That night, the entire administrative bureau knew about Xue Yuanqing’s predicament.
The evolved beasts had mutated a new ability!
The lights in the administrative bureau stayed on all night as Huo Lingqi’s technical team arrived through the spatial tunnel. They immediately began analyzing surveillance footage, collecting blood and tissue samples from both Xue Yuanqings, and holding meetings.
The current findings suggested that the evolved beasts’ transformation ability could repair physical injuries to some extent. This might explain why the beast king, even while gravely wounded, had chosen to replicate Xue Yuanqing-it was a survival strategy.
In simple terms, the beast king likely needed to remain in Xue Yuanqing’s form for an extended period to stabilize and adapt, rendering it incapable of reverting to its original beast form anytime soon.
This also means that it has no choice but to continue its disguise. In its current situation, even if it could revert to its original form, escape is impossible. To survive, it must remain in its guise indefinitely.
By early morning, the technical team confirmed that it was impossible to distinguish between the two Xue Yuanqings based on blood or tissue samples. This brought the matter to a deadlock-for Xue Yuanqing, at least.
For everyone else, solving the issue of the beast king was simple: kill both individuals.
…
Morning.
Xu Yin had fallen asleep for a while in Huo Lingqi’s office. When he woke up, the room was empty.
Stepping out to search, he spotted Xiao Jiu coming out of a conference room.
Xiao Jiu pointed inside and lowered his voice. “They’re in a video conference with the Xingyun Council.”
Xu Yin glanced at the tightly shut doors of the conference room.
Xiao Jiu smirked. “You might all be heading back to the main star system soon.”
The Xingyun Council was now fully aware of and convinced about Xu Yin’s breakthrough method for advancing spiritual power. In fact, four members of Huo Lingqi’s team had already mastered this ability under Xu Yin’s guidance. Over the past two days, they’d traveled to the front lines, helping other members of the Ninth Legion unlock their potential.
By this point, any attempt by the Xingyun Council to act against them was too late.
Especially since several council members had confirmed that their people could also benefit from this breakthrough. When representatives like Xue’s and Ming’s fathers tried to hold Huo Lingqi accountable, those members remained strategically silent.
Without unanimous agreement, the council’s powers couldn’t be exercised.
Xue’s and Ming’s fathers found themselves isolated. Their attempts to target Huo Lingqi and Xu Yin turned into a one-sided show. If this continued, everyone would soon have the spiritual power of a five-star general-except for their people. What would be the point of their influence then?
Both fathers were furious, nearly spitting blood.
Upon learning what had happened to Xue Yuanqing, Xue’s father nearly fainted.
On the holographic screen in the conference room, Xue’s father clenched his teeth and snarled, “Bring Ming Yi and Yuanqing back immediately. Prepare to depart at once!”
Huo Lingqi lowered his gaze and said calmly, “No.”
One simple and straightforward word.
The others were momentarily speechless, coughing lightly to cover their discomfort—especially Councilor Xue.
He staggered slightly, stood up, and slammed the table. “Huo Lingqi, what do you mean by this?!”
Huo Lingqi: “If Xu Yin and the others return to the main star system with us, Xue Yuanqing can go back with us too.”
In other words, if Xu Yin and the others are not allowed to return, then Xue Yuanqing won’t return either.
“Huo Lingqi, are you threatening us?!” Councilor Xue gasped, his breathing labored. “What do you take the decisions of the Council for?!”
Huo Lingqi lifted his gaze.
He replied coldly, “I have ample reason to suspect that, once Xue Yuanqing returns to the main star system, you might act out of personal interest and refuse to cooperate with the investigation. Moreover, the incidents that took place on the planet under your former subordinates’ management have yet to be fully clarified. Councilor Xue, you yourself are under suspicion.”
Councilor Xue’s face turned an alarming shade of purple.
“Xue Yuanqing’s matter was assigned to me from the beginning, and I will see it through to the end,” Huo Lingqi said slowly. “Where I am, Xue Yuanqing must remain.”
“And if Xu Yin and the others cannot return to the main star system, then neither will he.”
There was no room for negotiation.
Councilor Xue pointed a trembling finger at Huo Lingqi, looking as though he might faint at any moment.
At this point, a few others finally coughed lightly and spoke up.
“Xu Yin and the others have contributed significantly; a little flexibility wouldn’t hurt. Think of the bigger picture, old Xue.” They patted Councilor Xue on the back, their tone laden with hidden meaning.
Councilor Xue clutched his forehead, looking like he was on the verge of collapse.
Councilor Ming cast a cold, calculating gaze over the others in the room.
In just a few short days, everything seemed to have turned upside down, spinning completely out of their control.
—
Huo Lingqi’s uncompromising stance resulted in their departure three days later.
Lu Yuan and the others were taken aback by how quickly they were able to return to the main star system. Still in a daze, it wasn’t until they fully grasped the situation that their eyes lit up with excitement.
It took a full day to travel from the exile planet to the military headquarters on the S-grade star, even with the use of space jumps.
As they arrived above the military headquarters, Lu Yuan and the others all leaned by the windows, gazing at the familiar scene below—
They were all military academy students, and had once visited the military headquarters during an organized trip.
This place had once been their dream, but later became an unreachable goal for them throughout their lives.
But now, they are back.
Their eyes slightly reddened.
Xu Yin also quietly watched the view outside.
He sensed someone approaching from behind. Turning his head slightly, the man walked to his side and spoke softly, “You, Lu Yuan and the others will stay in the Ninth Legion dormitory for a while.”
“But it won’t be long before you can leave,” Huo Lingqi said, meeting his gaze and making a serious promise.
The day they left the dormitory would also be the day they regained their freedom.
Xu Yin smiled and turned around, wrapping his arms around Huo Lingqi’s waist. He tilted his head and asked, “Then, General Huo, will you stay in the dorm with me during this time?”
Huo Lingqi froze, his ears turning red.
His gaze shifted around before he nodded and murmured, “Mm.”
Xu Yin’s smile deepened.
Huo Lingqi’s expression changed, and he grew serious again. “But in the next few days, I’ll have a lot to handle. I might not have much time to be with you.”
Xu Yin chuckled, about to say that it was fine, as he was only teasing him. But to his surprise, General Huo sneakily placed something in his hand.
Xu Yin looked down and saw that it was a small photo.
In the photo, General Huo was dressed in his military uniform, his expression stern, stiff, and tense, yet he was trying to force a smile at the corner of his lips.
Judging by the 45-degree angle of the shot, it seemed like a selfie.
Xu Yin: “…?”
“When I’m not around, you can look at my photo,” Huo Lingqi said, his ears flushing red. His gaze flickered, and his tone was restrained.
Xu Yin: “…??”
Suddenly, he thought of something, lifting his eyes to inquire, “Did Lu Yuan tell you this?”
General Huo stiffened, seemingly not expecting to be exposed so quickly.
Xu Yin raised an eyebrow.
General Huo’s gaze once again wandered.
His reaction was too honest; it was almost like an answer in itself.
Xu Yin held back a laugh, staring at him as he asked, “When did Lu Yuan tell you? What exactly did he say?”
General Huo’s face turned even redder. He pursed his lips and gave Xu Yin a shy look.
Huh? What kind of look was that?
Xu Yin paused, narrowing his eyes as a mischievous itch began to grow in his heart.
What exactly had Lu Yuan told this guy?
He smiled and reached up to gently stroke the edge of Huo Lingqi’s ear, leaning closer and asking, “Are you going to tell me?”
General Huo’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
“General Huo,” Xu Yin whispered, “Do you still want to break through your mental powers together tonight?”
Huo Lingqi: “!”
He straightened his back, hesitating.
Xu Yin leaned in closer to his ear. “What level are we at now?”
“We don’t know how many times it’ll take to reach the next level, but General Huo is so amazing, it should be soon, right…”
The more Xu Yin spoke, the redder Huo Lingqi’s face became, his body growing more tense.
At some point, Huo Lingqi couldn’t hold back any longer. With a swift motion, he wrapped his arms tightly around Xu Yin.
Xu Yin paused, leisurely looking at him.
Huo Lingqi pursed his lips, leaned close to Xu Yin’s ear, and shyly murmured the words he had heard that day.
Words about love at first sight and being unable to extricate himself.
About feelings of attraction and liking.
Xu Yin was stunned.
…What had Lu Yuan told this guy?!
Huo Lingqi, shy and hesitant, stammered for a while before finishing. He gently pushed Xu Yin away a little, cautiously observing his reaction.
Xu Yin gave him an expression that said it all, staring at him for a while… Then he suddenly burst out laughing.
Huo Lingqi: “?”
Xu Yin laughed so hard his shoulders shook, lifting a hand to cover his mouth.
Oh my God.
Huo Lingqi suddenly thought of something. His face changed slightly as he hesitated, “Lu Yuan lied to me?”[mfn]TL: LY be dead rn 😆[/mfn]
Xu Yin, still smiling, leaned back into the man’s embrace, resting his forehead against his shoulder. His voice was still laced with laughter, and his shoulders were still shaking. “…Mm, he lied to you.”
Huo Lingqi’s expression froze.
The next moment, he heard the youth in his arms continue to laugh and say, “Because my feelings for you are even deeper than what he said.”
Huo Lingqi was stunned.
“Love at first sight, unable to extricate myself…” Xu Yin took a deep breath, smiling as he closed his eyes and sighed softly, “It’s already deeper than that.”
Idiot.[mfn]TL: How I love XY teased his Lao gong any time he get the chance to hahaha[/mfn]
kyaaaa, that was a direct shot to my heart . thanks for the translation.