Three days after Ah Sui became the leader of the interstellar pirates, the majority of the troops had gradually relocated to the cold northern regions. The winter sun cast slanting rays through bare branches, creating a patchwork of shadows on the ground. Ravens flapped their wings and perched on tree tops, their hoarse calls echoing in the snowy silence, amplifying the desolation.
It was too cold outside, and Ah Sui was reluctant to venture out. Instead, he spent the entire day inside the starship, polishing the sword in his hands. Little did he realize that this only deepened the impression among the other interstellar pirates that he was unfathomable.
“Creak—”
A thin layer of ice had formed on the ground, making a crisp sound every time a zerg scurried across. An interstellar pirate on guard duty, holding a gun, craned his neck to look through the porthole. Inside, he saw a black-haired young male in a white shirt, sitting cross-legged on the floor, earnestly polishing the sword in his hands. His face was handsome in the sunlight, with a slight dimple visible when he pursed his lips.
Oh, what a handsome male zerg.
The interstellar pirate silently marveled in his heart, then turned his head and spat onto the snowy ground beside him. Normally, females shouldn’t be so rough, otherwise it would be hard to find a male lord in the future. But they were all desperate outlaws; who would care about such things? Speaking sweetly was as casual as eating and drinking.
“Damn it, the Klayt Alliance has swapped so many leaders big and small, I never thought a male zerg would snatch the position of the big boss!”
Another interstellar pirate was nearby, patrolling hesitantly. Frowning at his companion’s words, he hushed him with a “shh”: “Lower your voice. What if Boss Ah Sui hears you? Focus on patrolling properly and stop thinking about this nonsense.”
As they spoke, a tall and slender female zerg suddenly approached from a distance. He had a short gun at his waist and several guards trailing behind him. In his hands, he held a large iron cage covered with black cloth, the contents inside shrouded in mystery.
Upon seeing him, the two interstellar pirates raised their hands in salute together. “Second Leader!”
The tall, slender female zerg known as Second Leader halted in front of them. His cheeks were slightly sunken, with high cheekbones, and his reddish-brown hair twisted and knotted, interspersed with flecks of snow. It was evident he hadn’t groomed it in quite some time. His voice was low and hoarse: “Where’s the Big Boss?”
One interstellar pirate replied honestly, “Second Leader, the Big Boss has been resting inside the starship all day today and hasn’t really come out.”
Second Leader waved his hand at the response. “I have important matters to discuss with the Big Boss. Stand back and keep others away.”
Once he finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the starship, ordering the guards to bring the mysterious black iron cage along with them. As the hatch closed, it cut off the scene inside.
“Phew!” One of the interstellar pirates spat on the ground once he was out of earshot, grumbling, “Carlos, that opportunistic guy. He just got the last boss killed and now he’s sucking up to the new boss. He’s born to be a captain!”
His companion was quite curious, “He carried in a black cage. What’s inside?”
The interstellar pirate lowered his voice, “What else could it be? Remember that noble general from the Empire who was ambushed and captured by Carlos not long ago? He’s definitely planning to present him to the Big Boss, trying to curry favor.”
His companion, upon hearing this, became quite envious and resentful, “Why don’t they offer us up? We’re female zergs too, and the Big Boss looks so handsome. It wouldn’t be a loss to be marked by him.”
The interstellar pirate looked him up and down, delivering a blunt blow, “You? Forget about it. Unless you can grow a pair of wings as beautiful as those of the southern female zergs, they’re a rare treasure.”
His companion finally realized what he meant, “So that female zerg is from the south. No wonder Carlos wants to offer him to the Big Boss. Zerg wings are meant for flying, not for being cut off and collected by those weird male zergs. I still prefer my ugly wings.”
A chilling north wind swept through, its howling echoing across the mountains, swirling up a flurry of snowflakes.
Inside the starship, there was a constant temperature setting. The colder it was outside, the warmer it felt inside. Ah Sui was already feeling sleepy and yawning, but he had to force himself to stay alert to deal with Carlos, who suddenly showed up at his door. “Do you have something to discuss with me?”
Carlos, now in his forties, hadn’t expected to bow to a young zerg barely into adulthood. However, recalling Ah Sui’s unpredictable skills, his smile became even more flattering. “Big Boss, you’ve only just taken over this position recently. Normally, there should be two female zergs attending to your every need. But those underlings are all big and clumsy, and I figured you wouldn’t fancy them. So, I’ve prepared a gift especially for you.”
Ah Sui, who was yawning moments ago, perked up at Carlos’ words. He reached for his long sword and stood up from the ground, asking, “A gift? What kind of gift?”
Carlos gestured towards the cage covered in black cloth. “Please, Boss, take a look.”
He finished speaking and with a flourish, he lifted the black cloth covering the cage. Inside was a female zerg covered in bruises and wounds. His upper body clothing had been stripped off, and he wore only military pants on his lower body. His hands and feet were shackled, and due to space constraints, he was forced to kneel halfway inside the cage. His robust physique was exposed to the air, gleaming with a shine akin to white jade. However, inexplicably, it was crisscrossed with many red whip marks, and there was an unhealed blood hole on his right shoulder.
Ah Sui was momentarily stunned, not expecting this to be the nature of the “gift.”
Meanwhile, Carlos mistakenly thought Ah Sui was struck dumb by the beauty of the “female zerg.” He explained with a smug smile, “Boss, this female zerg is from the southern clan of Yinchatait. They’re said to have the most beautiful wings in the world. However, due to their rarity, they’re extremely hard to find. Many elites desire to collect a pair of wings from a southern female zerg.”
He finished speaking and took a slender feather stick from one of the guards. Like teasing a bird, he reached through the bars and forcefully lifted the female zerg’s face. “Boss, this military leader was in charge of pursuing us not long ago. For safety reasons, I’ve put electronic shackles on him. If you wish to enjoy him, you only need to use a key to open the cage.”
In this world, females are more numerous than males, as the precious males are often too proud and indulgent. Consequently, females endure countless oppressions. Most of the interstellar pirates in the Klayt Alliance are ordinary zergs who, in their rebellion against the shackles on their shoulders, do not hesitate to break laws and betray the empire. Ironically, fate dictates that one day they find themselves placing shackles back on their own kind.
Ah Sui, upon hearing this, instinctively looked towards the cage. Unexpectedly, he met a pair of pale blue eyes that were gentler than moonlight. The other’s golden hair was disheveled against their pale cheeks. However, being in the cage, their expression was cold and resentful, like a canary weeping blood on the verge of death.
Ah Sui was once again taken aback by what he saw.
Carlos stepped forward, offering a silver key to Ah Sui earnestly. “Boss, please trust my loyalty. The rumors against me outside are all false. I never harmed the previous Big Boss, and I would never harm you either.”
Ah Sui hesitated as he looked at the key in front of him, contemplating whether to take it. Suddenly, a deep voice sounded from outside, “The Big Boss certainly wouldn’t doubt your loyalty, nor would he refuse your gift.”
Carlos looked over instinctively and saw a dark figure that had silently opened the hatch and entered the starship. The cold wind rushed in through the gap behind him, eager to enter the starship, but was securely shut out when the door closed.
Carlos hesitated for a moment, then said with uncertain meaning, “So, it’s the ‘Strategist’.”
The zerg referred to as the “Strategist” was dressed entirely in black, covered from head to toe, with only a pair of eyes visible, also black. He spoke calmly, “You’re too kind. I’m just the boss’s attendant, not a strategist.”
Upon hearing this, Ah Sui, perhaps influenced by the hint, finally took the silver key from Carlos. “The Strategist is right. I won’t doubt your loyalty.”
Upon hearing this, Carlos finally showed a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. Seeing that the new boss’s gaze was fixed on the cage, he figured Ah Sui must be eager to make use of his “gift.” Sensing the moment, Carlos tactfully excused himself, “Then, I’ll take my leave. If you need anything else, please feel free to command us.”
He finished speaking and waved his hand, then left with his guards. Now, the large starship was left with only three individuals, more precisely, two humans and one zerg.
Ah Sui, observing this, tossed his sword aside and approached the cage, feeling for the lock as he prepared to unlock it with the key. However, the female zerg inside the cage sensed his approach and suddenly let out a warning roar, causing the cage to rattle loudly as she struggled intensely.
“Suizhi! Don’t get close to him!”
The “Strategist” swiftly pulled Ah Sui away and whispered urgently, “He’s still in a half-zerg combat state. When he loses control, he’ll attack you.”
Ah Sui, upon hearing this, noticed that the female zerg’s eyes had turned crimson at some point. Instinctively, he asked, “Brother Cenfeng, what should we do? He’s a living person; we can’t keep him in the cage forever.”
The zerg in black clothing paused, then slowly took off his hat, revealing a young face. Like Ah Sui, he had black hair and black eyes, clearly from the same place. “Let’s wait a few days. In a few days, he’ll regain his senses. But you can’t release him now; the other interstellar pirates outside will kill him.”
He knew the young man’s thoughts were straightforward, so he didn’t bother to correct the use of the word “person.”
Ah Sui thought about it and reluctantly dismissed the idea. He sat on the steps, resting his chin on his hands as he looked at the dark iron cage. He noticed the zerg inside was completely naked. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned to Xu Cenfeng and asked, “Brother Cenfeng, can I give him some clothes? He’s not wearing anything.”
Unless necessary, Xu Cenfeng preferred not to interfere with any decisions Ah Sui made. “You’re the boss. You can do whatever you want.”
Upon hearing this, Ah Sui stood up and looked around the room. Finally, he rummaged through a storage cabinet and found a blanket. He seemed cautious, afraid the female zerg might go berserk again. Carefully and slowly, he approached the edge of the iron cage and pushed the blanket through the gap.
The female zerg didn’t rage forward again, not because he felt safe, but because he had lost too much blood and had no strength left to struggle. He lay weak and pale in a corner of the cage, the wound on his shoulder reopening and starting to bleed again.
Ah Sui inexplicably recalled his time living in the mountains when he once found an injured canary under a tree. He couldn’t save it, and it died within three days. Now, he felt like a busy hamster, frantically searching around for medications that could heal wounds. Finally, he found a well-equipped medical kit.
Xu Cenfeng was originally using instruments to survey the surrounding terrain, but upon noticing, he couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing?”
Ah Sui pointed to the cage. “He’s bleeding.”
Xu Cenfeng didn’t say anything more, calmly redirecting his gaze. “Use the hemostatic powder from the red bottle.”
Ah Sui acknowledged with a grunt, then located the red bottle of hemostatic powder and poured it directly into his palm. He moved around to the back of the iron cage, cautiously reaching towards the wound on the female zerg’s shoulder. Unexpectedly, he extended his claw suddenly in an attempt to scratch him, prompting Ah Sui to reflexively grasp his wrist.
The female zerg’s hands also bore whip marks, likely inflicted by Carlos during severe interrogation. Ah Sui’s fingertips touched a sticky patch of fresh blood, causing him to pause slightly before easing his grip. “Don’t be afraid,” he said softly.
He seemed afraid that Xu Cenfeng might overhear, so after speaking, he crouched down quietly near the railing. His ears peaked out from under his black hair, gently moving as he looked at him with his dark, innocent eyes, resembling a furry little dog. “Shh, once you’re healed, I’ll let you go.”
“…”
The female zerg seemed disoriented, unsure if he understood his words. Gradually, the tension in his fingertips eased, and his claws quietly retracted.
Observing this, Ah Sui released his grip, then carefully sprinkled the medicinal powder through the bars onto his wound, earnestly bandaging it. His body emitted a pheromone akin to the sweetness of a lollipop, reminiscent of fluffy and soft cotton candy, melting sweetly on the tongue.
The female zerg inside the cage, in a semi-conscious state, seemed to sense something. Suddenly, he emitted a low, muffled groan and furrowed his beautiful brows. His pale cheeks flushed red, like rouge staining snow, vivid against his pallor.
Ah Sui was completely unaware; he was simply curious about why the female zerg’s hair was golden. He quietly reached out to touch it for a moment, then quickly withdrew his hand.
Xu Cenfeng suddenly spoke up, “Ah Sui, stand back.”
Ah Sui instinctively looked up, “Huh? Why?”
Xu Cenfeng paused before explaining, “It’s nearing estrus period for him. The pheromones on you could drive him wild and out of control.”
Ah Sui heard him and was about to say something, but Xu Cenfeng interrupted directly: “You’re not allowed to ask me what estrus period is, nor are you allowed to ask me what pheromones are.”
Ah Sui: “…”
Ah Sui scratched his head, looking somewhat distressed. Since the bus had fallen off the cliff and overturned, he felt not only that the world around him had become strange but even his childhood friend had become strange too.
“Brother Cenfeng, can we not be interstellar pirates?” Ah Sui asked.
Xu Cenfeng retorted, “Who said we are interstellar pirates?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the display screen inside the starship suddenly lit up, starting to broadcast the daily interstellar news. On the screen appeared a perfectly groomed young female zerg, his sweet voice echoing through the starship, inexplicably quieting the air:
“Dear viewers, good morning. Today is December 1st in the Zerg Calendar. Welcome to today’s interstellar news…”
“According to recent reports, the elusive Klayt Interstellar Pirate Alliance, which has been roaming the outer regions for years, has been located. Reliable sources indicate that this group of pirates recently engaged in a fierce internal conflict. The faction led by their chief Klayt lost the struggle and was assassinated by his own subordinates…”
“The remaining pirates seized a batch of precious male zergs piloting starships and fled. They were last seen in the depths near Lagona Sea several days ago. The Empire has since dispatched forces, led by Major General Blairand, to undertake a rescue mission…”
Alongside the anchoring voice of the news broadcast, a picture of a blonde, blue-eyed female zerg appeared on the screen. He was dressed in platinum military attire, exuding an elegant and gentle demeanor, clearly raised with a fine education, resembling a refined young nobleman.
Ah Sui inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity. He glanced at the screen, then at the female zerg confined in the cage, suddenly realizing his identity. “Brother Cenfeng, he’s the person from the news!”
Xu Cenfeng calmly nodded.
Ah Sui asked dumbfoundedly, “So, are we still interstellar pirates?”
Xu Cenfeng nodded again.
Boom!
Ah Sui was struck as if by lightning at these words, collapsing onto the ground. Clutching his precious sword in despair, he deeply regretted, his head hung low in frustration, “That day in the forest when we got lost, we should have taken the right path. If we had gone right, we wouldn’t have been caught by these villains. If we hadn’t been caught by these villains, we wouldn’t have had to run away. If we hadn’t run away, they wouldn’t have found us, and we wouldn’t have ended up in this senseless fight, becoming their leader.”
It’s truly a long and complicated story.
Ah Sui couldn’t help but recall the day when the tour bus overturned. The entire bus full of passengers fell off the cliff, but by a stroke of luck, only he and the tour guide, Xu Cenfeng, ended up in the same dense forest. There, they experienced several months of wilderness survival together.
Back then, the land wasn’t yet covered in white snow. The dense forest was shaded with lush vegetation, where plants grew wild and obscured the sky.
Using his long sword as a cane, Ah Sui struggled to walk along a path filled with marshes. His little face, normally fair, was now covered in ash-like grime, looking pitiful. “Brother Cenfeng, how much longer until we can get out of here? Forests like this usually take at most ten days to get through, and we’ve been here for several months already.”
Unaware of Xu Cenfeng’s deliberate circling through the dense forest, Ah Sui, with his penchant for getting lost, couldn’t fathom that Xu Cenfeng was following their predestined path from a previous life. “Don’t worry, we’ll be out soon,” Xu Cenfeng assured him.
Ah Sui, however, no longer trusted him. “You’re lying again. You said the same thing months ago.”
Xu Cenfeng responded, “Didn’t you learn ancient martial arts in the village when you were young? The environment here is similar to Folang Village; just think of it as being back in the village.”
Ah Sui looked like a dejected puppy. “But I could eat well in the village. Here, I can’t eat enough.”
Xu Cenfeng calmly handed him a bitter-tasting wild fruit. “That’s because you’re picky.”
“…”
Ah Sui didn’t take the fruit. His ears twitched, and he heard something. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he pointed into the distance. “Brother Cenfeng! Listen! Is someone coming?! I hear the sound of an aircraft!”
After Ah Sui finished speaking, without waiting for Xu Cenfeng’s response, he used his lightness skill to leap out of the marsh, moving as gracefully as a swallow. Finding a clear spot, he vigorously waved his arms towards the sky. Sure enough, he spotted faint specks in the distance, excitedly shouting, “Brother Cenfeng, it must be my grandpa coming to find me!”
“Grandpa! Grandpa! I’m here!!”
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