Wen Qi silently retracted his terminal. He asked the soldier for some water to clean the grime from his body. His makeup had blurred, so he requested some cosmetics and restored his appearance to the way it was before.
Once finished, he changed into a fresh set of clothes and followed the soldier to the reception hall. Wu Yuan, who had already cleaned himself up, was waiting there.
The Zerg who had been covered in blood earlier was now as clean as when Wen Qi first saw him: majestic and powerful. The dark red markings on Wu Yuan’s face had faded significantly. Although still visible, they were no longer as frightening as before. His bone wings had been retracted into his shoulder blades, giving him a capable and steady appearance. Wen Qi looked at him and saw his rank: SS-rank.
Seeing this rank, a flicker of surprise crossed Wen Qi’s face. Wu Yuan strode toward Wen Qi and made a welcoming gesture.
“Mr. Lu Lin,” he said, “Please, come in.”
Wen Qi walked up to Wu Yuan, his eyes falling on the small box Wu Yuan was holding.
“Mr. Planet Lord,” he nodded in greeting.
Wu Yuan noticed Wen Qi’s gaze. Once the two Zerg entered the hall, Wu Yuan opened the box, revealing a pink test tube filled with repair fluid. He handed the box to Wen Qi. “This is the item you wanted.”
Wen Qi took the box, glanced at it without much familiarity, closed it, and tucked it away. He gave a reserved nod. “Thank you.”
Seeing that Wen Qi was unfamiliar with the product, Wu Yuan reminded him, “The repair fluid works best in a constant temperature environment, but it has a short shelf life. If you are not in a hurry to use it, keep it in the box. It can be preserved for two months.”
Wen Qi nodded. “Thank you for the reminder.”
With the item in hand, Wen Qi was not inclined to stay. He said, “Mr. Planet Lord, the matter is resolved. I will take my leave now.”
“Wait.” Wu Yuan called out to the departing Wen Qi. Wen Qi turned back, and Wu Yuan spoke. “That repair fluid is a thank-you gift for saving me. If not for you, I would have died today like any other victim of a psychic riot. This is my gratitude for helping me suppress my mental sea.”
He paused for a moment. “When those last few shells fell, if not for your warning, I would have shared the same fate as those Star Beasts even if my psychic power was suppressed. Furthermore, a male’s sixth sense is very strong. You should have felt it. After this battle, my strength has also increased.”
Wen Qi was silent for a second and then nodded. When Wu Yuan was S-rank, Wen Qi had the ability to make things difficult for him even if he could not win. But an SS-rank Wu Yuan was someone that even an A-rank Wen Qi could not deal with, especially in a state where his psychic power was nearly drained. This was why he did not want to linger; he wanted to avoid any variables.
Now Wu Yuan had stopped him. Wen Qi could not immediately gauge Wu Yuan’s intention, so he simply said, “Congratulations.”
Wu Yuan had held a high position for many years and naturally sensed the unease the male felt upon learning his rank. He likely understood the male’s concerns. He said nothing but clapped his hands.
Wen Qi’s body stiffened slightly. A Sub-female carrying a silver-white case entered. His face was serious. He placed the case on the table in front of Wu Yuan and turned to leave. Once the Sub-female was gone, Wu Yuan pushed the case toward Wen Qi.
“These are the S-plus grade repair fluids owned by the Planet Lord’s mansion: five tubes in total, corresponding to different parts of the body. As long as an S-rank female Zerg has a breath left, these can repair even damaged internal organs. Consider this my gift for your previous warning.”
He added pointedly, “Using SS-grade repair fluid together with S-grade fluid yields even stronger results. Perhaps it will be of use to the female Zerg you are helping.”
Wen Qi looked at this high-value set of fluids and thought of Gu Nan’s injuries. With Gu Nan’s ability, S-rank repair fluid was rare but not unobtainable. He did not strictly need these, as Wu Yuan had already saved his life in exchange for the warning.
But Wen Qi thought further ahead. In the future, he and Gu Nan would inevitably clash with the Tasker. He had no use for this set himself, but Gu Nan certainly would. Moreover, he did not know if Gu Nan’s injuries had hidden complications; a full-body treatment would be safer. Gu Nan was not the type to speak up about what he needed, and perhaps this gift could become a breakthrough in their relationship.
After considering this, Wen Qi realized he did need these items. He said to Wu Yuan, “Then I thank the Planet Lord. I will accept them.”
Wu Yuan called them a gift, but to Wen Qi, he now owed the Planet Lord a favor: a favor worth over fifty million Starcoins. Wu Yuan might not see it that way, but Wen Qi had only saved him to get the SS-plus grade fluid. Helping Wu Yuan live was the goal. The rank increase was an accident, and in turn, Wu Yuan had saved his life during the shelling.
The attacks were aimed at both of them, but Wen Qi had joined the battle voluntarily. Any accidents were his own responsibility. It is easy to add fuel to a fire but hard to provide help in a time of need. Wu Yuan did not have to give him this, but he did. Wen Qi would have to repay this favor.
Wen Qi walked toward Wu Yuan. Seeing Wen Qi’s movement, Wu Yuan tapped the case. The silver-white box instantly turned a dull white, losing its metallic texture and looking like an ordinary carrier. Wen Qi took the case and said to Wu Yuan, “Mr. Planet Lord, I snatched an unregistered shuttle before entering the Death Zone.”
Wu Yuan replied, “Do not worry, Mr. Lu Lin. I will handle that.”
Wen Qi nodded, gave his terminal number, and said succinctly, “You can find me if you need anything. I will be on this planet for a while.”
Without further delay, Wen Qi took the case and left. A soldier led the way. Wen Qi wanted to leave through the back door to avoid bumping into Yi You’s group. However, just as he left the hall, he saw Zong Tao leading a group toward him. Wen Qi immediately spotted Yi You standing next to Zong Tao.
Yi You was still wearing his red glasses and red casual clothes, looking gentle and kind: the nice guy persona from Blue Star 6. Wen Qi wanted to avoid him, but Yi You had already spotted him. It was too late to hide. Wen Qi looked at the group with a normal expression and stepped aside, lowering his gaze.
Wen Qi just wanted them to pass quickly, but things rarely go as planned. He felt a shadow stop in front of him. Before he could think, Yi You’s gentle voice rang out. “This Sub-female looks a bit familiar. Have we met before?”
Wen Qi looked up slightly. Because Yi You’s back was to Zong Tao and the others, he did not hide his expression much. Wen Qi saw the coldness in Yi You’s eyes. Looking at this version of Yi You, Wen Qi decided to annoy him. After staring for two seconds, his expression suddenly turned frantic. He looked at Zong Tao, his panic poorly hidden. “Uncle Zong, I, I saw in the Death Zone.”
“Xiao Lin.” Zong Tao reacted quickly. Before Wen Qi could finish, he frowned and said, “You must have seen wrong. This is Mr. Yi You, the Director of the First Hospital of Blue Star 1. How could you have seen him in the Death Zone? Apologize to Mr. Yi You at once.”
Zong Tao gave Wen Qi a meaningful look. Wen Qi pretended to understand and stammered to Yi You, “I am sorry, Mr. Yi You. I must have seen the wrong Zerg.”
“Mr. Lin.” Yi You’s lips were curled in a smile, but his eyes were cold. “I only arrived on Blue Star 1 today. You say you saw me in the Death Zone? Are you sure you saw clearly?”
Wen Qi lowered his eyes, acting frightened. “No, no.”
“Xiao Lin, you should head back first.” Zong Tao stepped in to smooth things over. He said to the group, “These distinguished guests have business with the Planet Lord. I will take them to see him now.” He then added, “My apologies, Mr. Yi You. This child is usually a bit scatterbrained, and he just returned from the Death Zone today. He must be shaken. I apologize on his behalf.”
“The Planet Lord is waiting inside.” Just as he finished, a soldier walked out and made a welcoming gesture. “Mr. Yi You, the Planet Lord requests your presence.”
Yi You glanced at Wen Qi, who looked close to tears, and looked away. He gave a reserved nod to the soldier. “Let us go.” As he spoke, he lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze lingering on the case in Wen Qi’s hand. The smile in his eyes deepened as he signaled to a nearby Zerg.
Zong Tao, standing near Yi You, caught the expression and his face changed slightly.
Wen Qi kept his head down after apologizing. Once the shadows moved on and the footsteps faded, he looked up toward Yi You’s group. In a moment of coincidence, he met Yi You’s gaze as the other looked back. Through the glasses, Wen Qi could not see Yi You’s expression clearly, but he knew the gaze was full of ill intent.
Yi You looked away, and Wen Qi did not dare to linger. He followed the soldier out of the mansion. Once outside, he cautiously circled the area twice, using his psychic power for peace of mind. To his surprise, his psychic power told him he was being watched from the back and sides.
He was being followed.
Wen Qi frowned. A direct confrontation was out of the question. At that moment, his psychic power showed that other female Zerg had appeared in front of his pursuers, seemingly starting a dispute. Seeing this, Wen Qi quickly boarded a shuttle.
The shuttle landed in an anonymous small town. Wen Qi bought some daily necessities and checked with his psychic power. No one was following him anymore. Sensing this, he took another shuttle. After several detours and multiple shuttle rides, he finally returned to the house he and Gu Nan were renting. It was already night.
Gu Nan was home when Wen Qi returned. He was sitting in a chair in front of a terminal projection. His face was serious and his brow was furrowed. He glanced at Wen Qi, said something to the person on the other end, closed the projection, and stood up.
The silver-white bone wings hung behind Gu Nan, looking much better. The small wounds had disappeared, leaving only the piercing scar and the knife wound. Because they were so severe, they had not healed like the other injuries. Gu Nan walked to the door, took the items from Wen Qi’s hands, and placed them on the table.
He turned back to find Wen Qi’s gaze on him. He glanced behind him, noticed the male looking at his bone wings, and changed the subject. “Wen Qi, what did you go out to do?”
It might have been an illusion, but the male who had just returned smelled of the battlefield. It was faint and absurd, but it was definitely there. Gu Nan frowned.
Wen Qi shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the bone wings. “Did you use the S-rank repair fluid?”
“Not yet,” Gu Nan said. He frowned and walked around Wen Qi. “You were near explosives. And you were injured. What exactly did you do?”
Wen Qi’s heart tightened. He did not expect Gu Nan’s senses to be so sharp. It had been nearly eight hours since the battle, and he had cleaned himself up, yet Gu Nan still smelled it. Wen Qi hesitated between the truth and a lie, but ultimately decided not to tell the whole story.
He said, “I accidentally got caught in a fight and sustained a minor injury, but I have already injected healing fluid.”
He said this to comfort Gu Nan, but it only made Gu Nan’s frown deeper. Wen Qi searched his words for a loophole but found none.
“Who gave it to you?” Gu Nan asked. Wen Qi remained silent. Gu Nan asked again, “Who gave you the injectable healing fluid?”
Wen Qi was surprised by the attitude. He replied vaguely, “A friend.”
Gu Nan felt a sense of discomfort. He said, “Injectable healing fluid is mild and usually used by males. Your friend likely knows your identity as a male.”
“Yes,” Wen Qi said. “He knows. Some things happened, but I am fine now. Are you worried about me?”
“I am,” Gu Nan said. “You had better not get into trouble.” If something happened to Wen Qi, Gu Nan would have no way to repay his debt.
Wen Qi did not take the words to heart, knowing Gu Nan was not truly worried about him. He took the box from his sleeve and handed it to Gu Nan. The box was small, and Wen Qi had been holding it until now. It immediately caught Gu Nan’s attention.
Gu Nan was drawn to the familiar pattern on the box. He studied it and then looked at Wen Qi. “You were involved in the fight at the Planet Lord’s mansion?”
As a former General, Gu Nan knew exactly what the male was holding. He had used this same product when he was injured years ago, though not for his bone wings. Gu Nan glanced at his own uninjured arm and took a deep breath, suppressing an instinctive urge to seize the item. He closed his eyes and opened them again with calm. He stared at Wen Qi. “Those people never give away anything for free. Wen Qi, what did you promise them?”
Gu Nan’s tone was heavy, and his entire aura changed. If his earlier frown had been slightly intimidating, he was now completely stern. He revealed a side of himself Wen Qi had never seen: powerful and majestic. This was the true General Gu Nan. He was now looking at Wen Qi with a scrutinizing gaze.
Wen Qi’s expression tensed. Facing this version of Gu Nan, he felt for a moment like he was being questioned by a strict teacher. Although he was not afraid, the tension made his heart race. He kept his face stiff and maintained his tone. “I did not promise them anything. Gu Nan, I did not promise them anything.”
“They would give you an item worth over one hundred million Starcoins without a promise?” Gu Nan’s voice turned harsh. He stared at Wen Qi, his face solemn. “Wen Qi, you have already done enough for me. I do not need you to do more. I can find my own way to get what I want. I do not need you, a male, to sacrifice anything for me.”
His words were stern and decisive.
Wen Qi looked down at the box, feeling a bit indignant. This was exactly what Gu Nan needed most! He felt as though his good intentions were being disregarded, but he comforted himself. It was good that his protagonist had not lost his character after such a major change. He could rest easy even if he left this world.
Wen Qi was startled by the thought. While he was dazed, a hand fell on his. The hand was larger than his and gripped him with undeniable strength. “I will go with you to the Planet Lord’s mansion to return the item.”
Wen Qi thought, it was hard-earned. My identity as a male truly makes it impossible for Gu Nan to believe. He glanced at the hand on his, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. He did not even realize his eyes were full of amusement.
Gu Nan saw it and loosened his grip.
Wen Qi said to Gu Nan, “Gu Nan, do you think I would sell myself? Why would you think that?” He spoke seriously. “Gu Nan, have you forgotten what I said? I told you that to me, the most important person is myself.”
“You are second.” Wen Qi did not say the last sentence out loud.
Meeting Gu Nan’s gaze, he shook off the hand. “I helped the Planet Lord, and this is his gift. There were no other transactions. Gu Nan, do not overthink. I will not act without discretion. I will not lose my way.”
He still had to go back to see the end of those two people; nothing could happen to him here. Thinking of this, Wen Qi’s smile deepened. He looked at the Zerg he had created and felt more satisfied the more he looked. Seeing Gu Nan’s expression, he felt like teasing him. “But why would you think I sold my body for this?”
Gu Nan ignored the teasing, his expression full of doubt. “You helped him?”
“Yes!” Wen Qi said seriously. “Males have their ways. I suppressed his psychic riot and took a gift. Is there a problem? Or did you think it was something else?”
Gu Nan was stunned for a few seconds. His frown deepened. “Wen Qi, are you sure it was because you suppressed his mental sea and nothing else?”
“Is that not allowed?” Wen Qi smiled, a hint of provocation in his look. “Is General Gu Nan looking down on me?”
Gu Nan was silent for two seconds. He replied, “You are more capable than I imagined.”
Being praised made Wen Qi feel a mix of joy and guilt. He intended to hide what he had done from Gu Nan, but he knew Gu Nan’s character: loyal and sentimental. If Gu Nan knew Wen Qi had risked his life to save him, who knows what he would think. The truth might come out eventually, but hopefully not yet. It would be better if he found out after Wen Qi left.
Wen Qi handed the box to Gu Nan. “Check if it is real. I do not know much about these things. They said it is for repairing bone wings.”
He pressed the box into Gu Nan’s hand. Gu Nan’s hand trembled as he took it. If any high-grade repair fluid was the most precious, it was for the bone wings. The bones beneath that thin skin were a female’s best weapon. They could be used as blades in battle or for flight, and retracted when not in use. They were part of the female and were not a burden. Bone wings represented nearly half of a female’s combat power and were more important than limbs.
Gu Nan glanced at his own wings and remembered the previous year. His right arm had been crushed, his body was covered in injuries, and his beautiful wings were damaged. He had nearly died in the Capital Star prison. After enduring for a long time, the Wantian Domain pressured the Capital Star, and he was dragged out like a dead dog and thrown here.
He had obtained the SS-plus arm repair fluid through a deal with the Emperor. But after his arm healed, he was sabotaged and his bone wings were broken. The Emperor sent someone saying there was another chance, but Gu Nan had been waiting ever since. He still did not know if that messenger was truly from the Emperor.
What he lacked was bone wing repair fluid, a male who could help him, and a healthy body. Now, the male who bought him had placed the SS-plus grade fluid in his hand. Soon, his injuries would no longer be an issue. Once the male helped him repair his mental sea, he could return to the battlefield.
At this moment, even the powerful Gu Nan found his breathing hurried. His hands trembled as he opened the box. Inside was a tube of fluid he knew all too well. This was the medicine he had sought for so long but failed to obtain. He traced the words on the tube and looked at the top-tier seal from the Research Institute. Finally, he looked at the male before him, who was looking away to avoid his gaze.
An unknown emotion surged in Gu Nan’s heart, making his voice raspy. “It is real.”
Even saying those words felt incredible to him. He stared at the fluid and then at Wen Qi. “The item is real.”
Although he had hoped, the disbelief and joy still crashed against his chest when the answer was revealed. Sensing the change in Gu Nan’s voice, Wen Qi’s eyes crinkled. He joked, “Does that not prove I am very capable?”
Gu Nan followed the lead and nodded. “You are very capable.”
Wen Qi rubbed his nose, unsure how to react to the direct praise. No one of the opposite sex had ever looked at him with such a direct gaze: well, not that he had noticed. Gu Nan was the first to look at him that way.
In his awkwardness, Wen Qi spoke without thinking. “Right, I have more things for you.”
His head was buzzing with the praise. He remembered the S-rank fluids Wu Yuan had given him. He went to the table and handed the small case to Gu Nan. “There are more here, though not as effective as that one. Planet Lord Wu Yuan said they are S-plus grade and can supplement the SS-plus fluid. You were injured, and although it was not severe, it is best not to leave any lingering damage.”
Wen Qi chattered on, not noticing Gu Nan’s expression change. Gu Nan stared at the case and said nothing. He tapped the box, and the silver-white pattern appeared. With a click, the case opened to reveal five tubes of fluid.
“They are all S-plus grade.” Gu Nan’s voice was heavy. He looked at Wen Qi. “Wen Qi, you are very capable.”
Wen Qi’s eyes crinkled again, clearly enjoying the words.
Gu Nan’s heart sank further. He remembered the smell of the explosion and the blood on Wen Qi. He had thought it was faint and that the male had not been in much danger, but the male had clearly changed his clothes. The Planet Lord of Blue Star 1 was not a generous Zerg.
Gu Nan paused for two seconds and then stepped forward. Wen Qi was still basking in the praise and did not notice Gu Nan approaching. By the time he reacted, it was too late.
The sound of fabric tearing rang out, and Wen Qi felt a chill. He looked down to see his partially healed wounds exposed to the air. They did not hurt, but it was uncomfortable.
Looking at the large area of abrasions on his chest, Wen Qi slowly looked up to see Gu Nan’s darkened expression.
Wen Qi’s vision went dark.