Chapter 35
The transaction with Lei Huan proceeded smoothly on the dark web. The "cutting-edge support" provided by Miao Weizhen consisted of specially tuned sniper equipment, whose energy fluctuations closely resembled those used by a powerful faction within the Federation. The sight of these weapons on the battlefield would sow suspicion in Qu Beichen's heart.
Meanwhile, news of Wen Xunyi's poisoning spread quietly through Xingyan's channels, causing quite a stir in Sailiang. Everything was proceeding steadily according to Miao Weizhen's plan.
That day, the base received a distress signal from an outlying reconnaissance unit. During a routine patrol, they encountered a small group of Federation scouts, resulting in an exchange of fire. One of their troops was seriously injured and urgently needed medical assistance. The coordinates were located in a complex asteroid debris area, making it difficult for large ships to enter.
"I'll lead the 'scavenger' team." Luo Yan immediately asked.
"No," Miao Weizhen frowned as he looked at the star map. "The electromagnetic interference in that area is strong. Your mechanical eye and communication equipment are easily affected. I'll take you there."
This decision brought a moment of silence to the command center. Allowing Wen Ling to participate in actual rescue operations meant that Miao Weizhen had begun to truly incorporate him into the core operational sequence.
Wen Ling took a deep breath, suppressed the tension in his heart, and replied in a deep voice: "I understand."
They boarded a small assault craft and silently glided into the debris field. The area was strewn with massive metal wreckage, a maze of intricate connections. Miao Weizhen personally piloted the craft, maneuvering it through the narrow gaps with the precision of a scalpel. Wen Ling sat in the co-pilot's seat, intently monitoring the sensors and communication channels while memorizing the area's navigational characteristics.
They quickly found the trapped reconnaissance team. The wounded man was in critical condition, and Dr. Keith, through remote guidance, Wen Ling and another team member carefully transferred him to the assault boat.
Just as they were preparing to evacuate, something strange happened.
A strong energy wave came from the side and rear—
Another federal reconnaissance ship sneaked nearby at some point.
"Hold on tight," Miao Weizhen slammed the joystick, and the assault boat made a sharp turn, narrowly avoiding an energy beam. But more beams followed, weaving a web of death among the dense stellar debris.
Miao Weizhen concentrated on evading the attack. Under his control, the assault craft executed various extreme maneuvers, the metal hull rubbing against the star debris, producing a harsh sound and flying sparks. Wen Ling clutched the handrails tightly, enduring the discomfort caused by the overload, staring intently at the sensors, quickly calculating possible escape routes.
"Thirty degrees to the right and front, inside the broken engine! There is a gap there that we can temporarily avoid!" Wen Ling shouted hurriedly.
Miao Weizhen didn't hesitate at all and immediately steered the spacecraft in that direction. Just as the assault craft was about to enter the engine, an energy cannon, having predicted their trajectory, struck the thruster at the rear of the spacecraft.
The spacecraft shook violently and the alarm sounded shrilly.
"The thrusters are damaged and the power has dropped by 40 percent." Wen Ling looked at the flashing red light on the console and spoke in a tense voice.
"We can't be trapped here any longer." Miao Weizhen's eyes sharpened, and he made a quick decision. "I'll go out and distract them, and you guys take the opportunity to break out from the other side."
"No," Wen Ling grabbed his arm fiercely, "It's too dangerous."
Miao Weizhen turned to look at him. In the flashing red light of the alarm, his eyes were calm and almost cruel:
"That's an order."
At this moment, sensors showed that the Federation reconnaissance ship was adjusting its position, and its main gun began to charge and aim at the engine gap where they were hiding.
At this critical moment, Wen Ling's eyes flashed with determination. He suddenly unbuckled the safety buckle and grabbed a portable cutting gun nearby. "I'm going to destroy their muzzle calibrator. On this type of reconnaissance ship, the calibrator is located on the outside of the side, so the protection is relatively weak."
Without waiting for Miao Weizhen's objection, he had already opened the hatch and, using the star debris as cover, rushed out like a nimble leopard. A micromaneuvering device spewed a blue tail of flame behind him, propelling him rapidly through the zero-gravity environment.
"Wen Ling, come back!" Miao Weizhen's voice came through the communicator, with a rare look of shock and anger.
Wen Ling did not respond.
His entire attention was focused on the approaching cannon. The Federation soldiers had spotted him, and energy gun beams were crisscrossing around him. He nimbly dodged, using the debris as cover. His heart pounded in his chest, but his hands remained remarkably steady.
Finally, he approached his target.
He raised the cutting gun, aimed it at the complicated calibration device, and pulled the trigger—
A beam of scorching energy whizzed out and hit the target accurately.
The muzzle of the reconnaissance ship suddenly tilted, and the charging light suddenly went out.
However, almost at the same time, a defensive energy shock erupted from the broken calibrator and hit Wen Ling hard.
He felt like he was hit head-on by a high-speed starship. Severe pain instantly swept through his body. The maneuvering device went out of control, and he was thrown out and hit a huge piece of metal wreckage.
While his consciousness was blurred, he heard Miao Weizhen's almost uncontrolled roar and the roar of the overloaded engine of the assault boat from the communicator.
When he regained some consciousness, he found himself back inside the assault craft. Miao Weizhen was half-kneeling beside him, one hand firmly pressed against the bleeding wound on his abdomen, the other still maneuvering the craft for evasive maneuvers. His usually calm eyes were now ablaze, seething with rage and a level of panic unlike anything Wen Ling had ever encountered.
"Hold on," Miao Weizhen's voice was extremely hoarse, and the hand pressing on his wound was trembling slightly, but he was extremely firm. "I'll take you back."
Wen Ling tried to say something, but only coughed up a mouthful of blood. He looked at Miao Weizhen's tense jawline and the bulging veins on his forehead, and suddenly the pain of the wound seemed less severe. With difficulty, he raised his uninjured hand and gently placed it on the back of Miao Weizhen's hand, which was pressing on his abdomen.
"...The mission...is completed?" he asked breathlessly.
Miao Weizhen looked down at his pale face and eyelashes wet with pain, his heart as if being gripped by an invisible hand. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, only a kind of almost paranoid determination remained.
"It's done," he replied hoarsely, maneuvering the spaceship out of the Star Debris Area, leaving the pursuers behind. "Don't sleep, Wen Ling, look at me."
Wen Ling strained to open his eyes wide, staring at the face so close to him. Miao Weizhen's face was stained with blood and dirt, and a few strands of black hair, soaked with sweat, lay plastered to his forehead. He looked a bit disheveled, yet more real than ever, and he couldn't look away.
Miao Weizhen was almost overwhelmed by the mixture of anger, worry, and fear in his heart. He lowered his head and gently rested his forehead against Wen Ling's. Their breaths blended together, and he could clearly feel the faint ebb of the other's life.
"Wen Ling," he called out the name again, his voice low and solemn, as if he was making an oath, "I won't let you die, do you hear me?"
Wen Ling felt the warmth on his forehead and the unquestionable tone, and finally let his consciousness sink into darkness.
But before he completely lost consciousness, he used up his last bit of strength, curled up his fingers, and hooked them around Miao Weizhen's fingers.
The assault boat broke through the star debris belt and rushed towards the base.
“Ding—ding—ding—”
When Wen Ling regained consciousness in severe pain, the first thing he smelled was the smell of disinfectant on Dr. Keith's body, and then the familiar scent of cedar and cold metal on Miao Weizhen's body. At this moment, this scent was mostly covered by the strong smell of blood.
He opened his eyes with great effort and found himself lying on a bed in the medical area. The wound on his abdomen had been properly treated, but every breath still brought him tearing pain.
The lights in the medical area were dimmed, and Miao Weizhen sat in a chair beside his bed, leaning forward slightly, holding his uninjured hand.
Miao Weizhen looked awful. He was still wearing his blood-stained uniform, his eyes were a dark blue, and a hint of stubble had sprouted from his chin. He looked like he had just been withdrawn from some brutal battlefield, with a lingering smell of fatigue and gun smoke. But when he noticed Wen Ling had woken up, his bloodshot eyes instantly lit up, like a flame suddenly ignited in the darkness.
"Don't move." Seeing Wen Ling about to speak, Miao Weizhen immediately stopped her, his voice hoarse. He pressed the call bell, but his other hand gripped Wen Ling's hand even tighter, his knuckles turning white from the force, as if he would lose something important if he let go.
Dr. Keith came in quickly and carefully examined Wen Ling's condition.
"He's lost too much blood, and his internal organs are in shock, but his vital signs are stable. He needs to rest for at least two weeks." He glanced at Miao Weizhen and added meaningfully, "You both need it."
After Keith left, they were the only two left in the medical area. Wen Ling looked at Miao Weizhen's haggard face, remembering the touch of his forehead before he lost consciousness and the unquestionable words, "You are not allowed to die." A complex warmth surged in her heart, mixed with pain and an indescribable throbbing.
"Mission..." Wen Ling's voice was weak, but full of concern.
"It's done. The reconnaissance team returned safely. Luo Yan and his men have since cleaned up the federal reconnaissance ship." Miao Weizhen answered concisely, his eyes never leaving Wen Ling's face, as if to confirm that he was truly out of danger. "The blow you struck to destroy the calibrator was crucial."
Wen Ling breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "Your injury..."
"I'm fine," Miao Weizhen interrupted him, his tone deliberately calm, but the hand he held on Wen Ling revealed his true feelings, "It's you..."
He paused, as if he had difficulty speaking the following words, and finally let out a barely audible sigh, "You shouldn't have rushed out."
"At that time... that was the only choice." Wen Ling looked at him, her green eyes appearing clearer and more determined due to her weakness. "I can't watch you... watch everyone trapped and die there."
Miao Weizhen was silent.
He knew Wen Ling was telling the truth, of course. Under those circumstances, Wen Ling's risky move had indeed saved their lives. But that intellectual acceptance couldn't offset the panic and rage that nearly consumed him when he saw Wen Ling being sent flying by the energy blast, covered in blood. He was used to being in control, used to taking on the most dangerous tasks, but this was the first time someone had put themselves in such danger to protect him.
This strange, protected feeling made him feel complicated and uneasy.
"There won't be a next time," Miao Weizhen said in a deep voice after a long while, with an unquestionable determination in his voice, "From now on, follow me closely."
This wasn't an order, but more like a declaration, a declaration that Wen Ling would be completely under his wing, with no room for error. Wen Ling understood the meaning, and a faint smile appeared on his pale face. He gently shook Miao Weizhen's hand and whispered:
"good."
At this time, Ayuan came in with a bowl of carefully prepared, easily absorbed nutritious liquid food.
When she saw Wen Ling wake up, her eyes turned red and she almost cried.
"Your Highness, you scared us to death." She carefully placed the food on the bedside and looked at Miao Weizhen. "Minister, you should also go and rest for a while. I will take care of this place."
Miao Weizhen shook his head: "I'm here."
The tone was flat, but there was no room for negotiation.
A Yuan looked at the two people's clasped hands, then looked at Miao Weizhen's unshakable expression. Wisely, he said nothing more and quietly retreated.
For the next few days, Miao Weizhen barely left the medical wing. He relocated most of his official duties there, leaving only briefly to attend to matters requiring his personal presence when Wen Ling fell asleep. Lao Lin, Luo Yan, and others took turns visiting, and when they saw Miao Weizhen at his bedside, they tacitly agreed not to disturb him.
Wen Ling's injuries recovered quickly under Keith's meticulous treatment and Miao Weizhen's almost stubborn care. On the day he was able to get out of bed, Miao Weizhen personally helped him walk to the dome of the observatory.
Outside the porthole, the star debris remained, but there seemed to be several more hidden reconnaissance posts and defense nodes around the base.
"I've increased the security level outside the base." Miao Weizhen followed his gaze and explained, "I won't let something like this happen again."
Wen Ling turned to look at him. After several days of sleepless guarding, Miao Weizhen's face was still a little pale, but his eyes had regained their former depth, but there was something else in them, something heavier and softer.
"It's not your fault." Wen Ling said softly.
"It was my mistake," Miao Weizhen's voice was calm, yet tinged with self-blame. "I underestimated the tracking capabilities of the federal scouts, and overestimated my ability to protect you."
Wen Ling's heart felt like it was gently bumped. He looked at Miao Weizhen's cold and hard profile and suddenly realized that this injury had not only put him through a life-or-death test, but had also left a deep mark on Miao Weizhen's heart.
He reached out and gently touched the back of Miao Weizhen's hand which was resting on the railing.
"We are all still alive," he said, his voice soft but with a soothing power, "that's enough. Besides, am I not well protected by you now?"
Miao Weizhen grasped his fingers with her backhand. This time, her movements were no longer tense and panic-stricken. Instead, she slowly and firmly took his fingers one by one into her palm until all ten of them were tightly intertwined. The touch of skin against skin felt warm and real.
He turned his head and looked at Wen Ling deeply, his gaze moving from his smooth forehead to his straight nose, and finally to his green eyes reflecting the starlight.
"Wen Ling," he called his name, no longer a roar of uncontrolled anger, nor a solemn oath, but a calming, low call filled with complex emotions, "This road will become increasingly difficult."
"I know." Wen Ling met his gaze without backing off.
“There’s a lot more that could be lost.”
"I see."
"Even so, you still want to go on?"
Wen Ling shook his hand back firmly, her fingertips conveying unquestionable strength: "Let's do it together."
Miao Weizhen stared at him, the last trace of hesitation finally dissipating. He slowly raised his other hand and gently stroked Wen Ling's cheek, his fingertips caressing his skin, which had not yet fully regained its color. This gesture, filled with unprecedented cherishment, made Wen Ling's heart beat faster.
Then Miao Weizhen lowered her head and kissed him.
The kiss wasn't passionate, even cautiously restrained. It started with a light touch of lips, tentative. But when Wen Ling didn't refuse, and instead tilted her head slightly in response, Miao Weizhen's kiss deepened. He took Wen Ling's lower lip in his mouth, sucking gently, his tongue lightly tracing the shape of her lips with an almost devout cherishment.
Wen Ling closed his eyes, savoring this belated kiss. Miao Weizhen's scent enveloped him completely, the familiar scent of cedar and cold metal now blending with an indescribable tenderness. He could feel Miao Weizhen's hand tightening slightly around his waist, the other still intertwined with his fingers, as if confirming their presence through this kiss.
When the kiss ended, both of them were breathing irregularly. Miao Weizhen's forehead rested against Wen Ling's, their noses touching, and they stared at each other from a very close distance.
"From now on," Miao Weizhen's voice was low and clear, "your life belongs to me."
Wen Ling looked into his deep eyes, and saw in them an unquestionable possession, as well as the promise hidden beneath. He raised the corner of his mouth slightly:
"It has already been."
Starlight streamed through the dome onto the embraced couple, illuminating their vow with exceptional solemnity. The feelings forged in the blood and smoke of gunpowder finally blossomed at this moment, like a tempered alloy, becoming ever more resilient and inseparable.
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