Qian Ye silently gazed at Qiqi, not giving a response.
Qiqi’s gaze shifted to the tall shadow on the ground, recalling the first time she saw this overly handsome young man in the study of the Yin family’s villa. Back then, although he had a sharp edge to him from having seen blood, he was still a bashful and easy-to-talk-to big boy. When did he start to become uncontrollable? Or was it just an illusion that he was ever controllable?
Qiqi lifted her head, smiled, and said, “Alright, let’s not talk about such unpleasant things! What do you want with the ‘Heavy Blow Fist’? It’s meant for large-scale origin guns, and your ‘Twin Blossoms’ can’t use it.”
Qian Ye said, “Don’t you think the Yin family owes me an Eagle Strike?”
Qiqi froze, the light in her eyes gradually dimming. After a moment, she sighed and said listlessly, “I understand. You are determined to leave. I… won’t say any more. Sleep now!”
Qiqi stood up and walked towards the bedroom, saying firmly, “Come, stay with me. This is my last command!” Her tone became domineering and unrestrained once again.
Qian Ye followed Qiqi into the bedroom, ready to sleep on the soft couch in the corner as he had done before. Unexpectedly, Qiqi patted the bed and said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “Come up here!”
Qian Ye was slightly taken aback, gave her a probing look, and then took off his outer clothes and got into Qiqi’s bed.
His action startled Qiqi, who scooted over, making room for him. Looking at Qian Ye’s calm profile, Qiqi couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you suddenly so bold? Or is it that…?”
Qian Ye turned to her, touched her hair, and laughed, “Why not? What do I have to be afraid of?”
Qiqi froze, feeling a bit confused. Even if Qian Ye didn’t realize it when he first took the mission, after all the events, he should have understood that he was just a pawn placed on the chessboard to attract hatred.
In fact, Qian Ye’s mission outcome exceeded Qiqi’s expectations. Gu Liyu might have easily handled previous provocations from Qiqi, but this time, he had acted rashly by doing 131 things. Although it seemed to have been quietly resolved, how could such a multi-faceted plan leave no traces?
Moreover, in many aspects, actions don’t necessarily need evidence. This is true for setting traps and dismantling them. Therefore, even if Qiqi couldn’t get to Gu Liyu in the end, most of the people secretly connected to him were weeded out by Ji Yuanjia. If not for the consideration that a too broad strike would harm the overall interests of the Yin family, more could have been done.
Ji Yuanjia had risen through military achievements in the 17th Legion. With his abilities and methods, he had become a leading figure among the Yin family’s factional officers. His stance within the Yin family was obvious. This way, Qiqi could have more freedom to develop her career in the military, relying less on the 17th Legion and facing fewer constraints from the family and Gu Liyu.
However, the catalyst, Qian Ye, was still alive. Even if not for revenge, but for face, he would be a target for Gu Liyu and others in the Yin family. So, what did he have to fear?
Qiqi remained silent for a long time, as if talking to herself or explaining, she whispered, “I’ve thought of many ways, but I can’t escape this engagement. And the Yin family… they hold their reputation and promises more important than anything. Annulling the engagement voluntarily would be worse than death for my father. The only way is to make Gu Liyu call off the engagement. So I found one ‘lover’ after another, but none of it worked. Unless, I…”
Qiqi shivered slightly, sensing a vague mix of fear and anticipation.
“If you really slept with many men, he still wouldn’t call off the engagement.” Qian Ye’s voice came from above Qiqi, his breath close and warm, yet Qiqi shivered again.
Qian Ye stroked Qiqi’s hair again, turned off the light, and the entire bedroom fell into oppressive darkness. His voice rang out coldly in the silence, “Sleep. I told you, don’t do things you can’t handle.”
After a long time, their breathing became very calm, as if they were about to fall asleep. Qiqi’s voice sounded, light and dreamy, with a trace of vulnerability that wouldn’t be present during the day.
“I know you hate me. You feel unsafe, like a knife might stab you from your own side at any moment. But I feel the same. I’ve never felt safe, especially since my mother died… You wouldn’t understand what it’s like when your siblings, uncles, aunts, always want to kill you. I did many strange things, knowing how others looked at me, but only that way could I stop thinking about those things…” Qiqi’s voice held a faint pain.
Qian Ye listened quietly. The chaos in the Yin family had been around for a long time, perhaps starting twenty years ago with the alliance with the Song branch, or even earlier. Gaining power comes at a cost; it’s unreasonable to marry someone’s daughter but throw away her granddaughter for a noble marriage.
He lacked experience in aristocratic affairs, but he wasn’t stupid. Moreover, Song Zining’s character meant he wouldn’t do trivial things. Saving him in the hunting grounds was kept secret, but later, he openly approached Qian Ye, likely warning Qiqi. Since then, Qiqi hadn’t asked him to accompany her to social events.
The struggle for the Yin family’s inheritance had reached a point where everyone bared their fangs. Even at the Heavenly Profound Spring Hunt, they intervened, paying such a price and taking such risks, showing how desperate the hands behind the scenes were. Qiqi, a noble-born child, and he, raised in a dump, each had their misfortunes and helplessness.
“I don’t hate you,” Qian Ye said calmly. “You’ve done more than you needed to, like with the 60th Regiment and the support in the hunting grounds.”
Qiqi laughed lightly, her voice slightly odd, but on closer listening, it was normal. “But for you, it’s still a better deal…”
Because it had always been a deal. Qian Ye didn’t speak this time.
In the darkness, Qiqi suddenly leaned into Qian Ye, curling up in his arms, finding a comfortable position, like a frightened kitten.
Qian Ye had never imagined that this woman, always a burning fire, could have such a side. Perhaps, this was the real her hidden beneath her wild exterior. He lifted his hand and embraced her.
Qiqi didn’t move or speak anymore.
They stayed like this, feeling warmth, safety, and support from each other’s body heat, and then fell into a deep sleep.
Tomorrow, when tomorrow comes, everything will end.
In the vast world under the distant stars, across numerous continents and billions of lives, two people are as insignificant as two grains of sand in the ocean. In this dark sea, two grains of sand, once separated, may never meet again.
Perhaps parting is forever.
Early the next morning, Qian Ye left Qiqi’s bedroom. However, many people in the inner courtyard, including maids, knew that Qian Ye had spent the night in Qiqi’s room. During the cleaning, the maids noticed the traces of two people on the bed. The news spread quickly.
By noon, Qian Ye received all the rewards from the Spring Hunt, choosing imperial gold coins for the remaining quota, except for the “Heavy Blow Fist” and “Radiant Fangs.” The steward who delivered the items curiously asked why he chose a short vampiric weapon.
Qian Ye truthfully told him it was for convenience and easier to sell in the lower continents. The steward’s expression became strange; few people would admit to selling their rewards so directly.
In the afternoon, Qiqi led the Yin family’s team and left the Duke’s villa. For the next few days, they traveled continuously by airship. As the black void outside the window faded, Qian Ye saw the outline of the Evernight Continent again.
Back at the Yin family’s villa, Qian Ye started packing. His belongings were simple, mostly weapons. However, he couldn’t leave immediately as Qiqi had ordered a new Eagle Strike that hadn’t arrived.
In the following days, Qiqi didn’t seek Qian Ye, and he stayed indoors, focusing on cultivation and integrating the combat experience from the Spring Hunt. He witnessed several duels of noble secret techniques, learning new origin control skills. Even without specific techniques, many principles were universal.
What inspired Qian Ye the most, besides the fight with Zhao Junhong, was the three duels between Wei Po Tian and Song Zining. Wei Po Tian’s fist style was plain and powerful, like the military combat techniques driven by the “Warfare Decree.” However, in the last fight, he created a space lockdown effect, reminding Qian Ye of how he unintentionally blocked Ye Mulan’s evasion route with fast punches.
In discussions with Song Zining, Qian Ye learned that the strength of secret techniques lay not only in special attributes but also in the ability to influence a certain domain after breaking through to War General. Like the “Thousand Leaf Technique,” which could isolate the outside. If his theory was correct, could the “Warfare Decree” be used as a combat technique?
On the fourth afternoon, Qian Ye received a brand new Eagle Strike after exiting the virtual combat system.
This Eagle Strike was modified, with 20% more power and 200 meters longer range. Two senior craftsmen from the Yin family also came, taking the “Heavy Blow Fist,” a small, transparent crystal chip, to install on the Eagle Strike.
With the “Heavy Blow Fist” installed, the Eagle Strike’s power increased by about 20%. This level six tactical attachment was an origin array, valuable because it could be reloaded three times before becoming completely useless, provided the main body wasn’t damaged.
By nightfall, Qian Ye tested the enhanced Eagle Strike and was very satisfied. The new weapon had a power of eighteen, meaning its firepower was equivalent to eighteen level one guns. This power matched a level five sniper rifle but with the same origin consumption.
With Qian Ye’s current origin strength, without blood absorption, he could fire five or six shots in a battle. With his “Heavy Caliber” and “Precise Shooting” abilities, along with specialized origin bullets, he could severely wound a level six dark race warrior. With the Eagle Strike’s 1200-meter range, Qian Ye could control a small battlefield.
Qian Ye looked at the luggage in the corner of the room, bathed in moonlight, giving the gray-green backpack an eerie red hue. Another crimson moon night, a unique celestial phenomenon, reminded him of the forsaken land of Evernight.
Suddenly, the door knocked, and Ji Yuanjia’s voice came, “Qian Ye, can I come in?”
“Of course.”
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