Henry had just opened his mouth to answer when Wei Qing suddenly understood.
“That Zhou kid, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Marshal.”
Wei Qing gave a low hum, his voice tinged with amusement.
By now, dusk had fallen. A violet night sky slowly unfurled over Gonggong Star.
His gaze lingered on the display before him, on the surviving star pirate still writhing there. The teardrop tattoo beneath his eye seemed to glint with something wicked.
“Allow the Epril to dock,” he said. “I’ve prepared a little show for my fiance.”
“Yes, sir,” Henry replied aloud.
But in his heart he silently corrected: It’s Epril, not Aprily, Marshal.
The Epril landed at Gonggong Port. Captain Philip, bald-headed and burly, personally escorted Zhou Younan to the reception room.
Most of the ship’s passengers were Beta. Only Philip and his two deputies were Alpha, and both were already bonded.
Perhaps because of that, everyone had treated Zhou Younan with unusual kindness, gentle, unforced, the kind of kindness he had never known.
It was the sort of atmosphere that made him think: if he could stay aboard the Epril for a lifetime, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Philip explained that after he had reported Zhou Younan’s presence to the Blood Tear Legion, only then had Marshal Wei Qing granted the ship permission to land.
“Seems the Marshal is eager to meet you,” Philip said with a knowing smile.
Zhou Younan forced a stiff nod. He didn’t take Philip’s teasing to heart, yet he couldn’t help but mind. After all, Wei Qing’s attitude toward him would determine his quality of life for the foreseeable future.
Philip then invited him to watch Gonggong Star’s planetary news channel. The broadcast was showing footage of the pirate raid Wei Qing had just crushed.
Even though the images had been blurred, the wails of the star pirates were so shrill, so despairing, that Zhou Younan’s skin prickled with gooseflesh.
By dinnertime, Wei Qing still had not appeared.
Instead, a senior officer arrived with two soldiers, carrying an antique-style aluminum tray. All three wore the Blood Tear Legion’s black uniforms, adorned with gleaming silver buttons and trim.
The officer at the front bore three six-pointed star insignia on his shoulders, marking him a general.
When they stopped before him, Zhou Younan finally saw their faces.
The two soldiers behind the general both had tattoos: one, a cross scar inked across his left cheek; the other, a jagged lightning bolt streaking from the corners of his mouth.
By contrast, the general’s face was clean, without ink. He had deep brown hair, sky-blue eyes, thick brows over a square jaw, his whole presence upright, disciplined.
“I am Henry Gray,” he introduced himself with a salute. “Call me Henry.”
As he raised his hand, Zhou Younan noticed a tattoo on the back of Henry’s left hand: a simple, unbroken ring.
“This,” Henry said, “is a gift from the Marshal to you.”
At his words, the soldier with the lightning tattoos stepped forward. He set the aluminum tray on the table before Zhou Younan and lifted the cover.
Inside lay a plate of roasted meat and a glass of red wine.
A rich aroma drifted out, savory, yet underlaid with a faint, unexpected sweetness.
Captain Philip smacked his lips knowingly, “I’ve heard Gonggong Star has a beast called the Scarlet Phoenix. Three legs, three wings, brilliant feathers and flesh said to be sweet and exquisite. Could it be… the Marshal has sent the Scarlet Phoenix roast?”
“Yes,” the soldier confirmed.
He turned toward Zhou Younan. “Our Marshal roasted it himself. He hopes you’ll enjoy it.”
Zhou Younan froze in surprise. It had been years since anyone had cooked for him.
The soldier then placed the wine before him. “This is the Marshal’s private stock of red wine. He said, sip it slowly, it won’t make you drunk.”
The soldier smiled at him warmly, a simple smile at odds with the fierce lightning tattoos carved across his mouth.
Some of Zhou Younan’s tension eased. He whispered, “Thank you.”
Captain Philip rubbed his bald head, his tone ingratiating.
“Ah, Young Master Younan, it seems the Marshal holds you in great regard! Not only roasting the meat himself, but even sending you his treasured wine. You know how rare real food is these days, controlled by the noble families, worth fortunes. Everyone else lives on nutrient paste, and here you have meat and wine…”
He exaggeratedly sucked in two breaths through his teeth, as though swallowing drool, making the room’s solemn air lighten. Zhou Younan found himself relaxing further.
“After all, it’s the Marshal’s thoughtfulness,” Philip urged. “Go on, taste it.”
He gestured, and a fork was placed respectfully by Zhou Younan’s hand.
With so many eyes on him, Philip, Henry, the two soldiers, Zhou Younan, though not hungry, forced himself to take two bites of the roast and a small sip of the wine.
When he swallowed, Philip immediately leaned in with curiosity, “Well? How is it?”
“…It’s good,” Zhou Younan answered.
“Heh!” Philip beamed at Henry. “You heard him, General. Be sure to tell the Marshal that Young Master Younan says it’s delicious.”
But Henry ignored him. Instead, he turned to the soldier with the cross tattoo.
The soldier walked to the window, drew a telescope from his belt, and peered into the distance. After adjusting it for a while, he gave Henry a nod.
Henry’s blue eyes flickered with hesitation. Then he spoke.
“The Marshal has prepared… an appetizer for you. Look through the telescope, and you’ll see.”
Zhou Younan turned toward the window. Beyond the glass, Gonggong Star’s night sky shimmered violet. In the distance glowed a patch of lights, the Blood Tear Legion’s encampment, if he recalled correctly.
Was he supposed to look there?
Seeing his hesitation, Philip prodded, half-teasing, “My young master, the Marshal, said to use the telescope. Just looking with your eyes, how could you see any ‘performance’?”
Zhou Younan pressed his lips together, set down his fork, and rose. Slowly, he walked to the soldier and bent to the scope.
Through the dark tube, his sight leapt to the distant encampment.
There, around a blazing bonfire, a crowd of raggedly dressed people held hands, circling in dance. Their faces shone with exhilaration, laughter brimming.
“These are Gonggong Star’s residents,” the soldier beside him explained. “They’re celebrating.”
Zhou Younan thought: Of course, they must be glad. Wiping out the star pirates meant safety, meant hope.
The scope shifted slightly. And there, by the fire, sat a man.
Golden hair spilled past his shoulders, flames glinting in the strands. A faint breeze lifted loose locks against his cheek, revealing the teardrop tattoo beneath his left eye.
Wei Qing.
He lounged on a fallen tree trunk, brows relaxed, holding a skewer of meat above the fire.
“Our Marshal is roasting,” the soldier added casually.
Zhou Younan stiffened.
What did that mean? Why show him this? Why make him watch… the Marshal roast meat?
The view shifted slightly again. Zhou Younan’s eyes caught sight of the center of the bonfire, where something dark and smoldering burned fiercely.
That long, black shape stood rigidly upright in the flames, its lower half a long, straight column, and its upper half five drooping, slender extensions.
The shape seemed vaguely familiar.
Zhou Younan looked closer and his eyes widened in horror. The object rising from the fire was a human arm.
Through the flames, he could make out the contours of shoulders, torso, and head.
His pupils contracted sharply.
The bonfire wasn’t just a pile of wood, it was entirely composed of human bodies.
The soldier’s voice lost its earlier warmth, now cold and impassive.
“The tradition on Gonggong Star for dealing with star pirates is execution by fire. Our Marshal honors traditional culture.”
Execution by fire?
Zhou Younan had always feared fire.
His face drained of color, and a chill ran from his feet up his spine. He staggered back a few steps, unable to watch this “performance” any longer.
“Are you alright, Young Master?” Philip asked, approaching him uncertainly and helping him back into his seat.
Once seated, the scent of roasted meat wafted to his nose. Earlier it had smelled appetizing but now, after what he had seen through the telescope…
Could it really have been roasted over the same bonfire, the same fire that burned human bodies?
A wave of nausea hit him.
He lifted the wine glass and drank deeply, trying to swallow down the rising sickness. He pushed the plate of meat slightly away, meeting Henry’s gaze.
Henry watched him expressionlessly, clearly observing his reaction.
Biting his lower lip, Zhou Younan lowered his head. Resisting tears, a few wet streaks leaked from the corners of his eyes.
Now he understood completely: Wei Qing had sent the roast and wine, and made him watch this “show,” not out of concern, not out of courtesy.
He was deliberately trying to disgust him.
But why? They hadn’t even met face-to-face.
Henry made a subtle hand gesture. The soldier at the window stowed the telescope and returned to his position behind Henry.
As if Zhou Younan’s obvious distress had gone unnoticed, Henry continued, “The Marshal cordially invites you to board the Sparrow and enjoy a meal with him on the way to Kanbela for the wedding.”
“No, I… don’t need to,” Zhou Younan stammered.
But he could not hold it in any longer. He bolted from the reception room, vomiting everything in his stomach.
The sound echoed in the room. Philip, caught off guard, tried to mask the awkwardness with a strained smile to Henry, “General… as you can see… Young Master, he… he’s just not feeling well. Prefers to stay aboard Epril for the time being.”
Philip patted his chest confidently.
“I assure you, madam will be delivered to Kanbela unharmed. Marshal, rest assured.”
Henry didn’t even glance at him this time.
After leaving the Epril with the soldiers, General Henry received a call from his Marshal’s personal terminal.
“So, does my fiancée like it?” Wei Qing asked impatiently.
“He vomited, Marshal,” Henry reported.
Wei Qing laughed heartily.
Once the laughter subsided, Henry continued, “He refused to board the Sparrow and return to Kanbela with you.”
Wei Qing’s tone was light, playful.
“I only wanted to scare him a little. I didn’t really want him on the Sparrow anyway.”
A brief silence followed. Henry added, “Marshal, I don’t want to do something like this again. I believe an Omega should receive care from his Alpha, not intimidation.”
“It’s because of Alphas like you, always coddling Omegas, that they develop such high self-regard,” Wei Qing shot back.
“Marshal, Omegas are precious assets of the Empire…”
“Ah, ah,” Wei Qing interrupted, his tone teasing and irreverent. “Speaking up for him, are you? Is this Zhou kid… pretty?”
Henry answered seriously, “As a subordinate, I shouldn’t comment on my superior’s partner’s appearance.”
“Then he’s not pretty?”
Helpless, Henry replied, “Comparable to Su Xi.”
“But he’s an Omega… why compare him to Su Xi?”
Henry fell silent.
Wei Qing asked again: “Does his pheromone smell good?”
This time Henry gave a definite answer: “A common grassy scent.”
“What’s his name?”
“Zhou Younan.”
Wei Qing complained: “What a hard name to remember.”
Changing the subject, he said to Henry:
“Come back quickly. This Scarlet Phoenix I’m roasting is nearly done, you’ll be here in time to eat it.”
Henry immediately refused.
“No, Marshal. I prefer nutrient paste.”
“Tch, you don’t understand flavor.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
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☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Escape from Zhou familyChapter 2 · Bride To BeChapter 3 · Attacked on SpaceshipChapter 4 · FiancéChapter 5 · Wild one Tastes betterChapter 6 · Cousin, Zhou MoChapter 7 · Wedding DressChapter 8 · Wedding Hall disputeChapter 9 · Marshal Fainted!Chapter 10 · CATNIP!Chapter 11 · His Pheromone is Catnip!Chapter 12 · The show beginsChapter 13 · He likes me!Chapter 14 · He is crazy!Chapter 15 · Auditorium, I brought it. Do you like it?Chapter 16 · Only I can bite your lipsChapter 17 · Wei Qing grabbed his wristChapter 18 · Your posture just now was perfect for kissingChapter 19 · This is… Wei Qing’s leopard?Chapter 20 · Let’s do what newlyweds should do.Chapter 21 · Release your pheromones and overwhelm meChapter 22 · Zhou Younan, I miss you.Chapter 23 · The promise to bite your lip isn’t just for yesterdayChapter 24 · You beast! You enormous beastChapter 25 · My patience is almost at its limitChapter 26 · Touch Wei San? Pluck its feathers?Chapter 27 · Doesn’t Wei Qing like you a lot?Chapter 28 · You’re the dog, your whole family are dogsChapter 29 · How did things turn out like this?!Chapter 30 · Zhou Younan, I love everything about youChapter 31 · Cheetahs do react to catnip.Chapter 32 · Second PrinceChapter 33 · Immersed in the fluffy touchChapter 34 · What can you do to help if you stay?Chapter 35 · Sand WormChapter 36 · I gave Wei Qing a capsuleChapter 37 · His vulnerable period has arrivedChapter 38 · Reason has long since been burned awayChapter 39 · I can’t believe I did that! I’m insane!Chapter 40 · The person I want to protect is my wifeChapter 41 · Zhou Younan, you can only be mineChapter 42 · Until the last star in the universe is annihilated.Chapter 43 · The light in Wei Qing’s eyes dimmed.Chapter 44 · Family?Chapter 45 · The green capsule was in his palmChapter 46 · Zhou Younan was filled with fearChapter 47 · Brother won’t abandon youChapter 48 · What a piece of trash!Chapter 49 · Zhou Younan, are you looking at me?Chapter 50 · Zhou Younan feared Xu QiChapter 51 · Zhou Younan, you’re such a foolChapter 52 · You really don’t want to marry me?Chapter 53 · My braceletChapter 54 · Zhou Younan, I can’t mark youChapter 55 · A symbol of brotherhoodChapter 56 · How old are you?Chapter 57 · Abnormal!Chapter 58 · Did you give Wei Qing the capsules from the tin box?Chapter 59 · Brother, I’ve made up my mindChapter 60 · Doing things for you is my wishChapter 61 · You’re the first person I’ve ever liked, Wei Qing.Chapter 62 · Childhood sweetheartChapter 63 · He can’t live without youChapter 64 · Teacher RigenChapter 65 · Were they running togetherChapter 66 · You two kidnappersChapter 67 · GiftChapter 68 · Don’t look back, just carry onChapter 69 · Maurice Jin is already a thing of the past for meChapter 70 · I finally found youChapter 71 · Who’s your wife?Chapter 72 · How would he interpret his leaving?Chapter 73 · Wei Qing was Wei San?Chapter 74 · Maurice Jin had been assassinated?!Chapter 75 · Turn your face towards the sunChapter 76 · Wei Qing’s eyes were brightChapter 77 · Pheromones are a double edged swordChapter 78 · Don’t stareChapter 79 · He’s the Empire’s MarshalChapter 80 · So WeakChapter 81 · Are you alright?Chapter 82 · Was he really that kind of person?Chapter 83 · He remembered his forgotten goalsChapter 84 · Come on, shoot me in the heartChapter 85 · Why are you unhappy again when I touch you?Chapter 86 · Don’t you even like me anymore?Chapter 87 · Wei Qing transformed into Wei San.Chapter 88 · I’ll give you my love, and I’ll give you my lifeChapter 89 · Just do it for me, okay?Chapter 90 · Don’t bother me until you explain clearlyChapter 91 · I want to stop your time when you still love meChapter 92 · Damn it! Zhou Younan! You just waitChapter 93 · From the very beginning, I had no choiceChapter 94 · From the very beginning, I had no choiceChapter 95 · A gunshot rang outChapter 96 · I grew up in the research instituteChapter 97 · You complete liar! You’re despicableChapter 98 · You will always be the only one in my heartChapter 99 · You are actually the same as meChapter 100 · Zhou Younan, I’m leavingChapter 101 · How could a big cat possibly resist the allure of catnip?Chapter 102 · The EndChapter 103 · Extra: 1