It wasn't until a bottle of nutrient solution was handed to her that she realized what was happening and looked at Chaoge. Chaoge patted her other arm and said, "Give me your hand, let me take a look."
The advanced technology of Tianzixing is also reflected in its medical technology. The AI can directly search for medications to treat minor wounds, and promote cell regeneration and healing within one minute after spraying.
Chaoge rummaged through the room and found a first-aid kit. Following the instructions, she sprayed it on her palm and found that it was just right for treating this kind of wound.
Luo Qinghe only looked at her focused gaze, reaching out to pull her hand away, but the warmth of Chaoge's grip on her wrist made it feel burning hot. Chaoge didn't have time to look up at her, only frowning and saying, "Don't move."
Luo Qinghe had no choice but to shift her gaze elsewhere, casually glancing at the furnishings in the room, and then, as if to change the subject, started a conversation: "Was it inappropriate for me to come in like this? What if Min Ge comes back..."
Her voice trailed off, her emotions somewhat complicated.
Chaoge casually replied, "Why do you care what she does? I have half the right to live in this room. Let that kind of person who never comes home at night wander outside and suffer the hardships."
Luo Qinghe: ...Why does that tone sound a bit mournful?
Qin Muge sneezed, a rare occurrence for him, and almost swallowed a mouthful of sand. He pulled the face mask up even higher, looked towards his destination, and muttered, "Chaoge must be talking bad about me."
Min Kaiyang, standing beside her, glanced at her sideways upon hearing this, then casually shifted his gaze back to their destination ahead. He thought to himself, "Aren't there plenty of people talking badly about you in the Red Cloud Galaxy?"
Behind them stood a beautiful golden mech, its lines sleek and its weapons sharp, possessing unparalleled beauty from every angle.
As far as the eye could see, the horizon resembled a swirling sandstorm, with a dark mass approaching from afar. Qin Muge conjured a telescope from the material in his hand, and after seeing the true form of the distant object, a smile curved his lips. He took the telescope from his hand, turned around, and moved swiftly towards the mecha, even taking the time to speak slowly in a tone completely opposite to his actions: "If you don't want to crash, hurry up and retreat, Kaiyang."
The mighty General of the Heavenly Star, a master of tactics, this is nothing more than a strategic retreat. If Min Kaiyang had even a shred of human emotion at this moment, watching Qin Muge's grand entrance and equally grand exit, he would undoubtedly have cast a disdainful glance at him without hesitation.
☆ Chapter 20: The twentieth evaluation of General Qin
When Yan Chen learned of the 'good deed' Chao Ge had done at the school cafeteria, he was in his office, busy with the planetary mines of the P4 Nebula and the disappearance of General Qin.
For reasons known to some, the Yan and Yan families have a somewhat shady relationship. Among the three major military families, the Yan family developed based on its own power, while the Ling family was entirely promoted by Qin Muge. No other family can match their loyalty to General Qin, as evidenced by the fact that four out of the seven members of his personal guard are from the Ling family.
The Yan family only benefited from the political upheaval of the dynasty many years ago, simply because they chose the right side. This was all thanks to Yan Chen's father, who was also Chaoge's grandfather.
While they couldn't match the loyalty of the Ling family, they weren't quite as loyal as the Yan family either. The Yan family, caught in the middle, was more like a weather vane, maintaining basic loyalty to General Qin while also having close ties with the other two families.
And so, he frowned at the matter and, during his break, connected with Chaoge via video call. By then, the military training was more than halfway over and nearing its end. Chaoge was unusually seen with a book, studying with Luo Qinghe—or rather, Luo Qinghe was reviewing, pretending to be nonchalant while holding the book.
After hearing the video call signal, she yawned, propping her head up with her hand, knowing exactly what it was about. "Dad." Every time she saw Yan Chen's face, her emotions were incredibly complex.
"What did you do at the school cafeteria at noon today?" Yan Chen's tone was indifferent, but how could Chao Ge not hear the turbulent anger hidden beneath his calm words?
Luo Qinghe accidentally knocked over the water glass next to her. When she saw Chaoge looking over, she quickly grabbed a tissue from the other table and frantically wiped up the water that had spilled onto the table.
Luo Qinghe pointed to the side and asked Chaoge inquiringly: Should I step away for a moment?
Chaoge waved her index finger at Yan Chen to indicate that everything was fine, while forcing herself to answer Yan Chen's question: "Let's eat. What else can we do in the cafeteria?"
Yan Chen's way of speaking is always to ask questions he already knows the answer to, waiting for others to explain themselves. Most of the time he really knows the truth, but he likes to bluff occasionally.
Of course, when he occasionally tricks others about their interests, it's limited to family members with whom he has a deep emotional bond. Chaoge doesn't feel that she falls into Yan Chen's category, especially since Yan Chen didn't seem to mention today's matter casually.
"What do you do every day at school? You don't get along with your classmates. What do you want to do? I heard you had a conflict with that person from the Yan family because of a friend. Do I need to tell you how a member of the Yan family should make friends?" Because she already had a sense of awe for her father, when she saw Yan Chen's gaze, which was as powerful as a thunderbolt, she subconsciously turned her gaze away.
Because she hadn't avoided Luo Qinghe, Luo Qinghe, out of Yan Chen's sight, closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again. Her eyelids drooped, concealing the emotions within, and she stared blankly at the table, her thoughts drifting far away.
Although Chaoge held some reverence for her father, after hearing his words, a mocking smile couldn't help but appear on her lips. She said, "Dad, you've always been like this."
When I was just an ordinary person, I met a wealthy friend, and you told me that people from different social classes can't get along.
Now that I've become a descendant of one of the three major military families, and I want to know if I've become someone who sets others apart, I've heard these words again in this alternate time and space.
Chaoge was so distracted that she didn't notice Qinghe's expression beside her.
Facing the immense pressure emanating from Yan Chen, even through the screen, she mustered her courage, suppressed the slight tremor in her throat, and said, word by word, "According to you, General Qin is the least suitable person in this country to have friends, because no one is qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with her."
Yan Chen frowned upon hearing her rebuttal. He never liked hearing opposing views when criticizing his children, despite his usually good temper. Oh, and of course, Chaoge still couldn't enjoy even this small benefit.
He lowered his voice, "Who do you think you are talking to? Do you think you have the right to question General Qin?"
So you're really that hard to approach, Qin Muge.
Chaoge's gaze revealed her mockery. She stopped looking up at Yan Chen, keeping her head down and remaining silent. In the past, her father would get angry with her because he wanted to communicate with her properly and truly understand her. Yan Chen got angry with her simply because she hadn't done things his way.
Yan Chen had no intention of talking to her much anyway, and seeing this, he simply said, "Get your head straight and think about the consequences before you act. You're a member of the Yan family first, and Yan Chaoge second." After leaving these meaningful words, he cut off the video call.
Chaoge chuckled softly, as if she had heard the funniest thing in the world. Luo Qinghe was startled, completely bewildered that Yan Chen's harsh words could make Chaoge laugh like this, even bringing tears to her eyes.
Chaoge waved her hand, leaned on the table, and looked at Luo Qinghe sideways. Sure enough, she saw Luo Qinghe's uneasy expression again, like a stray dog abandoned on the street. Chaoge, who never liked being treated as someone's only lifeline, was an exception this time because she couldn't empathize with Luo Qinghe's plight and therefore had no right to comment.
With a slight smile, she casually said, "There will always be a way to become stronger, Qinghe, as long as you don't give up." The reason she said it casually was because there wasn't much of a serious element to it.
Qin Muge isn't the only powerful person in this world, but no one can deny that she is very strong.
Ordinary people would just laugh it off when they heard this, but Luo Qinghe took it to heart and even silently repeated it.
Then, looking at Chaoge, with a warm smile in her eyes, she said with a sigh, "If only I had met you sooner."
Chaoge wrinkled her nose, deliberately put on a serious face, and replied in a solemn tone, "It's not too late to get to know me now, after all, I'm still so young and beautiful."
Luo Qinghe chuckled, then quickly waved her hand as if afraid Chaoge would misunderstand, her explanation almost incoherent with nervousness: "Um... I didn't mean it... actually you really are quite beautiful..."
"Hmm, you look better when you smile. Don't be so shy. I'm the one being scolded, not you, so why are you so nervous?" Chaoge accepted the compliment without hesitation, stood up, and reached out to tug at her face. She suddenly realized that Luo Qinghe's face felt quite nice.
As for whether something is beautiful or not, that depends on individual perspectives.
For someone like Chaoge, who dares to claim she's second to General Qin in terms of narcissism, she's truly very confident in herself.
【Guess how much favorability you have with her and General Qin right now?】 At this critical moment, Little Red Riding Hood couldn't resist coming out to show her face, or rather, to make her presence known.
【Why are you suddenly asking this question?】As Chaoge thought to herself, her gaze couldn't help but drift towards Luo Qinghe. After all, Luo Qinghe's favorability rating was definitely not as high as that of General Qin, given their special relationship.
In a flash, a transparent, floating blue game page appeared in front of Chaoge. Under Little Red Riding Hood's control, only she could see this page.
The list prominently displayed the degree of affection she had for Qin Muge and Luo Qinghe, her only remaining targets of goodwill.
Character: Qin Muge
Identity: Grand General of the Crystalless Empire, royal descendant.
Gender: Female
strength:?????
Character appearance: To be confirmed. [Click here for avatar]
Other information: Favorability level [50]
Luo Qinghe's data was very ordinary; her strength was listed as one star. Even Chaoge had five stars, so the concept of one star... well, it just goes to show why she was kept behind for extra training by the instructors.
What surprised Chaoge the most was that, in the other information display section, her favorability rating with Luo Qinghe was also fifty!
Is it that her affection level with Qin Muge is increasing too slowly, or is it that it's increasing too quickly with Luo Qinghe?
With no third point of reference, Chaoge sadly cupped her face in her hands, looked up at the ceiling, and tried to see the blue sky through the building.
【Little Red Riding Hood, does this affection system unlock the [Ultimate Guide] quest by getting to 100 with someone first?】 While feeling sad, Chaoge didn't forget to confirm this information with Little Red Riding Hood one last time.
[You're overthinking it. Not everyone can become the ultimate target. On Tianzi Star, only General Qin is eligible. But if you grind a hundred times with other players before that, you'll also directly enter the strategy system.] Little Red Riding Hood really wanted to grab Chaoge by the collar and shake her hard. Did she think General Qin was everywhere?
[If it's just her trying to build up her affection with me, can this not be activated?] Chaoge made a last-ditch effort, feeling that she could still salvage the situation.
[No, even if her affection level with you reaches 100, the romance mode will still be activated.] Little Red Riding Hood ruthlessly shattered her fantasy.
What a rogue system! Little Red Riding Hood, you should honestly confess how many hosts you drove to their deaths back then.
The person you are trying to reach has entered sleep mode.
Chaoge: ...Pah, you filthy scoundrel.
Now, Chaoge has two paths in front of her. The first is to first increase her favorability with General Qin, and then unlock the final mode, achieving everything in one step. You deserve it.
Secondly, there's the option of remaining steadfast to the death, which unintentionally maxes out everyone's favorability, forcing you to win them over one by one, ultimately leading to the final outcome! ... Just thinking about this path makes it obvious that you should skip it.
So in the end, there was only one way: try your best to increase the general's favorability.
Chao Ge felt extremely frustrated and disheartened upon reaching this conclusion.
On a planet within the p4 nebula.
Qin Muge gently grasped his left wrist with his right hand. The faint blue light that should have been on the back of his left hand, which was covered by a black glove, suddenly intensified, almost turning into a dazzling white light.
Invisible white light waves spread out in circles in the air, and the rocky ground beneath her feet trembled along with these waves. Countless stones and pebbles vibrated on the ground, giving the impression that the earth was about to collapse.
The vast expanse of black mist that should have swept in from afar resembled a tattered cloth torn by a knife, leaving only a faint trace in the air, accompanied by a buzzing, piercing sound. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that it was composed of countless tiny insects.
Qin Muge pursed her lips, her red eyes filled with extreme coldness. Most of her beautiful face was hidden under a cloak-like fabric, and her snow-white cloak was spotless, making her a unique presence in the yellow sky.
Instead of being impatient, she patiently dealt with these unknown insects, her expression indifferent and revealing nothing of her emotions.
After a long pause, he suddenly let out a cold snort, a fleeting smile playing on his lips.
"Let's go." Without warning, Qin Muge withdrew his hand, turned around and walked towards Min Kaiyang's direction, his gaze casually sweeping over the distant hills before returning to his own.
Min Kaiyang looked at the insect-like creatures trailing far behind her, maintaining a certain distance, and opened his mouth to say something, but chose to remain silent under Qin Muge's smiling gaze.
"Don't worry, you'll soon achieve your goal." Qin Muge nimbly flipped onto the mecha, his cloak sweeping through the air in an arc, before entering the control room of the golden mecha.
Min Kaiyang wanted to argue that it wasn't just that, but after seeing Qin Muge's closed-eye expression and refusal to talk, he simply connected to the mecha's operating system with a blank expression, preparing to perform a space jump back to Tianzixing.
But Qin Muge seemed to know what he was going to say, and lazily opened his eyelids, his red eyes like blood, and slowly said, "Don't rush, this is just the beginning."
It's been a long time since we've seen such a grand show, so of course we need to be prepared and enjoy it slowly.
The golden mech released immense energy in mid-air, and then the surrounding space seemed to tear apart, instantly creating a large rift. A streak of light flashed across the surface of the golden mech, and it vanished from its spot. Moments later, the enormous rift returned to normal, leaving only occasional traces of lightning-like distortion around it.
Behind the hill Qin Muge had seen earlier, a strangely shaped person with an insect resembling a flying cricket perched on their shoulder stealthily peeked out. After realizing no one was there, they seemed relieved and slid down the hill to the bottom, reaching out to poke another guy. "Hey, hey, that boss ran away, what do we do?"
The person who was poked slapped their friend's hand away with a look of disgust, saying, "Don't touch me, how would I know?"
"Oh? What should we do? That woman is really something. She beat up almost all of my little darling's grandsons, whom I raised with such difficulty. It breaks my heart." The person with the insect-like creature on their shoulder touched their heart, vividly expressing their sorrow.
Another person, who had been looking at him with disdain, suddenly snorted coldly and looked at him, saying, "Worthy of it. When we welcome the king in the future, that will be her death day."
In the entire Red Cloud Galaxy, only this one person could pose a threat to them. As for the others? Aren't they easy prey?
"Come on, go back and report to the strategist that the mission is complete... Don't touch that bug of yours anymore, it's disgusting!" The person who was about to reach out to pull the other person back turned around and saw that the guy who had been complaining earlier was lovingly stroking the pet on his shoulder and comforting the bug like he was comforting his wife. He suddenly felt terrible.
☆ Chapter 21: The Twenty-First Evaluation of General Qin
Qin Muge's return from the P4 Nebula was met with mixed feelings from different people in the military, but they all wore smiles on their faces, not revealing their hidden schemes.