“But you’re the leader,” Steve said with feigned humility.
Yang Hao was truly exasperated. How could Amanda, with such a straightforward personality, have such a father? Could it be a genetic mutation or perhaps Amanda’s mother had been unfaithful?
Though thinking this in his mind, Yang Hao replied, “I’m just a novice who knows nothing about warfare. Naturally, I’ll follow everyone else’s lead. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll gladly take on the responsibility. The great cause of resisting the Empire requires everyone’s joint efforts to have any hope.”
“Fake!” Hun Yuanzi scoffed. “Too fake!”
“Not as fake as you,” Yang Hao retorted silently. “If I weren’t a bit more pretentious after all these experiences, both master and apprentice might not have survived this winter.”
This was probably Yang Hao’s greatest gain over the past half-year. Originally a very simple person, even after leaving school, Yang Hao had still naively thought he could leisurely cultivate immortality and run a spring medicine shop. But fate had other plans. He encountered a series of intrigues that forced him step by step into his current situation. Although he and Hun Yuanzi had survived many near-death experiences, those childish and innocent thoughts from the past had long been cast into oblivion.
After Hun Yuanzi gave up his identity as a wandering immortal to save Yang Hao, Yang Hao had made up his mind that no matter what the cost, he would protect the life he shared with Hun Yuanzi. It was not only the foundation for future revenge but also the very essence of the Dan-Ding Dual Cultivation Sect.
Steve had no idea what Yang Hao was thinking. He assumed this guy really took his words as gospel truth, naturally steering the discussion toward his predetermined goal: “Although we won this battle, strategically speaking, the anti-Empire alliance is still very weak, too weak to stand a chance against the Empire. So, while the western front remains quiet, we should stay put and continue watching the Empire slowly exhaust itself internally.”
Yang Hao looked around. As usual, there were only a few familiar faces present—executives from various star systems. Herd was snoring loudly, while only Empress Ming seemed to have left for the planet Lian Meng.
“What internal conflicts does the Empire have?” Yang Hao asked casually.
Steve felt a bit awkward. This was something that should have been reported to the leader long ago, but this group of people had never really taken Yang Hao seriously, so they had completely forgotten about it.
“The Galactic Empire is already on the brink of collapse. Not only do we have the alliance uprising on the western front, but there has also been a rebellion on the eastern front—the Angel Star rebellion,” Steve explained briefly. “It’s precisely because the Empire’s main forces have to suppress the rebellion on the eastern front that they haven’t engaged us in battle.”
“Angel Star?” A vague sense of familiarity stirred in Yang Hao’s mind.
Herd suddenly opened his eyes. This old bear had only been pretending to sleep, waiting for the critical moment to chime in: “Angel Star? Isn’t that where that little girl, Shi Ming’ai, is?”
Steve clapped his hands, as if just remembering something: “Right! Shi Ming’ai seems to be Leader Yang Hao’s fiancée.”
“Seems?” Yang Hao cursed inwardly. What did “seems” mean? Shi Ming’ai was actually Yang Hao’s acknowledged wife. This group of old ghosts in the alliance had known all along but deliberately kept it from him. Who knew what their intentions were?
“Shi Ming’ai has already returned to Angel Star. Somehow, she’s completely changed and become the leader of the rebellion there,” Steve described the situation in a biased manner, calling their actions “uprising” but labeling others as “rebellion.” “She has gathered about twenty billion people from roughly ten star systems and raised the banner of rebellion on the eastern front. Now her movement is quite significant.”
Yang Hao’s heart sank. Although he had learned to be more cautious and not show his emotions on his face, his expression still turned pale. Others might not know what was going on, but Yang Hao and Hun Yuanzi understood perfectly.
Back on Saint Bear Star, Yang Hao had specially cultivated with Shi Ming to break through the Harmony Stage in order to revive the comatose Shi Ming’ai. But afterward, Shi Ming’ai seemed to have lost her memory, completely changed her personality, and then stole a spaceship and fled. It turned out she had returned to her hometown, Angel Star.
Yang Hao still remembered how Shi Ming’ai had often mentioned the beauty of Angel Star, urging him to accompany her there. Who could have imagined that now this unmarried couple would become the respective banners of rebellion on the eastern and western fronts?
“Shi Ming’ai is a Xianhe body, with immortal blood in her veins. Breaking through the Harmony Stage would indeed greatly enhance her power,” Hun Yuanzi muttered, somewhat uncertain. “But why would she rebel? How could a girl become the leader of rebels?”
Yang Hao understood why Shi Ming’ai had led Angel Star in rebellion. If one had to choose the most oppressed and exploited planet in the galaxy, Angel Star would certainly rank in the top three. The planet was known for its breathtaking scenery and producing the most beautiful women. Unfortunately, this beauty became a curse. Young women from Angel Star were often abducted and forced into lives as playthings for the powerful elite, or even sold into prostitution in the Lingfei Star Sea. In short, almost no beautiful woman from Angel Star had a happy fate.
Saint Bear Star had suffered merely from conscription, leading its people to unrest and a longing for change. How much greater must the suffering on Angel Star have been? Although Yang Hao didn’t know what extraordinary experiences Shi Ming’ai had gone through, it was understandable that Angel Star would rise up in rebellion sooner or later.
As Yang Hao fell into contemplation, Steve continued spouting nonsense: “What can a bunch of women from Angel Star really accomplish? Without a technological center or strong backing, I doubt they can last long before being crushed by the Empire. This gives us the perfect opportunity to build up our strength while the Empire focuses its main forces on the east.”
“Why can’t we join forces with Angel Star to fight the Empire together?” Yang Hao couldn’t help but suggest.
Steve’s expression darkened as he shook his head repeatedly: “Join forces with Angel Star? Those women have nothing to offer. What qualifications do they have to ally with us? Besides, isn’t it better that they draw the Empire’s attention while we get a chance to breathe?”
Yang Hao mentally cursed Steve’s ancestors through eighteen generations. Yet to his surprise, the executives from the various star systems actually thought Steve’s words made perfect sense, nodding in agreement and almost ready to chant praises and hail him as emperor.
Yang Hao glanced at Herd. The old fox hadn’t nodded, but was sitting with his eyes lowered, clearly lost in his own thoughts. Yang Hao naturally knew it was impossible to convince this group of politicians, but a mischievous idea formed in his mind. As Steve happily accepted the crowd’s cheers with a beaming smile, Yang Hao quietly took out a Yang Pill from the Ninefold Ice and Fire Pill set, flicked it lightly, and dropped it into Steve’s water glass.
The Ninefold Ice and Fire Pills were originally prepared by Yang Hao for Empress Danzhen back on Lian Meng Star. He had kept a few on him ever since, though he had rarely used them. Normally, this pill was a powerful aphrodisiac, especially when dissolved in water. Once consumed, its effects kicked in immediately.
Steve, with his throat dry from all the talking, naturally took several gulps of water without noticing anything unusual. He turned to see Yang Hao smiling at him and assumed Yang Hao had been won over by his speech, making him even more excited.
“Therefore, politics requires sacrifice,” Steve continued enthusiastically, completely unaware of the changes happening to his lower body.
Steve was, of course, wearing the standard silver-colored interstellar suit of a Three Crystal Sea executive, a garment designed to highlight the elegance and charm of a leader. However, there was a problem—it was skin-tight.
Being skin-tight meant that any “movement” below the waist would be clearly visible.
And now, Steve’s lower body was indeed showing signs of “movement.” Or rather, quite a significant one.
At first, Steve was speaking to Yang Hao, and his lower body was already showing a noticeable bulge, as if saluting with a rifle. Steve himself didn’t notice, but everyone else in the room saw it clearly. Suspicion filled the air—how could Steve, a respected executive of a star system, be so aroused by a young man like Yang Hao? And so intensely? Could it be that Steve had developed a preference for men? Yang Hao might be handsome, but did he really need to express it so openly during such an important meeting?
Yang Hao, however, remained unfazed, nodding and smiling with a tolerant demeanor.
Then Steve turned to speak with General Lei, another commander in the alliance. What he was saying wasn’t important anymore, as everyone’s attention was now fixed on Steve’s lower region. As he spoke to Lei, the bulge grew even more pronounced, almost threatening to burst through the fabric. Clearly, Lei, a seasoned warrior, was more to Steve’s liking.
The politicians in the room secretly breathed a sigh of relief. None of them were military men, and they were confident that even if Steve had developed a preference for men, they probably wouldn’t be his type.
But the next moment, their relief turned to horror.
Steve turned his attention toward Herd…
Who was Herd? A centuries-old bear-man, his fur dragging on the floor, his body odor strong enough to knock someone out. In short, the least sexually appealing being imaginable.
Yet Steve’s manhood was now fully erect, standing tall like the highest peak of the Three Crystal Sea. Even the sound of the seams tearing could be heard, as if it were about to burst forth and reveal itself in all its glory.
Everyone turned pale with shock. A man lusting after Herd? That was beyond desperate—it showed no standards at all. At this rate, no one in the room would be safe from Steve’s “affection.”
Herd himself was stunned. He had lived for so many years, but had never seen such a sight. Although he had gained fame after the Outer Mongolia battle and had received many love confessions, they had all been from female bears—cute and endearing. Now, suddenly facing a man’s passionate advances, how could Herd possibly handle it?
“Uh… well…”
Steve hadn’t even realized what was happening yet.
“He really should get married again.”
“Exactly, exactly,” the others nodded frantically. “He must get married. Otherwise, something bad will happen.”
“At the very least, he should visit the Lingfei Star Sea more often. The women there are beautiful and might do him some good—some real good.”
Just as they were talking, a loud ripping sound came from Steve’s lower body. The highly elastic pants had finally given way under the pressure.
“Waaah…” The crowd scattered in panic, desperate to escape, fearing that if they were too slow, Steve might catch them and unleash his wild desires.
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