They landed at the Ninth Legion training grounds in the military department.
It was the Ninth Legion’s headquarters, so most of the people waiting here early were soldiers from the Ninth Legion who had been stationed in the main star system during this period, with some other legions possibly joining in for the excitement.
As soon as Huo Lingqi and the others disembarked from their starship, the Ninth Legion personnel cheered, while others secretly clicked their tongues.
Had Xu Yin only been sent to the exile planet a few months ago?
Just a little over two months!
And now, he has returned in such a high-profile manner!
Huo Lingqi, with an unreasonable attitude and completely disregarding the Xingyun Council, brought Xu Yin and the other five back. What message did this convey? Everyone more or less understood, and surely Councilor Xue and Councilor Ming knew it too. While they appeared calm on the surface, what were they really thinking inside… who knows?
When gods fight, it’s none of their business as lowly soldiers. What concerned them more was Xu Yin’s breakthrough method for enhancing mental strength.
It must be said that long before this, many had been secretly watching Xu Yin’s jokes—he was clearly the son of General Xu, the iron-blooded warrior, yet his mental strength was weak, and he had entered the military academy to pursue a civilian career.
However, after Xu Yin’s return, many people’s eyes on him had changed, becoming extremely fervent.
Among them were a few people who, two months ago, were still military academy students but had now become official members of the military department. They never expected that in just two months, everything would turn upside down.
Two months ago, they had been gossiping about Xu Yin behind the scenes, mocking him, and feeling smug and relieved that they no longer had to flatter him.
Two months later, they had entered Councilor Xue’s and Councilor Ming’s factions… and could only watch helplessly as the Ninth Legion personnel’s mental strength skyrocketed, turning green with envy and rage, but unable to do anything!
As soon as Xu Yin disembarked from the starship, he felt the many gazes converging on him. He lifted his eyes and, without intending to, caught sight of the senior from two months ago.
The senior gave him a stiff, familiar, and sycophantic smile.
Xu Yin calmly averted his gaze.
Although the original host had been arrogant, he had never demanded that others flatter him.
Those people had taken that posture on their own, and after General Xu was imprisoned, they acted as if they had been oppressed for a long time and seemed to take pleasure in their revenge against the original host.
It was all quite baffling.
Of course, there would always be inexplicable people in the world.
When the seniors noticed Xu Yin only took a glance before walking away with a calm expression, they stiffened and their faces turned ugly, but no one paid attention to them, as everyone’s attention was quickly drawn to the next person who appeared.
…Xue Yuanqing appeared!
Two Xue Yuanqings, both wearing handcuffs and neck chains, heads lowered, walked out timidly.
Everyone immediately began to discuss in hushed tones, uncertainty in their voices.
—They really look exactly the same! There’s no way to tell who’s real and who’s fake, this beast ability is terrifying!
At that moment, Xue Yuanqing had a number “1” on his forehead. Feeling the gazes on him, he wished he could bury himself in the ground.
He never expected to return to the main star system in this state… At this moment, he even wished to perish alongside the beast beside him that looked just like him!
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly called out from a distance: “Yuanqing!”
Xue Yuanqing trembled, quickly lifting his gaze, and saw his father walking briskly toward him, eyes wide.
Xu Yin and Huo Lingqi exchanged a glance upon seeing the newcomer.
Councilor Xue walked over with large strides, accompanied by others.
Xue Yuanqing’s eyes immediately turned red. The grievances he had been holding back surged to the surface. He opened his mouth to call out, but just then, a deeply sorrowful voice sounded next to him: “Dad!”
Xue Yuanqing froze, stiffening in place.
He stiffly turned his head and saw the other him, identical in every way, tears already streaming down to his chin.
Xue Yuanqing: “??? You!”
His face turned ashen, but the person next to him completely ignored him, stumbling forward in a state of sorrow.
Although Councilor Xue had known about this matter beforehand, seeing two identical Xue Yuanqings standing before him still made him uneasy and hesitant… He was worried he might not recognize his own son!
However, when the Xue Yuanqing with the “2” on his forehead called out to him, old Xue focused, and when he saw those red eyes, those flowing tears, and that staggered gait…
It was undoubtedly his poor son!
Old Xue opened his arms and rushed toward “Number 2,” crying, “Yuanqing!!”
Xue Yuanqing: “???”
He was so angry he almost lost control, “Dad, I’m Yuanqing! He’s an evolutionary beast!”
Old Xue was startled and quickly stopped in his tracks.
Number 2, with tears in his eyes, gazed at Old Xue and said sorrowfully, “Dad, you don’t recognize me? You believe the beast so easily?”
Old Xue continued to sob as he opened his arms toward Number 2, “Yuanqing!!”
“???” Xue Yuanqing roared, “Dad! Old Xue, open your eyes and see clearly, I’m your son!!”
Number 2 immediately muttered in a small voice, “Dad, look, he dared to yell at you!”
Old Xue’s brows furrowed, and he pointed at Xue Yuanqing, shouting, “My son would never be so fierce! Stop pretending, beast, I’ve seen through your disguise!”[mfn]TL: Then u don’t know your own son old man[/mfn]
Xue Yuanqing staggered, utterly in disbelief.
He panted, furiously shouting, and charged toward Number 2. But before he could reach him, Number 2 “yelped” and fell to the ground. Then, looking at Old Xue, he said weakly, “Dad, you see…”
Old Xue yelled at the top of his lungs, “Where’s the person in charge, quickly take that evolutionary beast away!!”
Xue Yuanqing: “?????”
He wanted to kill someone!!
The scene had descended into chaos, and the onlookers were stunned. Although they didn’t know which of the two was the real beast king, they were certain that the acting of the beast had earned everyone’s approval!
Xiao Jiu: “Why even pretend to be an evolutionary beast? Might as well stay human forever.”
Lu Yuan: “Exactly, after getting out of prison, you could make big money in the entertainment industry. Isn’t that great?”
In just a few minutes, Old Xue was thoroughly convinced that he had recognized his real son and was determined to have Number 1, Xue Yuanqing, eliminated so that his son, Number 2, Xue Yuanqing, could be freed as soon as possible.
At this moment, Xue Yuanqing not only wanted to kill the beast but also wanted to kill his own father!
Huo Lingqi didn’t give Old Xue a chance to keep causing trouble and directly had Xiao Jiu and Lu Yuan escort the person to the military prison.
Xue Yuanqing was in despair.
After being locked in the prison, he whispered to Number 2, the beast, “What do you need to do to admit you’re a beast? Now that we’re back in the main star system, with my dad here, even if you admit your identity, he could find a way to protect you. Please spare me!”
Number 2 glanced at him and scoffed, “Huo Lingqi was able to openly bring prisoners back to the main star system, do you think your dad still has the power to protect me?”
Without waiting for Xue Yuanqing to react, Number 2 clutched his chest dramatically and said weakly, “Evolutionary beast, please spare me. This is so painful, so painful!”
Xue Yuanqing nearly spit blood!
Where did this green tea beast come from?!
He wanted to bite him to death! He absolutely wanted to bite him to death!
After Xu Yin and the others arrived at the Ninth Legion’s headquarters, they rested for a bit—some were unloading mechas, others were making small talk.
Huo Lingqi quickly disappeared, running off to attend a meeting.
Their dorms were already arranged, and Xu Yin was directly taken to the room where Huo Lingqi usually stayed. Before leaving, Xiao Jiu even winked at him, causing Xu Yin to chuckle.
The general’s room was no different from the other soldiers’ rooms.
Since it hadn’t been used for a long time, everything in the room was neatly organized, and because it was regularly cleaned, it was very tidy.
However, there was one special thing—when Xu Yin entered the room, a small robotic dog trotted up to him and barked up at him: “Woof!”
Xu Yin focused and saw that the metallic little dog was almost entirely black, with only a white patch on its belly. He couldn’t help but laugh and sigh.
In the previous world, it could transform into a human; in this world, it had turned into a little robotic dog?
Xu Yin squatted down and picked up the small robotic dog, teasing it, “Little Black, has the world downgraded again?”
The little robot dog shook its ears and tilted its head, “Woof woof woof!”
Xu Yin pinched its ear, “In the next world, will you still be able to just be a dog?”
The little robot dog let out a howl, “Awooo!”[mfn]TL: Our little black cutie patootie😚[/mfn]
Hmm, it seemed quite spirited.
…
After teasing Little Black, Xu Yin took a bath and waited for Huo Lingqi to return, staying up until 10 PM.
General Huo always wore that indifferent expression, but as soon as he opened the door and saw Xu Yin, the coldness melted away immediately.
He raised the corner of his lips, walked over, and hugged Xu Yin, planting a kiss on him before softly saying, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“General Huo doesn’t want to break through his mental strength anymore?” Xu Yin teased.
Huo Lingqi’s smile deepened.
He kissed Xu Yin again, then removed his coat and went into the bathroom.
…
Three hours later, after the “extreme physical exertion” workout, Xu Yin, feeling a bit tired, curled up in Huo Lingqi’s arms, drifting into a drowsy state.
The man’s fingertips lightly brushed through his hair.
“The Council has decided to change people today,” Huo Lingqi said softly.
Xu Yin opened his eyes and looked up at Huo Lingqi.
“Two of the councilors are too old, in poor health, and lack the energy to continue handling the Xingyun Council’s affairs,” Huo Lingqi explained slowly. “So, Xiao Ya and Huo Ning will temporarily take over until the next election.”
Xiao Ya was a close friend of Huo Lingqi, and Huo Ning was his father.
These two were the ones who secretly rescued General Xu and the others in the beginning.
So things had already reached this point, Xu Yin thought to himself.
Huo Lingqi went on to whisper more details to him.
Initially, the goal of this session of the Council had been unity, but many of them didn’t know what the Xue and Ming families were secretly planning.
—The Xue and Ming families had secretly colluded with evolutionary beasts, engaging in illicit exchanges of interests, aiming to eliminate rival factions and then take down the Council to become the rulers of the interstellar era.
Did the people of the Council ever imagine things would develop this way? No, they never did. If it weren’t for Huo Lingqi’s father warning them, they would still be naively working for the Xue and Ming families as pawns.
Of course, regardless of what they thought, the situation had reached the point of no return. It was almost like the masks had been completely torn off.
So everything was moving fast now.
…
The undercurrents within the Xingyun Council were palpable, and everyone could feel it. But what the outcome would ultimately be was beyond their control, so most people continued with their lives as usual.
Living “according to plan” also included—
Xiao Jiu: “You guys are in a special situation, so you can’t officially be part of the military yet. For now, you six will be arranged into your own team. Every team has a name, so think of one for yours.”
Lu Yuan and Yan Shui exchanged a look.
