Because the bracelet could locate him, Xuan Yuanlie knew Xiang Wan's whereabouts perfectly. He wasn't worried that Xiang Wan would be at a disadvantage; after all, she had been by his side for so long, and even without combat experience, she was capable of protecting herself. After quickly resolving the battlefield situation, the arriving ships methodically cleaned up the mess according to his previous instructions. He himself, along with a combat vessel, headed towards Xiang Wan's location.
The ship within his field of vision remained motionless deep in the mountains, ignoring his shouts. His bracelet indicated that Xiang Wan was on that ship. He led his men, weapons in hand, and leaped onto the airship, easily entering the control center. There, he saw the footage of a furious Wu Ge, a disheveled and disoriented Lou Yu'er, and another person indulging in primal urges. He ignored the two, finding the bracelet Xiang Wan had discarded inside the airship, along with the footage from the video camera.
Upon hearing the first three words, Xuan Yuanlie's face instantly darkened, his heart stopped for a second, then pounded wildly, and his eyes began to redden. He watched the entire video word for word, forgetting where he was, remembering only Xiang Wan's eyes filled with grievance and desolation, and the pain spreading from his heart to his entire body, slowly eroding his nerves, as if he were being overwhelmed and suffocated by this agony.
If it weren't for the reminders from those around him, Xuan Yuanlie didn't know how much of his rationality would remain.
"Find her! Go find her! She can't have gone far. Bring her back to me."
"General, who is she? How do we find her?"
His subordinate's question was like a bucket of cold water, chilling him to the bone. Yes, Xiang Wan had been by his side for so long, never revealing her true face. It was he who, fearing she would be attacked, had had her dress as a man. He hadn't been confident he could protect her, and had never considered her feelings. During their time together, she had disregarded her own womanhood, caring for him, giving him massages, acupuncture to treat his hidden ailments, yet he had never deeply considered why an unmarried woman would do these things for him. Besides a deep-seated love, he couldn't think of anything else that could make her give up everything for him. How ridiculous that he had taken it for granted, assuming it was to give her something to do, so she could stay by his side legitimately.
From the very first time she started earning money through gaming, I should have realized that she was perfectly capable of supporting herself and never wanted to be a burden to anyone or accept charity. I'm just too slow to understand back then, only realizing it now. On the ship, when she asked me if I would marry her, she must have been filled with enthusiasm, jokingly expressing a long-held desire. How ridiculous that I thought she was vain and couldn't stand her frivolous attitude.
Memories flooded Xuan Yuanlie's mind, one after another, overwhelming him with regret and pain. He had been too slow to realize. So many days and nights spent together, his feelings had long been buried deep within him. When he realized he couldn't bear to see her with someone else, he should have realized he had already fallen in love with her. When he noticed her location was moving rapidly, he should have known she was being chased by enemies. He hadn't prioritized her safety at all, leaving her in peril, only coming to find her after he had finished everything. She must have been utterly disappointed to choose to leave without saying goodbye. It was he who had hurt her feelings and shattered her last hope.
Xuan Yuanlie was heartbroken and couldn't breathe. He watched the video Xiang Wan left behind over and over again, immersing himself in regret.
"General, if you are looking for this young lady, it is not advisable to do so openly. We do not yet know how many lurking enemies are. If the enemy finds out that you are looking for her, it may put her in danger."
The subordinate's reply deepened Xuan Yuanlie's pain. Xiang Wan had left so quietly, without even giving him a chance to search for her. In an instant, Xuan Yuanlie's dark side reached its peak: Why did she leave like that? She didn't even give him a chance to stop her. If he found her, he would lock her up and make sure she never went anywhere…
The pain, reaching its peak, transformed into rage. Xuan Yuanlie, however, calmed down, issuing secret orders for his subordinates to track down Xiang Wan, while simultaneously venting his anger on Wu Ge. This series of orders nearly threw the Federation into chaos, only stabilizing the situation thanks to President Qi Dele's quiet support. Wu Ge and Lieyang Star suffered heavy losses, and the Federation's military force aggressively entered the planet, completely suppressing Wu Ge and his group. Xuan Yuanlie, however, grew increasingly cold and ruthless, often lost in thought, even his teacher, Gu Xue'en, couldn't persuade him.
But that's a story for later. Back to Xiang Wan's side, after jumping off the ship, she was stopped by an unremarkable-looking man.
"If you've had enough fun, please come back with me, Miss. The head of the family has been looking for you for a long time."
Xiang Wan was very surprised. She seemed to be a man now, so how could she be recognized?
Perhaps sensing her confusion, the man explained further: "Changsun Xiangwan, twenty-one years old, skilled in casual attire, proficient in medicine, acupuncture techniques..."
"Alright, that's enough. Lead the way."
What could Xiang Wan say? Even her closest confidants didn't know her full background, yet some random person had revealed it all. Who knew how many people were secretly following her to prevent her escape? She might as well obediently go with him and see how things went. Most importantly, that damned system was playing dumb again, ignoring her calls. What could she do? Besides, the mission was probably almost complete by now. Even if she died, it would just be another transmigration; there was nothing to be afraid of.
She followed the man onto an airship, which then flew towards an even more magnificent warship. These warships were actually more advanced than Xuan Yuanlie's; was she simply ignorant, or were these people hiding their true capabilities?
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
