals have been imprisoned. Cang Cheng originally thought that Ming Bai would want to return to the main planet because of his undiminished passion for weapon design and his very 'upright' nature.

But... just now, when Ming Bai mentioned bombing the main planet, Cang Cheng realized that Ming Bai's mindset had shifted.

Ming Bai thought for a moment.

"Yes, we can."

Once the terms of my position, benefits, and authority are finalized, I can go and take over the research institute for a period of time. But even if I take over the weapons institute, Luori Star's affairs will remain my top priority.

The manufacturing methods of Cang Stone Weapons and Spirit Rune Weapons will eventually need to be promoted. The few production lines on Luori Star can't keep up with demand, and eventually, we'll need the main planet's help to boost production.

For the Canglan Star Region to grow stronger, Luori Star will become more stable and prosperous.

Since the military needs our help, we might as well take it on and get more benefits for Luori Star along the way.

In the past, Ming Bai was so focused on his research that he ignored politics, which led to him being framed and betrayed. When he was framed, his only ally, Cang Ye, wasn't there to help, and no one stood up for him.

He replaced his damaged limbs and spine with mechanical prosthetics. Although his body was fine, his heart felt empty.

Ming Bai felt lost for a long time, unsure of who he was, and even considered giving up.

But then, Governor Cang Cheng reignited a spark in his heart.

In just half a year of working for Luori Star, Ming Bai found a new purpose, and his withered passion bloomed with flowers again.

He lives each day fully and contentedly.

As a weapon designer of Luori Star, Ming Bai should naturally seek more for Luori Star from the perspective of its interests.

Cooperating with the military department clearly has many benefits for Luori Star, and Ming Bai is naturally willing to take it on.

Ming Bai then added, “If negotiations fail, Your Highness could always use the space cannon as leverage. I am currently researching a super long-range matter decomposition cannon, capable of turning the enemy into particles in one shot, dust to dust, soil to soil.

Governor Cang Cheng need not worry; Luori Star fears no one.”

Cang Cheng: O_o?

Cang Ye: ?

Mo Yu: Master is truly amazing!

"It doesn’t need to be so aggressive."

It seems like Ming Bai is getting further and further down a dangerous path.

Fortunately, he is a native of Sunset Star. Otherwise, if he were an enemy, Cang Cheng wouldn’t know what to do with him.

Cang Cheng awkwardly smiled, then changed the subject.

"Oh, right, Ming Bai, how was the General's condition when he left?"

After dealing with Cang Mu, although Cang Cheng was a bit dazed at the time, he sensed that Hilmeth's emotions were somewhat abnormal.

Ming Bai thought for a moment.

The General?

Ah... he’s referring to the General...

Ming Bai replied, "The General left for the main planet with the Crown Prince after the battle campaign.

When he left, his mood was foul. His presence was unchecked, and many people ended up in the initial treatment chamber for five minutes afterward."

Cang Cheng frowned.

It seemed like Hilmeth was struggling to control his energy.

"Ming Bai, be prepared. We’ll head to the main planet together in two days."

*

Two days later, after handling the follow-up matters on Sunset Star, Cang Cheng took Ming Bai to the main planet.

Unlike last time, Cang Cheng immediately sensed an unusual atmosphere upon arriving at the main planet.

The number of guards had multiplied, and most of the people coming and going had serious expressions, gravely discussing something.

A few people recognized Cang Cheng. Surprised by his arrival, they greeted Cang Cheng with smiles after their initial shock.

"The main planet has been unsafe recently. We recommend that Cang Cheng bring more guards when visiting."

"Thank you for the reminder."

"You’re welcome. I’m Leon, the factory head responsible for manufacturing starship interiors. This is my personal contact information. If you have any needs, feel free to reach out."

"Good, thank you."

Seeing that Cang Cheng had accepted the electronic business card, others also offered friendly smiles, exchanged a few words with Cang Cheng, and successfully sent their contact information to his neural interface.

After half an hour of socializing, Cang Cheng finally left the port, his neural interface now containing over a dozen new contacts.

Their friendly and eager attitude was a sharp contrast to the indifference Cang Cheng had experienced during the C20 Summit when he last visited the main planet.

In just a month, everything had changed.

Cang Cheng and Ming Bai first went to the military department to meet with the relevant personnel taking over the Weapon Institute. The person in charge turned out to be Fu Huai, someone Cang Cheng knew.

Fu Huai, who had been defeated by Cang Cheng in the arena using Meteor Fire Rain, was also the brother of Fu Congfei, a participant in the Exchange Competition.

However, Cang Cheng knew Fu Huai, though Fu Huai didn't yet know that Cang Cheng was ANKEN.

Fu Huai only knew that the unbelievably handsome man in front of him was rumored to be the admiral's romantic interest.

Fu Huai pushed his glasses up: "Prince, thank you for taking the time to come here. May I ask if this is the weapon designer who created the Spirit Rune weapon?"

Cang Cheng introduced: "This is weapon designer M. All the weapons I previously provided were designed and manufactured by him. The matter of taking over the Weapon Institute will be discussed with you by him."

Ming Bai nodded, his tone cold: "Hello, I am M."

Fu Huai's smile didn't fade, but there was confusion in his heart.

Ever since the admiral handed the Spirit Rune weapon and the new energy weapons to Fu Huai and his team, Fu Huai had been investigating weapon designer M.

It wasn't easy to find information about M in the data streams that had been erased across the entire star region. Fu Huai and his team had to exert tremendous effort to uncover M's past.

"Those trash at the Weapon Institute! Scumbags! Animals!"

Everyone who saw the investigation data couldn't help but curse out loud.

While they felt anger and injustice for M, they also wondered if M had been allowed to continue working at the Weapon Institute, would the weapons of the Canglan Star Region have been slightly ahead of those in other star systems?

But there were no "what ifs."

What was fortunate now was that the genius designer M had returned.

However, according to the files Fu Huai obtained, the M in the photos was scholarly and exuded the kind of researching aura typical of a designer, appearing simple and easy to handle.

But the M in front of him now… although it was the same face, his aura was completely different from before.

If you want a metaphor, the previous M was like a delicate but fragile electronic chip, while the current M was more like an impenetrable metal fortress, potentially dangerous.

Fu Huai, who had been confident about this partnership, now found it unexpectedly challenging.

Ming Bai and Fu Huai had an in-depth discussion about taking over the Weapon Institute, arguing over every single clause.

Ming Bai refused to back down, matching the intensity of a seasoned negotiator.

As the military's diplomat, Fu Huai was pushed back by Ming Bai's arguments, having to revise the prepared clauses again and again.

By the time all the clauses were revised, Fu Huai's face had darkened considerably.

Fu Huai: "M, your negotiation skills are truly on par with your weapon design abilities."

Ming Bai remained expressionless: "I hope we have a pleasant cooperation."

"Pleasant cooperation."

Fu Huai gritted his teeth, cursing inwardly.

Hell!

Since when did weapon designers become so eloquent?

He might have chosen the wrong profession.

After the discussion, Ming Bai bowed to Cang Cheng: "Lord, I ensured that Luori Star did not lose out."

This was clearly more than just avoiding loss… Luori Star had gained quite a bit.

Cang Cheng smiled and said, "I didn’t expect you to be such a skilled negotiator, Ming Bai."

Ming Bai simply tapped his head, offering no clear explanation.

Negotiation cases and techniques from the entire star region were stored in Ming Bai's chip.

What seemed like a negotiation between Fu Huai and Ming Bai was actually a discussion with the combined knowledge of the entire Canglan Star Region.

No wonder Fu Huai struggled to keep up.

Cang Cheng and Ming Bai soon signed the cooperation agreement. According to the contract, starting tomorrow, Ming Bai would become the new head of the Weapon Institute.

The situation of having no leader in the major research institutions on the main planet would soon be alleviated.

With the cooperation finalized, Cang Cheng and Ming Bai didn’t stay any longer.

As they parted, Cang Cheng asked, "By the way, Lieutenant Colonel Fu Huai, do you know where the General is now?"

Fu Huai blinked, looking at Cang Cheng with an odd expression.

He had noticed how intense and cold his superior had been since returning to the main planet, almost as if the Blade of Wind was trailing behind him. Now it seemed like he might have had a falling out with the prince.

Fu Huai said, "The General returned to the main planet a few days ago, dealt with some matters, and then took a few days off."

Cang Cheng was puzzled, "Took time off?"

Fu Huai nodded, "The General sustained injuries during the last Spirit Runes combat scenario. The wounds haven't fully healed yet, and after the recent major battle on Luori Star, the old injury might have flared up again.

If the Fifth Prince has some free time, you could go visit the General."

"Old injury? Is it serious?"

"The General led the Canglan Star Region into battle during the star region's Spirit Runes combat scenario, where getting injured is a common occurrence. This time, after a severe injury, the hidden wound has resurfaced. Although it's not fatal, it's certainly uncomfortable."

Cang Cheng felt a surge of worry.

He had always thought that after reuniting with Hilmeth, the injuries would have healed almost completely.

Little did he know, the injuries hadn’t fully healed.

Cang Cheng made a decision, "Alright, I’ll go see him right away."

As Fu Huai watched Cang Cheng leave, he hid his contributions with grace.

The story Fu Huai made up about Hilmeth's old injury flaring up was false, but it was true that Hilmeth was suffering greatly at the moment.

The most powerful warrior of the Canglan Star Region, Hilmeth, was now lying on the cold tiles in the form of an exotic.

His long black hair lay spread out on the white tiles, resembling seaweed.

*

His sharp black nails clawed at the ground, scraping against the tiles with a harsh sound.

His usually restless tail now hung limply behind him, completely still.

Ever since Hilmeth had been in a soul form near Cang Cheng for the past six months, his emotions had gradually become more volatile, making it harder for him to control his exotic appearance.

And this time, after being sprayed with pollen by the Scorpion King on Sunset Star, this instability reached its peak, and he could no longer control his form.

He felt a fire burning inside him, scorching his flesh, bones, and body, all becoming intensely hot.

He felt an overwhelming urge to destroy, to take over, to unleash his energy without restraint.

The pollen seemed to have amplified the adult-stage urges of the Norman race to their fullest extent.

Most Normans wouldn't react as intensely as Hilmeth; they might just become a little more irritable and have slightly heightened desires.

But... because Hilmeth had suppressed his Norman instincts since childhood, when the coiled spring was finally released, combined with the pollen acting as a catalyst, all the previously suppressed emotions violently erupted.

Even without the pollen, Hilmeth wouldn't have been able to hold on much longer.

His emotions had become raw and intense due to Cang Cheng, and he couldn't control himself.

Hilmeth reached for a potent sedative and injected it directly into his veins.

As the liquid flowed through his gray-green veins, the burning sensation in his body eased slightly.

However, this relief lasted less than 5 minutes before his body felt as if it was being roasted by flames again, too hot to think.

Struggling, Hilmeth lay down in a bathtub filled with ice water, attempting to cool down this way.

But this was only a temporary fix.

The ice water quickly heated up from his body temperature, and the discomfort only made his frustration worse.

He craved something soft... something sweet and fragrant...

Hilmeth tilted his head back, his flushed skin taking on a deep, almost feverish hue.

The blue veins on the side of his neck bulged, extending from his jawline into the open collar, becoming more pronounced with each breath he took.

He wanted... Cang Cheng.

Just then, a familiar voice reached Hilmeth's ears.

"Meth... are you home? I heard you're unwell, are you okay?"

Hilmeth's amber eyes were scorching hot.

What was Cang Cheng doing here?

His hand clenched involuntarily, the black nails instantly cutting the metal handrail into several pieces.

*

After finding Hilmeth's house, Cang Cheng first pressed the doorbell, finding no response inside.

Worried that something might have happened to him, he had Ming Bai remotely unlock the door.

Upon entering, he saw the housekeeper robot in the living room violently disassembled, parts scattered all over the floor.

All the furniture had also been torn apart, leaving the entire living room looking like it had been hit by a hurricane.

Had Meth lost control?

Concerned for Hilmeth, Cang Cheng began searching room by room.

In the guest bedroom, where the furniture was in ruins, Cang Cheng sensed Hilmeth's familiar presence behind the closed bathroom door.

Cang Cheng walked to the door and asked, "Hilmeth, are you okay?"

After waiting for a moment, he heard the other party's low voice respond, "Yeah."

Although the response was just a single word 'yeah,' Cang Cheng could hear the suppressed breathing from behind the door, mixed with painful groans.

Hilmeth wasn't doing well.

Cang Cheng didn't ask what was wrong.

Clearly, since Hilmeth had hidden himself and trashed the place, something must be seriously wrong with him.

Given how he had started tearing the place apart, it was likely that Hilmeth was experiencing an energy overload, his actions out of control.

In situations like this, either the person needed to release their energy, or they needed to remain emotionally stable, using reason to forcibly suppress their emotions.

Cang Cheng guessed that given Hilmeth's usual cold demeanor, the other party had probably been suppressed for too long and needed to release his energy properly.

So... Cang Cheng needed to get Hilmeth to open the door on his own and then help him.

Cang Cheng could easily break down the door between them, but he didn't want to do that. He would give the other person enough space.

Cang Cheng placed his hand on the door's glass.

"Hilmeth, how about we have a chat?"

After a moment.

"Okay."

Then, from the other side of the glass, a large hand with sharp, wide nails pressed against Cang Cheng's palm through the door.

Intimate.

"I haven't thanked you yet for helping me on Sunset Star. I know I can be willful, headstrong, and stubborn sometimes.

Do I ever get on your nerves?"

Cang Cheng's hand curled slightly against the door.

The hand on the other side mirrored the action, pressing tightly together.

"No."

"Thank you, Hilmeth. You're really great."

Cang Cheng smiled. "I heard that while I was unconscious for those few days, your emotions weren't doing well. Were you angry at me?"

"No. I wasn't angry at you. I was... just angry at myself.

On Sunset Star, I was right there with you, but I didn't do enough to help.

Am I no good?"

Hilmeth spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully, as if he were trying to sort through his thoughts.

"That's not true at all. You did so much for me on Sunset Star—how could you think you're no good?" Cang Cheng smiled.

If it weren’t for you, the star beasts and scorpions could have breached the city walls. You even called in Hilmeth to assist us, which saved us a lot of trouble.

“Hey, you did really well out there.”

At Cang Cheng’s light, soothing tone, Hilmeth’s drooping tail tip twitched slightly.

The large black tail regained its vitality.

“Hmm.”

Hilmeth still only responded with a single syllable, but this one clearly sounded much more relaxed than before.

“I messaged you, but you didn’t reply. I thought maybe you were ignoring me.”

Cang Cheng lifted his hand from the door and began tracing circles on the glass with his finger.

Slowly, with a unique rhythm.

Hilmeth’s pupils contracted.

His eyes locked onto the shadow of Cang Cheng’s finger, and he ached to wrap his hand around it and pull it into his mouth.

To cover the finger with his own scent.

Hilmeth swallowed, concentrating hard to respond, “I wasn’t feeling well, and my terminal got smashed.”

“Alright, I’ll let it slide this time because you weren’t feeling well. But don’t ignore me again, or there will be consequences.

Remember, you are mine.”

Cang Cheng’s voice was softer than usual, and even through the muffled door, the coquettish tone made Hilmeth’s heart race.

Hilmeth felt a burning heat and an overwhelming thirst.

“Hmm.”

“But when I got to the main planet, my boyfriend wasn’t there to meet me, and I’m feeling a bit disappointed. What should I do?”

As he spoke, Cang Cheng’s hand on the door stilled.

Without hesitation, Hilmeth lifted his tail and pressed it against where Cang Cheng’s hand was resting.

“Want to play with my tail?”

Hearing this, Cang Cheng’s heartbeat quickened.

Someone who previously wouldn’t let anyone touch his tail was now generously offering it...

It was truly something hard to refuse.

“But I can’t touch your tail right now.”

Cang Cheng waved his hand, and the tail on the other side of the glass door swayed along with it, like a little puppy following closely behind Cang Cheng.

Cang Cheng’s voice trembled with desire. “I want to touch your tail right now. What can we do?”

Hilmeth’s emotions surged uncontrollably.

Among the Norman race, asking to touch someone’s tail is a euphemism for wanting to be intimate with them.

His agitated emotions were soothed by Cang Cheng's previous words, but another feeling was making him burn with heat.

"Cang Cheng... are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I want to touch your tail. Mo, will you let me?"

Hilmeth's rationality slipped away, and he opened the door, pulling Cang Cheng inside in one swift motion.

He leaned down, pressing him against the wall, and kissed him.

His hands wandered indiscreetly.

Even though Hilmeth had just soaked in cold water, the moisture on his body had long been dried by his body heat.

He was now as hot as a small heater, warm enough to melt Cang Cheng.

Only when Cang Cheng made a weak struggle did Hilmeth, as a punishment, leave a hickey on the side of his neck, finally giving Cang Cheng a little breathing space.

"Why do you seem like you're in heat? I remember... your Norman race doesn't have... this period."

Cang Cheng's voice had become soft and drawn out.

When he spoke, he broke his sentences into halting parts, yet because of his seductive tone, it carried a unique flavor.

Hilmeth gazed at Cang Cheng, whose cheeks were flushed, his voice dropping to an incredulous low.

"I've been holding back for too long."

Saying that, he lowered his head again, giving a deep kiss.

Cang Cheng's hands climbed onto Hilmeth.

But he found Hilmeth's clothes uncomfortable, so he began to slowly undo them.

Hilmeth's powerful, muscular body was now displayed before Cang Cheng's eyes, with black hair falling over his light pink skin, the contrasting colors highlighting his beauty.

It was a complete visual feast.

Hilmeth noticed Cang Cheng's distraction. He was about to punish him when he saw that Cang Cheng's gaze was completely fixed on him.

Focused and infatuated.

Cang Cheng's eyes had always been beautiful, a pure black.

Cang Cheng often smiled, and when he did, his eyes would curve, with fragments of light falling in his pupils.

And at this moment, those pure black eyes were looking at him with an ambiguous gaze, appreciating his body.

His gaze carried a shared, knowing intensity, and this look of Cang Cheng's made Hilmeth even less able to hold back.

Hilmeth's desire was obvious.

Cang Cheng suddenly smiled.

"You're not in your right mind today. Not today. But..."

Cang Cheng traced a line with his index finger along Hilmeth's abdominal muscles, finally stopping along his hips.

"I can help you with that."

Hilmeth surrendered himself to Cang Cheng.