Asianovel

Chapter 86: Station 23: Profound Rank

This intense emotion vanished in an instant, hidden within Yan Qiling's heterochromatic eyes.

Yan Qiling quickly changed the subject and spoke to Ming Yiyang,

"Check if her bandages are properly done."

Ming Yiyang reassured the other without causing any concern,

"I've already looked. For the next few days, don't let the wound get wet. Use a damp towel to remove the ointment and change it promptly. Her nails have been trimmed, and the treatment was done well. I checked, and the nail bed doesn't seem to be injured. It should grow back; there shouldn't be a major issue."

Si Shuhao sighed heavily, wearing a casual smile as she said,

"Oh well, as long as they grow back, that's fine. If I can never do manicures again, I'd be devastated. Luckily, I have you guys; otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do. When we get back, I'll definitely treat you all to a life-or-death feast."

Ming Yiyang chuckled,

"Just a meal?"

"If you're not satisfied, I'll treat you to eating dirt."

Ming Yiyang glanced at her sideways, and Si Shuhao pretended not to notice, deliberately asking,

"Why are you looking at me? Is there something wrong with your eyes?"

"No, it's just that people who stir eggs in their heads are quite rare. Seeing one alive, I couldn't help but take a few more glances."

Sometimes, Si Shuhao thought Ming Yiyang's sharp tongue could be donated to someone in need.

Throughout their conversation, the other three people inside the room had stood at a distance. Liao Xinya lifted the curtain and whispered,

"The guards seem to have heard something."

Ming Yiyang promptly closed the window, and Si Shuhao, standing on the other side, whispered softly,

"You're aware of the family rules, right? Be cautious entering the house tonight."

The young man didn't respond verbally but tapped the window twice as an answer.

Yan Qiling glanced at the eaves of the Xie Shan rooftop and asked,

"How do we get up there?"

Ming Yiyang openly spread his arms wide,

"Teacher Yan, carry me up and let me fly with you."

Yan Qiling fell silent for a moment,

"Where's your Spirit Binding Rope?"

"It says it doesn't want to move."

This was clearly an attempt to dodge responsibility.

Upon receiving this answer, Yan Qiling seemed to ponder for a moment, and his lips curved into a subtle, standard smile.

"Alright, I'll take you flying."

-

The moon above their heads resembled an oversized ring, clasping the deep blue sky firmly.

Its glow was slightly brighter than the previous night, but with a more cyan hue, as if it had passed through the filter of an ancient painting, exuding a chilly and ethereal aura.

There was no need for lamps on the rooftop, nor were there any rules dictating otherwise.

It was a bit of a cheat, but for their current situation, it was indeed a good strategy.

Yan Qiling was still engrossed in the red note in his hand.

The fishy odor from the note had completely dissipated, and the greasy cover seemed to have been wiped clean at some point.

As he held it and flipped through, there was a touch of antique charm about him.

Ming Yiyang maintained his Purple Willow Eye state, his arm resting almost imperceptibly behind Yan Qiling, half-holding him in a manner that was both protective and possessive, leaving no room for escape.

Yan Qiling seemed oblivious to this.

Flipping through the red note, he suddenly recalled the man in the red shoes who had vanished abruptly after eating the dried fish.

His fingers brushed over the second rule as his voice was as gentle as a night breeze:

"It so happens that this man in red shoes, Ming Yiyang and I encountered him in the accounting office."

Ming Yiyang leaned in for a closer look and softly clicked his tongue:

"Red shoes, huh..."

Yan Qiling sensed an underlying meaning in his words and asked:

"Do you have any leads?"

The young man nonchalantly played with the strands of hair falling across his forehead, his silver tail ring shimmering under the dusky moonlight.

There's a saying in the Guangdong region.

Yan Qiling turned to face the youth, his heterochromatic eyes of crimson and blue taking on a cold gleam of inquisitiveness beneath the dense, emerald moonlight.

Their proximity was somewhat too close.

Yet, perhaps only Ming Yiyang held this perception.

The cold breath of the person mixed with the evening breeze as it brushed against his cheeks, making him feel as if an ice-making machine sat before him.

But visually, that strikingly beautiful face occupied almost all of his attention, leaving him utterly unable to associate this person with an ice-making machine.

He would ponder how this person's skin was soft.

Though the embrace was chilly, the boundless sense of inclusiveness within it was genuine.

Cruelty and tyranny do exist, but his occasional display of openness is uniquely captivating.

This person is undeniably vibrant with life.

Though his body seems as cold as obsidian, his soul burns like molten lava.

Ming Yiyang knew he should immediately respond to the question, but his thoughts were beyond his control.

He recalled that hurried, almost devouring kiss beneath the blue tiles and white walls.

He desired to draw closer, but feared the other might retreat because of it.

Yet Yan Qiling didn't.

Not only did he not step back, this man, who had elegantly brushed aside the black hem of his robe, didn't even show any confusion. He simply gazed at him quietly, patiently awaiting an outcome.

Ming Yiyang eventually held back his urge to push his luck.

His index finger gently caressed the smooth ring on his little finger:

"When we say a man 'wears red shoes,' we either mean he's a traitor, betraying those close to him, or that he's become a kept man, or even sneaked into someone else's home to steal their partner. In such cases, we'd say he's 'wearing red shoes.'"

Yan Qiling asked,

"What's the origin of the term 'red shoes'?"

Ming Yiyang replied,

"Red shoes are women's shoes. When a lover is caught in the act, they might hastily put on a woman's shoe in their rush to escape. With more and more instances of people fleeing in red shoes, the phrase just stuck."

Yan Qiling's inquisitive gaze returned to the red slip, lost in thought:

"Hmm... I seem to have heard something similar before."

He held the red slip, his thoughts drawn by some unseen force.

Looking up at the moonlight above, Yan Qiling seemed to be asking both the person beside him and the sky itself:

"Do you think the rules written on this red slip are trustworthy?"

Ming Yiyang nonchalantly pulled a cigarette case from his breast pocket, selecting one that caught his eye and placing it between his lips, unlit.

"You're always saying that 'an answer doesn't guarantee peace'."

"The red slip is an answer, it could be right, but it probably has nothing to do with us leaving."

Yan Qiling turned back to look at him, a hint of warmth returning to his cold, ethereal eyes under the moonlight.

Ming Yiyang's eyes remained fixed on him, unwavering.

He thought his fascination was merely with those captivating eyes, but it wasn't until much later that he realized the truth.

He was afraid of missing even the slightest hint of genuine emotion this person rarely displayed.

Yet at this moment, he purely appreciated the beauty that was laid bare before him, finding it unusually soothing—gazing at a beauty under the moon, as long as the beauty was captivating, it was always comforting.

But suddenly, this person's hand gently pinched the cigarette between his lips.

Ming Yiyang slightly raised his eyebrows, attempting to create an air of displeasure, but the coldness from the other seemed to cool his temper.

This time, he complied unusually, releasing his grip on the cigarette, allowing the other to take it away.

He expected Yan Qiling to dispose of the cigarette humanely.

Instead, the man merely held the middle of the cigarette lightly, gazing at it with a peculiar, nostalgic look in his eyes.

As if lost in some memory.

Ming Yiyang disliked when this person thought about things unknown to him, just like now.

He continued his speculation, attempting to draw the other's thoughts back:

"The shrine that Old Madam Bai worships should hold more clues. I feel that both the Bai and Wen families might be pawns of whatever is enshrined there. The Bai family is already deeply entangled, while the Wens have just entered the game."

"You're absolutely right. We should find time to investigate. However, I think even if we don't go, Old Madam Bai would eagerly want us to visit."

The man gently spun the cigarette between his fingers, his expression as pale and detached as moonlight:

"Before visiting the shrine, we need to learn more about the Bai family. While I've often emphasized the importance of entrances, the logic of a Profound Level Interloper is different from previous ones. If we lack information, it's easy to fall for Its deceptive tricks."

"And I don't wish to utilize extra power to subdue It before everything is clear. Ideally, we should resolve this quietly and without a trace."

Yan Qiling met the gaze of the young man beside him.

The silver hair, distinct under the moon's glow, cast shadows like black butterflies, concealing the hidden desires in the youth's purple eyes.

Ming Yiyang suddenly smiled, a mischievous glint appearing on his handsome face:

"I thought you'd be eager to dismantle these worlds and promptly destroy the entire Prison Train. Is the Profound Level Interloper too challenging?"

"The Black Level Unsealer is exceedingly rare. I've traveled through more than twenty stations, and this is my first encounter with one."

Yan Qiling spoke with an almost imperceptible calmness on his face:

"It's not often we meet, so we should make the most of it. Besides, haste often leads to waste. I prefer indirect approaches and working behind the scenes, making the most advantageous choices. That way, any action becomes more agile and straightforward."

Ming Yiyang gazed at the cigarette, pausing for a moment:

"Are you being sincere?"

Yan Qiling offered him a warm smile, like the gentle breeze of March:

"Yes, I am."

Fixated on that unexpected grin, Ming Yiyang recalled a question that had lingered in his heart for a long time but had never been voiced.

The question danced on the tip of his tongue before it was finally, softly spoken under the moonlight, ethereal as a wisp of smoke:

"Speaking of which, you're from the Republic era."

"Before you died, you must have been married, right?"

Yan Qiling's expression remained unchanged, giving no indication whether he was considering his response or suppressing a sudden surge of emotions.

Ming Yiyang waited silently, his gaze unwavering.

The black robe, slightly curled at the knees, fluttered in the breeze, blending into the night as if Yan Qiling's silent demeanor was about to be absorbed by the nocturnal wind, leaving only the faintest whisper of breath that could barely be heard.

His fingers holding the cigarette froze in mid-air.

He seemed like a still-life sketch, captured in black and white against the backdrop of this night and moon.

Ming Yiyang hadn't expected a sincere answer, but this prolonged silence caught him off guard.

With anyone else, such silence might not have felt out of the ordinary.

But this was Yan Qiling.

This realization unexpectedly stirred a fleeting moment of unease within him.

The man's voice echoed like a mountain spring bursting from a canyon, abrupt, clear, gentle, and melodious like the tinkling of flowing water:

"...That's indeed an excellent question."

The man smiled warmly at him:

"I did have a fiancée."

Ming Yiyang's heart involuntarily hovered with unease.

Chapter 85: Engagement

Shen Xingyu was indeed the one who could revive the almost-dead Shen Corporation.

In the business world, he was skilled at exploiting people's vulnerabilities.

After doing so, he softened his tone and spoke sincerely, "The Shen family owes an apology to Lu Ran. Starting from today, the Shen family will give Lu Ran everything he deserves."

Pausing here, he added, "What you mentioned earlier will not happen again."

Ji Min had already calmed down.

Although Shen Xingyu had indeed hit upon the points Ji Min cared about the most and perceived his regard for Lu Ran, approaching the matter from Lu Ran's perspective in an attempt to persuade him, these tactics were nothing new to Ji Min and thus would not affect him much.

Looking up at Shen Xingyu, he asked, "How can you ensure all this?"

Shen Xingyu paused.

Just as he was about to speak, Ji Min raised his hand to stop him, and said with a smile, "In the Shen family, you can't even guarantee your own dignity. How can I believe that you'll protect him?"

Shen Xingyu tensed slightly.

But he quickly composed himself and said calmly, "My dignity isn't important; the dignity of the Shen family is what matters."

Then he pressed on relentlessly.

Fixing his gaze on Ji Min, he continued, "Senior Ji, you're a man of principles. Lu Ran is only nineteen and has an engagement with the Gu family. It's not appropriate for him to be living in the Ji residence."

Raising an eyebrow, Shen Xingyu asked, "Or are you suggesting that the Ji family has intentions of forming an alliance through marriage with the Shen family?"

If it had been any other man, Shen Xingyu wouldn't have dared to say such a thing.

His words were like a ladder, offering a way out for the other party to accept the proposal smoothly.

Yet, in the end, he would not only fail to take away Lu Ran but also inadvertently offer up his own brother.

But Ji Min wouldn't.

This man was exceptionally composed and would never let others' words cloud his judgment or abandon his considerations.

The reason he asked this question was because Shen Xingyu had noticed that Ji Min genuinely cared for Lu Ran.

It wasn't the playful indulgence of a dominant figure towards a pet, but a sincere affection.

Upon realizing this, Shen Xingyu felt a slight relief.

Even if Lu Ran returned to the Shen family, with Ji Min looking out for him, Shen Hongyuan should not go too far.

And it was precisely because of this affection that Shen Xingyu knew Ji Min wouldn't casually make a promise about an "engagement."

For the more one cared for someone, the more unwilling they would be to have that person spend their life with a disabled person.

Sure enough, Ji Min didn't respond.

Shen Xingyu pressed on, "I don't wish for my brother to endure those slanderous whispers."

Indeed, no one dared to spread rumors about Ji Min in reality.

Ji Min fell silent for a moment.

He looked up at Shen Xingyu and asked, "In what capacity are you saying these things to me? As an alumnus or as Lu Ran's brother?"

Shen Xingyu wasn't sure why Ji Min was asking this, so he simply replied, "Of course, I'm Lu Ran's brother."

Ji Min scoffed. "Are you worthy of that title?"

Just three simple words left Shen Xingyu momentarily speechless.

If it were Shen Hongyuan, he would have flown into a rage at this point.

Madame Shen would have gone even crazier.

But in negotiations, Shen Xingyu wasn't someone swayed by emotions.

He immediately said, "He is my younger brother, an objective fact."

Ji Min chuckled instead.

"Little brother?" He lifted his gaze, as if seeing through everything. "Are you here to find me or to say these words because Lu Ran is your younger brother?"

"Shen Xingyu, stop deceiving yourself."

Ji Min sighed. "You merely see Lu Ran as a sheep in the Shen family's flock, while you're the shepherd dog that the Shen family has meticulously trained. Naturally, you have to bring the sheep back when it strays."

"As for whether the sheep is kept alive, slaughtered, or sold, that depends on the master's intentions. You, as the shepherd dog, have no say in the matter."

All pretenses were ruthlessly exposed, and Shen Xingyu pressed his lips tightly together.

The negotiation reached an impasse.

In the distance, Lu Ran had played golf for a while and found it uninteresting. He frequently looked up at Ji Min.

Noticing this, Manager Chen smiled and said, "What are you looking at? If you're tired, come sit with this old man and have some tea."

As he finished speaking.

A golf cart happened to pass by Ji Min's side.

Upon seeing the vehicle, Lu Ran, who had just been standing still, suddenly abandoned his golf club and sprinted rapidly toward Ji Min.

Butler Chen failed to react in time. By the time he looked up again, Lu Ran had already run more than a hundred meters away.

The golf cart approached, passed by, and then receded into the distance.

Ji Min also espied the youth who had run over, panting heavily.

He paused, surprised, and asked, "Why are you out of breath like this?"

With labored breathing, Lu Ran hurriedly positioned himself behind Ji Min's wheelchair, unable to utter a word in time.

Pulling the wheelchair back with a sudden force.

He didn't stop until he was more than ten meters away from Shen Xingyu.

This child appeared frail and delicate.

But when he exerted himself, there was a recklessness as if he were willing to risk his life.

Ji Min's wheelchair tilted slightly backward under his pull.

The scene suddenly took on a comical twist.

Seeing how Shen Xingyu avoided him like the plague, he fell silent.

Only then did Lu Ran recall explaining his actions.

Gasping for breath, he pointed at Shen Xingyu and declared earnestly, "Stay away from him. Who knows if he's carrying any cockroaches. What if they fly over to us!"

Shen Xingyu: "..."

Ji Min found himself in an awkward situation, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He turned sideways to gaze at the youth behind him.

Only upon taking a closer look did I realize the person behind me exuded an intimidating aura.

But it was unclear if it was due to the recent swift run or the effort of pulling his wheelchair.

The youth's hands, along with his slender forearms, continued to tremble delicately.

Ji Min's brow instantly furrowed as he reached out to seize the youth's arm, clasping it firmly within his palm.

Over there, Butler Chen was walking over as well, leading Big Yellow with him.

Ji Min wheeled around, guiding Lu Ran back to the round table.

As he turned, he glanced back at Shen Xingyu, who was still standing in place.

Suddenly, he said, "Since you're speaking to me as a brother, I'll consider the engagement."

Shen Xingyu's brows immediately knotted into a tight knot.

By the time Lu Ran was seated beside Ji Min, he still hadn't grasped what the two of them were discussing.

He glanced at Shen Xingyu not far away and asked softly, "What marriage contract?"

The man who had just moments ago pledged to consider the engagement was now being deliberately vague.

He pinched the quivering forearm of the youth, strained from excessive exertion, beneath his fingertips and chided, "Children shouldn't eavesdrop on grown-ups' conversations."

Lu Ran: "..."

He mused to himself that his boss must have some serious issues going on.

Ji Min glanced at Shen Xingyu, who hadn't left, and let out a soft sigh.

Shen Xingyu wasn't the type of person to give up easily.

Lu Ran's team could use some additional support.

Yet these were matters he had no intention of divulging to the youth by his side.

Yet gripping the arm that still trembled ceaselessly within his hand, recalling the sight of the youth dashing towards him at full speed just moments ago, Ji Min couldn't help but feel a lingering trace of annoyance.

He playfully tapped Lu Ran's forehead and scolded, "Didn't you say you weren't afraid? Then why did you pull on my wheelchair and retreat ten meters away? Are you going to abandon your arm?"

Lu Ran covered his forehead.

"I said I'm not afraid of him," he stated.

After that, as if to prove his point, Lu Ran withdrew his hand.

He glanced around and dashed over to a nearby children's golf class, where he requested a small white rabbit-shaped balloon as a reward.

Clinging onto the balloon, he ran back to Shen Xingyu with quick steps.

With a loud "smack," he popped the balloon.

Instinctively, Shen Xingyu turned his head to dodge.

The fragments of the white rabbit-decorated balloon brushed against his cheek as they fell.

Lu Ran approached with an intimidating demeanor.

Having playfully popped the balloon, he stomped off in a huff.

He didn't forget to boast to Ji Min, "See? I scared him, didn't I?"

Ji Min was utterly clueless about the point of his friend's antics.

He simply reached out to hold Lu Ran back, "Take a break, will you?"

Turning around, Ji Min looked at Shen Xingyu.

To his surprise, Shen Xingyu, who had been unwavering just moments ago, was now staring intently at the scattered remains of the balloon on the ground.

His expression seemed somewhat dazed.

Without further ado, he left earlier than expected.

On the way back, the silence in Ji Min's chauffeur-driven car was palpable.

Lu Ran dozed off in the rear seat.

Rushing toward Ji Min with almost full force, he barely paused for breath before dragging both the man and his wheelchair backward by several meters.

Despite being seated in a wheelchair, Ji Min's electric model had powerful brakes, making it particularly challenging to maneuver on the grass. Add to that the considerable weight of the grown man himself.

Suddenly exerting such great force, it would be strange if one wasn't exhausted.

"Let him rest for a while. Wake him up later, we still have classes in the afternoon," Ji Min said.

Butler Chen nodded and, as instructed, handed over a thin blanket.

Ji Min unfurled the garment and gently laid it over the youth in the back seat.

The interior of the car is spacious.

He wheeled himself around and gazed at Lu Ran's sleeping face for a moment.

There might be other reasons behind Lu Ran's fear of Shen Xingyu.

But Ji Min could somewhat comprehend the sentiment that Lu Ran felt, his reluctance to acknowledge Shen Xingyu's illness and desire to avoid him.

After today's conversation with Shen Xingyu, Ji Min sensed that, compared to the rest of the Shen family, Shen Xingyu held a somewhat familial affection for Lu Ran.

But in Shen Xingyu's world, such feelings didn't amount to much.

Ji Min himself had few close relatives.

He could roughly imagine how Lu Ran had felt growing up as an orphan.

When surrounded by others with complete families, young Lu Ran must have consoled himself, imagining that his parents and loved ones surely loved him deeply, they just hadn't found him yet.

That illusion was utterly shattered when he was taken back into the Shen family.

Yet, people are reluctant to accept that they are destined to be unloved by nature.

They refuse to acknowledge that they deserve such a family, such parents.

One has to cling to fantasies to survive.

Thus, they imagine that Mom and Dad have simply forgotten him after such a long time, that they no longer recognize him.

If they were to remember him, they would love and protect him.

But these frail illusions were shattered by Shen Xingyu.

Shen Xingyu remembered him and treated him like a younger brother.

But so what?

It seems he is still the one who remains unloved.

This is what they call familial affection.

The familial affection he had yearned for over a decade, in the end, amounted to nothing.

Ji Min reached out to gently rub the youth's forehead.

After leaving the golf course, Shen Xingyu returned to his company.

He was so occupied that he didn't return to the Shen family's residence until late at night.

Upon entering, he was met with Shen Hongyuan's cold expression.

Shen Hongyuan glanced at him and asked, "How's the progress on the project?"

Shen Xingyu sighed. "Dad, it's not that fast."

With a stern expression, Shen Hongyuan inquired further, "What about Lu Ran? Why hasn't he returned?"

Shen Xingyu opened his mouth but remained silent.

"Useless!" Shen Hongyuan scolded. "You can't handle family matters, and your work is a mess. What exactly have you been up to lately?"

Saying this, he threw the stack of documents in his hand onto Shen Xingyu's body. "This is the bidding proposal from the Lino family. Study it well for me!"

Shen Xingyu stood his ground.

He only picked up the documents after Shen Hongyuan had gone upstairs.

He had already received this file earlier that morning.

He was well aware that Shen Hongyuan's behavior toward him was a result of his personality.

The other reason was that Shen Hongyuan was terrified by his own gradual aging.

With the extra document in hand, Shen Xingyu climbed the stairs with leaden steps.

Before entering his room, he glanced at the adjacent one.

The child had moved out, leaving the neighboring room empty once more.

Shen Xingyu entered his room, switched on the light, and resumed his seat at the desk to review several proposals sent by his subordinates.

Moments later, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Shen Xingyu said.

The one standing outside was Madam Shen.

She pushed the door open and peeped in. "Son, I just heard your father scolding you again. Are you alright?"

Warmth welled up within Shen Xingyu.

He shook his head, about to say that he was fine.

But Madam Shen had already pushed the door open and squeezed inside.

As if her previous words were just an introduction, she quickly dismissed them from her mind. Holding her phone out to Shen Xingyu, she said,

"I remember you have a membership with this brand. I really like their new collection this season—this piece, this one, and this one..."

"All these items are limited edition. I've sent them to your WeChat; make sure you remember to help me grab them, okay?"

Shen Xingyu opened his mouth.

At this moment, he couldn't distinguish the differences between the outfits that Madam Shen had mentioned at all.

He wanted to say that he had been busy lately and might forget, and that his assistant was swamped with work as well...

But after Madam Shen finished her instructions, she left the room humming a tune.

The door closed, and silence returned to the room.

The initial concern seemed as intangible as a mirage.

In that instant, Shen Xingyu suddenly felt exhausted, extremely so.

The pile of work on the desk weighed down on him like a mountain.

Behind him was a steep cliff, offering no support.

For the first time, Shen Xingyu found himself unable to continue working.

He got up and went downstairs, opening the sliding door to the backyard before sitting on the steps to smoke.

After two cigarettes, the pack was empty.

Shen Xingyu reached into his pocket and fumbled around for a while, eventually pulling out a fragment of a balloon.

It depicted half of a rabbit's ear.

Then he found another piece, featuring the rabbit's large eyes and two front teeth.

Staring at the fragments in his hand, Shen Xingyu took another deep drag from the nearly extinguished cigarette.

Shen Xingzhuo was only two years older than Lu Ran, so it was likely that he didn't remember anything from their childhood.

But when his younger brother went missing, Shen Xingyu was already twelve years old.

He clearly remembered who his real brother was, and who was the adopted son that came later.

Who was the genuine "Shen Xingran."

However, Shen Xingyu didn't have a particularly good relationship with Lu Ran when they were young.

Chapter 123 - Nightfall

Before Wen Ying appeared, Phelios was an ardent fan of Berlos and admired him greatly.

When Wen Ying first emerged, Phelios' impression of him was – where did this overambitious and ugly fairy come from?

Later on, he transformed into a bewitching fairy that damaged Berlos' image. Before Phelios could even mourn over it for long, Wen Ying became the source of rage for a group of devils, particularly Lan Jiaying, whose fury shattered everyone's perception of the Mirror Devil.

Oh, that devil who flew into a rage included him as well, especially that day when he was pressed onto the infirmary bed by Wen Ying and had many of his fish scales pulled out. He had never suffered such humiliation since he was young.

Despite that, before tonight, Phelios never imagined he would witness such a scene – it seemed like catching someone in the act, yet also like a threat.

Meeting Berlos' gaze, Phelios felt a little awkward.

Berlos snorted coldly and looked away.

"Quickly, quickly." Muershi glanced at his phone screen and rushed out, turning back to urge them on at the stairs.

Wen Ying followed immediately, and of course, Berlos went along. Phelios pondered for a moment. Although he was a bit awkward facing Berlos now, it was Lan Jiaying's drama, and ultimately, his desire to see Lan Jiaying's spectacle prevailed, so he followed too.

Wei Er gazed at the mess inside the shop and asked Essence, who seemed unbothered by the chaos, "Aren't you going to stay and deal with it?" Essence seemed intent on following him.

Taking a step forward, Essence turned back and said, "The lower-level demons can handle it. Come on, come with me. You definitely can't miss seeing Lan Jiaying getting humiliated!"

With Muershi leading the way, they arrived at "Nightfall" quickly. Essence explained that it wasn't his shop but Lilith's. Upon hearing this, Wen Ying looked at him with a peculiar expression and asked, "Lilith is on your side?"

Muershi nodded matter-of-factly. "Yes, of course. Otherwise, how could I have convinced so many demons in our class?"

Like Essence's shop, "Nightfall" was also located underground, with its entrance above ground. After Muershi instructed everyone to conceal their auras, they descended the stairs swiftly. According to the message he had received, Lan Jiaying was seated at the farthest table to the right, wearing sunglasses and hiding his golden curls under a hat.

After some time of "rest and recuperation," Lan Jiaying's hair had grown significantly, though it still hadn't returned to its original length.

The group of demons concealed their auras as they descended the stairs. They hurried past, heading straight to the left side of the shop. Not wanting to be seen by Lan Jiaying, they deliberately chose a spot out of his line of sight. For a while, Lan Jiaying remained unaware of their presence.

Lan Jiaying had also carefully concealed his aura. Although being discovered wasn't a significant issue, he disliked other demons knowing about his visit, especially during such a sensitive time. While other demons might be oblivious, those in his class would certainly know why he was here.

He was currently listening to a demon trying to ingratiate himself with charming conversation. This demon was skilled at bridging the gap between them.

It wasn't Lan Jiaying's first time at such an establishment, but he had never paid attention to the conversational tactics employed before. Otherwise, he wouldn't have felt the need to make a special trip tonight.

Muershi and his group, using the bodies of numerous demons in the shop as cover, stealthily approached Lan Jiaying from the entrance. Even Belphegor, who was usually arrogant and haughty, concealed himself entirely at this moment.

As they drew near, Lan Jiaying seemed to sense something and glanced in their direction.

"Lord, is there a problem?" a demon standing before Lan Jiaying asked.

Lan Jiaying scanned the group of demons attentively for a while before turning back and saying, "It's nothing."

Wen Ying and the other demons crouched behind an ornamental wall, with the demons beside them looking at them in confusion. A mere glance from Belphegor sent them jumping, immediately turning their heads away.

Wen Ying's heart pounded like he was on a stealth mission; they were almost there. He focused and held his breath, following the group as they crept forward. Finally, they reached their target area!

Lan Jiaying's seat was at the deepest part of the shop, but it was backed by a fish tank, and there were booths beside it. Wen Ying and the others crept along the adjacent booth, slowly making their way around to the sofa behind where Lan Jiaying sat.

Lan Jiaying noticed that the demon in front of him suddenly froze in fear while speaking, causing his eyelids to twitch.

Chapter 17 - "Do You Need My Help?"

The mental strength of an Alpha could indeed be enhanced through practical combat training.

However, there were no records on how to improve the mental power of a mecha pilot.

Everyone in the entire galaxy believed that a mecha pilot's mental strength was unattainable.

But Luo Le didn't believe it. He vaguely remembered someone mentioning that it was possible to enhance it.

"Of course, the quality of the materials used for manufacturing also affects the performance of the mecha. The Vision Tower in the military district provides free D-grade mecha materials. You can go there and mention my name for practice anytime. Today, I'll teach you the techniques and methods of constructing a mecha arm."

"Alright, follow me now..."

Bai Feifei nudged Luo Le and whispered, "Why is General Huo always looking over here? Does he know someone in our team?"

Luo Le had been immersed in his thoughts and hadn't paid attention to his surroundings.

Upon hearing Bai Feifei, he turned around but found that Huo Lanjing was already nowhere to be seen.

"Perhaps."

Bai Feifei had only mentioned it out of curiosity and wasn't too interested.

"Why did you choose to join the First Military Unit? I joined to escape my family, and he's here with me."

Luo Le pressed his lips. "Maybe it's because... I have a lot of free time."

Bai Feifei's mouth twitched. "Honey, even if you don't want to answer, you don't have to be so dismissive, do you?"

From a glance, they could tell that the two were young masters experiencing life.

If someone found out that he was none other than the widely ridiculed Admiral Huo's wife on the Empire's Star Network, who knew what kind of trouble it would stir up.

Luo Le didn't bother explaining and instead gazed at the passing scenery by the roadside.

Besides, what he said was true; now that he was on break, he indeed had plenty of free time.

Seeing that Luo Le wasn't responding, Bai Feifei didn't persist in asking further.

Thirty minutes later, in Room 1 of Mecha Studio 21 on the Starlight Tower.

Yang Liqing shared more knowledge about mechas with them.

After demonstrating the assembly of a mechanical joint, he encouraged them to try it themselves, offering help if they encountered any issues.

Luo Le looked at the materials before him with a lack of enthusiasm, his thoughts drifting afar.

His own mecha had been shattered during a stellar storm.

Due to his frail physique, he had never been able to activate any mechas available on the market.

It wasn't until after his enrollment when his mentor showed him one that he eventually found a solution after half a year's search.

By adding a few extra components and two intricate programs to the mecha, he finally gained the ability to operate it. Initially, he could only control E-class mechas.

Years of Luo Le's dedication have now enabled him to pilot C-class mechas.

At present, he wanted nothing more than to construct another C-class mecha.

Not long ago, Huo Lanjing had asked him to go for a prenatal checkup. Who knew if he might be sent back to the Empire next?

If that happened, the Star Network would have a field day with his story, and rumors would surely spread like wildfire within the military district.

In that case, he'd leave on his own accord.

He could claim he went on an interstellar journey and never came here at all.

That way, he'd escape Uncle Huo Lanjing's sarcastic jibes.

It was one thing to think about it, but his current situation was that his mecha was broken.

Only mechas of C-class or above were capable of interstellar travel.

Yet, all he could obtain now were D-class materials. He knew Huo Lanjing had the authority to help, but given their recent unpleasant encounters, it would be pointless to ask.

"What are you doing? It's practical training time, and everyone else is working on the robotic arm shafts. Yet, you're just daydreaming here?"

Luo Le snapped back to reality, looking at the untouched materials on the table with a hint of embarrassment in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I got lost in thought for a moment."

Yang Liqing had noticed Luo Le's distraction since earlier. It wasn't a momentary lapse; he hadn't been listening to the lecture at all.

"Don't think that an apology will settle this. As punishment, you'll be staying behind today to inventory the mecha parts. Those over there haven't been logged into the storage yet."

Luo Le followed Yang Liqing's gesture and saw that the roughly forty-square-meter room was filled with mecha components.

He didn't know how long it would take to finish, but acknowledging his mistake, he didn't argue.

After the afternoon training session, everyone else left.

Bai Feifei had intended to stay and help Luo Le.

Yet, Yang Jiao forbade anyone from assisting Luo Le and declared that he would personally supervise.

Powerless to intervene, he could only follow suit and depart.

Before leaving, he patted Luo Le's shoulder with an expression of mixed emotions.

"Poor darling, see you tomorrow."

Luo Le wore a helpless look. This person was far too friendly, addressing him as 'darling' on their first meeting.

One might mistake them for having a close relationship.

The thought that this man would continue to call him that made Luo Le somewhat uncomfortable.

"Um, it's better if you just call me by my name. I'm not really fond of others addressing me like that."

Bai Feifei, being carefree, patted his shoulder and joked, "Don't worry, I'm not trying to pursue you. Actually, I have many darlings."

Luo Le was taken aback; clearly, she had misunderstood his intentions.

Yang Liqing: "What are you dawdling for? Aren't you leaving?"

Bai Feifei sighed. "Darling, I'll go first then."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Luo Le didn't insist. "Okay."

In any case, it wouldn't be him who would regret it later when everyone on Star Network found out that he was the ridiculed Admiral's spouse.

Soon, they were the only two left in the room.

Yang Liqing took Luo Le over, and the two of them began sorting and moving the parts and materials together.

But before long, he was suddenly called away, leaving Luo Le alone.

The setting sun's afterglow filtered into the room, casting a warm orange glow on Luo Le's face. Glistening beads of sweat dripped down from his forehead.

Luo Le had already documented most of it; now, all that was left were the mecha's legs and arms.

Gazing at the towering mech limbs that reached almost his full height, Luo Le sighed.

He then crouched down, exerting great effort to lift one. Just as he was about to set it down, his name was unexpectedly called out from the entrance.

He instinctively turned around, inadvertently brushing against the towering stack of mechanical shafts nearby.

One of them tumbled down, striking Luo Le's shoulder with a force that displaced it. The shaft was made of hard metal and quite heavy.

In pain, he exclaimed, "Ah..."

His grip wavered, causing the object in his hands to crash onto the ground with a loud thud.

Huo Lanjing: ...

Was he some kind of terrifying beast that Luo Le was so afraid of?

Luo Le watched as Huo Lanjing walked silently up to him and effortlessly lifted the mech limb.

"Where do you want me to put this?" His voice was deep, as if steeped in strong tea.

Luo Le raised his uninjured left hand and pointed to the slightly more spacious area on his right.

Only then did he realize how Huo Lanjing had arrived.

He watched as Huo Lanjing put down one box and lifted another.

"I'll help you."

Luo Le skipped over eagerly, after all, it was his fault that this happened.

"Hold back."

Noticing the disdain in Huo Lanjing's gaze, Luo Le stepped back, "Oh..."

After Coach Yang left, he hadn't returned. He probably wasn't coming back.

Luo Le nodded.

Walking with him to the door, she locked it securely.

Her shoulder throbbed subtly, likely bruised, and her arm was both painful and numb.

Luo Le walked along, using her uninjured hand to massage her arm from time to time.

Huo Lanjing glanced sideways and noticed Luo Le's damp, sweat-soaked bangs sticking to her forehead, and her lips appeared slightly pale.

A hint of purple bruise peeked through the right side of her shoulder, evoking a sense of vulnerability.

Huo Lanjing paused, then withdrew his gaze to ask, "Did you do something wrong?"

His tone was filled with accusation, devoid of any concern.

Luo Le chuckled self-deprecatingly and lifted her head to look at him. "General Huo, don't worry. No one knows about our connection, so I won't embarrass you."

Huo Lanjing's eyebrows knitted together as he spoke in a controlled voice, "Speak properly."

"Am I not speaking properly? Huo Lanjing, did I beg you to come over or help me move?"

Huo Lanjing's heart sank; he had come with good intentions to pick Luo Le up.

Yet, not only did he not receive a kind word, Luo Le's attitude was abysmal.

Huo Lanjing halted, his face dark as he cast a disdainful glance at him.

Then, he turned and left, striding quickly away.

There was no indication that he intended to wait for Luo Le.

Luo Le didn't want to provoke further annoyance by following, the mere thought of Huo Lanjing's cold expression making him uncomfortable.

He walked in the exact opposite direction.

Chapter 18: Departure

Despite still being angry, Huo Lanjing didn't drive away even after leaving Luo Le far behind.

After waiting for over ten minutes, there was still no sign of Luo Le.

Awhile later, Huo Lanjing's expression turned sour.

Where had that young master gone off to now? Forget it, let him be.

With a stern look, Huo Lanjing issued a command, and the hovercar sped away rapidly.

Not long after Luo Le left, he received a video call from Wind City.

"Brother Le, what did you leave in my car this morning?"

It was the medicine from earlier.

Luo Le pressed his lips together before saying,

He said, "It's nothing important. You can give it to me tomorrow."

"Hmm, I happen to be going shopping. I can drop it off for you on the way. Where are you, Brother Le?"

Luo Le pondered and decided that it would do.

After giving him his location, he found a bench to sit on while waiting for him.

About twenty minutes later, the flashy red hovercar glided gracefully in front of him.

"Brother Le, get in. I'll send you back home."

Luo Le shifted his gaze from the hovercar to Huo Lanjing's face. "Aren't you supposed to be shopping?"

Waving it off, Feng Cheng said, "That store seems to be near the Omega dormitory. It's on the way, so let me give you a lift, Brother Le."

Half of Luo Le's body was already in the car when he suddenly remembered that he was still staying at Huo Lanjing's place. He retreated.

He didn't want Feng Cheng to know just yet. After all, his reputation in the Empire wasn't exactly stellar.

"I just remembered I have something else to attend to. You go ahead."

"What's up? Brother Le, I'll come with you. More hands make light work."

Luo Le shook his head. "No need."

Understanding Luo Le's disposition, Wind City didn't insist.

"Alright then, Brother Le. Here's your stuff. If you need anything, just call me. I'll be at your service anytime!"

Accepting the medicine, Luo Le nodded. "Mm-hmm."

As Wind City closed the car door, he suddenly asked, "Brother Le, have you ever visited the First Rank Army's forum?"

"The forum?"

Luo Le shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"Brother Le, you should check it out. There are many mecha experts there. It might be helpful if you encounter any issues."

"Thank you, Brother Le, for being willing to sell me the mech. Even though I'm not well-versed in mech construction, I'm quite capable when it comes to gathering information."

Luo Le became intrigued upon hearing this.

The military district was filled with hidden talents and saw plenty of practical combat. Perhaps he could indeed find an answer there.

"What are the requirements to enter the forum?"

Military districts usually imposed numerous restrictions.

"Not much, just a verification of your identity is needed. Oh, and a Military Star Card."

"A Military Star Card?"

He had a Star Need Card, but a Military Star Card...

He knew next to nothing about the military district.

Not long after their marriage, Huo Lanjing had left, disappearing for months. He wouldn't answer video calls and didn't reply to messages.

One day, feeling particularly down, Luo Le uncorked a few bottles of wine and got drunk.

As the saying goes, alcohol fuels the courage of the timid.

In that moment of intoxication, he rashly breached the exclusive star network of the First Military District.

However, in his inebriated state, he didn't conceal his tracks, and was promptly ejected within less than a minute.

Of course, he hadn't seen anything significant.

The following morning, Huo Lanjing made the first initiative to call him via video chat.

But before he could say a word, he was scolded relentlessly.

Huo Lanjing also forbade him from inquiring about military affairs.

From that day on, Luo Le refrained from seeking information about the military district.

"Indeed, anyone can apply, and there's no limit on the number of applications. But the process is quite cumbersome, requiring family information and approvals with multiple steps. I happened to have an extra one here, would you like to use this, Brother Le?"

Luo Le regarded the purple card in Huo Lanjing's hand without taking it.

It was only their first day in Wind City; there wouldn't have been enough time to apply for such a card.

Thus, this card must have been acquired through alternative means by Wind City.

He knew that Wind City intended to repay a favor; if he refused, Wind City would persist in finding another way.

As this thought crossed his mind, Luo Le caught sight of Wind City's hopeful expression. In the end, he reached out and accepted the card.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, but... Brother Le, is your hand injured? Why is it hanging limply like that, and your lips look very pale. Are you alright?"

Luo Le smiled. Wind City had noticed his condition after just a few words.

Yet, despite witnessing everything, Huo Lanjing hadn't offered a single word of concern.

He had even gotten into an argument with him.

Luo Le displayed the item in his hand and said casually, "Just a minor injury. This is the medicine I bought."

His words were half-truths, and Wind City didn't sense anything amiss.

After bidding farewell to Wind City, Luo Le returned home.

Upon arriving, the sky was already dark, but the house was pitch black inside.

He recalled that every time he came back, the place would be brightly lit.

Even if Huo Lanjing wasn't home, Little Yuan would turn on the lights.

Could it be an insectoid invasion? He had heard rumors of the insectoids wreaking havoc starting from the Fifth Planet, but this was a military zone, after all.

Luo Le withdrew a short knife from his spatial pocket and held it to his chest as he stepped cautiously inward.

However, the scenario he had imagined did not unfold. After surveying the area thoroughly, everything seemed normal.

Having completed his inspection, Luo Le slumped onto the sofa, exhausted.

A few garments were missing from the wardrobe, and Little Yuan was nowhere to be found – there was only one possible explanation.

Huo Lanjing had left, taking Little Yuan with him.

Luo Le sighed. What a mess this was.

Why did it feel like he was the one who forced Huo Lanjing to leave?

After some thought, he attempted to initiate a video call to Huo Lanjing.

[Call failed. Please try again.]

Luo Le paused. When he tried sending a text message, it was also rejected.

It seemed that Huo Lanjing had blocked him...

His emotions were a jumbled mix.

How come he never realized how petty Huo Lanjing could be? Was it really necessary to react so strongly after just one argument?

In a fleeting moment, his gaze caught sight of a package of medicine on the coffee table.

Luo Le shook his head and got up to head upstairs. He filled the bathtub with water and then poured the medicine into it.

He opened the refrigerator and took out a purple nutrient solution from the neatly arranged rows of boxes beside it.

Forcing himself to look away from the unprepared fresh ingredients, he knew they must have come all the way from the Empire. These ancient Earth delicacies were now extremely scarce.

Only the research institutes within the Empire could cultivate them.

He was aware that his skills would only spoil them.

After downing the nutrient solution, his stomach finally settled.

Finished with the medicine and his grooming, Luo Le mixed the medicine in hot water according to the proper ratio.

The fragrance of the medicine filled the bathroom as the water turned blue.

Luo Le tested the water temperature and laid back in it.

Initially, there was no sensation, but as the potion submerged him, a subtle ache emerged, sapping his strength bit by bit.

By the time he finished soaking, he barely had the energy to stand up.

In the evening, within his bedroom.

Luo Le linked his military supply card and logged into the forum.

The forum interface was straightforward, consisting only of questions, answers, and a search bar.

/Acquiring Materials for C-Class Mecha Construction/

He clicked on search, and a top-rated reply appeared.

//

On Acquiring Materials for D-Rank and Above Mecha Construction

D-Rank materials can be obtained by any mecha class student at the Instruction Tower, with no quantity restrictions;

C-class materials, one must declare their purpose to the officers and file a report to acquire them, with a limit of two units (for the construction of a single mecha, for instance);

B-class materials...

....

//

Chapter 19: Compatibility Rate of 70%?

Should I inquire with the military officers?

I'll ask tomorrow.

This is a military region; someone might know how to enhance a mecha pilot's spiritual power.

With this thought in mind, Luo Le typed in his query. Upon clicking search, the page suddenly redirected to the homepage.

He tried again several times, but the result remained the same.

Strange. As he was puzzled, a post with a small star on the right-hand side appeared at the top of the feed.

/** Discussing the Mysterious Chemistry Between the Marshal and Deputy Chen! **/

/** We all know the Marshal's pheromones are incredibly dominant – only one person in the entire military region can tolerate them **/

/** That's right, that person is our very own Deputy Chen. I'm sure their compatibility rate must be sky-high. **/

Despite the fact that Admiral is married, as far as I know, their compatibility rating is exceptionally low – only 70%. The Admiral doesn't seem to like her at all.

....

Luo Le wore a puzzled expression.

How did this 70% compatibility rating come about?

Back then, Huo Lanjing didn't even bother to check their compatibility with him.

Seeing the flood of comments expressing excitement over their supposed relationship, Luo Le felt irritated.

This post was from two years ago. Could it be that Huo Lanjing didn't see it?

Looking at the empty room, Luo Le's frustration grew.

He would clear the air with him tomorrow.

By then, he would move out, and there would be no need for Huo Lanjing to endure such discomfort.

The next morning, as Luo Le entered the mecha room, he noticed everyone engrossed in a heated discussion.

Bai Feifei spotted him and promptly waved. "Darling, over here."

Luo Le glanced at the empty seat beside her. Yesterday, Bai Feifei had sat on his left, so why was she now seated in front of him?

He approached and glanced at the group gathered nearby.

"What are they talking about?"

Bai Feifei followed his gaze and replied, "Didn't you hear? Yesterday, the forums were abuzz with news that Admiral Huo led the First Army vanguard to the Ninth Planet early this morning."

Luo Le paused. The battle report Lin Weiwei had delivered yesterday seemed to be from the Ninth Planet.

"Is the situation on the Ninth Planet urgent?"

"Who knows? Military secrets aren't disclosed to the public. But over the years, the insectoids haven't spared the Ninth Planet much trouble. After all, it's home to the largest palladium mine – an ideal material for armor plating in mechas."

"But isn't it protected by the most stringent defense system?"

"Perhaps the insectoids have found some vulnerability. But it's alright now that Admiral Huo is there. As far as I know, he has never been defeated. So there's no need to worry."

Luo Le couldn't shake off a nagging sense of unease; he felt that there was more to the situation than met the eye.

He spent the entire morning in a state of agitation.

As soon as training ended, he rushed to Huo Lanjing's office.

After his conversation with Bai Feifei, he messaged Captain Lin, who had just replied.

Upon presenting his Star Need card, he gained easy access.

Huo Lanjing's office was empty, and Captain Lin was nowhere to be found.

On the desk, however, lay a mecha maintenance report.

/Name: Wolf Beacon One; Rank: SS; Maintenance Period: 5180 Star Era, 210th Stellar Hour, 5:08 AM to 5180 Star Era, 225th Stellar Hour, 11:30 AM.../

The SS rank indicated that it belonged to Huo Lanjing's mecha.

Today was the 225th Stellar Hour, and the mecha was still here.

Luo Le's heart skipped a beat. Huo Lanjing hadn't brought his mecha along at all.

A heavy feeling settled in his chest. What was going on?

Just as he was pondering, the door creaked open.

Lieutenant Lin looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Madam, why are you here?"

Luo Le picked up the maintenance order from the table and waved it in front of him.

"What's going on? Didn't he go to the battlefield with Wolf One?"

Lieutenant Lin glanced at the list in his hand and explained, "It's just that there have been some unusual developments at the border. The General took only the elite of the First Army with him. He was also prepared with an A-class armor. Madam, please rest assured."

Luo Le's expression darkened as she slammed the list onto the table.

"How can it be just some minor disturbance that he had to rush over immediately, not even waiting for a few hours?" She glared at him intently.

Lieutenant Lin observed Luo Le, sitting in her chair with an imposing demeanor, and rubbed his hands together.

Truly a couple sharing the same bed, their aura matched that of a General's identically.

"The answer to your question, Lady, is that the previous maintenance had an uncertain schedule, and... there was an incident. But please rest assured, General Huo Lanjing is unharmed."

Orders from the military were like mountains, Luo Le knew that further inquiry would yield no results.

Still, he couldn't shake off his unease.

"Prepare for me a C-class armor and its core components."

Captain Lin lifted his gaze at him. "May I ask, Lady, what is your purpose?"

"My armor was ruined on the way here. Now, I want a new one. Is that not allowed? I'll pay with this."

He pushed the Star Need card forward.

Captain Lin stepped back slightly. "Lady, I apologize, but I don't have the authority for that."

Luo Le glanced at him coolly. "Oh? Was this ordered by Huo Lanjing?"

Observing the nuanced expression on Captain Lin's face as his words struck a chord.

Luo Le tapped his right index finger gently on the antique purple sandalwood table, lifting his gaze to glance at him with each tap.

Captain Lin lowered his head, silent, a wry smile forming in his heart. The admiral had indeed given him a challenging task.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Luo Le leaned back in his chair, adopting an acquiescent posture.

"Alright, I understand."

Captain Lin sighed in relief upon seeing this.

This young master surprisingly didn't put up a fuss. He had expected more resistance.

"Thank you, Madam, for your understanding."

A faint curve formed at the corner of Luo Le's lips. "In that case, could you please purchase one for me? Just mention my AI ID – I'll provide you with the account details and permissions now."

Captain Lin was taken aback. "Madam? I..."

"Well, can't you?"

"Then I'll be at Planet Nine tomorrow."

Lieutenant Lin wore an expression of indescribable distress.

It was his mistake.

Didn't he know that this young master was spoiled? Only the General could handle him.

He sounded somewhat helpless. "Madam, please don't make things difficult for your subordinate."

Luo Le waved it off. "Fine then, but you have to tell me which district he's in, or else I'm not leaving."

Lieutenant Lin came over and unfolded a map, pointing at one particular spot.

"Here."

Luo Le stared at him straight in the eye. After a moment, she curved her lips into a light smile. "Thanks."

He then rose to his feet and left.

Captain Lin gazed at his departing figure and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Suddenly, something came to mind, and he dialed an internal video call.

"From now on, anyone seen leaving with a Star Need card is to be held back."

....

That night, after training, Luo Le evaded the patrolling guards and made his way towards the main gate.

He had decided that he would still go.

Since Captain Lin refused to buy it for him and forbade him from applying through the military zone,

he had no choice but to venture out himself.

Originally, he could have used the Star Need card to pass through, but after the incident at noon,

the card was likely no longer useful.

Surveying the heavily guarded entrance, Luo Le decided to change his route.

He retraced his steps along the wall, intent on discovering the extent of the patrol area.

Gradually, the number of patrolling guards diminished.

Suddenly, a faint trail made by frequent foot traffic caught his eye.

Luo Le's lips curled into a smile. As expected, no newcomer could resist the urge to bend the rules.

Chapter 20: Red and Green

Follow that path all the way down.

They arrived at a relatively lower area.

Luo Le looked up at the wall, estimating its height in his mind.

Next to the wall were a few stacked large stones, easily facilitating a climb over.

He strolled over, used them as a stepping stool, vaulted the wall with a graceful leap, and landed perfectly on the other side.

He stood up and brushed off imaginary dust from his clothes.

Did they think he couldn't manage without their help?

"Hey? Brother Le?!"

Wind City?

Luo Le lifted his gaze to find three individuals trailing behind him.

He straightened up and frowned at the person before him. "Why are you here?"

Wind City gestured towards the people behind him.

"I heard there was an exit, so I thought I'd come out for a stroll. What about you, Brother Le?"

Looking at the person scratching his head with an awkward smile, Luo Le was about to offer an explanation when he noticed the three As behind Wind City tilting their heads towards him.

"Wind City, who's this? You don't even introduce us."

"Holy, Wind City! You actually know such a handsome omega!"

Their gazes were blatant, filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

Luo Le slightly knitted his brows. He disliked being looked at in such a manner.

Wind City caught the expression and quickly turned to caution them, "Don't say anything inappropriate."

He then turned back to Luo Le and asked, "Brother Le, where are you going?"

Luo Le slightly turned his body. "Just taking a stroll."

"A stroll, huh? Brother Le, I'll accompany you then."

Luo Le glanced at the three people behind him and shook his head. "No need."

He was going to buy a mecha. Given Wind City's temperament, he would likely insist on paying.

Wind City stepped forward, eager to be of service.

"Of course, of course. Planet Five isn't very safe, and if we run into any veterans, we can cover for each other."

Fixing his gaze on Wind City, Luo Le spoke earnestly, "I said it's not necessary."

Seeing the hurt in Wind City's eyes and the expressions of his three friends in his peripheral vision, Luo Le wondered if he had been too blunt and disrespectful.

Just as he was about to say something to ease the tension, he saw Wind City looking at him casually with a smile on his lips.

"Well then, if Brother Le needs me, I'll be there right away. Oh, wait, no – it's better if you don't have any reason to look for me," he said.

"Alright then, Brother Le, we're off." With those words, Wind City gently nudged the other three to move backward.

Luo Le waved at them as they left.

Once they were gone, Luo Le walked in the opposite direction.

There was an armor shop nearby, and it wasn't affiliated with the Du family.

It took him about ten minutes to arrive. The shop door was open, but there were only a few customers inside.

As soon as Luo Le entered, a teenager, around fifteen or sixteen years old, approached him with a warm smile.

"Welcome! Hello, may I ask what kind of armor configuration you're interested in? I can certainly give you a rundown."

Luo Le glanced around, noticing that most of the mechas were Grade D.

"I'm looking for a top-of-the-line C-class mecha with a palladium shell, and it needs to have the latest processor and motherboard."

"We do have one, on the second floor. Please follow me."

The second floor was filled with Grade B and C mechas.

After circulating around, Luo Le found out that the C-class mechas had shells or chips dating back over a decade.

This didn't meet his expectations.

"Is this all the C-class mechas you have?"

The young attendant immediately sensed Luo Le's dissatisfaction, as if he would ask for directions to the nearest mecha store any moment.

It was his first day on trial, and the manager had mentioned that if he failed to make a sale, there would be no need for him to come back tomorrow.

Back home, he had an ailing older brother who urgently needed money, and being young, he had struggled to find this job.

Moreover, the shop was situated near a military district and somewhat distant from the city center, resulting in barely any customers visiting throughout the day.

When a potential customer finally showed up, the others wouldn't dare compete for their attention.

How could he let this opportunity slip?

But none of these items had caught his eye...

Suddenly, the teenager remembered something that needed verification.

"Certainly, please take a seat here for a moment. I'll go verify it."

Luo Le nodded and sat down.

The young man went downstairs, found the manager, and inquired, "Manager, didn't we have a top-of-the-line C-class armor in storage? The one we acquired from the military zone previously?"

The manager scrolled through the holographic screen, found the entry, then looked at him with a frown.

"There is indeed one. Hmm, did the customer not find any of those on the second floor to their liking?"

The youth let out a dry chuckle. "As you're well aware, Manager, the items on the second floor are all from years past. The garment worn by that customer may bear no recognizable label, but it exudes an unmistakable air of luxury. Naturally, such finery would be beneath their notice."

The shop manager, studying the mecha's specifications, issued a stern warning.

"The mech is still operational, albeit with some issues despite its top-notch configuration. After repairs, it tends to exert an unusually high toll on the pilot's mental energy. This point must be emphasized; otherwise, neither of us can afford to bear the consequences if something goes wrong."

The youth nodded, acknowledging that those options were already deemed unsatisfactory; thus, leaving them with no choice but to take their chances.

The manager threw him a key. "Here's the warehouse key. You take him to have a look."

The youth smiled brightly, turning to ascend the stairs.

Observing the young man's retreating figure, the shopkeeper shook his head, convinced that the youth had misjudged.

The guest was wearing clothing without any discernible brand; how could he possibly afford anything? He likely just came to browse.

Yet, perhaps it's for the best to teach him a lesson.

The moment the young man returned, he immediately took Luo Le to the storage room.

Despite being called a storage room, it was merely a small chamber housing this single mech. It felt like entering a private booth. Luo Le stepped in and saw the mech's specifications written on the glass. He examined them and realized that the mech's parameters were on the verge of reaching an A-class level. Looking up, he noticed that the mech sported a combination of red and green. For some reason, it appeared strangely sophisticated. "Are you sure this is a C-class mech?" He cast a skeptical glance at the young man beside him. The youth nodded solemnly and explained, "Yes, although its specs are high, it's indeed a C-class mech. It's been inspected by four or five different institutions." "But there's one thing I need to mention upfront. This mech consumes a lot of mental power. I suggest you consider that before purchasing it." Luo Le lowered his gaze in thought. "It consumes a lot of mental power, huh? Was it designed that way or is there a problem with the programming?" The young man smiled awkwardly. "To be honest, I'm new here and not too knowledgeable about this. But apart from that, it has no issues and fully meets your requirements."

Luo Le lifted his gaze to the mech, his dark irises reflecting its image deeply.

As he gazed, Luo Le felt a poignant disorientation stirring within him.

"The mech was acquired from a military zone, but the repair technician was exceptionally skilled. It's been restored flawlessly and even underwent some enhancements."

"A military zone?," Luo Le inquired.

The youth lowered his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "Yes, but don't worry. We've taken care of it, and we used the finest paint for the finish."

Luo Le reached out, his hand resting on the glass wall, the mech's reflection shimmering in his eyes.

Observing this, the young man approached and offered, "Would you like to take it for a test drive?"

Luo Le nodded in agreement.

Chapter 21: What's the Fuss...

He heard the sound of the young man's hurried footsteps and turned to call out, "Where are you going?"

"I'll just check if anyone is currently using our test-driving area. Please wait a moment."

"No need. I just want to sit in it, not drive it."

The young man was taken aback, then tried to persuade him, "You should still take it for a test drive to see if there are any issues."

Luo Le knew that the young man was worried he might cause trouble later if something went wrong with the mecha.

In the past, after Luo Le made his selection and requested any modifications, the mecha would be delivered straight to his home.

It had never been this troublesome.

"No need," he said, his tone tinged with impatience.

The young man picked up on it but hesitated for a moment before still approaching and pressing the button.

In the next instant, the glass wall retreated into the ground.

The mech, now unobstructed, appeared even more lustrous and sophisticated.

Luo Le looked on with increasing satisfaction. He walked over to activate the mech, allowing a beam of light to draw him into the cockpit.

Inside, there was a seat, three control panels, and three rows of buttons.

All were in black and white, a stark contrast to the exterior design.

He reached out and placed his hand on the glowing screen to the right.

Soon, three holographic screens illuminated before him.

Frowning, Luo Le studied the various parameters displayed on the screens, full of questions.

With the previous C-class mechs, he couldn't even enter, let alone operate the control panels.

What was going on? Could it be that he was capable of piloting this one?

He attempted to lift the left arm of the mecha, but after waiting for a while, there was no response from the machine.

He tried several more actions, but all resulted in the same outcome.

Is it... still not working?

Ever since the mecha's two eyes lit up with a blue glow, the young man's heart had been on edge.

He feared that Luo Le might suddenly activate the mecha under his watch and accidentally break something in the shop.

After a moment, Luo Le emerged from the mecha, patting its arm.

"I'll take this one."

The young man froze, not expecting him to actually make a purchase.

He wouldn't have to leave tomorrow!

"Alright, alright. How would you like to pay?"

Luo Le instinctively reached for his Star Need Card but, upon remembering that its use would be detected, promptly withdrew his hand.

"Payment through an AI Brain, then?"

"Certainly, sir. Please follow me."

Upon completing the payment, Luo Le placed the mecha into his storage ring and departed.

The young man watched his retreating figure, filled with gratitude in his heart.

The store manager, standing by, gazed at the payment screen, still in disbelief that he could have been so mistaken.

Thankfully, I managed to keep those words unspoken just now.

Luo Le retraced his steps but upon scaling the wall, he found that the stepping stones beneath were gone.

He flipped over and sat with his legs dangling.

With a furrowed brow, he studied the marks left by the stone, suddenly sensing an ominous premonition.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in his ear.

"Madam, why are you sitting on the wall for no reason?"

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Captain Lin, attired in a light blue military uniform, standing under a tree just ahead, accompanied by seven or eight others.

Luo Le felt a twinge of annoyance. He should have turned back the moment he sensed something amiss.

However, it was sheer coincidence that Captain Lin happened to catch him.

After some contemplation, he lifted his gaze and accused, "You were following me?"

Lieutenant Lin put on a fake smile. "How dare I? I was merely ordered to capture the new recruit who slipped out from here, disregarding military discipline and staying out all night. I didn't expect Madam to be among them."

Luo Le paused. It wasn't him being paranoid, but these people clearly had been waiting here for quite some time.

They were obviously here to catch him.

With Lieutenant Lin's position, he wouldn't bother with such trivial matters.

Yet, he forced a laugh and refuted, "What a coincidence. I happened to hear about it too, so I thought I'd come take a look first and then discuss it with you. Didn't expect you to be here as well."

Captain Lin's lips twitched. Madam didn't even blush when she lied.

"Hmm?"

Luo Le nodded vigorously, afraid to admit it too late.

"Madam, perhaps you should come down first. It's windy up there, don't catch a cold."

This wind couldn't even stir his hair.

Luo Le's lips twitched. Captain Lin was knowledgeable in yin and yang.

Truly worthy of being Huo Lanjing's capable aide, his words were just as infuriating.

"What are you standing there for? Go help Madam down."

After a while, Luo Le looked at the two reaching hands below him, measured the height, and finally relented.

Just as he was about to reach out, someone called him from behind.

He turned his head to see Wind City looking up at him from below.

"Brother Le, what's wrong?"

Luo Le's body stiffened, and he instinctively turned back to glance at the man by the tree with a cryptic smile.

"My lady, you went out with friends, huh?"

It was over.

Luo Le took a pitying glance at the people behind him, their faces troubled.

Before he could even plead for mercy, a video call flashed on his AI device.

It was Huo Lanjing.

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Le still chose to accept the call.

Upon connection, Huo Lanjing's slightly hoarse and deep voice echoed, "Luo Le, what are you up to now?"

He was causing trouble?

Luo Le's heart skipped a beat as he lowered his gaze to his instep. Did Huo Lanjing think that anything he did was irrational and childish?

Suddenly, he felt like a mere joke.

Luo Le swung his foot casually and asked, "Then when will you be back?"

In an instant, Huo Lanjing's brows knitted together as he fixed his gaze on him.

Originally, Luo Le had intended to inquire about the situation on the 9th Planet, but the memory of that morning made it feel as if his words were stuck in a jammed zipper.

An eternity seemed to pass before Huo Lanjing spoke.

Lieutenant Lin waved his hand, dismissing his subordinates as he left the scene.

At this moment, Feng Cheng, who had witnessed the entire incident from outside the wall, wore an expression of disbelief.

His Brother Le, it turned out, was the wife of General Huo?

Just as he was pondering this, a large hovercar pulled up in front of him, one bearing the military's emblem.

Soon, Luo Le was left alone, sitting on the wall and staring stubbornly at the person on the screen.

If not for the ongoing video call, he would have thought it had been disconnected.

Luo Le noticed the indifference etched across Huo Lanjing's face on the screen. He knew that further persistence would be futile.

So, he let out a sigh and said, "Forget it, Huo Lanjing. I want to return to the Empire."

Those words were like a match striking a fuse, igniting Huo Lanjing completely.

He lifted his gaze slightly, his sharp eyes locking onto Luo Le, his tone laced with danger.

"Luo Le, what do you think the military is?"

Luo Le's fingers trembled slightly, but he forcefully suppressed his emotions.

After a long internal struggle, he decided to explain, "Huo Lanjing, whether you believe me or not, at first, I truly didn't know that winning the competition would allow me to enter the First Army. And aren't you supposed to be happy to see me go since you dislike me so much?"

At this point, a mocking smile tugged at Luo Le's lips.

He knew that even with an explanation, Huo Lanjing might not believe him.

But he still needed to say it.

On the other end, there was silence again, and after a while, the call was abruptly ended.

Looking at the turquoise screen, Luo Le grew angrier by the second.

In a fit of pique, he leaned against the wall with one hand, jumped, and landed.

Not paying attention for a moment, he twisted his ankle, causing his body to lurch forward.

"Ahh..."

Announcement of Temporary Suspension

I've encountered an important examination thrice, which requires adequate preparation.

Moreover, the book's performance isn't optimal, and the writing process has been sluggish. I need time to revise and refine the content.

I apologize, it might take a few weeks.

I'm truly sorry (┯_┯)

I'm genuinely remorseful (┯_┯)

I'm deeply regretful (┯_┯)

I'm exceedingly apologetic (┯_┯)

Chapter 22: He... Couldn't Do It

A dull ache throbbed in his ankle. Upon lifting his trouser leg, he noticed a swollen, reddened patch there.

Luo Le stared at the mud on his hands, feeling utterly frustrated.

It seemed that when one's luck was down, even drinking water could cause a toothache.

After receiving Huo Lanjing's message, Captain Lin returned with his men.

Upon discovering no one on the wall, they assumed Luo Le had gone back on his own.

Just as they were about to leave, a slender figure lying on the ground caught the corner of their eyes.

Closer inspection revealed it to be Luo Le.

He lay there, covered in mud and gazing blankly at the sky, seemingly indifferent to his condition.

Captain Lin followed Luo Le's gaze upward at the sky. It appeared quite ordinary.

He strolled over hesitantly and asked, "Madam? What are you looking at?"

"Luo Le," she spoke calmly, "look at how the endless sunset turns the sky into a crimson hue. Isn't it beautiful?"

Lieutenant Lin: ...

"It does look rather beautiful, but Madam, there's no need for you to lie down, right?"

Luo Le felt sticky and damp. As the wind blew, he shivered uncontrollably.

Realizing what had happened, Lieutenant Lin glanced up at the wall and then back at Luo Le. "Madam... You're injured, I apologize for not noticing earlier. Quick, someone, carry Madam to the infirmary."

Luo Le allowed them to carry him to the infirmary without resistance. After a simple treatment, they returned him to his quarters.

After Little Yuan gave him a bath, Luo Le lay down on the bed.

After placing the medicine on the table, Captain Lin looked at Luo Le's leg, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

The warning words lingered on his tongue, unable to be uttered.

But with Madam's current condition, it seemed unnecessary to convey the general's message.

"Madam, I'll take my leave now. Just call me if you need anything."

Luo Le acknowledged him and then refocused on the forum.

By the time he finished reading, it was bedtime.

Glancing at the tightly wrapped plaster on his foot, he called out, "Little Yuan."

"I'm here, Young Master, what do you need?" Little Yuan glided over from the kitchen.

"I want to sleep. Carry me up."

"Understood."

With a gentle nudge from Little Yuan's robotic arm, she encouraged him to ascend the stairs.

Hardly had I settled onto the bed when a video call request popped up.

The words "Huo Lanjing" on the intelligent system stood out prominently.

Luo Le firmly pressed the communicator on his wrist, applying so much force that it stung. He rubbed it gently.

The scene gradually illuminated.

Only the lower part of Huo Lanjing's face was visible, and it seemed he had just finished grooming himself, clad in a thin inner garment.

His sharp jawline was distinct, while his long fingers held a pen, scribbling something down.

Huo Lanjing remained silent, as if he hadn't noticed that the call had connected.

Luo Le watched the slight movements silently, propping herself up with her hands.

Huo Lanjing came from an illustrious family, possessed good looks, wealth, and exceptional abilities. For many years, he had consistently topped the Empire's list of the most desirable Alpha to marry.

This marriage was something countless others longed for; he should be content.

Yet, he couldn't help but feel discontent. Why couldn't they understand each other? Why couldn't Huo Lanjing love him?

Lost in thought, the video call screen changed.

Huo Lanjing's large face filled the entire display, snapping Luo Le back to reality.

Recalling Huo Lanjing's words, anger still simmered within him.

"What do you want?"

Huo Lanjing lifted his eyes indolently. "Your leg."

Luo Le lifted his injured leg. "Here, look, it's fine. No need for amputation."

Seeing the sudden appearance of a thick cast on the screen, Huo Lanjing paused.

Luo Le then pulled the blanket back over, covering it once more.

"So, that's what you wanted to ask?"

Huo Lanjing didn't reply but instead gazed at him. "Don't cause any more trouble before the training ends."

Luo Le lifted his head upon hearing this, only to meet Huo Lanjing's sharp gaze. He silently shrunk back.

It seemed that this was Huo Lanjing's true intention.

Indeed, he had never shown concern before, so why would he suddenly care now?

"Oh," Luo Le responded.

A sudden fit of violent coughing erupted from Huo Lanjing's end of the screen, as if his lungs were about to burst.

Luo Le furrowed his brow. "What's wrong?" His tone was laced with worry.

Huo Lanjing coughed again and then pressed his index finger against his lips. "It's nothing."

One could hear that he was putting great effort to suppress it.

"You've been..."

"Let's leave it at that for now."

With that, he hung up without waiting for Luo Le to finish her sentence.

Luo Le looked at the restored interface of her AI console with a furrowed brow, feeling a sense of unease in her heart.

It seemed that Huo Lanjing had been injured.

He was unsure of the severity of the situation.

Luo Le's thoughts drifted further into the past.

Suddenly, it seemed like he remembered something, and he switched on his forum to search through its contents.

He took out the newly purchased chip and motherboard to begin examining them.

Over the next two days, Luo Le was both physically restricted and confined.

With time on his hands, he dedicated himself to programming and improving the motherboard.

During the day, he locked himself in his room, sustenance coming only from nutrient solutions.

Every day, he would call Huo Lanjing via video link at the same hour, though their conversations were often cut short.

Nonetheless, he didn't mind; at least Huo Lanjing had answered.

But on this particular evening, he found himself unable to get in touch with Huo Lanjing no matter how hard he tried.

Luo Le's heart raced as he initiated a video call with Captain Lin.

Despite his persistent inquiries, he couldn't glean any information.

It was uncertain if Huo Lanjing had left any instructions before departing.

Luo Le clenched his fists, his pupils constricting as he gazed coldly at Captain Lin.

"I'll ask again, where has he gone?"

"Apologies, madam, but I cannot disclose that information," Lin Yu said, his head lowered, yet unyielding in his stance.

Luo Le suddenly chuckled. "Well, I see that General Huo's subordinates truly are loyal. I've learned my lesson."

With that, he hung up without hesitation.

Perhaps he had been too accommodating lately, causing them to forget his true nature.

Luo Le angrily threw the crutch aside and, leaning on the table for support, took a few steps forward.

The pain was still there, albeit bearable.

He marched upstairs straightaway to pack his belongings.

Just as he finished placing his items into the storage ring and descended the stairs, he found Captain Lin standing respectfully by the sofa.

Luo Le slowed his pace, casting his gaze past him to the two sternly poised figures at the entrance.

"What's the meaning of this? I don't recall inviting you in."

The tone was icy.

Captain Lin removed his cap and placed it over his heart, bowing respectfully.

"Madam, forgive my rudeness. From today onwards, you won't be able to step out of this house even once."

Luo Le approached the sofa with an awkward gait and sat down with a casual, leisurely air.

She scoffed. "May I ask what you intend to do? If Huo Lanjing can't control me, how could you?"

"Madam overestimates my abilities. I'm merely following orders. If I've offended you, I'll willingly accept punishment when the General returns."

"Then, I shall take my leave and not disturb Madam's rest. Goodbye."

Captain Lin bowed again and left, closing the door behind him as he exited.

Luo Le glanced aside, noticing that every three meters outside the vast window, there was a person standing guard.

He turned to gaze at the closed door, his thoughts becoming increasingly troubled.

Rising, he casually picked up a glass object from the table and threw it, shattering against the door into countless fragments.

His hand trembled slightly.

He sank into the soft sofa behind him, staring at the hanging chandelier as anger intertwined with hurt engulfed him entirely.

Why did Huo Lanjing always do this...

Keep everything from him.

Treat him with three parts distrust and seven parts suspicion.

A veil of mist began to form in Luo Le's eyes.

He could have easily washed his hands of the matter, but...

He couldn't bring himself to do it.

It seemed impossible...

After an indeterminate amount of time, the bright sky turned crimson before fading into a grayish hue.

Luo Le scratched his palm and, with a weary body, climbed the stairs step by step with great difficulty.

He took out each item from his storage ring one by one.

He neatly folded the clothes and arranged the rest of the items in front of him on the floor.

Staring blankly, he fell into a daze once more.

Suddenly, he heard a rhythmic tapping sound coming from outside the window.

Upon turning around, he saw a pair of large hands rise up and gently fall back down.

In confusion, Luo Le approached the window. Below the windowsill stood a figure he couldn't be more familiar with.

He hurriedly opened the window, and Wind City swiftly jumped inside.

Luo Le glanced around and, upon noticing no one paying attention, quickly closed the window and drew the curtains.

He lowered his voice and asked, "Why are you here?"

Wind City grinned. "Brother Le, I came to visit you."

Luo Le pointed behind him. "That's not what I'm asking. How did you get in?"

Wind City scratched his head. "Oh, you're asking about that? Actually, I've been here several times before, but they were all outside with tight security. Maybe they haven't adjusted their deployment for today. There's a gap during shift change, and I slipped in through there."

Luo Le's lips twitched. So these people had been guarding him all along, just from the inner courtyard now.

He pointed behind him again. "How are you planning to leave? Can you take me with you? I have something important to attend to."

Wind City glanced at the mess behind Luo Le and curled his lip. "Brother Le, are you going to find... General Huo?"

"Uh-huh."

Wind City fell silent, then slowly looked up. "But Brother Le, the Ninth Planet is a war zone now, very dangerous. Why don't you just forget it? General Huo will be fine."

Huo Lanjing, since he first stepped onto the battlefield at fourteen, had never suffered a defeat. He was regarded by the empire's citizens as its strongest individual. Everyone believed he was invincible. If Luo Le hadn't seen how exhausted Huo Lanjing had been these past few days, he too would have held that belief. The mere thought of his ashen face left Luo Le unable to find peace. "No, I'm going. Either you tell me when the guards are weakest and where to exit, or I'll go on my own tomorrow." Looking down at Luo Le's determined expression, Wind City sighed. "Brother Le, I can take you away, but if we go together, I won't feel at ease letting you go alone." It was the first time Luo Le had seen Huo Lanjing like that. From this perspective, the Ninth Planet now seemed fraught with danger. Safety could no longer be guaranteed.

He shook his head, gazing resolutely at Wind City. "No, you focus on your training. If you leave with me, you won't be able to come back. There's no need, I'll be fine."

Wind City: "I..."

"Stop with the 'I, I, I.' You said before that it was because of me you could join the First Army, but if we ranked last in combat, we wouldn't be first either. You're very suited to be a soldier, you're strong – there's no need for self-doubt."

"So you don't have to keep seeing me as your savior. Aren't we partners, after all?"

In truth, Luo Le had already regarded him as a friend, and he genuinely disliked the recent change in Wind City's demeanor.

Chapter 23: Escape

Despite Wind City usually following Luo Le's lead, it had never been this cautious before.

This made Luo Le uncomfortable.

Looking down, he saw Wind City with its head bowed and shoulders trembling slightly. He paused.

Had he said something wrong? Just as he was about to console it,

Wind City abruptly lifted its head, nodding vigorously. "Yes, that's right, we're partners. I'm sorry, Brother Le. It was my mistake earlier."

Luo Le retracted his gesture, nodded slightly, and turned silently to sweep the items on the ground, storing them away.

"Brother Le, I'll listen to you. I won't come along this time, but please be careful. Keep in touch at all times."

Luo Le acknowledged with a hum, sat down on the carpet, and poured himself a cup of tea.

With one hand, he gestured. "Care for a cup?"

Wind City obediently came over and sat down, sipping from his teacup.

"Ahh, so bitter. What kind of tea is this?"

Luo Le casually poured himself a cup as well, taking a sip. "Di Mei Ren."

Wind City's eyes widened. "The Di Mei Ren that's only produced in quantities of a hundred thousand per year and is practically unavailable on the market?"

Luo Le smiled and nodded.

Wind City picked up his teacup again and took another sip. "It's just slightly bitter, but leaves a sweet aftertaste with a rich aroma."

Luo Le chuckled, then set down his own cup.

"In truth, I don't really like it either. It's just Little Yuan's habit to brew it."

Wind City put down his teacup once more and glanced at the AI device. "Brother Le, in ten minutes, I'll take you out. Is there anything else you need to bring?"

Luo Le shook his head. He had everything he needed.

"Alright, we'll leave in ten minutes. However, we can't use the previous exit. Hmm... There is another way out, but it might require some sacrifice from Brother Le," said the figure.

Luo Le shook his head, unfazed by the proposition.

"As long as we can get out, that's fine."

Ten minutes later, Luo Le followed Wind City, silently slipping out through a window.

They tiptoed their way past the guards, avoiding detection.

Before long, they reached the spot where the guard presence was supposedly lighter, as described by Wind City.

Finally, they stepped out of the exit.

Luo Le glanced back and noticed several guards approaching the path they had taken. He promptly tugged on Wind City, pulling him aside to hide.

After confirming that they hadn't been detected, the two of them proceeded in the opposite direction.

Despite being outside, Luo Le was still unable to pilot his mecha and leave.

The military zone had an interference layer; any unregistered mechas not at designated locations couldn't engage in interstellar travel.

Or, they would have to be at least ten meters away from the military zone's boundary to function normally.

Luo Le continued following Wind City as their path grew increasingly secluded.

After turning a corner, they arrived at a relatively quiet alley.

"Brother Le, this is it. Apart from that previous spot, this is the only place we can scale out from here."

Luo Le looked in the direction Wind City pointed. It was merely a ten-meter stretch with significantly lower elevation than its surroundings.

However, it was still higher than the previous location.

If it were just about height, it wouldn't be much of an issue. But here, there were slender pillars about one and a half meters tall along the wall, their tips razor-sharp.

How were they supposed to get past this?

Wind City gestured with his hands, measuring the space. "It's roughly this wide up there. I won't fit, but with your slender build, Brother Le, you should be able to squeeze through."

Luo Le shuddered at the sharp edges glinting in the light.

"Are there any other options?" he asked.

Wind City sighed.

He pointed to a spot not far away. "Brother Le, can you tell what that used to be?"

Luo Le looked at the smooth wall, perplexed.

Honest shook his head.

Wind City chuckled. "Yesterday, that was a dog hole. They filled it in overnight."

Luo Le was slightly stunned. "Truly impressive."

Wind City echoed with a smile. "Indeed it is."

"But how do I get across?"

For some reason, the houses on both sides were built flush against the walls, leaving virtually no gap at all.

The only space available was this alley, roughly ten feet wide.

It was impossible to summon a mecha here.

Wind City paused and took out a vest and gloves from his chest, both made of sturdy materials.

"Brother Le, use this."

"How did you get these?"

Wind City chuckled sheepishly. "I bought them."

Luo Le reached out to take them, jesting, "Seems like you're getting along well with them."

Wind City smiled. "Come on, Brother Le. The patrol will be back here in seven minutes."

"Uh-huh."

Wind City took the lead, positioning two large stones side by side as makeshift stepping stools.

"Come on, Brother Le. Give it a try."

Luo Le donned his vest and gloves, then stepped onto the stones, tiptoeing to reach the top but still falling short.

Seeing this, Wind City cupped his hands together. "Brother Le, step here. I'll lift you up."

Luo Le was about to decline but realized there wasn't a better alternative. He glanced at the light at the alley entrance.

"Sorry for the trouble."

"Brother Le, don't be so formal with me. It feels strange."

Luo Le gave a dry laugh, remaining silent as he placed one foot on Wind City's hands and stretched upward to grab the top.

This method proved effective. With Wind City's assistance, he easily reached the top.

Yet the most challenging part was yet to come.

Luo Le gazed at the dense array of needles before him, his hands trembling slightly.

Through the thin gloves, he could sense the sharp points pressing against his palms. If he were to stumble, he would likely be pierced through.

However, this gap was indeed narrow enough for him to pass through.

"Brother Le, how's it going?" Wind City's voice echoed from below, subdued.

Luo Le moved cautiously sideways, fortunately without any incidents occurring.

He signaled an 'OK' gesture to the people below.

Moving steadily forward.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened until the final moment, just as he was about to make it through. A blinding light swept across, freezing him in his tracks.

The dim alley was suddenly illuminated in its entirety.

Luo Le pressed the back of his hand against his forehead, shielding his eyes from the blinding light.

Through the gaps between his fingers, he could vaguely make out a few figures.

Alarm bells rang in Luo Le's mind.

"Where are you going, Madam?"

A familiar voice, tinged with a hint of amusement.

Sure enough, it was Captain Lin. How did they find her so quickly?

Luo Le's fingers clenched slightly, stealing a glance over his shoulder. They were almost caught.

He then turned back to the people below, his expression cold. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Madam, if you come back with me now, I won't mention tonight's incident to General."

A memory of Huo Lanjing's exhausted appearance flashed unbidden through Luo Le's mind.

Luo Le looked at him calmly. "You want to stop me?"

Captain Lin sighed. "I'm just following orders."

The same old excuse again.

Luo Le felt a twinge of frustration – they were so close.

But seeing the people below,

his heart sank, and his head lowered slowly.

Suddenly,

"Brother Le, catch."

In reflex, Luo Le raised his hand and grasped the object thrown to him.

Upon closer look, it was a black ring.

Raising his gaze, he saw Wind City nodding at him.

In that single glance, Luo Le found his answer within his heart.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Thanks," he said.

He then swiftly turned around and leaped down with incredible speed.

Captain Lin's pupils constricted. "Seize the lady."

Saying this, he started running towards that direction.

No sooner had they taken a few steps when a majestic, colossal mecha, a striking contrast of black and white, rose rapidly into the air.

It vanished in an instant.

Captain Lin grasped the saber at his waist, staring at the spot where the mecha had vanished, lost in thought for a long while.

"Captain Lin, what should we do with this person?"

Regaining his composure, Captain Lin gritted his teeth and said, "Bring him back."

After confirming that no one was pursuing him, Luo Le heaved a sigh of relief and tapped on the holographic screen.

From Captain Lin's gaze that day, Luo Le had roughly guessed the location of Huo Lanjing's warship.

However, he was unsure if they had moved during this time.

Over the past few days, he had been gathering intelligence, albeit with a mix of truth and deception. Nevertheless, he could roughly deduce their direction of travel.

Based on their previous speed, they should...

Luo Le mentally sifted through possibilities.

His hand finally rested on a particular spot.

This was the most likely location.

It wasn't an area that the insectoids would invade, so it was relatively safer.

--

Two days later, at night.

Unlike its usual desolation, the bustling marketplace was illuminated by bright lights.

"Audacious sir, would you like some robust lion beast meat? It's freshly hunted."

Luo Le, dressed in black, pulled his black cap tighter.

Just as he was about to decline, the corner of his eye caught sight of a pair of scarred hands.

They were covered in bluish-purple venom, likely caused by the ground meat.

The man wore beast hide clothing, exposing his entire left pectoral. He appeared exhausted, and behind him stood a frail-looking man.

Luo Le fixated on the exposed wound on the left cheek of the man behind him.

The man sensed his gaze and lost his temper.

Advancing a step, he shielded the figure behind him even more, his tone hostile, "If you're not buying, then move away. What are you staring at?"

Luo Le held out his wrist, "I'll take them all."

The man was about to refuse but reconsidered upon recalling the injury on the other's face. He relented with a cold tone, "Do you want me to attend to it first?"

Luo Le didn't mind his attitude, shaking his head as he waved his hand, making the pile of beast meat vanish.

The man sheepishly retracted his hand.

Luo Le allowed him to swipe the star coins.

Seeing that Luo Le still didn't leave after the transaction, the man took another step to block his view completely, his expression wary.

Perceiving the hostility, Luo Le stepped back, palms open, and explained, "Don't misunderstand, that injury on his face is from the insectoids, right?"

"What do you want?"

"I belong to the First Legion. Three days ago, I got separated from my troops during battle. Oh, right, I have this bottle of medicine that might be useful for his facial injury."

Recalling his earlier impulsive action, Luo Le passed the medicine over.

The man hesitated for a moment before taking it. Upon seeing the inscription on it, he wore an expression of disbelief.

This medicine not only neutralized the toxins of the insectoids but also repaired skin damaged by their venom. It even had anti-aging effects.

It was rare even in the Empire, let alone on the Ninth Planet. It was a medication that was hard to come by.

Yet, he was just giving it away. Could such kindness truly exist in this world?

"What do you want in return?"

"I don't want anything. Just answer a few of my questions."

"What?"

"In which battle did he get injured? Did he encounter the First Army, or do you have any news about them?"

The man firmly handed back the medicine, his tone laced with impatience and anger.

"I don't need it anymore, nor am I selling it. Return my beast meat to me."

This person was acting strangely and inquiring about the First Army. He might be a spy from an enemy nation.