Yuzhou.
A battle between humans and mutant beasts had finally come to an end.
The outer perimeter of the entire base was in ruins.
A man in combat camouflage uniform walked up to Dai Qianning.
“Hello, I’m Wu Yingnian, Director of the Ability Security Department of Yuzhou Base.”
Dai Qianning shook his hand. Her face was very pale—she had overexerted her abilities.
“I’m Dai Qianning, captain of the Longcheng Base Ability User Squad. Our mission this time was to escort a device that produces a new type of foreign-substance neutralizing fluid. However—”
Her brows furrowed slightly as she was about to continue when Qi Ran suddenly spoke in surprise.
“It’s Bai Xuan and Ji Chaoxi.”
Dai Qianning abruptly turned her head.
Under the afterglow of the setting sun, a boy was carrying someone in his arms. His upright silhouette cast a long shadow across the ground.
Dai Qianning let out a breath of relief and forced out a smile.
“Director Wu, mission accomplished. The device has been delivered safely.”
Murong Zhuo, dragging his exhausted body, walked up to Bai Xuan.
“You two are alright?”
“I’m fine,” Bai Xuan said, looking down at the person in his arms. “Sister Chaoxi saved me with her life.”
“Good that you’re fine,” Murong Zhuo exhaled and reached out. “Come, give her to me.”
Bai Xuan shifted slightly aside, avoiding his hand.
“No need. I’ll carry her.”
Murong Zhuo looked at the boy’s back and raised an eyebrow without surprise.
He had already noticed it before.
This kid clearly had feelings for Ji Chaoxi.
The two of them disappearing for a few hours—he could almost imagine some dramatic story of mutual sacrifice and young romance in the wilderness.
Wu Yingnian led them to a small apartment building.
“You’ll rest here temporarily. We’ll talk after you recover.”
Bai Xuan found a bedroom and gently placed Ji Chaoxi on the bed.
He covered her with a blanket, smoothed her bangs, and pressed a kiss to her forehead before walking out to the living room.
At that moment, a seductive-looking woman entered from outside.
Wu Yingnian said to Bai Xuan,
“You can hand the device to Captain Zhao.”
The woman nodded slightly and took out food and seven vials of medicine from her spatial storage, placing them on the table.
“You’ve worked hard. Escorting the device was your mission, but you also helped us resist the Mutant Beast Horde. These are our thanks.”
Dai Qianning accepted them without hesitation.
“This time we really used up a lot of energy. Some of us are injured. Thank you.”
Bai Xuan took out the device and placed it on the floor. The woman walked over and stored it away, then smiled at him meaningfully.
“Little brother is quite handsome. Interested in staying in Yuzhou Base?”
An invitation—and an implicit hint.
“No interest.”
Bai Xuan picked up two vials of medicine and returned directly to the bedroom.
The woman shrugged regretfully.
Two Wood Ability Users immediately stepped forward to heal the team.
Feng Ruijie’s injuries were the worst. He sat on the sofa receiving treatment, his gaze fixed on the bedroom door, cold and venomous.
Inside the bedroom.
Bai Xuan closed the door casually and smiled as he lifted the medicine.
“Sister, this is medicine from Yuzhou Base.”
Ji Chaoxi lay on the bed, staring at him expressionlessly.
“Ye Jiming. Let me go.”
The boy’s smile did not change. He sat down by the bed and blinked innocently.
“Who is Sister talking about? Who is he to you?”
Ji Chaoxi looked at him in shock and anger.
Under the blanket, her entire body was bound by strands of gray-black mist. She had tried—she could not break free.
This aura… it was the same as the mist from the day she encountered Wei Long.
She should have realized it.
How could Ye Jiming possibly have stayed obediently in Longcheng Base?
Unrealistic fantasies always shattered in the end.
“Why is Sister not speaking?” the boy asked, fingers brushing her face. “Who is Ye Jiming to you?”
Ji Chaoxi pressed her lips together and said nothing.
“If Sister doesn’t answer, I won’t let you go.”
His smile was clean, but his gaze was like a snake coiling around her.
His fingers slid down her neck… further.
Ji Chaoxi’s breathing tightened.
“Ye Jiming, let go.”
Her weak voice carried no deterrence—it sounded almost like a plea.
Three buttons of her collar were undone.
The boy leaned down slowly, lips brushing her neck.
“Answer me, and I’ll let go.”
Ji Chaoxi did not want to answer.
But she knew clearly—she would lose in the end anyway.
She turned her head away, forcing down trembling breaths.
Softly, she said,
“Ye Jiming is my husband.”
“Then what about me? Who am I to you?”
“Ye Jiming, enough… you can’t do this…”
She bit her lip hard, swallowing broken sounds as her body stiffened.
The boy lifted his head from her chest, smiling like a devil.
“Can’t do what?”
Ji Chaoxi gasped softly, looking into his dark eyes, tears gathering.
“Ye Jiming, you broke your promise… you said you would stay at the base and wait for me…”
“Yes. He is waiting for you at the base,” the boy said softly. “But I am Bai Xuan, Sister.”
His pupils flickered.
Ji Chaoxi turned her face away. Tears silently fell onto the pillow—one drop after another.
She had left Longcheng Base, but her heart had never truly relaxed. She had been tense the entire time.
Until this moment, the fragile hope in her heart was completely shattered.
The gray-black mist binding her vanished instantly.
Bai Xuan pulled her into his arms, letting her lean against his shoulder as he gently patted her back.
Ji Chaoxi cried uncontrollably, but very quietly—as if afraid of being heard.
Even her breathing was careful.
Her body trembled violently, yet everything about her was restrained, instinctive—like deeply ingrained survival reflexes.
Bai Xuan’s brows furrowed.
His hand on her back tightened slightly.
After a while, the crying stopped, leaving only suppressed sobs.
She seemed afraid of being noticed.
Afraid of disturbing someone.
Afraid of something.
Himself?
That thought made his expression darken.
His eyes flickered with a trace of tenderness he himself did not notice.
“Cry if you want to. Don’t hold it back. You can even bite me.”
He shifted his shoulder toward her.
The next second, Bai Xuan’s brows relaxed slightly, a faint smile appearing.
“So you really did bite me?”
Ji Chaoxi blinked, then realized what she had done and quickly let go.
“Sorry…”
“Mm. It hurts a bit. Kiss me and it won’t hurt anymore.”
Hearing that word, Ji Chaoxi’s tension eased slightly.
She tried to pull away, but he caught her chin and kissed her again.
Their distance was close.
Looking at her tear-stained eyes, the boy let out a soft laugh.
“Useless. You’ve already finished crying?”
Though he said it dismissively, he kissed the corner of her eye.
Ji Chaoxi rarely dodged. Instead, she reached for his buttons.
“Let me see your shoulder.”
“With your strength? You’re like a kitten without teeth. You think you can hurt me?”
Despite his words, he didn’t stop her and even cooperated.
A ring of deep red bite marks.
Ji Chaoxi used her ability, but a long hand grabbed hers and pulled it away.
“No using your ability.”
“Why?”
“Because this is evidence.”
“The proof that my wife loves me.”