Sword and Flower

Actually, if⁠‌‌⁠​⁠⁠‌⁠⁠​​‌⁠​‍‍​​​​‍⁠‌ it weren’t for the two super bright “light bulbs” present, Jiang Ci really wanted to go for that hug.

But when Huo Xianfeng said that, both of Jiang Ci’s guardians were utterly shocked.

Although they had already learned through pheromones that these two were in a completely marked relationship, Jiang Ci and Huo Xianfeng had behaved very normally since entering the conference room. In fact, under Jiang Ci’s deliberate restraint, they even seemed somewhat unfamiliar with each other.

Furthermore, most of their attention had been drawn to Huo Chao and Pei Changyun, and subconsciously rejecting the idea, they had completely pushed aside the fact that Huo Xianfeng had marked Jiang Ci.

Yet!

Now, it was impossible to pretend ignorance and act as if it didn’t exist.

Zhou Jiuya clenched his fists again and again, staring at Jiang Ci with jealousy and discomfort twisting his heart.

After all, from childhood to adulthood, Jiang Ci had never shown any signs of closeness to anyone. Since he learned to walk, he rarely let anyone hold him. Occasionally, it was only Jiang Jinsheng who could get a chance to hold him.

After Jiang Jinsheng passed away, no one else could get close to him.

As for him, the scary and fierce-looking uncle—forget it.

But!!!

But!!!

It’s only been three months, and the once prickly child, who had hissed at the world, was now casually allowing another Alpha to hug him????

Zhou Jiuya’s heart bled with jealousy.

With two pairs of intense eyes on him, Jiang Ci couldn’t possibly hug Huo Xianfeng, but he also couldn’t give no response. Fortunately, the chair had wheels, and the table wasn’t particularly long, so he discreetly slid a bit closer to Huo Xianfeng’s position and quickly reached out to lightly grasp the young man’s hand.

“I’m fine…”

Actually, this was already a significant change. In the past, the Major General would have likely turned his head away in embarrassment, pretending to be indifferent. But now, despite the presence of his guardians, this usually awkward Omega overcame his shyness to show Huo Xianfeng a gesture of intimacy.

Jiang Ci originally intended to just give a brief touch, but Huo Xianfeng suddenly tightened his grip, holding his hand firmly.

Witnessing the entire exchange, Zhou Jiuya and Ye Shu were speechless.

Their gazes simultaneously focused on the two hands tightly clasped together, like sunlight concentrated through a magnifying glass.

—The two guardians were at a loss for words.

The two guardians who had been single since birth had never experienced such a blow.

Even when Jiang Jinsheng and Bai Min were dating, they had been cautious and secretive. It wasn’t until the two were deeply committed, with Jiang Jinsheng swearing to rescue Minmin from the Illusory God Church, that Ye Shu and Zhou Jiuya found out, leaving them speechless with shock.

What?!! When did Jiang Jinsheng get into a relationship?!!

Hadn’t they all failed at matchmaking together back then????

At that time, except for Huo Chao, Pei Changyun had set up matchmaking for almost all of them.

And without exception, they all failed.

Ye Shu and Zhou Jiuya found it unbelievable because, unlike them—rough, military Alpha types—Jiang Jinsheng had an excellent background, a good personality, a sharp mind, a refined demeanor, and was handsome. Yet, even he failed at matchmaking.

After learning of his failure, they were somewhat comforted.

Do you see—!?

It isn’t that Omegas don’t like them. Even Jiang Jinsheng failed, so it wasn’t their problem!!!

But little did they know, Jiang Jinsheng had already won over Huo Chao’s sister.

Though shocked, they could at least accept it because Jiang Jinsheng and Bai Min had never done anything in public to hurt the feelings of single people!!!

But Jiang Ci and Huo Xianfeng were different.

It hasn’t even been that long, and they were already… already doing such things in front of everyone!!!

Zhou Jiuya and Ye Shu couldn’t bear to watch anymore. They both turned their heads away in unison, their actions surprisingly synchronized.

Jiang Ci couldn’t pull his hand away, but if he moved too much, it would only make things more awkward. So, he quickly moved Huo Xianfeng’s hand from the tabletop to under the table.

The Major General tried to maintain a serious expression, pretending as if nothing had happened.

“Hmm, I was just…”

He tried to change the subject, but with his hand still held by the other, Jiang Ci’s mind was blank, and he couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Were you looking at the projection?”

Huo Xianfeng provided him with an excuse.

“…Yes.”

At that moment, as Jiang Ci gazed at the projection on the wall, a thought flashed through his mind like an electric current.

He suddenly remembered, hadn’t the signal to Holy Dew Star been blocked?

So how did Pei Changyun, who was far away on the Capital, manage to project so smoothly here?

Jiang Ci’s emotion-clouded mind cleared instantly, and he quickly turned to Zhou Jiuya.

“Has a new signal channel been established?”

Jiang Ci understood the Empire’s technological capabilities and progress. In such a short time, it should have been impossible. After all, the First Legion had only arrived on Holy Dew Planet yesterday; they couldn’t have broken through the signal shield so quickly.

Zhou Jiuya was momentarily stunned. His expression was complex, but he quickly replied,

“No, His Majesty said someone on Holy Dew Planet opened a secret signal channel.”

“—Someone?”

Huo Xianfeng raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t particularly interested in the entanglements of Huo Chao’s inner circle, but he was quite intrigued by whoever on Holy Dew Planet could open a secret signal channel for the Emperor.

He casually pinched Jiang Ci’s soft fingertips and asked, “Are there any clues about the other party’s identity?”

…Clues?

Zhou Jiuya pondered for two seconds, then tapped on the light brain on his wrist, projecting a photo taken from above, showing a bird’s-eye view of the Forbidden Abyss.

“His Majesty didn’t specify who it was, but they sent this photo.”

“This angle…”

Jiang Ci squinted his eyes, roughly estimating the angle, and concluded, “The photo was taken from our starship at that time.”

From the starship?

Huo Xianfeng thought for a few seconds, and a woman’s image came to his mind.

“Cecilia, your wound…”

Meanwhile, in an advanced research lab somewhere inside the Holy White Tower, Angus looked at the wound on Cecilia’s hand and his expression was tinged with concern.

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Cecilia’s tone had a hint of impatience but quickly softened, “But Kuru is broken…”

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“Oh, that’s a classified mission. You just need to carry it out.”

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Cecilia glanced at him and noticed a trace of hesitation on Angus’s face, so she furrowed her brows, immediately showing a gentle smile. She even reached out to touch his arm, adopting a slightly vulnerable posture.

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“No worries, no worries!”

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“Teacher has always looked down on me. He only ever liked Jiang Jinsheng, only that traitor.”

“Hmph, Jiang Jinsheng…”

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“How could that traitor compare to you, Angus.”

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Cecilia needed allies—people not too powerful who she couldn’t control or too weak to be useless.

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After comforting him, confirming that the secret communication channel Angus opened wouldn’t be detected, and ensuring Kuru’s repairs would be done within three days, Cecilia left.

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In essence, she was similar to He Zhun, but her experience and knowledge allowed her to maneuver more skillfully.

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The old man snorted coldly, intending to walk past her, but as they were about to pass each other, Cecilia suddenly spoke up.

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The implication was that with thorough preparation, the speed was not excessive.

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“You worked so hard, tirelessly, day and night, but now the fruits of your labor have fallen into someone else’s hands. What do you think?”

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Cecilia leaned on his shoulder, drawing close to the Sage’s ear, and whispered, “Was it Huo Chao who destroyed it, or… was it you?”

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“Oh dear, how could Lia dare?”

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With that, Cecilia walked away in her high heels. The Sage narrowed his eyes slightly, watching her retreating figure, graceful and beautiful, like a swaying, elegant flower.

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Bishop Ace appeared swiftly beside the woman, reporting the gathered information.

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No attacks on the captured Bright City?

Cecilia paused, “Why?”

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“Tsk, I knew that old bastard Setlin wouldn’t be easy to deal with. Since Huo Chao had already decided to kill those old foxes, he should have stormed into the Holy White Tower and taken that old man’s head too!”

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Ace grinned obsequiously, hunching his back slightly as he followed behind her, continuing,

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“Yes, He Zhun.”

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He Qichu?

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—One of the early scientific geniuses nurtured by the Illusory God Church.

At that time, the Church was in urgent need of talent, so it established free academies across the Alliance, selecting and nurturing top talents in various fields. In the end, only a very few were admitted into the Holy White Tower, and to control them, they were all injected with the Holy Stigmata.

This included Jiang Jinsheng in military engineering and He Qichu in biological genetic engineering. Although they were in different areas, both were brilliant geniuses.

However, many years later, one became the Father of Imperial Technology, while the other died early in a nuclear explosion three hundred years ago.

“No, he didn’t die in the nuclear explosion during the Zerg invasion.”

Ace shook his head.

“He Qichu took advantage of the chaos to escape the Church, living under an alias on Eternal Cloud Planet. In the Empire, he was known as Zhao Yun, and He Zhun was Zhao Zhun. Unfortunately, 28 years ago, during the Empire’s political purge, it was discovered that he bore the Holy Stigmata, so the Imperial Inspectorate executed him as a spy for the Illusory God Church.”

“At that time, Pei Changyun personally ordered the execution of all spies, including their families. But for some unknown reason, his son survived and was later taken in by Jiang Jinsheng, who adopted him and changed his name to He Zhun, claiming he was a child of distant relatives. Coincidentally, there was indeed a distant branch of the Jiang family with the surname He.”

Cecilia recalled what He Zhun had said during the trial.

[I infiltrated the Jiang family for so many years just to take revenge on Pei Changyun.]

[Pei Changyun personally ordered the execution of my entire family—my mother, my father, my… not even three-year-old brother…]

—He wasn’t lying after all.

So, He Zhun did have a grudge against Pei Changyun.

Cecilia raised an eyebrow slightly, finding this quite interesting.

“In fact, there’s something even more interesting…”

But before Ace could finish, he saw Leinster approaching furiously, his eyes full of murderous intent.

Cecilia slightly tilted her head, dodging his fierce punch.

Bang—!!!

The man’s massive fist smashed into the wall behind, leaving a deep crater.

Cecilia wasn’t afraid at all. Instead, she smiled sweetly and held back Ace, who wanted to step forward.

“Oh, Leinster, what’s wrong? Why so angry?”

“—Why did you go back on your word?!”

The man’s hawk-like eyes were fierce as he cornered the petite omega against the wall.

Cecilia was puzzled.

“…Went back on my word?”

At this moment, Leinster looked like an enraged wolf.

“You promised not to inject the Holy Stigmata into him, so why did you go back on your word?!”

“…”

The woman slowly blinked, finally realizing what he was talking about.

Cecilia frowned, her previously flippant tone now somewhat solemn.

“Are you saying… He Zhun was injected with the Holy Stigmata?”

But as soon as she said that, she shook her head, regretting it.

“Tsk, what a pity, you’re blaming the wrong person. I just returned from Bright City with wounds all over my body, so I didn’t have the energy to mess with your little darling.”

As she spoke, she gave Leinster some crucial information.

“However, my mission is complete. I confirmed that the person is not Huo Chao but rather an SSS-class asset that the Church lost. And the Zergs have already occupied Bright City. Leinster, I suggest you start preparing for the upcoming war.”

Leinster: “…”

He stared intently at Cecilia’s face, as if trying to confirm the truth of that statment. At that moment, Ace suddenly spoke up.

“To my knowledge, He Zhun has already entered the upper levels of the Holy White Tower.”

—That’s a place only core personnel can access, whereas before, He Zhun could only stay in a small lab in the inferior White Tower of White Solitude City.

As soon as Ace said this, Cecilia and Leinster quickly understood.

—He Zhun must have willingly received the Holy Stigmata.

At that moment, Cecilia mercilessly laughed.

“It seems you’re of no use to him anymore, Leinster.”

She poked the alpha’s chest, her red lips curling into a seductive smile.

“Your little sweetheart has stepped over your shoulders to reach the position he wanted. What’s the matter? Feeling heartbroken now?”

“…Shut up, Cecilia!”

Leinster glared at her, a cold smile on his face.

“Do you want me to describe again how ugly you looked when Bai Min died?”

“…”

Bang—!

In the next second, both of them made a move at the same time. A massive scythe and a black scimitar clashed fiercely, instantly igniting a series of crackling sparks.

Ace quietly distanced himself from the battlefield. After all, at this moment, Lady Cecilia’s killing intent was terrifying.

He was always good at reading the room, and judging by the situation, the two of them wouldn’t stop until one of them was dead.

He couldn’t understand why they would provoke each other’s scars like this, pushing each other to the brink of death. Wouldn’t it be better if everyone just worked together for mutual benefit?

“LEINSTER, YOU FUCKER! I’M GOING TO KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO THAT SHITHEAD OF YOURS TODAY!”

Sigh.

Ace sighed, then skillfully dialed the logistics department.

“Yes, those two are at it again. Please evacuate the surrounding people… The estimated damage to the building should be around 70%…”

He tilted his head to dodge a flying piece of debris and then performed a one-handed flip to avoid a stray bullet, continuing,

“Yes… Maybe send in a repair team in about three hours… No, make that four hours…”

After saying this, Ace silently covered his ears, and sure enough, the next second, he heard the man’s furious roar,

“CECILIA——!!!”

i love lia and leinster so much aaaaaa

like they’re obviously the “villains” at the start of the story but as it progresses, they become more “anti-hero”

and it isn’t just a villain with a flat motivation like “look at me im so evil bcs you killed my parents or smth”. i can’t talk too much abt it bcs of spoilers but i love how lia is a great anti-hero (like can ci pin’s anti-hero). the true villain is the system and she’s only counter-attacking it, using her abilities to climb the ranks and become second-only to the Pope