Chapter 409 - 408: Sang Biao, Why Are You Acting Cute for Her?

Qin Muye hadn’t even had a chance to stand up when Que Feiling, wings fluttering, appeared in his line of sight.

Seeing his mortal enemy, buddy, and love rival all in one kneeling before his crush, Que Feiling was utterly dumbfounded.

Before anyone could speak, the sound of heavier footsteps came running from a distance. "Que Feiling! Que Feiling! Boss Yuan told me to tell you that Beastification is forbidden in the administration building! You’re going to get points deducted—"

The person didn’t finish his sentence. He rounded the corner and slammed right into Que Feiling’s back, stumbling a few steps before he got a clear look at the situation.

Ouyang was also on Qin Muye’s team.

He suddenly saw their captain—the man who was always so bossy and whose word was law in front of them—acting so meekly in front of Jiang Qingli. The words caught in his throat, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

When Que Feiling had first seen him, Qin Muye had wanted to show off in front of his rival, to let Que Feiling see just how good his relationship with his female master was.

But Ouyang’s sudden appearance caught him completely off guard. His face flushed bright red as he raised his voice, "What are you looking at!"

Jiang Qingli knew Qin Muye was embarrassed, so she made an excuse for him. "Muye is helping me tie my shoelace..."

Que Feiling: "Oh, of course. The Prince is so considerate."

After saying that, he retracted his wings, grabbed Ouyang, and turned to leave.

After a few steps, Ouyang realized something was off. "Uh, Advisor Jiang is wearing leather shoes today. I don’t think they have laces..."

He rubbed his chin. "But they really have a great relationship. The rumors online must be fake. I noticed it last time—our captain is totally whipped..."

Que Feiling looked up at the sky melancholically. "Alright, enough with the gossip. Send a message to Qin Muye. We have to set out at six tonight to assist with the investigation in the East District."

-

Time was tight. The two had lunch, then spent some time being lovey-dovey at the military base.

In the afternoon, Jiang Qingli went to a meeting. Qin Muye packed his luggage and only left reluctantly after demanding kiss after kiss.

After the meeting ended, Jiang Qingli headed to the research institute.

The past few days had been busy, but she had some free time today. She remembered she had promised Fang Chi she would visit him more often, so she came over to see him.

By coincidence, she also ran into Yuan Liang and they discussed the current situation.

Five S-level males had lost contact three days ago.

In the early hours of that morning, Mutant Beasts had launched a surprise attack on the border between the East and West Districts during a shift change.

The assault was fierce, and the sentries couldn’t hold them back. The West District urgently dispatched five S-level males, but after the battle, all five S-levels and over a dozen A Level sentries had disappeared.

Normally, all active-duty personnel in the military base are implanted with a chip, but besides the corpses of Mutant Beasts, there was no trace of any officers at the scene. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.

If they can’t be contacted for 36 hours, the military considers them missing.

If there’s no news after a month, they are considered deceased. The Empire will award them medals and pay compensation to their families.

Yuan Liang sighed and said to Jiang Qingli, "Advisor Jiang, there’s nothing to be done. Things used to be relatively stable, but ever since twenty years ago, the Spiritual Mutant Beasts..."

Before he could finish, an excited voice rang out, "Sister!"

As the voice grew closer, Fang Chi’s figure came running into view.

Yuan Liang remembered that this guy was especially clingy with Jiang Qingli.

Expecting him to rush forward and hug Jiang Qingli like he always did, Yuan Liang quickly stepped in front of her to block him.

Perhaps sensing Yuan Liang’s imposing presence, Fang Chi stopped about a meter away from Jiang Qingli, his gaze fixed on her face.

"Xiao Chi—"

"Xiao Chi, it’s time to go back."

Lü Xin and Jin Li hurried after him.

Fang Chi ducked behind Jiang Qingli. His tall, almost six-foot-three frame tried its best to shrink behind the girl, leaving only his eyes visible. He whispered, "Sister, I don’t want a shot... Can you talk to them for me?"

When Jin Li saw Jiang Qingli, he gave a small greeting and then stood still, waiting from a distance, not daring to come closer and disturb them.

Lü Xin sighed and walked forward. "Qingli, you should try to persuade him too. Who doesn’t get a shot when they’re sick?"

"I’m not sick!" Fang Chi got angry. "Why should I have to get one!"

He was extremely resistant. The small vine on his shoulder also crept onto Jiang Qingli’s hand, coiling around it and swaying.

Lü Xin was helpless.

Jiang Qingli turned, patted Fang Chi’s head, and asked, "Didn’t you say before that quiet rest would be enough? Why has he started getting shots?"

Lü Xin explained, "Because he hasn’t recovered since coming here, we were thinking of using medication to stimulate him..."

Seeing that Fang Chi was genuinely afraid, Jiang Qingli negotiated on his behalf. "It’s almost the weekend. I’ll take him for a walk near the site of the incident. If that really doesn’t work, we can try the medication then."

Lü Xin thought for a moment and said, "Alright."

After all that, Fang Chi finally followed Lü Xin and Jin Li away, albeit reluctantly.

Yuan Liang watched their retreating backs, a gratified smile on his face. "How rare. Fang Chi didn’t call Jin Li an ugly monster today. HAHAHAHA! They’re brothers connected by blood, after all. Their relationship is mending so quickly."

After saying that, he realized Jin Li and Jiang Qingli had once been engaged and quickly shut his mouth.

Jiang Qingli didn’t seem to mind. She chatted with him for a few more moments before returning to her room.

-

「In the room.」

Baili Jing had already prepared dinner. Seeing Jiang Qingli return, he went up to her and squeezed her shoulders to help her relax.

"Muye’s already gone?" Baili Jing had already learned this through a message. "Why in such a hurry this time?"

Jiang Qingli walked to the dining table and briefly explained the situation, feeling a little troubled. "Marshal Yuan thinks it might be related to the Spiritual Mutant Beasts. He also said that twenty years ago... Ah, he was interrupted when he was about to say more, and I forgot to ask him to continue."

She was just about to pull out her terminal to send a message to Yuan Liang when she suddenly heard Baili Jing speak up. "Twenty years ago, Spiritual Mutant Beasts?"

Jiang Qingli asked, "You know about it too?"

She didn’t think she had ever heard anyone mention this. Before coming here, when she was researching the Twelve Cities, she hadn’t found any similar rumors.

"Very few people know about this. I investigated it for a long time," Baili Jing said. "Twenty years ago, a few researchers in the Twelve Cities stole a large amount of gene data and blood from high-ranking military officers. At the same time, they captured a large number of Spiritual Mutant Beasts. Later, when their activities were exposed, they all committed suicide."

Jiang Qingli asked, "What were they trying to investigate?"

Just as she asked the question, her stomach gave an inopportune growl.

Jiang Qingli glanced at him, embarrassed. She had spent most of lunch talking with Qin Muye and stroking his snow leopard ears. Then her afternoon had been so busy that she’d only managed to drink a couple of mouthfuls of nutrient solution.

Baili Jing smiled and patted her head. "Let’s eat first. We can talk while we eat, alright?"

Jiang Qingli nodded.

She walked over to the sink, and just as she was about to wash her hands, she looked down and froze.

The water trickled from the faucet. Seeing her standing motionless, Baili Jing walked over and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Jiang Qingli took a deep breath and held out her hand for him to see—

In the palm of her hand was a line of numbers.

It looked like it should be the coordinates for a certain location.