Chapter 123: Be a Dog

Chapter 123: On Being a Dog

The light filtering through the window cast half of Qi Ran's figure in shadow.

The alpha remained standing tall and straight.

But Zhou Yongnian clearly saw Qi Ran's hand, wrapped in old bandages, trembling slightly.

"Qi Ran, your strength, your ruthlessness, your S+ spiritual power—they shouldn't be buried and trampled like this. Being forgotten by Song Yuqing shouldn't be your fate."

Zhou Yongnian’s voice was low, yet its provocative intent was unmistakable.

"Cooperate with us, and we can give you everything Song Yuqing can’t—true recognition, resources that match your capabilities, a status and power that will place you on equal footing with Pei Huai, even with Song Yuqing himself."

"Don’t you want to make Song Yuqing regret it?" Zhou Yongnian continued, his tone almost seductive.

"Or perhaps, once you reach the pinnacle in Xinzhou, you can possess Song Yuqing completely. Even Qi Zhengqing will have to step aside for you."

"Lock Song Yuqing up, strip him of all dignity, let him be..."

Zhou Yongnian’s words were veiled, but their vulgar undertone was impossible to ignore.

Qi Ran’s dark gaze fixed on Zhou Yongnian, as if he wanted to kill him. "Enough. Stop talking."

Zhou Yongnian took two steps back, though he wasn’t intimidated by Qi Ran. "You have no idea how exhilarating it is to defile someone’s 'white moonlight'."

"I don’t believe you’ve never thought about sleeping with Song Yuqing."

"Imagine making your dear little dad bear your illegitimate child, having him give birth to your baby, holding him day and night to soothe him as his pregnancy hormones fluctuate wildly."

Qi Ran’s fingers tightened around the stack of photos, crumpling them.

"I need to think about it," the alpha said, his eyes dark and heavy with unfathomable gloom.

"Then you should... think it through carefully," Zhou Yongnian said, each word slow and weighty.

He knew it—Qi Ran’s illicit desires for Song Yuqing.

"Your father was an alpha who claimed his stepmother as his own. You should believe that you can’t escape the depravity in your genes. If you can’t change it, you might as well face it honestly."

The Qi family was full of such perverts.

"I want these photos," Qi Ran said, gripping them tightly, unwilling to let go.

Zhou Yongnian was generous in this regard. "They were meant for you anyway. Take them."

Back in his dorm, Qi Ran tore out the other alphas in the photos, leaving only Song Yuqing. He stared at Song Yuqing’s picture for a long time before holding it to his heart.

Closing his eyes, he felt as if he had returned to Victor, back to the day Song Yuqing pulled him out of the abyss.

That place full of nightmares.

That place he shouldn’t remember, yet revisited in his dreams night after night, yearning to go back.

To stay forever in that nightmare, forever by Song Yuqing’s side.

Ye Siling’s tone was serious, growing more solemn with each repetition. "I’ll be your dog."

Song Yuqing: "..."

This was already countless times Ye Siling had seen him and started with "I'll be your dog" as his first words.

Meeting Ye Siling in the lab.

Ye Siling: Be your dog.

Opening the door to see Ye Siling.

Ye Siling: Be your dog.

Running into Ye Siling while taking out the trash.

Ye Siling: Be your dog.

Song Yuqing didn’t open the door, just cast a cold glance at Ye Siling. "Was the last lesson not enough?"

Ye Siling wanted to say that it was precisely because last time’s lesson was too effective that he wanted even more to be Song Yuqing’s dog. The more Song Yuqing rejected him, the more Song Yuqing toyed with him, the more he desired him.

Hopelessly.

He wanted to be Song Yuqing’s true third party.

Ye Siling: "Yeah, not enough."

At first, he thought if Xiao Jinshi and Pei Huai could be Song Yuqing’s dogs and earn his favor, then he could too.

An alpha like him would be the most outstanding dog, even as a dog.

But Song Yuqing wouldn’t grant him the qualification to be a dog, not even a dog tag.

He couldn’t even get a ticket to the game.

He had to admit he was nothing to Song Yuqing. If he displeased Song Yuqing, Song Yuqing didn’t even need to push him away to cause him pain.

He was truly a dog in need of Song Yuqing’s pity, in need of Song Yuqing giving him a chance.

"Before... I was wrong." Ye Siling pinned him between the door and his chest, lowering his eyes to gaze at Song Yuqing almost pleadingly.

It was a close distance, close enough for him to catch Song Yuqing’s scent—so enticing.

He could see Song Yuqing’s slightly lowered eyelashes, his pale, translucent cheeks that made one want to kiss him.

Ye Siling’s eyes darkened. He lowered his head, restraining the urge to nuzzle against Song Yuqing, halting just a centimeter from Song Yuqing’s forehead.

When he spoke again, Ye Siling’s voice was hoarse. "I shouldn’t have schemed against you."

"I know now. Only mutual consent makes it enjoyable. I shouldn’t have tricked you into kissing me, into pitying me."

Song Yuqing raised his thin eyelids. "So?"

"You don’t want to kiss me anymore?" Song Yuqing met Ye Siling’s gaze directly, as if he could see through the yearning in his soul.

Ye Siling’s Adam’s apple bobbed. What did that mean? Was he really asking if he wanted to kiss him?

Song Yuqing pushed Ye Siling away, turned to open the door, entered, and closed it in one fluid motion, giving the still-stunned Ye Siling no time to react.

Along with the sound of the door closing came Song Yuqing’s voice, with little emotion. "If you don’t want to kiss, get some sleep."

Left outside the door once again, Ye Siling stood there for a long time before walking away in a daze. Even though he knew Song Yuqing wouldn’t really let him kiss him, hearing those words still gave him a glimmer of hope and regret for his own hesitation.

As if saying he wanted to kiss Song Yuqing would make it happen.

Right before falling asleep, Ye Siling kept replaying Song Yuqing's question in his mind. *Didn’t he want to kiss him?*

He wanted to—badly. He wanted to kiss Song Yuqing until he was dizzy, until he was breathless. He wanted to kiss every inch of Song Yuqing’s body, to lick him all over until he was drenched in Ye Siling’s pheromones.

Ye Siling closed his eyes, his thoughts and the movements of his hand rising and falling in rhythm.

Every mental image was of Song Yuqing.

He was practically being made Song Yuqing’s pet.

Song Yuqing truly had a way of consuming one’s mind.

Being his dog wasn’t something Ye Siling could control—it was entirely up to Song Yuqing. If Song Yuqing wanted it, he would be the dog on Song Yuqing’s leash.

Hey, Yu Xiaoyan*

A month later, frequent reports of victory reached the New Continent Parliament. "Blade" had left the Western Continent nearly defenseless.

The Sri-Lan Continent had secretly supported the Western Continent, but even that couldn’t change the latter’s successive defeats.

The upper echelons of the New Continent and its states finally understood just how powerful and terrifying Song Yuqing’s robot army was.

A human-shaped meat grinder—that’s what it was. The border between the Western Continent and the New Continent had become a mass grave for countless Western Continent soldiers.

The Western Continent even sent a peace plea.

A pure plea for peace, without offering anything in return—as if they still thought the New Continent was easy to bully. That’s how it had always been: the Western Continent would offer a half-hearted peace, and the elders in the New Continent would take some small benefits and act as if nothing had happened.

Song Yuqing finished reading the letter expressionlessly, his cold face showing no change in emotion.

Zhou Yongnian stood before Song Yuqing, stealing glances at his expression, feeling a chill run down his spine.

"You’ve done such a fine job that everyone thinks the New Continent is easy to push around," Song Yuqing said without looking up, his tone icy.

The council members: "..."

They had originally planned to suggest that Song Yuqing also equip the Border Military Region’s alphas with robots, but now no one dared to bring it up to him.

Song Yuqing looked at Zhou Yongnian. "You go negotiate. If the result isn’t satisfactory, we’ll fight all the way to the Western Continent’s capital."

Since the Western Continent allowed itself to be incited by the Sri-Lan Continent, it should face the consequences.

Zhou Yongnian almost pointed at himself, wanting to ask Song Yuqing, *Me? Really, me?*

Zhou Yongnian was cautious about his safety. "What if they target me?"

Song Yuqing glanced up at him, silent for a long time. The moment seemed to stretch indefinitely. Suddenly, the corners of Song Yuqing’s lips lifted slightly, and he let out a soft laugh. "Then I’ll avenge you."

Zhou Yongnian: "..."

Was he supposed to thank Song Yuqing for that?

Zhou Yongnian wanted to curse, but he didn’t dare say anything reckless in front of Song Yuqing. He was afraid he wouldn’t even make it to the border before Song Yuqing killed him, planted his body in the Western Continent, and framed them—giving Song Yuqing a legitimate reason to attack.

"Can you go?" Song Yuqing’s tone was gentle, carrying a hint of inquiry.

But no one would mistake Song Yuqing for being easy to deal with or think he was being polite.

When someone holds absolute power, even their softest words are an unyielding command.

Zhou Yongnian steeled himself. "I’ll handle it well."

Once the negotiator for the Western Continent was decided, the other alphas breathed a sigh of relief and began proposing the idea of training a "Blade"-like unit in the Border Military Region—modeling everything after "Blade" to forge the New Continent’s second sharp edge.

Song Yuqing: "No money, can’t do it. It’s not that I’m refusing to approve military funds, but our budget can’t be entirely allocated to the military."

Everyone: "..."

That line sounded damn familiar.

Wasn’t that exactly what they had said to Song Yuqing before?

Now, with their positions reversed, they realized how detestable they had been back then.

"Could Mr. Qi approve some special funds?" an alpha suggested.

Song Yuqing replied coldly, "Can’t approve. I have a child to raise."

Everyone:

Exchanging glances, they eventually proposed a solution: they would pool their resources to avoid demoralizing the alphas in the Border Military Region.

Their words sounded noble, but in reality, they were eager to create a force capable of rivaling Song Yuqing.

No one could remain unmoved after witnessing "Blade’s" incredibly low casualty rates and overwhelming victories.

"Song Yuqing is too radical, always resorting to force."

"Exactly, too radical. Our New Continent has never been like this—we’ve always been peace lovers. But Song Yuqing is practically a god of slaughter."

Nearly every alpha criticized Song Yuqing for being radical.

Yet, as the gathering drew to a close...

Amid the haze of expensive cigars and the scent of alcohol, half of those present seemed unaffected by the liquor. Instead, as the noise faded, their eyes grew unusually sharp and clear.

*Fight.*

If Song Yuqing could really push forward and conquer the Western Continent, the profits they could reap would be immense.

Some even began to waver—was it really worth opposing Song Yuqing?

What was the point of internal strife? Fighting among themselves would only yield meager gains from the New Continent’s limited resources. But expanding outward was different.

New mineral veins, new shipping routes, new markets, new cheap labor—it meant the pie they and their families could share would expand to previously unimaginable proportions.

If Song Yuqing unified the four continents and provided them with the medicine, they and their families would become powerful factions under the new order, controlling vast territories and core resources.

After all, the Sri-Lan and Western Continents had been eyeing them aggressively. Why shouldn’t they take the offensive? Were they supposed to wait until they were beaten black and blue?

They were only retaliating after being attacked. The New Continent was on the side of justice, wasn’t it?

That night, Song Yuqing received several friendly overtures.

88:

Were these council members, who sent the messages, already stabbing their own groups in the back so eagerly?

Indeed, only interests are eternal.

They had only been pretending to listen to Song Yuqing before, but now they genuinely wanted to heed his words.

Song Yuqing picked up Mei Qiu, patted his little Mei Qi Guan Guan on the head, and did not respond to these people.

As expected, Zheng Kaiji was not the only opportunist in the parliament.

Driven by other council members, Song Yuqing was forced to agree to use the funds pooled by the parliament to develop the military in the Border Military Region, equipping the Alphas there with five thousand robots.

Promoted by Zhou Yongnian, Qi Ran was elevated to the rank of Major.

For a time, Qi Ran was unrivaled in the Border Military Region. With a few more military achievements and a few more years of experience, his future could be described as limitless.

As for Pei Huai, this battle had already secured his position in the military.

The Alphas in the military still thought Pei Huai was love-obsessed, but it was undeniable that he possessed the commanding ability and was powerful enough to be unbeatable on the battlefield. It was no exaggeration to call him the king of solo combat.

No one dared to overlook Pei Huai's military achievements, not even his father, the Marshal, or Song Yuqing.

It was destined that as long as Pei Huai reached this level of capability, his promotions would be smooth sailing.

Pei Huai was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

Now, the "Blade" team led by Pei Huai remains stationed in the Border Military Region. If the Western Continent makes any moves, the "Blade" can still ensure they don't get away unscathed.

Srilan Continent

Hurst looked grim. Instead of teaching Song Yuqing a lesson, he had shown everyone the strength of Song Yuqing's army.

This made the situation extremely unfavorable for the Srilan Continent, jeopardizing its position as the top military power among the four continents.

Now, due to the unequal terms set by Song Yuqing, the Western Continent repeatedly threatened Hurst, demanding money from him.

Hurst was somewhat swamped.

Hurst pressed his temples, his tone gloomy, as he looked at the Alpha below him. "Have you found a competent robot designer?"

"Y-yes, we found one. But..."

"This person is extremely eccentric and reclusive, living in seclusion and clearly stating that he does not wish to see anyone." The Alpha swallowed hard and continued with difficulty, "Moreover, he is currently hiding in an abandoned underground mine. Our people tried to make contact, but he refused to leave the mine and even more firmly refused to come to the Srilan Continent."

As he spoke, the Alpha also produced a small robot obtained from that person.

Powered by flesh and blood, and the full mental power of an Alpha, it feels no pain, does not die, and is incapable of fear.

After watching the footage of the tests, Hurst's expression softened slightly.

"I will personally go to negotiate a deal with him."

Deep within the mines,

a group of captured individuals were mining minerals. The miners included Alphas, Omegas, and Betas.

An absurd form of equality—whether Alpha, Omega, or Beta, as long as they were human, they were forced to work like beasts day and night.

A masked Alpha was admiring this scene of "equality."

It seemed this sight greatly pleased the Alpha, as a joyful smile curled under his mask.

Until another Alpha walked in. "Stop looking. Someone from the Srilan Continent is here."

The Alpha who entered had a fierce look in his eyes, though an innate elegance and nobility could still be seen in his demeanor.

"You’ve been hiding like a dead rat for so long. It’s time to see the light of day again, Su Quan."

The Alpha called Su Quan turned to look at Xiao Lin. "You’re right."

Xiao Lin: "But remember, your life was saved by me. I am your benefactor. You’d better not entertain any foolish thoughts and serve me well."

Su Quan’s eyes darkened. "My life does not belong to you. If you threaten me again, I'll have no problem finding a way to inform Xiao Jinshi of your whereabouts. We can die together."

Xiao Lin was left speechless by Su Quan’s retort. He was no longer the next ruler of the Xiao family.

Even after the death of Xiao’s father, Xiao Jinshi had been searching everywhere for him, intent on killing him.

He and Su Quan were now in the same boat.

Xiao Lin could only suppress his anger. "Fine, let’s go."

Xiao Lin and Su Quan met Hurst in the underground laboratory.

Hurst brought all the information he could gather about Song Yuqing’s newly developed robots, as well as combat intelligence purchased from people in the Western Continent.

"Xiao Lin?" Hurst raised an eyebrow upon seeing his old acquaintance. "I thought you were dead. So, your dear brother has driven you to this godforsaken place."

Seeing an old acquaintance, Hurst didn’t even think the negotiation would fail.

A gathering of enemies—wasn’t their common goal Song Yuqing?

Others might not know, but with Qi Ran’s successful secondary sex differentiation, those old stories had resurfaced.

Back then, Song Yuqing had colluded with Xiao Jinshi to set up Xiao Lin, leading to his exile.

After the death of Xiao’s father, Xiao Lin was cornered by Xiao Jinshi with no way out, forced to hide like a rat in the gutter.

In response to Hurst’s sarcasm, Xiao Lin curled his lips. "You’re not much better. You tried to turn Song Yuqing against others, only to be trapped by him. You wanted to cause trouble for Song Yuqing but ended up boosting his fame."

"You’re just as ridiculous, Hurst."

Hurst’s face darkened.

Only when he saw the masked Alpha nearby did Hurst shift his attention. "Are you willing to work for us?"

Su Quan lifted his eyes, his gaze cold. "It’s about making Song Yuqing regret everything together."

"You have a grudge against Song Yuqing?" Hurst raised an eyebrow. Sometimes he wondered how Song Yuqing had managed to offend so many people.

Shouldn’t all those who hate Song Yuqing form an Avengers alliance?

"Song Yuqing owes me." At the mention of Song Yuqing, a trace of madness flickered in Su Quan’s eyes.

Su Quan crushed the small robot in his hand. The moment the robot shattered, the mental power attached to it vanished into thin air.

Author's Note:

Song Qingqing: Do I owe you all again?

Qingqing the cat does nothing all day but somehow ends up with a pile of emotional debts.