This time, Lian Qiguang felt as though he had simply slept.
Unlike the previous times, he hadn’t returned to the past.
When he awoke from his hazy sleep, what greeted him was a sea of white, just like the first time he had come to this world.
Blankly, Lian Qiguang looked around at the machines surrounding him.
Slowly propping himself up, he looked down at the various instruments attached to his body and ruthlessly tore every one of them off, obvious disgust flashing through his eyes.
Bringing his hands together, he sensed the abundant power flowing through his body and froze in surprise.
The fullness of the energy within him and the comfort his body now felt—something he had never experienced since arriving in this world—made his heart skip.
A glimmer of hope flashed through his mind.
He immediately inspected his space.
The moment he saw what was inside…
Even Lian Qiguang couldn’t help widening his eyes.
His space…
Had mutated again.
It was no longer the several hundred square meters it had been in his previous life.
Now it was…
Limitless.
Not only that, but all the vegetables and fruit trees he had planted in his previous life had disappeared.
In their place stretched an endless forest.
As far as the eye could see, lush green trees stood shoulder to shoulder, packed so densely that not even a gap could be seen between them.
Lian Qiguang’s expression darkened.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
His space had indeed mutated.
It had become even more worthless!!
Where were all his supplies?
Where was his food?
Where were his guns?
What was he supposed to do with all these trees?
They weren’t edible!
And with this tiny body of his, did anyone seriously expect him to swing tree trunks around in a fight?
Suppressing his frustration, Lian Qiguang extended his ability deeper into the space, searching every last corner.
But reality had always been cruel.
The space had mutated.
Everything he once possessed—his supplies, his fruit trees—was gone.
In their place stood nothing but an endless expanse of towering ancient trees.
His ability continued probing.
Suddenly, his attention settled on a lake hidden deep within the forest.
Frowning slightly, Lian Qiguang cautiously extended his spiritual power toward it.
But before it even touched the water—
An overwhelming surge of spiritual energy exploded out from the lake.
It instantly engulfed his probing ability and swallowed it whole without even making a sound.
Lian Qiguang was startled.
Although that power had been incredibly strong, he had still sensed something strangely familiar within it.
It was…
His original spring.
The tiny spring no bigger than a bowl.
So even the spring has mutated?
Back then, the spring water possessed cleansing and healing properties.
What about now?
The appearance of the lake somewhat eased Lian Qiguang’s frustration over the “ruined” space.
Looking at the lake, he silently resolved to find an opportunity to test its abilities.
Just as he was lost in thought, the door opened.
Lian Qiguang’s heart tightened.
He immediately withdrew his ability from the space and expressionlessly looked toward the entrance.
Guan Ze entered.
Closing the door behind him, he turned—
Only to see Lian Qiguang sitting upright in bed, staring at him without expression.
He froze.
After what seemed like forever, Guan Ze suddenly came back to himself.
His eyes widened.
Before Lian Qiguang could even speak, Guan Ze rushed forward and slammed his palm onto a large red button on the wall.
As the button sank inward, less than thirty seconds later, a crowd of people dressed in white rushed into the room.
They immediately began giving Lian Qiguang a thorough examination.
Sitting quietly on the bed, Lian Qiguang watched the crowd bustle around him.
Then he slowly lifted his head, leaned back against the headboard, and expressionlessly stared at the ceiling.
About half an hour later…
With an unopened nutrient solution clenched between his teeth, Lian Qiguang watched expressionlessly as Guan Ze stood nearby, speaking quietly with a doctor.
“Xiao Guang.”
After sending the doctor out, Guan Ze walked over and sat beside the bed.
He looked at Lian Qiguang with concern.
“How do you feel? Is there anywhere that feels wrong?”
“No.”
Lian Qiguang calmly shook his dangling feet.
“Xiao Guang…”
“Where is this?”
Removing the nutrient solution from his mouth, Lian Qiguang asked expressionlessly.
“The hospital in District One.”
After thinking for a moment, Guan Ze continued,
“That day, after your classmate saved you, Yuchi arrived. Your injuries were too severe, and I was worried, so I had Yuchi mobilize the Xiahou family’s private spacecraft and send you to the District One Hospital for emergency treatment.”
A spacecraft?
Lian Qiguang’s hand paused.
Turning his head, he looked expressionlessly at Guan Ze.
A spacecraft?
I rode in a spacecraft???
But what does a spacecraft even look like?
What does it feel like?
Is it like the crystal-core-powered aircraft developed by the base back then?
Seeing Lian Qiguang beginning to drift off into thought again, Guan Ze waved a hand in front of his eyes.
“Xiao Guang, you’ve been unconscious for four days. I was worried sick.”
Four days!
Lian Qiguang froze before abruptly looking up at him.
“Xiao Guang? What’s wrong?”
Feeling uncomfortable under the direct stare, Guan Ze wrinkled his nose.
“Nothing.”
Lian Qiguang lowered his head again without expression.
Four days…
Calculating the time, the training would begin the day after tomorrow.
If he returned later today…
He should still make it in time.
“Who saved me?”
Remembering that detail, Lian Qiguang asked.
“He said he was your classmate, but he didn’t leave his name.”
“Black hair. A black coat. Looked very cold. Didn’t seem to like talking.”
Qiu Limo.
Although he had seen him again before losing consciousness, Guan Ze’s description confirmed it completely.
It really was that strange man.
The door opened once more.
A man wearing a light crimson jacket walked in.
His complexion was slightly pale.
His phoenix-shaped eyes flowed with seductive charm.
Beneath his high nose, crimson lips curved into an ambiguous smile.
Every smile and glance made him seem irresistibly enchanting.
“Oh? Little Guang is awake?”
Walking to the bedside, the man practically melted bonelessly onto Guan Ze’s back.
Lian Qiguang looked at him expressionlessly.
Faced with the flirtatious wink the man threw his way, not even his eyebrow twitched.
“Get off.”
Guan Ze shrugged him away impatiently.
“Xiao Guang, this is your second uncle, Xiahou Yuchi.”
“Hello. This is our first meeting. I’m Xiahou Yuchi.”
Pressing one hand against his chest, Xiahou Yuchi bowed slightly.
Every movement exuded elegance and noble refinement.
“Lian Qiguang.”
After replying expressionlessly, he withdrew his gaze.
“Xiao Guang, you should call me Second Uncle.”
Xiahou Yuchi looked at him with a face full of You’re being naughty.
Lian Qiguang glanced at him expressionlessly before calmly looking away again.
“How’s the investigation going?” Guan Ze asked.
“We checked.”
Xiahou Yuchi shrugged before sitting leisurely on the sofa and crossing his legs.
“They were supposedly escaped death-row prisoners.”
“The attack was allegedly an act of revenge.”
“You two were just unlucky enough to get caught up in it.”
“Death-row prisoners?”
Guan Ze sneered.
“They’ve cleaned things up rather neatly.”
“There were seven attackers.”
“They’re all dead.”
“No witnesses left.”
Resting his chin on one hand, Xiahou Yuchi smiled as he watched his wife getting angry.
“Are you sure there are no witnesses?”
Guan Ze narrowed his eyes at him.
The threat within them was unmistakable.
“Hehehe…”
“As expected of my wife.”
Seeing the fire shifting toward himself, Xiahou Yuchi hurriedly sat up straight with a placating grin.
“Give it to me.”
Smiling faintly, Guan Ze crooked a finger at him.
Seeing that expression, Xiahou Yuchi swallowed nervously.
My wife really is adorable when he’s like this…
“I already prepared it for you.”
Grinning broadly, Xiahou Yuchi opened his optical computer and quickly tapped several times.
“There. I sent it over.”
“Hmph.”
Guan Ze opened his own optical computer.
The more he read the information…
The darker his face became.
“Bastards.”
“Honey! Don’t worry! Your husband will avenge you!”
Xiahou Yuchi hurried over, hugged Guan Ze, and smiled ingratiatingly.
“Get lost!”
Guan Ze kicked him away before sneering.
“If you’d just stay farther away from me, I’d probably live a few more days.”
“…”
Pushed aside, Xiahou Yuchi stiffened slightly.
The smile on his face froze for an instant.
Lian Qiguang watched the two without expression.
Calmly, he took a slice of cake out of his space and began eating it, completely ignoring them.
“Honey…”
Xiahou Yuchi looked quietly at Guan Ze.
“I only want you.”
Turning his face away, Guan Ze replied calmly,
“I’ll handle this matter myself.”
“…”
“If I need your help…”
After a pause, he added,
“I’ll ask.”
“Honey!”
Xiahou Yuchi immediately broke into a wide grin and wrapped himself around Guan Ze once more.
“Move aside. Xiao Guang’s here.”
Blushing slightly, Guan Ze pushed him away.
“What are you afraid of? We’re legally married!”
Though he said that, Xiahou Yuchi still let go.
“Xiao Guang.”
Looking toward Lian Qiguang, the playful smile on Xiahou Yuchi’s face gave way to seriousness.
“For what happened this time…”
“Thank you.”
He bent deeply at the waist and gave Lian Qiguang a solemn bow.
“Thank you for saving my wife.”
“Family is family.”
“But setting our relationship aside…”
“This time, I, Xiahou Yuchi, owe you a tremendous debt.”
“In the future, whatever you need, just say the word.”
“Even if you wanted to kill someone and betray the Federation…”
“I, Xiahou Yuchi, would still do everything in my power to help you.”
Looking at Xiahou Yuchi’s earnest expression, Lian Qiguang opened his mouth, about to say something—
When the communicator on his wrist suddenly chimed.
He withdrew his gaze and looked expressionlessly at the optical computer on his wrist.
Then…
For the first time in a long while—
He almost failed to maintain his stoic expression.
“My Man.”