“Right now, the zombies have surrounded the city, and the crisis of human extinction is right before our eyes. Although none of us wants to do this, only by handing Lian Qiguang over can we resolve the crisis in front of us. As long as we survive this current disaster, there will always be a day when we can regain sovereignty.”
“A million zombies have come to the city gates for Lian Qiguang. Such a huge commotion must mean that Lian Qiguang did something to anger them. It is possible that this disaster is also related to him.”
“I agree to hand Lian Qiguang over. One Lian Qiguang in exchange for countless surviving humans. As a human being, as a soldier, this is his responsibility.”
…………
Inside the conference room, the military and government officials sat together, discussing among themselves as they jointly deliberated over the disaster District One was facing.
Xiahou Zhong sat to one side. Listening to the proposals around him, his face grew darker and darker, while the pressure in the room became bone-chillingly cold.
“Enough!!”
Xiahou Zhong slammed his palm onto the table and roared. The conference room instantly fell silent, and pairs of eyes of all kinds turned toward him.
“We are currently trapped inside the encirclement of a million zombies. If they want one person, they can simply kill their way in and take Lian Qiguang anyway. Why haven’t they done that? There must be some hidden reason behind this.”
“If we hand over Lian Qiguang now in exchange for temporary peace, there will be a first time and then a second. Even if we humble ourselves and cling to life, what happens afterward? What will become of us? Will we become slaves to these monsters? Or their food?”
Xiahou Zhong’s outburst left everyone silent. For a moment, the atmosphere in the conference room was eerily quiet.
“Marshal!”
A government official spoke.
“Then, as you said, what should we do? We only have one day. Once the zombies break in, none of us will survive.”
“So?” Xiahou Zhong sneered. “You want to hand my daughter-in-law over to those monsters, then trade her for your own lives?”
“Marshal, don’t forget your position.”
Another person spoke in a strange, mocking tone.
“As Marshal, protecting Blue Star is your responsibility.”
“Hahaha…”
Xiahou Zhong laughed loudly, his laughter filled with endless mockery and desolation.
Suddenly, his expression turned cold. He swept his icy gaze across everyone, reached up, tore the military insignia from his collar, and threw it onto the table.
“You want it? Take it. I hope our esteemed Marshal can sacrifice his own family for the greater good, bravely give his life for Blue Star, and protect the safety of all you ordinary civilians.”
“You!”
“Everyone, don’t forget.”
Xiahou Zhong leaned back in his chair, looking mockingly at everyone whose expressions had changed one after another.
“Not to mention the descendants of our Xiahou family, just the two Imperial-level ability users alone are enough to ensure that no one can force this old man to do anything!”
“Xiahou!”
A senior general quietly kicked Xiahou Zhong and secretly gave him a meaningful look.
“Marshal!”
A political official concealed the ruthlessness in his eyes and softened his voice.
“Since you’ve already put it this way, then what should we do about the current crisis?”
“Prepare for battle!!”
Lian Qiguang felt as though he had vaguely fallen asleep for a while. In his dream, he seemed to have returned to the past.
The little Crown Prince, who had not yet experienced war and death, clung to his back, his face carrying a pure smile as he sweetly called him Brother Guang.
“Shaoxuan.”
Lian Qiguang opened his eyes and slowly sat up, supporting himself.
Xiahou Shaoxuan, who had been standing by the window with a frown, quickly turned around. He hurried to Lian Qiguang’s side and supported him.
“You’re awake? Do you feel anything wrong?”
“I’m fine.”
Lian Qiguang leaned against Xiahou Shaoxuan’s embrace and shook his head. One hand reached down to his flat abdomen. The obvious sense of relief made him pause slightly.
“Don’t worry. The children have already been taken out.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan held Lian Qiguang’s hand and comforted him softly.
“Two children. One boy and one girl. They’re very cute.”
Lian Qiguang tilted his head. After thinking for a moment, he looked up at Xiahou Shaoxuan.
“Can I see them?”
“Your body is still very weak, and the children are still tiny. You can’t get too close yet. Wait a little longer.”
“You… what’s wrong?”
Lian Qiguang noticed Xiahou Shaoxuan’s abnormality, and his tone paused.
“Nothing.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan tugged at the corner of his mouth and gently pulled Lian Qiguang into his arms.
“Wife, I love you.”
Lian Qiguang was somewhat confused in Xiahou Shaoxuan’s embrace, but Xiahou Shaoxuan’s sudden confession still made him quite happy.
“I love you too.”
“Wife, if one day this place can no longer accommodate us, would you be willing to leave with me? Leave District One. Leave Blue Star.”
“Sure.”
Lian Qiguang obediently nodded.
“We’ll go to Buluo Star. You promised to take me there to fly a spaceship.”
Lian Qiguang’s obedientness made Xiahou Shaoxuan’s heart ache. He held Lian Qiguang tightly, burying his face in the crook of Lian Qiguang’s neck and feeling that reassuring warmth and scent.
His eyes were filled with a terrifying savagery and ferocity.
No matter who it was, anyone who dared hurt his precious treasure would be killed without mercy!
“Shaoxuan!”
Being held so tightly that he felt somewhat uncomfortable, Lian Qiguang raised his head and stared blankly at Xiahou Shaoxuan.
“I’m hungry.”
The corners of Xiahou Shaoxuan’s lips curved slightly. He reached out and rubbed Lian Qiguang’s hair.
“I’ll get you something delicious to eat.”
“Okay!”
He nodded expressionlessly.
Xiahou Shaoxuan helped Lian Qiguang lean against the headboard, then stood up and walked out of the room.
Before leaving, Xiahou Shaoxuan shut the door tightly and used his ability to set up a protective barrier.
Lian Qiguang saw all of this clearly. A trace of doubt arose in his heart, along with some unease.
The door closed, and the curtains were pulled tightly shut as well. The dim room was utterly silent, filled with an oppressive atmosphere.
Lian Qiguang looked at the drawn curtains and slightly furrowed his brows.
There was no way he had failed to notice Xiahou Shaoxuan’s abnormal behavior.
Could something have happened outside?
As Lian Qiguang was thinking, he suddenly caught sight of the light-brain placed nearby. His eyes flickered, and he reached out to pick it up.
Lian Qiguang activated the light-brain, causing a virtual floating screen to appear. Before he could do anything, a video suddenly popped up.
Looking at the image in the video, Lian Qiguang’s eyes gradually darkened. The flickering light reflected across his face, making the dim room seem somewhat eerie.
The sound of the door opening came from outside. Lian Qiguang quickly shut off the light-brain and stuffed it beneath the covers, concealing the emotions in his eyes as he looked toward the door.
Xiahou Shaoxuan closed the door and walked in, bringing the food before Lian Qiguang.
“Eat.”
“Did something happen outside?”
Lian Qiguang accepted the chopsticks from Xiahou Shaoxuan and lowered his eyes, asking as though casually.
Xiahou Shaoxuan’s movements paused.
“Why would you ask that?”
“I was just a little worried.”
“No.”
The corners of Xiahou Shaoxuan’s lips curved slightly. He reached out and rubbed Lian Qiguang’s hair.
“Eat obediently. You have me. Once your body gets better, I’ll take you to see Lian Yucheng and your sister.”
Lian Qiguang’s dark eyes stared directly at Xiahou Shaoxuan’s expression.
After remaining silent for a long time, he answered softly, then lowered his head and silently began eating.
The meal was difficult to swallow.
Lian Qiguang leaned against the bed, watching Xiahou Shaoxuan’s figure, his hands beneath the covers tightening slightly.
“Shaoxuan, how long have I been asleep?”
“Almost a day.”
A day…
“Don’t think too much.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan walked over to Lian Qiguang, bent down, lightly tapped his forehead, and smiled.
“Just leave everything to me. Stay here and rest without worrying about anything.”
“Shaoxuan, do you still remember Old Yuan?”
“He’s in District One right now. He’s already been assigned to the laboratory.”
“I want to see him.”
Seeing Lian Qiguang’s insistence, Xiahou Shaoxuan moved his lips. In the end, he still nodded.
“Okay. I’ll arrange it for you in a moment.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan acted quickly. Before long, Old Yuan arrived at Lian Qiguang’s residence.
Xiahou Shaoxuan gave Old Yuan an inscrutable look, then turned and left the room.
After the door closed, Old Yuan walked over to a chair and sat down, smiling cheerfully at Lian Qiguang.
“Deadwood, why did you make such a huge fuss to find this old man? I’m quite a busy man now.”
Looking at the smile on Old Yuan’s face, Lian Qiguang did not overlook the tension in his eyes.
Lian Qiguang’s expression darkened, and he got straight to the point.
“What happened outside?”
Old Yuan froze, but quickly concealed it.
“What could have happened? Isn’t it just clearing out monsters?”
Lian Qiguang understood that Old Yuan had definitely been threatened by Xiahou Shaoxuan before coming here. Knowing that he would not be able to get anything out of him, Lian Qiguang could not be bothered to waste his breath.
He directly took a bottle of lake water from his spatial storage and threw it toward Old Yuan.
“What is this?”
“The contents can purify the zombie virus. As for how to research it, that’s your business.”
“Purify…”
Old Yuan’s eyes widened. His hand trembled, nearly causing him to drop the bottle. He looked at Lian Qiguang in shock and disbelief.
“Y-you just said what? Purify the zombie virus??”
“You’re a smart man. You know what to say about where it came from.”
Looking at Lian Qiguang’s calm face, Old Yuan suddenly felt that the bottle in his hand had become incredibly heavy.
There were too many secrets surrounding this young man. So many that every time he thought he had uncovered one layer, he would immediately fall into another fog.
“By the way, one of your classmates asked me to say hello to you.”
As he was about to leave, Old Yuan suddenly seemed to remember something and turned around.
“Who?”
“I think his name was… Qiu Limao.”
Qiu Limao!!
Lian Qiguang’s pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart sank.
Qiu Limao? He was actually in District One?
Did that mean that a Super Intelligent Entity had already infiltrated District One?
“What are you thinking about?”
Xiahou Shaoxuan had entered the room at some point and sat down beside Lian Qiguang, his voice deep.
“Nothing.”
Concealing the shock in his eyes, Lian Qiguang silently shook his head.
“You have something on your mind?”
Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hand gently smoothed out the slight crease between Lian Qiguang’s brows, his low voice carrying a hint of inquiry.
“What did Old Yuan tell you just now?”
“Nothing much.”
Lian Qiguang held Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hand.
“I gave him some lake water to research.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan slightly furrowed his brows but did not say anything.
“Shaoxuan, let’s go into the space, okay? I want to take a bath.”
“Take a bath?”
Xiahou Shaoxuan raised an eyebrow slightly and leaned close to Lian Qiguang, smiling ambiguously.
“Aren’t you afraid that I won’t be able to control myself and eat you?”
“Then…”
Lian Qiguang wrapped both arms around Xiahou Shaoxuan’s neck, gently bit his ear, and whispered softly,
“Then come eat me.”
“……”
Xiahou Shaoxuan.
Wife, you’ve learned some bad habits!!