The next morning, Yuan Ling was already waiting outside Lian Qiguang’s room.
His relaxed posture made the soldiers passing by itch to beat him up.
The instant the clock struck eight, Lian Qiguang appeared right on time.
He wore a loose black hooded coat that completely concealed his appearance beneath the shadows.
“Sister-in-law!”
The moment Yuan Ling saw him, he hurried over.
“Let’s go.”
With both hands tucked into his pockets, Lian Qiguang ignored Yuan Ling’s enthusiasm and simply nodded.
The two walked one after the other through the base.
As they passed the training grounds, the soldiers swinging their fists during drills stole glances at them, their faces full of envy and jealousy.
“Ah… a date.” One soldier lazily threw a punch while looking up at the sky. “If the boss finds out…”
“Just say you’re jealous already.”
Yuan Ling raised an eyebrow.
“The boss? So what? The boss personally appointed me as Sister-in-law’s bodyguard. I’m responsible for taking care of him and protecting him.”
“Besides, it’s a good thing I’m the one escorting him.”
“If it’d been certain arrogant idiots, who knows how much grief Sister-in-law would’ve suffered?”
“You—!”
“Tell Xuanlang we’ll be back later.”
Yuan Ling tossed his head proudly, practically pointing his nose at the sky, and left the group with an extremely smug back view.
Lian Qiguang followed expressionlessly behind him, completely ignoring the veiled insults exchanged between the two groups.
When they reached the vehicle bay, Yuan Ling registered their departure, selected a hovercraft, and the two of them boarded before leaving the base.
“Sister-in-law.”
Yuan Ling turned around from the pilot’s seat and handed over a metal lunchbox.
“You haven’t eaten yet.”
“…”
Lian Qiguang glanced at him, accepted it, and quietly began eating.
“Sister-in-law…”
Yuan Ling spoke awkwardly.
“Don’t be angry. They’re just a little sharp-tongued. They didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I’m not upset.”
“Huh?”
Yuan Ling blinked.
“I said…”
Lian Qiguang looked up calmly.
“I’m not upset.”
“They can’t beat me.”
“They’re incapable of making me suffer.”
“…”
Looking at Lian Qiguang’s completely serious expression, Yuan Ling forced an awkward smile.
“I… see…”
The rest of the flight passed in silence.
The quiet atmosphere made Yuan Ling increasingly uncomfortable.
Several times he wanted to start a conversation.
But every time he looked at Lian Qiguang quietly eating his breakfast without saying a word…
He swallowed his words again.
About half an hour later, the hovercraft slowly landed.
“Sister-in-law, we’re here.”
Lian Qiguang stopped eating, glanced out the window, calmly set the lunchbox aside, and stood.
Yuan Ling immediately rushed ahead and opened the door for him.
After getting out, Yuan Ling stored the hovercraft inside his storage device and took up his position beside Lian Qiguang.
Hovercrafts weren’t common on Fallen Star.
The moment they appeared, countless curious gazes turned toward them.
But after people recognized Yuan Ling’s military uniform and the shining insignia on his shoulders…
Those looks immediately became respectful and even fearful.
Blood Wolf.
The strongest military force not only on Fallen Star, but on all of Blue Planet.
The trading market looked remarkably similar to the flea markets Lian Qiguang had once read about.
A single wide street stretched straight ahead.
Stalls lined both sides.
Street vendors shouted endlessly.
Customers bargained loudly.
Arguments erupted here and there.
The place bustled with life.
“Come take a look! Authentic Ancient Earth seeds! I paid a fortune to buy these from a mercenary group! Only one thousand credits!”
“Real energy cores! Genuine goods! No abilities? They’ll awaken them! Already have abilities? They’ll break your bottleneck!”
“Treasure maps! Ancient treasure maps!”
…
Walking along the street, Lian Qiguang silently observed the merchandise.
Looking at the so-called Ancient Earth seeds…
The energy cores…
He quietly curled his lips.
Ordinary grass seeds.
Ordinary rocks.
Nothing more.
Then—
His attention paused.
Treasure map?
He stopped walking and looked expressionlessly toward a skinny, sharp-eyed vendor enthusiastically advertising his wares.
His gaze settled on the map in the man’s hand.
“Sister-in-law.”
Seeing him stop, Yuan Ling followed his gaze.
Then he leaned over and whispered,
“It’s fake.”
“I know.”
Lian Qiguang looked away.
“That’s a world map of Earth.”
“…Huh?”
Yuan Ling froze.
“A world map?”
“Ancient Earth?”
“Ahem…”
He rubbed his nose.
“Sister-in-law, wait here for a second.”
Then he walked toward the vendor.
Lian Qiguang merely glanced at Yuan Ling’s back before continuing down the street.
“Little brother!”
Another vendor immediately greeted him.
“Come have a look! Genuine energy cores! They’ll awaken abilities or help you break through!”
Lian Qiguang glanced at him before lowering his eyes to the goods spread across the stall.
After one sweep of his gaze, he replied flatly,
“They’re all fake.”
The vendor’s smile disappeared instantly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“If you don’t want to buy anything, then don’t.”
“Why are you slandering me?”
“Trying to ruin my business?”
“Do you even know who I am?”
“I don’t.”
“You—!”
Lian Qiguang crouched in front of the stall, picked up one of the black stones, and looked at the man.
“I said…”
“They’re fake.”
Crack.
Crack.
The black stone shattered inside his palm.
When he opened his hand again, only fine powder remained, drifting away in the wind.
“Real energy cores aren’t this fragile.”
“If these really awakened abilities…”
“…why don’t you have abilities yourself?”
“…”
The crowd immediately began whispering.
“I knew it.”
“How could those possibly be real?”
“Exactly.”
“If those rocks really awakened abilities, why would he still be selling them here?”
“He’d already have gone to District One.”
…
The surrounding crowd pointed and discussed excitedly.
“I…”
Seeing everyone staring at him, the vendor began panicking.
Roaring furiously, he climbed over his stall and glared at Lian Qiguang.
“You little brat!”
“You’re here to cause trouble!”
“No.”
Lian Qiguang stood calmly, brushing the stone powder from his hand onto his coat.
“I don’t care!”
“You destroyed my energy core!”
“If you don’t compensate me today…”
“…you’re not leaving.”
“…”
So…
I’ve run into an extortionist.
Lian Qiguang looked at him expressionlessly.
Dark light flickered through his eyes.
“W-What are you staring at?”
The man suddenly felt uneasy under that gaze.
“I’ll have you know!”
“My friend is with Blood Wolf!”
“One word from me…”
“…and you’ll never be allowed to stay on Fallen Star again!”
He shouted arrogantly, trying to sound intimidating.
“Idiot.”
Lian Qiguang calmly returned his hands to his pockets, adjusted his hood, and turned to leave.
“Trying to run?!”
“Pay me!”
The man lunged toward him with a vicious expression.
Before his hand even touched Lian Qiguang—
“AAAAAH!!”
A miserable scream echoed through the street.
The man collapsed to the ground.
Holding his arm, he rolled around in agony.
“Murder!”
“Help!”
“He’s trying to kill me!”
His entire arm had been frozen solid beneath a thick layer of ice.
Through the transparent frost, cracked flesh and mangled bloodied tissue could be faintly seen.
An esper.
The surrounding crowd instantly backed away.
They looked at Lian Qiguang with fear.
“What’s going on here?”
Yuan Ling shoved through the crowd.
Without even sparing the fallen man a glance, he hurried over to Lian Qiguang, carefully checking him over.
Earlier, after asking about the treasure map, the vendor had immediately admitted it was fake after seeing Yuan Ling’s uniform and begged for mercy.
Yuan Ling had examined the map himself.
Perhaps because of its age, it was badly worn and stained brown.
Remembering Lian Qiguang’s claim that it was an Ancient Earth world map, Yuan Ling wasn’t sure how valuable it really was.
But An Yi treasured everything related to Ancient Earth.
If it really was authentic…
He’d probably go crazy with excitement.
The vendor had offered to give him the map.
Yuan Ling refused to take advantage of him and insisted on paying five hundred credits.
But after putting the map away…
He turned around—
Only to discover Lian Qiguang had disappeared.
His soul had nearly left his body.
Lian Qiguang knew no one on Fallen Star.
The planet had been especially unstable lately.
If anything happened…
The boss would skin him alive.
He searched everywhere.
Asked everyone.
Still nothing.
Just when he had been on the verge of mentally preparing himself to beg Xiahou Shaoxuan for punishment—
He heard the commotion here.
“Help me!”
The vendor wailed the moment he spotted Yuan Ling’s uniform.
“It was him!”
“He attacked me!”
“He tried to kill me!”
“Arrest him!”
Instead of responding, Yuan Ling anxiously looked at Lian Qiguang.
“Sister-in-law.”
“Are you alright?”
The vendor froze.
Sister-in-law…?
What’s going on?
“He sold fake goods.”
Lian Qiguang pointed at the vendor.
“Then he tried to extort me.”
Yuan Ling frowned and turned toward the man.
His gaze became icy.
Under that stare, the vendor’s vision nearly went black.
I’ve kicked an iron plate…
“And…”
Lian Qiguang continued calmly.
“He also claimed his friend is with Blood Wolf.”
“He said one word from him would make it impossible for me to remain on Fallen Star.”
He reported the accusation with complete peace of mind.
“Oh?”
Yuan Ling smiled as he stepped forward.
“Really?”
“I happen to know just about everyone in Blood Wolf.”
“So…”
“Tell me.”
“Who is it?”
“Maybe I know him.”
“I… I…”
The vendor shrank back, trembling uncontrollably.
“Not talking?”
“Or can’t think of anyone?”
“So…”
“You don’t actually have any friends in Blood Wolf.”
“Which means you lied.”
“N-No…”
“I…”
“Using the military’s reputation to bully civilians.”
“Fraud.”
“Impersonating military connections.”
“That’s quite a serious crime.”
“I was wrong!!”
The vendor crawled forward, trying to grab Yuan Ling’s pant leg.
Yuan Ling stepped aside in obvious disgust.
“I deserve it!”
“I was blind!”
“I shouldn’t have tried to cheat this young master!”
“Please forgive me!”
“What’s all the excitement?”
A loud voice interrupted.
A hover patrol vehicle stopped nearby.
Two soldiers jumped out.
“This idiot tried bullying Sister-in-law.”
Yuan Ling jerked his chin toward the vendor.
“You know what to do.”
“Oh?”
One soldier grinned.
“It’s Brother Yuan.”
“So…”
He looked curiously toward the silent Lian Qiguang.
“This is Sister-in-law?”
News of the major general’s spouse arriving on Fallen Star had spread through every military camp.
Everyone had heard of him.
Almost no one had actually seen him.
So this is Sister-in-law?
Wrapped up too tightly.
Can’t even see his face.
“What are you staring at?”
Yuan Ling frowned.
“Take him away.”
“Roger.”
The two gave sloppy salutes before dragging away the crying vendor.
Even dared bully the major general’s spouse.
Kid… you’re finished.
After they left, Yuan Ling turned back.
“Sister-in-law.”
“Still want to keep looking around?”
“Yes.”
Lian Qiguang answered indifferently before continuing down the street.
Yuan Ling immediately followed.
Walking among the stalls once more, Lian Qiguang quietly examined the merchandise.
Because of the earlier incident…
People now looked at him with obvious fear and caution.
Suddenly—
He stopped.
His gaze fixed on a particular stall.
This is…