The sky had not yet fully brightened when Xiahou Shaoxuan got out of bed.
Or rather, he had never fallen asleep all night.
Looking at Lian Qiguang curled up beside him, sleeping soundly, Xiahou Shaoxuan slowed every movement. Carefully, he climbed out of bed and got dressed.
Once everything was in order, he sat down beside the bed and quietly studied Lian Qiguang’s sleeping face.
The blood on his lips had already dried, but the scattered crimson wounds stood out painfully.
Xiahou Shaoxuan’s brows knitted tightly together, his iron fists trembling slightly as they clenched.
After a long silence, he gently lifted the blanket and reached beneath the hem of Lian Qiguang’s shirt.
Just as his hand was about to touch him, Lian Qiguang’s eyes snapped open.
One hand shot out and seized Xiahou Shaoxuan’s wrist.
Cold light flashed through those black eyes. Murderous intent surged forth with terrifying ferocity, carrying a blood-soaked aura that made one’s hair stand on end.
Xiahou Shaoxuan stiffened.
His pupils contracted sharply as instinctively, power gathered in his hand.
The moment Lian Qiguang recognized him, the murderous aura gradually faded. He released Xiahou Shaoxuan’s wrist and returned to his usual expressionless face.
“You’re awake,” Lian Qiguang mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
“Did I wake you?”
Xiahou Shaoxuan hid the strange emotions in his eyes and flicked Lian Qiguang lightly between the brows.
“I can still go back to sleep.”
“Then keep sleeping.”
He squeezed Lian Qiguang’s hand before reaching under his shirt again, intending to lift it.
“No looking.”
Lian Qiguang rolled away, dodging his hand, then wrapped himself tightly in the blanket and retreated to the inner side of the bed.
“Let me see. Be good.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan leaned over, pulled him back into his arms, removed the blanket, and carefully lifted his shirt.
Although he had prepared himself mentally, the sight of the shocking patches of bruises covering Lian Qiguang’s body still made him hate himself.
His already stern face darkened even further.
“I’m taking you to the medical center.”
He stood and reached out to pick Lian Qiguang up.
“No! It’s embarrassing!”
Lian Qiguang sat upright, wrapping himself into a tiny bundle with the blanket.
“It’s not like I got hurt in a fight. They’re just a few marks. I’m not bleeding, nothing’s broken. I’m not that weak.”
He absolutely refused to go.
“…Honey…”
“Mmm. So sleepy.”
Lian Qiguang expressionlessly shut his eyes and let his head droop.
Watching the little bundle hiding beneath the blanket, Xiahou Shaoxuan felt a painful tightness in his chest.
He had always treasured and protected his lover.
He couldn’t even tolerate someone laying a finger on him.
Yet this time…
He himself had been the one to hurt him.
“Honey.”
He gently laid Lian Qiguang back down and tucked the blanket around him.
“Get some proper rest. I’ll be focusing on breaking through these next few days, so I won’t be able to stay with you. I’ll have Yuan Ling come over. If you need anything or want to go somewhere, just tell him.”
“Mhm…”
Lian Qiguang murmured softly before turning over and burying his face in the blanket.
Xiahou Shaoxuan patted him gently before walking toward the door.
At the doorway, he paused.
Turning back, he looked once more at the tiny figure curled beneath the blanket.
A complicated look crossed his eyes.
He hadn’t missed the killing intent and brutality that had flashed from Lian Qiguang earlier.
He had always known his lover wasn’t ordinary.
He fought exceptionally well.
He carried countless little secrets.
For all of those things, Xiahou Shaoxuan could always find an explanation.
But that killing intent…
No one who hadn’t crawled through mountains of corpses and seas of blood could possess such an aura.
Someone with that kind of presence must have survived an unimaginably horrifying hell.
But Lian Qiguang had supposedly lived his entire life in District Three.
Forget danger—he had supposedly never even witnessed an ordinary theft or street fight.
Then how…
Honey…
What exactly have you gone through?
He withdrew his gaze, opened the door, and quietly left.
He had always wanted to hold up the sky for Lian Qiguang.
Yet Lian Qiguang was only willing to promise him their future together.
He refused to let him step into his past.
The instant the door clicked shut, Lian Qiguang suddenly opened his eyes.
Dark emotions swirled within them.
He knew…
That brief flash of murderous intent had definitely aroused Xiahou Shaoxuan’s suspicions.
And his pretending to be clueless, brushing everything aside, had certainly left him unhappy.
Shaoxuan…
It’s not that I don’t want to tell you about my past.
It’s that my past lies three thousand years away from yours.
Three thousand years…
Such an impossible distance.
Not merely separated by space…
But buried beneath the passage and oblivion of time.
Could you ever find me?
Lian Qiguang slept until noon before finally waking up.
With messy bed hair, he climbed out of bed completely refreshed and stretched lazily.
Expressionless as always, he wandered into the bathroom.
Looking into the mirror at the countless bluish-purple marks covering his body, he pursed his lips.
After rummaging through his storage space, he found a beige high-collared athletic shirt and pulled it on, hiding every mark.
He then took out a miniature medical robot, erased the traces on his lips, rubbed his empty stomach, and headed downstairs.
“Good afternoon, Sister-in-law!”
The moment he came downstairs, Yuan Ling hurried over and snapped a crisp military salute.
“Boss said he’s busy these next few days, so I’ll be accompanying you.”
“Mhm.”
Lian Qiguang answered indifferently.
“I’ll take you to eat.”
Yuan Ling smiled and gestured politely.
Lian Qiguang’s stomach growled loudly.
Looking rather listless, he followed him without complaint.
After lunch, Yuan Ling enthusiastically persuaded him to visit the training grounds.
The instant they arrived—
“Good afternoon, Sister-in-law!”
“Hello, Sister-in-law!”
“Sister-in-law!”
…
Lian Qiguang’s arrival immediately ignited everyone’s excitement.
Every soldier greeted him with remarkable enthusiasm.
News that the boss’s spouse would be vacationing on Fallen Star had exploded throughout the base more than a month ago.
It had remained the hottest topic ever since.
The boss’s spouse!
Who on earth was capable of conquering the human weapon known as Xiahou Shaoxuan?
After Lian Qiguang arrived, however, Xiahou Shaoxuan guarded him like a priceless treasure.
Forget talking to him—
No one had even been allowed within three meters of him.
“Sister-in-law!”
Heavy Shepherd spotted him from afar while enduring extreme training.
Without hesitation, he ran over with a broad grin.
Lian Qiguang tilted his head and stared expressionlessly at the enormous man towering over him.
The man wore only a black military tank top.
Broad shoulders.
Massive muscles.
Iron-like arms.
He silently took two steps backward.
Heavy Shepherd blinked.
Looking down at himself—soaked in sweat, his undershirt practically dripping—he suddenly understood and laughed sheepishly.
“Haha… I just finished training. Didn’t have time to change.”
Yuan Ling rolled his eyes.
Sister-in-law made it that obvious.
How can this idiot still not get it?
“Sister-in-law…”
Yuan Ling stepped forward to comfort him.
“You’re still young. Don’t worry. Someday you’ll definitely…”
He looked at Heavy Shepherd’s rock-hard muscles, rugged face, and bronze skin.
Then glanced at Lian Qiguang’s petite frame, exquisite features, and fair, jade-like complexion.
After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out awkwardly,
“…grow as tall as Heavy Shepherd.”
Lian Qiguang looked directly at Heavy Shepherd.
“Can you fly a spacecraft?”
“Huh?”
Heavy Shepherd blinked in confusion.
“Can you fly one? Shaoxuan said he’d teach me.”
If Xiahou Shaoxuan had been present, he would have immediately recognized the faint trace of showing off hidden beneath Lian Qiguang’s utterly expressionless face.
“I can.”
Heavy Shepherd nodded.
“It’s the most basic requirement for joining Blood Wolf.”
“…”
Lian Qiguang fell silent.
“Sister-in-law?”
Yuan Ling immediately sensed the drop in pressure around him.
“Is something wrong?”
Shing!
Qianming flashed from space and pointed directly at Heavy Shepherd.
“You.”
“Fight me.”
“…”
Heavy Shepherd froze.
“…”
Everyone else froze too.
“Uh… Sister-in-law…”
Heavy Shepherd swallowed nervously.
“I didn’t say anything wrong… did I?”
“I want to fight you.”
Lian Qiguang repeated himself without changing expression.
“Sister-in-law, don’t make things difficult.”
Yuan Ling hurriedly stepped between them.
“The boss ordered me to protect you. If anything happens to you, he’ll skin me alive.”
“You.”
“Fight me.”
Ignoring Yuan Ling entirely, Lian Qiguang spoke more firmly.
The entire training ground fell eerily silent.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the three of them.
No matter how anyone looked at him, Lian Qiguang resembled a delicate young master raised in luxury.
They also knew he was merely a first-year academy student.
How could he possibly compare with Xuanlang, who had spent years fighting on battlefields?
Just comparing their physiques—
Lian Qiguang was slim and delicate.
His skin was pale.
His face beautiful.
People worried they might poke a hole in him just by touching him.
Meanwhile, Xuanlang was huge.
Broad.
Powerfully built.
A full head taller than Lian Qiguang.
One slap from him looked capable of flattening the youth.
Besides—
Xuanlang ranked among Blood Wolf’s top fighters.
Very few people on the base could last against him.
They might adore Lian Qiguang as the boss’s spouse…
But on an actual battlefield?
They all believed he’d only drag everyone down.
Now, seeing him act so arrogantly, spoiled by affection and making unreasonable demands…
Quite a few faces darkened.
“Fight me.”
Lian Qiguang remained stubborn, staring directly at Xuanlang.
“Hey, Xuanlang!”
Someone shouted mockingly.
“If Sister-in-law insists so much, just wiggle a finger and humor him. Treat it as entertainment.”
“Yeah!”
“Spare one minute and play with him.”
“Be careful not to make him cry!”
…
Once one person spoke, the rest eagerly joined in.
The training ground quickly descended into noisy chaos.
“Enough! Get back to training!”
Yuan Ling shouted anxiously.
“Shut the hell up!”
Xuanlang suddenly roared.
His furious voice echoed throughout the entire base.
The crowd immediately fell silent.
Looking helplessly at Lian Qiguang, Xuanlang rubbed his nose.
“Sister-in-law, stop joking.”
“I’ve seen your abilities.”
“I’m no match for you.”
A three-element Mystic Rank esper.
Meanwhile, he himself had remained stuck at Soldier Rank for years.
Forget all three abilities—
Any single one of them could instantly defeat him.
The difference of even one rank was like heaven and earth.
Xuanlang understood this perfectly.
Unfortunately…
Nobody else knew how terrifying Lian Qiguang truly was.
Seeing Xuanlang openly admit defeat, the crowd exploded into an uproar.
“Xuanlang!”
“Status is status, but battle is battle! There’s no room for personal feelings on the battlefield!”
“Don’t disgrace yourself!”
“Don’t disgrace that uniform! Blood Wolf has no cowards!”
…
“You trying to get me killed?!”
Seeing battle intent gradually appear in Lian Qiguang’s eyes, Xuanlang immediately exploded at the hecklers.
“Sister-in-law!”
Afraid Lian Qiguang would actually accept, Xuanlang grabbed Yuan Ling and shoved him forward.
“I’m only Soldier Rank! I can’t survive even one move from you!”
“Fight him instead!”
“He’s strong! One guy can beat three of me!”
“…”
Yuan Ling stared at him speechlessly.
Xuanlang…
Have some shame!
You’re the one who can beat three of me!
Seeing Lian Qiguang look toward him, Yuan Ling immediately shrank back.
“Sister-in-law…”
“You know me.”
“You already beat me once.”
“I couldn’t come to work for half a month.”
“Huh?”
Xuanlang poked his head out from behind him.
“You got beaten already?”
“No kidding!”
Yuan Ling shot him a glare.
“You too?”
“No.”
“I just watched him beat somebody.”
“It was terrifying.”
Watching the two shove responsibility back and forth, Lian Qiguang’s eyes dimmed.
The tiny spark of battle spirit he’d finally mustered disappeared completely.
Qianming vanished back into his storage space.
Turning around, he walked away.
“Hey! Sister-in-law! Where are you going?”
Xuanlang called after him.
Lian Qiguang didn’t even spare him a glance.
He walked straight ahead—
Only to find himself surrounded by layers upon layers of soldiers.
“Sister-in-law.”
A burly man stepped out of the crowd.
“I’ll spar with—”
Before he could finish speaking, Lian Qiguang ignored him completely and simply walked past.
“Hey! You—”
Furious at being dismissed, the man lunged forward to stop him.
Without even turning around, Lian Qiguang casually waved his left hand.
A razor-sharp icicle shot backward.
Startled, the man instantly erected an earth wall.
But the ice pierced straight through it.
Like tofu.
Without the slightest resistance.
The icicle sliced past his neck before embedding itself deep into the ground.
A thin trickle of blood slowly flowed from his neck.
The man froze.
His eyes widened in terror as he stared blankly at Lian Qiguang’s retreating figure—
Who had never once paused.
The entire training ground fell deathly silent.
Lian Qiguang continued walking.
Everyone instinctively stepped aside, opening a path before him.
After leaving the crowd, he finally stopped.
Without turning around, he spoke calmly.
His right hand slowly lifted.
Frost swirled above his palm.
Then—
He dropped to one knee and pressed his hand against the ground.
Ice exploded outward in every direction with incredible speed.
Before anyone could react—
The frost had already spread across the enormous training grounds.
Every soldier immediately activated their abilities.
But before the advancing ice…
Their powers shattered like fragile glass.
The ice instantly pierced through every defense.
It froze everyone’s feet solidly in place before rapidly climbing upward.
In the blink of an eye—
The vast training grounds had transformed into a frozen world.
A sea of white ice stretched as far as the eye could see.
Only the rows of soldiers frozen from the waist down—standing upright like giant scallions—ruined the picturesque scenery.
Lian Qiguang rose to his feet and said flatly,
“I…”
“…don’t feel like fighting anymore.”
“When I don’t want to do something…”
“…no one gets to stop me.”
He turned and walked away.
Just before disappearing from sight, he snapped his fingers.
Snap.
Miles of solid ice shattered instantly.
Countless sparkling ice crystals filled the sky like glittering snow.
The frozen soldiers trembled violently after being released.
Yet none of them paid attention to the cold.
Their hearts were overwhelmed with shock.
An area-of-effect ability…
Freezing several miles in an instant…
With such precise control…
Though part of their defeat had been caused by carelessness…
Just this display alone proved one thing—
Their sister-in-law’s ability had to be at least Mystic Rank.
Not even twenty years old.
Still a minor.
A first-year student.
The soldiers wanted to curse.
One monstrous genius like Xiahou Shaoxuan had already been unfair enough.
Now another monster had appeared.
And the two monsters happened to be married.
This was completely outrageous.
“…Ice-element ability…”
Yuan Ling stared blankly at the glittering ice filling the sky.
Wasn’t he supposed to be a wood-element esper?
Then why…?
Unless…
“Tsk.”
Xuanlang shook his head.
“Sister-in-law’s abilities have improved again.”
“Could he have already broken through Mystic Rank…”
“…and reached Void Rank like the boss?”
Fortunately, they hadn’t actually fought.
Otherwise…
He would have been dead for sure.