After being carried all the way back to the room by Xiahou Shaoxuan, Lian Qiguang finally regained his freedom. He immediately scampered backward two steps and glared angrily at Xiahou Shaoxuan.
The wariness in Lian Qiguang’s eyes left Xiahou Shaoxuan with a ball of fire lodged in his chest. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed Lian Qiguang by the arm just as he was trying to escape, his sharp gaze fixed on Lian Qiguang’s thoroughly displeased face.
“Wife, if you keep being disobedient, I’ll tie you up!”
Lian Qiguang expressionlessly glared at Xiahou Shaoxuan, then raised one little paw and slapped it against Xiahou Shaoxuan’s face.
“Don’t be fierce with me!”
“Wife!” Xiahou Shaoxuan’s voice grew heavier, and the expression on his face also turned cold. “I’ll handle this matter. I absolutely will not allow you to go looking for him!”
“Only I can put an end to this disaster!” Lian Qiguang frowned. “You understand that better than anyone!”
“At the cost of your life?” Xiahou Shaoxuan growled, his grip on Lian Qiguang’s shoulders tightening slightly. “We’ve all seen his strength. You aren’t his match.”
“His target is me.”
“I won’t allow it!” Xiahou Shaoxuan shouted.
Looking at the furious Xiahou Shaoxuan, Lian Qiguang fell silent. He shifted his gaze away from Xiahou Shaoxuan’s face, pressed his lips together, and said nothing.
Seeing the aura around Lian Qiguang weaken, the hostility surrounding Xiahou Shaoxuan gradually dissipated as well, replaced by an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
“Wife.” Xiahou Shaoxuan sighed and pulled Lian Qiguang into his arms. “Stop being willful. Can’t you think about me for once? If something happens to you, what am I supposed to do?”
“I wasn’t being willful.” Lian Qiguang muffled his voice in Xiahou Shaoxuan’s arms. It was precisely because of you that I have to do this.
“That’s enough.” Xiahou Shaoxuan released Lian Qiguang and pressed him down onto the sofa. “You stay here obediently. I won’t hand you over, and I absolutely won’t allow anyone to hurt you.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan took Qianming out of his space and placed it into Lian Qiguang’s hands.
“This blade belongs to you. I’m returning it to its rightful owner.”
“You…”
“Wife.” Xiahou Shaoxuan interrupted Lian Qiguang’s unfinished words and said quietly, “You need it more than I do now. Things outside will be chaotic for the next while. No matter what happens, you must protect yourself first.”
Lian Qiguang silently stared at Qianming in his hands, lowering his head without speaking.
After a long while, Lian Qiguang put Qianming away and raised his head to look at Xiahou Shaoxuan.
“Go into the space. I’ll fuse it for you.”
“Okay.”
Qiu Limò leaned barefoot against the window, indifferently watching the zombies surging outside. In his hand, he held a crystal core that was crystal clear and translucent.
He had not seen Wu Ma Yan for several days. Although he felt disappointed and sorrowful, there were also a few traces of relief. At present, he still did not know how he should face Wu Ma Yan.
The intimacy from that day lingered deep within his memories and refused to fade. His kiss, his embrace, their two intertwined bodies—every time Qiu Limò thought of them, he felt a scorching heat spreading through his chest.
He must hate me terribly now, right?
He loved that person so much and was so deeply attached to him, yet I did something like that with him. He must hate me to death. Perhaps I’ll never see him again.
Wu Ma Yan closed his eyes, suppressing the faint sting and bitterness in their depths. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.
So be it. Everything was the result of my own actions. Who was there to blame?
The door to the room was pushed open, and a cold voice interrupted Qiu Limò’s memories.
“If you want to jump from there, I won’t stop you.”
The familiar voice left Qiu Limò stunned for a moment. He abruptly turned around and, sure enough, saw the figure he knew so well.
Although that beautiful face was currently filled with indifference, Qiu Limò still could not suppress the trembling that spread throughout his body.
Wu Ma Yan tossed down a box. A pile of beautiful crystal cores spilled out, scattering messily across the table.
Wu Ma Yan walked over to the chair and sat down, coolly looking at the dazed Qiu Limò. His slender fingers lightly tapped against the armrest as his narrowed eyes sized up Qiu Limò’s thinly dressed, frail body.
“I heard you’ve refused to eat lately.”
“I…”
Qiu Limò opened his mouth, but his hoarse voice made him immediately fall silent. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Wu Ma Yan.
Wu Ma Yan’s brows furrowed slightly. He raised his hand and crooked a finger at Qiu Limò.
“Come here.”
Qiu Limò’s body trembled. He slowly walked toward Wu Ma Yan.
Perhaps dissatisfied with Qiu Limò’s slowness, Wu Ma Yan’s eyes darkened. Mist began swirling around his fingers and suddenly wrapped around Qiu Limò’s waist.
Qiu Limò had not been prepared. He was yanked forward by a powerful force and stumbled, dropping to his knees in front of the table.
Wu Ma Yan tilted his chin toward the crystal cores on the table and spoke coldly.
“Eat.”
Qiu Limò stared blankly at the crystal cores on the table.
They were extremely beautiful. At a glance, it was obvious that they were definitely not from ordinary zombies. Moreover, unlike those delivered two days earlier, which had been stained with scarlet blood and white brain fluid, these had been washed completely clean, leaving them crystal clear and translucent.
Seeing that Qiu Limò did not move, displeasure flashed across Wu Ma Yan’s face. He slammed one foot heavily onto the table, and the tremendous sound startled Qiu Limò into a tremble.
“Don’t make me stuff them into your mouth.”
Wu Ma Yan’s expression did not look like he was joking. Qiu Limò lowered his head and slowly reached out a pale hand to pick up one of the crystal cores, silently placing it into his mouth.
Wu Ma Yan leaned back against the chair, lazily watching Qiu Limò chew.
His gaze followed the thin, pale line of Qiu Limò’s chin down to his slender neck, moving inch by inch until it disappeared into the empty collar of his clothes.
Wu Ma Yan narrowed his eyes. His fingers brushed across the corner of his lips. Recalling the softness from that day, a trace of heat flashed through his blood-red eyes.
After all these years, he truly had not noticed that the dirty little brat who had once been surrounded by people in a pile of garbage and nearly beaten to death had actually grown more and more beautiful.
As if sensing Wu Ma Yan’s piercing gaze, Qiu Limò held a crystal core in his fingers and met Wu Ma Yan’s eyes. He uncomfortably shrank his neck.
Wu Ma Yan curled his red lips into a smile. The foot he had placed on the table slowly moved, sliding along Qiu Limò’s shoulder until it pressed against his chest.
“Are you afraid of me?”
Qiu Limò lowered his head and remained silent.
Wu Ma Yan withdrew his foot and crooked his finger.
“Come here.”
Qiu Limò raised his head and quietly looked at Wu Ma Yan. After a moment, he stood up and walked to Wu Ma Yan’s side.
Once Qiu Limò had approached, Wu Ma Yan suddenly reached out and grabbed him by the collar.
Qiu Limò’s body staggered and fell toward Wu Ma Yan. In a panic, Qiu Limò reached out and grabbed both sides of Wu Ma Yan’s chair, bracing himself.
Wu Ma Yan tugged on Qiu Limò’s collar, controlling the distance between them and slowly drawing it closer.
Wu Ma Yan glanced at the small, thin body beneath Qiu Limò’s loose clothes. The corner of his lips curled into a smile that was neither quite a smile nor quite a smirk.
“You and I have already done everything we should and shouldn’t have done. What are you still afraid of?”
“I am Qiu Limò.”
Looking at Wu Ma Yan’s exquisite, alluring features, Qiu Limò suddenly spoke.
Qiu Limò slowly raised his head and calmly met Wu Ma Yan’s gaze.
“The person who slept with you that day was also Qiu Limò.”
Wu Ma Yan froze slightly, then gave a laugh and snorted.
“Otherwise, who did you think you were?”
“Yes.”
Qiu Limò smiled bitterly, desolation staining his eyes.
“I’m not him. I don’t even have the qualifications to become his substitute.”
Looking at that painfully dazzling smile on Qiu Limò’s face, Wu Ma Yan suddenly felt an uncomfortable pressure in his chest.
Wu Ma Yan forcefully shoved Qiu Limò away, stood up, and walked to the doorway. With his back turned to Qiu Limò, he concealed the strange emotion that had appeared in his eyes.
“Eat properly. Don’t die! As my son, you have to witness how this world is destroyed by my hands!”
After saying that, Wu Ma Yan no longer paid any attention to Qiu Limò on the floor and quickly left the room.
Listening to the footsteps gradually fading away, Qiu Limò sat on the cold floor and slowly curled his body inward. Leaning against the chair behind him, he buried his face against his chest.
The fragmented sunset entered the empty room through the window, spilling across the thin, frail body of the young man and casting a cold, lonely shadow.
“It’s been developed!?”
Lian Qiguang poked his fluffy little head out from the room, staring wide-eyed in surprise at Xiahou Shaoxuan and a military officer in the living room.
Xiahou Shaoxuan’s face darkened. He quickly walked over to Lian Qiguang and forcibly pushed his little head back inside.
“It has nothing to do with you. Go back to sleep!”
“I’m not tired!”
Lian Qiguang pushed Xiahou Shaoxuan away and slipped out from beneath his arm into the living room. He expressionlessly looked at the military officer standing ramrod straight.
“Didn’t you say it would take at least six days? Only four days have passed.”
“The laboratory went more smoothly than expected, so the project was completed ahead of schedule.”
The military officer answered Lian Qiguang’s question solemnly and meticulously.
“The Marshal ordered me to come and inform the Young General, and also to ask about the arrangements for what comes next.”
“I’ll pack up and go with you.”
Lian Qiguang nodded seriously and turned around, intending to return to his room to change clothes, but a hard iron wall blocked his way.
“What are you doing!”
Lian Qiguang raised his head and expressionlessly looked at Xiahou Shaoxuan, the displeasure in his eyes unmistakable.
Xiahou Shaoxuan placed one palm firmly on top of Lian Qiguang’s head.
The cold wind howled, and every word seemed to be made of ice.
“You stay here obediently.”
“I won’t!”
Lian Qiguang stared blankly at Xiahou Shaoxuan and deliberately imitated his tone, spitting out each word one at a time.
Xiahou Shaoxuan’s face became terrifyingly gloomy. The continuously dropping temperature caused the military officer standing in the living room to begin inconspicuously edging toward the doorway.
“I’m here today. Don’t even think about leaving this room!”
Since gentle persuasion was useless, Xiahou Shaoxuan directly resorted to force.
Lian Qiguang expressionlessly looked at Xiahou Shaoxuan. After remaining silent for a long time, he suddenly pushed Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hand away and walked toward the door without saying a word.
Lian Qiguang reached the doorway, pushed the door open, then turned his head and looked woodenly at Xiahou Shaoxuan.
“Come here.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan walked over with a dark expression. His cold, hard face was filled with determination, making it clear that he had made up his mind this time. No amount of acting cute or throwing a tantrum would work.
But would Lian Qiguang really act cute or throw a tantrum?
Naturally not.
Seeing that Xiahou Shaoxuan was stubbornly refusing to give in, Lian Qiguang expressionlessly kicked him.
Sensing danger, Xiahou Shaoxuan instinctively wanted to dodge, but he glanced behind himself, then looked at Lian Qiguang’s fierce kick.
If he failed to stop himself in time, he would definitely smash his head against the door.
Xiahou Shaoxuan forcibly stopped himself from dodging and took Lian Qiguang’s kick head-on.
After all, Lian Qiguang’s current level of strength could not cause him much damage. If his own wife injured himself, the pain in Xiahou Shaoxuan’s heart would probably far exceed the pain in his body.
Lian Qiguang kicked Xiahou Shaoxuan outside the door, then expressionlessly slammed it shut with a loud “bang” and turned around to walk back inside.
Passing by the military officer, Lian Qiguang spoke in a wooden voice.
“Wait for me to change clothes. I’ll go with you.”
“Yes, Young Lian!”
The military officer was so startled by Lian Qiguang’s sudden words that he shuddered. He instantly straightened his body and shouted from deep within his abdomen.
Lian Qiguang nodded and went inside.
Once Lian Qiguang had entered the room, the military officer’s previously tense body relaxed slightly. He raised one hand and wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead.
Good grief! Domestic violence!!
And against none other than Young General Xiahou!!
This is beyond heaven itself!
With such a violent wife, he really felt sorry for the Young General.
The military officer cast a sympathetic glance at the tightly closed door. He could vaguely sense the terrifying resentment radiating from someone inside and suddenly shuddered.
After changing clothes, Lian Qiguang left the house with the military officer.
Xiahou Shaoxuan stood there with a dark expression, surrounded by a gloomy chill. He looked completely like a person who warned others to stay away—or face certain death.
Seeing that Lian Qiguang was about to leave, Xiahou Shaoxuan was just about to stop him when Lian Qiguang glanced back at him and lightly tossed out a single sentence.
“If you don’t let me go, we’ll sleep in separate rooms from now on.”
Separate rooms…
And so our Young General could only respond:
“…”
The final result was that Lian Qiguang and Xiahou Shaoxuan went together to Xiahou Zhong’s meeting room.
As if he had already anticipated this outcome, Xiahou Zhong did not waste many words and directly had Old Yuan display the research results on the virtual floating screen.
The cooling device had already been successfully developed. Its lowest temperature could reach minus one hundred degrees. Not only that, Old Yuan also displayed a new type of weapon.
Old Yuan had made the special medicine into special artillery shells and equipped them onto spaceships, allowing them to carry out large-scale bombardments.
After Old Yuan finished demonstrating everything, Xiahou Shaoxuan pondered for a moment before speaking.
“First, freeze the zombies outside District One. During the freezing period, implement intelligent rainfall. Once those zombies lose their ability to move, I’ll take several spaceships loaded with special artillery shells and leave District One while taking advantage of the opportunity. We’ll find the Super Intelligent Beings controlling these zombies.”
“That isn’t much different from the battle plan I formulated, but…”
Xiahou Zhong shifted his gaze toward Lian Qiguang.
Lian Qiguang watched the flickering images on the floating screen, expressionlessly folding his arms and leaning against the back of his chair.
“I have no objections.”
This time, not only Xiahou Zhong but even Xiahou Shaoxuan raised an eyebrow.
So obedient?
Lian Qiguang did not even look at Xiahou Shaoxuan. He calmly turned his gaze toward Xiahou Zhong.
“After Shaoxuan leaves, get me a spaceship. I’ll go find Wu Ma Yan.”
“Lian Qiguang!!”
Xiahou Shaoxuan was genuinely furious this time. His sharp eyes glared at Lian Qiguang, practically spitting fire.
Lian Qiguang woodenly looked at Xiahou Shaoxuan.
“My plan is that while you’re going to find those Super Intelligent Beings, I’ll go find Wu Ma Yan.”
“Don’t even think about it!”
Xiahou Shaoxuan completely lost his reason and slammed his palm onto the table.
“If you dare go looking for him, just see if I don’t beat you up!”
“Anyway, you’ll already be gone. Even if you want to beat me, you won’t be able to!”
Lian Qiguang scoffed disdainfully at Xiahou Shaoxuan’s threat.
“You…”
“All right! What are you two arguing about?! What are you arguing about?!”
Xiahou Zhong glared at them.
“Do you think this is a mediation office?!”
Seeing both of them stubbornly holding onto their anger, Xiahou Zhong was helpless, yet he also found the situation somewhat amusing.
“How old are you? Both of you are acting like children. If you’ve got the ability, go outside and fight it out. Settle the matter with your fists!”
Xiahou Zhong shook his head and looked toward Lian Qiguang.
“Xiaoguang…”
“If I want to leave, none of you can catch me.”
“…”
The words Xiahou Zhong had been about to say immediately became stuck in his throat.
“How about this.”
Already too lazy to bother with the two of them, Xiahou Zhong waved his hand.
“Shaoxuan, just let Xiaoguang come with you.”
“I…”
“Having him stay by your side is still more reassuring than putting him somewhere you can’t see, isn’t it?” Xiahou Zhong smiled. “Besides, Xiaoguang’s identity will be somewhat helpful among those Super Intelligent Beings.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan silently looked at Lian Qiguang. The hand he had placed beneath the table clenched tightly, turbulent waves of unwillingness surging through his eyes.
Lian Qiguang expressionlessly met Xiahou Shaoxuan’s gaze, determination in his eyes.
In the past, he could compromise on anything.
But this time, he absolutely would not give in!
After a long while, Xiahou Shaoxuan withdrew his gaze and gave an almost imperceptible nod.
“…Fine.”
“Since that’s settled, both of you go make your preparations. I’ll give you the battle plan. You depart the day after tomorrow!”
“Yes!!”