Chapter 67: The Beauty in the Flames of War

“Do you know how worried I’ve been about you all this time? You’re so annoying—you just left with that Alpha without saying a word! I saw that photo of you climbing onto the mecha, surrounded by corpses. I asked Brother Chi to send people to look for you, but they couldn’t find you. I was worried for so long. And then, you didn’t even send a single message. I was so scared that you had died out there, do you know that? Wuwuwu…”

Although they hadn’t seen each other in over three years, Shi Chan hadn’t forgotten how to comfort Lan Ying. As Lan Ying spoke, growing increasingly aggrieved, Shi Chan gently pulled him into an embrace, patting his back and softening his voice. “It’s okay, it’s okay. See? I came back safe and sound.”

But the photo Lan Ying mentioned…?

“Then how could you not contact me for three whole years? Am I not your best friend anymore? You promised we’d go on vacation together every year, but you forgot all about it…” Lan Ying cried even harder as he was comforted, refusing to get up from Shi Chan’s arms, continuously venting his grievances.

Shi Chan had worried about Lan Ying over the years too, so he could only murmur soft reassurances.

By the time Xi Ming finished settling the others and returned to the room, he was met with a sight that, objectively speaking, was quite beautiful—two stunning Omegas hugging each other.

But in Xi Ming’s eyes, the scene was far from pleasing.

He held back for a second, then couldn’t suppress his possessiveness any longer. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he interrupted, “Enough.” Seizing the opportunity, he pulled Shi Chan back to his side.

“Ming-ge, you’ve finished arranging everything?” Shi Chan turned to Xi Ming, his eyes naturally showing reliance.

Xi Ming, as usual, was a man of few words. He simply replied with a soft “Mm” and ruffled Shi Chan’s hair.

Lan Ying looked at the newcomer. Even though Shi Chan’s form of address had already revealed Xi Ming’s identity, Lan Ying still found it unbelievable.

A man who had been sentenced to “death” by the entire interstellar world was now standing before him, not only having survived but also free of cosmic radiation and healed from his once-crippled legs.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

Shi Chan removed Xi Ming’s hand from his head and turned to Lan Ying, asking about something he had just missed. “What was that photo you mentioned earlier?”

“Oh, that! I’ll go get it!” Lan Ying jumped up and ran back to his room, returning a few minutes later with a physical photograph in hand. He handed it to Shi Chan, explaining, “Someone secretly took this of you. Since they didn’t have StarNet access, they had to spread it in physical form.”

“They called you ‘The Beauty in the Flames of War.’ It even went viral for a while on StarNet here in the capital. When I accidentally discovered it was you, I was so shocked that I asked Brother Chi to look for you, but we couldn’t find anything. In fact, it seemed like multiple factions were searching for you.”

Xi Ming looked at the photograph and exchanged a glance with Shi Chan. “This was taken the day we were attacked by the Red Rose Ghosts.”

Shi Chan asked Lan Ying when this photo had surfaced, and as expected, it was shortly after they passed through the wormhole.

Xi Ming then searched for any related information from that time. However, since the photo had only been circulated in physical form, leaving behind only some scattered online comments, he hadn’t noticed it before.

“The angle of this shot…” Xi Ming recalled that day’s events, his tone growing firm. “It must have been released by the Red Rose Ghosts.”

Both Xi Ming and Shi Chan knew that the Red Rose Ghosts, a pirate group, had ties to Bai Wen. And for a photo that wasn’t even on StarNet to have made its way to the capital, someone must have been pulling the strings behind the scenes. Bai Wen was undoubtedly involved.

Shi Chan had long disabled StarNet access to his likeness. After living in the capital for so long, his face had never appeared online. He never expected his image to spread in such a manner.

“But that was years ago. They never found us, so they must not have achieved their goal.”

“Mm.” The incident had happened long ago, and since it hadn’t affected them, they moved on after briefly discussing it.

Lan Ying watched the natural interaction between Shi Chan and Xi Ming from the side, unconsciously rubbing his fingers together. Was this karma? He used to show off his love in front of Chan Chan, and now it was Shi Chan’s turn to flaunt his relationship in front of him.

As he was thinking this, a noise came from the doorway. A tall Alpha walked up the stairs.

Lan Ying’s face lit up with a bright smile, and his voice instantly turned eight degrees sweeter. “Chi-ge! You’re finally back!”

Chi Wenyu opened his arms and caught the sprinting Lan Ying, his previously exhausted expression softening into warmth. Ignoring the additional guests in the house, he first pressed a gentle kiss to Lan Ying’s forehead, then ruffled his hair before finally turning to the others.

After a few seconds, Chi Wenyu managed to recognize Shi Chan from under his “dusty” disguise and greeted him politely, “Long time no see.”

Chi Wenyu had already learned from Lan Ying that Shi Chan would be visiting today. What he hadn’t expected was that the once-famous beauty of their academy now looked so “plain.”

But considering Shi Chan had married Xi Ming, perhaps this disguise was necessary for safety.

Lan Ying quickly pulled Chi Wenyu aside and excitedly told him about Xi Ming’s miraculous recovery.

Unlike Lan Ying, who was simply astonished at the impossibility of curing cosmic radiation, Chi Wenyu immediately grasped the significance of this revelation. He realized that this discovery would shake the entire interstellar world and even go down in history, rewriting the course of human civilization.

From the moment humanity first left their home planet and ventured into space, cosmic radiation had been an ever-present threat, indiscriminately taking lives.

Countless brilliant minds had perished due to radiation exposure, especially in battles against the insectoids, where prolonged exposure to space was unavoidable. Many outstanding generals and soldiers had fallen victim, struggling in pain before quietly passing away.

If a cure for cosmic radiation truly existed, all those once-brilliant individuals could have survived, bringing unprecedented advancements to the Empire.

Whichever nation held the key to curing cosmic radiation would essentially control the future. It would attract the attention of the entire interstellar world. Beyond its immediate impact, the underlying technology would unlock countless unsolved mysteries, making every faction eager to seize it.

Realizing the massive implications, Chi Wenyu refrained from asking any direct questions. Instead, he carefully examined Xi Ming, as if confirming with his own eyes that this “miraculous survivor” was real.

Xi Ming, of course, noticed his gaze. What surprised him, however, was that neither Lan Ying nor Chi Wenyu seemed to harbor any hatred or resentment toward him.

After all, he was the interstellar world’s most wanted man. Most people in the Empire and the Federation despised him. But in front of these two, he didn’t feel the usual hostility.

It didn’t take long for Xi Ming to understand why—it was because of Shi Chan.

Shi Chan’s feelings for him differed from the rest of the world. Lan Ying, as Shi Chan’s best friend, was naturally influenced by him. And since Chi Wenyu was the closest person to Lan Ying, his attitude was also shaped by their relationship.

Stepping back onto the capital’s soil, Xi Ming had prepared for the worst. He never expected his first unmasked encounter to be so… uneventful.

And all of it was because of Shi Chan.

Realizing this, Xi Ming—who had long since stopped caring about others’ opinions—still felt a warmth rise in his heart.

His grip on Shi Chan’s hand tightened slightly, prompting Shi Chan to look at him in confusion.

Ignoring Shi Chan’s questioning gaze, Xi Ming turned to Chi Wenyu and asked, “Do you want to reach a new pinnacle?”

The moment he spoke, everyone’s eyes snapped toward him.

“Ming-ge?” Shi Chan asked in surprise.

But Xi Ming had already made up his mind.

After all, he knew this place far too well. And if chaos was brewing… he had no reason not to make it worse.

It was time for revenge.