By the time Lian Qiguang came to again, it was already nighttime. He shifted slightly, and the searing pain in his lower body made him draw in a sharp breath; his previously foggy mind began to clear.
Lian Qiguang pressed one hand to his forehead; the aching pain throughout his body, as if he’d been run over by a car, made him furrow his brow slightly. The scenes from yesterday gradually began to come into focus in his mind, and Lian Qiguang suddenly felt his face grow warm.
Enduring the discomfort, Lian Qiguang turned over and saw Xiahou Shaoxuan lying beside him with his eyes closed, his strong arms holding Lian Qiguang tightly in his embrace. Glancing at the time, he saw it was already the early hours of the morning. For some reason, the phrase “From now on, the king will not attend court early” suddenly popped into Lian Qiguang’s mind.
Lian Qiguang reached out and pinched Xiahou Shaoxuan’s cold, firm cheek, then leaned in to take a whiff of him before nestling contentedly into Xiahou Shaoxuan’s embrace. It was still the scent he loved.
“My wife, are you trying to seduce me?” A deep, husky voice came from above him. A pair of strong hands pressed down on Lian Qiguang’s waist with slight pressure, and he could clearly feel the hardness pressing against his abdomen.
Lian Qiguang struggled to lift his head, only to meet Xiahou Shaoxuan’s deep, inscrutable black eyes. Looking into Lian Qiguang’s bewildered gaze, Xiahou Shaoxuan curved his lips and leaned down, planting a passionate yet domineering kiss on Lian Qiguang’s lips.
Just as Lian Qiguang was about to suffocate, Xiahou Shaoxuan released him, gently cradling him in his arms. His fingers, calloused from work, traced Lian Qiguang’s slender lower back, sliding all the way down to that hidden spot.
The once excruciatingly painful spot was suddenly touched, causing Lian Qiguang to flinch. He reached out to grasp Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hand and murmured softly, “Don’t move.”
“My wife, does it hurt?” Sensing Lian Qiguang’s flinch and recalling last night’s wild passion, Xiahou Shaoxuan felt a pang of tenderness.
Lian Qiguang buried her face in Xiahou Shaoxuan’s chest and nodded mutely, then shook her head.
“My dear, you’re nodding one moment and shaking your head the next—what on earth does that mean?” Xiahou Shaoxuan couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It hurts, but I’m not afraid of the pain,” Lian Qiguang whispered.
“My dear, this isn’t a matter of being afraid or not,” Xiahou Shaoxuan said helplessly, reaching out to gently lift Lian Qiguang’s chin as he spoke in a deep voice.
“We’re no longer in that post-apocalyptic world. Forget about it—you have me now.”
Looking into Xiahou Shao Xuan’s solemn, icy eyes, Lian Qiguang silently lowered his head, nuzzling against Xiahou Shao Xuan’s chest without a word.
“Honey, I committed a crime,” Xiahou Shaoxuan whispered as he held Lian Qiguang close, savoring the warmth of their bodies pressed together.
“……” A crime? Lian Qiguang looked up, gazing at Xiahou Shaoxuan with a puzzled expression.
“You’re still a minor. Under Blue Star law, this carries a sentence of life imprisonment. As a Blue Star brigadier general, I’ve knowingly broken the law—I might even face the death penalty.”
“!!!” Lian Qiguang
“Honey, are you mad at me?” Xiahou Shaoxuan lowered his head, resting his forehead against Lian Qiguang’s, while one hand gently massaged Lian Qiguang’s waist.
“I’m not mad.” Lian Qiguang shook his head, his expression serious. “I did it willingly. They can’t kill you. If they dare to kill you, I’ll cut them all down.”
Looking at Lian Qiguang’s earnest little face, Xiahou Shaoxuan couldn’t help but laugh.
“Are you hungry?” Suppressing her laughter, Xiahou Shaoxuan leaned down and gave Lian Qiguang’s cheek a gentle nibble.
“I have food in my spatial pocket. I’ll go get some for you,” Lian Qiguang said, thinking Xiahou Shaoxuan was hungry.
“Wife,” Xiahou Shaoxuan said with a hint of resignation as he quickly grabbed Lian Qiguang’s arm to stop him from entering the spatial pocket.
“Honey, could you please not go into the spatial realm anymore?”
“Why?”
“I get anxious when I see you disappear.”
Lian Qiguang stared at Xiahou Shaoxuan for a long moment, then reached out and patted his head. “I won’t disappear. I’ll be back in a minute. If you’re afraid of the dark, just turn on the light.”
“……” Xiahou Shao Xuan
Seeing that Xiahou Shao Xuan still wouldn’t let go, Lian Qiguang pursed his lips. “If only you could enter the space…”
Before he could finish speaking, Lian Qiguang felt a blur before his eyes, followed by a “splash,” and the sound of splashing water all around him. Caught off guard, Lian Qiguang swallowed a huge mouthful of water. Flapping his four paws, he began struggling frantically in the water like a little turtle.
Just then, a hand gripped the back of Lian Qiguang’s neck, lifting him straight out of the water and cradling him in its arms.
“Cough! Cough!” Lian Qiguang bent over, coughing violently, his little face flushed bright red.
“Are you feeling better?” Xiahou Shaoxuan patted Lian Qiguang on the back, his brow furrowed deeply.
“Mm…” Lian Qiguang nodded weakly, but then, as if suddenly remembering something, he quickly looked up and, sure enough, saw Xiahou Shaoxuan’s cold, resolute face.
“You…” Lian Qiguang was speechless for a moment.
Xiahou Shao Xuan, still holding Lian Qiguang, glanced around. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. “Is this your space?”
“How did you get in?” Though his little face usually wore a blank expression, his eyes were now wide open. Xiahou Shao Xuan was instantly melted by the cuteness and leaned down for another wolf kiss.
“You… how did you get in here?” When Xiahou Shaoxuan let go, Lian Qiguang was once again panting heavily, but he still hadn’t forgotten his question.
“I don’t know.”
Lian Qiguang tilted his head, pondered it for a long time without figuring it out, and suddenly couldn’t be bothered to think about it anymore. If he could get in, that was good enough.
Lian Qiguang looked up and surveyed his surroundings. The space was still the same—not a single thing had changed. Right now, he and Xiahou Shaoxuan were in the lake. A faint glow shimmered on the surface of the blue water, enveloping the two of them as they appeared. As the light enveloped them, Lian Qiguang could clearly feel the pain in his lower body gradually fading away.
“Is this the water you gave me to drink?” Xiahou Shaoxuan, who had naturally sensed the changes in her own body as well, scooped up some lake water with one hand and splashed it onto Lian Qiguang’s smooth back.
“Mm.” Lian Qiguang, whose physical discomfort was being soothed by the lake water, nodded faintly in response to Xiahou Shaoxuan’s question.
“I’ve never bathed here before.” As if something had occurred to him, Lian Qiguang opened his eyes and, as if making a solemn promise, looked intently at Xiahou Shaoxuan.
“Actually, I don’t mind.” Looking at Lian Qiguang—his body covered in suggestive red marks, his wide eyes fixed intently on him—Xiahou Shaoxuan’s eyes darkened. The hand gripping Lian Qiguang’s waist suddenly tightened, pressing him against his own body until they were pressed together without a single gap between them. His voice was low, yet carried a subtle, alluring tone.
“How about I help you wash them off right here?” Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hands roamed lightly across Lian Qiguang’s back, beginning to drift downward imperceptibly.
“Mmm…” Lian Qiguang’s body trembled. He shifted forward slightly to avoid Xiahou Shaoxian’s hand, but this only brought him even closer to her.
“My dear, does it hurt anymore?” Xiahou Shaoxuan sensed the effect of the lake water. Seeing Lian Qiguang looking much more lively, he could naturally guess what was going on, and his eyes immediately grew hot with desire.
People are always greedy. No matter how many millennia pass, human nature remains the same—we never know when to be content.
How could a wild beast that has just tasted meat ever go back to eating vegetables?
Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hand moved to the spot where Lian Qiguang was injured. Remembering the excruciating pain from last night, Lian Qiguang’s face paled slightly.
“Shao Xuan, don’t.” Lian Qiguang wriggled in distress, a faint blush rising to his cheeks as his hands pushed weakly against Xiahou Shao Xuan’s chest.
“My wife…” Xiahou Shaoxuan lowered his head, his burning eyes fixed intently on Lian Qiguang’s face. His hot breath brushed against Lian Qiguang’s face, leaving him with a sense that there was nowhere to escape.
“I’m not feeling well right now. Let’s wait a couple of days…” Lian Qiguang mumbled softly, her head bowed, her words somewhat indistinct.
“How many days, then?” Xiahou Shaoxuan asked, stifling a laugh.
“Two days, three days… no, four days…”
Looking at Lian Qiguang’s flushed little face, Xiahou Shaoxuan couldn’t help but chuckle. Of course, he knew it wasn’t possible right now—last night had been Lian Qiguang’s first time, and if he asked for more, Lian Qiguang might truly be unable to get out of bed.
He just wanted to tease him a bit; watching Lian Qiguang’s flustered expression brought Xiahou Shaoxuan great delight. Compared to the quiet, numb Lian Qiguang he’d first met, Xiahou Shaoxuan preferred the Lian Qiguang he saw now. At least, he showed a glimmer of life.
But when he thought about where Lian Qiguang came from, Xiahou Shaoxuan’s heart ached with pity, and he longed to give him the very best things in the world. How could someone born in such a terrifying hell ever have a carefree smile?
“Don’t be afraid, I’m just teasing you. How could I possibly do that?” Xiahou Shaoxuan reached out and tickled Lian Qiguang’s nose, unable to hold back a burst of laughter. No one had ever seen Xiahou Shaoxuan like this before; if the people outside saw her, they’d surely think the end of the world had come again and would be tempted to shoot themselves to see if they were dreaming.
Looking at the two Xiahou Shaoxuan—one big, one small—Lian Qiguang pouted.
“What’s wrong? Are you mad?” Xiahou Shaoxuan leaned down and tapped his nose.
“Is this place pretty?” Ignoring Xiahou Shaoxuan’s teasing, Lian Qiguang pointed toward the endless forest in the distance.
“It’s very peaceful.” Xiahou Shao Xuan let out a soft sigh and pulled Lian Qiguang closer. “Is this what ancient Earth was like?”
“I’ve never seen the real thing either.” Lian Qiguang shook his head silently. “Forests in the post-apocalyptic world are terrifying. Even I, when on missions, would rather take a longer detour than venture into the forest.”
“……” Watching Lian Qiguang’s expression dim for a moment in his arms, Xiahou Shaoxuan patted his head comfortingly. He hadn’t lived through the apocalypse and didn’t know how difficult it was to survive in that terrifying world, so he had no right to judge Lian Qiguang’s past world.
“Actually, I’m really strong,” Lian Qiguang said, tilting his head back to look earnestly at Xiahou Shaoxuan. “I can make my way through the forest, but every time I go on a mission, they always assign a bunch of idiots to my side who hold me back. Almost every time I get injured, it’s because of them.”
“Cut them down.” His icy eyes churned with a surging tide of cold fury.
“Yeah! Cut them down!” He nodded in agreement.
“My storage space wasn’t always this big. I had stored so many crystal cores and supplies inside, but for some reason, it suddenly mutated. The space got huge, but all my belongings are gone.” Thinking about this, Lian Qiguang felt incredibly annoyed.
“I’ve got money. I’ll take care of you.” He shook his head helplessly.
“Honey, what’s this?” Xiahou Shao Xuan’s finger gently traced the snake-shaped mark on Lian Qiguang’s chest.
“It tickles.” Lian Qiguang felt a bit uncomfortable and shifted back slightly.
“It’s a mark. It used to be very faint and hard to make out, but for some reason, it suddenly turned out like this.”
“Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?” Xiahou Shaoxuan frowned.
“No.”
“Shaoxuan, let me take you for a walk in the spatial realm.” Lian Qiguang said as he tried to get up, but before he could take a step, Xiahou Shaoxuan pulled him back.
“???” Lian Qiguang
“Honey, don’t you think there’s something missing from us?”
“……” She looked down—no missing arms, no missing legs.
“Honey, our clothes.”
“……” Lian Qiguang