Chapter 168: Return

Chapter 168: Return

The moment Qi Ran received Qi Zhengqing's order, he was elated.

Qi Zhengqing told him to take good care of Song Yuqing, that he no longer needed to conceal himself, and could return to Song Yuqing's side.

He could go pick up Song Yuqing and bring him home; he could finally see Song Yuqing.

Qi Ran left the command room but encountered Zhou Yongnian at the door.

Zhou Yongnian's eyes, sharp as a hawk's, fixed on Qi Ran. "You're going to pick up Song Yuqing? Where is Song Yuqing now?"

In the current climate, besides Song Yuqing, Qi Ran was the most prominent figure in Xinzhou. If Song Yuqing didn't return, using Qi Ran to seize power would be effortless.

"We must strike first."

As if realizing his eagerness, Zhou Yongnian added, "What I mean is, if you want Song Yuqing, it's best not to let him return to the Central Special Zone. You should find a way to keep him by your side right now."

But Qi Ran's gaze turned cold. He raised his hand, and several alphas immediately stepped forward to detain Zhou Yongnian.

"Hold him until Mr. Song returns to handle this," Qi Ran said icily, without a hint of politeness.

Having given the order, Qi Ran strode away, leaving only a stern, unyielding back.

Zhou Yongnian suddenly realized—Qi Ran, like that alpha Tan Shu, had never intended to oppose Song Yuqing.

He had merely used their power to grow stronger himself.

Now, with no one left in the military to restrain him, Qi Ran could act as he pleased and dispose of him.

Once Song Yuqing returned, they would truly be finished. The thought filled Zhou Yongnian with an inexplicable dread.

Song Yuqing would kill them.

Pei Huai: "Qingqing, drink some water."

Song Yuqing took the water offered by Pei Huai, his face almost devoid of expression.

Yet Pei Huai's gaze never left Song Yuqing's face. Since waking, Song Yuqing hadn't mentioned Xiao Jinshi again, nor had he shown excessive grief.

He ate when it was time to eat, rested when it was time to rest.

He was almost unbelievably compliant, reminding Pei Huai of Song Yuqing's childhood self.

Obedient, well-behaved, staying alone in a corner, disinclined to engage with others.

Even though the rabbit Pei Huai had caught in the woods wasn't particularly tasty, Song Yuqing ate it without a word.

On the surface, he seemed no different from before—still distant and reserved.

But Pei Huai knew Song Yuqing well. He was never an easy person to please, nor was he typically this detached, almost numb.

Pei Huai couldn't shake his unease.

"Look, rabbits are so cute," Pei Huai said, pointing at the live rabbit he had captured, trying to rekindle Song Yuqing's hope for life.

Song Yuqing didn't look at the rabbit, nor at Pei Huai, simply nodding, "Hm."

Pei Huai twisted the rabbit's neck, and it died instantly.

He built a fire to roast the rabbit. After a while, he suddenly spoke, "If you're hurting, you can cry. I won't tell anyone. You can lean on me and cry."

Song Yuqing: "I don't want to."

He didn't want to cry, and he… didn't want to remember.

After two more days of travel, Song Yuqing spoke up, "We're almost at the border."

Pei Huai: "We'll arrive by tomorrow at the latest."

Before they had even completed Pei Huai's estimated two days, Qi Ran found Song Yuqing and Pei Huai.

In the darkness, the campfire flickered, illuminating the face he had yearned for day and night. Song Yuqing had grown thinner; Qi Ran had never seen him like this—pallid, almost translucent, as if he would shatter at the slightest touch.

Qi Ran opened his mouth, but like someone experiencing homesickness upon nearing home, he found himself at a loss for words.

Pei Huai: "Aren't you going to call him 'Little Dad'?"

Even calling him "Dad" might distract Song Yuqing a little.

Qi Ran, this fool, truly was a useless oaf who couldn't read the room.

Qi Ran's fingers dug into his palm, and all his unspoken words condensed into one phrase: "Little Dad."

Song Yuqing nodded slightly. "How are things now?"

Qi Ran recounted everything that had happened recently, emphasizing that Sri Lanka and Westland had submitted peace proposals.

Qi Ran: "We're waiting for you to decide whether to accept their peace offer."

Song Yuqing: "No."

He wanted them all to join Xiao Jinshi in death.

Song Yuqing looked toward the direction they had come from, the place where Xiao Jinshi was eternally buried.

Finally, he softly said, "Let's go back."

Qi Ran didn't understand why Song Yuqing wouldn't accept the peace offer.

But it didn't matter. As long as Song Yuqing decided, he would continue guarding the border or conquer Westland and Sri Lanka for him.

Whatever Song Yuqing needed him to do, he would do it.

Even if it cost him his life.

Qi Ran and Song Yuqing returned to Xinzhou, and Pei Huai accompanied Song Yuqing the rest of the way back to the Central Special Zone.

Song Yuqing also brought Zhou Yongnian with him.

Song Yuqing returned to the Central Special Zone quietly.

It was only upon returning that Song Yuqing learned Qi Zhengqing had an accident at the parliament building.

The butler handed him a key. "Mr. Qi asked me to give this to you."

The butler seemed grieving. After all, Mr. Qi’s life was nearing its end, and Mr. Song would soon have to support the entire Qi family alone, becoming a widower.

He felt deeply sad for Mr. Song.

Song Yuqing didn't show much grief. Instead, he calmly and rationally made arrangements, "Have Qi Zhengqing transferred to another hospital."

Zheng Kaiji’s influence reached far. Taking advantage of Song Yuqing’s absence, he had placed Qi Zhengqing under his direct supervision. Was Zheng Kaiji just waiting for Qi Zhengqing to die, or would he take action to end Qi Zhengqing’s life himself?

"You may leave," Song Yuqing said to the butler after giving his instructions.

The butler glanced at Pei Huai behind Song Yuqing, but Song Yuqing gave no indication of dismissing him.

Not wanting to overstep, the butler said, "Call me if you need anything, sir."

After changing his clothes, Song Yuqing turned his head toward Pei Huai and beckoned him closer.

Pei Huai immediately stepped forward. Song Yuqing held a collar, perfectly sized to cover his already impaired gland.

Pei Huai suddenly remembered that in high school, Song Yuqing had given collars to Qi Ran and Pei Luo, but never one for him.

Pei Huai lowered his head obediently, mumbling, "My name isn't engraved on it."

Song Yuqing didn't catch that clearly, "What did you say?"

The corners of Pei Huai’s lips curved slightly, "Nothing."

Song Yuqing fingered the edge of the leather collar, his cold, downcast eyelashes fluttering slightly, "I won’t let your injuries be in vain, and I won’t let you remain like this indefinitely."

It sounded like a promise, or perhaps... he was remembering something.

Pei Huai spoke up quickly, "I’m fine like this. Let Qi Ran handle the dangerous missions from now on. I’ll be at your side, wherever you go."

"I’ll stay with you for a lifetime."

The alpha’s smile appeared genuine, without a trace of disappointment, as if he looked forward to staying with Song Yuqing more than being on the battlefield.

Pei Huai hugged Song Yuqing, "Don’t worry, everything will be fine. Qi Zhengqing will survive too."

Song Yuqing rested briefly against Pei Huai’s shoulder, resting his forehead lightly on Pei Huai’s solid shoulder, closing his eyes as if he'd exhausted all his strength, allowing himself a momentary reliance on this sole source of warmth.

His fingers tightened gradually, wrinkling Pei Huai’s clothes before releasing.

PARLIAMENT

The parliament members gathered once again to discuss whether to accept the enemy’s peace offer.

"Since Mr. Qi is ill, Mr. Song should naturally take back leadership, at least to decide whether to accept the peace offer from Sri Lanka and Westland."

"However, Mr. Song may not return."

Zheng Kaiji leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the parliament members.

One member’s expression instantly darkened, and he angrily demanded, "What do you mean?"

Though the alpha’s tone was furious, his mind was busy calculating.

Since Qi Zhengqing collapsed in the parliament building, he had not regained consciousness and was now barely clinging to life in the intensive care unit.

If Song Yuqing did not return, perhaps they could consider seizing control of Xinzhou.

Now that both internal and external threats were resolved—well, some internal issues remained unresolved.

Their generation of alphas' lifespans had not been extended.

Zheng Kaiji spoke unhurriedly, "By 'not returning,' I mean Mr. Song went to the border for Pei Huai and was captured."

Everyone was shocked.

"When did this happen? Why weren’t we informed?"

They also probed, "Mr. Song might return soon. If he were truly captured, Sri Lanka would surely use him as a bargaining chip for a peace offer."

A faint smile touched Zheng Kaiji’s lips, "There are many reasons why Song Yuqing wasn't used as a bargaining chip for a peace offer. Perhaps Mr. Song died with Sri Lanka’s leaders, or perhaps... they simply couldn’t bear to trade him."

His information network was still operational. If Song Yuqing had set foot on Xinzhou soil, he would have known.

The only possibility was that Song Yuqing had indeed died alongside that lunatic Su Quan.

After all their scheming, neither Song Yuqing nor Su Quan likely expected that he would be the one to emerge victorious.

"Rather than deciding whether to accept the peace offer, what’s more urgent now is having someone take charge."

Everyone was eager to seize the position.

Zheng Kaiji added, "Oh, I forgot to mention, Qi Ran and Ye Siling are now on my side."

The members’ faces darkened again. With the military and robot manufacturing under Zheng Kaiji’s control, along with his information network, opposing him would be difficult.

But such effort was nothing compared to the potential rewards.

If they succeeded in seizing power, the military infrastructure built by Song Yuqing and Prometheus—the golden-egg-laying goose—would fall into their hands. With money, power, and the army, they would enjoy limitless power, perhaps even leaving a significant mark in history.

They would, of course, eagerly erase Song Yuqing’s name or sully his reputation.

"This isn’t up to you. That position can’t be yours," someone retorted without hesitation.

Zheng Kaiji smiled, "Then we'll all die here."

Sometimes, Song Yuqing’s methods were worth emulating, Zheng Kaiji thought.

Only then did they notice the robot beside Zheng Kaiji—it was none other than Song Yuqing’s Number Six.

Instantly, their faces turned ashen.

They glared at Zheng Kaiji with gritted teeth.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and a face Zheng Kaiji never expected to see appeared—pale as porcelain, cold and beautiful.

The impeccably tailored black suit lent Song Yuqing a fragile aura, as if he were recently bereaved.

Number Six, which had not yet taken action, without hesitation returned to Song Yuqing’s side.

Zheng Kaiji’s pupils dilated sharply.

He had received no news of Song Yuqing’s return.

At that moment, the fact that Ye Siling had supposedly debugged Number Six, only for it to abandon him and return to Song Yuqing, became the least of his worries.

His intelligence network... had been compromised?

If his intelligence could be intercepted now, Song Yuqing must have long been completely informed about his activities.

Zheng Kaiji abruptly understood that he had assumed Xinzhou would escape Song Yuqing’s control once Song Yuqing was absent from the Central District, imprisoned by Su Quan.

It turns out that every step was within Song Yuqing's plan.

Even his betrayal was a part of Song Yuqing's plan.

Song Yuqing stared coldly at him and commanded, "Gu Ling, take everyone away."

Zheng Kaiji also understood that there was no chance to turn things around now. With Song Yuqing's return, his life was over.

Having failed, Zheng Kaiji no longer bothered to stop pretending. He stepped forward, making one last taunt as a defeated man: "Song Yuqing, you played everyone like puppets. Did you ever miscalculate that Qi Zhengqing would nearly lose his life for you?"

"You know what? I sent them to get answers from Qi Zhengqing, they said..."

Zheng Kaiji glanced at the people behind him. "That madman Qi Zhengqing, though he shouldn’t have been able to use his psychic abilities anymore, still forced them back with his abilities."

"Is this suit you’re wearing for him?"

Zheng Kaiji looked at Song Yuqing's black suit, his lips curling into a slight smile. "Should I now say to you..."

He deliberately drew out his words, slowly enunciating each syllable: "My... condolences."

"What does it matter if you take that position? Those who loved you have all died horrible deaths because of you."

Author's Note:

Song Qingqing: In a bad mood.