Chapter 102- Signing the Blood Oath
Four days passed quickly.
The dense swarm of insects on the battlefield had been almost cleared. Without the high-level command of the insect race, the lower-level insect groups were leaderless, seemingly like leeks waiting to be harvested by the Federation.
The various tips in the live broadcast room never ceased, and the radiant starry nebula even broke the historical record of He Ruge’s live room. The total amount of tips aimed at Xi Guican amounted to tens of billions.
The dawn of victory was on the horizon, and the barrage in the live room set off fireworks for the heroes. Everyone believed that the second star battle would soon come to an end.
Because almost all of the remaining ten high-level insect races were slain by Xi Guican, the insect race was severely weakened. There was a possibility that they might pack up and leave the seventeen stars that had already fallen, retreating to a corner to recuperate.
If the insect race didn’t leave voluntarily, then General Xi would certainly lead the Federation to recapture the lost territory.
No, perhaps he should be called Marshal Xi.
Xi Guican’s military exploits were enough to make him a marshal. Marshals wielded great power within the Federation, so a vote by the Central Star’s parliament was required for confirmation. Twenty legislators would convene a special session in ten days to vote on Xi Guican’s promotion, although everyone already anticipated the outcome.
In ten days, the Empire would witness the youngest marshal in its history.
If it weren’t for this outcome, the twenty legislators would be collectively besieged by angry interstellar citizens. A frenzy of admiration for Xi Guican swept across the entire galaxy, making him a spiritual leader. If the Federation were a monarchy, then at this moment, Xi Guican would have been ushered onto the throne by the fervent masses and crowned king.
In the latest StarNet survey on “The Person You Most Admire,” ninety-one percent of respondents chose Xi Guican.
Many people believed that Xi Guican’s life was like having cheat codes. He grew up in the Star Ocean Orphanage on the Seventeen Stars, admitted to the Federation Military Academy due to his S-rank talent, which was an exception.
The Federation Military Academy encouraged students to participate in StarNet Arena competitions, and Xi Guican had been the top player in the StarNet Arena to date. From that time on, Xi Guican had shown astonishing combat talent.
After graduation, he joined the star battle, slaying a high-level insect race in the first star battle and becoming a hotshot lieutenant general at the time. Both the Hawks and the Doves extended olive branches to him, but the young Xi Guican rejected the temptation to become a candidate legislator, returning to his private planet to become a recluse, living off the salary of a retired lieutenant general every day, enjoying a retired life.
Just when everyone thought that Xi Guican’s life would remain the same, the second star battle broke out. The resurgent insect race became even more powerful. In the second star battle, Xi Guican once again slew a high-level insect race. Just as everyone thought Xi Guican would continue to advance towards becoming a marshal, he was afflicted with Vortex Mental Devouring Syndrome and fell silent for two whole years.
When fans no longer held any hope, Xi Guican appeared with dog food in hand, showing affection with He Ruge, who possessed both a prosperous beauty and a divine voice, in front of the entire galaxy.
After showing affection, he went to the battlefield and killed ten high-level insect races alone, turning the tide of the battle.
Soon, he would become the youngest marshal in history, achieving success in both career and love.
Who could say that such a life experience wasn’t like having cheat codes?
“Xi Guican must have saved the world in his past life to be able to be with such a beautiful He Ruge.”
“But didn’t Marshal Xi save the world in this life too? Will he be with Ruge in the next life as well?!”
“Throughout history, beauties are meant for heroes. We, the commoners, are just here to eat dog food.”
“I really want to live as Xi Guican!!!”
…
Want to live as me?
Xi Guican pondered his life so far. If he could turn back time, he wouldn’t want to return to the past at all. He didn’t seek the past; he only sought the present.
During the celebration banquet held at the front line, Xi Guican hurriedly flew towards the Whale Fall City in his mecha.
He Ruge sent a message: “Guican, are you having a celebration banquet?”
In order to surprise He Ruge, Xi Guican didn’t tell him that he was coming over. He was afraid that He Ruge would figure it out if he said too much.
Xi Guican just replied with a simple “yes.”
Seeing the reply, He Ruge felt a bit disappointed. Although he knew it wasn’t realistic for Xi Guican to come over immediately, not seeing Xi Guican for so many days, even if there was just a tuft of fur, couldn’t relieve his yearning for the bald cub.
“Then you should relax and pamper yourself more, don’t overwork yourself. You haven’t rested for four consecutive days…”
He Ruge sent a long string of messages, but Xi Guican seemed busy and only replied with a few short words.
“Guican, I won’t bother you anymore.”
It was also the usual time for the live broadcast in the evening. Today, He Ruge was telling the story of “Sleeping Beauty.” When he was about to finish, a radiant starry nebula tip suddenly appeared.
It was the first god-tier tipper who tipped He Ruge with a starry nebula. He came back again and sent a barrage message confessing again: “Ruge, would you be willing to tell me stories every day?”
Before He Ruge could reply, the barrage exploded:
“Xi Guican, come out quickly! Someone wants to steal your wife!!!”
“I refuse! Even a god-tier tipper can’t covet someone who belongs to Marshal Xi!”
“The live broadcast is already on, what else do you want, buddy? Don’t be too greedy as a person.”
“Disrupting a military marriage is illegal:）”
He Ruge was stunned for a moment, “Thank you for liking my live broadcast. If you want to hear me tell stories, just tune in to the live broadcast at six every evening.”
Before he could finish, he suddenly heard the sound of the door being pushed open.
The moon outside was like a curved blade, and a silver-haired, blue-eyed officer stood at the door under the moonlight. When he saw the person in front of him, his blue eyes suddenly burst with a radiant light, as if the sea and sky were on fire.
Amidst the cries of the cubs and the screams of Shui Xirui, Xi Guican strode forward. He had rushed all the way here, his breathing erratic and difficult to calm for a moment.
His icy-cold hand grabbed He Ruge’s shoulder forcefully, and the man restrainedly kissed He Ruge’s earlobe, his hot breath spraying onto the ear, and his low, hoarse voice sounded as if it was echoing in the scalp: “I’m back.”
After saying this, Xi Guican suddenly sniffed twice, forcefully sniffing He Ruge’s neck and cheeks.
The barrage instantly exploded:
“Ah ah ah ah ah Xi Guican is really here!!!”
“Damn! Is that Marshal Xi? Is it? Is it? Is it?!”
“If anyone wants to summon Xi Guican next time, just tip a starry nebula and say you want to snatch Ruge from him.”
“Ah ah ah where are you kissing! I don’t allow you to kiss Ruge! Not allowed!!!”
Xi Guican raised his gaze, like a ferocious beast being disturbed during a meal. When his cold blue eyes looked at the camera, the barrage instantly quieted down like a chicken. They watched in horror as those clearly defined knuckles pressed down on the live broadcast with an irresistible posture, and they were so frightened that they didn’t even dare to breathe.
Shui Xirui and the cubs could more intuitively feel the terrifying aura emanating from Xi Guican. The air in the room seemed to be stagnant and heavy. When this terrifying man left with He Ruge in his arms, Water Xiruǐ finally breathed a sigh of relief, holding her breath until then.
Experiencing his second princess carry in life, different from the first one done in secret, this time, it was witnessed by the entire galaxy.
He Ruge looked helpless and said, “Guican, put me down.”
The man stopped in his tracks, and he looked down at He Ruge expressionlessly, then, without warning, lightly touched the other’s lips. He Ruge, who was kissed unexpectedly, widened his eyes in surprise, not knowing what had made Xi Guican so bold.
However, the next moment he knew the answer: “You smell like those brats who haven’t even grown up yet.”
His thin lips formed a straight line, and Xi Guican’s voice had a hint of gritted teeth: “Tell me, how many cubs have you hugged in these few days?”
His sharp blue eyes had a terrifying depth. When Xi Guican pinned He Ruge with this aggressive gaze, He Ruge suddenly felt like he was a fish on a chopping board, ready to be carved up.
Subconsciously, he confessed truthfully, “I… I hugged them all.”
Xi Guican: “!!!”
You actually hugged so many fluffy things behind my back?!
No way!
I’m going to make you smell like me!
Xi Guican took a deep breath. The various scents of others on He Ruge made him feel an uncontrollable discomfort. Big cats always had a strong sense of territory and couldn’t accept others, even cubs entering their territory and coveting their treasures.
He wrapped one arm around He Ruge’s waist and pressed the other hand against the back of He Ruge’s head, fingertips touching the soft hair, his movements gentle but showing a dominance that couldn’t be refused.
His large palm covered He Ruge’s slender neck, like a lion grasping its prey by the neck, a sensation that made He Ruge want to retreat. But before he could act, his chin was pinched by Xi Guican.
His thumb pressed against his chin, with a slight force, while the index finger rubbing against his lower lip was surprisingly gentle.
Perhaps it was because he had just rushed in from outside, or perhaps the night wind was too cold, his fingertips were slightly cool.
But his blue eyes were scorching hot, like a fire burning under ice, possessing an unyielding possessiveness so intense that any onlooker would instinctively want to flee upon seeing those terrifying blue eyes.
But He Ruge, under the gaze of those blue eyes, had nowhere to escape. His waist was encircled, his chin pinched, and he could only maintain his current posture, watching as this man approached step by step.
Though everything happened so quickly, at this moment, it seemed to play out in slow motion. He Ruge saw the dense eyelashes lowered by Xi Guican, the light color, like the chilly moonlight, and the deep blue eyes were like the turbulent sea under the moonlight, such a vast sea, capable of swallowing everything.
And he was just a fragile merman in the endless sea, surrounded by the icy and fiery ocean, the imposing waves swirling around him, the white, gently touching waves, and the deep blue, eroding seawater.
The imposing ocean washed over him, and the gentle moistness, like water, flowed from the corners of his eyes to the tips of his eyebrows, spreading down his cheeks, especially favoring his earlobes.
He Ruge was startled by the sudden sucking, letting out a surprised “Ah,” completely changing his tone.
The voice of a merman was always melodious and charming, even the sea would be moved by it. This trapped merman, with no escape, looked at the man with his eyes turning red, and whispered softly, “Not here, they will hear.”
Those blue eyes stared at the person in his arms, the dark red vertical pupils emerged due to excitement. Xi Guican exerted all his lifelong restraint to agree.
Following He Ruge’s guidance, Xi Guican quickly rushed to the bedroom. Before the door closed, Xi Guican eagerly held He Ruge’s face and kissed him.
A tiger’s tongue is barbed.
There are reefs in the sea, rough reefs, not smooth. This merman, surrounded by endless seawater, was rubbed by rough reefs…
The light lip color gradually deepened.
The long eyelashes trembled incessantly, like a butterfly caught in a net trying to escape.
In the end, those trembling eyelashes slowly fell, tears glistening at the corners of the eyes.
“Enough… Enough,” his voice trembling slightly.
The dark red vertical pupils stared straight at the person in front of him. Xi Guican’s voice was hoarse, “Not enough.”
Far from enough.
To appease Xi Guican, He Ruge tremblingly held the tiger’s tail and suggested, “Guican, why don’t we practice the second level of the Dual Cultivation Technique, ‘Ear Whispers’, together? I really want to know what the reward for the second level is. Maybe it’s the kill list we’ve been dreaming of.”
His throat rolled up and down, the gaze that could devour people from top to bottom licked He Ruge all over. Xi Guican struggled to agree.
He hugged He Ruge, and the snowy white tiger ears brushed against He Ruge’s cheeks and earlobes. Due to the infusion of spiritual energy, this embrace became agonizing.
“Gu… Guican, I suddenly remembered something,” He Ruge said tremulously, “Mao Zixie gave me a forbidden melody. It is said that anyone who listens to this melody will commit suicide. I don’t know if I should listen to this song.”
The tiger tail stopped, and the concern for He Ruge’s safety surpassed the desire in his mind. Xi Guican said in a deep voice, “Where is it?”
He Ruge breathed a sigh of relief. He opened the neural brain and pointed to the forbidden melody in the library.
Xi Guican’s pupils contracted slightly, “It’s dirty. This thing is dirty.”
He nervously asked He Ruge, “Have you heard this song before?”
“No,” He Ruge hurriedly shook his head.
“I wanted to wait for you to come back and discuss this with you.”
“As long as you haven’t heard it, what’s the unlocking password? I seem to know the origin of this thing, but I’m not sure. I want to listen to it.”
“The password is the name of its song, ‘Sacrifice’,” He Ruge said worriedly, “Will it be dangerous for you to listen to this song?”
“It can’t affect me.”
Xi Guican set the mode to be audible only to himself, entered the password, listened to the beginning, and three seconds later, he paused the song. His blue eyes were terrifyingly gloomy, “It’s dark magic.”
“… Dark magic?” He Ruge felt confused.
“Although I don’t know the specific content of this dark magic, it’s similar to the secret technique used to refine the Wings of Slaughter I used in the past, both are unscrupulous dark magic.”
Xi Guican suddenly asked, “Has Mao Zixie heard this song?”
He Ruge nodded.
“Be careful of Mao Zixie. He may have been ‘corrupted’.”
Xi Guican’s brow furrowed tightly. “Besides me, there is another demon in this world. Is it a Glutton?”
There was no warmth in his blue eyes, “Whoever it is, I will find out and crush it.”
Anyone who covets him must be prepared to be killed.
The sudden ringing of the communication broke the tense atmosphere. Xi Guican answered the video call and saw the solemn face of Hang Shikuang from the Command.
His tone was urgent, “Vice Admiral Xi, the Queen has invaded the Sixteenth Star. Please rush to the front line immediately!”
He cut to the live broadcast of the star battle, where a giant moth-like creature, the size of a battleship, clutched a warship, its mouth full of densely packed teeth, slowly biting down on the warship’s head—
Just one bite, and it bit a huge hole, the tiny mecha pilots falling into the Queen’s mouth through the hole, not even having time to struggle before being buried in the Queen’s belly.
Even though the protective systems of this warship had been activated, the shield formed by transparent magnetic fluid was bitten through by the Queen in one bite. The ship’s main particle cannon constantly targeted the Queen after being scattered by the shield, and the heavy subatomic gas liquid cloud bomb exploded and burned on the surface of the Queen’s body.
The Queen’s body was actually very fragile. During the first star battle, the Queen appeared in the star battle to find the demon, showing up in the star battle. Although it had great destructive power, it was also easily severely damaged by the frightened Federation. That was also the reason why the Queen did not participate in the star battle.
However, at this moment, it seemed like it had gone mad, launching an attack on the Federation with a self-destructive tactic. Sticky green blood flowed from the broken wounds, green rain falling from the sky, sprinkling on the piled-up bodies of the insect race.
Desperate screams kept ringing out, and the barrage was crazily shouting Xi Guican’s name:
“Where is Xi Guican?! Where is he?! Isn’t he very strong?! Save us!”
“Why did the Queen come out?! Doesn’t it value its life?! “
“It’s over, Xi Guican went to find He Ruge, and He Ruge is likely to be in the eastern hemisphere of the Sixteenth Star. By the time Xi Guican returns… most of the ten warships will be eaten up.”
“Is He Ruge a disaster for Xi Guican? If he didn’t exist, it would be better.”
“Are you crazy? The country hasn’t fallen yet, and you’re looking for a scapegoat? Why don’t you take this big blame yourself? It’s all because you’re not strong enough, you can’t turn the tide like Xi Guican, you’re just a spare in this world! If you were strong enough, if you were in the star battle now, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened!”
“Stop arguing, it’s not a matter of whether Xi Guican comes or not now. Even if Xi Guican is strong, can he beat the Queen? It’s probably sending someone to their death!”
He Ruge stared blankly at the barrage, and the outline of his new story appeared in his mind. Under the leadership of the protagonist, the Federation achieved a partial victory in the star battle stage, and everyone was very happy.
However, when they were holding a celebration banquet, the insect race launched a surprise attack.
Life could be more exciting than fiction.
The fact that the Queen personally killed them, he didn’t even dare to write such a thing in his novel, but all this happened. The feeling of unreality was dispelled by the bloody and cruel live broadcast, and the feeling of absurdity emerged.
What happened?
Why did the Queen do this?
He Ruge’s heart tightened.
“Okay.”
Xi Guican ended the video call, hugged He Ruge, and said, “I’m going to leave for a while and deal with the Queen. I’m stronger than it, and it can’t hurt me, so you don’t have to worry. Don’t pay attention to those barrage comments; they’re all trash.”
He held He Ruge’s cold hand, like a dragon leaving its nest, anxiously checking its treasures, “But I’m still worried, I want to make a blood covenant with you.”
“This is a unilateral blood covenant, with no harm to your body. When you encounter danger, you just need to break your fingertip, call my name, and a part of my power will appear to protect you.”
“That power is like a cocoon, which can withstand any harm for half a star hour. This time is enough for me to come back and protect you. The blood covenant lasts only one day. After a day, whether you use it or not, it will disappear. But it doesn’t matter. I will kill the Queen within a day.”
Xi Guican kissed He Ruge’s hand and looked at him quietly, “Close your eyes, I’m going to make a blood covenant with you.”
The young man obediently closed his eyes.
A complicated and profound emotion appeared in Xi Guican’s blue eyes. There was something Xi Guican didn’t tell He Ruge: the price of signing a blood covenant was to extract his heart’s blood and half of his body’s spiritual power.
Now he could easily defeat the Queen, but after signing the blood covenant with He Ruge, he would have to have a bitter battle with the Queen.
But that didn’t matter.
The round nails suddenly swelled into sharp tiger claws, like the tiger claws of a certain weapon, piercing into the left chest, most of the body’s spiritual power concentrated in the blood of the left chest.
Xi Guican’s lip color turned into the color of withered flowers in an instant, becoming grayish-white.
He slowly withdrew his fingers, a drop of blood silently suspended on his fingertips. Xi Guican placed the drop of blood on the fingertip of He Ruge’s right index finger, and the blood silently merged into the skin, turning into a small red mole.
“Don’t open your eyes,” Xi Guican was afraid of being seen by He Ruge with his current pale face. He cherished and kissed He Ruge’s hand back, whispering softly, “You count to ten, and you can open your eyes after counting.”
“Ten.”
The fingertip was scorching hot, as if splashed by hot oil.
“Nine.”
He Ruge felt his hand being released by the other party.
“Eight.”
He heard Xi Guican getting up.
Are you leaving?
Thinking of this, He Ruge couldn’t help but speed up his counting. He almost recited, “Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!”
His tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, and then the room was empty, without the figure he wanted to see. If it weren’t for the small red mole on his fingertip, He Ruge would have doubted whether Xi Guican had been here.
He lightly pinched the index finger of his right hand with his left hand, and a very strong heartbeat came from his fingertips, thumping, thumping, thumping, which belonged to another person’s heartbeat.
It was as if there was an invisible thread connecting them, one end entwined around his fingertips, and the other end in Xi Guican’s heart.
Small theater:
Mao Zixie: Not only did I inform He Ruge of Vice Admiral Xi’s baldness, but I also indirectly prevented Vice Admiral Xi from eating meat. Will Vice Admiral Xi kill me?
Xi Guican: Come, come here, I promise not to break your head.
