"As for you, I have at least twenty ways to make you disappear from this world without a trace. Moreover, I also have ways to make the King no longer pursue your whereabouts, to not care whether you live or die. Do you believe me?"
Wang Quan stared at Mu Yuan's handsome face, still not thinking he had done anything wrong.
Mu Yuan's face was gloomy, his eyes devoid of warmth. The moment he turned, his finger flicked, the fingertip brushing across Wang Quan's left eye.
Ling Yan only heard a soft sticky sound, and a muffled roar of pain came from Wang Quan's throat as he thrashed and rolled on the ground.
And from beneath his tightly closed eyelids, blood seeped out in trickles.
Ling Yan watched Mu Yuan walk out of the cellar as if nothing had happened, lightly clicking his tongue.
He followed Mu Yuan out of the cellar and up the wooden stairs. Mu Yuan in front of him suddenly stopped.
Mu Yuan turned around, looking down at Ling Yan from a higher step.
There was no one else around. Ling Yan smirked with a roguish grin.
"What? Does the General have something to say?"
Mu Yuan descended a step, standing on the same wooden step as Ling Yan, leaning forward slightly.
Ling Yan unconsciously leaned back, pressing against the damp stone wall.
The torch stuck in the wall flickered erratically in the wind. Mu Yuan didn't stop because Ling Yan had pressed against the wall; instead, he moved closer and closer.
Ling Yan looked at Mu Yuan's gradually approaching face, watching his long, curled eyelashes flutter gently, like the wings of a luminous butterfly, so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
"Ling."
Mu Yuan's voice was very soft, tickling his heart and making half his body go numb.
Ling Yan hummed in acknowledgment, waiting for his next words.
"What I said to Wang Quan just now..."
"General, rest assured, this lowly one knows you were deliberately saying that for Wang Quan to hear. I won't take it to heart."
Mu Yuan tilted his head slightly, a hint of reproachful tenderness flickering in his clear eyes.
He coughed lightly twice, and when he looked up again, his gaze had returned to its original state, calm and collected.
He spoke slowly, his tone sincere and leaving no room for refusal:
"You must take it to heart, because I am serious."
[Ling, you must take my words to heart, because I am serious.]
Ling Yan looked at Mu Yuan before him.
His tone of voice and demeanor were extremely familiar.
Even those alluring fox-like eyes.
Apart from the different color of the pupils, the overall feeling was remarkably similar to that person.
Y.
The interstellar thief Y, who had evaded the galactic alliance for ten thousand years, was a master of disguise. Although he himself had crossed swords with Y hundreds of times over those millennia, he had never seen Y's true face.
At this moment, the numerous messages conveyed by these beautiful eyes felt strangely familiar.
However, since Y was known for his disguise skills, it was necessary to mention the frequent mix-ups caused by his imitators.
In the past, Y was often a victim of circumstance, with his reputation tarnished by his fellow criminals.
Ling Yan clearly remembered the time the star police had arrested a Kryptonian thief with a fish head and human body, who insisted that he was Y.
After professional analysis by the technical department, his appearance was not a disguise; he was genuinely born that way. His claim of being Y was simply a lie to buy time.
There was a crucial reason why so many nameless petty thieves impersonated Y, besides his unpredictable whereabouts and unknown appearance.
Y would always leave a unique keepsake after each operation.
Through the star network live broadcast system and the wanted posters issued by Prison Star, this was almost universally known throughout the galaxy.
Ling Yan stared at Mu Yuan's face. Although he felt quite emotional, he once again dismissed his absurd feeling.
Y had already been sent back to Prison Star and locked in the high-security interrogation room.
The interrogation room only had an internal network, not connected to the external system.
Therefore, it was impossible for him to enter this world in the book together.
Mu Yuan watched Ling Yan's body stiffen, then become dazed, his mind seemingly lost in thought. A playful glint flashed in his dark eyes.
He was doing it on purpose.
Since arriving in this other world, Ling Yan had provided too many surprises. He had completely lost the airs of a star police captain, as if he had truly become a "not very capable" small soldier.
It was simply a display of god-level acting.
Therefore, Mu Yuan's playful nature was aroused, and he couldn't resist teasing him.
But Mu Yuan had experienced Ling Yan's prowess and knew he had to stop while he was ahead.
If he went too far, the one to suffer would be himself.
Mu Yuan narrowed his eyes and took half a step back, no longer paying attention to the dazed Ling Yan. He turned and strode up the stairs.
A smug, mischievous smile tugged at the corner of his lips, like a fox that had successfully stolen a chicken.
Watching Mu Yuan's retreating figure, Ling Yan's index finger traced his lower lip, his gaze becoming increasingly profound.
Ling Yan followed Mu Yuan out of the cellar. Before they parted, Ling Yan suddenly grabbed Mu Yuan's arm.
Mu Yuan looked at Ling Yan, puzzled. He saw Ling Yan's signature roguish smile appear as he leaned closer to his ear and whispered:
"Thank you for the General's favor. I will seriously consider your kind offer. The General should take good care of his injuries, especially his waist. You'll need it often in the future."
The warm breath dissipated from his ear. By the time Mu Yuan came to his senses, Ling Yan's dashing figure had already walked far away. As if knowing his gaze would follow, Ling Yan didn't turn back but waved towards the air in Mu Yuan's direction.
Mu Yuan was furious.
Consider it seriously?
Consider what?!
Take care of his waist? Need it often in the future?!
What outrageous words!
He had just been secretly pleased with himself for finally getting the upper hand on Ling Yan, but he hadn't expected his composure to break so quickly.
Mu Yuan wrapped the beast-hide cloak tighter around himself, returning to his tent with resentment in his heart.
After parting with Mu Yuan, Ling Yan walked towards the stables.
The stables were not far from the granary. Before he even arrived, Mei's voice, trembling with excitement, came from his consciousness:
[Congratulations, Boss! A confession! The male protagonist of "To the Realm of Flesh," the Guardian General Mu Yuan, actually confessed to you! How many chapters have we even been in this book! So this story actually has a romance plot! It's not just pure smut! Boss, your mutual teasing with the General just now deeply resonated with me! Don't stop, please continue!]
While Mei was still lost in its own excitement, Ling Yan had already checked the surroundings of the stables and the granary. He needed to solidify his "stable boy" persona.
He casually piled up some straw into a makeshift "bed" and then lay down on it.
Mei stopped its enthusiastic rambling, its large, seven-colored eyes widening in disbelief as it asked:
[Wait, Boss? You're not actually going to sleep here, are you?]
Since transmigrating into the book, Ling Yan had hardly truly relaxed and rested.
Just like always.
Mei didn't receive a reply from Ling Yan, only his steady breathing.