The sensor lights in the corridor lit up one by one.
Gary followed behind Baal. Watching his commander walk with a clear purpose toward the room at the end of the corridor, he almost broke into a cold sweat.
"Commander, well... Ms. Jiang is currently staying in your room." Gary spoke up under the pressure. "It was an emergency at the time, and only your room had the highest security level, so I took the liberty of arranging for her to stay there. How about I arrange another lounge for you?"
Baal didn't stop walking.
"No need." He didn't even turn his head, his voice cold. "My spiritual sea is currently unstable, and I need the room with the highest defense level. In case I lose control again, a normal lounge won't be able to contain me."
This excuse was flawless, and Gary couldn't utter half a word to refute it. The image of Jiang Lijin's beautiful but formidable face flashed through his mind, and he wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.
Mind your own business when it comes to the commander's affairs.
In the room, Jiang Lijin was sprawled on the bed, holding her optical computer, the faint blue light of the screen reflecting on her face.
On the other end of the optical computer, Tinia's messages popped up like rapid-fire.
[Sister, how is the situation on your end? You're not hurt, are you?]
[Did you miss me? I've missed you so much I can't even eat.]
[Those rough men in the military definitely don't know how to take care of people. Wait for me, I'll apply for a flight route to come pick you up right away!]
Jiang Lijin looked at the screen full of puppy-dog eye emojis and couldn't help but roll her eyes hard. Calculating the time, it had been two or three days at most since she left the Capital Star. This guy's clinginess was really growing by the day.
She casually replied, [Doing fine, don't worry,] and with a swipe of her fingertip, switched to Chiron's chat interface.
Compared to Tinia's clinginess, Chiron's report seemed much more businesslike:
[Felwin's three A-grade beast husbands have been detained by the Security Bureau. They insist they acted alone, attempting to take the fall for Felwin.]
[I've given the Security Bureau a heads-up in advance, so the case's classification is temporarily suspended.]
[However, imperial law grants immunity to high-grade females. It will be difficult to take this opportunity to bring her down completely.]
Jiang Lijin stared at the screen, her fingers unconsciously tapping the edge of the bed. This garbage imperial law was practically handing out get-out-of-jail-free cards to those evil females.
Felwin had suffered a huge loss this time and definitely wouldn't let it go. She had to think of a way to settle this once and for all.
Just as she was pondering, a soft click came from the door lock.
The door opened.
Jiang Lijin sprang up as if electrocuted, staring warily at the doorway.
Baal pushed the door open and walked in.
He had clearly already washed the blood off his body in the public showers and changed into a clean black training uniform. The collar was open, revealing a small patch of his collarbone with scratch marks on it.
Jiang Lijin sat up straight, her gaze darting between Baal and the door.
"If I remember correctly, this is supposed to be the temporary dorm Gary arranged for me?" She raised an eyebrow, her tone unfriendly. "Please move along, Commander. Turn left out the door, and have a safe trip."
Baal walked straight over, stepping with his long legs, and sat on the edge of the bed.
"This is my room," he corrected. "Furthermore, the poison in my body hasn't been neutralized yet. The situation from earlier could relapse at any moment. As my legal wife, and currently the only purifier who can cleanse me, staying by my side is the safest choice."
Jiang Lijin laughed out of anger. "So I have to act as your 24/7 personal bodyguard?"
"You can understand it that way." Baal stared at her, a hint of lingering weariness between his brows. "Or would you rather watch me explode and die right here, leveling half the space station in the process?"
Jiang Lijin was speechless.
This reason was high-sounding and absolutely flawless. She didn't want to fall asleep at night only to be blown into fireworks along with the base.
In her mind, Xiao Yi's excited mechanical voice suddenly rang out:
[Host! The system shop has just stocked the Anti-Pervert Spray Interstellar Enhanced Edition. For only 998 points, you can't go wrong! Just one spray and even a 3S-grade male will drop dead asleep! Do you want a bottle?]
[Get lost.] Jiang Lijin cursed in her mind.
[Alrighty!] Xiao Yi slipped away quickly.
Unfortunately, the rooms in the base were not large. Even the Commander's room only had one bed and a desk. The sofa was a single-seater, and she couldn't possibly sleep on the floor.
Seeing that she was no longer speaking, Baal turned and walked toward the bathroom. "I'm going to take another shower."
The faint sound of water came from behind the frosted glass. Jiang Lijin stared at the layer of steam, absentmindedly swiping on her optical computer.
Half an hour later. The bathroom door slid open, and steam billowed out.
Jiang Lijin subconsciously looked up, her breath suddenly catching in her throat.
Baal was wearing only a white bath towel wrapped around his waist. Water droplets slid down his firm chest muscles, flowing over his well-defined V-line, and finally disappearing into the edge of the towel.
Jiang Lijin glanced at him. Tsk, with a figure like that, he would definitely be a top male model if he went to Blue Star.
"If I remember correctly, society nowadays places great importance on male chastity, right?" She looked him up and down, her tone teasing. "Commander Baal casually walking around half-naked in front of a female, doesn't that count as failing to uphold male virtue?"
Baal grabbed a towel to dry his hair, his movements slow and deliberate.
"Those rules are made for low-grade males." His voice was deep. "Females have the right to choose superior genes, so naturally they have requirements for virtue. But I am 3S-grade, and moreover..."
He stopped what he was doing and looked down at her. "We are a legally married couple. In my own bedroom, I don't need to abide by those formalities."
As he spoke, he walked toward the bed.
"I'm going to change into my pajamas." Baal turned his head slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "If you want to keep staring at my chest, I don't mind."
"Who's looking at you?" Jiang Lijin retorted stubbornly, but her eyes didn't look away.
"Didn't you just say we are husband and wife? Shouldn't a married couple be completely honest and open with each other? Why are you covering up?"
Baal paused, his golden vertical pupils contracting slightly.
"You're right."
His long, slender fingers rested on the edge of the bath towel and gave it a hard pull.
"Damn!" Jiang Lijin was so startled she quickly covered her eyes, but secretly opened a gap between her fingers.
This man was doing it for real! Was he really this wild?!
The expected scene did not appear.
The towel fell to the floor, revealing that Baal was wearing a pair of black boxer briefs underneath. The fabric clung tightly to his skin, outlining an astonishing bulge.
Jiang Lijin lowered her hands, staring at the boxers, and fell into a long silence.
"Disappointed?" Baal picked up a silk robe nearby and draped it over himself, a hint of a smile in his tone.
Jiang Lijin cursed under her breath, rolled over, and pulled the blanket over herself, wrapping up like a silkworm chrysalis.
Baal turned off the main light, leaving only a dim wall lamp on.
The mattress dipped slightly as he lay down.
An invisible boundary line separated the two of them, and neither spoke.
The room was so quiet that only their breathing could be heard. Jiang Lijin closed her eyes, her mind a mess. One moment it was the charred, bloody hole between Kieran's brows, and the next it was Baal's irrational golden eyes.
After tossing and turning for a long time, she felt no sleepiness at all.
Just as she was about to roll over and shift positions, something tightened around her waist.
A strong arm reached across, scooping her backward, blanket and all.
Her back collided with a warm, solid chest.
Jiang Lijin froze. The arm clamped around her waist was incredibly strong, making it impossible to break free.
"Baal," she said through gritted teeth. "What are you doing?"
The man behind her didn't move. Only his warm breath brushed against the nape of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Let go!" She jabbed her elbow backward. It struck solid muscle, but she was the only one who felt the pain.
"Don't move," Baal's voice came from above her, sounding overly hoarse. "My frenzy levels are acting up again. Just let me hold you for a bit."
Jiang Lijin stopped struggling.
His frenzy levels were acting up? That excuse worked like a charm every single time. She couldn't very well kick him out of bed; if he actually lost control and exploded, the entire base would go down with him.
Resigned, she let out a sigh and gave up resisting. Whatever. She would just treat him like a giant hot water bottle.
In her mind, Xiao Yi couldn't hold back any longer. Its mechanical voice was filled with sheer exasperation:
[Host! Wake up! He is lying to you!]
Jiang Lijin rolled her eyes: [I kno—]
[You have to take your clothes off and make physical contact to suppress his frenzy levels! Hugging through a blanket doesn't do a damn thing!] Xiao Yi said, heartbroken and furious. [You are getting played!]
Jiang Lijin: "..."
