Part 3
But he also knew that the Marshal refused the healer’s treatment because he wanted the healers to conserve a bit more healing power to save other injured soldiers. However… thinking about the energy stones, he could only turn back and dutifully go fetch the box.
Not long after Ning Yunyi returned to the room, Zong Hao came over. Looking completely refreshed, he wore a very clean robe, but his hair was completely wet. Having come in such a hurry, he hadn’t even dried it.
Ichi rushed over, hugging the box. Catching sight of this scene, he said: “Marshal hey, slow down a bit. Without this box, what are you going to do about your injury?”
Seeing the box, Ning Yunyi suddenly remembered the box of energy stones he had given him previously. Looking again at Zong Hao’s dripping wet hair, he said, “How about you dry your hair first.”
Zong Hao shook his head. “It’s fine, it will dry in a bit.” It was so late, and he was genuinely afraid Ning Yunyi wouldn’t get enough sleep. Getting things done quickly so he could go back and dry it then wouldn’t be too late.
Ning Yunyi didn’t speak, just quietly stared at him.
Zong Hao capitulated within three seconds and turned to look at Ichi. “Where’s the towel?”
Ichi: “…” Fine. In the future, if there’s any more of this refusal to listen to advice, he will just tattle to the Second Young Master.
Under Ning Yunyi’s watchful eyes, Zong Hao obediently dried his hair. With a head of long hair cascading down, he noticed Ichi was still standing there and hadn’t left. He swept a glance at him, but Ichi still didn’t catch on: “Hmm?” What’s wrong? Use the energy stones to heal; he can even lend a hand.
Zong Hao waved his hand. “Go back to your room and rest. You’re not needed here anymore.”
Ichi gave an ‘oh’ and was about to leave. After taking two steps, he realized something wasn’t right. “Ah? But this is my room! Second Young Master’s room hasn’t been allocated yet because it requires the Marshal’s approval.”
Zong Hao looked at Ichi with a bizarre expression. “You arranged for him to stay in your room?” Very good, this is truly a very ‘considerate’ subordinate.
Ichi: What else was I supposed to do? I couldn’t possibly assign him to the lower sectors. Then, walking back and forth would take several minutes, and the Marshal would probably turn into a ‘waiting-for-husband stone’, wouldn’t he?
But he was very tactful. “Since a room hasn’t been allocated yet, and I haven’t even used this safe house at all—it’s brand new, rest assured, it absolutely won’t make Second Young Master feel uncomfortable. I’ve submitted an application. Once the Marshal approves it from the backend, I’ll go build it right away.”
Zong Hao didn’t have the habit of forbidding his subordinates from resting, so he directly approved it. As the door closed, Ning Yunyi stood up. He didn’t use the energy stones; those things depleted with every use. If he used his spiritual energy, he could recover it through cultivation tomorrow. Pressing his hand over the injury through the clothes, it wasn’t long before Zong Hao clearly felt the wound, previously sliced open by a giant beetle’s sharp claws, slowly healing.
Only when not a single scar remained on the wound did Ning Yunyi retract his hand.
Zong Hao channeled his mental power and felt that the areas that were previously somewhat stagnant were now completely unhindered. He opened his eyes, a bright light in his gaze as he looked at Ning Yunyi: “Thank you.”
Ning Yunyi sat back down on the bed. “Is the situation very bad this time?”
Zong Hao didn’t hide it from Ning Yunyi. “Previously, in order to disrupt the last battle and achieve their goal of eliminating me, the Crown Prince’s people concealed and failed to report many incidents. In reality, battles that should have been cleanly eradicated were left with hidden dangers. After so long, they all erupted at once, making it very difficult to handle.” It could even be said that this was the most troublesome situation he had encountered in his decades of service. He had even spotted 3S-level mutated insects in the recent battle.
The 3S level was currently the most formidable mutated species they had encountered. Although there were also 3S-level mental power experts, the disparity in physical size meant that suppressing a 3S-level mutated insect required over a dozen experts of the same tier, plus a continuous amount of time to eradicate it.
This was already difficult enough, and there were also mutated beasts here. Although they hadn’t discovered any higher-level ones yet, it still made Zong Hao feel that the situation was extremely thorny.
Ning Yunyi furrowed his brows. He had considered that things wouldn’t be so easy this time, but he never expected it to be this severe. It was one thing for the Crown Prince to get caught himself, but to leave behind such a massive hidden danger—disregarding the safety of the entire interstellar realm for his own selfish desires—the subsequent destruction depicted in the book was truly something that could have been foreseen at a glance.
Ning Yunyi: “Do you need my help?”
Zong Hao shook his head. “Many people here are remnants left behind by the former Crown Prince. It’s impossible to completely purge them all; otherwise, there would be no one left to use. Fortunately, now that the Crown Prince has fallen, they don’t dare to stick their heads out, so things are still relatively stable for me.” But the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. If Ning Yunyi took the field this time and his true strength became known, His Majesty probably wouldn’t tolerate his existence once they returned to the Capital Star.
Unless absolutely necessary, Zong Hao didn’t want Ning Yunyi to become that prominent target.
Furthermore, this was inherently their duty. He could lay his life on the line, but Ning Yunyi didn’t have to; there was no need for him to risk his life alongside them.
Ning Yunyi heard the underlying meaning. Looking at Zong Hao, he ultimately sighed. “If it really reaches a point where it’s necessary, just say the word and I will help. At the very least, we cannot let the border fall; otherwise, it won’t be easy to suppress these things the next time.”
This place was like a line of defense. Once it fell, allowing them to spread across all major planets, the future consequences would be endless.
Zong Hao nodded. “Alright. But with this being the case, you’ll need to stay here for the next period of time.”
Ning Yunyi: “Since I came here, I’ve already made my plans. You don’t need to worry about me, just focus on your own matters. I’ll just stay here and cultivate.”
Zong Hao quickly finished his discussion with Ning Yunyi. He had to head out again early tomorrow morning. Despite his reluctance to leave, he returned to his own safe house. Long periods of combat required him to rest; even if it was short, it was better than nothing.
Over the next few days, Ning Yunyi barely saw Zong Hao. Even when the other party did return, it was only to change clothes and take a shower—always coming back in the dead of night and leaving in a hurry.
During these few days, Ning Yunyi witnessed the scene of a true insect tide bearing down on the border. Everywhere he looked, dense, overwhelmingly black swarms of giant insects filled the area. The mutated insects were even more invulnerable to blades and spears. All around, soldiers clad in mechas darted back and forth, cooperating to slay these mutated insects and giant mutated beasts.
This was only at the beginning, when Zong Hao could still manage to return for a quick visit. Later on, because his body was covered in highly toxic or bizarrely colored venom, he simply slept outside the base and didn’t come back at all.
It was Ning Yunyi’s first time realizing that this was how Zong Hao spent his days. He had guessed it wasn’t easy before, but truly seeing it with his own eyes was an entirely different matter. He couldn’t help but feel a sudden, inexplicable ache in his heart.
But there was nothing else Ning Yunyi could do to help. He could only seize every moment to cultivate and enhance his strength, so that if the time truly came when he was needed, he would be able to lend a hand.
Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, as Ning Yunyi finished cultivating and removed his shield, he sensed that it was once again chaotic outside—noisier than ever before. His heart inexplicably spasmed, and a sharp pain washed over him. He stood up, and as he walked outside, an ominous premonition inexplicably gripped him.
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